Starr Z. Davies's Blog, page 4

Exciting New Liaison with Jack Weatherford

As some of you may already know, I’m currently working on the Fractured Empire series (previously called the Jade Realm). The series is based on queen Mandukhai the Wise, a strong woman who ruled Mongolia in the late 15th century beside a boy khan.

Research for such a project can be overwhelming and sometimes daunting. Particularly when it comes to nailing down information about Mongolian clans, their locations, and the dates for particular events. As I tried to sort out the clans, I began to worry that I was in over my head. There is not much written in accessible English texts regarding clan locations or affiliations. As hard as I rooted for answers, I found no clear results.

To top it off, as I tried learning more about the clans, I also found inconsistencies in the dates. Not only for our star, Mandukhai, but everyone who surrounded her. I was frustrated and at my ends, so I reached out to the man who inspired me to write the Fractured Empire series.

Jack Weatherford.

During my undergraduate work, I was given the freedom to select any historical book from the 14th century to the 18th century. I can’t recall how I came across Jack Weatherford’s book, The Secret History of the Mongol Queens, but once I read the description, I was fascinated. I not only fell in love with the way Dr. Weatherford approaches history but with the story of this unlikely queen who stood in the face of the Mongol men to reunite the clans and return the line of Genghis Khan to power when it was on the brink of extinction.

When I hit a wall in my research, I went out on a limb and looked up Jack Weatherford. He worked for Macalester College in Minnesota, and I was able to find an email address. After explaining the project and how I came to find it, I sent an email asking if he would be willing to help. Honestly, I wasn’t expecting much.

After sending the email, I received an automated response informing me that he had retired and returned to Mongolia. And I figured that was that. I closed my laptop and went about my morning routine.

One hour later, I had four emails from Dr. Weatherford. He generously shared his resources with me, and so much more. I am still overwhelmed with gratitude for his generous spirit.

“I am delighted to get your message and know that you are working on this great queen.”

I went out on a limb and asked if he would be willing to be a liaison to the project, and once again he overwhelmed me with his generosity.

“I will help in any way that I can to promote her place in history.”

For those of you who don’t know who Jack Weatherford is, I suggest taking a moment to look him up. Dr. Weatherford’s work mostly focused on tribal peoples, and it wasn’t until recent years that he shifted his focus to Mongolian history. His work was so well received that the President of Mongolia awarded him the Order of the Polar Star in 2010. It’s the highest honor one can receive from the Mongolian nation. In 2012, the President of Mongolia gave him the Friendship Award. Currently, his audiobooks are played in Mongolian sacred spaces so that visitors can share history. So if you visit the shrine of Genghis Khan and hear an audio recording, that’s Dr. Weatherford’s book.

With this new ally and a wealth of new resources to use for a more accurate depiction of events surrounding Mandukhai’s life, I feel much better about this project. It’s still overwhelming, but I’m more confident than ever that I can do her life justice in my own creative way.

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Review: Lords of the Bow by Conn Iggulden

Genghis Khan has united the Mongol clans and risen to power. Now he turns his attention to the Chin dynasty that has torn his people apart for centuries.

Lords of the Bow is a battle-filled sequel to Wolf of the Plains, part of the Khan Dynasty series. Genghis and his massive army march further and further south into Chin lands, conquering and burning in brutal fashion the Mongols were famous for. As the Mongols grow stronger and wealthier, opposition to his rule dissolves in the wake of his overwhelming success.

Anyone who knows a bit about Genghis Khan and his conquests would not be surprised by anything that happens in this book. While the author clearly took some liberties, he also clarified those issues in his note at the end of the novel.

Like the previous book, I enjoyed the story, but I had a hard time investing in the characters. The use of psychic distance and head-hopping Iggulden uses to tell the story can make it hard to really dive deeper into their thoughts and emotions. The setting is rich. The battles are grueling. But the emotional investment is lacking.

Lords of the Bow ends with something of a cliffhanger. Genghis has taken the Chin emperor’s home wit the promise of peace, even if temporary, but the emperor betrays him. What will happen next? I’ll find out soon enough, though to be fair history has already answered that question for us.

Will I keep reading the series? Yes, if nothing else but for the details about their way of life. It’s great additional research for my own Mongolian fiction.

Do I recommend the book to others? Only if you’re fascinated by Genghis Khan and his empire. If not, the book will likely fall short of your expectations.

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Get autographed copies of Ordinary for a limited time! Here’s how…

With Covid holding me back from some of the events I had planned in May, I have decided to offer a special online for all of my readers.

I have a stock of copies of Ordinary available to purchase. I want them in the hands of readers instead of sitting in my house waiting for this crisis to pass. That means I am selling them myself.

What you get…

If you purchase a copy directly from me, I will custom autograph it for you! I won’t just sign my name on the title page. I will include a note and your name as well. Want to send it as a gift? Let me know who to sign the book for.

I will also send you a bookmark and postcard that includes information about the second book, Unique, which will be available on June 2, 2020.

+Bonus Gift…

As a bonus, I will also send you a copy of the prequel short story, Superior. You won’t find this story on Amazon or from any other bookseller. It’s an exclusive only offered through me.

++Bonus

Not only will I sign a copy and send it to you without charging for shipping anywhere in the continental US, and send you bookmarks and postcards; not only will I email you a copy of the Superior ebook, but for each copy of Ordinary you order, your name will be entered for a FREE copy of Unique. I will give away one copy to one lucky winner!

I already own a copy of Ordinary!

How can you be entered into the drawing? Share a photo of your copy on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram with #HeroOfElpis #OrdinarySeries. Make sure to include all copies in the photo so you can be entered for each copy you purchased. I will check for additional entries before the final drawing, personally!

Not savvy with social media? Have an ebook purchase instead? You can still enter for the free copy of Unique. Just email me proof of purchase. This can be a receipt or screenshot. Send it to Starr at starrzdavies dot com.

Oh, and if you donate a minimum of $2 to my website, I will mail you an autographed postcard as well!

BUT…!

I only have 28 copies available to purchase. That means quantities are limited, and the stock will run out. When the stock runs out, so does the promotion!

You can purchase a copy with Debit, Credit, or Paypal easily and securely. Venmo payments will be enabled soon in the next few days.

Buy Ordinary Now





Donate

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Review: Wolf of the Plains by Conn Iggulden

As I begin writing in a different direction, I decided to choose new books to read that fit better with what I was writing. Sadly, finding a good series or book of Mongolian historical fiction is harder than I expected. I found one.

Wolf of the Plains is the first book in the Conquerer series, and follows the early years of Temujin — better known as Genghis Khan to us — as he loses his father, is exiled from his clan, and has to save his family from starvation and certain death in the harsh northern plains of Mongolia. This, in a nutshell, summarizes the book well.

The details in this book were incredibly rich, and sometimes accurately grotesque. It opened my eyes to life on the steppe in ways that regular research just couldn’t accomplish. For those details, I give the book five stars. For the plot, I give the book five stars. It’s a compelling tale of a boy thrust into manhood too early and follows his intriguing journey as he rises to power. Temujin’s vision of a unified Mongolia forms over time until he is finally in a place to share the vision with the people.

There are quite a few historical inaccuracies in the novel, but as historical fiction, I can forgive those. Especially since many of them are addressed in the author’s note at the end of the book and Conn explains why he made those changes.

One major part of the writing style tripped me up throughout the book, and I think it hindered the book more than helped it. Conn takes on a distant 3rd person perspective that is so far removed from the emotion needed to really punch the scenes home that it made me feel detached from the story and the characters. He also jumps perspectives quite frequently, often in the same paragraph, to fit his own storytelling needs. Maybe it’s just me, but I would rather be closer to a handful of characters than jumping from one head to the next in a single scene. I don’t need to know what everyone in the scene thinks. I only need to feel what the key players in the book feel at the moment. And that was severely lacking in this book. For the style, I give it two stars.

Overall, the average works out to be a 4-star review, though I still feel more like this deserves a 3.5. Would I recommend this book? If you enjoy Mongolian history and are up for an interesting fictional read, sure. I did enjoy it. I just felt too detached from the characters to really invest in them…so be ready for that.

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UNIQUE Cover Reveal!

I’m so excited to share this fantastic cover art with everyone!

 

Unique is available June 2, 2020.

UNIQUE













UNIQUE
Adventure, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Available 6/2/20 : Preorder Available

Fans of Powerless, The Testing, Renegades, and The Maze Runner will crave this world of iniquitous secrets, intrigue, and desire to find a place in society.

He lost everything. His dad, his best friend, and the woman he loves.

Ugene and the other test subjects escaped Paragon. They thought they were finally safe. But the battle for freedom is far from over.

 

IndieBound (Coming Soon)





Amazon





B&N





BAM! (Coming soon)








★★★★★
Feather Tone Reviews

“...loving this book as much, if not more than, the first book.”

Look Inside
View Book








Preorders are available now.

 

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Another great review of Ordinary is in…

The outpouring of interest people have shown toward my book as I continue my blog tour is amazing. I sincerely hope everyone who reads and enjoys the book remembers to leave a review. 

Speaking of reviews, I found another great one shared by the Avid Reader blog.

“Ordinary is a very thrilling and exciting read. It is so very intriguing and filled with mystery from beginning to end. It will keep you hooked on the edge of your seat rooting for Ugene the whole way. I can’t wait to read more about Ugene and others in this extraordinary world of Ordinary. I honestly loved the world that was created for Ordinary. I could just see it all playing out in my head like a movie. I would like to recommend Ordinary to all fans of dystopian or apocalyptic worlds.”

If you want to read the full review, you can find it below.

Avid Reader Ordinary Book Review

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Unique Cover Reveal Coming Soon

Have you read Ordinary? I’m thrilled to announce the cover for Unique is coming on March 31.

Preorders are available beginning on the cover reveal day, so make sure to mark your calendars!

The post Unique Cover Reveal Coming Soon appeared first on Starr Z. Davies.

Another great review of Ordinary is in!

Launching a book during such tumultuous times has certainly proved challenging, but reviews are still coming in! 

Anie, book reviewer at Diary of a Wannabe Writer, has shared her outstanding review of Ordinary with her readers.

“It’s such an epic story.”

Read her review for yourself!

Review: Diary of a Wannabe Writer

The post Another great review of Ordinary is in! appeared first on Starr Z. Davies.

Review: Ember Queen by Laura Sebastian

Thora was the Ash Princess — a girl forced into invisible chains and tortured by the man who killed her mother and stole her crown. Theo was Lady Smoke — a refugee from her own kingdom and crown. Now, she is Theodosia, the Ember Queen, rising from the ashes to retake what is hers by right. Over and over, she reminds herself that no matter what happens, no matter what hard choices come her way, she must and will always put Astrea and her people first.

The progression of this character is nothing short of fantastic. From a timid, scared girl at the start of the first book to a strong, proud queen in the third. Though she may fight to retake her birthright — the crown her mother wore more than ten years ago — she always remembers the girl she was.

Theo’s relationship with those around her really blossoms in this book. Soren — a Kalovaxian prince who dedicates himself to absolving his sins in her name. Blaise — an old friend from childhood who holds more power than anyone should; a power that drives him to the edge over and over again. Artemesia — a sassy and strong Water Guardian who happens to be Theo’s cousin. Heron — the steady and steadfast Air Guardian with a heart bigger than anyone else… The cast of characters goes on and on, but at the core, these are Theo’s closest friends and trusted allies. The complexity of their relationship is outstanding.

The book wasn’t pulse-pounding or action-packed, but it definitely had its moments to shine bright. Is it worth the read? Absolutely, especially if you are already two books deep in the series. Was it a page-turner? Not nearly as much as the second book, Lady Smoke. But I still enjoyed the ride.

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One Week to Go and the World is Ending…

Okay, maybe it isn’t as dramatic as that, but let’s face it — some days it feels that way.

I’m pretty discouraged, actually. The launch of my debut novel is March 24, and just before it releases COVID-19 is forcing businesses and schools around the country to shut down. But I haven’t lost heart.

I wanted to share a few updates with my fellow heroes and assassins (that’s you, BTW).

1) Ordinary will release on time.

I’ve worked really hard to produce a book that I’m proud of — and that you should love. I wish this could have worked out better for all of us, but we can’t have everything.

2) Amazon is closing its warehouses until April 5.

The book is not currently stocked in warehouses, and my distributors have not yet taken action to replicate Amazon’s move. As far as I am aware right now, any print preorders should still ship as scheduled.

With that in mind, I would not be surprised if other distributors and shipping companies follow this lead. I am releasing the book for early distribution so that, hopefully, if something does happen the books should be able to arrive on March 24 instead of shipping on that date. I can’t make promises on this. I know that anything can change at any time.

3) Ebooks are still available.

I know the satisfaction of holding a copy of the book in your hands. I prefer print books myself. However, if you really want to get started, the ebook of ORDINARY will still be available — no shipping necessary! If you preorder the ebook, it will be delivered straight to your Kindle device on March 24. No one else will even touch your book!

If you don’t have Kindle on your tablet, phone or PC, I am including instructions to install if (if you so choose) so that you can start reading right away.

4) Readings and author events are still scheduled.

At this time, none of my author events have been canceled. The majority of these events won’t take place until May or June, and I am hopeful (for all our sakes) that COVID-19 has waned by that point. 

Obviously, I’m far more concerned with the health and safety of my family and yours. If there is still a risk at the time of my events, I will be rescheduling. So mark your calendars, but please check back before the event to make sure the date hasn’t changed. You can do that by checking my Events page or following me on Facebook.

 

If anything changes, I will do my best to keep you all updated. 

Download Kindle on your Iphone, Android, PC, or Mac by clicking the appropriate button on this page, then follow the installation prompts. 

Get Started with Kindle



 
Support other authors!

Take some time to support other authors besides just me. Instead of sitting in front of streaming services like Amazon Video, Netflix, Hulu, or Disney+ all day, turn off the TV and read a book. The adventure is just as great, and it can last so much longer than any TV show or movie. In fact, I would recommend an hour of reading a day if you are stuck at home in quarantine. You can do this in one of three ways:

Kindle: Buy the books you want and read them on any device!
Kindle Unlimited: Sign up for a monthly subscription and read all the books you want for FREE. The best part? The first 30 days are free as well, so you can try it out and cancel any time before the 30 days are up. (But really, why would you want to?) Authors get paid by the page read through Kindle Unlimited, so the more you read, the more authors make — and it doesn’t cost you anything for 30 days.
Audible: Sign up for this great audiobook platform. It’s a great way to support authors without reading the books yourself. And just like Kindle Unlimited, you get a FREE 30-day trial, after which you can cancel any time.

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