Greg Howard – Author Q&A

Greg Howard

Greg Howard

Greg Howard was born and raised in the South Carolina Lowcountry where his love of stories blossomed at a young age. Originally set on becoming a songwriter, Greg followed that dream to Nashville, Tennessee, where he spent years producing the music of others before eventually returning to his childhood passion for writing stories. Greg’s critically acclaimed, debut middle-grade novel, The Whispers was nominated for an Edgar Award and is currently being adapted for film. His second middle-grade novel, Middle School’s a Drag, You Better Werk! is being adapted for television by Harry Potter producer David Heyman, Heyday Television, and NBC/Universal.

Greg writes for and about LGBTQ youth, creating the kind of books he wishes he’d had access to as a young reader. Also, the author of the young adult novel Social Intercourse, Greg’s latest middle-grade offering, The Visitors, is in stores now. When he’s not writing books, Greg enjoys traveling, reading, hiking, and spending time with friends. He lives in Nashville with his two rescued fur-babies—Molly and Riley.

Greg can be found at:
Website: www.greghowardbooks.com
Twitter: @greghowardbooks
Instagram: @greghowardbooks
Facebook: @greghowardbooks

Tell me what inspired you to write your (debut) novel?

My debut middle grade novel, The Whispers, was inspired by my mother. She and I were extremely close – I was a mama’s boy – but she died when I was very young. The Whispers was also inspired by my childhood and growing up with that grief. I escaped into my imagination quite a bit, and the main character, Riley, is somewhat trapped inside his mind since his mother went missing. I wanted to tell my story through Riley.

What came first the characters or the world?

The character of Riley is largely based on me when I was his age, so for this story, he definitely came to mind first. The world around him was pieced together by my own experiences.

How hard was it to get your first (debut) book published?

I already had an agent, so I can’t say that it was “hard” to get the book published. I was very lucky. The waiting was the hardest part. There was about a four month period of complete silence after we went out on submission. We finally started hearing back from editors and the book ended up going to auction with five publishers bidding for the rights. I spoke to the editors from those houses, but really connected with Stacey Barney at Putnam/Penguin. It helped that Penguin’s UK imprint Puffin was also very interested in publishing the book. Eighteen months later The Whispers was out in the world.

How long did it take to write?

The Whispers took about five months to hammer out a first draft. Then, my agent and I worked on it for about another month or so, fine tuning and revising. I’m lucky to have a very talented editorial agent. The book would not be what it is without her guidance.

Do you have a writing playlist? If so do you want to share it?

Sometimes I will create a playlist of music that “feels like” the story I’m writing. I did this for The Whispers and it included over 50 tracks and had a cinematic feel overall. Some of the artists on that playlist were Max Richter, Ólafur Arnalds, Chad Lawson, Celtic Woman, and David Arkenstone. I still listen to it from time to time and it puts me right back into the story.
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5CquIcStKRkivvYWmZgz7D?si=b66c015128a64d03

What kind of reactions have you had to your book?

The thing I hear the most is about readers bawling their eyes out at the end. The Whispers is first and foremost a book about hope, but it seems to pull all kinds of emotions out of readers. I promise I wasn’t trying to make people cry! Others appreciate the representation of an eleven-year-old gay boy in the book.

What’s the favourite reaction you’ve had to your book?

It wasn’t so much as reaction, but I received a video from a mother recently of her daughter reading a section of The Whispers and it made my heart smile. I had never heard a young person reading my story aloud. That was magical.

What can you tell us about your next book?

I’m writing a new middle grade novel in which a twelve-year-old boy finds a doorway to the past and attempts to alter history in order to save his family. The working title is The Travelers.

Do you take notice of online reviews?

Sparingly. I usually don’t read the negative ones because, nine times out of ten, they are not literary critiques of merit – which I don’t mind at all – but rants about how LGBTQ characters and stories don’t belong in children’s books or in schools. I don’t have the time or patience for those. Plus, it’s very emotionally draining to read them, because it’s the kids who are the real victims there, not me.

Would you ever consider writing outside your current genre?

Absolutely. I would love to write an adult queer lit mystery and I have several ideas for such stories. I will get around to it one day. But, I owe Penguin this new middle grade novel first!

What did you do before (or still do) you became a writer?

I was in the music business in Nashville, TN for over thirty years. I retired a few months ago. It’s nice to focus on writing now.

Which author(s) inspire you?

Pat Conroy is my favorite writer. I’m from the same area of the American South that he was, so his stories speak directly to my soul and his writing is just so beautiful. I’m also inspired by the works of Toni Morrison. She makes me want to be a better writer.

Which genres do you read yourself?

I mostly read adult genres – literary fiction, queer lit, mysteries, and thrillers. Depends on my mood.

What is your biggest motivator?

The young readers out there who don’t have access to books in which they can see themselves. Representation matters. It can save lives.

What will always distract you?

Great television. I devote way too much time to “my stories,” as my grandmother used to call them.

How much (if any) say do you have in your book covers?

I have some say, especially in the beginning of the process and in choosing an illustrator for the cover. The final say is out of my hands, though. I have book covers I love, and a couple I don’t.

Were you a big reader as a child?

I wouldn’t say that I was a “big” reader as a child. That came later – when I was in my early twenties and I would read anything and everything. I didn’t know to be intimidated by a 900 page book then!

What were your favourite childhood books?

I absolutely loved the Encyclopedia Brown books and the Box Car Children series. How To Eat Fried Worms was also a favorite!

Do you have a favourite bookshop? If so, which?

I’m lucky that my favorite bookshop is located in Nashville, TN, where I live. Parnassus Books was founded around eleven years ago by Karen Hayes and #1 New York Times Best Selling author, Ann Patchett. It’s going stronger than ever. The staff is amazing. The customer service is amazing. The book selection is amazing. The events are amazing. And the shop dogs – you guessed it – amazing!

What books can you not resist buying?

Anything a bookseller recommends to me while I’m shopping.

Do you have any rituals when writing?

For some reason I have to be on the sofa, on my laptop, with my dogs piled around me. And usually first thing in the morning is the best time of day for me to write, before my head gets clouded with life stresses.

How many books are in your own physical TBR pile?

I just counted nine on my end table. But that doesn’t include my audiobook wish list.

What is your current or latest read?

I recently finished Lark Ascending by Silas House. One of my favorites this year.

Any books that you’re looking forward to in the next 12 months?

The Shards by Bret Easton Ellis. I’ve never read one of his books. It’s time.

Any plans or projects in the near future you can tell us about?

A film adaption of The Whispers is in the works. It’s being produced by Peter Spears who also produced Call Me By Your Name and Academy Award winner for Best Picture, Nomadland. The screenplay is currently being written. Also, my middle grade novel Middle School’s a Drag, You Better Werk! is being adapted for television by NBC/Universal and Harry Potter and Paddington producer, David Heyman.

Finally, what inspired you to write the genre you do?

As a gay kid growing up in the American South, I didn’t have access to books about boys like me. That made me feel incredibly alone, and like I was the only boy in the world who liked other boys. One book, one story in which I could have seen myself would have made all the difference to me. It would have let me know that I wasn’t alone. It would have given me hope. And I know from talking to kids today that there still exists problems of access and representation. So, my mission is to write the kind of books that I wish I would have had when I was young. I want to give those kids hope. And I want them to have their happily-ever-afters.


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Maria Oliver – Illustrator Q&A

Once Upon a Time, You...

Once Upon a Time, You…

Maria Oliver is a Hertfordshire based yoga teacher and member of the British Wheel of Yoga. She started teaching yoga in 2015, much to her children’s disgust, and spent the next few years trying to work out how to interest them in what she did. This changed when she started her children’s yoga teacher training with Calm for Kids, and she learnt how to spark children’s imaginations through yoga.

Maria has written three collections of relaxation scripts for lively children, and one yoga adventure book which has been translated into French and Ukrainian.

Maria is married with two children and two cats.

Maria can be found here:
Website: www.boxmooryoga.co.uk
Twitter: @boxmooryoga
Instagram: @boxmooryoga
Facebook: @boxmooryoga

When did you know you wanted to become an illustrator?

I’ve always loved drawing, but as I didn’t study art and design I thought I’d shut off that part of my brain and any future opportunity to work in this area.

In 2021 I had the idea of writing a children’s yoga book and approached an illustrator called Lizzie Martell. She didn’t have the time to take the book on. However, when I shyly suggested that perhaps she could support me in illustrating the book myself, she was very encouraging and enthusiastic. She gave me tips on the best art materials to buy and helped by scanning in the pictures and ensuring that the digital files were of print quality.

How long does it typically take to make a page or cover for a book?

AGES. I draw in pencil, go over in ink and then paint with watercolours. As I draw children in yoga poses, I have to make sure that the way they are positioned is accurate so that children can copy correctly and safely. There is energy in each yoga pose, and I have to be sure that the energy comes across in the illustration. Alignment of body parts is important too! Lizzie then scans the illustrations in and we work together to make sure that the final digital file is just right.

What’s your favourite piece of art equipment?

I love my watercolour paints, even though I can best be described as ‘an enthusiastic amateur’. I paint a bit like a child has got hold of the paintbox and I have a bit of an untidy style. I think that’s why children like my illustrations.

Do you have a favourite colour scheme, if so what and why?

Purple and green. I love those two colours together. Green relates to harmony and love, purple relates to inner wisdom and intuition. Both are associated with calm.

Who were your inspirations when starting out?

Lizzie Martell was very inspirational. She illustrates greetings cards and was a winner of Theo Paphitis’ Small Business Sunday and has met him several times. She is not formally trained either, and made me believe I could illustrate my own book.

I love Axel Scheffler’s illustrations. I think we have the same cartoonish drawing style, even though he has more command of his paints! But reading his books to my children when they were small made me think ‘I could draw that too.’

Do you have another job beside being an illustrator, if so what?

I am a yoga teacher! I teach children, adults, pregnant women and new mums. I’ve always loved drawing and creative writing, but being a yoga teacher has also given me an excuse to write my yoga and relaxation books for children. The two inform each other – I have created resources that I can use in my classes and share with other yoga teachers, school teachers and parents, and the books themselves are inspired by yoga philosophy, teaching yoga, and my class members.

What do you do to overcome a creative block?

I don’t tend to get them! I have to juggle teaching my classes and organising my home and children. I find that ideas come to me and then I have to make time to carry them out. It’s very rare that I sit down to draw and write and find that I’m lacking in ideas. Normally when I finally get the opportunity to sit down, the ideas have all stacked up and are bursting to be let out.

Do you have a favourite piece in your portfolio, if so could you share it and talk about it?

It is hard to choose, but I think it has to be the flying horse and the flying foal. It is entirely about unconditional love and forgiveness.

Firstly, I wanted my books to be inclusive. The genders of the flying horse and foal are never given, and neither is their relationship. The horse could be a parent, step parent, foster parent, grandparent, teacher, aunt or uncle. They might be the sole caregiver, or there may be another caregiver in the background. I didn’t want to depict a mother or father as caregiver. Any child could look at that relationship and think ‘that’s about me’.

The foal has learnt to fly, and has flown off. The horse needs your help (as the reader) to catch them. When the foal is caught, they say they are sorry and they are instantly forgiven. In the illustration, the foal looks a little like they feel they do not deserve this unconditional love.

They know they have misbehaved and caused a lot of trouble. All children are worthy of unconditional love, no matter how much trouble they cause.

What was your first book related project?

I wrote a collection of relaxation scripts for children during Lockdown in 2020. I had to quickly adapt to teaching yoga online. I used Zoom and I also recorded YouTube videos. I learnt that I could not record myself reading someone else’s book without permission from the publisher.

Unfortunately, yoga teachers love books! We use readings at the end of yoga classes, we quote from old texts… so I wrote my own relaxation scripts and collected them together into a children’s book, ‘Red Kites, Apples and Blood Cells’, working with illustrators Ben and Steph Grandis.

What type of media do you prefer to work in and why?

Now I have discovered watercolours I love them, although I know I have a lot to learn.

Do you have a playlist you like working to? If so do you want to share it?

I am so fussy about music, that I could spend hours choosing what I listen to, so I prefer not to. I have very limited time to work and need to just sit down and get on with it.

Do you have any rituals when working?

I like to have a cup of tea. I have to be very careful not to dip my paintbrush into it.

Do you have a favourite artist outside of the world of books, if so who and why?

I love the Impressionists and have always been entranced by Monet’s Waterlily paintings. I could stand and stare and become immersed for hours. I studied English and French studies at University, and learnt a lot about Impressionism as part of my French course.

Did the books you read as a child influence your work?

In terms of story, I used to love Choose Your Own Adventure Books, and Asterix Adventure Game books, although I’d always make wrong choices and end up meeting a sticky end. In my yoga books, there are no wrong choices and they all end with a guided relaxation, like every yoga class should.

In terms of illustrators, because I loved Roald Dahl, I owned lots of books containing Quentin Blake illustrations. As a child, I really wanted to tidy up his wobbly lines, but I could also appreciate that his pictures were very skillful! I liked his detailed pictures of The Twits when their home is turned completely upside down, and The BFG when he has breakfast at Buckingham Palace, on a table using Grandfather Clocks as legs.

Has your illustration/art style changed over time?

I very much draw the way I did as a child! But I’ve moved on from colouring pencils to watercolours.

How closely do you work with the author on developing the illustrations for a book?

As I am the author, very closely indeed! I have a very clear idea about how I want the books to be laid out and how the text and images fit together. Being self-published means I have total control over the book.

If you could illustrate any classic book which would it be and why?

Oh my goodness. I don’t think I could possibly. I can only imagine the illustrations matching the text as they are already.

Which illustrated books in the last year have you loved?

Blobfish by Olaf Falafel. I buy picture books to use in children’s yoga classes and I thought this book was brilliant. It’s about loneliness and friendship, ocean conservation, littering and bad jokes. When I use it in children’s yoga classes, they all love it and laugh all the way through. The illustrations are great fun as well. And best of all, I can fit yoga poses into the story! I use revolved half moon pose for ‘litter picking pose’ if you’re interested!

If you can please tell us about your latest project and if not your last project

The first book I illustrated was ‘Once Upon a Time, You… a Yoga Adventure where you choose what happens!’ It came out in 2021, and last year I had it translated into Ukrainian and crowdfunded so that 200 copies could be printed and distributed to schools and host families around the UK.

I am now working on the sequel, called ‘Not so long ago, You…’ and now I’ve illustrated one book, I know exactly how much hard work this one will be! Both books are adventure picture books where you can choose who you fly with and where you fly. There are objects to find on each page, decisions to make, and of course lots of yoga poses!

do you have any events on in the near future?

I don’t have anything concrete planned yet, but if you go to www.boxmooryoga.co.uk I share all my news there.


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Teddy’s Midnight Adventure

Yoko Mori, trans. Cathy Hinaro. Pushkin Press. (32p) ISBN: 9781782694014
Teddy’s Midnight Adventure

Teddy’s Midnight Adventure

Received this from Immy at Bounce Marketing and I’m so glad I asked for it.

From start to finish it is entrancing, such a sweet little story about a young girl and teddy’s adventure to find his missing eye.

Such a simple little story but portrayed so well.

The palette the artist uses is simple but works with the rhythm of the story, using greyscale pencil work throughout the story with a red accent, but as they near the end of the quest the whole scene takes on a brighter tone with far more red in it.

This may be due to the cultural tradition of red being a colour of hope, strength, and peace. Also being a colour associated with scaring away evil spirits.

I love how each page is absolutely full and your eye can travel around the pictures finding lovely details and it is a beautiful story of friendship overcoming difficulties.

One of my favourite details was the bracket fungus on the tree!


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The Luminaries

Susan Dennard. Daphne Press. (288p) ISBN: 9781837840007
The Luminaries

The Luminaries

Another book I received from NetGalley at the end of last year, thinking I’d dip my toe back into Teen/YA once more.

This sees us following a secret society protecting the world from forest spirits nightmares! This intrigued me from the start and I was pulled into the world immediately.

It is also a wonderful invention that explains all the worlds different mythical creatures and why they appear at night, with each regions spirit developing their own nightmares as they grow older but all starting out with the same basic ones.

Each night sees a different branch of the family go into the forest to hunt the nightmares, one for each night and they are named after the night they hunt on, our main character is Winnie Wednesday, but she doesn’t hunt as her family are outcasts.

The story is a fast-paced and thrilling adventure with so many twists and turn going on that it is sometimes hard to follow, I’m sure there are plenty of red herrings peppering the story as I’m thinking a couple of things about possible directions for the story to go in the next books, but I bet some of those are false trails.

We have some of the usual tropes, outsider protagonist, broody handsome boy, popular beautiful girl. All used to be friends but were forced apart… this is done well though and is really lending to the feel of possibilities and false trails.

Overall a great two day read, absolutely loved the cover, watch out for ghost-deer in your travels and hope that book 2 comes sometime quickly.


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Sheila M. Averbuch – Author Q&A

Sheila M Averbuch

Sheila M Averbuch

Sheila M. Averbuch is a former journalist who’s interviewed billionaires, hackers and would-be Mars colonists. She holds a 2019 New Writers Award from the Scottish Book Trust and lives with her family near Edinburgh. The middle-grade thriller Friend Me (Scholastic Press New York) is her first novel.

Photo Credit: Rob McDougall

Shelia can be found here:
My Kidlit News newsletter comes out a few times a year and includes great recommended middle grade reads. Find that at http://bit.ly/SMAsignup
Or, find me online
Website: www.sheilamaverbuch.com
Twitter: @sheilamaverbuch
Instagram: @sheilamaverbuch
Mastodon: https://mstdn.social/@sheilamaverbuch
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sheila.averbuch
TikTok: TikTok.com/@sheilamaverbuch
YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/sheilaennclick

Tell me what inspired you to write your (debut) novel?

My son, then thirteen, scoffed at my suggestion to phone his friend to say happy birthday: he’d just text him, he said. I realised it’d be feasible for a young person to have a completely online friendship, never speaking or meeting. That, plus a horrible family experience with bullying, set my brain-wheels moving on the story that became my debut FRIEND ME: it’s about a bullied girl whose bully has a mysterious accident, and she starts to worry that her new best friend, who she only knows online, might be involved.

What came first the characters or the world?

The characters: I saw Roisin sitting alone at lunch; the most popular girl in school deciding to befriend her; and a third girl getting jealous as she watches this unfold.

How hard was it to get your first (debut) book published?

It was horrendously difficult to get published: I got 122 rejections across six manuscripts, all for middle grade. I’ll never forget the email from my agent in May 2019: “I’m thrilled to say that we have an offer from Emily Seife at Scholastic (US).” Jennifer Laughran, my superb agent at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, has been a stalwart support throughout.

How long did it take to write?

I wrote the first draft of FRIEND ME in seven months and by the ten-month mark had revised it enough for submission to publishers. My revision process is based on the workbook NOVEL METAMORPHOSIS by Darcy Pattison.

Do you have a writing playlist? If so do you want to share it?

No…I listen to river sounds via YouTube.

How many publishers turned you down?

Friend Me

Friend Me

I got 122 rejections across the six manuscripts I wrote; for FRIEND ME alone we got more than a dozen rejections. Getting published involves luck, and it’s a battle, but it’s one you can win. For me, key tools were joining SCBWI, studying plotting (mainly PLOT & STRUCTURE by James Scott Bell and SCREENPLAY by Syd Field) and revision, and researching agents via PUBLISHERS MARKETPLACE – watch for their occasional sales where for $15 you can spend a month searching their vast database of deals, agents and which editors have acquired what.

What kind of reactions have you had to your book?

Thank goodness the pro reviews were all positive (Kirkus, Publisher’s Weekly, Horn Book), and School Library Journal gave the FRIEND ME audiobook a starred review. I watch Goodreads but not too closely: I’m most tuned into what booksellers and librarians say on there, and I find it easy to ignore bad reviews that aren’t from those types of reader.

What’s the favourite reaction you’ve had to your book?

The most gratifying reactions are from young readers: one so enjoyed the story of FRIEND ME that she read the whole book aloud to her mom.

What can you tell us about your next book?

It’s another techno thriller for middle grade. This time it’s about a shy 12-year-old who dreams of changing the world with technology, but whose life gets turned upside down when her family wins a jackpot of tech and cash from a generous billionaire.

Do you take notice of online reviews?

I enlisted my best writing buddy to look at Goodreads for me at first, but once I realised that most readers, including professional reviewers, enjoyed FRIEND ME I stopped worrying about the odd negative comment. With more than 100 written reviews on Goodreads, the book is holding steady at 3.9 stars out of 5. Please drop me a review there if you do read FRIEND ME at http://bit.ly/SMAgrfm — many US libraries pull in Goodreads reviews to show patrons.

Would you ever consider writing outside your current genre?

Yes

What did you do before (or still do) you became a writer?

I’m a technology journalist by training, now a tech copywriter, and divide my day between the two kinds of writing. I sit at different desks and use different computers for each, and whenever possible, I write my fiction outside.

Which author(s) inspire you?

Hilary Mantel, Jason Reynolds, Louise Erdrich, Frances Hardinge, Jonathan Stroud, Kelly Yang, Jandy Nelson.

Which genres do you read yourself?

I love contemporary realistic middle grade and YA but secretly dream of writing historical fiction

What is your biggest motivator?

The thought of writing a book that keeps a young reader glued to the pages is my greatest motivator.

What will always distract you?

Screaming.

How much (if any) say do you have in your book covers?

Scholastic Press New York were brilliant with the FRIEND ME cover and I trusted them to come up with the concept that would work, especially because so many of their sales are direct to reader via their book fairs. The design team agreed to change the body language of one character on the cover as it wasn’t in keeping with the story. Shout out to my editor Emily Seife; the art was created by Mike Heath and the design is by Elizabeth B. Parisi and Yaffa Jaskoll.

Were you a big reader as a child?

Yes, and I was probably the only 11 year old in Massachusetts in the 1980s reading all of Enid Blyton and The Chalet School; we bought them in Ireland on our regular trips there to see my father’s family.

What were your favourite childhood books?

STUART LITTLE, ANNE OF GREEN GABLES, THE VOYAGE OF THE DAWN TREADER, THE FIVE FIND-OUTERS, THE CHALET SCHOOL.

Do you have a favourite bookshop? If so, which?

Portobello Bookshop in Edinburgh is my go-to: fantastic children’s section and super helpful staff.

What books can you not resist buying?

I’ll buy anything by Frances Hardinge or Jonathan Stroud

Do you have any rituals when writing?

I mustn’t sit at the desk where I do my day-job copywriting. I need my Pomodoro timer, and when it’s on, I won’t move away from the keyboard for anything (except screaming).

How many books are in your own physical TBR pile?

About five, all middle grade and YA.

What is your current or latest read?

I’m re-reading Frances Hardinge’s UNRAVELLER. The first read was for fun, and the second is to examine her stitching: plot clues, character introductions, scene setting and other craft details.

Any books that you’re looking forward to in the next 12 months?

I’m waiting for Torrey Maldonado’s next middle grade, out in January 2023: he also works as a schoolteacher and his middle grade voice is flawless.

Any plans or projects in the near future you can tell us about?

I’m counting the days till I go to Moniack Mhor in the Scottish Highlands in Feb 2023, where I do a yearly retreat. For me there’s no better place to think sustained thoughts, over days and nights, about my work in progress.

Any events in the near future?

I’ll probably volunteer again to offer some free school visits as part of World Read Aloud Day in February 2023, organised by Kate Messner. As well as doing a reading from FRIEND ME, the themes in the book allow me to do a cool show-and-tell with students, where they can vote on whether new robotics technology that I show them is cool or creepy.

And finally, what inspired you to write the genre you do?

I believe that, if I’m good with words, the single best thing I can do with that is write stories for young readers. Turn a young person into a reader and it can change their life. As an ex tech journalist, I finally realised, I have something unique to say about how tech is impacting childhood, and I think that (plus good luck) is what finally got me published.


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Godkiller

Hannah Kaner. HarperCollins. (304p) ISBN: 9780008521462
Godkiller

Godkiller

I’d been put off fantasy for quite a while now as the stories seemed to use all the same old tropes without exploring them or challenging them, and a lot of them just felt the same story.

So it was with some nervousness that I started reading Godkiller, but I needn’t have been nervous as this is head and shoulders the best fantasy I’ve read for years and has refreshed my interest in the genre.

A compelling cast of characters with the three main ones fleshing out nicely as the story develops, but Hannah doesn’t stint on making all the smaller characters memorable with some great traits to make them stand out from the crowd.

Wonderful world building really helped to immerse me into the storyline and get invested in what was going on with the world and characters. All the little touches like pilgrim coins, the town over the waterfall, shadow demons, and so many more for once didn’t detract from the story but gave it spice.

I absolutely loved the premise of gods feeding off the desires and wishes of people, growing from small gods, from a genius loci to a wild and unmanageable powerful god with many followers and shrines, there was a fun look at this by Terry Pratchett in Small Gods, but this is far darker than that story.

The arc of the first in the series was so satisfying with secrets coming out at just the right moments to keep you utterly invested in the story. The little twists, little hooks for further investigation in the next instalments, and the emotional development of the three main characters was so well handled.

I am so looking forward to the next in the series.

I was given a review copy of this book on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.


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