Last year I had the honor of hosting the cover reveal for Angela Boord’s renaissance inspired fantasy epic Fortune’s Fool, which went on to place second in the 2019 Self Published Fantasy Blog Off (#SPFBO). This year Fantasy Book Critic hosted the cover reveal for Boord’s prequel novella in the Eterean Empire series, Smuggler’s Fortune. Both books feature stunning cover art by John Anthony di Giovanni and a cover design by Shawn T. King.
Today I have even more exciting news…
both books are now available in…
HARDCOVER JACKETED CASE EDITIONS!!!
But keep reading, there’s more…
Here’s what Angela had to say about the original cover art for Fortune’s Fool and the discussion with cover artist John Anthony di Giovanni about the hardcover editions:
“John’s idea was to make the cover of Fortune’s Fool like a Renaissance painting, using the same palette and style as the artists of the Renaissance. He layered in a lot of little details from the book–like the General on the card, which is a favorite of mine–and the pistol on the table that plays an important role in the scene portrayed by the cover. But one of my very favorite things about the cover art is hidden by the title. John painted a fresco on the ceiling of the room that will be meaningful to anyone who’s read the book. It’s of the Ekyra, the Goddess of Fortune, holding a sword.
When I told Shawn that I wanted to do a jacketed case hardcover edition of Fortune’s Fool, his reply was (paraphrasing), “That’s awesome, I’ve never done one of those, do you want to do something cool?”
“YES, I DO,” I answered.
And I have to say, the jacketed case hardcover editions of both Fortune’s Fool and Smuggler’s Fortune are really, really cool. I can’t describe to you the feeling of opening the box and holding the book in my hands, then unwrapping the dust jacket to see the art there in all its glory. Fortune’s Fool was my first book, and it was a long time coming. It sat in a milk crate in my closet for over ten years, and let me tell you, I did not once suspect in all that time that I would be holding a hardcover of any sort in my hands. I continue to be humbled by the fantastic packaging that John and Shawn have given my books, and I really hope the stories live up to the art.”
Did you catch that bit there toward the end? Both books come a with a dust jacket displaying the title and author name, and each also has a hard case inside the jacket featuring the full cover art without the title. And they are gorgeous!
The artwork is simply amazing and I know they will look fantastic on the bookshelf!
But there’s still more…today Angela is hosting a one day only…
BLACK FRIDAY SPECIAL
Today, November 27, you can get the Smuggler’s Fortune e-book for free!
That’s right, not only can you pick up the brand new hardcovers for you or a friend, you can also get a free e-book copy of Smuggler’s Fortune for one day only. Both print versions of Smuggler’s Fortune also contain the bonus Eterean Empire story, “Dragonmeat”, which was originally published in the anthology Dark Ends.
I hope everyone who loves Angela’s work is as excited as I am! I can’t wait to get my hands on copies of both hardcovers, and I may have to get that e-book just because. If you’ve never read Fortune’s Fool or Smuggler’s Fortune this is a fantastic opportunity to not only read an amazing set of books, but to get a stunning set to go on your shelf. Let me know in the comments what you think and if you pick up one of the hardcovers let me know.
If you’d like to stay up to date with Angela and what else she’s got going on you can do so at the following links:
The Sword of Kaigen by M.L. Wang is one of the most unique books I’ve read this year. Any one of the following is reason enough to read it; It’s imaginative and defies expected norms; It has elemental magic and one of the best set piece fight scenes I’ve ever read; It is one of the best non-western/Asian inspired fantasies I’ve come across; It’s very much a character driven book for those who love character driven books; It will hit you in the feels; It won the Fifth Annual Self Published Fantasy Blog Off (#SPFBO).
So take your pick. Of the selling points I just listed what grabs your attention the most? Is it more than one? I’ll try to run through them and give you my thoughts. Here we go… Continue reading →
Welcome to my stop on the Shadow Debt book tour hosted by Storytellers on Tour!
William Ray has done it again. By that I mean he’s offered readers another fantastic story in his Tales of The Verin Empire series. This one comes with gun slinging outlaws, a no-nonsense sheriff, a claim rich mining town, indigenous tribes chaffing at a colonial presence, fantastical monsters, and a dose of shadowy magic just to keep things interesting.
It’s time for another Book Haul post. One of my blogging goals for 2020 is to be to be more intentional about Book Haul posts. I’m aware that it’s possible nobody cares about the books I’ve bought or received, but I kinda like when bloggers post these because it not only puts new books in front of my eyeballs that I might not be aware of, but they also give me an idea of the blogger’s tastes. For my purposes a Book Haul post can include any book I’ve come to possess, not just those I buy, so arcs requested or just sent from publishers will be listed as well.
I was having trouble getting into the right headspace to write a review *checks notes* for like the last two weeks so I decided to shift gears and write-up a book haul post instead. Which is good because I’ve been a slacker and not done one since the beginning of August (for July)! Hopefully I’ll get caught up before another two months go by. Look for the September post soon(ish). Continue reading →
I first came across Our Bloody Pearl when it was entered in last year’s Self Published Fantasy Blog Off (SPFBO5). The first thing that drew me in was the gorgeous cover. I am a sucker for a great cover and this one is just plain beautiful. Covers sell, and I was sold even before I read the blurb… Continue reading →
I sat down on a recent Wednesday night to start reading Of Honey And Wildfires. This would be my third read for Self-Published Fantasy Month and the first book from Sarah Chorn I’d ever read. I was relaxed, in a good mood, and looking forward to the read because I’d seen nothing but great reviews for Sarah’s books. But I also knew from those reviews that I might be in for some feels. Reader…I wasn’t prepared.
I love action oriented fantasy and I love character driven fantasy. Those two don’t often go together. But when an author melds the two it can be pretty amazing. Tavern is one of those rare fantasy books that melds one part action and one part character oriented fantasy but then goes and adds a big heaping dose of heart to make you fall in love with it.
Swords and axes clash while Valhalla calls in T.L. Greylock’s epic norse inspired fantasy The Blood Tainted Winter.
The Story
“Raef Skallagrim wants to take the sea road. His ship is fast and sleek, his crew skilled and eager, and they will seek out new lands and win fame in the eyes of the gods. But Raef’s father refuses to allow the journey and when a stranger brings word that the king is dead and a gathering has been called to choose a successor, Raef must set aside his dream for his duty to his ancestral lands and his father.
When factions split at the gathering to choose a successor, Raef finds himself mired in bloodshed and treachery. Forced to make an uneasy alliance with a man he does not trust, Raef must navigate the tides of a war among three kings while seeking revenge for cold-blooded murder.
But winter has come early to Midgard, and even the gods will feel the cold.” – Goodreads blurb
This is my first review for Self-Published Fantasy Month 2020 and I chose a great book to lead off with. I mean c’mon, who doesn’t like Viking stories? OK, fine I’m sure some of you don’t like Viking stories but whatever. I like Viking stories and that’s what matters today. More importantly this book has more going for it than just being a Norse inspired tale; it’s a story of betrayal and revenge, love and trust, friendship and enemies…with fierce battles and Norse gods thrown in for added fun.
As I already said, I was excited to dive into this Norse inspired read. I can’t say I know a ton about Norse lore (um…next to nothing really) so I have no idea if Greylock got her stuff right when writing this book, but I really enjoyed it. And what’s interesting is there’s really no seafaring in this book. The protagonist Raef wants to set sail but never gets the chance because life (or death rather) happens. What we get instead is a story about a land caught up in the midst of civil war while multiple contenders for the throne battle it out to see who ends up on top. And by battles I mean battles, big and small. There’s plenty of stabby stabby (or choppy choppy because ya know…axes) for those of you who really love a good fight in your fantasy. Throw in some deities, half-gods, magical weapons and some freaky supernatural oracles and armies and BOOM a fun frolicking read is at hand!
And then there was the end…an end that could really be the end for everyone and everything…and it just ends!!!
Characters
So besides the choppy choppy, what else about the book stood out? Let’s start with our protagonist Raef. I found it interesting that I liked him because truth be told he isn’t very likable at first. He’s young, moody, and a little whiny, and he doesn’t always make good decisions. But that’s also kinda what I liked. By that I mean he isn’t perfect and has to really grow into his new role from being the son of a lord to being the lord proper. He still makes rash decisions and It allows for some good character development which takes some time to bear fruit. He has character flaws that he can’t always help falling into and that has consequences. Stories that play out consequences to actions are always a plus for me.
There are a number of other characters in the book and if you were to ask me any areas where I was disappointed it might be here. Not in any of the characters themselves, but that we don’t get to see more of them. Specifically some who become close companions of Raef like the mysterious and elusive Vakre, and the shield maidens Siv and Eire. These three characters become bound up in Raef’s story and every time one appeared I perked up. They just added the right amount of extra flavor to any scene they were in. And with each there was this omnipresent sense that we don’t know enough about them, that there’s something hidden and maybe even questionable about them. Throughout the narrative I wondered whether Raef should trust them or not. It made for some good tension and I loved it. And I wanted MORE. I really look forward to seeing where these relationships go in future installments.
Writing and POV
What I noticed almost right away was how easily the book read. I don’t mean that it’s dumbed down and has easy vocabulary. What I mean is it FLOWED. It was just so easy to pick up, read, and keep reading. Greylock’s writing style just kept my eyes flowing over the words. I didn’t encounter weird stops or things that yanked me out of the story. I know this probably sounds simplistic but a book that just flows is so much more pleasurable to read than one that doesn’t. It set my mind at ease and let me relax and escape from the craziness of the world around us right now which is impressive given this isn’t a peaceful book.
The Blood Tainted Winter is told in the third person and always through Raef’s lens. This was an interesting change for me because it seems like most books I read these days if told from just one POV end up being in the first person. I’m happy with either one, but this seemed like a fresh change when it really isn’t (if that makes sense).
Magic System
What magic system?
OK, that isn’t right. There is magic in The Blood Tainted Winter it just isn’t really wielded by humans. What magic that is present is the power of the gods and it’s really only seen when the gods are interacting in the world. Let me say while magic systems are one of my favorite aspects of fantasy I LOVED this low magic world. It really helped the Norse mythological background come to the fore where humans are at the mercy of the gods and their power.
The only time when a mortal has a magical power is if they possess a magical weapon or artifact…which is something handed down from the gods…so still the power of the gods. And while these artifacts and weapons are powerful they are not all powerful which means the characters must still survive on their wits and strength and relationships.
I take it back…there’s another exception to the rule about mortals and magic, and that’s when you encounter a half-god. These children of the gods live very long lives (maybe immortal themselves? Not sure) and seem to have other potential abilities. So they are more powerful than humans but still not on the same plane as the gods.
World Building
I’ve already discussed a number of the elements of the world Greylock has created in The Blood Tainted Winter but let’s dive in a little more. At its heart the story is set in Midgard which in Norse lore is our material plane of existence. But nothing indicates this is our earth; it’s Midgard, wherever that happens to be, which allows for a completely new world to be explored.
Beyond that its an early medieval period like you’d probably expect. With everything else I’ve described so far I guess I’d say it’s more sword and sorcery than anything else, but that doesn’t really seem to fit. It has epic world-wide implications and elements that begin to play themselves out but at the same time it feels very localized and sort of low fantasy. We aren’t shown anything of the world beyond the large kingdom within which the events take place. Is the rest of the world the same? How big is it? Those questions aren’t really answered in this installment which like I said gives it a more intimate feel.
Within this setting Greylock offers up a world filled with fortified towns spread among farms and villages in localized regions all ruled by lords and their allies and soldiers. There are mysterious oracles and half-gods who walk the earth while the true gods wield their influence in subtle and not-so-subtle ways. It’s a world where the geography really has a big impact on the story. Amidst all this everyone tries to live their lives in an honor and debt bound world where dying with your weapon in your hand is of paramount importance to assure your entrance into Valhalla. Then throw in a magical god-enhanced supernatural army and well…things begin to get intense.
Themes
The Blood Tainted Winter is a tale of betrayal and revenge. Those dual themes drive Raef’s character and his actions throughout the book. They are what order his thoughts and decisions for better or worse. In a constant dance with those two elements is the theme of friendship. Raef and his companions develop a friendship, each unique, and each driving Raef to different actions. What comes out of that mix is another theme, that of trust. Who is truly a friend; who is an enemy; who can be trusted. Because throughout the book Raef doesn’t really know. He thinks he knows but deep down can he be sure? And as a reader can we be sure? Greylock does and excellent job of keeping you guessing at whether Raef is being set-up and used, or if his friends really have his best interests at heart. You think they do, and you want them to, but there’s always something that leaves you uncertain and keeps you wondering.
In Conclusion
By this point it should be obvious I enjoyed this book. If you were unsure of that let me say I REALLY ENJOYED THIS BOOK! I’m a huge fan of fantasy battles and this one had plenty to keep it exciting. I’m also here for revenge stories coupled with the uncertainty of who you can really trust with all of the tension and danger that instills. And then there’s the added bonus of sitting down with a well written book that can just take you away to another realm for a while, a book that helps you forget about the world we are living in for a few hours at a time, a book that just lets you escape. The Blood Tainted Winter was all of that for me at just the right time.
I’m really looking forward to picking up book two in The Song Of The Ash Tree to see what Greylcok has in store for Raef, for Midgard, and for me.
– Jason
I won a copy of this book in a giveaway by the author.
This review first appeared on the Self-Published Fantasy Month event site. If you’re interested in the event and all the reviews and other exciting things going on in September give us a follow at selfpublishedfantasymonth.com.
4 of 5 Stars
Author: T L Greylock Series: The Song of The Ash Tree – First Edda Publisher: Self Published (Grass Crown Press) Publication Date: November 20, 2015 Format: Paperback Pages: 368
Wednesday night I started reading Of Honey And Wildfires by Sarah Chorn.
“From the moment the first settler dug a well and struck a lode of shine, the world changed. Now, everything revolves around that magical oil.
What began as a simple scouting expedition becomes a life-changing ordeal for Arlen Esco. The son of a powerful mogul, Arlen is kidnapped and forced to confront uncomfortable truths his father has kept hidden. In his hands lies a decision that will determine the fate of everyone he loves—and impact the lives of every person in Shine Territory.
The daughter of an infamous saboteur and outlaw, Cassandra has her own dangerous secrets to protect. When the lives of those she loves are threatened, she realizes that she is uniquely placed to change the balance of power in Shine Territory once and for all.
Secrets breed more secrets. Somehow, Arlen and Cassandra must find their own truths in the middle of a garden of lies.” – Goodreads blurb
It’s my third read for Self-Published Fantasy Month and I’ve been looking forward to it for a while.
I only managed to finish a few chapters and had to stop. I couldn’t read anymore. I just couldn’t. I had to set it down and walk away. Why you ask? Well…
Yep. Gutted. And the book had just started. It just hit me hard. I seriously got up, poured myself a finger of bourbon, sat down and sipped a while. I don’t claim this was healthy, but <sigh> I did it anyway. I was thinking of picking the book up again but Sarah Chorn replied to my comment with this…
So I decided nah…I’ll stop for the night.
It isn’t often that an author has an impact with their writing and use of language and emotion in such a short span of pages. Those kinds of authors are out there. Alix E. Harrow comes to mind. But they don’t show up every day and plop down in your favorite reading chair with you and settle in. Sarah Chorn did that on Wednesday night and I was wrecked.
I have no idea if the rest of the book will live up to the first few chapters. I have no idea if I’ll need a new bottle of bourbon before this read is done. I have no idea if I’ll end up loving it or hating it before it’s all over. But what happened to me on Wednesday night doesn’t happen often, and I thought you should know about it.
Recently the Self-Published Fantasy Month Team posted a list of some self-published fantasy recs for those who have not read much self-published fantasy and don’t know where to start with finding a good book to read. Our hope was to offer up a few suggestions each while admitting the list would leave out a bunch of great books and authors. I hate leaving out great stories so I decided to re-post the reviews of all the self-published fantasy books I’ve really enjoyed over the last few years. Over the coming days and weeks I’ll be re-posting them here in the lead up to Self-Published Fantasy Month. My hope is you might find one that catches your interest for September! Continue reading →
