Storm of Arranon Fire and Ice

Young Adult, Science Fiction & Fantasy

By Robynn Sheahan

Publisher : Rule of Three Press

ABOUT Robynn Sheahan

Robynn Sheahan
Before I wrote, I read. Voraciously. When I wasn’t able to read, I listened to audio books on tape or CD. Still do.
Hi. My name is Robynn E Sheahan and I live and write from the Cascade Mountains of the Pacific Northwest.

I started to dabble in writing while working as  More...

Description

A dark evil rises. A world on the threshold of destruction. A crossing into a mysterious realm. The journey begins.

Newly commissioned Interceptor fighter pilot, Erynn Yager, knows sacrifice. Her battle against a brutal alien enemy intent on destroying her two worlds set her on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment, all while struggling to gain control of her secret abilities. With the alien threat crushed, Erynn believes the worst is behind her. She settles in to experience first love and a changed life on a hidden military base deep inside a glacier covered mountain on Arranon.

Her peaceful existence can’t last.

Dhoran, the evil sovereign of Arranon’s underworld has risen from the dead to possess an unwilling human. Dhoran’s powers grow while he plots a war that may plunge Arranon onto a path of destruction neither realm will survive. Arranon is pulled into chaos as violence spreads across the planet.

Drawn first in visions, Erynn enters a diverse world beneath Arranon’s surface, a realm teeming with danger, mystery, and beauty. The battle thrusts her into an uncharted kingdom, intensifying her connection to the heart and soul of the living Arranon.

Congratulations! As you were notified last week, your book, Storm of Arranon-Fire and Ice, was chosen as an Honorable Mention in the Middle-Grade/Young Adult books category of the 21st Annual Writer’s Digest Self-Published Book Awards.
 
Competition was particularly fierce this year; your accomplishment is truly impressive. All winners have been notified, and will be formally announced in the March/April 2014 issue of Writer’s Digest and on WritersDigest.com.
 
We’re extremely pleased at the quality of the winning books, and indeed, at the level of self-publishing quality evidenced by a great many of our entrants.  We wish you continued success in the publishing and marketing of your writing, and hope we’ll see you among the entrants in our 22nd annual competition.

First of all, this is a gorgeous-looking book. The production on it is really professionally done, and it definitely does not look like a lot of self-published books. Awesome choice in artwork!
What struck me right away and really set this apart from the other books in the contest is how well written it is. You drop us right into the action -- chapter after chapter -- and sprinkle in just enough details that we are SHOWN what we need to be shown so that we can experience the scenes right along with the characters, rather than being TOLD a lot of details and exposition, etc. Really well done!
As well, your verbs remain active throughout, which makes for very clear, snappy writing.
My only real criticism in terms of the writing is just a small thing -- is: Use internal, italicized thoughts sparingly. You convey a lot of Erynn's inner workings through what she's saying/doing, so I would argue that you could snip some of these. It's just something that, if you do it a lot, it can get repetitive. And you don't need all of them. Sometimes this can feel like TELLING instead of SHOWING; however, since you're so great with showing, it doesn't really come off that way. Just a thought. :)