"Jason King weaves powerful stories that
grip the reader to the last word with a perfect blend of amazement, fear, love,
and destiny..." ~James Wymore, author of Theocracide and The
Actuator
ABOUT THE BOOK
History
repeats itself like a song. The verses may vary, but the melody is always the
same.
The eastern
empire of Aukasia has a new leader, a man who means to bring war to all the
land. Yet, even in all his bloody ambition, he does not realize that he is but
the puppet of a greater evil.
Only the
Kalyra - The Children of the Crystal Star - can stand against what's coming.
Only they can protect the world of Valcoria from the mad hatred of the fallen
god, Aedar.
A new verse of
the song has begun. The last verse...
PURCHASE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
*Jason King is
the author of Valcoria, Lure of Fools, and Thomas Destiny. Other books
attributed to him are an error.
Jason King wishes he was raised
on a desert planet by his aunt and uncle and watched over by a mysterious old
recluse, but his life is much duller than that. He supposes that’s why he
started making up stories. Born in Salt Lake City Utah, Jason grew up on a
steady diet of anime, science fiction, Dungeons and Dragons, JRPG’s, and
chocolate cake donuts. He pretended not to be a nerd just long enough to get
married and start a family. And although dismayed by the revelation that Jason
was a geek, his wife stuck with him and they are now the proud parents of four
beautiful children. Jason holds a bachelor’s degree in I.T. Management and is
currently the Internet Marketing Manager for a local bookstore chain, but he is
determined to one day quit his “9 to 5” and write full-time. Jason has two
indie books; “Valcoria Children of the Crystal Star” and “Thomas Destiny,” but
“The Lure of Fools” is his first published novel.
Guest Post:
Fantasy Comes of Age
What does your mind conjure when someone says “fantasy” in
relation to books? Is it a wizard in a grey robe with a pointy hat? Or is it a
knight in shiny, silver armor hiding behind his shield while a gigantic red
dragon tries to roast him with a cone of fire? Both seem to be a common idea of
the definition of fantasy fiction, and that was how the genre began, but it’s
expanded to include a lot more as those who regularly read fantasy know. Now it
is not uncommon for fantasy fiction to deal with themes of deep philosophical
questions, complex moral dilemmas, exploration of gritty true crime elements, or commentaries
on real-world politics.
Gone are the days of the valiant knight saving the virtuous
princess from the malevolent red dragon. Now our fantasy-fiction is not so
simple. Take George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series for instance.
This is a very dark story full of political intrigue, brutal violence, and lots
of sex.—FULL DISCLOSURE: I am not a fan of this series. My Mormon sensitivities
prevented me from even finishing the first book, but I have read other novels
like it.—Of course, this has led to the coining of a sub-genre called “Dark
Fantasy,” which has become increasingly popular in the last few years. Even young
adult novels have become darker.
Now please don’t misunderstand. My writing also contains
some of these dark elements—the prime protagonist in my new novel, The Lure of
Fools, is a serial killer who gains magical powers. But something definitely
has changed over the years. What happened? Well, I could launch into a
theoretical commentary on society and world view, but I think the answer is
simpler. Fantasy is a wonderful medium for analyzing real-life issues. I know
that sounds strange, but if you think about it, it makes sense.
We live in a day and age in which we receive a steady media
diet of bad news; graphic reports of the most horrendous crimes, political
scandals, wars, and large scale natural disasters. I often feel powerless to
change these things, which is where my imagination kicks in. What if someone
could stop that child murder by seeing the future? What if the rebellion in
Egypt was instigated by the machinations of a dark wizard? What if elemental
magic let someone challenge the might of an oncoming hurricane? Take just about
any real-world theme and you can find a place for it in fantasy fiction. For me
it’s become a kind of therapy, a creative way for dealing with the real
darkness in our world. Which in the end is what I think is really at the heart
of what it means to express one’s self through writing.
Follow the rest of the Valcoria
tour here!
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