Meet the Characters

Arron Grethsen, a soldier of Her Majesty's Army, is the main character of Braenduir Chronicles. He was raised by an independent mother and chose the military career because it is an easy option for a youth who doesn't know what to do with his life.

Arron's kind and sociable nature has made him popular in and outside the garrison but unlike many other young men his age, he is yet to encounter his significant other. He isn't in a rush to find a relationship and when he meets a reserved warrior mage, Jan Cattilsen in his favourite tavern, he cannot guess he's found more than a new friend.

Though Arron joined the army largely because Aenerhjelm going to war is unlikely, he volunteers for the battles in the Westerner kingdoms, sharing the road to the front with Jan whose interest in the peculiar birthmark on his chest should pique his curiosity. Yet, Arron ignores the strange token implanted under his skin just as he always has, clinging to the conception that there's nothing extraordinary about him.

A Free Reviewer Copy Available

My posts are short, irregular, and jump from one subject to another like drunken grasshoppers, so it shouldn't surprise anyone that instead of a review or a character presentation, I'm advertising my book today. Not sure whether this could be called an ad, though, for I'm not asking anyone to buy The Heirs of Duty; I'm offering it for free. Alas, there's a catch. It's only available through Indie Story Geek.

So, if you are a verified book blogger on ISG and would like to read and maybe review my debut, it's possible now. The Heirs of Duty, the first book of Braenduir Chronicles, is a character-based, multi-POV,  epic adventure fantasy story for adults. 

At this point, I should add that it's a magnificent book you must read, but because I am so honest it's comparable to idiocy, I state that it divides opinions. The book has both five and one-star reviews on LibraryThing and Goodreads. Though in its defence, I must point out that the person who gave it one star isn't offering any explanation for their verdict. As an author, I find that quite frustrating. A bad rating doesn't bother me, I am well aware that my book isn't everyone's cup of tea, but I yearn for constructive feedback because I can't become better if I don't know what I'm doing wrong. So, as a humble request to anyone who reads The Heirs of Duty; if you decide on rating it, please, include a few words of explanation. If you have time to read a book of around 150,000 words, you can spare a couple of minutes to give a reason why you liked/disliked it.

In case fellow authors happen to read this post, I'd like to point out that for a writer like myself who doesn't have a vast social network in which to find reviewers, LibraryThing's Early Reviewer program is the surest way to get your book read and reviewed for free. I regret I can't make my book available there anymore as I already offered it as a giveaway twice under the original title (and I don't want to cheat by offering it again under the new name). 

Have I rambled enough for what was intended as a short announcement? I suppose, so without further ado, have a lovely rest of the week and thank you to everyone who so much as puts The Heirs of Duty on their TBR-list.

Meet the Characters // Hahmoesittelyt osa kaksi

 Today I present Awra, Princess Miona's elven chambermaid. She was sent to Octower by the count of Ilwn Flwthean to familiarise the human princess with the elven customs.

Awra is young, around fifteen, but her life so far hasn't been a walk in the meadows. Though the princess isn't the sweetest of mistresses, in Awra's view, she's as fierce as a kitten. Awra herself remains a bit of a mystery. She was born in a poor home to a mother with the gift of foresight which she inherited to some extent. When her mother passed away, her male relative sent her to the count's palace and became a chambermaid.

She appears as a subservient person but she has ambitions and more courage than one could guess at first sight. Although she is a minor character in The Heirs of Duty, her part in the story is significant.

Tänään tapaamme Awran, prinsessa Mionan haltiapalvelijattaren. Ilwn Flwtheanin kreivi lähetti hänet Kastorneen kertomaan prinsessalle haltiakansan tavoista ja kulttuurista.

Awra on nuori, viidentoista, mutta on jo ehtinyt kokea paljon. Vaikka prinsessa ei olekaan miellyttävin mahdollinen emäntä, Awran silmissä hän on kiltti kuin kissanpentu. Awran oma todellinen persoona jää vielä arvoitukseksi. Hän syntyi köyhään kotiin äidille, jonka näkijän lahjan hän on jossain määrin perinyt. Kun hänen äitinsä kuoli, hänen miespuolinen sukulaisensa lähetti hänet kreivin palatsiin, missä hänestä tuli kamarineito.

Hän vaikuttaa nöyrältä persoonalta, mutta hänellä on tavoitteita ja enemmän rohkeutta kuin äkkiseltään uskoisi. Vaikka Awra on Riimuin kirotussa pienessä sivuosassa, hänellä on merkittävä vaikutus tapahtumien kulkuun. 

Short Book Reviews: Among the Pines by Matt Anderson

If the last book I reviewed wasn't my pint of mead, this one definitely is. I read Among the Pines as an E-book and loved it from the first word to the last. Among the Pines is a collection of horror fantasy short stories by Matt Anderson, a US indie author, and it's hands down one of the best books I've read. 

This might well become the shortest of my Short Book Reviews because I really don't have anything but praise to say about this work. The language is in its own league, bringing the stories to life with haunting precision and captivating richness. One rarely finds a match for it even among traditionally published books, let alone popular ones.

The author finds his inspiration in folklore, mythology, nature, and science and weaves them into a tapestry that captures you from the first thread and haunts you long after you turn your gaze away. The stories are like pictures painted with the brightest, yet darkest colours, paintings that morph from seemingly innocent scenes to nightmarish visions of chilling peculiarity. Among the Pines is one of those books that make picking up your next read insanely difficult because nothing seems good enough in comparison. 

If this isn't enough to convince you that you should give this one a chance, feel free to check the review I left on Goodreads just after I finished it.

If one must name a weakness in this work, it's the cover. Even if I didn't choose a book by its cover, many others do, and those people are likely to skip Among the Pines -to their own loss. Don't be one of them and get the book to see for yourself whether my verdict is fair or not.