ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Jennifer Thorne is an American author of books for adults and young readers who writes from a nineteenth-century Cotswold cottage in the medieval market town of Minchinhampton alongside her husband, two sons, and various other animals.
Publisher: Tor Nightfire (March 26, 2024) Page count: 296 pages Formats: audiobook, ebook, hardcover, paperback Genre: horror
3:00 AM | 
Posted by
Łukasz |
Labels:
Official Rachel Aaron Website
Pre-order “Hell For Hire” over HERE
Read Fantasy Book Critic’s review of The Last Stand Of Mary Good Crow
Read Fantasy Book Critic’s review of “The Battle Of Medicine Rocks:
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "Forever Fantasy Online"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "FFO: Last Bastion"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "FFO: The Once King"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "Nice Dragons Finish Last"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "One Good Dragon Deserves Another"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "No Good Dragon Goes Unpunished"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "A Dragon Of A Different Color"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "Last Dragon Standing"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "Minimum Wage Magic"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "Part-Time Gods"
Read Fantasy Book Critic’s review of “Night Shift Dragons”
Read Fantasy Book Critic’s review of “By A Silver Thread”
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "The Spirit Thief"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of “The Spirit Rebellion”
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of “The Spirit Eater” & “Spirit’s Oath”
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of “The Spirit War”
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "Spirit's End"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "Fortune's Pawn"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "Honor's Knight"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of "Heaven's Queen"
Read Fantasy Book Critic's joint interview with Rachel Aaron & Travis Bach
Read Fantasy Book Critic's Interview with Rachel Aaron
Read Eli Monpress series completion interview with Rachel Aaron
Read Fantasy Book Critic's Interview with Rachel Bach
Read Fantasy Book Critic's Heartstrikers interview with Rachel Aaron
Read Fantasy Book Critic's Second Heartstrikers interview with Rachel Aaron
Read "Why A Nice Dragon" by Rachel Aaron (Guest post)
OFFICIAL
BOOK BLURB: The Crew
A hulked-out wrath demon who eats gamer rage and loves cats, a shapeshifting lust demon who enjoys their food a bit too much, and a void demon who doesn’t see the point of any of this. They’re not the sort of mercenaries you hire on purpose, but Bex wouldn’t trust her life to anyone else.
Ever
since the ancient Mesopotamian king Gilgamesh decided death wasn’t for him, killed the gods, and conquered the afterlife, times have been rough for a free demon. But the denizens of the Nine Hells aren’t the quitting sort, and Bex and her team have been choking a living out of the Eternal King’s lackeys for years. It’s not honest work, but when Heaven itself declares you a non-person, you smash-and-grab what you can get.
This
next gig looks like more of the same…until Bex meets the client.
The Job
Adrian Blackwood is a witch with a problem. His family has skirted the edges of King Gilgamesh’s ire for centuries, but thanks to a decision he made as a child, Adrian is personally responsible for putting his entire coven in Heaven’s crosshairs.
Determined to set things right, Adrian drags his broom, caldron, and talking cat thousands of miles across the country to Seattle where he can fight the Eternal King’s warlocks without bringing the rest of his family into the fray. But witchcraft--like all crafts--takes time, and if the warlocks catch him before his spells are ready, he’s dead. So Adrian does what any professional witch would do and hires a team of mercenaries to keep the warlocks off his back. He didn’t expect to get demons, but when you’re already on the killing-edge of Heaven’s bad side, what’s a bit more fuel on the fire?
Sometimes, you get more than you paid for.
Neither Adrian nor Bex knew what to expect when they signed their contract, but witch-plus-demon turns out to be a match made in the Hells. With this much chaos at their fingertips, even impossible dreams start to come back into reach, because Bex wasn’t always a mercenary. She used to be the Eternal King of Heaven’s biggest nightmare, and now that she’s got a witch in her corner, it’s time to put the old magics back on the field and show Adrian Blackwood just how much hell he’s hired.
Adrian Blackwood is a witch with a problem. His family has skirted the edges of King Gilgamesh’s ire for centuries, but thanks to a decision he made as a child, Adrian is personally responsible for putting his entire coven in Heaven’s crosshairs.
Determined to set things right, Adrian drags his broom, caldron, and talking cat thousands of miles across the country to Seattle where he can fight the Eternal King’s warlocks without bringing the rest of his family into the fray. But witchcraft--like all crafts--takes time, and if the warlocks catch him before his spells are ready, he’s dead. So Adrian does what any professional witch would do and hires a team of mercenaries to keep the warlocks off his back. He didn’t expect to get demons, but when you’re already on the killing-edge of Heaven’s bad side, what’s a bit more fuel on the fire?
Sometimes, you get more than you paid for.
Neither Adrian nor Bex knew what to expect when they signed their contract, but witch-plus-demon turns out to be a match made in the Hells. With this much chaos at their fingertips, even impossible dreams start to come back into reach, because Bex wasn’t always a mercenary. She used to be the Eternal King of Heaven’s biggest nightmare, and now that she’s got a witch in her corner, it’s time to put the old magics back on the field and show Adrian Blackwood just how much hell he’s hired.
FORMAT/INFO: Hell For Hire is 378 pages long divided over eighteen chapters and an epilogue.
Narration is in the third person via Adrian Blackwood, Bex & a
couple of other characters. This is the first volume of the Tear
Down Heaven series.
June 4, 2024 marks the e-book, paperback & hardcover publication of Hell For Hire and it is self-published by the author. Cover Art is by Luisa Preißler.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS: A new Rachel Aaron series is a gift and
for readers like me, she’s been rewarding us wonderfully for the last fifteen years. This is
the eighth new series (ninth if you count her foray in the Attack On Titan
world) that she has gifted us with. Mark my words, Tear Down Heaven is the start of
something special.
The
story begins with Adrian Blackwood, a witch of the Blackwood clan who
arrives in Seattle with a specific plan and for that plan to succeed, he needs
a very special and determined crew. Enter Bex, the head of the only free
demon crew, a diminutive and smart demon who captains Iggs, a wrath
demon, Lys a lust demon and Nemini a void demon. This crew is a
special one and one that keeps its own agenda. Both Adrian and Bex however
share a common enemy in the Eternal King Gilgamesh who captured heaven over five
millennia ago and swarmed all the hells to enslave all the demon queens &
their demonish denizens. Gilgamesh hates all magic other than his own and demons are a
special anathema to Heaven.
This is
the amazing start up for Hell For Hire and a new series that absolutely
promises to unleash all the sort of mayhem that we Rachel Aaron readers
have come to love. With Tear Down Heaven, Rachel gives us a world that feels
absolutely radical and yet quintessential Rachel Aaron. This book while having
Adrian Blackwood as the main protagonist, isn’t really just about him. We
also get a solid insight into Bex. Both these characters are people who
are trying to do right by their loved ones but are under a tremendous amount of pressure.
Rachel Aaron’s characters are the biggest highlight of her stories, be it Eli
Monpress or Devi, or Julian or Marci or Tina or
Mary Good Crow. They are intelligent, and kind and generally good people.
They are also bad asses when they need to be and can be counted upon to do what
needs to be done. Rachel continues in this vein by giving us two (more) admirable
folks namely Bex and Adrian. Adrian is a man who’s being hunted for reasons out
of his control. He however is not looking to simply exist, he has a plan for
his pursuers and all he needs is time to do what’s necessary. Bex is someone with
an even bigger target on her back and the readers will have to find out why that's the case.
I
enjoyed Adrian’s character arc but it was Bex who was the main
draw for me. The revelations about both their pasts really set up a fascinating
future for us readers to find out. These two are the main draw and I believe they might rival Julius & Marci for their adorable interactions.
However this story is a lot darker than the Heartstrikers was. So I’m
not a 100% sure how it might all end up but given that it’s a Rachel Aaron
story, there will be hope and that’s something I can always count on.
Besides
Bex, and Adrian, we also get an enthralling side character cast consisting
of Boston (a magical talking cat), a talking sword and the demons (Iggs,
Lys & Nemini who all have their quirks). I can only hope that
this cast will be expanded upon as the series goes forward. This aspect is very exciting as even the villains are muti-dimensional and I hope the author explores their motivations.
The
worldbuilding in on another level. Previously with Heartstrikers, Rachel
Aaron combined midwestern geography with magic, unbridled capitalism &
dragons. Here we find a new world that amalgamates the Pacific northwest, Sumerian
mythology, Demons and some seriously creepy (& cool) witchcraft aspects.
Overall I’m thrilled to see how the author interprets Sumerian mythos within her
world and how it will impact the overall saga. The author also includes her own
twists on the various hells as well as witch covens. It will be intriguing to
see these aspects explored in future volumes. I must highlight that the worlbuilding
hinted within this series opener is seriously akin to an epic fantasy title. It
is very much comparative to brilliant efforts from stalwarts such as Elizabeth
Bear, Alec Hutson & Brian Staveley.
The
pace of this story is very much like an urban fantasy and for those who have
read previous Rachel Aaron titles will find plenty to love within. There’s
some fantastic action sequences and for those folks who have missed the sword
battles (from the Monpress books), there’s some epic action showcased and a
promise for more mayhem to come. Lastly the cover of this story is another homerun
by Luisa Preissler and I seriously can’t wait for this series to be
finished so I can see how gorgeous all the covers look together.
The
only complaint I had about this book was that it very much feels like a big
prologue to the actual conflict that’s foreshadowed within. Let me be clear,
there’s a complete story told within and the ending sets the stage perfectly
for the sequel(s). But overall it felt like this was a teensy appetizer rather
the complete meal (Nice Dragons Finish Last) was. For me, this story
just left me wanting more than the satisfaction it provided at the end and
perhaps that’s more on me than the author intended.
CONCLUSION: Hell For Hire is an absolute blast to read as it
combines action, comedy, and lots of magic for a unique story. Rachel Aaron
with her eighth (or ninth) series opener showcases exactly why she has no peers in the urban fantasy genre. If you want to have lots of fun, thrills and action,
look no further. Hell For Hire is available to fulfill all your needs
and more.
June 4, 2024 marks the e-book, paperback & hardcover publication of Hell For Hire and it is self-published by the author. Cover Art is by Luisa Preißler.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tim Hawken is a literary hooligan from Western Australia who writes dark sci-fi and fantasy. He is a 2-times winner of the AHWA’s Flash Fiction Competition, has been shortlisted for an Australian Shadows Award twice, and likes to add a twist of wicked humour to his work. His debut Hellbound Trilogy was a cult hit, which garnered attention from Hollywood, including being pitched to Netflix by producers for a series adaptation.
Tim has recently contributed to best-selling books such as Dear Santa, Dear Dad and Dear Mum, and released a literary fiction novel under the pen name T.S. Hawken.
Tim posts a 100-word, art-inspired story most days on Instagram (@tim_hawken). You can find more about him and his work at timhawken.com
Publisher: Seahawk Press (October 29, 2022) Length: 228 pages Formats: audiobook, ebook, paperback Awards: SPSFC 3 Finalist
Official Author Website
As a reader, I love trying to figure out how a cover relates to the story before I check out the blurb, and John Anthony De Giovanni has an amazing ability to make art and title resonate. I sent John an early draft of Fool’s Promise—the draft with the original boring part 1, before I rewrote it roughly a million times—and gave him my usual vague thoughts about how probably Arsenault should be on the cover since Fool’s Promise is really his book, and I thought it would be good to show him holding the dagger he uses to make the “fool’s promise” that gives the book its name.
John sent me three sketches and at the last minute added a very brief sketch of a fourth. Strangely, even though it was much less detailed, Arsenault’s personality jumped out at me from that fourth sketch. When I chose it over the others, John confessed he’d included it on the spur of the moment—so I can only conclude that Arsenault knew what he wanted and was whispering in John’s ear.
As a reader, I love trying to figure out how a cover relates to the story before I check out the blurb, and John Anthony De Giovanni has an amazing ability to make art and title resonate. I sent John an early draft of Fool’s Promise—the draft with the original boring part 1, before I rewrote it roughly a million times—and gave him my usual vague thoughts about how probably Arsenault should be on the cover since Fool’s Promise is really his book, and I thought it would be good to show him holding the dagger he uses to make the “fool’s promise” that gives the book its name.
John sent me three sketches and at the last minute added a very brief sketch of a fourth. Strangely, even though it was much less detailed, Arsenault’s personality jumped out at me from that fourth sketch. When I chose it over the others, John confessed he’d included it on the spur of the moment—so I can only conclude that Arsenault knew what he wanted and was whispering in John’s ear.
I love the “let’s seal this vow with blood” trope (so of course I put it in my book), and I think John did a fantastic job of capturing Arsenault’s mix of determination and protectiveness. He has a “don’t mess with me, I’m serious about this” expression that I love. The core of Fool’s Promise has always been built around Kyrra and Arsenault’s relationship; it was probably the easiest of all my books to title, but it was a difficult book to write because it’s about what happens after the “happily ever after”. I wanted it to be a book about commitment and recovery—physical, mental, and emotional. And I think John has captured that vision perfectly.
I feel really lucky to have worked with John and Shawn T. King on three covers now, because I feel like they are both able to take the feeling I put into my books and translate it into imagery and typography. It might sound trite, but there is something magical and humbling about being able to see the people who have only been living in my own head. They’ve always seemed real to me, but now they're real for other people, too. That will never stop being an incredible feeling.
Official Release Date: June 27th 2024
Official Book Blurb: Will love be enough to bind these
two broken souls?
Reunited after years of separation, Kyrra and Arsenault long for a peaceful life together. But the magic keeping Kyrra alive is also tearing her apart. When a mysterious piece of ancient metal falls into Arsenault’s hands, he gambles that it will prove to be Kyrra’s salvation despite the secrets from his past it threatens to reveal.
Kyrra is willing to sacrifice everything to free Arsenault from the vengeful god who haunts him, even if it means embracing the magic killing her. But Liera is on the brink of war again, and an unlikely alliance with her greatest enemy may be the only way to save it from destruction.
With their love tested by powerful forces, Kyrra and Arsenault face a heart-breaking decision between their own happiness and the greater good. As the dark truth begins to unravel, can their promise hold—or will they find it was a fool’s promise after all?
Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster in Fool's Promise, the exciting second book in the award-winning Eterean Empire epic fantasy series by Angela Boord. If you like rich worldbuilding, complex characters, and epic love stories, then you won't want to miss this thrilling tale of love, sacrifice, and redemption.
Reunited after years of separation, Kyrra and Arsenault long for a peaceful life together. But the magic keeping Kyrra alive is also tearing her apart. When a mysterious piece of ancient metal falls into Arsenault’s hands, he gambles that it will prove to be Kyrra’s salvation despite the secrets from his past it threatens to reveal.
Kyrra is willing to sacrifice everything to free Arsenault from the vengeful god who haunts him, even if it means embracing the magic killing her. But Liera is on the brink of war again, and an unlikely alliance with her greatest enemy may be the only way to save it from destruction.
With their love tested by powerful forces, Kyrra and Arsenault face a heart-breaking decision between their own happiness and the greater good. As the dark truth begins to unravel, can their promise hold—or will they find it was a fool’s promise after all?
Get ready for an emotional rollercoaster in Fool's Promise, the exciting second book in the award-winning Eterean Empire epic fantasy series by Angela Boord. If you like rich worldbuilding, complex characters, and epic love stories, then you won't want to miss this thrilling tale of love, sacrifice, and redemption.
Official
Author Website
Order Mushroom Blues over HERE
OFFICIAL AUTHOR INFO: Adrian M. Gibson is a Canadian author, podcaster and illustrator (as well as
occasional tattoo artist). He was born in Ontario, Canada, but grew up in
British Columbia. He studied English Literature and has worked in music
journalism, restaurants, tattoo studios, clothing stores and a bevy of odd
jobs. In 2021, he created the SFF Addicts podcast, which he co-hosts with
fellow author M. J. Kuhn. The two host in-depth interviews with an array of
science fiction and fantasy authors, as well as writing masterclasses.
Order Mushroom Blues over HERE
We're excited to announce we'll be participating in SPFBO for the tenth time. This year, we will have five judges on board and we're happy to welcome one new: Shazzie. Here is a brief introduction to all of us involved in the contest:
Buy Two Twisted Crowns
Read a review of ONE DARK WINDOW
OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Rachel Gillig is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of The Shepherd King series. If she is not ensconced in blankets dreaming up her next novel, Rachel is out walking in beautiful central California with her husband, son, and their dignified poodle, Wally.
Q] Welcome to Fantasy Book Critic Lamia. To
start with, could you tell us what inspired you to be a writer in the first
place?
LNB: Thank
you for the warm welcome!
Official Author Website
Buy How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying
OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Django Wexler graduated from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh with degrees in creative writing and computer science, and worked for the university in artificial intelligence research. Eventually he migrated to Microsoft in Seattle, where he now lives with two cats and a teetering mountain of books. When not writing, he wrangles computers, paints tiny soldiers, and plays games of all sorts.
FORMAT/INFO: How to Become the Dark Lord and Die Trying will be published by Orbit on May 21st, 2024. It is 387 pages long and told in first person from Davi's point of view. It is available in paperback, audiobook, and ebook formats.
The Atrocity Engine by Tim Waggoner book review
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tim Waggoner’s first novel came out in 2001, and he’s published close to fifty novels and seven collections of short stories since. He writes original fantasy and horror, as well as media tie-ins. His novels include Like Death, considered a modern classic in the genre, and the popular Nekropolis series of urban fantasy novels. He’s written tie-in fiction for Supernatural, Alien, Grimm, the X-Files, Doctor Who, A Nightmare on Elm Street, and Transformers, among others. His articles on writing have appeared in Writer’s Digest, Writer’s Journal, and Writer’s Workshop of Horror. He’s won the Bram Stoker Award and been a finalist for the Shirley Jackson Award, the Scribe Award, and the Splatterpunk Award. In addition to writing, Tim is also a full-time tenured professor who teaches creative writing and composition at Sinclair College.
Publisher: Aethon Books (April 30, 2024) Length: 316 Formats: audiobook, ebook, hardback
OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Danielle L. Jensen is the USA Today bestselling author of the Bridge Kingdom, Dark Shores, and Malediction series, as well as the Saga of the Unfated. Her novels are published internationally in fifteen languages. She lives in Calgary, Alberta with her family and guinea pigs.
FORMAT/INFO: A Fate Inked In Blood was published on February 27th, 2024 by Del Rey. It is 432 pages long and told in first person from Freya's point of view. It is available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats.
FORMAT/INFO: A Fate Inked In Blood was published on February 27th, 2024 by Del Rey. It is 432 pages long and told in first person from Freya's point of view. It is available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Mike Carey was born in Liverpool in 1959. He worked as a teacher for fifteen years, before starting to write comics. When he started to receive regular commissions from DC Comics, he gave up the day job.
Since then, he has worked for both DC and Marvel Comics, writing storylines for some of the world's most iconic characters, including X-MEN, FANTASTIC FOUR, LUCIFER and HELLBLAZER. His original screenplay FROST FLOWERS is currently being filmed. Mike has also adapted Neil Gaiman's acclaimed NEVERWHERE into comics.
Somehow, Mike finds time amongst all of this to live with his wife and children in North London. You can read his blog at www.mikecarey.net.
Publisher: DC Vertigo Length: more than 2000 pages, the precise page count depends on the edition Formats: 2 omnibuses,
OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Martha Wells has written many novels, including the New York Times and USA Today-bestselling Murderbot Diaries series, which has won multiple Hugo, Nebula, Locus, and Alex Awards. Other titles include Witch King, City of Bones, The Wizard Hunters, Wheel of the Infinite, the Books of the Raksura series (beginning with The Cloud Roads and ending with The Harbors of the Sun), and the Nebula-nominated The Death of the Necromancer, as well as YA fantasy novels, short stories, and nonfiction.
FORMAT/INFO: The Element of Fire was republished in a revised form on February 27th, 2024 by Tordotcom Publishing in the omnibus The Book of Ile-Rien; the original novel was published on July 1st, 1993. It is 320 pages long and is told in third person from multiple POVs, including Thomas and Kade. It is available in paperback and ebook formats.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS:
FORMAT/INFO: The Element of Fire was republished in a revised form on February 27th, 2024 by Tordotcom Publishing in the omnibus The Book of Ile-Rien; the original novel was published on July 1st, 1993. It is 320 pages long and is told in third person from multiple POVs, including Thomas and Kade. It is available in paperback and ebook formats.
OVERVIEW/ANALYSIS:
Official Author
Website
Pre-order Dig Two Graves over HERE
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Long Way Down
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The White Gold Score
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Redemption Song
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Living End
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of A Plain-Dealing Villain
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Killing Floor Blues
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Castle Doctrine
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Double Or Nothing
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Neon Boneyard
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Locust Job
Read Fantasy Book Critic’s review of Down Among the Dead Men
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Sworn To The Night
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Detonation Boulevard
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Winter's Reach
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Instruments Of Control
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Harmony Black
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Red Knight Falling
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Glass Predator
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Cold Spectrum
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Right To The Kill
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Black Tie Required
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Ghosts Of Gotham
Read Fantasy Book Critic' review of A Time For Witches
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Loot
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Insider
Read Fantasy Book Critic’s review of Any Minor World
Read Fantasy Book Critic's Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read Fantasy Book Critic's Harmony Black Series Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read Double Or Nothing Cover Reveal Mini-Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read Part I of Fantasy Book Critic's In-depth Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read Part II of Fantasy Book Critic's In-depth Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read the Wisdom's Grave Trilogy Completion Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read the 2019 And Beyond Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read the Right To The Kill Cover Reveal Q&A with Craig Schaefer
Read the Black Tie Required Cover Reveal Q&A with Craig Schaefer
Read the Charlie McCabe series interview with Craig Schaefer
Read My Sworn To The Night Cover Reveal Q&A with Craig Schaefer
Read 2020 State Of Schaefer Interview with Craig Schaefer
Pre-order Dig Two Graves over HERE
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Long Way Down
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The White Gold Score
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Redemption Song
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Living End
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of A Plain-Dealing Villain
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Killing Floor Blues
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Castle Doctrine
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Double Or Nothing
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Neon Boneyard
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Locust Job
Read Fantasy Book Critic’s review of Down Among the Dead Men
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Sworn To The Night
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Detonation Boulevard
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Winter's Reach
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Instruments Of Control
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Harmony Black
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Red Knight Falling
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Glass Predator
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Cold Spectrum
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Right To The Kill
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Black Tie Required
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of Ghosts Of Gotham
Read Fantasy Book Critic' review of A Time For Witches
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Loot
Read Fantasy Book Critic's review of The Insider
Read Fantasy Book Critic’s review of Any Minor World
Read Fantasy Book Critic's Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read Fantasy Book Critic's Harmony Black Series Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read Double Or Nothing Cover Reveal Mini-Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read Part I of Fantasy Book Critic's In-depth Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read Part II of Fantasy Book Critic's In-depth Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read the Wisdom's Grave Trilogy Completion Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read the 2019 And Beyond Interview with Craig Schaefer
Read the Right To The Kill Cover Reveal Q&A with Craig Schaefer
Read the Black Tie Required Cover Reveal Q&A with Craig Schaefer
Read the Charlie McCabe series interview with Craig Schaefer
Read My Sworn To The Night Cover Reveal Q&A with Craig Schaefer
Read 2020 State Of Schaefer Interview with Craig Schaefer
Order The Doors Of Midnight over HERE
Read Fantasy Book Critic's first review of The
First Binding
Read Fantasy
Book Critic's second review of The First Binding
Watch FBC’s
Video Interview with RR Virdi
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Samantha Mills is a Hugo, Locus, Sturgeon, and Nebula Award-winning author who has published a dozen short stories since 2018. Her fiction has appeared in Uncanny Magazine, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Strange Horizons, Escape Pod, and others. Mills has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, as well as the Hugo and Astounding Awards. She has a Master's Degree in Information and Library Science, and she is a trained archivist focusing on helping local historical societies and research libraries. Mills lives in Southern California. The Wings Upon Her Back is her debut novel.
Publisher: Tachyon (Apr 23) Length: 336 pages Formats: Genre: Science Fantasy, Alternate History
Buy The Hemlock Queen
OFFICIAL AUTHOR BIO: Hannah Whitten has been writing to amuse herself since she could hold a pen, and sometime in high school, figured out that what amused her might also amuse others. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, making music, or attempting to bake. She lives in an old farmhouse in Tennessee with her husband, children, two cats, a dog, and probably some ghosts.
FORMAT/INFO: The Hemlock Queen was published on April 9th, 2024 by Orbit Books. It is 464 pages long and told in first person from Lore's point of view. It is available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats.
FORMAT/INFO: The Hemlock Queen was published on April 9th, 2024 by Orbit Books. It is 464 pages long and told in first person from Lore's point of view. It is available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Christopher Priest was born in Cheshire, England. He began writing soon after leaving school and has been a full-time freelance writer since 1968.
He has published eleven novels, four short story collections and a number of other books, including critical works, biographies, novelizations and children’s non-fiction.
Publisher: St. Martin's (Oct. 11, 1996) Length: 368 pages Formats: audiobook, ebook, hardcover, paperback
Awards: Arthur C. Clarke Award Nominee (1996), James Tait Black Memorial Prize for Fiction (1995), World Fantasy Award for Best Novel (1996)
Book links: Goodreads, Buy from the Author
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Deborah Makarios was raised in the space between worlds and maintains an eccentric orbit.
She found her niche at the age of six when in short succession she read The B.F.G., her first Agatha Christie (Why Didn’t They Ask Evans?) and encountered her first P.G. Wodehouse (Something Fresh – saying “Heh! Mer!” is enough to make her laugh, decades later). Her personal motto is Tolle Et Lege – pick it up and read it – regardless of whether “it” is a Bible, a book or a jar of home-made marmalade.
She keeps her Luddite tendencies under sufficient control to allow for regular blog posts, but nothing can quash her fondness for old technologies. Her favourite phrases are “piston-filling fountain pen” and “annotated typescript.”
Her mission is to write books, plays and blog posts like cups of tea: warm, heartening and restorative. She believes in happy endings, the ultimate triumph of good over evil, and always having a clean handkerchief. It is, however, against her religious principles to believe in “normal.”
She lives among the largely unsuspecting populace of New Zealand with only two cats, and her brilliant, albeit marginally less eccentric, husband.
She can be found online at deborah.makarios.nz or Mastodon.
Publisher: Oi Makarioi (March 21, 2024) Length: 358 pages Formats: ebook
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Wend is a somewhat average 30-something female with your typical atypical brain. She's had a lot of interests in her life–so many that she’d have to live a hundred lifetimes to fully experience them all. She's been a librarian, a yoga instructor, a video producer, a baker, a barista, an ER tech, a farmer, and a professional cleaner.
Find Wend online: Webpage
ESMAY
Filled with loveable young characters, great magical school vibes, rich diverse cultures, exciting sea voyages, intriguing astrologically influenced magic, and a little dash of teenage angst, Master of the Void is coming-of-age fantasy done right!
Welcome to the Seven Lands, a world where magic is everything. At the passing of their thirteenth birth moment, kids are tested for their magical ability and sorted into one of the five groups of power. At least, that is how it is supposed to happen. The lives of the two young boys Derrius and Orimund are completely shattered when they receive the shocking results of their tests, setting them both off on similar yet terrifyingly different journeys of tumultuous self-discovery.
Right from the start, the high levels of intrigue and wonder really captured my imagination, simply forcing me to keep turning the pages. Not only was I captivated by the smooth introduction of the multifaceted magic system, but the setting of the Seven Lands also quickly felt very immersive to me and I really enjoyed exploring this epic world in all its glory from so many different perspectives.
Normally I prefer to follow a smaller cast of characters, but I actually found that the frequently rotating POVs gave this story a deliciously addictive ‘just one more chapter’ quality. It does admittedly take a while to get a good sense of how all the separate plot lines are going to connect, but trust me when I say that the eventual convergence is simply masterful and oh so satisfying.
I do have to admit that I ended up preferring certain character perspectives over others, and sometimes I found myself wondering if we really needed all the POVs we got. For me, Orimund’s storyline was easily the most captivating, especially once he embarked on his quest of self-discovery and came in contact with all kinds of intriguing people, cultures, and creatures inhabiting this world.
Both the breadth and depth of the world building really impressed me, and I loved that there were so many mysteries and conflicting ideologies organically woven into the narrative. There are plenty of exciting reveals and clever twists and turns, which is exactly what made Master of the Void such a wonderful page turner.
That said, I can’t sit here and pretend that the pacing didn’t feel a bit rocky to me in certain parts. Not only was the passage of time rather unclear to me at times, making it hard to gauge the believability of the levels of character- and relationship development, but I also thought the middle section was just quite slow in general.
Fortunately, everything did ramp up again after certain reunions happened, and I was thoroughly amused by all the little bits of teenage angst, familial banter, and romantic tension dripped into the narrative. Moreover, there’s a looming sense of dread present throughout the entire novel, which ends up exploding in a truly exhilarating final sequence that had me on the edge of my seat.
It is truly beyond me how Raven managed to weave all the threads of this sprawling and highly ambitious story together in such a satisfying way, but here we are. In a way, Master of the Void could almost be treated as a standalone, but then there’s that damned mystifying and intriguing epilogue that will virtually demand you come back for more.
All in all, I had a really fun time with this story, and I am honestly surprised by how easily I breezed to this beautiful chunker of a book. Equal parts comfortably familiar and excitingly unpredictable, Master of the Void will offer much to love for both fantasy veterans and complete newbies to the genre!
OFFICIAL SPFBO SCORE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Wend is a somewhat average 30-something female with your typical atypical brain. She's had a lot of interests in her life–so many that she’d have to live a hundred lifetimes to fully experience them all. She's been a librarian, a yoga instructor, a video producer, a baker, a barista, an ER tech, a farmer, and a professional cleaner.
INTERVIEW
Thank you for agreeing to this interview. Before we start, tell us a little about yourself.
I’m a somewhat average 30-something female with your typical atypical brain. I’ve had a lot of interests in my life–so many that I’d have to live a hundred lifetimes to fully experience them all. I’ve been a librarian, a yoga instructor, a video producer, a baker, a barista, an ER tech, a farmer, and a professional cleaner. Those are just the jobs I’ve had. I won’t even get into my hobbies. There’s one interest, however, that has lasted my entire life. That’s writing. It’s part of what grounds me and makes me, me.
Do you have a day job? If so, what is it?
When I take off my Wend Raven cloak, you’ll find another writer under there. Though, you might find the writing I do for my day job a bit less exciting. I write for magazines, and I also create press releases and such for businesses.
Who are some of your favorite writers, and why is their work important to you?
As a child, I was deeply impacted by high fantasy writers like J.R.R. Tolkein and C.S. Lewis. They wrote worlds that I could lose myself in time and time again. They wrote characters that came alive to me. I couldn’t bear to leave Frodo dying in a cave while I did something as meaningless as eating a bologna sandwich, so I’d heroically bring my books to the dinner table. As I got older, I came to love the intricate weaving of Brandon Sanderson and Robert Jordan. When I read Kel Kade’s books and realized they had been self published, it lit a fire under me. She was a real person who was doing what I had dreamed of doing and had found success. It was after reading her series that I decided to dust off my notes for Master of the Void and give this self-publishing thing a try.
What do you think characterizes your writing style?
The hope behind my writing style is that it will be accessible to anyone. When I committed to writing Master of the Void, my son was eight. I wanted to write something that he could digest and enjoy, but that would also be appealing to older audiences. I’ve had readers from eight to eighty tell me they loved Master of the Void, and that makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something special.
What made you decide to self-publish Master of the Void as opposed to traditional publishing?
Master of the Void isn’t a trendy book. It’s also not a short book. I knew it would face a lot of obstacles in traditional publishing. I also wanted to retain the creative liberty that self-publishing affords. But more than anything else, it was a challenge that I wanted to undertake for the sake of my own growth as a person and as a writer.
What do you think the greatest advantage of self-publishing is?
One of the biggest advantages, in my opinion, is the freedom to publish your book exactly as you envision it. The other, and this was something I only realized once I had already self-published, is the community of indie writers that exists. It’s been such an amazing experience to become a part of this group of hard-working creators who continuously lift one another up.
On the other hand, is there anything you feel self-published authors may miss out on?
Free marketing. On my worst days of second-guessing social media posts or trying to wrap my head around the business side of self-publishing, I can often be heard saying, “I thought writers were allowed to be reclusive hermits who live in a cabin and do nothing but write! I didn’t sign up for all this other stuff.” I’m sure traditional authors have their own struggles, but marketing your self-published book can quickly become a full time job. For most of us, that is in addition to our existing full time jobs and other responsibilities, prioritizing friends and family, and trying to find time somewhere in there to continue to write. For me, it’s a constant state of trying to find balance.
Why did you enter SPFBO?
My husband and I followed previous competitions, and were really impressed by the way the community brought positive exposure to authors who might struggle to be seen in the quagmire of modern self-publishing. Along with wanting to be a part of something so exciting, I entered SPFBO with the hope that someone along the way who might never have picked up Master of the Void otherwise might read it and find something special.
What would you do if you won the SPFBO?
Well, I fell on the floor when I was announced as a finalist, so I’m a little bit concerned about what the shock of winning might do to me…
Jokes aside, I would keep writing! I think we all look for ways to find worth in what we do, and putting my book into SPFBO felt like bearing my soul to a bunch of strangers and hoping they found me worthy. That sounds a bit dramatic, but I think most authors would say that their writing is a piece of themselves that they bravely show to others, hoping that someone will find value in it. Making it this far in the competition has taught me to value my work and have a little faith in myself. I can keep writing because others want to keep reading.
How would you describe the plot of Master of the Void if you had to do so in just one or two sentences?
Master of the Void is a book about choices. We aren’t slaves to our circumstances, and we can forge our own paths if we are willing to be brave.
What was your initial inspiration for the book? How long have you been working on it? Has it evolved from its original idea?
I hate to say this, because I don’t want to come across as criticizing Harry Potter (I love the series). But, during a reread of Harry Potter, I was a little bothered by the way the Slytherins were portrayed (as a Slytherin myself, this is understandable). As mere children, they’re sorted into a house that automatically makes them the bad guys. Where’s the element of choice? That got me thinking about how so often in literature, the villains are portrayed as someone who basically had the path of villainy laid out for them from the beginning. The heroes are the same way: miracles or destiny laying out a path of success for them or giving them special gifts or tools. My inspiration was to write a book where each character chooses their path for themselves.
Unfortunately, I started the story in 2018 and shelved it for several years. I picked it back up in 2022 with renewed vigor and having grown a bit as a writer, and was able to finish it to be published in 2023. I promise the sequel won’t take as long to be published!
The story did evolve a bit, but I believe it stayed true to its original purpose.
If you had to describe it in 3 adjectives, which would you choose?
Oh, that’s really hard. I guess I would say: relatable, endearing, timeless.
Is it part of the series or a standalone? If series, how many books have you planned for it?
Master of the Void is part one of a planned three-part series.
Who are the key players in this story? Could you introduce us to Master of The Void’s protagonists/antagonists?
Master of the Void has a pretty large cast, but the two main characters are Derrius Mendi and Orimund Laetus. Orimund is a child who has grown up with privilege and expectation. Derrius has only his hopes and dreams for the future. These two have a bit of a parallel journey, but respond to the obstacles and trials in their lives quite differently. The antagonist spends much of the story in the shadows, so I won’t say much and risk spoiling things for potential readers.
Does your book feature a magic/magic system? If yes, can you describe it?
Master of the Void takes place in the Seven Lands, a world where every person has magic. Each person’s magical type is determined by a testing that takes place on their 13th birth moment. The magic system is an elemental-style magic linked to colors and the stars, and is what I like to call “scientifically plausible” magic with rules and costs.
Have you written Master of the Void with a particular audience in mind?
I went into this a bit earlier, but my ultimate dream was for Master of the Void to be a demographic-breaking book in the style of Tolkein or Lewis that could appeal to audiences of all ages. The main characters are in their teens, so Master of the Void often gets classified as YA. I think it fits well in that category, but shouldn’t necessarily be limited by it. More than an age-specific audience, I wrote Master of the Void for people who love magic, love characters, and love journeys–both in a physical sense and in a personal sense.
What was your proofreading/editing process?
The first thing I did when I finished each chapter was to read it aloud to my husband and son. Believe it or not, this is where I caught a lot of errors and inconsistencies, or realized a sentence just didn’t work well. My husband and son are particularly good with continuity, and their excitement to hear the chapters kept me motivated to write. I had several beta readers, some of whom I mention in my acknowledgements, who were also fantastic about helping me catch issues. I did proofread and edit the entire manuscript myself, which was a huge undertaking that I don’t necessarily suggest to most authors. Having a degree in writing, I was well suited for the task, but it was a daunting responsibility (and I have no one to blame but myself for anything that slipped through the cracks!).
Cover art is always an important factor in book sales. Can you tell us about the idea behind the cover of Master of The Void and the artist?
I had a pretty clear idea of what I wanted for the cover of Master of the Void from day one. The Void was a must, and I wanted a cover that would make your imagination start to turn. What is this strange hole? Who’s the character? Did they make the Void? Are they going to travel through it? I wanted people to ask questions when they saw the cover. I found Brian Flores’s work online, and loved it immediately. I reached out to him with my idea for the art, and he brought it to life flawlessly. He was really great to work with, and I hope Master of the Void finds success so that it will help to bring him recognition in the art world.
Which question about the book do you wish someone would ask? Ask it and answer it!
I wish someone would ask me why I don’t have an audiobook. The honest answer is that I have this crazy dream of Nick Podehl narrating the series, and so I need a miracle or a whole slew of book sales to make that happen!
What’s your publishing Schedule for 2023/2024?
Book two: Creature of the Void is in progress, with a goal to complete the first draft by the end of November. If all goes well, the finished product will be released in the late spring of 2024.
Thank you for taking the time to answer all the questions. In closing, do you have any parting thoughts or comments you would like to share with our readers?
I want to thank every person who takes a chance on Master of the Void, and especially those who have done so and said kind things. There’s no such thing as a perfect book, or a book that’s for everyone, so it is extremely special to me when someone finds my book and loves it. I often say that I live off the comments of my readers, not the royalties from book sales. I could spend hours talking about my magic system or discussing who my readers ‘ship together and why (seriously, please message me all your thoughts on this. I love it so much). Thank you all for supporting indie authors like me. We’ll do our best to write worlds you can live in for years to come!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
