Book Details:
Book Title: Romancing the Darkness (Book 1) by Tyler R. Snyder
Category: YA Fiction (Ages 13-17), 260 pages
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Crystal Publishing, LLC
Release date: November 2021
Content Rating: PG-13 + M: There is no sex, but it is implied. The violence is typical for this genre (attacking monsters and a war). The language does include light profanity (hell, damn, ass).
Book Description:
Monsters of Mythical Proportion
Worlds of Magic and Power
Forbidden Love
And DEATH. DEATH is the consequence...
When Tristan defies Ambion’s only law—royal and common blood cannot mix, he discovers the consequences are real. The young guardian finds himself in a world where love and hate, war and peace, duty and betrayal blur into darkness. As his world devolves into a battle for survival, he learns only an Angel can save Ambion from the destruction wielded by the Dividers. Is Tristan the Angel destined to save the world or will he succumb to the wiles of a dark goddess?
“Boy! Hey boy, let me show you the end.” Tristan looked in horror as tens of thousands of men and women were hooded figures. Explosions erupted everywhere, and the black sky spewed red lightning all around the warriors. A ground shaking roar forced Tristan to cover his ears. When he looked up, a massive golden dragon breathed fire upon the world:
fire engulfed the horizon. “The end will begin with ash.”
Buy the Book:
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Meet the Author:Tyler Snyder was born in 1984 in Medford, Oregon.
As a child, he was captivated by movies, video games, and Dungeons and Dragons, along with the worlds these activities created. The original spark that ignited Tyler’s imagination was when he wanted to see a movie similar to The Legend of Zelda, but the closest film at the time was The Dark Crystal. That itch, to this day, has still not been scratched. This led him to books and stories like the pastimes he adored and gave him exposure to a much grander well of ideas and possibilities. Meeting like-minded friends who shared the same hobbies, Tyler developed a passion for creating new worlds. In Romancing the Darkness, Tyler explores his world, Ambion, and the countless decisions confronting his characters.
Mr. Snyder currently lives in Wyoming with his wife, Sandra.
connect with the author: website ~ twitter ~ facebook ~ instagram ~ goodreads
In Romancing the Darkness you reference, “Let me show you the end.” A couple of times by your hooded goddess. What did you mean by this and where did the idea come from?
Let me show you the end has become a bit of a staple to my story. Though it wasn’t completely intentional. I actually dreamt this. It sounds kind of crazy. But I had a dream of a hooded woman telling me to follow her so she could show me the end. It was really creepy. When I woke up I shot out of bed and wrote it down immediately because dreams are fleeting and you forget them quite quickly. I mean it is a small play on words, not to give too much away. But the hooded woman want’s to show Tristan the end and how things will turn out if they continue down their current path.
Your book is based in a world called Ambion. What inspired this world? Have you been to any place that reminded you of it?”
I mean not really? Ambion was purely from my head. I imagine if I got to travel the world I’d get a lot of inspiration to fill my world with greater detail. A few details in my world is inspired by where I live. Like for instance, where I live there are a lot of rabbits, everywhere. That inspired the horned rabbits in Ambion. The large lake in Estes Park, one of the places I go to write, inspired a scene for book 2. You know, small things like that.
What is your next project you are working on?
I am currently adjusting book 2 to fit all the changes I have made to book one. I finished book two before book one was published. With edits and character changes it is one massive chain reaction I have come to find out. But I really love the direction it took my book. Book two is finished, minus adjustments. Book three is halfway done. But I have seven installments for Romancing the Darkness. Plus some other ideas that will help build off this world I am creating.
Is there any specific ritualistic thing you do while you write?
Music! I need music. I actually have a playlist. My own “Soundtrack” if you will that I play while I write. Some of the battle scenes in my story are written to the tempo of some songs. I love music so much and I truly feel music and storytelling create a form of magic in our world and helps take people away for just a moment. Leave their worries behind and let them sink into this fantasy world around them where they slay dragons, save the princess. When Music is playing in the background while I write I don’t even see the words anymore. I drift away and write.
If you were stuck on a deserted island, what three books would you want with you?
A book on raft building. A survival guide. And ninety nine ways salt water is useful. In all seriousness. Three books I would want on an island. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. This was the first Harry Potter book I read and got me into the series. It holds a lot of meaning for me. Number two would be anything from Steven King. The Stand, It, The Shinning. Steven King was the author that got me interested in reading. I actually got in trouble in high school because all I read was Steven King books. One of my English classes had us read a book every two weeks and write reports on them. Yeah clifnotes were available. But why would I rob myself of his writing? As for a third book I am a bit stuck. I’d love a blank book with hundreds of pencils and a sharpener so I could finish my series. But I suppose if I had to pick a third finished book it would be The Lord of the Rings. Cliché I know. But I haven’t seen many who could do it better.
With all the technology in the world, most writers use laptops and computers. Is any of your story written with pen and paper?”
Yes. A long long time ago when I worked for Albertsons I was an overnight stocker. On our nights when we didn’t have grocery loads there would be only one of us working. So on my lunch breaks I brought a notepad and a pen and wrote my story up in the office. Lunch by yourself in an empty grocery store all alone got pretty lonely. So to pass the time I wrote. And when I got off work I transferred my writing onto my computer. Speaking along the lines of pen and paper writing. I actually wrote a six hundred page fan fiction for a show called Dragon ball z when I was a kid. What can I say, I was a fan. I still have it. Can’t read it, it looks like chicken scratches. But it’s something that I cherish and one of the building blocks that created the foundation of the writer I became today.
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Enter the Giveaway:
ROMANCING THE DARKNESS Book Tour Giveaway
My Review:
Romancing the Darkness is the first book I have read by Tyler R. Snyder. I thought it was a good read. I am not a huge fan of this genre but gives me another reason why I should go outside my comfort zone and try something new. It was a charming and enchanting read. The writing is quite unique and different that I found intriguing. Tristan is an interesting character, like I have never seen before in a book. It was entertaining taking this adventure with him. There is a lot of action and danger with a lot of twists and turns that kept me guessing what was to happen next. A few scenes were a little slower paced than I like, but it quickly picked back up again that had me continue reading. It was fun addition to the tale with the fictional monsters like dragons. I thought this is not a predictable book to read at all. I liked it.
I will be giving Romancing the Darkness three and a half stars. I recommend it for readers who enjoy reading fantasy fiction with a few magical elements. I look forward to reading more by Tyler R. Snyder in the near future. I believe this one is definitely worth a read and not to be missed.
I received a paperback copy of Romancing the Darkness from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
It sounds like an interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
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