Jason Denzel is joining us today to talk about his novel, Mystic Skies. Here’s the publisher’s description:
The world has Changed.
After the catastrophic celestial event that merged Fayün and the human world, most human babies are born fused with fay spirits. The Mystics of Kelt Apar, once beloved, are blamed for this worldwide phenomenon.
Under the watchful eyes of deadly Hunters, a much-older Pomella AnDone now lives as a prisoner at Kelt Apar with her granddaughter and apprentice Mia, as well as the rapidly declining High Mystic of Moth, Yarina Sineese.
When the lineage of Mystics on Moth becomes endangered, multiple forces vie for control of Moth. With new rivals seeking to claim Moth for their own, Pomella must undergo a dangerous dreamwalk into the mind-bending and heart-wrenching Mystic Skies in order to learn the mystical name of the island itself.
In this epic conclusion of The Mystic Trilogy, which spans decades and timeless realms and dreams, Pomella must confront her greatest and most personal challenge yet. For the Deep mysteries of the world will reveal themselves only to the most powerful and dedicated of Mystics.
What’s Jason’s favorite bit?
Jason Denzel
My favorite bit about Mystic Skies, the concluding volume of the Mystic Trilogy, is the inspiring woman on the front cover. That’s Pomella, the series protagonist, and she represents so much to me.
First, let’s talk about the most immediate thing most people will notice about her: her age. In this new book, Pomella is in her seventies. She’s seen life, she’s seen death. She’s created life and (very significantly) she’s taken it. This is a woman who has earned her power. Through tumultuous trials and heart-wrenching deceit, she’s somehow always prevailed. Even from the beginning of her story, chronicled in Mystic, she’s had everyone from her family to an entire rigid society against her. Pomella was never supposed to succeed. The deck has always been stacked against her. People told her to cut her hair, to stay quiet, and to ignore the mystical songs in her heart that she yearned to sing.
But Pomella was never somebody who would remain silent.
The Mystic Trilogy chronicles her journey through a lifetime of magical upheaval. It’s a generational saga that begins when she’s a young, precocious, naive teenager who wants only to be allowed to follow her heart and learn about the Myst, the underlying magic at the heart of the universe.
But the years between those innocent days and the darker times depicted on this cover have brought a lot of loss, pain, and heartache. She’s survived it all, but it’s taken a toll. And while my own personal life is very unlike hers, she and I have bonded during the writing of these books because we’ve both grown and seen so much.
For years I thought of myself as being Pomella’s storyteller. I saw myself as the one witnessing her story and writing it down. And while that’s perhaps accurate, the deeper truth is that she’s been my unwavering companion, and the stabilizing force that helped me navigate some of the most difficult years of my life. Simply put, her strength has always transcended time and space. And I love that the Mystic Skies book cover showcases her internal beauty, strength, and timeless magic.
(Additional note: Mary Robinette Kowal is the narrator of the Mystic Trilogy audiobooks. Her performance is exceptional and I’m so grateful for her time and talent which has uplifted the entire series. If you enjoy top-notch audiobook experiences, you’re in store for something special.)
LINKS:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Indiebound | Powell’s
BIO:
Jason Denzel (he/him) is a fantasy fiction writer, the author of The Mystic Trilogy, and the founder of Dragonmount, a leading online community celebrating Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson’s Wheel of Time saga. He lives in Northern California where he practices kung fu, enjoys basketball, and owns a lot of swords. Find him on Twitter and Instagram @JasonDenzel.
