1. DLP Flash Christmas Competition + Writing Marathon 2024!

    Competition topic: Magical New Year!

    Marathon goal? Crank out words!

    Check the marathon thread or competition thread for details.

    Dismiss Notice
  2. Hi there, Guest

    Only registered users can really experience what DLP has to offer. Many forums are only accessible if you have an account. Why don't you register?
    Dismiss Notice
  3. Introducing for your Perusing Pleasure

    New Thread Thursday
    +
    Shit Post Sunday

    READ ME
    Dismiss Notice

Broken Quill by Joe Ducie

Discussion in 'Books and Anime Discussion' started by Joe, Feb 11, 2013.

  1. Joe

    Joe The Reminiscent Exile ~ Prestige ~ DLP Supporter ⭐⭐⭐

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2008
    Messages:
    1,016
    Location:
    Canberra, ACT
    High Score:
    1,800
    Well, hasn't it just been a week for awesome releases?

    The second installment to my immensely popular and universally loved Reminiscent Exile series is now available!

    Broken Quill

    [​IMG]


    "Broken Quill, the second volume of 'The Reminiscent Exile', is considered Outstanding in Genre (Urban Fantasy)." ~ Red Adept Select

    *~*~*~*

    Morpheus Renegade has fallen and Declan Hale, the Shadowless Arbiter, has returned from the dead.

    But scores are still to be settled. A creature from Forget stalks Perth, taunting Declan, drawing him out of his bookshop and forcing him across worlds once again. The last time Declan broke his exile, it cost him his life. Worse, the Knights Infernal have done the unthinkable and withdrawn from True Earth—leaving humanity unprotected against the Void.

    Among demonic serial killers, malevolent gods, old girlfriends, and pressure from the local cops, Declan stands at the heart of a conflict ten thousand years in the making.

    The Knights may have abandoned Earth to enemies as old and as cruel as time, but Declan won’t let his world—or his favorite pub—fall without a fight.


    *~*~*~*​

    So yeah, go buy it here now and leave me an awesome review: Broken Quill

    Very excited about this one - it builds on the best of Distant Star and sets the stage for a rather large conflict. You'll see. Oh, you'll see.

    Should be a paperback available in a few weeks. Also, as I did with the last one, if anyone here on DLP would like a PDF copy of the story, all you've got to promise me is an honest review on Amazon/Goodreads in exchange. Shoot me a PM.
     
  2. Skeletaure

    Skeletaure Magical Core Enthusiast ~ Prestige ~ DLP Supporter

    Joined:
    Mar 5, 2006
    Messages:
    2,839
    Location:
    United Kingdom
    High Score:
    13,152
    Random criticism of the blurb: I'm not sure if the amount of name dropping of concepts from the book is that friendly to the average browser.

    You've got four book specific concepts in there that are going to put off someone browsing through casually. They're not going to know what they hell the blurb is talking about, and some of the names are quite corny too. I can't help but feel something like this might be a bit more neutral:

    Obviously it's not polished, but you get the idea: instead of "Forget" you have "another world" - something that everyone can understand, and thus more likely to get people interested.

    Just my 2c.

    P.S. Congrats on the second novel.
     
  3. Joe

    Joe The Reminiscent Exile ~ Prestige ~ DLP Supporter ⭐⭐⭐

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2008
    Messages:
    1,016
    Location:
    Canberra, ACT
    High Score:
    1,800
    Aye, cheers, Taure.

    I may revisit it, but I was thinking that seeing as how this is second volume in the series, a lot would already be familiar with the concepts.

    Eh, we'll see. Strong sales so far! Been out six hours and sold 24 copies!

    May just be here and return readers, but we'll see.
     
  4. IdSayWhyNot

    IdSayWhyNot Minister of Magic DLP Supporter

    Joined:
    Jun 10, 2010
    Messages:
    1,281
    I'm with Taure here. Even if it's the second in the series, it's inevitable that someone unfamiliar with the series will find book 2, read the blurb and wonder what the hell is going on. A few will do some research and realize there's a book 1, but others might be put off at once and look for something else. Definitely don't want that!

    And I don't know if you're selling physical copies in book stores, but it applies there as well. Rather more I'd say, seeing as Amazon at least links books in a series together for convenience.
     
  5. Entreri

    Entreri Squib

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2011
    Messages:
    16
    Jeez, half a year goes by and you already have the second volume ready? It must have been a bitch training your room of typewriting monkeys.

    Even at the off chance that I may be exposed as an anti-capitalist pauper, I'd like to know if you have a non-DRM version planned. With Amazon's int'l delivery and VAT added, the price is $8.88, which is clearly a sign to harass the author for other alternatives.
     
  6. Juggler

    Juggler Death Eater DLP Supporter

    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2008
    Messages:
    993
    Location:
    Nova Scotia, Canada
    I got mine for $5, which I know for a fact since I had no more than seven bucks left on that prepaid card. Kudos to releasing it; I won't have a chance to start reading for a week, give-or-take, between things.
     
    Joe
  7. Joe

    Joe The Reminiscent Exile ~ Prestige ~ DLP Supporter ⭐⭐⭐

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2008
    Messages:
    1,016
    Location:
    Canberra, ACT
    High Score:
    1,800
    Your other alternative is to send me a PM with your email address, and I'll send you a PDF copy. This is in exchange for an honest review on Amazon/Goodreads once you've read it.

    Cheers.
     
  8. Entreri

    Entreri Squib

    Joined:
    Aug 14, 2011
    Messages:
    16
    Thanks for the offer, it's very tempting and more than fair, but I actually want to purchase the novel: I'd just feel bad otherwise. With a touch of wizardry, it'll work out to five bucks.

    And you still get a review on amazon when time allows, how's that for a return customer?
     
    Joe
  9. Peace

    Peace High Inquisitor

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2011
    Messages:
    577
    Location:
    My computer desk
    Just finished it in about 6 hours. I really liked it. It was nice to get some backstory on Declan except now I really want a prequel about Commander Hale and the Cascade Fleet. I also liked seeing the loyalty that people have for Declan. I think there was a strong Dresden Files vibe to the story especially with Declan and Annie's interactions, though they were different enough to be unique.

    Top marks and I'm looking forward to Knight's Fall.

    I'll leave a more polished review on Amazon when I've had more than 3 hours sleep.
     
    Joe
  10. Joe

    Joe The Reminiscent Exile ~ Prestige ~ DLP Supporter ⭐⭐⭐

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2008
    Messages:
    1,016
    Location:
    Canberra, ACT
    High Score:
    1,800
    Aye, I was told after Distant Star we need some more 'splaining and back story. So in this one I delivered, somewhat. It's still fast paced, so not a lot of time to slow down and drown in exposition, but little things like the glimpse of his time as commander of the Cascade Fleet I think add to the world.

    I'm looking forward to reading your full review!

    Working on Knight Fall as we speak, actually. Cheers.
     
  11. funflash

    funflash First Year

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2009
    Messages:
    36
    Hey Joe,

    I've been meaning to buy both books but wondering what commission you get from Amazon, can't I send something directly?

    Let me know
     
  12. Joe

    Joe The Reminiscent Exile ~ Prestige ~ DLP Supporter ⭐⭐⭐

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2008
    Messages:
    1,016
    Location:
    Canberra, ACT
    High Score:
    1,800
    Hey, mate.

    You buy the ebooks from Amazon - I get a solid 70%.

    The paperbacks, a shade less around 57%.

    I don't have a stock of them to send directly, as the postage to and from Australia is absurd. Cheaper through Amazon, for everyone.

    Cheers.
     
  13. funflash

    funflash First Year

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2009
    Messages:
    36
    I was thinking more of the ebook.

    I think its amazingly generous of you to offer them for free (sorry for the ass kissing) and although tempted to take the offer, I feel that you and many of the other prominent authors of DLP deserve a little bit for providing us with a hell of a lot of entertainment with your fanfics and original works.

    I'd rather give you something through paypal if possible
     
  14. Daedros

    Daedros Seventh Year

    Joined:
    May 7, 2012
    Messages:
    225
    Bought it, will be reviewing as soon as I'm done. Cheers!
     
    Joe
  15. Nauro

    Nauro Headmaster

    Joined:
    Oct 20, 2011
    Messages:
    1,182
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Lithuania
    Hmm, figure it's the high time to buy the first book, then...
    I recently found it in bookdepository and unlike Amazon they have never damaged my books on the delivery, and to top it off, it has free shipping in a week or two vs a month and a half for 6$+. You get royalties from them too, right?

    Anyway, too late, already ordered the Distant Star.

    If I like it, I'll leave an amazon review and will probably buy the second one after finishing the first one. Paper only, though. ;D

    p.s. can you get the anthology and Broken Quill on the bookdepository too, at some point in the future? I buy most of my paperbacks there.
     
  16. Sauce Bauss

    Sauce Bauss Second Year ~ Prestige ~ DLP Supporter

    Joined:
    Apr 4, 2008
    Messages:
    61
    High Score:
    1411
    Two hours of agonizing ecstasy later, I find myself remembering how much I enjoy your writing. I'll leave something a bit more in depth both here and on amazon tomorrow when I can use a real keyboard. I think I'll have to read both from the beginnning again this weekend.

    It says something when I look at Broken Quill, The DLP Anthology, and A Memory of Light and decide to read Broken Quill first. Not like I've waited for Tarmon Gai'don for nearly 15 years.

    Excellent work, Joe.



    Edit: A suitable 400th post. Only took 5 years I suppose.
     
  17. coleam

    coleam Death Eater

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2009
    Messages:
    917
    Location:
    Pennsyltucky
    Is there an epub version of this around somewhere?
     
  18. Ched

    Ched Da Trek Moderator DLP Supporter ⭐⭐

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2009
    Messages:
    8,378
    Location:
    The South
    Aren't Nook books auto epubs when you buy 'em? Dunno about DRM stuff though with that.
     
  19. Republic

    Republic The Snow Queen –§ Prestigious §– DLP Supporter

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2010
    Messages:
    494
    Location:
    Germany occupied Greece
    High Score:
    4495+2362
    Ok, I read it.

    I enjoyed it more than Distant Star, for a variety of reasons. One of them was the lack of plagiarism (which am not sure is a term that applies, but w/e). Another one is that this was much more coherent. By now we are already familiar with the terms used and people, so it's not the clusterfuck of names, events and places that the DS was. One of DS's fault was that it didn't take any time at all to explain what everything was, and just expected the reader to figure it out by sacrificing goats to pagan gods or something.
    I think I finally, somewhat, understand what the Forget is. Still not sure, but BQ was a bit cleared than DS was.
    The characterization of Declan may have lost some of its epic glitter, but it has grown and gotten more depth than in DS (dat ending), so that's good.
    The whole thing with Clare was a nice touch.

    That said, it had it's downsides too. Declan sure strutted around and bragged, but we didn't really see him kick any ass, up until the ending. An ending that was magnificent, btw.
    Declan seemed ... somewhat different from DS. I found some of his old mannerisms to not quite suit him, and quite like some of his new that you introduced here. We finally got a clearer look at his issues, and boy, does he have issues.


    Be aware, I fully expect Declan to sit his ass in the Dragon Throne, halfway through the next book at the latest. All that talk about it, it had better damn happen.

    All in all, pretty darn awesome job Joe. Sooner or later I'll get this and and DS in paperback, and put them on display on my library. When people ask me what they are, I'll tell them that they're not good enough to read books such as these, and laugh my ass off.
     
  20. Joe

    Joe The Reminiscent Exile ~ Prestige ~ DLP Supporter ⭐⭐⭐

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2008
    Messages:
    1,016
    Location:
    Canberra, ACT
    High Score:
    1,800
Loading...