Two new reviews of Blue Fire, my stand-along young-adult fantasy penned as E.C. Blake and published by Shadowpaw Press, came along within twenty-four hours of each other this week, and both were very positive! Aurealis Magazine is a long-running Australian science-fiction magazine. Writing in Issue #141, reviewer Clare Rhoden says, in part: “This novel reads …
Tag: E.C. Blake
Read Chapter 1 of FACES online!
With the July 7 release of the hardcover of my E.C. Blake novel Faces, Book 3 in The Masks of Aygrima trilogy, just around the corner, it’s time to post a little teaser. You can now read Chapter 1 online. It picks up immediately following the events at the end of Shadows. Watch this space–I’m …
Saskatchewan Book Awards jurors say nice things about Masks
The Saskatchewan Book Awards were handed out on Saturday night. My novel Masks (written as E.C. Blake) was shortlisted in two categories. Alas, I didn’t win, but at least I picked up a couple of great review quotes. Jurors for the Drs. Morris & Jacqui Shumiatcher Regina Book Award wrote: “An exciting, compelling narrative that sweeps …
Cover art and description of FACES hits online bookstores
Getting closer all the time to the July 7 release of Faces, Book 3 of my Masks of Aygrima trilogy (written as E.C. Blake) from DAW books, edited by three-time Hugo nominee Sheila Gilbert. The cover art has finally appeared in online bookstores, along with the description below. Warning: this could contain spoilers if you’re …
Masks shortlisted for two Saskatchewan Book Awards
Each year the Saskatchewan Book Awards honour the best books by Saskatchewan authors, and I’m pleased to announce that the 2015 shortlisted books include Masks, in two categories: Young Adult Literature (self-explanatory) and Regina Book Award (for the best book by a Regina author). The books are judged by out-of-province judges, and the stated criteria …
The Qwillery calls Shadows “an excellent sequel”
Reviewer Brannigan at The Qwillery (who also liked Masks) praises Shadows: “E.C. Blake provides an excellent sequel in Shadows…Blake does a great job of building on the foundations he laid in the first book when it comes to both the magical system and world building…Anyone who liked Masks needs to read this book. Fans of realistic heroines will …
Cover art reveal: FACES, Book 3 in The Masks of Aygrima
Just got this from DAW Books today: it’s the cover art for Faces, Book 3 in my Masks of Aygrima trilogy, written as E.C. Blake. It builds on the previous two covers and reveals, appropriately enough, Mara’s face for the first time. I like it a lot! How about you? Like the first two covers, …
Four stars for Shadows from Night Owl Reviews
Four stars for Shadows from Pamela Robinson at Night Owl Reviews, who, interestingly, had not read Masks–though she intends to go back and do so now! In Shadows, by E.C. Blake, I found a world filled with magic and special people. Mara Holdfast is an intriguing main character. The author weaves a journey for her that many will connect with. …
Another nice review of Masks: “a great page-turner and a fantastic start to an exciting new series”
T.E.J. Johnson gives a rousing review to Masks: “The novel is fast paced and Mara gets herself in and out of a million-tangles as she falls from a high-born Aygriman citizen, to concentration-camp prisoner to unmasked rebel…I would thoroughly recommend this novel; it is a great page-turner and a fantastic start to an exciting new …
Another satisfied Shadows reader: SciFi Chick
SciFi Chick, who loved Masks, also enjoyed Shadows: “Full of suspense, mystery, magic, and a bit of romance – the intensity builds to a climactic ending. And as before, I look forward to the next in this incredible fantasy series.” Read the whole thing.