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Your next favorite book
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by Andrew Beardmore
Book one of the gripping new historical fantasy series, The Nessemiah.
Is anywhere on Thera safe from Nessemi? Or the hell that lies beyond?
"I'm afraid there are good and bad everywhere, Emilya. It's a fact of life that wherever you look, there are strains of malice."
Fifteen-year-old baker's daughter, Emilya Luca, is in serious trouble with the Glennadian Crown. Her to prevent a small dog from being torn apart by hounds belonging to the callous Prince Magnus. Having been rescued by former naval captain, Jake Oscom, the unlikely pair become fugitives, hunted across Glennad – initially for cruel sport but latterly after Oscom is framed for a heinous crime committed by Magnus himself.
Elsewhere, in a world with unusual geographical quirks and subtle energy lines, hardships endure for a close-knit community of miners and unimaginable foul play befalls a Glennadian princess – but these trials pale into insignificance compared to what northern astronomers have just discovered. Four hundred leagues south, in the ancient city of Thera, the cruel eyes of Calidius Antoninus Dominius have seen the same thing – but to him it merely expedites his imperial ambitions and presents a justified opportunity to brutally murder thousands of his subjects.
"Andrew Beardmore's The Strains of Malice, Book One of The Nessemiah quartet, combines romance and adventure in a land on the brink of disaster. Set in a world that resembles pre-industrialized England, the narrative follows the exploits of several characters as they find themselves in dangerous circumstances. Fifteen-year old Emilya and her defender Jake flee the retribution of sadistic Prince Magnus, while Magnus's sister, Alicya, conceals her identity in another kingdom in an attempt to evade him. Davy, a miner, struggles to protect his 12-year-old apprentice, Will, from the hazards of their profession. General Drax is betrayed and captured, sent to fight in a series of gladiatorial games. Astronomer Arran and brutal King Calidius attempt to safeguard civilization from impending doom.
The book's plot is complex and it features a huge cast of characters, but Beardmore's skill in developing his storylines is exceptional. Although the narrative often shifts from one plot and perspective to another, each remains distinct, keeping the stories from blurring together. It's also hugely entertaining, with unexpected twists that propel the action forward and keep the pages turning.
The author has given a great deal of thought to the world he's creating in The Nessemiah. The Strains of Malice's preface includes maps, tables of months and seasons, a drawing of the planet's solar system, and an excerpt from a fictional history textbook. Later, Alicya (an aspiring historian) reads passages from this same work. It's an impressive creative feat, but unfortunately, some of the most interesting elements—such as a magnetic barrier that prevents travel between the hemispheres—play almost no role in the narrative. One can only assume that all the effort the author has put into worldbuilding will become more relevant in future volumes.
Beardmore relies a little too heavily on archetypes with his characters (the evil ruler, the damsel in distress, the brave hero, etc.). What saves them from being stereotypes, though, is his ability to render realistic dialogue; his wicked rulers, in particular, absolutely ooze their slimy personalities with every interaction. Still, most of the characters would benefit from a little more nuance—again, something that might occur in Book Two.
The Strains of Malice is very much the start of a larger story; none of the many plotlines intersect, nor do any resolve, and as a result it's impossible to say if the series will fully coalesce. But with interesting stories, well-drawn characters, and compelling writing, most readers will want to begin the next entry, Cold Sanctuary, immediately after finishing this one." —BookBrowse
"Poldark meets Gladiator...on another world!" —Ryelands Books
"This authentic and well-developed epic fantasy world reminds me of A Song of Ice and Fire. Prince Magnus certainly gives Joffrey a run for his money!" —LoveReading
"Beardmore is a fantastic storyteller with a penchant for meticulous details. He crafts a world so humanistically flawed and tremendously intriguing." —OnlineBookClub
This information about The Strains of Malice: Book One of The Nessemiah was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Andrew Beardmore is the author of the four-book epic fantasy series, The Nessemiah.
The series commenced with Book One, The Strains of Malice, described by one reviewer as "a sweeping and sophisticated debut to a historical fantasy series that merges human frailty, political intrigue, and cosmic mystery into one masterfully interwoven tale."
Prior to fantasy success, Andrew authored the acclaimed "Unusual & Quirky" series of local history books, each delivering a detailed history of an English county, interspersed with eyebrow-raising anecdotes known as Quirk Alerts!
Andrew's extensive historical knowledge was then used to great effect in bringing to life the vibrant, authentic world of Thera in The Nessemiah.
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