A Grand Finale of Villainy #1 -- Rhiannon in "Curse of Shadows" by AK Wilder

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Yesterday, I announced A Grand Finale of Villainy -- in which I'm delighted to be rejoined by Kim Falconer and Amanda Arista, expanding on their wonderful posts in Villainy Among Friends. 

Kim, who writes her YA "Amassia" series as AK Wilder, is launching our grand finale with a closer look at a villain from Curse of Shadows (Amassia #2) --  enjoy!

-- by Helen Lowe

Rhiannon in Curse Of Shadows by AK Wilder 
(The "Amassia" Series, Book Two) 

by Kim Falconer

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Last month, in Helen Lowe’s post of Nov 1, 2004, I explored evil-doing characters in Fantasy fiction. From subtle trickery to outright genocide and a few atrocities in between, I showed how villainous actions can depend on perspective. In other words, the villains have their reasons.

To illustrate this further, I offer an excerpt from Curse of Shadows, book #2 in the Amassia series. Please meet Rhiannon of Baiseen, the treasurer’s daughter and recent widow of Petén Adicio, Magistrate of Palrio. You may never feel sorry for her, but it does become clear: In her mind, she has taken lives for one reason, and one reason only - the good of the realm.

being this cold in Baiseen. It makes me think there could be truth to some of the stories of the  Second Sun. Brogal explained that day by day, it barrels toward Amassia at the speed of lightning, melting ice caps, shifting currents, flipping the weather on its axis. Rubbish, most likely, but I’d be a fool to dismiss even a remote possibility. And I’m no fool.

The thought has me smiling. 

I am the Magistrate of all Palrio, holder of the phantom throne of Baiseen. Woodcutters carve the likeness of my beautiful Chrysel into the left arm of the chair as we speak. She will stand out against all the previous phantoms immortalized there. Her image will be magnificent. This day is magnificent!

Not so much for Petén, though.

“No, love. Not so much for him.” I suspect I’ll miss the man, as much as I could miss any. 

Don’t say that in the eulogy.

“Good advice.”

The speech I have prepared, been preparing since our first kiss, in fact, isn’t particularly honest, but I will lie to the people for their own good. However, I must be scathingly candid with myself. I won’t miss Petén past the potential he offered and maybe a few tricks he had in bed. But his purpose was served. He did his part. Peace be his path.

I could never have gained the throne through Marcus, not with his massive phantom, and Ash glued to his side. She’s a snake, that one. Analyzing everything. Watching everyone. 

I like her.

“Nonsense. She’s nothing.” 

At first, I entertained the idea of their father, Jacas. It would have been possible, though his advisors may have questioned the alliance, especially once his health started to fail. Too risky...but Petén was perfect, and for what he has given me, I am grateful.

For the realm.

“Yes, love. For the realm!”

Jacas was a strong ruler but not immortal. He wouldn’t live forever, and his time was running short. Between Marcus with his unmanageable phantom and Petén the non-savant, Palrio would have crumbled under a continued Adicio rule. My father saw this, peace be his path, and I did, too. We would have succumbed, if not to Tann’s advancing armies, then to the next power-hungry warlord from Gollnar or Sierrak. I’ve done them all a favor. My rule will see the realm not just survive, but prosper. 

We reach the cremation grounds, the pyre built high and ready to light. At least the blaze will warm me up. I dismount and hand my horse to the stablemaster. All of Baiseen is present, from the youngest child of the harbor district to the oldest black-robe from the norther caves. Perfect. 

Master Brogal catches my eye and I nod for him to begin. The speeches will take time, and no doubt be tedious, but the occasion marks my first public address as Magistrate. I’m going to make it one they will never forget.

As I take up my torch and walk to the pyre, flanked by Brogal, U’karn, and a dozen black-robes, I smile at the synergy. Peace be your path, husband, and yours, too, Marcus. It is fitting you brothers should leave the world on the same day.

Are you certain they will?

“I am, little love. All is set in motion. The Bone Gatherer will reach Asyleen, but sadly, the Baiseen troops will be too late to protect him. With Atikis lying in wait, he and his party will not see another dawn.”

For the realm? my lovely phantom asks, a little uncertain.

“For the realm!”

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Curse of Shadows

Wilder, AK, (2022). Curse of Shadows. Entangled Publishing, LLC. pp. 80-82

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About Kim Falconer

Kim Falconer, currently writing as A K Wilder, has released Crown of Bones, a YA Epic Fantasy with Curse of Shadows as book 2 in the series. Currently, she is working on the third book, out in 2025.

Kim can be found on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Or pop over to throw the bones or Raise Your Phantom on the AKWilder.com site

Announcing A Grand Finale of Villainy -- & More Villainy Among Friends!

 
w00t-w00t! Tis December 1 -- which means it's not only time to complete the "Year of the Villain in Fantasy" post series, but to wrap up in style with a Grand Finale.

A Grand Finale of Villainy, no less -- and better yet, even moar Villainy Among Friends!

Grand Villainy ...

Last month Amanda Arista, Kim Falconer (who also writes as AK Wilder), and I joined forces to talk about Villainy in Fantasy  

Kim Falconer, also writing as AK Wilder

Between us, we not only explored villainy in genre terms, but with  a weather eye to how villains, as well as heroes, drive our own storytelling. 

Amanda Arista

Now we're back for A Grand Finale of Villainy! 

Over the next few days we'll be taking an upfront (and sometimes personal!) look at a villain from one of our books -- being Very Villainous, of course! 

But also illustrating those genre and storytelling themes discussed last month.

The first of our three features will post tomorrow, December 2, with Kim as our author-of-awesome in the spotlight. 

Previous “Year of the Villain” Posts:

Meanwhile, if you're new to Villainy, Supernatural Underground-style, or just keen to reread, here's a compleat list of all the “Year of the Villain” posts to date:

January:      Ushering in 2024 -- & the Year of the Villain

February:    The Year of the Villain #1: The Lord of The Rings Pantheon

March: The Year of the Villain #2: Ursula Le Guin & “Earthsea”

April: The Year of the Villain #3: Tigana and Brandin of Ygrath

May: The Year of the Villain #4: Elidor and Formless Evil 

June: The Year of the Villain #5: When the Hero Is Really A Villain

July:  The Year of the Villain #6: When the Author Messes With Your Mind

August:  The Year of the Villain #7: The Evilest Of Them All

September: The Year of the Villain #8: Secret Villains

October: The Year of the Villain #9: Once Were Heroes

November: The Year of the Villian #10: Villainy Among Friends

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About This Post's Author

Helen Lowe is an award-winning novelist, poet, and lover of story. With four books published to date, she is currently completing the final instalment in The Wall Of Night series.
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Helen posts regularly on her “…on Anything, Really” blog, monthly on the Supernatural Underground, and tweets @helenl0we.

Book Review: "Curse of Shadows" by AK Wilder

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Introduction

Kim Falconer  is taking a well-deserved break this month, but here at Supernatural Underground HQ we're keen to celebrate her wonderful writing.

So although Kim will be back with her "More Than Meets The Eye" post series (which we've all been loving!) today we're featuring a review of Curse of Shadows, the recently released second novel in her Amassia series.

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Book Review: Curse of Shadows by AK Wilder

Reviewed by Helen Lowe

I enjoyed Crown of Bones, the first book in AK Wilder's Amassia series, but I think Curse of Shadows (Amassia #2) is an even stronger story.

The author writes as both AK Wilder and Kim Falconer. As readers here will know, Kim and I both post on Supernatural Underground. So I'm signaling upfront that we are friends-in-writing and fellow bloggers, "for the record."

What The Amassia Series Is All About

In Crown of Bones (Crown), Ash and her comrades traveled far from home and discovered that all life on their world of Amassia was threatened by the return of a binary star. Now, finding and learning how to use the crown of bones is vital in order to have any hope of survival, but because of its power, a large number of players are competing to find and control it. They include nation states and mages (called savants), but also the mysterious, ocean-dwelling Mar, with both magical and military forces being deployed to find and seize the crown.

The personal journeys of Ash and her savant companions are set against this backdrop of world-threatening events. Savants gain their power from raising "phantoms" that are usually animistic in form and reflect an aspect of the savant's being, which is key to their power. Ash has been raised a non-savant and trained as a cleric, but at the end of Crown, readers learned that she is, in fact, a savant, with a very powerful phantom. One that has been deliberately suppressed by her guardian and mentor.

When the story resumes in Curse of Shadows (Curse), both Ash's phantom and her memory of its rise have been magically suppressed for a second time. The cracks, though, are showing. Marcus, Ash's  childhood friend, also has struggles of his own. He has been disinherited and exiled, yet must continue to lead their company's quest for the crown of bones. As if that's not enough, Marcus struggles to manage his phantom, which is also extraordinarily powerful.

Similarly, the mysterious Kaylin, who saved and befriended Ash in Crown, is also striving to comprehend, and either fulfill or circumvent, orders that conflict with their friendship.

The world of Amassia

Although there are other characters in their company, as well as allies like the powerful, but also changeable, Mar called Salila, the storylines (or "arcs") of Ash, Marcus, and Kaylin drive the Curse narrative.

What I Liked in Curse of Shadows

"Almost everything" is the short answer. Despite the problems they confront, returning to Ash, Marcus, and their company---both savants and phantoms---felt like re-encountering old friends. Although important in Crown, Kaylin has a larger part to play and more point-of-view time in this book, as does Salila. Both are interesting and engaging characters, but their larger roles also deepen the story and the reader's understanding of the world.

The story, too, is a really fascinating one, with its interweaving of magical, ecological, and SF-nal elements, and Curse---unsurprisingly---enlarges on the foundations established in Crown. In doing so, the author expands the worldbuilding, which was an element I particularly liked. The ecology and landscapes are really different from Western European fantasy norms, and the societies and cultures reflect a similar diversity.

Salila

Where much of Crown was a pursuit, and accordingly raced along at breakneck speed, the pace of Curse reflects the company's mission to build alliances as well as having to hunt out the crown's component bones. I like the deepening of both world and characters that Curse's storytelling focus allows.

What I Didn't Like

Well, "nothing, really." :D The only point I remain unsure of is why Ash's guardian and mentor is so determined to suppress her phantom --- which may be because I've missed a crucial detail, or because all is yet to be finally revealed in Book 3. Needless to say, when that happy day arrives I shall be eager to read on and find out more.

Ash and Kaylin

Conclusion

If you enjoyed Crown of Bones, or books such as Kate Elliott's Cold Magic, Brent Weeks' The Black Prism , or Leigh Bardugo's Shadow and Bone, then Curse of Shadows may also be in your reading wheelhouse.

I read the hardcover edition, 403 pp, published by Entangled Teen in December 2022, which was a gift from Kim (the author.) My only regret is that I haven't managed to read it and post here a whole lot sooner, because I feel the book merits the attention.

~*~

AK Wilder

About The Author

Kim Falconer, currentky writing as AK Wilder, has released Crown of Bones, a YA Epic Fantasy with Curse of Shadows as book 2 in the series. Currently, she is working on the third book, out in 2024.

Kim can be found on  AKWilder Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. 

Throw the bones, read your horoscopes or Raise Your Phantom on the AKWilder.com site

Goodreads Crown of Bones Giveaway

 

Heyo everyone! 

Goodreads, along with EntangledTeen is giving away 5 copies of Crown of Bones. Jump on in to win.

 

Click here to enter

It's the USA only this time around bu specials for more countries are on the way.

Good luck! Let me know if you win!

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About AK Wilder

I write YA Lit for young adults, and the young at heart.

Meet me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, or check out my site, akwilder.com where you can read the Bare Bones Scopes each month, Throw the Bones and discover the latest news and giveaways.

My alter ego on the Sup is Kim Falconer...

Remember, when in doubt... Raise. Your. Phantom!

The Art of Chapter Heads

Map of Amassia for Crown of Bones

Hi Everyone!

The formatting is underway for Crown of Bones and we have some additions I wanted to share: The map above, and also the hierarchy of the robe colors worn by savants.

This chart helps readers keep track of the robe colors worn by savants. Each color represents a rank and level of maturation and ability, the lowest being non-savant.

 

And, below are chapter head illustrations!

In my post earlier this month, I talked about the History of Chapters, their purpose and how they inform the way we read. You can see that post here - An Affiliation of Chapters.

Today I can show you the Chapter Heads for Crown of Bones, coming out January 5, 2021.

The art is inked by Anna Campbell, and will be set for each POV character, at the head of their chapters.

The record books for Ash's Chapter POVs.

Marcus's War Axe for his chapter POVs.

 

Master Brogal's Firebird phantom, C'cen.

Kaylin's Sword for his POVs.

Salila's (Sah-LEE-lah) chapter heads.

 

Bone Throwers' Whistle Bone.

Twin Sun Flag.

I hope you are intrigued by these additions. If that's a yes, post in the comments for an ARC (advanced reader copy) to dive into the world.

See you there!

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About AK Wilder

I write YA Lit for young adults, and the young at heart.

Meet me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, or check out my site, akwilder.com where you can read the Bare Bones Scopes each month, Throw the Bones and discover the latest news and giveaways.

My alter ego on the Sup is Kim Falconer...

Remember, when in doubt... Raise. Your. Phantom!