Willow Palecek

Well, if anything, it was a short read. I'll tell you what, people, just because you see a book is categorized in the genres you like, doesn't really mean it'll be your cup of tea.

Alexander Drake is a private investigator who refuses to work for the nobility, since he once fought for the opposite side's rulers. But when a young noble pretty much forces his hand and tricks him into doing so for him, Drake will have to prioritize and solve the case he's given quick - if he doesn't want to be hanged for treason. Still, there are people who don't want him to succeed, and they'll do anything to stop him from finding out the truth.

Like I said, this particular book didn't do it for me. Now, that's not to say it's badly written or that it was the author's fault. I just had different expectations when I started it. For someone else, it might be quite the fine story.

It was fast-paced, and funny at some parts, I'll give it that. And when the mystery came to an end it was something I didn't foresee - I usually do, so it sucks the fun out of most suspense stories. But despite all that, I feel that the vast cast of characters distracted me from the story, and at the end of it, that great feeling of satisfaction and completion that often comes when a murderer is uncovered...? Well, let's just it may have took a wrong turn and lost its way or something...

However, it was short, and so it didn't waste my time or anything. That was a plus, I suppose...

***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.***… (mehr)

Interesting!

Tight writing is part of this succinct novella that explores the realm of gaslight fantasy.
Intrigue and nobility, with werewolves and the death of a Lord. Said Lord has been found dead in mysterious circumstances, made even more so by the bite marks all over his body. Alexander Drake, private investigator, is hired to find out the truth but sometimes the truth is too large and better left alone.
There is a certain predictability. Despite this, I hope we hear more about Drake.

A NetGalley ARC… (mehr)

Willow Palecek has created a very streamlined version of the Fate RPG (available from Lulu Press). This is Fate with no stunts and no stress tracks, distilled down to telling stories with epic narratives. Because it’s so minimal, it focuses on the storytelling, which makes it well worth the (very quick) read just to see how she puts it together. The game comes down to just skills and aspects, and matters of game balance are handled by just cranking everything up to “awesome”— rather than defining any special powers or gadgets with stunts, you just spend fate points to invoke aspects for effect in any scene where they matter, whether they’re Latest Prototype from Q Division, MKULTRA Psychic Powers, My Cyberarm is Full of Surprises, Pedigreed Werewolf, or Arch-Mage of the Sequoia Tower. This would be a good system for running fast-moving, free-form stories.… (mehr)