We had the pleasure of chatting to author Scott Oden about Twilight of the Gods, which is the sequel to his fantasy novel A Gathering of Ravens. Scott chats about its its inspiration, book recommendations, and more!

Hi Scott! Can you tell us a little about yourself?

Thanks for having me!  I’m a refugee from ancient historical fiction writing who has found a new home among the diverse worlds of fantasy.  I’ve been a fan of the genre for a long while; I cut my teeth on the likes of JRR Tolkien, Robert E. Howard, Karl Edward Wagner, and David Gemmell before moving beyond the genre to sample Mary Renault, Steven Pressfield, and the inimitable Bernard Cornwell.  So, I played among the Greeks and Egyptians for a few years before returning to my first love: heroic fantasy or sword-and-sorcery.

I’m also a long-time player of tabletop role-playing games, especially classic D&D, Traveller, and an old gem from Fantasy Games Unlimited called Flashing Blades.  More recently, I’ve been very much taken in by Shawn Tomkin’s Ironsworn RPG, and by both The One Ring RPG and Robert E. Howard’s Conan: Adventures in an Age Undreamed Of from Modiphius (for which I did a small bit of writing).

Twilight of the Gods is the sequel to A Gathering of Ravens and it publishes on February 18^th. For those who haven’t picked up the first book, what can readers expect?

First, a fresh standalone tale in the vein of Robert E. Howard’s Conan mixed with the old Norse sagas.  Second, the main character is an Orc.  I don’t call him an Orc in the story, of course, as his existence predates Tolkien’s etymology.  His folk are called kaunar, and he is the last of his kind.  Lastly, it’s a bloody, epic, fast-paced story pitting the final elements of the Northern Crusades against the last bastion of paganism.  It’s full of violent, flawed characters who are thrust into the limelight — some will rise to the occasion; others will fall, and in falling, reveal their true natures.  The readers’ eyes and ears in this tale belong to a sixteen year old girl, Dísa, who wants nothing more than to be a shield-maiden like her mother — and, like her mother, she wants to die a glorious death in battle.  Grimnir, though, has other plans for her . . .

Now, if you could only use five words to describe Twilight of the Gods, what would they be?

Grim.  Violent.  Profane.  Epic.  Tragic.

Where did the inspiration for the Grimnir series come from and was it always intended to be a series, not a standalone?

I’ve always meant it to be a trilogy of standalone novels, linked (like Bernard Cornwell’s Sharpe series) by the protagonist.  Grimnir himself is a mixture of Grendel from Beowulf, Conan of Cimmeria, and two particular Orcs from The Lord of the Rings (book rather than film): Grishnákh from The Two Towers and Shagrat from The Return of the King.  The series’ conceit being: what if JRRT had found inspiration for his Orcs from a nearly identical creature in Norse myth?  And what if that creature had actually existed, even into the modern era?  What would it have been like?  Thus, Grimnir was born — a black-blooded, functionally immortal creature filled with all the hate and rage of the Old World for the New; profane, given to towering blasphemies; hated by nearly every living thing whose memory stretches back to the Elder Days . . . but who is guided by one seemingly noble principle: if he gives his word, it is as if that oath is written in stone.

A couple of centuries separate each book, allowing me to drop Grimnir into more and more unique situations as the decades pass.  A Gathering of Ravens was close to his accustomed time, at the end of the Viking Age; Twilight of the Gods pits him against an ever-changing landscape, where Christianity rules and Odin has a vested interest in engineering the “Nailed God’s” destruction; the last book in the series, which I’m currently writing, is called The Doom of Odin, and it puts Grimnir in Italy and France at the height of the Black Death — which itself has an interesting origin in my quasi-historical milieu.

The series features Norse and Celtic myth with plenty of battles and monsters so naturally there would be a lot of research involved. Can you tell us about your research process?

Back before the Internet (he says, rocking furiously in his cane-backed chair), research like this would have taken me into the nearest town, to trawl the library stacks for nuggets of information.  Now, it’s all at my fingertips.  I relied heavily on the works of Rudolf Simek (Dictionary of Northern Mythology), Patricia Monaghan, H.R. Ellis Davidson, Jackson Crawford, Jonathan Phillips (The Fourth Crusade and the Sack of Constantinople), Arthur Gilchrist Brodeur, and Professor Tolkien.  But, for all that research, I still relied heavily on imagination.  There is a trick I learned while writing straight historical fiction: when creating facts from whole cloth, create small and make sure it looks like it belongs there.  What’s called “world-building” in fantasy is merely “filling in the blanks” in historical fiction.

As for the process, I build a framework, first, and then go out and look for historical examples.  I borrow only as much detail as I think the reader might need to visualize the scene, make up what I’m missing (or borrow from a different, earlier time period), and cover any shortcomings with action and a prodigious splash of blood.

Were there any challenges you faced while writing Twilight of the Gods?

My own nature, mainly.  I had a detailed outline for a book, an outline that looked really good when told in brief, but which fell apart upon the drafting table.  The original story proved to be unworkable — if Grimnir got within arm’s length of the villain, the story was over.  So, I dithered and dallied and searched for the story I really wanted to tell.  A year went by before I hit upon the notion of having Grimnir face off against the Northern Crusade.  After that, I sketched a barebones outline and went to work.  Took a few months, but here we are.

Are there any parts of either book, whether it be a character, scene, or piece of dialogue, that you really enjoyed writing?

There’s an extended scene from Grimnir’s point of view, that’s told in the first person.  I loved writing that.  He has a unique voice, to be sure, and sometimes it’s hard to capture it.  But, when I do, it’s like magic.  Honestly, Grimnir seems more real to me in this book than he did in A Gathering of Ravens.  I think that section (Chapter 11, beginning on page 115 in the hardcover edition) really brought him to life for me.

What’s your writing process like and has it changed at all over the years?

I try to write from a hyper-detailed synopsis — one that encompasses action, dialogue, stage notes, asides to myself, character sketches, questions, and topics of research.  My first two books were written by the seat of my pants, and that did not go well.  So, now, I spend about a month hammering out what is essentially a first draft with director commentary, single-spaced and in present tense.  Because of life’s distractions, it has traditionally taken me at least a year to turn that into something to show my editor.  I’m working on limiting those distractions and getting my manuscripts down in three to four months.

What’s next for you?

The Doom of Odin, Grimnir #3; after that . . . who can say?  More Grimnir, perhaps, or maybe a jaunt back to ancient Hellas.  Or, I think I have a swashbuckling Musketeer story in me, somewhere.  I’ve done some short fiction for Cabinet Entertainment, who holds the rights to the Hyborian Age and Conan of Cimmeria (one was serialized in the back of Marvel’s Savage Sword of Conan, issues 1-12; the other was bundled with the Conan Unconquered video game), and I’d like to try my hand at a longer Conan tale.  There’s really a universe of ideas, out there.  I could go anywhere . . .

Lastly, do you have any book recommendations for our readers?

Do my own count?  No?  Ah, but I jest!  Lately, I’ve found myself enamoured of Howard Andrew Jones’s new fantasy series, beginning with For the Killing of Kings (and his Dabir and Asim tales); he has a great voice and classic style.  I keep religiously up to date with Bernard Cornwell’s Saxon Tales, with the works of John Gwynne and Christian Cameron (though I’ve only dipped my toe into the worlds written under his nom de plume, Miles Cameron), with James Wilde’s Dark Age series, and with two new-to-me writers: the eerie urban historical fantasy of T. Frohock, and the Roman mysteries of Assaph Mehr.  There’s also a cabal of writers that exists on social media.  I am in NO WAY involved with that lot.  No.  Not at all.  #NoCabal

Will you be picking up Twilight of the Gods? Tell us in the comments below!

The post Q&A: Scott Oden, Author of ‘Twilight of the Gods’ appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Norse and Celtic mythology are beautifully woven in this historical fantasy novel set in medieval Europe, where the battle between the Old and New religions are at its peak. With his masterful storytelling skills, Scott Oden spirits the reader across different legends and lore while introducing a diverse cast of characters, including Grimnir, our not-so-normal protagonist who is the last of his kind.

The book begins in Denmark where two Christians find shelter in a cave, only to find out that it is an orc’s lair who goes by the name of Grimnir. Their host quickly takes advantage of this opportunity and abducts the youngest of them to take her hostage so she can help him fulfil his quest for vengeance. Étaín is forced to guide him through England to save her own life as well as her friend’s. Transported through Yggðrasil (an ancient mythical tree) to England, she is faced with a surprising twist and in the midst of a chaotic war.

The novel’s strongest element were the characters, which were three-dimensional and complex since all of them come across as spellbinding with their intricate backstories that cling to them throughout their journey. For Grimnir, his cruel and bloodthirsty personality turns him into a unique “you love to hate him” character, but it is Étaín’s character development which is truly remarkable. She slowly evolves from cursing her gender because of the social issues women faced and still face to this day, and eventually embraces it to become a strong woman whose skills are numerous.

The relationship that birthed between Grimnir and Étaín is wonderful as Grimnir goes from being too possessive as well as mistreating his captive to becoming an ally of hers, and most of all, a friend.

Let’s talk about Grimnir for a second. He is the most intriguing protagonist I have personally read about with many names to accompany his ominous character. To the Danes, he is skraelingr; to the English, he is orcneas; to the Irish, he is fomoraig. He is also known as the Corpse-maker and Life-quencher, the Bringer of Night, the Son of the Wolf and Brother of the Serpent. Although his lust for vengeance seemed somewhat ridiculous at first, along with his barbarous and feral ways making it difficult to like him, the author makes sure you are able to understand his character so you’re eventually able to sympathize with him and understand his convoluted past.

Another stellar element is the world-building. Oden gracefully introduces the world and magnificently throws in fantasy elements from the Yggðrasil to the spirits that haunt the lands, to the witches and the many wars that take place. The author excels at capturing the atmosphere of that time, staying historically accurate and adding in his own twists and turns to keep the novel magical and lively.

The superb writing style makes the novel even better as Oden adds such detail when it comes to describing the settings and the characters’ emotions. This is especially noted during the battle and war scenes as you can almost smell and see the darkness, the hate, and the cruelty that spreads throughout such scenes.

Have we raved enough about this brilliant book? We’ll wrap it up by discussing its intriguing plot which primarily focuses on Grimnir and Étaín’s journey as the duo find themselves overcoming many obstacles that threaten to tear them apart. You’ll also meet characters such as witches, spirits, dwarves, kings and ravens in the lead up to the final confrontation between Grimnir and his enemy, and this only fuels this fantasy world even more.

Overall, this is a really well-written novel with a fantastic plot, group of characters and a magical fantasy world. A Gathering of Ravens is a must-read for historical fantasy lovers!

Have you or will you be reading the book? Tell us in the comments below!

SYNOPSIS | GOODREADS

Beowulf meets The Lord of the Rings in an epic novel of vengeance, faith and the power of myth.

To the Danes, he is skraelingr; to the English, he is orcnéas; to the Irish, he is fomoraig. He is Corpse-maker and Life-quencher, the Bringer of Night, the Son of the Wolf and Brother of the Serpent. He is Grimnir, and he is the last of his kind—the last in a long line of monsters who have plagued humanity since the Elder Days.
Drawn from his lair by a thirst for vengeance against the Dane who slew his brother, Grimnir emerges into a world that’s changed. A new faith has arisen. The Old Ways are dying, and their followers retreating into the shadows; even still, Grimnir’s vengeance cannot be denied.

Taking a young Christian hostage to be his guide, Grimnir embarks on a journey that takes him from the hinterlands of Denmark, where the wisdom of the ancient dwarves has given way to madness, to the war-torn heart of southern England, where the spirits of the land make violence on one another. And thence to the green shores of Ireland and the Viking stronghold of Dubhlinn, where his enemy awaits.

But, unless Grimnir can set aside his hatreds, his dream of retribution will come to nothing. For Dubhlinn is set to be the site of a reckoning—the Old Ways versus the New—and Grimnir, the last of his kind left to plague mankind, must choose: stand with the Christian King of Ireland and see his vengeance done or stand against him and see it slip away?

The post Review: A Gathering of Ravens by Scott Oden appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Check out our picks and tell us if you’ll be reading one of them in the comments below!

Midnight At The Bright Ideas Bookstore by Matthew J. Sullivan | June 13 | Goodreads
Lydia Smith is a clerk at the Bright Ideas bookstore where she keeps a meticulously crafted existence among her beloved books, eccentric colleagues, and the BookFrogs—the lost and lonely regulars who spend every day marauding the store’s overwhelmed shelves. But when Joey McGinty, a young, beguiling BookFrog, kills himself in the bookstore’s back room, Lydia’s life comes unglued and she must unravel the puzzle he left behind and finds herself unearthing a long-buried memory from her own violent childhood.

Roar by Cora Carmack | June 13 | Goodreads
Long ago, the ungifted pledged fealty to Aurora Pavan’s family in exchange for safe haven as their kingdom was sustained by magic capable of repelling the world’s deadliest foes. As the sole heir, Aurora’s been groomed to be the perfect queen, but she’s yet to show any trace of the magic to protect her people. To keep her secret and save her crown, she is arranged to marry a dark, brooding Stormling prince. With secrets kept by her betrothed, Aurora soon learns there’s a third option besides ruin or marriage: steal the magic, if she’s brave enough.

The Weight of Lies by Emily Carpenter | June 6 | Goodreads
Reformed party girl Meg Ashley leads a life of a privilege, thanks to a bestselling horror novel her mother wrote decades ago. Desperate to break free of her mother, Meg writes a scandalous, tell-all memoir and while digging into the past, and her mother’s cult classic, draws Meg to Bonny Island, Georgia and an unusual woman said to be the inspiration for the book. As Meg starts to ask tough questions, disturbing revelations come to light and soon, Meg’s search leads her to question the facts of a decades-old murder.

A Gathering of Ravens by Scott Oden | June 20 | Goodreads
From the Corpse-maker to the Brother of the Serpent, Grimnir has been called many names. As the last of his kind, he is the last in a long line of monsters who have plagued humanity. With a thirst for vengeance against the Dane who slew his brother, he emerges into a world that’s changed. Taking a young Christian hostage to be his guide, he embarks on a journey that takes him from the hinterlands of Denmark, where the wisdom of the ancient dwarves has given way to madness to the Viking stronghold of Dubhlinn, where his enemy awaits.

The Silent Corner by Dean Koontz | June 20 | Goodreads
“I very much need to be dead.”—These are the chilling words left behind by a man who had everything to live for but took his own life. In the aftermath, his widow, Jane Hawk, does what all her grief, fear, and fury demands: find the truth no matter what. With people of talent and accomplishment and sound of mind committing suicide in surprising numbers, Jane seeks to learn why. She soon becomes the most-wanted fugitive in America with powerful enemies protecting a secret so important they will exterminate anyone in their way.

The Black Elfstone by Terry Brooks | June 13 | Goodreads
The end of the Shannara novels are finally upon us! The Four Lands has been at peace for generations, but now a mysterious army of invaders is cutting a bloody swath across a remote region of the land and no one knows who they are. Most seem content to ignore these disturbing events but the only people who sense a greater threat and wish to uncover the truth are society’s outcasts: an exiled High Druid, a conflicted warrior, a teenage girl struggling to master a prodigious magic and a scrappy young orphan, improbably named Shea Ohmsford.

Murder Games by James Patterson and Howard Roughan | June 26 | Goodreads
A serial killer known as The Dealer is loose on the streets of Manhattan and his victims appear to be total strangers. The only clue uniting the crimes is the playing card left behind hinting at the next target. Elizabeth Needham, the gorgeous, tenacious cop in charge of the case turns to an unlikely ally—Dylan Reinhart, a handsome and brilliant professor whose book turned up in connection with the murders. The frenzy reaches a fever pitch so Dylan and Elizabeth must discover what the victims have in common before The Dealer runs through his entire deck.

Want by Cindy Pon | June 13 | Goodreads
Jason Zhou survives in a divided society where the elite use their wealth to buy longer lives. Frustrated by his city’s corruption and still grieving the loss of his mother who died as a result of it, Zhou is determined to change things. With the help of his friends, he infiltrates the lives of the wealthy in hopes of destroying the international Jin Corporation from within, yet the deeper Zhou delves into this new world, the more muddled his plans become. And against his better judgement, Zhou finds himself falling for Daiyu, the daughter of Jin Corp’s CEO.

The Alice Network by Kate Quinn | June 6 | Goodreads
1947. In the aftermath of World War II, Charlie St. Clair is pregnant, unmarried, on the verge of being thrown out of her very proper family and concerned for her cousin who disappeared during the war. Banished to Europe, she breaks free determined to find out what happened. 1915. A year into the Great War, Eve Gardiner burns to join the fight against the Germans. She’s soon recruited to work as a spy and be trained by the mesmerizing Lili, the “Queen of Spies”, who manages a vast network of secret agents right under the enemy’s nose. Thirty years later, haunted by the betrayal that tore apart the Alice Network, Eve spends her days drunk and secluded until a young woman barges in uttering a name Eve hasn’t heard in decades, and launches them both on a mission to find the truth …no matter where it leads.

Dividing Eden by Joelle Charbonneau | June 6 | Goodreads
Twins Carys and Andreus were never destined to rule Eden. With their older brother next in line to inherit the throne, the future of the kingdom was secure until the king and crown prince are killed by assassins. Now with the line of succession no longer clear, Carys and Andreus are faced with only one option: to take part in a Trial of Succession that will determine which one of them is worthy of ruling the kingdom. With their country and their hearts divided, Carys and Andreus will discover exactly what each will do to win the crown. 

Dead Certain by Adam Mitzner | June 1st | Goodreads
Ella Broden lives a double life: By day, she’s a buttoned-up attorney working gruelling cases and by night, she secretly pursues her passion for singing in the darkest clubs of Manhattan. When Charlotte announces she’s sold her first novel, Ella couldn’t be more thrilled until she gets a call that her sister’s gone missing. With the help of Detective Gabriel Velasquez, an old flame in the NYPD, she learns if art imitates life, then her sister’s novel may contain details of her real-life affairs. And any one of her lovers could be involved in her disappearance.

The Strange Case of the Alchemist’s Daughter by Theodora Goss | June 20th | Goodreads
Mary Jekyll is alone and penniless when she discovers a clue that hints Edward Hyde, her father’s former friend and a murderer, may be nearby, and there is a reward for information leading to his capture…a reward that would solve all of her immediate financial woes. But her hunt leads her to Hyde’s daughter, Diana and with the assistance of Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson, Mary continues her search for the elusive Hyde, and soon befriends more women, all of whom have been created through terrifying experimentation: Beatrice Rappaccini, Catherin Moreau, and Justine Frankenstein.

The post June Book Releases appeared first on The Nerd Daily.