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Behind the Scenes with S.J.Hartland, #Author of #DarkFantasy The Shadow Sword Series

13 Sunday Sep 2020

Posted by in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

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S.J. Hartland is an Australian journalist, emerging epic fantasy author, and foil fencer (Cyrano club in Sydney,) who has spent too many holidays wandering around obscure castles, and is obsessed with anything medieval.  She is originally from Townsville, north Queensland, lived in Sydney for many years, and now calls the Darling Downs home.  She recently chatted with me about her Shadow Sword series and gave me some juicy behind the scenes insights!

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I wrote the early drafts of The Sword Brotherhood when I was in a very dark place. Depression, anxiety, which I’m at times prey to, struck that year. Writing became a “flow” activity which helped me fight free of overwhelming emotions.

Roaran’s journey, his suffering as his enemy’s prisoner, became an odd sort of mirror for me. His battle was as much against his past, his feelings of despair and hopelessness, as it was against his captors. My battle, too, was to find meaning and a way forward.

In that sense, Roaran’s jailer, Raggamirron, in the early drafts became a psychologist of sorts to Roaran, leading him on a path that today we might think of as “mindfulness.”

Yet in the end, most of those chapters had to go; in fact more than half disappeared into a desktop folder called “dropped chapters.”

The Sword Brotherhood, however, remains a dark book. Because it’s Roaran’s story, because it’s about his path to redemption and self-acceptance, it was always going to be the darkest in the Shadow Sword series.

Although the first in the series, The 19th Bladesman, was at its heart about fatherhood and letting go of power, redemption is a key theme across The Shadow Sword books. Characters often have to confront guilt or shame. But to balance that out, almost as a result of the darker feelings, characters can find hope or acceptance, or simply a way to go on.

Val’s path in The Last Seer King is particularly disturbing. Not only does a sorceress strip him bare emotionally and psychologically, but she forces him to confront his long-buried past. I tried to balance his despair in recounting what happened to him in a tower room centuries ago with Heath’s desire to free Val from his pain.

As Heath says, they could have been friends, with all that friendship offers. Hope. Freedom. Understanding, even comfort. A different kind of love–something I think is rarely explored.

Sometimes I wonder if these themes reassert themselves because I’m a Methodist, going back generations on both sides of the family.

I’m interested in guilt, in how it shapes us, but at the same time, I’m a deep believer that all of us can be redeemed–even Roaran, the Seer King, whose actions had to make sense even if we can’t agree with his choices. Even Genya, who acts out of anger and hurt and costs others their lives.

Her journey into darkness has only begun. Dannon, too, has important lessons to learn in the forthcoming The Sword and its Woman and the fifth book, loosely titled Broken Kingdom.

The Sword and its Woman is set largely in Quisnaf, a city of caves ruled by warrior women. I’ve tried to reverse every gender role I can think of in what is largely a Val tale. In Quisnaf, his worth is no longer measured in his ability with the sword, his classical education, or his position as a lord of Telor, but in his handsome face and his ability to provide children.

Perhaps it’s a risky book; it certainly takes Val in a new direction. He may find something he didn’t expect. But then he will lose it. Of course he will. When am I ever kind to characters?

The book also introduces one of my favourite characters, Rohane, a cursed berserker warrior of Quisnaf.

But before that, I’ve got the first in a new series coming out. Blade Lord is the story of Decallion and Sinnabar. He’s the only blade lord whose soul is not tethered to a ruling family in the distant Circle Kingdoms, which not only makes him valuable but puts him in grave danger. She’s a fura, or enforcer for the temple.

To save Decallion, Sinnabar will rebel against the temple and travel to the lawless Guildlands. She’ll risk her life and her soul. But, Decallion, cursed by magic, is destined to never remember her.

Although set in a dangerous world where the menace of the Shadow Kingdom across the fiery abyss pervades the realm, there are links in Blade Lord back to the world of Telor.

If I get it right, ultimately both series will fold together in a bizarre way.

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My 5-Star Review of The Sword Brotherhood

The Sword Brotherhood is the third book in The Shadow Sword series by Susan Hartland. Having not read book one or two, I had some research to do in order to full appreciate book three. The book opens with the lead, Roaran, a prisoner of the lead villain Archanin., who was once his ally, but now wants Roaran to lay his secrets bare. Of course, Roaran endures with determination. The dark imagery and torture is distressing, but immensely effective. I connected with Roaran, I felt the pain of his betrayal and I couldn’t wait to see him liberated.

The Sword Brotherhood combines riveting action and intensely, visceral scenes from page one! While Archanin keeps Roaran imprisoned in a castle protected by magic trying to extract dangerous information that could change the fate of the kingdoms, Dannon struggles to keep the Sword Brotherhood together. He enlists the help of a mighty sorceress, Genya, in an attempt to free Roaran and defeat Archanin, but secrets and savagery stands in their way.

Great fantasies explore the boundaries between ‘good and evil’, and offer glimpses into alternate realities, shaking us from our apathy and challenging our perceptions. The Shadow Sword series achieves this while seducing readers with elaborately crafted realms, enticing plot twists, and unexpected revelations into characters that beguile and disturb.

The Sword Brotherhood reveals a world tearing itself apart through manipulation, domination and subjugation, that was chillingly familiar.

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You can find Susan here

FACEBOOK

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Duty and love collide in this powerful epic fantasy about shattering loss, betrayal, and the price of power that will enthral fans of Game of Thrones, Blood Song and the Mistborn trilogy.  If you love dark plots, dark magic and characters with even darker secrets; pick up The 19th Bladesman, first in the sensational Shadow Sword series.

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For centuries, Roaran sought redemption. Now he can vanquish a tyrant and save a realm in chaos. But only if he cuts his last ties to humanity. Only if he returns to the one place he swore he’d never dare go again…

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A breathtaking, heart-pounding journey into darkness and the redemptive power of friendship.The darkest yet in the Shadow Sword saga, The Sword Brotherhood will enthral fans of this epic fantasy series from the author of the award-winning The 19th Bladesman.

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I want to Thank S.J. for taking time out of her busy schedule to give us some insights into her amazing story.  It certainly is a sweeping epic tale that has captivated me and I hope will intrigue you as well 🙂

 

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~Morgan~

 

 

 

#YAFantasy #BookReview #BookRecommendation via #BookBub

29 Saturday Aug 2020

Posted by in Dark Fey

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I am so Blessed and Delighted by this amazing review of Dark Fey The Reviled, I simply had to share it with you 🙂

If you’re looking for a Fey fantasy book with a well rounded blend of good and evil, all warped into one climatic adventure… then look no further than The Reviled, by Cynthia A. Morgan. It’s the first book in a series, and I look forward to reading the next books in the set! This author has been on my to read list for some time, and now that I’ve dove in, I’m a little disappointed in myself to have taken so long to pick up one of her books!
The characters in this book are well developed, especially the main character Ayla. I really like her. She has a kind heart and a brave soul. Being a particularly gifted Fey of the light, she’s been blessed with sight that goes beyond that of the average Fey. She can feel the presence of those around her on a different level, her telepathy is unique and her magic runs deep. She’s been given the job of watching over the young Fey, as to do her part in protecting them from those of the darkness and shadows.
You see, there’s another dimension that contains the Dark Fey and in the protection of the shadows they lurk, waiting to snatch up the young Fey and turn them to their dark side. But what happens when they take a Fey of the Light that is a bit older than usual, who is stubborn and possesses a certain incomparable strength?? Gairynzvl is what happens, and he’s possibly my favorite character. He spent a lifetime being tortured and forced to perform acts of unspeakable evil. However, his determination to return the light cannot and will not be brushed aside.
Gairynzvl went behind the backs of the Dark Fey Legion, and found a way to access Ayla. He watched her for months from beyond the shadows, feeling her power, and longing for her help. One night he crossed a portal and surprised a frightened and ignorant Ayla. She’d known she was being watched and followed all along. She’d felt his presence and known that he wasn’t a threat to her, yet brought with him great danger. Together, and with the help of Ayla’s friend, they worked their taxing magic and fought hard to bring his presence back to the light, but at what cost??
The Reviled offered sacrifice, love, battle, and heart thumping action. It has it all, and I highly recommend it to all fantasy readers!
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Thank You Didi Oviatt for an amazing review.  I’ll be smiling all weekend!
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~Morgan~

Penthara- A World Governed by Elements and Season – #Spectacular #EpicFantasy #BookReview

15 Saturday Aug 2020

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ENTER THE WORLD OF PENTHARA … a world governed by five elements and their five seasons …

The human kingdom of Barredom has been at war with the qindrid territories of Aggedon ever since the Qindrid Curse gripped the land. What were once humans are now grey-skinned, ageless, sleepless abominations, enhanced by the shadow element of their descendancy.

When the entire border army of Aggedon vanishes overnight, the obsessive General of Barredom orders the Westwalker, the infamous hunter of hunters, to investigate the disappearance. But the actions of men may test the resolve of the outsider who was long ago forced under the cursed transformation himself.

The new cycle of Kingfall proves worthy of its name when the savage elvan king of the Glace Isles is slain during an ambush. His elite war party, along with his three legendary axes, are deposited in the dungeons of the Frostdale Deeps, the domain of the Royal Inquisitor Honorah Bayn. Her task is to extract information from the enigmatic prisoners, but her desire is to exact revenge, and her lust for suffering is set to thwart the distracting aspirations of her unwitting son and daughter.

The unusual fortune of Barredom delivers one other gift when the leader of the Aggedonian qindrid surrenders herself into the custody of the elusive king of Barredom. It’s up to the renounced prince of Barredom, Ondrew Roth, and his motley group of spurned knights to escort her on a clandestine mission beneath enemy territory, through the underground tomb of an elvan race thought long defeated.

Prepare for a dark tale where all are the many hues of grey, and where any might not be as they seem

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My 5-Star Review!

There are fantasy writers; there are Epic Fantasy writers, and then there’s the stellar few, like Tolkien and Steven Erikson, who build an entire universe in spectacular detail just to share a side story that has little or nothing whatsoever to do with the main story, but you cannot imagine reading the story and not knowing the side story because of the skill with which it’s relayed.   Mr. Eversand’s spectacular tale is right up there in the stratosphere of extraordinary story telling alongside such masters.
Character development in this sweeping saga is remarkable and the dialog between characters scores off the charts as well.  Smiles and Norah quip and banter with the best of ’em, leading me to re-read again and again just for the sheer enjoyment of it.  There are heroes to love and villains to despise, and some very intriguing sorts that you love to despise and despise that you love!
But this story has much more than amazing characters and dialog worthy of Henry Cavil or Robert Downey Jr., oh yes!  Page one sends you careening into the tale through riveting action scenes that allow you to finally draw breath around Chapter Five!  I Could Not Put This Book Down!  There are 449 pages and each one is a sumptuous delight; a nerve-wracking edge-of-your-seat thrill; and a delicious temptation that keeps you turning pages, faster and faster and faster!
Now, don’t let me spoil it for you, but be prepared.  Prepared to be awed, swept up and away, and unable to extricate yourself from the mastery of fantasy Mr. Eversand flawlessly displays chapter after intoxicating chapter.  But draw breath.  Step back and admire…and give yourself plenty of time to devour the last 1/4 of the book because I assure you the story will latch on and not let go.
If you want a true fantasy epic, something you can not only sink your teeth into, but utterly immerse yourself in and become entirely entangled, Kingfall is waiting for you.
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Author Bio
Ezekiel Eversand was born in Southeast Texas. He has spent most of his adult life in operations management for high-volume nightlife venues throughout his home region of Texas and Louisiana, and eventually in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he now resides. He is a travel enthusiast and absolutely loves anywhere that has a beach. He lives with his French bulldog, Hero. Creating unique worlds, characters, and stories has been his true passion behind the scenes since he was a child.
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~Morgan~

#Dystopian Done Right – #Reviews of The Mercy Series & #FreeAudioBook!

08 Saturday Aug 2020

Posted by in The Mercy Series

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I have been overjoyed and overwhelmed by the incredible reviews my new release The Mercy Series has been receiving and simply had to share some of them with you.

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For a Limited Time I have FREE Copies of Misericorde on Audible available.  Just comment below if you’re interested! 🙂

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~Morgan~

A Reverse ‘View – A View into Mercy – #BookReviews Backwards

06 Monday Jul 2020

Posted by in The Mercy Series

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So here it is…the very first (Possibly ever!) Reverse Book Review where the reader reviews the book and then is interviewed by ME….and YOU! Yes, thats right, you can ask any questions you like about the book(s) and Chad will be happy to answer them.  So lets get right to it, shall we?

Chad R Slabach Jr
Misericorde (Mercy Series Book One)
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!

Reviewed in the United States on April 30, 2020…..Cynthia A Morgan wrote the Dark Fey trilogy and I loved that…this is a very different sort of book. For one, it’s slower paced and the work of a very talented author who has time (there are 3 more books to come in the series) to let the story unfold, to allow the reader to know and understand the characters, times, environments. She is patient and assured – 2 words I would hesitate to use to describe most anything culturally. We are raised on soundbites and fed headlines, but this book/series is, especially the more I think about it, so difficult to adequately distill into a short synopsis. It’s spiritual and human. It’s violent and tender. It’s desperate and deeply hopeful. I can’t wait to see where she takes us from here.

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Who is your favorite/least favorite character and why?
My least favorite is easy: Sauvage. In a space that is forgetting any resemblance of gentleness or care, his absolute lack of humanity is repulsive.
My favorite has been Chevalier or Levesque for the same reason. As I raged at their apathy and unwillingness to DO SOMETHING, I knew why they didn’t (or couldn’t.) They did for the same reason we stand idly by while the least of us are utterly taken advantage of and great violence is inflicted. Morgan couldn’t have known the specific political/social landscape when she wrote it, but this story is perfect for us, now. I guess it’s perfect for any time, because we are too often Chevalier or Levesque and not enough Tzadkiel and Lourdes. (As it turns out, why I love them is that they DID finally DO SOMETHING and I am proud of them, and it gives me hope for us, for me.)

What surprised you about the story that you didn’t expect
In my reviews I talk about your patience. It’s shocking to me that this story is given such beautiful space to breathe and be exactly what it is. It feels much less like a contrived product driven by bells and whistles and more like a living breathing organism. Then when the bells and whistles do come, they are genuine and unforced and we discover that we actually care deeply for these characters. It’s like we’re watching lives unfold and not just an event.

What are you hoping to see happen as the story moves forward?
Of course, I hope they find their way home and that they can heal from the tremendous amount of pain they’ve suffered. I don’t know if I can hope for anything other than Death to ride, it sounds like that is written so it shall be done. I just hope they all find peace. I love a happy ending (whether there can be a complete one with Death is doubtful.)

Which scene has lingered with you the most? Why?
The 2nd rape/abuse scene at the campsite was horrible and not something I will soon leave behind. It was much more impactful than the 1st (though the act itself is so vile) because I had grown to love them. I read it through tears, with an upset stomach. The visceral reaction I had was surprising…actually, I was absolutely sure the abuse wouldn’t happen. Absolutely sure! And then it did, written so descriptively it was REAL, and I barely kept from throwing up in horror. I still can’t move on.

Does the story remind you of any other books/movies?
There’s nothing like this.

Did you disagree with any of the characters decisions and why?
I think the disagreement was in the complete breakdown in human kindness and civility, like “how can they do that???” But I know, I know. It’s a mirror of what we can become and an invitation to become something more of what we were created to be.

Did you get any message / positive inspiration from the story?
The invitation I mentioned previously, and the quote, “May we show our thankfulness through kindness and appreciate our blessings through generosity,” has become the subject in a series I am teaching in our faith community and has been quoted often in my life. We should all aim so high.

If you could ask the author anything about the book, what would it be?
How does it end???? And How COULD you DO THAT to HER???????????

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Clandestine (Mercy Series Book Two
5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning!!!
Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2020 

 

Chad Slabach is a friend I’ve known for twenty+ years.  If you are a long time follower of my blog, he was the inspiration for The Burning Question series.  He is the leader of a non-denominational faith community based in south-central PA as well an as avid music fan and writer.  You can find Chad on his WordPress Blog The Bridge Faith Community. 

I’d like to Thank Chad immensely, not only for his enthusiastic support, but for taking time out of his busy schedule to read and review The Mercy Series AND to provide his insights in this Reverse View 🙂

~Morgan~

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Amazing Original Artwork by the following Exceptionally Talented Artists:
Telyuka

Lee Jun at DeviantArt.com

Yoon Sanghyuk

Jelena Pjevic

aenaluck on Deviant Art

Immortality- A State of Mind or Body? – #BookReviews

06 Saturday Jun 2020

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What if the Fountain of Youth was real?

Humans have always been obsessed with aging and death. Throughout history, the quest for a way to remain forever young has consumed mankind. What if two men stumbled upon a way to ensure eternal youth? What if it changes their lives, not only for the better, but in ways they never could have imagined?

Immortal is a story filled with adventure, mystery, and thrilling twists. Follow these men as they stumble upon not only their greatest discovery, but possibly their ultimate undoing.

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My Review-  5-Stars!

Through the shifting tides of time, humans have yearned for eternal youth. How does one achieve the seemingly impossible? Is youth a physical or mental condition? Immortal unlocks the mind to explore these questions and more. It challenges the reader to step beyond the box of contemporary thinking and reach beyond accepted limitations. Each page invites the reader to not only enjoy the tale unfolding around two compelling and relatable characters, but to question deeper and seek further along with the characters.

A thoroughly unexpected and satisfying page-turner, Immortal will tempt you to unlock the Fountain of Youth waiting in your own life. A highly recommended read, particularly for these challenging times.

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Immortal by David Boiani

David Boiani is an American author living in Coventry, RI. He writes Psychological thrillers mixed with a touch of horror. He has two short story collections available, Dark Musings and Darker Musings. His debut novel, A Thin Line and its sequel, The Redemption are also now available. He is currently working on two more novels: Immortal, which will be released in the fall of 2019 and Azreal’s Ledge, which will be released in the spring of 2020.

You can visit his website here

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~Morgan~

The Cloisonne Brooch – A #5Star Journey into #History #TimeTravel and #Mystery

24 Sunday May 2020

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The Cloisonne Brooch is a captivating tale encompassing the ‘here and now’ and the ‘what once was’ that will keep readers of historical fiction, mystery and even romance turning pages long into the night.  So often historical fictions are set in the time period in which they are based, but with The Cloisonné Brooch author Kat Drennan has created a magical formula with time-travel at its heart.  Shifting seamlessly from present to past and back again, readers find themselves as intertwined as the characters Tessa and Kindra become as the compelling layers and intrigues of the story unfold.

As mesmerizing as it is historically accurate, Drennan gives us an unforgettable view into the life of a female slave during a period in history that differs greatly and yet is hauntingly similar to present day.

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The Cloisonné Brooch is missing. Tessa holds the key. Forces outside her control are closing in.

When Tessa Madigan finds ancient gold jewelry sealed in the walls of her uncle’s old house, she opens the door to an ancient past and a an old enemy.

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Kat Drennan is the author of this remarkable tale. born and raised in California, writes sensual stories from the heart of the Golden State. From the curling surf at the edge of the continent, to the granite sculptures of the Sierra Nevada; from San Francisco to Death Valley and all the way to the Mexican border, California’s unique landscape and history step forward as characters in each of her novels. She lives in Ojai, California with her husband, a sweet wiener dog, and two controlling cats. When she’s not writing, she’s taking advantage of the Golden States beautiful weather biking, swimming, our enjoying her favorite Mexican food.

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Find Kat’s Work Here

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~Morgan~

#5Star #Book #Review #DarkFantasy #Dystopian #Drama #horror

06 Wednesday May 2020

Posted by in The Mercy Series

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Delighted to share Misericorde’s 3rd #5star #Book #review.

KS the Dreamer

5.0 out of 5 stars​⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Horror, degradation, and helplessness (I read on KU)

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 4 May 2020

Pestilence, War, and Famine have ridden, changing the world forever. Times of equal rights and respect had been long forgotten. Those of wealth rule, their servants little more than property, easily swapped when one becomes too damaged to perform their duties. Tzadkiel seeks to prove there is still hope, that one person in the godforsaken world still knows compassion. Should he fail to find one within 100 years the final horseman will ride. With just a few years left desperation envelopes him. He finds himself imprisoned, tortured for sadistic pleasure and gains. He could stop it all with a word, end his torment, end the pain that has become his existence, but to do so would be to admit he has failed. So he endures, hoping to somehow find the one person who can be redemption in a place filled with darkness and despair.

Cynthia A Morgan’s Misericorde is the first book in the Mercy series. For anyone who likes a read on the darker side, this will certainly be a good fit. Filled with despair, hopelessness, and an acceptance of how little one is worth, it is bound to tug on a few heartstrings as Lourdes situation becomes ever more desperate as she strives to protect those she cares for. Day after day she hears the tormented screams. Brutality and the worst of humanity are brought into picture-perfect clarity through Morgan’s descriptive writing while daring to offer a glimmer of hope, a suggestion of a fleeting and small light almost lost within the darkness. Horror, degradation, and helplessness pit against the very essence of all that is good, threatening to snub out its presence forever. You will want to read on, to see what fate awaits both prisoners, one a prisoner of life, and the other a prisoner in the Tower.

http://mybook.to/misericorde

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~Morgan ~

Insidious- #BookTeaser #FreePreview #Fantasy #DystopianFiction #DarkFantasy #Reading

03 Sunday May 2020

Posted by in The Mercy Series

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I am currently looking for a few interested readers who would be willing to share a review of Misericorde, in return for a free digital copy.  If interested, please comment below.  And to tempt you I’ve included a small teaser…

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Insidious laughter echoed from the darkness clawing at him like a ferocious monster.  He felt the sensation of spinning, yet knew he was lying on the cold stone floor of his cell.  Strangely, his body no longer burned with pain so intense it threatened to tear his reason from him.  Instead, he felt nothing at all.  Weightless and spinning, he tumbled into the abyss that yawned greedily before him.

“He is lost.” It was the same deep, resonant voice he always heard, but now it spoke from somewhere above him.

“He is not!” Another voice rebuked the first, its tone more determined, but equally far away.  He recognized this voice as well and struggled to answer, but he could make no sound.

“He allowed them to vanquish him.”  The first continued, sounding both angry and accusatory.

“He cannot be vanquished.”  Again, the second rebuked the first. Then a third voice leeched into the darkness, its words a rasping, guttural hiss

“He is human. He is weak and worthless.”

Angry cries filled the darkness in response to the serpentine voice, but it continued more loudly.  “Your plan was faulty and has failed!”  This claim was echoed by peals of rancorous laughter that faded into utter silence.

The silence was long and deep.

The blackness around him was heavy and thick.

“Don’t let him die.”  A small, unobtrusive voice permeated the impenetrable blackness.  It, too, was a voice he recognized, but it was overpowered by ruthless shouts of obscenities and derisive howls so vulgar he felt ill to hear them.

Vile demons!

He would not allow them to take him.

He was neither human, weak, nor worthless!

Concentrating with intensity he had not summoned in many eons, he reached up through the darkness.  It opposed his effort, pulling at him insistently, but he didn’t surrender to it.  Straining against its oppressive pull with all the force his essence could summon, he looked upward and saw a shimmer of light.  He grasped for it, clawing his way upward through the thick, slurking darkness that clung to him.  His determination was greater than its malevolent pull.  Exerting himself to his limits and then beyond them, he growled vehemently with effort, reaching for the light, clambering upwards against the energy of a thousand demons dragging him down.  He writhed up from the clutching blackness as every ounce of strength he possessed poured out of him like blood.

He awoke screaming.

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A Teaser from Misericorde (Mercy Series Book One)

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It’s the year 2446, and the first three Horsemen of Revelation’s Apocalypse have ridden.
Pestilence, War and Famine have changed the world into a dictatorship ruled with an iron fist. Commoners have few rights, and liberty is a distant memory.
Before the final Horseman is released, the Archangel of Mercy – Tzadkiel – makes a bold plea, asking for permission to find even one human who remembers the meaning of mercy and compassion. He is given 100 years, until Death will sweep across the land.
Taking human form and coming to Earth, he finds a place ruled by greed, hatred and fear. With time running out and Death growing impatient, can Tzadkiel find what he’s looking for… and how much will he need to sacrifice?

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~Morgan~

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Artwork found on Imgur.  Credit Gratefully Acknowledged to the Original Artist.
Thank You~

 

Deliciously Satisfying #Epic #Fantasy- #5Star #BookReview of Beloved Traitor

12 Thursday Sep 2019

Posted by in Authors Books Reviews & Interviews

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Beloved Traitor (Fragile Fate Trilogy Book 1)

by Jeremiah Dungan

When the highest prophet in the land wields his power, kings and queens become pawns.

Coerced into betraying the barbarian king who raised him, a disowned mage, Brandt, kills the high queen, sending the already unstable regions into chaos. His mage nature and the scars of the past fight against his desire to be a better man as he attempts to find common ground amid the feuding powers.

While Brandt struggles for a place with the noble mages and barbarians, his actions send three princesses on paths that will take them far from home. Each carry passions and fears they must control if they are to become more than prisoners of fate. Carving new paths could lead to the devastation or salvation of themselves as well as the kingdom.

With powerful men holding the truths of the past in the shadows, how the young prince and princesses choose to wield their new power could destroy them all. Can they bring peace to the kingdom or will they be the next victims sacrificed in the fight for the high throne?

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MY 5-Star Review

In a realm where magic and mages are all powerful and submission is forced onto those assumed to be weak, an intriguingly complex array of characters spin out a tale that is wholly relatable to our present reality.  With a Viking-Norse flair and a driven pace, I found myself reading longer than I planned to each time I picked up the book simply because I was so captivated. I couldn’t put it down.  I kept saying ‘just one more chapter….’

This epic fantasy not only set the ground work for its sequel, which I’m eagerly anticipating, but took its time, delivering deliciously satisfying world-building and introducing a marvelous collection of fascinating characters I learned to both love and hate.  I hope the author doesn’t keep us waiting too long for book 2!

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Discover more about the author Jeremiah Dungan

Find Beloved Traitor here

~Morgan~

A Marvelous #Review of Dark Fey Breaking into the Light- #Epic #YA #Fantasy

03 Monday Jun 2019

Posted by in Dark Fey

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A tale of battle, redemption, and an empathetic look at one’s stance against “evil,” this book will appeal to fantasy fans who like a story that makes them think. Full of fanciful creatures, strange languages, and exotic names, the story is a philosophical twist on the perennial tale of dark versus light….Reviewed by Book Review Directory – 4 out of 4 Stars

Dark Fey Breaking Into The Light asks the questions, can we truly understand another’s misery without knowing the extent to which they suffer? Would we willingly risk our lives for someone without experiencing some measure of their pain, despair, or anger?

Like any good fantasy, this final saga of the trilogy sets the stage with dramatic events that test boundaries and push characters to their limits. Readers learn what it’s like to be one of the Reviled through descriptions that are darker and more intense than either of the previous books, but with good reason. I hope to elicit a reaction in the reader similar to those the Fey of the Light experience by showing them firsthand what the Reviled (our child soldiers) have suffered. I also pose the most important concept of the trilogy: The only way the achieve Peace is by becoming Peace. Through this thought-provoking concept, I open the door to an unexpected and powerful conclusion.
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~Morgan~

Beginnings – An Introduction to the #Epic #YA #Fantasy #DarkFey

09 Saturday Feb 2019

Posted by in Dark Fey

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The story of Dark Fey is set in a fantasy realm of Jyndari, a world of beauty, magic, Light and Darkness. It is peopled by Feyfolk, winged beings the size of any human who are born with gifts of telepathy, empathy and sometimes magic. It relates how the Power of Hope, Acceptance and Forgiveness can change the world, if you take Positive Action to create Change through doing what is Right.

The only way to achieve Peace is to become Peace.

Although their two realms exist in close proximity, most Fey of the Light have never seen an actual Dark Fey and many Dark Fey only encounter very young Fey of the Light; yet crossings and abductions happen every day.

As their temples are desecrated, homes are pillaged and plundered, and the peaceful tranquility so important to the Fey of the Light is repeatedly shattered, the Fey Guard stand as protectors. They are mighty in battle and fierce in their vigilance to protect the fragile balance of life for the peaceful Fey of Light

All Fey are born with special abilities, or gifts, such as telepathy, empathy, discernment, or the ability to dream walk. Many also have a gift of magic, though not all, such as spell-casting, enchantment, light bending or element wielding. While the Fey of the Light are beautiful and live harmoniously, the Reviled Fey are the opposite; they revere darkness and fill their lives with cruelty and evil, but all Reviled Fey begin their lives as Fey of the Light. The change comes only if they are abducted as childfey and forced to undergo the Integration, a process of intentional neglect and cruelty designed to twist them away from the Light.

This level of horror is not incorporated into the Dark Fey Trilogy simply for the sake of it. One does not need to open the pages of a book to discover the unthinkable, as the darkness typically embodied in fantasy genre stories by some terrifying being or creature is very much alive in our own reality and this is the underlying motivation for the darkness woven into Dark Fey. It was based in great part on the terrifying, yet true-life events of the Lord’s Resistance Army or LRA, a rebel militant group in Uganda that has for over 20 years abducted children from their homes; forcing them to commit horrifying acts of violence against each other and their own people. These children suffer a very real Integration and, like the childfey of Jyndari, they endure violence and cruelty at the hands of truly sadistic overlords. This is how the Reviled came to life and became the horrifyingly cruel beings depicted in Dark Fey.

This story shares the Power of Hope, Acceptance and Forgiveness through the ideal that you can change the world, if you take Positive Action to Create Change through doing what is Right.

Many times during your journey through the Dark Fey Trilogy, you will encounter words that seem to be capitalized for no apparent reason; yet,it should be noted, these capitalizations are anything but random. They mark either proper nouns, such as Fey of the Light, the Temple, Fey Guards, the Reviled, or the Light, which is not simply a glimmering of illumination, but a connotation that is highly important in the spirituality of Fey. If a word holds specific meaning, it may also be capitalized, such as See, Know, or Understand. You may encounter such words when they are in reference to a Fey gift, such as telepathy, empathy, or discernment, and they carry significant weight so, in order to emphasize their importance, capitalization is used.

Join me as we embark into this realm of Light and Dark. Allow your imagination take over as you experience the Jyndari forest and The Fey of the Light’s struggle with The Reviled. Let the Light reach outward from these pages and draws you into on a journey that promises to change your way of thinking.

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Discover More About Dark Fey on its official website

The Reviled
Standing In Shadows
Breaking Into The Light

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~Morgan~

Emily and the Gnomes by S. D. Michaels

05 Sunday Aug 2018

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Biologist Emily Dickens is a conservationist who works tirelessly against the destruction of the planet Valencia and the near extinction of its wildlife. The battle seems hopeless until a young goddess from the sister world of Terra hears her pleas and sends out a small army of the most unlikely rescuers. There’s only one problem – Emily has grown up in a world that was abandoned thousands of years ago by its ruling goddesses. It will take a little enchantment and a lot of faith for Emily to start healing her planet again and sending its creatures to the only safe haven she can find.

A Brief Excerpt from the book:

Jabaz: father of all the gods, creator of all the heavens and the cosmos, journeyed through the glimmering lights of his universe.

He’d done this so many times before, making each of his worlds a little different from the others.  But this one, this one was for Ava, the youngest of his daughters, the most ambitious, and for the time being, his favorite.

“She wants plants,” he said, waving a hand and covering the planet with various types of foliage, trees, bushes, ground cover, and even plants to live in the water. “And seas teeming with living creatures, and birds to fill the sky. And let there be beasts to live and roam the lands,” he said, glancing beside him at his daughter. “And let there be no humans to bring them harm, but little Gnomes to guard and care for my creation.”

Ava smiled and kissed her father’s cheek. “Perfect,” she said, with excitement. “It’s just like Emily’s world of Valencia.  Well, kind of.”

Three links for where you can purchase your book

https://www.amazon.com/Emily-Gnomes-Valencia-S-D-Michaels/dp/152064650X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1532302879&sr=8-3&keywords=emily+and+the+gnomes

 Author Bio:

S.D. Michaels was born in Denver, Colorado, and in 1977 Michaels moved to Western Washington to study Marine Biology Technology and instantly fell in love with the beautiful and tranquil waters of Puget Sound. Labeling himself an environmental enthusiast Michaels has dedicated his World of Valencia series to helping children learn about the world around them using a make-believe world to talk about real-world environmental problems, such as pollution and animal extinction. He is also the author of a six novelette series titled People of Miranda Records.

Find S. D. Michaels through social media:

https://www.facebook.com/MichaelsSD/

https://twitter.com/slmsdmplus15

 

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The Clans of Arcadia by Arwen Chandler

05 Sunday Aug 2018

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With one dark spell, life in Arcadia changes in the blink of an eye. Yesterday, Karn had it all. Today he has nothing.

No longer able to watch from the sidelines, the goddess Lorna reclaims her champion, Karn Elohite, as her chosen warrior. The second son of a battle-hardened chieftain, Karn Elohite, was content to lead a life away from his clan until he met her. She changed his entire world, and now his world is crashing at his feet.

The Viper of the Maekel clan has unleashed his mage Magnus upon all of Arcadia leaving a path of destruction in their wake. Now, Karn must find the strength to stop them, and choose between honoring the woman he loved or finding solace in the arms of the enemy – a woman, who finds herself struggling at her own crossroads.

The goddess has called for the reign of dragon riders to begin again, but will Karn accept his fate, or stay trapped in the past?

Remnant is a story set in a world as dangerous as George R.R. Martin’s Westeros, and as magical as J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth. Not since the dawning of Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonflight, has a story hatched from the world of dragons like Remnant. Do you dare come inside?

 

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Darkness has fallen on Arcadia. Yet, Karn Elohite stands strong.

He leads his beloved Lilia, clansman Ian, and dragon Aslaug on a quest through Langerhorn to unleash the power of the dragon riders.

Langerhorn, the ancestral home of the gods, is home of ancient dragons, faeries, and elves.

Will the trio survive their quest, and save Arcadia? Or will Magnus and Fridtjof destroy everything while they are away?

Quest is a story set in a world as dangerous as George R.R. Martin’s Westeros, and as magical as J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth. Not since the dawning of Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonflight, has a saga hatched from the world of dragons like The Clans of Arcadia. Do you dare to walk within?

Fans of A Game of Thrones, Lord of the Rings, and Dragonflight will love Quest!

Quest is the second book in The Clans of Arcadia series.

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Excerpt Description of Realm (Remnant: The Clans of Arcadia) –Farthest westward area of the Elohite ancestral home.

The first rays of light crept over the mountains chasing back the darkness and bathing the cabin in warmth. In the pre-dawn half-light, birds gathered in the branches of the hemlock growing closest to the front window. Their chatter noised through the house and hinted that an early spring might arrive in the mountain region between Erisai and Bardai.

Inside the cabin, the shell of the previous night’s firewood glowed red, and the warm scent of pine still lingered in the air. Its remnants threatened to crumble into ash at any moment.

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079RC423G

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Excerpt from book two:

Lilia slowed her breathing, trying to slow her heartbeat, then glanced through the clearing. “It’s amazing.”

Karn nodded. “Yes, it is.”

Towering trees covered in deep emerald green moss stood as sentries around the lagoon. Boulders of every size poked out of the water, covered in soft green and yellow hues of lichen, and the rushing rumble of a small waterfall filled the air. The lagoon itself was a deep blue sapphire, and soft wisps of fog rolled across its glassy surface.

Majestic flowering trees surrounded the water. Royal poincianas, hibiscus, plumeria, and hydrangea, created a stunning bouquet near the edge of the forest. The heavy floral scent of the blooming flowers was pleasant but slightly overpowering. However, their presence only increased the majesty of the hidden lagoon.

Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DS7MS2M

About Arwen Chandler: Arwen Chandler is a fantasy, urban paranormal, and space opera author. She loves creating worlds, and painting pictures with words. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys painting, knitting, and boogie boarding at the beach. Arwen lives in South Texas with her family and cat Solomon T’Challa.

Arwen Chandler Social Media:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorarwenchandler

Twitter: @arwenchandler

Blog: http://www.sculptingwordsfromair.blogspot.com

 

 

BEFORE THE BOY The Chilling Prequel to the Inspiring Moon Singer Trilogy by B. ROMAN

04 Saturday Aug 2018

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Even in death a mother guides her son through triumphs and tragedies to his true destiny.

Billie Nickerson must accept her own mortality as the only way she can assure her son will receive the intuitive gifts he was born to inherit, to save her family – and perhaps the world – from a disastrous fate. But learning that she has died too soon creates a Karmic crisis as Billie tries to escape the afterlife and return to her loved ones.

In this chilling prequel to The Moon Singer Trilogy (The Crystal Clipper, The War Chamber, The Wind Rose) we learn the uncanny circumstances that informed Billie Nickerson’s decision to raise her son, David, to become a seeker of spiritual truth.  As his teacher and mentor she gave him the courage to overcome his unexpected deafness, to excel at music – and to hear the voice within that speaks from his soul.

Though Billie’s life is fraught with danger and dark spirits, and the power that David acquires places him in grave jeopardy, the story is an illustration of a mother’s love and devotion that transcends the boundaries of the here and the hereafter.

*** Book Excerpt

Chapter 9

In the Time Between Time

Billie scans the staging area.  The auditorium is filled to capacity with people milling about in their seats with anticipation.  Only they are not human entities, they are spirits of various levels of experience denoted by their auric colors, ranging from shades of white to yellow to blue.

The orchestra pit is vibrant with violet energies, demonstrating through music the highest form of spiritual evolution.  Every instrument is represented, from ancient celestas, lyres and lutes to zithers, keyboards and horns of every type.

Billie is astonished.  “What is this place? Some sort of performing hall?  I never imagined that heaven – or wherever I am – would look like this.”

“This was your life experience, Billie. The concert hall, the musicians, the crowds.  Your spirit experience will mirror your earthly experience, until you are ready to let go of it.”

“Why are there so many different colors of people?”

“That’s where they are in their soul evolution, each one having achieved a higher state of  development through their music experience.”

“But why do I have no color at all? I think I’m pretty highly developed musically.”

“Because you’ve just begun.  You are white, Blanche, a shining light but a very young soul.”

“That’s odd.  I’ve always felt like an old soul.”

“A popular New Age expression.”

Billie appreciates her guide’s humor, and a feeling of familiarity comes through.  “I know you, don’t I?  I’ve seen you before.  Why, you’re that fortune teller from the tent.  Not Dorinda, but the other one.  I never knew your name.”

“Names are not important here.  I was on a mission that required me to have no identity.”

“A mission?  For me?”

“You didn’t think you were just there in that tent having a Tarot card reading, did you?”

“Obviously not.  But you, and Dorinda – you never really existed.  You were just a figment.  No one ever saw you but me, never even saw that tent or the sign inviting people in for readings.”

“As it was meant to be.”

Billie moves freely through this first experience, then on through various portals.  People that she recognizes from her Earth life are formless, ethereal energies:  an aunt from her father’s side of the family who passed on just before Billie moved to Port Avalon; a cousin who was killed in a plane crash during his first solo flight; a friend from high school who succumbed to leukemia; a teacher who committed suicide when his wife left and took their children with her.  Their faceless forms nod in recognition as they move along on their own personal missions.

Then, emerging through a diaphanous curtain, two figures appear to Billie.   They are old now,  their auras grayed by their harsh life experiences.  Billie had seen them rarely in her last years on Earth, living miles apart as they did, then finally parted by tragedy and death.  But now, as they stand face to face, all the hurt, the anger, the conflicts they engaged in, the feelings of lonely isolation they instilled in her, the insecurities and unworthiness they passed on to her…all those feelings come to the fore and she feels on edge, a tenseness even in this sweet afterlife dimension.

If I hadn’t left them, if I had stayed near them, they would still be alive.  Maybe I could have saved them from that burning building, from an arsonist’s senseless evil. 

But then they embrace, and in their need for her, in their longing, Billie senses their sad regret, the apologies they can’t express, the forgiveness they offer her.  She melts into their agony and it transforms into her love for them.  Dissolving into a violet light, they are at last free souls.

end excerpt

Author BIO – B. Roman

Roman is the author of the inspirational Moon Singer series (trilogy and prequel) and the suspense fiction, “Whatever Became of Sin?”) As Barbara Roman, she is the author of two children’s fantasy books: “Alicia and the Light Bulb People in Star Factory 13” and “Hubert in Heaven – a hi-tech angel gets his wings.” Because of her music background as a professional singer, most of her books have their roots in music theories and metaphors, entwined with the magic and mystery of metaphysical concepts and matters of ethics, faith, compassion, love, and heroism.

Find Before The Boy here:

http://mybook.to/BeforeTheBoy

Find B. Roman here:

http://www.goodreads.com/BromanBooks

https://twitter.com/BMoonSinger1

https://www.facebook.com/BRomanMoonSinger/