This past week we gave the spotlight to The Throne of Ice & Ash, J.D.L. Rosell’s Epic Fantasy novel, the first book in the Runewar Saga series! Our Roadies brought a wide selection of content to this show with reviews, interviews and other posts. Now it’s time to bring the show to an end and it’s my pleasure to present you with the encore, including some extra content. Come and learn a bit more about the world of Throne of Ice & Ash through J.D.L.’s fan cast!
Shall we?
J.D.L. Rosell is the author of the bestselling Legend of Tal series, The Runewar Saga, The Famine Cycle series, and the Godslayer Rising trilogy. He has earned an MA in creative writing and has previously written as a ghostwriter.
Always drawn to the outdoors, he ventures out into nature whenever he can to indulge in his hobbies of hiking and photography. Most of the time, he can be found curled up with a good book at home with his fiancée and two cats, Zelda and Abenthy. Find out more (and claim a free book) at www.jdlrosell.com.
In the frigid storms of winter, leaders and warriors are forged… Can the Jarl’s heirs avenge their kin and protect their throne from ancient foes?
Bjorn, son of the Jarl of Oakharrow, has always felt more at ease with a quill than a sword. Yet when tragedy strikes his family, he finds himself drawing a blade and leading a company of warriors into the cold, deadly mountains in pursuit of a mysterious enemy. But vengeance comes at a high price…
Aelthena, Bjorn’s sister, was born with the aptitude to lead, and she’s eager to prove it. But her society’s rules for women, and her love for her brother, restrain her efforts to command. As she walks the fine line between ambition and virtue, the city stirs in unrest, and even her allies question her right to rule…
Yet more than one city’s fate hangs in the balance. Mythic enemies emerge to conquer all humanity. And the only way they can be overcome is for Bjorn and Aelthena to unite their feuding peoples and master mysterious powers few humans have touched before…
The Runewar is rising — and it begins with the fall of the throne.
The Throne of Ice & Ash is Book 1 of The Runewar Saga, a Norse-inspired series by the author of the bestselling Legend of Tal books. Begin a new epic fantasy tale brimming with political intrigue, vast sojourns, grand-scale wars, and awakening magic…
Click on the blog name to read their full review or other content!
MAY 23RD – THE KICKOFF
Whispers & Wonder – guest post: New Takes on Old Tales – The Allure of Norse Mythology + IG spotlight
“I’m one of those guilty of being enraptured by Norse mythology. As a boy, I used to curl up in a big, cushy brown chair in my parents’ living room and become lost in tales of winter and warriors, even when it was a sunny summer afternoon outside. The myths weren’t exactly light reading material, nothing like the Hardy Boys or Harry Potter. I can’t imagine they were written in words a child could easily grasp.
Yet something clearly hooked me. So what was it?”
MAY 24TH
Out of This World SFF Reviews – review
“THE THRONE OF ICE & ASH is such a fantastic read that manages to achieve an air of originality among a myriad of recent Norse-inspired fantasy releases. Please do not be turned off if you feel like you’ve had your fill of Viking fantasy lately, as this one deserves to be read and enjoyed entirely on its own merits. Do yourself a favor and pick up this first book in The Runewar Saga. I was thrilled and entertained beyond measure and suspect that many readers will also feel the same.”
@overlookingcovers – IG spotlight
MAY 25TH
Beneath A Thousand Skies – review
“There is a feeling of momentum throughout The Throne of Ice & Ash, carrying you through the twists and turns of political intrigue, the search for answers, and through some truly fantastic battle scenes. The action when it occurs is brutal and gripping and beautifully paired with schemes and plots, creating an almost relentless flow towards an ending that was nothing like I’d expected, wonderfully fulfilling, while also leaving the path open to the rest of the series. We’re also offered the most tantalising glimpse at the world and story that lies beyond the end of The Throne of Ice & Ash, and it feels as though this first book is the start of an avalanche that is going to carry us through into the rest of the series – and you can’t help but want it to bear you away.”
@metalheadreader – IG spotlight
MAY 26TH
FanFiAddict – reviews
“Overall, I really loved The Throne of Ice & Ash and I am really looking forward to reading more of Rosell’s work. If it is anywhere near as good as this then I already know I am in for one hell of a ride.”
“I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is in search of a good bildungsroman. In fact, they would get a two-fer. Two for the price of one. Aelthena and Bjorn hold a special place in my virtual shelf, and one day soon my physical, but until then, it was a pleasure to be able to visit them in this enthralling first installment of J.D.L Rosell’s The Runewar Saga.”
@indiefantasyaddicts – IG spotlight
MAY 27TH
Spells & Spaceships – review
“If you’re looking for an immersive fantasy story with a fresh feel even in a continually growing Norse inspired market (no complaints from me there) definitely give this one a try! It was fun and it kept me engaged throughout.”
Fantasy Book Critic – interview
MAY 28TH
The Book & Nature Professor – review + IG spotlight
“The Throne of Ice and Ash is a thrilling page-turning Norse epic fantasy. J.D.L. Rossell has written an excellent entry into the genre. There are well-developed characters that defy tropes, excellent world building, and excellent plot and pacing. While there is no magic system in this book, Mr. Rossell seems to be setting the reader up for more to come in the rest of the series. While the book does take place in a Norse inspired world, the descriptions are vivid and brings the world alive. This book was thrilling from beginning to end. It is an excellent fantasy and I highly recommend it.”
@theenchantedshelf – IG spotlight
@all.you.read.is.love – IG spotlight
My wife and I had a ton of fun dreaming up a cast for The Throne of Ice & Ash. Hope you find the selections entertaining!
Bjorn – Froy Gutierrez
- Bjorn, one of our protagonists, is a complicated character, full of diametrically opposing parts to his personality. Part of him wishes for a quiet life tucked among books and away from familial expectations, while another part wishes to do anything to prove himself in the eyes of his society.
- Froy Gutierrez can channel the moodiness – and rage – that are integral to Bjorn, as shown in his role in Cruel Summer.
Aelthena – Evan Rachel Wood
- Aelthena, our second protagonist, is also full of depths. Outwardly, she presents a strong front as she defies her society’s expectations and strives to become a leader among her people. Yet inwardly, she longs for the acceptance and validation that her life as a pariah has denied her.
- Evan Rachel Wood can definitely command a room, such as she does in Westworld. She also can tap into the nuanced expression necessary to convey the softer emotions Aelthena often tries to deny within herself.
Asborn – Domhnall Gleeson
Asborn, Aelthena’s betrothed, could have his sensitivity as well as the harder aspects of his personality captured through the acting of Domhnall Gleeson, as shown by his various roles in Star Wars and Harry Potter.
Frey – Heath Ledger 😥
The charm, the look, the acting chops – if only he were alive, Heath Ledger would be perfect as Frey, the irreverent warrior loyal to Aelthena.
Lord Bor, the Mad Jarl – Sean Bean
Sean Bean always has to get the short shrift, right? Not only are his looks and acting perfect for the role, but Lord Bor suffers from a mental illness that shares some similarities with dementia, while maintaining his strength of personality in his moments of clarity. I think Sean Bean would be able to walk this fine line well.
Bastor – Jason Momoa
Bastor, a roguish side character, is a force of a man in the book, dominant both physically and in personality. Jason Momoa would be a great match for these aspects, as well as for conveying Bastor’s gallows humor that keeps others around him on their toes.
Lady Kathsla – Helen Mirren
Lady Kathsla, mother to Asborn, is a severe and sly woman who has suffered much during her life and endured through it all. Helen Mirren has the chops and the poise to inhabit her character perfectly.
Hoarfrost – Lisa Bonet
One of the mountain tribespeople, Hoarfrost is a leader among the scouts, enduring brutal conditions and protecting her people. Lisa Bonet could portray her unrelenting strength and occasional enduring warmth.
If you are interested in The Throne of Ice & Ashe and would like to get in contact with J.D.L. Rosell, you can find him on social media:
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