Weather for Monday in the Tries (Richland, Kennewick, Pasco WA):

Monday is supposed to be mostly sunny with a high near 57. SW wind around 16mph with gusts up to 22mph. Monday night is on schedule for a 40% change of rain after 8pm. Low around 43.  the rest of the week is basically more of the same, which highs in high 50s to low 60s with only one night low enough to freeze at 32F. In other words, it’s official, and it’s Spring 😉

Lazy Days:

Yeah, I know. Those are supposed to be in summer. But Anne Bishop’s new book, The Queen’s Weapons came out and I bought it. It really irks me to pay a high price for an electronic book that is really and truly only a long-term rental. If my account is closed for any reason, I lose all my electronic books. When I die, I can’t leave them to anyone. I guess I could leave my eReader to someone, with my passwords, etc. Bookstores charge higher prices because they have overhead, and staff that will dust the shelves, and use power to maintain heat and humidity. And have to cover for people who try to leave the stores with product and not pay for it.

But, I digress. On to the new book. The Queen’s Weapons is book 11 in the Dark Jewels series. I’ve read most of the book in this series, and all of her books in the realm of The Others (Written in Red is the first one of the 5-book series with two others in that world). Anne Bishop has a marvelous imagination and is one of the best world builders I’ve come across. There are lots of good builders out there, but Anne Bishop, Patricia Briggs, and Sara Beth Durst are three of the best. Honest. Trust me.

Jaenelle Satien has immatured into a spoiled and self-entitled adolescent. She is convinced she’s special, but not everyone likes her, and she can’t figure out why. She begins attending a private school for the aristo’s and is wooed into the wrong crowd, led by a bright, intelligent, scheming young woman who is sure she will be the next Queen, when she’s older, and to make it easier, she starts eliminating the potential rivals now, so when they’re all adults, she will be the “winner.” She’s sure she can handle Jaenelle’s father, Daemon Sadi, the High Lord of Hell, that she’s smarter than he is, more intelligent than he is, and, well, if you’ve ever been an angst-filled teen, or raised one, you shouldn’t have any trouble seeing that picture. 

The first time Daemon meets Delora, Jaenelle’s new friend, her psychic scent reminds him of Dorothea, and he even calls her that name. He does not like his daughter’s new friends. Not at all, and doesn’t see why Jaenelle Satien does.

To add to the general angst of the situation, Surreal and Sadi are having marital problems. This is not 541 pages of teen angst. There are even some humorous scenes. I opened the book as my nighttime read and read one chapter then put the book down and turned out the light. I promised myself I’d read one chapter per night. One. Only one. That promise wasn’t even as long-lasting as an ice cube doing the tango on a hot griddle. I spent three hours or so the next day reading, and on day three, I spent more hours than I want to admit reading, but I finished the book. And the Scelties are back. Love those little dogs. Let me expand—I love the Scelties in the books, but I don’t want them in my home. They would upset Sammy Brave Dog.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the Dark Jewel books I’ve read. I’ve read most of them, but not all of them. They are a little more violent than many seriess, and sex plays a large role in the stories, but they are well written, and I think very enjoyable. If you haven’t read any of them, I suggest you read the first three, then you can probably skip around without getting too lost. You’ll know who the characters are, and the ‘back story’ will make sense.

Atlanta:

I wasn’t going to say anything about the shootings in Atlanta, but damn! Those people who keep saying it wasn’t really a hate crime, that he just had a bad day (so, a guy has a bad day and women die?), are surely reading and watching different news sources than I am. It was a double double hate crime. It was a hate crime against Asians and a hate crime against Women. And his excuse that he was trying to eliminate temptation doesn’t fly, either. If he was really trying, he’d have gotten professional help for the problem. (Forgive me if I step on some toes here, but Pastors and their counselling do NOT qualify as professional counselling.) Or he could have followed the biblical injunction (good Southern Baptist that he was) to cut the offending member of his body off and cast it from him. Matthew 5:30 KJV. Bet his pastor didn’t counsel him on that one, misogynist that he is!

Entertainment:

TV? Who watched TV? I was reading a book, see above. /snark/

Books: for complete reviews please see Rainy Day Reads at http://lenoragood.blogspot.com

The Queen’s Weapons— by Anne Bishop. 

Zoom: 

I have been attending various talks, concerts, and poetry readings via Zoom. One of the regular meetings I attended in person before Covid, has been meeting on Zoom, and the moderator has stated she’d like to continue to meet via Zoom even when we can legally re-congregate as she doesn’t have to pack so much stuff; however, she said maybe we could meet for social gatherings. I’ll agree to that. Love the Zoom meetings. No commute time, why, I can even stay in my jammies if I want! And if I want a glass of wine during the meeting, I’m not driving home 😉 Today I attended a poetry meeting from London, in a couple weeks I’ll be in ABQ for some meeting (via zoom), not to mention Yakima. All from my computer. Love it.

CDC Guidelines: You can read them here. There are new relaxations, but best you read about them, and follow them, and still wear your masks in public and avoid large gatherings. If your Governor says one thing, and the CDC says something else, although the Governor’s words may sound like more fun, follow the CDC guidelines. Better a bit more irritation than one more death.

Auntie Lenora and Sammy Brave Dog wish you a Fantastically Mahvelous day, and a super good week.