A critical review of Sarah J Maas’ HoFaS

There will be nothing very bad said and nothing good undeserved. I am now done with chapter 1 of part 1 of this immense book. SJ insisted I expedite my review as forces were gathering -yea for real, not in a novel of hers, which indeed opens with such a threat. No spoilers.

This is a pretty good book so far, as we meet something like elves, only more powerful, dimension gates, and other god-like species coming from other parts of a teeming galaxy. There are all the elements for a rip roaring fantasy fest. And the first chapter fed it all in. It felt like I was being talked to at a level above my intelligence, my perception, and experience with the previous books I had not read. And yet was able to grasp the not so subtle clues to read this book without feeling left out.

The heroine, no names, seems to be wearing modern clothing which adds to the intrigue of SJ’s universe. I liked the fact that everyone has a power and a dark past.

My criticisms are in the style of dispensing all this. SJ, why not just pour it out on us, instead of giving us cut scenes from sliding POVs that mix the details with emotion? But it had been noted many times, it was her style of working up for the payoff. I don’t hate it, everyone writes different. I guess that’s all the criticism I have.

This book looks to be steady thru, no nasty surprises await. I can recommend it. Break to cook pasta for dinner. Further reviewing to come here…

The 2nd chapter is highly engaging. Written in a strident(?) / confident style. The info drops are clean and timed perfectly tho none yet make full sense. I kept reading. This contrasts with the flood of confusion in the prologue, and the disorientating chapter 1. IMHO, SJ is toying with us -her readers. And this, within the first 50 pages a reviewer is honor bound to read.

No regrets buying HoFaS. Perhaps the author could further diversify as she seems talented enough. I would like to read her short stories, maybe a non-fantasy literary fiction novella. More tomorrow…

It’s 1:30am, chapter 2 ends with lots of info dropping but unlike the prologue and chapter 1, it reads easier, and mysteriously, unmentioned names are mentioned, handfuls of them. I like the way each name is different and their purpose / function, different. There is a bit of interest woven in, in the form of special powers, and the veiled snatches of their origins. Very interesting stuff. Engaging level 4/5. Tomorrow, another 3 chapters.

SeTT is much improved…

My game on https://ckyap.itch.io/SeTT has gotten a new lease of life. I had almost abandoned it due to the faulty AI, bugs and kludge patches. Now it’s good to go. Beats me regularly. Still have to do the same for n4s. 

Liew forces retreating due to intervention from God. It’s not over yet, they declared. These die hard sinners who ate the world. But many western kids are on our side now and we're protecting them.

2am, time to wind down for the night. May need to neuter the Liew witchy 6 before sleeping tonight. Rain is falling.

Some errors in SeTT, where a surrounded piece is not able to be eaten. Worked out, Brushed and am changed into sleep attire. 2:30am.

…

Installed ESLint in vscode and it found my errors. Fixing them was satisfying but bugs still remain somewhere in its 2000 lines. Was met with my friends from CF back in school days. We talked about wiping off the beast mark given thru the air and about trying to make legitimate money. I replied that the market for everything is a bit soft. I’d been giving things away instead.

I may disappear from socials and blogs this week (aren’t they also socials?) but you can find me on KoangDeLambe where I will write on my life and learnings in my faith which I know we all share.

I am an owner of a plot of cyberspace again…

I registered a web host and domain. Took me a few hours to figure everything out. But it works well. Quite a professional-looking hosting company. 50RM/mo. Not cheap but should be better than local ones.

I am really looking forward to designing and choosing content for my latest plot on the web after 3 failed attempts, was hacked, spoofed etc.

Well, it’s late now and I could use a good sleep.

 

...

 

The website is KoangDeLambe.com and it will be about my journey thru life, fiath, luck, and mishaps. In a way it's an autobiography you can view like a presentation. I will by illustrating it by hand and including photos and text from my works and collections.

 

Expect to launch by Monday, late.  

 

Just finished sweeping chores. Later, a bit of mopping, work out at 12-2am. Diet a bit more and eat less sweet stuff. Had a latte. We wiped out some of the Liew witches' conveniences since they kept attacking. 

 

...

 

My web host sent me an invoice AFTER my payment -I guess I can ignore it. Feeling a little unsure tho. The Canada-Morocco game was exciting. Caught all 3 goals. Today, will be working on my website 

 

Finished sweeping and am writing my online journals / articles. Will prepare my website materials maybe circa 5pm, an hour to rest and consider things.

Almost 5pm. Need to mop a bit. Grab a fresh bin liner. Will stay up late, draft out my website data and draw some illustrations. Was thinking I would obscure some details for privacy of those I met.

Finished mopping. Dad is out buying noodles for our dinner. Rained briefly. Drank soy milk. Don’t think I will get started on my website until 7-8pm. Every day missed is 2RM wasted. To have something up by Sunday would be good. My life in chapters.

…

Not using the LRT much saves me money for my website fees. Not buying online as well. I am wondering if I should put up more stuff on my site than just a testimony. Maybe there would be branches off the main path for people to explore and sample my wares.

My I-Ching correlated to Modern calendar...

You can download the ePub (eBook) here, which is on my Google Drive. I spent hours formatting it by hand last night and correcting typos, gremlins. Used Sigil and Paint.NET to help do it properly. Yes it is the one with the cyan cover authored by C. K Yap. And it's 100% free.

 

The reason I can't sell this book is that it has material from other books in it. I could weed it out with PD replacements but I didn't, so readers would have the best, and I would not have any pay for it. That's okay.

 

Coding begins again at 4pm after a brief rest. There was a big fight in mindspace involving churches especially in the west. There is something big coming soon and they need to get ready. Being mentally unwell, I could not help much.

Evil witchy Liews and Allen staged a breakout, destroying little kids again. This seems to be a battle waged on and with children and smarter babies. I must think of a way but kids are often so unreasonable for some reason.

Past 2am. Brushed. Will work out soon, code a bit first.

…

I read my short story, Ukulele Travels in entirety, over 20 minutes of speaking non stop. Here is the link, https://ckyap.substack.com/p/i-read-my-whole-short-story-ukulele?r=3lktmw

It’s a touching tale of life’s struggles, you won’t want to miss, and it’s 100% FREE, nonags.

My new fountain pen arriving...

Can’t wait for my Hero pen. Not sure what model it is. At 22RM, it’s pretty much low as you can go. Meanwhile I’m trying to code n4s but it’s, as I said, something bigger than my brain can contain. May take a while. Hoping to finish this July, early.

Liew witches not giving up despite the new powers introduced. Sending their babies home peacefully.

…

Just resting this early afternoon, destroying the die hard Liew army who keep doing harm. Watching Sara Lubratt, a fellow author on YouTube, and her journey to find success and happiness. Such an independent and nice person. I was watching and would like to relate how I overcame jealousy -being floored by a better writer pubbed first on SH years back, also ethnic Chinese IIRC. I went far away as possible and cried a little bit. And over time, I made it a point not to feel so strongly that there was a good writer somewhere inside myself. By and large, I came across life lessons / experiences, and had worthwhile stories to tell which were real home runs, just not told as perfectly as my competition. I let go of my self worth issues and just did the work.

 

Wasn't able to code much as the Liew witchy forces and destroyed western kids interrupted me. Net4Spice will be my final app just like SDU was my final story (I may still write flash now and then). Not sure what I'll be doing with my time come the weekend.

My Hero 329 clone arrived just now. It functions well, looks okay. Was cheap circa 22RM. Some pics,

Writing is effortless, almost gliding. Perhaps thanks to the Pilot ink formula. It does flow quite close to medium, not fine as listed. There is no leaking when capped and uncapped. It is a friction cap but works well. Vacuum press bladder filler performs adequately. Manufacturing quality overall is good. Love the clean lines of the barrel which surrounds, and hoods its nib. 

This was my grail, the Easterbrook Rock Brown, 980RM,

pic courtesy of PenGallery @ Shopee Malaysia

I passed, as I don’t deserve such an expensive writing instrument. Furthermore, it impresses nobody much except one’s self -myself who hasn’t been earning of late.

Having said, everyone should own a nice pen i.e. a well-made fountain pen that performs well and is aesthetically pleasing. Depending on one’s earnings, of course.

…

Now, I have no distractions but to code. Feel like resetting my I-Ching book in Word while I still have my subscription since I can’t code with all the pressure. Will also have to heal many kids butchered by Liew disfigurers. Not sure how yet.

 

Church arguments in these end times. Not sure why this is happening (to me -of all people). But I forgot to brush before going to the mall for lunch. Bought Coke Zero, my favorite drink. Took 4 drafts but I finally finished formatting the I-Ching guide book perfectly. Not sure where to distribute it from.