Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Chronicles

I am being featured this week on Jamie Sedgwick's Blog, Chronicles.

Thanks for reading!

Reviews, reviews, reviews...

Having a book out is a scary thing. I find myself on certain days watching various sites for any sort of feedback, be it a purchased copy or a review on Amazon.

I've received two so far which have been flattering for the novel. I've also spent some time calling people who I know purchased the book (friends and family) to get their impressions. While everything has been positive, what I really desire is to see the numbers go up and not have a clue who bought the book. I'd love to see a fresh email from someone I've never met talking to me about the book, or a review on Amazon that I just couldn't identify as anyone I've ever met before.

Irregardless, I've begun writing again. More on that soon. A few characters have been banging around in my head and as I write I'm trying to decide whether they are perfect for a brand new novel, a novella, or a short story.

Thanks for reading!

Monday, August 1, 2011

Review: The Kinshield Legacy by K.C. May

A note: I plan on featuring my impressions of independent authors and their works, because I've come to really appreciate this community of folks that I've been introduced to. None of the stories I mention here will have been motivated by any request by the author to review them, nor will the authors even be aware that I have reviewed them on my site.

The Kinshield Legacy by K.C. May was my first purchase on Kindle. I was attracted, originally, because of the good reviews it had and the excellent price ($.99). Being poor, I've had to be very selective with what I find on Kindle.

Gavin Kinshield is a Warrant Knight who, through a series of inescapable dreams and visions, finds himself solving the pieces to a centuries-old riddle which will eventually lead him to be king. But such a fate is the furthest thing from what Gavin wants for himself, and he begins a journey to reunite with an old friend who he thinks would be perfect for the job. Along the way, word begins to spread of his riddle solving, and he is swept up in a multifaceted struggle for the throne.

This book is a fantastic fantasy tale with believable characters. It has a simple plot, and by simple I mean very inviting and easy to follow. It builds slowly to allow the reader time to adapt to the world, its characters, and the magic system which I found refreshing in its straightforwardness. Though I say it builds slowly, it was by no means plodding. You follow the story arcs of multiple characters who grab you with their unique personalities and struggles.

The multiple characters eventually got to me a bit. There was a lot of them, and I was having a bit of difficulty differentiating them from one another. Though the main characters have very well-developed personalities and are defined strongly by their relationships with the other characters, the sheer amount of characters and fantasy names to keep track of began to pull me out of the story a bit in the second act. The introduction (at least in person) of a major character towards the end of the book also threw me a little bit, and I'd love to see him fleshed out if K.C. May ever had a mind to write more about he and Gavin's relationship.

The conclusion, however, was riveting. All the major characters were in place by the end and the action was easy to follow and exciting. I would have been a bit disappointed by the fates of some of the characters at the very end had this been a standalone novel, but a sequel is in the works (actually coming out THIS MONTH). I know this was a great book because of how excited I am to read more.

Thank you for reading!