Cover Reveal: The Blood of the Spear (The Eye of Eternity, #1) by Mark Timmony
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Hi everyone! Petrik from Novel Notions here.
Today, we’re here to bring you a beautiful cover reveal of The Blood of the Spear, this is the first book in The Eye of Eternity series by Mark Timmony. This one is for the fans of The Wheel of Time. I’ve known Mark Timmony for a while now, and he’s a HUGE fan of the series. Below, Timmony will share the conception of the cover art, and also reveal the official synopsis to his debut. Without further ado, here’s the cover reveal to The Blood of the Spear!
Cover art: Felix Ortiz
Cover design: STK.Kreations
Many years ago, I discovered Dragons of Autumn Twilight by Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman in the school library, and my love for epic fantasy began. I hadn’t heard of Tolkien, or Feist, or Eddings, or Brooks, but I saw this book with a dragon on the cover and knew I had to read it.
I didn’t know that books like these existed. It was as though my imagination had spilled onto the page, that my daydreaming had been brought to life in riveting tales of magic and adventure. And I quickly realised that not only did I want to read these books, but I also wanted to write them.
Then, in 1990, I found The Eye of the World. Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time books became the single biggest influence on me in terms of both the type of fantasy I wanted to read and the type I wanted to write.
But I didn’t have a story.
So, I spent years world-building, drawing maps, crafting ideas and reading lots of fantasy.
Then I came across a painting by Larry Elmore of two men fighting in a snow-covered landscape. One of the men was wearing the armour of a warrior/knight, and the other wore the trappings of a shaman. I was captivated by the image, and it made me wonder who the two men were and why were they fighting?
From these musings grew my main characters, the half-brothers Kaiel and Darien Toranth. And suddenly, I had my story.
A tale of two brothers marked by an ancient prophecy, destined to save the world or destroy it.
So, I wrote my book ‘The Blood of the Spear’ and decided to self-publish, and I needed an artist and a cover designer. Having seen their work both individually and together, I decided to approach Felix Ortiz and Shawn King.
When I contacted Felix, I had no idea what I wanted on the cover. None at all. So, Felix asked me some questions about the types of art I like and the covers of fantasy novels that caught my attention. As we talked, I related how the story came to me, inspired by a painting by Larry Elmore – and Felix sent me a link to it online. He knew exactly what painting I was talking about.
That sealed it for me; Felix was the artist I wanted to work with, and wow! He managed to pull out of my rambling suggestions this brilliant piece of art, and readers will recognise the scene as soon as they come to it.
Then I handed the art over to the talented Shawn King of STK-Kreations, and I couldn’t be happier. I can honestly say that this is just the type of cover that would have me picking the book off the shelf in a bookshop.
Both Felix and Shawn have done a superb job, and I am honoured to have their work create the cover of The Blood of the Spear.
So, what’s it all about? I’m glad you asked!
Full cover spread:
For three millennia, the Sahrin– men and women marked by the Eye of Eternity and gifted with the ability to summon beings from other dimensions– led humanity to heights undreamt of by their star-faring forefathers. But in their pursuit of power and immortality, ten Summoners opened a gateway to the Void and fell prey to daemonic possession. The war that followed destroyed the civilisation the Summoners had built, and the Sundering changed the face of the world forever.
At the war’s end, a Seer foresaw that daemons would forever hunt those born with the Mark of the Summoner. Since that time, though records held in the Shrines of the Elder Gods venerate the Sahrin as saviours, the people have feared the Summoners as destroyers. Any child born with the Mark, or any man or woman upon whom it appears, is executed before they might fall to possession and unleash forces that could not be controlled.
But in the chaotic years after the Sundering, other Seers were plagued with conflicting visions and prophecies. They saw that the Summoners would return and that the daemons hordes would also come again. And that an Empyros– the strongest of all Sahrin– would be born. And in his hands, he would hold the world’s salvation or its destruction.
The Blood of the Spear picks up this tale four thousand years later.
Two brothers. One prophecy. A world in peril.
When Kaiel loses his chance to become part of the legendary Daemon Hunters, joining the Bronze Guard mercenaries seems like the logical alternative. It is an opportunity to put his training to use and, more importantly, as the company is currently in the employ of Prince Alesandr, it will allow him to keep an eye on his younger brother, Darien, who’s determined to follow his dream of becoming a Ciralys magic-user.
But the broken continent of Athmay still bears the scars of the war between the Summoners some three-thousand years ago, and an unexpected battle with a daemon – a remnant of that ancient war – reveals the brothers’ connection to a forbidden bloodline. Soon they find themselves on the run from the prince, daemonic hordes, and a prophecy that could break the world anew.
Doesn’t this sounds awesome!? I definitely look forward to reading this! I want to give my special thanks to Mark Timmony for allowing Novel Notions the honor to host the cover reveal to The Blood of the Spear.
Thank you everyone for checking out this post! 
The Blood of the Spear official release date: 3rd May 2021.
You can pre-order the book on: Amazon
Special thanks to my Patrons on Patreon for giving me extra support towards my passion for reading and reviewing!
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