a little gambling is fun when you're with me

I finished Califia's Daughters by Leigh Richards before I left for home, and I was right: there certainly was a plot twist. Kind of. And then that entire plot line that drove the first half of the book was completely dropped, and a much stronger, more evocative story emerged. I feel like the book would have been even better had Richards eventually tied up the ends of the first half and expanded the second half, but I suspect a page limit was involved. 

Crimson & Steam also arrived before I left! If you're keeping track at home, C&S doesn't hit the shelves until 12/2/9/09. I've never read or seen a novel pub'd by LoveSpell (sub of Dorchester), so I'm not familiar with what's typical for this brand, but despite being just over 300 pages, the ARC is glossy, beautiful, and super thin. Here's a comparison with Marjorie Liu's The Fire King, which is also just over 300 pages:



It's less than half the size! I love the weight and feel of it, and I hope the final version is also this way. If more paperbacks were printed this thinly, they could fit more on the shelves, and I could fit more in my suitcases (think of all the 800-page epic fantasies I could read!). The contest didn't specify whether it would be a signed ARC or not, but Liz Maverick not only personalized it, she also included a signed bookmark and congratulatory note. Thank you, Liz!



I haven't yet finished reading it, but thus far it's been a delightful bubblebath companion. A full review to come soon.