All The Write Stuff: The Blade in the Angel’s Shadow

An Empire born through Angelic magic, or a hell on Earth? One woman’s sword may decide it all.

The Blade in the Angel’s Shadow

by Andy Darby

Genre: Historical Fantasy, Swords and Sorcery

The Angels want to usher in Revelation, and what better way than through the creation of the British Empire?

Infamous swordswoman Captain Lament Evyngar awaits execution in the Tower of London, charged with heresy and attempted regicide, but all is not as it seems. Unwittingly entangled in the schemes of the Angels, she recounts her tale to the Queen's sorcerer, Dr Dee, who is more than a little responsible for her predicament.

Dr Dee has designs for a British Empire that will dominate the world for ages to come, and with the aegis of the Angels, he has the power to make it a reality. But, two elements are missing, and through blackmail and occult ritual, Lament and her giant Dutch comrade are forced to journey to the war-ravaged Spanish Netherlands on a quest that will reveal the truth about strange entities that use humans to fight out their eternal conflicts and in doing so alter the course of history forever.

So, a bargain is made, a child is created, and death is no longer an option for Lament as she is swept back and forth through time and space, her identity suddenly made fluid until she can at last return to the London of Queen Elizabeth I and face the cosmic horror that is unveiled in the royal court.

GUEST POST

What inspired you to write this book?

I have been interested in the Elizabethan period for many years and am also fascinated by Elizabeth’s astrologer, Dr. Dee. I wanted to write a sword and sorcery novel based in this world rather than a second world, and this historical period seemed perfect. The Renaissance brought new scientific discoveries and a different worldview. At the same time, the Reformation in England and the wars between Catholic and Calvinist forces in Europe seemed likely to plunge much of Europe back into the Dark Ages. Add to this the plague, the advances in firearms, the tacit acceptance of magic and witchcraft, and the discovery of the New World, and you have a stage upon which all things could be possible. All that was needed was to drop in believable protagonists (Lament and Pieter) and twist the timeline, and there it was!

What can we expect from you in the future?

I am plotting out the next novel in the story of Lament, and I have plans to write a collection of short stories which focus on Lament’s time shifts and more esoteric experiences. I have plans for a medieval Spanish tale featuring vampires, the story of a God-possessed warrior, and all the other crazy that is bouncing around in my head! Oh, and there is also an alternative history fantasy that I have been working on for the past twenty-five years or so, and I will, at some point, write the third volume of Chronicles of the Monkey God. On top of this, I am trying to write short stories and flash fiction for various publications…

Do you have any “side stories” about the characters?

There will be…

Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in The Blade in the Angel’s Shadow?

Captain Lament Evyngar is the third and youngest daughter of a member of the English landed gentry. She was always a tomboy and learned to fence under the instruction of a master swordsman and friend of her father. Her family are Catholic recusants (those who refuse to convert to Protestantism), although Lament has no religious preference. She joins a company of mercenary adventurers after killing a man in a duel and becomes infamous as a swordswoman in the wars in the Spanish Netherlands.

Sergeant Pieter Hertgers is Lament’s comrade in arms. He is a red-haired giant of a Dutch man who served with Landsknecht forces, fighting for both sides in the wars. After his regiment was destroyed, he found himself fighting alongside the English forces and Lament, and they have been firm friends ever since.

Dr. John Dee is the prime instigator of the book's action. He is the sorcerer, mathematician, spymaster, and manipulator of the Elizabethan court. He is on a mission to aid the angels in their plan to bring about the end of times and the return of humanity to Eden. He is totally loyal to Queen Elizabeth and believes that she will be the world ruler of a new British Empire.

How did you come up with the concept and characters for the book?

The concept was not difficult, as the historical Dr Dee believed that he was aiding the angels with their schemes through the creation of a British Empire. The other characters just sort of came as I was plotting the book - although Lament was originally male (called Joseph), and when I had almost finished the first draft, I realised that the lead character should be a woman as it would be so much better.

Where did you come up with the names in the story?

I did a lot of web searches for 16th-century names, but I found one in the references of a medical paper!

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?

Deciding which way to move the action to fit in with the historical facts that underpin it.

Tell us about your main characters- what makes them tick?

Lament is sick of war and the hypocritical actions of those prosecuting it. Although she is ultimately a pragmatist, she has a strong sense of self and her own moral compass. She is an expert swordswoman who is extremely comfortable with her abilities.

Pieter is loyal to Lament and, although more sanguine about war, is happy to try a new future beyond soldiering. He will fight to the death for what he believes, even facing sorcery, the only thing that scares him.

Dr Dee is a complex collection of beliefs, intellectual abilities, and loyalty. He is prepared to use his sorcerer’s abilities to further the aims of the angels and his Queen.

How did you come up with the title of your first novel?

Wrote a lot of words down and picked the ones I liked most!

Who designed your book covers?

My day job is as a designer, so I did the artwork and layout for the cover myself.

If you had to do it all over again, would you change anything in your latest book?

No, I think anything that needs fixing can be addressed in further volumes.

Did you learn anything during the writing of your recent book?

Yes, a whole lot about life in Elizabethan London and the Low Countries of the 80 Years War.

Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?

A good many of the characters in the book are real, historical characters, but the main two protagonists are an invention.

Have you written any other books that are not published?

No.

If your book had a candle, what scent would it be?

Frankincense.

What did you edit out of this book?

Excessive descriptions.

Is there an writer which brain you would love to pick for advice? Who would that be and why?

Michael Moorcock. I have been a massive fan since my teens, and he is one of the reasons why I write. His vast output and brilliant imagination have always kept me going!

Do you read yourself and if so what is your favorite genre?

An author who doesn’t read isn’t an author! An author must read to know what good and bad writing are and to expand their own imaginations. I have read copiously for as long as I can remember. I even get angsty if I finish a book and haven’t got another one to move on to (eBooks have helped to alleviate my stress as I can get a new book instantly!). I would say that sword and sorcery/fantasy/historical fiction are my favourite genres, although I will happily read fiction or nonfiction, in fact, anything that interests me. My bookcases are packed with works on history, geopolitics, psychology, philosophy, science, military history, the occult, art, biographies, as well as fantasy, sci-fi, historical fiction, crime, war, horror…

Do you prefer to write in silence or with noise? Why?

I like music while I write. It helps put me in the right space and, if the right songs come on, can really add to my scene-building!

Do you write one book at a time or do you have several going at a time?

I have several on the go, but once I start to focus on a particular story, I chase that one until it is complete.

If you could have been the author of any book ever written, which book would you choose?

Pen or type writer or computer?

Starts off with a pen and then gets daily transferred to the computer.

Tell us about a favourite character from a book.

What made you want to become an author and do you feel it was the right decision?

A day in the life of the author?

Advice they would give new authors?

Just write! Don’t wait for the right time or the muse to take you. If there is a story there then do battle with it. Be passionate about wanting to get it out there. Writing is a job, and if you are going to be any good at it, you have to sit down and write!

Describe your writing style.

I have a good idea of my characters and where I want them to go but I like to let the story take me places I never imagined – there are always surprises!

What makes a good story?

A story that draws me into the characters' world is always a winner. I don't mean extensive descriptions or world-building (frankly, that can be tedious); I want short, vivid descriptions and visceral events that make me feel more than just a voyeur.

What are they currently reading?

The Ionian Mission by Patrick O’Brian.

What is your writing process? For instance do you do an outline first? Do you do the chapters first?

These days, I write an outline that lets me know where any potential holes might be. Then, I research to fill those holes while I am writing the beginning scenes/chapters of the book. Every day, I re-read what I wrote the day before and edit what needs editing before I start to type up what I had written in my notebook the previous evening. Rinse and repeat.

What are common traps for aspiring writers?

Comparing yourself to others and not getting feedback on your writing from people you trust to give you a truthful answer. That and not getting down to writing.

What is your writing Kryptonite?

My day job!

Do you try more to be original or to deliver to readers what they want?

I want to be original, and I don’t follow fashionable tropes.

If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?

Start writing sooner!

What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters from the opposite sex?

Ensuring that you don’t just end up with a cliché - that is a sad waste of a wonderful opportunity to discover a different way of thinking and behaving.

How long on average does it take you to write a book?

Approximately twelve months for the first draft.

Do you believe in writer’s block?

No. If you are struggling with ideas, then you should just continue to write and see what happens. Writing is a job, so you need to put the work in.

EXCERPT

As she scans the room, Lament finds her vision shifting, as if she is looking through a many-faceted gem that breaks up the image. She blinks hard, but the visual effect remains, and some of the men in the room begin to blur and take on a warped appearance, their faces becoming demonic.

She reflexively grabs the hilt of her dagger while the fingers of her other hand tighten on the edge of the tabletop. This is all she can think to do to keep herself grounded in what she takes to be reality. Looking over at Pieter, she sees nothing unusual about the big man, but when she turns to see who has just pushed their way through the outer door, she is greeted with a strange sight.

A tall, thin figure with a pallid face, almost corpse-like, strides into the tap room. He seems to be clad in countless strips of undulating grey that remind Lament of ribbons of dead flesh. Fastened to the grey strips are lead-coloured metallic objects in the shape of stars, moons, and thunderbolts. At the ends of the strips are jangling hooks and bells. As he moves, the whole ensemble seems to drift around him as if he is somehow underwater.

A pungent smell of ozone fills the air as if there has been a lightning strike, and Lament’s fingers grip the wooden surface even harder.

“Hey, are you alright, my friend?” Pieter’s massive hand claps Lament on the back, and the vision disappears as if it was part of a play at the Globe and a curtain has come down.

“Yes, yes. Sorry, big man.” Lament pries her hand from the table and wipes it across a suddenly pale face, noticing for the first time the sweat on her brow.

“I am maybe a little tired still from the events of the past few days.” She grins unconvincingly and raises her ale pot, and out of the corner of her eye, she notices that the tall figure is just a captain dressed in buff coloured doublet and hose slashed with scarlet and sporting a cloak of dark grey cloth shot through with a silver thread. His aquiline face is framed with chestnut brown ringlets, and a forked beard and moustache add to his debonaire appearance.

Lament smiles to herself. Dr Dee’s ritual has taken more of a toll on her mind than she had thought. But then she catches a glimpse of the tall figure reflected in the decorative copper plates hanging on the wall, and for a moment, the death’s head is there once again.

The room spins, and Lament fears she may fall from the bench. She is sweating profusely, and her hands are trembling a little. The ale sloshes over the edge of the pot, splashing the tabletop and dripping onto her breeks. She feels Pieter move closer to her and hears his deep, gruff voice whisper as best it can, “You had better not be coming down with the plague, Lam. You are sweating as if you have an ague. Do you not feel well?”

“I am sound in body, my friend, but I am beginning to fear for my sanity. I need some fresh air, and I need to tell you something that until now I thought was not important.”

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Book Links:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CW29C1KK

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-blade-in-the-angels-shadow/id6477825714

B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-blade-in-the-angels-shadow-andy-darby/1144774980?ean=9781738519316

Google: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=kYsAEQAAQBAJ

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/the-blade-in-the-angel-s-shadow-1

Waterstones: https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-blade-in-the-angels-shadow/andy-darby/9781738519309

Blackwell’s: https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/product/The-Blade-in-the-Angels-Shadow-by-Andy-Darby/9781738519309

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-blade-in-the-angel-s-shadow-by-andy-darby

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/206132557-the-blade-in-the-angel-s-shadow

About the Author

Andy is a lifelong fan of fantasy, swords and sorcery, and weird tales. He also has a bit of an obsession with historical fiction/fantasy and alternate histories.

Andy lives on the north coast of Cornwall in the UK with his artist wife, teenage daughter, three cats, and two ponies. He is contantly running out of shelf space for the ever-increasing book collection.

Other books by Andy:

Me and the Monkey: Chronicles of the Monkey God Vol 1 & 2

The Paddington Incident

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