Coffee dripper review and instructions

I got a discount on this sweet coffee dripper in exchange for an honest review, and honest i will be!   (image links to Amazon)
 I made a video, but here's the rundown- It arrives with no literature at all. No instructions. Turns out, it's both super simple and a matter of preference. You set it on your mug, pour your grounds directly into the cone (no paper filters required) and then pour your water over it. Easy peasy. I even double brewed and it tasted just as good. BOOM! Double waste avoidance!

I was worried about cleaning it, for some reason I have a special kind of hatred for cleaning mesh- and cleaning COFFEE out of mesh? Sounded horrible, but it's really not. Dump, rinse, wipe, rinse, done. It's probably a good idea to give it a quick pat to dry it off since it is steel, and I haven't met a stainless steel yet that won't eventually rust if mistreated. If you're looking to reduce waste and cleanup (and you only have one or 2 cups to make on an average morning) I highly recommend this thing! I'm minimalist and I hate dishes, so avoiding packs of filters and the multiple dishes caused by other types of coffee makers is a huge plus. It's also a lot quicker than using a countertop coffee maker. Mine takes a while to heat up the water and drip it over the beans. My microwave takes a minute or two to heat up enough water for coffee. I don't recommend it if you've got a house full of people to make coffee for, if you like ridiculously wide mugs or if you go through a pot per sitting.

If, like me, you like to have a cup at a time and don't want to bother with a bunch of extra steps, this is PERFECT. Here's the link to the video, so you can see it in action! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YNuwWuZxN54 

 As I said, I did receive a discount in exchange for an honest review. The opinions are my own, and this post contains affiliate links. Do you have one of these pour-over things? Would you use one? Am I ridiculous for being confused how to use it?

Book Review- The Stone Bearers

As you may or may not know, my first book review was almost my last. And then Future Publishing House reached out about The Stone Bearers by Jacque Stevens. It wasn't released yet and it's not free (EXCEPT on Kindle Unlimited). Plus, it sounds GOOD!! Here's the official description:

Fifteen-year-old Ashira just received the worst coming-of-age prophecy imaginable. After years dreaming of oceans, princes, and fairies, she expected the diviner to speak the words that would finally whisk her away from her ordinary desert village. Instead Ashira hears, “you will live a life of no renown.” Ready to choose her own fate, she discovers a djinni’s bottle and starts making wishes. When the djinni proves uncooperative and annoying, Ashira sets out to the great city of magicians to learn magic and free herself from an uneventful life as a potter's daughter. But there is another prophecy being whispered in the shadows. It is said that among the great magicians, there is a demon on the rise with the power to destroy the world. The djinni might be Ashira’s only chance to become someone important, or he just might be the very demon that triggered the dark prophecy. With the world on the brink of destruction, can Ashira fight her fate and stop the forces that threaten to upset the balance of the universe?

 Turning a comfy old trope on its head? I'm in!! Instead of trying to avoid her "god of the universe" destiny, Ashira is trying to avoid a boring one. I think a lot more of us can relate to that kind of prophecy, am I right? Anyway, I often have trouble getting into a book since I frequently have other things to do (like a YouTube channel, books that I'm writing and kids) that gnaw at me whenever I try to relax.

 However, this book pulled me in right away. From the beginning, the tone is set, the fantasy element is apparent and I can't help but love a djinni in an ale bottle. If you're the kind of person who seeks diversity, it's also worth noting that the cover art does depict a dark-haired, dark-skinned girl in a sari. Not magical robes. It's a sari. Unlike a lot of authors who try really hard to recreate areas that are "foreign" or tries really hard to blend the known and the "other", Stevens pulls it off well.

 It is written as a familiar place, (even though it's nothing like my own home) and Ashira feels like a relatable 15-year old. She is just a touch introverted and a splash angsty without being a caricature and she's sassy enough without being ridiculous. I have a special place in my heart for characters who act like people- I'm sure I'm not the only one.

 There are a lot of forces at play throughout the novel and the development of relationships and the plot is very well done. I did receive an ARC copy which had a few typo-level mistakes and there are a few stylistic things that I don't LOVE, but they don't take away from the fact that this is a very good story- very well told.

It's a great quick read with a wonderful world to find yourself in. I'm a firm believer that every book doesn't need to be The Great American Novel (Stevens is from Utah), but it should leave you with something and it should make you feel some things along the way. I really enjoyed the development of the story and the characters and the world is great!

There was nothing offensive or cringe-worthy (to me) which happens a lot when people try to take parts of a culture and inject it into fantasy. All that to say, I recommend it for the YA audience and for adults who want something a little easier to digest than really heavy fantasy novels. This would be great on a plane or in the bath or in a park- if you're a fairly quick reader it won't take you too long.

This is great for a debut novel from an Indie author- while many of them exist, they can be hard to find. What about you? Do you have any favorite new Indie releases? Have you read The Stone Bearers? Did I leave my review too vague? If you'd like to learn more or read other reviews, click the cover image to go to the Amazon page!

 Disclaimer: In case it wasn't clear- I received a free copy in exchange for an honest review. I use affiliate links on my site whenever I can. However, all opinions reflected are my own. Sorry, folks. My opinion cannot be bought.