A behind the scenes look at FROSTBORN by Michael Haddad plus giveaways!

August 18, 2021
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Frostborn

by Michael Haddad

GENRE: YOUNG ADULT FICTION / Fantasy / General

BLURB:

The Frostborn—the one destined to end the war, the one blessed by the magic of Aether—was supposedly nothing more than a hopeless fairytale, a myth lost to time. But as the centuries-long war between the kingdoms of Eljud and Surtrol forces Elias Jökull to evacuate his village, a run-in with the fearsome Gjallarhorn army awakens within him a dormant power long since forgotten by the people—a power signaling the existence of the Frostborn.

With such critical news, hope of victory against Surtrol becomes contagious, yet Elias’s former life of slavery leaves him apprehensive about lending a hand to his own flawed kingdom. Even still, knowing the world will soon be in search of him, the newfound Frostborn must choose his allegiances quickly. And after encountering a ranked Surt captain, he does just that.

But while acting as a double agent, feeding intel to Eljud’s southern enemy and working both sides of the same border, his conflicted self struggles to anchor his loyalty to a single kingdom as buried secrets begin to unearth.

The incessant clash between the north and south is soon coming to an end and Elias will have to find a side to stand on. The hard question is: which side? Everyone wants the Frostborn for themselves, but for how long can Elias let the world string him along?

Let’s explore some interesting facts about Frostborn! Make sure to comment which one is YOUR favourite.

The magic system of Frostborn is based around the three primordial energies: Aether, Nether and Ether. Aether is the vitality/energy of the physical body. Nether is the vitality/energy of the soul, the spiritual self. And lastly, Ether is the vitality/energy of existence and reality.
In Norse mythology, the Hlidskjalf is often referred to as Odin’s throne in Asgard, and it’s a seat with a view high enough to look upon all of the Nine Realms beneath it. I’ve taken inspiration from it to name the Masked King’s throne the same exact thing. This is because, after all, the throne’s location is in the north and resides at a high altitude in a grand palace that appears as if it looks down upon the world around it.
Relics are enchanted weapons used by the renowned Gjallarhorn Army. They’re artifacts that have been blessed by the High Priestess in the waters of Urd’s Well. Humans use Relics to tap into and weaponize their inner energies. Without this tool, they’re incapable of performing magical feats. The Frostborn is an exception because he’s overflowing with Aether and doesn’t need a tool to wield it.
As a follow up fact, the kingdom of Eljud has been harboring the waters of Urd’s Well for themselves and has only distributed the power of Relics to members of the army. This is one of the many reasons Surtrol is at war with them.
I, even as the author, am also incapable of pronouncing most of the places and names in the book. I’m not sure why, but they read so well and beautifully in my head. When I try to pronounce the words, it comes out as a bumbling mess of sounds.
The winter city of Aurgelmir, Eljud’s capital, is named after the first frost giant in Norse mythology, Ymir. Aurgelmir is one of Ymir’s numerous aliases.
The names of several characters in Frostborn are inspired by my experiences in Roleplay. Elias was actually a full-fledge character in roleplay before even entering the setting of Frostborn. Other names inspired by roleplay characters include Khai, Caliel, Agmund, Erik, and Katerina.
Guns exist in the world of Frostborn but have been outlawed and banned due to the threat they had posed against the crown. The Smoke Revolution was a nasty and bloody battle between the citizens of Eljud and the royals. Guns were far too dangerous and far too easy to misuse. The kingdom did not approve and saw that, if things continued unchecked, the masses could wipe out all Gjallarhorns with guns alone. So after the worst of it, the Royal Conclave imposed a decree that made firearms illegal…well, except for one.

Excerpt:

She moves in front of him. “You’re going to get us in trouble.”

“I’ll be sneaky, don’t you worry,” he says, placing a hand on her narrow shoulders to move her aside.

She would argue more if he was not already treading up the path, slipping past the tight groups of travellers while May is engaged in a discussion with another merchant. He shakes his jacket off, folds his arms close to his chest, and lets the coat cover the bindings on each of his wrists. Elias scans the moving sea of people, lifting onto his toes to peek over them. There is no sign of the praised soldiers anywhere, but he perseveres regardless.

He gathers up a pace just quick enough to gain ground, though slow enough to avoid unnecessary attention. Every few steps, he looks to either side and up ahead. Each look yields no promising results, and when the third time comes for Elias to straighten himself out to see, his body knocks against an arm.

A hulking man wheels around, the furrows around his mouth deepening in rage. “By Kaldr, watch where you’re going!”

“Won’t happen again.” Elias eases away discreetly before his foot catches a slick patch of mud, threatening to trip him over.

He slams a hand against the nearest cart to steady his weight, but the jacket drops in the jolting movement.

The enormous man—who Elias now recognizes as a local fisherman named Eero—dives to grab the chains. “Looks like we have a slave on the run.”

He dips under Eero’s arm and the brawny hand snags air. Elias then pushes off the mud, readying his body for a sprint.

Without time to properly register, a jab strikes at the nape of his neck and another sinks into his gut. A foot then blurs at the corner of his eye, hooking behind Elias’s knee and bringing his body down to the mud, his back flattening over the ground. Pain bursts through his muscles, but he has no air to scream. He blinks through the swarm of black dots clouding his vision and heaves a ragged breath. His lungs are a brutal furnace of agony.

“Stop the convoy.” The command comes from a different voice, one too laced with poison to be Eero’s.

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Hardworking university student and recent John Abbott College graduate, Michael Haddad doubles as a fiction author of the fantastic who throws himself into his own writing—who can’t stop imagining new worlds, new ideas, new characters. His passion for roleplaying games has earned him his fair share of teasing, but he’d be lying if he said it didn’t open his imagination. When not at his computer, typing away, Michael is often with his friends and family, losing terribly at tennis, hunkering down for movie marathons, and trying to get a good night’s sleep. As someone born and raised in Montreal, he is no stranger to having ice rinks for streets and snow up to the knee—but that’s nothing a warm cup of coffee can’t beat.

CONNECT WITH MICHAEL HADDAD

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Michael-Haddad-Author-106283484884430

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mhaddad_author/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21313196.Michael_Haddad

PURCHASE LINKS

AMAZON.CA https://amazon.ca/dp/0228849640

AMAZON.COM https://amazon.com/dp/0228849640

BARNES & NOBLE https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/frostborn-michael-haddad/1139075432

BOOK DEPOSITORY https://www.bookdepository.com/Frostborn-Michael-Haddad/9780228849643