Synopsis:

Dance With Me is a standalone literary fantasy themed around surviving emotional trauma, discovering one’s self-worth, overcoming depression and the toxicity of self-imposed perfectionism. It is told through the story of a ceramic ballerina enchanted to life through elven magic, and is presented as a clean fairy tale fantasy.

Review:

To step through the pages of Dance with Me is to gain admission to a vastly metaphorical and ethereal world. Elvish magic may be responsible for the magic infused ballerina who drags us by the heart through the rhythmically sublime tale, but it is the human reader that will undergo the most reflective journey.

Where the porcelain ballerina is quite literally the dancing object of our eyes, it is human heart ache that steals the show. Spinning and twirling across the dancefloor as it mingles with moments of sheer and emotive beauty, acts of resilience and no small amount of inner denial.

Dance with me is a unique and memorable journey through human emotion. It comes replete with an emotive colour palette that will not fail to hit hard but a delivery that slips inside you with delicate grace. 

There is an extra dimension to this surely, at least in part, biographical exploration of adoration, vanity, fragility and beauty in that we see the ballerina’s thoughts as she hastily scribbles them out on the page, leaving a trace of truly insightful transparency.

 This device is used to such a level that I almost wondered why I’d not seen the technique before; it seems such an obvious use of the often-neglected strike -through function but maybe that’s down to the talent of Elliot and the inner conflict that she so generously allows us to witness.

There is a dreamlike tone to this whole story, at times reminding me of Alice in Wonderland reimagined by studio Ghibli or some other thought-provoking animation-based foray into a magical world, laced with analogies that speak to every one of us in different ways. 

Although this is not your typical, battle-filled fantasy story, it has its own action set pieces. Scenes of heart pounding drama that force your heart to speed and thrash in its spiralling reverie, then settle, beaten and broken, both elated and anxious about the next time the dance takes you. This book is not my typical slice of the fantasy genre, but then there is very little about it that could be called typical. It is beautifully written with depth and dimension that will sing to you softly, but I insist you remain cautious, who knows what Dance with Me will choose to show you in the mirror.

Synopsis:

When a disease runs rampant, turning people into cannibalistic horrors, society comes to a halt. Kate manages to escape the sadistic captivity she has endured and collides with Nick, a Marine haunted by the scars of war.

They join forces to navigate a treacherous landscape, battling the undead and hostile survivors. But what happens when the monsters outside are the least of their worries?

Nick’s shame is crushing, and Kate’s distrust is swallowing her whole. Will they overcome the darkness that threatens to consume them from within? And what will become of a world overrun with creatures that cannot seem to stop…laughing?

Review:

I’ll start at the beginning. The first thing to note after reading this bite-sized page turner is that it is exquisitely titled. It is dark, and it does indeed bloom in such heartfelt and wondrous ways without ever negating the grime and ugliness of its zombie-fest setting.

Molly Macabre knows how to write people. People that, arms held out wide, teeter on the edge of morality, and also those that comfortably choose which side to fall into. When I started to read this book, well listen, as I consumed it in short order via audio, and believe me, it was on in the car, during cooking, dog walks and everywhere in between. I had expectations of a gritty action book, full of shotgun touting alpha males, popping zombie heads like fairground melons and high fiving before the next prescriptive literary device came shambling out of the sewers. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no snob when it comes to bubble-gum book entertainment and that would have been ok, at least for a couple of hundred pages, but it’s not what I got from Dark Bloom, and I feel so glad I was wrong.

There is absolutely a darkness to this book but it’s not overindulgent. The fuel pipes that keep the post-apocalyptic engine running are horrors from before the world turned even nastier than it was before. Uncomfortable themes that would make any self-respecting alpha male, melon popper’s toes curl, or at least Id like to hope so! Molly Macabre does an expert job of sharing these themes and the trauma that seeps out as a result without ever grinding the story and the inherent hope to a stop. The main characters are affected and weighed down by the past, the present and the dwindling hope for the future but they are vibrant and fun, human and enjoyable. Relatable decisions and thought processes are what keep you nodding in agreement and hungrily turning those pages.

For fans of the genre, there’s also plenty of satisfying nods to the greats. Hacking and slashing with improvised dystopian weaponry, some highly creepy kid zombies, and examples of humanity gone wrong amongst the spoils of the undead and detritus of civilisation. Another unique selling point was the laughing undead. Not something I’ve come across before but something that made absolute sense in a Romero-esque universe where the dead mimic the living in hopes that it helps them secure an easy feed. A fabulous garnish, sprinkled onto a long dried and hastily abandoned meal.

I’d like to give special mention to the list of supportive organisations at the end of this book for those that may feel triggered by its contents. This inclusion was another bright moment that made me smile after reading a horror novel and offered a slice of hope in a gloomy world.

Personally, I love a dark, sick and grimy tale but it was the light in this book that really shone for me and offered a refreshing and energised read. I look forward to meeting more characters from the Macabreverse!

Synopsis

With the realm falling apart, the fate of a people falls upon Laoch and Sura’s shoulders and the Gods’ weapons they now bear ‒ a thousand years of faith and lies reconciled in a single moment of hope and redemption.

For Laoch, the Crusades never ended, yet the embittered Ranger finds hope in his love for the dishonoured elven warrior, Sura. Together, they must face a new conflict when a powerful enemy crashes into a Meister’s alchemical experiment, setting off a wave of fear that ripples through the realm.

With the secrets of the Gods’ scripture exposed and whispers of an ancient evil’s return, Laoch and Sura are left reeling by the power their enemy wields when an even larger threat rises from the forest depths. One even the Gods’ weapons fear.
In a world no longer devoid of magic, a thousand years of secrets and lies spill out, and cracks form in the last bastion against an ancient foe.

For cast in iron and spiritfire – here be dragons.

Review

A Dragon of the Veil is a dark and festering cauldron of early sword and sorcery menace, epic fantasy adventure and the twisted concepts of alchemical science fiction. If it were a dark red wine it would have notes of skesis from the legendary Dark Crystal, the legs of Krull and the body of Beastmaster all glugged down from a belt-strapped wineskin in a dense and tortured forest.

“On the eve of battle, so many find their God in the flames of a campfire.”

Snape’s characters are brooding, believable and expertly damaged. Voiced with precise craft and dripping with his trade mark sardonic slant. Each character bears their own grudges, goals and vulnerabilities. Some of which take time to ferment in the story, being hidden deep in a psyche not yet willing to share but as the reader joins this desperate and often frantic quest they will be rewarded with blood soaked puzzle pieces.

The action in this book, the first of Snape’s new series, bursts from tense landscapes that have been carved with an artisan’s eye. The heart beat pulses an unavoidable rhythm that never fails to lodge in the throat. The vulnerability of each character causes this building threat to always have you by the throat, forcing each page to turn lest it becomes too much to bare.

Action and danger lurk around every corner, despite any emotive reflection of desperate characters. Snape manages to give tone and backstory to each voice while rarely giving them a break from threat and fear. The result is extremely immersive. There are times when confusion steals the what and why from the narrative but again this just adds to the overall malice and threat of the landscape.

“Two curved horns rose from the massive, metal enshrouded skull, like a crown of promised pain.”

Not only would I label this book sword and sorcery due to its themes but also due to the nostalgic transportation to a time when magic and science was a true mystery. You will not find any tired old fantasy concepts here. The esoteric mystery of diabolical magic and alchemical mayhem gives a dark Sheen to everything, I can almost imagine the video tape scratches as they dance across the screen in my minds eye. A beautiful homage to a vital and founding era to this genre.

“You bastard, wyrm. I will see you in hell.”

That is not to say that Nick Snape’s writing is primitive or not in keeping with more modern styles. He manages to hide his sci-fi roots well but they are there to be found in the more ephemeral sections of this story. Concepts and vivid ideas are plenty and are savagely punched into your guts at any opportunity whether you are braced or not. The balance between Sword and Sorcery and Science Fantasy is a taught razor wire stretched between solid genre pillars.

“The inhabited armour shifted, helm turning, sensing the shift-a thrill lined with dread.”

An intense book, one that punishes you if you don’t pay full attention as it’s characters and world cry for help. To me, whether intentional or not, Snape’s tone and inventive unfurling echoes, in places, the majesty of the Malazan series. A barrage of twisted concepts that roil against bitter and deep emotional conflict.

Honestly, I need a breath before embarking on the next book but you can be certain that when my pulse stabilises and the bitter taste of emotive carnage mellows in my mouth I will be looking forward to sightseeing in the City of Ashes.

Synopsis:

On an Earth devastated by The Scorching climate event, the Drathken land their giant plantships with the promise of healing the planet. Joshua Nkosi vlogs and jokes his way through an easy life guarding a deep-sea mining operation while watching old vids. That is until, he and his modded octopus partner, Marc, get caught up in a plot to steal radiation rich materials from the seabed, fuelling the terrorists’ plan to destroy a Drathken plantship, and ultimately put an end to the alien/human alliance.

Nkosi and his sarcastic tentacled buddy are forced to enter the Burnout Zone, only to come face to face with humanity’s stark future when the hunt for the terrorist’s lab takes a devastating twist. As conspiracies deepen and the jokes fly, Nkosi and Marc enter a dark journey of discovery—one they decide humanity desperately needs to listen to.

Review:

The scorching, as you might imagine, is set on a world still convulsing after it’s death throws. There are forces in play who’s job it is to help the recovery of the scorched, then slowly drowning world but they do so with cold duty and violent apathy.

Our main protagonist and his cephalopod partner delivers the gory details of the broken world in insidious and sarcastic tones as they navigate this action packed story at a pace akin to a veteran sliding down a metallic ladder to the depths of a 1980’s action sub. The charisma and interplay between these characters is a wonderful and nutritious injection amid the bleak and often reality-based suggestions of human greed and failure that Snape throws in so well without over-preaching.

“I do wonder, at times, whether we spend so much time watching our backs, that we fail to see what is in front of us.”

Josh Nkosi has hidden depth. His world view and his life’s experience hiss angrily from his broken pipework and his relationship with the pure genius that is MARC are not only fun but are such a vital voice in this story. The story itself is also a multifaceted beast. Like a crumbled post-apocalyptic high rise, each floor reveals another detail that paints a dramatic backdrop for the main narrative without ever dumping info or flattening the action packed groove of this book.

Snape also has a certain mastery in hiding his true characters within plain sight. He will literally tell you about a coming twist with such matter-of-fact charm that you will still feel the blow when it finally lands.

“We don’t discuss the dreams. However light my conversation, you don’t need the darkness that shrouds my slumbering mind.”

The same reverence can be given to the environments in this book. It is easy to say the world has been mostly destroyed but crawls along still, but Nick Snape manages to drape flesh onto it’s decaying bones. Each setting is a vivid and scientifically researched snapshot replete with a commentary on how it came to be (or ceased to be) as it flies past the window on our journey. 

I have never experienced such bleak world building being drip fed through humour and sardonic charisma in this way and it is truly intravenous, never so much as tripping the reader on their desperate charge towards its conclusion. 

A conclusion, I might add, that brings yet another layer to this unique and fascinating package. Snape’s way of introducing emotion, social conscience, the human condition and love for all creatures great and small is mesmerising and will live on in any reader’s mind. 

I look eagerly towards the roiling skies for the next book in this awesome series.

Synopsis

Under the benevolent leadership of the Immortal Emperor the Imperium of Man has stretched out across the galaxy. On the eve of victory, the Emperor leaves the front lines, entrusting the great crusade to his favorite son, Horus. Promoted to Warmaster, the idealistic Horus tries to carry out the Emperor’s grand design, all the while the seeds of heresy and rebellion have been sowed amongst his brothers.

Review

Mighty Emperor, I kneel before you and offer my ignorance as a tithe for forgiveness. Accept my apology for my illeducated previous opinions.

Possibly like many I have long laboured under the opinion that The Horus Heresy series of books were throw away action romps through a franchise both magnificent in scope but bordering on shallow in terms of literary satisfaction. How wrong could I have been!

This book is nothing short of technical and source respectful mastery. To weild so much canon, lore and fan devotion with such eloquent skill is miraculous. Further more, Abnett succeeds in creating a story that, although voiced by battle hardened and scientifically enhanced warriors has surprising depth and emotive strands that weave a tale of great scale and majesty.

It’s all here, the cost of war on veterans conditioned to think, feel and kill in the name of their superiors, the subtle whispers of revolt and the plight of the those not built for battle that must form hardened cogs in the machine of war. The scope of character diversity and motivation is simply astounding, making this introduction to the famed series a plasteel foundation that will grip you in its powerfist and force you towards the next in the series.

Action is more sparse than you might think as Abnett gathers the near infinite strands of lore and braids them with such deft hands that you will truly feel honoured to witness the birth of this universe spanning Grimdark spectacle. 

Written beautifully and with keen respectful scrutiny towards the franchise, this book will hook you, surprise you and inevitably drag you, kicking and screaming, into the lavish world of Warhammer 40,000, never to return.

Special mention must be made of Toby Longworth’s narration. His voicing and diverse but not forced cast of voices is incredible, leaving you further and personally entwined in the vast cast of charaters and their plights. I hope there are plans to immortalise Mr Longworth in statue at Nottingham’s Warhammer World. 

Dan Abnett and Toby Longworth have brought this dark universe to life with dedication and artistry and all mortal humans should venerate them accordingly.

Introduction

Karen McCompostine has lived an eclectic life! her most recent novel, The Handwarmers of Immortality is her SPFBOX entry and if her bold personality is anything to go by, it promises to be a wild ride. You can find more info on her previous books at her website, at https://www.karenmccompostine.com

Interview

DB:
Hello, Karen, its nice to virtually meet you, let’s start this wild party, could
you please introduce yourself and tell us about your SPFBOX entrant?

Karen:
Hello! Thank you for inviting me to your blog. I have only been on my blog before,
which is a bit like this advice for single people to take themselves out to
dinner. Before I begin, I must say that I can only introduce myself to a point,
as I live my life in cognito, which is due to misunderstandings, none of which
I am guilty of. Nevertheless, I was young and naive when I thought the bags of
white powder on my boyfriend’s many yachts were flour and powdered sugar in
case many of his friends would descend upon and demand pancakes (you must admit
that is sensible) and now I live in fear of the Colombian Maffia and/or police.So, I write under the ‘pseudonym’ Karen McCompostine, which is a nom-de-plum in
French for a pen name. I also can’t use my real face for promotion purposes
(and so I had to say no to Graham Norton) for the obvious facts, even though my
designer Paolo’s boyfriend Andreas, tells me I have “aged well for a boomer.”
(There has been a true boom on my literary works on June 1, actually, and I got
concerned, but I digress.)My author photo has been made using AI by my designer Paolo, because he told me to use ‘stock’ and I said I was not a factory, and then he made me all wrinkly. In fact, I am not all that wrinkly, but as he said, it adds to my safety from the
Colombian Maffia and/or the police.

Oh. Excuse me. Paolo just read this and told me you were asking about my book. I am the author of The Handwarmers of Immortality, A Grim Dark Epic Fantasy Romantic Historical Novel which is an entrant in the 10th Self-Published Fantasy Blog Off competition (SPFBOX where X stands for I actually don’t know what, but I am only participating, not organising).

And, for clarification, neither my book, nor its cover, have been in any way ‘aided’ by the AI. My Art, and Paolo’s (except for my face) are real.

DB:
It sounds like your life has been a wild ride already and I can only hope your
experiences find their way into your books. Can you sum up the plot of your
SPFBOX entry in as few words as possible?

Karen:
I do not want to give away any spoilers, but in The Handwarmers of Immortality
you will find a time-travelling fantasy tale, set in the 16th Century, the 20th
Century and some other Centuries. It features an epic struggle between good
(yay!) and evil (boo!), a generous dash of tasteful romance and a man with
ginger eyebrows. It is also not at all inspired by any specific movie from the
1980s of the 20th century, which I would like to underline, because I don’t
want to get sued.

DB:
I think we can all piece together the movie in question and I can already sense
reader’s eyebrows raising as you speak (ginger or not!). Is this your first
book? Tell us a little about your writing career so far.

Karen:
I have been writing for some years, first honing my craft (or oeuvre, if you will (and
you will)) with my homage to shifter romance – The Edible Highlander Saga.
This was first released as three novels between 2019-2023 and has since been
excitingly repackaged as an Omnibus (‘omnibus’ means a ‘collection’ for those less versed in
literary terms). And then, recently, it has been re-repackaged as The Edible
Highlander Saga: Novel in Three Parts (Third is Best) at the demand of my
publisher Jeffo from the website Amazoo.Here is one of my reviews to give you a taste:

“McCompostine is a rare diamond in the
rough of a writer. Like if a Dino turd fossilized and eventually became a
crystal that was displayed in the Smithsonian Institute for bored
eight-year-olds to roll their eyes at.”

As you can imagine, I was thrilled with such a comparison to the fossilised greats!
(Although I thought it was Smithsonian Museum.)

DB:
I can only dream of the acclaim of being compared to fossilised dinosaur turds!
In fact, the idea itself leads my distracted brain to wander more than I would
like so I will try to re-focus.  What led you to your genre, or do you write in multiple genres?

Karen:

When I began my soon-to-be-award-winning (very soon, I hope, I left space on my website)
literally career, my oeuvre was very firmly rooted in the popular genre of
romance and Scotland. Because love is real, and so are Scotsmen. I admit that I
am drawn towards my wildest erotic nature sometimes, and in fact some reviewers
described my scenes of interpersonal nature as ‘execrable’, which I think is a
typo for ‘excellent’ – some people are simply not good at spelling.The Handwarmers of Immortality is a fusion of genres, thus developing my oeuvre. It still
contains my trademark romantic sticky fingerprints but (in order to qualify for
SPFBOX) it is firmly rooted in fantasy and epic grim darkness as well. It has
crossover appeal, which gives it every chance to cross over from one audience
to another, much larger one, hopefully.(Paolo says I should mention that my scenes of intimate nature are in the best of
taste, because I’ve been raised by nuns, which is true, and that is how you
create an atheist who doesn’t swear even while writing kilt-free close-ups.)

DB:
I admire your confidence in your work. Writing can often generate over-critical
tendencies but I see no trace of this with you and that is refreshing! Talk to
me about what or who inspired you to start writing and why.

Karen:

I am married (yes, my dear fans, this is true and, thus, I am ‘off the market’ but
not like a cheese) to my husband Gunther, who is an ex-fitness instructor,
having progressed from dumbbells to dumb Prongles. If you ever meet Gunther,
whilst I owe him my life (this is something you will read about in my
forthcoming exciting memoir), you will see that the urge for creative escapism
is something which came both naturally and also essentially, so I don’t bury an egg whisk in his thick skull. (I am saying this lovingly.)

DB:
This description of creativity being both natural and essential does really
resonate with me. Do you have a favourite character to write?

Karen:

This is such a difficult and cruel question, DB! How can I choose a favourite character from the many metaphorically spawned from my fecund creative loins?Annabelle Elle Ellendeling and her love for Haggis MacBrawn in The Edible Highlander Saga was the cornerstone of my U-bend of creativity and that pair of star-crossed unfaithful (yes, this is true, because I also write searing social commentary and do not shy away from the truth of things) lovers will always
have a special place in my heart.However, the warm and completely unromantic relationship between my heroin Connie and her mentor, Shir Shawn Chonnery in The Handwarmers of Immortality, warmed my heart in a completely different way. I enjoyed writing those two
immensely, and I only say ‘immensely’ when I mean immensely, dear DB.

DB:
I do love a fictional relationship that goes beyond traditional romance and
into realms deeper and more nuanced. Also, I personally like books that aren’t afraid to go dark. Is darkness something that you explore in your writing or do you have a sunnier outlook than me?

Karen:

I have read multiple grim dark novels (sometimes with my eyes closed), which is how I found out about epilogues and prologues, and the realities of wars and battles. And men with
ginger eyebrows who suddenly discover that just because you (not you personally) have survived having been stabbed through the heart with a sword, that means you must die as a witch. You must admit that is quite dark. I had to hug Lassie (my dog who looks like Lassie from the movie Lassie) a lot after certain scenes entered my mind. As inspired as I was artistically, I dug through my knowledge of human nature acquired while escaping from the Colombian Maffia, the police, and while reading the oeuvres of Ms. Kerstin Espinosa Rosero and Mr. Clayton Snyder, none of whom are me in disguise.The trials and tribulations of my life have not clouded my sunny disposition, but sometimes we ride the storm, if you know what I mean, and when you’re forced to do that without a horse, while wearing nothing but your kilt (and your Scottish claymore), and walking through the land you have just been exiled by (this part is my #livedexperience if yachts count as land) you might even cry for blood. Especially when Gunther interrupts you in the middle of a creative wave to ask if we have any more Aldi Strong beer left.

DB:
I’m glad you cleared up the uncomfortable notion that you were, in fact,
Clayton Snyder hiding behind keyboard anonymity! I am also pleased your sunny
disposition is intact despite recent forays into grimdark. Do you, like many
authors, pour aspects of yourself into your characters or are they 100%
homegrown fiction?

Karen:

I must be careful, due to my life in cognito, not to put TOO MUCH of myself into my writing. I keep it literary, rather than literally (this is a ‘pun’). But yes, my life experience
and my yearning for romance (Gareth, if you’re reading this, and you’ve lost my
phone number, please contact me through the contact form on my website) does
touch (lightly) upon my fiction.

DB:
I cannot begin to imagine the marketing challenges presented to you as an
incognito author, but I am encouraged to see you take these challenges head on.
Can I ask what excites you the most about story-telling? Is it world building?
Character development? Relationships? What fires you up the most at the
keyboard?

Karen:

For me, dear DB, stories are all about relationships, such as whether the sexy Scottish billionaire can win the heart (and other important parts) of a virginal waitress, or whether
Connie can find true love despite [redacted spoiler] while living through [this is also a spoiler].

DB:
That is interesting. I guess it’s difficult for characters to shine without the
reflection in the eyes of relations.  When it comes to plot, are you an outliner or are you flying by the seat of your pants?

Karen:

I am always fully clad when I write, but I make no judgements about other authors, especially in the age of Zoom, where pants are optional. Everyone’s creative process is their creative process.

DB:
Many authors shy away from self-praise, I get a sneaky feeling that you will
have no problem with this question. What elements do you feel you deliver well
in your books?

Karen:

Having completed my online creative writing course and obtained my diploma I think the part I excel in is the words. Without words, you don’t really have a book – or you do, but
it’s a notebook and, with a cruel twist of ironic fate, you can sell those for far more than a novel. The second thing I am best at are metaphors or similes. I can never remember which
is which, but I am equally good at both. Not to ring my own doorbell!

DB:
Ok, on to reading, do you read a lot of fantasy? Do you read for research only
or is reading part of your heart and soul?

Karen:

I must confess that having read grim dark epic fantasy oeuvres for the needs of my research on The Handwarmers of Immortality might have made me more of a romance girl again. Nevertheless, I had to write The Handwarmers of Immortality despite its inherent darkness because of the stirring, unpredictable passions of my boundless artistic muse.

And also so that I could enter SPFBOX which is for fantasy boox. (I think I just figured out the X!) I read many fantasy books, but they are a different sort of fantasy that mostly involves muscular, ominous men, and seemingly weak, yet strong feminine protagonists. Come to think of it, that’s actually the same thing.

DB:
Tell me about the last book that truly had you hooked.

Living a life in cognito is hard, so I decided it was time to take on a new hobby and impress my friends Myrna and Ethel with my cookery skills. Who better to learn from, but the doyen of 1970s adventurous cookery – Dahlia Smythe? Her seminal bestseller, How to Fake Being Able to Cook, allowed me to spend many happy hours in the blazing kitchen as I waited for the fire brigade to arrive with their long hoses, pumped and primed and ready to
douse me down! (And then I woke up, because I fell asleep mid-page two of the prologue to a grim dark novel, and this is why in my dreams there were flames and fires and me being forced to cook, yet the fire brigade never arrived as I turned into ashes seasoned with the Aldi Organic Spice Mix.)

DB:
Not for the first time during this interview, that is not the answer I
expected! As a reader, which authors do you think have pushed the boundaries of
your genre?

Karen: I would have to go with the romantic writer Elle James of the 50 Shades of Prey, who proved that success and grammar are unrelated, and inspired me to avoid writing what I
know, even if some of my lived experience seeps through the metaphorical pores of my keyboard.

DB:
I’m a big advocate for writing what you know and feel as opposed to
constraining creativity with too many boundaries. Some authors thrive on detail
and research-based fact checking but that’s not me. What comes next for Karen
McCompostine?

Karen:

I have to see Andreas, who is vegan, for dinner, which is as grim and dark as dinners go, because the last time was very awkward. Once I have recovered, I will work on one of the
projects germinating inside my mind:

My Two (Not Gay) Biker Gang Boyfriends (a romantic Motorcycle Club novel with a twist – two words – ‘magical kootchie’)

The Sword of Swords (book one of the series The Swords of Swords) (romantasy, which I found out is very popular and while in cognito, I must admit that I have dreams of being popular.

Something else (this is not a title but a mere indication that I may write something else)

DB:
Sounds like you have a lot of work ahead but I’m sure you will apply your
talents to achieving those goals! Finally, please tell us why a reader should
pick up ‘The Handwarmers of Immortality’ your SPFBOX entry?

Karen:

If you enjoy A Grim Dark Epic Fantasy Romantic Historical Novel which, whilst containing searing (as in, really hot (but not in a sexual way (although there is that too!))) social
commentary, bloody battles in the field and horizontal (mostly) battles in
furniture of mostly flat variety, and also seeks to entertain and make the
reader laugh (in a good way, rather than nervously to hide their excruciating
social embarrassment) then The Handwarmers of Immortality is exactly
what you need! Thank you for your excellent questions, DB. As discussed, I shall waive my usual (in cognito) appearance fee on this occasion, since I have enjoyed talking to you so much in a non-verbal way. It was a pleasure to speak with you, and I have researched
pleasures more deeply and thoroughly than even epilogues and prologues!

DB:
And I thank you for your colorful and multi-faceted responses! I look forward
to bumping into you in the coming weeks or months around the SPFBO proving
grounds.

Synopsis

The Halls of Venn are the seat of both knowledge and power in the great continent of Luna Ruinam. Renia, a scribe with a tragic past, spends her days expertly copying books that do little to satiate her desire for knowledge.
When a fateful commission lands on her desk, she finds herself tasked with transcribing a book coveted by assassins from the southern continent. Its theft throws the scribing halls into chaos and threatens to destroy the fragile peace that exists between their nations.
Haunted by dreams of her past, Renia must learn to master her impulses and awaken her long dormant magical abilities if she is to prevent war.
Fate, it would seem, is eager to grant her wishes. Yet she must risk everything to pursue it, and pay the bloody price it demands.

Review

Renia is laden with silken prose that slip into the mind’s eye with such ease you will not realise you are reading. 

My favourite fantasy stories begin zoomed in, small in aperture and focused on small threads of a larger world. As the tantalising aperture widens to encompass a great, more entangled world, I find great pleasure in my imagination being pulled along in that development.

Renia’s pacing and world unveiling is so expertly balanced that the entire experience has you continually sliding from your seat. Never too slow and never too fast, there is a comfort and a surety in Forshaw’s writing that builds trust and allows the reader to let go of the reigns and enjoy!

Each point of view is expertly crafted, allowing the language, description and atmosphere to curl up inside you, leaving its permanent mark on your own vividly painted world. Each view becomes so entwined in this story that there is a natural rhythmic memory that becomes intuitive as each section changes.

Characters and concepts leap from the page between their own lines, animated by words unsaid. A successful foray into the ‘show not tell’ wasteland of this fascinating and, dare I say, original world. Not only do Renia’s characters react, form relationships, love/hate, laugh and despise, they also carry genuine opinions, often opinions that clash with their stance on a given topic… incredible!

People in this book have an uncanny knack of hinting at trope, but then bursting out with genuine life and zeal beyond expectations. With a golden thread that thrums with emotion throughout, Renia threatens your soul while forcing you to turn each page. A steadily growing cast of nuanced characters makes this journey so pleasurable despite the often sobering emotional gut punches. Each voice and viewpoint has a beautiful clarity that makes the mind’s eye’s job effortless. Forshaw somehow makes each character feel real and vulnerable in their own way, and cool as f**ck at the same time!

From dusty mountains of neglected books to childlike wonder and awe derived from a fallen moon, Forshaw invites you to touch, taste and experience it all. This book excels at modifying its approach for each scenario or inner monologue, practically jibing the author of this incredible debut for his untamed schizophrenia!

The pacing and rhythmic head hopping plays such a wonderful part in driving the dramatic and multifaceted plot. You will see the threads, maybe even dare to imagine where they may lead, but will lose your place and be forced to surrender to the characters and their Living, breathing and often flawed decision making.

I feel blessed to have witnessed the unfurling of so many fascinating lives, characters that truly lived through the timeline of Renia’s plot. The story feels both an intro and a conclusion to a massive story and is sure to bear prolific fruit and I, for sure, will be happy to indulge in each offering.

Synopsis

Zervana is a space pirate, for she has no other choice. She lives in a galaxy where interstellar travel belongs to the rich. Long ago, GIBB corp. built portals between planets, but the only way through them is by drinking the company’s high-priced elixirs. If Zervana doesn’t raid GIBB shipments and give the means of space travel to the poor, then who will?

Milo is a space pirate, for he has no other choice. He’s a Mesito, the last remaining of an eradicated, shape-shifting species thought too dangerous to roam the galaxy. His life is lived in shadows and he has nowhere to turn besides Zervana’s rebellious arms. If Milo stops assisting her in piracy, will she still harbor him?

Zervana and Milo’s splintering relationship is soon just one of many problems. Enter another band of pirates with their own histories and turmoil, the accelerating pursuit of the GIBB corporation, and—at the heart of everything—a generational secret which threatens to destroy the entire galaxy. If Zervana hopes to save her worlds, first she must reckon with them.

Review:

From the very beginning, Sanders’ journalistic style taps out a galaxy in exposition-heavy but easy to swallow reams of world building that paints a broad picture and sets out an enjoyable tone.

A world tainted by consumerism and elitist principles is the perfect place to start our two main characters on their rebellious antics. And from the start, things begin to go wrong.

Milo and Zervana’s relationship is strained from page one. After a series of heists and, no doubt, exhilarating space pirate escapades, Milo wants out, and Zervana wants more! This fragility, along with Sanders’ moreish prose, helps to keep the pages turning.

This is a book full of fun that doesn’t swerve the darkness but also doesn’t dwell on it. As a stalwart grimdark fan, this is not something I would usually read, but I did enjoy my holiday into the lighter side of the universe none the less.

This story and its colourful characters scream to be adapted into a graphic novel. Again Sanders’ style practically slaps a hook-laced comic book frame around each scene and easily encourages you to move to the next.

As someone with grim tendencies and a penchant for gritty, human-based fantasy, I found small issue with Milo’s species-specific shape changing abilities, but this did not stop me enjoying the character and his “I’m too old for this shit” narrative. Zervana’s idealistic spaced themed Robin hood was a good counterbalance and I really did enjoy the cast of characters they ran into on their fraught journey. Brady has an eye for interesting character concepts even if he is a little heavy on the info and exposition dumps, he does manage to make them slip down the throat like any good vaccitube (space travel elixir that holds this galaxy/story together, one of Mr Sanders’ many fascinating and well thought out concepts that makes his world brim with heritage and back-story support beams!)  

It was a fine spring morning, and all was well in the realm. Treachery, inter-clan political intrigue, bloody violence and dark magic were all strangely subdued while I had the pleasure of interviewing none other than Mr Tim Hardie.

Author of the Brotherhood of the Eagle series and his recent, Asian inspired novel, A Quiet Vengeance, Tim needs no further introduction other than to say he is currently knee deep in his latest Kickstarter, a campaign to bring Hall of Bones, the first instalment of his Norse flavoured master series to the world of audio.

Welcome, Tim! I hope you are well and the gradual shift in weather here in the North of the UK is more to your liking than the cold gloom we’re hopefully seeing the back of.

First up, let’s hear it, please tell us about the Kickstarter and how we can get behind you on this project.

Thanks DB. Up here in the North, the blossom is on the trees, the crocuses and daffodils are blooming, and the unexpected cold snap in Spring later this week is sure to kill them all.

You’re right, I have a Kickstarter campaign running at the moment, until 10^th April. This project is to fund the production of my debut novel, Hall of Bones, as an audiobook. It will be narrated by RJ Bayley, who has produced a number of audiobooks already for fellow fantasy authors such as LL MacRae, HL Tinsley, Lee C Conley, Trudie Skies, AK Faulkner and Joseph John Lee.

Having your audiobook narrated by a professional is an expensive project, which is why I’m running a Kickstarter to cover those costs. I could try and record the whole thing myself, but the result would be an affront to both listeners and narrators alike. A story like Hall of Bones with its vast cast of characters really needs someone with the talents of RJ Bayley to draw out those individual voices and make them stand out.

Another way to look at it is this is the project where RJ Bayley becomes 200 Vikings all at once. For this to happen, we need to raise £3,000 by 10^th April.

Is it possible to sum up the entire series of The Brotherhood of the Eagle without spoilers?

No, not really. However, I’m willing to give it a go!

The Brotherhood of the Eagle is a story about change, and how you deal with that. It’s a Viking-inspired world, where magic is distrusted and clan loyalties, rivalries and blood feuds have driven events in the setting of Laskar for more than a century. Amidst this backdrop of warring clans, a new evil has taken root, which threatens the whole realm. The key question is whether the other clans are able to set aside their differences in time to unite against this growing threat.

I’d summarise The Brotherhood of the Eagle as a series featuring character-led stories, with a big dollop of intrigue and action thrown into the mix. I always try and leave my readers guessing when it comes to the motivations and objectives of my characters and what is about to happen next in the plot.

Is Norse culture something already close to your heart or is it just your chosen basis for this particular series?

I tend to describe my stories as Viking-inspired rather than Norse-inspired, because whilst the books reflect the Viking culture they have their own fantasy mythology, which is completely unrelated to the Norse religion and gods.

I’m trying to create a sense of realism and place with my stories, which in turn helps ground the reader and gives them a deeper, richer reading experience. The Viking setting simply felt right for The Brotherhood of the Eagle, just as the Middle Eastern setting allowed me to tell a very different story with A Quiet Vengeance, even though it’s set in the same fantasy world.

Who is your favourite audio book narrator, and why is it Indie fantasy legend, RJ Bayley?

Where do I start with that one? I’ve worked with RJ before on the fantasy horror anthology The Anatomy of Fear, since he recorded the audiobook version. I’d been involved in formatting and proof-reading the stories for that collection, so I was familiar with them all. When I started helping out with the audio proofing exercise, I was amazed at how different and immersive the experience was. I wrote my own story with some very clear ideas about the characters, but I have to say I prefer RJ’s interpretation of that tale in audio. For me it’s become the definitive take on that world, and I know other authors feel the same way once their work has had the audio treatment.

RJ has good vocal range, providing different voices for each of the characters. This is important in audio, as it gives the listener cues so they know who is speaking and can become immersed in the story without the need for lots of prompts.

I must confess, I only revealed to RJ that there are around 200 named characters in The Brotherhood of the Eagle after he agreed to join the project. I’m sure he’ll be fine and, to his credit, he hasn’t backed out yet!

Do you have a favourite character in Hall of Bones? Are there certain characters you prefer to write?

Rothgar is the protagonist of the story, but I think his younger sister Nuna is my favourite. Her tale begins very much in the background, as this setting is a male-dominated warrior society, holding to the ancient and, frankly, outmoded Laws of Reave, the clan’s founder. In Hall of Bones she’s initially seen as little more than a political pawn, her marriage to another clan used to build the power of Rothgar’s ruling family. I find Nuna’s perspective refreshing because she’s not in a position in this society to solve her problems through action and violence. Instead, she has to find other, quieter and subtler ways to wield her power and influence. Nuna’s story becomes increasingly important as The Brotherhood of the Eagle series progresses, leading to some key developments as the saga concludes in Broken Brotherhood. As the strapline of Hall of Bones makes clear, “Everything is about to change …”

I enjoy writing all my characters and it’s by getting inside their heads and thinking about their motivations and individual objectives that the tale moves forward. Often my characters have more say over the development of the plot than I do! Picking a favourite to write is hard, but I’ll go with Gautarr Falrufson, one of the Reavesburg jarls who has long harboured his own desire to rule the clan one day. I like the fact his actions stem from a fierce loyalty to his family and bannermen, and he genuinely believes he is the better person to lead, rather than Rothgar’s family. He might even be right, which makes the whole dynamic fascinating and his scenes are always great fun to write as a result.

What made you decide to make the move towards audio?

As a writer you always have to be thinking about moving into new markets. With The Brotherhood of the Eagle series due to be completed later this year this felt like the right time, when interest in the series will be at its height. Audio was always something I intended to do, so it was a question of when, not if.

It’s also the right thing to do. Audiobooks give sight-impaired people access to books they otherwise couldn’t read, but it also provides alternative ways for everyone to enjoy them. Not everybody likes or has the time to read, for example. Audiobooks give people choice, allowing them to enjoy the story on their daily commute or whilst out walking the dog.

You also have a scattering of short stories out there in various anthologies. Are there any particular stories that broke the Tim Hardie mould if there is such a thing?

I mentioned The Anatomy of Fear earlier in this interview. That’s the first time I’ve attempted to write horror and move the setting into gaslamp fantasy. My tale for that collection, The Whisperers, is set in an entirely new fantasy world and definitely has the potential to be expanded into a new novel further down the line.

Talk me through some of the amazing rewards available for backers of your Kickstarter.

At £25 backers can get the Hall of Bones audiobook but I’ve deliberately offered a range of higher and lower priced rewards to try and suit every budget. I’m creating a mini-short story collection called A Roll of the Dice, which will be produced as an ebook and audiobook if the project funds. Also available is an exclusive artwork poster and the chance to get signed copies of my books for the first time.

Kickstarter is a dynamic platform, so I’m also developing some more rewards at the moment. This will include a new ebook anthology package and potentially others too, once I’ve agreed the details with a few people.

£3,000 is a high funding target, so the other thing I’m also doing is building in some milestone incentives on the way to that, which backers will receive regardless of whether or not the project funds. At the time of writing we’ve just hit £1,000, so I’m doing an exclusive cover reveal of Broken Brotherhood for backers. When we get to £1,500 I’ll issue backers with the first short story in my Wolf Throne series and at £2,000 I’m thinking of a teaser with the back cover blurb for Broken Brotherhood.

Do you have the voices of characters in your head or are you happy to give RJ Bayley total freedom? I’m interested in the process and how far your influence goes as director, I guess you could say.

A key part of this is letting go. The audiobook is RJ’s interpretation of my novel, rather like a different cast of actors will bring their own individual performances to the stage when acting in a specific production of a play.

Part of RJ’s process is to agree the broad outlines of each character from the start. So, for example, Rothgar is noble-born, so he’s not going to speak like a commoner. However, the voice RJ chooses and how this is delivered is ultimately down to him.

I’ve recently read that you’ve written the last words of the Brotherhood of the Eagle series. How does that make you feel?

It’s a strange feeling, as I’ve been writing this series since 2011. It still doesn’t feel completely done, as Broken Brotherhood is currently with beta readers before I move ahead to write the final version. However, I am really happy with the current draft of Broken Brotherhood, and I did have a damp eye at times reading through that version before sending it out.

Stopping at four books with these characters feels right. I didn’t want them to outstay their welcome, and I think Broken Brotherhood gives them the send-off they richly deserve.

What’s next for Tim Hardie?

Currently the Kickstarter feels like my full-time job, so that’s going to keep me busy until April. At that point, I hope I’ll have some audiobooks to produce!

In any event, I’ll be releasing Broken Brotherhood later this year, so completing a series will be another first for me as an author. After that, I have a few ideas for new novels and it’s probably going to be a case of which project I feel most enthusiastic about at the time. Currently, that could be turning The Wolf Throne short story series into a novel, writing the follow-up standalone to A Quiet Vengeance, which would be called A Quiet Betrayal, and expanding on my short story in The Anatomy of Fear to write a gaslamp fantasy novel called The Silent Division.

We’ll have to see what happens!

Ok, I have to thank you for giving up your time to chat to me, it’s incredible to peek behind the scenes of this Kickstarter and be able to share its bounty with the Fanfiaddict family.

Before I let you get back to the keyboard… it’s the end of the month, pay day for most is approaching, I want our community to support you in this project, please tell us why we should get our bank cards out and what we can expect if we do?

I think the audiobook version of Hall of Bones is going to be amazing in RJ’s hands, plus backers will also be ensuring I create new work as well through A Roll of the Dice.

Kickstarter works on an all or nothing funding model, so if I don’t raise £3,000 by the 10^th April deadline the project simply doesn’t happen and no one is charged. If you back now that gives other people the confidence to support the project and makes it more likely we’ll succeed. Any contribution, large or small, makes a difference if enough people come together to support the project.

Just to clarify, although we’re talking about pay day, your card won’t be charged unless the project funds, so any payment will be taken by Kickstarter after the project closes on 10^th April.

Thank you Mr Tim Hardie, it has been a pleasure!

Thank you, DB, for listening to my ramblings!

You can find the link to Tim’s Kickstarter campaign here!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/timhardie/hall-of-bones-audiobook-kickstarter

Synopsis

Who is the Last Ronin? In a future, battle-ravaged New York City, a lone surviving Turtle embarks on a seemingly hopeless mission seeking justice for the family he lost. From legendary TMNT co-creators Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, get ready for the final story of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles three decades in the making!

What terrible events destroyed his family and left New York a crumbling, post-apocalyptic nightmare? All will be revealed in this climactic Turtle tale that sees longtime friends becoming enemies and new allies emerging in the most unexpected places. Can the surviving Turtle triumph?

Eastman and Laird are joined by writer Tom Waltz, who penned the first 100 issues of IDW’s ongoing TMNT series, and artists Esau & Isaac Escorza (Heavy Metal) and Ben Bishop (The Far Side of the Moon) with an Introduction by filmmaker Robert Rodriguez!

Collects the complete five-issue miniseries in a new graphic novel, an adventure as fulfilling for longtime Turtles fans as it is accessible for readers just discovering the heroes in a half-shell.

Review

Firstly, let’s get something out of the way before I get surrounded and battered by the foot ninjas of the comic world. I don’t often read comics. I have great love for them as founding fathers, of a huge wealth of concepts and characters and imagination catalysts that help to propagate the world of fantasy. I have utmost respect but very little experience so please don your training gloves if my footwork lets me down.

Other than 2000AD the early TMNT comics were my first comic love. I continually overdosed on Conan books and TMNT comics while cutting my teeth learning and playing various RPGs (one of those being Palladium’s TMNT supplement “TMNT and other strangeness” for their huge Rifts game universe, a vast gaming system that to my mind gave rise to the whole D20 movement, please also check out “Ninjas and Super spies!) Part of my love for these 4 aquatic brethren is simply the era in which I found them and this can be said for a lot of cult phenomenon, but with the TMNT I think there is more to it, I’ll get back to that shortly. 

We all know that franchises that reach a certain height of fame end up dodging and weaving the financial enemy of creation. They’re forced to spew grotesque offsprings in the form of lunch boxes, kids clothes and just about anything imaginable (I’m side-eying you Mr Lucas) but the TMNT hey day has now dwindled satisfyingly into realms of cult classic. This book does a superb job of bringing the heart of this epic genre and era spanning tale back to its beautiful and inspirational roots.

Excuse me while I frontflip off this tangent like a well trodden New York rooftop!

The Last Ronin, yes, that’s right, book review, of course…

What did people love about the TMNT? Whether they realize it or not, their family is the epitome of the fantasy fellowship trope. A grand master, only present when necessary for the doling of wisdom. His understudy, obsessed with performance and gaining the leadership chops to guide his band of heroes to success. The fun one, the angry guy and the wizard…sorry, gadgeteer who uses science and the leavings from the world above to create problem solving tech to improve their capabilities as heroes.

It’s all there! 

These are also mutants, underdogs, shunned by the people they are sworn to protect and rescue, bound by honor and family ties, forced to survive by fighting shell to shell with their brothers against a rising tyranical overlord without honor. Capable and devastatingly skilled warriors who are also flawed and human (well, partly) and occasionally vulnerable as their enemies develop…boom, it’s all there.

So having all that wonderful and satisfying fantasy in place for several years. Millions of fans and obsessives yearning for the return of their favourite mutants, what could possibly come next? The LAST Ronin, there is only one survivor…be still my beating heart.

This comic collection does an exceptional job of giving it’s readers exactly what they need. It’s an unstoppable break-neck journey through the (potentially) final chapter in the TMNT story. It’s mutagen induced special power is undoubtedly it’s ability to balance action with emotion and reader engagement. As I said earlier, this book has a LOT of people to please and I personally think it could not have done a more comprehensive job. Effortlessly it weaves it’s many stories and timelines like whirling three fingered hands in the midst of furious combat, burning desire for revenge and an overarching drive to remain honorable and respectful to those who have gone before.

The Last Ronin is a lesson in how to honour ones heritage whilst moving forward and dragging die-hards fans out of the sewers and into the new world without the need to purchase a branded lunch box. I found it thoroughly entertaining, it made me laugh, it made me cry and it once again gave me an essential reminder that the artistry of comics should never be questioned.

Thank you Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird, the gift you have given the world is very much appreciated and I feel has shaped more of the world of fantasy entertainment than people care to realize.