For readers who want more details before diving in
Many readers hate spoilers (I do!), so I try to keep them out of the descriptions of my books. But many other readers like to know certain things about a book before they invest time in it. Like whether characters will go through traumatic experiences. Or how significant romance is to the plot. Or if there are sex scenes (and if so, how explicit). Or whether anyone dies. Or if there’s a happy ending.
If you don’t want to know in advance, this page is not for you. Otherwise, read on, clicking “show answer” for any question that’s important to you. You’ll get basic details that do not name the characters and, in some cases, an “if you can handle [Famous Book], you’ll be OK with this novel” comparison.
Want an answer to a topic I didn’t cover? Message me, and I’d be happy to give it.
For The Opposite of Magic
Q: Violence or other traumatic experiences?
Protagonists’ lives are endangered, and the lives of one characters’ parents are threatened, as they go up against the antagonists. Some protagonists are injured in a battle scene and recover in a hospital. Several antagonists are killed, some by another antagonist. And one protagonist discovers another protagonist withheld key information. No animals are killed or injured.
If you can handle Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, you should be OK with The Opposite of Magic. No protagonists are killed. (If you can handle Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, you’ll definitely be fine here.)
Q: Character death?
No protagonists die. Several antagonists do, though, in a fight scene that’s traumatic for the protagonists.
If you can handle the fight scene in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, you should be OK with The Opposite of Magic.
Q: Romance?
Two main characters get involved in a romantic relationship over the course of the book. Their relationship accounts for perhaps 40 percent of the plot; the fantasy adventure story is the key plot driver. But the two elements work in concert with one another. (I like romance with my plot, not plot as window dressing for romance.)
Q: Sex scenes?
One. It’s not off-screen; it’s also not particularly explicit or long.
Q: Love triangle?
Q: Angst?
Everyone defines that a little bit differently, but I’d say it’s not angsty overall. It has some tense and emotionally challenging moments.
Q: Virginal heroine trope?
Q: Happy ending?
Yes.
Q: C’mon, give me more than that.
OK, fine, the love interests end up together. That’s what you wanted to know, right? Sheesh.
For Subversive
Q: Violence or other traumatic experiences?
One protagonist narrowly avoids assassination, a traumatic experience that affects other characters’ emotions and actions for the rest of the book. And one protagonist narrowly escapes death after an encounter with an antagonist.
If you can handle Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, you should be OK with Subversive. No one is killed (people or animals), and there are no battle scenes.
Q: Yes, but what about non-violent trauma?
This is more of a spoiler. You’re sure you want to know?
OK: One protagonist is entrapped into signing a magical contract that gives another character a tremendous amount of power over them.
Q: Character death?
Q: Romance?
Two characters develop feelings for each other against their better judgment. One of them suspects magic is playing an unanticipated role, and the other is anxious to avoid pressing that character into an unwanted relationship.
The evolving situation between these characters powers about 40 percent of the plot, with fantasy and political intrigue elements as primary drivers. (I like romance with my plot, not plot as window dressing for romance.)
Q: Sex scenes?
Yes. There’s one scene of moderate length and explicitness, and several shorter and less explicit scenes. These occur in a dream state the characters refer to as “dreamside,” and they’re all consensual.
Q: Love triangle?
Nope. (There’s a point where you might think it’s headed that way, but nope, if you define “love triangle” the way I do: One character can’t make up their mind about two other characters with feelings for them.)
Q: Angst?
Yes, but it’s not melodramatic (I hope not, anyway!). Though the novel isn’t lighthearted and the characters deal with increasingly stressful situations, they always find ways to cope.
Q: Virginal heroine trope?
Q: Happy ending?
This is the first book in a trilogy, so it’s Act 1 of 3, and the ending reflects that. The novel wraps up some key plot threads, but others will continue to spool out over the second and third books. The romantic plot thread is not wrapped up here, and the main characters remain at odds with each other.
Q: I’m only investing my time in this if you promise the characters get a happy ending in book three. Do they?
You’re sure you want to know?
Certain?
OK, fine, yes. They do.
For Radical
Q: Violence or other traumatic experiences?
The narrow miss one character has in Subversive continues to affect other characters’ emotions and actions in this book. Several characters’ lives are endangered, one seriously. No main characters are killed (people or animals); one secondary character dies off-screen. If you can handle Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, you should be OK with the level of violence in Radical.
The scene that could be the most distressing for readers involves a discussion of past trauma: One character recounts (not in extended detail) the sexual abuse they endured, starting at age twelve. The character’s brother was the abuser.
If you need to know more before deciding whether to give this book a try, message me and let me know what information would help.
Q: Character death?
One character dies. It’s not a main character, and it happens off-screen.
Q: Romance?
The characters who developed feelings for each other against their better judgment in Subversive continue to struggle with those emotions in this book.
The evolving situation between these characters powers about 40 percent of the plot, with fantasy and political intrigue elements as primary drivers. (I like romance with my plot, not plot as window dressing for romance.)
Q: Sex scenes?
Yes, a few scenes of moderate length and explicitness, and several shorter and less explicit scenes. They’re all consensual.
Q: Love triangle?
No, if you define “love triangle” the way I do: One character can’t make up their mind about two other characters with feelings for them.
Q: Angst?
Yes, but it’s not melodramatic (I hope not, anyway!). Though the novel isn’t lighthearted and the characters deal with increasingly stressful situations, they find ways to cope.
Q: Virginal heroine trope?
Q: Happy ending?
This is the second book in a trilogy, so it’s Act 2 of 3, and the ending reflects that. The novel wraps up some key plot threads, but others will continue to spool out over the third book. There’s a semi-cliffhanger ending: Stop reading here if you don’t want to know anything about that.
You want to know?
No one is in immediate danger at the end, but the ultimate fate of one character does hang in the balance.
Q: I’m only investing my time in this if you promise the characters get a happy ending in book three. Do they?
You’re sure you want to know?
Certain?
OK, fine, yes. They do.
For Revolutionary
Q: Violence or other traumatic experiences?
Characters’ lives are endangered, in several cases seriously. (Knowing more about what happens to them is a spoiler, so don’t read past this paragraph unless you want those details upfront.) No animals are endangered or killed. If you can handle Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, you should be OK with the level of violence and dangerous situations in Revolutionary.
Stop reading here if you don’t want those (partial) spoilers about characters’ fates.
Ready?
Two characters appear to die, one off-screen and one on. Both survive.
Q: Character death?
That’s a definite spoiler. Are you sure you want to know?
Absolutely certain?
It’s not too late to turn back …
OK: Two characters appear to die, one off-screen and one on. Both survive.
Q: Romance?
Yep!
The evolving situation between the main characters powers about 40 percent of the plot, with fantasy and political intrigue elements as primary drivers. (I like romance with my plot, not plot as window dressing for romance.)
Q: Sex scenes?
Yes. There’s one scene of moderate length and explicitness, and several shorter and less explicit scenes. They’re all consensual.
Q: Love triangle?
Q: Angst?
If you’ve read the first two books, you have a pretty good idea of what to expect on that score. (In short: Yes. But not, I hope, over the top.)
Q: Virginal heroine trope?
Q: Happy ending?
Well, this is the last book in a trilogy.
You want me to spell it out?
You really don’t want to wait and see for yourself?
OK: Yes, of course there’s a happy ending. What do you take me for?
