Promising Young Woman And The Right Ending For A Story
Spoiler Alert: This post will contain spoilers about Promising Young Woman. If you haven’t yet watched this wonderful yet so-NOT-a-romance-ending movie, consider skipping this post.
The Dear Wonderful Hubby and I watched Promising Young Woman and we both enjoyed it. It was clear why it had won an Oscar for Best Screenplay. The writing was tight and fresh and the heroine’s character arc was well-formed.
Promising Young Woman deals with rape. If you have any sort of triggers around that type of violence, avoid this movie.
Despite the dark topic and a strong social message, it contained humor and was extremely entertaining. I couldn’t stop watching it and I loved the ending, which is unusual for me because…
This movie does NOT have a Romance Novel ending.
At all.
Normally, I want happy endings in the books I read and the movies I watch. But with Promising Young Woman, a happy ending would have been a cheat. It wouldn’t have fit with the story and with the reality of any female-facing person watching the movie. We wouldn’t have believed it.
There IS justice, however. And that was extremely satisfying to see.
A high price was paid for that justice. That aligns with what female-facing people expect also. The heroine was fighting a society and systems that favor male-facing people. Heavily. We know, from the beginning, it will be a struggle for the lead character in Promising Young Woman to get any sort of closure.
It happens but with great sacrifice.
Was a happy ending possible for the heroine?
Of course, it was. She deserved happiness and love. Everyone deserves happiness and love. But she couldn’t have obtained that happy ending without giving up her main goal. And that would have destroyed the movie.
Not every heroic character is destined for a happy ever after.
Before writing a new story, I always ask myself, “Can this character achieve their primary goal AND also have a romantic happy ever after?”
Sometimes, I can’t figure out a way to accomplish this. If that is the situation, I park the story idea to the side and work on something else. I only write Romance and romantic happy ever afters or happy for nows are a must in this wonderful genre. I’ll return to the story when or if I can secure that ending.
***
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Baring Grudge
No one in the universe is more determined than a cyborg warrior tracking his female.
***
Grudge, a C Model cyborg, has been assigned a mission – safeguard a Humanoid Alliance space station for his kind. Honor was once all he had, and he is determined to fulfill his duty.
That resolve is tested when a tiny human female enters the space station and sets the prettiest little explosives the warrior has ever seen. She is Grudge’s genetic match, the one being manufactured for him. He wants to touch her, kiss her, claim her in all ways, but first he has to stop her from blasting him into the next galaxy.
Taelyn has a self-appointed mission—to destroy every battle robot the Humanoid Alliance has ever manufactured. A huge gray-skinned, blue-eyed cyborg warrior with mismatched arms won’t prevent her from achieving her goal. She’ll escape him, leaving destruction in her wake.
Before she departs, she’ll experience one toe-curling moment of hatred-edged passion with her handsome foe. She’ll show him how skilled with detonations she truly is. He will have his universe rocked.
Then she’ll disappear.
Her cyborg, however, has no intention of ever letting her go.
***
Baring Grudge is a STANDALONE Cyborg SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
It features a determined, damaged warrior, an equally resolute human female, and an explosive game of predator and prey played across galaxies.
Baring Grudge is the third of five core stories in the Rebel Cyborgs Series.
Book 1: Containing Malice
Book 2: Under Strain
Book 3: Baring Grudge
Book 4: B Free
Book 5: Seizing Power
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08ZL2D986
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08ZL2D986
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B08ZL2D986
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/baring-grudge/id1559566673
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/baring-grudge-cynthia-sax/1139086727
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/baring-grudge
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1075600
Topics: Movie Reviews | Comments Off on Promising Young Woman And The Right Ending For A Story
Godzilla vs. Kong And Communicating Without Dialogue
Spoiler Alert: This post might contain spoilers around the 2021 movie Godzilla vs. Kong. If you haven’t yet watched this movie, you might wish to skip the post.
I LOVE Godzilla. I also love Kong. I was super stoked to finally watch this movie.
Godzilla vs. Kong has its issues. You might wish to suspend all logic and knowledge of basic science while watching this movie. I went into the viewing merely expecting a good time and some awesome monster fight scenes and I was happy.
Godzilla vs. Kong is also set in the MonsterVerse (the same series as Skull Island) and it is helpful (yet not essential) to have watched the previous movies. Many of the characters (including Kong and Godzilla, of course) return.
One of the things I REALLY love about this movie is how the two main stars – Godzilla and Kong – communicate without speaking. They don’t rely on dialogue to express their thoughts and feelings. Kong works a little harder to communicate with the humans but when the two monsters are together, their expressions and body language are sufficient.
There is a scene at the end of the movie where the two monsters are facing each other. We scan to Godzilla, then to Kong, and back again and we know exactly what they’re thinking from their eyes (and their brows) and their stances. They move from “I’m going to beat you into the pavement” (fists clenched, bodies rigid and tilted forward, brows lowered) to “Would that effort be worth it?” (leaning slightly backward, raised brows, released fingers) to “I can’t be bothered to fight you at this time” (slumped shoulders, relaxed stance, brows at normal placement).
It is a scene I’ll study, dissect and learn from. I’ll use that knowledge in my future stories to reinforce the dialogue or perhaps to replace it completely.
***
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Baring Grudge
No one in the universe is more determined than a cyborg warrior tracking his female.
***
Grudge, a C Model cyborg, has been assigned a mission – safeguard a Humanoid Alliance space station for his kind. Honor was once all he had, and he is determined to fulfill his duty.
That resolve is tested when a tiny human female enters the space station and sets the prettiest little explosives the warrior has ever seen. She is Grudge’s genetic match, the one being manufactured for him. He wants to touch her, kiss her, claim her in all ways, but first he has to stop her from blasting him into the next galaxy.
Taelyn has a self-appointed mission—to destroy every battle robot the Humanoid Alliance has ever manufactured. A huge gray-skinned, blue-eyed cyborg warrior with mismatched arms won’t prevent her from achieving her goal. She’ll escape him, leaving destruction in her wake.
Before she departs, she’ll experience one toe-curling moment of hatred-edged passion with her handsome foe. She’ll show him how skilled with detonations she truly is. He will have his universe rocked.
Then she’ll disappear.
Her cyborg, however, has no intention of ever letting her go.
***
Baring Grudge is a STANDALONE Cyborg SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
It features a determined, damaged warrior, an equally resolute human female, and an explosive game of predator and prey played across galaxies.
Baring Grudge is the third of five core stories in the Rebel Cyborgs Series.
Book 1: Containing Malice
Book 2: Under Strain
Book 3: Baring Grudge
Book 4: B Free
Book 5: Seizing Power
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08ZL2D986
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08ZL2D986
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B08ZL2D986
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/baring-grudge/id1559566673
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/baring-grudge-cynthia-sax/1139086727
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/baring-grudge
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1075600
Topics: Movie Reviews | Comments Off on Godzilla vs. Kong And Communicating Without Dialogue
Leap Year And Character Goals
Please Note: This post will share spoilers about Leap Year. If you’re like me and have been delaying watching this 2010 movie, consider skipping this post until you’ve seen it.
I finally watched Leap Year! I’ve been avoiding watching it because the premise – a woman seeking to propose to her longtime boyfriend and then falling in love with a different guy—had a high likelihood of me feeling sad for one of the men. But it was on the TV and it captured my attention within mere moments of watching it.
Leap Year has its issues yet I found it entertaining and it does some things VERY well.
One of the things it does well is show us the difference between what a character thinks she needs and what she truly needs.
Anna, the heroine, grew up with a father she couldn’t depend upon. She is looking for safety and she interprets this as financial safety.
Her longtime boyfriend gives her financial safety and that’s it. He is a successful surgeon and makes a sh*tload of cash.
But we see from the start he doesn’t give her emotional security. He doesn’t hesitate to leave her alone when they’re surrounded by strangers. He doesn’t offer her the stability of marriage. He isn’t there for her in any way other than financial.
Anna takes matters into her own hands and decides to go to Ireland and propose to him. Everything possible goes wrong and she ends up in a rural area with the snarly, grumpy hero.
At first, Declan, the hero, looks like he’s the absolutely wrong guy for her. His restaurant/hotel/bar is in financial peril. His kitchen is about to be repossessed. And he refuses to help her. In any way.
He eventually relents. They bicker. Anna isn’t at all impressed with him.
That attitude starts to soften when Declan refuses to abandon her, trailing her all over the country. He is THERE for her, even when she destroys his beloved car. He doesn’t yell. He is quietly, grumpily behind her literally every step of the way.
Her view of him significantly shifts when he fights baddies for her. He might not be able to make her feel financially safe but he makes her feel physically and emotionally safe. The man even cooks for her, showing he can care for her in that way also.
This is a romance so Declan does become financially stable also but Anna doesn’t know this when she chooses him. All she knows is she feels safe with him. She can depend on him. He is there for her.
And that is exactly what she needs to secure lasting happiness.
***
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Baring Grudge
No one in the universe is more determined than a cyborg warrior tracking his female.
***
Grudge, a C Model cyborg, has been assigned a mission – safeguard a Humanoid Alliance space station for his kind. Honor was once all he had, and he is determined to fulfill his duty.
That resolve is tested when a tiny human female enters the space station and sets the prettiest little explosives the warrior has ever seen. She is Grudge’s genetic match, the one being manufactured for him. He wants to touch her, kiss her, claim her in all ways, but first he has to stop her from blasting him into the next galaxy.
Taelyn has a self-appointed mission—to destroy every battle robot the Humanoid Alliance has ever manufactured. A huge gray-skinned, blue-eyed cyborg warrior with mismatched arms won’t prevent her from achieving her goal. She’ll escape him, leaving destruction in her wake.
Before she departs, she’ll experience one toe-curling moment of hatred-edged passion with her handsome foe. She’ll show him how skilled with detonations she truly is. He will have his universe rocked.
Then she’ll disappear.
Her cyborg, however, has no intention of ever letting her go.
***
Baring Grudge is a STANDALONE Cyborg SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
It features a determined, damaged warrior, an equally resolute human female, and an explosive game of predator and prey played across galaxies.
Baring Grudge is the third of five core stories in the Rebel Cyborgs Series.
Book 1: Containing Malice
Book 2: Under Strain
Book 3: Baring Grudge
Book 4: B Free
Book 5: Seizing Power
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08ZL2D986
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08ZL2D986
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B08ZL2D986
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/baring-grudge/id1559566673
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/baring-grudge-cynthia-sax/1139086727
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/baring-grudge
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1075600
Topics: Movie Reviews | Comments Off on Leap Year And Character Goals
The Quiet Place Part II And Saving The Cat
Please Note: I’ve tried very hard not to share any spoilers for this movie. The scene that I mention happens right at the beginning of the movie and doesn’t give major plot points away. But you still might wish to read this post AFTER you’ve seen the movie.
I also recommend you rewatch the first movie (The Quiet Place) before watching the second movie. The Quiet Place Part II assumes you remember everything about that movie. The Dear Wonderful Hubby and I had watched the first movie when it first came out, hadn’t rewatched it and we were a bit lost at the beginning.
Creating sympathy for major characters is key to crafting stories readers love, especially in romance. Readers continue reading about characters they care about.
There’s a technique we often use to accomplish this, especially for more challenging to like characters.
The name of this technique is Save The Cat.
We show the harder-to-like character doing something heroic or nice at the beginning of the story. The gruff assassin saves the cat (or, in the case of Léon: The Professional, fusses over his beloved plant). The seemingly hard-hearted businesswoman buys a bagel and coffee and stealthily gives those treats to the homeless woman in the alleyway.
These actions hint that the otherwise unlikable character is secretly nice. She or he is worth saving, worth caring about.
The Quiet Place Part II does this simply and brilliantly. Emmett (played by Cillian Murphy) is a curt-talking, tough-looking male. He has seen sh*t, been through some battles, and he would be hard for viewers to like.
Except he takes a moment at the beginning of the movie to learn how to relay a word in sign language to his friend’s deaf daughter.
This is a generous act. It is done solely to make Regan (played by Millicent Simmonds), the daughter, feel loved and accepted…though Emmett would likely never say that.
I went from not trusting this character to adoring him in that one moment.
This moment is magical in other ways. It ensures we all know Regan is deaf, which is key to the movie working. It hints at a future (don’t worry it isn’t romantic) bond between Regan and Emmett. The word Emmett learns is important to the plot. And it adds a touch of humor.
It does all this with three or four sentences of dialogue. That’s great writing.
***
Subscribe To My Newsletter: http://cynthiasax.com/newsletter/
Baring Grudge
No one in the universe is more determined than a cyborg warrior tracking his female.
***
Grudge, a C Model cyborg, has been assigned a mission – safeguard a Humanoid Alliance space station for his kind. Honor was once all he had, and he is determined to fulfill his duty.
That resolve is tested when a tiny human female enters the space station and sets the prettiest little explosives the warrior has ever seen. She is Grudge’s genetic match, the one being manufactured for him. He wants to touch her, kiss her, claim her in all ways, but first he has to stop her from blasting him into the next galaxy.
Taelyn has a self-appointed mission—to destroy every battle robot the Humanoid Alliance has ever manufactured. A huge gray-skinned, blue-eyed cyborg warrior with mismatched arms won’t prevent her from achieving her goal. She’ll escape him, leaving destruction in her wake.
Before she departs, she’ll experience one toe-curling moment of hatred-edged passion with her handsome foe. She’ll show him how skilled with detonations she truly is. He will have his universe rocked.
Then she’ll disappear.
Her cyborg, however, has no intention of ever letting her go.
***
Baring Grudge is a STANDALONE Cyborg SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
It features a determined, damaged warrior, an equally resolute human female, and an explosive game of predator and prey played across galaxies.
Baring Grudge is the third of five core stories in the Rebel Cyborgs Series.
Book 1: Containing Malice
Book 2: Under Strain
Book 3: Baring Grudge
Book 4: B Free
Book 5: Seizing Power
Pre-order Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08ZL2D986
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08ZL2D986
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B08ZL2D986
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/baring-grudge/id1559566673
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/baring-grudge-cynthia-sax/1139086727
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/baring-grudge
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1075600
Topics: Movie Reviews | Comments Off on The Quiet Place Part II And Saving The Cat
Lucifer And Having Fun
I talked the Dear Wonderful Hubby into watching the first few episodes of Lucifer (available on Netflix in my corner of the universe) and he is now addicted to the TV show (which is based on characters crafted by Neil Gaiman). We’re watching it from the beginning.
There are a number of reasons why I love Lucifer. Tom Ellis, who plays Lucifer, is super hot. (grins) I also find D.B. Woodside, who plays Amenadiel, extremely attractive. There’s tremendous girl power in the show. The female characters often have bonding and supportive moments. There are demons and angels and, of course, the devil. I really enjoy the casually delivered quips and insults. They make me laugh.
But, most of all, I love how the cast always seems to be having fun. They have glints in their eyes when they are on screen, like they’re sharing a private joke. I feel the joy, the love in even the darkest episodes.
Joy is important for writers also. I think readers can feel when a writer is having fun, is loving a story. When I re-read a story, sometimes for the fifteenth time, I note if it makes me smile.
If the story makes me smile, I hope it will make you smile.
***
Subscribe To My Newsletter: http://cynthiasax.com/newsletter/
Under Strain
A damaged cyborg warrior is hunted by a peace-loving human female.
***
Strain is severely malfunctioning. The D Model cyborg was the sole survivor after a horrific decision was made by his cruel manufacturers. He hates all humans, and when he attacks one who is under his cyborg leader’s protection, he is reprimanded, stripped of his weapons, and told to watch and not actively participate in the next mission.
That mission takes place on a small remote planet. Its lush terrain should only be inhabited by the cyborgs they were sent to rescue, but Strain senses another presence on the surface. She is watching him, tracking him, hunting him.
A fully operational cyborg would end her lifespan.
Strain wants to claim her. Forever.
Kamyelle is the only one left of her kind. Warriors have killed the other nonviolent human inhabitants of her planet. She survived…barely…by hiding in the trees, observing her enemies, and covering herself with lifeform scan-concealing mud.
When a handsome, gray-skinned, brilliant-blue-eyed male arrives, surrounded by weapon-carrying warriors, she has to save him. Warriors harm and they kill. That is what they do.
She won’t allow them to hurt Strain.
***
Under Strain is a STANDALONE Cyborg SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
It features a broken warrior, a human female who thinks he’s perfect, and velociraptor-like dinosaurs who view them both as light, tasty snacks.
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R322L7S
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08R322L7S
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08R322L7S
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/under-strain/id1545957749
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/under-strain-cynthia-sax/1138505613
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/under-strain
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/10602
Topics: Movie Reviews | Comments Off on Lucifer And Having Fun
Wonder Woman 1984 And Tightening Scenes
Spoiler Alert – This post will talk about Wonder Woman 1984 and it will involve spoilers. If you haven’t yet watched this movie, please consider skipping this post.
The Dear Wonderful Hubby and I recently watched Wonder Woman 1984. We enjoyed it. It was light(er) and colorful and entertaining.
The script, however, did have major issues.
Some reading buddies have asked me in the past what I mean about a plot being ‘tight.’ That’s easiest illustrated by using a plot that ISN’T tight.
Wonder Woman 1984 is a great (or, rather, bad – grins) example of this.
At the beginning of the movie, for example, a jewelry store is being robbed. The thieves aren’t seeking to steal jewelry. They want the antiques being sold out of a back room.
That’s a very specific goal…especially for thieves who are portrayed as being inept and unsophisticated. They don’t seem to be the types to choose hard-to-resell antiquities over easy-to-fence diamonds and gold.
I assumed someone hired them. Yet they aren’t searching for a specific item when they rob the place and they clearly can’t take everything. Some of the items are too large to be easily or discreetly carried out of the store. They appeared to be stealing random sh*t.
If the thieves were hired by someone, we never find out who did that hiring. Or what that person was seeking to find.
We never see or hear about the thieves past that early scene. They are throwaway characters.
The two purposes of the scene seemed to be showcasing Wonder Woman’s powers and transferring the dream stone, via the FBI, to the Smithsonian where Wonder Woman works.
That’s a loosely written scene. It does the bare minimum, moves one plot point forward.
A tighter scene would have the thieves working for the villain or for an alternate villain. That they were chosen by the villain would relay things to us about this big baddie, about his connections, his personality, his goals.
We’d then see the thieves a few more times during the movie. The thieves might reveal or reflect more aspects of the villain.
Or maybe the thieves flip on the villain and align themselves with Wonder Woman. And then they reveal or reflects aspects of our heroine.
There are a gazillion other ways to make this scene do more. Maybe the happy little girl Wonder Woman saves appears in the world is going to Hell scene (instead of a random family). Or there is a running joke about shopping malls being dangerous.
That would tie this early scene to future scenes. It would mean more, would make the plot more cohesive, be ‘tighter’.
The movie would feel like one work of art instead of a series of random scenes.
***
Subscribe To My Newsletter: http://cynthiasax.com/newsletter/
Under Strain
A damaged cyborg warrior is hunted by a peace-loving human female.
***
Strain is severely malfunctioning. The D Model cyborg was the sole survivor after a horrific decision was made by his cruel manufacturers. He hates all humans, and when he attacks one who is under his cyborg leader’s protection, he is reprimanded, stripped of his weapons, and told to watch and not actively participate in the next mission.
That mission takes place on a small remote planet. Its lush terrain should only be inhabited by the cyborgs they were sent to rescue, but Strain senses another presence on the surface. She is watching him, tracking him, hunting him.
A fully operational cyborg would end her lifespan.
Strain wants to claim her. Forever.
Kamyelle is the only one left of her kind. Warriors have killed the other nonviolent human inhabitants of her planet. She survived…barely…by hiding in the trees, observing her enemies, and covering herself with lifeform scan-concealing mud.
When a handsome, gray-skinned, brilliant-blue-eyed male arrives, surrounded by weapon-carrying warriors, she has to save him. Warriors harm and they kill. That is what they do.
She won’t allow them to hurt Strain.
***
Under Strain is a STANDALONE Cyborg SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
It features a broken warrior, a human female who thinks he’s perfect, and velociraptor-like dinosaurs who view them both as light, tasty snacks.
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R322L7S
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08R322L7S
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08R322L7S
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/under-strain/id1545957749
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/under-strain-cynthia-sax/1138505613
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/under-strain
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/10602
Topics: Movie Reviews | Comments Off on Wonder Woman 1984 And Tightening Scenes
Baggage Claim And Numerous Love Interests
Warning: This post assumes you’ve watched Baggage Claim (the 2013 movie starring Paula Patton) or have read the book (written by David E. Talbert). There will be spoilers.
The Dear Wonderful Hubby and I watched Baggage Claim recently. I was in the mood for something light and fun and this romantic comedy was certainly that. The movie had some issues but I treated it as fantasy and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I found Baggage Claim especially fun because we’re introduced to a variety of love interests for the heroine. They represented a range of romance hero types – the good-with-his-hands small business owner, the singer, the politician, the billionaire. They are all good looking in their own way and all fairly wealthy (because very few of us fantasize about being broke a$$ – grins).
If you read contemporary romance, you know immediately which man she’ll choose. The movie follows romance guidelines. The hero is not much of a mystery.
And that’s a good thing because I liked one of the men more than I liked the hero. That’s a risk with introducing numerous possible love interests. We might get attached to the wrong being and find the ending of the movie or book or other work not as satisfying.
In the case of Baggage Claim, that didn’t happen because the hero was obvious. He WAS a nice guy, very sweet and patient and so very much in love with the heroine. I merely thought the other man was a bit more interesting (but then I like Kralj, the hero from Dark Thoughts, and he likes to eat his enemies so my judgment might be lacking – laughs).
***
Subscribe To My Newsletter: http://cynthiasax.com/newsletter/
Under Strain
A damaged cyborg warrior is hunted by a peace-loving human female.
***
Strain is severely malfunctioning. The D Model cyborg was the sole survivor after a horrific decision was made by his cruel manufacturers. He hates all humans, and when he attacks one who is under his cyborg leader’s protection, he is reprimanded, stripped of his weapons, and told to watch and not actively participate in the next mission.
That mission takes place on a small remote planet. Its lush terrain should only be inhabited by the cyborgs they were sent to rescue, but Strain senses another presence on the surface. She is watching him, tracking him, hunting him.
A fully operational cyborg would end her lifespan.
Strain wants to claim her. Forever.
Kamyelle is the only one left of her kind. Warriors have killed the other nonviolent human inhabitants of her planet. She survived…barely…by hiding in the trees, observing her enemies, and covering herself with lifeform scan-concealing mud.
When a handsome, gray-skinned, brilliant-blue-eyed male arrives, surrounded by weapon-carrying warriors, she has to save him. Warriors harm and they kill. That is what they do.
She won’t allow them to hurt Strain.
***
Under Strain is a STANDALONE Cyborg SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
It features a broken warrior, a human female who thinks he’s perfect, and velociraptor-like dinosaurs who view them both as light, tasty snacks.
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R322L7S
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08R322L7S
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08R322L7S
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/under-strain/id1545957749
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/under-strain-cynthia-sax/1138505613
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/under-strain
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/10602
Topics: Movie Reviews | Comments Off on Baggage Claim And Numerous Love Interests
The Girl With All The Gifts And Creating Sympathy For Morally Dubious Characters
Please Note: This post will have spoilers for The Girl With All The Gifts. If you haven’t watched this movie or read the book it is based upon (written by M. R. Carey), you might wish to skip this post.
One of the challenges of writing about morally dubious characters is making them sympathetic to readers, ensuring readers care about beings who don’t follow society’s rules, who might be seen as monsters.
A key trick is, what writers call, ‘saving the cat.’ The character does something honorable or noble or self-sacrificing early in the story.
But that isn’t possible when that’s not in the character’s nature.
The Girl With All The Gifts uses a different tactic. The storyteller depicts the character as being innocent simply by the nature of who she resembles—a human child. Then she is put in a situation that would appall the average person. She is locked in a cell by herself.
Everything is designed to gain our sympathy. She has a photo of a kitten she hides under her pillow. She is polite and friendly to the hostile adults who collect her. These adults point guns at her, treat her like a monster.
She doesn’t ‘save the cat’ (an ironic phrase – grins). There’s no self-sacrifice. She is merely portrayed as someone we would be predisposed to protect. We view her as being wronged and the adults as wronging her.
By the time, her true nature is revealed, we care for her. We’re firmly on her side.
The Girl With All The Gifts isn’t without its flaws but I enjoyed it for its fresh take on creating sympathetic characters and its clever spin on zombie movies.
And yes, the super fast zombies in this movie make me think about the Humanoid Alliance’s reanimation experiments in Containing Malice. I suspect I might be sympathetic to some of those tortured beings also.
***
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Under Strain
A damaged cyborg warrior is hunted by a peace-loving human female.
***
Strain is severely malfunctioning. The D Model cyborg was the sole survivor after a horrific decision was made by his cruel manufacturers. He hates all humans, and when he attacks one who is under his cyborg leader’s protection, he is reprimanded, stripped of his weapons, and told to watch and not actively participate in the next mission.
That mission takes place on a small remote planet. Its lush terrain should only be inhabited by the cyborgs they were sent to rescue, but Strain senses another presence on the surface. She is watching him, tracking him, hunting him.
A fully operational cyborg would end her lifespan.
Strain wants to claim her. Forever.
Kamyelle is the only one left of her kind. Warriors have killed the other nonviolent human inhabitants of her planet. She survived…barely…by hiding in the trees, observing her enemies, and covering herself with lifeform scan-concealing mud.
When a handsome, gray-skinned, brilliant-blue-eyed male arrives, surrounded by weapon-carrying warriors, she has to save him. Warriors harm and they kill. That is what they do.
She won’t allow them to hurt Strain.
***
Under Strain is a STANDALONE Cyborg SciFi Romance set in a dark, gritty, sometimes-violent universe.
It features a broken warrior, a human female who thinks he’s perfect, and velociraptor-like dinosaurs who view them both as light, tasty snacks.
Buy Now:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08R322L7S
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08R322L7S
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B08R322L7S
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/under-strain/id1545957749
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/under-strain-cynthia-sax/1138505613
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/under-strain
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/10602
Topics: Movie Reviews | Comments Off on The Girl With All The Gifts And Creating Sympathy For Morally Dubious Characters
Love, Actually
Warning: This post will assume you have watched Love, Actually. If you haven’t watched it, you might wish to do that because I LOVE this movie (it is 17 years old and usually plays at least once on every TV Channel). But you also might wish to skip this post.
One of my favorite Christmas movies is Love, Actually, a movie that follows eight different lead characters as they search for love (of all kinds) over the holidays.
The happiest storyline in this movie for me is the one with newly widowed Daniel (Liam Neeson) and his son Sam (Thomas Brodie-Sangster). The storyline that most tore my heart out was, of course, the one with Karen (Emma Thompson) and Harry (Alan Rickman). That dang gold necklace!
But the most frustrating storyline is the one with hard working Sarah (Laura Linney) and hottie Karl (Rodrigo Santoro). Their romance sizzles over days and nights working together. They hook up at the office holiday party but that encounter is thwarted by calls from Sarah’s will-likely-always-be-in-need-of-some-help brother.
I suspect the writers thought this was an illustration of sibling love but it isn’t. It is an illustration of choosing safety and loneliness over love and happiness.
Sarah is a classic romance heroine. She is avoiding romantic love and possible hurt by doing other things. In her case, these other things are working long hours and making her brother the center of her life.
When she finally ‘grows’ enough to take a chance on the holiday party and on Karl, she receives a call from her brother and immediately retreats, using that as an excuse to avoid romantic love.
Karl isn’t given the chance to be the hero.
Sarah is extremely cruel to him, telling her brother multiple times that she wasn’t doing anything important within Karl’s hearing. She turns her back to him. She communicates quite clearly in multiple ways she doesn’t care about his feelings.
Not being an a$$helmet, Karl backs off. In a romance, this is when the heroine realizes she will lose her hero and her chance at romantic love. The heroine will then pursue her hero.
But Sarah doesn’t do this. She acts like she doesn’t give a sh*t. And Karl leaves.
This frustrates the heck out of me as a romance reader and writer…which is WHY I read and write romance.
Heroines in romance tend to…eventually…go after what and who they want. A Romance Heroine would have figured out a way to have romantic love AND support her brother.
There would be no choosing between romantic love and sibling love. She would have devised a means to enjoy both (and that would have made her brother’s life richer also).
What is your favorite storyline in Love, Actually?
***
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Holding Hoarse
This cyborg warrior WILL become worthy of love.
* * *
Hoarse hasn’t found his female, the one being manufactured for him. There is only one reason he can process for his lack of success—he isn’t yet worthy of claiming a female.
The big C Model is determined to change that status. He considers ulu, or doll, fabrication to be an essential part of mate preparation. Seeking to hone his skills, he contacts a reclusive doll maker and asks her to train him.
He doesn’t realize the being he is sharing his deficiencies with is his destined mate.
Arlicia desires a male whose face she has never seen. Her new trainee’s persistence, intelligence, and curiosity warrant admiration. His deep voice evokes visions of passionate kisses and heated embraces. His large hands cause her to quiver with wanting.
Before their professional relationship ends, she wants to rendezvous with Hoarse. The curious doll maker hopes for a glimpse of the huge warrior.
When a cyborg intent on being the perfect mate meets the female who knows all his secrets, garments are shed, illusions shatter, and beings die.
***
Holding Hoarse is a short, light, companion story in the Cyborg Space Exploration series and is meant to be read after Testing Truth.
It is also a BBW Cyborg SciFi Romance featuring an intense C Model warrior, an understanding doll maker, and packs of imperfect toys seeking loving homes.
Download For FREE Today:
https://dl.bookfunnel.com/9u4o1im0u0
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The Old Guard And Minor Characters
The Dear Wonderful Hubby and I watched The Old Guard last night on Netflix.
We both really enjoyed this movie. It was action-packed yet emotional, had a message of finding hope in a dark world that really appealed to me, especially in these pandemic times. I could easily relate to Andy (played by Charlize Theron), a warrior who has seen too much and is weary of everyone’s sh*t. (grins) Nile (played by KiKi Layne), was convincing as the brand new addition to the team.
But the characters who stole my heart, who really made the movie wonderful for me were Joe (played by Marwan Kenzari) and Nicky (played by Luca Marinelli). They have a M/M romance subplot that would make any romance reader super happy.
The declaration of love scene was one of the best I’ve ever seen on screen. It inspires me to ramp up my own scenes. Their how-I-met story was adorable and fresh and so very appropriate for two warriors. The brief scenes of tenderness, the cuddles, the glances, the speaking without words, melted my heart. There was a protectiveness in them worthy of any romance novel alpha. Their relationship was SO well done.
I feel no shame about watching the movie mostly for them. Just as I don’t mind it when reading buddies tell me they read Warlord’s Return for Kralj and Dita. Every character is different and we will, of course, be drawn to some characters more than others.
IMHO…this is one of the many reasons why storytellers include minor characters in their stories.
Oh and if you love minor characters and would like to see more stories or shows or movies about them, tell the writers/other creators. I’ve written many extra scenes and snippets and even a novella or two because reading buddies have requested more time with certain characters.
***
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Warlord’s Return
Ariq is a barbarian warrior seeking a war.
He locates that battle when he meets Xareni.
* * *
Ariq is one of Chamele’s top warriors. A genetic predisposition to fighting, paired with intensive training and experience, has honed the scarred male into an effective killing machine. He loves war, can’t live without combat.
The Succession Wars, however, have finally ended and the Chamele sector is now at peace. Seeking excitement and purpose, the barbarian warrior accompanies his Second to the Refuge, an outlaw settlement on Carinae E. He hopes to locate the battle he’s been craving there.
Ariq finds that conflict and more when he meets his fated mate.
Xareni owes the Ruler of the Refuge a favor. That’s the only reason she has returned to the settlement. She doesn’t like crowds or structures or a certain barbarian warrior who insists on following her everywhere. It doesn’t matter that there’s a connection between them, that he makes her burn with desire, that he looks at her with heat in his dark eyes.
She’s a monster and monsters don’t need anyone.
* * *
Warlord’s Return is a STANDALONE Alien Barbarian SciFi Romance featuring a determined barbarian warrior, an equally resolute human female, and an eyeball-eating mini dragon.
Buy Today:
Amazon US:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FTJY7P1
Amazon UK:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B08FTJY7P1
Amazon AUS:
https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B08FTJY7P1
Apple Books:
https://books.apple.com/us/book/warlords-return/id1527631786
B&N:
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/warlords-return-cynthia-sax/1137482152
Kobo:
https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/warlord-s-return
Smashwords:
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1038052
Topics: Movie Reviews | Comments Off on The Old Guard And Minor Characters
