Ty Arthur's Blog, page 4
August 3, 2017
2017 Books You Should Be Checking Out
Now that Light Dawning fervor is dying down and work is underway on new material (stay tuned for info coming soon), let’s take a look at books from other authors you should be reading this year!
Grimdark Fantasy
[image error]M.L. Spencer’s Darkwars series is getting a ton of praise lately, and the third and final book Darklands just came out earlier this summer.
Going a totally different direction is the highly-praised Kings Of The Wyld, which interjects rock ‘n roll into the dark fantasy genre as a band of old mercenaries come back together for one last job.
Grimdark Sci-Fi
[image error]Grimdark is definitely focused on the fantasy lately, but don’t forget that it very much has roots in the sci-fi genre, with the grand daddy of the genre of course being Warhammer 40,000.
Offering up a futuristic rendition of the dark fantasy style is C.T. Phipps and his space opera Lucifer’s Star.
Sci-Fi Romance
[image error]Now hold on a sec… romance you say? Yeah, it’s not my normal thing, but Wendie Nordgren’s Space Merchants series is actually some pretty legit action sci-fi that happens to have a lot of heavy breathing and will-they won’t-they going on.
Teagan starts from humble beginnings on earth but goes on to rule a galaxy-spanning empire. Starting with firs book, The Space Merchants the series is now in its fifth iteration with the recently-released Spider Queen. The whole series just got some killer new covers as well.
How About Some Horror?
[image error]Brian Barr has been pumping out some bizarre and wonderfully weird horror shorts this year, including the Three H trilogy (The Head, The House, and The Hell) along with some music themed stories, which of course always piques my interest.
This prolific author’s heavy metal / horror extravaganza Metal Magic is out now, with a punk themed follow-up also in the works and due out soon.
July 15, 2017
New Trailer Online
Hey there readers and readers-to-be! Just put together a new teaser trailer for “Light Dawning” featuring some quotes from various reviews and beta reads. Take a look and hopefully it piques your interest!
July 6, 2017
Cover To Cover Takes A Long, Bloody Ride
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The Cover To Cover book blog just uploaded a detailed review of “Light Dawning,” covering everything from the interactions between the characters to the book’s terrifying creatures and even the unknowable nature of light and darkness. Check out a few excerpts from the review:
Quite early on, I started wondering what would be the catalyst which breaks a crack into the whole darkness, to bring about hope, a new fresh start… but true to his word, Ty Arthur does not let up. You’re in it for the long bloody ride with no escape!
There is definitely a great number of twists and unexpected events which kept me turning the pages. It didn’t feel like one of those’ hey ho, off to action we go‘ reads though. It was more of a slow burn of a feeling, trying to trudge through bloody mud towards being free… Freedom that is only granted by death. It’s one of those novels where the worst can get even worse and everything you don’t want to happen, happens.
Pique your interest yet? Head over and read the full review right here.
June 20, 2017
Examining the world of Light Dawning
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I had the distinct pleasure of appearing at Our Epic Worlds recently – the fantasy and sci-fi focused blog from grimdark author M.L. Spencer. If you haven’t checked out her “Rhenwars Saga” series, take a gander at Amazon.
In this latest guest post, we go in-depth into various aspects of the “Light Dawning” universe – explaining the ins and outs of the magic system, religion, government, and the many unnatural and horrifying creatures to be found!
Read the full break down of the epic world of “Light Dawning” right here!
June 16, 2017
Fantasy is missing the horror element
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The epic MightyThorJrs blog was kind enough to host me for a new guest post, this time discussing the curious lack of horror in the fantasy genre. Some excerpts follow:
As much as I will always treasure those books and how they shaped my youth, that aspect of the genre doesn’t ring true for me. I can’t think of a single time that eagles ever swooped down – literally or metaphorically – to save me from certain doom. The local cleric has never brought a loved one back from the dead. Standing up for the oppressed very rarely results in recognition or reward, and can be actively dangerous.
When I was writing Light Dawning, I didn’t want to just surgically remove all those aspects of fantasy that felt like wish fulfillment or vicarious living through written characters – I wanted to viciously hack them apart, violently ripping them out with tooth and claw before throwing them into the uncaring fire. My take on the genre consists of forcibly colliding fantasy with an unpleasant dose of grim reality, then injecting some looming cosmic horror elements to take it all one step further into the abyss.
Check out the full article right here and be sure to check out the other recent posts there covering some killer new grimdark material!
June 9, 2017
Third chapter premiere now online
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Very excited to announce even more “Light Dawning” news today as another chapter has come online introducing the world to the horrors of occupied Cestia.
Following the premiere of chapter 1 at Metalundeground and chapter 2 right here at this very blog, a third and final book excerpt has now come online.
Check out the full third chapter, introducing unhinged missionary Father Erret, via the Tattooed Book Geek here.
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June 5, 2017
The reviews are in!
There’s been an amazing response so far, and here’s just a brief sampling of what people are saying about grimdark fantasy novel “Light Dawning” across the web – have you read it yet, and what did you think?
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June 2, 2017
GBHBL Gets Grim With “Light Dawning”
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Just saw a killer new review of “Light Dawning” from Games, Braaaaaaaains, and a Headbanging Life (hey, it’s the three things I like most all in one site)! Here’s a few excerpts:
Light Dawning has the feel of a world that reminded me of George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series. The huge conquering army sweeping across the world, the once powerful city now in ruins, the hopelessness of the continuing fight, the different religious factions trying to take control and the dark and powerful magic.
The claustrophobic feel of Cestia adds a certain hopelessness to the story making it feel especially glum and desperate.
Ty Arthur wanted to put a story down to spread around some of the anger and hurt he was feeling at the time. He succeeded there. Read it, enjoy it, feel down for a bit and then hope for a sequel sometime soon.
You can read the full 8 / 10 review right here.
May 26, 2017
Light Dawning
[image error]Following previous sci-fi novella “Empty” from 2016, new full-length horror novel “Light Dawning” pivots away from the emptiness of space and dives headlong into the waters of fantasy, but with a seriously grimdark twist.
This next foray into the bleaker corners of human existence is out now and can be picked up on Kindle here or paperback at this location.
As with all my work, this story is inspired by a real life experience translated into a fictional setting, and completing this book took a lot out of me.
It is set in an unquestionably fantasy universe, but you won’t find any elves or farm boy chosen ones saving the world. My take on the genre draws more from cosmic dread and the horror of war than anything with unlikely heroes or lovable rogues. Don’t expect any happy endings.
Once known as the City on the Hill and revered far and wide for its independence and boundless opportunity, Cestia has become home only to the damned. Surviving under the brutal occupation of a southern empire for three long years, the oppressed populace has lost hope of liberation, turning instead towards an increasingly desperate rebellion willing to commit any atrocity for a chance at freedom.
As total war approaches, four lost souls trapped behind Cestia’s walls are on a collision course with fate, destined to either save the city or see it utterly destroyed while calling on forces beyond mankind’s comprehension. For good or ill, the light of a new day is about to dawn.
Like its predecessor, the creation of “Light Dawning” was driven forward by the power of music. To get an advance preview of the themes and tone of the novel, a music playlist matching several scenes can be heard via the Spotify player below.
May 24, 2017
Character Profile: Casterly
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There’s just two more days till the official “Light Dawning” release on Kindle and paperback!
During the past few weeks, three of the four main characters were unveiled via character profile snapshots:
Myrr
Tala
Father Erret
Today we’re wrapping up the character profile reveals with a fourth and final entry for Casterly, another unfortunate citizen trapped behind Cestia’s walls.
Hoping to follow in the footsteps of his father and take the life of a simple craftsman, Casterly has felt the flame of rebellion burn within since his family was broken apart by the knighthood.
Horribly disfigured and partially blinded after taking a stand against the soldiers who were tearing apart his home, he has abandoned Cestia’s former gods and will follow anyone offering a chance at vengeance.
Torn between the reluctant Myrr – who has no interest in calling on his inner darkness to fight the city’s occupiers – and the unhinged Erret – who will happily use any weapon at hand – Casterly’s very soul hangs in the balance.
