A short spoiler-filled review of the beginning of ‘Volucris Emergence’ by Nina Burman

Book cover Nina Burman

Nina Burman is a first time novelist and blogger from the North of England. She has only written one book so far, called “Volucris Emergence,” but a potential sequel is on its way. Starting on Dec. 4, Burman decided to begin posting her novel chapter by chapter onto her blog for comments and critiques. The prologue and first chapter may now be viewed on her site.

“Volucris” is a YA urban fantasy novel set in a somewhat futuristic world where humans must live through a bit of an apocalypse. The world suffers from a deadly pandemic, antibiotics no longer work, the glaciers have melted and there is a food shortage everywhere. It’s a dire situation, cereal doesn’t seem to exist anymore.

The book begins with a prologue that takes readers straight into the action and a trio of characters are immediately introduced. It seems that one of the characters, named Iliana, will be bearing a child very soon. All of her companions express worry over getting discovered and the reader receives hints that Iliana might identify as non-human, though her exact species remains unclear.

A lot of chaos presents itself in the beginning scene, though once the official first chapter begins, said chaos disappears. Moria, presumably Iliana’s daughter, chats with her friend Lizzie about the current issues of the world. Everyone must keep socially distanced in order to reduce chances of acquiring the virus and masks must stay on their faces whenever outside. The situation is very similar to our current one.

Eventually, Moria goes home and the chapter ends. The prologue does a great job of hooking readers into the story, though the transition into the first chapter feels a bit like a slam on the brakes. No further information is given on the initial trio, leaving readers with a myriad of questions as to what happened to them.

Not much is known about what kind of monster Iliana and her daughter might be, though based on the two itchy bumps on Moria’s back, readers can assume she will grow wings. Perhaps, an angel of some sort or a harpy? Hopefully, the answers will come in further chapters.

An overall good start, “Volucris” already proves that it will make a good addition to any bookshelf.

An interpretation on Coraline’s actual appearance

A scene from the animated film, Coraline. Laika

I’ve noticed that a lot of movie characters tend to look a bit different from their novel counterparts. This is due to the fact that the television versions need to look appealing to the eye in order to draw in viewers, but it is always interesting to see what artists interpret the character’s appearance as based on their original descriptions.

I may not be the best at human art, but I wanted a crack at it and set to work reading the ebook version of the novel, Coraline, to look for any clues as to what she looked like. Despite the entire book being in third person, I managed to only find three sentences that described Coraline’s physical appearance, one of them just described her outfit while she explored outside, so I had to get creative to look for more clues.

Looking at different versions of the book cover, I assumed it was safe to say that Coraline had short hair, around shoulder length. I felt I could also assume that her hair was dark since her mother had black hair. I gave her dark blackish-brown hair.

Sketch part 1 Lizeth Tello

For her outfit, the novel states that she wore a “blue coat with a hood, a red scarf and yellow Wellington boots.” As for her body structure, her shadow was described as “a thin, giant woman” on around page nine, meaning she was probably thin.

Sketch part 2 Lizeth Tello

The last and final thing I could find was a quick mention on page 44 of her eyes, which stated “her big black eyes stared into Coraline’s hazel eyes. With that last detail, my colored sketch was finished.

Colored sketch Lizeth Tello

Updated Dec. 14, 2021 at 1:58 p.m. to fix minor grammar errors.

Decisions, decisions

Book cover P. H. Solomon

Author P. H. Solomon is looking to his fans to decide what to write next. He posted on his blog, Archer’s Aim, that he does plan to release three other books and that his poll is meant to help him decide what to write after.

Voters may choose from a list of five different fantasy series, which include “The Heir of Hart,” book four of “The Cursed Mage Case Files,” book two of “The Black Glove Curse,” book one of “The Lost Treasure Adventures” and book one of the “Broken Shield Chronicles.” A few of the options will require a good amount of world-building, though the others won’t require as much development.

Solomon is a fantasy author and a member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). His first book, “The Bow of Destiny” was released in 2015 and he has since published about eight more stories.

Updated Dec. 14, 2021 at 1:53 p.m. to fix minor grammar error.

Text to A.I art is the new #booktwt trend, so I tried it out with fantasy book quotes

Experimental first try. starryai

A lot of authors and book enthusiasts have been trying out apps that turn text into art by an A.I. Recently, it has become a huge and popular trend within the book community.

Ai drew me “a fantasy waterfall made of books and ice” what do you think? #art pic.twitter.com/uGJEg3uudi

— Alexithymia (@Alexithymiaartt) November 18, 2021

Last night I put my novel character’s name into that AI art thingy and, considering the name is essentially fantasy book gibberish, the picture came out pretty accurate (albeit highly abstract). pic.twitter.com/q3GAhJtoWT

— JL Worrad (@JLWORRAD) December 4, 2021

So I loved doing this!

AI generated images of The Book Boyfriend in different abstract art styles: Festive, Dark Fantasy, Steampunk & Vibrant. https://t.co/5eKbVBGyjz pic.twitter.com/62079Gzf39

— #THEBOOKBOYFRIEND Jeanna Louise Skinner (@JeannaLStars) December 3, 2021

I tried the wombo thing with one of my book titles :D

We the Brazen is a dark fantasy about alien mermaids, and the AI art sort of captures the book's vibe. Sort of.

If you want to try it as well, here's the link ^^https://t.co/XiQuZtjSP0 pic.twitter.com/nxt4zYgv9p

— AK Nephtali 🏳‍🌈 (@QuillQuestions) December 3, 2021

All these images looked really cool so, naturally, I wanted to try it out too. After downloading the “starryai” app and selecting the filters “Unreal Engine,” “Greg Rutkowski” and “Concept Art,” I sat back and watched the magic happen. Here are the A.I. art interpretations of these four quotes:

“There is some good in this world, and it’s worth fighting for.” - J.R.R. Tolkien, “The Two Towers”

starryai

“Do I love you? My God, if your love were a grain of sand, mine would be a universe of beaches.” - William Goldman, “The Princess Bride”

starryai

“There are no happy endings, because nothing ends.” - Peter S. Beagle, “The Last Unicorn”

starryai

“One day, you will be old enough to start reading fairytales again.” - C.S. Lewis, “The Chronicles of Narnia”

starryai

Updated Dec. 14, 2021 at 1:51 p.m. to add quotation marks around book titles.

Team Dumbledore or Team Gandalf, who would win?

Dumbledore and Gandalf Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema

When it comes to old wizards in modern fantasy fiction, no two characters are better known than Gandalf and Dumbledore. Both are very powerful masters of magic within their respective worlds and could probably put down any villain that crosses them. The question still remains, however, if these two were pitted against one another, who would win?

When determining the winner of this legendary battle, we’ll have to first look at the unique abilities of each individual first. Let’s start with Dumbledore.

Albus Dumbledore was the headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Not only was he wise, he was also a calm and encouraging mentor to Harry Potter. During his time, Dumbledore was a provide of magic and was acknowledged as one of the greatest wizards in the Wizarding World.

Cheers GIFfrom Harrypotter GIFs

He also happened to be the wielder of the Elder Wand, which is one of the fabled Deathly Hallows and the most powerful wand in the realm. This object plus his great knowledge grants him a plethora of different spells to use against his foes, that includes the forbidden curses.

If he were to lose his wand during battle, Dumbledore would not be completely vulnerable because of two reasons, the Sword of Gryffindor and wandless magic. That’s right, throughout the Harry Potter novels and films, Dumbledore has demonstrated the ability to use wandless magic in multiple occasions. One example being when he cast Aresto Momentum to save Potter from falling to his death when playing Quidditch.

As for the sword, it was a weapon forged by a goblin for Godrich Gryffindor. It was imbued with multiple magical enchantments and will appear before any true Gryffindor in their hour of need. It can also absorb any elements that might make it stronger. Dumbledore is a member of the Gryffindor house and so it is possible for the sword to appear for him.

Even if he acquires the sword though, Dumbledore is not exactly a swordsman and might not be as skillful with the melee weapon. Therefore, his biggest asset would be his magic.

Moving on to Gandalf, this wizard is extremely powerful and was able to hold his own against Saruman the White. He is very similar to Dumbledore in demeanor with values of love and friendship and acting as a guiding figure.

Im Looking For Someone GIFfrom Im Looking For GIFs

Gandalf is a Maia, a lesser god, and has lived for thousands of years on Middle-earth. Compared to Dumbledore, his store of wisdom is much greater, having acquired a vast amount of knowledge over centuries of living. He also has no known limits to the amount of spells he actually knows.

He wields a staff, that either allows him to cast magic in his physical form or limits him.  It is uncertain what its exact purpose is, though it certainly looks cool. He also wears the Red Ring of Fire, Narya. It is known as one of the three elvish rings of power and grants him the ability to “inspire others to resist tyranny and despair, as well as to instill a passion for fighting for what’s right, make its bearer invisible (or at least hard to see) when necessary, give its bearer a resistance to the passage of time, and it is assumed to provide its bearer with an increased aptitude for, and defense against, fire magic.”

via GIPHY

Another huge skill that Gandalf has but Dumbledore most likely doesn’t is swordsmanship. Yes, he easily could rely on his magic but Gandalf has thrown himself into battle multiple times before, slaying orcs and goblins with his sword, Glamdring.

Looking at these attributes, it is not hard to see who is the winner in such a battle. Poor Dumbledore doesn’t stand much of a chance against an immortal lesser god with the capability of resurrecting himself.

7 fantasy novel recommendations for you to read during the holidays

Getting cozy with a book. Alice Hampson | Wikimedia Commons

It is that time of year once again. Christmas trees are going up in family homes and lights are decorating the streets. Santa Claus is visiting the local malls once more and mailboxes are filled with letters from children to the big man in red. Shoppers crowd stores in order to purchase last-minute gifts. With all the chaos of the holidays, it is sometimes tempting to stay in for the month.

For the bookworms out there, nothing beats a relaxing day at home in bed or on the couch with a mug of hot chocolate in one hand and an open book in your lap. If you’re looking for a good fantasy novel to read  this December, here are seven recommendations:

1. The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

Movie poster Castle Rock Entertainment

Published in 1985, this book is a Christmas classic. It even comes with its own film adaptation directed by Robert Zemeckis in 2004. The novel revolves around a young boy, who is struggling to believe in Santa. On Christmas Eve, he is awoken by the sound of a train, called the Polar Express. The boy boards it and is met with other young children from various neighborhoods clad in pajamas and eager to arrive to their destination, the North Pole. From the group, only one child will be granted the privilege of receiving the first gift of Christmas by Santa Claus himself. It’s a long way to the North Pole and the train does not slow down. The train will have to pass through various forests and terrains before they arrive safely and who will be lucky enough to be chosen is unknown.

2.  The Dark is Rising by Susan Cooper

Omnibus cover Random House Books

The second part of “The Dark is Rising” book series, Susan Cooper novel “The Dark is Rising,” published in 1973, is a real page turner of an adventure. On his 11th birthday, Will Stanton discovers that he the last of the Old Ones. The Old Ones were beings dedicated to fighting the Dark, an evil force that terrorizes the land. Preparing for a battle between Light and Dark, Stanton sets out on a quest for the six magical Signs which help good defeat evil.

3.  The Sugar Queen by Sarah Addison Allen

book cover Random House Books

This bestseller is great for anyone looking for a good Christmas fairytale. Southern belle Josey Cirrini loves the winter season and hides a stockpile of treats in her closet. Her life is relatively uneventful with her only escape being a large pile of candy and romance books. One day, she finds a fairy godmother in her closet and nothing is the same. With the aid of her magical companion, life becomes more vibrant and Josey’s life slowly changes for the better.

4. Hogfather by Terry Pratchett

First edition cover Victor Gollancz

Set within the “Discworld” universe, “Hogfather” is the 20th installation of the series. It was published in 1996 and was a 1997 British Fantasy Award nominee. It tells the tale of the absence and possible assassination of a mythical creature, similar to Father Christmas, named Hogfather. Not only did it bring gifts to children on December 32nd, but it was also responsible for the sunrise. Death, who knows this, attempts to take his place while his granddaughter, Susan Sto Helit, searches for the missing Hogfather.

5. A Christmas Carol II: The Rise of the Juggernauts by Nicholas Kaminsky

Book cover Kaminsky Consulting LLC.

Everyone is familiar with “A Christmas Carol,” but this next tale involves a twist to the Christmas classic. Ebenezer Scrooge had died in an asylum. Though the three ghosts did him good, it didn’t keep the poor man from going insane near his final days. Nobody believed his crazed ramblings but some darker circles believe that maybe the old man was onto something. Rumors began to emerge of a powerful Relic that wields the power to control the spirit realm. It might just be what “Tiny” Tim, who is now a fearsome shinobi ninja warrior, needs to defeat the Juggernauts, who threaten their society.

6. Some Kind of Fairytale by Graham Joyce

Book cover Gollancz

For those who love mystery, this paranormal fairytale is sure to please you. Peter Martin is pulled from his family when he is invited over by his parents for Christmas. When he arrives, he is surprised to find his previously thought to be dead sister, Tara. 20 years ago, Tara had disappeared into the forest, never to be seen again, but is now back with wondrous stories of her adventures. Something about her stories doesn’t sound right and Tara is no longer the same woman she was years ago. She couldn’t have possibly been abducted by fairies. They aren’t real, right?

7.  Hidensee: A Tale of the Once and Future Nutcracker by Gregory Maguire

Book cover HarperLuxe

Written by the author of “Wicked,” this story is a magical remake of the original holiday legend. The story tells of a nutcracker, carved and created by Godfather Drosselmeier, a one-eyed toy maker. He presents the toy to his ailing goddaughter, Klara. On Christmas Eve, the nutcracker guides Klara on an adventure through a dreamy paradise. Maguire’s version of the tale addresses how trauma from life might affect a person and offers a message of hope to all readers.

Updated Dec. 14, 2021 at 1:39 p.m. to fix minor grammar and style issues and to add hyperlinks.

David Blaze’s ‘Epic Kids’ wins second award

Cover image Blaze Books

David Blaze has won the Mom’s Choice Gold Award for his book “Epic Kids.” The Mom’s Choice Awards official Twitter account announced their congratulations this evening at 7:31 p.m.

The Mom’s Choice Awards is an organization that establishes the “benchmark of excellence for family-friendly media, products and services.” It is a globally recognized and trusted program that judges items through an ethical evaluation process, free from any corporate influence, that reviews multiple elements including quality, design, educational and entertainment value, appeal and cost. 

The book, published in 2019, features an average kid, named Jake, who is caught by surprise when a group of cool kids invite him over to eat lunch with them. They are not who they seem and Jake discovers that he and his new companions not only originate from another planet but they also have superpowers. Filled with this new knowledge, Jake soon finds himself on a mission to protect his new friends from a vicious mechanical dinosaur.

This is not the first award that “Epic Kids” has won. In 2020, the book had won the Reader’s Favorite Gold Medal. Blaze’s novel is suitable for people of all ages and can be found on Goodreads and Amazon.