On Tour with A Prophecy Fulfilled (The Vaelinel Trilogy #3) and Meet the Author

I just realized that, when I host any book in a Trilogy other than book 1 is not as much as a ‘buy this one’, as much as ‘wow, this series sound kick-ass, why didn’t I heard about it before, and why I’m not reading it? This one is no different. The characters and the final part of the story sound very interesting! Plus, the Author came by and gave me tons of reasons (ok, just 10) why, if we ever have such doubt, we should read paranormal/fantasy.

The story is A Prophecy Fulfilled (The Vaelinel Trilogy #3) by Andi O’Connor , an Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

Regrouping after their escape from the Light Elves, Irewen and her companions fear the worst after black smoke plumes on the horizon. Allowing compassion to rule over reason, they ignore Finnwyn’s warning and return to Lilendvelle, hoping to help some of the survivors stranded in the city’s wake. Instead, they run into a trap.

Completely surrounded by an endless army of Drulaack, they fight for their lives, but their efforts aren’t enough. Irewen is captured and dragged into the heart of the Corrupter’s lair.

Having his prize, the others in the company are granted their freedom, but at a great cost: the one named in the prophecy who is meant to unite the elf forces and stand against the Corrupter is lost to the world – trapped beneath the Corrupter’s talons.

With the aid of his mother’s spirit, Brendell must now find a way to gather an alliance strong enough to march against the Corrupter and his army, but his time is running out. Each day that passes brings Irewen closer to death.

And the world closer to destruction.
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30635665-a-prophecy-fulfilled?ac=1&from_search=true

Purchase:Amazon: https://amzn.to/2SkQcQN

Chatting with the AUTHOR

Andi O’Connor is the award-winning author of The Dragonath Chronicles, The Vaelinel Trilogy, and The Legacy of Ilvania. The Speaker is the 2018 Independent Press Award Winner for Fantasy and a Finalist in the 11th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards. Andi’s novel, Awakening, is a 2018 Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite for Fantasy. Her critically acclaimed novel, Silevethiel, is the 2015 Best Indie Book Award winner for Science Fiction/Fantasy and the 2015 New Apple Official Selection for Young Adult. Silevethiel was also named to Kirkus Reviews’ Best Books of 2013.

You can frequently find Andi as an exhibitor and guest panelist at Comic Cons throughout the country including the Rhode Island Comic Con, Awesome Con, Philcon, Conclave, and Chessiecon.

Andi came by and she game me her Top Ten Reasons why we should read Fantasy:

1. Dragons!

And elves, telepathic lions, Sea Giants, and wizards! Oh my! There are so many types of characters that you’ll meet while reading Fantasy that you wouldn’t have the opportunity to meet in other genres. And just because you read about dragons in one book doesn’t mean they’ll be the same in another. Each author puts their unique twist on familiar beings, and some create new ones unique to their worlds. It can be quite an intriguing and thrilling journey to read Fantasy because you have no idea who or what you’re about to meet.

2. New Worlds

The world building in Fantasy, particularly in Epic/High Fantasy can be a beautifully intricate and amazing journey all of its own. There is no limit to what the author can imagine and create. In my own works, Dragonath has a purple sun, and Vaelinel has Belfir trees that have pure white needles and bark. Each time you open a Fantasy book, you’re transported to a wondrous new world that readers in other genres will never get to see. You’re like Dr. Who, traveling to brilliant new worlds that those around you don’t know exist.

3. The What If Factor

One of the greatest things about Fantasy, is that even with telepathic lions and worlds with purple suns, it can be so well written and so believable that something within you asks, “What if?” What if it this world actually existed? What if some day, I could travel there and experience the glory of riding a horse through a forest of white trees or fly through the air on a dragon’s back? Fantasy can feel so real that it can seem quite inconceivable that the worlds and characters don’t exist. There are times you can put a book down and have to convince yourself that the world you just read about doesn’t exist. But what if…?

4. Escape

Leaving Earth and going to a Fantasy world is a great, and often helpful, form of escapism. We all have times where the stress or troubles in our lives gets to be too much, and we need to leave. To travel somewhere where our mind can forget about the bills that need to be paid or the pile of work waiting for us on our desk. And because many of the Fantasy worlds are vastly different from our own, reading the genre is a great way to escape Earth completely, even if just for a little while.

A few years ago, I had one reader who wrote to me to say that she was undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer. She said that the only way she managed to get through her treatments was to think of Silverden, a city of the Wood Elves that I created for Silevethiel. She pictured herself in Silverden, and for those hours while receiving chemo, she was free. So, for some, escaping might be the only reason they need for reading Fantasy.

5. Magic!

Let’s face it, Fantasy is the only genre that has magic, and it’s awesome! I mean, really, where else can you read about an elf summoning a tidal wave in the middle of a battlefield and sending it crashing down upon her enemies, causing them to drown beneath the raging waters?

Sorry, I got a bit carried away there, but still, you get my point. The use of magic opens up an entire new range of possibilities that aren’t available in other genres, and it can be a wonderous experience to see how each author uses their creativity in creating their magic system.

One of the best things about magic, is that it doesn’t have to be the overt elemental magic that so often comes to mind when we think of Fantasy. Magic can be extremely subtle. Perhaps a specific object has magic, or perhaps the world itself is magical but the people in that world don’t have the use of magic themselves.

There is truly an endless amount of possibilities for how authors can utilize magic, and discovering them is an exciting journey all of its own.

6. That Happened to Me!

Many people who’ve never picked up a Fantasy novel aren’t aware of just how relatable the genre can be. Yes, there are elves who have such incredible fighting skills that can somehow manage to kill a small army with a bow and four arrows, and sorcerers who can conjure up some of the most amazing spells to smote their enemy where he stands, but those elves and sorcerers experience some of the same things that we do throughout our lives.

Perhaps they suffer with depression or suicidal thoughts. Maybe they’re struggling with experiencing discrimination or being bullied. They may have been raped or sexually assaulted. Perhaps they’re dealing with the loss of a loved one, or are coming to terms with the knowledge that a close friend betrayed them. Maybe, despite their obvious talents, they still feel inferior, or perhaps they feel like they’re being pressured to be someone they’re not.

The characters in Fantasy, in all their weird shapes and forms, are people just like us. And we can feel a strong connection with them, which is always a good thing when reading a book.

7. There’s Always Something to Learn

Because the characters in Fantasy can be so relatable, we can learn a great deal about ourselves and our own world, many times without even realizing it. Seeing how a character deals with a situation we’ve experienced ourselves can help with our own healing or recovery. Reading about how a character is treated by others can open our eyes to how people in our society are treated, or perhaps how we’ve treated people ourselves. The Fantasy genre and its characters can affect us in many ways. We can grow and evolve, all while immersed in a world of dragons and magic. And that’s never a bad thing.

8. Creativity

Because of all the unique elements that go into a Fantasy novel, reading Fantasy can often times spark our own creativity. Artists, dancers, musicians, composers, choreographers, writers, crafters, designers, and many more, have been inspired by emotions, scenery, and characters found in Fantasy novels. But you don’t have to be one of those professions to enjoy the boost in creativity that can come from reading Fantasy. Everyone can benefit from a little creativity. Some of the greatest inventions and solutions of our time have come about because someone had the creative insight and the courage to ask, “What if…?”

9. Imagination

Along with creativity, our imaginations can work on overdrive after reading a Fantasy novel. Imagination, especially as an adult, is something that I think is frequently underappreciated. In many ways, it can be important to our mental health and serenity, and it’s something we should never throw to the side. Using our imaginations can help us find an escape when we need it most, and that is something that should be treasured, not shamed. Many times, after finishing a Fantasy novel, I’ve sat with the closed book in my lap and dreamed of my own faraway worlds and fanciful characters, relishing in the precious opportunity to travel to places only I can visit. It’s a wonderful release to let your imagination take over and enjoy some important “you time.”

10. Brings Out Your Inner Child

One of the greatest things about reading Fantasy is that it’s fun! It allows you to step outside the mundane, frustrating world of adulting and look at something with the wide-eyed wonderment of a child. Fantasy has the power to let us experience a giddiness and excitement that often times seems to abandon us as we grow older, and it can help us bring that playfulness into our every day lives. After all, finding ways to have fun while going about our dreaded and mundane activities like work, laundry, grocery shopping, work, cleaning the toilet, and I think I mentioned work, is never a bad thing. So, read some Fantasy and let your inner child break free. Who knows, maybe the next time you go to the grocery store, your wagon will transform into a ferocious dragon, and everything placed in her belly will give her the energy she needs to protect you from the surrounding angry goblins preparing to cut you down where you stand…I mean customers. 😉

For more information, visit Andi’s website at www.andioconnor.net
Links: https://twitter.com/OConnorAndi

https://andioconnor.net/

https://www.facebook.com/oconnor.andi

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6996400.Andi_O_Connor

And for more info about the book or Andi, follow the Tour. You can find the schedule here (http://xpressobooktours.com/2018/11/08/tour-sign-up-a-prophecy-fulfilled-by-andi-oconnor/).