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Thrust Into Remarkable Circumstances
All The World’s Colors sees the epic clash of four great societies. What were some themes that were important for you to focus on in this book?
The themes of the book are the clash of cultures and religion, courage in the face of the unknown, and how seemingly insignificant individuals can be suddenly thrust into remarkable circumstances.
Ultimately, it is a fantasy-based reimagining of 16th century European history and the discovery of the new world.
This novel does a great job of telling a gripping story using elements often found in historical fiction. Was this intentional or is this indicative of your writing style?
Thank you for the compliment. I’d say it was both! I love historical fiction, and I think history is so fascinating that it can serve as the foundation for outstanding fantasy writing (looking at you, Game of Thrones!)
Savvy readers will quickly pick up on the cues from history in this novel. The discovery of a new continent, and a lost colony. Religious fanaticism. Strange new crops. Wealthy merchant families. And of course, devious intrigue in the royal courts, inspired by the outlandish legends surrounding Queen Elizabeth I.
I enjoyed the idea that the societies are given their own colors. How did come up with this idea and what were some sources that influenced its development?
I think the visual imagery associated with flags, uniforms, and colors is quite striking. Sometimes colors can be so ubiquitous that they become almost synonymous with a society. British redcoats. The all-encompassing red of the Soviet Union. Orange and Dutch culture. Orange and Protestantism. Green and Ireland. You may be familiar with the controversy associated with the development of the modern-day Canadian flag; everything red was associated with British culture, and everything blue was associated with the French, so it was difficult to agree on anything.
Perhaps this is why I find strategy games like Catan and Risk to be so enthralling – the hypnotic imagery of watching colors and kingdoms expand and contract across the world.
This is book one in The Queen of the Blue series. What can readers expect in book two?
Quite a bit more. Book one is a relatively short foundational book, designed to familiarize readers with this fantasy world. There are obviously huge cliffhangers concerning Olmar and Marcel. We’ve clearly only scratched the surface with Burboh and Sanctia, not to mention Amira and the Confederation of Orange. There is a great deal yet to be learned about the new world. Additionally, there will be quite a bit more of the supernatural in subsequent books.
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Something inconceivable has happened, and all the world’s colors are about to bleed…
Kellia. Kellia the Red. Pagan, seafaring warriors of ancient renown. They have sailed west, ever west, and have discovered an awe-inspiring, unknown land. Is it their salvation, or the seed of their destruction?
Merova and the Throne of Blue. Wealthy, cultured, and the ultimate matriarchy. Kellia’s ancient nemesis, and a realm of secrets, intrigue, and treachery.
The Holy Domain of Sanctia. Piety, sacrifice, and faith. They have a spiritual duty to spread the truth across the seas, and they will sail under the sacred banner of green.
The Confederation of Orange. Cynical, profiteering financiers and lovers of pleasure. If there is a new discovery in this world, they will be poised to exploit it.
Fans of historical fiction and fantasy will delight in this epic saga of empire, conflict, and power.
All The World’s Colors
![All The World's Colors: The Queen of the Blue by [James W. George]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51qL+1jPwpL.jpg)
In his latest novel All The World’s Colors: The Queen of the Blue, James W. George deep dives into a fantastic world of magic and ancient feud. Our story opens as Jarrow Moncrief, mighty navigator of the Kelian, leads an expedition to recover missing colonists who had failed to report back to the homeland after supposedly founding a settlement in New Kelia. Joined by a company of soldiers the men venture off to the new and mysterious world in search of their missing brothers but upon their arrival make a gruesome discovery. Meanwhile, all is not well in the capital of Merovia. The aging Queen Makenna is displeased with the recent casualties and her grandson Prince Marcel finds himself the unwanted male child while his elder sister is beloved as the second in line to the throne.
Fantasy is one of my most favorite literary genres,there is so much to work with and it has limitless possibilities. This novel had many interesting and engaging aspects to it but it can be a little hard to follow due to the amount of information given at one time. Personally, I enjoy fantasy more when it has a multitude of fictional characteristics and rules concerning the fantasy world, and much of this piece had scores of connected and sensible aspects that tied the story together and brought the plot to life. The world and its inner workings were established firmly and it maintained consistency throughout the entirety of the story without large amounts of unnecessary repetition. All of the established parts complemented each other nicely and fit the theme throughout the entire story. However, I found myself a little lost in the first couple chapters as information is presented very quickly without a lot of explanation in the beginning. Once you get into the meat of the plot it is a very engaging story with an interesting line up of characters and themes. In my opinion this novel presents a marvelous fantasy aspect that we do not get to see often in the literary world these days, I enjoyed the tone and the themes presented in this piece as well as an active plot with an abundance of excitement. Overall, this is a thrilling novel that fantasy fans will surely enjoy.
The Prophet and the Witch
The Prophet and The Witch by James W. George is a historical fiction book, continuing on from the first book, My Father’s Kingdom. The year is 1675, and four years have passed since readers joined popular characters such as Brewster and Linto in New England. The signs of war have been steadily brewing since, with so many individuals struggling to hold the peace. Inevitably, all efforts have proved futile, and the battle now begins between the English and the Indians. This is one of the most gruesome wars many will be privy to, but one which numerous people are determined to end, preventing further bloodshed and restoring peace to both sides.
The Prophet and The Witch is divided into three parts, covering the summer of 1675 to the summer of 1676. Within each section, the chapters are short and focused on some wonderfully developed individual characters as they contend with the implications of this war.
I was genuinely shocked at the obvious association between war and religion in this account. A huge proportion of the story focuses on the beliefs of the men fighting, highlighting how their personal religious understandings act as an explanation of why war is a necessity. The English see things, such as the turbulent weather, as the wrath of God’s displeasure, but then condemn what they see as mere pagan superstitions of the Indian tribes. However, if they were to reflect, they would soon see more similarities than differences in that both sides look for signs, albeit just of a different type!
As a reader, it is difficult to pick a side of this battle. The English Christians rely on the word of God, trusting they are doing his work in ridding a blasphemous tribe who butcher innocent civilians. Yet, to the Indians, the English and their own actions are similarly threatening! The reader never fully feels they can condemn either side, for each are doing what they see as their duty to survive. The question of religion therefore lingers throughout the book, quietly encouraging you to question whether man or God is responsible for this creation of war…
Israel Brewster and Linto are firm favourites throughout the story. Their portrayal is refreshing and their actions commendable, in an otherwise fraught and harrowing period. These two are both the savours of the story for me personally as they question man’s motives and speak out when they feel an injustice is occurring.
For those who haven’t read the first book, there is an extensive summary at the beginning of book two, instantly bringing readers up-to-date with the action so far. You never feel like you are at a disadvantage because of this.
The Prophet and The Witch is expertly written and instantly engaging from the first few pages. An exceptionally drawn historical fiction account. I was captivated by this very well-structured book, and would recommend as one of the more intellectual of reads.
Pages: 375 | ASIN: B0755QL6CR
LITERARY TITAN 