C.J. Brightley's Blog, page 4
August 2, 2017
Release Week for Luminous!
How are you? It has been so hot here that my stargazer lilies burned and browned. A few weeks ago we had a birthday party for my daughter, who turned six, and enjoyed a 75 foot slip-n-slide in our backyard! The weather was hot and the yellow jackets stayed away. It was a wonderful time.
Yesterday was release day for Luminous!
Luminous: A Noblebright Fantasy Boxed Set
This is a fantastic boxed set (ebook only) of ten noblebright fantasy novels. They’re clean and noblebright, appropriate for YA and adult readers. I’ve raved about several of these books before, but others are new to me and I’m so glad to have discovered them!
My book in the set is The Lord of Dreams, a fairytale adventure with a coming of age element and a hint of romance. If you haven’t read The Lord of Dreams yet, I’ve included the prologue at the end of this post so you can get a taste of it. The prologue occurs about nine years before the novel begins.
What is noblebright?
Set apart by a sense of hope, noblebright fantasy includes at least one character who, although flawed, still deliberately pursues goodness. And that goodness has the power to make a difference. In a noblebright story, even villains are not without hope. Their redemption isn’t guaranteed, of course, but it is a possibility.
For a limited time , Luminous is at a special release price of only $2.99. Even if you already have The Lord of Dreams, you won’t want to miss this set!
Find it here:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple iBooks | Kobo | Google Play | Smashwords
Books included in Luminous :
The Lord of Dreams by C. J. Brightley
A Threat of Shadows by JA Andrews (link goes to my review)
Heir of Iron by J.S. Bangs
The Hawk and His Boy by Christopher Bunn
Chronicles of Steele: Raven: The Complete Story by Pauline Creeden (link goes to my review)
The Firethorn Crown by Lea Doué (link goes to my review)
Wolfskin by W.R. Gingell (link goes to my review)
Sunbolt by Intisar Khanani (link goes to my review)
Rachel and the Many-Splendored Dreamland by L. Jagi Lamplighter
The Pygmy Dragon by Marc Secchia
Thank you for reading!
~ C. J. Brightley
The Lord of Dreams
Prologue
When Claire was seven, she had a very strange dream.
Impossibly tall trees towered above her, the sound of their distant rustling like whispers. The air in the dappled shadows was cool and still, broken only by a murmuring of unseen water. Claire looked down at her bare feet, skin pale against the deep green moss covering the earth. Static made her pink nightgown cling to her slim legs.
Where was she?
A fluttering overhead caught her ear, and she looked up, her eyes searching the shadowed branches. Nothing was visible, but the whispering of the leaves seemed to increase ominously. She began walking carefully toward the sound of water, chewing her lip.
What was this place?
Her feet padded on the moss as if it were thick green carpet, soft and cool against her skin. She made her way through sparse brush, the leaves parting before her invitingly.
Screech!
The sudden cry behind her made her start in fear, and she froze, looking back into the shadows. It was darker, as if the sun had not only disappeared behind a cloud, but descended to the horizon in a matter of moments.
Her heart thudded, and she whimpered a little. Another angry cry gave wings to her feet.
She flew through the brush, tiny twigs and leaves slapping her in the face and across the arms. She glanced behind her once, not sure what she expected to see.
Green eyes glinted in the twilight.
Claire cried out and stumbled when her foot hit a nearly buried rock. She fell headlong, her hands splashing into a pool of water.
“You aren’t right. You’re not what you’re supposed to be!”
Claire looked up to see a boy of about her own age glaring down at her.
“There’s a… a…” She pointed helplessly behind her, too terrified to look for the eyes of the creature that had pursued her.
“Yes. A cockatrice.” The boy’s blue glare intensified. His eyes were rimmed in red, and she had a fleeting thought that perhaps he had been weeping. “You should know better than to wake a sleeping cockatrice.” His eyes flicked behind her with a frisson of fear, and he grabbed her shoulder. “Back you go, then.” He pushed her into the pool of water, hurrying her deeper while glancing over his shoulder. A final shove sent her flailing, the water closing over her head. Her last glimpse of him was of his silver-white hair plastered down by water, one arm flung up against a beaked maw that struck with cobra-like speed. Claire screamed, water filling her mouth.
She woke, trembling and sweaty, tangled in her blankets.
Read more in Luminous!
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple iBooks | Kobo | Google Play | Smashwords
The post Release Week for Luminous! appeared first on C. J. Brightley.
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Luminous – A Noblebright Fantasy Boxed Set
The Lord of Dreams – New Release!
The Lord of Dreams – now up for pre-order!
July 27, 2017
Luminous – A Noblebright Fantasy Boxed Set
The pre-order price is $2.99. The release date is August 1, so you won’t have to wait long!
You don’t want to miss this! The set includes ten books, including my most recent release The Lord of Dreams, and several books I’ve raved about already from some of my favorite authors (Sunbolt, A Threat of Shadows, Wolfskin, The Firethorn Crown, and Chronicles of Steele).
Jenny at Seedlings Designs did the fantastic cover. You can preorder Luminous at Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes.
Are you new to noblebright? Read more about it here!
Dare to step into lands of myths, magic, and monsters, because there is light to be found in even the darkest of places.
Now, ten fantasy authors have come together to offer this epic boxed set of noblebright fantasy! Don’t miss this fantastic opportunity to explore ten unique worlds, fall in love with gallant heroes and heroines, and discover the chinks in the darkness where the light shines through.
What is n fantasy?
Set apart by a sense of hope, noblebright fantasy includes at least one character who, although flawed, still deliberately pursues goodness. And that goodness has the power to make a difference. In a noblebright story, even villains are not without hope. Their redemption isn’t guaranteed, of course, but it is a possibility.
This boxed set includes:
The Lord of Dreams by C. J. Brightley
When a fairy king grants a human wish, there’s more at stake than dreams.
A Threat of Shadows by JA Andrews
Haunted by his past and surrounded by companions carrying their own dark secrets, Alaric grasps at one last chance to save his dying wife.
Heir of Iron by J.S. Bangs
Family secrets. Forbidden Love. An empire on the brink of collapse.
The Hawk and His Boy by Christopher Bunn
You can run as far as you can, but you can never escape the Dark.
Chronicles of Steele: Raven: The Complete Story by Pauline Creeden
Just when Raven tries to leave the life of a Reaper, she’s pulled right back in.
The Firethorn Crown by Lea Doué
After discovering a secret underground kingdom and a mysterious sorcerer-prince, Princess Lily must free herself and her sisters from a dangerous curse or face a lifetime of darkness.
Wolfskin by W.R. Gingell
Sometimes the little girl in the red hood doesn’t get eaten, and sometimes the wolf isn’t the most frightening thing in the forest…
Sunbolt by Intisar Khanani
A street thief with a dangerous secret, Hitomi finds herself betrayed to the dark mage who killed her father.
Rachel and the Many-Splendored Dreamland by L. Jagi Lamplighter
Magic school can be a lot more dangerous—and wondrous—than expected.
The Pygmy Dragon by Marc Secchia
Now, the courage of the smallest will be tested to the utmost. For Pip is the Pygmy Dragon, and this is her tale.
Preorder LUMINOUS at Amazon, Smashwords, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes!
The post Luminous – A Noblebright Fantasy Boxed Set appeared first on C. J. Brightley.
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Noblebright.org is off to a fantastic start!
Light in the Darkness: A Noblebright Fantasy Boxed Set (first set of mini reviews)
Light in the Darkness: A Noblebright Fantasy Boxed Set (second set of mini reviews)
July 21, 2017
Erdemen Honor Boxed Set and Flower Pictures
How is your summer going? Is it summer where you are? I live in northern Virginia just outside of Washington, DC, and it is sweltering this week. My plants are happy, though! Here are some that are either blooming or just finishing up. If you’d like to see more, I post pictures on Instagram.
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Thank you for your prayers! While I’m working on A Long-Forgotten Song 4, I’m also hard at work on other writing projects! I finally released the boxed set of Erdemen Honor, which includes ebooks of The King’s Sword, A Cold Wind, and Honor’s Heir. The cover image below is linked to the set on Gumroad, which is where you can purchase it directly from me. It’s the same price as on any of the main retail sites, but I actually make more money because no retailer takes a cut. If you’re not comfortable side-loading the files, you can also find the boxed set on Amazon, Barnes & Noble Nook, Kobo, Apple iBooks, and Smashwords.
What are you reading? I just read How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell. I found it in the children’s section of the library when finding books for my daughter and picked it up for myself. It was a quick, fun read for younger readers. I haven’t seen the movie(s) but I’ve heard they’re good.
The post Erdemen Honor Boxed Set and Flower Pictures appeared first on C. J. Brightley.
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Title Reveal: Honor’s Heir (Erdemen Honor Book 3)
Interview: Kemen Sendoa (from Erdemen Honor series, after Honor’s Heir)
Honor’s Heir: Erdemen Honor (Book 3)
July 19, 2017
The King’s Sword Audiobook, The Lord of Dreams goes wide, and other news…
Good afternoon!
The audiobook of The King’s Sword is now on Amazon, Audible, and iTunes! It’s free for new subscribers to Audible, so if you’ve been considering subscribing, please use this as your first book! If you’re a current Audible subscriber, it should offer Whispersync (and the lower Whispersync price!). If it doesn’t now, it should in a day or two.
The Lord of Dreams is now wide! It has been on Amazon for a while, but is now also available on other retailers. The cover image below is linked to the ebook on Gumroad. Here’s the link to the signed paperback on Gumroad. If you’re not comfortable side-loading the files, you can also find the book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble Nook, Kobo, iBooks, and Smashwords. The paperback is also available unsigned on Amazon and B&N.
Please consider supporting and/or sharing the Indiegogo campaign for the Still Waters anthology by clicking here or clicking the beautiful cover image below. I’m going through the fantastic submissions so far and it’s going to be really hard to narrow it down to a manageable length! You’ll love this anthology! I can announce three acceptances so far – two sweet, magical stories from Sherwood Smith, who wrote Lhind the Thief (which you may recall from the Light in the Darkness boxed set last year), and a hauntingly beautiful story from Francesca Forrest, who wrote Pen Pal (also in Light in the Darkness). These three stories alone are worth more than the $5 to get the entire anthology!
If you haven’t checked out Noblebright.org, we’ve had some great book reviews and guest posts lately. Most recently Nicholas Kotar allowed me to reprint his essay Fantasy for Our Time: My Writer’s Manifesto, which I highly recommend. There have also been more book reviews as well. If you’re interested in submitting a book review or blog post, please use this form.
What have you been reading lately?
The post The King’s Sword Audiobook, The Lord of Dreams goes wide, and other news… appeared first on C. J. Brightley.
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Still Waters – the first anthology by Spring Song Press!
The Lord of Dreams – New Release!
The Lord of Dreams – now up for pre-order!
July 12, 2017
Calling All Heroes! A Hall of Heroes Giveaway
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Unwilling or epic, tragic or super, heroes are key to any story. Join in our Hall of Heroes giveaway for a chance to add both ebooks and paperbacks by eighteen Fellowship of Fantasy authors to your library. Fellowship of Fantasy is a group of fantasy authors committed to publishing clean fantasy. My book in the giveaway is The King’s Sword.
At the center of our giveaway is the Hall of Heroes short story anthology, jam packed with thrilling tales. Whether you win the paperback or not, you can still get the ebook now for FREE! I don’t have a story in the anthology, but I just picked it up for my own reading and am already enjoying it.
We also have a little something extra in the form of a custom journal set. So what are you waiting for? Enter now and join the adventures!
You can also check out this Instafreebie event: https://dechapmanauthor.wordpress.com/giveaways/. My short story Street Fox is in it (which you can also get for free just by signing up through the link in the sidebar!), as well as other short stories, novellas, and even novels from other authors. Most of them will require you to subscribe to the author’s newsletter in order to get the book, but you can unsubscribe at any time. It’s a general fantasy event and not specific to clean fantasy.
And finally, I’d love your support on the Still Waters anthology! I received some fantastic submissions! Still Waters is clean, noblebright fantasy, and I’m really excited to bring you these stories. Please consider supporting the Indiegogo campaign by contributing and/or sharing it. Click the cover image below to find out more.
The post Calling All Heroes! A Hall of Heroes Giveaway appeared first on C. J. Brightley.
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Still Waters – the first anthology by Spring Song Press!
Another Fantastic Giveaway!
Heroes
June 12, 2017
Still Waters – the first anthology by Spring Song Press!
I’m excited to announce the first project under my new publishing name, Spring Song Press. I’m putting together an anthology of clean noblebright fantasy short fiction titled Still Waters. This is a “traditional” anthology rather than a cooperative marketing effort among indie authors, so I’m paying the authors upfront for the right to publish their work. I’ve currently budgeted a minimal payment to authors, but I’d like to be able to both increase that payment and increase the number of stories I can include in the anthology, so I’ve started an Indiegogo campaign. This will basically be pre-sales – in return for your support, you get the anthology before it’s available for sale and the satisfaction of knowing that more of your contribution goes to actually support the anthology through Indiegogo than through a regular retail sale. Plus you can get cool perks!
You can find the Indiegogo campaign by clicking here or clicking the beautiful cover image below. If you’re interested in submitting a story, you can find submission information by clicking here.
Call for Guest Bloggers!
Noblebright.org is off to a great start, but I’d love your help! Do you have a favorite noblebright fantasy book? A book that inspired you to love reading, dream of heroic deeds, or become an author yourself? Would you like to write a guest blog post? Anything about noblebright fantasy is fair game – a list of your favorite redemptions of villains or your favorite heroes or heroines, or a review of a book that lingered in your heart long after you finished the last word. Reply to this email or contact me through http://www.noblebright.org/submit-a-post/.
If you’d like to know more about noblebright fantasy, please start with the overview post here on my site and here on noblebright.org.
As always, thanks for reading!
The post Still Waters – the first anthology by Spring Song Press! appeared first on C. J. Brightley.
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Noblebright News!
A Writing Soundtrack for A Long-Forgotten Song
Things Unseen: A Long-Forgotten Song (Book 1)
May 15, 2017
What I’m Reading #11
These are some of the books I have been enjoying lately.
[image error] Memories of Ash by Intisar Khanani – This is the novel-length sequel to the novella Sunbolt that I enjoyed so much a few months ago. Sunbolt is on the longer end for a novella, so if you’re not normally a fan of shorter works, please don’t skip it! I believe this was planned to be novella-length as well, but grew into a novel. Not a bit of the extra length is extraneous fluff, either – this is rich and glorious and exceptionally fun noblebright fantasy. I was a bit worried that one of my favorite characters was gone for good, but we meet some old friends as well as new friends and allies to counter old enemies and new dangers. Intisar Khanani is one of my new favorite authors, and when the third book in this series comes out, I will probably get them all in paperback.
In the year since she cast her sunbolt, Hitomi has recovered only a handful of memories. But the truths of the past have a tendency to come calling, and an isolated mountain fastness can offer only so much shelter. When the High Council of Mages summons Brigit Stormwind to stand trial for treason, Hitomi knows her mentor won’t return—not with Arch Mage Blackflame behind the charges.
Armed only with her magic and her wits, Hitomi vows to free her mentor from unjust imprisonment. She must traverse spell-cursed lands and barren deserts, facing powerful ancient enchantments and navigating bitter enmities, as she races to reach the High Council. There, she reunites with old friends, planning a rescue equal parts magic and trickery.
If she succeeds, Hitomi will be hunted the rest of her life. If she fails, she’ll face the ultimate punishment: enslavement to the High Council, her magic slowly drained until she dies.
Memories of Ash is the highly anticipated sequel to Sunbolt, Book 1 of The Sunbolt Chronicles.
[image error] The Bone Knife by Intisar Khanani – This was actually the first of Khanani’s stories that I read – it’s free on Amazon (as of this writing). I’m always intrigued to see how other authors treat faerie, and I was not disappointed. Khanani’s faerie is alien, dangerous, and unpredictable, and the world is richer for it.
Rae knows how to look out for family. Born with a deformed foot, she feigns indifference to the pity and insults that come her way, learning to be wary of all things beautiful. So Rae instantly distrusts their latest visitor: an appallingly attractive faerie whose mere presence imperils the secret her sister guards. But when the local townspeople show up demanding his blood, Rae must find a way to protect both her sister’s secret and their guest. Even if that means risking herself.
[image error] [image error] [image error] The Bad Beginning (A Series of Unfortunate Events), The Reptile Room (A Series of Unfortunate Events), and The Wide Window (A Series of Unfortunate Events) by Lemony Snicket – I picked these up from the library a few months ago (with a different cover) because I’d never read the series and it seemed like something I should have read. It’s not one of my favorite children’s series, but I do find it an interesting take on voice and story for children. It was fun enough that I started watching the Netflix series, which is relatively faithful to the books (so far) but gives more information about what’s going on in the background with the Baudelaire parents. The show splits each short book into two episodes of the show, but while it expands a bit, everything is coherent and consistent with the books. It also presents Lemony Snicket (the author and narrator) as more of a character than he is in the books. Neil Patrick Harris is hilariously over-the-top evil as Count Olaf, and I’m not sure anyone else could pull it off as well as he does. The books are marked ages 8-12.
NOW A NETFLIX ORIGINAL SERIES
Are you made fainthearted by death? Does fire unnerve you? Is a villain something that might crop up in future nightmares of yours? Are you thrilled by nefarious plots? Is cold porridge upsetting to you? Vicious threats? Hooks? Uncomfortable clothing?
It is likely that your answers will reveal A Series of Unfortunate Events to be ill-suited for your personal use. A librarian, bookseller, or acquaintance should be able to suggest books more appropriate for your fragile temperament. But to the rarest of readers we say, “Proceed, but cautiously.”
[image error] The Time Garden by Edward Eager – I picked this up from the library, not realizing it was the fourth in a series (the version in my library has no series markings whatsoever!). Without having read the previous books, the story is quite easy to follow. Although it’s creative, the story has not enraptured me. It’s marked ages 7-10, and I’m not sure whether my lack of interest is a result of not being used to this younger end of the YA spectrum, or whether it’s the story and style itself.
Time and again, the children from Knight’s Castle have longed for another magic adventure. But you can’t find magic just anywhere. It doesn’t just grow like grass. It requires the right place and the right time—
Or thyme, as the case may be.
For at Mrs. Whiton’s house, magic grows wild as the fragrant banks of thyme in her garden. Eliza insists that time doesn’t grow, it flies—yet growing in the garden is olden time, future time, and common time. Or so says the Natterjack, the odd toadlike creature who presides over the garden and accompanies the kids on a series of perilous, hilarious, always unpredictable adventures. “Anything can happen,” the Natterjack says with a wink, “when you have all the time in the world.”
[image error] Twist of Fate by F. Sharon Swope and Genilee Swope Parente – Mysteries aren’t my normal genre, but I met the authors at a local event and picked this up. It’s not exactly a cozy mystery – the sleuth is a professional detective, male, and doesn’t work in a flower shop or cafe. But it has that softer, gentler sort of feel. Maybe a soft-boiled mystery? A whodunit with romance? In any case, I enjoyed it. The main characters were likable but not without their flaws, which played into the story in believable ways. If you’re looking for hard-boiled noir, this isn’t it, but if you’re looking for a slightly different take on mystery, it’s definitely worth checking out.
Private investigator Sam Osborne is still setting up his new office when he gets a call from young heiress Casey Lewis asking him to investigate several recent attempts on her life. Twenty-year-old Casey is wheelchair-bound, the use of her legs taken in the same wreck that killed her parents just after her father changed his will to leave his business and fortune to her. Now, on the eve of full inheritance, someone is trying to kill her. Danny Jones has been homeless since he was a child. His long-time protector has died, leaving him completely on his own. With a large storm bearing down on the DC Metro area, he takes refuge in a boxcar, only to wake far away; stranded in one of the worst blizzards to hit the area in years. A twist of fate brings Danny to Casey’s side just in time to save her from another attempt on her life. Through the dark days of the storm, Casey and Danny work together to survive. As the storm passes, the clock starts ticking in a race to find who is trying to kill Casey before they succeed. Sam works feverishly while Danny stands ready to protect Casey from any threat, and all the while Casey and Danny’s feelings for each other grow. Will Sam uncover the plot against Casey in time, or will the budding love between Danny and Casey be cut short by tragedy?
What are you reading?
The post What I’m Reading #11 appeared first on C. J. Brightley.
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March 26, 2017
What I’m Reading #10
These are some of the books I’ve been enjoying lately:
[image error] Sunbolt by Intisar Khanani – This was recommended to me by W.R. Gingell, one of my favorite authors, and of course the cover was done by the ever-so-talented Jenny at Seedlings Design Studio, who did our cover for Light in the Darkness and also the cover for The Lord of Dreams. I loved it – loved the characters, loved the setting, loved the prose, loved everything. It is the first book in a trilogy, so do not expect complete closure at the end. However, the book does end in a logical place; it’s an obvious transition point to a new chapter of the story and not an abrupt cliffhanger. I’m looking forward to continuing the series in Memories of Ash. Very noblebright.
The winding streets and narrow alleys of Karolene hide many secrets, and Hitomi is one of them. Orphaned at a young age, Hitomi has learned to hide her magical aptitude and who her parents really were. Most of all, she must conceal her role in the Shadow League, an underground movement working to undermine the powerful and corrupt Arch Mage Wilhelm Blackflame.
When the League gets word that Blackflame intends to detain—and execute—a leading political family, Hitomi volunteers to help the family escape. But there are more secrets at play than Hitomi’s, and much worse fates than execution. When Hitomi finds herself captured along with her charges, it will take everything she can summon to escape with her life
[image error] The Firethorn Crown by Lea Doué – This was a lovely reimagining of the fairy tale Twelve Dancing Princesses. The color and light of the human world seem even brighter in contrast with the rich darkness of the fairy world. All the many characters were characters in their own right rather than just a crowd in the background. The romance was clean, finely drawn, and thoroughly enjoyable. I’m looking forward to continuing this series as well. Very noblebright.
The crown is her strength. The crown is her weakness.
Princess Lily, the eldest of twelve sisters and heir to a mighty kingdom, desperately seeks a break from her mother’s matchmaking. Tradition forbids marriage with the man Lily loves, so she would rather rule alone than marry someone who only wants the crown.
Fleeing an overzealous suitor, Lily stumbles into a secret underground kingdom where she and her sisters encounter a mysterious sorcerer-prince and become entangled in a curse that threatens the safety of her family and her people. Lily can free them, but the price for freedom may be more than she’s willing to pay.
The Firethorn Crown, a re-imagining of The Twelve Dancing Princesses, is the first novel in The Firethorn Chronicles, a series inspired by fairy tales and other classic stories. Follow the sisters on their adventures in a land where sorcery is feared, women can rule, and dragons fly.
[image error] The Fairy’s Mistake by Gail Carson Levine – This is a children’s book marked grades 3-6; I picked it up while looking for books for my daughter. She was a little concerned that it would be a bit scary for her (she’s very sensitive and tender-hearted, and only five years old), but after we read a few chapters together, she was more confident with it. I read the rest just to be sure it wasn’t going to be too much for her, and then let her read to the end on her own. I enjoyed the humor and gentle sarcasm of the story, and Cutie thought it was hilarious. It was very much a success at moving up to “better” fairy books than the ones she has been devouring.
Gail Carson Levine charmed the world with Ella Enchanted, her spirited retelling of the Cinderella story. Now this award-winning author turns her attention to two more classic fairy tales, and deftly turns them upside down and inside out with her trademark wit and hilarity.
In The Fairy’s Mistake, two very different sisters have two very different encounters with the fairy Ethelinda. Rosella is kind and helpful. Her reward: Jewels and gems tumble out of her mouth whenever she speaks. Myrtle is rude and spiteful. Her punishment: Bugs and vipers slither out of her mouth. The fairy Ethelinda feels she’s meted out justice just right–until she discovers Rosella has been locked up by a greedy prince and Myrtle is having the time of her life!
What have you been reading?
The post What I’m Reading #10 appeared first on C. J. Brightley.
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March 7, 2017
The Lord of Dreams – New Release!
The Lord of Dreams is now available! (Paperbacks coming soon!)
When a fairy king grants a human wish, there’s more at stake than dreams.
Claire Delaney has a good life, despite her adolescent angst. But she wants more. In a moment of frustration, she wishes to be “the hero.”
What she actually wants is to be the center of attention, but what she gets is a terrifying Fae king demanding that she rescue an imprisoned fairy, facing fantastical dangers and hardships she could not have imagined.
Yet the dreams–and the rescue–are only the beginning of her journey. She is at the center of the king’s audacious gamble to end the war that has raged in Faerie for half a century.
Writer Thoughts:
This book was born of a fascination with the interactions between two characters. Those characters were not my characters, and I didn’t want to rewrite someone else’s story, but they provided the seed of the idea that became The Lord of Dreams. I played with ideas of character growth and how a person can shed pieces of himself or herself and change while remaining essentially the same person.
The Lord of Dreams was fun to write. It has dangerous fairy creatures, an unpredictable Fae king, lies and truth and poetry and insanity, snark and selflessness and courage. It’s very noblebright. It’s written for adults but is clean enough for younger readers (if it were a movie, I’d say it would be PG-13 for scariness).
Publisher Thoughts:
I’m putting The Lord of Dreams in Kindle Unlimited (KU) for at least the first 90 days after release. I’ve never had a book in KU before, and I’m generally opposed to helping Amazon strengthen its monopoly on ebooks – I think a robust, competitive environment for distribution is better for both authors and readers than a single ebook marketplace. At the same time, I’m pretty frustrated with the other retailers – they’re not doing much to compete with Amazon. Improvements in discoverability, search, the publisher interface… all of those things would go a long way toward helping them compete, and most of them don’t appear to have made much of an effort. So…. for now, The Lord of Dreams is exclusive to Amazon. If you read on another device, I am not using DRM on the file, so you should be able to get the file and convert it to your format of choice. If you’re not comfortable converting it yourself, go ahead and buy it on Amazon, send me your receipt, let me know what format you want, and I’ll send it to you.
Writer Thoughts Again:
This book was the perfect interlude for my writer-brain between The Beginning of Wisdom and A Long-Forgotten Song Book 4 (title TBD). It’s fun but not too fluffy, serious but not epically huge in scope, and full of interesting mythology that hasn’t fit in any of my other books thus far.
The special release price is $0.99 and it will go up to $4.99 after a while (free for KU readers). If you’re not ready to plunk down a dollar, you can get the prologue here and see what you think. The prologue takes place about nine years before the beginning of the main story.
The paperback version is coming soon, too. The cover art is gorgeous, so I am really excited to finally see it in paperback!
I would be honored if you would check it out!
~ C. J. Brightley
P. S. – Have you subscribed to my email newsletter? Please do! I normally send an email once or twice a month. You can subscribe on this page, and there is a separate list if you only want to hear from me when I have a new release.
P. P. S. – I’m having some SUPER AWESOME bookmarks made to celebrate the release. Would you like one? Fill out this form with your mailing address and I’ll mail you one for free!
The post The Lord of Dreams – New Release! appeared first on C. J. Brightley.
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The Lord of Dreams – now up for pre-order!
A Fairy King
A Fairy Promise – Super Belated Announcement
January 29, 2017
What I’m Reading #9
These are some of the books I’ve been reading lately. What have you been reading?
The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman – As magnificent and creative and marvelous as one would expect from Neil Gaiman. I loved it… it was dark but also filled with beauty and a thread of noblebrightness. I read an ebook borrowed from my library, but I would like to get this one in print for my library. I love the cover, and I love the title.
A brilliantly imaginative and poignant fairy tale from the modern master of wonder and terror, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is Neil Gaiman’s first new novel for adults since his #1 New York Times bestseller Anansi Boys.
This bewitching and harrowing tale of mystery and survival, and memory and magic, makes the impossible all too real…
Fire and Ice by Patty Jansen – Everything about this was creative and interesting and well-executed, but it wasn’t really my favorite “type” of book – it was darker than I prefer (as is obvious from the blurb, so it’s not like I had no warning) and I didn’t really like any of the characters. I felt sympathy for some of them, but I didn’t really like spending time with them. If you’re a dark fantasy reader and you haven’t read this yet, you should check it out. (warning – sexual violence, non-sexual violence, etc.) Note the blurb from Kevin J. Anderson (!) on the cover.
Where magic is dark and gritty, characters troubled and twisted, and victory comes at a heavy price.
Deep under the City of Glass in the frozen southern land, an age-old machine called the Heart of the City radiates a power which locals call icefire. Most citizens are immune to it, but a few, always born with physical disabilities, can bend it to their will. For fifty years, the ruling Eagle Knights, who fly on the back of giant birds, have killed these Imperfects, fearing the return of the old royal family, who used icefire to cut out people’s hearts, turning them into ghostly servitors.
The old king’s grandson Tandor only sees the good things icefire brought: power and technology now forgotten while the people of the south live in dire poverty. He’s had enough of seeing his fellow kinsfolk slaughtered by ignorant Knights, of Imperfect babies being abandoned on the ice floes to be eaten by wild animals. His grandfather’s diary tells him how to increase the beat of the Heart the first step to making the land glorious once more. Arrogant as he is, he sets the machine in motion. All he needs is an army of Imperfect servitors to control the resulting power.
Isandor is Imperfect, an ex-Knight apprentice, betrayed by his best friend and running for his life.
The queen Jevaithi is Imperfect, living like a prisoner amidst leering Knights, surviving only because the common people would rebel if their beloved queen were harmed.
Both are young and desperate and should be grateful that Tandor wants to rescue them from their hopeless situations. Or so he thinks. The youngsters, however, have no inclination to become heartless ghosts, but while they defy Tandor, the Heart beats, and he alone cannot control its power.
Unless someone stops him.
For readers who like their fantasy dark and gritty.
A Threat of Shadows by JA Andrews – This is JA Andrews’ debut novel, and it is beautifully noblebright. At first it seems to be a stereotypical, albeit well-written, epic fantasy in which a mismatched group of adventurers (a human, a wizard, an elf, a dwarf…) must go on a quest, but there’s more going on than first appears. The plot is epic but the character journeys are intensely personal, written with sensitivity and understanding. Highly recommended.
Once Alaric was a Keeper.
He protected the land with his knowledge and his magic. He advised the queen.
Once he was a good man.
Until, in a futile attempt to save his dying wife, he delved deep into dark magic, betraying everything he believed in.
But now there is one last chance to save his wife, buried in an ancient Wellstone. With a map from a disgruntled dwarf, and the help of an inscrutable elf and an inept wizard, Alaric just might find it.
Except there are other, darker forces searching for the Wellstone. And if they find it first, they’ll use it to awaken a terrible evil.
To face this growing threat—and have any chance at saving his wife—Alaric needs the strength and power of a Keeper, not the brokenness of the man he has become.
Can he overcome the darkness in his past? Or will it be the shadows within himself that destroy everything?
A Threat of Shadows is a brilliant introduction to the magical world of The Keeper Chronicles, a new epic fantasy series from author JA Andrews.
In a land of magic, elves, and the occasional dragon, an engaging adventure unfolds about what it means to reconcile who you are, with who you thought you’d be. A story of sacrifice, friendship, and the weight of our pasts.
A Keeper’s Tale: The Story of Tomkin and the Dragon by JA Andrews – This is a short novel in the world of the Keeper Chronicles, and is a story told by the Keepers. It’s a lighter, more young adult story than A Threat of Shadows, and every bit as enjoyable. The cover is gorgeous.
Tomkin Thornhewn, youngest son of the Duke of Marshwell, has a problem: he’s not heroic.
Regardless of his aspirations, the bookish, untrained young man is better suited to recording the deeds of heroes than being one himself.
Which becomes an obvious problem when he finds himself clinging to a ledge above a sleeping dragon. And instead of wielding his family’s great sword with valor and skill, he drops it—onto the dragon.
The problem grows immeasurably worse when Tomkin himself falls off the ledge—also onto the dragon.
And his problem reaches its peak when Tomkin, after being captured, discovers a maiden locked in a tower. But this is no sweet damsel. Not only does she refuse to be rescued, she refuses to even admit she’s in distress.
It’s too bad for the people of Marshwell that Tomkin is the only thing standing – or falling – in the dragon’s way.
JA Andrews introduced the world to the magic-wielding, world-saving, story-telling Keepers in A Threat of Shadows. Now you can enjoy one of the Keeper’s most beloved tales: The Story of Tomkin and the Dragon, in this engaging, lighthearted novel.
The Winds of Khalakovo by Bradley P. Beaulieu – This is another book that was in the StoryBundle last year with The King’s Sword, and I am only now getting around to reading it. I’m not that far into it yet, but strikes me as deep and deliberate, with conscious tones of Russian literature. I’m not particularly well-read in Russian literature, but the parallel is strong, not just in borrowed words and cultures but in themes and character concepts. This review is, I think, very accurate (click). It’s not something to read when you want to be grabbed by the first paragraph and dragged at breakneck speed through an epic adventure, but it is a novel to savor. The cover fits the book – it’s a bit dark, recalling classic literature rather than modern fantasy trends, and without a swirl of “magic” color… but with a subdued, dignified beauty. Bradley was kind enough to interview me on his blood when the StoryBundle came out, which you can read here. His other books have lovely cover art as well.
Among inhospitable and unforgiving seas stands Khalakovo, a mountainous archipelago of seven islands, its prominent eyrie stretching a thousand feet into the sky. Serviced by windships bearing goods and dignitaries, Khalakovo’s eyrie stands at the crossroads of world trade. But all is not well in Khalakovo. Conflict has erupted between the ruling Landed, the indigenous Aramahn, and the fanatical Maharraht, and a wasting disease has grown rampant over the past decade. Now, Khalakovo is to play host to the Nine Dukes, a meeting which will weigh heavily upon Khalakovo’s future.
When an elemental spirit attacks an incoming windship, murdering the Grand Duke and his retinue, Prince Nikandr, heir to the scepter of Khalakovo, is tasked with finding the child prodigy believed to be behind the summoning. However, Nikandr discovers that the boy is an autistic savant who may hold the key to lifting the blight that has been sweeping the islands. Can the Dukes, thirsty for revenge, be held at bay? Can Khalakovo be saved? The elusive answer drifts upon the Winds of Khalakovo…
They Mostly Come Out At Night by Benedict Patrick – Wow. Just wow. This is dark and brilliant and utterly, compellingly unique, and did I mention dark? It’s dark. If you’re a dark fantasy reader, you must read this. There’s no on-page sexual violence, but there is graphic violence of other sorts. The story is inspired by folklore of various locations, and it has a mythical, magical feel of being both very alien and oddly familiar. The beginning felt “rough” to me, but I think it just took me a while to get into the right mood rather than a writing issue. Highly recommended, but not for younger readers (or readers looking for a cheerful pick-me-up). It’s a standalone novel, but there is another standalone in the same world which I will read when I have sufficiently recovered from this one.
Also, is this a magnificent cover or what?! I love love love it! This cover is one of the reasons I chose to use the same cover artist for The Lord of Dreams and Light in the Darkness: A Noblebright Fantasy Boxed Set.
The villagers of the forest seal themselves in their cellars at night, whispering folktales to each other about the monsters that prey on them in the dark. Only the Magpie King, their shadowy, unseen protector, can keep them safe.
However, when an outcast called Lonan begins to dream of the Magpie King’s defeat at the hands of inhuman invaders, this young man must do what he can to protect his village. He is the only person who can keep his loved ones from being stolen away after dark, and to do so he will have to convince them to trust him again.
They Mostly Come Out At Night is the first novel from Benedict Patrick’s Yarnsworld series. Straddling the line between fantasy and folklore, this book is perfect for fans of the darker Brothers Grimm stories.
Fire in the Blood by W.R. Gingell – I’ve loved everything by W.R. Gingell, and this was no exception. Kako and Rafiq were every bit as wonderful as her other characters, and I enjoyed every minute. This is a novella, one of three in the Shards of a Broken Sword novella trilogy which also includes Twelve Days of Fairy (which I also loved and reviewed here and appears to be FREE right now, although I don’t know how long that will last) and The First Chill of Autumn (which I have not read yet). The trilogy is on preorder now, which I would highly recommend. I’m getting the omnibus in paperback as soon as it is available.
A princess in a dragon-guarded tower. The prince who is to rescue her. The prince’s ensorcelled dragon. And one enchanted keep that might just be enough to kill them all…
It’s widely known that Princess Kayami Koto is held captive in the Enchanted Keep by a dragon of great ferocity and skill. So when the bold, daring and crafty Prince Akish attempts to rescue her, it seems only sensible to bring his own dragon, Rafiq.
But the Keep’s dragon is only the first Circle in the Keep’s Seven Circles of Challenge, and both Rafiq and the prince will have to keep their wits about them if they’re to survive and rescue the princess.
There to help them is the princess’ serving maid, Kako. But why does Kako seem so familiar to Rafiq? Will she really help them, or does she have her own agenda? Rafiq isn’t sure, but he knows one thing: Kako may be the only person who can free him from his bondage to the prince, and that’s worth any amount of risk.
Wolfskin by W.R. Gingell – You might have noticed that I’m kind of a fan, and if so, you’re right. W.R. Gingell’s works are perfect examples of the very best of noblebright fantasy. They’re not twee or silly or juvenile (although I’m sure she could write charming YA if she chose to); they’re not stupid or naive or logically challenged. They’re not utopian. They’re about complicated, imperfect people choosing to do the right thing even when it’s hard, about learning from one’s mistakes, about choosing to be generous and kind when it doesn’t seem justified. Her fairy tales include allusions to old myths, but plenty of unique twists. Her characters are clever and sometimes snarky but not mean or cynical (at least not for long). All in all, I will read anything she writes because I trust it will be delightful.
‘If you want adventure, you have to march right up to it and kick it in the shins . . .’
At fourteen, barefoot and running wild, Rose is delighted to be apprenticed to Akiva, the witch of the forest. She thinks it will be all enchantment and excitement, and not so much fuss about baths. The reality is much more sober and practical- that is, until she meets a mysterious wolf in the forest and is tricked into stepping off the path . . .
In young, naive Rose, Bastian sees a way of escape. Cursed to remain in the shape of a wolf after running afoul of a powerful enchantress, he has lived many decades under a spell, and now he is both desperate and ruthless. But by breaking part of Bastian’s curse, Rose has caught the attention of Cassandra, the enchantress who cursed him: and Cassandra is by no means ready to forgive and forget.
Meanwhile, wardens have been disappearing from the forest, one by one. Rose is certain that Cassandra is behind the disappearances, but can she and Bastian get to the bottom of the matter before Akiva disappears as well? And are Bastian’s motives entirely to be trusted?
Sometimes the little girl in the red hood doesn’t get eaten, and sometimes the wolf isn’t the most frightening thing in the forest.
What have you read lately?
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