The show where your favorite authors tell you about the fantasy books they love!
Authors Review Books | Fantasy
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The show where your favorite authors tell you about the fantasy books they love!
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Publishing Since
9/27/2025
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Recent Episodes
June 4, 2026
Kait Ballenger Reviews The Bone Singer by Abigail Owen
<p><strong>Kait Ballenger, Author of </strong><strong>Original Sinner</strong><strong>, reviews the forthcoming</strong><strong> The Bone Singer </strong><strong>by Abigail Owen</strong></p><p><br></p><p> </p><p>Visit Kait and sign up for her newsletter at: <a href="https://www.kaitballenger.com/">https://www.kaitballenger.com</a></p><p> </p><p>You can find her on TikTok @kaitballenger and Instagram @kait.ballenger</p><p> </p><p>Get Kait’s new book Beautiful Redeemer from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Redeemer-Original-Sinners-Book-ebook/dp/B0FV11B1SK/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1778686428&sr=8-2">Amazon</a></p><p><br></p><p>Find J. G. Gates at <a href="http://jggates.com">jggates.com</a> </p><p><br></p><p>Find his Dragons and Aces spicy romantasy series on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dragons-Aces-Book-ebook/dp/B0DVLPDR8K">Amazon</a>. </p><p><br></p><p>This show is supported by our subscribers on Substack. Join now at <a href="http://authorsreviewbooks.com/">AuthorsReviewBooks.com</a>!</p>
November 8, 2025
J. G. Gates reviews Empire of the Damned by Jay Kristoff
<p><strong>Books featured in this episode</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Dragons and Aces by J. G. Gates </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dragons-Aces-Book/dp/B0F6XTMKW9/"><strong>(find it on Amazon.com)</strong></a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Empire of the Dawn by Jay Kristoff </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Empire-Dawn-Book-Three-Vampire/dp/1250245370/"><strong>(find it on Amazon.com)</strong></a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Empire of the Damned by Jay Kristoff </strong><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1250245338"><strong>(find it on Amazon.com)</strong></a></p><p><br></p><p><strong>Transcript</strong></p><p><br></p><p><strong>J. G. Gates:</strong></p><p>Hello and welcome to Authors Review Books, your show where, as the name implies, your favorite authors share the books they love. I am bestselling author J. G. Gates, author of over a dozen novels, and most recently, you might have heard of Dragons and Aces. It’s an enemy-celebrity story about a badass dragon rider and a dashing biplane pilot from enemy nations. It has banter, it has spice, and if you loved Fourth Wing, then it might just be your next favorite dragon read. So, check it out.</p><p>Our featured new release today is Empire of the Dawn by Jay Kristoff, which is book three of the Empire of the Vampire series. Gabriel de Leon has lost his family, his faith, and his last hope of ending the endless night—the Holy Grail, Dior.</p><p>With no desire left but vengeance, he and a band of loyal brothers journey into the war-torn heart of the Augustan Empire to claim the life of the Forever King. Unbeknownst to the last Silver Saint, the Grail still lives, speeding toward Augustan’s besieged capital in the frail hopes of ending day’s death forever. But deadly treachery awaits within the halls of power, and the Forever King’s legions march ever closer. Gabriel and Dior will be drawn into the final battle that will shape the very fate of the empire. But as the sun sets for what may be the last time, there will be no one left for them to trust.</p><p><strong>J. G. Gates:</strong></p><p>And that is a book that just came out, and it’s actually a perfect transition because the book I’m reviewing today is book two of that series, which is Empire of the Damned, book two of Empire of the Vampire, again by Jay Kristoff. So, what is this book about? Can I summarize it without giving any spoilers? Well, again, it’s book two of the series, so I don’t want to give too much away.</p><p>Gabriel de Leon is a Silver Saint, part of an almost monastic order that battles vampires. He is known throughout the world and the kingdom as somebody who’s a very famous hero. He’s won tons of battles, but he has been cast out by the Silver Saints. He had a family. His family was murdered—hopefully I’m not giving away too much—but his family was killed by the Forever King, who is a vampire, and he is out for blood and vengeance. But he is a very dark and disillusioned hero.</p><p>As a hero, sort of alone and bent on revenge, he really reminds me of one of my favorite characters, Roland from The Dark Tower series by Stephen King. He is that kind of an archetype—just this lone, dark hero. But he actually has a really acerbic, sharp sense of humor and stuff.</p><p>He has found Dior, who is a young street urchin who’s grown into a late teenage young woman, and it turns out that she is the scion, descendant of the Redeemer—which is like a Christ figure in this world—and her blood has the power to kill vampires. According to legend and prophecy, her blood has the power to end day’s death, which is the name for the fact that in this world, it’s just darkness. There’s never really any daytime—it’s always dim. And there’s all kinds of cool world-building elements to go with that, like fungus everywhere because there’s no daylight.</p><p>It’s really cool and inventive, and there’s a lot going on—many characters come through. There’s also Laith, a very powerful vampire who can morph blood—she can make a sword out of blood, a spear out of blood, even form completely into blood and float around. It sounds wild, but it’s actually pretty grounded in the context of the story. She’s from an order called the Asani. She’s a very morally gray character. Pretty much everyone in this story is morally gray—there’s nobody with “noble knight” vibes.</p><p>Laith is super powerful. She drinks the blood of other vampires and gains their power. She wears a mask all the time, which gives her very anime vibes—super powerful, masked, mysterious. You learn later how she’s connected to Gabriel and his past. The world-building is fantastic—it’s dense, but essentially it’s a linear story following Gabriel and Dior’s journey, told in the form of an interview.</p><p>You skip back and forth between when Gabriel is being interviewed—after the adventure has concluded—and when he’s reflecting on what has happened. While being interviewed, he’s in a dungeon, captured by vampires, in danger as he tells his story. It’s complex but a really fun read.</p><p>Some of the tropes you can expect: revenge, a morally gray male main character, and the “touch her and die” vibe. Honestly, Gabriel feels that way about everybody he likes—he’s that kind of character who, if you mess with his friends, he’ll kill you and not feel bad. There’s also a talking sword—which I guess is a trope. The sword is sentient; Gabriel can hear it speaking. It’s broken and a little crazy—when it talks, it’s disjointed—but he has a kind of loving relationship with it.</p><p>There’s a grumpy/sunshine dynamic as well. Gabriel is definitely the grumpiest of all characters, so whoever he’s paired with is the sunshine by comparison. It’s a fun dynamic.</p><p>As for romance and spice—this is not a romance book. There’s a romantic subplot that comes into play more in book two, not really in book one. There’s a “longing backstory romance” like in The Crow—those idyllic flashbacks ripped away, fueling revenge. There’s also some “vampire orgy” spice—it fits the world, though not necessarily a romantic plot. But if you like spice, you’ll like it.</p><p>The standout characters: Gabriel de Leon, obviously. He’s dark, morally gray, a lone warrior archetype like Roland Deschain, but funny, witty, sarcastic—he doesn’t care what anyone thinks. He has gallows humor, shaped by war and loss. He’s been through the worst, but beneath it all, he has a heart of gold. The hill he’ll die on is his friends. No matter how ruthless or sarcastic he gets, you know he’d lay down his life for his friends.</p><p>The other standout is Dior. As the descendant of the Redeemer, she didn’t grow up sanctified but as a street urchin, hustling and fighting to survive. She’s kind, brave, and clever, willing to risk herself to help others. Her blood heals wounds. She irritates Gabriel because she won’t stop helping people, but she also gives as good as she gets when he gives her crap. Their dynamic is sharp, funny, and heartfelt.</p><p>Other cool elements: a lion shifter character, the Silver Saints with glowing silver tattoos that react to faith and blind vampires in battle. They’re both allies and sometimes obstacles for Gabriel.</p><p>Books to compare: The Dark Tower by Stephen King, George R. R. Martin’s grimdark works, or Castlevania. The vibe is very Castlevania—vampires, gothic atmosphere, revenge—exactly the kind of story I always wanted when I was younger. Also Shadow of the Gods by John Gwynn—grimdark, revenge arcs, badass characters.</p><p>I’d give books one and two five stars. I haven’t read book three yet, but Jay Kristoff’s writing is phenomenal. His prose, character building, and world-building are all top-tier. As an author myself—with 13 books out—I don’t often feel awed b...</p>
October 18, 2025
Authors Review Books | Behind the Keyboard with Katharine E. Wibell | Oct 18, 2025
<p><b><strong>Behind the Keyboard: An Interview with Katharine E. Wibell</strong></b></p><p>Transcript </p><p><br></p><p><strong>J. G. Gates:</strong><br> Hello and welcome to the Behind the Keyboard segment of Authors Review Books. My name is J. G. Gates, and please help me welcome <strong>Katharine E. Wibell</strong>.</p><p>Katharine is a high fantasy author, artist, nerd, extrovert, and speaker. Her first series, The Incarn Saga, began in 2016 with Asara’s Claws. Soon three more books completed this fast-paced new adult shifter fantasy.</p><p>Currently, The Djed Chronicles, a Noblebrite YA portal fantasy series, will release its sixth book in 2026. She also creates hand-painted TTRPG miniatures based on her characters, along with accompanying game material.</p><p>So, Katharine, thank you so much for being with us to share your authorly insights today.</p><p><strong>Katharine E. Wibell:</strong><br> Thank you for having me here.</p><p><strong>J. G. Gates:</strong><br> Happy to have you. First of all, let’s dig into your writing process. Tell me about how you write.</p><p><strong>Katharine E. Wibell:</strong><br> That’s a big question! As far as process goes, I’m a morning writer, but I like to juggle multiple projects at once. In the mornings I focus on whatever new manuscript I’m writing—or sometimes editing—and in the afternoons I handle social media and publication tasks.</p><p>Having this kind of writing cycle, where I work on multiple projects at different stages and often from different series, allows me to release two or three books a year. I love high fantasy in all its forms, and being able to jump between mythic retellings and my YA portal fantasy keeps me energized. It helps me avoid burnout and writer’s block—at least so far!</p><p><strong>J. G. Gates:</strong><br> When you start a new project, how do you approach it? Are you a plotter, a pantser, or something in between?</p><p><strong>Katharine E. Wibell:</strong><br> I’m a plantser—I plant the seed and let it grow. I like to have at least a loose outline, often more detailed than that, but still flexible.</p><p>I always know the endgame when I start. I know my main characters, their personalities, and the basics of the world system. But if new characters or subplots emerge as I write, I let them. I don’t want to be so rigid that the story can’t breathe. I want the world to take its first breath and come alive.</p><p><strong>J. G. Gates:</strong><br> How long are your planning documents? Some writers have a few sentences; others have forty pages.</p><p><strong>Katharine E. Wibell:</strong><br> It really varies. For example, I’m finishing a Greek myth retelling right now. I have a loose timeline and scattered notes, but what I really use is what I call rolling notes.</p><p>Whatever chapter I’m working on is at the top, and below that are pages of notes—ideas, bits of dialogue, future scenes. As I go, I can drop those notes in chronologically where they belong. By the end, those rolling notes can be forty pages long! It keeps me from getting lost in the future while staying focused on the scene at hand.</p><p><strong>J. G. Gates:</strong><br> Do you keep those notes in the same document as your manuscript?</p><p><strong>Katharine E. Wibell:</strong><br> Usually, yes. But I also keep a separate style sheet—a reference for characters, physical details, personality notes, scars, wounds, place names, cityscapes, unique terminology. It’s easier to check that than scroll through a manuscript.</p><p>So I mainly use two key documents: the rolling notes and the style sheet.</p><p><strong>J. G. Gates:</strong><br> You’ve published quite a few books. How long have you been writing?</p><p><strong>Katharine E. Wibell:</strong><br> I’ve been storytelling my whole life. As a kid, I made up characters, backstories, and worlds with my sister. Some of those ideas—things I dreamed up at age eight or ten—became part of The Djed Chronicles.</p><p>I first wanted to write a book in high school, but I didn’t start with my “passion project.” Instead, I worked on another idea that became Asara’s Claws. I dabbled with it, took a break for college, and finally published it in 2016—about ten years after I first imagined it.</p><p>Since then, I’ve released nine novels and sixteen novellas, with special editions on the way soon.</p><p><strong>J. G. Gates:</strong><br> Where do your ideas come from now?</p><p><strong>Katharine E. Wibell:</strong><br> Everywhere. My brain just spins off stories. I’ve always loved myths and legends, so I split my writing into two main categories: myth-based retellings and original fantasy worlds.</p><p>Asara’s Claws came from a vivid dream. My multiverse grew out of my childhood play. One world came from a D&D character I played—I want to turn that into a D&D-style progression fantasy with Witcher vibes. Another story grew from a political intrigue challenge my husband gave me. Inspiration can truly come from anywhere, and that’s what I love.</p><p><strong>J. G. Gates:</strong><br> There’s a lot of talk about “writing to market.” How much does that influence your process?</p><p><strong>Katharine E. Wibell:</strong><br> A bit of both. My first series was 100% for me—I didn’t even know marketing was a thing. I published my first book, waited two years, and wondered why no one found it!</p><p>Now I still write what I’m passionate about, but I’m more aware of what readers are looking for. I think about how to describe my book, what tropes it fits, who my readers are, what the comparable titles are.</p><p>I don’t write formulaically, but I do think about marketing early so that I can connect my books with the right audience.</p><p><strong>J. G. Gates:</strong><br> You do a great job connecting with readers. What works best for you?</p><p><strong>Katharine E. Wibell:</strong><br> Start building your platform early. Pick one or two social media platforms and start talking about your process. It’s a free, organic way to reach readers worldwide.</p><p>In the last few years, I’ve also been attending conventions—fantasy cons and book events—sometimes as a vendor, panelist, or moderator. That face-to-face interaction is invaluable for building community and meeting readers.</p><p><strong>J. G. Gates:</strong><br> That’s something I need to do more of.</p><p><strong>Katharine E. Wibell:</strong><br> Come to Georgia! There are lots of great cons here, from Dragon Con with 85,000 people to smaller local events with just a few hundred. They’re all fun and worthwhile.</p><p><strong>J. G. Gates:</strong><br> What’s the worst piece of advice you’ve ever received?</p><p><strong>Katharine E. Wibell:</strong><br> Anything that starts with “This is the only way.” There’s no single right way to write, publish, or market a book. Learn as much as you can, test things, and find what works for you.</p><p><strong>J. G. Gates:</strong><br> That’s so true.</p><p><strong>Katharine E. Wibell:</strong><br> Exactly. What works for one author might flop for another. Your genre, timing, and goals all change the equation. Take advice, try it, and if it doesn’t work, move on.</p><p><strong>J. G. Gates:</strong><br> I like that. What about good advice—what’s something you’d tell new writers?</p><p><strong>Katharine E. Wibell:</strong><br> Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Start your platform early. The writing community is incredibly supportive—especially indie authors. Ask questions, try things, and use the resources available. You’ll learn faster and grow stronger by collaborating, not isolating.</p><p><strong>J. G. Gates:</strong><br> The indie community really is amazing.</p><p><strong>Katharine E. Wibell:</strong><br> It is. So m...</p>
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