Hello everyone and welcome to my stop on the Escapist Book Co. virtual book tour for Connor Jackson’s Epic Fantasy novel The Bindings of Woe! Today, I am excited to help kickoff the tour by sharing an interview with the main characters from the book, Carver and Helena!
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 Bindings of Woe 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 Bindings of Woe by Connor Jackson
Series: Chain of Worlds
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Intended Age Group: 16+
Pages: 552
Published: June 21, 2022
Publisher: FriesenPress
Blurb
The world of Gaia is in turmoil. Humans, goblins, and dwarves try to live their lives as best they can under the rule of the sovereigns—the strange and powerful race whose empire stretches to all corners of the known world—but order and stability seem to be fading. The quality of life has lessened, the strength and control of the Sovereign Empire has weakened, and a large movement of rebels, though many would call them terrorists, known as the Lost Seekers, are causing waves throughout the lands.
Nowhere are these changes felt more than the Isles, a small human province of islands, where sixteen-year-old Carver lives with his family and best friend, Helena, in the remote village of Verrel. During a routine trip to the provincial capital of Caswen, Carver and Helena suddenly find themselves in the middle of a violent conflict between the powers of the world, and soon after find themselves being hunted for reasons they do not understand.
Now pulled into events they never dreamed of experiencing, Carver and Helena, along with some close companions, are forced to fight for their lives during a journey of hardships. Monstrous beasts, hostile factions, and even nature itself plague their quest to find safety and seek answers, and nothing is gained without a struggle. However, their continued survival may be out of their control as the powers of the world vie for dominance against one another . . . by any means necessary.
See Also:
Roman Empire Meets Renaissance • Contemporary Dialogue • Struggles of a Medieval Teen
Book Links:
Publisher: https://books.friesenpress.com/store/title/119734000211886194
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Bindings-Woe-Chain-Worlds/dp/1039128432/
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Bindings-Woe-Connor-Jackson/dp/1039128432/
Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-bindings-of-woe-connor-jackson/1141824421
Bookshop.org – https://bookshop.org/books/the-bindings-of-woe/9781039128439
Indigo: https://www.chapters.indigo.ca/en-ca/books/the-bindings-of-woe/9781039128439-item.html
Apple Books: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-bindings-of-woe/id6443186364
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-bindings-of-woe-connor-jackson/1141824421
Google Books: https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Connor_Jackson_The_Bindings_of_Woe
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/ca/en/ebook/the-bindings-of-woe
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61997410-the-bindings-of-woe
Character Q&A
Could you please introduce yourself to our readers?
Carver: “Hey, my name’s Carver. I, uh, I’m sixteen. And this is Helen—”
Helena: “I can introduce myself, Carver. I’m Helena. I’m also sixteen, and the only person who puts up with Carver all the time. Why did you have to pause about your age, you take a blow to the head and forget?”
C: “No. I just paused for a second. Though I’m surprised I haven’t forgotten stuff with all the times you’ve smacked my head during sword practice.”
H: “Ha! You should get better at defending yourself then. If they weren’t practice blades you’d be dead.”
C: “It was supposed to be below the chest only. You only keep hitting me because you keep slipping and jerking the blade up when you mess it up. Anyway… we were born in a small village called Verrel. It’s great there. Well… it can get boring I guess, but when I’m hunting in the forest with my parents or hanging out with my friends I have a good time. Things are fine. I’m glad I don’t live in that horrid city on the coast, Caswen. There it’s this big mess of people everywhere, with goblins too, and every time I go there with my family for some dumb reason it takes all day.”
H: “Cosom’s breath, Carver. Caswen is great! It’s got so much stuff and neat things, especially at the Inner Market. It’s the only place I know where you can get books.”
C: “Ah, whatever. You can live there then.”
What music do you listen to?
C: “The only time I get to listen to music is during a celebration or festival here at the village. I like music; lutes and pipes and other weird stuff, but I’ve never really been into music like some other people are. I know Helena likes it a lot more than I do. She’s into that art stuff.”
H: “Ya, the music at the festivals is great! I wish they happened more often.”
What are 3 items you can’t live without?
C: “I don’t know. Uhm… I know Helena wouldn’t be able to live without books.”
H: “I could! I’d just be upset. It’s not like I get many anyways.”
C: “Oh please. You’d freak out if you lost your few books.”
H: “Well ya I’d freak out. But I could live without them. I bet you couldn’t live without a sword to swing around. Or a stick or something, ha-ha.”
C: “Ha, ya ok.”
If you were stranded on a deserted island, what is one thing you’d like to have with you?
C: “A boat to sail home with.”
H: “That’s cheating. You can’t pick that.”
C: “Why not? How is that cheating?”
H: “Cause it ruins the game. You have to stay on the island. Plus you’d have no oars so you wouldn’t be able to get anywhere.”
C: “I don’t have to stay on the island. And I could just use my arms to paddle. It would work.”
H: “I’d bring the school house. That way I have shelter, shade, and books to read.”
C: “Ok now that’s cheating. That’s more than one thing. Why not just say you’d bring Verrel then?”
H: “If you can cheat I get to as well. At least I’m staying on the island.”
What is your biggest pet peeve?
C: “Her. Hahaha.”
H: “Ya, ok. Nice, Carver. Mine is people being overly negative, like this guy.”
C: “Ha! Well mine is people being overly positive, like her.”
What do you do in your free time?
C: “Like I said earlier, I hunt with my family or practice sparring. I don’t get a lot of free time since I’m always busy with the schoolhouse stuff or chores.”
H: “Same, I guess. Except after the schoolhouse I’m busy helping with my parent’s blacksmith shop. I like to read obviously and just hang around too.”
What makes you want to get out of bed in the morning?
C: “Avoiding my mother dumping water on me if I sleep in.”
H: “Hahaha! She’s done that?”
C: “Once.”
H: “That’s so funny. Velanna’s great. I get out of bed cause it’s gross to lay there all day. I wanna see the sun and sky.”
C: “She’s right. Staying in bed is boring most of the time. Though sitting in the schoolhouse is worse I think.”
What is the best advice you’ve ever been given?
C: “Uhm… My Dad told me that when something needs to get done it’s best to just do it and get it over with.”
H: “But do you actually do that?”
C: “Sometimes.”
H: “My Dad told me that being careful in your work and taking your time is what makes things worthwhile.”
What do you carry in your bag?
C: “We don’t carry bags. I keep a dagger on my belt though.”
H: “Ya. Whenever I carry a bag it’s cause I’m helping at the blacksmith shop. So… ore and stuff, I guess?”
What’s your favorite animal?
C: “I like Vells. They’re these frog-like, spiky creatures the size of small wolves. They are pretty cool looking.”
H: “Those things are terrible, Carver. They attack people in Vellum forest and are gross looking, and their croaking is annoying at night.”
C: “Well what do you like then?”
H: “I don’t know. I like lots of animals. I don’t have a favorite.”
C: “Lame!”
What do you think about [other MC(s)]?
C: “I think she’s ok. Ha-ha”
H: “He thinks I’m great”
Do you have favorite saying?
H: “I don’t know about a favorite, but I feel like I’m always telling Carver to not be so damn negative all the time.”
C: “And I’m always telling you to not be so damn positive all the time right after. I’m not negative all the time.”
H: “Yes you are.”
C: “No I’m not. I’m just regular.”
H: “Regular! Dema’s Ass!”
What is your favorite holiday?
H: “I like the New Year’s Celebration. It happens on the last day of Winter and brings in Spring. Everything starts to warm up and there is a huge party with dancing, fighting events, and big fires that look beautiful at night.”
C: “I like New Year’s too. It’s a lot of fun and feels great to know that we are moving out of Cosom’s season and into Agon’s.”
H: “You shouldn’t say that, Carver.”
C: “What? The Sun is out. Cosom can’t see us, and Agon likes hearing good things about himself.”
If you could go anywhere in [the book’s world], where would you go and why?
H: “I would go south to the Dwarven Commonwealth. I hear they have huge libraries there called Historiums that have so many books you could never read them all before you die!”
C: “I’m not sure… Maybe really far south, farther than the Dwarven Kingdoms, just for a bit. I’ve heard there is a land of sand that is always hot, full of weird people and creatures. I’m not sure if it’s real though. I like it here though.”
H: “Ooooh! That could be cool too. I’d love to see that.”
What do you do to relax?
C: “I just relax, I guess.”
H: “Ya, same. Just sit around or read.”
What is your favorite food?
C: “My mom makes a really good stew from seafood, though we only get to have it if we buy fish from the bigger town over, or from Caswen.”
H: “I like it when my parents make meat and potatoes with extra meat.”
What is your favorite season?
C: “Summer. It’s warm and you get the most daylight to stay hunting. When it gets dark to fast it ruins the day.”
H: “I like Spring better. You get to see all the beautiful flowers grow and the bugs come out.”
C: “That happens in Summer too.”
H: “Ya, but it’s not quite the same.”
How would you define happiness?
C: “Uh, being happy. Feeling good. What kind of weird question is that?”
H: “Ha. I don’t think Carver has much experience being happy.”
C: “Yes I do. You always act like I’m miserable and hate everything.”
H: “Actually, you act that— ah never mind. I think happiness is when you feel glad to be alive.”
What are you passionate about?
C: “Fighting and sparring with blades, I guess.”
H: “Reading. The world’s history. Other stuff.”
How do you feel about your government?
C: “It sucks. The sovereigns, those weird creatures that run the empire, we’ve never even seen one but still get screwed over by them and their rules. Humans who develop sorcery get taken away, we have to pay these big taxes every year but it’s just the sovereigns stealing our stuff, and—”
H: “Carver! Don’t say that stuff so loudly. Someone might hear you.”
C: “It’s true. No one in Verrel likes—”
H: “Just shut up. Seriously. Next question please.”
If you could change one thing about [the book’s world], what would it be?
C: “Get rid of the sovereigns.”
H: “Carver!”
C: “Fine. Sorry.”
H: “I’d change Carver to make him not so stupid when he’s mad.”
What’s your biggest secret?
C: “I’m not saying.”
H: “Ya, me neither.”
What do you hate?
C: “Apparently I can’t say it.”
H: “Don’t be an idiot, Carver. You know we could get in trouble if you keep going off like that.”
What’s your biggest fear?
C: “I don’t know. Dying, maybe?”
H: “I think maybe being taken away from my family by the sovereigns if I developed sorcery. But that apparently happens during puberty so I think I’m safe.”
C: “So you get to say stuff about them?”
H: “It’s not the same, Carver.”
What do you think your best quality is?
C: “My skill with blades. I usually beat everyone my age in tests.”
H: “I don’t know what my best quality is.”
C: “You’re smart and can remember lots of useless stuff.”
H: “History isn’t useless stuff. But… thanks.”
How would you describe the world you live in?
C: “It’s fine. The Sovereign Empire controls all the kingdoms, including ours, Terraland, but being on an island so far north lets us mostly be left alone and keep to ourselves.”
H: “I think the world is full of wonder. The gods put so much mystery and beautiful things in this world that I sorta feel bad not seeing it all. I only get to read about small parts if I get lucky. I think things are fine so far. We have each other and our families, and the bad things you hear about in the bigger places across the empire don’t happen here.”
About the Author
Connor A. Jackson is an avid fan of video games and fantasy/sci-fi stories. Inspired by such tales, and tired of encountering stories that import real-world politics and agendas into their narratives and development, he finally decided to write a fantasy story of his own in the hopes of telling a captivating tale that anyone, from any group or walk of life, can enjoy. Connor lives in British Columbia, Canada, with his wife.
Author Website: https://www.chainofworlds.com/
Publisher Site: https://books.friesenpress.com/store/title/119734000211886194
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChainOfWorlds
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChainOfWorlds
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22692051.Connor_Jackson
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