Plot Points #4: January Edition

Plot Points, Or, The Media That’s Shaped Me This Month

Welcome to Plot Points, where I share fantasy-related media, books, non-fiction pieces, and various forms of entertainment that have caught my attention over the past month for one reason or another. If I share them here, know that I think they’re worthy of note. 

I’m always open to recommendations, so if there’s something fantasy-related (this includes books, podcasts, videos, artwork, games, music, video channels, newsletters, and magazines) you think I should know about, drop me a line. I’ll make sure to give you a shoutout in the next issue of Plot Points, too! 

Let’s get into it…

Non-Fiction (Articles, Newsletters, Books, etc)

• What Does A Happily Ever After Look Like? 

A long article on the images, psychology, and colors featured on the covers of romance novels throughout the ages. How does this relate to the Fantasy Genre? Psychology determines a great many things in our world, and the changes in one genre have been known to effect change in others. Especially with modern trends of genre crossovers and blends.

• How Sarah J. Maas Built a Sprawling Fantasy Multiverse

I’m late to the Maas-phenomenon, but I found this article of interest. For the last year, I’ve wondered what all the fuss is over ‘Throne of Glass’ and ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’.

By reading the article, I learned that Sarah and I aren’t so different in a few key ways, which I found inspiring. But I also discovered she obviously has a vision to match her immense drive. If you’re a fan of her work, you’ll definitely want to give the article linked above a read. And if you aren’t a fan of hers yet, as I wasn’t, read the article anyway, and tell me if you don’t come away with a sense of respect for what she’s built.

You can’t help but respect someone that made their debut at 16, and has only grown since then with more than 15 books to her credit.

---

Fiction (This doesn’t need explaining, does it?)

• Thanks to following the talented Marie Brennan over at Swan Tower, I was charmed by a short slice-of-life story this month. What made this different was both the length of the piece and the fact that nothing was explained beforehand. The reader had to figure out what was happening by paying attention. Nothing was spoon-fed to us. And in that difference, and the word choices, and the formatting, that short piece of fiction was charming and intriguing all at once. I was left with a sense of “and then what happened?”, as all good stories should leave their readers. Go check it out!

Embers Burning In the Night

• Another shorter piece of fiction I enjoyed this month was “A Hired Blade”, by JC Rycroft. This one is an introductory novella that…well, I’ll let the author tell you.

“A Hired Blade introduces you to Des, our sellsword main character, and to her world. It’s romantic, a little spicy, tragic, and an exploration of what it means to be a woman and a sellsword in that world.”

• A Hired Blade was pretty good, but what’s even better is the follow-up novel, The Blood-Born Dragon. The enchanting (see what I did there?) cover reaches out and grabs you, but the opening scene is everything we want our first pages to be. Fast-paced, gritty, fast and tense.

If sapphic fantasy and dragons are your thing, and you don’t mind a little blood and dirt, you’ll likely enjoy this one. I have an incredibly hard time putting it down to go to sleep!

So tell me, have you read any fantasy that captured you over the past month? Watched any movies or fantasy-related videos you think I should watch? Let me know, and if you enjoyed this issue - tell your fantasy-loving friends!
(Stay tuned for some big news coming soon!)