Villain Interview with Ramses--Author A.K. Taylor

Ramses

Tell us a little bit about yourself. What motivates you?

Ramses: I am an immortal entity called a Pharaoh, kind of like an angel, but many times more powerful and much stronger, but I am a dark equivalent called a Dark Pharaoh. Kind of like demons are to angels. I was created within a Good (also known as a Light) Pharaoh by a similar name which I destroyed from within and took over his body when he was 300 years old.

Physically I am 6’8 and I weigh 400 pounds without armor. For now I am wearing a 200 pound suit of armor that covers all of me including my face. I am extremely strong and very powerful. I have a very short temper. I have a very muscular physique, but I am also very agile, and I am not at all stupid. I am also very proud.  ‘The Setting Sun’ is just one of my many aliases and titles I go by; all of them are associated with my dark nature and solace of the shadows. I also enjoy and have a talent with creating weapons and armor of power and metallurgy and a little crystallurgy. I have a vast knowledge of power and talismans.

My motivations—hmmm. I aspire to conquer, dominate, and destroy. I want to rule the heavens and the entire cosmos with steel and an iron fist for all eternity. I seek all manner of power to be infinitely omnipotent. I hope to overthrow The Most High and take his place as ruler. In addition I will claim Neiko as my queen, and she will rule at my side whether she comes willingly or not (and I doubt she will).  If she doesn’t I will have to imprison her and force her to marry me. It doesn’t really matter me, and this will make it more interesting which I will enjoy. I claimed her to be mine while I was in the process of destroying my good counterpart. I did promise him I would take very good care of her before I ended his existence for eternity. Needless to say he didn’t like it very much, but there wasn’t anything he could do to stop me, and he can’t now either since he is forever extinguished! I do have a penchant for wealth— especially precious medals and gems.

Who are your heroes?

Ramses: I have no heroes. All are beneath me, and none of them deserve my adoration. If I must choose one, then I would choose: me. Although, I do have a tiny regard for Osiris Ten Scars—why else would I choose to pretend to be his son? Well, they do have some things I am looking for, but things haven’t gone according to plan…

What is your favorite food?

Ramses: I love a 96-oz steak—medium to medium rare—with all the trimmings and desert and sometimes I like to throw in a rack of ribs and maybe some ham and chicken. I am a big person, so I have a matching appetite, and I have a very high metabolism and sometimes go long periods without eating. I am not human after all.

How old are you?

Ramses: I am much older than the cosmos. My age is incomprehensible to the mortal mind. I am roughly 7 googolplexes (that’s what the Earth humans call it) old—three hundred years younger than my good counterpart would have been if I didn’t take over his body and destroy him.

What is your greatest strength?

Ramses: My physical strength and power are as equally as strong. One day I hope to become omnipotent! My rage makes me even stronger.

Do you have a weakness?

Ramses: No mortal or mortal weapons can destroy me. They may injure me temporarily with great force, but they can’t kill me. Only an immortal can kill me, but it is still difficult. They must pierce my heart and shatter my heartstone which contains my soul, essence, and life force. Even still it’s not easy and requires great physical strength. Imagine trying to shatter a diamond with a sword.

Star Wars or Star Trek?

Ramses: I know a little about Earth culture watching Neiko over all these eons and keeping up with her interests. I would say Star Wars, and my favorite character is Darth Sideous. He reminds me much of myself, except at a much, much weaker scale than I. He and I share the same ambitions to rule and acquire power. And, no, I am not a disheveled old man. One day all will see my face!

Wow, do not mess with this guy! But DO read his book!

The Indians and the Crackedskulls are locked in the turmoil of war and presently in a stalemate. Her enemies, Raven and Bloodhawk, have come up with a scheme to up the ante and break the stalemate into their favor. Neiko later finds out that a land she thought she had only imagined is actually real and contains a legendary and otherworldly evil within it. Not only that, she becomes trapped there and must escape the world, the people within it, and the sinister evil within. 

Neiko must find her way back home and turn the tables on her enemies. Can she come back home and escape the evil that seeks to claim her?

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About the Author

 A.K. Taylor grew up in the backwoods of Georgia where she learned about nature. She enjoys hunting and fishing, beekeeping, gardening, archery, shooting, hiking, and has various collections. She also has interest in music, Native American history and heritage, Egyptian history, and the natural sciences. A.K. Taylor has been writing and drawing since the age of 16. A.K. Taylor has graduated from the University of Georgia with a biology degree, and she shares an interest in herpetology with her husband.

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Review: Return of the Crown by Millie Burns

**My general disclaimer before all reviews: Take a look at my 

REVIEW PAGE

to understand how my reviews work, and the general rubric I use. I give very honest reviews, and while I'm not New York Times critic harsh, I do try to keep it real.**

Return of the Crown by Millie Burns

 Ravyn’s parents are trapped in a magic mirror; her evil Aunt Zelera seized the crown, unleashing the Darkness to ravage the land of Aigerach. Now…the witch wants her dead.

What’s a girl green in the ways of magic going to do?
She’ll bring the Light back to Aigerach and return the crown to its rightful place on her father’s brow or she’ll die trying.
Anxious and alone, sixteen year-old Princess Ravyn sets out on a quest fraught with danger. Armed with nothing but her newfound ability to manipulate the Light, a travel pack of supplies, a snippet of courage and the clothes on her back she sets out to eradicate the Darkness.
A beacon of hope in a dreary world, she draws others to her like a moth to a flame. Connor, a Master of the Light, aims to steer Ravyn clear of the pitfalls of magic. Blade, her best friend from childhood helps her escape Zelera’s clutches. But has he stolen her heart? Ravyn meets many colorful characters along the way – dragons, and harpies, and unicorns. Oh my! Be they friend or foe?
Empress Zelera harries Ravyn’s every step, laying deadly obstacles and traps at every turn. Ravyn can stumble, she may even fall, but if she doesn’t get back up her world will never be the same again.
In this classic heroes journey magic is not always the cure for what ails you. Ravyn may be naïve, but this spirited girl never claimed to be perfect, besides she’s Aigerach’s only hope.

My Review

Click the picture for Amazon link

My Rating: 6/10

Cleanliness: 5/5

The Return of the Crown was an enjoyable read that took me back to my childhood in many ways. This is written for younger audiences, I assume, just by the tone and content in the story. It is fast-paced, and definitely never boring! You've got elves and sharks, unicorns, and harpies, and all kinds of magical creatures in this storyline. It follows a young girl, a Princess named Ravyn, as she goes on a quest to reclaim her kingdom, save her parents, and overthrow her tyrannical aunt Zelera. 

Admittedly, I was a little put off by the writing style at first. It's probably because I'm not used to reading things meant for younger audiences, but the fact that Zelera cackles and literally muses her hands, and then shrieks in anger at the top of a battlement was a little pungently adolescent for me. What's funny is that I knew from the get-go this author has a fantastic vocabulary. I felt like taking notes on some of these words she used. Lots of variety! The downside to that is the author might have used just a bit too many adjectives and adverbs for the characters. It reminded me of teenage boys who wear too much Axe deodorant. A little goes a long way!

And on the topic of descriptions, some of them were, I think, unintentionally funny. Like the fact that evil Zelera's essence reeked of sulfur whenever she used her magic. Like...a fart? It made me giggle.

But as I went along, I got used to the somewhat outrageous and dramatic style of the story, and I settled in and was able to gobble it up in one evening. Zelera started to make an impression on me--there was just something hilarious about how overly dramatic she was all the time. She threw things at walls and tortured servants just because. And the best part, seriously made me laugh out loud sometimes, was the fact that she had trapped the former king and queen in a mirror, and she kind of monologued at them most of the time. It was delightfully loony.

Part of the reason this score is a 6 and not a 7 is because I found some grammatical errors. Also, she head-hopped. Head hopping is a big no-no for me! It's something that we authors all have to learn to control, and in this case, there was just too much of it. She went from one character to another without any real organization or form, and it made it difficult to follow. (I find THIS ARTICLE to be a good description of what head-hopping is and why not to do it.) I was not a fan of the cliches and modern word usage, either. Phrases like, "more than one way to skin a cat," along with words like, "adrenaline," and "rappel," just don't fit very well in Fantasy books.

That said, I found that along with Ms. Burns' excellent vocabulary, she had some truly lovely descriptions sprinkled into this work. For example, as two characters wait by the sea before the MC must leave her friend behind, Burns described it so: "The waves rolled in and out, taking time with them." I re-read that a few times because I liked it so much.

SO, in conclusion, I think this was a fun, quickly-paced book that is appropriate and indeed, FUN for young audiences. I felt it lacked a certain depth and nuance (again, lots of overly dramatic character actions and descriptions), and that could just be attributed to personal taste. But I would DEFINITELY recommend it to the younger set, and it would be a lively, engaging novel for parents and their children to read out loud to one another. This could very well inspire little dreamers to read more and delve deeper into the literary world.

About the Author

 Millie Burns lives in Orangevale, CA with her husband and three lovely daughters. Along with a severe infatuation of the written word, Millie enjoys a multitude of other activities. You might find her out climbing a rock, hiking the backwoods, or clinging to the end of a rope being dragged behind a boat.

You can find her at www.returnofthecrown.com

Villain Interview with Moho--Author Tara Fairfield

Ka Moho Ali’i

Tell us a little bit about yourself. What motivates you?

I was born to rule the seas, and the time will come when a crown sits on my head causing everyone in Moku-ola to recognize my power. Tessa, our recently crowned queen, will choose me as her king, or suffer the consequences, and if my brother interferes, he will find out once and for all the true extent of my abilities. I live to fulfill my destiny.

Who are your heroes?

No greater predators exist than my sharks and the greatest of them all is Nikko, my closest ally and friend. Strong, ruthless, dominant, he exudes the qualities of a triumphant hero. 

What is your favorite food?

Squid, it’s speed make it a worthy prey.

How old are you?

A ruler is timeless and never reveals his true age.

What is your greatest strength?

My control over all sharks living in the ocean will always be my greatest strength.  We exist as one and none can refuse my call, bound to serve and follow my every command.  They share my desires, goals and emotions, my sharks are more than servants, they are my true family. What greater strength could a king have than the most ruthless predators in the ocean at his command?

Do you have a weakness?

No. Why would you even ask me such a thing? Do you doubt my power?

Star Wars or Star Trek?

Huh? I care nothing for what happens above the surface. I didn’t realize you were a surface dweller….this interview is over.

Villain Interview with Julian McNabb--Author Maren Dille

Julian McNabb

Tell us a little bit about yourself. What motivates you? 
I run the most successful haunted cemetery in Georgia. We ghosts take scaring humans very seriously. It’s a real moneymaker in Deadworld. I’m motivated by ambition, my need to succeed. That guy across the street, the one who died in the fifties? He’ll never get his cemetery’s ticket sales profitable like mine. He’s got a softspot for real losers.

Who are your heroes? 
I would’ve said Attila the Hun, that was until I met him. That man’s a real creeper. Now? Jesse James.

What is your favorite food? 
Oh, that I could eat. It’s one of the things I hate about being a ghost.

How old are you? 
 Come, ladies, it’s the 1920’s. A young man doesn’t disclose that kind of information.

What is your greatest strength? 
My intelligence—no, my handsomeness—no, my craftiness. Ah, I don’t know. A tie, perhaps, between how smart I am to use my good looks the way I do?
  Do you have a weakness?  
(loud laughter). Next question?
 
Star Wars or Star Trek?
Are those Jules Verne’s novels? 

Villian Interview with Mark Campbell "Master"--Author Patricia Lynne

Mark Campbell "Master"

Tell us a little bit about yourself. What motivates you? 
What is there to know? My mother shipped me off to one boarding school after another in an attempt to keep me away from my father. She never liked him, and even at a young age, I knew the marriage was all about image. Whatever. She had no passion like Father. He taught me everything I know. Told me that great men don’t let fate guide them. They grab fate by the throat and make it deliver their destiny. That’s what I’m doing. I will not sit idly by and let the world mold me. I will mold it and everything I want will be mine.

Who are your heroes? 
My father. He was a great man. A brilliant scientist capable of changing the world if not for his untimely death.


What is your favorite food? 
Caviar. Mother forced it upon me when I was a child, but it grew on me.

How old are you? 

Why does my age matter? Age is but a number. It’s knowledge that matters the most.

What is your greatest strength? 

My intelligence and cunning. The average person underestimates the importance of both.

Do you have a weakness? 

No. *Glares*

Star Wars or Star Trek?
*Lip curls* Star Trek, of course.

Villain Interivew with Tamlin--Author Eileen Sharp

Tamlin

Tell us a little bit about yourself. What motivates you? 
 I knew before anyone else that the Unspeller would destroy magic. If I do not defend magic, then Tuatha will lose all its power. Who would want that? You should join my cause. 

Who are your heroes? 
 Anyone who cares about magic. 

What is your favorite food?
  Licorice. It’s very tasty. 

How old are you? 
 About 90 years. 

What is your greatest strength? 
 I can see the future. 

Do you have a weakness? 
 I am blind. 

Star Wars or Star Trek?
  Who?