First off, I suppose I should warn you that The Blades of Acktar is my top favorite book series, so I will be doing my best to convince you to read the books and love them as I have ever since I found this series in January 2016. Because once you read them, you will love them. :) After all, who couldn't resist this amazing Christian fantasy series filled with action, assassins, a country torn with war, love, betrayal, an evil king, hostages, and heroes? Here is the link to my review of the previous book in this series, Defy. Now, let the fun begin! *trumpets sound as confetti erupts*
To start, here is Deliver's delightful cover and the book synopsis.
Can something broken ever heal?
Martyn is broken. After torturing his best friend, he doesn't belong anywhere in Acktar. No matter how far he runs, he can't lose his guilt.
Leith is broken. While healing from the torture he received at Nalgar Castle, he struggles to find his new role. But can a Blade ever outrun his past?
The country is broken. Bitterness divides town against town, neighbor against neighbor. What will it take to deliver Acktar from itself?
They face their hardest battle yet.
Peace.
~
Do you want to read it yet? Because first you have to finish reading this post, then you have to go buy the books, then you have to read the rest of the series first. So you have a lot ahead of you. :) But first let's finish this post.Here is my review of Deliver:
~
Deliver is a grand finale to the Blades
of Acktar series. Filled with action from front to back, it doesn't
let you down. Putting the book aside was like trying to hold your
breath for an exceedingly long time. While I felt that the plot was
slightly similar to some of the previous books in the series, I
thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
As with all the other books in the series, the characters were impossible not to fall in love with. They are realistic and you easily find your heart attached. You are broken-hearted when they are hurting, ecstatic when they are elated, and whole-heartedly relate to all their emotions.
I also appreciated how the characters still have struggles and flaws that are realistic. After book three, everything isn't settled, and Deliver takes care of this in a well-done manner. Friendships are restored, trust is given, family is reunited, and all the characters at last find their place in the world.
I'm not even sure how to write a review that gives this book justice. I enjoyed every page, every scene, every character, every situation. I'm sad only to see the series come to a close. :) I can't wait to read more of Tricia Mingerink's writing!
As with all the other books in the series, the characters were impossible not to fall in love with. They are realistic and you easily find your heart attached. You are broken-hearted when they are hurting, ecstatic when they are elated, and whole-heartedly relate to all their emotions.
I also appreciated how the characters still have struggles and flaws that are realistic. After book three, everything isn't settled, and Deliver takes care of this in a well-done manner. Friendships are restored, trust is given, family is reunited, and all the characters at last find their place in the world.
I'm not even sure how to write a review that gives this book justice. I enjoyed every page, every scene, every character, every situation. I'm sad only to see the series come to a close. :) I can't wait to read more of Tricia Mingerink's writing!
~
I'm sure you want to read the series now. :) I have no doubt in my mind. Below, you will now discover the promised exclusive author interview.
Hi Tricia! Thank you for joining us
here on the blog today and allowing me to ask you a few questions.
I'm so excited for the release of Deliver!
1.
To start off, I'm curious about the history of The Blades of Acktar. How long ago did you get the idea for it, and how? Was it your first
major writing project? Did you know right away that it was going to
become a series? What were your original goals in writing?
I got the idea for The Blades of Acktar
in March of 2014. I started writing Dare almost immediately after
getting the idea. I had the idea for the first three books in the
series that first month, though some of the details changed from that
first idea to the final version on paper. This wasn't near my first
major writing project. I've been writing since I learned to write.
But this series was the first one that I knew right away was
publishable, and I wrote them with publication in mind.
2. Along those lines of "in the beginning," how did you decide to self-publish? How is that working for you?
2. Along those lines of "in the beginning," how did you decide to self-publish? How is that working for you?
While I was writing Dare, I already
began researching publishing options. After writing the first three
books in the series and researching options for a year, I decided to
self-publish. I knew a number of fellow Christian fantasy writers who
were also self-published, and they helped steer me in the right
direction. I enjoy it, and right now, I don't see myself changing how
I publish my books.
3. Now I'd like to ask you about some of your favorites. :) Who are your top favorite characters in The Blades of Acktar? Also, do you have a favorite book that you've written, and why?
3. Now I'd like to ask you about some of your favorites. :) Who are your top favorite characters in The Blades of Acktar? Also, do you have a favorite book that you've written, and why?
Going for the hard questions, aren't
you! I adore all of them in their own special ways. While Leith is my
favorite character over all (ssshh...don't tell the others), Martyn
and Brandi are my favorites to write because they are so snarky. Of
the books, I have to admit that Defy is my favorite. Probably because
it was such an easy book to write.
Haha, yep. The hard questions are the best! Here's another.
Haha, yep. The hard questions are the best! Here's another.
4. What
have been some of your struggles in the writing process, and how did
you overcome them?
With writing Deliver, I struggled with
the pressure of writing a book while knowing I had fans anxious and
waiting for the book. It was a lot harder to write than the first
three books where I had no one waiting for them. It took a lot of
prayer to get my mind back in the right place and just concentrate on
writing for God.
5. Do you have any writing tips/advice that you could pass on to aspiring authors like myself?
5. Do you have any writing tips/advice that you could pass on to aspiring authors like myself?
Don't worry about pushing yourself into
publication before you're ready. Take the time to write and enjoy
where you are now. Once you are published, things change. Some of
those things are really good, and I wouldn't trade them for the
world, but publication also brings pressure and worries that you
don't have when you're unpublished. Wait until you're ready to handle
them, and enjoy the journey until then.
6. Lastly, what's next? Now that The Blades of Acktar has come to a close, do you have plans for your next novel or series?
6. Lastly, what's next? Now that The Blades of Acktar has come to a close, do you have plans for your next novel or series?
I have a few ideas, and the rest of
this year will be taken up with a lot of first draft writing. I can't
go into too many details since I don't know exactly what will be
next, but it will probably be something more fully in the fantasy
genre, it will still have Christian themes, and it still will have
lots of fun and adventure that you've come to expect from me.
Thank you so much for your time, Tricia! It
means the world to me and I'm sure my readers enjoyed this—I know I did! :)
~
Now that you, my friends, are thoroughly interested in the series and can't wait for your ordered copies of the books to arrive, let me invite you to a party in honor of Deliver's release. It's a Facebook party on April 28. Be sure to stop by for live character chats and more!
I suppose I shouldn't keep you any longer since you'll want to go read the books. I hope you enjoyed my excitement and the interview. Let me know how you like the series! :)
