Year of the Snake (Changeling Sisters #5) Published!

A suspenseful, twisty geopolitical journey for shapeshifter fans dropping just in time for the holidays. You won't want to miss the penultimate installment in the Changeling Sisters Series. Now available on all major online eBook retailers: 

Apple, Kobo, Scribd, Smashwords, and more:

https://books2read.com/u/bMVjQ7

Amazon.com:

https://www.amazon.com/Year-Snake-Changeling-Sisters-Book-ebook/dp/B0CLJFL5XM

Another Exclusive Look Inside Year of the Snake

 

It's official - my cat refused to go out this morning, meaning it is finally getting into that autumn chill. Whether you're preparing to remember those who've passed on for Day of the Dead or visiting the pumpkin patch for Halloween, I've just released two more excerpts from Year of the Snake (Changeling Sisters V) to get into the mysterious mood of the season. Check them out below! 

https://www.wattpad.com/1388250652-year-of-the-snake-chapter-3-excerpt-celebration-of

https://www.wattpad.com/1388252487-year-of-the-snake-chapter-4-excerpt-popocat%C3%A9petl

Exclusive Chapter Excerpt 1: Year of the Snake

 

Check out the first chapter excerpt from Year of the Snake (Changeling Sisters V), exclusively on Wattpad! 

https://www.wattpad.com/1383215125-year-of-the-snake-chapter-1-excerpt-the-dream

*Year of the Snake will be available November 1, 2023 on all major online E-retailers*

Year of the Snake Cover Reveal

* Coming November 1 to all major online E-retailers*

XIBALBA IS RISING.

The Alvarez and Yong siblings have saved Seoul from a zombie apocalypse, but a murder close to home reveals the terrifying truth that the Death Gods are far from finished. Citlalli, Raina, and Miguel team up with Rafael and Khyber in a dark and convoluted investigation that will take them deep into the Central American peninsula, into the heart of the Maya underworld itself. Citlalli and Khyber’s newfound romance faces the ultimate test when Khyber is summoned to be King of the Vampyre Court, forcing him to choose once and for all his allegiance to the living or the dead.

Meanwhile, dragon shapeshifter princess Sun Bin is welcomed into the high-powered tech world of Saja Corp with promises of finding her missing brother and saving Nyssa from her divine captor. However, while the research into the viruses that created the Were Nation glitters brightly, underneath lurks a deadly secret, one that could spell ruin for life itself.

As Changeling Sisters across the globe unite to stop the catastrophic rise of Xibalba, the spirit world of Eve can no longer bury the sins of the past—and the world may well drown in them.

Year of the Snake is the penultimate book in the Changeling Sisters Series.

 

Wednesday - Netflix TV Series Review

 WEDNESDAY

Season 1 Streaming on Netflix

~TV Series Review~

*Warning! Moderate Spoilers!*

 

AS AN ALL-AROUND NEWBIE to the Addams family (originally created by Charles Addams), I came into Netflix’s mega-hit with vague recollections of pale people, dark hair, and yes, I did remember the severed hand—who is this series’ MVP. Even being a casual Tim Burton viewer, I was still familiar with the iconic characters of Morticia, Wednesday (played by Jenna Ortega), and Gomez, but boy, is this take ever like Veronica Mars goes to magic school—and I am here for it.

After teenager Wednesday (named after a line from her mother’s favorite poem “Wednesday’s child is full of woe”) sets piranhas on her younger brother’s bullies, she is whisked away to her parents’ old boarding school called Nevermore, where she discovers an entire class of outcasts and odd-ducks—you know, sirens, gorgons, werewolves. Headmistress Larissa Weems (Gwendoline Christie) protects the school from increasing scrutiny by the hostile neighboring town of Jericho, which was founded by a diabolical pilgrim. Wednesday’s magical abilities range from strange visions to deadpan humor to sleuthing, which she immediately puts to use when someone starts attacking students. Like I said, Veronica Mars with magic.

Ortega is hysterical. It does suspend belief that someone could be quite this witty and have the perfect comeback to every authority, but it’s entertaining, and I love that she fully embraces herself and dances like no one is watching (the dance scene had me in stitches). I loved Wednesday's thorny relationship with her mother and the softer side with her father and brother, but the best partnership of course goes out to Thing (the aforementioned severed hand that likes manicures), her closest confidante in cracking the murder mystery of Nevermore. Thing’s origin did make me curious to look up, since in Wednesday’s family, having an animated hand keep tabs on your daughter at boarding school is, ya know, tots normal.

You may guess that Wednesday has a problem with trust, considering the Hand-best-friend-thing, but her intrepid classmates don’t give up on her—including a beekeeper and Enid Sinclair (Emma Myers), her bubblegum-pink late blooming werewolf roommate. I could have sworn Enid would turn out to be a cat instead (give the werewolf trope a break), but I still liked how she finally came into her own. Thankfully no vampires—but will be very interested to see more of the sirens and gorgons in future episodes. I think they jumped the shark a bit on humanizing Bianca Barclay (Joy Sunday), the siren queen bee of the school—her relationship with her mother and the influence that had on her upbringing was too rushed, introduced at a moment where there was too much going on to get the focus it deserved. I also found Wednesday and Xavier’s relationship to be a bit unbelievable, not really seeing what the attraction was when she continued to treat him like gum on the bottom of her shoe.

Despite some moments when there is so much going on, the characterization suffers for it, this is overall another bingeworthy Netflix series that will entrap you for the long haul. We’ve got former Wednesday alum Christine Ricci back in a new role, and gosh does Gwendoline Christie (Brienne of Tarth in Game of Thrones, Lucifer in The Sandman) continue to demonstrate her acting versatility in the sweet-but-lethal headmistress character. Plus you’ve got Catherine Zeta Jones as Morticia, Wednesday’s darkly ethereal mother, and Luis Guzmán as her doting father. Here’s to eagerly awaiting Season 2!

 

*The above is depicted as fiction, not fact

Washington Travel Series: Methow Valley, Washington

THINK IT'S TOO EARLY to be planning your next cross-country ski trip? If you’ve ever wanted to experience that quintessential winter wonderland small-town getaway where it’s just you in a log cabin surrounded by endless white powder, you’ll want to start planning now to visit the Methow Valley.

Heading out into the heart of Central Washington is a journey in of itself. The big city slowly slips away and the land opens up to endless freedom. Check conditions at the passes: Snoqualmie and Blewitt Pass are two big ones if coming from around the Seattle area, and Blewitt can be notorious to sending your car spinning out if not ready for winter driving. You’ll eventually leave the congestion of the city behind and wind further north, past Cashmere and Chelan, until it’s just you in the wide open country. Once you hit Twisp, you’re nearly there, and there’s a good grocery store just outside the rustic sign welcoming you to Winthrop.

Finding a place to stay near Winthrop is ideal for easy access to all the major cross-country ski areas. Not to mention it’s a chic frontier-style town straight out of the Wild, Wild West with wooden boardwalks, saloons, gift shops, breweries, and inns that are a ton of fun to explore, while deer and horses meander along the chilly Methow River. If you’re taking a break from skiing, there’s an outdoor ice skating rink, ice fishing further outside of town, and so many neat coffee nooks and eateries that it will be tough not to eat out every night.

Airbnb, VRBO, and Expedia all offer easy ways to search for accommodation, but be aware that this place books up fast. We’re talking world-class cross-country skiing. I’ve always been a downhill fan myself, but lately downhill skiing’s prices have been going sky-high. Cross-country skiing is a great workout, and try skate skiing to recapture the thrill of flying across miles of groomed trails with nothing but the mountains and the sun overhead.

Methow Valley Trails passes (available to be bought on the Methow Valley Trails website or at a local sporting store in town) run you around $78 for 3 days, or $30 for 1 day, and that covers four amazing areas—plus, kids under 17 and seniors over 75 are free! I’d like to highlight Methow Cycle & Sport which had pulks for rent if you’re here with toddlers.

Ski Areas

All four major Ski Areas around Winthrop are connected by the Methow Valley Community Trail. We stayed at WolfridgeResort, a bundle of log cabins with an outdoor hot tub, and you could wake up and walk out your door to start skiing the community trail.

This time was a different experience for us with a toddler on board. We
planned skiing outings around our little one’s naptime, and sure enough, the pulk lulled her to sleep and was relatively light to pull for long distances. If you have little kids or for beginners, I recommend Mazama and Jack’s River Run:

Mazama

This place is going to be a big hit for the little ones. It’s mainly a flat groomed trail system past an old farmstead with easy loops and picturesque landscape that could have inspired the lyric, “Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh!” Plus you may get to see biathlon training in action. Check out the Goat Creek trail through the woods for a bit more intermediate excitement that will take you all the way to a suspension bridge.

Mazama Public House, operated by Old Schoolhouse Brewery

We could not have asked for a better lunch spot after skiing the trails at Mazama. Neighborhood vibes abound in this new pub house, which sports garage doors that overlook pristine mountains. It's family-friendly with savory food that was so good we came back again. I’m not usually a fan of nachos, but this take included a fresh, unique salsa and succulent pork that made me want to revisit the dish all over, along with quinoa bowls and great takes on hearty sandwiches and fries that was distinctly memorable. You can’t ask for much better to get off the track and grab an IPA or cider ice-cold from the tap, with a ton of local favorites to choose from. Mazama Public House was launched by a long-time resident and offers a fantastic experience with reasonable prices.

Jack’s River Run

Honestly, this was our first time at Jack’s River Run. Go until the highway ends (or Mazama has a trail that connects to this ski area) and you’ll find relatively flat trails with cliffs looming above you. It’s mainly forested until you break out to one of those gorgeous meadows with a warming hut. For a challenge, check out Doe Canyon.

Sun Mountain: Chickadee Trailhead

Once the kiddos (or you) have gotten the hang of things, the Chickadee Trailhead at Sun Mountain to the south is the “it” place for intermediate and advanced skiers. I have many fond memories exploring the diverse trails here, and yes, there are steep descents that will excite the downhiller’s heart. Take Thompson Road up to the top and enjoy the Upper and Inner Passage down (black diamond rating)—just be careful if it’s icy! There’s tons of fun loops through the forest like Criss-Cross and Rodeo, and even the easy routes take you by beautiful lakes and offer a trek back up to the famous Sun Mountain Lodge at the mountain top. Not a fan of steep ascents? Sun Mountain Lodge is worth a drive just to visit and see the view.

Rendezvous: Cub Creek Trailhead

If the weather’s decent and your heart is really set on a challenge, it may be time to embark on the drive over to Cub Creek Trailhead at Rendezvous Trailhead, easily the most difficult ski area with grueling uphill and in my opinion, not quite as much of the fun that you get at Sun Mountain. The shade and heavy forest adds an extra layer of chill to the remote experience. However, if you’re an advanced skier with thunder thighs, this is the place to go.

 

Overall, there are so many ways to build your trip to the Methow Valley—and that’s just in winter! This truly is a storybook gem we’ve fallen in love with and can’t say enough good things about. As for our toddler? It checked all her boxes, too.

*Disclaimer: This post is depicted as fiction, not fact

 

Year of the Snake Book Finished!

 

To Everyone emerging after Cinco de Mayo weekend, I am thrilled to announce Year of the Snake (Changeling Sisters V) is complete. Cover reveal to come! It is an exciting feeling to finish the penultimate book in this globe-trotting shapeshifter series. Geopolitics, family secrets, and underworld adventures await in a new part of the world. Get ready for life-or-death ball games, jaguar shifters, and a high stakes murder mystery. There may also be a morally compromised octopus :D .  

Stay tuned for publication date and catch up on the Changeling Sisters Series in the meantime: https://heatherheffner.blogspot.com/p/south-korea.html. 

XIBALBA IS RISING.

The Alvarez and Yong siblings have saved Seoul from a zombie apocalypse, but a murder close to home reveals the terrifying truth that the Death Gods are far from finished. Citlalli, Raina, and Miguel team up with Rafael and Khyber in a dark and convoluted investigation that will take them deep into the Central American peninsula, into the heart of the Maya underworld itself. Citlalli and Khyber’s newfound romance faces the ultimate test when Khyber is summoned to be King of the Vampyre Court, forcing him to choose once and for all his allegiance to the living or the dead.

Meanwhile, dragon shapeshifter princess Sun Bin is welcomed into the high-powered tech world of Saja Corp with promises of finding her missing brother and saving Nyssa from her divine captor. However, while the research into the viruses that created the Were Nation glitters brightly, underneath lurks a deadly secret, one that could spell ruin for life itself.

As Changeling Sisters across the globe unite to stop the catastrophic rise of Xibalba, the spirit world of Eve can no longer bury the sins of the past—and the world may well drown in them.

Year of the Snake is the penultimate book in the Changeling Sisters Series.

The Rings of Power (Season 1) - Amazon Prime - TV Series Review

 

*Warning! Spoilers Ahead!*

I can still recall the excitement when my mother first introduced me to Tolkien’s The Hobbit—that treasure of a first line, riddles in the dark with Gollum, the dragon Smaug, our favorite wizard Gandalf, and this bedeviling ring that would capture the imagination of Western fantasy for ages. I grew up in the age of animated Tolkien movies, and even today still find “Down, Down to Goblin Town” catchy. Easily my favorite scene in this era of Lord of the Rings is when Éowyn slays the Witch-King of Angmar (although kid self thought he was ridiculous cool, up there with the likes of Darth Vader). The series was an utter success at creating a memorable story that would stick with me for decades.

Look how cool I am! - Return of the King 1980

I was enraptured with Peter Jackson’s later adaptations. The bar was set high for any succession to Tolkien’s work, especially when Amazon announced a TV series based around the lesser-known Silmarillion material. As a newcomer to this age of Middle Earth, I waited with trepidation for the first trailer to drop.

Now as we all know, sometimes the trailer is better than the show. However, it was clear from the start that this was a teaser with nothing to tease. There was nothing particularly compelling at stake, especially when everyone knows how it all works out in the Third Age.

I regret to report that this lack of particularly compelling characters ultimately makes “The Rings of Power” a lackluster fantasy series, its only saving grace the star power that names like Galadriel and Elrond have. Frankly, I was bored.  As others have voiced, for a series titled “The Rings of Power,” the first season fails to convey the scale and grandeur of crafting rings that would grant Galadriel and Co. unparalleled authority.

Let’s appreciate the good. The story arch of Elrond’s deep friendship with Durin and Disa under duress by the animosity between their peoples is by far and large the high point of the season. The dwarven society was interesting and the actors made me care about them. Seriously, the rest of the elves were as bland as cardboard, but Robert Aramayo as Elrond pulled off the bantering chemistry with Owain Arthur’s Durin so well that I somewhat cared if The Tree was failing.

I also thought Charlie Vickers as Sauron in hiding did the best with the lines he had, but again, he was paired up with meanderingly dull plot lines and didn’t have strong actors to play off. Morfydd Clark’s Galadriel was distant and unrelatable, Isildur and Elendil were a big letdown, and the entire Harfoot plotline with the Stranger was painful to watch. Arondir as the obligatory ass-kicking elf was cool and I think Adar could have been used much earlier to create a sense of menace. Númenor, visually a feast for the eyes, but a yawn-fest in terms of plot, could really benefit from taking some notes from A Song of Fire and Ice and The Wheel of Time when it comes to court intrigue (or simply from Tolkien himself—who could ever forget how much fun King Théoden and Steward Denethor were to watch?)

Overall, the season would have benefited from a more focused plot tied around the challenges of crafting the rings themselves. There is maybe one episode dedicated to this, which makes it look like Sauron is a patient instructor walking the elves through how to make the best homemade bread. Using little known actors can be extremely effective (just see the Harry Potter trio’s breakout performances), but if they can’t convince the audience to care for them, it becomes just another generic fantasy no matter how big Tolkien’s name is. The Rings of Power has stunning imagery and a clear love for the world; now it needs to find its captivation factor.

Happy 2023 - Year of the Snake Update

Happy 2023 to everyone far and wide - hope your new year is off to a good start! Hey, it's time for that New Year's resolution thing again, when every writer puts in big, bold letters at the top of their list: Finish that book! 

Well, I have written Parts I and II of Year of the Snake and am barreling down Part III. In the meantime, please enjoy this excerpt and best of luck as we all embark to complete our great wish lists/mandates for self-actualization!

YEAR OF THE SNAKE (Changeling Sisters #5)


To find the way ahead, they must return to the beginning. Read an excerpt from the penultimate book in the Changeling Sisters Series that will take the Alvarez sisters deep into the heart of Central America...


"Ileana Alvarez was barely as tall as a stalk of wheat the first time she saw the Serpent Wall. Like a stormfront warning of danger, snakes of many shapes and sizes crawled over and under one another in an intricate pattern. There were spearheaded rattlers, bushmasters with poison tongues, vipers the blackish blue of shells, and coral snakes more colorful than any rainbow.

She walked toward them as if in a trance. First she stuck in a hand, and then a foot.

Then she pressed inside completely, leaving the city streets behind. All was dark and warm.

Gunfire erupted behind her." -- Year of the Snake 2023, by Heather Heffner