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A Bad Price to Pay for Love
In the third installment of The Bad Series, A Bad Price to Pay for Love, by Jerry F. Westinger, readers are drawn into a captivating blend of fantasy and mystery. Nella Dormanni eagerly reunites with her colleague, Lieutenant Mainu, only to discover that he is in New Montres not for leisure but to investigate the disappearance of a wealthy socialite. Nella’s expertise becomes invaluable as they uncover layers of deception and intrigue far beyond their expectations. Meanwhile, Thessa faces a challenging murder case at the esteemed Garden of Lilies, questioning the city guard’s conclusions. With her loyal friend Corlis by her side, Thessa embarks on a quest for justice, unearthing secrets that could shake the city to its core.
This novel skillfully encompasses themes of collaboration, crime-solving, and resilience. Nella Dormanni is a well-rounded character, displaying admirable traits such as a strong sense of duty and dedication. Her tendency to internalize criticism and doubt herself adds depth to her character, making her more relatable and engaging. This vulnerability enhances readers’ investment in her story. The close relationship between Nella and Mainu, including their intimate moments, enriches the narrative without overshadowing the plot or compromising their mission. It serves as a portrayal of their vulnerability and loyalty to each other, adding a layer of emotional depth to the story. Thessa, despite her vulnerabilities and moments of self-doubt, emerges as a likable character due to her humanity and eagerness to connect with others. Her journey resonates as she grapples with an identity crisis and searches for a sense of belonging amidst uncertainty. Her determination and growth throughout the novel are compelling and inspiring. The fictional world of New Montres is vividly brought to life, with its stark contrast between high society and the slums highlighting themes of social disparity. This setting strongly mirrors real-world issues, making the story both fantastical and relevant.
A Bad Price to Pay for Love, by Jerry F. Westinger, is a highly engaging read that offers a rich tapestry of characters, intricate plotlines, and thought-provoking themes. It is a must-read for fans of fantasy and mystery, promising a journey filled with suspense, emotion, and insightful commentary on society.
Pages: 315 | ASIN : B0D58H91D8
Finding Her Own Place In Life
“A Bad Time To Meet The Family” follows Thessa and Corlis as they navigate high society and face deceitful challenges that threaten to tear apart their friendship. What were some new ideas you wanted to explore in this book?
At the end of “A Bad Place to Be a Hero”, Thessa resolves to give up her life as a robber and settle down in New Montres. At that point, it’s a satisfying ending to her part of the story─but, in truth, this sort of thing isn’t as simple as making one decision. Someone who spent twenty years being pampered in a marble palace isn’t just going to strike out on her own and get everything right. Besides the plot about Corlis, I was most interested in exploring how her life is affected by the choices (and mistakes) she makes while finding her own place in life; how much she misses the comforts of her old home; and what it takes for her to turn her back on that world for good.
What were some challenges you felt were important to developing your characters in the story?
There are a LOT of characters to juggle in a story like this, and it’s always a delicate balancing act. On the one hand, you want to make them distinct enough so that even if their names don’t immediately stick with the reader, their personalities would be immediately recognizable. On the other hand, though, you want to avoid reducing them to broad and predictable stereotypes. My stories are about people first and foremost, so it’s important to me that they should feel like actual humans with depth and complexity.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
Without a doubt, Porla and Ladec’s debate whether “the first one” or “the second one” is better.
What can readers expect in The Bad Series Book 3?
As the stinger implies, we will be seeing some old familiar faces again. Besides that, the plot will also prominently feature certain elements of the world that have been repeatedly hinted at in the first two books.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter
After they barely got away with their necks intact in A Bad Place to Be a Hero, unlikely friends Thessa and Corlis are each facing challenges of their own. While Thessa is having difficulty adjusting to life as a commoner in New Montres, Corlis receives astounding news: the family that had abandoned him when he was an infant is inviting him to an extravagant summer celebration in their home.
Within days, the orphan turned innkeeper is whisked away to the idyllic countryside of Forterne province, with Thessa on his side to help him navigate the intricacies of high society. But just when everything looks almost too good to be true, another surprise guest turns up at the doorstep, whose intentions are nowhere close to cordial.
Once again, Corlis and Thessa are sent down a twisted path of intrigue and deceit, relying on their wits and each other to keep them out of trouble─but is their friendship strong enough to withstand the allure of wealth?
A Bad Time to Meet the Family
Jerry F. Westinger’s A Bad Time To Meet The Family is a beautiful mix of mystery and fantasy. It follows the story of two friends, Corlis and Thessa. Corlis was left in an orphanage as a baby and stayed there until he was adopted at ten. On the other hand, Thessa was born into wealth but recently ran away from her home. However, the book mainly focuses on the months after the death of Corlis’ adoptive mother and how he stumbles upon a man who claims to be his biological father. The author takes us through the awkwardness of their meeting and the attempted integration of Corlis into the man’s family. Beyond that, it explores how Thessa’s mystical abilities affect this process.
What starts off as a charming “finding your family” story eventually turns into a thrilling mystery. While the author doesn’t hesitate to shock us with a couple of twists, he still keeps things realistic. In many ways, this book is a slow burn. As if this isn’t enough, the book also has light sentences, excellent formatting, and perfect flow. The dialogue is realistic, and the characters’ decisions make much sense. But if there’s one thing that the book deserves praise for, it’s seamlessly integrating real-life themes like elitism, class, poverty, and contentment. Even though it is set in a fantasy world, it’s interesting how the characters of this book grapple with these themes just as we are in 2023. I liked how the author explored the theme of poverty, mainly how it puts you in an endless cycle of only focusing on survival. The author shows us how this denies you the opportunity to figure out what you want out of life and, in many ways, makes you afraid of doing so. On the flip side, he also shows us how wealth makes you keenly aware that there’s more to life than survival. Ultimately, he shows us how both wealth and poverty can breed discontentment and treachery.
A Bad Time To Meet The Family is a gripping mystery and shifter novel with a solid plot and is extremely well-written. This thrilling story is addictive enough to have readers hooked and unable to put the book down till they finish.
Pages: 304 | ASIN : B0BTZRW5F9
Alike In All The Wrong Ways
A Bad Place to Be a Hero follows three people who by chance end up together and have to work together to survive, even when they don’t like each other. Where did the idea for this novel come from, and how did it develop over time?
“Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” is my favorite movie of all time, and I think a lot of those elements show in the book. From the very start, I wanted to create a cast of characters who are “alike in all the wrong ways”, and have to work through their differences as well as their own personal hangups to achieve a common goal. While the events that bring them together are random to an extent (since there wasn’t really another way you could force them to cooperate), I did also want to make it at least partly their own fault─so that all of them can feel like a victim in the situation, but can’t fully claim to be one.
Your characters are wonderfully emotive and relatable. Were you able to use anything from your own life to inform their character development?
There’s definitely a lot of me in both Corlis and Lokenn. Thessa is perhaps the farthest from me in temperament, but her conflict with Corlis was a great chance for me to do some reflection. Not sure how much of it stuck, but I do try to say “Thank you” more often.
Did you plan the tone and direction of the novel before writing or did it come out organically as you were writing?
The very first thing I pinned down about the novel was “Unlikely heroes save the world and no one thanks them”. I ended up narrowing the scope to a much more personal scale, but the overall tone is very much the same.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
The direct sequel, A Bad Time to Meet the Family, is already in the works and will hopefully be ready for release in early 2023.
Author Links: Amazon | GoodReads
“There is no bigger bastard than a man who thinks he’s a hero.”
A young noblewoman has an unfortunate run-in with a werewolf on her engagement night.
A fugitive necromancer sets out to restore the reputation of his maligned art.
An innkeeper nurses a dying aunt amidst rapidly mounting debts.
And around them all, a dirty city hides a web of even dirtier secrets.
Welcome to New Montres.
If you think a mystery fantasy with a gritty feel sounds like it ticks a lot of your boxes, I think you’ll love this!
Shai Palmer, Reedsy Discovery
A Bad Place to Be a Hero
Thessa Kalou is facing the fact that she is supposed to get married but is unhappy with the man that has been chosen for her. Lokenn Mar Enae is on his way to New Montres to start his life over, but that’s easier said than done. Corlis Andassi is an innkeeper with a surly aunt he can’t let go of. Thessa, Lokenn, and Corlis meet during trying times. They don’t know each other very well, but they soon realize their fate is entwined. They end up working together, but things don’t always go according to plan… but sticking together is a must.
A Bad Place to Be a Hero by Jerry F. Westinger is an intense and thrilling read that will make it hard for you to put the book down. Westinger immerses the reader in the story with rich, vivid scenes and exquisite world-building. The tension slowly builds as each character faces obstacles in their lives that they have to sort out whether they like it or not. There is never a dull moment with them, and you are also wondering if they are going to figure it out.
The story moves at a smooth pace, and the author seamlessly moves from one character to the next. The chapters are told from the perspective of the characters, which is a pleasant treat because you get to know the characters and their reasons for their actions. In addition, the author has created many challenging situations for the characters to get out of, making this an unpredictable read that will have you wondering just how they will get out of this predicament.
The secondary characters are well thought out, such as Porla, the coach driver, Addie, the barmaid, and others add flare to the story. Most of the time, the lead characters are at odds with each other, but you don’t mind because it’s entertaining. It’s hard to criticize a wonderfully written story rich in detail! I recommend A Bad Place to Be a Hero to all fantasy book lovers. This is a story many will love and enjoy.
Pages: 336 | ASIN : B09RTKL85Z
LITERARY TITAN 