LatinosUSA

Hi all:

I bring you a short story for those who have little time to read, by one of my favourite authors and bloggers, one most of you have already met and whose stories have enjoyed. I won’t keep you waiting, because the story is intriguing enough already.

The Dance of Discord: A Short Story of Gilded Age Intrigue by Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

Welcome to the Gilded Age in Washington, D.C. The Dance of Discord short story is a lighthearted tale of spies and intrigue. In Washington, D.C. around the beginning of the 1900s, Secret Service agent Milo Quick and Duchess Felina Gattone must navigate an intricate and dangerous dance of diplomatic maneuvering. Hints are left all along the way for a twist at the end. Will you spot them?

About the author:

Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene is certain that the pen is in your hand. After a life shaped by the tragedy of losing a sibling to Mµnchaµsen §yndr◊me by Pr◊xy, along with the abµ§e she herself survived, Teagan took that metaphorical pen into her hand. She wrote her way to a new chapter of life with a successful career authoring and editing technical documentation. With another revision that pen took her to the next chapter, working alongside highly placed Federal executives to compose their communications. However, Teagan wasn’t finished. The pen was still in her hand. In her latest chapter she is an acclaimed multi-genre author, living in a high desert town in the Southwest of the USA. Rescue cats, the §coobies — Velma and Daphne, offer unsolicited advice on all stories, as well as the book covers Teagan designs.

This author’s stories range from paranormal to high fantasy and urban fantasy, to various steampunk (and other types of punk), to mysteries with historic settings. In addition to fiction, she has created the Author Tool Chest series of non-fiction works as resources for writers and anyone who loves language. In free time she enjoys conversations with friends, singing karaoke, and playing her piano.

See her book trailer videos at Youtube.

My review:

The author of this story has published books in a variety of genres, fiction and non-fiction, and her blog has become very popular as she has shared there many stories in serial format, always written with the cooperation of her followers. Some of these serials have later become books in their own right, and this is the case of this story, the latest serial the author has published on her blog. I have read many of her previous publications, and I am always eagerly waiting for anything she publishes, even when she writes in genres I am not a big reader of.

The Dance of Discord is a great example of some of the characteristics of the author’s writing: a well-researched setting, particularly important in historical fiction, like this short-story; attention to detail, especially noticeable in the use of turns of phrase and expressions of the era; richly descriptive writing; a surprising and intriguing plot, and an impressive cast of unforgettable characters.

Even in this short story/novelette, the characters are well-drawn and very distinctive. Among my favourites were Duchess Felina Gattone, one of the protagonists and narrator of the story, who is unique, full of character, and a queen of style, and Milo Quick, who reminded me of some of the characters in Oscar Wilde’s plays, witty, a dandy, but quite in earnest when it is required. I won’t discuss any of the other characters or reveal too much about the story, as I don’t want to spoil it. The story is short, but intriguing and very intense. Be prepared for secrets, mysteries, spies, and even some violence, always in the best of taste, of course.

Being adapted from a serial, this short-story is ideal for those who don’t have a lot of time to read, or read on the go, in little bursts, while they travel or go about their everyday lives, because the chapters are short and gripping, and it is short enough to read in one go for those who have a longer break but not enough time to read a full-length novel.

For those who are curious about endings, I can say I really enjoyed it and found it satisfying. There is a twist at the end, but is not a twist in the sense of a totally unexpected turn of events, because as the author explains in the preface, there are hints left all along the way. It might come as a surprise to readers, but when one goes back and reads the story again, it is all there. And it is cleverly done.

A great little story, full of glamour, intrigue, wonderful writing, and memorable characters I hope to read more about in the future.

Thanks to the author for another wonderful story, thanks to all of you for reading, commenting, liking, sharing, and make sure to take care, have fun, and keep smiling.