The Scales of Balance, Book 1
Epic Fantasy
Date Published: October 24, 2023
Publisher: First Torch Books
Narrator: Landon Soelberg
Run Time: 16 hours, 6 minutes
"Arena-set action sequences shine ... but even more impressive is the constant political maneuvering, as characters mingle with enemies while plotting against them. There is, of course, plenty of mystery, and Facciola amps up excitement with signs of magic, appearances from gods, and betrayals."
— Kirkus Reviews
"A captivating fantasy with strong characters and even stronger combat scenes ... It is difficult to overstate the storytelling prowess of author Tim Facciola."
— Independent Book Review
Peace bought by blood seldom lasts, for vengeance knows no end. The same is true for mortals and gods alike. Decades, centuries, and even eras may pass, but the cycle remains. As war and revolution rise again, Zephyrus finds himself at the center of it all. Chosen by the gods, hailed as a prophet of liberation, and forged as a weapon to break the kingdom and restore balance to the realm, hope rests squarely on his shoulders.
If only he could remember....
Enslaved as a gladiator and thrust into a prince’s game of espionage, Zephyrus has only two clues to help unlock his shattered past: a prophecy foretelling destruction, and a letter to the enemy king, promising peace. Now Zephyrus must survive the dangers of the gladiatorial arena, the cunning fury of the prince’s enemies, and the gods’ torment if he is to find the truth of his identity and fulfill his fate. But to have any hope of breaking the cycle, first he must secure his freedom—and not just from his slavers.
Within this vengeful realm, a queen protecting her kingdom, a prince defending his father, and a gladiator slave haunted by a prophecy each contend for their own brand of freedom. But the gods have an agenda of their own, and they'll use any vessel—patrician, plebeian, or slave—to see it done.
The scales must be balanced. By peace. Or by blood.
What is the
hardest part of writing your books?
The most challenging parts are also my favorite.
Managing the arcs of seven main point of view characters so that they intersect
and reach their emotional climaxes at the right time is by far the most
daunting and most rewarding part of the process. Lots of careful planning and
flexible tweaking.
What are your
most played songs?
I really do not listen to music while I’m
drafting, and if I am, it’s part of an epic instrumental battle scene playlist,
so I couldn’t tell you a single song.
Do you have
critique partners or beta readers?
I have worked in writing groups with critique
partners and beta readers in the past, but in those types of groups, I found my
ride-or-die writing partner in L.D. Hudson. Her books will be coming out later
in 2024 and I’m so excited for her. We’ve been writing together and helping
each other for the last three years.
What book are you
reading now?
I’m currently rereading Brandon Sanderson’s
Stormlight Archive in preparation for the release of book 5 in the series later
this year. I’m also reading Book 2 in Django Wexler’s Burning Blade and Silver
Eye trilogy (with book 3 next after that). And then next on my TBR is The Bound
and the Broken by Ryan Cahill.
How did you start
your writing career?
I think the better story to tell is when and how
I didn’t start it. In the fall of 2020 after pitching book 1 to agents and
publishers at a virtual pitch event, I was invited to submit to a publishing
house. A few months later they reached out saying they wanted to publish my
trilogy. They sent me over the contract, the advance, expectations—all the
standard good stuff. I talked it over with my editor, spoke with other authors,
emailed a few agents (that didn’t represent me but were kind enough to answer
questions), and even though nothing was wrong with the contract, the publisher,
etc. I still didn’t feel right about beginning my publishing career in such a
fashion. Maybe it was the deadlines set in place for the subsequent books,
maybe it was my fear of relinquishing creative control, but I just couldn’t do
it. It was at that point that I decided I wanted to finish the trilogy before I
worried about publishing it. I wanted the ability to go back to prior books and
make tweaks and changes to craft the best story I could. So I spent the next
two and a half years writing, editing, and then, once I was happy with the
finished project, preparing for publication. So I feel like I’m just beginning
the career part now. It’s difficult to keep the creative process pure when the
business side of things gets involved. It was important to me, at least for
this project, to begin my author career with my solidary focus on the creative
process.
Tell us about
your next release.
Ghosts of Rheynia, an accompanying novel that can serve as either
a standalone story or as a prequel to the trilogy, is currently in the editing
process. It follows Threyna, a primary viewpoint character of the A Vengeful Realm trilogy, and her first
encounter with the Skeleton King. Written so that they can be enjoyed separate
from each other or in any order, I hope for fans of the trilogy, it gives them
another opportunity to spend more time in the world. And for new readers, I
hope it serves as a shorter commitment gateway into my storytelling.
About the Author
When Tim isn’t writing epic fantasy, he can often be found in his garage-gym or in the mountains where he lives. A virtual fitness professional by trade, he integrates his creative passions into movement, training with maces, clubs, staves, and swords to unlock his inner gladiator. More than writing, reading, gaming, playing music, hiking, and paddle-boarding, Tim loves story. If he’s not working on his own story, he’s helping others develop theirs as an author coach. Living in Arizona with his wife, Colleen, Tim continues writing epic fantasy novels while exploring different storytelling mediums so he can inspire others to hope. To live. And to believe.
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