Leo R. Skoble

WHAM! The gavel cried out in pain upon hitting its unwilling partner in its democratic dance of lies. Theodore was shaken from his dissociation. “All rise as the Honorable Justice Clemens enters the courtroom,” a monotonous man droned. “May his judgement be fair and just, honoring the illumination of truth in the Everlit City.” Theodore Porter had always hated the light. He stood, mirroring the behavior of the prosecutor. He now stood in an empty hall, lacking a jury or spect

Fucking amazing fantasy storytelling. Made me inspired to emulate parts of her style in my own writing. Trans main character for the win. Incredible world building that makes the world feel lived in beyond the scope of the one city it takes place in. Reveals hit at just the right pace and knock you off your feet. Bittersweet and heartbreaking in the best way Somehow all the summaries online kind of spoil it? 10/10 LMSS: 8 - somehow even despite the clear explanation of how th

As the edges of the papers singed and fell to their fate, the ink on the pages written into alchemical and runic patterns gave out a hiss when the fire touched it. Uvior watched them burn, glad they were screaming. He shook his head. No, he felt sorry for the ink and the parchment, being forced to depict such evil things. The papers whistled a terrible, haunting tune as they perished. A high-pitched whine that matched the tone of the tinnitus after an explosion, or a tea kett

Spoiler-free, as always. (Everything I say that may sound like a spoiler is in the book's marketing) Genres: Fantasy/romance The romance is between the king and his bodyguard/knight (called a paladin) who have romantic history from before the paladin started his training and the king was a prince. They fell out of touch, and you can really feel that longing and wistfulness in the paladin's inner thoughts One of the smaller reasons I have a hard time reading romances is if I d

*It is not necessary to read Reforged, Reborn, and Reclaimed in order (that order), but there are references to other locations and names that can only been understood after reading the rest of the trilogy. I read them in what is technically the order 3, 1, 2, but that did not diminish my experience while reading them* Onto the review! Spoiler-free, as always Genres: Fantasy/romance/mystery I am not exaggerating when I say that this book changed my life. Two very important as

In most of my book reviews, I give the book two ratings. A general 1-10 rating, and what I'm calling the "Leo's Magic System Scale" (LMSS for short (is that stupid? eh, who cares)) Unlike a typical 1-10 scale, this scale doesn't necessarily reflect how much I enjoyed the portrayal of magic in the book. You can infer what my preferences are based on where I have ranked each level, but this scale isn't so much a scale as it is a list I can use as shorthand for describing a magi

I saw the travel brochure in the lobby of the anger management clinic. Yes, I know the clinic isn’t just for that, but I don’t care. That’s all it is to me. An hour of my precious week that I must throw at the feet of this crystal-loving therapist with chunky earrings that probably hurt her earlobes. Maybe that’s why she’s so stuck up. It’s either that or losing my job. It doesn’t even help. That waiting room is the blandest, bless this mess, fake potted plant, PTA, live lau

i am overlooked, overshadowed, as big bold lettering is always in the way of me wanting to be seen but not wanting to be perceived since i have things to say that aren’t as important as you, highlighted and italicized: always soaking up the sun as if nobody else wanted it because you’re not thinking as much as i about how we are seen perceived and noticed. you would benefit from less centered text, if you listened, that is to say i wish you were smaller like me. i’m sitting

Take this scalpel and cut my skin, I’ve made my decision to have the incision regardless of What it may leave behind – Scar tissue is preferable on my body As opposed To on my mind. I have not changed what’s in my heart nor what’s in my mind But there are scars here, and there They will remain for a while – I can’t get rid of them that easily. It’s part of the process of healing – fusing Processing… Waiting for Festering wounds to settle their biological boiling Meanwhile, yo

The first time I saw her , she was just another shadow haunting my dreams. I had usually forgotten about her by the time I woke up. Her words never stuck with me, if she even said anything at all. Her visage never left a mark on my waking mind. No imprint of her features was burned into the inside of my eyeballs, like a television left on for too long. At least not at first… My dreams were more magical back then, when she still lived there. Dragons flew freely through the ski

Peaches, plums, lemons, and mushrooms Slimy, sticky, soft, and sweet Sprawling wheat fields, golden in the setting sun. You must teleport 20 miles down the road to interrupt it with leaves. dappled bits of magic floating down around you, the underbrush crackling with hidden and forbidden knowledge Know this: you left your car back at the field Bile, bending, breaking, blooming Treetops choking those beneath them, your feet hurting trying to get home. Home is nowhere, home is