Saturday, February 17, 2018

Tree of Bone and Mist By: Melissa E. Beckwith




Tree of Bone and Mist

The Sword of Rhiannon Series
By: Melissa E. Beckwith

The cover of this book is totally awesome, and it goes along with the book exceedingly well. I can totally see the characters on the cover, just as I imagined them. And the two fit perfectly together.

However, I did want to mention something I discovered on Amazon with the listing of this book. It has asterisks and has stated that this book has been previously published as: “The Empress of Ventra.” Therefore, I wanted to put that in here, as a heads up.

Rhiannon Kossi is the main character in this book, and she feels that she has been lied to all through her childhood. Why does she feel this way? Because she is suffering from these nightmares, that keep calling to her, and wanting her attention.

Rhiannon was living on a nice secluded cattle ranch in Montana, where she dealt with the nightmarish memories of wonder.

Until one day she gets forced into a new World where violence forces her to fight to survive. Nothing like she expected, she is forced to discover truths about herself, and try to survive.

Through the discovery of prophecy, legends and worlds and truths, Rhiannon even manages to find forbidden love, as she discovers herself along the way. 

Rhiannon is forced to learn rights and wrongs, and see the light of day through passageways, wants, desires, needs, survival, and discovery.

The descriptions of the World, the people, the life, the needs, and everything throughout this book was just so powerful, it was like you are right there. And the characters are just so unique, not the everyday characters. I like that the elven characters are seemingly a more specific kind, that makes them unique from any other.

This book was truly a five-star enjoyable read. I loved every minute of it, through and through. It was fascinating clear to the end! Definitely an enjoyable read!

Here are my questions for Melissa:

1. What made you write this book and how long did it take you?
Well, unbelievably this story started as a dream I had a long time ago…maybe 15 years ago.  I started to think about the dream a little more and then it just started to grew into this huge plot with characters I could see in my head.  I had to get out.

2. Do you have any photos or descriptions of the characters?
Well, as a race, the Archigos have always looked to me like Native American warriors.  Flath is Suen so he’s of fair skin with blonde hair—his mismatched eyes just came to me one day.  I’ve always thought women of color were incredibly beautiful and graceful so the Forest Folk, or elven race, have characteristics of people of color.  It was important to have diversity in my books.  I’m so sick of the default, standard white people in fantasy books.

3. Did you put yourself into any of the characters?
As writers, I think we all do to some extent.  I guess the character I most closely identify with is Rhiannon.  Who wouldn’t want to be whisked away from their boring, mundane life into another world full of mystery and wonder only to find out you’re an empress?

4. Which one of the characters is your favorite?
Wow, that’s hard to answer.  I love Tim, he’s so brave and innocent.  But I have a soft spot for Shih ‘Ni—who shows up in book two.

5. What are you working on now?
The third book in the Sword of Rhiannon series (Sword of Stone) is going through the final edits and will be going live next week.  I’m about a third of the way done with the final book in the series, but a few weeks ago a started on something totally new.  I’m hoping it will turn into a trilogy, but I’m not sure yet.  I’m going to try my writing skills and imagination on a science fiction romance.  I’m kind of excited about it.  If all goes well, I will be publishing the whole trilogy in the fall or maybe early winter.  I’ve also got a dystopian sci-fi that I started for last years NaNoWriMo that I want to finish and an idea for a historical fiction novel set in the 1800s in the American west.  I know, I’m all over the place.

6. Did you plan on becoming an author when you grew up?
I have wanted to be a writer even before I learned how to read and write.  I used to “write” picture books at the age of 4.  I always knew I’d be an author and I’d tell anyone who would listen.

7. What do you like most about being an writer?
I love creating worlds and people.  My characters are actual people to me…I know, that probably sounds weird but I like to think that Rhiannon, Kyia, Flath and Shih ‘Ni are living in some alternate universe somewhere.

8. What are your hobbies?
My husband and love camping.  I take every opportunity I can to be out in nature.  I love the quiet, serene landscape of our beautiful planet.  Someday I will become a world traveler.  I’m also a taphophile.  I know, most people have no idea what that is.  I visit old cemeteries and photograph the graves.  I find it relaxing and I day dream about how these people’s lives must have been.  What their personalities were like.  I’m also very interested in history and absolutely love art. I don’t know if these are hobbies, per se, but I love animals, I’m an environmentalist, a feminist and mental health advocate.

9. Does writing ever over take you and insist on being the center of your life?
Absolutely.  When I’m in the middle of writing a book, I will spend most of my time getting it written and done.  Cooking and house cleaning are not in my vocabulary during this time.  Luckily my kids are grown and I my day job is writing so I have the luxury to do that.

10. What do you think of Amazon deleting reviews?
Well I heard someone say that it’s Amazon’s sad box so they can make up the rules.  The cast a very large net to catch scammers and unfortunately, we get caught in it too, sometimes.  I know I’ve had one or two disappear for no reason.  Reviews are surprisingly hard to get so when they disappear it feels like someone suck the air out of the room but I’m afraid that’s just part of doing business with the giant that is Amazon.

11. What is your upmost favorite book of all time?
Even with the lack of notable female characters I still think The Lord of the Rings books are some of the greatest books written.  I am a sucker for sweet prose and Tolkien’s words are like honey!

12. Share with us your book and social media links:

Facebook:
@MelissaEBeckwith-Author

Twitter:
@M_E_Beckwith

Instagram:
Author_Melissa_E_Beckwith


Tree of Bone and Mist: The Sword of Rhiannon: Book One
Amazon

Goodreads

War of the Gypsy: The Sword of Rhiannon: Book Two
Amazon

Goodreads


13. Anything extra to add?
Look for book three in The Sword of Rhiannon series out shortly.  Sword of Stone: The Sword of Rhiannon: Book Three

After book four is out I plan on putting all four books in a set and going wide, so look for that on all platforms in winter 2018.

You can keep up with me on my website.  I post updates, sneak peaks and have a tone of my poems and short stories up there:

You can also join my Street Team and get my e-books for FREE if you join my facebook group here:

Thank you so much for taking the time to interview me!  Have a wonderful day.  😊
Tree of Bone and Mist (Sword of Rhiannon # 1)Tree of Bone and Mist by Melissa E. Beckwith
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The cover of this book is totally awesome, and it goes along with the book exceedingly well. I can totally see the characters on the cover, just as I imagined them. And the two fit perfectly together.

However, I did want to mention something I discovered on Amazon with the listing of this book. It has asterisks and has stated that this book has been previously published as: “The Empress of Ventra.” Therefore, I wanted to put that in here, as a heads up.

Rhiannon Kossi is the main character in this book, and she feels that she has been lied to all through her childhood. Why does she feel this way? Because she is suffering from these nightmares, that keep calling to her, and wanting her attention.

Rhiannon was living on a nice secluded cattle ranch in Montana, where she dealt with the nightmarish memories of wonder.

Until one day she gets forced into a new World where violence forces her to fight to survive. Nothing like she expected, she is forced to discover truths about herself, and try to survive.

Through the discovery of prophecy, legends and worlds and truths, Rhiannon even manages to find forbidden love, as she discovers herself along the way.

Rhiannon is forced to learn rights and wrongs, and see the light of day through passageways, wants, desires, needs, survival, and discovery.

The descriptions of the World, the people, the life, the needs, and everything throughout this book was just so powerful, it was like you are right there. And the characters are just so unique, not the everyday characters. I like that the elven characters are seemingly a more specific kind, that makes them unique from any other.

This book was truly a five-star enjoyable read. I loved every minute of it, through and through. It was fascinating clear to the end! Definitely an enjoyable read!



View all my reviews

 

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