Guest Post and Giveaway: Magic Runs Deep by Alex Whitehall

We’re so pleased to have author Alex Whitehall joining us today on the tour for their new fantasy novel, Magic Runs Deep. Alex is here to talk about one of the darker subjects in the story, and there’s also a giveaway so be sure to check out the prompt question and other details at the end.

Welcome, Alex!

Death and Cultural Perspectives

Hello, everybody! I’m Alex Whitehall, and I’m here today touring for my fantasy novel Magic Runs Deep, which is about one man’s search to find himself—and true freedom—after a long imprisonment, and the path to trust that he follows along the way.

In writing a fantasy, especially in a time of war, death plays a major role—and not just the death of characters and the affect it has on people and relationships. How cultures handle and view death gives the reader a deeper look inside that culture without too much time spent exploring the nitty-gritty of the culture.

In Magic Runs Deep, one character is required to bury another character to make amends for his actions. During that process, the two main characters begin to talk about their views (and their people’s views) on death.  There are a ton of ways to handle death, and even within more homogenous cultures, variations appear from group to group. Some people try not to focus on the death of the loved one, but rather celebrate the person’s life and focus on all the good times they shared. They recall happy memories and work to strengthen the bonds with loved ones who still live. It reminds those who live on that there is still much to live for and enjoy, even in this time of suffering.

Others focus on grieving: mourning the loss of the loved one and all that was taken by the loss. It recognizes the pain and suffering the people are going through, presents that suffering to the world, and lets the people hopefully continue on with their lives.

Some people believe that the soul stays in the body after death and the treatment of the body is vital to the loved ones’ experience after life. Others believe the soul leaves the body immediately, so is nothing more than an empty vessel. Some believe in nothingness after death. Some believe in an afterlife. Some believe in reincarnation.

Veier of Magic Runs Deep is a bear shifter, a group called Ursinai (from the Latin for “bear”), who are deeply tied to the stars (due to my inspiration from Ursa Major and Ursa Minor). According to Veier, “In Ursinain culture, a spirit is guided to the stars by Arktos, who brings us to the great fields of the sky to rest until we are to be reborn.”

Of course, reincarnation doesn’t mean that the current life is meaningless. It creates a sense of passion that pushes the Ursinai to throw their entire weight into their goal—they are generally peaceful, but if called to action, they are incredible warriors. They still fear death, as it ends their current life, but they also know that they will be able to watch over their families from the stars.

As a reader, what does Veier’s beliefs potentially tell you about him and his people?

About the Book

For the last five years, Veier has been chained to a king’s throne in his bear form. When a neighboring kingdom overthrows the crown, Veier’s imprisonment ends, but true freedom is not so easily earned. With blood on his hands, he needs someone with patience, strength, and trust to help him become the person he was before and prove to the invaders that he isn’t the monstrous king’s loyal pet.

Elrid, the invading king’s brother and a powerful mage, is everything Veier despises. He’s also the only thing between Veier and execution, because he thinks he can help Veier change from an aggressive bear shifter into a reasonable man. While the pair have a rough start, with long talks and mutual leaps of faith, they begin to care for each other.

However, the closer Veier gets to his freedom, the closer he is to losing Elrid. He must find balance in his heart and his life if he wishes to truly claim the freedom he’s been given—and the man he loves.

Buy the Book: Amazon || Barnes & Noble || iBooks || Kobo

About the Author

If there are two types of people in the world, Alex Whitehall probably isn’t one of them, despite being a person. Their favorite pastimes include reading, horseback riding, sleeping, watching geek-tastic television, knitting, eating, and running. And wasting time on the internet. And spending glorious evenings laughing with friends.

While Alex prefers sleeping over doing anything else (except maybe eating), sometimes they emerge from the cave to be social and to hunt for food at the local market. They can be found blogging, reading, and tending after their aloe plants.

Connect with Alex: Twitter: @AlexWhitehall || Email || Blog || Tumblr

The Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Magic Runs Deep, Alex is giving away an ecopy of Second Skin! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on April 14, 2018. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following along, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!