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Book Review: Ventures in Vermilion, by J.T. Thompson

I joined Your Paper Quest for a while. It’s a self and indie-published monthly book subscription. J.T. Thomson‘s Ventures in Vermilion was included in one of the boxes.

Wanted: a secretary. Must not be put off by the occasional dead body. Inquire with Mr. Istovir Holviiryn at 221B Baker Street. Salary at standard Guild rates. Lodging included.

Gnome ex-healer Seraphina “Wiz” Wistozus has only a few weeks to prove to the Adventurers Guild that she can still pay back the gold she owes them, despite the disastrous mission—her first and only—that ruined her health and magic. The Guild isn’t forgiving when it comes to matters of nonpayment, and her very freedom is at stake.

The problem is, there aren’t a lot of career opportunities for a mage healer who can no longer heal. So when a friend brings her an advertisement for a secretarial position, she’s determined to try her luck, no matter how strange the ad is. Or the work itself. Or Istovir Holviiryn, a night elf whose incredible detective skills are more than a little disconcerting.

Wiz’s life as a Guild mage healer was over almost before it began. Now she must adjust to her new situation, and fast, because this job isn’t just her best option. It’s her only option.

This was adorable. It is a Watson and Holmes retelling where Watson is a one-armed, female, ex-D&D-style adventuring gnome and Holmes is a dark or night elf. But these two are so much warmer than the original, in my opinion. The friendship that grows between them is platonic, but amazingly supportive. I loved all of the small ways Thompson found to show us meaningful moments. (I think the ever-hidden silver coin, which provided enrichment time in the apartment, was my favorite.) I will 100% be looking for more books by Thompson, and if I’m lucky, this will become a series.

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Book Review: Bound by Blood and Oath, by Rachel Rodilosso

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I was recently lucky enough to win a giveaway on Instagram that included a copy of Rachel Rodilosso‘s Bound by Blood and Oath.

Possessing magic is a crime, but so too is waging a war against the king she was born to protect…

Vera’s only wish is to live a quiet life without the magic that took everything from her, but when a new decree by the king she was born to protect brings his soldiers to her town of exiles, Vera is forced to step out of the shadows.

Wracked with guilt and anger, Vera swears to avenge the fallen. To do that, Vera enlists the help of the mysterious War King, the leader of a ruthless sect of Forsaken hellbent on causing the crown as much suffering as the crown has caused them.

Vera soon discovers that the War King is not who she thought he was, and the more she gets to know him, the harder it becomes to keep not only her forbidden magic in check, but her heart too.

As old scars resurface, she must learn to embrace the magic she was taught to fear before she loses everyone she swore to protect.

This took me a long time to finally get interested in. The beginning is slow and maybe even too long. Past the halfway mark, however, the plot picks up, and I became more invested. Despite that, I think this was only an OK story. The writing is fine, and I liked the characters well enough. But there’s nothing particularly new or interesting here. Vera’s reluctance to use her magic (an essential plot point) didn’t really hold up to scrutiny. Was her history really any more traumatic than the rest of the Forsaken? And everything happened too quickly and too easily. I liked it enough to read another Rodilosso book, but not enough to rush out and find one.