sarea | Oh for the days when there was TV to watch on Sunday nights.

Winners for

the_feast have been announced! Gawd, that was one of the most difficult things I've ever had to do ... and yet, at the same time, the most pleasurable. I mean, 20 D/G fics, plus recipes? Rockin'! Anyway, the first three stories have been posted, so go over and check them out. And feedback the writers, who did such a stellar job. Even more stories are to come. :D

I had a pretty quiet weekend, though naturally I did not accomplish as much as I set out to accomplish. There was a lot of pampering that went on ... tried a new masseuse (I don't think I like her quite as much as my old one, but at least I don't have to drive 40 min. to see her), got a mani/pedi, went to Borders ... that's about it. The only way in which I was productive was that Jade and I finally brainstormed for IYOK7 and IYOK8. Dare I hope that the wait between chapters won't be so long next time? Sigh.

Also, I've begun reading Meg Cabot's "The Mediator" series.

I like them so far. The heroine is a cross between Anita Blake, Faith, and Princess Mia. (More of the first two, less of the third.) The premise is that Suze Simon is a "Mediator" -- someone who can talk to the dead and help them resolve whatever issues they've got going on in this world, so they can move on. (From what I understand, kinda like "Tru Calling.") It's an interesting premise, and in Meg's hands, done well. The only thing that bothers me a bit is that except for the specifics, it feels a lot like BtVS. You've got a young, teenage girl dealing with the supernatural, which most people have no clue about. She's got a mentor guy (a la Giles), and two friends who each have their own uses (a la Willow and Xander). She's even in California, with a record for being a freak and a delinquent at her old school. She's even got a ghostly love interest, juxtaposed with what she is (a la Angel).

I like all of the characters, though, and her MOTWs have been fairly interesting so far. There are a few things that seem a bit convenient/contrived, but Meg doesn't lose me the way Laurell K. Hamilton does. There's also a good balance between Suze being a normal teenager interested in boys, and her relationship with Jesse (her ghostly Angel). One of the things I like best is Suze's interaction with her new stepbrothers, and the bonds that are forming there. I really like Doc, of course, but Sleepy's a favorite, too. Even Dopey's got his uses. (Sometimes I just LOL when she uses the dwarf names.)

Suze's mom/Andy is totally Helen Thermopolis/Mr. Gianini -- this must have been a theme in Meg's own life, divorced parents, mother remarrying.

The physical description of Suze, as well as her attitude, is of a softer Faith-type character. Most impressive, however, is that the 'voice' for these novels really are different from Meg's other novels, particularly The Princess Diaries. Suze is nowhere near as silly as Mia, but I think that also makes her a little bit harder to like.

Good thing is, the sixth Mediator book, Twilight, is the last one, so this won't be an ongoing series like TPD. YAY for a non-WIP. <g>

So, in a nutshell: If you like Meg Cabot and Buffy, the Vampire Slayer, and don't mind how similar the premises are, then you'll have a good time with these. :D