Project and content management for Contemporary Authors volumes
WORK TITLE: Savage
WORK NOTES:
PSEUDONYM(S): Ashley Nicole Conway
BIRTHDATE:
WEBSITE: https://www.authornicoleconway.com/
CITY: Valdosta
STATE: GA
COUNTRY: United States
NATIONALITY: American
RESEARCHER NOTES:
PERSONAL
Married; children: one son.
EDUCATION:Auburn University, B.A.
ADDRESS
CAREER
Writer, illustrator, and novelist.
AVOCATIONS:Hiking, camping, running.
MEMBER:Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.
WRITINGS
SIDELIGHTS
Nicole Conway is a writer and novelist from northern Alabama. She earned a B.A. in English from Auburn University. On the Nicole Conway website, she stated that she has been interested in writing since childhood, and “to be able to do it as a full time career is something I take as a great blessing and honor.”
In an interview with David Njoku on the website Read Free.ly, Conway commented on the enthusiasm she feels when she hears from her young readers. “When a child tells me that they love my book, it just makes me want to cry. I’m writing this series for them. Don’t get me wrong, I love hearing that adults like my book and give it good reviews. But hearing a child tell me they like it, and seeing how excited they are, just gives me so much joy,” she told Njoku.
Fledgling
Fledgling, the first book in Conway’s “Dragonrider Chronicles” series, is also her debut novel, a young adult work geared toward readers from fourth to ninth grade. Jaevid Broadfeather, the fifteen-year-old protagonist of the novel, has grown up with hardship as a refugee during wartime. He is additionally burdened by his mixed heritage of half gray elf and half human. Halfbreeds like him are scorned and discriminated against in his society. When his mother dies, she names a local man as his father, but even though the man has to take Jaevid in, the boy still has little hope for his future.
A chance encounter with a wild dragon changes Jaevid’s life forever. While searching for food, he hears a disturbance in a nearby building. When he looks inside, he sees an incredible sight: a dragon, accompanied by dragonrider Sile Derrick. Derrick tells Jaevid that this particular wild dragon has been difficult to tame since it hasn’t chosen a rider and no one has been able to force it to submit. To Jaevid and Derrik’s astonishment, the dragon calms down and responds to Jaevid, choosing him as rider.
From this point, Jaevid is accepted into the Blybrig Academy, an exclusive school for dragonriders. Derrick takes him on as his mentor and works to teach him what he needs to know to be a dragonrider. Though entry into the academy is usually only for the wealthy, Jaevid is accepted because of his special bond with his dragon. Soon, the physical demands of training aren’t the only things he has to worry about. When Derrik is kidnapped in the middle of the night by the king’s private guards, none of the other riders are willing to get involved. Jaevid sets out on his own, with his dragon, to save Derrik and learn why the older man was taken away. “Nicole Conway shows great promise as a writer and I cannot wait to see how she grows with each book,” commented a reviewer on the website Roecker Reviews.
Other books in the “Dragonrider Chronicles” series include Avian, Traitor, and Immortal.
Savage
Conway’s followup to the “Dragonrider Chronicles” is the “Dragonrider Legacy” series. Savage is the first book in the this series. The series is set some forty years after Jaevid Broadfeather ended a devastating war and brought peace to the elven realm of Luntharda and the human area of Maldobar.
It centers on another young boy, Fifteen-year-old Reigh, who is also an outcast. He is a human who has grown up in even society, and he has never managed to gain acceptance from the elves who live around him. He works with Kiran, his adopted father, as a healer to the elves, but even that isn’t enough to let him feel like he belongs. Reigh knows that he carries within himself a mysterious power that he can’t understand and which Kiran tells him to keep hidden. As Reigh grows older and matures, however, it becomes more difficult to conceal his abilities.
Elsewhere in the world, the world of Maldobar is under a threat from mysterious enemies. The elven people of Luntharda have refused to help, and attempts to raise Jaevid from his divine sleep have proven ineffective. Suddenly thrust into the conflict, Reigh must learn about his power and determine if he can rise to the levels of heroism needed to resolve the conflict. “A fantasy novel that will have readers wanting more by the time it ends, this is a worthy series opener,” commented a writer in Kirkus Reviews.
Harbinger is the second “Dragonrider Chronicles” book,
Mad Magic
Mad Magic is a standalone novel by Conway. Josie Barton is a high school student whose is haunted by invisible creatures that cause her constant problems wherever she goes. This is bad enough for her, but when she meets Zeph Clemmont, her across-the-hall neighbor, she discovers that he has it even worse. He is a changeling under a curse that could mean his death. Josie and Zeph team up to resolve both their problems, little knowing that their search for relief will bring them into conflict with a vicious and powerful villain from the realm of faerie.
In an interview on the website Two Chicks on Books, Conway stated: “When I first started developing the story, I wanted to reinvent the world of faeries and magic in a way that I hadn’t seen before, but still harkened back to the traditional lore and stories we all know. The end result was a wild and suspenseful ride not even I had anticipated!”
A reviewer on the website Book Briefs called Mad Magic a “beautifully dark and rich Young Adult fantasy.”
BIOCRIT
PERIODICALS
Kirkus Reviews, September 1, 2017, review of Savage.
ONLINE
Book Briefs, https://www.bookbriefs.net/ (January 4, 2018), review of Mad Magic.
Book Lover’s Life blog, http://bookloverslife.blogspot.com/ (August 14, 2014), review of Fledgling.
Dreamy Addictions blog, https://dreamyaddictions.wordpress.com/ (November 30, 2017), review of Mad Magic.
J.R.’s Book Reviews blog, https://jrsbookreviews.wordpress.com/ (May 4, 2016), review of Fledgling.
Literary Juice blog, http://literaryjuice.blogspot.com/ (November 21, 2013), “Q&A with Nicole Conway, Author of The Dragonrider Chronicles.”
Mouth of Justice and Popcorn blog, http://justiceandpopcorn.blogspot.com/ (November 19, 2015), review of Fledgling.
Nicole Conway website, http://www.authornicoleconway.com (June 3, 2018).
Port Jericho, http://www.aislynndmerricksson.com/ (October 7, 2017), review of Savage.
Read Free.ly, http://www.indieauthorland.com/ (December 2, 2013), David Njoku, “Interview with Nicole Conway, Author of Fledgling.“
Roecker Reviews, http://roeckerreviews.blogspot.com/ (March 12, 2016), review of Fledgling.
Two Chicks on Books, http://www.twochicksonbooks.com/ (January 3, 2018), interview with Nicole Conway.
About Me
My name is Ashley "Nicole" Conway. I'm originally from North Alabama and attended Auburn University where I earned a BA in English with a concentration in Classics & Mythology. I'm happily married and have one son, Ethan. I also have a cat, Mr. Darcy, and a dog named Phoebe.
Writing has been a passion of mine since childhood, and to be able to do it as a full time career is something I take as a great blessing and honor. My heart is in children's literature, specifically middle-grade and young adult fantasy. I'm best known for my MG/YA fantasy series THE DRAGONRIDER CHRONICLES, which is published by Month9Books. The second series, THE DRAGONRIDER LEGACY, just launched this fall!
My other works in include MAD MAGIC (2017), THE DISTANCE BETWEEN STARS (2017), SCALES (tbd), and SHATTERBEAST (tbd).
I am represented by Fran Black of Literary Counsel.
Interview with Nicole Conway, author of Fledgling
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By David Njoku / December 2, 2013 / Children, Fantasy / No Comments
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Jaevid Broadfeather is a 15-year old boy who has endured a lot of torment and discrimination because of his mixed racial heritage. He yearns for acceptance, and finally begins to find it in the most unlikely place–Blybrig Academy for Dragonriders. But when Jaevid begins his first year of training as a fledgling dragonrider, he has no idea that he is part of a conspiracy that will rock the very foundations of the kingdom.
What genre is this?
Children’s Fiction & Fantasy, Middle Grade Fiction & Fantasy.
FLEDGLING will appeal primarily to children from 4th – 9th grade, but it has also gotten a lot of interest from young adults and adults.
When a child tells me that they love my book, it just makes me want to cry. I’m writing this series for them. Don’t get me wrong, I love hearing that adults like my book and give it good reviews. But hearing a child tell me they like it, and seeing how excited they are, just gives me so much joy.
It brings How To Train Your Dragon to our mind. What should we be comparing it with?
Harry Potter.
Ah, in that case, tell us about Jaevid.
From the beginning, readers get the sense that Jaevid Broadfeather is a timid, quiet, and completely submissive boy. He’s afraid, and with good reason. But as he begins training to become a dragonrider, and embarks on an unexpected adventure with new friends, Jaevid slowly starts to come into his own. He starts to become braver and more eager to protect the ones he cares about, which may prove to ultimately be his undoing.
Harry has his sidekicks; who accompanies Jaevid on his adventures?
Felix Farrow is Jaevid’s best friend and partner in training. He’s older, stronger, and a little too confident for his own good. He also tends to be a little bit of a flirt, and loves getting attention from girls who will flatter him almost as much as he loves playing pranks on Jaevid. He’s the son of a powerful duke, born to privilege and power, but seems to resent that part of his life. Felix dismisses the issue of Jaevid’s mixed race immediately, and remains unflinchingly loyal to him.
Have you written any other books that we should read next?
Dervyshire Park, though it is of a completely different genre.
Tell us a bit about yourself.
I was born and raised in North Alabama, and was definitely a “nerd” growing up. I was obsessed with shojo books, anime, Lord of the Rings, and Jane Austen to the point that I probably needed a professional intervention. I still have a lot of passions, but I’ve always loved writing the most. I finished writing my first 700-page novel in the 6th grade. I don’t think my inner child ever grew up at all, because I still enjoy kids books and movies as much as I did then.
I met my husband in college and it was definitely love at first sight. He’s a very dedicated, hard-working man and has been my inspiration to push harder towards my dreams. We love doing outdoorsy things together like hiking and camping, and recently we have started running 5K’s. We have two cats, Love Nugget and Mr. Darcy, and a dog named Phoebe.
I earned a bachelor’s degree in English at Auburn University, but have never actually gotten to “use” it. I do hope to teach English and Latin someday, but that’s bound to be a long way off for me. Before then, I hope to attend graduate school and publish as many books as I can.
Do you have a website where we can keep up with your work?
http://anconway422.wix.com/anconway
How can we follow you on Twitter and/or Facebook?
You can follow me on Twitter at @ANConway or find The
Dragonrider Chronicles page on Facebook!
How easily do new storylines come to you? If we give you four random words – Man, Woman, Airport, Darkness – can you give us a brief storyline?
A man storms into the women’s restroom where a woman is calmly reapplying her eyeshadow after a grueling 9-hour haul from Chicago. She’s so tired that, at first, she doesn’t even find it odd that suddenly there is a handsome, dark-haired young man staring at her reflection in the mirror.
Then he lunges at her. She screams and tries to fend him off, but he drags her into a stall as the bathroom explodes with the sound of snarling monsters. Oh no! She’s just been caught up in a battle between the Prince of Nox, a shadowmancer who can manipulate the darkness and bend it to his will, and an alliance of rebellious ancient beasts that are determined to destroy him before he can claim his throne.
Wow, that was a bit of a twist!
Yes… you could say these things come to me easily. It helps to be a little bit crazy. I’m pretty sure I am the only one at the gym thinking about the specifics of dragon saddles while I’m on the treadmill.
What is next for you?
The sequel to FLEDGLING is set for release this summer. It’s titled AVIAN, and has been so much fun to work on.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2018
Blog Tour: MAD MAGIC by Nicole Conway An Interview & Giveaway!
Hey everyone! I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the blog tour for MAD MAGIC by Nicole Conway! I loved this book and I adore Nicole so I'm super excited to be on this tour!
I have an interview with Nicole to share with you today! And make sure to enter the giveaway below!
Haven't heard of MAD MAGIC? Check it out!
Title: MAD MAGIC
Author: Nicole Conway
Pub. Date: November 14, 2017
Publisher: Month9Books
Pages: 300
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, iBooks, TBD
Mad Magic is a beautifully dark and rich Young Adult fantasy from Nicole Conway, bestselling author of the Dragonrider Chronicles.
Josie Barton is a high school student living in terror. Invisible creatures torment her everywhere she goes, constantly getting her into trouble at school, and even haunting her apartment. But just when Josie thinks things couldn’t get any worse... she meets the guy from across the hall.
Zeph Clemmont is a changeling with enemies in all the worst places, fighting to undo a curse that threatens to end his life. Survival means he will have to swallow his pride and trust Josie with all his darkest secrets.
With the help of a gun-slinging shaman and the enigmatic Prince of Nightmares, Zeph and Josie are only a heartbeat away from defeating one of the most diabolical faerie villains their world has ever known.
Now on to the interview!
Hey Nicole!! First I want to say welcome to Two Chicks on Books I’m glad you could stop by for a chat! MAD MAGIC was freaking AWESOME and I can’t wait for everyone to read it!
For the readers: can you tell us a little bit about MAD MAGIC and the characters?
MAD MAGIC was a blast to work on. I fell in love with all of the characters so quickly—especially Eldrick, who I originally intended to be a villain. Turns out he had a mind of his own! When I first started developing the story, I wanted to reinvent the world of faeries and magic in a way that I hadn’t seen before, but still harkened back to the traditional lore and stories we all know. The end result was a wild and suspenseful ride not even I had anticipated!
So do we have a title for book 2 yet?
I have titles for the next 2, actually! VICIOUS VOWS is volume 2 and WICKED WAYS is volume 3! Both will bring in familiar faces while adding in new baddies and allies and of course, more familiar faces from folklore reimagined for the Mad Magic world!
Were any of the characters in the book inspired by people from your real life?
I like to take bits and pieces from people I know and combined them into one character, but MAD MAGIC was different in that – for the first time – one of the characters took on a lot of personality and physical traits from someone I knew. Eldrick was based on a young professor I had in college. He taught Shakespeare and was, just like Eldrick, a sharp dresser with a very refined demeanor. He also had perfect glossy black hair. All the female students were wild about him, which I don’t think he realized. Hah!
Who was your favorite character to write? What about your least favorite?
Tough one! I loved Zeph and Eldrick both – especially when they had scenes together. They feed off of one another like siblings bickering in the backseat on a family road trip. Their banter kept me grinning and chuckling the whole way through. My least favorite was probably Lumi, but only because she is a challenge. She’s extremely complex, and I guess I should get used to her because we will see much more of her in the future!
What is your favorite passage/scene in MAD MAGIC?
I think the battle at the wedding venue is my favorite. I love writing big battle scenes, magical explosions, and action – and emotions ran hot during that whole scene. It was fun!
What kind of research did you have to do for the story?
I looked a lot into folklore from Irish, Scottish, and old world English origins. I also researched Mongolian beliefs and spiritual rituals, as well as looking into a lot of the Japanese stories. Since the theory behind Mad Magic is that fae are everywhere, and different cultures simply named them something different all over the world, it was interesting to look for parallels and similarities.
Who is your ultimate book boyfriend?
Oh that’s a tough one. Well, I’m a sucker for elves (thanks to a childhood obsession with Lord of the Rings). So for those of you who’ve read my Dragonrider books, I’d marry Kiran in a heartbeat. I love the strong, silent, mysterious types. Eldrick has a touch of that, too, and I share his love for coffee … but I’m not sure he’d approve of my lack of fashion sense.
What inspired you to write YA?
YA happened sort of by accident. Previously, I’ve written more in the middle grade spectrum. But as my storylines grow and add in more adult elements, namely romance and battles, I’ve bled over into YA. To me, it’s all just stories, so I have a hard time determining which age group a book belongs to. I let my agent advise me in that department!
Lightening Round Questions
What are you reading right now? Or what do you have on your TBR that you’re dying to read?
Just finished Origin by Dan Brown and moving onto Artemis by Andy Weir. I don’t actually read much YA … I’m always afraid of cross-contamination. I can’t accidentally copy what I’ve never read!
What Hogwarts House would the Sorting Hat place you in?
Ravenclaw!
Twitter or Facebook?
Favorite Superhero?
Daredevil
Favorite TV show?
Stranger Things
Sweet or Salty?
Salty
Any Phobias?
I’m not a fan of heights.
Song you can’t get enough of right now?
I’m an oldies person, which pains me to say cause I remember these songs being brand new, but I love listening to the 90’s and early 2000s hits.
2018 Movie you’re most looking forward to?
Oh man, 2018 is going to be my year! The Incredibles 2, Pacific Rim 2, Basically all the new Marvel movies, Mission Impossible 6, The Crimes of Grindelwald, … need I go on??
Thanks so much Nicole for answering my questions! I can’t wait for everyone to read MAD MAGIC!
About Nicole:
My name is Ashley "Nicole" Conway. I'm originally from North Alabama and attended Auburn University where I earned a BA in English with a concentration in Classics & Mythology. I'm happily married and have one son, Ethan. I also have a cat, Mr. Darcy, and a dog named Phoebe.
Writing has been a passion of mine since childhood, and to be able to do it as a full-time career is something I take as a great blessing and honor. My heart is in children's literature, specifically middle-grade and young adult fantasy. I'm best known for my MG/YA fantasy series THE DRAGONRIDER CHRONICLES, which is published by Month9Books. The second series, THE DRAGONRIDER LEGACY, just launched this fall!
My other works in include MAD MAGIC (2017), THE DISTANCE BETWEEN STARS (2017), SCALES (tbd), and SHATTERBEAST (tbd).
I am represented by Fran Black of Literary Counsel.
Thursday, November 21, 2013
Q & A with Nicole Conway | Author of The Dragonrider Chronicles
Author of The Dragonrider Chronicles
Nicole Conway is an author and freelance illustrator from North Alabama. Currently she lives in Valdosta, Georgia, with her husband. She has a bachelor’s degree in English from Auburn University, and is a member of the SCBWI. Her most recent work, FLEDGLING, was released in October 2013 as the first installment of her new children’s fantasy series: THE DRAGONRIDER CHRONICLES.
Literary Juice: Your book, Fledgling, a fantasy about a boy who embarks on a dangerous adventure to rescue his instructor, has received outstanding approval on Amazon. What do you feel readers find most appealing about this book?
Nicole Conway: Based on the reviews and feedback the book has received so far, I feel that people are very drawn to the characters. The main character, Jaevid Broadfeather, isn't what you’d imagine a hero to be. He’s not big or strong. At the beginning of the book, he isn't even very brave. But it’s his journey and his experiences with his new friends that begin to shape him into someone worthy of being called a hero. I feel that his journey is one all of us can relate to.
LJ: You are also the author of Dervyshire Park, a paranormal romance, which is a completely different genre from Fledgling. In what ways was the process for developing the plot and characters different for each book? Did you adhere to any strategies or formulas for these books respectively?
NC: Dervyshire Park was my first novel, and definitely a shot in the dark for me. I didn’t know anything at all about the publishing industry when it was released. It was a learning experience, but a very valuable one. Since then, I've definitely become more focused, but I don’t adhere to any strategies when writing. I do keep a journal where all my books, characters, and details are tracked, but I try not to limit myself to a strict formula. My philosophy has always been that if something isn’t fun to write, then it isn’t going to be fun to read. Each book is like an adventure for me, as well.
LJ: Which genre are you most comfortable writing? Why?
NC: Children’s fiction is, without a doubt, my favorite genre. I absolutely love writing children’s books. They are just a blast to work on. I guess my inner child has never really grown up!
LJ: What is the biggest challenge you face when writing? How are you able to overcome these challenges?
NC: Life has always been my biggest challenge when it comes to writing. I’m one to have a million irons in the fire at the same time, and life always gets in the way. My husband’s career is very time consuming for both of us, and it requires us to pick up and move every year. It’s insanely stressful. But for me, writing has always been a coping tool to help me deal with stress. So I always make time to write, even if it’s only an hour or two.
LJ: Have you ever received outside criticism concerning your writing? If so, how did you handle this criticism in a way that has benefited you positively?
NC: Of course I’ve received criticism! That’s just part of being an author, though. We put a piece of our hearts out there for the world to criticize, and so naturally there are some people who just aren’t going to agree with everything we present. When dealing with criticism, I try not to take it to be destructive even if it’s meant to be taken that way. I try to take it as an opportunity to improve and do better the next time.
LJ: The sequel to Fledgling, Avian, is set to debut this summer. Can you give us a little sneak peek into this book?
NC: I’m so thrilled that people have enjoyed Fledgling so much, but it’s really just the tip of the iceberg. There’s a lot left in store for Jaevid and his friends.
In the sequel, we’re going to start delving deeper into Jaevid’s past, and uncovering all the buried secrets that have shaped his destiny. We’re also going to get our first glimpse into the horrors of the gray elf kingdom of Luntharda, which is something I've been eager to write about from the beginning. This year of training will present a whole new spectrum of challenges for Jaevid and Felix. It will test them in ways no one will be expecting.
When reading this book, my hope is that readers are going to start to see how much Jaevid has started to change from a frightened little boy into a man—both physically and emotionally. I’ll be posting a special, unedited preview chapter on my author page in January. Avian will be a whole new adventure, and I can’t wait for people to read it!
LJ: If there is one lesson you hope readers can learn from your stories, what would it be?
NC: I would hope that my readers, especially the children who read my work, would learn not to judge people based on face value. You can’t tell what someone has been through, what their destiny will be, or who they really are just by how they look. This is a mistake that even I am guilty of making. It’s so easy to judge others, but doing that doesn't just hurt that other person. It closes a door for you, as well, because that person might have something amazing to offer you in a friendship or relationship that you’ll never get to experience if you are quick to judge them.
Conway, Nicole: SAVAGE
Kirkus Reviews. (Sept. 1, 2017):
Copyright: COPYRIGHT 2017 Kirkus Media LLC
http://www.kirkusreviews.com/
Full Text:
Conway, Nicole SAVAGE Month9Books (Children's Fiction) $15.99 9, 26 ISBN: 978-1-946700-46-9
Fifteen-year old Reigh, a human boy raised in an elven world, has never known what it feels like to belong. In his jungle home of Luntharda, the gray elf kingdom, he works with his adoptive father, Kiran, as a healer. But Reigh also carries a secret: there's a powerful force within him that he is unable not only to understand, but also to control. Kiran has always insisted that Reigh keep the news of this power to himself, but as Reigh gets older, it becomes harder to do so. Luntharda has known peace for decades thanks to the dragon-riding human hero Jaevid Broadfeather. Forty years ago, Jaevid ended the Gray War and brought amity to Luntharda and human Maldobar, but now enemies threaten the citizens of Maldobar with destruction. A failed effort to get assistance from the elven people and the failed attempt to resurrect Jaevid from his divine sleep have the fate of Maldobar looking grim. Will Reigh rein his power in in time to become the hero his world so desperately needs? Conway offers immersive worldbuilding, creating a familiar-feeling, mostly white high-fantasy setting that's balanced by Reigh's colloquial voice. The narrator's journey of self-discovery feels honest and compelling even in his moments of immaturity and recklessness, and relationships among the characters feel complex and real. A fantasy novel that will have readers wanting more by the time it ends, this is a worthy series opener. (Fantasy. 10-14)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Conway, Nicole: SAVAGE." Kirkus Reviews, 1 Sept. 2017. General OneFile, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A502192329/ITOF?u=schlager&sid=ITOF&xid=a630529f. Accessed 17 May 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A502192329
Book Review: Savage by Nicole Conway
2017-10-07
***This book was reviewed via Chapter by Chapter Book Tours
Savage, by Nicole Conway, is the first in a follow-up series to her awesome Dragonrider Chronicles. Reigh lives in two worlds, feeling out of place in both. He’s a human adopted by grey elves. As such, he ages different, and to make matters worse he is host to an enigmatic spirit called Noh. When he runs away, hoping to protect others from Noh, he stumbles across a group of humans lost in the dangerous forest Reigh and his adopted kin call home. Aubren has come to the grey elf Queen for aid in a war against his home of Maldobar. Reigh decides to go with Aubren, hoping to put his dark spirit to a noble use. Noh may just be the biggest asset in the fight to come.
I have the Dragonrider Chronicles and was excited to start this series. Overall, I enjoyed this story. This is a YA read, and is full of the standard fantasy tropes. Nevertheless, it holds its own as unique. These elves are not the typical elves you find in fantasy, where they often come across as haughty and better than humans. These grey elves are a different species, with unique culture, and vibrant presence, seeming far more real.
Reigh is young, a tempestuous teenager. Events beyond his control force him to grow up quick, and he displays increasingly more maturity as he goes along. Noh is fascinating as well. Why does Reigh have this amoral companion. And why is Noh becoming visible to people other than Reigh?
My favourite characters were Kiran, the grey elf who adopted Reigh, and Aubren, who turns out to be a Prince of Maldobar. Kiran is a healer, and a great one despite his gruffness. Aubren was likeable from get-go. He’s loyal to his people, willing to do whatever it takes to protect them.
The world Conway paints is rich and vivid. It was a pleasure to visit. The grey elves and their forest home are beautiful, if deadly, and Maldobar with its dragons is exciting. I would have liked to see more of the dagons. Haha, I’m a sucker for them. I’m sure I’ll get my fill as the story progress. I can’t wait to read the next in the series!
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{Review+Giveaway} Mad Magic by Nicole Conway @ANConway @Month9Books
January 4, 2018 Michelle @ Book Briefs Blog Tours, Giveaways, Reviews, Young Adult 18 ★★★★
{Review+Giveaway} Mad Magic by Nicole Conway @ANConway @Month9Books
{Review+Giveaway} Mad Magic by Nicole Conway @ANConway @Month9BooksMad Magic by Nicole Conway
Pages: 300
Published by Month9Books on November 14, 2017
Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal, Fantasy & Magic, Romance
Source: eARC from Publisher
four-stars
Mad Magic is a beautifully dark and rich Young Adult fantasy from Nicole Conway, bestselling author of the Dragonrider Chronicles.
Josie Barton is a high school student living in terror. Invisible creatures torment her everywhere she goes, constantly getting her into trouble at school, and even haunting her apartment. But just when Josie thinks things couldn’t get any worse... she meets the guy from across the hall.
Zeph Clemmont is a changeling with enemies in all the worst places, fighting to undo a curse that threatens to end his life. Survival means he will have to swallow his pride and trust Josie with all his darkest secrets.
With the help of a gun-slinging shaman and the enigmatic Prince of Nightmares, Zeph and Josie are only a heartbeat away from defeating one of the most diabolical faerie villains their world has ever known.
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Goodreadsgraydivider
YA Review My Thoughts
Mad Magic is the first book in the Mad Magic saga by author Nicole Conway. Nicole Conway is a new to me author, but after devouring Mad Magic in one night, I can’t wait for more from her. Mad Magic and I got off to a bit of a slow start, but once I fell into the world we became kind of obsessed with each other. I really loved this book, and I am so beyond excited that there will be more in this saga.
Mad Magic is the story of Josie. Josie’s parents passed away earlier in her life and she was kind of taken in by a mysterious benefactor. I say kind of because she doesn’t seem to actually see very much of Ben, but he does pay her bills. She lives on her own. But Josie is plagued by invisible demons. I have to be honest. I was a little bored by the start of the story. It felt kind of formulaic; like a story I had seen done many times before with the dead parents and the mysterious past. But all of my worries evaporated the second I met Zeph. I swooned nearly as hard as Josie did for Zeph. I really loved him. In fact, the swoony romance was my favorite part of the story.
After Zeph came into the picture, I became totally absorbed with the world that Nicole Conway created. It was magical and twisty turny and just an all around excellent read. I love faeries and Mad Magic took some new twists on the fae, which I appreciated but still had all the elements I love from a fae fantasy. I can’t wait for more. There are also some great secondary characters in Mad Magic, like Elderick. (How could you not love Elderick??)
Bottom line: Once I got past my little hiccup at the start of the story, I fully fell in love with Mad Magic. I loved the plot, the pacing, the world the characters and the romance. This read was thoroughly enjoyable for me and I can’t wait for more. Mad Magic was a big hit in my book.
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Mad Magic (Mad Magic Saga #1) By Nicole Conway [Review]
November 30, 2017Raven @ Dreamy Addictions
Mad MagicRELEASE DATE: November 14, 2017
AUTHOR: Nicole Conway
GENRE: Young-Adult, Urban-Fantasy, Fae, Magic, Romance.
PUBLISHER: Month9Books, LLC
SUMMARY:
Josie Barton is a high school student living in terror. Invisible creatures torment her everywhere she goes, constantly getting her into trouble at school, and even haunting her apartment. But just when Josie thinks things couldn’t get any worse . . . she meets the guy from across the hall.
Zeph Clemmont is a changeling with enemies in all the worst places, fighting to undo a curse that threatens to end his life. Survival means he will have to swallow his pride and trust Josie with all his darkest secrets.
With the help of a gun-slinging shaman and the enigmatic Prince of Nightmares, Zeph and Josie are only a heartbeat away from defeating one of the most diabolical faerie villains their world has ever known.
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MY REV (Copy)
Mad Magic was a super fun urban fantasy read with intriguing plot and interesting characters. I totally fell for this book when I first read its synopsis and I knew I had to read it because it has fae and other mythical creatures. I’m total sucker for fae books. The story has captivated me from the start and it was even better than I had expected. It was a perfect entertainer filled with magic, romance, action, and handsome faeries. I haven’t read Nicole Conway’s Dragon Rider series but this was pretty good and definitely a great start for a new series. Although I had some few issues, I immensely enjoyed reading it. The author was very creative and she has done a great job in weaving this story. I really can’t wait to know what she has in store for us next.
The story follows a seventeen year old high school student Josie Barton whose parents has been died when she was young. She’s been taken care by an anonymous guardian named Ben. She’s always a social pariah in her school because of her weird hallucinations of monsters which always gets her into trouble. Something invisible haunts her Apartment but Josie can’t tell anyone about it because she didn’t want to end up in a mental asylum. When something invisible attacks her, her handsome neighbor across the hall comes to her rescue. Josie finally learns that the monsters she’s been hallucinating are actually real and the guy named Zeph who came to her rescue wasn’t even human. Zeph Clemmont is a changeling who’s been fighting a curse that threatens to end his life. He works as a bounty hunter for a shaman and he’s surrounded by so many enemies. He leads a dangerous life and he doesn’t want to drag Josie into it but when a powerful evil faerie brings a huge threat to both faerie and human realm, Josie, Zeph and an unlikely ally team up together to defeat him.
I loved all the characters in the book! Josie isn’t really my favorite protagonist but I did enjoyed her character. She’s vulnerable yet strong. At the beginning, she did seemed like any other typical YA heroine but eventually I found myself liking her. I loved her character development. She’s started as a weak and naive character but she doesn’t want to be a useless damsel in distress so she struggles hard to become strong. Zeph is a mysterious and captivating character. I loved his fun attitude and cool personality. He has some beautiful magical runes on his body which glows whenever he uses his power. He loves honey, he turns into a crazy fae in front of a honey bottle. He’s very protective of Josie and he wouldn’t mind sacrificing his life to save her. There’s also another handsome fae named Eldrick. He’s a Prince of Nightmares and also one heck of a swoon worthy guy. I absolutely loved his character because I’m into broody guys. He doesn’t trust humans because of his bitter experience with them in the past. He mostly keeps to himself, and he loves food and coffee. There’s also an interesting side character named Hank who’s a shaman. He’s owner of a bar and also Zeph’s boss. As for the relationships, I enjoyed the romance between Zeph and Josie but it looked kinda insta-love-ish because they both develop feelings for each other pretty quickly. I didn’t minded the age gap between them but some readers might feel a bit uncomfortable with a seventeen year old girl with a guy who’s somewhere in his mid twenties. I also enjoyed the friendship between Eldrick and Josie and how they grew to trust each other. I loved their every interaction and Eldrick definitely makes a great roommate. There’s no triangle in this book but I thought there’s going to be one. The faerie villain in this book looks totally alluring on the outside but inside he’s totally evil.
The plot was very interesting and engaging! Even though some parts were predictable, It was a well written plot. The story moved in a fast pace. From the start, I was hooked to the plot and it never left me bored. I enjoyed the unexpected twists and turns, and also the action in the second half. This was my first book by Nicole Conway and I loved her writing style. The whole book was told from Josie’s first person POV. The world building was pretty great. Nicole created a modern world where mythical creatures from faerie world lives alongside humans. The entire book was set in human world but I was hoping for a glimpse into a faerie realm. I loved the magical system in this book especially the intricate spellworks and how they work.
Overall, I loved this book and every aspect of it. It might not be a total perfection but it was a great read. It has intriguing characters, great character/plot development, interesting magical system, and kickass action. There’s no cliffhanger at the end but I’m still very eager to read the next book.
Recommend it?
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I highly recommend this book to everyone who loves action packed YA Urban fantasy read and also to the readers who loves fae novels.
MY RATING:4-stars14-stars14-stars14-stars1[4/5 Stars]
Book Review Fledgling by Nicole Conway
MAY 4, 2016 ~ TWEETYBUGSHOUSE
18733563
When Jaevid Broadfeather is given the rare opportunity to become a dragonrider for the king’s army, the 15-year-old boy has no idea that he is part of a conspiracy that will rock the very foundations of the kingdom.
Jaevid Broadfeather has grown up as a wartime refugee, hiding from the world because of his mixed racial heritage. He feels his future is hopeless, until a chance encounter with a wild dragon lands him in Blybrig Academy—a place usually forbidden to anyone but the rich and royal. But Jaevid’s case is special; no dragon has voluntarily chosen a rider in decades, so the proud riders of Blybrig must begrudgingly let him join their brotherhood despite his bloodline. Lieutenant Sile Derrick, a sternly tempered man with a mysterious past, becomes his instructor and immediately takes a peculiar interest in Jaevid’s future.
While struggling through the rigorous physical demands of training, things begin to go awry. Jaevid witnesses the king’s private guards kidnapping Sile in the dead of night. When none of the elder riders are willing to help him, Jaevid begins a dangerous adventure to save his instructor.
Everything Jaevid learned at the academy will now be put to the ultimate test.
Jan Review
“If your really gonna make this deal with me, you have to show me. Show me I can trust you” So starts a relationship between a wild dragon and a halfblood that will have you hooked from the very start of the book. I felt that the book had echoes of the relationship you see between hiccup and toothless in How to train your dragon which for me worked as it a great movie.
I love how Sile stands up for Jaevid “Any rider chosen by a dragon must be allowed to join us that is our first law.” The wild dragon choose Jaevid so who are these people to say he not a dragonrider just cause he of a mixed heritage that by the end of this book saves a few characters more then once. For by not letting Jaevid in to the academy “You’ll be suggesting that the spirit of the dragon no longer matters at all, that we’ve bred them down to stupid beasts no better then winged pedigree dogs” what a statement of fact about how strongly Sile feels about Jaevid becoming a dragonrider.
As Javeid steps in to his place in the academy he learns “We all start at the bottom as fledglings, in this brotherhood, respect must be earned.” So Sile has stood up for him and said you should be here but now you must prove it.
Their are strong lessons to be found in this story which i feel is great for the middle age crowd such as “You can’t just condemn someone, no matter what they’ve done. Everyone deserves justice, even traitors” Jaevid says this about Tyron a character who truly treats him with no respect, and betrays him more then once in the story.
Towards the end of the story one of my favorite scences happens when Jaevid talks to Icarus the dragon of the evil character in the story. He uses his new found knowledge of being able to communicate with animals and he says “I’m going to have a word with the king” its a very powerful scene for Jaevid is basically showing that dragons can thing for themselves and if their master is truly cruel justice will be swift and harsh.
The final thought I will leave you with is one of the strongest lessons Jaevid learns in the story “Bravery is not an immunity to fear, it is rising up to meet it with the hope that nothing is impossible.”
Saturday, March 12, 2016
Book Review: Fledgling by Nicole Conway
Fledgling (The Dragonrider Chronicles)
Title: Fledgling
Author: Nicole Conway
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Dragons, Coming-of-age
Page Count: 298
Source: I received this book from Month9Books in exchange for an honest review! This in no way has affected my rating.
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Synopsis: Can one boy stand between two kingdoms at war? Jaevid Broadfeather has grown up as a wartime refugee, hiding from the world because of his mixed racial heritage. He feels his future is hopeless, until a chance encounter with a wild dragon lands him in Blybrig Academy, a place usually forbidden to anyone but the rich and royal. But Jaevid’s case is special; no dragon has voluntarily chosen a rider in decades, so the proud riders of Blybrig must begrudgingly let him join their brotherhood despite his bloodline. Lieutenant Sile Derrick, a sternly tempered man with a mysterious past, becomes his instructor and immediately takes a peculiar interest in Jaevid’s future. While struggling through the rigorous physical demands of training, things begin to go awry. Jaevid witnesses the king’s private guards kidnapping Sile in the dead of night. When none of the elder riders are willing to help him, Jaevid begins a dangerous adventure to save his instructor. Everything Jaevid learned at the academy will now be put to the ultimate test.
Review:
"Bravery is not an immunity to fear, it is rising up to meet it with the hope nothing is impossible."
This book surprised me in all of the best ways. I wanted to read this book, but I was wary because this is a new author to me, and I hadn't heard any overwhelmingly bad or good things about this book. But I went excited, and ready to start a journey with a new set of characters.
Jaevid is a half breed, and he was a wonderful narrator, I really enjoyed the way he described the surroundings and everything he experienced, he had a strong voice that I could appreciate. He is small, and underappreciated, and often expected less of than capable of. He proves his strength and bravery throughout the novel.
Felix is Jaevid's roommate, and best friend, and I loved him and every little bit of him. He was the hope for everyone, at least for me. I really liked the dynamic between Jae and Felix because it was very brother-like and best friend-ish, and I appreciated how their friendship played out. I just really enjoyed his witty humor.
Sile Derrick is a dragon-rider and takes Jae and Felix under his wing (hah get it? The puns I have made with this series already are endless...) and taught them how to ride, and how to become stronger, and the bare necessities when it comes to learning at Blybrig Academy. I absolutely loved Sile, and his name is really interesting. (Actually almost every character name is on point in this book, I definitely approve of that.) Sile is just such a great mentor.
Beckah is Sile's daughter and joins us about 50% through. I have some speculations about her involvement in the future installments, but I am going to keep that to myself... She also says some highly intelligent things. Some of the wisest things I have heard in awhile from a book. "Don't forget about everyone else-- especially the ones who need you the most"
"If it's something you really care about, then it shouldn't matter what anyone else thinks."
and Jaevid (I'm pretty sure it's Jaevid) once says "You can't just condemn someone, no matter what they've done. Everyone deserves justice, even traitors."
So, as much as I enjoyed this book, it has it's faults. Fledgling is ridden with clichés, and common YA tropes including Specialness and many, many other tropes.
Also, the first thirty pages or so were super slow, until Jae joined Blybrig Academy and started his training, the real story picked up there... and although this is not the best book I have ever read... it is a really quick read filled with adventure and loads of enjoyment. I flew (hehe) through this book even though it started out dragon (hehehe I'm so funny)
A stupid nitpick of mine is the fact that Katalina's nickname is Katty, it annoyed me... really stupid of me to dislike... but that's okay.
Nicole Conway shows great promise as a writer and I cannot wait to see how she grows with each book, because I guarantee we will see improvement. Beginning with a story filled with clichés does not mean she will continue with the rest of the series! She weaves her story well, keeping a gripping storyline going, growing especially strong when writing action scenes. I really enjoyed that aspect of the book, above the rest of the story. Any action was great.
She also described things really well, and I feel I understood the society well. I am excited to see how the war that was alluded to will play out, and how the gray elves will come into contact with Jaevid again (because I am assuming they will)
Consensus: Nicole Conway's FLEDGLING is a wonderful coming-of-age story about Jaevid Broadfeather, a half-breed human and elf who is shunned for the majority of his life. Jaevid forms an inseparable bond with a dragon, and starts his journey as a dragon rider. Though ridden with clichés and common tropes, Conway deliver's a fast paced, heart pounding thrill ride that had me on the edge of my seat pouring through each page, needing to know the end of the story.
On to AVIAN now! I am super excited and I have high expectations!!!!
Also: The dragons and world awoken the inner World of Warcraft nerd in me and I really appreciated it!
Cody @ Roecker Reviews
Thursday, 19 November 2015
Book Review: Fledgling by Nicole Conway
Fledgling by Nicole Conway
A thrilling read, with an original plot line. Definitely not your average dragon story!
"Oh, great." I hear you say. "Not another dragon story!". But, no, this isn't your average boy-meets-dragon and they fly off into the sunset- kinda story.
It is set in a fantasy world, where the grey elves are engaged in a longstanding battle against the humans. Jaevid (the story's hero) is a half-breed. (half elf, half human) An almost-orphan, he is shunned by everyone. The elves view him as a traitor, and the humans view him as scum - just because of his heritage.
He lives with his cruel human father, (as his mother passed away), who is a saddle maker. But, these saddles aren't for horses, but instead, for dragons.
If you think this book sounds awesome, and you'd like to read more, then please click the "Read More" button, below.
Whilst staying at the dragon academy, making saddles for young, rich, human riders, he discovers a rouge dragon, too wild for a rider. Without even taming the dragon, a bond is formed between these two outcasts, and before he knows it, Jae is threatening the very foundations of the dragon rider academy. Will they accept him, and follow the founding code? Or is their hatred for grey elves too strong to allow it?
This thrilling book covers themes of racism, betrayal and mild romance. There wasn't any inappropriate content (maybe a d*mn here and there), but otherwise, it was very clean. There was some violence...
Wanna keep reading? There is some spoilers coming up in the examples!
I'D ADVISE NOT TO READ THIS, IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO READ THE BOOK. SERIOUSLY.
...as he gets bullied a lot at the academy, (so bruising is mentioned) and one part where (SPOILER ALERT) the villain gets eaten by his own dragon, but it skipped over, and wasn't terribly, repulsively gruesome, earning it a mild to slightly moderate label.
I would really recommend this book for ages 12+, (As I read it then and enjoyed it), but would easily suit a 13-14 year old's tastes.
N.B. The second book in the series is remarkably more violent, so I'd suggest checking with your parent/child before you read (or suggest they read) it. A review of it can be written, if interest is high enough. Girl x
Thursday, 14 August 2014
Fledgling by Nicole Conway Review!
18837799 Buy The Book Now at The Book Depository, Free Delivery World Wide
Title : Fledgling
Author : Nicole Conway
Pages : 296
Published : May 27th 2014
Publisher : Month9Books
Source : From Tour Host
Can one boy stand between two kingdoms at war? Jaevid Broadfeather has grown up as a wartime refugee, hiding from the world because of his mixed racial heritage. He feels his future is hopeless, until a chance encounter with a wild dragon lands him in Blybrig Academy--a place usually forbidden to anyone but the rich and royal. But Jaevid's case is special; no dragon has voluntarily chosen a rider in decades, so the proud riders of Blybrig must begrudgingly let him join their brotherhood despite his bloodline. Lieutenant Sile Derrick, a sternly tempered man with a mysterious past, becomes his instructor and immediately takes a peculiar interest in Jaevid's future. While struggling through the rigorous physical demands of training, things begin to go awry. Jaevid witnesses the king's private guards kidnapping Sile in the dead of night. When none of the elder riders are willing to help him, Jaevid begins a dangerous adventure to save his instructor. Everything Jaevid learned at the academy will now be put to the ultimate test.
My Thoughts :
Jaevid is a halfbreed, he is half grey elf and half human. When his mother dies, she names his father as a local man, and now that man has no choice but to take Jaevid in. Jaevids future looks bleak because halfbreeds are looked down on, that is until Jaevid gets the chance to go to Blybrig, the Dragon-rider Academy, to help his father.
One night Jae goes off in search of food. He hears a sound from the strange building he saw when he first arrived. He goes to the building an peeks in. Inside is a magnificent dragon and Jae is mesmerised by it. He sees Sile Derrick, a dragonrider, in there. Sile begins to tell him that this dragon is a wild dragon and not one bred at the Academy. Its been a long time since a wild Dragon chose a rider and no one can seem to tame this one. Jaevid feels drawn to it and gets closer. The dragon responds to Jae and from that moment Jaevids life changes. He is thrown into the world of Dragonriders and when he uncovers a plot to kill Sile, no one believes him so Jaevid is the only one who can help him.
I adore dragon books!! They are my favourite mythological creature so when I saw Fledgling, I immediately added it to my list. I'm so glad I got the opportunity to read it too because, while aimed at younger readers, I still really enjoyed it.
Plot wise we didn't see much action till the end. Its a little slow going but I attribute that to the fact its the first in the series. There's a war going on between grey elves and humans but we don't learn much about why it started or whats happening with it. Its supposed to be why the Dragon riders are needed yet its never really discussed. I would of liked a little more history and background of the war.
Poor Jaevid!! He has such a tough time. His mother died and his father and his family hate him! They treat him really bad. My heart broke for him. Jae is hated by both Grey Elves and humans because he is part of each and gets treated like he is the lowest of the low. Yet he is kind, honest, brave and a true hero. He is so happy to become a Dragonrider because he thinks it may give him respect but people still frown upon him. His whole life is a struggle to be accepted and liked. He has one friend in the academy, Felix, and even though Felix trys to protect him, Jae still gets bullied. I was rooting for him the whole time!
Then we have the Dragons. Mavrik is Jaes dragon and he is magnificent!! I loved reading about them and loved Jaes bond to Mavrik. Most of the other riders don't have the same bond because the dragons didn't choose the rider so Jaes bond is special.
Overall I really enjoyed Fledgling. It shows us that its not always the biggest that can be a hero! It was a nice, fast read and I'm really hoping that we learn more about the Grey Elves, the war and the Dragons in future books because this series has the potential to be really great.