Fantasy & Faith, by Dona Watson » Bryan Davis

Masters & Slayers, by Bryan Davis

Dona Watson — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:30:00 +0000

Masters & Slayers is Book 1 in a new adult fantasy series being written by Bryan Davis to complement Starlighter, Book 1 in his new “Dragons of Starlight” series for young adult (YA). (Starlighter was released by Zondervan March 2010. To see my 3-day review, click here: Day 1, Day 2, and Day 3. Book 2 in the YA series will be released January 2011.)

The adult Masters & Slayers novel takes place in the same universe first introduced in the YA Starlighter novel, yet each book follows different characters in the same story. Masters & Slayers focuses on Adrian Masters, an expert swordsman who resigns his position as bodyguard to the governor in order to follow an older brother through a portal to another world where humans are enslaved by dragons. Marcelle, headstrong childhood friend and tournament rival, becomes Adrian’s partner in a plan to free those who have forgotten they were captured and transported to the dragons’ world as slave laborers. Once the two heroes arrive, however, they are in for a few surprises that force them to face obstacles they never planned for.

Book 1 in the young adult series "Dragons of Starlight"

This book differs from the YA book in that it deals with more adult themes in a decidedly more complex storyline. At first it seemed odd to follow a storyline that parallels the same events in another book, yet from different viewpoint. However, before long Adrian and Marcelle’s story took a different turn and it was then that I settled into the book and the pages started flying by. Davis created an interesting set of characters with very different personalities, put them in a unique fantasy world, then packed it full of intrigue, danger and emotional turmoil to create a timeless, inspirational story that kept me turning pages far into the night. I greatly look forward to the second book in this series.

Bryan Davis and his books can be found at: http://www.daviscrossing.com

Publisher: Living Ink Books (AMG Publishers, Inc.)
Release Date: September 13, 2010
Length: 432 pages
List Price: $14.99, Trade Paperback
Preorders available from Amazon here: Masters & Slayers

Disclosure of Material Connection: At times, some of the links in my posts are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Bryan Davis Promotion for “Masters & Slayers”

Dona Watson — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:59:37 +0000

Ok, folks, just a quick post today. I thought this was too good to not pass along.

Bryan Davis is getting ready to conduct a promotional contest for his upcoming adult inspirational fantasy, Masters & Slayers. It is being conducted only on his Facebook page and you have to be a fan who “likes” this page. The prize will be an entire set of the upcoming “Children of the Bard” series.

The contest will begin once the number of fans reach 2,000, so help spread the word, ok? One easy way to do this is to click on one of the “Share and Enjoy” buttons at the bottom of this post, where you can post a link to this page on Facebook, Twitter, or several other social networks, or you can email the link from there as well.

I’ve read Masters & Slayers and it’s excellent! I will be posting a review for the book on September 6 as it hits the stores September 13. Stay tuned for that.

Meanwhile, here’s the link to his author Facebook page where you can get more details about the contest: http://www.facebook.com/BryanDavis.Fans

Starlighter, by Bryan Davis (CSFF Tour, Day 3)

Dona Watson — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:30:22 +0000

(This is Day 3 and the final day of the blog tour for Bryan Davis’ new book, Starlighter. If you missed the last two days, click here: Day 1 and Day 2.)

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I was going to put this little paragraph at the end of the post below but it’s too good to bury down there. If you want to experience more of Bryan Davis’ books, you can get two of them FREE from Amazon for Kindle. Click on the titles to go straight to the Amazon Kindle store, where you can download the books free for a limited time:
• Beyond the Reflection’s Edge
• Nightmare’s Edge

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Now, back to business. I got the chance to ask Bryan a few questions and I’m pleased to be able to let you in on our conversation. I hope you enjoy his responses as much as I did.

What led you to write this particular story?

After I wrote Echoes from the Edge for Zondervan, they wanted me to write a dragons series for them, since my other dragons books were so successful for AMG, so I asked my children if they had any ideas. One daughter, Amanda, suggested a story about a world populated by dragons that enslaves humans kidnapped from a world of humans. She also came up with the idea that two teenaged humans would go to the dragon world to try to bring the slaves home. I told Zondervan about the idea, and they loved it. I made up the details as I wrote the story, but Amanda invented the basic storyline.

How long did it take you to write Starlighter?

About three to four months. I usually take three months to write a story and then a month to polish it.

Who is your favorite character in the book? What do you like about them?

I get asked about favorite characters many times, and it’s always hard to answer, because I like so many of them. I create characters (the heroes, of course) who are appealing to me. If I had to pick one, I think I would go with Koren. There’s something special about a heroine who suffers greatly but still rises to sacrifice for others. I find her captivating. Koren is vulnerable, yet strong. She is naïve is some ways, yet filled with wisdom in others. She despises the cruelty of slavery, yet is willing to endure it for the sake of others. She is truly heroic.

I know you’ve been doing quite a few book tours over the last few years. Who has been your most memorable fan so far?

While in Dallas this year, a girl lugged a box into the bookstore and set it on my signing table. She then withdrew from that box individual shoeboxes, and in each shoebox, wrapped in tissue paper, she produced one of my books for me to sign. I signed each one carefully, making sure not to bend the cover or any pages, and she gently put each book back in place.

Who are your favorite authors?

C.S. Lewis (especially Till We Have Faces, Perelandra, and Narnia) and Harper Lee (To Kill a Mockingbird).

If you could be any character from any fantasy book, who would it be and why?

That’s a tough question, because I already feel like I live in a fantasy world. I get to do what I love, and my books are changing lives. I can’t imagine a better situation. I sat here for half an hour trying to think of a fantasy character I would like to be, but I couldn’t come up with one.

Thank you so much, Bryan for being such an active part of this blog tour.

I encourage you to check out what my fellow CSSF bloggers have to say:

Brandon Barr
Beckie Burnham
Jeff Chapman
R. L. Copple
CSFF Blog Tour
Stacey Dale
D. G. D. Davidson
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Andrea Graham
Tori Greene
Nikole Hahn
Ryan Heart
Becky Jesse
Cris Jesse
Jason Joyner
Julie
Carol Keen
Krystine Kercher
Dawn King
Leighton
Jane Maritz
Rebecca LuElla Miller
John W. Otte
Donita K. Paul
Crista Richey
SarahFlan
Chawna Schroeder
Rachel Starr Thomson
Steve Trower
Fred Warren
Phyllis Wheeler
Jill Williamson
KM Wilsher

For more information on Bryan Davis, check out his blog and website:
Author blog - http://dragonsinourmidst.blogspot.com/
Author Web site - http://www.dragonsinourmidst.com/

For more info, here’s an Amazon link: Starlighter, by Bryan Davis

I would like to thank the publisher, Zondervan, for providing a free review copy of the book.

Starlighter, by Bryan Davis (CSFF Tour, Day 2)

Dona Watson — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 13:30:36 +0000

(If you missed Day 1 of the tour, click here.)

Today I am pleased to provide an excerpt of the book, courtesy of the author. Here’s how the book begins:

Starlighter, By Bryan Davis

Chapter One

Blood match. The words echoed in Jason’s mind as he stood at his corner of the tourney ring and gripped the hilt of his sword. Like a beating drum, the announcer must have repeated that phrase a hundred times, as if the potential for bloodletting might whip the crowd into a frenzy.

Jason scanned the two-hundred-plus onlookers. Seated in the surrounding grassy amphitheater during the warmth of midday, they offered no cheers, no applause, just a low buzz signaling a rising anticipation. Jason Masters, a peasant boy, had advanced to the finals and faced the obvious favorite, Randall Prescott, son of the governor of all Mesolantrum. And with the final round came new weapons and new rules, designed to pose a fresh challenge to a young warrior’s expertise and courage.

Drawing his sword closer, Jason looked at its tip. The referee had fitted a blocking circle within a half inch of the end, ensuring that his jabs would not inflict a mortal wound. Of course, a blow to the face could rip out an eye, but such an attack would immediately disqualify the offender. No one wanted that to happen, no matter how much he disliked his opponent.

Randall paced at the opposite corner, looking smug as he slid his big feet across the grassy floor. Being the son of the governor, he had been provided with the best equipment and was trained by some of the finest swords- men in Prescott’s domain.

Yet not the finest. Jason looked up at the royal box where Governor Prescott sat. His bodyguard stood next to him, always watchful, always ready to defend the governor against attack — the best swordsman in the land, Jason’s brother Adrian Masters. From his soldier’s uniform to his polished leather boots, dark gray trousers, and flowing, long-sleeved forest green shirt, he looked very sharp, especially with the sword and belt attached to his hip. Training with him had provided Jason with all he needed to succeed this far in the tournament, but would it be enough to defeat Randall?

To read the rest of Chapter One, click here: http://www.daviscrossing.com/firstchapter/bryan_davis_starlighter.pdf

I also encourage you to check out what my fellow CSSF bloggers have to say:

For more information on Bryan Davis, check out his blog and website:
Author blog - http://dragonsinourmidst.blogspot.com/
Author Web site - http://www.dragonsinourmidst.com/

For more info, here’s an Amazon link: Starlighter, by Bryan Davis

I would like to thank the publisher, Zondervan,
for providing a free review copy of the book.

Starlighter, by Bryan Davis (CSFF Tour, Day 1)

Dona Watson — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:30:11 +0000

The book for this month’s Christian Science Fiction and Fantasy blog tour is Starlighter by Bryan Davis. Starlighter is Book 1 in Davis’ new series, “Dragons of Starlight.”

In my opinion, Starlighter is a great beginning to what will likely be an interesting and successful series for young adults. Here’s the official teaser blurb:

Jason Masters doubted the myths that told of people taken through a portal to another realm and enslaved by dragons, but when he receives a cryptic message from his missing brother, he must uncover the truth and find the portal before it’s too late. At the same time, Koren, a slave in the dragons’ realm, discovers she has a gift that could either save or help doom her people. As Jason and Koren work to rescue the enslaved humans, a mystic prophecy surrounding a black egg may make all their efforts futile.

Are you interested yet? Come back tomorrow for an excerpt of the book. Meanwhile, check out what my fellow CSSF bloggers have to say:

For more information on Bryan Davis, check out his blog and website:
Author blog – http://dragonsinourmidst.blogspot.com/
Author Web site – http://www.dragonsinourmidst.com/

For more info, here’s an Amazon link: Starlighter, by Bryan Davis

I would like to thank the publisher, Zondervan,
for providing a free review copy of the book.