Welcome to the Blog Tour for Resurgence of Dawn by Brett Armstrong hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: Resurgence of Dawn
Series: Quest of Fire #5
Author: Brett Armstrong
Publisher: Expanse Books
Release Date: December 12, 2023
Genre: Christian, Epic/High Fantasy, Young Adult
Haunted by tragedies and failures, Anargen and Jason each struggle to find their way. Night has fallen in the Lowlands and neither teen has an easy road ahead. In Anargen’s Era, Monarch Ilyron’s powers and influence grow, forcing Anargen and his dwindling list of allies to travel the length of the Lowlands in a desperate attempt to keep the Quest and all they hold dear from falling into ruin.
Jason meanwhile must find Aria and her grandfather to help unite the Knights of Light from across the Lowlands against his brother, Dorian. But agents of darkness and painful vestiges of his past mix with vindictive new enemies to make the hope of seeing the dawn of the longed-for King’s Day ever so faint. If either teen gives in and surrenders, doom will come swiftly on their world.
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More Books in This Series
Excerpt
Seren’s plea for Anargen to keep the faith
Through the tremors of grief wracking her body, Seren warbled, “Cinaed was devoted to the High King and will be rewarded for his courage and sacrifice. The Lowlands are dark and full of suffering, and we all make mistakes to worsen it. But if you give up, if you forsake your father and me and the Quest and the Great King … that’s the greatest loss. The only one certain to destroy all hope. Don’t abandon me. Above all, don’t abandon the High King.
“Sometimes we must make a stand, and it won’t end in victory as we imagine. But there can be an example, a tower of light for others to see by that draws them to the truth and honor and hope that the High King will renew the Lowlands in his Day. And that is worth clinging to no matter how wretched the Lowlands seem, no matter how deep our mistakes and the dark things that seek to destroy us put us in the mire and gloom. You taught me that, so please, please, please don’t shatter that hope for you and for me by discarding it.”
He looked at her again, and in her eyes was a furious pleading, a longing. Not for him in himself, or even for the Knight he should be, but for a glimmer of the light from the High King that should be burning brightly within him. It was evident in her steadfastly refusing to be quenched. And from its heat and vibrance, he found the assurance that the High King hadn’t abandoned him. Whatever the circumstances may seem.
Like a poultice, it pulled away at the infectious decay ravaging him, not erasing the pain but lessening it. Mending began. He could feel it. Warmth entered his bones, and strength coursed back into his limbs that had been slowly leeched away ever since Cinaed’s death.
Through the tremors of grief wracking her body, Seren warbled, “Cinaed was devoted to the High King and will be rewarded for his courage and sacrifice. The Lowlands are dark and full of suffering, and we all make mistakes to worsen it. But if you give up, if you forsake your father and me and the Quest and the Great King … that’s the greatest loss. The only one certain to destroy all hope. Don’t abandon me. Above all, don’t abandon the High King.
“Sometimes we must make a stand, and it won’t end in victory as we imagine. But there can be an example, a tower of light for others to see by that draws them to the truth and honor and hope that the High King will renew the Lowlands in his Day. And that is worth clinging to no matter how wretched the Lowlands seem, no matter how deep our mistakes and the dark things that seek to destroy us put us in the mire and gloom. You taught me that, so please, please, please don’t shatter that hope for you and for me by discarding it.”
He looked at her again, and in her eyes was a furious pleading, a longing. Not for him in himself, or even for the Knight he should be, but for a glimmer of the light from the High King that should be burning brightly within him. It was evident in her steadfastly refusing to be quenched. And from its heat and vibrance, he found the assurance that the High King hadn’t abandoned him. Whatever the circumstances may seem.
Like a poultice, it pulled away at the infectious decay ravaging him, not erasing the pain but lessening it. Mending began. He could feel it. Warmth entered his bones, and strength coursed back into his limbs that had been slowly leeched away ever since Cinaed’s death.
About the Author
Brett Armstrong has been exploring other worlds as a writer since age nine. Years later, he still writes, but now invites others along on his excursions. He’s shown readers haunting, deep historical fiction (Destitutio Quod Remissio), scary-real dystopian sci-fi (Tomorrow's Edge), and dark, sweeping epic fantasy (Quest of Fire). Every story is a journey of discovery and an attempt to be a brush in the Master Artist’s hand. Through dark, despair, light, joy, and everything in between, the end is always meant to leave his fellow literary explorers with wonder and hope. Always busy with a new story, he also enjoys drawing, gardening, and spending time with his wife and son.
Connect with Brett at brettarmstrong.net to follow him on social media and sign up for email updates.
Author Interview
Q: What inspired you to write Resurgence of Dawn?
Brett: The whole Quest of Fire series is to an extent a story about how stories can shape us and encourage us. How the actions we take now can reverberate across the years to impact people we'll never meet apart from in Heaven. There are two major timelines and sets of characters, Anargen and Thomas in the Middle Era and Jason in the Modern Era. The two are separated by about 400 years, so all Jason has is the stories of what Anargen and Thomas faced as told by Jason's mentor, Cinaed. Across the series Anargen and Thomas face these awful and impossible situations and are pressed over and over to just give up. To leave the Quest of Fire and go back to normal lives and forsake their oaths to the High King. But they don't, even when it seems like no one is watching and only harm will come to them with no good, they stand firm. And Jason hears these stories as he is faced with trials and doubts and is forced to choose to join the Quest or not. Resurgence of Dawn is where the seeds sown in The Gathering Dark and Shadows at Nightfall really started bearing fruit for Jason. He goes from hearing to acting on what he's heard and learned. You can see it in how the series is structured. In The Gathering Dark the majority of the book is about what Anargen was facing and only a bit about Jason. Shadows at Nightfall it's more balanced but still weighted to Anargen's trials. Now in Resurgence of Dawn there's a shift and it's primarily about Jason's actions now. That's really important to the book and series. There is transformation in Jason as he chooses to follow the High King and learns from those who came before him and is encouraged to stand firm in the faith because others who came before him did as well. I feel like that's something we need so badly in our current world. To not just look back at those who came before us but to also see ourselves as the examples a future generation will have to look back at and see that we stood firm and faithful to the end. So, we can say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”*
* 2 Timothy 4:7-8, ESV
Q: How long did it take you to write this book?
Brett: I’ve had the basics of the story for years, but Resurgence of Dawn was undeniably a miracle. For most people things after the COVID pandemic started to calm down pretty quickly after things opened back up. By my work didn’t start to normalize for much longer and I got behind on all of my writing projects. Going into the start of 2023 I had two full length novels set to release later that year with deadlines within the first two months. I tried to work on both books but I was completely overwhelmed in a way I’ve never been. So, I prayed about it and asked God to help. Without His help, the books weren’t going to get done. After that the words didn’t just come, they flowed like they never have in my life and with some grace from my publisher both books were done in four months. Over 200,000 words in less time than it normally takes me do a 40,000 word novella. And, the most incredible thing is that when I went back and read those two books, I really feel like they’re two of the best things I’ve ever been privileged to write. The action and pacing were on point, the world-building was solid and the themes, especially the spiritual ones in each, were solidly woven into the fabric of the stories. Most of my books come together over a year or more, but Resurgence of Dawn, by God’s grace and provision and 100% to His glory, came about in two months.
Q: What surprised you while researching/writing this novel?
Brett: One of the cool things about Quest of Fire is the Modern Era is set in a 1910-1920’s type timeframe. There’s cars and telephones alongside Knights wielding divinely imbued swords. An ancient quest in a much more contemporary world. As part of the research for the book, I had to figure exactly what kind of technology would reasonably be available to a society that mirrors that timeframe in real world history. In particular, how advanced aviation and automobiles had become. It’s also a pretty varied book in terms of localities so I ended up researching history and culture for Turkiye, Persia, Armenia and the Caucasus. Including clothing, drinks, and desserts. Which for history nerd like me was so much fun!
Q: Do you have a favorite quote from Resurgence of Dawn?
Brett: I really like the quote below, because it refers back to a moment in the series that I think personally is one of the coolest and most meaningful pictures of what Christ does when we first believe:
“Do you know the High King of All Realms?”
“Huh?” The question threw Jason. It seemed silly, given the man already knew Jason was newly joined to the Knight Order.
“Do you know the High King of All Realms?” the being repeated.
“I do know him,” Jason replied. Finding the answer too brief, he scoured for something else to add and came upon something intensely personal. “He’s the breaker of my chains.”
Q: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?
Brett: I’m not sure when I first realized I wanted to be an author. I do know when it first became real to me though. Which I should probably explain. Some time ago, I found an old assignment from sixth grade in my parents’ attic where we were asked to write about what we would be doing across the next five decades into the future. Featured prominently in my assignment was the declaration that I would be an author. The years between sixth and college cast doubt for me that I could be an author. I thought I had to pick a profession that wasn’t a dream, one that was stable and would provide for me and the family I hoped to have some day. While I was in college following that plan in the computer engineering and electrical engineering dual major track, I was pretty depressed. Math is great, so I thought I’d enjoy engineering, but it left me feeling kind of hollow. In my junior year I had some space in my schedule that I needed to fill because a class I needed to take was already full, so I took a creative writing class for fun. It was such a breath of fresh air to me I took another the following semester and that’s when I wrote a short story titled, “Destitutio Quod Remissio”. It was about a Roman senator who was a Christian in secret but was betrayed and lost everything. He then had a dilemma: sate his desire for revenge or embrace the call to forgive as Christ forgives. I thought for sure in a secular college class it would get shredded, but my fellow classmates and instructor were incredibly positive and supportive. Several classmates said I should turn it into a novel. I mulled that over for days afterward and on my way home from the class it just hit me. Writing wasn’t just a hobby or fun distraction. It was something I felt the Lord was drawing me to deep within, something I was made to do for His honor. That’s when my journey to becoming an author began in earnest and ever since I’ve prayed to be a brush in the Master Artist’s hand. I’m a rather crude tool, but I’m grateful to be used.
Q: What are you currently reading?
Brett: Right now, I’m participating in the book launch for a fellow Christian speculative fiction author, CE Stone. I’ve been aware of and interested in reading her Starganauts space opera series for years and as part of the launch I’m reading through each of them. I’m enjoying it so far and its really cool to get to support my fellow author.
Q: What is your favorite genre to read?
Brett: I usually enjoy reading speculative or historical fiction stories most, but am open to pretty much anything. Lately, my wife and I have been listening to audiobooks together and she’s a fan of YA, romance, and mystery books so a lot of my recent reads are in those genres. I often say that as a writer, I tend to write in speculative and historical fiction genres, but am open to writing any the Lord leads me to, because the story and what it conveys matters most. I’d like to say the same is true of what I’m willing to read. If the story is one the Lord puts in my path and can build me as a person and follower of Christ, then I’m all for it.
Q: What is your favorite hobby?
Brett: I would have to say drawing. By time volume spent, it would look like video gaming, and that is owed a lot to my son. I don't get to draw as much as I would like, but it's so calming for me. It's also one of the special things between my wife and I. Our first Valentine's Day as a couple I was away on my freshman college year and she was finishing her senior year of high school. I wanted to get her something, but was completely clueless about arranging a flower delivery from that far away, so I drew her a picture of her favorite flower and included a personal note and mailed it to her. I had never given away any of my artwork before so it was a really personal gesture from my perspective. Ever since then, I've tried to draw her something around holidays and our anniversary. I don't know if anyone else would find it romantic—probably dorky—but my wife has always treated each one as special.
Drawing has also become really helpful to me as an author for sketching out characters, places, scenes, etc. Details that come out in the drawing invariably end up giving more character and depth to the stories. One quick sketch I did actually ended up so inspiring me that it became a key scene and plot point of the Quest of Fire book preceding Resurgence of Dawn.
Brett: The whole Quest of Fire series is to an extent a story about how stories can shape us and encourage us. How the actions we take now can reverberate across the years to impact people we'll never meet apart from in Heaven. There are two major timelines and sets of characters, Anargen and Thomas in the Middle Era and Jason in the Modern Era. The two are separated by about 400 years, so all Jason has is the stories of what Anargen and Thomas faced as told by Jason's mentor, Cinaed. Across the series Anargen and Thomas face these awful and impossible situations and are pressed over and over to just give up. To leave the Quest of Fire and go back to normal lives and forsake their oaths to the High King. But they don't, even when it seems like no one is watching and only harm will come to them with no good, they stand firm. And Jason hears these stories as he is faced with trials and doubts and is forced to choose to join the Quest or not. Resurgence of Dawn is where the seeds sown in The Gathering Dark and Shadows at Nightfall really started bearing fruit for Jason. He goes from hearing to acting on what he's heard and learned. You can see it in how the series is structured. In The Gathering Dark the majority of the book is about what Anargen was facing and only a bit about Jason. Shadows at Nightfall it's more balanced but still weighted to Anargen's trials. Now in Resurgence of Dawn there's a shift and it's primarily about Jason's actions now. That's really important to the book and series. There is transformation in Jason as he chooses to follow the High King and learns from those who came before him and is encouraged to stand firm in the faith because others who came before him did as well. I feel like that's something we need so badly in our current world. To not just look back at those who came before us but to also see ourselves as the examples a future generation will have to look back at and see that we stood firm and faithful to the end. So, we can say, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.”*
* 2 Timothy 4:7-8, ESV
Q: How long did it take you to write this book?
Brett: I’ve had the basics of the story for years, but Resurgence of Dawn was undeniably a miracle. For most people things after the COVID pandemic started to calm down pretty quickly after things opened back up. By my work didn’t start to normalize for much longer and I got behind on all of my writing projects. Going into the start of 2023 I had two full length novels set to release later that year with deadlines within the first two months. I tried to work on both books but I was completely overwhelmed in a way I’ve never been. So, I prayed about it and asked God to help. Without His help, the books weren’t going to get done. After that the words didn’t just come, they flowed like they never have in my life and with some grace from my publisher both books were done in four months. Over 200,000 words in less time than it normally takes me do a 40,000 word novella. And, the most incredible thing is that when I went back and read those two books, I really feel like they’re two of the best things I’ve ever been privileged to write. The action and pacing were on point, the world-building was solid and the themes, especially the spiritual ones in each, were solidly woven into the fabric of the stories. Most of my books come together over a year or more, but Resurgence of Dawn, by God’s grace and provision and 100% to His glory, came about in two months.
Q: What surprised you while researching/writing this novel?
Brett: One of the cool things about Quest of Fire is the Modern Era is set in a 1910-1920’s type timeframe. There’s cars and telephones alongside Knights wielding divinely imbued swords. An ancient quest in a much more contemporary world. As part of the research for the book, I had to figure exactly what kind of technology would reasonably be available to a society that mirrors that timeframe in real world history. In particular, how advanced aviation and automobiles had become. It’s also a pretty varied book in terms of localities so I ended up researching history and culture for Turkiye, Persia, Armenia and the Caucasus. Including clothing, drinks, and desserts. Which for history nerd like me was so much fun!
Q: Do you have a favorite quote from Resurgence of Dawn?
Brett: I really like the quote below, because it refers back to a moment in the series that I think personally is one of the coolest and most meaningful pictures of what Christ does when we first believe:
“Do you know the High King of All Realms?”
“Huh?” The question threw Jason. It seemed silly, given the man already knew Jason was newly joined to the Knight Order.
“Do you know the High King of All Realms?” the being repeated.
“I do know him,” Jason replied. Finding the answer too brief, he scoured for something else to add and came upon something intensely personal. “He’s the breaker of my chains.”
Q: When did you first know you wanted to be an author?
Brett: I’m not sure when I first realized I wanted to be an author. I do know when it first became real to me though. Which I should probably explain. Some time ago, I found an old assignment from sixth grade in my parents’ attic where we were asked to write about what we would be doing across the next five decades into the future. Featured prominently in my assignment was the declaration that I would be an author. The years between sixth and college cast doubt for me that I could be an author. I thought I had to pick a profession that wasn’t a dream, one that was stable and would provide for me and the family I hoped to have some day. While I was in college following that plan in the computer engineering and electrical engineering dual major track, I was pretty depressed. Math is great, so I thought I’d enjoy engineering, but it left me feeling kind of hollow. In my junior year I had some space in my schedule that I needed to fill because a class I needed to take was already full, so I took a creative writing class for fun. It was such a breath of fresh air to me I took another the following semester and that’s when I wrote a short story titled, “Destitutio Quod Remissio”. It was about a Roman senator who was a Christian in secret but was betrayed and lost everything. He then had a dilemma: sate his desire for revenge or embrace the call to forgive as Christ forgives. I thought for sure in a secular college class it would get shredded, but my fellow classmates and instructor were incredibly positive and supportive. Several classmates said I should turn it into a novel. I mulled that over for days afterward and on my way home from the class it just hit me. Writing wasn’t just a hobby or fun distraction. It was something I felt the Lord was drawing me to deep within, something I was made to do for His honor. That’s when my journey to becoming an author began in earnest and ever since I’ve prayed to be a brush in the Master Artist’s hand. I’m a rather crude tool, but I’m grateful to be used.
Q: What are you currently reading?
Brett: Right now, I’m participating in the book launch for a fellow Christian speculative fiction author, CE Stone. I’ve been aware of and interested in reading her Starganauts space opera series for years and as part of the launch I’m reading through each of them. I’m enjoying it so far and its really cool to get to support my fellow author.
Q: What is your favorite genre to read?
Brett: I usually enjoy reading speculative or historical fiction stories most, but am open to pretty much anything. Lately, my wife and I have been listening to audiobooks together and she’s a fan of YA, romance, and mystery books so a lot of my recent reads are in those genres. I often say that as a writer, I tend to write in speculative and historical fiction genres, but am open to writing any the Lord leads me to, because the story and what it conveys matters most. I’d like to say the same is true of what I’m willing to read. If the story is one the Lord puts in my path and can build me as a person and follower of Christ, then I’m all for it.
Q: What is your favorite hobby?
Brett: I would have to say drawing. By time volume spent, it would look like video gaming, and that is owed a lot to my son. I don't get to draw as much as I would like, but it's so calming for me. It's also one of the special things between my wife and I. Our first Valentine's Day as a couple I was away on my freshman college year and she was finishing her senior year of high school. I wanted to get her something, but was completely clueless about arranging a flower delivery from that far away, so I drew her a picture of her favorite flower and included a personal note and mailed it to her. I had never given away any of my artwork before so it was a really personal gesture from my perspective. Ever since then, I've tried to draw her something around holidays and our anniversary. I don't know if anyone else would find it romantic—probably dorky—but my wife has always treated each one as special.
Drawing has also become really helpful to me as an author for sketching out characters, places, scenes, etc. Details that come out in the drawing invariably end up giving more character and depth to the stories. One quick sketch I did actually ended up so inspiring me that it became a key scene and plot point of the Quest of Fire book preceding Resurgence of Dawn.
Tour Giveaway
(2) winners will each win a $25 Amazon gift card, a print copy of Resurgence of Dawn, and a digital poster of the Lowlands!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 24, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 1, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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