darcycappelen
books // writing // nerd stuffJust a place to collect my favourite things
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Latest Posts by darcycappelen
Darcy Reads: Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir
Back with another review! This little number was recommended by a friend. Anytime a person tells me to read something, I decide to go forward with the vaguest expectations, but the cover gives this one away pretty quickly.
"Lesbian necromancers"... say less. (Spoilers ahead)
Story Telling (3/5): To be honest, I took a while to get into this book. Like with many other hard scifi and fantasy novels where authors built their own worlds from the ground up, there's this initial disorientation while you try to figure out what the hell is going on. They have swords so that means this is a medieval setting, right? Oh, but she mentions porn magazines. How the hell do you pronounce "Nonagesimus" (I did not discover the pronunciation guide until about halfway through)?
And then just as I think I figured out the Ninth House, we are literally transported to a whole other world with a startlingly large number of new characters that I have to memorize. Fortunately, the plot starts to pick up and we get to see Gideon interacting with people who do not immediately despise her for being a ginger haired orphan.
There are still many instances of guesswork involved in the setting and motivations, but much less than before. You could say that I was as equally clueless as Gideon. I suspect the second book, Harrowhark The Ninth, will not be as forgiving.
Plot (4/5): My own cluelessness aside, I genuinely enjoyed the plot. It was unique and engaging, hinting at a rich lore oozing with potential. There were a lot of loose strands at the end of the novel that are clearly meant to extend into a much larger story. I'm interested to see how the rest of the Houses are explored in the rest of the series.
With that being said, I also felt as if the book was being excessive, throwing out plot devices willy-nilly. I am still wondering what exactly the purpose of Coronabeth's character was or if she was just supposed to be eye candy the whole time. In addition, were the Second Houses' deaths necessary? I get the sense that Muir just wanted to create a post-apocalyptic world based on our own solar system and the characters that came from the less important planets were just an afterthought.
With that being said, I genuinely did enjoy the plot. While it started out slow, the tension kept building. Each gruesome death further proved how much danger Gideon and Harrowhark were really in. I appreciate Gideon's sacrifice being an actual sacrifice. She's not going to be resurrected or returned to her body. She will stay in Harrowhark's head, annoying her with bad puns and reminding her to drink more protein shakes. The more I think back on it, the more credit I have to give it.
Characters (4/5): While this book has a lot more characters than I care for, some significantly less necessary than others (looking at you Crux and Coronabeth), I appreciate the effort to give each one a unique personality and motivation. There are still some tropes, such as the fatherly figure that makes bad puns, the embarrassed teens, the meek nerd, etc., but at least they are developed in the short time before their brutal deaths.
I especially like Gideon. Immature. Stubborn. Strong Morals. Biceps that you can sink your teeth into. Gideon's frustration with Harrowhark and the Ninth Planet is justified, but I respect that she tries her best to meet their demands. Similarly, while I can't say that I like Harrowhark, her backstory as an engineered monster makes her at least somewhat sympathetic.
Characters I didn't enjoy: Cytherea and Dulcinea. I am intentionally counting those as separate entities. I understand that Cytherea is meant to bring Gideon and Harrowhark closer to the Emperor and drive the plot as a whole, but I wish her lore was more explicit earlier in the story. The Emperor and his Lyctors are only vaguely mentioned and frankly, I'm still unsure what Lyctorhood is all about. While I love a big baddy, Cytherea's introduction and motives were introduced too late for me.
As for Dulcinea, I suspected she had darker motives right from the beginning. It was too ideal to have a sweet, sickly, girl fainting lavishly around a derelict castle (laboratory?). She was Chekov's missile tank. While I appreciated watching Gideon get flustered with gay panic, I kept waiting for the other shoe to eventually drop. It was only two dimensional, which I suppose makes sense once the twist is revealed.
Final Thoughts: I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the Locked Tomb books. While confusing, the setting and plot were refreshing. I'm almost disappointed that we won't see most of the same characters in book #2, but I'm sure Muir already has a massive lineup of replacements waiting for us.
Furthermore, It's great reading a story that hits the queer aesthetic dead on. Save the rainbows and club mixes for June. The rest of the year, we like our lazy goth aesthetic, our gritty cyberpunk core, and our lovecraftian lore, etc.
While I am a sucker for romance and shipping wars, it can get quite repetitive. I'm also glad that the novel does not veer in that direction. Harrowhark and Gideon's relationship evolved more naturally. Even though I partially expected a more romantic payoff, I am not at all disappointed with the ending. It's a unique dynamic to have your potential love interest mesh their soul with yours and share the same body to become a powerhouse of magic and sword fighting. I don't think I've ever encountered anything quite like
oh.
My FIRST erotic short story is now available on Amazon!
"Caats is a sensual telepathic alien desperate to leave planet Freyr-03. Sterling is a handsome human who claims to have a spaceship. Can they come to an agreement in just one night?"
This is my FIRST of many self-published story, which is now available on Amazon. I originally wrote about Caats as the main character in a much bigger story. However, I decided to break up her adventures into smaller side quests and also ramp up the sexiness to 100000. I'm essentially writing fanfiction for my own original work.
If you decide to read this story, please make sure to leave a review or you can DM me your thoughts. I would love any feedback while I write more about Caats's upcoming adventures in deep space.
"actions speak louder than words" unless you’re a writer, in which case you’ll spend 300 pages describing a character’s inner turmoil while they stand perfectly still in a room.
screaming, crying, throwing up, as I force myself to write a story i'm very passionate about and love writing and have no obligation to write except that i want to
if it's good enough for you, then it deserves to be made. don't let anyone else decide if your story is worth it or not.
Essential Beat Sheet for Writers
ACT ONE: SETUP
1. Opening Image: A snapshot of your story’s world and tone. Who are we following? What’s at stake?
2. Theme Stated: A subtle hint about the story’s deeper meaning or lesson, often posed as a question or challenge.
3. Setup: Introduce your protagonist, their ordinary world, supporting characters, and the status quo. Show us what needs to change.
4. Catalyst: The inciting incident that flips the protagonist’s world upside down. This is the point of no return.
5. Debate: Your protagonist hesitates. Should they step forward into the unknown or retreat? This beat builds anticipation.
ACT TWO: CONFRONTATION
6. Break Into Two: The protagonist makes a decision and steps into a new world (literal or figurative). The adventure begins.
7. B Story: The subplot kicks in—often a relationship or secondary goal that supports the main story’s theme.
8. Fun and Games: The “heart” of the story. Deliver on the premise and explore the stakes through action, conflict, and character growth.
9. Midpoint: A major turning point where everything changes. Stakes are raised. Success feels closer—or failure looms larger.
10. Bad Guys Close In: External and internal pressures mount. Allies falter. Enemies strike. Doubts creep in.
11. All Is Lost: The darkest moment. The protagonist experiences a significant loss or setback.
12. Dark Night of the Soul: A pause for reflection. Your protagonist processes their failure and digs deep to find the courage to move forward.
ACT THREE: RESOLUTION
13. Break Into Three: Armed with new insight or strength, the protagonist takes decisive action to face the story’s central conflict.
14. Finale: The climax. Everything comes to a head in a final showdown or resolution. Your protagonist proves they’ve changed—or failed to.
15. Closing Image: A mirror of the opening image, showing how the world—and your protagonist—has transformed.
Alternatives for "She Smiled"
If you can't seem to find an alternative for this common phrase "she smiled". here's a list of different sentence variations.
She beamed brightly.
Her lips curled into a smile.
She flashed a radiant grin.
A smile lit up her face.
She offered a sheepish grin.
Her smile twinkled mischievously.
She gave a soft, serene smile.
A wry smile played on her lips.
She smirked subtly.
Her smile spread slowly across her face.
She smiled wistfully.
A gentle smile graced her features.
She smiled with her eyes.
Her smile was tinged with sadness.
She bestowed a gracious smile.
Her smile glimmered in the dim light.
She smiled coyly.
A giddy smile bubbled up.
She smiled, lips parting lightly.
Her smile was infectious.
She gave a knowing smile.
A tentative smile flickered across her face.
She smiled, eyes sparkling with delight.
Her smile warmed the room.
She smiled ruefully.
A conspiratorial smile crossed her face.
She smiled, a trace of irony evident.
Her smile was wide and welcoming.
She flashed a quick, evasive smile.
She smiled as if recalling a sweet memory.
How to Stop Hating Everything You Write
1. Don't be afraid of making mistakes.
Quit judging yourself for every mistake you make along the way. Whether you're writing fiction, fanfiction, or nonfiction, just write. If you can't correct your errors as you go, that's okay. When I don't have the brainpower to multitask, I focus on the writing stage one step at a time. Just write!
2. Don't aim for perfection.
"It's not ready if it's not perfect." That's a lie. When you're in the process of writing, it's best to concentrate on getting your thoughts on paper.
3. Seek feedback and learn to receive it.
Join lively communities with active writers or forums that host events inviting writers to share their work for critique. Not every critique is constructive; learn to discern which feedback to take on board and which to ignore.
4. Read, read, read.
You can't give what you don't have. You learn a lot from reading similar pieces in your chosen genre. Reading is also a source of inspiration that fuels your writing process.
5. Cut yourself some slack.
Writing is no small feat. It takes talent to formulate a story with your mind and skill to visualize it for others to see. Do you love writing? Then keep doing it because it takes practice.
Looking for a supportive community dedicated to helping you grow as a writer? Join the Writers Universe server and thrive!
Cannot stress how amazing Our Wives Under The Sea is!
Never Let Me Go has also been on my list for a while. Maybe this year...
JOMP Book Photo Challenge - December - 31/12/24 - Favourite Books of the Year
My favourite books of this year are:
Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
Our Wives Under The Sea by Julia Armfield
Medusa by Jessie Burton
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf by Edward Albee
You want to learn to write better dialogue? Become a bitch who has whole conversations and debates in her mind all the time and you'll become a natural.
I do a lot of worldbuilding, and there are very few things that I keep away from.
One of them is truth magic.
Truth magic, even in a restricted form, even if it's expensive, digs its fingers into every social institution in a world, and then also digs its fingers into every element of plot, and will seep into every scene that you ever write for a given story. There are many many many ways to implement truth magic, and most of them are just beset by this problem of sheer magnitude.
But I also think there are a few interesting narrative things you can do with it, if wielded properly:
Character who really seems untrustworthy, but the magic has verified them, as improbable as this seems.
Character who technically did tell the truth, but they were clever about leaving in a loophole.
Character who has been dodging truth spells for a long time is finally forced to have all their lies undone.
Character who has been raised scrupulously truthful because they exist in a part of society where truth spells are common and all speech must be self-monitored.
Character who is deep in self-denial is forced to confront a hidden truth they don't want to accept.
Character who is insane enough that truth magic just doesn't work on them.
Maybe some day I'll give truth magic a shot, it just seems horribly complicated to write for.
genuinely there is nothing like the first 48 hours of being insane about a character when you’re washing your eyeballs out with fan art and ripping ao3 apart with your teeth like a hound
Steps to Write Compelling Plot Twists
1. Plan the Twist Early
Decide the Purpose: Determine how the twist advances the story or challenges the characters.
Foreshadow Strategically: Seed subtle clues throughout the narrative that hint at the twist without giving it away.
2. Build Tension and Expectations
Create a Red Herring: Introduce elements that mislead the audience into expecting a different outcome.
Heighten Stakes: Ensure the events leading up to the twist are emotionally engaging and meaningful.
3. Deliver the Twist Impactfully
Time it Right: Place the twist at a moment of high tension or when it feels least expected but still logical.
Use Reversal or Revelation: Employ one of two main twist types:
Reversal: A situation is the opposite of what the audience believed.
Revelation: New information changes the context of prior events.
4. Maintain Credibility
Anchor in Logic: Ensure the twist is believable within the story’s world and doesn’t feel contrived.
Align with Characters: Make sure the twist fits with established character motivations and actions.
5. Reflect the Impact
Affect the Narrative: Show how the twist changes the story’s direction or character dynamics.
Re-examine Earlier Clues: Allow the audience to realize how the twist was set up through earlier hints.
Examples of Plot Twists in Films and Books
1. Film Examples
The Sixth Sense: The revelation that Dr. Malcolm Crowe is dead reframes the entire story and previous interactions.
Fight Club: The twist that Tyler Durden and the narrator are the same person shocks the audience and redefines the plot.
Parasite: The discovery of the secret bunker adds unexpected layers of tension and tragedy.
2. Book Examples
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn: Amy's manipulation and fake disappearance drastically shift the narrative’s direction.
And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie: The reveal of the murderer’s identity ties all the deaths to a chilling plan.
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling: The twist that Sirius Black is not the villain but Harry’s ally surprises and deepens the story.
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Darcy Reads: Artemis by Andy Weir
So this is my first book review on this account. Full disclaimer, I have no plans of keeping a tight schedule for these things. My goal is to finish at least 24 books in 2025 and this is book #1. If you're still reading this, let's jump into the actual review...(Spoilers ahead)
Storytelling (4/5): While Jazz is bouncing around on the moon (sometimes literally), she explains in excruciating detail the many mechanisms required to live in Artemis indefinitely. Ever wondered what would happen if there was a fire on the moon? Or maybe you wondered what kind of industries could operate up there. Jazz doesn't answer every question, but she sure covers a lot of ground. You start to feel like your are visiting Artemis for the first time and Jazz is your personal tour guide. In fact, there's a scene where a tourist asks EVA master Bob several questions about walking on the moon and somehow it seems a lot more forced than just listening to Jazz silently explain everything herself. I'm not a scientist, so I'm not going to even pretend to know whether or not her explanations make any sense. I can however say that Jazz's scientific rantings are entertaining and I feel like I might know just a smidge more about astronomy than I did before reading.
Plot (2.5/5): Science jargon aside, the plot itself is very transparent. It's a double heist feature. Heist one: Jazz is commissioned to sabotage Sanchez Aluminum. She's confident that she can get it done, but we're not even a third of the way through the book yet. Jazz fails due to a series of unfortunate accidents, but at least she was able to make it back to Artemis in one piece and nobody got hurt. Heist two: Jazz's client gets assassinated and she uncovers a plot by the Brazilian mafia to take over the moon. She pulls together a ragtag team, including a Ukrainian mad scientist, her ex best friend, her genius father, a teenage billionaire, and Bob. She even takes a moment to give an inspirational speech about saving Artemis and working as a team (she also pokes fun at herself for saying such a speech, but this still a sin in my humble opinion). Their plan works despite some asteroid sized hiccups. Jazz makes a heroic sacrifice, but you don't even have to finish the novel to know that she will survive and that Artemis will be saved.
That's all. I can think of at least a dozen pieces of media that follow a very similar if not identical path as Artemis. With that being said, clichés exist for a reason. We like them. At least having it all play out on the moon makes it more noteworthy than Ocean's 26. I am also happy for any futuristic science fiction story that does not immediately ooze misanthropy and depression.
Characters (3/5): I don't like Jazz - wait here me out. I also don't hate her. Jazz is a well developed character. She's competent and she's flawed. She's ambitious and she harbors some doubts. She has a backstory that I think many people can sympathize with. I appreciate that even after everything she experienced before the start of the novel, Jazz is still the same smartass that got her into that trouble. Does she regret anything? Yes. Will she stop all of her antics and live a peaceful, law abiding life? Absolutely not.
If you like Jazz, that's great. My reasons for disliking her are completely personal. I wouldn't ever want to be friends with her, but that doesn't make her a bad character by any stretch.
As for the other characters, they are very much like the plot itself. While detailed and entertaining, there truly are no surprises. Svoboda is a lovesick nerd, Ammar is the cranky but devoted father, Rudy is a no nonsense cop, etc. Everyone has a specific role that they play out perfectly. It's disappointing. To the very end, I hoped for at least one surprise either in the form of a turncoat or an unexpected ally. How much more interesting would it have been if Jazz's longtime pen pal Kelvin was actually working with O Palácio right from the start? Or what if Rudy joined in on their plans? Instead, we get characters that are only there to help develop Jazz's story. What kind of person is Dale? He's Jazz's ex best friend, he's gay, and - oh yeah he's Jewish. I guess that counts as personality trait (NOTE: it definitely does not). We don't learn anything else about him because nothing else matters. It would have been a lot more interesting to hear how exactly he and Jazz became so close and what happened when he stole Jazz's then boyfriend. Alas, that's an entirely different story that just doesn't fit well into Weir's moon heists.
Final Thoughts: Overall, I didn't have any expectations for this book. I stumbled across it in a used bookstore and my first thought was "Wait, that guy who wrote The Martian has other books?" (I have not read The Martian). Even after finishing this book, I feel very neutral. The characters are entertaining and the worldbuilding is top notch, but I'm not compelled to look for anything more. I can say that the most interesting thing about this book is the amount of thought and research Weir put into it to justify an entire civilization living on the moon. But again, I am not a science person, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.
Artemis feels like the start of something bigger. It's laying down the groundwork for what could potentially expand into something much much bigger than it currently is. If humans can live on the moon, what's to stop anyone from colonizing other planets? What happens if they put more than one city on the moon? I'm not saying that this has to be expanded into a series, but it would be a prime setting for some good old RPG. Like Jazz herself, there is some potential there, waiting to be expanded upon.
And in case anyone else is wondering: I would never ever want to live in Artemis. I wouldn't even want to visit it. It's a bouncy castle prison with terrifyingly poor safety measures.
Thinking about how the Andy Weir Space Trilogy all end in basically the same place they started. The problematic status quo is now the soft landing.
Watney is isolated and relying on the help of others to survive. At the end of the book, he is isolated at home and relying on the help of delivery people to get groceries and maintain his health.
Jazz Bashara is broke and in debt to her father. Thee crimes, a heroic rescue, a self sacrifice, and a million credits later, and she's broke from fines and in debt to her friend.
Ryland Grace is an asocial teacher with exactly 1 friend. Two saved worlds later, and he's a teacher on a new planet with exactly 1 friend.
And that's ok. You don't need to move up or down to change.
Just thinking about it a lot
Edit: this blog loves and supports trans people! Always and forever!