Epic Fantasy from David Scidmore continues

 
Aylun, book 2, Ever-Branching Tree series
$6.99 ebook, $30.99 paper, $39 hardcover
Epic, high fantasy romance
David Scidmore
Meerdon Publishing, Oct, 2023, 1,034 pp
 

buy on Amazon

Barnes and Noble

About the book:

Megan was always good at solving puzzles. For years, she used that aptitude in the physics lab, where she worked as an assistant to her best friend, Jon, until an accident thrust them into a terrifying alternate world. Almost at once, she is abducted by the heartless tyrant Aylun, an ex-agent of the enigmatic home of all oracles, the Augury. Forced to confront an impossible prophecy that threatens her and her oldest friend, she undertakes a harrowing journey to a city lost centuries ago.

While she struggles to find answers, Jon and new friends Dellia, Garris, and Kayleen are drawn into a conflict with a dark and ancient menace that could obliterate everything and everyone they care about. As the puzzle deepens, the threats multiply, and their situation grows more desperate, Megan’s best hope to save them all and return her and Jon to their home world lies with the very tyrant who abducted her.

My review:

I have to admit, I was fascinated with the story line when I was approached for a review, and agreed, but became daunted by the hefty story. I got into the book and kept thinking my ebook version was wonky when it kept telling me how far along I wasn’t getting. Anyway, there’s definitely a mystery afoot at Delas Labs. Unfortunately, we don’t get to know more because our heroes, physicists Jon and Megan, who are experimenting with some kind of negative energy which works? or doesn’t work? by sucking them into an alternative world in which they’re either heroes or villains, depending on who finds them first. There’s a dragon, too: I love a good dragon! But it seems we get more dragon story in the first episode of the Ever-Branching Tree series called Dellia.

The adventure was definitely more intriguing from the time Jon and Megan find themselves on top of a pile of shiny treasure dragon hoard. This book, Aylun, tells Megan’s side after running from the cave and being kidnapped by a former Shou, Aylun, a protector of prophecy, who’s bent on sacrificing himself to the dragon after he’s failed a couple of missions. The story is also as much his as Megan’s.

These two young people eventually come to an understanding…and more, as they try to figure out the truth of the prophecy and what it means for their worlds.

Aylun is not as much sequel as it is companion piece, as this story unfolds during the course of Dellia, the first book, which is told from Jon’s and Dellia’s perspectives. It’s a daunting task to twine parallel stories like this, but Scidmore has created an engaging, entertaining, and lengthy romantic fantasy. Readers of stories that draw from other cultures like that of Bradley Beaulieu, would enjoy The Ever-Branching Tree series.

About the author:

Born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin, David Scidmore has held many jobs over the years, from fast-food worker to musician to electrical engineer. He now lives in Verona, Wisconsin, with his wife, Brenda. In recent times, his lifelong passion for playing keyboards and composing music has turned into a fascination with crafting literary works. His enthusiasm for weaving complex stories that stir the emotions led to his first book, Dellia. With an obsession for expanding his ability as a storyteller, he continues that tale in Aylun, the second book in the Ever-Branching Tree series. Find out more at his website.

New writing reference guide

 

Devise Your Story’s Plot

Rob Bignell

A Guidebook in the Storytelling 101 Quick Read Series

Atiswinic Press, September 2023

Kindle ebook $2.99, 64 pp

Buy on Amazon 

About the Book and series:

Storytelling 101 Quick Read Series is a group of seven short books filled with pithy, to-the-point advice useful for both beginning writers and as refreshers for seasoned writers. The others are Writing Effective Dialog, Write Your Story’s First page, and helpful marketing books on platform, reading, formatting, and website-building

When writers come up with a great story idea but don’t know how to to develop it, usually the problem is one of plotting. Understanding story structure – i.e. plot – would be extremely helpful in developing their story.

Plotting Your Story is all about understanding the basic rules for constructing your story. It examines plot’s role in storytelling, the importance of conflict in plotting, and the five traditional elements of a plot. It also looks at some common plot pitfalls. The structural guidelines outlined in the book work for any genre, whether you’re writing a serious literary piece or penning in any of the escapist genres from romance or science fiction to mystery or fantasy. By the end of this book, with a little imagination tossed in, you should be able to construct an impressive plot.

Part of the Storytelling 101 Quick Read series, Plotting Your Story answers all of your plot questions in a brief, easy to understand format. It cuts to the chase and provides practical, useful information that can be followed step-by-step.

My Review:

Rob Bignell has laid out great advice for both new and practiced writers on developing and following a plot to smooth out the storytelling process. Beginning with clarifying plot and offering examples, followed by how plot works, to creating memorable opening hooks and purposeful endings, Rob’s style makes the books in his series great reference tools. He explains not only cliches and pitfalls, but gives examples and explains why and how to keep the reader satisfied and coming back. If you want to write a sequel, there’s a better way than ending your book on a cliffhanger.

Recommended for writers who are just getting started, as well as those who like a sweet refresher now and then. The book is not genre-specific and can be used for any fiction.

 About the Author:

ROB BIGNELL is the author of more than 50 books and an established editor who has helped more than 300 authors achieve their publishing dreams. His works include hiking trail guidebooks, a novel, children's books, and poetry.