Fresh fantasy series hits bookshelves

ANTHONY Kearle hasn’t just written a book, he’s created an entire world filled with cultures, religions and conflicts.

His first novel Blood of the Eagle is part of the trilogy series, An Echo of the Ashes.

The 630-page fantasy novel focuses on several characters, including the reckless Prince of Annora Lukas Raynor, adventurous seafarer Astrid Farrin and lonely orphan Kitara, forced to defend herself with her skill with steel alone.

The plot follows these characters and many more during a period of civil war, with Kearle seeking to tell realistic and relatable stories that intertwine.

A local author, Kearle said he’s always loved world building and writing the novel was an incredible experience for him.

“I spent probably eight months just creating this place,” he said.

“I started creating this map and who would inhabit all the different lands and territories and all that, adding cultures, religions, trying to make it as realistic as possible.

“In our world there’s different cultures and religions and people and everything’s very different, so it would make sense to do the same sort of thing in mine.”

A keen researcher, Kearle said educating himself on different topics was his favourite part of writing the novel.

“I researched a lot of things that I’ve always loved, like mythology, folklore, fairy tales,” he said. “I’ve studied different religions, I’ve studied medieval ways of sword fighting, combat, strategy.

“I suppose really just getting to know that a lot more and then playing with it in my own unique way and creating the history for these fantastical places I created in my mind, that was really cool.”

The Ballarat author said he can’t wait to flesh out his world even more, with the second book in the trilogy coming early next year, and prequels and spin-offs in the works.

“I’ve really enjoyed writing all of them as much as the first,” he said.

Pick up a copy of Blood of the Eagle at Collins Booksellers on Lydiard Street and Bridge Mall, or at anthonykearle.com.