what I’ve been doing instead of writing

Reading Sherwood Smith’s The Fox, sequel to Inda, that’s what.

Here’s another reason why I’m reading so much more non-fiction these days: non-fiction is a lot easier to put down than a really good novel is. Non-fiction does not have me staying up past midnight, or have me pick reading over ensuring that everyone has clean underwear, or cause extended nursing sessions where the baby falls asleep because I’m reading “just one more chapter”.

As you can tell, this book is pretty good.

If you like complex and detailed and juicy worldbuilding, lots of political intrigue, and adventures on the high seas, you’ll like these books. My big complaint is that there are too many characters and cultures and languages (some of which have similar-sounding names) to keep track of sometimes. I read Inda in January and I’d forgotten many of the secondary characters by the time I started reading The Fox (I think I’m up to speed now). When people have at least three names; first names, nicknames and family names (with the latter names all ending in Vayir), it can get confusing. Oh, and there are too many references to pleasure houses and what goes on in them for my taste. But then, I’m more of a prude than most people, so your mileage may vary. Aside from those bits, the story is immensely engaging (and not very graphic).

I can’t wait for the next book to come out in paperback (and by the time it does, I’ll have forgotten those secondary charcaters again). I’m going to interlibrary loan it. 😀