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Destined for Change
The Book of Thieves and the Joker’s Game follows a young man who discovers a magical new world after his father dies and is faced with the decision to follow his father’s legacy. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
There were actually two versions of the book. One version there was only “Earth,” or one world, and the second version had Earth and Mysthia. I decided to setup the story with two worlds to help isolate Abell from the norm further. Plus, it helped the reader learn and experience the new world together. With two worlds, it is more liberal freedom to be expanded upon, which makes for a better setting for a fantasy novel.
Abell is an intriguing and well-developed character. What were some driving ideals behind your character’s development?
Abell, as seen in the book, is destined for change. And not a good change. His character starts out very idealistic and passive, almost innocent. By the end of the book, you can see his character hit a wall. A switch is clicked.
Book of Thieves and the Joker’s Game is just the first book of the series. And in this book, you can see Abell’s childhood innocence. As the story continues, the reader will be able to see Abell change, and perhaps not for the best.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this book?
There are multiple themes at play. Nature vs nurture easily, but also coming of age and good vs evil.
Abell’s natural character is quite noble and moralistic, partly because of how his father and Sally raised him. He was a good student, great kid, and well-rounded, always meaning well for others until his world changed. Even though Abell’s father did his best to shelter from the truth, and raised him as any loving family could, Abell is suddenly thrown into a world that his father left a stigma behind. A world scorched with the hatred of their family name, and it burned Abell’s innocence to ash. Even though Abell was bullied on Earth, it was never targeted at his identity, his family, and his entire existence.
The past of Abell’s father shifted the idea of good vs evil. Who is exactly evil in this story? Was it Abell’s father, and is it Abell now?
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
The second book of the series, “Heirs,” will be released soon. Exact date? Not sure. I am quite excited to release it, the story follows Abell’s “clicked” personality.
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The Book of Thieves and the Joker’s Game
The Book of Thieves and the Joker’s Game by Summer Freisen takes readers to the magical world of Mysthia. It is a fantastic world, where people with magic decide everything. From status, to power and political influence, Emblems are everything. But what happens if someone is able to steal those precious emblems? Our main character Abell Araphel, is a young boy who is plunged into this magical world. Growing up in the streets of Florida, he is a normal kid, or so he thought. After the mysterious death of his father, he is left with more questions than answers. His friends, Ez and Cain, are not much help either. He discovers his own lineage and Emblem and is guilt-ridden that he has such an ability to steal other’s emblems. Initially, he uses it unknowingly, but as he discovers how his powers work, he goes on a perilous coming-of-age journey that will fascinate readers from beginning to end.
The story sets up a high level of intrigue with the magic and mystery in this story. I was filled with questions as the story progressed, many were answered, but not all. Why has the queen gone mad? Why won’t Abell’s friends tell him the history or his role? Why do they keep demeaning Abell saying he knows nothing, and then not providing information. Abell represents the readers, in that he is as uninformed as we are and we learn about the world through him. This is an enchanting story that feels like it has a deep backstory that is begging to be explored and I hope we get to explore more of it in future novels.
I really enjoyed the imaginative worldbuilding, there is so much creativity in this story, the magic, Mysthia and the culture, there is truly a unique world being built here that needs to be revealed further. My favorite scene was the one where Abell is thrown into the course by Gerogiana! It was gritty and great at the same time. My favorite character turned out to be Ginger, the tabby cat. A companion that accompanied Abell through thick and thin.
With a unique blend of magic and mystery it has all the elements that I love along with some surprising grisly scenes that were captivating. I look forward to reading the next book in the series because there are so many questions that are left unanswered, and I am intrigued to know more of Abell’s fate. The Book of Thieves and the Joker’s Game is a rousing fantasy story that will appeal to readers looking for an imaginative young adult adventure novel.
Pages: 194 | ASIN: B09B3W8ZHW
LITERARY TITAN 