Sunday Snippet: Not Enough Hope

Very intense and bizarre weather this past week. We had a significant warm up, which melted a lot of the snow. Then we had a ton of rain followed by high water and flooding. To top it off, the temperatures dropped again into the teens and twenties and we got more icy rain and snow. Seriously, it's crazy.

Had a very busy work week with projects landing in my inbox. I'm happy to have the work flowing and keeping me busy. Oddly, my writing time is shorter but I'm getting a lot done.

Had a solid week of television viewing. Introduced a couple of additional shows and I'll be adding a new one next week.

Caught two episodes of Snoopy in Space: The Search for Life and finished up the first season. I'll start season two this week.

Started a new two-part Queens of Mystery and rather enjoyed the episode. I love the aunts and I'm starting to really enjoy the secondary characters. Matilda is such a great character even if she frustrates me sometimes.

Finished up the second half of Silent Witness's opening for season sixteen. Started a new two-parter and enjoyed it.

Watched three episodes of Classic Who. I should finish the arc up this week and move on to the next one.

Caught two more episodes of The Alaska Triangle. I have so much fun watching this show. I really love the haunted places and mysterious forces vignettes.

Enjoyed two episodes of The Muppets. The show has really grown on me even if it'll never replace the original in my mind.

Watched two more episodes of Harrow. I'm quite enamored with this show and I hope things play out the way I'm expecting them to. There's a twist I didn't quite expect and I love it and it also makes me think things will fall where I think they're going to. I can't wait to find out.

Caught another episode of Peak Practice and even though I knew what to expect, the death did not play the way I thought it would. I'm not sure if that's a good or bad thing yet.

Enjoyed two more MasterClass lessons with Es Devlin. She discussed scale and architecture along with storytelling with light. The light lesson fascinated me. I'm a sucker for well-lit—not to be confused with brightly lit—settings. I'm glad I dropped into this class.

Watched two episodes of Paranoid. I'm quite taken with this show. I love the intrigue and mystery and the dynamic of the forming relationships. I think this one might end up with something of a gotcha and I'm quietly waiting with anticipation to see if I'm right.

Caught two episodes of Classic Rugrats. One of my favorites, "Meet the Carmichaels," gave me some happy joy for the week. This show fills me with so much nostalgia.

Finished up season three of Chicago Med and started season four. A lot went down on the three finale. I'm still trying to wrap my head around where everyone currently is in the opening of four.

I watched the last available episode of The Brokenwood Mysteries. I have two behind-the-scenes specials to watch and then I'll have to impatiently wait for anything new.

Finished up an older episode of Blue Heelers. I'll be adding more of these to my weekly lineup. Looking forward to getting back into this one.

Also caught another episode of Star Trek: Discovery. Man, this series really brings a great cast of characters together. I'm never bored and I'm glad I'm watching the second season right now because I'm getting to know Pike at the best possible time with the new Trek arriving soon. I can't wait.

That's pretty much it for this week's viewing update. Tonight's post is from Not Enough Hope, a novella that puts a reunion on hold with fae court intrigue.

Here's the mini-blurb:

Early Gibbons walks away from her position in the fae court—and Salem Powell—to forge her own path in the human realm. When she discovers a vengeance hound on her trail, she returns to the land of fae to find out who unleashed the beast, which may be tricky since Salem is the leader and she can't discount him as the culprit.

And a preview snippet…

Salem waited until the ashes cooled before he started home. He'd shut everything out for the duration of Glenda's final rest. Blank. Cold. Alone. Wallowing in grief? An emotion he couldn't afford and didn't deserve to have.

Yet he grieved. More for the loss of his friend instead of the love of his life. Early would forever have that sole distinction.

And he kind of hated her for holding the title.

Making his way along the overgrown path, he opened up his mind to other bits and pieces. No one asked his permission to let loose a curse. Technically, they didn't have to gain consent, but most of the fae court respected him enough to enquire. A vengeance hound proved difficult to summon. And Salem probably wouldn't grant allowance. Hounds—vengeance, hell, shadow—tended to be used underground, definitely not out in the open. Which meant someone wanted his position. Why else would they send a creature into the human realm after Early?

If they kept Salem distracted, a power grab would be much easier. He'd have to fight to keep the mantle of leadership. Oddly, he found he wanted to, which not only surprised him, the idea shook him up.

He hadn't asked for the responsibility of leading the fae court. Instead, he'd had it thrust upon him on the Wise One's death. Salem refused the moniker, stating he hadn't gained enough years to be considered in the same realm as their former master. He accepted the title of Chief Magistrate and performed his duties with as much fairness and diplomacy as possible. Which didn't always please everyone.

Especially some of the more volatile fae factions. Peace had reigned for more than a decade, the result of the Wise One's hard work and diplomacy. Some of the more aggressive sects—the mesmers, the shifters, and the mindbenders—champed at the bit to inspire conflict and dredge up old grudges.

Salem took the trail that curved around the lake then skirted the village square before turning onto the lane leading to the proper residences of the court. Even the homes in the small town had strong divisions, with like-minded groups sticking together. The task of discovering who unleashed a vengeance hound weighed heavily on his mind. But he couldn't put off starting the search.

I love writing this one. Internal conflict with an external push is always fun.

 

That's it for this week.

Cheers!

Skye