A dark, medieval fantasy with a hopeful message from debut author, S. J. Hartland will draw attention for its atmospheric settings, evil twists, and righteous triumphs.
Lord Vraymorg is a seemingly ageless warrior whose duty is to train young bladesmen for their heavy task. These specially selected assassins, called bonded warriors, have the onerous responsibility of killing ghouls – and only ghouls – and always running the risk of being attacked. Being attacked by ghouls means certain death. And dying by ghoul is something everyone naturally wants to avoid. But something is different with Kaell, Vraymorg’s latest charge. In fact, the 19th bladesman carries a special destiny, one directed by the gods. Kaell is bright, defiant, and, though Vraymorg cannot bear to think of it, lovable, like a son. This fatherly love is the crux of the warrior lord’s struggle. How can he put this young man into harm’s way? For it is a death sentence to be trained as a warrior and pick up arms against the ghouls. Vraymorg doesn’t have it easy, and we get it.
Told from multiple points of view, Hartland’s story offers strong, masculine heroes like Kaell and Vraymorg, and intriguing feminine heroes like Rozenn, whose passion is matched by her infinite knowledge of Vraymorg’s past, and Azenor, a seer bound to Kaell in death. Even Archanin, the eerie, bloodthirsty leader of the ghouls, has his say, as he urges his band to spare Kaell’s life so that he can become one of them, a fate, perhaps, worse than death. When word comes that Kaell has died, leaving only his sword, Rozenn tells Vraymorg that the sword is a mysterious instrument with magical powers, powers that may save the lost boy, if wielded by someone who cares more for him than anyone else.
This is Hartland’s debut novel. It is a prodigious undertaking, notable for its length (more than 600 pages), and is worth the time spent, as it becomes an experience, a journey into an ancient, fabled world that beckons with echoes of Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. Journalist Hartland has fleshed out each of the many characters and given them their place in this complex saga – and, one imagines, in the broadening tale to come, since we are told she has a sequel in the works. She has a gift for prose, proven on nearly every page.
At its heart, The 19th Bladesman examines the love of a father for an adoptive student/son he refuses to allow himself to care about, suspecting that the young man’s fate will be tragic and that his demise will come at his teacher’s hand. The mystery of Vraymorg’s relationship with Kaell and of Kaell’s indomitable will to please his mentor are the twin forces that buoy Hartland’s grandly conceived work and keep the constantly burgeoning plot afloat.
If you liked Alice in Wonderland as a child, To Dream the Blackbane: A Novel of the Anomaly may captivate you now. While not suitable for children, this dark fantasy engages the reader with strange and unique characters, gritty, Sam Spade-like dialogue, and fanciful imagery.
In 2063, sixty years after The Anomaly, during which everything changed, in a world now populated by pedigreed humans, hybrids, and a whole gamut of imagined and legendary creatures from other planes of existence, the canis sapien, Wolfgang Rex, operates as a private eye in Chicago’s hybrid ghetto. He is assisted by his secretary, Sally Sandweb, a fun-loving faerie with blue and black wings, and green-tinged skin.
One evening, two locally venerated vampires barge into Wolfgang’s office to enlist his services. Like the Templar’s treasure was stolen from Jerusalem, a sacred vampire scroll was taken from their lair atop the Sears Tower whilst they slept. After they make him an offer he can’t refuse, Wolfgang agrees to recover the scroll, and a disapproving Sally draws up the contract.
Shortly after, he has another visitor, Charlotte Sweeney-Jarhadill, from Beggar Creek, Louisiana, who wishes to hire Wolfgang to exorcize the ghost of a Confederate soldier who’s been hanging around her home and bothering her. After another offer he can’t refuse, and deciding he has some leeway on time with the vampires, Wolfgang agrees to do the exorcism.
Little does he know that these two cases would involve life-threatening danger, and ultimately change the course of his life forever—whatever and wherever forever may be.
The ensuing story takes Wolfgang to stygian places in Chicago, and to rural Louisiana where Wolfie learns that reality is elusive, whom you can trust isn’t always clear, and there’s no safe place.
Like the 2063 reality imagined in this story, its tone and mood fluctuate. At times, Richard J. O’Brien’s story seems merely a dark fantasy—a kind of 21st century American gothic with unique settings and characters that keep the reader engaged. At other time, it feels more like a tongue-in-cheek, “gotcha” kind of yarn where the author uses satirical humor, exaggerated characters, and intriguing situations, to entertain fantasy fans. The story’s ambiguous ending contributes to this perception. We hope this means there is more to come!
One thing is certain, though, when you close the book a haunting suspicion may just well remain: has O’Brien used this genre as a vehicle for a symbolic allegory, addressing certain long-held religious beliefs and currently trending social and political events? In short, To Dream the Blackbane: A Novel of the Anomaly is a curious, provocative read that lingers on. One that we recommended.
A perfect blend of realism, fantasy, and deep spirituality awaits those who open Justine Avery’s novel, The One Apart. It is what readers bring to the novel – faiths, belief systems, philosophical dilemmas – that will influence and shape their perceptions of this fascinating and compelling read. Avery’s book, like life, is full of instruction for those who want to be fully aware.
Aware of what?
Everything—including awareness itself.
This is certainly the case for the main character, Aaron, a remarkable boy who lives with his mother, Sancha, and his grandmother, Maria. Although she’d planned to give Aaron up for adoption, Sancha bonds so deeply with her son at birth that she can’t fathom life without him. His grandmother realizes his uniqueness, too, as the newborn communicates with her through blinking his eyes. He makes astonishing progress through developmental milestones, walking and reading within the first months of life.
As a toddler, he speaks with the wisdom of a timeless soul. Maria suspects that these physical and mental feats indicate that her grandson is chosen for a special purpose, but she hopes he’ll live as normal a life as possible. He’s distracted, however, by a malevolence that only he can see. As Aaron comes of age, he strives to act normal and blend in, but his very few close friends and girlfriend notice his preoccupation, his never being fully present in this world.
There’s a reason for Aaron’s constant distraction, for his never feeling a part of this life; he is connected to “the Apart,” the other-worldly dimension that is both removed from human existence, “corporeality,” but ever at hand. Since childhood, he has sensed that his true name is Tres and that his existence as Aaron is somewhat play-acting. His hyper-awareness alerts him to his “OnLooker,” a sort of guardian angel who’s a liaison between Aaron and the sagacious luminary beings of the Apart that consult and advise on Aaron’s tutelage.
Much of the book involves Aaron learning, with the instruction of his OnLooker, how to fully experience awareness, to understand that every moment is this moment despite previous lives and the variety of life’s experiences. At a critical juncture in the novel, Aaron is given a choice, one that will impact his own existence dramatically but also that of all other beings. The author adroitly merges Aaron’s worldly existence and his relation to the realm of the Apart in a poignant and satisfying conclusion to the novel.
This is a quiet book, one that allows the reader the time and space to experience life with its main characters. The stillness is at times deeply peaceful, at other times eerie and ominous. The novel illustrates the power of compassion and empathy, but also the chilling consequences when power is exercised for self-serving purposes.
While the character of Aaron has similarities to various religious and mythic figures, the author has also imbued him with a uniqueness and a relevance to our times. This book will stay with you long after you finish it, a hallmark of excellent literature. Justine Avery’s The One Apart inspires deep contemplation of self, community, and individual and collective purpose.
The One Apart won First Place in both
OZMA and SOMERSET Awards in 2017!
The OZMA Book Awards recognize emerging talent and outstanding works in the genre of Fantasy Fiction. The OZMA Book Awards is a genre division of the Chanticleer International Book Awards (The #CIBAs).
Information about the #CIBAs Long Lists and Short Lists and Announcement Rounds.
These titles have moved forward in the judging rounds from SLUSH pile to the 2018 Long List (aka the Slush Pile Survivors). We incorporate the Long List when the judges request an additional round of judging to accommodate the number and/or quality of entries received. These entries are now in competition for the 2018 OZMA SHORT LIST. The Short Listers will compete for the Semi-Finalists positions.
The coveted First Place Category Winners of the 2018 OZMA Book Awards will be selected from the Semi-Finalists in the final rounds of judging. The First Place Category Winners will be announced at the Chanticleer Awards Banquet and Ceremony.
The First Place Category winners will automatically be entered into the OZMA GRAND PRIZE AWARD competition. The 16 CBR Grand Prize Genre Winners will compete for the CBR Overall Grand Prize for Best Book and its $1,000 purse. First Place Category and Grand Prize Awards will be announced and recognized at the Chanticleer Awards Banquet and Ceremony on Saturday, April 27th, 2019, Bellingham, Washington.
These titles are in the running for the SHORT LIST of the 2018 OZMA Book Awards novel competition for Fantasy Fiction.
The following works have made it to the 2018 OZMA Book Awards Long List:
Pamela LePage – Virtuous Souls
J.V. Rutz – The Illusion Killer
Megan Wong – Island Whispers
Allan Batchelder – Steel, Blood & Fire
Ea Bishop – RAGNAROK: Demon Seed
Daryl Ellerbe – The Amazons
Kristin Secorsky – Dragon Chosen: The Dragon Riders of Eryieth
Paul E. Vaughn – Luminess Legends: Dragon Ascendants
Kathleen Neeley – Master None
David M. Jarboe – Realm Portals “The Celtic Otherworld”
M.K Williams – The Phoenix Chronicles: Alone in the Light
Jennifer Allis Provost – Gallowglass
T.K. Riggins – Money Jane
Susan Faw – Heart Of Shadra
Glen Shipherd – Infinity – Rulers
Franklin Posner – Suburban Vampire Ragnarok
Kim Gjorsoe – Rogue’s Law
Nancy Guild Bendall – Nethermost Regained
Anthony Nordvik-Nash – Hedda Stein-Sun’s UnRemembered Islands
Paul E. Vaughn – Luminess Legends: Dragon Ascendants
Nancy Guild Bendall – Nethermost Regained
Elana A. Mugdan – Dragon Speaker
Elizabeth Crowens – Silent Meridian
Lindsay Schopfer – Into the North: A Keltin Moore Adventure
M. K. Wiseman – The Kithseeker
Miriam Cumming – Namesakes
Penny Pearson – A Girl’s Guide to Time Travel
Chris Dews – Antler Jinny and the Raven
Philip Carlisle – Surviving Eros: Heart of Phire
D.M. Cain – A Chronicle of Chaos
To view the 2017 OZMA Book Awards winners, pleaseclick here.
The OZMA Grand Prize Winner and the First Place Category Position award winners will be announced at theApril 27th, 2019 Chanticleer Book Awards Annual Awards Gala,which takes place at the Chanticleer Authors Conference that will be held in Bellingham, Wash.
We are now accepting entries into the 2019 OZMA Book Awards for Fantasy Fiction. For more information, please click here.
Part Three of the Windhollows series takes off with a bang, as we find an evil female on our hero’s trail and a sneaky scientist up to his old nefarious tricks.
The book opens with a stirring encounter between the glimmering being who was once Billy Molskin’s girlfriend, Skylar, in a contest of wills with Nila Windhammer. Nila previously transformed the schoolgirl into a monster called the Spent of Jealousy, using Dr. Rip Stinker’s toxic Essence of Ripinum.
Into the fray comes Blast, a once-powerful creature who had been given the task of guarding Skylar. His failure makes him more determined than ever to intervene, but Nila forces him out into the Formidable Fields where he is doomed to lose his memory or his freedom. To accomplish his banishment, Nila wields the Malus wand, a gift from her father and her weapon of eternal vengeance against those who killed her parents.
Meanwhile, Stinker and his faithful pet Pootrick are entering the Silent Pass where Stinker plans to enslave its inhabitants, the nomadic Silencians. But after disabling some of them with Ripinum, he is confronted by Nila, who informs him that they have a far more important mission. They must locate Billy, who is on a quest to find a mystical staff that contains powers she wants for herself.
Billy, with help from his friends Teddy and Wendy, is indeed looking for the staff, finding clues from ancient books and soon realizes he also needs to get possession of four magic stones. Could these be connected to a bracelet of three orange cubes found by Stinker when he attacked the Spent of Hatred? Could they be the work of the immortal Stonehammer?
Billy’s determination is temporarily sapped by the lingering illness of his father, who may have a clue to the missing stone collection. When his father passes away, Billy will finally access the inner strength he needs to put the legendary weapon, Axe Breaker, to its proper use and win a momentous victory.
Fans of the Windhollows series will note this story is taking on topics of significant proportions. Themes of the death of a parent, the coming-of-age of the young hero and the hard-fought triumph over evil give this volume greater gravitas, perhaps moving it towards a perception of Billy as a kind of Beanian Hobbit: ready to take up the call to duty, even if it means putting himself in harm’s way.
All in all, this is a perfect read for those seeking adventure!
*Special note: Author Trayner Bane has a delicious recipe for BackFire Cookies on his website! He’s requesting his readers try the recipe and post a photo on the Windhollows Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheWindhollows
T.K. Riggins, OZMA Grand Prize Winner for “How to Set the World on Fire”
Ten Questions Interview with the OZMA Grand Prize Award Winner, T.K. Riggins, that shares his writing tips and tools with us.
Money Janewon First Place in the 2018 CIBAs OZMA Awards for Fantasy Novels. Congratulations!
I first met T.K. Riggins at CAC18 where his novel, How to Set the World on Fire won Grand Prize in the OZMA Awards. T.K.’s a cool guy. He strikes up conversations with ease and doesn’t really seem to take himself too seriously. Maybe that’s because he started writing on a dare… but I’m getting ahead of myself.
Meet the author, T.K. Riggins!
Chanticleer: Tell us a little about yourself: How did you start writing?
Riggins: I started writing because of a dare. My friend was searching for something new to read, but instead of recommending a book, I decided to write something for her. It was a ten-page short story that was based on a farming event from my past, and I turned it into a tale of fantasy. It was a fun experience, and my friend was so impressed that she wanted to read more, so I just kept going.
Chanticleer: That’s kind of funny! When did you realize you that you were an author?
Riggins: The first time I felt like an author was when a stranger read my work, critiqued it, and told me they wanted to read more. The recognition was nice and gave me the confidence to continue, but the major takeaway was being able to overcome the vulnerability that comes with giving my writing to someone that I didn’t know. It’s one thing to have friends and family read my story because I knew that they’d support me no matter what. It was entirely different to bare my soul to someone who wasn’t as obligated to spare my feelings.
Chanticleer: Yes, check that thin-author-skin in for something a little thicker. I think we can all relate to that. Tell me, do you find yourself following the rules or do you like to make up your own rules?
Riggins: I attended a seminar taught by Larry Brooks, the author of Story Engineering. In part of his lecture, he compared writing a novel to playing the game of football. He stressed how in football, there are certain rules that can’t be changed like the size of the field, how many downs there are, and how many players are on the turf at a time. However, the thing that can be changed is how the players play the game.
Like the game of football, professional novels have elements that can’t be changed like how it’s formatted, where the inciting incident should be, how the story arc relates to the climax, etc. The thing that can be changed is how the writer tells the story.
Football and Writing
So in the end, it ends up being a little bit of both. I follow certain structural elements to make sure that readers easily enjoy the flow of the novel, but what I write about and how the characters evolve ends up following the rules that I make up.
Chanticleer: It seems to be working for you. Hello OZMA Grand Prize! What do you do when you’re not writing? Tells us a little about your hobbies.
Riggins: I’m a big sports fan. I grew up playing basketball, baseball, soccer and hockey. Lately, my focus has been on Crossfit and beach volleyball. Crossfit has a reputation of being a fad workout program, but I love it because it preaches intensity, structure, and competition. Not only does it provide an escape from sitting in front of a computer screen, but it helps me improve both my physical and mental strength in a community filled with others that constantly work on maximizing their skillset.
Chanticleer: I always envy those who can endure a single session of Crossfit. Me? I trip as soon as I walk in the door… Let’s change the subject… How structured are you in your writing work?
Riggins: Because I still work a full-time job as an engineer, most of my writing occurs at night and on weekends, but I don’t worry about setting a certain time limit on the craft. Sometimes I write for fifteen minutes, other times I might go for hours. That’s not to say that I don’t think about my writing constantly. I make notes while at work, at the gym, or even if I wake up from a dream. I feel like it’s easier to sit down and write based on my notes rather than try to sit at a computer and force the words to come out.
On the other hand, it’s useful to have deadlines in mind. I find that sometimes I get stuck trying to find the right words, perfect character names, or minor plot point.
Instead of waiting for that lightning bolt of inspiration, I think it’s useful to push through a few paragraphs that I know are going to require editing later, just to keep the flow of the story going. First drafts are never perfect anyway, so sometimes I sacrifice a few little details in order to reach the broader goal of building the story.
Chanticleer: I hope everyone is paying attention to what you just said. It’s so valuable to just keep writing, to let the creativity flow. Good job. It is important to work on your craft, though, so what do you do to grow your author chops?
Riggins: I read everything. I read non-fiction articles ranging from creating tension in writing to marketing tips for self-published authors. I read fiction stories that are both inside and outside my genre. I read books that my peers recommend, and some that my young nieces and nephews are into.
A lot of the time, my reading doesn’t translate into great ideas for my own writing, but I feel like hearing the voices of other authors helps strengthen my own. Even studying other artists in music and visual art helps inspire my own craft.
Chanticleer: That’s really good. Thank you. Give us your best marketing tips, what’s worked to sell more books, gain notoriety, and expand your literary footprint.
Riggins: The best marketing advice I ever received was to keep things simple. In every area of business, there are mountains of opportunities and strategies that are complex and overwhelming. There are even elements that may work for one business that end up being a complete failure for another. The key is to keep the focus on one thing at a time and try to take advantage of the opportunities that come your way, rather than tackling everything at once. Longevity is the ultimate goal, even when tasks seem quick, small, meaningful or useless.
Chanticleer: I like that, keep it simple. What are you working on now? What can we look forward to seeing next from you?
Riggins: I just released my second novel Money Jane. It’s the sequel to How to Set the World on Fire and is book two in a series of six. I’m currently writing the third book in the series, but I’m also involved with developing an indie video game app to be paired with my book series. It’s going to be really fun, and add another dimension to the How to Set the World on Fire franchise.
Chanticleer: That is such amazing news! Six-book series AND a video game app! (Read our reviews of How to Set the World on Fire and Money Jane.) Who’s the perfect reader for your book?
Riggins: My books are aimed towards middle-grade students, ages 8 – 12. However, I’ve had a lot of great feedback from my millennial friends and their baby boomer parents who enjoy reading my novels. My entire series is really for anyone who wants to feel good and escape into an adventure filled fantasy, where the main characters build relationships, overcome challenges, and live happily ever after.
Chanticleer: What is the most important thing a reader can do for an author?
Riggins: Tell someone about the books you’re reading, especially if it’s something you enjoy. Give it to a friend, family member, or someone you’ve just met. Recommend it at your library, write a review online, or share your thoughts on social media. Be a part of the community rather than just an outside spectator, because we’re all in this together!
Chanticleer: Thank you, T.K., you are the best!
Okay, you know what to do next, right? Go check out T.K. Riggin’s website – take a look at his books, buy them! He’s a vetted award-winning author – and he’s one of our favorite people.
October Spotlight on the OZMA Awards – All things Fantasy, Magical Realms, Fantastical Creatures, Mythical Beings… you get the picture…
In October there’s a bit of a nip in the morning air, the days begin with mist clinging to the grass, and the sun peeks out in the afternoons. We add an extra layer – sweaters, warm socks, down vests. Late crops are set in and some are ready for harvest, pumpkins in all shapes and colors, broccoli, cabbage. Gone are our vine-ripened tomatoes and sweet peppers. Coffee shops around town offer up all-things pumpkin. October is the month our family pulls out J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, and the Lord of the Rings trilogy and immerse ourselves in another world because, in October, anything can happen.
A portion of Tiepolo Giambattista, Die Unbefleckte Empfängnis, 1767-1768-Drachen
You may ask yourself, what is OZMA? Simply put, OZMA refers to L. Frank Baum’s book Ozma of Oz, the third book in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz series, in which Dorothy and her uncle travel to Australia. On the way, poor Dorothy is swept overboard with her chicken and are rescued by Princess Ozma of the land of Ev. The story goes on and adventure abounds and at long last Dorothy is returned safely with her chicken to Oz. Fascinating story.
But, this is only the origin of the OZMA Awards.
Chanticleer Book Reviews is looking for the best books featuring magic, the supernatural, imaginary worlds, fantastical creatures, legendary beasts, mythical beings, or inventions of fancy that author imaginations dream up without a basis in science as we know it. Epic Fantasy, High Fantasy, Sword and Sorcery, Dragons, Unicorns, Steampunk, Dieselpunk, Gaslight Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, or other out of this world fiction, we will put them to the test and choose the best among them.
The last day to submit your work is October 31, 2018. We invite you to join us, to tell us your stories, and to find out who will take home the prize at CAC19 on April 27th.
As our deadline draws near, don’t pull a disappearing act and forget to enter your fantasy novel! We accept completed manuscripts and published works. Enter today!
We encourage everyone to attend our Awards Ceremony on April 27, 2019, that will take place during the 2019 Chanticleer Authors Conference. First Place category winners will be whisked up on stage to receive their custom ribbon and wait to see who among them will take home the Grand Prize. It’s an exciting evening of dinner, networking, and celebrations!
First Place category winners and Grand Prize winners will each receive a stunning awards package well worth the price of entry into the OZMA Awards competition(VJ) Lakshman grew up in Bangkok, Thailand, where he first discovered his love of the martial arts, mythological heroes, and exotic lands, all of which influenced the development of characters and the world in his debut fantasy series, Mythborn – Fate of the Sovereign.s.
The OZMA Hall of Fame
2017 Grand Prize Winner:
How to Set the World on Fire by T.K. Riggins is a coming-of-age school of magic novel that readers will find hard to put down.
“T.K. Riggins started writing because of a dare. His friend was searching for something new to read, and after coming up empty-handed, challenged Riggins to take action. Instead of recommending a book, he decided to pen a story of his own.”
“Set against the epic backdrop of myths and legends brought to life, Mythborn II continues the sweeping saga of Arek Winterthorn, wayward apprentice of the eldritch Way, as he struggles to survive in the demon realm of Arcadia.” Mythborn Media/Mythborn Books
Vijay Lakshman
“(VJ) Lakshman grew up in Bangkok, Thailand, where he first discovered his love of the martial arts, mythological heroes, and exotic lands, all of which influenced the development of characters and the world in his debut fantasy series, Mythborn – Fate of the Sovereign.”
Nealy Monaghan’s Aunt Sylvie is an author of several cookbooks with a large fan following – and some very different kinds of recipes in Joy Ross Davis’ Countenance.
Lately, life has taken some terrifying turns, but Nealy remembers that as a young girl, she had been happiest at The Playhouse Inn, an unusual B&B nestled in Tennessee and run by her famous aunt, Sylvie Wolcott.
When the worst happens, it’s that happiness she turns to for comfort, trust, and guidance. Right now, Nealy needs to grieve. She needs to rest. Which may be hard to do since Aunt Sylvie has a delicious secret ingredient she slips into every recipe. Something’s going on in that big kitchen – something more than good eats – and it’s up to Nealy to figure it out.
Benton, the handsome all-around groundskeeper, and LuLu, the very talented Irish wolfhound, keep Nealy company as she works to understand the Inn, its history, and just what her future holds—as well as her past. The revealing answers surprise both her and everyone around her, as the truth really will set them free.
Davis does a solid job of presenting some details with a “bang!” and yet engaging the reader with short chapters and a sense of mystery. Her writing style makes it very easy to lose oneself in the read. In other words, this book is hard to put down.
Davis also excels at sensory details. When Nealy is cold, for example, the iciness is easy to feel. When Sylvie cooks, her dishes are described with a mouth-watering appeal. Natural and unnatural elements come into focus with equal appeal, until the reader can feel the warmth of a polished piece of wood, or hear the music of wind chimes.
In almost gothic fashion, the steep cliff by the inn lends a sense of real danger, while the old building itself has problems all its own. Davis pays attention to detail and description, adding nuance and atmosphere to her settings in place and time.
Countenance will engage the reader with an unexpected melding of the senses. Religious and philosophical ideas are brought forth in epic battles of Good versus Evil in the most unexpected places – even in Aunt Sylvie’s sunny kitchen!
Dragon Speaker, Book One of The Shadow War Saga by Elana A. Mugdan won the CIBA 2018 Grand Prize in the OZMA Awards for Fantasy Books! Congratulations!
A young girl is charged with rescuing a dragon and, ultimately, saves her world in this wide-reaching fantasy conception of love, war, danger, and magic. Massive amounts of magic!
Keriya is a simple girl of no great pedigree who lives in Aeria where everyone except her wields some form of magic. At age 14, she knows she will not be selected to prove herself worthy of a greater destiny in the annual Ceremony of Choice. But she has to try. Even though the consequences of failure will be a life of slavery, she yearns for the opportunity. She approaches the selection committee and begs ─no, demands ─ a chance.
Like the others chosen in the Ceremony, she goes alone into the forest to seek her destiny. There she meets the great god Shivnath who assigns her the task of locating and protecting the last of the dragons, Thorion. She must fight against the most pervasive evil; a monstrously powerful force named Necrovar, skulking in the land of Allentria. In giving her the necessary, but unnamed, gifts to accomplish the task, Shivnath gives her shining purple eyes that mark her as unique, perhaps dangerously so.
However, no one believes Keriya’s claim that Shivnath has given her the ability to fight Necrovar without help. But Keriya knows her destiny. She takes the name Soulstar to give herself inner strength, and the adventure begins.
Keriya’s journey is longer and more crooked than she had envisioned, and soon she is joined by her childhood rival, Roxanne who has many magical powers and by Fletcher, whose magic, like his personality, is rather weak. Dangers surround the trio at every turn, and they soon learn that trust must be earned and friendships must be carefully guarded.
Author and award-winning fantasy film-maker Mugdan has been writing this intriguing saga since she was in high school, and perhaps because of that, has retained a remarkable empathy for her teen heroine. Keriya is a multi-faceted character, capable of getting fed up with her shortcomings and ashamed of her failures while maintaining in her spirit the belief that she will have what it takes to act courageously in a crisis. Mugdan movingly depicts Keriya gaining the skills and confidence she will need for cosmic combat. The author also shows this growth in Keriya’s companions Roxanne and Fletcher, who are themselves facing challenges they never dreamt of; and the three are gradually gaining respect for each other.
Mugdan also manages to make the dragon a sensitive, likable player in this fantasy, while at the same time creating some super-unlikeable evil-doers: shadowbeasts, giant slugs, bogspectres, and of course the almost unconquerable Necrovar. Add to this a bit of romance, some supernatural magic, and at least one acrimonious enemy lurking in the background, and you have the recipe for a highly successful first in series fantasy novel.
Welcome to the new America, the one where everyone who reaches age 18 is shipped off to heavily controlled (albeit, dark and oppressive) compounds to work. Don’t worry, your meals and your housing are already taken care of. We’ll pay you, too. Sure, there’s a curfew and some rules… but that’s the price you pay for order.
What’s that? You don’t want to follow the rules? You don’t want to work in our compounds?
Guards!
When Reed turns 18-years-old he’s shipped off to one of several heavily controlled compounds, part of a new national order known as the Great Reorganization Operation, or GRO. Once there, he spends his days as an involuntary worker at “The Hill” where he lives in a dorm and works in a factory. He receives reasonable pay, is fed and housed, and has some hours before curfew each day to mingle with other entrapped young people. There is no choice in the matter. Suddenly, Reed’s life is not his own.
At first, he’s furious. He longs to live without the heavy-handed discipline those who fall out of line endure. His roommates, Riley and Reagan, warn him that the ruling clique known as the Council has brutal methods of treating those who speak out against their governance. Better to keep your head down, they tell him. Better to stay alive.
But then Reed notices Nathan, a guy that never seems to have a bad day. Reed wants to learn his secret. At great risk, he joins with Nathan and other young people who meet covertly. To his surprise, the group’s focus centers around how to oppose the Council, the GRO, and everything those institutions stand for. Elijah, their leader, gives Reed a radically new perspective. But nothing is perfect and soon Reed is forced into a position where he must choose to sacrifice his own safety for another’s well-being. His decision sends him on a path he could’ve never anticipated.
Debut author, Ransom Grey, offers an adventurous mix of speculative and dystopic vision for the Y/A audience. In fact, his futuristic dystopia is unnervingly close to current day America. When Stars Go Out echoes the totalitarian overlord vibe of George Orwell’s 1984 with a cast of characters who are brave and honorable pitted against the machinations of a society gone very wrong. Grey’s prose is solid, with compassionate leads and a few scenes of violence to underscore the hatefulness of the GRO and the Council.
A dark dystopian fantasy, When Stars Go Out posits a credible projection from today’s current reality of a nation led by a dark and dreadful class of elitists, with the young people secretly meeting at the GRO facility as the only ones who have the guts to save it. Mr. Grey’s work is published with Defiance Press.
OZMA Awards – All things Fantasy, Magical Realms, Fantastical Creatures, Mythical Beings… you get the picture…
A young girl is charged with rescuing a dragon and, ultimately, saves her world in this wide-reaching fantasy conception of love, war, danger, and magic. Massive amounts of magic!
