You're right, it does seem a little outrageous, but I may just have to check it out to see if it works for me too. Is it best to start at the first book, do you think? If so, it also works for the "grave/graveyard" square. And the author has FOUR different pen names.
I also want to add that I love your new background!
I got the first book as an ARC and I thought 'oh hell - there's no way I can read this book; the animals TALK!'. But I opened it out of obligation, and it surprised me so much! I mean, yes, my expectations were LOW, but she made me tear up almost to crying at one point!
If you give it a go, definitely start at book 1; the mythology or world building or whatever is all done and explained in book 1. And yes, it can be used for graveyard/gravestone too. The major element of the series premise is the Pet/Human cemetery adjacent to the house and at least half the story takes place there.
and thanks! I just changed it last night and was really pleased with how well it works with all my existing colors. :)
Just remember it *is* a cozy though; it's a sweet, touching cozy, with more depth than your average cozy, but your average cozy is a pretty shallow puddle to start with. ;)
I don't mind cozies for their coziness. Sloppy worldbuilding and characters irk me though. And murder methods that shouldn't work. I'll keep the low expectations in mind. :)
According to the cats and dogs, their very nature is ninja-like. I can't find the exact part where they're described but here's a quick excerpt from a squirrel scene:
"The squirrels were kung fu fighting.
With, naturally, the rabbits. And the goats. And the guinea pigs. Actually, it was kind of hard to tell exactly *who* they were fighting; they were bounding off every available surface - including bodies - at such a fast and furious rate they made bounding goats seem glacial. It was like watching a barroom brawl erupt at a petting zoo. A squirrel blurred past me, locked in combat with half a dozen bunnies. I couldn't make out any details, just a lot of hyperkinetic movement that went beyond defying the laws of physics to actually giving them the finger."
It's not the best scene, by far, but it gives you a sense that even though the author has some very touching moments and a murder mystery going on, she's not taking herself very seriously. (One of the best scenes, imo, is earlier in the book when a bunch of ghost goats completely flummox the dog trying to herd them - that one made me giggle.)
I also want to add that I love your new background!
If you give it a go, definitely start at book 1; the mythology or world building or whatever is all done and explained in book 1. And yes, it can be used for graveyard/gravestone too. The major element of the series premise is the Pet/Human cemetery adjacent to the house and at least half the story takes place there.
and thanks! I just changed it last night and was really pleased with how well it works with all my existing colors. :)
"The squirrels were kung fu fighting.
With, naturally, the rabbits. And the goats. And the guinea pigs. Actually, it was kind of hard to tell exactly *who* they were fighting; they were bounding off every available surface - including bodies - at such a fast and furious rate they made bounding goats seem glacial. It was like watching a barroom brawl erupt at a petting zoo. A squirrel blurred past me, locked in combat with half a dozen bunnies. I couldn't make out any details, just a lot of hyperkinetic movement that went beyond defying the laws of physics to actually giving them the finger."
It's not the best scene, by far, but it gives you a sense that even though the author has some very touching moments and a murder mystery going on, she's not taking herself very seriously. (One of the best scenes, imo, is earlier in the book when a bunch of ghost goats completely flummox the dog trying to herd them - that one made me giggle.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Don_DeBrandt
Psycho fighting squirrels I can see.