Monthly Archives: April 2025

Linda Lou’s Library: Lindsay Buroker

Urban fantasy is one of my favorite genres and Lindsay Buroker has quickly become one of my favorite urban fantasy authors. One of the things I most enjoy about Lindsay’s books are that her heroines are not the typical urban fantasy heroines. (Her stories also have enough romantic elements to please my romantic heart.)

The series that introduced me to Lindsay is Death Before Dragons. At first glance, Val Thorvald, the heroine of the series, appears to be very much the typical UF heroine. Why? Well, Val is tall, blonde, wears a lot of leather, and is good with both guns and bladed weapons. How is she not the standard heroine? Val is sixty years old. Admittedly, she’s half-elven so she looks thirty, but still. She’s also divorced and a reluctant absentee mom. (Val is an assassin for the government; when magical bad guys hurt people, Val is in charge of making sure they never do so again. She stays away from her daughter to protect her from possible fallout from her job.) The hero of the series is Lord Zavryd’nokquetal, a dragon. (Dragons can take human form.) Dragons are powerful and arrogant and Lord Zavryd has both traits in spades. When Val and Lord Zavryd are forced to work together, the process is anything but smooth. Oh, I almost forgot – Val also has a magical tiger.

Image from Amazon.com

There are nine books in the Death Before Dragons series:

  • Sinister Magic
  • Battle Bond
  • Tangled Truths
  • Elven Doom
  • False Security
  • Storm Forged
  • Secrets of the Sword I
  • Secrets of the Sword II
  • Secrets of the Sword III

While Val and Zav’s story wraps up with the of the Death Before Dragons series, the storyline continues in the Legacy of Magic series. While Val and Zav make occasional appearances, Matti Puletasi step into the role of heroine. Of all of the heroines in the three interconnected series that make up this storyline, Matti is my favorite. Matti is short, curvy, rides a motorcycle, and refurbishes homes for a living. She’s also half-dwarven and carries a magical dwarven war hammer. The role of hero is taken over by Sarrlevi, an egotistical elven assassin. (As a big fan of Zevran Arainai, the elven assassin in the Dragon Age Origins video game, I support this choice of hero. In fact, in my head, Sarrlevi looks a lot like Zevran.)

Zevran Arainai, Dragon Age Origins

The series starts with Matti being framed for murder and Sarrlevi being the only person seemingly interested in helping her. As the series moves on, our intrepid hero and heroine move from one crisis to another – many of which revolve around Matti’s dwarven mother; the mother Matti long thought dead.

Image from Amazon.com

There are eight books in the Legacy of Magic series:

  • Hammered
  • Betrayed
  • Trolled
  • Tested
  • Wrenched
  • Fused
  • Wanted
  • Cursed

After the events of the Legacy of Magic series, the storyline concludes in the Tracking Trouble series. Heroine Arwen Forester is a socially awkward introvert; she’s also an archer, tracker, and forager. Much to Arwen’s dismay, she is also half dark elf, and is always in danger of being found and captured by her mother’s people. Arwen puts her skills to the test to track, rescue, and befriend the hero, genetically engineered half-dragon super soldier, Azerdash Starblade. (With a name like that, he has to be the hero.)

Image from Amazon.com

There are five books in the Tracking Trouble series:

  • Marked by Magic
  • Bound by Blood
  • Driven by Destiny
  • Pursued by Peril
  • Tested by Temptation

If you enjoy urban fantasy, I highly recommend these books. There’s a lot of action and so many wonderful secondary characters. I enjoy the fact that the characters introduced in earlier books continue to make appearances throughout the series.

Have you read any of these books? If so, what did you think? If you like urban fantasy, who is your favorite author?

Friday Funnies

Why?

I recently discovered that I have worn through the sole on my right bedroom slipper. I have no idea how or why. I’ve even checked my other shoes and none of them show the same wear pattern. I’m not a morning person, so I’m pretty sure I’m not pirouetting  my way through the house in the mornings. Or am I?🤔🩰

Winding down and revving up

Kenn and I both retired from federal civil service in 2019 (me in April, him in December). In August of 2020, Kenn started a job at the local agricultural research center. As time passed, he asked if I would be interested in similar job. I wasn’t opposed to the idea, but I also wasn’t necessarily looking for a job. As an introvert, it’s easy for me to go into hermit mode; I’m perfectly fine being at home for extended periods. However, Kenn talked me up to one of the scientists, I met with him, and I started my job at the research center in July 2022.

Even though I wasn’t looking for a job, I’ve really enjoyed mine. I get out of the house a couple of days a week, my boss and coworkers are great, I get to spend time outside (as opposed to a cubicle), and I get to perform a variety of tasks. The atmosphere is extremely laid back and my schedule is flexible. If Kenn and I decide to take a road trip for a month, there isn’t any drama; our bosses just say, “See you when you get back.”

Our boss decided the team needed hard hats while implementing one of his more “interesting” projects.

Due to the types of positions we have, our bosses have to renew our jobs each year – which has never been a problem until now. Why now? Well, we work on a government facility. I’ll let you put the pieces together. As a matter of fact, I had already been notified that my position had been renewed for another year only to be told a couple of weeks later that I wouldn’t be renewed after all. I don’t blame my boss, he has done all he can; these decisions are being made by individuals further up the chain. Kenn has been told that his position likely will not be renewed in August.

We’re fortunate. Kenn and I don’t need our jobs. The extra money, while nice, isn’t necessary to our survival. I really feel for all of the full-time employees who have lost their jobs – most with little to no notice. Being a government employee isn’t easy; for some reason, we’ve always gotten a bad rap. (There’s nothing like working your butt off only to get told how lazy government employees are.) And now, we’re being demonized even more. However, if the loss of my little part-time position makes it easier for even one full-time employee to keep their job, I’m all for it.

The one thing that has surprised me about all of this is how emotional I have been. At times, I’m really sad. I have truly enjoyed the last three years. At other times, I’m angry. Don’t tell me that I’m good for another year just to turn around and say, “LOL! Just kidding!” Right now, my primary emotion is… honestly, I’m not quite sure how I’m feeling. At this point, I’m just ready for it to be over with. If they were to come to me tomorrow and say I could stay for another year, I’m not sure I would; it’s hard to stay motivated with the sword of Damocles hanging over your head. I’ve already made plans to fill my “extra” time with volunteer work. I’ll also have no excuse not to finish going through that last box of I-have-no-idea-what-to-do-with-this stuff that belonged to my parents. Of course, I’ve gotten a little teary-eyed while writing this – and I rarely cry. Sigh. As the tattoo on my forearm reminds me daily, this too shall pass.

My tattoo on the day I got it – February 28, 2015.

Since I’m pouting, I can’t even think of any questions to post here. So, hit me with your random thoughts or facts.