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Gortah van Murkar #1
Aspatria
After all her male relatives are killed in battle with the Eiran army, eighteen-year-old Dextra, eldest daughter of King Leofric is forced to take the throne of Aspatria in preference to her surviving bastard half-brother Cenwulf Darkwater.
Dextra accepts the need to marry a powerful prince to lead Aspatria’s fyrd into battle and secure foreign alliances.
King Gortah van Murkar brings his youngest son, Prince Eugene to Dextra's capital to arrange a match.
They are not the only ones heading to Brewchester hoping to win the hand of the Dextra of Aspatria!
Dextra accepts the need to marry a powerful prince to lead Aspatria’s fyrd into battle and secure foreign alliances.
King Gortah van Murkar brings his youngest son, Prince Eugene to Dextra's capital to arrange a match.
They are not the only ones heading to Brewchester hoping to win the hand of the Dextra of Aspatria!
542 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 6, 2016
3 people are currently reading
4 people want to read
About the author
John C. Adams
35 books102 followersI have a Postgraduate Certificate in Creative Writing from Newcastle University.
My horror novel, 'Souls for the Master', my fantasy romance novel 'Aspatria' and my fantasy and horror anthology 'The Red Dawn and Other Stories' are all on Smashwords retailers. 'Dagmar of the Northlands', the sequel to 'Aspatria', and 'Blackacre Rising', the sequel to 'Souls for the Master' are also available from Smashwords retailers.
Although I write mostly long fiction, since 2015 I have had stories published in anthologies from Horrified Press, Lycan Valley Press, Fantasia Divinity and Jersey Pines Ink. My short stories have also been published in the Horror Zine, Swords & Sorcery, Sirens Call, Blood Moon Rising, Lovecraftiana and various other magazines.
Every emerging writer needs plenty of encouragement right at the start, and entering lots of competitions early on made a real difference to my confidence to press on with writing longer fiction and think about submitting short fiction to magazines and anthologies in due course. In 2012, I was longlisted for the International Aeon Award Short Fiction Contest for 'The Visitors' and again in 2013 for 'We Can Finish Your Baby's Brain For You'. My writing was also recognised by the Enrico Charles Literary Award (runner up in 2012) and by the University of Winchester Writers' Conference in both 2012 and 2013, including a Commendation in the First Three Pages of a Novel category, and other nominations in poetry and short fiction.
I read PPE at Somerville College, and I am a non-practising solicitor. I live in rural Northumberland, UK.
My horror novel, 'Souls for the Master', my fantasy romance novel 'Aspatria' and my fantasy and horror anthology 'The Red Dawn and Other Stories' are all on Smashwords retailers. 'Dagmar of the Northlands', the sequel to 'Aspatria', and 'Blackacre Rising', the sequel to 'Souls for the Master' are also available from Smashwords retailers.
Although I write mostly long fiction, since 2015 I have had stories published in anthologies from Horrified Press, Lycan Valley Press, Fantasia Divinity and Jersey Pines Ink. My short stories have also been published in the Horror Zine, Swords & Sorcery, Sirens Call, Blood Moon Rising, Lovecraftiana and various other magazines.
Every emerging writer needs plenty of encouragement right at the start, and entering lots of competitions early on made a real difference to my confidence to press on with writing longer fiction and think about submitting short fiction to magazines and anthologies in due course. In 2012, I was longlisted for the International Aeon Award Short Fiction Contest for 'The Visitors' and again in 2013 for 'We Can Finish Your Baby's Brain For You'. My writing was also recognised by the Enrico Charles Literary Award (runner up in 2012) and by the University of Winchester Writers' Conference in both 2012 and 2013, including a Commendation in the First Three Pages of a Novel category, and other nominations in poetry and short fiction.
I read PPE at Somerville College, and I am a non-practising solicitor. I live in rural Northumberland, UK.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 28, 2021
An enjoyable fantasy adventure here. Medieval-esque world with magical elements. The battle scenes between tribal factions were really well done. Most of the tension was around the marriage prospects of the MC, a 18 year old who unexpectedly ascends to queen. Depending on your perspective this amounted to political or romantic conflict. This book is heavily populated and would benefit from a list of characters at the beginning. Worth checking out!
November 5, 2021
The Review
What an intricately plotted and massively built-out fantasy world! This was an exceptional fantasy read, blending the political intrigue and rivalries of Game of Thrones with the brutality and action of Vikings. The author did a great job of finding a balance between integrating well-known medieval-style fantasy world-building and crafting original settings and characters that make the world of Aspatria feel alive.
The vast cast of characters was a sight to behold. The evolution of main characters like Gortah and Dextra was so well-rounded and engaging as a reader to delve into, while the blend of magic and realism in this fantasy realm heightened the drama between the characters, as well as the heart-pounding action and suspense as each character’s massive arc played out.
The Verdict
A memorable, mind-bending, and emotionally-driven fantasy romance novel, author John C. Adams's novel “Aspatria” is a must-read epic fantasy. The readers will be instantly drawn in by the gritty and brutal war that opens up the novel, and be drawn in as the romance and emotions between Dextra and the men hoping to win her heart play out on the pages, creating engaging and entertaining drama that is impossible to put down.
What an intricately plotted and massively built-out fantasy world! This was an exceptional fantasy read, blending the political intrigue and rivalries of Game of Thrones with the brutality and action of Vikings. The author did a great job of finding a balance between integrating well-known medieval-style fantasy world-building and crafting original settings and characters that make the world of Aspatria feel alive.
The vast cast of characters was a sight to behold. The evolution of main characters like Gortah and Dextra was so well-rounded and engaging as a reader to delve into, while the blend of magic and realism in this fantasy realm heightened the drama between the characters, as well as the heart-pounding action and suspense as each character’s massive arc played out.
The Verdict
A memorable, mind-bending, and emotionally-driven fantasy romance novel, author John C. Adams's novel “Aspatria” is a must-read epic fantasy. The readers will be instantly drawn in by the gritty and brutal war that opens up the novel, and be drawn in as the romance and emotions between Dextra and the men hoping to win her heart play out on the pages, creating engaging and entertaining drama that is impossible to put down.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews