#aparima

First: It is heckin' brave! Aparima's been writing this since the Rogue Trader beta. The BETA. Can you imagine? She dove right on into the pond, irrespective of whether it could have been a shallow puddle or a deep ocean. She was out there filling in the blanks for those of us on the outside looking in!

Bonus: Tapestry of Fate is sitting at nearly 200,000 words and I dare anyone to write an enjoyable and cohesive story of that magnitude in their second language - and if that's what's stopping you from reading it, then you're really missing out.

Second: Let's talk about our heroine, Elena Martyr. Elena's a lithe voidborn oracle, but she's also a 6'2 kickass Amazon who could bench press me with her mind. She's a badass boss babe, and I stan that (as the kids say). Elena has seen death - has dealt death - and despite the hardships and the grief, has chosen not to lean into the monster that she used to be, and instead has elected to become a better person. But I tell you what, I cannot wait to see if Elena falls back into her old habits in Commorragh. You can take the girl out of the assassin, but you can't take the assassin out of the girl. Also, you can't spell assassin without sass, and she's got that in spades.

Third: This story has some amazing beats and character moments, and I don't want to spoil too many of them. However... did I think the, ahem, first encounter between Elena and Heinrix was just one of the sweetest things ever? You betcha. Did I go gaga over Chapter 34 with each portion of the Magnae Accessio being broken down into dance movements? Yes. I 100% did. Do I think that Jae is fantastically cast into a specific role in Elena's retinue? Yes, I do, and I scream when she comes into a scene. Did I love Aparima's thoughtful executive summary? YES and I wish more stories had that, actually!

Fourth: The author is a real treasure of an individual. Aparima is funny, gracious, kind, and fiercely supportive of creators in the community. Her enthusiasm is boundless and infectious. She's one of the first folks to cheerlead on an idea and is always ready to be a sounding board. She is not just a fearless writer, but also a great friend and an all around wonderful person.