Ian V. Conrey's Blog

Hey everyone, I just wanted to let you know that from September 4-6 the Haelend’s Ballad e-book will be free on Amazon! Be sure to spread the word to let others know!

https://www.amazon.com/Haelends-Balla...

I got to spend some time with fellow author J. Reese Bradley recently to talk about my book, inspiration, and upcoming ventures! Be sure to check out her channel on YouTube!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fll9w...

Since the release of Haelend's Ballad is about to reach its one year anniversary (Nov. 30th!), I thought I'd share some exciting updates for everyone.

First, I've had several people ask me about an audiobook and one is in the works! We are looking at a Spring 2023 release.

Also, be on the look out for a special edition hardcover coming out later in 2023! It will include colored illustrations, previously deleted chapters, a glossary, and a history timeline of both Sunder and Daecland.

Finally, I am super excited to announce that I am currently working on a short story anthology set in the Haelend's Ballad universe. It will explore some of the earlier civilizations as well as other countries surrounding Sunder and Daeclend. Be on the look out for more updates on that soon!

I am so excited to announce that Haelend’s Ballad earned the Gold Medal in the Christian - Fantasy/Sci-Fi category! You can read more about it below!

Hey everyone! With reviews, book signing tours, and contests, these past few months have been an exciting time. Now I am super excited to announce that an audiobook version of Haelend's Ballad is officially in the works! Be sure to check back on updates soon!

I've had several people ask me about posting updates on my trip to help with Ukranian refugee crisis. I figured it would be easier to upload them to one location and just share it to my social media. If you’re interested, here is the first update. Thank you all for your prayers and donations!

Got this 5-star review in from Readers’ Favorite, and I’m a little overwhelmed. I’m so thankful people are enjoying this novel. Thank you Asher Syed!

★★★★★
”The kingdoms of Daecland and Sunder and those who live within them create the landscape for the dark high fantasy novel Hælend's Ballad by Ian Conrey. The brutality of a war that splinters from a years-long occupation against the Sunderians by the Daecish. The depth of persecution and despair runs incredibly deep, the disparity between the haves and have-nots, and the system established both politically and underground are crushing to those below the upper echelons. The rise of the Silent Hither movement, initially crippled but once more growing in momentum, and the strength of its Dark Horses, are ready to fight back against all odds. “With brothers, we march this day For Theos, we shout and pray Our hearts will kindle and burn Though few of us return...” Ian Conrey has undertaken a wildly ambitious project in his steampunk-medieval fantasy tome Hælend's Ballad. The book is expertly written with really gorgeous prose and some of the most authentic dialogue I've come across in a while in the genre. It is the restraint of Conrey's pacing and the focus on characters that truly elevate the story, both the mark of an exceptionally gifted storyteller. The sheer volume of characters requires a bit of homework on the part of a reader, at least at first, to keep them straight and play connect-the-dots with plots and subplots amidst a massive amount of finely-crafted military strategy. War crimes are courageously depicted with no holds barred, but without even entering the realm of gratuitous, and action scenes leap from the page. There is also a top layer of nuanced religious tones that is applied a' la Lewis, Dekker, and Tolkien. I'm not putting Conrey in the space of these titans right now, but this is a genuine 'sit and wait' moment with the world-building that has the potential to get at least 2/3 of the way there. Very highly recommended.”

https://readersfavorite.com/book-revi...

I’m super stoked to announce that the Haelend’s Ballad Book Signing Tour for 2022 will begin on January 15th! You can check it out here. More dates will be available soon so be sure to check back regularly!

I’m super excited to announce that Haelend’s Ballad is now only $0.99 across ALL platforms, including Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Amazon, and more! Check out the home page for links and more info!

This 5-star review from Amy Wilson at Novels Alive does a wonderful job summarizing my novel. If you’re curious was to what the book is about, be sure to read:

“Within the pages of Haelend’s Ballad is a fantasy world meticulously created by author Ian Conrey. The print version weighs in at a hefty 800 pages, which certainly qualifies this to be designated a saga.

Inside this world, readers will find a hint of steampunk, a taste of history, and a solid dose of adventure. The land of Sunder has been overtaken by the Daecish, a nation of people well versed in technology. The natives of Sunder are forced to fight in Daecland’s wars with other countries, in addition to having to work in the mines.

What makes this story unique is there are multiple storylines in play, with something different in each chapter. That technique kept me awake several nights when I kept telling myself I would only read one more chapter. I had to keep reading for an update. The story also gets high marks for character development. Not only are there main characters for Sunder, but the author also includes Daecish characters to highlight their perspectives.

Amidst the conflict, there is also talk of the Day of Reckoning led by Sunder’s Bane, as described in Haelend’s Ballad. To the Sunderians, the Ballad is much like the Bible is to Christians. From a reader’s perspective, both sides of the conflict are presented. In the process, the author illustrates that sometimes life isn’t always black and white. Heroes can also be villains.

The conclusion is nothing short of sheer brilliance. Not only was it unexpected, but it provided a cohesive band linking all of the storylines. While seemingly unrelated, all of the events that happened earlier in the story led to the grand finale. Author Ian Conrey proved his imagination could create a world worth sharing with readers. Since this was his debut novel, I’m looking forward to seeing what is next.”

https://novelsalive.com/2021/12/07/5-...