TEA REVIEW: Plum Deluxe Literary Tea Collection

 

While I do have a handful of brands and stores I'm loyal to, I'll never turn down an opportunity to try new tea. Plum Deluxe reached out to me recently, recommending their Literary Tea collection, and of course that sounded like exactly like my kind of thing. They sent along a tin for me to try, which of course I paired with some of my daily reading.

The collection comes with a mix of five teas in several level of caffeination, as well as everything you need (short of your own mug) to brew up the perfect blend. Read on for my thoughts on each offering!

Reading Nook Black
One of two black teas in the set, this blends rose, lavender, and chamomile for a cozy floral flavor. I'll be honest, I have never considered the merits of chamomile in a caffeinated blend, since I think its reputation for being a sleepytime herbal is at the forefront of everyone's minds. But this was really lovely. I'm a big fan of floral black teas, and this cozy blend is exactly the vibe I strive for in my own home library.

Bookshop Blend White
White teas are notoriously finicky, but this one is fairly forgiving. It has a wonderful fruity aroma and flavor, almost like gummy bears (but more natural). That's down to the orange, apple, and blackberry in the mix. There's a cinnamon flavor that comes out in the flavor more than the smell, and it tastes a little out of place with the fruit blend, but it's not a deal breaker.

Soul Warmer Herbal
If you're a fan of drinks that taste like desserts, there are two winners in this box for you. This rooibos blend has chestnut, hazelnut, and caramel flavors, as well as a bit of apple to it. It's a nice caffeine-free option for evening, very autumnal in flavor. I know rooibos can be hit or miss, but this is one that I really enjoy.

Buttery Shortbread Herbal
This is absolutely my top pick of the caffeine-free blends in this box, and another great one if you love dessert-y drinks. This is a vanilla honeybush tea, but the name isn't just a vague descriptor. This really does have a legitimate shortbread flavor to it, and I absolutely love it. The Soul Warmer blend is still good, but this one is the winner of the two when it comes to sleepytime brews.

Gratitude Earl Grey Black
Regulars will know I'm an absolute sucker for Earl Grey and Earl Grey-adjacent blends, so of course I was going to fall in love with this one. This tea is flavored with bergamot and strawberry, making it somewhat sweeter than other Greys. I do wish the strawberry was a little bolder when steeped, though it does come out a little more when the tea cools; so I imagine it's a much more forward flavor when iced.

The tin also comes with a very cute basket-style tea infuser with celestial cutouts along the rim. I've been using it quite a bit since getting the tin, and it's fabulous for single-cup loose tea steeps.

The Literary Tea Collection Gift Tin is a great selection of multiple types of cozy tea. If you know a person likes a very specific type of tea (all black or all herbal, for instance), it might not be the best fit. But for someone who enjoys variety and a certain cozy vibe, these are perfect. The bags are only about an ounce each (less than the standard 2-3 oz bags you'll see elsewhere), so bear that in mind as you buy. But especially during a hot summer like this, when many of us are dreaming of the coziness of autumn, these are a lovely escape.

Be sure to use my referral link for a discount, and thank you to Plum Deluxe for providing samples for review!

BOOK REVIEW: The Lure of Wolves and Whispers

 

THE LURE OF WOLVES AND WHISPERS
by Amanda Connolly
Available July 7

The isle of Eirann was once full of magic. But in Maeve's lifetime, magic is bought and sold illegally. When she finds herself in need of a cure for her beloved sister Finn, she trades herself for a small bottle of magic. And in return, she finds herself working as a spy to bring down the king.

Maeve is shuffled into a ceremony known as the Assay: a multi-part competition in which noblewomen vie for the hand of the crown prince. One commoner is always thrown in the mix as a sacrifice, to show what happens to those who would rise above their station. But backed up by a shadowy organization of Whispers (and in particular the brooding and mysterious Wolf), Maeve intends to fight her way to the top. Along the way, she finds herself embroiled in a political struggle bigger than even she imagined.

A Lure of Wolves and Whispers has a lot going for it: a unique magic system, a fantasy world inspired by Irish folklore, and interesting characters. However, this is capital-R Romantasy at its core, complete with trope-tastic MMCs and FMCs and the sort of weighty, purple prose ("betrayal tasted like ashes") that comes with the genre. Is that a good thing or a bad thing? It depends on if that's what you're looking for.

The problem with a story that cleaves so close to the romantasy pattern is that, no matter what else is good about it, it becomes predictable. I loved the presence of ogham as a language, I loved that the inspiration came from somewhere beyond mainland Europe, and I loved how large the world seemed to be. But the heavy BookTokishness of it made this big world feel smaller, like a sprawling narrative was cramming itself into something marketable. And that made me a bit sad.

In short, The Lure of Wolves and Whispers has a lot to recommend it. But this one is pitched squarely to Romantasy Girls, and readers into other styles of fantasy (or even fantasy romances that aren't "romantasy") may not quite click with this one.

TEA PAIRING: The Dragon's Flame
The Lure of Wolves and Whispers is set in a world where magic is dwindling and tensions are high. This spicy cinnamon tea is a perfect pairing for this intense story. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other book-inspired teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!

Sir Sherlock 1: The Red Letter Day

 

Back in 1982, Tom Baker took a turn as legendary detective Sherlock Holmes in a multi-part adaptation of The Hound of the Baskervilles, opposite Terence Rigby as Dr. Watson. Now, thanks to AUK Studios, he's back in the role... though things are a bit different this time!

I was one of many backers for the new Sir Sherlock full-cast audio drama, starring Baker as an older, knighted Holmes and John Leeson as Dr. Watson. The casting of the two opposite each other once again is, on the surface, a fun conceit (as they famously starred as the Fourth Doctor and K-9 in Doctor Who). But even ignoring the novelty of the decision, this pair make a wonderful duo, and their spin on a Holmes and Watson in a more modern era is stellar.

This first story, The Red Letter Day, takes place in 1924, just after Holmes has accepted his knighthood. He's just come in from London after time away with his bees and is, of course, reacquainting with Dr. Watson. But as the two are catching up, Holmes receives a strange missive — red ink on red paper — pointing him to a certain ancient monument in London. The two set out to discover what inspired the letter, and find that a double murder has taken place near Cleopatra's Needle. After so many years apart, the two decide to get back on the case. But they'll be matching wits with not only a murderer, but also a new sleuth who is reminiscent of Holmes in his heyday.

Tom Baker's performance is, of course, delightful. He's a Holmes who is more relaxed, even cheerful, but still the same observant and set-in-his-ways Sherlock deep down. Leeson's Watson is a perfect match, equal parts fond and frustrated but still believably contained within one character. The two have a complicated job, creating a version of this legendary chemistry that has evolved believably over time. And, frankly, they've done it. This isn't just "Holmes and Watson but not thirty years old." These are those personalities with time and experience sharpening some angles and weathering others. Never once did I catch myself analyzing the performances, simply because I was immediately on board. They are Holmes and Watson from the get-go.

Like any "first episode," The Red Letter Day has a lot of heavy lifting to do, meaning there's more of a balancing act between the mystery and the worldbuilding. A great deal of time is spent setting up the new cast, including Lestrade's granddaughter Emily in her role as police sergeant and the mysterious newcomer Norton. But there is intrigue enough to be had in the double murder, and it comes to a sufficiently twisty, but interesting conclusion. (And that's not to mention the reveal of who this new consulting detective really is!) As ever, Barnaby Eaton-Jones is fantastic on the production side, and he's put together a truly brilliant project.

Included with the CD was a novelization by Kenton Hall, which mimics the style of the classic Doyle stories excellently. I've worked with Kenton on a Holmes book before, so I was already aware of how well he nails the style. While I encourage everyone to listen to the audio drama for the full experience, the books are excellent on their own.

Also included was "The Long Goodbye," a shorter audio primarily between Emily Lestrade and Norton. It's a much more character-driven piece, bridging the gap between the first and second episodes. I enjoyed it a great deal, and it was a nice denouement after the action of the main attraction.

I already knew I was fully on board with Sir Sherlock when I backed the first Kickstarter campaign, and this first episode has absolutely delivered.

The Kickstarter for the second episode, The Sickle and the Sea, has a few days remaining and is at over 300% of its goal. Plus, if you pledge, you can add on a copy of the CD of The Red Letter Day!

I'm Back on The Glam Gizmo!

 

There was a time when I was doing a lot more voiceover work. Nowadays I'm more committed to writing, but I'll still sit in for a handful of things for friends if asked nicely. And The Glam Gizmo is one of those things. Season 6 is streaming as we speak and, oh yeah, I'm back for that!

I first met Tom, the fella behind the series, when we started working together on Aron Toman's The Chronicles of Oz (me as Dorothy, Tom as the Lion). A part had opened up, and I figured I'd go for it, not sure if it was going to be a one-and-done or a recurring thing.

You know. Six seasons in, it's recurring.

The series takes place in Melbourne and sees everyday humans stumbling into otherworldly scenarios. There's definitely a flavor of Doctor Who to it, if that's your sort of thing. (And since you're hanging out in my blog, I suspect it is.) But while there are "Celestials" in this universe, it's the humans who are at its center.

I just happen to play one of those Celestials: Lydia, an old friend of a certain Professor Paradox. She's a Celestial who, despite spending a good deal of her time away from human problems, has gotten herself involved in recent seasons. You'll even catch her popping in and out of other series within the Gizmoverse!

Being an entire continent away, I don't often get to hear how things are going for the series. But this season, it's been gratifying to find out that it's doing pretty well in the rankings in Australia. Here's hoping Tom lets Lydia (and me!) stick around for a bit!

Being that far away also means I'm not in studio. So I'm generally recording from my office, here at the same computer I type at. It's not the most glamorous, but it gets the job done. And it's always fun to see new scripts roll in.

Right now, you can hear me in both Season 6 of the main series and in the spinoff, Boltizor. Keep an ear out and let me know what you think!

Visit the official website
Listen on Spotify
Listen on Apple Podcasts

Eighth Doctor! Tenth Doctor! More from the DWAS

 

It's about that time again, and what a time for it to be that time. As we're all still figuring out how to feel about the Doctor Who news, we're also navigating anniversaries for the show itself. At present, I've got several things in the works for the coming months, but there are two I can talk about at present, both courtesy the DWAS. One is ready for you to enjoy now, and the other is on the way later this year.

First, it's a new Celestial Toyroom! This one is pulling double duty, celebrating both the 50th anniversary of the organization and the 30th anniversary of the TV movie starring Paul McGann. Rather than my usual book reviews and things, I've written a reflection for the latter of these two occasions. I was, after all, one of those Americans who became a fan via the movie. You know, that thing that was intended to happen?

Download the new issue now and read my piece, plus lots of fantastic articles and interviews.

The second of these items won't be available for a bit, but I'm looking forward to everyone seeing it! Doctor Who 70-79 is a lovely upcoming publication from the DWAS, covering stories and topics from across that decade of the series. There are a lot of fabulous contributors in whose company I'm extremely happy to be, as well as interviews from the DWAS archives!

My essay covers the "brutality" of serials like Genesis of the Daleks and The Deadly Assassin. Were these episodes really "too much"? What can/should young viewers handle? And how does the brutality potentially complement the message or theme of the episode? As someone who remembers the congressional hearings about violence in video games all too well, I'm always interested in really interrogating why we avert our eyes from difficult visuals, and what purpose they might actually serve.

Keep an eye on the DWAS social media accounts for more news and eventual pre-orders.

As for what's next... well, let's just say I am very busy.

BOOK REVIEW: The Lovers, the Liars, and Me

 

THE LOVERS, THE LIARS, AND ME
by DeAndra Davis
Available June 23

Jaylia has just graduated high school as valedictorian, but she still feels small and unseen. She's never done anything especially daring, and she's even going to college close to home in Miami just to be safe. When her dad suggests she go to Jamaica for part of the summer to catch up with her uncle and cousins, she rejects the idea. But then an unsigned letter comes in, asking to see her again. Jaylia, convinced it's from her absentee mother, decides to take the trip after all.

Rekindling friendships and family bonds is tough at first, and her cousin is immediately standoffish. But she hits it off again with her childhood friends Deon and Andre, the latter of whom she's crushed on for quite some time. But then there's India: Deon's new friend who seems to like Jaylia instantly, and whom she discovers (much to her own surprise) she might have feelings for in return.

In between days of shopping and sightseeing and nights of partying, the group search for Jaylia's mother, following a seemingly endless string of clues. Before the summer is out, she will have several questions to answer about herself: who does she really love? Who is she as a person? And how much does finding this lost piece of her past matter?

The Lovers, the Liars, and Me is very deeply rooted in Jamaican culture, especially in Jaylia's feeling that she is too American for Jamaica and too Jamaican for America. Even if you're not familiar with the minutiae of the culture, this book is a love letter to everyday life: food, concerts, and life in general. But it also doesn't shy away from more difficult topics of family and spirituality. It's a rough read at times, and it won't be for everyone, but it's a good coming-of-age story with an ending that, while not what every reader will want, is probably the most uplifting it could be.

TEA PAIRING: A Dream Within a Dream
This sleepy, Shakespeare-inspired tea seems like a perfect match for the book's young heroes, many of whom spend sleepless nights figuring themselves and their families out. Use my code KARA15 for 15% off this and other book-inspired teas from Chapters Tea & Co.!