Introducing The Sunset Sovereign: A Dragon's Memoir
“When a dragon finds an assassin sneaking into his lair, he tells her of his life’s work and his soon to be final chapter.”
As part of the Inkfort Press Derby, I collaborated with a few other fantasy authors and we’re helping promote one another before the publishing date on 25 Sept. As such, here’s the first one!
For the past thousand years, the dragon Vakandi has watched the people of Vakfored grow from a wandering band of refugees to a glorious city of art and magic. Under his protection, the city has survived monsters, floods, and wars all without building an army, dam, or even a wall. But time changes everything and now the citizens of his beloved city want him dead.
Vakandi spends his last day telling his assassin why he loves them, and why it's his time to die.
My thoughts?
A dragon as the main character? And not a dragon-shifter or sexy-shirtless-guy-no-47334 but an actual D&D-style dragon? Bring it in!
I am lucky enough to have been a beta reader for this book and I can say - it more than delivers on the blurb. There were scenes where I wanted to yell at the author, there were scenes that made me cry, there were scenes that made me laugh, and even more that made me smile.
It was such an enjoyable and quick read and I just wanted it to keep going. Somebody else compared this book to 1001 Nights and, I have to say, I am dreaming of another 1000 nights (hint hint, nudge nudge to the author).
Do not miss out on this heartwarming and beautiful story!
Quick interview with C.D. Houck
Q. What inspired The Sunset Sovereign: A Dragon’s Memoir?
A. The Sunset Sovereign: A Dragon's Memoir was picked because someone near to me told me they liked the cover. From there I created a story about a dragon and what I had hoped initially, a city builder. The latter part (thankfully) did not happen but was replaced wit ha strong stirring emotional arc that happens across the novel.
Q. Who was your favourite character to write and why?
A. My dragon Vakandi. His deep rumble voice and fatherly figure was a crash of Smaug and Eragon personalities.
Q. Is there anything you would like people to take away from your book?
A. I wanted a story with how even a dragon can make mistakes, that they aren't the pinnacle of perfection. That they have their own tale.
Q. What is your favourite line from your book?
A. "In the circle of our lives, nothing binds you, even death."
Q. And, lastly, what is one book your would recommend for your readers? Is it something similar or something completely different?
A. Interview with vampire by Anne Rice. Its very different, but was the story telling style was an inspiration for this book.
Don’t miss out on this amazing book by C.D. Houck coming out 25 Sept and available for pre-order now!
Want to know more about the Derby? Check out my old post here:
And don’t forget to take a look at my own derby book Soultaming the Serpent, available for purchase now.