New Release: “The Curse of Time: Book 1: Bloodstone” by M. J. Mallon

Tags

anxiety, Cambridge, crystals, curse, deception, depression, eating disorders, Fantasy, magic, mystery, self-harm, teen relationships, ya, Young adult

Today I’m delighted to share a new release with excerpt by the wonderful M.J. Mallon. I’ve been a fan of her blog for sometime and am delighted to announce her debut novel. Scroll down for the excerpt, bio and links.

Blurb:

On Amelina Scott’s thirteenth birthday, her father disappears under mysterious circumstances. Saddened by this traumatic event, she pieces together details of a curse that has stricken the heart and soul of her family.

Amelina longs for someone to confide in. Her once carefree mother has become angry and despondent. One day a strange black cat and a young girl, named Esme appear. Immediately, Esme becomes the sister Amelina never had. The only catch is that Esme must remain a prisoner, living within the mirrors of Amelina’s house.

Dreams and a puzzling invitation convince Amelina the answer to her family’s troubles lies within the walls of the illusive Crystal Cottage. Undaunted by her mother’s warnings, Amelina searches for the cottage on an isolated Cambridgeshire pathway where she encounters a charismatic young man, named Ryder. At the right moment, he steps out of the shadows, rescuing her from the unwanted attention of two male troublemakers.

With the help of an enchanted paint set, Amelina meets the eccentric owner of the cottage, Leanne, who instructs her in the art of crystal magic. In time, she earns the right to use three wizard stones. The first awakens her spirit to discover a time of legends, and later, leads her to the Bloodstone, the supreme cleansing crystal which has the power to restore the balance of time. Will Amelina find the power to set her family free?

A YA/middle grade fantasy set in Cambridge, England exploring various themes/aspects: Light, darkness, time, shadows, a curse, magic, deception, crystals, art, poetry, friendships, teen relationships, eating disorders, self-harm, anxiety, depression, family, puzzles, mystery, a black cat, music, a mix of sadness, counterbalanced by a touch of humour.

A short bio before we get to the excerpt: 

I am a debut author who has been blogging for three years: https://mjmallon.com. My interests include writing, photography, poetry, and alternative therapies. I write Fantasy YA, middle grade fiction and micro poetry – haiku and tanka. I love to read and have written over 100 reviews: https://mjmallon.com/2015/09/28/a-z-of-my-book-reviews/

My alter ego is MJ – Mary Jane from Spiderman. I love superheros! I was born on the 17th of November in Lion City: Singapore, (a passionate Scorpio, with the Chinese Zodiac sign a lucky rabbit,) second child and only daughter to my proud parents Paula and Ronald. I grew up in a mountainous court in the Peak District in Hong Kong with my elder brother Donald. My parents dragged me away from my exotic childhood and my much loved dog Topsy to the frozen wastelands of Scotland. In bonnie Edinburgh I mastered Scottish country dancing, and a whole new Och Aye lingo.

As a teenager I travelled to many far-flung destinations to visit my abacus wielding wayfarer dad. It’s rumoured that I now live in the Venice of Cambridge, with my six foot hunk of a Rock God husband, and my two enchanted daughters. After such an upbringing my author’s mind has taken total leave of its senses! When I’m not writing, I eat exotic delicacies while belly dancing, or surf to the far reaches of the moon. To chill out, I practise Tai Chi. If the mood takes me I snorkel with mermaids, or sign up for idyllic holidays with the Chinese Unicorn, whose magnificent voice sings like a thousand wind chimes.

Links:

My Amazon UK Author Page

My Amazon US Author Page

My Amazon Canada Author Page

My blog – for information about new releases, photos of main characters/character interviews, book reviews and inspiration: https://mjmallon.com

My New Facebook Group #ABRSC: Authors/Bloggers Rainbow Support Club on Facebook:

Instagram:

Twitter: @Marjorie_Mallon and Twitter: @curseof_time

Facebook: Facebook: m j mallon author

Tumblr: Tumblr: mjmallonauthor

I have devoted the past few years to writing over 100 reviews on My Goodreads Review Account, and on my blog to help support traditional and indie writers.

EXCERPT:

Puzzle Piece 1: The Invitation

Opportunity,

An unexpected invite,

Such a mystery,

To explore and discover,

A hidden cottage of light.

I found it to be a mystifying situation. An unnatural stillness seemed to linger after many days of storms. Today, the sky reminded me of a painting. It appeared too perfect, too bright, too still, a picture landscape with no beginning or end. Instead, the vault of heaven spread out toward an endless grey forever, as if seeping around the edges of an untamed watercolour bleeding into the rest of the day. Even so, the sight filled my heart with promise, a ray of hope in an otherwise dull morning.

The quietness of my contemplation came to an abrupt end. I heard the sound of an envelope crashing through the mail box. I jumped at the clatter. The letter landed on the floor as the sound of a thousand crystal chandeliers echoed throughout the house. I rushed to retrieve the envelope and turned it this way and that. I couldn’t find an address label and wondered if the note had been hand-delivered. Who could this message be for?

I stood puzzling over this peculiar circumstance when out of nowhere my name: Amelina Scott appeared in bold writing. I watched wide-eyed as the final character of my surname was spelled out in a delicate font. I tore the dispatch open and inside I discovered a card printed on the finest paper with gilt edges and embossed calligraphy. There were few details, just an instruction to visit:

Crystal Cottage, River Walk, Cambridge, and the following added at the bottom as an afterthought: R.S.V.P – Not required. We promise to be welcoming when you arrive. When you’re ready, you’ll discover us…..

I shook my head in disbelief.  Nothing good ever happens to the Scott’s so this invitation might look magical, but surely it must be nonsense. Weird messages from unknown sources count as dubious junk mail, the way I look at it.

I grabbed the envelope and attempted to rip it into pieces, but it wouldn’t tear. With a mind of its own the envelope curled its edges in protest. I searched in a drawer until I found scissors and tried to cut the invite. That didn’t work either. My hand ached, but the invitation endured intact as if mocking me.

Frustrated, I tried to cut the invitation again. A sputtered cursing sound filled the room even though I was alone. On my third attempt, I tore into the card with success. (I think it let me.) And once again, I perceived a noise, an angry murmur, and then nothing. Quiet descended in the room, so I threw the torn parts into the bin.

Finally satisfied that the annoying issue with the strange invite would no longer plague me, I brushed my hands together, and picked an apple out of the bowl on the kitchen counter, polished it on my jumper and then took a bite. In no time my hunger had abated, and as I chucked the core towards the bin, I registered a chuckle. I stopped, my feet rooted to the ground as a feeling of certainty filled my soul. I knew what to expect. I have no idea how I did, but I could see the image in my mind, the invitation had reformed. The invitation was playing games with me! I peered in the rubbish, and there I saw the envelope, connected in one perfect, unblemished piece. What the heck?

 

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Saturday Historical Novelist Interview: Steve Harrison

Tags

1795, 2017, British Navy, convicts, Fantasy, Historical fiction, Napoleonic period, seafaring, Sydney harbour, time travel, TimeStorm, Timing Stiorm

Welcome to another Saturday Interview with a renowned Historical Novelist. Today I have the pleasure of introducing Steve Harrison.

Steve Harrison was born in England, migrated to New Zealand and eventually settled in Sydney, Australia, where he lives with his wife and daughter. As he juggled careers in shipping, insurance, online gardening and the postal service, Steve wrote short stories, sports articles and a long running newspaper humour column. In recent years he has written a number of unproduced feature screenplays (although being unproduced was not the intention) and developed projects with film producers in the US and UK. 

His script, Sox, was nominated for an Australian Writers’ Guild ‘Awgie’ Award and he has written and produced three short films under his Pronunciation Fillums partnership. Prior to publication, his novel TimeStorm was Highly Commended in the Fellowship of Australian Writers (FAW) National Literary Awards.

Here is the blurb for TimeStorm:

n 1795 a convict ship leaves England for New South Wales in Australia. Nearing its destination, it encounters a savage storm but, miraculously, their battered ship stays afloat and limps into Sydney Harbour. Here, the convicts rebel, overpower the crew and make their escape, destroying the ship in the process. Fleeing the sinking vessel with only the clothes on their backs, the survivors struggle ashore.
Among the escaped convicts, seething resentments fuel an appetite for brutal revenge against their former captors while, for their part, the crew attempts to track down and kill or recapture the escapees. However, it soon becomes apparent that both convicts and crew have more to concern them than shipwreck and a ruthless fight for survival; they have arrived in Sydney in 2017.

TimeStorm is a thrilling epic adventure story of revenge, survival and honour set in a strange new world of unfamiliar technology and equally unfathomable social norms. In the literary footsteps of Hornblower, comes Lieutenant Christopher ‘Kit’ Blaney, an old-fashioned hero, a man of honour, duty and principle, dragged into the 21st century… literally.
A great fan of the grand seafaring adventure fiction of CS Forester, Patrick O’Brien and Alexander Kent, and modern action thriller writers such as Lee Child, Steve Harrison combines several genres in his debut novel.

The book was inspired by a replica 18th century sailing ship on Sydney Harbour and a question from Steve’s brother, Tony: “What if that was a real convict ship?” TimeStorm explores that question in a fast-paced story as a group of desperate men from the 1700s clash in modern-day Sydney.

TimeStorm was Highly Commended in the 2013 Jim Hamilton Award fantasy/science fiction category of the Fellowship of Australian Writers (FAW) National Literary Awards

Here is my interview with Steve:

Please tell us,why did you choose to write historical fiction?

Historical fiction chose me through necessity in order to write my novel, TimeStorm. I have written stories and scripts in other genres, but this particular tale allowed me to write about my favorite period.

What in particular fascinates you about the era(s) you write about?

I have always been fascinated by the epic nature of the Napoleonic period and I have devoured all of Bernard Cornwell’s Richard Sharpe novels, many of them several times. But my greatest love is for the classic seafaring adventurer heroes. My father introduced me to Hornblower, Aubrey, Ramage and Bolitho, among others, and I became absorbed in their worlds of honour, duty, violence and romance. I’m sure actually living in those times would destroy my romantic notions, but from the safe distance of the 21^st century it looks like a very lively time.

Tell us about the concept behind your books. How did you get the idea?

TimeStorm developed from a simple ‘what if’ question by my brother as we watched a tall ship on Sydney harbour more than 25 years ago. He said, “what if that was a real convict ship?” It was like a sledgehammer to my imagination and in a very short time I had the story; a 1795 British navy ship – with a Hornblower-esque hero – is transported through time to present day Sydney, where the convicts rebel and escape. I was able to indulge my love of that historic period together with time travel and modern action thrillers. I had my cake and ate it!

What song would you pick to go with your book?

Given the disasters that befall my characters, I would have to choose Ship of Fools by World Party.


Tell us about your writing history. When was the first time you decided to write and when was the first time you did?

About 30 years ago I had a boring job and decided to write a short story. Until that point I never had any interest in writing, so I don’t know what prompted it. The story was well received, so I started writing, well, anything and everything; sports articles, a newspaper humour column, film scripts, greeting card sayings and T shirt slogans. I made some money from writing, but nothing regular and every few years I would rewrite and submit TimeStorm to publishers. The work paid off and it only took just over 25 years to find a publisher…

Did anyone influence you / encourage you to become a writer?

Writing came spontaneously (see above), but I did get a lot of encouragement. I was fortunate to start writing before the internet, at a time when many editors would write back with long critiques of rejected stories. They helped me tremendously, eventually (see above!). I also had a former friend who told me I would never write a book, which was great motivation.

Which character is your favourite?

Rufus Redmond, the ‘villain’ of TimeStorm. I don’t see him as a villain, as he has a good reason for being the way he is, but he was both frustrating and rewarding to write. I couldn’t control him and try as I might to direct his actions, he always had the last say.

Are you like any of the characters (and how so)?

All my characters are me, or aspects of me. They allow me to act out those horrible, mean thoughts I daren’t reveal to anyone in the real world, and also be the classic gallant and fearless hero I would like to be.

Were the plot and subplots completely planned from the start or did they change during the process, and if so, how?

The story and subplots of TimeStorm came to me pretty much whole, right at the start. In fact, I read my original manuscript recently (a horrible experience) and there are very few changes, and certainly nothing significant, in the published version. I can safely say my writing improved over the years, though. I think the books was a one off, though, as my writing is much more organic these days.

Who are your editors and how do you quality control your books?

My small publisher provided an editor and proof reader and it was a very sobering experience. I had gone through the manuscript countless times, but they found so many typos and other errors it was embarrassing. They made me feel better by saying a writer should never (opinion, remember!) edit their own work, because they see what they meant and not what they wrote. If I ever self-publish, I will spend whatever it takes for good professional editing.

What is your advice to new writers?

I have a bee in my bonnet about this subject. I consider all writing advice to be opinion, and in my opinion new writers should challenge or ignore it and find their own unique voice and way of writing. I particularly dislike advice that begins with ‘you should’ or ‘you must’ or ‘you shouldn’t.’ There are no short cuts in writing and, again in my opinion, the best writers are those who made the most mistakes along the way. I do not see the point in avoiding a potentially valuable writing experience just because someone says you should. Discover why you should do or not do something by doing it!

Links

Website: https://stormingtime.wordpress.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/worldtimestorm

Twitter: https://twitter.com/StormingTime

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/418568.Steve_Harrison

All TimeStorm buying links at Elsewhen Press: http://elsewhen.alnpetepress.co.uk/index.php/catalogue/title/timestorm/

Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00MXP9AOC

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00MXP9AOC

Author Feature: Ali Isaac | Nicholas C. Rossis

Tags

Ali Isaac, author feature, Book Feature, Connor Kelly, Epic fantasy, Fantasy, interview, Irish myths, new release

Source: Author Feature: Ali Isaac | Nicholas C. Rossis

Ali has not just written some of the most moving blog posts I have read, but she is also a veritable treasure trove of information on anything Irish. Which is strange, as she’s not even Irish! Indeed, in a blind fit of jealousy I might even claim her as a fellow Greek. To find out why and discover this remarkable lady, just read on.

But first, an introduction to…

Legends of Ireland

There is so much more to Irish mythology than ‘The Children of Lir’, as beautiful a story as it is.Those brave or foolhardy enough to step between the veils to enter the magical realm of the Sidhe and learn more risk much, but surely the search for enlightenment is worth the challenge?

Let me be your guide, and all will be well. I invite you to accompany me now on an epic journey four thousand years back in time to the shadowy past of Ireland’s long-lost legend, where fairy kings and Goddesses walked amongst mortals, and where feats of magic, swordsmanship and courage were customary…

The Usual

Hi Ali, wonderful to have you here. Before we begin, can you please explain your connection to Greece?

Hi Nick, thanks for having me on your blog. My parents moved from Kuwait in the Middle East to Cyprus when I was about nine. We lived in an old converted goat barn in a little village near Limassol called Ayios Tykhonas. It was quite quaint and undeveloped then. The goat’s manger was made into our sofa, and my bedroom window didn’t even have glass in it, just an old wooden shutter. It was a great place to grow up in.

Seven years ago, I was married on the beach of another Greek island calledKalymnos, which is a short boat trip off the coast of Kos. My mum is semi-retired there, and we go there most years for our summer holiday.

Be sure to drop by next time you’re around. Still, it’s Ireland that has stolen your heart.

Yes, my husband is Irish. I have to say, Ireland was not a place I had any interest in at all until we moved here. I have always been fascinated by archaeology and mythology, a love which started when I lived in Cyprus. When we moved back to England in my early teens, I became obsessed with Arthurian legend. In Ireland, I felt for the first time in my life that I was home, and discovered that I had an Irish great-grandfather. I also discovered the myths about the Tuatha de Danann, and I was hooked.

As we’re here today to celebrate the launch of your third book in your Connor Kelly series, I take it the series has been influenced by Irish legends?

Of course! This is not actually the third book of the series, but more of asideline really. It occurred to me, from the interest in Irish mythology on my blog, that many people who love Irish mythology might not be interested in reading YA fiction. YA is not everyone’s cup of tea. So I decided to pull out the myths from the series so far and give them their own book. They’re worthy of reading in their own right. And my aim all along was to introduce Irish myths to an unsuspecting world! I intend to re-write more of them in language people today will understand.

That’s brilliant! What inspired you to start the series?

I had got a little bored with standard classic fantasy. I was bored with the perfect, handsome hero. I had three aims with this series; to create the ultimate flawed hero, to introduce Irish mythology, and to show thatdisabled people can be as heroic as ‘normal’ people. I have a disabled daughter, you see. My main protagonist, Conor Kelly, is based on her. I wanted to create a strong female lead, too, but that was too close to real life for me, I had to move past it and the only way I could do that was to make the main character a boy.

Makes sense. Was the Conor series the first thing you ever wrote?

I don’t remember the first story I ever wrote. I was always reading and writing throughout my childhood and into my twenties. The first story I vaguely remember writing was about a dog following a butcher’s delivery boy on his bike because he smelled of sausages, and then getting lost and having lots of adventures before finding his way home. God knows what inspired that one… did butchers ever deliver? Not that I remember. I was about seven at the time.

A lovely premise! BTW, our butcher does deliver, so perhaps you were just ahead of your time. What other writing have you done? Anything else published?

I wrote a book with Jane Dougherty calledGrá mo Chroí, Love of my Heart, Love Stories of Irish Myth. It’s free on Smashwords, if anyone would like a copy! I also write regularly on Irish mythology forIrish Central, and have had several articles published in Brigid’s Fire magazine. And of course, the first two books in my Tir na Nog Trilogy, Conor Kelly and The Four Treasures of Eirean and Conor Kelly and The Fenian King.

Any hobbies or interests that you enjoy in your spare time?

I’ve recently taken up running. It’s going really well, I’m even thinking of training to run a half marathon! We’ll see. I love visiting archaeological sites, walking in the countryside, and travelling.

I have seen the lovely photos at your blog. What are you working on at the moment? Tell us a little about your current project(s).

I’m currently working on a YA novella based on the classic tragic Irish love myth. A girl finds a ring which connects her to a fae shape-shifter… of course, it’s not going to end happily ever after! After that, I will be re-writing a set of Irish myths known as The Three Sorrows of Ireland. I hope to settle down to the third and final Conor Kelly story after Christmas.

Who are your favorite authors and what do you love about them?

Oh gosh I hate this question, and it comes up often! I’m not like most people, I don’t have a favorite author, as my tastes very widely. In my youth, I used to love Rosemary Sutcliffe, Marion Zimmer Bradley, David Eddings. I still do. But I also love the classics, like Dickens, the Brontes, George Elliot, and Thomas Hardy. These days I read a lot of Indie fiction; I have so many lined up in my Kindle right now, but among those I have loved so far are Craig Boyack, Harriet Goodchild, Patrick de Moss, Jane Dougherty. What do I love about them? They all give me the two things I crave; beautiful writing and escapism.

Currently, I’m revisiting a fantasy classic I first read in my teens, Lord Foul’s Bane by Stephen Donaldson. Next, I am beta-reading for an author friend. Two of your books are lined up in my reading queue, Nick, btw!

Woo hoo! Thanks – and sorry I asked! 😀 Are you an Indie author? If so, do you have any advice for other indie authors?

I most certainly am an Indie author. I don’t give writing advice, because I am still learning myself, and there are so many other authors out there who do it far better than I ever could. But we are so fortunate to live in the digital age where we all have a voice, so I would say, if you think you would like to write a book but haven’t yet, go for it. Just make it the best it can be, and remember that with 6 million other books on Amazon, it won’t sell itself.

Wise words indeed. Are there any sites or writing tools that you find useful and wish to recommend?

Well there are so many, it’s hard to know which to trust. The best thing to do is make friends with other writers, and then get recommendations from them. When I first started out, I joined Youwriteon.com, which was great. You upload the first 7,000 words of your WIP, and people review it for you, but you have to earn reviews by giving reviews first. Not only do you learn what your own strengths and weaknesses are, but you learn so much from reading other people’s writing too. Also, it quickly teaches you to develop a thick skin, an essential requirement in this business, as some reviewers do not mince their words. They also have a top 20, where you can earn a review by a leading publisher.

Nice! Tell us about your website/blog. What will readers find there?

I blog about Irish mythology, and the ancient places of Ireland that I visit. I also blog about my journey with my little girl Carys, who was born with a rare syndrome called Cardiofaciocutaneuos Syndrome. I try to support other authors with my Friday Fiction and Friday Fantastic Flash features.

It’s a great blog, people. Have a look, if you haven’t already. Now, what are the things in your life that you’re most grateful for?

My family, my health and my writing. I’m grateful that we don’t live in a war-ravaged country, that we have a roof over our heads and food to eat. Sometimes, it doesn’t seem like enough, and I get caught up in things that don’t really matter, but that’s just being human. I just remind myself about all the things I do have. It leads to a much happier state of mind.

How true. How would you like to be remembered?

I’d like to be remembered as a good writer, and a good mother who did her best.

The unusual

Except for a wonderful writer, you’re also known for your poignant and loving posts about life with Carys – your fairy daughter. What has prompted you to share your experience with the world?

Up until Carys was about two years old, I had a really hard time coping. Two things helped me struggle through; reading other peoples’ stories and thus knowing I wasn’t alone, wasn’t a bad person, and writing down my feelings. Eventually, I thought I would share my own thoughts in the hope that it might strike a chord with other parents going through similar experiences, and that it might educate people about what it’s like living with someone who has special needs, and what it’s like to be a person with special needs.

If you had to describe a theme or thread running through your life, what would it be? What’s your life theme?

That’s a hard one. I think I’m a seeker, always looking for something even if I don’t quite know what that is. It’s why I’ve never turned down any opportunity which presented itself to me, even if it was something which scared me silly! Nowadays, I think that journey is more of a spiritual one, despite not being a religious person. Perhaps that doesn’t make sense… I’m still working through it myself.

I don’t think you need religion to be spiritual. Men are from Mars, women are from Venus. Where are you from?

Somewhere in between the two that hasn’t yet been discovered, I think!

Oh yes, the elusive third-and-a-half rock from the sun. Is it true you’ve been abducted by aliens?

How did you know about that? It’s not something I talk about!

I saw you on the saucer, remember? Name your claim to fame.

I was almost betrothed to an Arab prince when I was a child. Tis true! I’ve been on local radio a couple of times, does that count? LOL! I have no claims to fame, I would rather run a marathon than be famous!

Well, the Arab prince thing definitely qualifies! Is that the weirdest thing that’s ever happened to you?

Can’t tell you that! I might reveal it on my blog one day, but not yet. Not until it’s over.

Oh my! Ongoing weirdness – and even weirder that being almost betrothed to an Arab prince as a child? Can’t wait to read all about that! Now, which one do you prefer: Elephants or tigers?

Elephants, definitely. I know, tigers are beautiful and powerful, but elephants have such beautiful, gentle souls, unless riled. I wouldn’t want to be one of life’s predators, although perhaps as a human, I already am.

You don’t strike me as one, to be honest. If you had to live over again what would you change in your life?

You mean if I had to live the same life over again? There’s not much I would change, actually. I think I would learn some languages, I would definitely have travelled more; that is something which is limited since Carys came into our lives. I’d try to be a better sister to my younger sister and brother.

Where in the universe would you live if you could travel anywhere?

Honestly? I’d choose a Greek island! Lovely weather, lovely people, beautiful scenery, fabulous food… and Carys thrives there. And only 31/2 hours flight back to Ireland. Why travel across the universe when you have all that on your own home planet?

Well, looking forward to seeing you in our necks of the woods, then 🙂

Ali in her own words

Ali Isaac lives in beautiful rural Co Cavan in Ireland, and is the author of two books based on Irish mythology, “Conor Kelly and The Four Treasures of Eirean,” and “Conor Kelly and The Fenian King.”

Ali writes for Irish Central and Brigid’s Fire Magazine, and regularly posts on topics of Irish interest on her blog.

 

Connect with Ali

Except for her blog, you can also find Ali on:

• Facebook,
• Twitter,
• GoodReads,
• LinkedIn,
• Pinterest,
• Google+,
• Librarything, 
• Jacketflap,
• Youtube, and
• Smashwords

Paul Cude: “Bentwhistle the Dragon in A Threat from the Past”

Tags

Book review, Dragons, Fantasy, fiction, interview, writer

A Dragon Treat for Halloween – Meet BENTWHISTLE THE DRAGON by Paul Cude on my blog today

http://www.christophfischerbooks.com/paul-cude-bentwhistle-the-dragon-in-a-threat-from-the-past/

“Bentwhistle the Dragon in A Threat from the Past” by Paul Cude is using a highly original idea and makes it the centre of a very entertaining adventure story for young adults and those young at hearts. In times of “Eragon” and “The Hobbit” many of us older adults love a good dragon story just as well as the younger ones and I am sure most people who pick up this book will appreciate Cude’s excellent effort in that regard.

Most of the story however is surprisingly set in present day and not in the distant past. The dragons are not enemies of us humans but are actually here to protect us, a tradition that goes a long way back into their past. Using this inventive set up Cude tells us with much love for detail about the world and communities of dragons, their habitat, tunnels under the sea and much more which I found very enjoyable.
Myths and legends in the dragon world their good and bad members, their habits, their sports and their views on the human world add flesh to the action part of the story.

Cude has taken the simple idea and given it a lot of thought and imaginative detail, it is obvious what a labour of love writing this book must have been and it certainly has paid off.
Highly recommended, a great and fun-filled read.

Ben Manning: “The Vril Codex”

Tags

author, Ben Manning, Book review, Fantasy, history, interview, Nazi power, Vril Codex

Vril is a force which to its believers can heal or destroy.’ For famous journalist Jane Wilkinson, a peaceful architectural assignment in Berlin is a chance for some much needed relaxation. Until she notices that something very sinister is happening… she is touched by an occult evil more terrifying than anything she has ever known. An evil that will engulf her and reach out remorselessly to her husband Bob who is literally haunted as he tries to discover her fate and what lies beneath the ancient legend of the VRIL CODEX’
Part romance, part conspiracy thriller, involving Nazi’s, and the mysterious cults of the “Thule Society,” and the “Devils Bible.” Supernatural forces and conspiracies combine, leading Bob and his companions into danger and a confrontation with the ancient Vril power’.

For an interview with Ben follow this link

http://www.christophfischerbooks.com/ben-manning-the-vril-codex/

“The Vril Codex” by Ben Manning is an unsual and to me a highly original read.
While the main protagonist is a widower and tries to overcome his grief with a work trip to Berlin, the plot edges into paranormal area and sheds light on some supernatural cult around Hitler and his hardcore followers.
I have read quite a few stories and articles about it, all handled as rumours, but their existence is so persistent that the plot – speculative conspiracy as it may be – sounds very plausible to me.
The book is well written and held my interest throughout.
The most pleasant aspects of the book are that the characters are so real and believable, more dimensional and that the storyline is far from flat, as I find so often with books in the genre.
I found it a compelling and fascinating read.