Hey people,
Jaye L. Knight’s newest novel, Samara’s Peril, has been released! I got a chance to read the book for review and to interview Jaye. And she's doing a lovely giveaway. Don't forget to check that out below.
About the Book
When news arrives that Emperor Daican has been in contact with his chief war strategist, it signals potential doom for the country of Samara. Determined to intervene, the resistance in Landale, headed by Lady Anne, embark on a covert mission in hopes of unearthing further information. However, a shocking discovery leads to complications no one could have foreseen.
Armed with their newfound knowledge, they set out for Samara to warn the king. War is inevitable, and they must face two desperate battles—one on the walls of Samara’s great stronghold, and the other on the battlefield of Jace’s heart, where victory might only be achievable through great sacrifice.
My review
Samara's Peril is excellently written as all Jaye's books are. She continues to tell a story of amazing faith through trials. But the struggles that are faced are not ignored either.
This book surprised me a lot. It went places I didn't expect it to go yet. This is the turning point of the series and certainly in Jace's life. The way Jaye went about bringing him to a place of stable faith is amazing, and there was great development of the other main characters. And even minor characters weren't dropped, but instead came up naturally. I didn't have any trouble with following what was going on.
Also there are some amazing new characters introduced. Some lovely, and others perfectly despicable. I am looking forward to seeing more of them. The King of Samara is such a contrast to Emperor Daican. A humble servant king.
There were some great interaction between Kyrin and her brothers. This book has family as a big part of it. It's lovely.
There were some great interaction between Kyrin and her brothers. This book has family as a big part of it. It's lovely.
I don't think it's my favourite so far in the series, but I did have a great big smile on my face for several days after. Though it wasn't quite what I was expecting, the first part of the book especially was amazing. Not that the second part wasn't good, it was, but sometimes I like my ideas of what could have happened better than the author's.
Samara's Peril does have some mature themes, perhaps more than the previous books, but they are dealt with very gently. There is violence, but never without a reason for it to appear. It just shows how bad evil is and the reality of war. I think that there is actually somewhat less than the previous books, despite there being more fighting. Those people who hating kissing in books, might be annoyed. There is one kiss, rather impulsive and not in detail, but a source of surprising controversy. Also there are a few non descriptive sexual references.
If you love Resistance and the King's Scrolls you should read this continuation. I wish I could say you'll love it, but there have been mixed opinions. If you haven't read them I would recommend them for about 16 up and you certainty need to begin with Resistance.
(I find it hard to write an interesting, sensible, and spoiler free review. It's hard to talk about it without going into specifics and that would give things away. Especially in this book.)
My Interview with Jaye
Me: Who was your favourite author as a child?
Jaye: My all-time favorite would have to be Jeanne Betancourt, author of the Pony Pals series. I was your typical horse crazy girl and most of the books I read were horse stories. Hers were always my favorite. Even now, I’m working on completing my collection of them because they were such a big part of my childhood.
Me: What was your favourite school subject?
Jaye: History. It was always the most enjoyable for me. I probably retained more of what I learned during our history lessons than I did from any other subject.
Me: I love history too. Learning about the past is the best way to understand the present.
What was the hardest part about writing Samara's Peril?
Jaye: Probably the intense emotion in it. It’s a very emotional and heavy book at times, and as a writer, you really try to put yourself in your characters’ heads. About the time I started the second half of the book, I went through a period of about a week and a half where I was having bad anxiety attacks and felt like Satan was really trying to sabotage the story. That was definitely the hardest part.
Me: That does sound very hard.
Do you ever cry while writing?
Not easily, but yes, sometimes. I actually cried several time while working on the death scene of a particular character in The King’s Scrolls.
Me: I can complete understand that. I'd almost be worried if you hadn't. It's the probably the saddest thing I've read of yours. (Almost because I didn't quite cry myself. Conflict is more likely to make me cry.)
Do you have any plans for books after the Ilyon Chronicles are finished?
Jaye: Too many. :P Yeah, I have quite a few projects floating around in my mind. The biggest question is always which one will be next. I think I’ve narrowed it down to one smaller project that seems to be demanding to be written. It’s a fairy tale retelling, which is something I never thought I’d get into, but the story just showed up and won’t leave me alone. After that, I have an assassin trilogy that has been on hold for several years now. Maybe it finally be time to get back at it.
Me: I love fairytale retellings.
How does the reality of being an author compare with your dreams?
Jaye: Well, it’s a lot more work than you dream it will be! A lot of the time, I’m so busy doing the work part of it that I feel like I don’t even have time to write. That can be frustrating. But, on the flip side, it is also pretty amazing. I’m still shocked when I find out about an award or get a message from a reader about how much they loved my book.
Me: I'm beginning to see how much work it is myself. Just basic life sometimes takes up a lot of time. Just writing this post took me a while. I really appreciate the time you have put into this blog tour.
About Jaye
Jaye L. Knight is an award-winning author, homeschool graduate, and shameless tea addict with a passion for Christian fantasy. Armed with an active imagination and love for adventure, Jaye weaves stories of truth, faith, and courage with the message that even in the deepest darkness, God’s love shines as a light to offer hope. She has been penning stories since the age of eight and resides in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.
About Jaye
Jaye L. Knight is an award-winning author, homeschool graduate, and shameless tea addict with a passion for Christian fantasy. Armed with an active imagination and love for adventure, Jaye weaves stories of truth, faith, and courage with the message that even in the deepest darkness, God’s love shines as a light to offer hope. She has been penning stories since the age of eight and resides in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.
She is also one of the writers I look up to the most. She started this when she was younger than I am and has shown me how hard work and dedication can bring great improvement in one's writing.
Check out the rest of the stops on the blog tour at: http://jayelknight.blogspot.com/p/samaras-peril- blog-tour.html
Share in the excitement of the release and enter to win a themed giveaway pack! Prizes include an autographed copy of Samara’s Peril, a John 3:16 necklace by FaithWearDesigns, and a green wire dragon bookmark by Wirelings! (Giveaway is open to US residents only. Cannot be shipped internationally.)
Thank you so much for having me on your blog for the tour and sharing your review! :)
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed it.
DeleteWhat a spectacular review and interview! Those were some great questions.
ReplyDeleteThanks.
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