Hello everyone and welcome to my stop on the Escapist Book Co. virtual book tour for H.C. Newell’s Dark Fantasy/Grimdark novel The Forbidden Realms! Today, I am excited to help kickoff the tour by sharing an interview with the one of the main characters from the book, Aélla!
You can find our Q&A below, along with all of the info about the book, the author, and links to purchase a copy of The Forbidden Realms for yourself! Also, be sure to take a look at the schedule here or at the top of the post and follow along to see the stops from our other awesome hosts!
Book Information:
The Forbidden Realms by H.C. Newell
Series: Fallen Light
Genre: Dark Fantasy, Grimdark
Intended Age Group: Adult
Pages: 465
Published: July 31, 2022
Publisher: Self Published
Blurb
Nerana is a sorceress. An exile. The Child of Skye.
And she isn’t alone.
After a vicious attack against the Order of Saro, Nerana finds herself lost in the wastelands of Aragoth. Forbidden of humans or evae, the desert is a land teeming with fire and vengeance, and Nerana’s only hope for survival lies in the trust of another.
Aélla, a powerful evaesh sorceress, travels the desert on a pilgrimage of sacrifice and strength. Determined to enter the Realm of Elements and see her quest complete, she must survive the hardened warriors of the desert, the vaxros, who banished her kind from their land centuries ago.
But the vaxros aren’t the only threat, and the weight of such imbalance could shift the fate of the world.
See Also:
Not Today, Satan! • Can’t Catch a Break • I Believe I Can Fly
Book Links:
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Forbidden-Realms-Fallen-Light/dp/B0B7QGX5L8/
Author Direct (signed): https://www.hcnewell.com/store
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60490945-the-forbidden-realms
Character Q&A
Could you please introduce yourself to our readers?
Hello, my name is Aélla ☺ (pronounced AYLA)
What music do you listen to?
I think that kata’nyrii (pan flutes) are very beautiful.
If you were stranded on a deserted island, what is one thing you’d like to have with you?
I have visited the Isles of Erasin, which are deserted, and while I had many items with me a detailed map would’ve been very useful.
What is your biggest pet peeve?
Dishonesty and malice. There is much wisdom and strength in choosing kindness.
What do you do in your free time?
I enjoy reading or tending to my flower gardens.
What makes you want to get out of bed in the morning?
There are many reasons to want to live each day, but for me, the most important thing is knowing that someday, everything I’ve done will make a difference.
What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?
“Aes’prínehn fortaal nuala” (We are what we choose to be.)
What do you carry in your bag?
Extra clothing, bandages, needle and gut, food, potions, a map, flint, bed roll, a small dagger, a blanket, and additional supplies that someone else may need, such as a whetstone. I also keep a very special locket my mother used to wear. It was given to her by my father.
What’s your favorite animal?
I love all animals, but my favorite would have to be Altvára.
What do you think about Y’ven, Dru, Nerana, and Thallon?
Y’ven is very strong and honorable. He and Dru are both very unique, and I admire them for that.
Nerana is still a mystery, and I was honestly afraid when I learned she is drimil’lana (a human sorceress). But I believe that she’s good.
Thallon is a friend I’ve known my entire life. He can be emotional but is very intelligent. I’m glad to have him as a part of our group.
Do you have favorite saying?
“The world is watching.”
It’s both haunting and inspiring. I know that I have a lot on my shoulders, and I hope to make everyone proud.
What is your favorite holiday?
We have many festivals and gatherings in Nyn’Dira. My favorite is revenael thamöll (The Feast of Night) Before last leaf (autumn) fades to frostfall (winter) everyone harvests all of the crops and has a giant feast in Navarre. Thousands of evae from all across the forest come to celebrate the changing of the seasons. There are always fun games for children and good conversation for adults.
If you could go anywhere in Erolith, where would you go and why?
I have been all across the continent, and there is nowhere that compares to home.
What do you do to relax?
Meditations or reading a book in my garden
What is your favorite food?
Mutton pie
What is your favorite season?
Frostfall. I love the snow.
How would you define happiness?
Being content with yourself, enjoying the simplicities of life, and being close to those you love.
How do you feel about your government?
The Eirean are very just and honorable leaders.
If you could change one thing about Erolith, what would it be?
Everyone would work together and set our differences aside for the greater good.
What’s your biggest fear?
Facing the Nasir or losing someone I love.
What do you think your best quality is?
My strength
How would you describe the world you live in?
Very chaotic and full of hatred. There are over ten races living on this continent alone, and few of us are willing to coexist.
About the Author
H.C. Newell is an American author of epic fantasy. She is best known for the Fallen Light fictional universe, in which her fantasy novel Curse of the Fallen, is set.
Newell began her writing journey at a young age. In elementary school, she would often write small plays for her and her cousins to perform. In middle and high school her love of writing transformed into fiction literature, which she would write in spiral-bound notebooks. By 2015, she had written more than 5 romance and young adult novels and several short stories.
In 2014, Newell started her first novel series, Forthwind, which was a young adult trilogy. As she grew as an author, she found her niche in adult fantasy, and created the Fallen Light universe. This six-part novel series took Newell over seven years to create. She published her debut novel “Curse of the Fallen” in April 2021.
Newell’s works have been compared by readers to authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien, Brandon Sanderson, Andrejz Sapkowski, and Robert Jordan among others. Newell lives in Nashville, TN with her husband.
Website: https://www.hcnewell.com/
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/hcnewell
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