Infernal

Let’s start with an introduction: Who is Mark de Jager?

He’s a long time fantasy fanboy who wishes he had more time to play games and spends his downtime re-reading dog eared paperbacks. The constraints of reality mean I work full time in the City and write whenever I can around that.

Your debut novel, Infernal, will be published in August by Del Rey UK. It looks rather interesting: How would you introduce it to a potential reader? Is it part of a series?

Thanks. I did try come up with the classic ‘elevator pitch’ for Infernal; I always liked ‘It’s Jason Bourne meets Lord of the Rings, except Jason Bourne is the Balrog’. Of course, that only works if the person I’m talking to knows the references!

If not, I’d say its a character driven fantasy thriller following the story of a demon with a fractured mind who’s only certain of one thing: that he’s being hunted. Continue reading →

deJagerM-Infernal I’m really interested in reading Infernal. Mark de Jager has been a Twitter-acquaintance for quite some time, and this is his debut fantasy novel. I don’t remember exactly when I first heard that it had been acquired by Del Rey UK, but I remember reading the synopsis and thinking, “That sounds pretty great.”

While I’m not wholly keen on the cover (I do like the flame-y sleeve, though), check out the synopsis to see what I mean:

Stratus wakes in an unfamiliar place, with nothing but the knowledge that he is not human, with no memories of his past but possessing great strength, a powerful sorcery and the burning instinct to survive at any cost.

Embarking on a journey of self-discovery, he sets out across a landscape torn apart by the ten year war between the Kingdoms of Krandin and Penullin, now reaching new levels of savagery as a dark magic drives the world to the brink of destruction.

As his personality grows with each step he slowly uncovers the truth of what he has become and the unquenchable thirst for vengeance that has led him there.

Infernal is due to be published in the UK by Del Rey, on August 11th, 2016. Looking forward to it.