Victoria Grefer's Blog, page 61

Another 5 star review

Check out why LeKeisha Thomas calls “The Crimson League” a masterpiece

Wow! This book has to be one of the best fantasies I’ve ever read! I’ve read many books, so that’s saying something. The whole book will have you engrossed from start to finish. It’s unlike anything you’ve probably ever read. Kora Porteg, to put it simply, will amaze you! I don’t want to spoil it, so I’ll be frank. To be thrust into the journey the way she was, and to go through quite frankly, hell, all made her stronger. It’s not just Kora who you’ll come to love. These characters are by far the epitome of greatness. Some will have you wanting to transport yourself in this book and strangle them. Please come and enjoy this world of sorcery like no other. Along the way there will be many triumphs and losses. And the secrets, oh the secrets, will give you goose bumps. There’s love, betrayal, heartache…you name it this book has it. You will not want to put this book down. Totally worth reading! It will be your favorite book when you’re done. Victoria Grefer did an amazing job!

5 STAR REVIEW

Check out The Crimson League’s new 5 star review from Kindle edition reader, Sarah in El Paso:

“This book was recommended to me by a friend. Initially I was unsure whether I would enjoy it since it is a young adult novel. I am happy to say I was wrong.

The story almost immediately jumps into the quick pace which is maintained almost throughout the entire novel. I had a very difficult time putting it down. I HAD to know what was going to happen next. If I hadn’t had to turn the lights out so my husband could sleep, I would be significantly more sleep deprived than I am at the moment. Loved the book and will be looking into some of Grefer’s others.”

You find find access to all the latest reviews of “The Crimson League” on the review page of the website here!

Hercules Editing and Consulting Interview

I have copied and pasted this interview I had with Hercules Editing and Consulting. The link to their site is below: They are wonderful to work with. Make sure to visit their site and support them by following @BethLynne1 on Twitter!

SOURCE: http://www.bzhercules.com/articles/article/8456566/165287.htm

Interview with Victoria Grefer

The Crimson League

19 May 2012 

Please enjoy this interview with Victoria Grefer, author of The Crimson League. Grefer is from New Orleans, Louisiana, and she writes Fantasy and Young Adult Fiction.

I am the author of the YA fantasy “Herezoth Trilogy,” named for the kingdom of Herezoth, a war-torn land with a history of conflict between those born with magic and those without. The first novel in the series, The Crimson League, tells the story of Kora Porteg, a girl of humble origins, as she aids a resistance movement fighting to wrest control from a noble-born sorcerer who slew the royal family. Along the way, Kora discovers she is a sorceress herself, as well as the unwitting subject of one of her society’s oldest and often mocked legends. Though she accepts she can have no place in Herezoth after civil war should end, she fights alongside the usurper’s sister, a thief, a scholar, two telekinetic brothers, and other members of the group that calls itself the Crimson League. As their prospects deteriorate and numbers decline, the League has no choice but to make a final stand against its foe and the army that supports him.

How do you decide what to write?

I discovered a passion for fantasy literature in high school. I dabbled writing in other genres, such as mystery and historic romance, but discovered that I more enjoyed fantasy.

What inspires you to write?

So many things inspire me: my favorite works of literature, of course, but beyond that, I have noticed that writing, for me, is very therapeutic. I can identify some interesting connections between stresses, fears, and problems I was experiencing in my life at the time of writing a first draft and the way my plots and characters unfold. I would say that writing, for me, is a wonderfully effective coping mechanism.

Who designs your covers?

I use the createspace.com cover create to design my covers, selecting images and patterns that represent an iconic setting in the novel: for The Crimson League, that setting is the wooded bath between Kora’s home and the village of Hogarane.

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

I have always found writing the battles scenes of the Herezoth trilogy to be the most challenging: they are very action-packed, and that type of scene lends itself well but to the screen, but is more difficult to capture on the page. I spent a lot of time making sure a workable balance exists between description and pacing during fight scenes in my novel.

Who is your favorite author and why?

J.K. Rowling. I am so impressed by the amount of time and dedication she so clearly poured into creating and designing the world of the Harry Potter series. Her character Remus Lupin is one of my favorites I have ever read about, in any book.

Are there any new authors that have grasped your interest?

Unfortunately, my day job as a graduate student of Renaissance Spanish literature affords me little time for pleasure reading, so I have not been able to read the work of many new authors recently.

What established authors have influenced your work?

J.K. Rowling, J.R.R. Tolkien, Victor Hugo, T.H. White

Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?

As an avid reader myself, I know how wonderful it can be to discover a brand new author, novel, or series that really touches a part of my soul. I hope The Crimson League can be that kind of novel in your life. While the novel has its share of action–the review from Dragon’s Lair Books says, “When I say that this book is an adrenaline rush every chapter I mean it. There is some sort of drama or action scene each chapter that keeps you on the edge of your seat while reading”–I also strove to create meaningful, memorable characters whose difficult decisions and ability to act selflessly add depth, purpose, and value to the novel beyond entertainment value.

How about a link to your book?

http://crimsonleague.wordpress.com/

What are your most effective methods of promotion?

Social networking: Twitter and Goodreads, especially.

What does the future hold?

I have no second work currently in print besides The Crimson League, but am working of final edits of the second installment in the Herezoth trilogy: keep an ear out for news of the upcoming release of “The Magic Council”!

Thank you for your time, Victoria; we will be looking for The Crimson League and its sequels! 

 

 

May 12-14 GIVEAWAY

Don’t forget to download your FREE copy of “The Crimson League” Saturday, May 12- Monday, May 14 on Kindle. Don’t own a Kindle? Don’t worry! The Kindle page for “The Crimson League” will also let you download a free app, called Kindle Cloud Reader, to your laptop, iPad, or iPod to read Kindle ebooks! Victoria uses the Kindle Cloud Reader herself, and can testify that it works great.

While you’re getting your free read, don’t forget to do everything else you can keep on top of the latest Crimson League news:

Like us on Facebook!
Follow Victoria on Twitter!
Friend Victoria on Goodreads and become a fan. You can also join her Q&A Goodreads group from her profile page there.

After you read, don’t forget to rank the novel and leave a review on Amazon.com and/or Goodreads. And don’t forget to spread the news about this amazing offer and fun fantasy read to your friends!

May 12 GIVEAWAY

Don’t forget to download your FREE copy of “The Crimson League” Saturday, May 12 on Kindle. Don’t own a Kindle? Don’t worry! The Kindle page for “The Crimson League” will also let you download a free app, called Kindle Cloud Reader, to your laptop, iPad, or iPod to read Kindle ebooks! Victoria uses the Kindle Cloud Reader herself, and can testify that it works great.

While you’re getting your free read, don’t forget to do everything else you can keep on top of the latest Crimson League news:

Like us on Facebook!
Follow Victoria on Twitter!
Friend Victoria on Goodreads and become a fan. You can also join her Q&A Goodreads group from her profile page there.

After you read, don’t forget to rank the novel and leave a review on Amazon.com and/or Goodreads. And don’t forget to spread the news about this amazing offer and fun fantasy read to your friends!

Wilhem Horn

Wilhem Horn is a spy for the good guys, and one of the most intriguing characters in “The Crimson League.” His presence is short-lived, but leaves it mark. So little information is given about his life and background.! Where did Wilhem come from? How did he become a member of Zalski’s elite guard?

SPOILER ALERT: This post reveals some information about the Royal Family that is critical to “The Crimson League” (and quite a surprise when Kora discovers it.) If you have not finished Book I of the novel, you might want to come back to this biography.

CHILDHOOD

Wilhem was the youngest of a large family

Wilhem was born and raised in Yangeron, the youngest of seven boys. His birth was not especially welcome, and his brothers picked on him a lot when he was around, so he wasn’t much. He spent long days with the boys from his schoolhouse putting much more effort into learning to fence and shoot a bow than working sums or studying history. At the age of twelve, his oldest brother, Zathan, started to harass him when they alone in the house. Wilhem threatened Zathan with his shortbow, but Zathan wouldn’t back away, so Wilhem shot him in the leg. Wilhem’s father, who hated his eldest son, respected Wilhem after that, and none of Wilhem’s siblings dared to mess with him. Zathan recovered after treatment by a skilled physician who managed to keep infection at bay, while Wilhem discovered that mastering weapons was a useful hobby, and devoted himself to that task with greater vigor even than before. After that experience, he had not doubt he would join the army and serve the king. At the age of fifteen he traveled by himself to the capital city of Podrar, to enlist in the king’s forces and further his training. He never in his life returned to Yangerton or saw a member of his family again.

ADULTHOOD

A skilled equestrian, Wilhem spent much time under Zalski’s regime patrolling the outskirts of Podrar, to prevent outlaws like the Crimson League from entering or exiting the city. He kept Laskenay informed of his schedule, and gave his fellow Leaguesmen free passage to the woodlands whenever needed.

Wilhem joined the army eighteen years before Zalski’s coup. He served as a prison guard and as night patrol in the capital, where he helped prevent a drunken assault on a young, blond woman with a dark complexion whose carriage wheel had broken. She turned out to be a noblewoman returning from a visit to her fiance’s father’s estate. Her name was Malzin.

Wilhem had help fighting off Malzin’s attackers from two other soldiers, Malzin’s chauffeur, and even Malzin herself, but his bravery and skill impressed her. She did not forget Wilhem, and after her husband’s coup, on Alten Grombach’s recommendation readily promoted Wilhem to the elite guard she captained. Unbeknownst to her, she was not the only person Wilhem had impressed.

The dead king’s eldest son, named Hune Menikas, regularly visited Podrar’s barracks to speak with and inspect the soldiers. He appreciated Wilhem’s consistency, organization skills, weapon skills, and serious nature. Neither man was one to joke much or throw caution away. Wilhem was a loyal soldier and citizen, and always supported the Royal Family. When Zalski overthrew the king and took control of Herezoth, Wilhem Horn was the first military man Hune thought to turn to for assistance after Alten Grombach, the nation’s general, proved a traitor and in Zalski’s camp. A month following the coup, Hune paid Wilhem an unexpected visit at a tavern where Wilhem often went for a pint of ale. He enlisted Wilhem’s aid as a spy and told Wilhem that Laskenay, the League’s female head, would be the one to keep close contact with him. Were Wilhem to be discovered, pure logic deemed the woman the more expendable of the League’s two superiors. Hune needed to live to take the throne.

Before Hune’s surprise appearance, Wilhem had determined to keep his head down. He would follow what orders he could stomach to follow, pretend to obey the rest, and do only the bare minimum to enforce Zalski’s new, harsh code of law. He considered desertion, but decided against it. He had no family himself, having never married, but he had friends in the army who were husbands, and fathers, and who he suspected would follow his lead should he desert. Once Wilhem got over his shock that Hune was alive, he readily agreed to aid the Crimson League in any way he could. If Hune needed a spy close to Zalski, Hune would have one. From that point, Wilhem made sure to turn in all required papers before they could be asked for,  and worked long hours to funnel the extra pay back into the army for weapons and other supplies, all to gain the trust and attention of his superiors. The scheme worked. Wilhem rapidly was promoted into the elite guard, where he patrolled city limits and also worked at the Crystal Palace. All the while, he met regularly with Laskenay and left her notices of the guard’s inner dealings for the League’s benefit. He never did know Laskenay’s big secrets.

“Le Morte d’Arthur”

Tintagel Castle in Cornwall, England, where legend holds King Arthur was both conceived and born

SPOILER ALERT: This post exposes some information about Laskenay’s family history that might be a surprise if you haven’t completed “The Crimson Leauge” yet!

Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur was written in Middle English, and is England’s greatest collection of various legends about King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. It can be a dry read at moments, but is always a classic, and was the MAJOR influence of T.H. White’s “The Once and Future King,” which in turn was the source for Disney’s classic animated film “The Sword in the Stone.”

“Le Morte d’Arthur” (or “The Death of Arthur,” the title’s French) tells the entire story of Arthur’s life, from his conception at Tintagel Castle through deception to his death in battle against his bastard son Mordred. The legacy and legends of Merlin, the Quest for the Holy Grail, the famous love affair of Lancelot and Guinevere: it’s all there. (And the book is readily available in translation to modern English. No need to suffer through the original. As much as I love Arthurian legend, even I have never done that!)

The major influence that “Le Morte d’Arthur” had on “The Crimson League” is the character of Vane Unsten, Laskenay’s son raised by innkeeper Teena Unsten for his own protection. As soon as Arthur is born, Merlin must whisk the baby away from Tintagel to be raised in secret, his birth and birthright to be revealed to him only when has grown substantially past infancy. The “hide an important baby” motif is a classic one in fantasy literature, due largely, I would imagine, to Arthurian legend. Even Harry Potter must be raised quietly by his muggle (or non-magic) aunt and uncle after his parents’ deaths, without contact with the wizarding world. In Vane’s case, the danger is his magic-manic uncle, who slew the royal family and hopes to reshape the kingdom through policy that favors those with magic talent. Vane’s mother, a sorceress herself, knows her sorcerer son is in danger of brainwashing if the boy’s uncle ever discovers where he is. So Laskenay hides the boy away, hoping that one day she and the Crimson League will defeat Zalski and she can reunite with her only child. Vane, of course, is her strongest motivation to resist her brother’s regime, stronger even than the guilt she feels for not having stopped Zalski to begin with.

It is interesting to note that like Laskenay, Arthur has an evil (half-) sibling, Queen Morgause, who in many versions of Arthurian legends knows she and Arthur had the same mother, but tricks him anyway into sleeping with her soon after his coronation as Uther Pendragon’s heir and successor. Morgause subsequently gives birth to Mordred, who in the end bring a close to the golden age of Camelot.

The Harry Potter Series

Harry’s beloved Snowy Owl, Hedwig, plays a great (and fun!) part in Rowling’s series.

SPOILER ALERT: The article contains some references to plot developments both in the Harry Potter novels and in “The Crimson League.” Nothing specific is described beyond Remus Lupin’s great secret, but read at your own risk.

J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series ranks among a very limited list of fiction I can say I stayed up late reading (The others being the Lord of the Rings and Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy trilogies, and Leroux’s “The Phantom of the Opera.”) If you have any interest in the fantasy genre at all, chances are you already know ALL about Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Sure, Rowling overuses adverbs, and she herself admits that “Order of the Phoenix” could have been better edited. But the are truly, well…. magical. They had a HUGE and obvious influence on “The Crimson League.”

Perhaps the most obvious influence is Kora’s ruby, directly inspired by the lightning-shaped scar Voldemort left on Harry’s forehead when he first tried to kill him. The scar and ruby function differently–one main difference is that Harry’s scar is a constant exposure of his identity to all he meets, whereas Kora is able to hide the ruby without anyone outside of her fellow Leaguesmen (and Zalski’s inner circle) knowing it is there–but the ruby’s placement is a definite homage to Harry Potter.

Another homage to the Harry Potter books is the series of tests that block Kora, Kansten, and Lanokas from reaching the Hall of Sorcery. That chapter was definitely inspired by “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone,” where Harry, Ron, and Hermione must surpass a number of obstacles before they can reach the final showdown with the book’s villain. Again, the scenes function differently, as the barriers in Harry Potter are meant to be deadly and to prevent anyone and everyone from reaching the location of the Sorcerer’s Stone. In “The Crimson League,” the obstacles are tests, meant to prove and enhance one’s worthiness to stand within the Hall of Sorcery and seek the counsel of its court. They are not meant to endanger or to keep visitors away at all costs. Even so, the presence of trolls among the ancient sorcerers’ tests is a not-so-subtle reference to Harry Potter, out of gratitude for some of the best books I have read at any time.

Animals play a huge role throughout the Harry Potter series, including wolves (well, werewolves).

Remus Lupin, Harry’s third Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, is a werewolf and one of my favorite literary characters from any book, ever. I found the sense of rejection he feels from his fellow wizards to be intriguing, and I greatly admired his resolve to be a decent man regardless. Lupin keeps faith in humanity despite legitimate cause to be a HUGE misanthrope, and his steadiness, his optimism tinged with a firm grasp on reality, really struck me. I was not consciously thinking of Lupin when I came up with the idea that sorcery and magic would be highly stigmatized in Herezoth, but looking back, I think an unconscious influence was definitely present. There are many similarities between Lupin and the shame he feels at his social rejection and Laskenay and the approach she takes to her sorcery. In their youths, both embraced the traits about them that society rejects, and both struggle afterward to forgive and redeem themselves after their transgressions.

Also interesting in the later Harry Potter books is the contrast between Lupin, a genuine hero, and Fenrir Greyback, the bitter Voldemort supporter and werewolf who bit Lupin as a child. Greyback is never humanized to any degree. He is spiteful and evil, deliberately targeting children when he transforms so that as many people as possible will share his curse and his rejection from society throughout a long, miserable existence. The distinction between the werewolves is also present among the various sorcerers in  “The Crimson League.” Though Zalski is far from the pure malice that Greyback represents, he too is bitter and frustrated that throughout his life he had to suppress his greatest talent under pain of ostracism from his peers. In fact, he directly impresses upon Kora that Herezoth will never accept or support her. Like Lupin, Kora forces herself to overlook the prejudice and do what she knows is right, holding that hatred never justifies more hatred.

Zalski and Malzin

A rose in a garden (and Malzin’s ability to read thoughts through touch) finalizes the mutual hatred between Laskenay and Malzin and start the chain of events that lead to Malzin’s marriage to Zalski.

SPOILER ALERT: This post is about the background of two major characters in “The Crimson League.” You might want to read the novel before diving in!

If Zalski and Laskenay, as twins, were born some five minutes apart, Malzin followed them by a mere month, an only child. As children, Malzin was forced to spend much more with Laskenay than with Zalski, because they both were girls, and their mothers, both noblewomen (Laskenay’s a duchess, Malzin’s a countess) hoped the two would become friends.

The two children loathed one another from the first. Malzin thought Laskenay cold, while Laskenay judged her peer quite spiteful. As teenagers, their rivalry over courting Valkin Heathdon, who first devoted his energies to Malzin, solidified their rift. Laskenay won that battle, and to revenge herself, as well as to nurse her wounds, she set to snagging Zalski. She hoped to divide Laskenay from her brother, and liked the man well enough.

She soon fell in love with him. Zalski and Malzin are compatible in terms of their values, their goals and shared ambitions, their hobbies (both are great readers, and fond of historical studies). Because of her family’s historical roots in the army, Malzin grew up with a knowledge of military jargon, strategy, and weapons that Zalski lacked and that served him well later on. When their relationship became serious and marriage the logical next step, the two exposed their magic abilities and bonded even more deeply than before.

Kora: “I think he really does love her. Their relationship, it’s oddly functional.”

The coup was Zalski’s idea, not Malzin’s. Zalski, though, would never have had the confidence to follow through on the plot without Malzin’s support. She is bolder, and her personality is such that she rarely backs down when she’s convinced she is right or that something needs to be done. Zalski and Malzin are both genuinely convinced that their agenda is for the good of the magicked community, and ultimately, for the good of Herezoth. That is where Zalski found the courage to act. He understood before the coup that his risk of failure was far from negligible, and that failure would mean death. He judged he was acting nobly and unselfishly.

It was before the coup, only a year after marriage, that Malzin visited her doctor, who, as Alten Grombach claims, “is more adept with the crystal ball than the scalpel.” He used that crystal ball to view some aspects of her future life, and told her she would never have children, that she had been born barren. Though Grombach doubts her loyalty and veracity, Malzin’s relationship with Zalski has a firm, unshakeable foundation, and she told her husband immediately what the doctor had said. Zalski hoped the man was wrong, and secretly suspected he was. Even thinking he might be childless, though, Zalski never regretted having taken the wife he did.

Sedder Foden

SPOILER ALERT: You might want to return to this bio after reading “The Crimson League.”

 

Irish Setter

Sedder Foden was always Kora’s best friend, even as young children. He is both a loyal friend and a formidable foe, as Zalski’s elite guard discovers when the government attempts to hang Wilhem Horn in the Great Square. Both of these qualities–Sedder’s fidelity and his warrior instincts–make his name an apt one: it is derived from the Irish Setter, a breed of hunting dog.

Sedder always admired Kora’s ability to adapt to any situation, even as children, when they would visit their make-believe kingdom of Trenzern. Kora always seemed to come up with more ideas than Sedder to stave off an ogre invasion, or ford a river, or escape a pack of panthers. (Panthers often attacked in packs in Trenzern.) Kora’s ingenuity even made it unnecessary a few times for their friend Hunt to come and save them. That was usually Hunt’s role, and Sedder consented to let Hunt play the hero, because that allowed Sedder to stay with Kora and watch her develop her creativity. While Kora adopted magic powers in Trenzern, Sedder never felt inclined to do the same. He imagined himself a swordsman instead.

Sedder’s favorite hobby/sport was always fencing, though he never turned down his father’s invitation to hunt when the man was still alive, and rarely returned without game. That man, of course, was not Sedder’s biological father. Sedder’s parents were a couple of teen runaways from Yangerton. When their son was born, they decided they could not care for the child, and took him to Hogarane because they preferred the idea of their child growing up in a village instead of a city they both had come to loathe. They stayed at the cheapest inn in Hogarane they could find. The day after they arrived, Sedder’s father went to scout the market for someone to care for the baby, while Sedder’s mother kept Sedder at the inn. He found a man who mistook him for a beggar and so slipped some coins into his palm when they shook hands after an exchange of pleasantries. When the man did the same with another beggar in Sedder’s father view, Sedder’s father followed him home. Through an open window, Sedder’s father saw the man’s wife greet him fondly, and liked the look of her. The next morning, Sedder’s parents left their son on the road before the couple’s house and fled back to Yangerton (without paying for their night in the inn.) That couple was the Fodens. They never once considered bringing the child to an orphanage. They had been trying for three years to conceive without success, and deemed the baby they had found a miracle.