I’m thrilled to turn my blog over to author J.M. Hackman who’s celebrating the conclusion to her fabulous Firebrand Chronicles with YA portal fantasy Burn.

She’s sharing today about the imaginative characters and creatures that populate this series.

Take it away, Jill!

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Many of Burn’s characters have been with the series since Spark. We still have the lovable main characters, Brenna, Baldwin, and Arvandus. But allow me to introduce a few new characters.

1. and 2. Gari (Baldwin’s ex) and Taurin Trennen (Rune’s henchman)

These two have been with the Firebrand Chronicles since the beginning, but I never shared the pictures. Here they are, in their different levels of “evil.”

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3. and 4. Dr. Winward and Ahmik

Both these men work in the Syeiran infirmary. Syeiran men shave their head when they turn eighteen, hence the prevalent baldness.

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5. Camlo Sorsha

Baldwin and Brenna (or should we call her “Bob?”) meet the Camlo Sorsha at Undertown Valley. More than what she seems, Sorsha becomes significantly instrumental in a plan they develop to help the residents.

6. Skeleton King

A person called the Skeleton King arrives in Burn, intent on repression, destruction, and death. Is he working with Rune? And how can he be stopped?

7. Life Shades

Life Shades are shells of the people they used to be. With no will, no memories, and completely at Rune’s disposal, he uses them to augment his army. They’re pale like vampires but move like zombies. The good news? They aren’t interested in either blood or brains. The bad news? They’re intent on capturing their prey and turning the individual over to their ruthless, evil leader.

Part of the fun in writing fantasy is adding mythical creatures or crafting completely made-up beasts. Old favorites and brand new beasts show up in Burn.

1. Griffins:

No Firebrand Chronicles story would be complete without Arvandus, Brenna’s trusty sidekick (although never call him that in his presence. He thinks the stories are all about him.) While most griffins are half lion/half eagle, Arvandus is a mutant—a black panther whose silver-tipped black wings throw sparks when he’s upset or angry.

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2. Light wolves (AKA foslykos):

Light wolves look much like either regular or white wolves, but both have an aurora borealis affect in their fur. While these creatures showed up briefly in Flare, they play a bigger role in Burn. Brenna gets to meet Luna, a regular light wolf who has pups.

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3. Mermaids (from Mermaid Cove):

While I wasn’t sure whether mermaids could be classified as beasts or not, I put them here due to their predatory nature. While Brenna would love to avoid interacting with them at all, she’ll have to if she plans to find the Caelestis Key before Rune does.

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4. Phoenixes:

Along with centaurs, fauns, and mermaids, did you know phoenixes exist in the Jasper Territory as well? When the entire territory is threatened, will they help or escape while they can?

Hope you enjoyed this glimpse into Burn’s cast of characters and creatures!

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You can pre-order Burn on L2L2’s website and don’t forget to join us for the Facebook release party!

J. M. Hackman loves thunderstorms, bookstores, and happy endings. She’s never met a reading nook she didn’t like and prefers soul talk to small talk. When she’s not writing, she spends time with her two munchkins and her handsome husband who supports her in this crazy profession. Her days are filled with writing stories, consuming massive quantities of dark chocolate, and looking for portals to other worlds. You can find her on her website,
Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Goodreads.

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Too short to be an elf and too tall to be a Hobbit, Jebraun lives smack-dab in the centre of New Zealand’s North Island surrounded by thermal activity, stunning lakes, and enough Redwoods to make her Californian heart swoon. She writes about discovering identity, living without fear, and enjoys creating fantastic and far-off worlds. Her loves include coffee, tree ferns, dark chocolate, and Jesus, and she harbours a secret penchant for British spelling. You can find her sci-fi short story “Beyond the Stars, Past the Moons” in Encircled, a collection of fairy tale retellings.

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