Friday, January 11, 2019

Sophia Rose Reviews The Myrellenos by Michelle Franklin

Today I'm turning the blog over once again to Sophia Rose whose reviewing The Myrellenos by Michelle Franklin plus a bonus short story.
Enjoy!'

The Myrellenos by Michelle Franklin
#4 Marridon Novellas
Fantasy
Publisher: Self
Published:  11.2.18
ISBN 1730768512
Pages:  198
Rating: 3.5
Format: ebook
Source:  Author

Sellers:  Amazon
ADD TO: GOODREADS




GoodReads Blurb:
A book about seasongs, assassins, and tea-drinking pirates. It is also a book about grammar, breakfast, and science. Join Captain Danaco, Bartleby, and Rannig aboard the Myrellenos, where games are played into the late evening, limbs are lost over cards, and experiments are done on slightly fungal midshipmen. The conclusion to the Marridon novellas.Thusly.


Sophia Rose's Review:

Come aboard The Myrellenos with Captain Danaco's latest recruit, Peppone, a former spy and assassin, to meet his eclectic crew and their odd talents, engage in their spirited and often dangerous games of amusement while they are in port, and get a glimpse of the quirky, but homey life aboard ship with its merry (not) pirate crew.

This series of novellas that follow Danaco and his crew of international misfit crew are quite entertaining as they meander, most times, gently through the hours of entertaining themselves while in a bustling port city avoiding the current Lucentian ruler's spies and awaiting word through the young prince's rival spy network.

Danaco was exiled when he opposed an evil tyrant and he went to sea.  He slowly gathered a prize crew made up of men that no one else saw value in.  Only Danaco in his wit and whimsy, but also hard and capable hands can hold this crew together.  Soon they will be called upon to fight beside Prince Lamir, but for now they play dangerous knife games, cutthroat cards, and bait poor Bartleby who is so easily riled whether it is someone going near his scientific experiments and books, misusing grammar, or slathering the roundcakes with the jam and cream in the wrong order.  They have often hilarious debates as the crew come from all over and all walks of life.  This was more character study than action and throws in some delightful archaic or little used word choice by the scholarly Bartleby and sometimes the captain that had me heading to look them up.

I was as eager as Danaco to see if the latest letter would bring a reward for his loyalty to the true prince would end his exile.  Things are definitely in an interesting place and I can't wait to see what comes next now that the prince has set things in motion to take back Lucentia.

The Myrellenos is the final part of a series of novellas that are part of a bigger story.  The Marridon novellas began with The Leaf Flute, The Baracan, and then the Ship's Crew.  The installments are set in a fantasy world where gods, magic, giants, and elves live in countries side by side with humans.  The author has a gift for worldbuilding, character sketches, and dialogue that pull me in each time I pick up each of her stories.

Bonus Story



A Flower for Rolande: A Marridon Novella by Michelle Franklin
Published:  11.11.18
Pages:  35
Rating: 5
Amazon
ADD TO: GOODREADS


Blurb: 
Jaina Shea Whilhem is the Duchess of Marridon, a country on the southern borders of the Northern Continent, and while Marridon is now thriving as a hub of science and innovation, the kingdom was not always so peaceful and prosperous. Marridon has seen many wars, one civil war and two wars with its neighbouring countries, and though Marridon won all of those conflicts, it did so at the cost of many lives, including Jaina's beloved brother Rolande, whose life was cut short on the eve of the ultimate battle, a loss Jaina will never overcome.

Sophia Rose's Review:

A duchess is feeling the bittersweetness of memories of loss for a well-beloved brother as she prepares to address her nation on Remembrance Day- a celebration in honor of those who sacrificed their very lives for their country.

I found it poignant and apropos considering my own country and others just celebrated our own version of this special day set aside to honor the military dead and those who served. The heroine Jaina looks back on her life and where circumstances have brought her. This is a shorter piece, but no less developed or engaging for lack of pages.

I enjoyed getting this short installment in a grand fantasy series of books set in a fantastic world.


Author’s Bio:
Michelle Franklin is a small woman of moderate consequence who writes many, many books about giants, romance, and chocolate.

As a great student of the world, I have studied classics, agriculture, archaeology, history, literature, linguistics, and a myriad of natural sciences. I don't dare count how many courses I have taken or books I have read; they would only betray how violently boring my life is. Being the wretchedest old being in the world, however, only gives me permission to disdain everyone for my amusement and be more interesting on the page. Authors are meant to be read anyway; no one ever wants to actually see us. I adore people as subjects, and absolutely despise the public collective; all my ambition is to be an old solitudinarian, blessed with all the joys of unquietness, tea, and more cats than my sanity should admit.



Sophia’s Bio:
Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.
Sophia’s Social Media Links:





  

11 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. These guys cracked me up. Bartleby in particular.

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  2. You had me at elves, giants, and mystical creatures. Thanks for sharing Sophia. This is new to me and the world intrigues me.

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    1. I remember being immediately enchanted when I read her The Commander and the Den Asaan Raatu several years ago. It was my first dip into fantasy as an adult reader. Loved the world she had created.

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  3. Sophia Rose the premise for this series of novellas sound really good. I love the concept of the ship and crew and thanks for bringing it to my attention!

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    1. Yes, there is something fun and whimsical about them. :)

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  4. That sounds good. I don't know why but the cover reminds me of a tarot card. lol

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    1. I've seen tarot cards with this type of artwork, too, now that you mention it. :)

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  5. That looks so fun. I'll have to check it out. Thanks for sharing.

    Melanie @ Hot Listens & Books of My Heart

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  6. First time I've seen these. Sounds like a good one. And always awesome when an author can deliver such a fantastic short!

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