I am here today with something very exciting. As part of the blog tour for one of my most anticipated reads of the year, I have a sneak peek at the creation story of one of the islands in the Isles of Storm and Sorrow series. If you’ve been living under a rock, you will know that this book I have been shouting about and excited for since I finished the first one! 

Venom by Bex Hogan

“Marianne has never wanted to be a fighter, but with unrest and discord threatening the Twelve Islands, she will have to battle threats both inside and out in an attempt to attain peace for her homeland. Marianne is now the Viper, but her hopes for peace in the Eastern Isles are being frustrated. The corrupt King remains on the throne, bandits are proving hard to stop and Marianne is not sure who among her crew she can truly trust. For the islands to prosper, the invisible bond that once existed uniting land and sea must be reinstated. There’s only one way that can happen – the return of magic. To do that Marianne must put aside all her fears: she must return to her roots, the Western Isles, and call on the power that runs in her blood. She must become a Mage. Only then, can she possibly command the army needed to finally take down the King.”

Bex is here to share with you all a back story behind the 7th Isle, and guys, I couldn’t be happier to read this. I love a bit of a back story. It’s what I live for.

THE CREATION STORIES

The Seventh Isle

It is said that after an eternity of nights, surrounded only by the stars for company, that the moon longed to see the sun. To bask in warmth and look down at the world beneath and see more than simply shadow. But the moon was fated only ever to be taunted by the light of day, merely glimpsing it as they crossed paths, as one rose and the other fell. The sorrow burdened the moon, its broken heart rotting away at its beam until all that was left was bitterness and jealousy.

Determined that it shouldn’t have to suffer alone, the moon turned its wrath to the world below and wept black tears which fell to the island beneath its gaze. If the moon was cursed to perpetual night, then so too would another be.

The island was lush, an oasis of green, its jungles alive with magic. At the touch of the first tear, all life shrivelled to nothing, the trees twisting to dead tangles. Like a plague, the darkness spread outwards, even as the moon’s tears continued to fall, until every trace of green was extinguished.

The once fertile ground was rendered to a treacherous swampland. The trees no longer stretched to the sky in praise, but stooped to the ground in misery. Its pleasant warmth turned humid and sticky, the moss and lichens dissolving to mouldy slime. Vines strangled the plants and scaled the trees where they hung like hangman’s ropes. What once were crystal clear pools of water, were now bogs, deep and dangerous, with vile creatures lurking beneath.

And always the light was banished, the island forever cast in shadowy gloom, the decaying magic doomed, ensuring beauty and vibrancy could never again return.

LOVE IT. SO SO MUCH. It’s these kind of things that I love as a reader. 

A massive thank you to Bex for writing this and to the publishers for inviting me on the blog tour! Check out my review of Venom TOMORROW on this very blog! I had A LOT OF WORDS to say so be sure to have a cup of tea or something! Be sure to check out the rest of the blog tour too! 

S x