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Thaumatology #10
The Other Side of Hell
In the final battle with the dragons, Lily Carpenter sacrificed herself to save Ceridwyn Brent, and the world. There was not even a body to bury; she vanished in a blaze of light leaving Ceri to mourn her passing. Then a revelation suggests that Lily might not be dead, just elsewhere. But even for one of the most powerful magicians since the Shattering, walking into Hell to get her back may be one journey too far.
186 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 21, 2012
26 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Niall Teasdale
73 books292 followersI was born in the vicinity of Hadrian's Wall so perhaps a bit of history rubbed off. Ancient history obviously, and border history, right on the edge of the Empire. I always preferred the Dark Ages anyway; there’s so much more room for imagination when people aren’t writing down every last detail. So my idea of a good fantasy novel involved dirt and leather, not shining plate armour and Hollywood-medieval manners. The same applies to my sci-fi, really; I prefer gritty over shiny.
Oddly, then, one of the first fantasy novels I remember reading was The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper (later made into a terrible juvenile movie). These days we would call Cooper’s series Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy and looking back on it, it influenced me a lot. It has that mix of modern day life, hidden history, and magic which failed to hit popular culture until the early days of Buffy and Anne Rice. Of course, Cooper’s characters spend their time around places I could actually visit in Cornwall, and South East England, and mid-Wales. In fact, when I went to university in Aberystwyth, it was partially because some of Cooper’s books were set a few miles to the north around Tywyn.
I got into writing through roleplaying, however, so my early work was related to the kind of roleplaying game I was interested in. I wrote “high fantasy” when I was playing Dungeons & Dragons. I wrote a lot of superhero fiction when I was playing City of Heroes. I still loved the idea of a modern world with magic in it and I’ve been trying to write a novel based on this for a long time. As with any form of expression, practice is the key and I can look back on all the aborted attempts at books, and the more successful short stories, as steps along the path to the Thaumatology Series.
As of 2015, I have thrown in my lot with writing. After thirty years of being a computer programmer I am making enough money to quit the day job and write full time. Dreams, occasionally, come true. My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, and (recently) Kim Harrison. Kim’s Hollows books were what finally spurred me to publish something, even if the trail to here came by way of Susan, back in school, several decades ago.
Oddly, then, one of the first fantasy novels I remember reading was The Dark Is Rising, by Susan Cooper (later made into a terrible juvenile movie). These days we would call Cooper’s series Young Adult Contemporary Fantasy and looking back on it, it influenced me a lot. It has that mix of modern day life, hidden history, and magic which failed to hit popular culture until the early days of Buffy and Anne Rice. Of course, Cooper’s characters spend their time around places I could actually visit in Cornwall, and South East England, and mid-Wales. In fact, when I went to university in Aberystwyth, it was partially because some of Cooper’s books were set a few miles to the north around Tywyn.
I got into writing through roleplaying, however, so my early work was related to the kind of roleplaying game I was interested in. I wrote “high fantasy” when I was playing Dungeons & Dragons. I wrote a lot of superhero fiction when I was playing City of Heroes. I still loved the idea of a modern world with magic in it and I’ve been trying to write a novel based on this for a long time. As with any form of expression, practice is the key and I can look back on all the aborted attempts at books, and the more successful short stories, as steps along the path to the Thaumatology Series.
As of 2015, I have thrown in my lot with writing. After thirty years of being a computer programmer I am making enough money to quit the day job and write full time. Dreams, occasionally, come true. My favourite authors are Terry Pratchett, Susan Cooper, and (recently) Kim Harrison. Kim’s Hollows books were what finally spurred me to publish something, even if the trail to here came by way of Susan, back in school, several decades ago.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 11, 2021
Back to the proverbial routs of the series.
The world stood still for a few days and now slowly starts spinning again and Ceri and her friends equally slowly have to pick of the pieces of their lives after the events in Dragonfall. Ceri is depressed after she regained her mind, but lost Lily when she sacrificed herself to save her. Until she realises she can't be dead and thus can be in only one place... The demon realm and in need of saving.
Along with the first novel this is one of my favorite novels from this series. The story is intimate and the stakes personal. Lily is trapped in the Demon realm and Ceri must travel there to rescue her.
Yes the dragons fell, but there is far more in this universe to explore and this novel proves it.
The world stood still for a few days and now slowly starts spinning again and Ceri and her friends equally slowly have to pick of the pieces of their lives after the events in Dragonfall. Ceri is depressed after she regained her mind, but lost Lily when she sacrificed herself to save her. Until she realises she can't be dead and thus can be in only one place... The demon realm and in need of saving.
Along with the first novel this is one of my favorite novels from this series. The story is intimate and the stakes personal. Lily is trapped in the Demon realm and Ceri must travel there to rescue her.
Yes the dragons fell, but there is far more in this universe to explore and this novel proves it.
November 1, 2023
This story starts right off from where Lily saves Ceri and then she follows Molech's instructions! She embeds the sword within range of the thaumic generator.
Lily vanishes straight away after performing her last instruction.
That is the premise that iinstigates Ceri taking a life threatening decision and going into an alternate reality❗
Enuff said! Good Reading. If you have read any of this writer's other releases you most assuredly will agree this is an awesome series❗
Lily vanishes straight away after performing her last instruction.
That is the premise that iinstigates Ceri taking a life threatening decision and going into an alternate reality❗
Enuff said! Good Reading. If you have read any of this writer's other releases you most assuredly will agree this is an awesome series❗
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2014
This is one of the series i re-read every few months or whenever there is a new book. I love the take on the combination of Science and Magic. The real strength of the series is the main characters, and the great supporting characters. I highly suggest you try the series.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews