Yesterday, Lady Laura and I were out with the boys, making the most of the rare sunshine here in Greater London.
As we were heading back home, the waft of our local chippy practically dragged us into the establishment, and so we made our usual order.
That's when I finally took the plunge.
For months, I had been eyeing up their massive BBQ wedges… and for months, I exercised restraint.
But yesterday?
Such restraint was lifted!
It was officially open season at the chip shop, and so I got not one wedge…
BUT TWO.
Oh yes, your daily host likes to live dangerously.
Anyway, excited to try it, we pounded the pavement back home, and no sooner than slamming the front door did I unwrap that puppy and sink my fangs into it.
But something wasn't right.
The more I chewed, the more my face sank into a grimace.
The texture…
The taste…
The sickly sweet coating…
It all just felt like a car crash took place in my mouth.
"Disgusting," I finally set the morsel down.
Even Laura and Liam rejected the wedge.
This is a classic case of mistaken identity if I've ever known it; something that tastes NOTHING like how it looks.
I can already see you nodding, Legionnaire.
You've been here, too, right?
Sadly, this phenomenon isn't only exclusive to food.
It also extends to books.
Heck, I'll go as far as to say that we're seeing a lot of it in our beloved genre of fantasy, given the rise of romantasy. I've lost count of the people who've written in complaining that they were three chapters into a story "disguised" as a classic epic, only to find out the dark lord wears lingerie and enjoys whipping elves.
In this case, the book tastes NOTHING like how it looks.
And unfortunately, this is happening a lot as fantasy authors try to ride the romantasy wave to Dollar Island.
Not me, Legionnaire. Not me.
For better or worse, richer or poorer, I'm a traditionalist.
You'll find no 50 Shades of Sorcery in The Divided Region — only adventure, misadventure, high stakes, classic dark lords, and a relentless pace.
So if I say that's what you're going to get…
I mean it.
The same way, if I promise you a delicious BBQ wedge, you're going to get a delicious BBQ wedge.
(BBQ wedge fantasy? Nah, that's a stretch.)
To learn more about the series that is building something of a small cult following, go here:
https://djjwatsonstore.com/products/TDR-Bundle
DJJW