BOOK LAUNCH & REVIEW!
Kiser, T.K. (2017). Death Dragon's Kiss:The Manakor Chronicles Book #2. Saint Pancratius Press.
Middle Grade to Young YA / Sci-Fi / Fantasy
157 pages
BLURB: Would you betray yourself for someone you love?
Carine and the princes are back in the second installment of the Manakor Chronicles: Death Dragon's Kiss.
The dragon Kavariel's continued absence from Navafort unleashes a new threat and from North Esten to the royal family, no one is safe.
Desperate for an answer, Carine, David, and Giles encounter stealthy creatures, journey deeper into Navafort, and teeter precariously at the moral edge of good magic and bad, all while shadowed by a mysterious girl from a foreign land.
But even as they band together to protect life and the kingdom, the biggest threat to everything is each other.
⚞⚟
HALL WAYS REVIEW: In this second
book in the Manakor Chronicles series, main character Carine is a little older,
but she’s still struggling with her old magical demons. She recognizes that her
magic (much like people do) has two main modes -- good and evil – and that the
gray area between is sometimes difficult to navigate. Add to that the
difficulties of being a teenager who may or may not be in love, and who has
some self-doubt and feels unworthy and even inferior at times, and you have a
believable protagonist, flaws and all. There is a large dose of teen angst this
round, but it is a great balance to the superhero factor so that readers can
enjoy realistic characters.
The book can
stand alone, but readers will miss-out on a lot of awesome back-story by not
reading The Firebrand Legacy first. Author
T.K. Kiser provides some necessary references for readers so there is never any
confusion about what’s going on – curiosity, perhaps, about what happened to
get our characters to this point – but never confusion.
I really enjoy
that despite Death Dragon’s Kiss being
set in a clearly magical and fantastical world, there is also some science at
play with the reminder that most myths are based on some fact. It’s a subtle
addition to the story line that underscores that it’s okay to ask questions and
not accept everything at face value just because others have done it that way. The story also reinforces to readers that doing the right thing is quite often not the easiest path to take and can be downright difficult. The struggles in the book are real.
As with book
one in the series, the writing continues to be excellent in Death Dragon’s Kiss. Sentences and
dialogue flow naturally and descriptions enable readers to have that “fly on
the wall” feeling of being there, right in the middle of the action. Also in
the same vein as book one, BAM! Book two has a FABULOUS ending that leaves
readers hanging and chomping at the bit for more adventures! I cannot wait for the next book in this series (check out the Bonus interview below for some news).
There is no sexual content of any kind, but
this book travels into coming-of-age range and feelings beyond the platonic are
beginning to be explored, as are bigger, more serious themes and consequences
of choices. Some scenes are intense, and death and devastation are more widely
felt. Though the first book has a younger reader appeal, Death Dragon’s Kiss moves solidly into middle grade, young-young
adult range.
Thank you to the author for providing me an
eBook copy in exchange for my honest opinion – the only kind I give.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: T.K. Kiser writes young adult fantasy adventure fiction in Greenville, South Carolina. She loves stories about quests, battles, and good’s triumph over evil because they reveal things about real life. When she isn’t writing, she’s supposed to be writing, but instead procrastinates by bothering her husband and cooking allergy-free food. Her first novel, The Firebrand Legacy, was published on December 8, 2015. Author Links:
BONUS!
QUICK FIVE QUESTIONS ANSWERED
BY THE AUTHOR!
Why did you choose to write fantasy?
I write
upper middle grade fantasy adventure, and I love it. I love writing for 10 to
14-year-olds because I really believe in people that age. This is a time when
childhood fades away; one decides who she really is, what kind of person she
wants to be. I write fantasy because the power of beauty and love in the world
is sometimes most easily explored as magic. Finally, I write adventure because
life is an adventure. A book is a chance to examine your own life by living the
most powerful moments in someone else’s for a while.
What
cultural value do you see in books and storytelling?
Books help
us learn from other’s mistakes; they help us practice empathy, putting
ourselves in someone else’s shoes; they challenge us, giving us space and time
to unpack aspects that may have disturbed or inspired us. Finally, books are
social; you can share and discuss a book. Some people think stories are for
escaping life, and there can be a time for that, but even more importantly, a
good story gives us insight into our own lives.
How does
your book relate to your life path?
I believe
that nothing in life is pointless, that in fact there is a great destiny for
each of us, if we choose to seek it. In The Manakor Chronicles, the
whole magic system depends upon a call from the Etherrealm. Everything and
everyone is made for a purpose; their fulfillment, peace, and joy depend on
being attentive to that purpose and answering the call with courage.
What
projects are you working on at the present?
I am
working on The Manakor Chronicles Book #3 (!!!) and a spin-off book about a
minor character whose story I can’t wait to share.
What’s your
favorite quote?
I love
Mother Teresa’s quote, “Do small things with great love.” A small thing, with
great love, is no small thing at all.
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