The Final Empire: Mistborn, Book One, Review

 

A Great Start to a Mythic Series

In Mistborn, Brandon Sanderson introduces readers to a beautifully detailed world of falling ash, feared mists, and a system of magic called Allomancy. Royals and skaas (slaves) inhabit this gray world, controlled by the cruel immortal Lord Ruler.

 

Vin, an abandoned, traumatized, half-skaa teen survives her harsh life with a gang of thieves by keeping herself small and fading into the shadows, where she hopes no one will notice her. But when her circumstances change, Vin is brought into a new gang that recognizes her magic and needs her to visibly mingle among the royals she fears. Vin isn’t supposed to fall for one, especially not the heir to the most powerful Royal House in Luthadel.

 

I loved Sanderson’s relatable characters, imaginative system of magic, inventive creatures, and vivid setting. Embedded in Mistborn are themes of hope, trust, and friendship, and how difficult those are to attain. 

As soon as I finished Mistborn, I read the next two books in the trilogy! Five stars for all three!

AMAZON

 

Work Smarter, Not Harder with AI

 Do you prefer spending your time writing your book, 

not social media posts? 

Join my upcoming class and learn how artificial intelligence can help you create engaging, effective content that stands out on every platform. 

Saturday, April 5, 2025

12:30 PM - 2:30 PM

The Mizell Center

480 S Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262

In this workshop, you will learn:

 

·      How generative A.I. collects text, images, and other content

·      The #1 tip to achieve the best results from Generative A.I. 

·      Positive ways authors can use A.I. to increase their productivity & enhance their social media content and promotion.

·      Helpful A.I. tools for authors.

.      The US Copyright Office Stance on A.I.

·      Legal challenges and restrictions concerning A.I.

 

Learn more

Led by Award-Winning Author Ariella Moon

Presented by the Palm Springs Writers Guild

New Online Writing Lab February 14, 2025!

Collaborative World-building for a Book Series or Anthology

Palm Springs Writers Guild

Presenter: Ariella Moon

Friday 14, 2025 on Zoom

1:00 PM - 3:00PM PST 

Collaborating on a shared-world book series or anthology is a great way to hone your skills, bump your Amazon rankings, and expand your fan base through group marketing and promotion. Creating stories centered on a shared world can be fun and profitable, but requires structure and organization. In this workshop, Ariella Moon will draw upon specific examples to show the step-by-step process, so you can determine whether collaborative world-building for a book series or anthology is right for you.

 
 5 Things You Will Learn From This Class

1.     5 characteristics needed to be a collaborative world author

2.     The planning process for creating a shared world series or anthology

3.     What should be included in a shared world author contract 

4.     Collaborative marketing.

5.     Post project possibilities

To Learn More or to Register, Click Here

 See you on Zoom!

Ariella Moon

Escape Into Two Great Thrillers by Jacklyn Goldis

Book Reviews by Ariella Moon

The Main Character, by Jaclyn Goldis

 

In The Main Character, Jaclyn Goldis crafts a page-turning thriller with an unusual premise. Instead of mining her own life for inspiration, Ginevra, a mysterious reclusive author, pays people to be the main character in her novels. She extensively interviews and investigates them, digs up or creates mysteries, then fictionalizes their lives. Ginevra gifts her next main character, Rory, with a lavish, all-expenses-paid trip on the Orient Express.

 

The mere mention of the famed train ignites mystery readers’ suspicions, especially when Rory discovers Ginevra has also assembled onboard Rory’s brother Max, her close friend Caroline, and her former fiancé Nate. Soon, long held relationships slowly unravel.

 

Goldis skillfully weaves red herrings and other misdirects into the story. Will there be a murder and betrayals akin to Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express?

Amazon

The Chateau, by Jaclyn Goldis

 

In The Chateau, Jaclyn Goldis creates a tense whodunit set in a grand Provence chateau, where the owner has invited her granddaughter Darcy and three of Darcy’s longtime friends for a visit.

 

Paranoia sets in when Grand-mère is brutally murdered, and each woman’s unique relationship with the victim is gradually revealed. When the police order the friends to remain at the chateau during the investigation, long-simmering grievances, jealousies, and possible motives bubble to the surface.

 

Goldis keeps readers engrossed and guessing as relationships fracture, the plot twists, and the chateau itself is exposed as a silent secret-keeper.

Amazon

Happy reading!

Wishing you all a happy, healthy, book-filled New Year!

Ariella Moon

 

 

Twentynine Palms Book Festival: Romance Books Author Panel

Twentynine Palms Book Festival

DATE: SATURDAY NOV 9th AT 2:45 PM

LOCATION: 29 PALMS COMMUNITY CENTER

6547 Freedom Way, · Twentynine Palms, CA

CHECK THE BOOK FESTIVAL AGENDA

Festival Agenda

 29 PALMS BOOK FESTIVAL 

Nov 9: EXPLORING THE DIVERSE APPEAL OF ROMANCE FICTION AMONG MODERN AUDIENCES. 

Join Jayce Carter and Ariella Moon, two distinct voices in the world of romance fiction, as they delve into the unique allure of the genre for younger generations. Jayce, known for her contemporary and paranormal romances featuring strong-willed women and the red-flag men who love them, contrasts with Ariella, whose shamanic experiences inspire magical tales of medieval Scotland and contemporary paranormal adventures. Together, they will explore what draws new audiences to their differing styles and how romance fiction continues to captivate across different worlds and narratives.

Learn More

See you there!

Ariella Moon

The Unwedding by Ally Condie: Book Review

 

Ally Condie did so many things well in The Unwedding, a Reese’s Book Club selection, that I didn’t expect to have any criticism. The short, crisp chapters and hook endings propel the reader through the story of Ellery Wainwright, who reluctantly takes a solo trip to the Broken Point resort in Big Sur, a trip she was supposed to take with her husband to celebrate their 20^th wedding anniversary.

 

That was before Luke asked Ellery for a divorce and took up with a girlfriend.

 

Condie does an excellent job of depicting a blindsided woman who had maintained hope despite mounting warning signs her marriage was beyond repair. She also perfectly captures a setting I know well: Big Sur resorts and the destructive storms that too often wipe out roads and communication in the area. In The Unwedding, a storm at Broken Point echoes the tempest within as Ellery, unmoored by her husband’s actions, also remains guilt-ridden by a past tragedy.

Isolated from her family and best friend because of the torrential rain, Ellery is alone at a resort where, compounding her heartache, a big wedding is about to begin.

 

When Ellery discovers a dead body, she thinks, not again. But as a fellow guest warns, there is never just one murder.

 

Brava to Condie for creating a page-turning mystery. She left enough clues to make the eventual reveal of a murderer feasible. But a few chapters later, when what appears to be an abrupt continuity error occurs and is followed by a lot of conjecture, I was thrown out of the story.

 

Despite its messy third act, I still recommend The Unwedding. See if you reach the same conclusion I did.

Happy reading!

Ariella Moon

 

 

Witchcraft to Wordcraft: Saturday's Writers Forum

 Happy Witchy Wednesday!

I look forward to seeing many Coachella Valley authors this Saturday, October 5, 2024, when Eduardo Santiago will interview Jayce Carter and Ariella Moon.

To learn more or to register for this free event: CLICK HERE

In the meantime, don't forget to download your FREE Kindle ebook, Spell Check, Book 1, The Teen Wytche Saga. Offer ends October 5, 2024.

Happy writing!

Ariella Moon