New Release: Looking for Dei, by Author David A. Willson


Looking for Dei
Genre: YA Fantasy
Release Date: March 23rd 2018


Fifteen-year-old Nara Dall has never liked secrets. Yet it seems that her life has been filled with them, from the ugly scar on her back to the strange powers she possesses. Her mysterious father refuses to say anything about her origins, and soon, she and her best friend must attend the announcement ceremony, in which youths are tested for a magical gift.

A gifted youth has not been announced in the poor village of Dimmitt for decades. When Nara uncovers the reason, she uses her own powers to make things right. The decision sets her on a path of danger, discovery, and a search for the divine. In the process, she learns the truth about herself and uncovers the biggest secret of all: the power of broken people.


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Guest Post
The World the Main Character Lives in and it's Society.


Nara Dall lives in the Great Land, a fantasy analogue of Alaska, which is my home state and the most beautiful place in the world, in my opinion. The similarities begin to become apparent when the reader looks at the map in the front of the book and continue as the geography and climate are revealed throughout the story. The Great Land emerged from the ashes of the Breshi civilization, a society that was destroyed more than 600 years before the story of Looking for Dei takes place. The nature of that destruction remains a point of mystery in this novel, with only bits and pieces revealed.

There are some political threads in the book, which is a bit unusual for a young adult fantasy tale. I put those threads in place mainly to show the development and motivations of the main antagonist; I have often been frustrated with stories that have a shallow antagonist, and I have taken pains to make sure that is not the case in this novel. Through these threads, the reader will learn a bit about the ruling class, the military, and some of the challenges in the war-torn areas of the Great Land.

There are clear definitions between the ruling class and the impoverished folks in rural areas, mirroring a similar dichotomy in the real Alaska. Villages and towns that are far from the population centers engage in a subsistence lifestyle, which is in stark contrast to the wealth of the cities. This also plays heavily into the plot and why things happen the way they do.

Magic is a big part of the society. The magic system is only partially revealed in this novel and has a big effect on why things work the way they do, both politically and socially. When revealed in the young, magic is exploited by those in power, which acts as the genesis for the rising action of the plot.

Looking for Dei is the first of many adventures that will take place in this world, and I have plenty of ideas for further development of the Great Land and neighboring nations. I have already begun to work on a sequel to Looking for Dei, and I hope that many readers will join me on this journey!


About the Author


David A. Willson is fantasy novelist who lives in the great land of Alaska with his wife and five children. His passions are faith, movies, books, coffee, traveling with his beautiful lady, and hanging out with his wonderful kids.



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