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Roberta Writes: Book review – The Vampire of Kings Street by Asha Greyling #readingcommunity #fiction #vampires

The December holiday period and my Dad’s illness has put me behind with sharing my reviews. I am slowly catching up and I have a most interesting and unique vampire story to share with you today.

Picture caption: Cover of The Vampire of Kings Street by Asha Greyling featuring a coffin, two bats and a raven on a dark background with an entwining red patterning

What Amazon says

In this gothic debut novel, perfect for fans of Tread of Angels and Gail Carriger’s Soulless, Miss Radhika Dhingra, a newly minted lawyer in 19th century New York, never expected that her first client would be a vampire accused of murder.

Having a resident vampire is just the thing for upper-class New Yorkers–besides being a status symbol, they make excellent butlers or housekeepers. The only thing they require in return is a drop or two of blood and a casket to shut out the dawn’s early light. 

Tolerated by society only if they follow a strict set of rules, vampires are seen as “less than”–and as the daughter of immigrants, Radhika knows firsthand how this feels. Accused of murder, her undead client Mr. Evelyn More, knows that the cards are stacked against him.

With the help of a journalist friend and a diminutive detective inspector, Miss Dhingra sets out to prove her client’s innocence and win his freedom. Failure will mean Mr. More’s death, the end of her dreams of becoming a successful attorney, and the loss of the vampire Miss Dhingra has begun to call her friend.

Offering an alternative paranormal history, delightful characters, and insightful social commentary, The Vampire of Kings Street will thrill readers of Deanna Rayburn and Rebecca Roanhorse. 

My review

I enjoy vampire folklore and mythology and through this book had a unique and interesting take on vampires. Far from having the upper hand, vampires have descended into being wards of wealthy families who ‘host’ the vampire in exchange for services. Essentially, vampires who were previously hunted down and killed by vampire slayers, have evolved into ancient and immortal servants to the wealthy.

This story starts with Evelyn More, vampire ward to a wealthy and powerful family called Frost, calling on the dilapidated offices of Miss Radhika Dhingra. Radhika is an interesting character. The daughter of a couple who’d immigrated from South India, she had chosen to put herself through a college focused on uplifting women and gaining qualification as a lawyer. Naturally, due to her heritage, Radhika had not gained employment with the well-known and powerful firm of attorneys that all lawyers dreamed of working for and had decided to try and build her own practice. Mr More is seeking legal advice and despite her misgivings at acting for a vampire, she is excited to have her first client. Radhika connects to Mr More as vampires are heavily discriminated against by society and have limited legal rights. I thought Radhika’s internal conflict about the reputational risks of acting for a being even more disadvantaged than herself, and the enticement of the money, her first case, and also her desire to stay true to her own beliefs and moral values was fascinating. Radhika decides to go ahead and represent Mr More although he has not as yet committed any crime. Mr More is engaging her on the expectation that a crime would be committed that he would be blamed for due to circumstantial evidence.

I enjoyed the character of Radhika very much. I was pleased she stood up for her beliefs and I thought she developed nicely over the course of the story, as both a lawyer and a person. She demonstrated bravery in difficult circumstances and also determination and grit.

Mr More is an ancient being and has been with the Frost family for centuries. The family is not as it initially appears to be and there are lots of egos, desires, and discord at play. I disliked the family matriarch, as I was intended to, and resented her snooty and ungrateful behavior. Sadly, I thought Mrs Frost was entirely believable. As the book unfolds, Mr More’s background and how he became a vampire unfolds as a truly tragic story. His backstory gives a lot of insight into who he is and why he is both loved and hated by various characters in the book, both vampirical and otherwise.

The author introduces some unique and intriguing ideas around blood, both human and vampire, and I enjoyed these innovations on the traditional vampire story very much.

In summary, if you enjoy unique slants on mythical creatures and an entertaining story, this book will appeal to you.

You can purchase The Vampire of Kings Street by Asha Greyling from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/163910867X

Roberta Writes – In Touch With Nature: The Secretary Bird

I am excited to be kicking off In Touch with Nature, 2025 with a post about the Secretary Bird, Southern Africa’s most unusual bird of prey.

Thanks for hosting, Kaye Lynne Booth.

In Touch With Nature – African’s most unusual bird of prey – Ode to a Secretary Bird #southernafricanwildlife #birds #poetry

Roberta Writes – d’Verse, Finding the Light #dverse #prosery

The prompt: Write a piece of prose, fiction or non-fiction, up to 144-words, using the line:

“where can we find light in this never-ending shade?”
–From Amanda Gorman, “The Hill We Climb”

You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2025/01/20/prosery-finding-the-light/. Thank you, Merril: https://merrildsmith.org/2025/01/20/prosery-galaxies-of-hope/

The Light

The forest sweltered in the heat. Droplets oozed from the dense undergrowth and the loamy, waterlogged soil squelched beneath our sneakered feet. The air lay heavily on us, coating our skins with slickness. Our lungs sucked in boiled syrup, thick and sticky in the gloomy twilight beneath the canopy.

Picture caption: Walking through the forest in 38C heat

All around us, the trees formed a closely packed barrier, forcing us to wallow on through the mud. Snaking tendrils, moist and slimy, slyly pulled our hair and sneakily wrapped around our ankles while the cicadas blasted encouragement. The noise rang in our ears.

Picture caption: This tree had long mossy tendrils

“I need some sun … and fresh air,” Bill muttered. “Where can we find light in this never-ending shade?”

Picture caption: This tree had a tangle of entwined tendrils

The trees did not deign to answer. The cicadas screamed laughter.

On we trudged, eyes downcast, muscles quivering.

The cicadas fell silent. Glancing around, we saw dappled sunlight ahead.

The Sound of the Forest YT video:

And beyond the trees lay The Grotto:

Picture caption: A beautiful rainbow in the pool at the bottom of the waterfall

Three videos of inside The Grotto. It was very wet, with water sparkling on the rock walls and undergrowth. There were also two waterfalls. You can hear them in the last to YT shorts.

Roberta Writes – Reblog: Book review of And the Grave Awaits

Thank you to talented author and blogger, Toni Pike, for this wonderful review of my short story collection, And the Grave Awaits.

Toni has a marvelous selection of books in the thriller, women’s fiction, and children’s books genres. I’ve read several of her books across all of the genres and loved all of them.

Book Review: And The Grave Awaits by Roberta Eaton Cheadle #shortstories #reviews

Roberta Writes – Book review: Too Much Fun to Be Legal by Nolcha Fox and Barbara Leonhard #poetry #poetrycommunity #bookreview

Picture caption: Book cover of Too Much Fun to Be Legal featuring people in foxes’ costumes

What Amazon says

Nolcha and Barbara decided to collaborate after Nolcha’s submission attachments to Barbara were mysteriously eaten by computer gremlins. Those gremlins were the topic of their first collaboration. It’s been so much fun to work together, it shouldn’t be legal.

My review

Too Much Fun to Be Legal is an engaging collection of witty, slightly sarcastic, and highly engaging poems by talented poets, Nolcha Fox and Barbara Leonhard. The poems are all freestyle and are written as alternate paragraph contributions by each poet. It is amazing how seamlessly the paragraphs fit together to create poems that flow perfectly. The poetry is highly imaginative and yet relatable and is filled with descriptions of daily life gone awry and the trials and tribulations of aging, which will have you nodding your head in understanding.

A few poetry extracts to demonstrate my commentary above.

Extracts from Diminishing:
Barbara’s contribution:
“Otherwise, I’m a monkey,
scaling shelves at the supermarket,
or using the grabber tool I was given
after my hip replacement
to snag containers”

Nolcha’s contribution:
“Supermarket shelves fell down
last time I tried to reach the Spam.
Canned goods, bottles, scattered,
shattered down Aisle 3 and 4.
Now the market manager
won’t let me shop without escort.
I just ride electric carts,
let someone else
do all the work.”

Extract from Freedom of the Body:
“Unshackle me from
pantyhose and heels,
from suits and ties,
from heavy bags
and briefcases
filled with everything
important, so we think.
These costumes
only serve as weights
to keep a work desk
in its place.”

I thought this paragraph describing work attire and the greater attitude towards work was very thought provoking. We all need to remember that we work to live and not let work become our lives.

Memory loss is a very real part of aging. Sometimes the demons, Dementia and Alzheimer’s, raise their ugly heads and the memory loss becomes all encompassing. This extract from I’m looking, written by Barbara, subtly illustrates this particular symptom.

“Like the shards of my soul
lost in traumas.
Some left to haunt
old homes, playgrounds,
hospitals. How to rescue
those missing pieces
of my memory?”

If you enjoy relatable poetry that allows you to smile, or even laugh, at the inconveniences, annoyances and griefs of life, you will enjoy this brilliantly compiled collection.

Purchase Too Much Fun to Be Legal from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DC4RTRCR

Find Nolcha and Barbara

You can find more of Nolcha’s poetry on her blog here: https://writingaddiction2.wordpress.com/

You can find more of Barbara’s poetry on her blog here: https://extraordinarysunshineweaver.blog/

Roberta Writes – d’Verse: Lifeoff and Margins #poetry #dVerse

It seems quite amazing that I wrote these two poems early yesterday morning. So much has happened since then. My dad is in hospital and they have found a huge goitre (enlarged thyroid gland) which is pressing on parts of his brain and his lungs and heart. I will see how today unfolds as the doctor called me with some of the test results at 8pm last night. Anyhow, both of these poems are happy and uplifting.

Thank you to Dora for her ‘Diving into Margins’ prompt. You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2025/01/14/diving-into-margins/

Margins

I taught my children

To colour outside the lines

To write in the margins

To push all the boundaries

I taught my children to dance

Instead of walk

To see the pictures in the clouds

To translate them into poems,

Stories and innovative ideas

I taught my children to live

***

De Jackson‘s quadrille prompt is Liftoff. You can see what other poets have written here: https://dversepoets.com/2025/01/13/quadrille-215-ready-for-liftoff/

Linen

I wrestle the sheets onto the washing line

Sweet smells of lavender fabric softener

Filling my nostrils

A mischievous zephyr gently lifts them

They billow into full, white sails

Shocking the cat

Whose enquiring nose

Has just breached the corner

She runs

I laugh

Picture caption: Bald Eagle – coloured pencil drawing by Robbie Cheadle. Based on a photograph by Wayne Barnes from Tofino Photography. You can find Wayne’s beautiful photographs here: https://tofinophotography.wordpress.com/

Roberta Writes – Reena’s xploration challenge #263 and Esther Chilton’s writing prompt #poetry

A quick personal note before I launch into my new poems. I have deactivated my Roberta Writes X account. My sons have very strong opinions about the political bend this platform has taken. As they are my creations (according to my mother), I must act on the principles I have instilled in them. I have joined Bluesky and you can find me here: https://bsky.app/profile/robbiecheadle.bsky.social. I have replaced my X sharing button with a Bluesky sharing button.

Reena’s xploration challenge #362

Reena’s challenge is to write a poem based on any picture from the winners of the Best Abstract Photos for 2024. You can join in here:

Picture caption: #1. Siena Drone Abstract Awards 2024: Winner – “Tree of life” by Isabella Tabacchi

Little One

I wish I could protect you

Little One

Enclose you in a bubble

Safe from all harms

Protect you from

All the illnesses

That asail

Your weak immune system

Take away the pain caused

By careless words

That cut your fragile teenage ego

Into shreds of self doubt and sadness

I wish that my love and support

Was enough

Little One

To see you through your life

Sadly, it doesn’t work that way

I must teach you to fly

So, you can venture forth alone

Esther Chilton’s writing challenge: Storm

You can join in Esther’s challenge here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2025/01/08/writing-prompts-47/

Wet weather

We awake

To the crashing

Of thunder

And heavy drumming

Of African rain

The phone shrills

It’s 5 am

We can’t go out

On this first morning

Of the New Year

It’s too wet

The guide is sorry

Disappointment

Vias with enthusiasm

For more sleep

Gradually

The rain winds down

Petering out from ferocious

To soft English-styled drizzle

The 4 pm game drive is on –

The safari vehicle arrives

Off we go

At the river crossing

The water’s deep

And churning

The guide ventures forth

But pulls up short

It’s too deep

We’ll try the bridge

The bridge is passable – just

Brown water roars and rushes

On either side

As we make the crossing

“A car was swept away here,”

The guide remarks

“After last night’s party

The driver was drunk

Attempted the submerged bridge

And was washed away

Downstream

They’re searching for the bodies”

These are my photographs of the flooded river and bridge:

These are my YT videos of the flooded river. I love the sound of rushing water, even though it is scary:

Roberta Writes – book review: Nine Black Lives by Resa McConaghy and ‘Skart’ #bookreview #readingcommunity #art

Resa is a fantastic artist, photographer, and the designer of unique ballroom gowns from recycled fabrics, but did you know she is also the author of a fabulous book? I came across Nine Black Lives quite by accident and it is a really good book, filled with Resa’s imagination, knowledge and humour.

What Resa says

Picture caption: Cover of Nine black lives featuring a black city skyline through a window splattered with rain

Nicky is an actor, vain, jaded and tired of Hollywood fluff. He holes up, brooding in his New York apartment only to accept yet another “detective” role scheduled to shoot in his grey and gritty home turf. As stalkers move in and a real life murder taps him on the shoulder, Nicky enters a dangerous Neo Noir world. Peril looms to all those around him, including his love Lara and their unborn son. With the chill of premonition creeping over him, and wielding his “detective” skills, Nicky must awaken the true man within before time runs out.

My review

I really enjoyed this fascinating book. The author is a talented costume designer and has a lot of experience with life behind the cameras on a movie set. This knowledge shines through in this novel and makes the settings and character interactions very realistic and believable.

The main character, Nicky, is a hugely successful movie star who is searching for more fulfilment in his life that his typical male hero roles are offering. Unable to find a more challenging movie role, he throws himself into unravelling the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of a costume designer, Lucille, he’d worked with during the filming of his first move. The one that made him a star. At the same time, his girlfriend informs his that he’s going to be a father. Simmering in the background of these two storylines, are several threatening letters that Nicky’s has received from an obsessive fan. These three aspects weave together to create an exciting and fast paced novel set during the filming of Nicky’s new film, Nine Black Lives.

The characters and dialogue in this book really stood out for me. Due to the author’s understanding of the movie making world, the book is sprinkled with intriguing commentaries about the making of movies and the various actors, main and supporting, who make up the cast, as well as all the people involved in makeup, costume design and administration. An example of one such conversation is as follows:

“”The Handmaiden’s Hands was a step up, but who knew it at the time? Back then it was a paycheck. No one really thought anything would come of the stupid film. Leo had even worried that it could possibly hurt Nicky’s career.
“Who could have predicted a low budget loser like that would turn out to be a cult classic. Hell, the script was a joke,” Leo laughed.”

The backstory and details surrounding Nicky’s ‘stalker’ are interesting and well described. Insights into star obsession and the world of fan social media and on-line admiration clubs are unveiled in all their murky weirdness and excessiveness. It was all fascinating to me as a reader and I learned a great deal about the challenges of living in the spotlight.

The relationship between Nicky and the lead investigator into the death of Lucille and Nicky’s stalker is also interesting. The investigator, Lightfoot, is disdainful of Nicky’s information and thoughts and determined to remind him that he is not a ‘real’ investigator but only a pretender to the crown. This relationship was an intriguing reminder not to underestimate another person just because you are resentful of their position in life.

This is an interesting novel with a strong storyline, fascinating characters, and entertaining detail.

Your can purchase Nine black lives from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007HB8T1M

Or you can download it on Resa’s blog here: https://graffitiluxandmurals.com/artists/

Skart

Resa finds and photographs the most amazing street art. Late last year, Resa came across a most intriguing skateboard art find. Just after this discovery, I posted my one any only poem about skateboarding. Resa created an incredible post to showcase her art discoveries, and I am thrilled that she included my poem, The Silver Lining. Thank you, Resa, for all you do to make our lives interesting and art filled.

Click on the image to find Resa’s incredible post.

About Resa McConaghy

You can discover more about Resa McConaghy on her website here: https://resamcconaghy.com/

You can enjoy her gorgeous art gown creations here: https://artgowns.com/

I just love her latest creation:

Picture caption: Resa’s extraordinary and beautiful wedding dress creation

For me, it is a wedding dress and if I was getting married now, I would want this dress. I asked TC if he wanted to renew our wedding vows so I could wear this dress. Dear man said I could have the dress, but we didn’t need another wedding because the first one was amazing. Isn’t he a darling?

This is what Resa says about herself:

“Hi there!

I’m an amateur photographer who has a passion for taking pics of outdoor ephemeral art.

Eagle ! to Natasha

My name is Resa McConaghy, and my site, “Graffit Lux and Murals”, was originally dedicated to showcasing & documenting Graffiti Art  and Murals in Toronto and Winnipeg.

However, I now find I am featuring the Street Art of other cities around the globe through travels of mine, and guest contributors.

Taking these pics is a passion and a joy. Each work of graffiti art or mural evokes thoughts in me, and these thoughts are reflected in the titles of my Posts.

Some of these pieces may already have been named by the artists. If I know the original name, I will name it so.

Painted by Mandy van Leeuwen, Jennifer Johnson Pollock and Charlie Johnston.
Painted by Mandy van Leeuwen Jennifer Johnson Pollock and Charlie Johnston.

If I know the name of the artist, I will credit them under the photograph and/or in the body of the post. If you are an artist & have not been credited,  you can reach me by email with your info. I will gladly update the post. If you’re here, it’s probably because you love this type of art as much as I do. I hope my pics do the pieces some justice.

Contact me at: submissionstoglam@graffitiluxandmurals.com

Cheers!

Resa

IMG_1461_3

Roberta Writes – d’Verse: Art in Nature #poetry

My poem is a little offsides, but this is what came in response to the d’Verse Art in Nature prompt. I love to write about animals but if you give me a picture of one and ask me to write, my mind always gallops off in a diverse direction. The pattern on the wings of this butterfly reminded me of many eyes in a board room …

Melissa is the host for this prompt, and you can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2025/01/07/art-in-nature/

The photograph below is provided by Michael from Art in Nature blog who I also follow.

Picture caption: Caterpillar with a pattern like many eyes

Caterpillars

I feel the heavy weight

Of disapproval

Or is it disappointment

From the many pairs of eyes

Turned towards me

As I stand in the doorway

Laptop bag over one shoulder

Recyclable water bottle

Loosely held

In the opposite hand

“Who are you?”

I sense the question

From these hungry caterpillars

All eyeing my pink flowery pants

Maybe they think I’ll shrink

Just like poor anxious Alice

But unlike Lewis Carrol’s Alice

And her modern counterpart

The unfortunate Briget Jones

I know exactly who I am

A strong and independent woman

With over twenty years of experience

I shake back my shoulder length blonde hair

Sliding into the closest empty chair

I face down the other advisors

“We were just discussing the deal structure,”

Says Caterpillar Number One

A smug look on his soft, well-fed face

“Do you have any comments?”

“In fact, I do,” I take the opportunity

“The deal structure you’ve proposed

Will result in the following outcome

From a financial reporting point of view.”

I briefly explain into the grim silence

“Is that what you wanted?” I ask

The stiff phallic shaped caterpillar droops

“The structure is not final,” huffs out

Mixing with the other bags of wind

Circulating the testosterone heavy room

The meeting ends

I make a swift escape

The following morning

My email reveals

A revised deal structure proposal

It’s my turn to be smug

Roberta Writes – Esther Chilton’s Writing Prompt: Best Moments of 2024 and Final Tanka Tuesday #poetry

Happy New Year everyone. I have finally returned home and am more than ready to resume my normal life. I told my family I am ‘holidayed out now’ after the unexpected trip to Japan in December plus our planned family vacation to Babanango Game Reserve and the Drakensberg. It was all wonderful and I have lots of amazing photographs to share but I’m ready for some routine and work.

Esther’s writing prompt for this week is Favourite 2024 Moments. You can join in here: https://estherchilton.co.uk/2025/01/01/writing-prompts-46/

Favourite 2024 Moments

New Year

fresh beginning

January bush trip

wild painted dogs a special treat

rare sight

Picture caption: African painted wild dog

***

birthday

twenty one years

of life with Gregory

February celebration

unreal

***

autumn

orange and red

visit to Pilanesberg

an amazing leopard sighting

great luck

Picture caption: Leopard coming down from a tree

***

April

uninspired month

high school catastrophe

change brings a new curriculum

good choice

***

Norway

beckons brightly

I’m expensive luggage

TC works while I enjoy life

smashing

Picture caption: Oslo Harbour in Norway

***

finished

book launch ready

for And the Grave Awaits

culmination of six year’s work

success

***

freezing

dead of winter

lovely fires every day

dryness makes eyes red and itchy

passes

***

bush trip

cold, dry mornings

small cheetah cubs sighting

wearing honey badger disguise

worthwhile

Picture caption: Cheetah cubs feeding an an impala

***

aunt sick

third time this year

sons decide on action

removal to retirement home

drama

***

long month

worst time of year

examinations start

house seeped in great anxiety

works out

***

surprise

trip to Japan

opportunity grabbed

exciting snow monkey sighting

special

Picture caption: Snow monkeys in the thermal spring in Japan

Tanka Tuesday final challenge

Colleen’s final Tanka Tuesday Challenge is to write a poem using your Native American Zodiac for inspiration. Mine is the Bear and my poem takes the imayo syllabic form.

No bears here in Africa; also no tigers

West was home to Atlas bear, alas now extinct

There are African ant bears – ant eating aardvarks

Alternatively, there are, teddy bears galore

You can read other poets’ contributions here: https://tankatuesday.com/2024/12/31/tankatuesday-poetry-challenge-new-beginnings-12-31-24/