announcement, Blog Tour, book release, book reviews, fantasy, Guest Post

A Visit from Diana Wallace Peach, and an Exciting New Release.

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Today, I am honoured to be a part of Diana Wallace Peach’s blog tour. She is stopping by to tell us about the book she has recently released. It’s called The Necromancer’s Daughter, but I’ll let Diana tell you about it.

Take a seat and help yourself to a biscuit while I pour you some coffee.

Isn’t this a beautiful cover?

Now you’re comfortable, I’ll hand you over to Diana.

Thanks for having me over to your blog, Viv. I’m delighted to share a thought or two about The Necromancer’s Daughter, and in this case, the challenges of crafting “good” characters.

My latest book has a couple of virtuous characters, different from my usual mixed bag of flawed souls. I think characters with flaws, inner conflicts, and ambivalence are easier to write because they’re inherently more interesting and often more active as they go around messing things up.

So, what did I do for my characters who aren’t emotionally compromised or moral wrecks?

Barus, my necromancer who starts off the book, is one of the sweetest people around. He’s led by his heart, and though that gets him into some dicey situations, his main challenge is simply to stay alive.

Fortunately for this writer, he fades into the background early on when Aster, the necromancer’s daughter, takes the forefront. She’s more of a challenge since she has to carry the story to the end.

She’s also “good,” and in her case, it’s that quality that creates danger for her and ambivalence for other characters. Her sweet nature gets her into trouble more than it saves her.

One way to make life miserable for our nice characters like Aster is to give them lose-lose choices. (Writers are ruthless, aren’t we?) And that’s exactly what I do to my poor heroine. She is constantly having to choose between two bad options, and that creates a lot of inner turmoil while also testing her convictions. By the end, she just might discover that there are worse choices than death.

Something about the story

A healer and dabbler in the dark arts of life and death, Barus is as gnarled as an ancient tree. Forgotten in the chaos of the dying queen’s chamber, he spirits away her stillborn infant, and in a hovel at the meadow’s edge, he breathes life into the wisp of a child. He names her Aster for the lea’s white flowers. Raised as his daughter, she learns to heal death.

Then the day arrives when the widowed king, his own life nearing its end, defies the Red Order’s warning. He summons the necromancer’s daughter, his only heir, and for his boldness, he falls to an assassin’s blade.

While Barus hides from the Order’s soldiers, Aster leads their masters beyond the wall into the Forest of Silvern Cats, a land of dragons and barbarian tribes. She seeks her mother’s people, the powerful rulers of Blackrock, uncertain whether she will find sanctuary or face a gallows’ noose.

Unprepared for a world rife with danger, a world divided by those who practice magic and those who hunt them, she must choose whether to trust the one man offering her aid, the one man most likely to betray her—her enemy’s son.

A healer with the talent to unravel death, a child reborn, a father lusting for vengeance, and a son torn between justice, faith, and love. Caught in a chase spanning kingdoms, each must decide the nature of good and evil, the lengths they will go to survive, and what they are willing to lose.

My Review of The Necromancer’s Daughter.

OVERVIEW:

This book is a definite page turner. I loved it all the way through and although I couldn’t put it down, I definitely didn’t want to get to the end.

The cover is beautiful.

CHARACTERS

Fantastic characters. D. Wallace Peach has brought us amazing people. They seem real as they have failings as well as good points. They struggle with knowing what is right and wrong amid conflicting views.

Aster has the ability to resurrect the dead. Is it evil to do so? She does not think so. Some think the Blessed One alone should have this right of who lives and who dies, and to go against her wishes is evil. But can Aster stand by and allow a death she could prevent? If the Blessed One did not want the dead person to be revived, surely she would not allow it?

Facing danger in the Forest of Silver Cats, Jorah questions his whole life. He has promised to help Aster get to Blackrock, against everything he has been taught to believe—that necromancy is evil and necromancers should be put to death. He is conflicted as to why he agreed to do so. His concerns trouble him throughout the book.

<p>Teko is a simple man. One whom the ‘civilised’ people consider to be a barbarian, but he is a loyal protector of Aster.

Finally, there is Barus. He is a man with a crooked spine. A truly good person. He resurrected Aster after she was stillborn and brought her up as his own daughter. He is a wonderful man whom I find difficult to forget. </p>

WRITING

The writing is amazing. This is one of the few books I’ve read recently that I have not had to get my metaphorical red pen out to correct errors.

D. Wallace Peach has a wonderful way with words. Her descriptions are beautiful, and I love her metaphores and similes. She takes you into the world of magic, dragons and kingdoms at odds with each other and makes you believe in it.

If you are a fantasy fan, I would recommend you go and buy it now.

Here’s a bit about Diana.

A long-time reader, best-selling author D. Wallace Peach started writing later in life when years of working in business surrendered to a full-time indulgence in the imaginative world of books. She was instantly hooked.

In addition to fantasy books, Peach’s publishing career includes participation in various anthologies featuring short stories, flash fiction, and poetry. She’s an avid supporter of the arts in her local community, organizing and publishing annual anthologies of Oregon prose, poetry, and photography.

Peach lives in a log cabin amongst the tall evergreens and emerald moss of Oregon’s rainforest with her husband, two owls, a horde of bats, and the occasional family of coyotes.

You can buy The Necromancer’s Daughter by clicking here or on the cover of the book.

Discover more from Dragons Rule OK. V.M.Sang (author)

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107 thoughts on “A Visit from Diana Wallace Peach, and an Exciting New Release.”

  2. I have been fighting a cold and supposedly went to bed early last night but couldn’t put down The Necromancer’s Daughter until 11:30pm when I finally forced myself to hang on at a point I could somewhat imagine enduring the wait for more of the story. I’m beyond Chapter 40 now…
    A favorite writing moment from CH. 29, “…climbed toward her. He pulled her to her feet, and they ducked as the dragon skidded onto the slope, breeding a squall that engulfed them in blinding white.”

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    2. I’m sorry that you’re feeling crappy, Sheri. You should have been sleeping! You’re getting close to the end though. I hope you get some downtime to rest this weekend… and perhaps plow on toward the end. Hehe. Thanks so much for stopping by Viv’s and for the lovely comment. I hope your cold is very short-lived. Hugs.

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    2. Thanks for stopping by at Viv’s, Andrea. It was a little intimidating at the beginning when thinking about morally good characters and how to make them active and interesting. In truth, acting on one’s convictions can be grueling and dangerous. We see that in the news every day. I love figuring this stuff out when writing. Have a wonderful day, my friend. Happy Writing!

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      2. Yes, the plight of so many whistleblowers is proof of how ‘dangerous’ acting with integrity can be. :/ I admit I feared that Barus and Aster would suffer the same fate. So glad they didn’t. 😀

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    1. Thank you, Martha. Viv’s review was wonderful and I’m having a great time hanging out with her followers. And thank you for your amazing review too. Huge hugs for that. Have a beautiful day!

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  8. Congratulations to Diana on another stellar review! I found her discussion of the challenges of crafting virtuous characters very apropos to what I’m working on now. I had to change one virtuous character to emotionally compromised.

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    2. What an interesting comment, Liz. You have me intrgued by your WIP. It’s definitely a challenge, and I struggled with it too. With Aster, I added an element of naivete, bad decisions with good intentions, good decisions that went poorly, lose-lose choices, and the sheer frustration of the characters around her with her convictions. And her final sacrifice. Isn’t writing fun? Enjoy!

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      1. Yes, writing it fun! I spend a very enjoyable morning reading articles sent to me by the Sheldon Historical Society. I knew that the building where much of the novel is set was heated with a coal furnace, but I didn’t know that someone had to get up during the night to stoke it, or it would go out. One more little detail to make my basically good guy even more grumpy!

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  9. I loved Aster’s character because of her strong moral code. Even in the direst of circumstances, she couldn’t turn away from her beliefs- that’s her superpower for readers, we admire her and want to be her!

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    2. I love your comment, Jacquie, because I wondered at times if she wouldn’t bend. How many of us are strong enough to risk death for our convictions? Those people exist, of course, but most of us are never tested to that extent. I’m so glad you liked Aster. She was wonderful and challenging to write. Hugs.

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    2. Oh, Cindy, you’re so lovely to catch up on the tour and stop by Viv’s. She’s been a wonderful host, and it’s been a blast hanging out at her site. What a gorgeous review too. Have a peaceful and relaxing autumn day. Hugs.

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        2. That’s so good to hear, Viv. I was hoping to help make those connections. Those bloggers who host and visit tours are often the most active supporters of this community. Great people to know all the way around. 🙂

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    2. So great to see your name show up, Debby. You’re a trouper! Wasn’t it a wonderful review? I’m so grateful to Viv for taking the time to really think about the characters and story. What more could an author ask for. Huge hugs, my friend.

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    1. I enjoyed the way Viv structured the review too, Balroop. I was interesting as well as valuable to read her thoughts on the characters in particular. I’ve loved hanging out today and chatting with her followers. Thanks for the visit and the kind comment! Hugs. ❤ ❤

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  14. Another wonderful stop on Diana’s tour. Thank you, Viv, for hosting! I loved both Barus and Aster in the story and can verify that Diana didn’t hesitate to throw lose-lose situations at both of them! Great story!

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    1. Thanks so much for the wonderful visit, Jan. I’m thrilled to be with Viv today and loved her review. It was fun sharing a bit about crafting these characters, something different that I needed to think through. Have a wonderful week, my friend.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by Viv’s, Jacqui. My flawed characters are easy because they make flawed choices. But Aster would always try to be good, and I didn’t want her to become a Mary Sue. So her “good” choices had to have terrible risks and often terrible results. It was interesting to figure out. Happy Writing, my friend. 😀

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    1. Thanks for the lovely comment, Colleen. I fall in love with my heroic characters, and they stick with me long after I finish a book. They’re real to me, alive in the aether. I’m delighted to be hanging around Viv’s today and appreciate your visit. Hugs, my friend. ❤

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  21. Thank you so much for hosting me today, Viv, and for the wonderful review. I owe that wonderful lack of a “metaphorical red pen” to my beta readers and editor. No matter how hard I try, there are always errors until those angels get ahold of the thing. I’m delighted that you enjoyed the characters. It was fun to talk a little about my struggle to make them interesting. I look forward to spending the day with you! Hugs.

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    1. It’s an honour to have you visit, Diana. I really loved the book. I think it’s one I’ll re-read several times.
      I would also like to thank you for the wonderful review you gave Jealousy of a Viking.

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      1. Thank YOU, and I was delighted to share your book! I really hope that readers are enjoying the reviews on my site before they hop over. Nothing would make me happier than having my hosts’ books show up in a bunch of kindles. ❤ ❤ ❤

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  22. Pingback: The Necromancer’s Daughter Book Tour: Day 11 | Myths of the Mirror

    2. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the story, Jaye. What a treat. And thanks for stopping by Viv’s to read her review. I love how she shared feedback on the characters. They’re the core of the story, so I was delighted. Have a wonderful day and Happy Reading!

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