Lorina Stephens's Blog, page 44

New LibraryThing 4-star review for The Runner and the Wizard

available in print and eBook from
Five Rivers Publishing
your favorite bookseller
and online retailers worldwide

This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.“Young Ivor dreams of being a swordsman like his nine older brothers, but until he can grow a beard he's limited to being a runner, carrying messages for their lord, Thane Carrak. That's usually boring, but this time Carrak has sent him on a long journey to summon the mysterious Rorie of Ytter. Rorie is reputed to be a wizard—or an outlaw, or maybe a saint—but the truth is far stranger, and Ivor suddenly finds himself caught up in a twisted magical intrigue that threatens Thane Carrak and could leave Ivor himself very dead.”

Given the length of this YA fantasy novella, author Dave Duncan does an amazing job of evoking both characterization and place. He has created a huge world with loads of fully drawn and memorable characters whom we, the reader, can easily learn to care about. There is plenty of adventure to keep the reader’s attention and there is always a hint of danger throughout. Yet, since this is a novella aimed at a young audience, there is no real violence nor foul language although, happily, Duncan never ‘talks down’ to his young audience either.

In many ways, The Runner and the Wizard reminded me of an earlier time in fantasy with its young hero, lack of violence, and pastoral setting. Yet, the story doesn’t seem old. It’s a fun fast read with plenty of action and even a touch of humour and I enjoyed it quite a lot. (  )    |   flaglostinalibrary | Dec 29, 2013 | 

Into the wild blue of 2014

When I look back on 2013 I'm a bit stunned by the amount of work I and my compatriots, Robert Runte and Jeff Minkevics, have accomplished. We've managed to put out a book a month in the past year. There were a few moments I thought I'd broken both Robert and Jeff. In fact, I was certain of it with Jeff toward the end of the year. But bless their wee cotton socks, they hung in there, overcame exhaustion and pressing deadlines, and joined me in completing the year's docket for this blissful insanity called Five Rivers Publishing.

What's ahead? Apparently an equivalent. We have four books scheduled to release March 1.

The Runner and the Saint, by Dave Duncan. This is the second installment in the Ivor Series of YA novelettes.The Legend of Sarah, by Leslie Gadallah, which is a revised reprint of The Loremasters.Old Growth, by Matt Hughes, the second installment of his Sid Rafferty Mystery series. Cloudbearer's Shadow: Book 4, The Rune Blades of Celi, by Ann Marston. The saga of the plight of the Celi continues.May 1, we'll release:



Shakespeare for Slackers: Romeo and Juliet, by Aaron Kite, Audrey Evans and Jade Brooke. The book is a screamingly funny, modern interpretation of The Bard's much-beloved romantic tragedy, which would stitch seamlessly into any secondary school English literature or drama curriculum. It's also a perfect companion for John Poulsen's Shakespeare for Readers' Theatre: Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and Midsummer Night's Dream.
August 1, we'll release:

My Life as a Troll, by Susan Bohnet, a madcap YA jaunt from this new Canadian author.The Runner and the Kelpie, by Dave Duncan, which is the third book in the Ivor Series of YA fantasy novelettes, chock-a-block full of adventure, wry humour and historical detail.King of Shadows: Book 5, The Rune Blades of Celi, by Ann Marston, a revised reprint of this acclaimed and beloved series.A Touch of Poison, by Aaron Kite. The film rights for this Wattie Award winning novel have recently been picked up and the screenplay is presently being written. This is fresh, engaging YA fantasy fiction.Mik Murdoch: The Power Within, by Michell Plested. Our 2013 Aurora Award nominee author, Michell Plested returns with the second book in the Mik Murdoch series, exploring Mik's struggle with the reality of his super powers.And finally October 1 we'll release:

Shakespeare for Readers' Theatre, Book 2: Shakespeare's Greatest Villains (The Merry Wives of Windsor; Othello, The Moor of Venice; Richard III, and King Lear), by John Poulsen. As he did in the first installment of the Readers' Theatre series, Poulsen offers several abridgements of Shakespeare's timeless plays, retaining all the beauty and elegance of the language, but allowing students and teachers to prepare and perform within the time constraints of the class setting.There are a few other titles in the wings, but details have not as yet been confirmed. Still and all, looks to be another fabulous year here at Five Rivers.

In to the wild blue of 2014

When I look back on 2013 I'm a bit stunned by the amount of work I and my compatriots, Robert Runte and Jeff Minkevics, have accomplished. We've managed to put out a book a month in the past year. There were a few moments I thought I'd broken both Robert and Jeff. In fact, I was certain of it with Jeff toward the end of the year. But bless their wee cotton socks, they hung in there, overcame exhaustion and pressing deadlines, and joined me in completing the year's docket for this blissful insanity called Five Rivers Publishing.

What's ahead? Apparently an equivalent. We have four books scheduled to release March 1.

The Runner and the Saint, by Dave Duncan. This is the second installment in the Ivor Series of YA novelettes.The Legend of Sarah, by Leslie Gadallah, which is a revised reprint of The Loremasters.Old Growth, by Matt Hughes, the second installment of his Sid Rafferty Mystery series. Cloudbearer's Shadow: Book 4, The Rune Blades of Celi, by Ann Marston. The saga of the plight of the Celi continues.May 1, we'll release:


Shakespeare for Slackers: Romeo and Juliet, by Aaron Kite, Audrey Evans and Jade Brooke. The book is a screamingly funny, modern interpretation of The Bard's much-beloved romantic tragedy, which would stitch seamlessly into any secondary school English literature or drama curriculum. It's also a perfect companion for John Poulsen's Shakespeare for Readers' Theatre: Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and Midsummer Night's Dream.
August 1, we'll release:

My Life as a Troll, by Susan Bohnet, a madcap YA jaunt from this new Canadian author.The Runner and the Kelpie, by Dave Duncan, which is the third book in the Ivor Series of YA fantasy novelettes, chock-a-block full of adventure, wry humour and historical detail.King of Shadows: Book 5, The Rune Blades of Celi, by Ann Marston, a revised reprint of this acclaimed and beloved series.A Touch of Poison, by Aaron Kite. The film rights for this Wattie Award winning novel have recently been picked up and the screenplay is presently being written. This is fresh, engaging YA fantasy fiction.Mik Murdoch: The Power Within, by Michell Plested. Our 2013 Aurora Award nominee author, Michell Plested returns with the second book in the Mik Murdoch series, exploring Mik's struggle with the reality of his super powers.And finally October 1 we'll release:

Shakespeare for Readers' Theatre, Book 2: Shakespeare's Greatest Villains (The Merry Wives of Windsor; Othello, The Moor of Venice; Richard III, and King Lear), by John Poulsen. As he did in the first installment of the Readers' Theatre series, Poulsen offers several abridgements of Shakespeare's timeless plays, retaining all the beauty and elegance of the language, but allowing students and teachers to prepare and perform within the time constraints of the class setting.There are a few other titles in the wings, but details have not as yet been confirmed. Still and all, looks to be another fabulous year here at Five Rivers.

4-star review for Out of Time, by D.G. Laderoute

print and eBook
from Five Rivers Publishing
The Game Shelf, Thunder Bay, Ontario
online booksellers worldwide
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.Hard to get into but glad I did. Good story and likable characters. I heartily recommend this book and it will appeal to the younger set and well and older teens. (  )    |   flagJimV | Dec 15, 2013 | 

Interview with Susan MacGregor, author of The Tattooed Witch

Lorina Stephens, publisher at Five Rivers, recently interviewed Susan MacGregor, author of The Tattooed Witch, via Google Hangouts.
available in print and eBook
from Five Rivers Publishing
and online booksellers worldwide

Wassail to thee!

Another 4-star review for The Runner and the Wizard

available in print and eBook
from Five Rivers
online booksellers worldwide
and select bookstores
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.This was a good well-paced story with very appealing characters, set in ancient Scotland. It's more of a novella than a novel, and seems to be setting up for the rest of the series, which I look forward to reading. This is not an outstanding read but it is certainly an enjoyable one. Dave Duncan writes with charm. (  )    |   flagmathgirl40 | Dec 9, 2013 | 

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For the reader of epic fantasy on your listAnn Marston's Rune Blades of Celi series is the perfect answeravailable in print and eBook