Books read in 2022: No. 23 -- The Written (Emaneska #1)

by Ben Galley

Started: August 13

Finished: August 31

Notes: I've had this one on my Kindle for a long while now, so I thought I'd give it a try. I've never read this author before. I have to admit the unusual cover initially drew my attention.

Mini review: The writing here I only found to be fair at best, something a little editing could help, but the world is somewhat interesting and the characters are very interesting. For those who love heroic fantasy and dragons, this one could be for you.

Beer of the Week: Shiner Hefeweizen

Beer score: 7.1

Company: Spoetzl Brewery
ABV: 5.4
IBU: NA

Has a cloudy golden color as you pour it, while giving off a slight smell of lemon.

Smooth with a light bitterness and a fruity, lemon aftertaste that's not overly strong. A fantastic drink served cold almost to the point of freezing.

Apparently contains clover honey and lemon peel. I could drink this stuff all day long. Even the foam tastes good.

On Why You Have Not Seen Much Writing from Me the Last Few Years

It's been a long while since I've had a personal post here, this blog of late mainly focusing upon beer and whatever I've been reading. It might seem things are quiet, and I suppose they are in a way. However, occasionally I am asked online when my next novel will be released, and there have been a few times I've been asked to submit a story for one anthology or another yet I've declined. I've also stepped back from writing or working with various websites.

So it would appear there is no new writing from me in at least a few years now.

There's truth to that, though I have been writing. Some. A little. Here and there.

Why is this?

I've told very few people about this, but the truth is that for the last few years I have been taking heart medications that often keep me befuddled to some extent. My head is often hazy and it is difficult to think. Even writing a blog post can take a good long while. It's an extreme struggle for the words to come.

But the pills are keeping me alive, so there's that.

On the plus side, I have completed the first two novels in another Kron Darkbow trilogy, and I'm currently (slowly) working on the third novel. If I ever finish, I'll release all three at the same time.

Besides being difficult to write, is the quality of my writing suffering? In truth, probably. It's just so difficult to string words together. Some days are better than others, but it's never easy.

Will I ever be able to stop taking this medication? Not for the foreseeable future.

I write this post just to let some people know, readers and fellows of mine in the publishing world. I'm not seeking sympathy here, mainly because I don't feel this is a tragedy. I'm sure there are some writers who would find all this quite tragic, who can't imagine not writing or who are horrified at the thought of it being so difficult to write, but I'm not one of them. For the first time in my life I can imagine myself not writing, and I'm okay with that if the day should ever come when I have to put down my pen and step away from the keyboard.

But I'm not there yet. I'm still writing, a little. I'm generally enjoying life and have the best of women by my side.

Time will tell what the future will bring, but it's never what we expect.

Beer of the Week: Redhook Long Hammer IPA

Beer score: 5.4

Company: Redhook Brewery
ABV: 6.2
IBU: 44

Pours a light golden color into a clear glass. There are hints if citrus and pine in the smelling.

In tasting, there's a little burnt sweetness, but there's not much of the sourness that comes with some IPAs. However, that sourness will show up if you let this beer sit a while and grow to room temperature. There's not a lot of bitterness here at first, but there is some as you swallow. There are also more hints of citrus and pine in the drinking.

Not a bad beer. Not a great beer, either, but I wouldn't turn one down unless there were better beers at hand.

Beer of the Week: Labatt Blue Light

Beer score: 4.1

Company: Labatt Brewing Company
ABV: 4.0
IBU: 10

This rarely happens for me, but I actually like the light version of this beer a little more than I do the non-light version.

Pours a light golden color while giving off faint hints of beer smell. In the mouth it has a weak, watery bitter sweetness similar to most made-for-America light beers. There's not as much carbonation here as some light beers, so that's not bad.

Drinkable, wet, but nothing special here. Worth drinking if you're handed one and you want a light beer, but I wouldn't go out of my way to drink one.

Books read in 2022: No. 22 -- Shadow of a Dark Queen

by Raymond E. Feist

Started: July 26

Finished: August 13

Notes: So far this year I've read no fantasy, and it's time to correct that. Plus, I've been meaning to read something from this author for a good while now, having heard plenty good about his works.

Mini review: This one surprised me. It started off in what I felt was a fairly generic fashion with a typical story of a village boy who runs into trouble and must flee to go off on some grand adventure, but then about halfway through this novel became something more akin to Glen Cook's The Black Company books, dealing with mercenaries and war, etc. The writing was good, though not great, and I can't say I loved this book, but I also didn't hate it. I'll likely give the author another chance at some point in the future.

Beer of the Week: Bud Light Lime

Beer score: 3.5

Company: Anheuser-Busch 
ABV: 4.2
IBU: 10

One of my higher ranking beers from the Budweiser brand of beers. Not that this is a great beer, but the lime flavor alone helps just a tad, dissolving some of that noxious bad beer flavor.

From the bottle into the glass it pours a pale straw color while giving off scents of lime and cheap beer.

Plenty of carbonation in this one, which is common among light beers, and has plenty of that fake lime flavoring.

This makes a decent brew for really hot days when you've been out working in the yard, though there are better options available.

Beer of the Week: Estes Park Renegade IPA

Beer score: 8.4

Company: Estes Park Brewery
ABV: 5.8
IBU: NA

This India Pale Ale pours a dark amber color while giving off scents of pine and citrus.

There is no skunky tangy flavor that comes in some IPAs. Toasty caramel flavors will hit you at first, but this beer grows in bitterness as you swallow.

In fact, this is the most bitter beer I've ever tasted that wasn't a stout. It's very wet without being watered down, making it a good thirst quencher.

It's a great bear. I honestly can't say enough good about it. Try this.