Wings of Fantasy, A Box Set of Fantasy Books

Recently, it was suggested that I put together a compilation of books together.  After thinking about a number of the authors I knew and considering what sort of theme I could come up with, an idea came to me.  That idea grew wings, wings of fantasy . . . and that's the name of the book I came up with, Wings of Fantasy. 

The theme of the book is winged creatures in fantasy: dragons, fairies, monsters and even a city with wings.  The genre is fantasy with full length books and a couple of smaller stories from Indie Authors who have been self-publishing their books for the last few years. 

Each of these authors, myself included, has written and published a number of books that have caught the attention of readers worldwide.  I invite you to explore the Wings of Fantasy and find exciting authors to discover.

Apple

Smashwords

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Kobo  

Wings of Fantasy is a compilation of books written by four of the Indie World’s brightest upcoming fantasy authors. Let your imagination soar as you read extraordinary stories of dragons and other fantastic creatures of myth and magic.

Rojuun, a novel by John H. Carroll
Book 1 of The Willden Trilogy. Rumors are spreading about a new race called Rojuun. They appeared from the depths of the mountains eight hundred years ago with the intention of taking over the world. Tathan of the Shadows has been charged with learning more about them. However, he must learn more about his very unusual companions before he can succeed.

Fireblood, a novel by M. A. Nilles
Magic is everything to a priest or priestess, inherited by the descendants of the Creators. Over time, Ayali's abilities have weakened, threatening to expose her tribe to the power of the darkness befalling their lands. Beneath the pressures of her family and tribe, Ayali turns down a dark path. She must face the shadows within her before it consumes their world and destroys her life.

Nature Abhors a Vacuum, a novel by Stephen L. Nowland
Aiden Wainwright was the son of a wagon maker in a small country town where nothing interesting ever happened, until a chance encounter with a strange relic changed him forever. His resourcefulness and courage are put to the test when he travels to a nearby town and finds the place on the brink of disaster. Aiden must marshal his limited resources to aid the town and uncover the villains.

Soul Bonds, a novel by E.M. Sinclair
A young slave girl flees from the Lord who owns her, choosing to die in the mountains rather than become one of his 'pretties'. When that death seems all too likely, she is found by one of the Dragon Kindred and Tika's life takes a twist she could never have imagined in her wildest dreams - or her worst nightmares.



Those are the books that you will find in Wings of Fantasy.  I hope they fly you to fantastic new worlds that expand your mind and tickle your imagination.

All my best,

John H. Carroll

Book review: "Amulet" by Nancy Lee Parish

"Amulet" by Nancy Lee Parish 

Description:
 A different kind of fantasy adventure.

When Tristan finds an amulet, he has no idea how much his life is about to change. When his amulet awakens the evil of another amulet, long thought lost, it is all of Ranaria that hangs on the brink. The black crystal has stirred.
There are those who seek its power and there are those who seek its destruction. There are also those who know its secrets.
Even with dragons on his side, is there enough time for Tristan and his companions to stop that which has been unleashed?

With many twists and turns, a story unfolds that will keep you guessing until the very end.
Expect the unexpected. 

You can get it at Amazon:  http://www.amazon.com/Amulet-DragonBlade-ebook/dp/B0066HCK9K

Review

First let me say that I got this book because I loved the cover.  It's simple but powerful and elegant.  The gold over blue catches the eye and the artwork of the dragon amulet is perfect. :)

Amulet is a fast-paced book.  This story captures interest from the very beginning.  From there, the story unfolds with interesting characters and settings.  It took me a little while to get used to the shifting viewpoints where one paragraph would be from inside one character's head  and the next from another's.  The chapters are very short based largely upon switching locations, but I enjoyed this aspect.

The story is based around a young man named Tristan, but every character in the book is a vital part.  I like that it's not a one person save the world story.  An unusual character named Bub is one of the highlights of the story.

The best part is the dragons.  They each have their own unique personalities and strengths. The first appearance is filled with mystery and then you get to know them well.  My favorite is the big dragon at the end that's afraid of flying.

The humor and wordplay is a strength in the book with well written dialogue.  I enjoyed the characters, even the bad guys who were much more complex than just good vs. evil.

I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys fantasy, especially with dragons.

About the Author

Nancy Lee Parish, former matriarch of a tenting community, was appointed "Supreme Ruler" of all Canada Geese. Fiercely protected by her loyal followers, she was often heard asking the perplexing question, "Are we out of bread again?"
Now her endeavors include granting life or death at whim to the likes of dragons, bossy dachshunds and the occasional annoying bad guy.
Although the geese play a lesser role these days, they remain in the wings, so to speak, ready to protect their Supreme Ruler if need be.




Disclaimer

I have decided to review books that I enjoy.  I am an avid reader of fantasy, so most of them will be in that genre.  I'm not taking any requests, just reading what catches my eyes.  You'll find that most of these are from Indie Authors.  The way I figure it, David Eddings, Anne McCaffrey, Alan Dean Foster and Piers Anthony (my favorite authors) already have enough reviews, but Indies could always use a few more.

It is important to note here that while I am a writer, I am doing these reviews as a reader.  I also know a number of the authors I will be reviewing.  This is not an exchange of reviews, nor have I been solicited by those authors to write the review.  At no time will I ever accept any form of payment for a review.  When I say that I'm am doing this as a reader, I mean it.  I get nothing in exchange.