Weekend Reads: Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson

 Greetings, all, and happy summer! I hope you and yours are well and enjoying some sort of much needed rest.

I apologize profusely for the tardiness of this post. If you're an avid or regular follower, you'll notice that this post wasn't released at the usual time. This is because I hyper-extended my elbow last week and have had a bit of trouble doing life, so my schedule got pushed back significantly. However, they say better late than never, so here I am at last to share my latest recommendation, which is Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson.

For those of you who don't know, Sanderson is a renown author of fantasy with quite a long list of titles. I've known of him for a while, and I listen to his writing podcast, but I hadn't read anything by him until now because, well... you know what To Be Read piles are like!

Vin is one lucky street rat, which is good because an orphan in the underground needs all the luck she can get. Her luck is so strong that it rubs off on others. As long as it holds, Vin gets to stay alive.

Kelsier is the most renown thief in Luthadel. The only survivor of the mines of Hathsin, Kelsier is about to hatch the most audacious plan ever considered in the Final Empire. He can't possibly succeed, but there's a small chance things may go his way, nonetheless. All he needs is a little bit of luck, which he sees in Vin.

As a fan of epic fantasy, I enjoyed Mistborn very much. It is a heist-style story (Think Ocean's Eleven) with a magic system that is unique and very well though out. Vin is likable and relatable, and is reluctant in a realistic way without overdoing it. She even challenges what the reader comes to accept as the norm for the world of the story, questioning the views of everyone on both sides of the main issues in a refreshing way. The romantic interest is a clueless bookworm I was totally drawn to because of the people in my life that he reminds me of, and the plot twists were unpredictable yet right. I haven't read the rest of the series yet, but I very much enjoyed this one and recommend it highly.

If you read any of these recommendations, I'd love to know what you think. Leave a comment or connect with me on Facebook or Instagram.

Until next time, happy reading!

Story Snippets: Son of the Shield (Mary)

 I am neck-deep in getting ready to release my epic fantasy novel, Son of the Shield, Book 1 of the Ransom Trilogy, in February, so I thought it would be fun to use that as my story snippet this month! (I wish I could share the cover art with this sample, but it's still in production so for now you'll just have to take my word for it being awesome!)

Son of the Shield features a lot of really intense and heavy scenes, but I decided to feature a more fun, lighthearted one...though I'm sure we can all empathize to some degree with the awkwardness Orienne is feeling. ; )

*

The sun was sinking in a bath of winter-golden light, casting sharp, crazy shadows through the leafless trees, and a gentle but frigid wind had drawn a thin veil of lacy clouds over the pale sky when Orienne made the walk back up the hill from the village to the fort.

She was bone-weary, but couldn’t remember when she’d last had such a pleasant afternoon. She’d spent the last several hours helping the women of the village fill their wood boxes, feed their animals, clean their barns, and finish a variety of other chores. They’d all thanked her profusely as though she’d made some great sacrifice, but in truth she almost felt as though she’d taken advantage of them, using their moment of need as an opportunity to indulge her own desires.

Their lives were so simple, so enviably perfect—of course not really perfect, as the problem of the Moorden fire and subsequent absence of the village’s men attested—but wasn’t that just the point? The primary problems in these people’s lives were an accidental fire and being short handed for afternoon chores. Not war, not tense diplomatic meetings, not absurd offers of armistice, not assassination attempts.

Just the simple, mundane problems of a simple, mundane life.

By comparison, it was perfect.

Not for the first time, Orienne contemplated resigning from her diplomatic position and leaving the capital for someplace like Sutton Village—Farindel boasted scores of such tiny, remote villages—since waiting for the war to end was proving in vain. But doing so would take her away from Allegar—Allegar, who had first committed himself as a soldier, and now dedicated his entire life to Farindel’s service as one of the Ransom. He was all the family she had left and she was loath to leave him for that reason, but it also felt so unfair, so selfish, to yearn so strongly for a life the war didn’t dictate, when he had accepted that role freely.

And now she was back in the place she had reasoned herself into so many times: that her only chance at a life free from war was to pray and hope for the war to end.

“Orienne, there you are!”

She stopped and pushed back the hood of her cloak as Allegar strode toward her across the fort’s courtyard, grinning.

“I’ve been looking everywhere for you,” he said.

“Is anything wrong?”

“Hardly!” He put one arm around her shoulders and gestured with his other hand at a second man coming towards them. “Will you look at what the wind blew through the gates while you were out?”

The approaching man was about Allegar’s age, though not quite as tall, with blond hair, blue-gray eyes, and facial features that were vaguely familiar—more and more familiar, the longer she looked at him. He wore civilian clothes, but the sword and scabbard on his belt were marked with the shield-and-wyvern insignia of the military.

His eyes widened when he looked at her. “Allegar, this cannot be Orienne.”

He knew her—but from where? Orienne wanted to study his face more closely, hoping to locate a memory of him, but was afraid to risk making eye contact lest her eyes betray the awkwardness she felt.

Allegar laughed and squeezed Orienne’s shoulders. “A bit different than last time, eh?”

“A bit?” The man laughed, blinking in disbelief. “That’s putting it mildly.”

Orienne nudged Allegar’s ribcage with her elbow, trying to signal that she had no idea who this person was, but he said nothing, so she did her best to smile politely in spite of the blush she felt crawling up her neck. No doubt her eyes were as pink as her face.

“Please, forgive me for staring—I’m just so taken aback! It is so good to see you again, Orienne!” the stranger said, extending his hand, palm-down.

Orienne rested her hand on top of his a bit uneasily. “Hello,” she said, meeting his eyes only briefly. His smile stirred something in her, something she’d felt before. Why couldn’t she remember his name?

After a moment’s pause, he withdrew his hand and chuckled. “You don’t remember me, do you?”

Orienne cringed and forced herself to meet his eyes. “I know your face, but—I am so sorry—I have no name to put with it.”

The stranger glanced at Allegar, one side of his mouth tipped up in a mischievous smile. “Can I tell her now?”

Allegar leaned closer to Orienne and whispered: “Think Harrowby.”

Orienne shuffled through memories of the village where she and Allegar had grown up. Neighbors, relatives, friends… She gasped as the stranger suddenly fell into place among them. “Sorek Ronarres?”

He threw his head back. “Ha! You do remember!”

Remember? Orienne was shocked it had taken her so long to place him. She forced an uncomfortable laugh, trying in vain not to blush even more now that she realized who he was. “I—I can’t believe it, it must be…how many years?”

“Eleven, we figure,” Allegar said.

Eleven years ago Orienne was only twelve. Sorek was a lanky, awkward eighteen-year-old, Allegar’s best friend…and the sole object of Orienne’s girlish infatuation. Now, time had replaced his coltish gangliness with a mature, rugged physique and features. A healthy, well-maintained beard grew where before only thin, straggly wisps had struggled for existence, and his unbridled energy had settled into warm cheerfulness.

“You’ve…changed,” Orienne managed.

“I’ve changed?” Sorek laughed. “What about you? You were just a little girl when you two left Harrowby.”

Orienne groaned inwardly, remembering how she’d hung on everything Sorek said, the way her heart had fluttered every time he happened to glance her way…and the entire time she’d been nothing but “a little girl” in his eyes.

Writer's Life: The Nuances of Fantasy or Fairy tales versus Epic Fantasy (Kimberly)

Writing in different sub-genres within the same fictional world is easy. Did you laugh? Me too. In truth, writing in different sub-genres in the same fictional world comes with its own series of challenges. In this case, let's talk fairy tale retellings versus epic fantasy.

During the course of my career I've written in a number of different sub-genres within the fantasy world realm that do not include my two ventures outside of fantasy. I started in urban fantasy then added fairy tale retellings and have now expanded the fairy tale universe to include an epic romantic fantasy. Sub-genre or niche bouncing is something I consider to be normal for many authors, so don't be alarmed if you're the same way. Not all of the shiny ideas fit into the same box and that's okay. However, there are going to be challenges when you hop sub-genres because each niche brings its own nuances.

Urban fantasy and fairy tale retellings set in a secondary world have very obvious differences in setting and world building. However, even if two sub-genres are set in the same fantasy world, there are still  challenges ahead. I'm going to focus on three of them.

Challenge #1 - Fairy Tales vs All Original

The biggest difference between writing fairy tale retellings and creating an all new story comes down to plot points. With fairy tale retellings, I have a road map to reference because the fairy tale I'm adapting provides defined points that must be incorporated inside the story framework. When examining the original tale I want to adapt, I look at the key elements and decide what can be dropped, kept, or twisted on its head. Which plays into decisions for how the story will unfold because there are certain parameters that must be met in order to qualify as a retelling or a looser reimagining. 

With all original stories, such as my Unseelie of Sonera trilogy, I have more plot flexibility because I do not have a specific road map I need to follow. This can also be an additional challenge because if you get stuck in parts, going back to the fairytale for inspiration will not help. 

Challenge #2 - Subplots Everywhere

Epic Fantasy is known for its subplots buffet. Everybody has a subplot! The world building is often massive and the main plot is created or carried by an ever-evolving group of subplots. Lord of the Rings and The Wheel of Time series are some of the best known examples of epic fantasy and its layers of subplots. Even if you are in the same broad universe as your less subplot-heavy fairy tale retellings, there will still be a big difference between them and your epic fantasy. Some subplots will be political, personal, and romantic, which will feed into the overarching series plot. With Unseelie, I have a lot of subplots in play due to the complex nature of the villain's plans and the obstacles faced in each book as Tatiana and Ramessu work toward their final goals. I also have a lot of family related subplots since there is a strong theme of found family and mother's love. This is partly due to the fact my epic fantasy trilogy is a continuous series in the vein of Lord of the Rings. They must be read in order to make sense.

With my fairy tale retellings, the books are far more stand-alone even though they each contribute to the overall series arc. I feature a different couple and their romance in each book so the subplots do not build on top of each other on the same scale as they do in the epic fantasy. There are fewer subplots contained in each book and only one or two background subplots carry over. With Love's Enchanted Tales, the primary background subplot was the curses connecting the different books. They are built more like the Chronicles of Narnia. They do not absolutely need to be read in order to make sense but there's some spoilers if you read them out of order.

Challenge #3 - The Size of the Cast

Epic Fantasy is known for large casts and for featuring multiple POVS. When I began Unseelie of Sonera, I had my two main characters, Tatiana and Ramessu, and a couple of side characters. The number of featured side characters grew in Book Two due to the demands of the story. When I started writing Book Three, the number of POV characters grew to eight due to the demands of the story once again. This combined with the complex layering of subplots makes for a challenging writing experience because you must avoid accidentally dropping characters and subplots.

By contrast, my fairy tale retellings usually only feature two POVS, the main couple. This makes it far less challenging to keep track of who is speaking and where. Other fairy tale retelling authors only feature one POV, usually the female main character. Even with fairy tales featuring larger casts such as Twelve Dancing Princesses or Month Brothers or Six Swans/Children of Llyr, a retelling usually only follows one or two POVs. The smaller POV cast also makes it easier to prevent dangling subplots that are not a part of the series arc.

With each of the these challenges, having a shared world does not negate them because they are rooted in the different nuances and expectations associated with these two different sub-genres. This is especially true if you plant your niches in different parts of the fantasy world like I did with Sonera. The fairy tales are set in a fairly contained corner of the world that draws on medieval Europe and India while Unseelie is set on a different continent that draws from ancient Greece and Rome. 

As challenging as it can be to write in these different sub-genres, I must admit that I love doing it. I love exploring a fantasy world full of different cultures. I love exploring the different ways of telling a story that can be more centralized around my main couple or can expand to include the villain and important side characters who will bring their own subplots and growth arcs. Fantasy comes in so many different flavors and nuances. It is not always easy to move between them as a writer, but I find it more than worth the effort of rising to each challenge.

Happy writing!

Kimberly A. Rogers

Weekend Reads: The Minstrel's Song series by Jenelle Leanne Schmidt

We made it to Friday, friends! And I have not only a book, but an entire series to recommend for your weekend reading! I had the opportunity to meet Jenelle Leanne Schmidt at a writing conference several years ago, and I could tell right from the start that she was my kind of person. So I left the conference eager to maintain our authorly connection and to read her books, but I had a slight hang-up. Her Minstrel's Song series is epic fantasy.

Now, before you start waving your beloved copies of The Lord of the Rings at me, hear me out. There's nothing wrong with epic fantasy. It's quite epic, after all, and can make for very exciting, inspirational adventures. But I have a few qualms with epic fantasy stories that cause it to not be my favorite genre. There tend to be so many characters it can be hard to feel close to any one person, and the larger-than-life heroes can be particularly difficult to relate to. I like to think I have a pretty good handle on the English language, so I get frustrated by names and places I find entirely unpronounceable. Too many battle scenes cause me to start skimming, because I just get so much more out of emotion and dialogue than pure action. And epic fantasy romances happen so quickly or almost entirely off-screen, which just isn't as satisfying for my reader's heart that enjoys a sweet, drawn out love story.

So as a matter of personal preference, I don't always get excited about epic fantasy, and I typically don't devour it like I do other books. But when Jenelle released audiobooks of her series, I made a fun discovery - epic fantasy is ideal to listen to! The storytelling style works perfectly for being read aloud, not to mention those crazy names that would frustrate me on paper just roll off the narrator's tongue :) And between Jenelle's engaging writing style and Benjamin Fife's lilting accent and variety of character voices, The Minstrel's Song series on audiobook has been an absolute delight so far! I should be clear that they would be excellent reads in written form as well - the author has an entertaining sense of humor, a knack for building excitement and tension over the course of each book, a creative, vividly-described fantasy world to explore, and a grand battle between light and dark building with undercurrents of hope even in the most desperate moments. So it's a fantastic series no matter how you experience it! But I do have to put in one last plug for the audiobook narrator, Benjamin Fife. He is a superb storyteller who even sings and plays mandolin for the songs, adds cool clicking sounds to the gryfons' voices, and makes the dragons sound so wise and fierce. I can't wait to listen to the books again as a family someday once my kids are a little older! (Aside from the scariness and violence of the battle scenes, these books are very clean.)

I haven't yet listened to the conclusion of the series, Minstrel's Call, but here are my mini-reviews of the first three installments:

King's Warrior (Book 1)

When a foreign kingdom known as the Dark Country threatens peaceful Aom-igh, knight-in-training Oraeyn is tasked with taking Princess Kamarie to find the retired King's Warrior. Their journey brings many surprises, including new travel companions and discoveries of the truth behind some of their people's oldest legends. Not to mention the friendship that eventually arises despite their initial distaste for each other :) But when warriors from the Dark Country flood their shores, will all their preparations and the re-emergence of the King's Warrior be enough to save Aom-igh?

I'll admit it took me a little while to get into this book, but as more characters were introduced and the stakes became higher, I enjoyed it more and more! Kamarie felt a bit like a stereotypical tomboy princess confined to her needlework at first, but as her courage and vulnerability showed through I came to appreciate her as her own distinct character. Oraeyn made me smile throughout, and I absolutely fell in love with their young friend Yole! The end was just the right combination of satisfying and heartbreaking, and the author did a great job tying together all the story threads while also hinting at more conflict to come.

Second Son (Book 2)

In this prequel to King's Warrior, two princes grow up enjoying dreams of brave feats and grand adventures, blissfully ignorant of the prophecy that will eventually tear their family apart. As they age, whispers of a second son who will save the country from destruction set them on opposite paths. Older Ky tightens his stranglehold on his birthright as the heir to the throne, confused and tempted by the advice of manipulative counselors. Younger Rhoyan is sent off to learn through quests and experiences abroad, never guessing his eventual attempt to return home will force him to flee for his life.

I actually listened to this book first, which totally worked since it's a prequel! In some ways I think I appreciated the central conflict of King's Warrior more with this backstory in mind, though it also spoiled some of the aspects of Rhoyan's / Brant's character that otherwise would've been a slowly revealed mystery. This book had the least cohesive plot of the series, since it took place over many years and sidetracked into many of Rhoyan's adventures that weren't critical to the primary conflict building between the two princes. But I felt very drawn to the tragic separation of the brothers as they grew apart, which made me feel more emotionally invested in the story. And Rhoyan's adventures certainly are exciting!

Yorien's Hand (Book 3)

Disappearances, nightmares, and disturbing missives from faraway lands indicate that the peaceful start to Oraeyn's rule of Aom-igh has come to an end. A prophecy drives him, along with a band of familiar companions, to seek Yorien's Hand, a rumored piece of a star with untold power. Their journey requires courage and sacrifice, and gives the travelers a new understanding of the seemingly goofy, awkward minstrel, Kiernan Kane. In the end, not everyone's role in driving back the evil threatening to cover the land plays out as expected, and each is tested in what they're willing to give - and give up - in the battle of good versus evil.

It was fun to see this band of traveling companions reunited after years of growth and changes to their perspectives and relationships. Yorien's Hand didn't feel like quite as exciting an adventure in some ways, since most of the places traveled were already explored in past books. But I liked the way that different players and pieces of the battle came together, often in unexpected ways, and seeing how each country approached the coming attack by making the most of it's strengths. I also loved getting to know the wizardesses better - they've definitely become favorite characters! Despite so much of the romances taking place prior to the start of the book, they were still sweet to follow along the way. And I'm so curious about the minstrel now! I'm looking forward to all being revealed in Minstrel's Call :)

 So there you have it! Are you a fan of epic fantasy? Do you have any audiobook recommendations?

See you next time!

Laurie

Story Snippets: Guardian Prince (Lauricia)

Greetings once again, all!

I hope you are well and well-read. We are getting A LOT of rain where I live, but my house is high and dry, so I'm not too worried. Plus, it's great reading weather, and school's almost out for the summer, which means A LOT of reading time for me!

Today I'm sharing a snippet from my recent release, Guardian Prince (book two in the Ceryn Roh Saga). As you know, I'm a huge fan of fantasy, but it always vexed me that a deity-based magic system could be ultimately controlled by mortals. I always that thought that if mortals received magical ability from a deity, that deity should have the authority to decide when and if the mortals get to use it, or else why was he/she the deity? In Guardian Prince, I chose to explore what a deity-based magic system would look like if the deity whose power is being used not only could but did say, "No." This excerpt is one of Sabine's introductions to that kind of magic system. I hope you enjoy!

    Sabine followed a dry stream bed until she came upon a large stone jutting out into the path. Water marks stained the lower half, revealing the gradual recession of the river that had once flowed around the rock. The top was relatively smooth and flat, so Sabine sat upon it, settling into the safe, familiar comfort of being alone in the woods.

    She had not been there very long when she heard the snap of a twig. Sabine tensed, suddenly alert, but the noises of the animals around her continued unchanged, so whatever had moved nearby was not unfamiliar to the surrounding animals. Since this meant it was not an Aethel, she relaxed.

    “You have good instincts,” Koen said as he emerged from behind a nearby tree, “but you dropped your guard too soon. Although the forest knows me, that doesn't mean I'm safe for you.”

    “Koen,” Sabine greeted the Dryht tersely. Frustration flared within her, stirred to new life by his intrusion. “What are you doing here?”

    One corner of the Dryht's mouth curved wryly. “Communing with the forest. It's what Dryht do. Mind if I join you?”

    Before Sabine could say no, he sat beside her on the rock.

    “How soon do you expect to hear from Gaoth,” Sabine asked, her tone more terse than she intended. 

    “The bird is fast, but he gets distracted. A juicy berry here or a lovely she-raven there, and business is a lost priority. I don't expect him until morning.”

Sabine nodded, but grimaced inwardly. So much for that topic. “So...you knew my friend Mariel?” 

    Koen nodded. “She did much to fight for the freedom of your people. She was not strong in her use of magic, but she was diligent. She worked hard to master her ability.”

    Sabine shook her head. “I never would have thought it.”

    “That was rather the point,” the Dryht countered. “What about you? Your mentor believed you held even more potential than your friend. Shall we find out?”

    “What, now?”

    Koen glanced around, exaggerating the action as if to make a point. “You have pressing business elsewhere?”

    “All right,” Sabine consented. She truly wanted to say no, but it was clear the Dryht was not going away. “How do we begin?”

    "Technique,” Koen stated simply. “The last time we spoke of this, we discussed how all magic comes from one of two sources: the will of Torian or of Nymhon, depending on whom you serve. So. Now you learn how to tap into that power.”

    “Let me guess,” Sabine said when she recognized the Dryht's silence as a prompt. “A prayer? A chant? An incantation?”

    “All of those are options,” the Dryht conceded, his tone reluctant, “but each of them is time consuming. It's really just a simple matter of the will. You focus on what you want to happen, will it to occur, and it happens.”

    “As long as Torian allows it,” Sabine amended, recalling the night of Aodhan’s rescue. She had certainly wanted the arrowhead out of his shoulder, but nothing had come of it.

    “Yes, there is that. Still, calling on your will is much faster than any other option and is preferable in any number of situations.”

    Sabine was about to ask for an example, but she remembered when she had first used magic to rescue Danelle's baby from being still-born and kept quiet. As she considered it further, she could imagine many instances in healing when time made all the difference. “I suppose this method is the easiest to learn as well?”

    “Actually, no. The benefit to prayers, chants, and the like is that they help you narrow your focus and pinpoint your will. It takes much discipline to focus your will without them, because you can be easily distracted by everything around you. You must be able to block everything else out.”

    That shouldn't be a problem, Sabine mused, since she had been blocking out distractions all her life: her mother's criticism and negativity, her sister's snide comments. Blocking things came easily to her. 

    “Sabine,” Koen prompted. “Are you still listening?”

    “Yes,” she replied, chagrined at the way she had let her thoughts wander. So much for focus.

    “Then watch.” The Dryht held out his hand. A moment later a butterfly rested in his palm, opening   and closing its wings a few times before fluttering away.

    "Did you make that?"

    Koen chuckled and pointed to the opposite bank of the dry riverbed. “No. Creation of something from nothing is reserved only for Torian and the Creator God. I simply moved it from that flower over there.”

Story Snippets: Unseelie Uncollared (Kimberly)

Hi everyone, I'm excited to share a first look at my newest release, Unseelie Uncollared, the first book in my new epic romantic fantasy trilogy!

Unseelie Uncollared is set in the same world as Love's Enchanted Tales, my fairytale retelling series. However, this trilogy ventures into a brand new corner of Sonera including a new continent featuring some heavy Greco-Roman inspiration. I've loved expanding into the areas beyond the Five Kingdoms since I get to feature more of the gargoyles who protect the city-states to the east of the Five Kingdoms and of course the new cultures of Hellada including the Unseelie.

Now I'm happy to share a snippet from the opening scene of Unseelie Uncollared. Enjoy!

Her past is a mystery.
Protecting the children is her duty.
Her future could destroy everything she loves.

Tatiana has no people and no past before she became a companion and nurse to a noble family for five generations. She knows only that her feathered wings make her different, neither human nor gargoyle. When her young charges are orphaned, Tati escorts them across the sea to their father's homeland. In a strange new city, she finds others like her and the chance to uncover her own past but pursuing it risks losing the children she loves.

Ramessu has spent his life serving the human rulers of the port city of Chaon. A servitude threatening to destroy his people. With their females collared, unable to fly or use magic, the Unseelie are slaves and they are dying. When an uncollared adult female arrives in the city, Ra knows she could change everything...or tear their people apart.

Chapter One

 

 

Tatiana blew out a breath even as she swept her wings down in an effort to put more distance between herself and her pursuers. Gargoyles were rather stubborn about these chases. The wind’s sharp bite stung her cheeks and whipped her pale blonde hair out of her face. Thank goodness she’d had the sense to change into the same flying leathers the gargoyle watchers favored. Even the sleek design of her best dresses would have slowed her down in comparison to them.

A shadow appeared beneath her and she swept her wings down twice in rapid succession, forcing herself into the thicker clouds. They cast the world into a cool greyish mist before she burst through the top of the cloud bank and into clear sky once again. Shifting her body to swing her legs down into a more upright position, Tatiana gave one last downward sweep of her wings to rise into the path of a sunbeam. The air was still cool, but the pale light of the rising sun promised to bring warmth to the day.

For a moment she hovered, eyes closed and chin raised, as she spread her wings and arms wide. She inhaled deeply. This was why she loved flying.

“Tati!”

She swept around, neatly dodging a near collision with Aser. The ten-year-old gargoyle was not quite as skilled at mid-flight halts and hovers as he would be when he was older. Tatiana raised an eyebrow at him. “Where are the others? I know more than just you were chasing me today.”

Aser’s grin was mischievously wicked even as he frantically beat his leather wings to keep himself in place. He puffed his chest out as he ran a hand through his tousled teak-brown hair, exposing his pointed ears. He looked very much like his father, the annoying creature. “We got you, Tati!”

Tatiana swept her wings down and launched herself into a forward spring, soaring over Aser’s head just as a far larger gargoyle burst through the cloud bank with arms outstretched for a grab. She tucked her wings in close, rolling to avoid a second gargoyle who shrieked with glee when she almost managed to grab Tatiana’s boot. Banking sharply to the left allowed her to avoid two more adults emerging from the clouds. However, one was still missing. She banked to the right and then darted up. Hands latched around her left ankle, and a jubilant cry pierced the air. “I got her! Osee! Osee, I got her! Aser, Chloe, I got Tati!”

Tatiana laughed as she glanced down at the boy still clinging to her left ankle. Elias was not quite ten months younger than his cohorts but when he was the first to win the game of Fly Away, he certainly graced everyone within hearing with the knowledge. She smiled when he glanced up at her with pride beaming from his face. “Well done, Elias.”

Elias gave a whoop as he finally released Tatiana’s boot in favor of gliding toward his age mates who were busy circling Osee. All clamoring for another game. Osee cast her a pleading look, and she merely held up her hands in silent denial. He grimaced as though she had done him a great disservice. As though he were not Aser’s father and, therefore, the adult most responsible for minding the children on their morning flights. Chloe was his niece as well, which meant he had double the responsibility. And more importantly, with his tendency for pranks, she was not inclined to help him further. Not yet, at least.

Dina flew closer to hover next to Tatiana, her rich brown hair taking on an almost honey hue in the dawn’s light. She grinned when Osee turned his pleading gaze to her. Her soft soprano carried through the children’s chatter as she mused, “I think you should help the children play Formation Catch. It will be good practice, won’t it, Osee?”

Tatiana smothered her laughter as the children crowed with delight, and Aser flew into his father’s torso causing the older gargoyle to grunt as he nearly overcorrected. A flash of light drew her attention to the thick ring of burnished silver adorned with an open eye circling Osee’s left bicep and marking him as one of the Watchers, gargoyle protectors of the great city-states. Osee’s pretend scowl when he noticed her amusement didn’t ruffle her. They had known each other far too long for that to ever work.

When Osee scowled a little harder, she made a shooing motion with her fingers. “Go on now. We wouldn’t want to miss the grand display by Watcher Osee, would we, Dina?”

Dina laughed. “No, we would not.”

Osee flew a small distance with the children while digging in the bag at his waist to fetch the ribbon ring used to practice handoffs mid-flight. The bright green and yellow ribbons fluttered in the wind to add a visual aid to the practice. Making it easier for younger fliers to develop their reflexes. The ribbons would grow more subtle and eventually be removed by the time they were ready to compete in the Watchers’ recruitment trials. For now, however, it made for a delightful game as the children’s gleeful shouts attested.

Unseelie Uncollared is currently available for preorder and will go live Friday, November 27th!

Crucial Decisions by Special Guest Rachel Rossano (Living Sacrifice Blog Tour)

We are so excited to welcome Rachel Rossano to Lands Uncharted today to talk about her newest release, Living Sacrifice, the third and final book in her The Talented series! This finale released earlier this week and I am so excited for it. If you recall, I reviewed the first book in the series, Seventh Born, last month and gushed about the trilogy's heroine, Zezilia, being one of my favorite strong female leads. Rachel is going to share about the crucial decisions that make Zez such a strong heroine. 

The Talented series concludes on November 2, 2020 with the release of the final novel, Living Sacrifice. The fantasy trilogy centers around two seventh-born Talented, those with the abilities of telepathy and telekinesis. The heroine of the series, Zezilia, chooses to defy the expectations of her family, her society, and her gender to fill roles that many consider beyond her. The process that brought her to these positions connect back to three crucial decisions in the series.

In the first book, Seventh Born, Zezilia discovers she has potential to be a great Talent with the ability to communicate via thoughts and to move things with her mind. Not only is this unexpected in a female, but it is also undesirable. Many in her culture consider female talents not worth training. Thankfully, she is discovered by a man who does not have such a restricted view. He offers her the opportunity to train as a Talent. When she accepts this invitation, she is very aware that she is choosing to defy both societal and familial expectations. However, she longs for something more than the alternative, marriage and children.

In the second book, The Defender, Zezilia has completed the first part of her training as a Talent. Ready to begin using her new skills, she takes on the role of defender of the sept son. She sees this as an opportunity to serve, support, and make a difference in her world. However, it becomes quickly apparent that her presence is going to cause more trouble for the sept son than help. Still, she chooses to face the opposition because she feels she has a purpose, a role that only she can fill.

In the final book, Living Sacrifice, through a series of events, Zezilia finds herself unexpectedly abandoned by her mentor. Midst her struggles to find a new purpose and place as her country struggles through a prolonged civil war, she receives a summons. The sept son has disappeared and the high king wants her to fill the position. Overwhelmed by the immense responsibility, Zezilia takes up the role of leadership. She didn't choose to accept because she wanted the power or because she would be widely accepted. In fact, she says yes despite knowing that many would reject her in that role. Instead, she takes on the load for the sake of the country and the man she has grown to love. She can't walk away when people need her.

In Zezilia's journey, she never rejects her gender. Although she longs to be more useful and more helpful, she never desires to be other than what she is. Staying true to the core of who she is, she does great things because she is willing to serve, love, take risks, and sacrifice for others. She gradually grows into this strength as the story progresses. Through a series of choices, she learns the skills to stand on her own feet and support those she loves.

I love Zezilia's journey! And it really makes this series fun, exciting, and inspiring to read! I was also cheering on the final stages of growth (including the culmination of the slow burn romance) in this book. 💖  Thank you so much for sharing more about Zez with us, Rachel. Here's a little more about her: 

Rachel Rossano specializes in clean romantic fiction set in historical-feeling fantasy worlds. She also dabbles in straightforward historical romance and not-so-strict speculative fiction. A happily married mother of three children, she divides her time between mothering, teaching, and writing. She endeavors to enchant, thrill, entertain, and amuse through her work. A constant student, she seeks to improve her skills and loves to hear from readers.

You can connect with Rachel on her website, Facebook, and Amazon.

And now some more about Living Sacrifice which is available now!

Separated, but still joined, they strive for freedom.

Left behind at the sept son's compound, Zezilia Ilar struggles with the after effects of her prolonged commisceo-link with Hadrian. She devotes herself to caring for the wounded arriving almost daily from the battlefields. Pressed to perform procedures and make decisions far beyond her training, Zez grows in confidence and skill. All the while, she wonders if she'll see Hadrian again, fearing the worst possible news will arrive any day.

Sept Son Hadrian Aleron fights to bring peace to his home nation. Allied with the new high king, he and a small army of Talented struggle to retake the capital city. Elitists, though scattered, continue to pick off the strongest of his men. As he battles the remnants of the commisceo-link and tries to organize the campaign, he begins losing himself to exhaustion. Only a miracle will keep him alive. 

Living Sacrifice is the third in a trilogy. Reading Seventh Born and The Defender first is recommended.

Weekend Reads: Seventh Born by Rachel Rossano (Kimberly)

Hello Readers! I'm so excited to share one of my favorite epic Christian Fantasy series! The Talented trilogy by Rachel Rossano is perfect for the epic weekend reading binge!

Seventh Born (The Talented Book 1)

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

Imagine a world based on ancient Rome where the population is divided between the untalented and the Talented, people gifted with fantastic abilities such as telekinesis and telepathy. What's more the strength of their talent most often draws on their position as a seventh son. The seventh son of a seventh son being even more talented and powerful. There is an unofficial competition among parents to have that seventh son because he could become second only to the High King in power as the Sept Son. Daughters, on the other hand, are far less valuable and to have a daughter take the place of the much anticipated seventh son? A tragedy.

This is the world Zezilia Ilar was born into and she was the infamous disappointment. Something drilled into her every year by her father. Zez is one of my favorite characters because she is the Strong Female Character handled with the perfect balance of not being TOO hard/embittered or unreasonably naive. Zez's world tells her that the only way for a woman to please the goddess is by marrying well and to have children, preferably seven sons in a row. In fact, the requirement and expectation is for girls to be married no later than nineteen. At fifteen, Zez is being presented to the court for the first time and she is well aware of her duties to the family as the daughter of a lower king. Even though her heart isn't in the expected destiny, she wants to make her parents proud the only way she knows. However, an encounter with a somewhat eccentric Talented man sets Zez on a very different path when he discovers she is one of the Talented.

Zez's presentation at court leads to her meeting Hadrian Aleron, the man soon to become Sept Son, and results in her new life being trained by Errol Silas in the ways of the Talented. I love that Zez is a prodigy but she stays humble and sensitive, which is very true to the girl we meet in the beginning of the book. I also love her relationships with the different characters she meets during the three years of her training from Errol's daughters to Selwyn, one of Hadrian's older brothers, to Korneli. Selwyn is easily my favorite since he's the gentle giant hiding a wounded past tied to his previous job as a Defender (elite bodyguard) of the Sept Son.

Seventh Born is split between Zez and her journey through the training of the Talented and Hadrian's journey as the newly appointed Sept Son. Unfortunately, the poor man is a very beleaguered character with opposition from the high priest of the goddess. Hadrian's side of the story brings in ALL the political intrigue as he deals with everything from political resistance to a growing threat from a fringe group called the Elitists who are unscrupulous in their use of Talent as they deem themselves divinely appointed above the untalented. Intrigue not helped by the fact that Hadrian is considered a heathen and heretic for not following the goddess. 

I am EXTREMELY picky when it comes to Christian Fantasy because eight times out of ten it will be far too awkwardly sermonizing to flow naturally for a satisfying story, which is not to my reading tastes. Fortunately, no one has to worry about that with Seventh Born. In fact, this is one of my personal favorites because the Christian worldview and faith elements have been woven perfectly into the natural framework of the story including one of the most moving, character appropriate conversion scenes I've read. The world and atmosphere of The Talented is very comparable to Ancient Rome, particularly when Christianity was in its infancy and not the state religion of the empire. There's a mix of known and secret conversions among the Talented in particular. However, the characters who are the mainstream goddess worshippers are treated with respect. This is especially true in regards to Renato, Zez's brother and Hadrian's chief assistant.

Seventh Born is a perfect setup for the rest of the trilogy. While the foundation work is laid for a slow burn romance between Hadrian and Zez (he had to promise she'd receive a suitable betrothal to get her father to agree to her training even though he wasn't enthused by this requirement), there really isn't much of anything to it in this book because they are on separate paths for most of the story and Zez is not truly interested in romance at the moment. Something that completely makes sense for the character arcs. I also love the unique aspects of Rossano's worldbuilding from the use of the Seventh Son mythos with her own distinct twist to the way she managed to give telepathy the unique hallmark of a person having a flavor/taste whenever they projected a thought. There's a lot of groundwork laid for the challenges facing Zez and Hadrian in the remaining two books. You can't help but look forward to what happens next as they head into Defender and Living Sacrifice, which is currently on preorder for November 2nd.

I highly recommend this book and series to fans of Morgan L Busse and Tricia Mingerink. 

Have you explored the world of the Talented?

Happy Reading!

Kimberly