What Reviewers are Saying About A Merchant in Oria

Tags

A Merchant in Oria, Book Review, Fantasy, Novella

My first fantasy novella, A Merchant in Oria, has been out for just over three weeks now, and the reviews are beginning to trickle in. I could tell you all about why you should read this novella, but it sounds like even more fun to let these first reviews deliver some reasons to pick up your copy today:

“From the opening line straight to the end, there is enough adventure and fast paced action to keep the reader enthralled. There is no chance for your mind to escape this story. You’ll find yourself deep in the clutches of Firion, Melody, and the rest of the cast.”

“Wiley runs at a fast pace from good sell to kingdom won, at the perfect speed for an easy read on the beach, during a plane ride, or just a lazy afternoon spent in another world. This is one story I’ll read over and over again.”

“The plot was engaging, following the lines one expects of classic fantasy. If you are looking for fantasy that is light (as opposed to dark) and at times humorous in tone (along the lines of, say, Jeffrey M. Poole’s Lost City), then you’ll probably enjoy this story. The nod to bearded dwarf women made me smile!”

“Initially I felt rather annoyed with the main character (whose naiveté seemed to border on willful self-delusion) only to realize later that his attitude is probably also the primary reason he turns out to be the ideal hero for Oria. “

“Like most of us readers, lowly Firion doubts he has it in him to overcome his fear and be strong enough to save Melody and perhaps the rest of Oria. Is that what a hero does? “No, a true hero steps up and does the right thing because he sees a problem needing to be solved,” his mentor Tyron tells him. We can guess that Firion plays the part of hero, but how he goes about it is worth the read. David Wiley believes in his characters and makes fantastical figures come to life.”

“A Merchant in Oria is a novella set in a fantasy world populated by humans, dwarves, and lizard-men. It has the feel of a familiar, traditional fantasy setting, as found in Tolkien’s work. However, this story is more humorous and light-hearted. “

“I enjoyed reading this book. It is a short read; I read it over lunch. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves fantasy stories looking for a quick read. “

“This was a cute little novella. In such a short amount of time, the author manages to convey enough information that the world doesn’t feel flat. To be perfectly honest, the way it was set up made it read like a side quest in Skyrim. That helped with envisioning the setting. There was some interesting character development to be had. Some of it ended up entangled in the romantic subplot, but that honestly made it better.”

“A quick and easy fantasy read. It was cute, funny, and tied things up at the end. Characters and story were both engaging. It was a well-written, fairly original storyline.”

So don’t forget to add it to your Goodreads Bookshelf!

Purchase on Amazon

Purchase on Barnes & Noble

Purchase on Smashwords

Book Review: The Name of Death by Joshua Robertson

Tags

Book Review, Crimson Edge Press, Dark Fantasy, Joshua Robertson, Short Stories, The Name of Death

Title: The Name of Death

Author: Joshua Robertson

Published by: Crimson Edge Press (January 2, 2017)

Page Count: 39 (ebook)

Blurb: Drada Koehn is a fearless, formidable fighter ensnared in a presaged war against the northern humans. When the Speaker foretells their victory upon discovery of the name of death, she sets out to unravel the mysterious prophecy. Now, bound by duty and honor, Drada faces untold horrors with her companions, searching for what may never be found. In a story of unexpected twists, she soon finds that her resolve to see the quest done will be the fortune or doom of her people.

My Take: I had the impression, after reading Grimsdalr and Anaerfell, that Joshua Robertson was a talented writer. This novella confirmed everything I believed about his talent level and more.

The tale begins with Drada, a fierce female who is on a quest to learn the name of death. Early in the tale, it becomes clear that death is pursuing her and her companions. The tale is short, yet in that space of time there is plenty of development for the characters, the location, and even some backstory about what is taking place in the world beyond what these characters are experiencing. Joshua is able to weave so much into such a short space, and it is all done extremely well. I felt like I knew the characters and some of their struggles and the reasons behind the war raging among the races.

Joshua is an author of Dark Fantasy, and there certainly is no departure from that genre in this story. But that is to be expected with a title like The Name of Death. If you picked it up seeking a happy ending, you didn’t really pay attention to the title. But this story is worth it. So, so worth it. And at the current price of FREE, there is no reason to not download and read this one. It will end up being worth the 30-60 minutes of your time.

I look forward to reading more by Joshua, including his trilogy of books now that they are all available. If you haven’t read anything by this talented author, do yourself a favor and pick up this book and start reading today.

A Merchant in Oria – Social Campaigns

Tags

A Merchant in Oria, david wiley, Fantasy, Headtalker, Novella, OWS Ink, LLC., Thunderclap, Willow Wings Press

The cover reveal is still to come, but in the meantime the wonderful people over at Our Write Side have started up a Headtalker and a Thunderclap campaign to help spread the word about this upcoming release.

Don’t know what those are? They are very simple. You sign up to allow Facebook/Twitter/Tumblr/LinkedIn permission to make a one-time post on the day of the book’s release. It will auto-generate a message for you, which you are able to customize as you desire.

It takes minutes to contribute to the campaign and makes it so you don’t have to try and remember to post about it on the actual release date. We need 100 people for the Thunderclap to be a success, so please consider taking a moment to sign up and help spread the word.

Thunderclap: https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/55573-a-merchant-in-oria-debut

Headtalker: https://headtalker.com/campaigns/a-merchant-in-oria-release/

And as a bonus treat, here is the blurb for this upcoming release:

 

Firion is a young merchant descended from generations of merchants. His first big break comes along when he sets out to trade with the wealthy dwarven kingdom of Oria. He has always dreamed of visiting this grand kingdom, having heard his father describe it in detail a hundred times when he was younger. But when Firion arrives in Oria, he is jarred by the details present that contradict with the image etched in his mind.

Something dark and sinister seems to be afoot in Oria, but Firion knows he is no hero. He is just a simple merchant, and what can an ordinary person do in the face of danger and deception?

Book Review: Priceless Treasures and Ghastly by Thomas Olivieri

Tags

Book Review, Halloween, Indie Author, Priceless Treasures and Ghastly, Thomas Olivieri

Title: Priceless Treasures and Ghastly: A Slight Collection of Hallowe’en Tales and Miscellanea

Author: Thomas Olivieri

Published: October 25, 2016

42 Pages

Blurb: THESE days, Hallowe’en is a night of ghosts, celebrated by people who can longer believe in them, a day of tricks, treats, and twilight. A night when — sanctioned by custom — the proudest and most willful child politely begs for candy at strangers’ doors and the most docile child transforms in a monster. It is a day to celebrate neither the carven pumpkin nor the illuminating candle, but rather the shadows that they cast, and the unseen things that flit about them. Perhaps it won’t be this way for long — it is becoming increasingly commercialized and is losing its uncanniness as it moves away from the days of All Hallows and All Souls — but it promises to remain so for a while yet. The night of ghouls, the night of saints, and the night of penitents make an uncomfortable arc — they stand for three aspects of life that don’t fit in very well our society anymore, but will always remain part of us. The stories, poems, commentary, and images in this slight collection have been designed to return you to those strange old times. They are not particularly horrific or terrifying — rather, they are uneasy, uncanny, and gently unsettling, harkening back to the folklore of fairies and saints, knights and dragons, mead halls and castles, masquerades and Hallow-Mass gatherings. We hope that you find them whimsical and off-beat. We hope that you find them unusual and bizarre. We hope that you have a Happy Hallowe’en

My Take: This was a great little collection of flash fiction and poetry that revolves around a Halloween theme. Each addition in this volume, whether written or illustrated, helps to add to the theme that seeps through the collection. It is definitely a fitting volume to be read during the month of October, something I was unfortunately unable to do. However, it really evokes the holiday’s theme well.

As with every collection, some stories really shine more than others based upon each individual’s taste. They are all great to read and interesting in their own way. There are some darker tales, such as “Snakes and Cigarettes”, and there are those which dip into genre fiction, such as “Kings and Saints and Knights”. With such a small volume, and the short length of each inclusion, you will find yourself flipping the pages quickly until you reach the end. In fact, the biggest complaint I had was that it ended far too soon. A longer piece, or a few more shorter pieces, would have been a welcome inclusion.

This is definitely a volume worth reading through, and Thomas Olivieri is an author worth keeping your eye on. I am confident more great fiction will appear under his name in the future.

 

Book Release: Maharia by Joshua Robertson

Tags

Book Release, Crimson Edge Press, Dark Fantasy, Indie Author, Joshua Robertson, Maharia, Thrice Nine Legends

Maharia Synopsis

In Valor There Is Hope!

Branimir has remained hidden from the enemy, withholding the cursed dagger from their erroneous hands. When a stranger arrives, and offers the chance to end his never-ending battle, Branimir sets off for the City of the Gods for answers. Now, hoping his faith has not been misplaced, Branimir undergoes his darkest adventure yet. He can only trust that he has the courage to survive the truth.

Buy Links:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06W5NG5VR/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1487769958&sr=1-1&keywords=maharia+fantasy+epic+dark

**The first book, Melkorka, is on sale for 99 cents and the box set is also available now.
Melkorka Buy Link (99 cents)https://www.amazon.com/Melkorka-Kaelandur-Book-Joshua-Robertson-ebook/dp/B00R7CMJ4O/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Box Set Buy Link (5.99) https://www.amazon.com/Kaelandur-Box-Set-Thrice-Legends-ebook/dp/B06X9PX68K/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Author Links:

https://www.twitter.com/RobertsonWrites

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJoshuaRobertson

http://www.robertsonwrites.com/

Author Bio:

Joshua Robertson is a bestselling author in dark fantasy. Robertson is a Licensed Master Social Worker, who received his degree from Wichita State University. He has worked with children and families for the past fifteen years in a variety of unique venues: a residential behavior school, a psychiatric treatment facility, and the child welfare system. He has functioned as a supervisor, an educator, a behavior specialist, and a therapist during his career. Mr. Robertson has presented trainings for hundreds of professionals and military personnel on topics that include child abuse and neglect, human trafficking, strengthening the parent and child relationships, and the neurobiological impact of trauma.

You may recognize him as the dude whose dragons were said to destroy George R.R. Martin’s and Christopher Paolini’s dragons in a very biased Twitter poll. His first novel, Melkorka, was released in 2015, and he has been writing fantasy fiction like clockwork ever since. Known most for his Thrice Nine Legends Saga, Robertson enjoys an ever-expanding and extremely loyal following of readers.

He currently lives in North Carolina with his better half and his horde of goblins.

 

Excerpt 1:

Branimir’s heart jumped at the thought of leaving Gaetana. He spun around and rose to his feet. Adamus faced him, beard hanging to his chest, and blue eyes wild with excitement. Witigor, a head taller than the Ariadnean, joggled his head in agreement, the overhanging flap of his ridiculous brown hat bouncing over his brow.

Sulanna stilled them with her hand. “What about Dorofej? The Stuhia has not survived this long simply to stay captive in a dungeon. Are we to continue to trust that he will find a way to escape?”

“Tis a thought I hope to be true, Sulanna,” Adamus said, “though the odds are not favorable. I am not proposing we attempt to free Dorofej. We simply cannot stay here much longer. Besides, if Dorofej does escape, he can always find us with that thing he does.”

“Klukas,” Branimir said. “Yes. He can find us in the shadow world.”

“Oh, here we are again, talking of this mysterious, all-knowing man called Dorofej.” Wit grimaced, pulling the sleeves up on his shirt. “The man might as well be a god, the way you speak of him.” Wit’s eye twitched. “Still, you are correct on this matter. The Stuhia can find anyone in Klukas if they have come across them before. Their gift of scrying supersedes the skill of the greatest oracle. He would be able to find you no matter your destination, I assure you.”

“Oh. Are you suddenly an expert with the Stuhian people, Wit?” Sulanna mocked, twisting her mouth with suspicion. “Funny you have not said a word of them until recently.”

“Well…I have read Tom Flitter’s Mystagogical’s Forlorn Folio and Colin Turney’s Unchanted and Unequaled.” Wit crossed his arms, leaned back like he had taken a blow to the bits, and then wobbled his head back and forth in disbelief. “Do you not know I have access to every book in the known world, Sulanna? I would have been reading about the dragon people long before now if I had known anyone cared to know about them. But you three keep your tongues wrapped so tight, I would not be surprised if you did not have any tongues at all. I don’t know how you expect me to help.”

Branimir stuck out his tongue. “No one asked for your help. We asked for one book on ancient religions, and here you still are—”

“Yes, I remember. The Compendium of Infernal Light by Emrys Trudgeon.” Wit widened his eyes. “No other man could have gotten you that little treasure. If you don’t want me, I can be on my way.” He stomped the back of his foot against the earth, indicating he had no intention of budging. “You know, it is not everyday someone asks about a text not highlighting the Lightbringer.”

“Czern’s breath. You mustn’t go anywhere,” Adamus said, angling an eyebrow at Branimir.

Sulanna flashed her teeth, chiming in, “Indeed. Your input is always welcome, but our business will remain our own.”

“Of course, my Lady,” Wit said, nodding his head again with enough momentum to bounce his hat. “And I don’t mean to pry, but anything you need to know, I can find.” He winked, pointing at Branimir. “Don’t get me wrong. The Kras have wicked memories, but none are as old as books. None can know how their minds have twisted their words over time.”

Excerpt 2:

Again, the bearded Kadari and Beryl tightened their hold on his arms.

With a flash in her eye, Kveta pulled aside Branimir’s cloak and pulled the dagger from the belt. Kaelandur stayed hanging from its sheathe around his waist. She barely looked at the copper blade, twisting the iron dagger in her hand. The sharpness of the weapon gleamed in the firelight.

Her free hand grabbed his shoulder roughly, balancing her weight to keep pressure off her bandaged leg. “Should I wedge this in your leg, your eye, or your dear, little bits?”

Beryl’s blithe snigger robbed the air from Branimir’s lungs. “Why choose only one?”

Disbelief and horror seized Bran, his timorous lip quaking with realization. He twisted against the Kadari holding him, hardly budging.

He dared to break from Kveta’s ghastly expression to look at Falmagon. The twisted smile under the Patrician’s mustache screamed of gratification. After Harrowhal, he realized how far gone Falmagon truly was. He once thought Falmagon, at least, considered himself decent, but nothing was left of the Highborn Long-Walker.

Nothing could have readied Branimir for the shockwave of pain riddling through his body as Kveta speared him with the dagger. He reacted at instinct, thrashing violently against the two Kadari holding him hostage, his wail causing the very flames of the distant fire to waft. He could not pinpoint where she struck him at first, only knowing the pain surged from beneath his belly. The heat of the immediate wound was only diluted by the warmth of the thick blood flowing down his slender leg.

He moaned. Tears descended from his cheeks with heaved sniffles, snorting his slick snot back into his nose and off his upper lip.

Kveta twisted the blade, grating the sharp edge against his femur, isolating the dagger’s location. Branimir blubbered softly, catching the saliva on the edge of his tongue, hatefully glaring at the Kadari woman.

He gagged in effort to keep his throat from closing, gasping for oxygen. He needed to breathe. He had to shake away the abysmal pain. Inhaling the metallic odor of his own blood, Branimir gazed to Falmagon and exhaled the bitter thoughts flooding his mind. “I will kill you! I swear it! Marheena will leave you broken and deformed!”

Excerpt 3:

Branimir could not guess how much time had come and gone since they entered the gate and started up the never-ending staircase. Not only did the sun stay at its apex over the City of the Gods, giving constant warmth and light in every crevice, but also something kept his stomach from hunger and his body from exhaustion. Every time his foot lifted and fell, his body seemingly had forgotten he repeated the same movement a hundred times before. In the beginning, the mundane climbing had been a game; but after a couple hours, he lost interest in playing. He stopped counting the stairs after reaching the thousands. Yet he felt no aching in his back, legs, or feet. Bran supposed he should be thankful for being away from the snow and wind on the mountain pass, but the monotony was wearing on him.

“You would think,” he said, after several hours, “with all the magic in this place they would find a quicker way to the top. I bet the Svet’s gateway takes them straight to the top of the peak.”

Alyona ambled along behind him, responding with a dull tone. “Close. You arrive on the seventh tier, near the temple.”

“Nine Lands. And no one thought to put one of those gateways at the bottom of these stairs?” Branimir asked, gazing at the rocky wall on either side of them. He was certain a dragon could fit on the staircase without discomfort. Which did not matter much, considering the dragon could fly to the peak of the mount.

Tyr held the smile on his face, climbing besides Branimir on the right. “Bah! Can you imagine when we go back down to leave? I bet we will lose our minds going back down these stairs.” Tyr swung is giant arms back and forth as he climbed. Branimir hardly noticed he had six fingers anymore. “How about if we were to arrive through the doorway up there? And then, when we went to leave, we were faced with this? At least, we know, right?” Tyr rumbled, peering over his shoulder for an instant. The bottom of the winding staircase could no longer be seen. “I might consider flinging myself down the steps, or simply lying down and rolling. Maybe the gods will spare me if I crack my head.”

Alyona’s dry tone answered the unasked question. “No, they will not.”

Book Review: The Sound of the Stones by Beth Hammond

Tags

Beth Hammond, Book Review, Christian Fantasy, Indie Author, The Sound of the Stones, Young Adult

Title: The Sound of the Stones

Book One in the Shattered Time Series

Author: Beth Hammond

Published by: Beth Hammond Books (January 3, 2017)

2nd Edition

Pages: 371 (Paperback)

Blurb: Nephilim, aliens, gods – They’ve been called by many names, but when Frankie stumbles onto an ancient book, the truth about the past reveals a more startling reality. What she reads about Ashra and the powerful Krad race makes her question her place in this world. The birthmark on her arm begins to burn as she reads the book, the birthmark that looks eerily similar to the symbol on the first page.

In Ashra’s world, the oppressive Krad race use crystals to hold humans hostage. Unknown to the Krad, Ashra has the gift to manipulate crystals. Keeping her power a secret becomes more difficult by the day. The time to rise up is now, but standing up to an entire race seems impossible. Then strangers bring a message from a land she never knew existed – Ashra is the one they’ve all been looking for.

Frankie and Ashra are separated by fiction and reality, but in the end the barrier shatters. The ancient book about the past holds the future, and Frankie is the key.

My Thoughts: I do not usually begin with my biggest disappointment, but I feel compelled to do so. Frankie is hinted at, in the blurb, to be the one holding the key. She is the character you first meet for about a dozen pages, and then she completely disappears until the very last page, which simply has her stop reading a book and there is a voice on the wind. I would have greatly enjoyed seeing her more often, giving her a scene from time to time to break tension, to remind the reader she exists, and to allow her to develop more for the reader. Consider how they did something along those lines with The Princess Bride, as that is what the ideal would be. I waited and waited for things to return to her, and it never happened.

Apart from that one complaint, I have nothing but praise for the book. The characters were enjoyable, even though it took some time for their paths to finally cross. The history of Ashra’s world, and the inhabitants in there, were imaginative. I smiled at every Biblical allusion in the tale, something I hadn’t expected but certainly delighted in finding within the pages of the book. Tension has built, the main characters are heading to a new place, and the villains are undoubtedly closing upon them. This is the page-turner sort of book that will keep you up past your bed time. The sort of book that you suffer compulsion to instantly purchase the next book in order to see what comes next.

If you like everything resolved at the end of a book with a pretty little bow, you won’t like this because it demands that you pick up the next book. Because the resolution doesn’t really resolve anything, but rather makes promises about what awaits these characters in the next book.

If you enjoy Young Adult, Fantasy, or Christian Fantasy books then you won’t want to miss this one. The only burning question that remains, now, is when that second book will be available for us to purchase.

Book Review: Tales from Our Write Side

Tags

A.L. Mabry, A.M. Rycroft, Anthology, Book Review, david wiley, E.C. Jarvis, Elizabeth Abel, Emma T. Gitani, Eric Keizer, J.K. Allen, Katheryn J. Avila, Lorah Jaiyn, Mandy Melanson, Nancy E. Miller, OWS Ink, LLC., R.G. Westerman, Stacy Overby, Stephanie Ayers, Tales from Our Write Side, Tara Roberts, Wendy Strain

Title: Tales from Our Write Side: An Anthology

Authors: Various

Published by: OWS Inc, LLC. (November 25, 2016)

Blurb: From Lewis Carroll and Shakespeare to tales that will keep you up at night, make you cry, and touch your heart comes Tales from Our Write Side, OWS Ink’s debut anthology with 17 authors sharing 17 stories, 2 poems, and one creative screenplay.

My Take: Anthologies are among my favorite things to read these days, because they offer a reading experience that completely departs from what you’d get with a novel, or even a collection from a single author. In this particular anthology there are 17 unique voices sharing poetry, screenplays, and short stories that are categorized. Don’t like Horror or Speculative Fiction? You can clearly see which stories were thrown into that section, although I would recommend not skipping any of these. They are all short enough that, even if it isn’t a genre you particularly like, it will be brief enough to be worth your time. And you might just find that you enjoy at least a few of the tales in every category.

And that is the particular strength in this anthology: the stories are short, they are sorted by category, and they represent a diverse range of authors. It begins with some delightful tales revolving around the theme of Summer kidnapping Winter, and it is fun to see how seven different authors approach that theme.

While I enjoyed them all on different levels, my favorites include Solstinox by Lorah Jaiyn, The Next Best Seller by A.L. Mabry, Dawn’s Light by Wendy Strain, and Patterns by Katheryn J. Avila. Pick this collection up, as you are bound to find some stories you enjoy and might just discover some new authors who you wish to read more of in the future.

As a side note, several of the contributors to this anthology will have their own works published this spring by OWS Ink, LLC. More details on those books will appear here in the future, so if you want to get a feel for whose works you might enjoy, this anthology is a great starting point!

Blog Tour: Anaerfell by Joshua Robertson & J.C. Boyd

Tags

Anaerfell, Blog Tour, Cover Reveal, Dark Fantasy, dragon, J.C. Boyd, Joshua Robertson, Thrice Nine Legends

In case you missed it, yesterday I reviewed this book. It is a fantastic dark fantasy book and serves as an entry point into their larger Thrice Nine Legends world. In celebration of a new edition, with an outstanding cover, they are currently running a blog tour to generate awareness and interest in this book. Pick up a copy if you are a fan of dark fantasy and check out the excerpt included below.

BLURB

Drast, cunning but reckless, is on the hunt for admiration. Tyran, calculating but tactless, is in search of affection. Bound by a friendship thicker than blood, the two brothers have been hardened by their father’s ambitions. Drast and Tyran are forced to set aside their own hopes and dreams during their struggle to fulfill their father’s desire for immortality. Now, the two will face skin-switchers and dragons, ultimately leading to a final clash with Wolos, God of the Dead.

BIOS

Joshua Robertson was born in Kingman, Kansas on May 23, 1984. A graduate of Norwich High School, Robertson attended Wichita State University where he received his Masters in Social Work with minors in Psychology and Sociology. His bestselling novel, Melkorka, the first in The Kaelandur Series, was released in 2015. Known most for his Thrice Nine Legends Saga, Robertson enjoys an ever-expanding and extremely loyal following of readers. He counts R.A. Salvatore and J.R.R. Tolkien among his literary influences.

http://www.robertsonwrites.com/ @robertsonwrites

J.C. lives in the Midwest with his wife and two dogs. He recently earned his MA in English Literature and is working on his debut novel for his own fantasy world. Despite growing up with Dungeons & Dragons, Lord of the Rings, and a collection of both Dragonlance and Forgotten Realms novels, J.C. has an abiding love of classics and spends his free time reading anything he can get his hands on.

http://www.crimsonedgepress.com

@jcboyd_author

LINKS

Amazon

Excerpt One

Erzebeth convulsed. Her fur and skin shedding away while she wheeled about on the ground in agony. The bones readjusted and organs reset from beast to human. Where a beast had stood was now the naked figure of Erzebeth. Cuts and scratches patterned her body, but none were fatal.

Tyran had no place for modesty. The Vucari woman, within the privacy of the ice dome, struggled to her feet. Again, her dark eyes met his own, filled with compassion.

“You need to be put down, young Red.” Her voice was calm as her feet crossed in front of one another, closing the distance between them. “Your power is greater than any I have seen before, even from the Anshedar.”

“What?” Tyran said, forehead wrinkled with confusion. He had never heard of the race before, whether beast or otherwise.

“You are like a rabid dog, young Red. You are the perfect companion, loyal, and possibly even loving somewhere deep inside,” Erzebeth bit her lip. Her breasts, barely covered by her dark hair, touched the front of his chest. She halted her feet. “But, you are tainted by a disease that is stronger than the goodness in you. You cannot be left to live in this world, or you will corrupt every living thing around you.”

Tyran tilted his chin, lips parting. His free hand touched her pale skin, as whitish as the ice fortress that veiled this moment.

“You would taint me, young Red.” She stepped up on her tiptoes. “As with the rabid dog, you need to be put down.”

He grabbed her by the back of the neck, and pulled her to him. He kissed her with more force than he had ever kissed any woman.

This woman was not Isolde. This woman was battle hardened, and a warrior. She was not plain.

She grabbed his shoulders and returned the embrace, her tongue touching his lips. Her body was far warmer than his own, as if it were heated by the darkness.

He did not know what he was doing in this moment. It may have likely been the first time that his mind was clear from thought, acting without thinking. Though, in time, he may consider that when his death was nigh, he found that this was something he wanted to do before death found him.

The crashing against the ice pulled him from the moment. Tyran pulled back, moving the Vucari’s hair from her cheek. “You won’t kill me, Erzebeth.”

“No,” she breathed. Her hands fell to his chest. “But, it still needs to be done.”

Excerpt 2

His brother looked at his hands, now covered by great warm mittens. “Drast?”

“Mm?” Drast grunted, mimicking his brother.

“How are they going to remember us?”

“Who?”

Tyran shrugged his heavy shoulders. “The Stuhia. The Vucari. The world, I suppose.”

“By our apotheosis.”

“Does it always come down to glory?”

Drast snorted. “Yes. If we fail we will not be remembered. It must come to glory.”

Tyran shook his head. “But is what we are doing glorious?”

“We are off to kill a god. How could it not be?”

Tyran stopped and turned. “But if we are wrong. If killing Wolos is somehow an evil act. Or, if we fail and we are remembered because of our tyrant father—”

“Tyran the Tyrant,” Drast interrupted, chittering.

“I am serious. How do we know that we should even be doing what we are planning on doing? How do we know it is right? How do we know we can?”

“Tyran, you are overthinking this. Why do you even care how people will remember you to begin with? It will not matter. We will either succeed, in which case we are allowed to tell whatever tale of our victory we choose, or we fail and are dead and it doesn’t matter. Regardless, people will remember us for the height of our lives, when we faced a god.”

“I want to believe that I did something right for this world before I died.”

Excerpt 3

The room still whirled from last night. He tried to close his eyes to keep his stomach from doing the same, but closing his eyes actually made it worse. Drast was somewhat surprised that the drink was still affecting him like this. He had been having more than his fill for—he did not know how long. How long ago did Tyran leave? His mind was too foggy to remember. And Walstan was gone, too.

Vaguely, Drast saw that the sky was just turning blue with the rising sun. At least, he was fairly certain it was sunrise. None of the hues of sunset had begun to color the sky.

“Ser Drast?”

He turned his head to the entrance into his chambers and pulled himself more upright to lean against the nightstand beside his bed. One of the serving women stood just inside of his room. “What?”

“The Arkhon wishes to speak with you.”

He was not certain what string of curses came from his lips, but the maid blanched and her face grew pink, almost to the color of her hair. The room swirled again while she spoke.

“What?” he asked again.

“I said, Ser Drast, the Arkhon instructed me to remain with you until you came to meet with him.” Her voice quivered.

She was right to fear him. Her voice was fuzzy, just like everything. But, he knew he had not been particularly kind to any of the servants of late. He had managed to avoid his father by effectively frightening the servants. Their fear, combined with late nights, ale, and sleeping until the sun set, had allowed him to avoid talking with anyone who did not enjoy a mug or two.

A few of the servants had initially joined him in drinking. He loosely recalled this maid among them. Ura? Mura? Lura?

“Kura,” he finally muttered. He had been a little too handsy and she had since avoided him like—he could not clearly comprise a simile. Like. Like? Like the moon avoided the sun? Good enough.

“Yes, Kura,” she murmured.

Drast spat at the chamber pot. He was fairly certain he missed. “Well, come on in, Kura.” He belched. “I know how we can pass the time.”

Book Review: Anaerfell by Joshua Robertson & J.C. Boyd

Tags

Anaerfell, Crimson Edge Press, Indie Author, J.C. Boyd, Joshua Robertson, Thrice Nine Legends

Title: Anaerfell (A Thrice Nine Legends Novel)

Authors: Joshua Robertson and J.C. Boyd

2nd Edition Published: January 2017 by Crimson Edge Press

312 Pages

Blurb: Drast, cunning but reckless, is on the hunt for admiration. Tyran, calculating but tactless, is in search of affection. Bound by a friendship thicker than blood, the two brothers have been hardened by their father’s ambitions. Drast and Tyran are forced to set aside their own hopes and dreams during their struggle to fulfill their father’s desire for immortality. Now, the two will face skin-switchers and dragons, ultimately leading to a final clash with Wolos, God of the Dead

My Take: This was an interesting foray into a gritty Dark Fantasy novel, and this was a book that was deserving of placement into that subgenre. The actions of the characters throughout the book, while psychologically understandable at times, make it a struggle to cheer them on, much less care whether they succeed at their task to defeat Wolos, the God of the Dead. There is a lot of evidence throughout that Drast and Tyran have been molded into who they are by their father, who is abusive and power-hungry, which leaves the reader questioning whether the actions of the two brothers are their own fault or if the blame should fall squarely on the shoulders of their father. This is a question that really forms the core of this novel, particularly being explored in the second half of the book.

There was a point, about halfway through, that I had considered setting this book aside and not finishing it. The brothers had both crossed a line that I felt put them into nonredeemable territory. It was tough to pick it back up, but the second half of the book redeemed the rough middle. While neither brother really ever got back to the point where I could cheer for them as protagonists in the tale, it really explored what drove these two brothers to the point they had reached. There were times when I was mad at them for not taking the way out when it presented itself. They could have redeemed themselves completely by taking those choices. But their choices at that point are understandable enough.

The writing by Joshua Robertson and J.C. Boyd is quite masterful. It carried me through some of the rougher patches in the book, allowing me to press on even when I found myself loathing the characters and their choices. The magic system is inventive and has a good balance to it, forcing the user to lose years of their lives through its use. This is not quite as unique like Allomancy in Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series, but it provides a very real consequence for using, or overusing, the magic in their possession. It is a system that certainly fits the story and the world that they crafted.

As a whole, I am excited to read more stories that take place in the Thrice Nine Legends setting. J.C. Boyd’s Strong Armed was a great entry point, having been short though dark in itself and the questions it forces the reader to grapple with. Ultimately, if you like a fantasy tale that forces you to reflect on some tough questions about human nature, this book will certainly fill that niche for you. If you like grand worlds and interesting settings, or unique magic systems, this book will not disappoint. If you love to read good, quality prose this book will be a nice fit. There are many positives to be seen. When it comes to the violence and actions it can best be compared to Game of Thrones so if you have been able to handle reading, or watching, that you should be just fine getting through the darkest parts of this book. And you will agree, at the end, that it was worth reading.

Book Blitz: Curse of Stars by Donna Compositor

Tags

Curse of Stars, Diamond Crier, Donna Compositor, Fantasy, Xpresso Book Tours, Young Adult

Curse of Stars
Donna Compositor
(Diamond Crier #1)
Publication date: February 19th 2017
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult

Sabi Perez is the last Diamond Crier, only she doesn’t know it. Not until a crazed ruler from another world comes to collect her priceless tears and won’t take no for an answer.

Living in New York, Sabi’s seen some nasty things, but the lengths to which her captor will go to keep his crown are things found only in the darkest nightmares. Afraid and alone, Sabi finds solace in her cellmate, Anya, and Cabal, a fellow Crier who also has powers, a rare combination that buys his favor from the ruler. Only it’s a favor he doesn’t want.

In a fit of rage, power erupts out of Sabi, the same power Cabal has, and a spark of hope ignites. Together they may have a chance at escape, something no other Crier has done. Except a ruler hellbent on draining them of every last diamond tear isn’t their only hurdle. If they escape they’ll be hunted to the ends of the earth, if they survive the trek to safety. If they stay the ruler will leech them dry. Sabi would rather die trying than lie down and die, even if that means running away into even more danger.

“. . . vividly imagined and deftly plotted dark fantasy . . .” BookLife Prize in Fiction

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iBooks

—

EXCERPT:

“You must be Sabina,” he said.

Her heart felt ready to explode. Ringing in her ears made it hard to hear but she could have sworn he called her Sabina. She didn’t know whether to answer him or not. She went by Sabi but her birth certificate said Sabina. He wasn’t wrong, but she wasn’t about to admit that.

“Sabina Petris.”

The sound of his voice was soft, almost welcoming. But the way he looked at her, how his gaze bored directly into her eyes, it sent goose bumps across her skin. All she wanted to do right then was leave.

“Sorry,” she choked, the word barely making it out. “You have the wrong house.”

The thin smile that sliced across his face like a paper cut cracked open to reveal gleaming teeth underneath. Sabi couldn’t help but think of a wolf and how he would eat her with his big teeth.

“I don’t think so. But maybe it’s Perez now, yes? At least that’s what my sources say.”

Every thought she had smashed together in her head. He had her name. Her name. But who was Sabina Petris? And why did he say Perez like that wasn’t her real name? Crap, she needed to get out. Now.

“Baby, you okay?”

Sabi jumped and nearly choked on her heart. Keeping her eyes on the man in front of her she called down to Mrs. Wexler in the steadiest voice she could muster, “Fine. I’m fine.”

Nothing about her cracking voice sounded fine.

“Why don’t you come on down? Come sit with me until your Mama gets home?”

Yes! That’s what she’d do. Nothing could happen if she stayed out in the open with Mrs. Wexler. She took a step backward, not daring to turn her back on the man, but she stopped when he spoke.

“Perhaps you shouldn’t. Or your sister, Matti is it? Could feel the effects of that poor decision.”

Bile burned Sabi’s throat and her vision swam. The man took a step closer.

“You are my property, Sabina. Your parents knew this. They knew this would happen. Come with me now and I’ll forgive their indiscretions. I can’t say the same for their people, of course. So many deaths piling up behind your parents. Something like that is hard for people to forgive.”

Everything in Sabi’s head cleared and one thing rang out above it all: Matti. Get to Matti. Whoever this guy was, whatever he was saying, he wasn’t right. In the head, in life, in anything. Except just looking at him Sabi knew he was far from harmless. He was too casual, too confident. He was the wolf and she the prey and she was getting too close to backing into a corner.

With every ounce of air she had in her lungs Sabi screamed Mrs. Wexler’s name and booked back down the stairs. Footsteps thundered up to meet her and Mrs. Wexler mumbled ‘outside’ and nearly pushed Sabi down the rest of the stairs. But she didn’t need any help. And she didn’t stop on the stoop or to see what her neighbor was going to do.

Guilt slowed her down, but the way Matti rolled off the man’s tongue made her pump her legs harder. It was blocks to the school, but Sabi wasn’t about to wait at a subway stop, sitting like a duck with a price on its head. She needed to get to Matti.

 

Author Bio:

Donna has been writing since she was in the single digits when she first realized she needed to do something about all the thoughts in her head. After a stint with bad poetry she finally found her way to novels, mainly of the young adult fantasy variety. When she’s not cranking out more stories she works a regular 9 to 5, reads anywhere from 2 to 3 books a week, drinks copious amounts of tea, eats way too much, and makes her own beauty products because her skin turns into a sentient hive if she uses anything else. This is mostly because she lives in the desert where the air siphons water clean out of her. She lives with a man named Steve and several quadrupeds: three cats named Renfield, Sam, and Dean; and a MinPin named Malfoy.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

 

GIVEAWAY!

a Rafflecopter giveaway