The Wicked by Helen Boswell is Un-putdown-able

The Wicked is an excellent follow up to last year's Mythology that in several ways exceeds the first book.

SYNOPSIS FROM AMAZON.

A demon with a pure heart, Micah Condie lives his life by a code of ethics, but breaking that code may be the only way for him to survive. A supernatural entity in her own right, Hope Gentry would do anything in her power to protect her loved ones, but she may be the one who puts them in peril. When the Demon Impiorum challenges the laws that keep guardians and demons in balance, ancient enforcers of justice intervene. Micah, Hope, and their mentor Jonathan become entangled in a conspiracy that will test even the deepest love and trust. Someone will commit an act of betrayal. Someone will forever abandon a loved one. Someone will enter THE WICKED.

Helen Boswell

THE GOOD

The Wicked boasts solid writing and strong editing. Not a word is wasted. All characters are highly developed and the story grows deeper and more complex with each page. Every chapter is filled with adventure and romance.

After the events in Mythology, Hope slowly adjusts to her new life. Then a new force arrives, throwing off her fragile equilibrium, threatening to completely destroy everything she cares about. Micah's life is also upended as events cause a downward spiral throwing him further into the grasp of demonic forces.

The worldbuilding is exquisite. Boswell hints at a much larger world without bashing the reader over the head with endless pages of explanation. She slowly reveals clues that suggest the conflict is much multifaceted than we thought.

I couldn't wait to finish and yet I never wanted it to end.

THE BAD

There was nothing I disliked. I caught one typo. One. Helen found it on her own and sent me an updated version of the book. Because she's just that awesome.

CONCLUSION

I enthusiastically recommend The Wicked to any fans of YA or urban fantasy. Helen is a writer to watch. This story leads to unexpected places that has me very excited for the future of this series.

Make sure you read the epilogue. It has a surprise element that hints at something wonderful and new for the future.

Links:
The Wicked on Goodreads
Helen Boswell Official Website
The Wicked on Amazon.com and Amazon.ca
Helen Boswell on Twitter

Freedom of Speech - Why Duck Dynasty Star Phil Robertson Is Not a Victim or a Hero

Cast of Duck Dynasty

I'll be honest. I don't watch Duck Dynasty. I also have no idea what the appeal of the show is. I've seen it promoted in several Christian stores and Christian gift areas which makes even less sense to me.

Now this idiot, Phil Robertson, is making nation news because he was fired for saying controversial things on a TV show. He compared homosexuality to bestiality and said things were better under segregation.

Why is this even news? Dan Rather was fired for questioning President Bush's war record and providing proof that Osama Bin Laden was in an American hospital on Sept 11, 2001. That means he proved that Americans knew where Bin Laden was immediate after the attacks and could have captured him at any time.

Dan Rather Fired by CBS for Telling the Truth

To me, that's a much bigger story that got nowhere near as much press as this.

Earlier this year, pundits rallied behind Orson Scott Card claiming he was exercising his freedom of speech when he said all homosexuals were sex addicts incapable of being Christians. (The Hypocrites of Homosexuality). Those who disagreed with his statements called for a boycott of Ender's Game. Many saw this as an attack on free speech.

Orson Scott Card

So does this mean we do not have Free Speech? Are the constitutional rights of Americans being stripped.

Hardly. This is just another case of people loudly boasting opinions on issues of which they have little or no knowledge. People are also routinely fired for blasting their employers on social media. Here's what the actual freedom of speech law protects:

AMENDMENT I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Source: Cornell University Law School

The First Amendment specifically addresses the role between government and the people, not interpersonal relationships. In every day speak, it guarantees that people will not be put in jail by the government for speaking freely.

Every one with a brain knows your words have power. Saying the wrong words to the wrong person at the wrong time will have a consequence. Phil Robertson is not in jail. No one is stopping him from spreading his hateful, ignorant words. All that happened is his employers fired him, just like they did when Paula Deen made racist comments earlier this year. Last time I checked, he wasn't in jail either.

Paula Deen

Paul Deen Fired for Using N-Word

Some say that Phil Robertson is a victim. Bull. All he's proven, along with Card, Rather, and Deen, is that actions have consequences. Thankfully, because of free speech laws in Canada and America, people are not imprisoned for stating their opinions. However, saying stupid things at work can still get your fired. And this is not news at all.

Additional Links:

'Duck Dynasty' star's free speech rights weren't violated