Quest of Fire: The Gathering Dark by Brett Armstrong ***A Brandy's Book Nook Review -- Spotlight -- Excerpt***
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The Gathering Dark blog tour!
Quest of Fire:
The Gathering Dark
by Brett Armstrong
Genre: YA Epic Fantasy/Christian Fantasy
Release date: April 2019
Jason is an expert at running from his past. When it catches up, he finds himself hiding in a peculiar inn listening to a tale from centuries past.
The story is Anargen's, a teen who is pulled from all he loves to follow his oaths of loyalty to the fabled King of the Realms. Together with his mentor, Cinaed, he rides north on a special quest to mediate peace talks between ancient foes--the men of Ecthelowall and the dwarfs of Ordumair. Nothing goes as planned. Many on both sides of the dispute despise Anargen's Order. Worse, an arcane evil has returned to the North. This "Grey Scourge" seeks to ruin the peace talks and ensure a lost treasure held by the dwarfs is never found by those for whom it is meant.
As Anargen's story unfolds, Jason begins to wonder whether it is truly just a fable. He soon finds himself drawn into the conflict Anargen faced--a battle which has shaped and can destroy his world.
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The romance between Anargen and Seren is one of young love. That love, somewhat tragic, becomes an important part of the events that shape Anargen’s world.
Guest Post
A Letter to Grandmother from Jason
by Brett Armstrong
I think it is best if I’m honest with you. If I remember rightly, you were never one to suffer anything less. I received your message. I’m not sure how you found me so quickly. You are a woman of resources after all, but I suppose I was kidding myself to think I could stand far outside your shadow.
Your messenger was new. Does Uncle Horace not handle these sorts of calls anymore? Whoever he is, he made it clear you want me home. Of course, I made it clear to him what I thought of that idea. He didn’t like it, but you’re hiring tougher help these days. He’ll be bringing this letter with only a few bruises. That’s what you want to hear, I presume? That I’m still tough, still fast, and still smart enough to meet your expectations? I’ve grown quite a bit since I left you three years ago. Though I’m still not cruel. Not like you and definitely not like grandfather. For what it’s worth, I get it. You blame me for Dad the way I always knew you would end Mom.
In case you’re wondering, I did get the real reason you’re summoning me to Brackenburgh out of your guy. He wouldn’t say how Mom died. I suppose you’re keeping me in suspense? Was it a territory dispute? A local official made a turn for a rival? I’ve never understood your world. Mom didn’t either. I won’t let you turn Phillip into another one of your henchmen. You think you have claim to us, because we’re your blood. Fine, you can take me, use me till mine is spilled for you. But Phillip stays out of this life, for good. That is my only term.
I’m certain you’re rolling your eyes right now. After all I’m demanding terms from you of all people. Maybe you’re having a laugh over how silly I’m being to think I have any leverage. But we both know you wouldn’t waste your time and resources summoning me if you didn’t need me. I’m valuable for whatever you’re planning. No whispers have reached me, so it must be something impressive. Which means you get me and Phillip goes free. I’m going to be traveling two days behind your man, just to make sure you’ve had proper time to read this and conclude that it is in your best interests to make this deal.
So, there it is, maybe I’m more your grandson than I thought. I can hear you saying, “I’ll be the judge of that.” Well, no fear. I’m coming. Three days and then I’m all yours.
With all sincerity,
Jason
A Brandy's Book Nook Review
Quest of fire: the gathering dark
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Fantasy
This story is good, it just didn't have me gripping the edge of my seat. The world building is excellent, and things were really brought to life for me. There are histories, cultures, myths, and old grudges. If you are the type that need a good hook at the very beginning, you may have trouble getting into this one at first.
Jason is trying to get out of a rainstorm when he takes shelter at an inn and gets drawn into a story about Anargen. Anargen is a young man who has just become a knight with 3 of his friends when they are forced to leave suddenly for a quest that they know little about. The lack of details leads to a lack of trust. This lack of trust causes some very unfortunate events. When monsters from children’s stories become reality, they must find a way to survive. Past and present collide in a way that by the end I was interested in seeing what happens to Jason as he learns that some stories are built on truth no matter how fantastical it sounds.
There is lots of violence. These boys are fighting for their lives, and the story reflects that. There is no adult content, and really very little of a romantic interest. These boys are in too much trouble for that! The story does have some references to sword fighting positions and specific pieces of armor. Not enough to distract, but I did need to look a couple of words up.
Excerpt
Twigs snapped underfoot as Anargen strode through the forest. Normally he tried to be quieter, but night had fallen, and he was not alone.
"Are you sure this is the way?" Seren asked, glancing back the way they’d come.
Anargen just grinned. The woods around Black River tended to be dense. Most of its paths were just deer trails. For the uninitiated, they would seem labyrinthine. “Absolutely. My father has taken me through here often. Have some faith.”
She reached out and gave his hand a squeeze. “If there are any who wander without being lost, I’m sure it is you. Lead the way.”
It was nice being able to show her something for a change. “Okay, stay close. We’ll be coming up on the river bank soon. Watch out for roots too, they’ll trip you up.”
“Oh, I see. Don’t want to fall in. With all that coal on the bottom, the river is dark enough during the day.”
“The current isn’t very fast, but it’s definitely not how you want this night to end.” He laughed.
“How do you want this night to end?” she asked, innocence in her voice.
Honestly, he didn’t want it to end, ever. “Any way except returning you home sopping wet. I’m sure your mother is grateful for the tools, but that would probably ruin me in her eyes.”
“Oh, no it wouldn’t. It couldn’t undo all that good. The craftsmanship was impressive. You’re more a blacksmith than you admit.”
“Ha! From the look of shock on Arnauld’s face when I’d finished, you’d think I’m never in that shop.” Anargen half-turned and imitated the expression. Something close to how a rock would look surprised.
“Well, you really aren’t there often,” she pointed out chuckling. “Didn’t you even leave early today to bring the tools?”
“Yes, but really it was you who suggested I show you these woods. So, I think it might be you who kept me from returning to my duties.”
“Oh,” she huffed in mock fluster and gave him a shove. As she did, she pitched forward suddenly with a squeal of surprise.
Anargen spun and caught her. For a few seconds, he held her like that, his heart racing, ready to catch her many times over. He helped her back to steady footing. Though not with any haste, he enjoyed the closeness more than was proper.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“My pleasure.” Feeling his awkward nature strangling him for what to do or say next, he cleared his throat. “Like I said, watch out for roots.”
A smirk crept up on Seren’s lips. “Duly noted.” Linking her arm in his, she laid her head against him and said, “Though it’s probably best I stay close.”
“I agree,” he replied. Against his will, his heartbeat raced faster. It wouldn’t be so embarrassing were Seren’s ear not so near to hear the change. Strangely, the rhythm calmed considerably after a minute or so more walking with her. There was something so easy about it. Soothing.
He needed it with the maelstrom of abnormal happenings this week. All day he’d dreaded Sir Cinaed showing up, or worse his strange little visitor. Seren made all of it seem so far away.
By the time they reached the water’s edge, it had to be an hour till midnight. “Here we are,” he said gesturing to a small jetty. “The best place to view the stars in Walhonde.”
From the way Seren’s mouth hung open, eyes wide, he knew she agreed. The river was wide here and the already dark waters were as deep an indigo as the sky above. In the gentle current it reflected all the starry host above. Fireflies blinked in and out of existence among the trees of the opposite shore and hovered near enough to touch. Standing on the dock, it appeared the stars were all around them.
“You never see anything like this in Stormridge,” she murmured.
“You never see anything like this anywhere,” he wanted to say. But he could sooner move a mountain than speak so freely. “Really? Didn’t you see the stars there?”
“Well, of course. But not like this. Not half of this,” she said as he helped her sit down on the weathered boards.
Dropping down beside her, he slipped his feet in the water next to hers. “Do you see any stars you recognize from there?”
After a few seconds, she nodded and pointed to the right. “That group is known as Bellafortis the Gryphon. And a little bit below is Dolosus the Wyvern. The two are supposed to be always locked in battle. ‘Valor and deceit, war without respite, Battle of all souls, mirroring their strife.’”
Anargen raised his brows and Seren blushed. “It’s something a poet from home wrote about them. It’s much longer but that’s the part I remember best. Though the myth actually comes from Ecthelowall, not Stormridge. It’s tied to their ancient line of monarchs somehow. A lot of the fabric of Libertias’s society is still very much . . .”
She splashed some water at him, “Anargen, are you listening?”
“Oh, yes. I’m sorry,” Anargen replied. In truth, he was only half aware of what she’d said. Her poetry and the beauty of being with her here had distracted him. It was clear from her eyes. She’d fallen down the same hole into a new, other-world as him.
Amidst the gentle thrum of summer’s night-pulse, he snuck another lingering kiss. In it he needn’t keep wondering whether he had taken the dive so much sooner than her after all.
I'm a Christian, a writer, a full-time programmer, a husband, a dad, and quite often sleep-deprived. Not necessarily ranked in order of importance, except #1.
"Are you sure this is the way?" Seren asked, glancing back the way they’d come.
Anargen just grinned. The woods around Black River tended to be dense. Most of its paths were just deer trails. For the uninitiated, they would seem labyrinthine. “Absolutely. My father has taken me through here often. Have some faith.”
She reached out and gave his hand a squeeze. “If there are any who wander without being lost, I’m sure it is you. Lead the way.”
It was nice being able to show her something for a change. “Okay, stay close. We’ll be coming up on the river bank soon. Watch out for roots too, they’ll trip you up.”
“Oh, I see. Don’t want to fall in. With all that coal on the bottom, the river is dark enough during the day.”
“The current isn’t very fast, but it’s definitely not how you want this night to end.” He laughed.
“How do you want this night to end?” she asked, innocence in her voice.
Honestly, he didn’t want it to end, ever. “Any way except returning you home sopping wet. I’m sure your mother is grateful for the tools, but that would probably ruin me in her eyes.”
“Oh, no it wouldn’t. It couldn’t undo all that good. The craftsmanship was impressive. You’re more a blacksmith than you admit.”
“Ha! From the look of shock on Arnauld’s face when I’d finished, you’d think I’m never in that shop.” Anargen half-turned and imitated the expression. Something close to how a rock would look surprised.
“Well, you really aren’t there often,” she pointed out chuckling. “Didn’t you even leave early today to bring the tools?”
“Yes, but really it was you who suggested I show you these woods. So, I think it might be you who kept me from returning to my duties.”
“Oh,” she huffed in mock fluster and gave him a shove. As she did, she pitched forward suddenly with a squeal of surprise.
Anargen spun and caught her. For a few seconds, he held her like that, his heart racing, ready to catch her many times over. He helped her back to steady footing. Though not with any haste, he enjoyed the closeness more than was proper.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“My pleasure.” Feeling his awkward nature strangling him for what to do or say next, he cleared his throat. “Like I said, watch out for roots.”
A smirk crept up on Seren’s lips. “Duly noted.” Linking her arm in his, she laid her head against him and said, “Though it’s probably best I stay close.”
“I agree,” he replied. Against his will, his heartbeat raced faster. It wouldn’t be so embarrassing were Seren’s ear not so near to hear the change. Strangely, the rhythm calmed considerably after a minute or so more walking with her. There was something so easy about it. Soothing.
He needed it with the maelstrom of abnormal happenings this week. All day he’d dreaded Sir Cinaed showing up, or worse his strange little visitor. Seren made all of it seem so far away.
By the time they reached the water’s edge, it had to be an hour till midnight. “Here we are,” he said gesturing to a small jetty. “The best place to view the stars in Walhonde.”
From the way Seren’s mouth hung open, eyes wide, he knew she agreed. The river was wide here and the already dark waters were as deep an indigo as the sky above. In the gentle current it reflected all the starry host above. Fireflies blinked in and out of existence among the trees of the opposite shore and hovered near enough to touch. Standing on the dock, it appeared the stars were all around them.
“You never see anything like this in Stormridge,” she murmured.
“You never see anything like this anywhere,” he wanted to say. But he could sooner move a mountain than speak so freely. “Really? Didn’t you see the stars there?”
“Well, of course. But not like this. Not half of this,” she said as he helped her sit down on the weathered boards.
Dropping down beside her, he slipped his feet in the water next to hers. “Do you see any stars you recognize from there?”
After a few seconds, she nodded and pointed to the right. “That group is known as Bellafortis the Gryphon. And a little bit below is Dolosus the Wyvern. The two are supposed to be always locked in battle. ‘Valor and deceit, war without respite, Battle of all souls, mirroring their strife.’”
Anargen raised his brows and Seren blushed. “It’s something a poet from home wrote about them. It’s much longer but that’s the part I remember best. Though the myth actually comes from Ecthelowall, not Stormridge. It’s tied to their ancient line of monarchs somehow. A lot of the fabric of Libertias’s society is still very much . . .”
She splashed some water at him, “Anargen, are you listening?”
“Oh, yes. I’m sorry,” Anargen replied. In truth, he was only half aware of what she’d said. Her poetry and the beauty of being with her here had distracted him. It was clear from her eyes. She’d fallen down the same hole into a new, other-world as him.
Amidst the gentle thrum of summer’s night-pulse, he snuck another lingering kiss. In it he needn’t keep wondering whether he had taken the dive so much sooner than her after all.
About the Author
I'm a Christian, a writer, a full-time programmer, a husband, a dad, and quite often sleep-deprived. Not necessarily ranked in order of importance, except #1.
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Hi, Brandy,
ReplyDeleteThank you for spotlighting my book and for the thoughtful review!
May the Lord bless and be with you,
Brett Armstrong