Blog Archives
Ambiguous Motivations
In The Ember Reach, a young woman encounters an angel while trying to navigate an eerie world inhabited by the undead. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
Prior to writing the first book, I had the overarching four-part series planned, start to finish. The angel in question already existed in the lore as a being who aids the “lost,” a broad and important term in this world. I had no direct inspiration for that scene, but Biblical tales I heard as a kid of angels mysteriously helping people, like with Lot’s family, probably factored in subconsciously. Any mythological celestial intervention intrigues me, especially when there are ambiguous motivations involved.
I find the world you created in this novel brimming with possibilities. Where did the inspiration for the setting come from, and how did it change as you were writing?
I originally conceived the setting around 2012 while dabbling in creative writing. I’ve always enjoyed brainstorming ideas for worlds and fictional histories. My editor proposed a basic hierarchy for the primary church featured in the series, which I later named the Matrian Church. Real ancient and modern cultures broadly inspire the setting; secluded tribes, Greece, Rome, China, Japan, the Middle East, wherever. I think grounding worldbuilding in actual history helps everything fit together in a reasonable way.
To avoid inconsistencies and retcons while writing, things I worry about, I created a guide for the Planar Lost world. As I add new material, like my recent expansion on the origin of elves, I update the guide. After a few years of work, the document’s a couple hundred pages long and has become an invaluable resource.
Do you have one character you especially enjoy writing for?
I most enjoy writing chaotic characters like Aitrix and Fausta, reported reader favorites. Their unpredictability lets me take them to darker places than might be appropriate for most of the characters. Fausta was a unanimous favorite in book two among my beta readers and features prominently in book three. Aitrix is the central character of the prequel I’m working on as well.
Can readers look forward to a third installment in the Planar Lost series? Where will it take your characters?
I’m nearly finished with book three, The Faceless Man, and the prequel I mentioned, Kravae: Betrayal of a Mage. I hope to release both of those sometime in 2024, a month or so apart. Book four, The Vile God, will conclude the main series.
The Faceless Man brings back a major character and introduces new villains, with leading and side characters assuming new roles and encountering greater hardships. A beta reader loved book three and said it “never lets you get bored,” which is terrific to hear. It’s got more action and magic and a lot of character development that I hope people who enjoyed the first two books will appreciate.
I have many more stories left to tell in the setting, but for now, I’m pushing to complete what I’ve already begun!
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In a city overrun by the ravenous undead, Karis, a troubled investigator, endures a terrifying struggle for survival.
Hundreds of miles north, Sister Amun faces a grand conspiracy that plunges the capital into chaos.
To expose the truth behind the undead plague, Karis must contend with sinister and strange entities. Meanwhile, Amun navigates political turmoil, dark magic, and betrayal that threatens to destroy everything she knows.
A Darker Demise (A Compilation of Dark Shorts)
A Darker Demise is a captivating collection of short narratives that delve into the eerie and the uncanny. While separate in their unique themes and conflicts, these tales beckon the reader into an exploration of darkness, mystery, and the supernatural.
In “Unity of Balance,” a spellbinding tale of light and dark magic unfolds. The world’s harmony teeters precariously, reliant solely on the unlikely alliance of Immilla, a witch who strides the path of balance, and a prophetic dragon eye. Next, “My Salvation” introduces Marc, a young boy tragically transformed into a vampire. Consumed by a hunger for vengeance, we are left wondering whether his darkness will ever subside after a history stained with blood.
Rounding out the trio is “The Path to Redemption,” a haunting tale where Nadine, trapped in the unsettling in-between, seeks solace and release. As she navigates her way to redemption, she ponders the effectiveness of listening, learning, and liberation as means to attain peace.
Ryder exhibits a knack for storytelling through diverse writing styles. For instance, while “Unity of Balance” is rendered via Immilla’s journal entries, “My Salvation” leverages the immediacy of the first-person perspective, and “The Path to Redemption” converses directly with the reader, enhancing the narrative’s impact.
It is worth noting that Ryder’s narratives while encompassing a wide range of styles, all contain threads of the supernatural, fantasy, mythology, and moral quandaries. Her vivid, descriptive narration deepens the immersive quality of the stories, drawing the readers into an eerily tangible world. Attention to intricate details, compelling plot twists, and the interweaving of horror elements further enhance the reading experience.
In addition, the diverse cast of characters brings a dynamic edge to each story. The depth of their backgrounds, paired with their fascinating characteristics, imbues each character with a multifaceted dimensionality, while the plots themselves stand as commendable narratives.
In light of Ryder’s impressive breadth of imagination and skillful crafting of three suspenseful and consistent stories, I would be remiss not to recommend A Darker Demise. Whether you’re a devotee of the macabre, a connoisseur of suspense, or simply an avid reader, this compilation is certain to enthrall.
Pages : 221 | ASIN : B0BYDNY3Z5
The Hunters Sign
Jason Hubbard brings readers back to his world of magic in The Taming of Adam Part 2: The Hunters Sign, the sequel to his first novel in the Taming of Adam series. Adam tries to move on from his past dealings with the monster Ellen from Envale, so he moves to a new college in Almin to continue his studies as a black mage. Here he ends up with several roommates of which Ricky Grater is introduced. Ricky ends up playing a big part in the novel and in Adam’s life. This novel takes the reader through Adam’s experience as he falls in love with Amy Graine, learns about old and darker magic, and becomes involved in Entercor Contracting massive community rebuild project.
Most of the novel takes place in the Union of Altoria, in the city of Almin. It is like any city you would find around the world. This world sounds a lot like earth, but has magic and two moons. Hubbard uses a lot of plays on common names, words, movies and such that the reader can identify with current pop culture to get a feel for what he is saying and trying to convey. A lot of the social topics that are discussed are also relevant to modern times making the book very relatable even though Earth is not overrun with mages taking jobs, there is the constant concern over jobs going away due to technology and the high costs involved with getting services that the novel covers. Hubbard does a good job with explaining the social structures and pushing his view that those with more abilities need to be more compassionate and work for the common good and not focus on personal wealth.
The first half of the book is mostly character development with little action and a lot of psychological musings on the part of Adam and Ricky. Both are black mage’s, though Adam is much stronger and is dedicated to his studies. Ricky however is a womanizer with little care for anything beyond his own desires. Hubbard spends a lot of time on Adam’s relationships with women, namely Delhi and Amy. Both women offer different perspectives on his personality and bring out different things in him. Ricky never stays with a woman longer than it takes to score with her, but he becomes attached to the character Cameron who is the quintessential playboy living in the casino and always having money and women.
The second part of the novel is when the action starts and we learn what the Hunter’s Sign mentioned in the book title is, and what it is for. Entercor is making this happen with the help of a man named Alec that is believed to be a strong mage with the gift of prophecy. Adam is left with determining if the Hunter’s Sign is something to use for the good of the city or not. As Adam learns more about the magic surrounding and his connection with the shadow world he must make hard decisions that will affect not only him but those he loves and the entire city.
Overall The Taming of Adam Part 2: The Hunter’s Sign is an entertaining continuation of Adam’s growth as a black mage, his understanding of the shadow world and his own personal growth as person. The novel ends with a lead into the third book that Jason Hubbard has published.
Pages: 343 | ASIN: B00WRWHPYS
LITERARY TITAN 