Action-packed battle scenes, complex, engaging characters and a “killer” twist on mermaid lore make this award-winning YA fantasy novel a captivating read.
For generations the people of Eriana Kwai have selected their best warriors for the “honor” of embarking upon an annual assault on the murderous creatures infesting the waters that surround their tiny island. Known as “The Massacres,” this ocean-bound tactical offensive pits 20 rigorously trained young men against the burgeoning army of mermaids that lay siege to the island’s fishing grounds, leaving starvation in their wake. But these are no ordinary mermaids, rather, they’re the Homeric sirens of Greek legend, handmaidens of death and destruction, hell-bent on annihilating the human population of Eriana Kwai.
With the men failing to return home, a new, unconventional fighting force is ready to take its place in history – a band of 20 young women. Immune to the sensuous allure of the mermaids, the women combatants have a more level battlefield.
Among the most promising of the new warriors is Meela, an intelligent, thoughtful eighteen year-old whose skills, when harnessed properly, are unsurpassed. But Meela has a secret locked deep within her heart, an Achilles’ Heel that threatens to undermine their “Massacre” and send her entire crew to a watery grave.
“Ice Massacre,” the first installment of author Tiana Warner’s “Mermaids of Eriana Kwai” fantasy series, introduces a rich and engaging cast of characters. From her main character, Meela, brimming with the fire and passion of her youth to Meela’s arch rival Dani, a self-professed leader with an ax to grind, the author artfully delivers characters that reflect all of the excitement as well as the internal emotional conflicts that drive a woman-child of eighteen. These are characters with whom the YA and NA reader can easily identify. Make no mistake this is not a children’s tale, but a gritty and riveting story of strong female warriors who can be relentless and cold-hearted. Expect graphic violence and brutality. Betrayal, fear, anger, coming-of-age turmoil, and rivalry are portrayed as the story unfolds.
The author’s use of older world weaponry and sailing ships rather than our current weapons and communications capabilities creates an odd juxtaposition of technological eras that actually works. Armed with hand-forged iron weaponry and crossbows the women warriors are akin to modern day vampire hunters, straddling two worlds, challenging the reader to step on board “The Bloodhound” and join Meela on her hunt.
In the tradition of “The Hunger Games,” bestselling author Tiana Warner weaves a clever story of resilience and determination in the face of deadly odds. With riveting battle scenes, complex, enduring characters and “killer” twist on mermaid lore this award-winning, action-packed fantasy novel that is sure to captivate.
I was asked by Orna Ross of Alliance of Independent Authors to share what I consider to be the “Seven Must-Haves for Independent Authors” at UPublishU event that was held at the Book Expo of America 2016 held in Chicago. Of course, I agreed!
The Great Symmetry by James Wells before cover
Notice that the reader can immediately tell that this is a steampunk young adult novel that takes place in London, with a young adult female protagonist and a cat. All of this information is conveyed by the cover design.
Cozy mystery readers who like a humorous edge to their stories can tell immediately that this book may be of interest to them.
No mistaking that this is a children’s book about sea adventures and pirates!
You are probably starting to get the concept….of just how much information a cover is able to convey. Help readers discover your books by using your book’s cover real estate as effectively as possible. Make every little detail work for you. Imagine that your cover is a commercial for your book and make each everyone on those three seconds that you have to hook the potential reader into picking up your book instead of someone else’s or to click on your digital cover instead of someone else’s.
The Dante Rossetti awards have a long and proud tradition of winners. Most recently at our Chanticleer Author Conference Awards Banquet (a Gala event held every year in April) we awarded the 2015 Dante Rossetti Grand Prize to Nikki McCormack, author of The Girl and the Clockwork Cat, a young adult steampunk novel about a feisty teenage thief thrust into a murder mystery involving a clockwork cat. We are so thrilled to award this obviously talented author at the beginning of her, no doubt, successful future in publishing.
Last year, our Dante Rossetti Grand Prize was also handed out to an author at the beginning of a successful dynasty. Jesikah Sundin and her young adult cyberpunk novel Legacy: Biodome Chronicles, Book One. Jesikah not only wrote a compelling story, but also painted a picture that swept us away into this marriage of two worlds: one a “back to basics” group of pioneers living inside an experimental biodome community, and the other a futuristic world world of high tech and computers.
Our Dante Rossetti awards are the Chanticleer Reviews search for the best young adult fiction books of 2016!
Our Gertrude Warner awards, named for the famous author of The Box Car Children Series, are the Chanticleer Reviews search for the best middle grade fiction books of 2016!
Top Ten Takeaways from 2016 Book Expo of America – Chicago
