Mark Schynert
If you like high fantasy, urban fantasy, or alternate-time-line stories, and you have a Kindle, check out Blade’s Edge at the Kindle store. My friend Mark Schynert wrote and self-published this.
It’s been a while since I’ve read it, but I remember some of the ingredients vividly:
- A compelling schizophrenic street-person hero
- Strong women characters
- An enchanted knife that is, well, let’s say soooo not Excalibur
- A convincing villain with a point of view you can understand, even if you don’t share it
- Mark’s dry-as-a-good-martini wit
- An interesting magical system
Mark is one of those irritating people who knows a lot about a lot. Whether it’s the military tactics or the visioning of how technology would develop in an alternate timeline, the world-building is detailed without being obtrusive—and yes, he has military tech and magic in the same book.
I really enjoyed this when I read it. I don’t have a Kindle yet, but if you do, I think the cost is about $3.00—half of what you would pay for a less original fantasy work bound in paper. Yes, Mark’s a friend, and this is not a “review.” It’s just a suggestion. I think you’ll enjoy Blade’s Edge as much as I did.
(PS–It’s the one with the simple gray cover with a dagger; not the live-model cover with the young woman who looks like she’s playing the violin.)
You’ve been a blogging fiend as of late; I’m jealous.
The triumph of quantity over quality, I think. September seemed like a very light month, without a lot of comments on books, so I’m trying to get caught up. I’ve been mulling over your posting about “traditional” fantasy and how bland it’s starting to seem. That’s interesting.
I Posted That??? I need to go read my blog; I didn’t think I’d posted anything in a long time!