A totally non-spoilery discussion of the end of Demon Forged and the start of Rosemary and Rue.

I love when authors have big, surprisingly major, even earth-shattering things happen in their books, and when they do daring things to their characters.

I guess this post is partly about a feeling - that sort of "oooh" you get with big unexpected drama like that. As a reader, I just really so appreciate it. Do you know what I'm talking about?

Like, you're alone with this book, in this private world the book has created, and something big happens in that world, and it's just a kick. Even if you're with somebody at the time you get that oooh moment, it doesn't work to try and discuss it with them, unless they've read the book - pretty unlikely around here. So it's just this fun oooh between you and the book.

I just finished Demon Forged by Meljean Brook, and there's a lot of swashbuckling bigness I loved there, and I had that feeling a lot. I won't spoil the ending, but wow, there is a great deal at stake for us hapless humans what with the xxxxxx being xxxxxxxxx by xxxxx and then Irena has to xxxxx xx and stick xxx xxxx right xxxx xxx xxxxx!!!

What's more, ever since Meljean invented that wonderful xxx xxxxx in xxxxx, back in Demon Moon, I think it was, I wondered if she'd ever xxx a character xx xxxxx, but I never expected her to xxx xxxxxxxx xx xxxxx!!! I was shocked, but I loved it, and it provided such a strong xxxxxx xxxxx, too: xxxxxxx xx xxx xxxxxx! Outrageous!

I thought, nooooo! Meljean! Yet, oh, yes. That was so very dramatic. Whew! Where are my cigarettes? Oh, wait, I don't smoke.

Then I went on to crack Rosemary and Rue by Seanan McGuire and a big thing happened in the front that was fun and startling and terrible all at once.

As it was happening, I was thinking, No way! This bad guy knows xxx xx xxxxx, and he just casually xxxxx her xxxx a xxxx! I mean, a xxxx?

And I read on, and yes, Wow, the heroine xxx a xxxx for xx xxxxx? I mean, for xx XXXXX? I loved it. I was so impressed. As you can see, I've only just started this book, but I'm richly enjoying it.

Is this helpful or coherent? I guess my point is, with both these books, some fine oooh moments.

More on Rosemary and Rue here; Read about Demon Forged and all the Guardian books here.