"Some call me Murderer, others call me Lord. I've been called Savior and Enslaver. But no one has ever called me Child."
Hey everyone, I just wanted to let you know that from September 4-6 the Haelend’s Ballad e-book will be free on Amazon! Be sure to spread the word to let others know!
https://www.amazon.com/Haelends-Ballad-Ian-V-Conrey-ebook/dp/B091BSWD8D/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1693244142&sr=8-1
I got to spend some time with fellow author J. Reese Bradley recently to talk about my book, inspiration, and upcoming ventures! Be sure to check out her channel on YouTube!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fll9wex-byU&t=3460s
Since the release of Haelend's Ballad is about to reach its one year anniversary (Nov. 30th!), I thought I'd share some exciting updates for everyone.
First, I've had several people ask me about an audiobook and one is in the works! We are looking at a Spring 2023 release.
Also, be on the look out for a special edition hardcover coming out later in 2023! It will include colored illustrations, previously deleted chapters, a glossary, and a history timeline of both Sunder and Daecland.
Finally, I am super excited to announce that I am currently working on a short story anthology set in the Haelend's Ballad universe. It will explore some of the earlier civilizations as well as other countries surrounding Sunder and Daeclend. Be on the look out for more updates on that soon!
I am so excited to announce that Haelend’s Ballad earned the Gold Medal in the Christian - Fantasy/Sci-Fi category! You can read more about it below!
Hey everyone! With reviews, book signing tours, and contests, these past few months have been an exciting time. Now I am super excited to announce that an audiobook version of Haelend's Ballad is officially in the works! Be sure to check back on updates soon!
Got this 5-star review in from Readers’ Favorite, and I’m a little overwhelmed. I’m so thankful people are enjoying this novel. Thank you Asher Syed!
★★★★★
”The kingdoms of Daecland and Sunder and those who live within them create the landscape for the dark high fantasy novel Hælend's Ballad by Ian Conrey. The brutality of a war that splinters from a years-long occupation against the Sunderians by the Daecish. The depth of persecution and despair runs incredibly deep, the disparity between the haves and have-nots, and the system established both politically and underground are crushing to those below the upper echelons. The rise of the Silent Hither movement, initially crippled but once more growing in momentum, and the strength of its Dark Horses, are ready to fight back against all odds. “With brothers, we march this day For Theos, we shout and pray Our hearts will kindle and burn Though few of us return...” Ian Conrey has undertaken a wildly ambitious project in his steampunk-medieval fantasy tome Hælend's Ballad. The book is expertly written with really gorgeous prose and some of the most authentic dialogue I've come across in a while in the genre. It is the restraint of Conrey's pacing and the focus on characters that truly elevate the story, both the mark of an exceptionally gifted storyteller. The sheer volume of characters requires a bit of homework on the part of a reader, at least at first, to keep them straight and play connect-the-dots with plots and subplots amidst a massive amount of finely-crafted military strategy. War crimes are courageously depicted with no holds barred, but without even entering the realm of gratuitous, and action scenes leap from the page. There is also a top layer of nuanced religious tones that is applied a' la Lewis, Dekker, and Tolkien. I'm not putting Conrey in the space of these titans right now, but this is a genuine 'sit and wait' moment with the world-building that has the potential to get at least 2/3 of the way there. Very highly recommended.”
https://readersfavorite.com/book-review/haelends-ballad
I’m super stoked to announce that the Haelend’s Ballad Book Signing Tour for 2022 will begin on January 15th! You can check it out here. More dates will be available soon so be sure to check back regularly!
I’m super excited to announce that Haelend’s Ballad is now only $0.99 across ALL platforms, including Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Amazon, and more! Check out the home page for links and more info!
This 5-star review from Amy Wilson at Novels Alive does a wonderful job summarizing my novel. If you’re curious was to what the book is about, be sure to read:
“Within the pages of Haelend’s Ballad is a fantasy world meticulously created by author Ian Conrey. The print version weighs in at a hefty 800 pages, which certainly qualifies this to be designated a saga.
Inside this world, readers will find a hint of steampunk, a taste of history, and a solid dose of adventure. The land of Sunder has been overtaken by the Daecish, a nation of people well versed in technology. The natives of Sunder are forced to fight in Daecland’s wars with other countries, in addition to having to work in the mines.
What makes this story unique is there are multiple storylines in play, with something different in each chapter. That technique kept me awake several nights when I kept telling myself I would only read one more chapter. I had to keep reading for an update. The story also gets high marks for character development. Not only are there main characters for Sunder, but the author also includes Daecish characters to highlight their perspectives.
Amidst the conflict, there is also talk of the Day of Reckoning led by Sunder’s Bane, as described in Haelend’s Ballad. To the Sunderians, the Ballad is much like the Bible is to Christians. From a reader’s perspective, both sides of the conflict are presented. In the process, the author illustrates that sometimes life isn’t always black and white. Heroes can also be villains.
The conclusion is nothing short of sheer brilliance. Not only was it unexpected, but it provided a cohesive band linking all of the storylines. While seemingly unrelated, all of the events that happened earlier in the story led to the grand finale. Author Ian Conrey proved his imagination could create a world worth sharing with readers. Since this was his debut novel, I’m looking forward to seeing what is next.”
https://novelsalive.com/2021/12/07/5-star-review-haelends-ballad-by-ian-conrey/
Haelend’s Ballad just hit Amazon’s #1 New Release for steampunk as well as #2 bestseller for steampunk! Be sure to check it out for only $0.99!
Haelend’s Ballad has been officially released and is now available virtually anywhere books are sold! For a limited time, you can purchase the e-book on Amazon for only $0.99!
It feels surreal that after 10 years of writing, editing, formatting, and marketing, my debut novel, Haelend’s Ballad, will finally be released in 9 days! To celebrate the launch I’m temporarily dropping the e-book price to only $0.99 on Amazon! Likewise, if you’d like to attend the launch party on December 17th be sure to follow this link where you can pre-order a paperback copy and attend the private event at 6:00 pm at 96 N. Main Street Ellijay, GA. This price includes a signed paperback, time to meet the author, and complimentary drinks and appetizers. IMPORTANT. After the signing there will be an afterparty at my house at 7:00p.m. This afterparty is open for those who attended the signing event AS WELL AS THOSE who did not attend, but who have already pre-ordered the book through another source (like Amazon), OR would like to buy a paperback copy from me personally at the afterparty (cash or check). In other words, the signing at Live the Trial is by purchased registration only, but virtually anyone can attend the afterparty at my place (which is no cost). Since I don’t want to throw out my address on the internet for the whole world to see, if you are interested in attending the afterparty, please send me a message through the contact page and I’ll give you the details!
I’m excited to announce that I did my first interview with Self-Publishing Review. If you are interested in learning more about my book, why I wrote it, and other related questions, be sure to check it out here! On another note, its crazy to think that my book will launch next month! If you haven’t yet, be sure to pre-order it. E-books and paperbacks are available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and many other locations!
If you are curious as to whether or not Hælend’s Ballad is a book you would enjoy, be sure to read this wonderful review (which will be officially published in December) from D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review. I believe she captured the essence of my novel very well:
“Hælend's Ballad is an epic fantasy that will delight fans of Lord of the Rings and other works more than lightly steeped in a sense of place and purpose.
No light read, it's a tale of dark places, dark hearts, and a quest that joins three unlikely comrades in a world-confronting journey where their choices and impact do not always make them the good guys.
The first feature to note is the exquisite sense of place that opens the story with powerful atmosphere: "Stepping through the open entryway, the smell of sour milk and lantern oil filled Eilívur’s nose. Several Sunderian men, clothed in brown leather tunics and jerkins, sat at the bar. As with just about everyone else in Sunder, they looked like poor farmers. One man, with a leathery face, smiled, revealing his toothless gums. Another man chewed on something, probably tobacco."
Ian Conrey's ability to bring alive this backdrop, injecting three very different characters whose perspectives of the world work at cross purposes to not only each other, but their own best interests, is part of what makes Hælend's Ballad a compelling force to contend with.
Fantasy readers who look for satisfyingly complex reads cemented by history, cultural, and psychological examination will find each flawed character equally compelling. This succeeds in creating subplots that hold the ability to stand powerfully on their own, yet interact in unexpected ways as a militia man, an abused teen, and a mother accused of murder each find themselves in an unexpected dance with fate and each other.
One defining moment describes appearances, but also equally applies to matters of changing hearts as experience and new revelations change these characters: “They must feel like true Daecish lords now,” said a young soldier standing next to Eilívur. “I’m sure they do,” he said. “But what you wear does not define who you are.”
The shadow which enters these people changes their perceptions, intentions, and interactions: "He was different now. Ever since the shadow entered him, he had a new strength and saw things from a different perspective." As each struggles with their choice to accept forces beyond their ability to properly assess, readers are treated to a compelling saga that closely examines the results of good intentions gone awry.
The spiritual reflections that affect these choices are also very nicely done: “Don’t you ever get frustrated at your god for making you go through all of this? I mean, wouldn’t he want to stop it if he loved you?”
As these multifaceted stories coalesce to become a powerful inspection of moral, ethical, and spiritual paths, readers receive a fine story that embraces and contrasts dark appetites, terrible memories, and beauty alike.
Hælend's Ballad lingers in the mind as it explores the end of one life and the beginning of another. Its complex saga of adversity, forgiveness and new possibilities will delight readers looking for more than a light fantasy.”
Super excited to announce that Self-Publishing Review (SPR) just uploaded their 5-Star review of Hælend's Ballad to their homepage! Be sure to check it out here (and make sure to be on the look out for an author interview on SPR soon).
Also, if you live anywhere near the North Georgia area, keep checking in as plans are in the works for a launch party here in historic downtown Ellijay near the end of the year. More updates on that soon!
Finally, if you haven’t checked out the homepage, be sure to do so to see updated reviews (including links) from Netgalley and Goodreads.
Hey everyone, I’ve got two big updates for you. First, the paperback version of Hælend’s Ballad is officially available at numerous locations, including here on Amazon! Be sure to check that out.
Second, a digital ARC (Advanced Review Copy) version is currently available on NetGalley, but it won’t last forever. As a member of NetGalley (which you can sign-up for free) you can read and review the book ahead of it’s release. Make sure to check it out here!
The Prairie’s Book Review just uploaded their review for Haelends Ballad! Below is an excerpt, or you can read the whole thing here.
“A triumphant debut . . .
Conrey’s fantasy world is morbidly gripping and enriched by darkness, intrigue, and poignant emotions and enlivened by bloody action . . . He does a first-rate job of propelling the plot along while simultaneously revealing the layers of his protagonists’ troubled backstories . . . [and] delves into complex themes of abuse, violence against children and women, honor, integrity, duty, responsibility, and power of forgiveness . . . Gritty and well-constructed, this makes a rich treat for lovers of dark fantasy.”
If you are interested in a free paperback copy of Hælend’s Ballad, I am doing another giveaway on May 14th. Just click on this Facebook link and follow the instructions to enter the drawing!
I absolutely love my town (Ellijay, GA). I walked around to various shops and restaurants and they were all super excited to display my promo poster in their windows. Small town support is hard to beat!
Several paperback copies are on order, which means one thing—In the near future I’ll be doing a free giveaway to a select few. If you are interested, please like the Facebook page where you can sign up for the giveaway!
