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And They Went Up: A Novel from the Saga of Fallen Leaves
In And They Went Up: A Novel from the Saga of Fallen Leaves, J.L. Feuerstack delves into a richly woven tapestry of historical fantasy, offering readers a compelling exploration of the eternal conflict between God and Satan. As the fourth novel in this ambitious series, Feuerstack continues to unravel the complex and often mysterious history of these two celestial brothers, whose struggle for supremacy has shaped the fate of the world for centuries. The narrative centers around Anna Gold and Anorexia Nervosa Perplexus, two emissaries of these divine forces, whose roles as soldiers in this ongoing war are both poignant and tragic. The novel deftly portrays them as weary warriors, burdened by the relentless demands of their masters, yet capable of deep empathy and even love. Their personal struggles and the autonomy they wield, albeit limited, add a layer of human vulnerability to their otherwise otherworldly existence.
Feuerstack’s storytelling draws inevitable comparisons to Neil Gaiman’s American Gods, with its celestial beings intervening in human affairs. However, while Gaiman’s work often carries a mischievous undertone, Feuerstack opts for a more somber and serious approach. The tone reflects the gravity of the celestial conflict, where the stakes are nothing less than the ultimate victory of good or evil. The novel’s pacing is relentless, dragging readers through a series of historical battles, each depicted with visceral intensity. The bloodshed serves as a grim reminder of the war of attrition waged between God and Satan, with humanity, angels, and demons trapped in the crossfire. The characters, especially Anna and Anorexia, are fully fleshed out, their world-weariness and complex emotions adding depth to the narrative.
And They Went Up is high-concept fiction that feels epic in every sense. The writing is both compelling and emotionally charged, taking readers on a rollercoaster journey through time and the human soul. Feuerstack has crafted a story that is as intellectually engaging as it is emotionally resonant, making this novel a must-read for fans of historical fantasy and theological intrigue.
Pages: 491 | ASIN : B0CXMNCBB1
A War That Will End War
Over the Breadth of the Earth is the second book in your Saga of Fallen Leaves series. What were some new ideas you wanted to explore in this book that were different from book one?
Volume II sees the conflict between Heaven and Hell move into the modern era. I wanted to explore the interconnectedness of the past century and the changes that accompanied the world becoming ever smaller. In continuing the existential theme of the series, I wanted to explore if modernity is more or less isolating for the individual, as compared to previous eras of history. I also wanted to consider the desire for a “war that will end war” and the notion that a lasting conflict-free world could be established. This is the goal of humanity at the outbreak of the Great War and both sides of Celestial characters throughout the saga. In this volume, I really wanted to examine the compromises and sacrifices one is willing to make toward reaching such an end.
Did you plan your character’s development or did they grow organically as you wrote the story?
I started with a loose outline of how I wanted the characters to develop. However, I also left room for the situations they endured and their shifting motivations to guide them. In some instances, I was surprised by the growth of the characters. Many of the big decisions Schitz and Zinc made were not set in stone until I got to the critical point in their story.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
I really enjoyed writing the scene set to the folk song High Germany. The song has such contrasting emotions. In one stanza it mentions drinking in ale houses and getting married. In the next, it curses the “cruel wars” for sending England’s sons far from home. It felt like a perfect fit for the scenes of battle juxtaposed with the medical advancements associated with the outcomes of the battles. It was also very enjoyable because the song fits so well with the saga,which stretches over many eras. I love tying together different ages. High Germany was written either about the War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714) or the Seven Years War (1756-1763), but it fits perfectly for the scene set during the Second World War. It was a lot of fun to incorporate the song into the story.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m currently editing And They Marched Up, Volume III of The Saga of Fallen Leaves and writing Volume IV. These volumes fit together with I & II like pieces of a puzzle. They’ll give insight into some of the minor characters from Volume I & II and expound upon many of the subjects from the series. And They Marched Up, Volume III should both be available in January 2023.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Twitter
Lord Zinc II and Schizophrenia “Schitz” Incenderos Nervosa continue balancing their intricate existence while battling the enemy, coping with duplicitous elements within their own ranks, and trying to ensure their survival. Their rivalry stretches across the vast globe from the killing fields at Gettysburg to the barren steppe of Kursk and even into the treacherous streets of Fallujah.
Throughout, these bold cavaliers interact with some of the modern era’s fiercest fighting units (the Waffen-SS, the Viet Cong, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and more). Utilizing a myriad of ever evolving weaponry and coordination, Zinc and Schitz attempt to stay one step ahead of friend and foe alike.
Over the Breadth of the Earth Vol II
Over the Breadth of the Earth by J.L. Feuerstack continues to have us follow Schizophrenia Insidious Nervosa (Schitz) and Lord Zinc as they battle for the final victory. The wars have gone global and brought these two enemies together to fight for their survival while eliminating foes and finding balance between Heaven and Hell. They fight through World War 1, World War 2, Vietnam, and many other wars. Will they find peace amongst Heaven and Hell, or will one of them turn on the other to bring about the final victory?
This was a fantastic conclusion to the Saga of Fallen Leaves. The plot wraps up nicely, but as the world turns, this story will always continue. I really enjoyed Schitz getting what I consider to be wins. Schitz had a chaotic life trying to maintain his command in Hell while maintaining his accord with Lord Zinc. I think it brought him peace though.
Lord Zinc had his fair share of wins as well, but I do think he had more losses. I could just feel the strong emotions of wanting his father home while I was reading. It was touching. In my opinion, Lord Zinc did pay a heavy price to bring his father home. It is hard for me to say if it was worth it though. Some may say it was, and others will say it wasn’t.
One of the side characters, Circades, also known as The Ancient, was a favorite of mine. While his story was minimal in both books, his story is very important. Always searching for the love of his life, the other half of him, he realizes there is only one way to be with her. You will have to read the story to find out what he needs to do in order to be with her forever, and I highly recommend you do. As you can tell by now, I am enthralled with the characters in this epic fantasy series as I found them to be so compelling and well written.
Over the Breadth of the Earth Vol II continues the stellar story telling from Vol I and gives fans a fantastic ending to a highly imaginative and engaging story. I really enjoyed the depth of characters and watching their stories unfold gave me the same excitement I had watching George R.R. Martins characters navigate their personal quests in Game of Thrones. The saga concludes nicely but allows readers to continue to imagine the ending. If you wonder what I mean, you will have to read it to find out. You won’t be disappointed.
Pages: 493 | ASIN: B09SX65KNT
Shaped By Wars And Conflicts
Over the Broad Earth follows two Celestial brothers, God and Satan, who can only unleash their sibling rivalry when humans engage in combat. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
I wanted to explore a different dynamic from the traditional depiction of Satan as a fallen angel or jinn, and therefore inferior to God. Setting the two on equal footing allowed me to pursue a narrative where each side approaches a battle across the millennia with the same advantages and disadvantages. Instead of Satan being a rebel, for this story he has his own plans and claims to authority. I was inspired by Greek and Norse mythology, which contain many examples of competing gods. In those stories, such as the Iliad, gods are invested in and interfere with the outcomes of the mortal world. Much of the course of history has been shaped by wars and conflicts. For a long time humans believed their conflicts were mirrored by warring deities. I wanted the war between God’s and Satan’s armies to occur in tandem with human conflict.
Your characters are unique and have a compelling backstory. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
The characters of Over the Broad Earth live across many different ages. They experience similar situations throughout due to the similarities within warfare, regardless of the era. However, what changes in the course of the novel are the internal mental state and motivations of the characters. They continually vacillate from confidence to doubt, valor to cowardice, selflessness to selfishness, sacrifice to self-preservation, and many other emotions and outlooks. These ever-changing attitudes send the characters down an oft-chaotic and unexpected development curve.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
The search for meaning and purpose in the face of an absurd and meaningless world was a central theme. I wanted to explore sources of motivation; love, lust, recognition, survival, acceptance, power, and hate, and how the pursuit and fulfillment of these motivations can provide a sense of either meaning or emptiness. The Demons and Angels of Over the Broad Earth do not age and therefore have the potential to live forever, however, they can be killed. I did this so they could be comparable to humans. Death is always there lurking and yet we try to push that reality to the back of our minds by focusing on what we want. I also tried to explore what it means to be an individual within a collective. Over the Broad Earth contains a host of characters, some the reader will meet intimately, others briefly. In the same way, the main characters are surrounded by a multitude – they form strong bonds with some – they barely interact with others. Over the course of the story, the characters will influence and be influenced by those around them and are compelled to come to grips with how they intend to fit into the kaleidoscope of which they are a member.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I am currently working on And They Marched Up, Volume III of The Saga of Fallen Leaves. In this volume, I explore the stories of some supporting characters from Over the Broad Earth and introduce some new ones. Hopefully And They Marched Up will be available in January 2023.
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Website
The citizens of both Heaven and Hell endure all the emotions and circumstances of the humans they routinely inhabit, love, valor, passion, treachery, bravery, and heartache. Readers will follow the exploits of two of the greatest “eternal” warriors of the ages: Lord Zinc II (Heaven) and Schizophrenia “Schitz” Incenderos Nervosa (Hell). The rivals battle one another throughout history from the struggle between the Babylonians and Assyrians in the desert through and beyond the teeming jungles of Southeast Asia.
Along the way, these intrepid fighters interact with a host of characters (Moses, Alexander the Great, Napoleon, and more), friends, fiends, and lovers. Displaying the same traits of compassion and selfishness known to all of Creation, Schitz and Zinc lead their soldiers – and try to stay alive.
Over the Broad Earth
Over the Broad Earth, written by J.L. Feuerstack, has readers follow along with Schizophrenia Insidious Nervosa and Lord Zinc as they are born into a chaotic war. Schizophrenia, a.k.a. Schitz (pronounced “Skitz”), is brought to Hell, where he is taught with and by many other demons. They learn combat, strategy, their laws, and what they are fighting for; Lord Zinc receives similar training in Heaven. The angles and demons fight many wars against each other with their brethren for ultimate victory. Fighting for their Lords, God and Satan, the angel and demon are taken all over the world.
J.L. Feuerstack did an absolutely amazing job with Over the Broad Earth! I could gush about this book all day long. I will start by saying that I really appreciate the artwork in the book. I loved being able to see some of the characters drawn out. I enjoyed the tutorial at the beginning that shows how angels and demons are allowed to fight these wars for their respective Lords. The artwork of the different realms really helps when imagining where the characters are as well. It was very creative.
One of my favorite parts from the book was being able to listen to the music that was mentioned. Reading the author’s note is important in this book. Another aspect I loved was the lineage of the demons and angels. It was very detailed!
I will say that J.L. Feuerstack had a lot of characters to work with. While the main characters are Schizophrenia and Lord Zinc, it was sometimes hard for me to remember who the other characters were and who they were related to. Having the lineage of the demons and angels came in handy many times! All of the characters that were mentioned are very well developed though. They all had linked together in one way or another. They had a lot of history to go through as well. You will know what I mean when you read this spectacular book!
The plot of this epic fantasy novel was well written. I look forward to reading the second novel because I really want to see how Schizophrenia and Lord Zinc develop as leaders. I also want to know what will happen from what was mentioned at the beginning of this book. I cannot say more as it will give away too much. When you read this book, read every part of it. It is worth it!
Over the Broad Earth is one of the most creative angels and demons stories that I have read in a long time. This riveting fantasy novel expertly weaves together a variety of genres, from historical fiction to Christian fantasy, into a unique and thrilling novel. With fantastic writing, deep lore and intriguing characters, I truly look forward to the second book!
Pages: 699 | ASIN: B09KQ5TTCQ
LITERARY TITAN 