Interview with Wayne Thomas Batson

(First in a series of interviews with the Motiv8 Fantasy Fiction Tour authors.)

 

Wayne Thomas Batson (enterthedoorwithin.blogspot.com) is a middle school teacher and author. He has written five novels, three in the fantasy genre and two about pirates. Recently, Mr. Batson took time out of his busy schedule to do an e-mail interview with Incredibooks.

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Isle of Fire Released

Wayne Thomas Batson’s new book Isle of Fire has been released! Here’s the official announcement.

Isle of Fire (Pirate Adventures) (Hardcover)
by Wayne Thomas Batson
ISBN: 1400312167

Price: USD 11.55
34 used & new available from USD 10.59

The Final Storm

Our rating: ****

Older Readers

The Final Storm: The Door Within Trilogy - Book Three (The Door Within) (Paperback)
by Wayne Thomas Batson
ISBN: 140031013X

Price: USD 9.99
39 used & new available from USD 4.93

 The Realm is in grave danger as Paragor marches ever nearer with an immense army. Only the legendary three witnesses can save our friends from the previous books. Meanwhile, Aidan is still trying to get through to his friend Robby about the Realm and King Eliam. And Antoinette is still in the Realm, captured by Robby’s evil Glimpse. As Paragor’s army reaches Alleble, the three witnesses must be discovered, and everybody must choose whose side they are on.

This is an epic fantasy tale that moves quickly from page one all the way to the end. So quickly, in fact, that I almost feel like Wayne Thomas Batson could have split The Final Storm into two books and slowed down a little bit. However, that is my only major complaint with this one. The characters really come to life, there’s great humor, excitement, and a very satisfying ending.

Why did I read it?Could have been betterAverageFantastic!Incredibook! (2 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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Other books you may enjoy:

Isle of Swords

Our rating: ****½

Older Readers

Isle of Swords (Hardcover)
by Wayne Thomas Batson
ISBN: 1400310180

Price:
26 used & new available from USD 2.52


It all starts when Declan Ross, captain of the William Wallace, and his headstrong daughter Anne take on a badly injured boy who has no memory of his previous life. As time goes on, the truth about a great treasure, long believed lost, is revealed. Hidden by a mysterious order of monks, this treasure must be reclaimed—and Declan Ross is the one to do it. Perilous dangers await in the journey, and Bartholomew Thorne, the most dreaded pirate on the high seas, is determined to find the treasure first. So begins a deadly race to the Isle of Swords with more at stake than first meets the eye.

Despite a few flaws, I was quite impressed with this book. A great page-turner, memorable characters, and many intricate subplots. I debated whether to mark this for ages 13+, like the other Wayne Thomas Batson books we’ve reviewed, or to bump it up to 15+. I will leave it at 13+ with a warning: Bartholomew Thorne is not a nice fellow, and he does not treat his prisoners kindly. Nothing was overly vivid, but it had me grimacing on several occasions. So do take that into consideration.
Also, I was under the impression that Isle of Swords was a stand-alone book. Be forewarned! I raced through the climax right to the end where the story is left at a cliffhanger. While the main plot is resolved, many mysterious puzzles are left unsolved. All that to say, I’ll be watching for Isle of Fire, the sequel.

Why did I read it?Could have been betterAverageFantastic!Incredibook! (13 votes, average: 4.77 out of 5)
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Other books you may enjoy:

The Rise of the Wyrm Lord

Our rating: ****

Older Readers

The Rise of the Wyrm Lord: The Door Within Trilogy - Book Two (The Door Within) (Paperback)
by Wayne Thomas Batson
ISBN: 1400310121

Price: USD 9.99
56 used & new available from USD 3.59

At his first day in the new school, Aidan meets a girl by the name of Antoinette, who, he discovers, believes in King Eliam, but has never been to the Realm. She confides to Aidan that she’s been having nightmares lately, which Aidan believes is a sign of King Eliam calling her to the Realm. Mindful of his friend Robby, Aidan asks her to find Robby’s Glimpse and try to make him see the truth. Antoinette’s parents, who also believe, agree that she may go, and Antoinette journeys through the Door Within to face a danger greater than any of them imagined.
Paragor has not lessened his dark designs and is at work unleashing an evil, held captive since long ago. Antoinette is chosen to be the Twelfth Knight on a mission to convince Yewland’s queen that breaking an alliance with King Eliam would be fatal. They travel to Yewland only to discover the enemy has not wasted his time. The leader of the Knights decides they must warn another kingdom, but Antoinette has found Robby’s Glimpse. Lord Kearn, one of Paragor’s chief servants. She decides to disobey the knights and try to talk to Kearn. A choice that leads to a disaster only King Eliam can right.

I enjoyed this book immensely. I whipped through it in two days flat. Actually, a day and a half, then I read the third one in a second half of the second day. (How was that for confusing?) There’s a lot of action, and it felt very real as I read it. The characters weren’t cheesy or overplayed. In fact, I would find myself cheering them on or getting frustrated at Antoinette for her disobedience. Some of the fight sequences were a little more on the—how do I say this?—messy side of things. Let me see, what else might you want to know… The new badguys are very creepy, Yewland is pretty cool. Oh, and if anyone panics when Antoinette goes after Kearn, don’t worry. Nothing drastic happens, although I wouldn’t want to be in her shoes.

Why did I read it?Could have been betterAverageFantastic!Incredibook! (9 votes, average: 4.11 out of 5)
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Other books you may enjoy: