Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don't forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Author’s name:
Melissa Wright
Title of book and/or series:
Queen of Iron and Blood (Shattered Realms book two) (Book 1 is FREE! Scroll to the bottom to see how to get a copy! There's also a giveaway where you can win a fun pack of survival gear!)
Brief summary of the story:
Mackenzie Scott is trapped in another realm, but that’s the least of her problems. Magic runs through her veins, and even now she can feel herself changing. Worse, Mackenzie’s not just a monster. She’s their queen.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
The dying lands exist in another realm, subsisting on the energy it reaps from Earth. It is inhabited by creatures known as Iron Bound, who subsist on that energy as well.
If we were to visit the dying lands as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
I would not recommend touring the dying lands, but if you were brought over against your will, the outer forests are lovely.
What dangers should we avoid in the dying lands?
The creatures of the dying lands are highly dangerous, but their king is especially deadly.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in the dying lands?
Every being in the dying lands relies on the realm’s energy to sustain themselves. Creatures in the dying lands do not eat—if they kill something, it’s not because they intend it as food.
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common in the dying lands?
Most weapons are fashioned from wood or stone, though much of the fighting is done by hand. Those who have the talent have been known to use the energy of the realm to destroy their foes.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to the dying lands?
The dying lands are void of technology and metals, but it is a realm flush with beasts both on land and in the air. Many of these creatures could be used for transport, but the stronger of the Iron Bound have the ability to fly.
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in the dying lands that we don’t see on Earth?
The Iron Bound are a race of chimeras, each varied and unique, though many resemble a patchwork of creatures akin to those on Earth. In addition to stealing this realm’s energy, the Iron Bound also bring over flora, which transforms into something otherworldly when exposed to the dying lands power.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in the dying lands? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.
Magic comes in the form of energy, coursing through the realm and feeding all those who dwell within. It transforms every being it touches, giving them the power to manipulate the atmosphere in small ways—like the ability to lift their own body into the air to fly.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in the dying lands as on Earth? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?
The dying lands operates on cycles, not years. And every 2,000 cycles, the gateway between realms aligns to allow the reaping: a culling of energy from Earth to recharge the dying lands.
What is the political or government structure in the dying lands? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
The dying lands is ruled by a single king, one who is powerful enough to open the gateway between realms and draw the energy through. He must protect the reaping at all costs, and he is responsible for keeping the realm’s legends in the hearts and minds of his people.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
Travel is a wonderful tool for writers, and I definitely drew on inspiration from jungle flora and rock formations I’ve seen through mine. In addition to scenery, I did try to bring the terror of being caught in a storm and the horrible aftermath of that into the inciting event of book one.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
I’m not big on purposefully adding controversial topics into my work, but there’s definitely an element of protecting our planet beneath the plot of this series. I think there’s also a theme of unity, because when the world is attacked, we are no longer this country or that. We are humans. Together.
Melissa is the author of the Frey Saga, Descendants Series, and Shattered Realms. She is currently working on the next book, but when not writing can be spotted collecting the things she loves at Goodreads and Pinterest. Contact her through the web at
www.melissa-wright.comWhere, and in what formats, can we purchase your books?
Queen of Iron and Blood is available in eBook and print.
Where can readers connect with you online?
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to the dying lands. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to another world in next week's edition of Realm Explorers!
-Annie Douglass Lima
Other Books in the Series
King of Ash and Bone (Shattered Realms #1) By Melissa Wright YA, NA Urban Fantasy, SciFi Paperback & ebook, 216 Pages February 2nd 2015
When flying monsters break through the veil into her world, Mackenzie Scott has nothing left to lose. Her brother has been taken, her future has vanished, and all that remains is a desperate need for revenge. After discovering the breach the creatures used as a gateway, Mackenzie devises a plan to stop them, whatever the cost.
When she finds an injured stranger in the street, he just might be the key she needs to succeed. What Mackenzie doesn't know is that this stranger isn't the helpless boy he appears to be. He's one of the monsters. And he's got plans of his own.
Thrown into a dying city in another realm, Mackenzie is powerless to get back. With the gateway closing, time is not on her side. But the stranger is, and if they can escape execution, this girl and her monster might be able to save both their worlds.
Tour Schedule
August 20th:
It's All About the Romance
SilverWoodSketches
An Indie Adventure
Mythical Books
August 21st:
Declarations of a Fangirl
My Life, Loves and Passion
Letters from Annie (Douglass) Lima
August 22nd:
Andi's Young Adult Books
Wishful Endings
Angel's Guilty Pleasures
August 23rd:
Reading On The Edge
Getting Your Read On
Colorimetry
August 24th:
Stacking My Book Shelves!
Nicole's Book Musings
August 25th:
Grand Finale
Tour Giveaway
1 winner will receive an awesome prize pack with "survival" gear: print copies of The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey, Angelfall by Susan Ee, and King of Ash and Bone by Melissa Wright, plus Be Your Own Hero bracelet, lip balm, compass, playing cards, emergency blanket, and other fun stuff
US only
Ends August 29th
a Rafflecopter giveaway
King of Ash and Bone (Shattered Realms #1) By Melissa Wright YA, NA Urban Fantasy, SciFi Paperback & ebook, 216 Pages February 2nd 2015 