Elise Edmonds's Blog, page 4

The Student and the Slave: Adventure Novel plus Giveaway!

Take a look at this exciting new young adult action and adventure novel, The Student and the Slave, now available for purchase! This is the third book in the Krillonian Chronicles, after The Collar and the Cavvarach and The Gladiator and the Guard.

The series is set in an alternate world that is very much like our own, with just a few major differences.  One is that slavery is legal there.  Slaves must wear metal collars that lock around their neck, making their enslaved status obvious to everyone. Another difference is the popularity of a martial art called cavvara shil.  It is fought with a cavvarach (rhymes with “have a rack”), a weapon similar to a sword but with a steel hook protruding from partway down its top edge.  Competitors can strike at each other with their feet as well as with the blades.  You win in one of two ways: disarming your opponent (hooking or knocking their cavvarach out of their hands) or pinning their shoulders to the mat for five seconds.

First, a Little Information about Books 1 and 2: 

Book 1: The Collar and the Cavvarach

sword isolated on white background; Shutterstock ID 109466807

Bensin, a teenage slave and martial artist, is desperate to see his little sister freed. But only victory in the Krillonian Empire’s most prestigious tournament will allow him to secretly arrange for Ellie’s escape. Dangerous people are closing in on her, however, and Bensin is running out of time. With his one hope fading quickly away, how can Bensin save Ellie from a life of slavery and abuse?

Click here to read chapter 1 of The Collar and the Cavvarach.

Click here to read about life in the Krillonian Empire, where the series is set.

 

Book 2: The Gladiator and the Guard

sword isolated on white background; Shutterstock ID 109466807

Bensin, a teenage slave and martial artist, is just one victory away from freedom. But after he is accused of a crime he didn’t commit, he is condemned to the violent life and early death of a gladiator. While his loved ones seek desperately for a way to rescue him, Bensin struggles to stay alive and forge an identity in an environment designed to strip it from him. When he infuriates the authorities with his choices, he knows he is running out of time. Can he stand against the cruelty of the arena system and seize his freedom before that system crushes him?

Click here to read about life in the arena where Bensin and other gladiators are forced to live and train.

And now, The Student and the Slave, with another awesome cover by the talented  Jack Lin !

Book 3: The Student and the Slave

sword isolated on white background; Shutterstock ID 109466807

Is this what freedom is supposed to be like? Desperate to provide for himself and his sister Ellie, Bensin searches fruitlessly for work like all the other former slaves in Tarnestra. He needs the money for an even more important purpose, though: to rescue Coach Steene, who sacrificed himself for Bensin’s freedom. When members of two rival street gangs express interest in Bensin’s martial arts skills, he realizes he may have a chance to save his father figure after all … at a cost.

Meanwhile, Steene struggles with his new life of slavery in far-away Neliria. Raymond, his young owner, seizes any opportunity to make his life miserable. But while Steene longs to escape and rejoin Bensin and Ellie, he starts to realize that Raymond needs him too. His choices will affect not only his own future, but that of everyone he cares about. Can he make the right ones … and live with the consequences?

Click here  to order The Student and the Slave from Amazon   for $2.99  a discounted price of just 99 cents through November 31st!

 

 

 

About the Author:

Annie Douglass Lima spent most of her childhood in Kenya and later graduated from Biola University in Southern California. She and her husband Floyd currently live in Taiwan, where she teaches fifth grade at Morrison Academy. She has been writing poetry, short stories, and novels since her childhood, and to date has published fifteen books (three YA action and adventure novels, four fantasies, a puppet script, six anthologies of her students’ poetry, and a Bible verse coloring and activity book). Besides writing, her hobbies include reading (especially fantasy and science fiction), scrapbooking, and international travel.

 

Connect with the Author Online:

Email: AnnieDouglassLima@gmail.com

Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Amazon, LinkedIn, GooglePlus.

 

Now, enter to win an Amazon gift card or a free digital copy of the first two books in the series!

 

click here to enter a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

Finally, read on for an exciting preview of The Student and The Slave:

 

In this excerpt, Bensin accidentally ends up in the middle of a fight he knows nothing about.

A figure ran past Bensin, two more guys in hot pursuit. Bensin flattened himself against a doorway, but one of the pursuers saw him and spun around. “Hey! Trying to hide there?”

“No!” Instinctively, Bensin shifted his weight and raised his arms, bracing himself for defense.

The man was burly, long blond hair twisted into dreadlocks that gleamed with the silver threads that were a Tarnestran fashion. The streetlights reflected off his long knife, and as he stepped forward, Bensin’s instincts took over. Lunging to grab the man’s knife arm, he wrenched with all his strength, twisting until the weapon clattered to the ground. The man kicked and punched, but though he was obviously used to street fighting, he hadn’t been trained in martial arts as Bensin had. It was simple to block his attempts and send him staggering backward with a hard front kick to the stomach.

Bensin was ready to flee, but now another man leaped at him, knife extended. Wishing he had on his combat boots, Bensin swung his foot out in a high roundhouse kick to the wrist. His sneaker served well enough. The man swore as his knife went flying.

More people were closing in now from every direction. Bensin shoved, dodged, and threw just enough punches and kicks to clear his way. Another gunshot resounded somewhere close by, but then he was free, sprinting down the street and around the nearest corner. He could hear the distant wail of approaching sirens as he turned corner after corner, anxious to lose any possible pursuers.

But nobody seemed to be pursuing him anymore, and finally he slowed to a walk. His heart was still pounding, more from alarm than the exertion. What’s going on back there? Had he happened upon some sort of battle between street gangs? Until now, this part of town had seemed peaceful and safe.

 

The post The Student and the Slave: Adventure Novel plus Giveaway!  appeared first on Magic Writer.

Author Interview with J.E. Klimov

I’m excited to welcome J.E. Klimov to Magic Writer to help celebrate the release of her new fantasy novel, The Aeonians, which you can purchase now on Amazon!

The Aeonians

Isabel Deran only wants to practice archery with the castle guards, and that is the last thing expected from an elegant Princess. Living in the shadow of her late sister, Victoria, she is next in line to receive the royal armlet that is embedded with four stones: an opal, a sapphire, an amber, and a ruby. It is a revered family heirloom with the power of the elements passed down from mother to daughter.

However, an evil, once thought to be sealed away in a prison in which time does not pass, breaks free with an army that swarms the castle and wrecks havoc over the kingdom in search for the magical armlet. They are known as the Aeonians. When they kidnap Isabel and place their hands on it, the precious stones vanish.

Isabel is now trapped in a race against time to locate her stones of power with the head of the Aeonian army, Bence Brechenhad, stalking her like a shadow. With the help of her trusty weapon, the sai, she fights her way through seemingly impossible trials and fearsome monsters in order to restore peace in her kingdom.

Elise: Welcome to Magic Writer! What inspired you to write the Aeonians?

J: I came up with the majority of my novel ideas during junior high. “The Aeonians” in particular was originally a fan-fic of “The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time”- a Nintendo 64 video game. Before my parents allowed me to play video games, I would watch my cousin play this. The bright, vibrant world that encouraged exploration entranced me, and I grew attached to the playable character, Link. After some time, I decided to make the story my own. I wanted a relatable female character that would grow throughout the plot. I also enjoyed creating my own world and my own creatures. Then, “The Aeonians” was born.

Elise: So, who’s your favourite character and what makes them special?

J; By the end of my journey writing this novel, Bence Brechenhad, the main antagonist, became my favorite character. This came at a complete surprise to even myself. I wrote Princess Isabel, the protagonist, based off my own persona; however, as the story blossomed, I enjoyed writing Bence’s point-of-view more. He is grouchy, brooding, and sarcastic. He is flawed. Everything about him is so wrong, I was cheering for him to be right.

Elise: Bad guys are often fun to write! What was the toughest part of writing your novel?

J: The toughest part was editing. While this sounds like a cliché answer, hear me out. The idea was created in 7th grade. I hand-wrote it until 8th grade, then I gave up until NaNoWriMo years later in 2014. I seriously worked on it in 2015. Editing was exponentially difficult for “The Aeonians” because of how much time elapsed and the constantly changing concepts. It is also my debut novel, so I made a LOT of mistakes. A lot of mistakes = multiple tireless editing sessions…

Elise: I know what that’s like! The first novel is a huge learning curve. What is the one thing you hope readers will take away from your books?

J; I hope “The Aeonians” will instill a sense of self-acceptance in any reader with confidence issues. The obvious example is that it’s okay to be a female tomboy with a distaste for dresses. The other maybe not-so-obvious example would be that no matter your background, you are in charge of your own destiny.

Elise: Great messages there. Will there be a sequel to The Aeonians?

J: Absolutely. I am in the editing process of the sequel to “The Aeonians”, “The Shadow Warrior” right now. Fun Fact: “The Aeonians” was originally a stand-alone novel, but I fell in love one character so much that a sequel came naturally to me.

Elise: I see you have an interest in art – what kind of art do you do? Do you plan on illustrating your novels or your characters at all?

J: I usually sketch and ink portraits. I also used to create my own manga (Japanese-style graphic novels). In fact, most of my ideas were meant to be in manga form; however, I understand they aren’t very popular in the United States. After a trip to Japan in 2016, I fell in love with the art style once more and plan on returning to the trade someday in the near future.

Elise: It’s a style that certainly seems to be gaining in popularity here in the West. And a fun question, to finish: if you could be any magical creature for the day, what would you choose?

J: Dragon. A dragon always.

Elise: An excellent choice!

 

J.E. Klimov grew up in a small suburb in Massachusetts. After graduating from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, she obtained her PharmD and became a pharmacist; however, her true passion was writing and illustration.

Ever since Klimov was little, she dreamed of sharing her stories with the world. From scribbling plotlines instead of taking notes in school, to bringing her characters to life through sketches, Klimov’s ideas ranged from fantasy to thriller fiction. The Aeonians is her debut novel with Silver Leaf Books.

Follow J. E. Klimov: Facebook, Twitter, Website

Published works: The Aeonians (Fantasy), JL Anthology Vol. 1, JL Anthology Vol. 2

 

The post Author Interview with J.E. Klimov appeared first on Magic Writer.

Sci-Fi & Fantasy Spookfest Giveaway!

Welcome to this Spooktacular Giveaway!

Enter to win e-books and prizes

beginning Oct. 21 and ending Oct. 28.
The GRAND PRIZE winner will receive

a bundle of 19 e-books!

Includes the following books and many more – for full prize listing visit QuickSilverNovels

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Plus!

One winner will receive a handcrafted leather journal.

AND one winner will a receive book necklace.

AND there are 19 individual e-books up for grabs!

 

 

 

 

 

 

TO ENTER, CLICK HERE!

 

 

The post Sci-Fi & Fantasy Spookfest Giveaway! appeared first on Magic Writer.

Flash Fiction Published!

 

A brief post to share some good news:

My paranormal flash fiction, Like Trains That Pass, has been published in the Fall 2017 edition of The Stray Branch.

To read it, and view more of the fiction and poetry published in this magazine, check out their website.

 

 

The post Flash Fiction Published! appeared first on Magic Writer.

Reading Challenge Book Twelve: Outlander

Book twelve was a historical romance with fantasy elements.

Blurb

Scottish Highlands, 1945. Claire Randall, a former British combat nurse, is just back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach—an “outlander”—in a Scotland torn by war and raiding clans in the year of Our Lord . . . 1743.

 

Claire is catapulted into the intrigues of a world that threatens her life, and may shatter her heart. Marooned amid danger, passion, and violence, Claire learns her only chance of safety lies in Jamie Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior. What begins in compulsion becomes urgent need, and Claire finds herself torn between two very different men, in two irreconcilable lives.

Why I chose this book

It was just a book I’ve heard a lot about and never got around to reading.

Rating/content

I give this 4 1/2 stars out of 5.

Post-WW2 nurse Claire Randall crosses a stone circle into the 1740s. She meets both friend and foe and is caught up in local tensions between the English and the Scots. Aside from the time-travel element, this is largely a historical romance. Suitable for adults: contains sex and violence.

Good points 

I found the historical setting absorbing. Claire’s struggles at coming to terms with an 18C world are understandable and believable. There are unpleasant aspects to that world, but she manages to be a strong female character in a world before female independence.

The romance arc is well-drawn. From a forced marriage for convenience, early troubles of married life, and a developing bond between the lead characters, Claire and Jamie, I was rooting for their survival.

Even the everyday concerns of historical life were interesting, despite the lack of overarching plot at times. The detail carried the story, even when plot ran thin.

Bad points 

This a long book, and it wasn’t clear where the plot was going at times. Claire is aiming to return to her modern life and makes a significant choice in this respect about halfway through. Following that choice, there is no obvious plot arc, until it becomes clear that in some ways, this is more Jamie’s story than Claire’s. She remains an outsider to some extent.

The sex and violence were more prominent than my personal taste prefers. The recounting of childhood beatings and various acts of torture, in particular, seemed a tad unnecessary and could have been toned down whilst retaining the impact of these issues.

Overall

A great read for historical romance fans, but if you’re a straight fantasy reader, it’ll probably disappoint. I’ll consider reading the next in the series, but they are long books, so I haven’t quite decided if it’s worth the time and investment yet.

The post Reading Challenge Book Twelve: Outlander appeared first on Magic Writer.

Reading Challenge Book Eleven: Eragon

Book eleven was a popular young adult high fantasy.

Blurb

When Eragon finds a polished blue stone in the forest, he thinks it is the lucky discovery of a poor farm boy; perhaps it will buy his family meat for the winter. But when the stone brings a dragon hatchling, Eragon realizes he has stumbled upon a legacy nearly as old as the Empire itself. Overnight his simple life is shattered, and he is thrust into a perilous new world of destiny, magic, and power. With only an ancient sword and the advice of an old storyteller for guidance, Eragon and the fledgling dragon must navigate the dangerous terrain and dark enemies of an Empire ruled by a king whose evil knows no bounds. Can Eragon take up the mantle of the legendary Dragon Riders? The fate of the Empire may rest in his hands. . . .

Why I chose this book

It’s one of those fantasy books that everyone else has read, so I decided it was about time I read it too.

Rating/content 

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars

This book follows a young lad who finds a dragon egg. When strangers seeking the egg destroy his home, he goes on a revenge mission. The tables turn, and the hunter becomes the hunted. Suitable for young teen readers and upwards, this is a clean book with some battle violence.

Good points

I’m a big dragon fan, and Saphira the dragon is definitely a highlight of the book. She’s a great character who we watch develop from a baby through to being a juvenile dragon. She steers Eragon and acts as a voice of reason.

This ties in with another good point – Eragon’s character arc. The boy develops from a young lad who doesn’t know his way in the world, through intense training and learning to bond with his dragon, to becoming an experienced fighter and practitioner of magic. The development is gradual and makes for a good read. Eragon makes mistakes and learns from them, with the help of others wiser than himself.

The earlier part of the journey with Eragon’s training and chasing down the Razac was the bit I enjoyed the most.

Bad points *contain some spoilers*

The beginning of the book was very wordy and relied on an awful lot of exposition to get the backstory over. It was too much to take in. Descriptions throughout are rather overdone for my personal taste, especially those of people.

The plot sagged in the middle. Eragon caught up with the Razac, who he wanted to kill to get revenge. He realises they are more likely to kill him, and starts running back the way he came. Then he just seems to run around for ages with no particular goal except not getting caught.

So they cross a desert and meet another race of humans, the Varden, and also the dwarfs. And there is a big battle. The battle works well as a climax, but because we only met the Varden late on in the novel, I only really care about Eragon, his dragon, and his friend, Murtagh. So it’s good action, but not much emotion.

Overall

Whilst I thought this was a decent read, and I enjoyed the characters and their arcs, the plot as a whole didn’t do much for me. It’s typical high fantasy, learn some magic, fly a dragon, chase the Orcs *cough* I mean Urgals, elves and dwarves, chosen Dragon Rider, prophecy blah blah.

The beginning reminded me of Star Wars and then it turned into “Lord of the Rings with a wishy-washy goal.” If you like that kind of thing, you’ll enjoy it, but don’t expect any major surprises.

I should also say, that if this book is read in the context of it being written by a 15-year-old, it’s pretty amazing, and makes me more inclined to be lenient in respect of the flaws.

Extra

I went on to read book two, Eldest, because I’d already picked it up cheaply. However, I would only give Eldest 3 stars out of 5. I found it long-winded, full of complicated names and backstory, and light on plot where Eragon was concerned. The pace was pretty glacial, and then the final battle was squished in at the end. The secondary plot focuses on Eragon’s brother, Roran, and this was more focused and action-packed, but I wasn’t particularly drawn to Roran as a character in himself. In conclusion, I won’t be reading further books in the series given that the second felt like a decline.

The post Reading Challenge Book Eleven: Eragon appeared first on Magic Writer.

Book Review: The Secret of Spellshadow Manor

An indie fantasy novel published earlier in 2017

Blurb

“A magic school story with a spine-tingling twist, for adults or teens who enjoyed Harry Potter…

What would you do if you spotted a man following a young woman, but no-one else could see him?

Like most sane people, student Alex Webber thought he was hallucinating – perhaps he’d consumed something bad at the party he’d been attending that night, or he was severely overtired.

But when he sees the mysterious man following Natalie again the very next day, he can no longer disbelieve his eyes.

Although she denies the man’s existence, Alex sees her walking with him down a road in his neighborhood he’s never seen before – and can’t help but follow. After a bizarre, but strangely short journey, he finds himself standing before a towering iron gate wreathed in gray ivy, behind which looms a decrepit old mansion named Spellshadow Manor.

Spellshadow, with its beautiful yet sinisterly decorated hallways, ever-changing outdoor scenery, and very unusual residents… Alex will quickly learn it is a place that is as wondrous as it is deadly.

Especially for a normal person like him.

What if you found yourself recruited to an institute of magic, only to discover you really couldn’t do magic?

What if your enrollment there was all one big, terrible mistake?

If you were at Spellshadow, you’d keep it a secret. A deep, dark, deadly secret…”

Why I chose this book

I admit I gave into the hype. I’d not heard of this indie author before, although I understand she’s written quite a variety of paranormal/urban/dystopian type books. However, the ads for this book popped up in my Facebook feed most days. It promised me that if I loved Harry Potter and The Hunger Games, I would love this book. Did I? Read on…

Rating/Content

I give this book a 3 out of 5. 

But that rating is based partly on the fact that it was hyped up to be AMAZING, when in reality, although I would say I enjoyed it, it didn’t blow me away. Had I just grabbed it randomly, it might have got a 4 out of me. Also, I didn’t get as much closure from it as I would have liked, which tends to influence my rating.

The book is suitable for teens, and has an urban fantasy vibe, although magic is the focus rather than beings like vampires or werewolves.

Good points

This book has a good premise. I like the idea of a non-magical teen who has somehow found his way into this creepy school. He’s in danger of being discovered because he doesn’t do magic, and his classmates and teachers are hiding secrets and face an uncertain future.

Bad points

It was nothing like Harry Potter except the two books had a school and magic. It was really nothing like the Hunger Games. So I’m not a great fan of the advertising campaign. But they hey, every other book claims to be the next Harry Potter, so I can’t get too mad. It just didn’t meet my expectations.

The magic system was ill-defined and I didn’t really feel I got to grips with what it could do and how it worked.

It was really depressing. They were stuck in this school for the whole book, and there weren’t really any moments that lightened the book. It felt very dark, and I admit I prefer something more cheery, and less claustrophobic. I suppose that could be seen as a good point, because it was certainly atmospheric, so if you’re keen on a darker style of fantasy, particularly urban, you may enjoy it.

Overall

I won’t be continuing this series, but I would try another book by Bella Forrest. I get the impression that paranormal is more her thing, so I’d be tempted to give one of those a go.

The post Book Review: The Secret of Spellshadow Manor appeared first on Magic Writer.

Reading Challenge Book Ten: StarChaser

Book ten was the final instalment of a fantasy trilogy for younger readers.

The TodHunter Moon series was a spin-off and follow-up to the Septimus Heap series (which I LOVE!). The first two books, which I have read previously, are PathFinder and SandRider.

Blurb

Return to the world of TodHunter Moon for her next adventure! The third book in the blockbuster fantasy series from number one bestselling author Angie Sage.

Alice TodHunter Moon, known as Tod, had thought everything could go back to normal now that they had thwarted the plans of the evil sorcerer, Oraton-Marr, and saved the last ever Orm Egg. She was looking forward to settling back into her life at the Wizard Tower and learning all the Magyk she could.

But what no one realised was that without the Orm Egg safely embedded in the heart of the Magykal Ways, all the Magyk in the world would begin to fade.

Can Tod find a way to reverse the destruction? Could the mysterious StarChaser spell be the key? Or will the Magyk be lost forever?

Why I chose this book

Basically, I wanted to finish the series off!

Rating/Content

I give this book a 4 out of 5

I wouldn’t advise reading this book without reading the first two in the trilogy, because they build on a lot of knowledge throughout. However, there is no need to read the Septimus Heap books first. This book is suitable for younger readers.

Good points

This series is an easy read. I love the world and the magic, and the inventiveness of all the plot lines. In particular, the Ancient Ways, tunnels that allow them to travel quickly to various parts of the world are great. It was fun to see the wider world not introduced in the Septimus books.

There’s no shortage of action, and the pace and tension are high, which makes these books a gripping read.

Bad points

It’s not Septimus Heap. This series feels geared at a slightly younger audience and doesn’t quite have the same magical edge to it. Alice TodHunter’s roots are in a fishing village, and her people, the Pathfinders, are non-magical. It didn’t quite resonate with me in the same way that Septimus did. But then I do prefer YA to MG.

The sci-fi stuff is a bit weird. Saying too much would give spoilers, but to only give a tiny spoiler, the Pathfinders’ history involves space exploration. This comes into play quite a lot in this series, and whilst I can swallow anything fantasy, mixing space tech in with it didn’t really work for me.

Overall

I shall be keeping my eyes peeled for any more instalments in the Septimus Heap world. If you like MG fantasy, or a have a kid who does, I’m sure they’d enjoy this series.

The post Reading Challenge Book Ten: StarChaser appeared first on Magic Writer.

Fantasy Careers: Witch for Hire

Fantasy Careers is a blog series where I interview characters from fantasy books about their interesting jobs and unusual careers. Interested in taking part? Drop me a line through my contact form.

Elise: Today, I’d like to welcome Nilla to Magic Writer. Hi Nilla, tell us a bit about yourself!

Nilla: Hi, Elise. I’m handy with spells, being a bit of a witch for hire, but I’m all Glinda. (The original…none of the reboots.) I live in Whisper Falls. I never heard of it before I ended up in it either, but it’s on Google Maps, so it’s not quite the twilight zone. It’s a little quieter than the city, and the coffee is good. Try Coffee-on-Main.

Elise: And what does your job involve? 

Nilla: That depends on which door you open when you pop in at my store on Main Street, Whisper Falls. Most folks only see the sign that says Which Light, so my job as far as they’re concerned is selling them lamps, light fittings, and shades. They don’t see a witch behind the counter; they see Vanilla Hayes, proprietor licensed to dispense light. Or at least the bits and bobs that give you light at the end of the day. It keeps me off the streets, so I’m committed to serving those customers. To be honest, they’re all straight up about what they want. They don’t skulk into my store with hidden agendas. I won’t go so far as to say I like all my customers, but most of them are a breeze to deal with.

Then, there’s the other side of the business. Those people who don’t see only one sign in the window. They see another sign that tells them a different story about the woman behind the counter. They see Witch Light. These people, usually with more than a little supernatural in their DNA, are my clients. There aren’t as many of them as there are customers, but when they come through the door life always gets a little more interesting. Well, you could say it gets more complicated, sometimes you could say it gets deadly.

Understandably they’re not top of my list of people I know and love, but witching is something that gets under your skin. You can’t turn it off, not like a light switch. I’ve thought about retiring from the witch for hire game…but let’s face it, that’s never gonna happen. I sell these people spells. The requests vary. I try not to do anything that could go wrong, but some folks are good at turning innocent magic into tainted wares. I’m not going to sell you Love Potion #9, but I do a steady trade in finding spells, protection magic; you know, the white stuff that doesn’t lead to the dark side. Well…the magic of good intentions at least. Sometimes clients are a little cavalier with their good intentions. Then I end up knee deep in trouble without my thigh high boots on.

Elise: It sounds interesting! And good to hear you’re a white witch. Do you have a particular type of expertise that clients come to you for?

Nilla: Witching is one of those multi use talents in the supernatural world, so expertise in this arena is pretty varied. If you got kinks, you’d find the witch of your heart’s desire if you look around hard enough. Not all witches are good. Don’t do bad witches kids; they’re not a healthy habit to pick up. If I had to pick a bit of a speciality for myself, I’d probably have to say finding spells are what most people tend to turn up at my door looking for. Let’s face it, finding things is probably what most folks turn to a witch for. Most of the time we even help them out. Since the clients need a little something magical in them to see my witched sign, I don’t get many requests for finding lost keys. It’s way more exotic than that. One time I found a corpse for somebody. True story. Didn’t end well.

Elise: Mmm… nice. I have to say, I can’t imagine misplacing a corpse! So, what does a typical day in your job involve?

Nilla: Mostly I spend my days tending the cash register and taking money from strangers. It’s a living, and it isn’t half as dull as I make it sound. I actually enjoy my cover story. As I said, it makes way more money than the alter ego, witch for hire. It’s long hours of people looking at lamps, asking me about wattage, and whether I think this lampshade clashes with that vomit yellow they want to paint their accent wall in. It’s easy money.

Sometimes, I have to put up that back in ten minutes sign, lock the door and lead a client down into the basement. It’s not creepy at all. It looks exactly like a basement in a lighting store would. Full of stock. Although there’s a touch of magic in the air down there; a bit of sepia in the lighting, like you’re stepping into an old photograph. There’s a table and chairs where I have a little heart to heart with my clients before I decide if I’m taking their witch work or declining it. Word to the wise, saying no to something with a bit of super in their natural isn’t always easy. Still, you got to have rules, don’t you?

Elise: Definitely. Being able to choose your clients is an advantage of working for yourself. What’s your favourite part of the job?

Nilla: I told you I’m a Glinda, which means that I’m a bit of a goody two shoes, so I get a genuine kick out of helping people. The best part is when someone ends the day smiling with a cheery sunset in the background promising a happy ending, or at least a happy for now. Whether I’m selling them a lamp or a spell, it’s still the same good feeling. Life doesn’t always give us that cheery sunset, but sometimes you get lucky. Those bits of the job, both jobs, are priceless.

Elise: It sounds like you enjoy both sides of the job then–the mundane and the magical!

Nilla: Selling lamps isn’t the worst thing in the world. Witching is like breathing; I got to do it. I suppose, now that you mention it, I do enjoy them both. I haven’t taken either sign out of the window yet. Must mean something, right?

Elise: *laughs* I would say so. Do you have any colleagues in either job?

Nilla: When I said the cover story made good money, I didn’t mean wonder emporium type good money. Co-workers aren’t on the cards at either job; witch or lamp lady. I do, however, have a bestie who pops in regularly with the only drink worth going out and spending big bucks on…coffee, designer coffee, barista brewed coffee. I like mine with sugar. More sugar. I’m not Mary Poppins. A spoonful is way too little for me; try four…or if I’m feeling a little low we could take up several more lumps. Livia, my BFF, is a daily part of the store’s nine to five, so some people might think she works there. She doesn’t. She just makes the display tables look like art and tries to be the psychic she thinks she is. She’s still only walking into Which Light, but if that changes, I’ll let you know.

Elise: Well, I would have to disagree on the drink … I’m 100% a tea drinker! That’s good you have a friend to drop in and keep you company, though. So, did you have any training to become a witch?

Nilla: Witching isn’t quite like some would have it. There’s no school for it, probably because there aren’t spells like they tell it in the stories. I won’t say there are no grimoires or potion recipes out there; I won’t even say that no real witch touches them… Because I’m just me and I know there’s a whole lot out there that I haven’t even begun to learn about. Just because I’m a witch doesn’t mean I know everything. If I did, I wouldn’t have so many werewolf exes in my past. I’d probably be able to hang onto a girlfriend, right? Training happens though, from time to time. You meet up with a witch or supernatural who feels inclined to give a little advice, share a little knowledge. I wouldn’t say there’s an apprenticeship in witchcraft or anything, or that I’ve seen many covens about… But you never know. I’m gonna say that if you can imagine it, it probably exists in some form out there. I know, that’s exciting but deeply disturbing too. Welcome to my world.

Elise: Learn as you go, to some extent then. Mind you, it’s good to have a job where you keep learning new things. Is there a reason why you settled in Whisper Falls?

Nilla: There’s totally a story behind my job, my game of charades in Whisper Falls, and I’ve even told that story in a bit more detail. It all starts with an angel. No, not one with wings, but that might have made him more frightening not less. You never work with angels. Never. Only, I did… I kind of had to. The whole story is in LUSTRE.

Elise: Ah, I’ll have check that out sometime… sounds like there’s a good story there! This sounds like your dream job then–the only thing you could imagine yourself doing.

Nilla: Dream job! It sure is, and I only have myself to blame. Ha. Inside joke, if you want to be on the inside of it, I don’t hold back on the details when I talk about it in LUSTRE.

Elise: Now I’m really intrigued! So, got any funny stories about the job that you can share?

Nilla: Don’t tell Livia, but there’s instant coffee hidden behind the counter. Sometimes Coffee-on-Main is just a little bit too far away, and when a witch needs sugar, a little coffee makes it taste better.

Elise: Your secret’s safe with me! If I were to visit you at work, what service could provide me with then? Not a decent cup of tea, by the sound of it *winks*

Nilla: Hypothetical question, hey? Now, without meaning to sound a little bit on the threatening side, it depends on whether you visit me dead or alive. Not me dead, you dead…or alive. Caveat, totally not about me making you dead at all. Witches get dead clients all the time. Well, at least I have had a few, and hey I can’t be that different from the next witch, can I? Now, you’re not scanning the room for the exit signs are you?

Elise: *laughs* I’d hope I’d be alive if I visit you… but you never know!

Nilla: Well, as I told you, I’m a Glinda, a good witch. I don’t do death spells. Necromancy isn’t my thing. But someone must be giving my witch card to the deceased because sometimes clients walk through the door instead of opening it. I can tell you, it’s not something you get used to.

If you visit me dead, it means you’ve missed your ride into the ever after and I would definitely recommend you ask me for a new ticket. I can do that, and believe me, I’d rather do that than get into anything else. I see dead people; I don’t want to take it further than that. Really.

If you’re alive, then I guess you’re not in my store to ask about recommendations. Not if you want to go down into the basement. You have an agenda, and you’re gonna tell me about it…maybe not at the beginning, but trust me it all comes out in the end.

But, I can see you’re not taking this line of conversation with a pinch of salt…so, let’s pretend I didn’t start it out with dead or alive and just ask you, would you like a lamp? I have some with stained glass shades that really would look lovely on almost any side table. They’d even go really well with a vomit yellow accent wall.

Elise: Ha, well, my decor is my magnolia and soft brown, with red accents. But next time my lighting needs updating, I’ll know where to find you! Thanks for stopping by today, Nilla. It’s been great.

 

 

Find out more about Nilla in the Witchlight series:

 

LUSTRE (A Witchlight Novella)

Witching for a living is hard. Witching after your werewolf girlfriend opts for ex is harder. Witching as an escape, now that’s impossible. Just ask Nilla Hayes.

BUMP (A Witchlight Novel)

Ever had that feeling–when you’re completely alone–that you’re being watched? I envy you. I see the watcher in an empty room, and I firmly believe ignorance would be bliss.

GLOAM (A Witchlight FREE Short)

This morning Nilla Hayes woke up with death. She’s not sure whose death it is, but when she finds out her day isn’t going to get a whole lot better.

 

 

Jaime Munn

Jaime Munn lives in a house with too many windows on the outskirts of Manchester, the city of immortal bees. He writes contemporary and urban fantasy stories. His novels blend the real world with his fascination for all things supernatural. By day he is a hypnotherapist. By night, he is not a vampire.

 

Connect with Jaime: Website, Facebook, Twitter, Bookbub, and Amazon.

The post Fantasy Careers: Witch for Hire appeared first on Magic Writer.

Reading Challenge Book Nine: The Way of Kings

Book nine was a modern epic fantasy.

Blurb

According to mythology mankind used to live in The Tranquiline Halls. Heaven. But then the Voidbringers assaulted and captured heaven, casting out God and men. Men took root on Roshar, the world of storms. And the Voidbringers followed…

They came against man ten thousand times. To help them cope, the Almighty gave men powerful suits of armor and mystical weapons, known as Shardblades. Led by ten angelic Heralds and ten orders of knights known as Radiants, mankind finally won.

Or so the legends say. Today, the only remnants of those supposed battles are the Shardblades, the possession of which makes a man nearly invincible on the battlefield. The entire world is at war with itself – and has been for centuries since the Radiants turned against mankind. Kings strive to win more Shardblades, each secretly wishing to be the one who will finally unite all of mankind under a single throne.

On a world scoured down to the rock by terrifying hurricanes that blow through every few day a young spearman forced into the army of a Shardbearer, led to war against an enemy he doesn’t understand and doesn’t really want to fight.

What happened deep in mankind’s past?

Why did the Radiants turn against mankind, and what happened to the magic they used to wield?

Why I chose this book

I’d heard a lot about Brandon Sanderson, from the fact he finished off Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time series (which I haven’t read yet either), to his laws of magic, to his writing courses and podcasts. When The Way of Kings came up as a Habitica book club read too, it seemed the ideal time to jump in and see what I thought.

Rating/content



I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.

The blurb above doesn’t really tell you much about the book. It’s an epic fantasy which follows three main characters. Kaladin: former surgeon turned disgraced soldier, who serves in the lowest position in the army and discovers his powers. Shallan: a young woman who tries to save her family’s disgrace by apprenticing herself to a great lady scholar and stealing her magic artifact. And Dalinar: leader of one of the armies in an unending battle against the Parshmen on inhospitable territory.

This book has a fair amount of fantasy-style violence, but it’s surprisingly clean. Minimal romance, no sex, and made-up bad language. I say surprisingly, because current epic fantasy trends tend to run pretty dark right now (grimdark etc.)

Good points

The worldbuilding in this book is immense and awesome. It took me a little while to get into it, but once I did, I found I was immersed in it entirely. The magical powers, the nations, the history, the depth of characters … it was simply engrossing.

I also really enjoyed the characters and their intertwining plot lines. I found myself rooting for Kaladin to survive, intrigued by Dalinar’s political and personal problems, and longing for Shallan to resolve her conflict between stealing for her family and her hard-fought apprenticeship.

Various reveals throughout left me going “wow”. I love a good reveal (and I’m bad at anticipating them). There was one in particular that I was just amazed at… but I can’t share because that would be a spoiler.

Suffice it to say, this book left me wanting more and reluctant to leave the characters behind. I understand it’s book one of a ten-part planned series, though, with only one other book currently written right now.

Bad points

If you read bad reviews of this book, words like “bloated”, “slow”, and “tedious” will stand out to you. I’ll admit that this is a slow-paced book, and although personally, I found it absorbing enough that I didn’t care about the pace, if this is something you really don’t enjoy, maybe avoid it.

Give it a chance — there are two prologues on this book before the actual story starts, so it does take a bit of getting into. But if you stick with it, it’s worth it. Now, I’m not a prologue-hater or a prologue-skipper, but you probably could skip both of these, although I’d advise reading them later, particularly the second one as that does become relevant.

Overall

Highly recommended for epic fantasy fans. The second book is on my TBR list, although I won’t rush into it given how many unwritten books there are in the series!

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