Blog Archives
Roles of Greater Responsibility
Dane Thorburn and the Stanthorpe Rebellion follows Dane and Princess Vanessa as they investigate who the unknown raiders are that are striking out across their land. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
As this is the fourth installment in the series, I wanted to progress the evolution of Dane, Vanessa, and others. Having dealt with mystical creatures in the previous book, I wanted this one to focus more on dealing with people, and to show how Dane and Vanessa would deal with a major tragedy that thrusts them into roles of greater responsibility, at a time when they’re not expecting it. In terms of the story arc of the entire series, it was also important to show Raegan recovering from his injuries and how Dane deals with the realisation that Raegan is still alive.
Is there anything about Dane that came from yourself or your life experiences?
Like everyone, I have had times when things haven’t turned out as I wanted and have had to adjust and adapt to that, and sometimes my initial reaction isn’t the right one. I’m also a determined person, like Dane. One thing I did put in directly from my own life was the scar on his chin, which happens in the first and third books – I split my chin open twice when I was a young boy.
How did you come up with the idea for the antagonist in this story, and how did it change as you wrote?
Right from the beginning I wanted a powerful and evil wizard as the main villain. The real change that occurred as I’ve written the books is when Dane unwittingly almost kills him in Dane Thorburn and the City of Lost Souls (Book 2) when Raegan is disguised as a wolf. This created a whole new development for both Dane, dealing with the uncertainty and guilt that he nearly killed him (and would have killed him had he known Raegan was the wolf), and Raegan’s disappearance and loss of almost all of his power and how the journey he takes while he recovers.
I hope the series continues in other books. If so, where will the story take readers?
There will be more books. With Raegan’s recovery, he is now ready to return and unleash himself on the land once more, and knowing it was Dane who almost killed him, he has a special hatred for Dane that will be explored in future books.
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But when it appears everything is returning to normal once more, a series of attacks by a group of unknown raiders strikes fear across the Stanthorpe region and beyond.
Who are they – and where did they come from?
Are they connected to Candahorn and the rebel forces – or is exiled wizard Raegan, despite his mysterious disappearance, somehow behind it?
Dane is trying to piece everything together alongside Vanessa, Will, and Lord Frederick, when a tragedy of epic proportions changes the land forever, thrusting Vanessa into a role she’s not ready for, where she has to make a fateful decision.
Can they find out who is behind the attacks and save the lives of many, or will they be too late?
Dane Thorburn and the Stanthorpe Rebellion
Dane Thornburn and the Stanthorpe Rebellion by Matt Galanos, is a riveting addition to a fantasy action series tailored to young readers. As the fourth installment in this captivating saga, it continues to explore the life of its main character, Dane Thornburn. Within its pages, readers will encounter a tale of personal tragedy, a kingdom in turmoil, and a shocking betrayal, setting the stage for a cascade of transformative events that reverberate across the land. In the company of familiar faces like Dane’s steadfast friend, Princess Vanessa, and his ever-present rival, Duke Kavendish, the narrative unfolds against a backdrop of mysterious forces wreaking havoc throughout the kingdom. Accusations fly, fingers are pointed, and it falls upon Dane and Princess Vanessa to take the reins and become the saviors their people desperately need.
At its core, this narrative explores profound themes of friendship, resilience in the face of tragedy, and the process of coping with loss. The author adeptly portrays both male and female characters grappling with their emotions in the wake of adversity, depicting their growth and evolution as individuals. A notable strength of the book lies in its skillful handling of multiple character perspectives, including that of the chilling and enigmatic antagonist, in stark contrast to our poised and level-headed hero. The culmination of the story will undoubtedly satiate existing fans while leaving them eagerly anticipating what lies ahead in future installments. In the first half of the story, Dane consistently shines as a beacon of rationality amidst a tumultuous sea of characters navigating their emotions. This observation also applies to some of the women in positions of authority, who, despite encountering moments of emotional turmoil during crises, ultimately demonstrate impressive resilience in regaining their composure.
Dane Thornburn and the Stanthorpe Rebellion is a must-read for enthusiasts of the series and promises to keep them engaged and eager for what’s next. I recommend this book to young readers as it offers an enthralling escape into a world of adventure and discovery.
Pages: 290 | ISBN : 1922920584
I Wanted Them To Be Big And Scary
Dane Thorburn and Nature’s Revenge follows a courageous hero who needs to find out why Dragons are invading their land and why they are after the Princess. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
[Matt Galanos]: It was based on a question I asked myself as a result of the ending of the previous book. In Dane Thorburn and the City of Lost Souls, Dane manages to rescue the Princess from an ancient, long-lost wizard prison that no one has ever escaped from in the history of the land (readers will know all the details, so I won’t say any more about it). The question I asked myself was, what would happen if the actual Ruling Elements of Nature themselves (Air, Earth, Fire and Water) – the underlying source of every living thing in the land, did not realise the Princess was innocent and should never have been imprisoned in the City of Lost Souls, and sent their own creatures after her after she was rescued.
The creatures in this book were very intriguing. How did you go about creating them for this book?
[Matt Galanos] I needed to have one creature from each of the Ruling Elements, and I wanted them to be big and scary. A dragon is terrifying enough and a creature everyone knows about, but with the others, I wanted them to have their own special characteristics that would make them unique to this story and difficult to kill. So, after giving it some thought, I created each one:
A dragon – from the Fire Element, with all the fire-breathing and terror that dragons are known for.
A giant kestrel – from the Air Element, much larger than an eagle or any other bird seen in the land before, so large ‘it blotted out the sun.’
A serpent – from the Earth Element, one that was able to blend with its surroundings and where its mouth could spring from its body like a harpoon firing and latch on to its prey.
A sarkoe – from the Water Element. This was my favourite of them all. A ‘sarkoe’ is actually a name taken from an ancient breed of crocodile. To make this one unique and more terrifying, I added the shape-shifting ability and the ability to be equally adept on land as it is in water.
What scene in the book did you have the most fun writing?
[Matt Galanos] I liked all the scenes with the sarkoe – it was such a gruesome and fearsome beast, and if I had to pick a favourite, it was the scene where Dane, Will, Lord Frederick and the rest of the Brindabeare Knights have to fight it.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
[Matt Galanos] I’m working on the next instalment in the Dane Thorburn series, and it should be available in the first half of 2023.
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Four mysterious and mythical creatures are weaving trails of destruction and mayhem across the land,
and it seems there is little anyone can do to stop them.
Dane Thorburn and Nature’s Revenge
After saving Princess Vanessa from the City of Lost Souls, Dane Thorburn has to deal with another problem, because, of course, there’s no opportunity for heroes to rest—dragons. A significant threat follows our character throughout their journey, and it’s enough to keep your eyes glued to the page.
Dane Thorburn and Nature’s Revenge by Matt Galanos is a fantastical and adventurous story that deals with mystery and mythical beings and is a story that challenges the norms of certain archetypes, such as the hero and the Princess. Accompanied by Lord Frederick, Will, and other memorable characters, Dane needs to figure out precisely what these mythical beasts are doing, how they came to be, and what they want with the Princess.
Within this exciting story, there. It isn’t a moment where adventure isn’t happening. Every chapter is full of questions and excitement, and by the end of every chapter, events are happening in ways that will make you want to read the next chapter and then the next—it’s a book I didn’t want to put down. Though there are grammatical errors here and there, it’s nothing too bad to the point where you can’t understand what is trying to be said.
A large cast was introduced, all by name, in the first few chapters. Each was diverse in personality and appearance, and the author did a great job of keeping everyone distinctive. Every character mentioned, whether they stay throughout the entire book or are only there for a moment, has a striking personality that sets them apart from one another. It’s extremely impressive, and it takes a great author to distinguish so many distinct personalities.
Dane Thorburn and Nature’s Revenge is a captivating young adult and teen fantasy novel. Though some moments can be confusing, the exploration, adventure, and memorable characters do an even greater job of making such a fantastic book come to life. If you’re looking for a fantasy adventure, I definitely recommend this book.
Pages: 314 | ASIN : B0B8K22HS4
LITERARY TITAN 