So what is Malspire about?
It is the story of Malspire Ardalrion, the crippled son of Duke Ajorion Ardalrion and the twin of Ajator. Malspire and Ajator are like night and day. Malspire is dark and brooding where Ajator is bright, handsome and cast as the perfect Imperial hero. Not that Malspire feels anything but a deep affection for his brother and Ajator feels likewise. In fact Ajator is probably Malspire’s only true friend in the world, at least to begin with.
The world is an Earth like setting of steam ships, technomancy, mechanomancy and dark powers and the closest genre would be a steampunk fantasy. The story however is not about the world but the characters that inhabit it. True, the Empire/world is in peril and the hero might save the day, but this is all background noise as the true story is with Malspire and the new friends and enemies he makes along his journey from naval academy to captaincy.
As a cripple, bent of back and with a bad foot, Malspire is constantly put down, trodden upon and rarely given the chance to show his true self. As the author I loved putting myself in his boots. His father is rich and influential, yet none of it matters due to his figure. He has to fight for respect whereas Ajator is born with it.
Of course what Malspire wants is love – to love and be loved, but it is hard to find. He spends freely of his father’s money, but that kind of love is empty and fleeting. In the book, he thinks he has found true love, but of course it cannot be. The author must be cruel at times and this is one of those times.
Malspire, the book, is a journey. He takes his first steps as a man, finding a way to survive in a world cruel and unforgiving. He is punished, beaten and trodden upon, but he survives and he moves forwards. As he does so, he has adventures, he fights battles and he earns respect, but mostly he begins to discover himself.
Get a copy now
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00IO7P0HY/
Amazon USA: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00IO7P0HY/
More about the author Nikolai Bird | Twitter | Facebook
