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Learning From the Past
Conquering the Darkness follows a man hurt in battle who wakes up without his magic or memories in the middle of a war that could destroy the land. What was the inspiration for the setup of your story?
The inspiration for this story was all about learning from the past, and I had to bring Jasce to a dark place so that he could eventually rise above it. Starting the book with Jasce working in a forge in Balten, a frozen wasteland, seemed like a perfect way to begin his journey.
What were some ideas that were important for you to personify in your characters?
Forgiveness is a theme throughout this book as well as self-worth. Many of my characters had to struggle through situations that would push them in these areas and question what they believe, just like we do in life. I wanted them to recognize their weaknesses and wrestle them out with the love and support of those around them.
What was one of the hardest parts in Conquering the Darkness for you to write?
Definitely the ending as this is the final book in the Darkness Trilogy. I needed to wrap everything up in a satisfying way and also leave options for some spin-off stories. This isn’t good bye to my characters, just see you later.
What is the next book that you are working on, and when will it be available?
I don’t have anything in the works right now but I’ll definitely keep you posted on what’s next.
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Without his magic or his memories, Jasce Farone finds himself in the frozen realm of Balten, suffering the lingering wounds from his last battle and haunted by a woman he can’t recall. Jasce tries to be the man everyone expects him to be—the one they remember—but the spindly fingers of revenge wrap around his heart while a past he’s never confronted escorts him further into darkness.
When a disturbing message arrives from Orilyon, the race for the three remaining Stones of the Heart of Pandaren begins. Jasce will need to trust those who fight by his side while battling the demons within if he wants to preserve magic and prevent tyranny from spreading throughout the land. If he succeeds, then a chance at love and peace is within his grasp. If he fails, Drexus will unleash hell on everyone who stands in his way.
Can Jasce fight the battle within while waging war against a threat that could destroy everyone he ever loved?
Conquering the Darkness
Both Jasce’s mind and body are racked with pain. He is suffering in every way imaginable. He has been stripped of his powers, his mother is dead, and he is responsible for his father’s death. To rub salt in his wound, he has lost his memories. When he isn’t fighting through constant pain, he dreams of finding and defeating Drexus, the one person responsible for the shambles that is now his life. There is but one thing he needs to bring an end to Drexus once and for all–he needs the Creator Stone. But is Jasce willing to do what it takes to obtain it?
Conquering the Darkness, by Cassie Sanchez, is a multi-faceted fantasy that follows Jasce, a tormented soul, as he sets his sights on destroying the man who has stolen everything from him. Jasce is a masterfully drawn main character toward whom readers will immediately be drawn. From the first pages of Sanchez’s novel, his pain is almost palpable, and the desire to see him find happiness once and for all is overwhelming.
While Sanchez has gifted readers with a fantastic fantasy narrative, she has adeptly managed to create relatable characters whose angst and self-loathing bridge the reader/character divide. The relationship between Jasce and Princess Irina is filled with tension on multiple levels and will satisfy readers who require an element of drama and romance in their fantasy novels.
I have always been drawn to books and movies that tie in journals and diaries. There is something exceptional about an author who can construct the thoughts of a character who is only a memory to the characters we as readers actually meet in the text. The appearance of Amycus’s journal early in the text was a pleasant surprise, and I found myself looking forward to how Sanchez connects his words to Jasce’s developing storyline.
Conquering the Darkness, by Cassie Sanchez, is the ideal blend of engaging narrative and compelling exchanges between characters. At just over 400 pages, Sanchez’s book is lengthy but a quick read due to the fast-paced action and likability of the cast of characters. I don’t often find a book difficult to put down, but Conquering the Darkness is definitely one with which I struggled to settle on a good stopping place. I would love to see more from Sanchez’s fantastic collection of personalities.
Pages: 410 | ASIN : B0CLLBG5N1
Embracing the Darkness
Jasce’s sister is missing, and the very people who can help most do not see her return as a priority. The kingdom has seemingly more important things with which to contend, and Jasce is expected to do his part, forcing him to make a choice between family and the Kingdom. Jasce, as it turns out, possesses a power highly desired by those who know him. As infamous as he is, however, he is unable to overturn the command he has been given to stand down and stop his frantic search for his sister, Jaida.
Embracing the Darkness, by Cassie Sanchez, is a rousing fantasy tale centered around siblings Jasce and Jaida, both of whom possess powers that set them apart in more ways than one. Jaida is considered a fugitive, and Jasce’s number one concern, despite the orders he has been assigned by the Queen, is finding his sister and gaining her forgiveness. Jasce’s inner turmoil and fiery temper make him a standout character in Sanchez’s beautifully detailed novel.
The author provides great backstories in the book’s introduction. Readers are given a full breakdown of the trauma and abuse that dominated the siblings’ childhoods. The gripping introduction and the interactions with their loving and fiercely protective mother set the stage for the intensity of emotion later in their lives when Jasce becomes the one with his sights set on mending fences and recovering his sister.
Cassie Sanchez is a master at balancing a complicated and multi-faceted plot with detailed imagery and incredible visuals for readers. Jasce and Jaida’s story is fast-paced, and the variety of settings and relatable dialogue all combine to make Sanchez’s story a must-read in the fantasy series.
When an author manages to make a plot come full-circle, I am always impressed and satisfied as a reader. I absolutely loved the idea that the stories Jasce’s mother told him as a child came to light in adulthood and served him as he fights to obey the Queen and recover his sister. Sanchez pulls this technique together and gives readers a specific type of closure to their reading–a truly masterful technique.
I am giving Embracing the Darkness, by Cassie Sanchez, a solid 5 out of 5 stars. With strong main characters, tastefully done romantic scenes, and an engaging plot, Sanchez’s fantasy delivers it all from cover to cover. I highly recommend Sanchez’s novel to any fantasy fan looking for a fabulous new cast of characters to cherish.
Pages: 151 | ASIN : B0B33RFRP8
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