Hello everyone. Today is the second day of the Story Empire Team’s Something Wicked Blog Tour. I hope you will all enjoy following us for the week and seeing what we have to offer.

Today, it gives me great pleasure to host author P H Solomon, who talks about The Bow of Heart Saga. Take it away, P H >>>

Thanks to Harmony for hosting me today. It’s been a lot of fun so far on the Something Wicked Book Tour with the rest of the authors at Story Empire. Please make sure to share this post and visit the other stops this week and share those too.

The Bow of Hart Saga contains several frightening and disturbing moments. A number of those include the Bane, a creature conjured by the wizard Corgren under the leadership of Magdronu. The purpose of the Bane is to instigate a reaction with some actions and then serve as an implacable minion as Magdronu’s plans reform about events. The Bane is a shadowy figure from the start and creates a dark presence, one which seemingly feeds off of light and life. Corgren is even unsettled by the Bane and it’s lifeless aura. But this creature is not some sort of undead existence, a reanimation of something once alive. Instead, the Bane is empty, devoid of life and feeds on the world around it. No wonder it creeps out Corgren, let alone others who come in contact with it. It’s also a good thing that Magdronu ultimately controls the Bane since it could, conceivably, consume much in the world. Purpose driven by the dragon’s control is what fuels the Bane and constrains it. If Magdronu wanted more, then more would be done. But the dragon has other goals than destruction, instead thirsting for control of everything. Here’s when the Bane is first conjured in The Bow of Destiny: The wizard returned to the table and twisted the lamp-wick to a weak flame. Corgren raised his hands and spoke the incantation that brought him pain. The rosy water swirled in the gloom as lurid light glimmered from the bowl. It flared brighter and cast the cellar in a crimson glow. Pressure throbbed in Corgren’s ears and eyes as the horned head of his master formed in the rippling water, growing clearer each moment. “Ah, Corgren.” His master’s rattling growl grated on the wizard’s ears, slicing through his mind with searing pain. “Magdronu, my master.” Corgren gasped his respectful reply as his face trembled with the effort. His master’s pain was his own. “You have set the trap?” “It has been done.” “Good. Use this spell and conjure the Bane. Command it to kill anyone in the house. Do not wait; weeks have passed since our last…visit.” “But what about that ranger?” “Plans have changed. He is far away and had received the inheritance. We strike now. This will lure him back.” “I – understand.” “Here are the words.” The spell’s words rolled into Corgren’s mind. The wizard’s eyelids fluttered. Magdronu’s sending concluded. “You have the others ready?” “Yes, I have set all the plans in motion.” A pleased growl rumbled through Corgren’s skull. “I will have my ascendancy over Eloch and shed this cursed dragon’s form.” “Your rule will come with true freedom.” “I must speak to the priests in Rok. I need more tributes’ blood to hold back this curse.” A roar, and fire erupted from the dragon’s maw floating in the bloody bowl. “Eloch will pay for his false judgment. This impermanent form slips from me too soon. I must have enough sacrifice even if the mountains must run with blood if I am to defeat my enemy with my deception.” The communication spell snapped, and Corgren staggered from the painful recoil as his master departed. Relief. He gasped and swayed. Still shaking, Corgren removed one coin, adorned with deer antlers, from the bowl. Before the words faded, he spoke them, raising the blood token. The wizard repeated the words with growing effort, his voice strained as the magic taxed his strength. Darkness billowed into the room and crowded the scant light back onto its source. A brooding presence coalesced in the corner, growing more corporeal by the moment. He must speak firmly or it would consume him. Corgren groaned until he sensed magic restraint snap into place. The Bane reared in the corner, hooded and cloaked in gloom. The wizard faced the swirling shade. “Go, find the cursed knife. Kill all in the house when you find it. Leave the knife behind.” For a moment the Bane lingered, then it melted into the wall. Corgren exhaled and grabbed the desk as his knees buckled. Every threat to his master’s cause ended this night. They had won, though the world didn’t know it. “It’s all for you, Lucinda – and Lord Magdronu, the righteous.” As you can read, this is a scary figure making a sudden appearance which unnerves the dauntless Corgren. Additionally, at this point in the books, the Bane is a mysterious and menacing figure already, a creature capable of danger and totally obedient to the will of Corgren – if the wizard can control it with his will.  

About The Bow of Destiny:

Haunted by his past. Hunted in the present. Uncertain what is real. Athson suffered hallucinations ever since he was orphaned, including a dog no one else sees. The will in his possession, bestowed in a dream, can’t be real. But the trolls now hunting him are. A destiny, both inconvenient and unavoidable, drags Athson into an unwanted quest that challenges all his assumptions. Can he trust anyone? Sworn to secrecy by his dead father about the bow, Athson wants nothing to do with it. A dragon and a wizard want the bow – and Athson dead. Running from the quest and his destiny are tempting options. Then he finds something unexpected. Will his discovery destroy him before he recovers the bow?        

Find The Bow of Destiny on Amazon in e-book, audio and print.

Also in this series: An Arrow Against the Wind

The White Arrow  

About the Author

P. H. Solomon loves reading and writing fantasy of all kinds, especially epic fantasy. If a book has dragons, elves, dwarves, wizards, magic or mythical creatures, it’s in his reading zone. He lives in the greater Birmingham, AL area where he strongly dislikes yard work and sanding the deck rail. However, he performs these duties to maintain a nice home for his loved ones as well as the family’s German Shepherds. In his spare time, P. H. rides herd as a Computer Whisperer on large computers called servers (harmonica not required). Additionally, he enjoys reading, running, most sports and fantasy football. Having a degree in Anthropology, he also has a wide array of more “serious” interests in addition to working regularly to hone his writing. His first novel, The Bow of Destiny was named 2016 Book of the Year by Fantasia Reviews and is the first book of The Bow of Hart Saga. The sequel novel, An Arrow Against the Wind, was released in April of 2017. The third book of the series, The White Arrow, was released during October of 2017. P. H. Solomon also authored the award-winning short story, The Black Bag, which won best published short story at SCWC 2012. P. H. is also a member of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA).

Thanks for stopping by today. Please take time to share this post. Whether you’ve read The Bow of Hart Saga or not, please leave you reactions to this scene and the book.

Here are the rest of today’s tour stops for you:

• Craig is hosting Harmony, who is talking about what happens when your damaged ship lands on a lonely planet and the natives are not friendly.
• Joan is hosting Staci, who is talking about the Gate of the Gods.
• Mae is hosting Joan, who is talking about Playing With Fire.
• P.H. is hosting Craig, who is talking about issues he faced bringing diverse characters from different genres together in Viral Blues.
• Staci is hosting Mae, who is talking about Home Circles and Ouija Boards.