Total pages in book: 152
Estimated words: 154368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 772(@200wpm)___ 617(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154368 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 772(@200wpm)___ 617(@250wpm)___ 515(@300wpm)
She was horrified.
But I always knew I wanted Book 5 to end on burning too, but a different kind.
Nyomi sitting at that table with grief in her chest and sake burning down her throat, cataloguing every fire she's walked through since Kenji.
She's changed since the beginning of the book.
She's not horrified anymore.
She's forged and sitting fully in her queendom.
That transformation is what Book 5 was always about.
Writing the Final Act (The Yoshiwara Arc) absolutely kicked my ass.
By the end of it. . .I was just. . .empty.
Spent.
Done. ðŸ˜
But I am so proud of this book.
I pushed myself harder than I have in a long time.
This is now one of my favorite books in the Dragon series.
Book 2 held that spot for a long time, and Book 5 knocked it out of its place.
I have favorites across all my series.
For the Butcher's Duet, Sonata is my favorite.
He battled the Lion all around Paris. The Mouse was whipping his ass SO MUCH while he had her in his grips. His cousin Rafael had me laughing so much I would be tearing up.
For the Lion and Mouse, Dirty Wars still lives rent-free in my mind.
A thousand page book.
What was I thinking?
But all those moving pieces in Italy, Lunita's reveal, Max's humor, David and Giorgio fighting over Blue, the Lion's panic attacks, Emily absolutely not playing about Paolo, and. . .PAVEL. . .
I cried so much writing that chapter.
Speaking of crying. . .
I already know what Dragon Book 6 will hold. Book 6 is going to wreck me as I write it. And Book 6 will wreck you as you read it.
For some fucked up reason, I like to rip apart my Readers' hearts.
At least I'm in therapy now. Perhaps, I will stop being a naughty author one day.
But that time won't be now.
Many readers have expressed to me that they have already picked out black dresses.
I say to you all. . .respectfully.
Keep those black dresses ironed.
Keep them hanging on the door and ready to wear.
Because we have a few more funerals coming.