I did hardly anything on Saturday. Because why? Because I was finishing WHEN EVIL CHOOSES YOU, Book 3 of Dan Antion’s Dreamer’s Alliance Series.
Having read Book 3, I can see why Dan Antion’s beta readers encouraged him to write KNUCKLEHEADS, which is both Book 1 and a prequel to the action in Books 2 and 3: Reading KNUCKLEHEADS isn’t necessary to understand the subsequent books, but it makes you feel on surer ground and it makes the plot payoffs much more satisfying.
In Book 3, a character who was an annoyance in Book 2 becomes an active threat. Zach gathers a team — some deliberately and some by chance — to counter and, he hopes, to neutralize that threat. Possibly my favorite part of the book is the strength of the female characters, especially how Antion doesn’t think “strong” means “just like a manly man”. Can the women use a gun or street fight moves or mama-bear fury when necessary? Absolutely. But they also cry with fear for their loved ones and insist on healthy food for people with far more instantly lethal things to worry about. I would LIKE to imagine I would turn into a berserker with superhuman powers if my children were threatened, but I BELIEVE I would come closer to approaching Cynthia or Abbie or Jane.
Whatever Dan writes next, Imma read it.
My nails this week played a trick on me:
The red base color and red floral stamp is Phoenix’s Fighting For Love And Passion, and the pale base color is Maniology’s Skin Deep. There is also a floral pattern in Skin Deep on the tips of the red nails, but that’s where the trick comes in: I forgot about the Dread Metallic Action. Apparently, some metallics suck the color out of other polishes, or bleed through them or some such. The result is that my lovely, crisp florals on the red nails softly faded away. Bleh. The butterfly was stamped with Maniology’s Droplet and filled in with Lemming Laquer’s Baba Yaga. The plate was Maniology’s M019.
A WRITING PROMPT FROM ME TO YOU: Something or someone softly fades away.
MA
Dan Antion
March 15, 2023 at 8:14amOh my goodness, what a week to be late catching up with blog posts. I blame the weather, but it’s no excuse. I am so glad you enjoyed When Evil Chooses You, Marian. Those beta readers you refer to also helped me keep those women in character – proper character – I should add. I had copies of the draft marked with, “she wouldn’t say this” and “DO NOT delete this – this is perfect!”
As far as that next thing I write – I think you’re going to like it.
Thank you so much!
Marian Allen
March 15, 2023 at 9:45amI’m sure I will! I was tickled to see my vegetable “recipe”, although it was in book 1, not book 2. 😀
Dan Antion
March 15, 2023 at 11:58amUgh. This is what I get for writing and reworking them at the same time. You acknowledgement is in When Evil Chooses You.
Teagan Riordain Geneviene
March 15, 2023 at 1:08pmThanks for sharing your insights about Dan’s book, Marian. I’ve really enjoyed this series and look forward to the possibility of more in that story universe. Hugs to you both.
Dan Antion
March 17, 2023 at 8:13amThanks so much for visiting here, Teagan. I appreciate your support.
Darlene
March 17, 2023 at 8:38amA great review of Dan’s book. I loved Knuckleheads and look forward to reading the next two. I love your nails!
Marian Allen
March 17, 2023 at 9:14amThanks, Darlene!
Dan Antion
March 17, 2023 at 9:27amDidn’t I tell you there would be great nails? I can barely clip mine without cutting myself.
Gwen M. Plano
March 17, 2023 at 9:08amThank you for sharing your wonderful review of Dan’s book. He is a natural storyteller, and like you, I look forward to the next adventure. 😊
Dan Antion
March 17, 2023 at 9:29amThanks Gwen. Marian also weaves some very interesting stories. I appreciate her support.
John W. Howell
March 17, 2023 at 10:34amA super review, Marian. Congratulations to Dan. I would love to comment about the nails but…I don’t know enough about them. You mentioned the woods in Southern Indiana in your bio. My daughter lives in Nashville which is also in the woods.
Dan Antion
March 17, 2023 at 12:18pmAll I know about the nails, John, is that there’s a whole process going on to get there. I appreciate Marian’s support, and her understanding nature. I credited her for a recipe, but I mentioned it in the wrong book.
John W. Howell
March 17, 2023 at 5:43pmSounds like a Dan thing for sure.
Marian Allen
March 17, 2023 at 1:49pmIs she over-run with deer, as I am? Deer in the yard, groundhog on the porch…. It’s a regular Wind in the Willows around here.
John W. Howell
March 17, 2023 at 5:37pmThey have a dog named Jake who the deer are not fond of.
Marian Allen
March 18, 2023 at 9:13amYeah, we never had this problem when we had a dog. One of the next-door daughters cares for a now-spayed-and-neutered pod of semi-feral cats, so we can’t have an outside dog, and an inside dog wouldn’t help with the deer. So we have no dog, no garden, but plenty of wildlife up-close and personal.
John W. Howell
March 18, 2023 at 10:41amWe have plenty of deer here (Austin burb) We keep all our plants and dogs inside the fence.
Kim Smyth
March 17, 2023 at 10:50amLoved the review and your lovely nail art…I’m a fan of both myself!
Marian Allen
March 17, 2023 at 1:50pmOooo! A fellow nail art devotee! Do you have a favorite YouTuber? Have you tried Maniology?
Liz Gauffreau
March 17, 2023 at 6:21pmCongratulations to Dan on the wonderful review!
willowdot21
March 18, 2023 at 2:46amGreat review of a great book I agree the books can stand alone but read in order they are absolutely phenomenal!
Love the nails! 💜
Marian Allen
March 18, 2023 at 9:15amI agree with on the books being best in order. I also appreciate ones that can be read stand-alone. Then I can go back and read earlier ones and appreciate the later ones more. Thank you for the kind words on the nails. 🙂
willowdot21
March 18, 2023 at 11:34amLove pretty nails and have mine done every six weeks.
I really enjoyed the books so much 💜🙂