Book Review: Voices in the Dark by Catherine Banner

Okay, so I read Voices in the Dark in the beginning of the year. But I made a review for it then and here it is! I do not have a review written for the first book The Eyes of a King. I could, but would definitely have to read it again.

It took me a long while to pick up this book and read it. I thoroughly enjoyed the first one [although I have not read it since fall of 2008]. The reason I dreaded reading it was the fear it would be as melancholy as the first. But it was a much easier read than the first, had more “fun” parts but it did make me sad towards the end.

Banner has a unique way of writing. There are three different stories going on throughout the whole book [as in the first]. The present, the past story and another story which is being read by the MC throughout the novel. I thoroughly enjoy it!

I loved the characters! They are always my favourite part of any book and if I don’t like the characters, I find it difficult to get into the book. But Anslem and his family didn’t disappoint. The relationship between him and his rather mature sister Jasmine is cute and Banner captured that sibling love perfectly. Leo and Maria are as sad as they were in the first novel and I enjoyed Leo’s character more in this book than I did in the first.

The whole storyline evolves around war and family, which I enjoyed. I love how we [the reader] figure out the mystery that involves Anslem’s birth. Although I had figured out two things halfway through the book before they were revealed, it was an excellent ride. Besides it has an interesting cover [not as gorgeous as the first but still!].

My rating of this book is five of five pumpkins. For the maturity, the beauty of Katherine Banner’s writing, the theme of family that the book possessed and the other all sadness of the book. I hate sad books [which is why it took me so long to pick this one up] but I’m glad I did. This is an excellent book and highly recommended to anyone who loves a good read.

Killing a Character

Death is just part of life. It's going to happen, you can't avoid it, so there is no use denying the inevitable. When I read books, it greatly peeves me off when my favourite character [who usually is never the MC] dies. In fact, it's happened more often than I would like. But then again, I am no better with the stories that I write. There has been many a times that I've killed off one of my favourite characters that I wrote.

No, there is nothing wrong with me. If that persons death suits the story, then it will happen. To better the story, I will not beat around the bush. If that death is necessary, that person will die. I feel for the other characters, the ones who love the now dead character, 'cause I, as their creator and writer, feel the loss of that character. Makes me feel awful. But it was inevitable.

There is death and pain in our world, so why should it be any different in made up worlds? In a way, I believe, every world any author creates, is based some way or how on Earth.

When I write the death scene of a beloved character, I try not to make it too sentimental, but how can you when so many people or maybe just one, loved that person deeply? There are going to be tears. I had three relatives [whom I really didn't know; they were grandparents and a great-grandparent] pass away in under two years. Of course, I did not cry. But my parents, aunts and uncles did. How can you cry for someone you did not know? Or perhaps how can you cry when you desperately try to hide feelings such as that?

So, not everyone cries in my death scenes. Not everyone cries when someone dies.

I have five novels I would like to finish. Four of those five are duo-logies and the last is a stand-alone. People die in every single one except for one. The first in one of those duos. My thoughts were: I have massacres and murders in the others, I want a slightly happy-go-lucky novel with a dark side in which no one dies. I mean, you know people die within its pages, but there is no outright death. It makes me feel slightly better that I did not tear apart any of the families. Even the villain of the novel does not perish.

I killed a character last night and that 909 word scene is...haunting me. I regret killing Humphrey; I never planned on killing him. But after a vivid dream, it made me realize that Humphrey was always meant to die. His death scene floated about in my mind for quite a few days before I finally typed it up. My mom told me to delete it, rewrite it. This is what I told her [this is all on Facebook mind you so copy & paste!]:

 I can't. It's written. It's beautiful. It's sentimental and I think Humphrey was always meant to die and to teach those around him something important. About life. About striving for your goals and dreams. About guilt.

 What do you think of death scenes? Should they be quick or long? Should that character die because it is the right thing to do [say in the instance of villains]? Does the death need to be necessary? What about the main characters of a novel? Should they die? I mean, not the main, MAIN characters, but their friends.

*Not my image*

Been Wanting To Do This....

Yes, I even had started one but deleted it. Wish I hadn't. Don't quite remember how I had everything done. Snap!

So, yes, I'm going to start a blog. In fact I have started a blog. About books I've read, books I'm reading, about work....And basically about anything else I want to talk about including life. There may also be a lot of ranting and raving. 'Cause that is what I do best. And that may also be about anything and everything. I am eccentric and very random. And live in a fantasy type of world.

And [I kinda like that word if you hadn't noticed] I am going to start my first blog post off about villains. 'Cause it greatly annoys on how they are treated. Of course, I am reading a book about a villain who was nasty, then tortured and such then he was on the good side [whilst still being treated as a traitorous, hungry power prick], yet helping them out. And tortured all through then...Finally to be killed in the end.

 Ticked me off.

 Royally.

'Cause I loved him.

 Immensely.

Will not say the title of the book.

Cannot.

It's just, how come they always have to die? I mean I know WHY, but WHY? Is there positively no hope that they cannot change their ways? None?