The Ghosts of Rathalla by Matthew K. Perkins | Book Review and Author Guest Post | 1 Signed Copy Available | #EpicFantasy #Fiction @iReadBookTours @MatthewKPerkins
A book blog tour from iRead Book Tours.
Thank you to the author, publisher, & Lauren at iRead for providing me with the information for this tour. 
Quick Summary
With its unique setting and subtle fantasy elements, “The Ghosts of Rathalla” is an entertaining and fast-paced read. The blend of suspense, drama, and mystery keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. While the story concludes in a satisfying manner, it leaves enough intrigue for a potential sequel, promising more adventures to come.
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Book Details
The Ghosts of Rathalla by Matthew K. Perkins
Published by Resource Publications on March 4, 2024
Genres: Adult Fiction 18+, Epic Fantasy
Format: eBook, Hardcover, Paperback
Pages: 272
Source: iRead Book ToursSet in a world that is dominated by a vast desert, two friends are caught in the middle of a civil war. She’s a warrior. He’s a musician.
When they discover that the crux of the war is a prophesied newborn baby that one side will do anything to destroy, they become the only people capable of saving the child’s life—all that stands in their way is an active volcano, a barbarian army, and a cunning assassin with motives of his own.
Content Rating: PG-13: Some swearing and violence.
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Purchase Links for The Ghosts of Rathalla
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Perkins, Matthew K. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 272 Pages - 03/04/2024 (Publication Date) - Wipf and Stock Publishers (Publisher)
If the above link does not route you to your country’s Amazon page, please let me know, and I’ll gladly get a link for you.
Using my link does not change the price you pay. Amazon pays me a minimal amount out of their share. Every penny helps to support this blog.
Purchase The Ghosts of Rathalla online from your local bookstore.
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My thoughts on The Ghosts of Rathalla
Set against the backdrop of a vast, unforgiving desert, “The Ghosts of Rathalla” plunges two friends into the heart of a civil war. The story centers on Bird, a fierce warrior, and Ernest, a talented musician. Their lives take a drastic turn when they discover that the war hinges on a prophesied newborn baby, a child one side is determined to destroy. Bird and Ernest find themselves the unlikely guardians of this infant, embarking on a perilous journey to ensure the baby’s survival.
The novel is alive with danger and adventure, featuring an active volcano, a relentless barbarian army, and a cunning assassin with mysterious motives. As the story unfolds, readers gradually uncover the secrets and motivations that drive Bird and Ernest, adding depth to their characters and enriching the tale.
The writing is not divided into typical chapters but into three parts: The Dialla Desert, The Caravan, and The Bird and the Wolf. While this took a little time to acclimate to, it was overall an enjoyable way for the story to unfold.
With its unique setting and subtle fantasy elements, “The Ghosts of Rathalla” is an entertaining and fast-paced read. The blend of suspense, drama, and mystery keeps the reader engaged from start to finish. While the story concludes in a satisfying manner, it leaves enough intrigue for a potential sequel, promising more adventures to come.
I received a copy of the book for the tour. This review is my honest, unbiased opinion.
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I love to read books through my Amazon Kindle Unlimited subscription.
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About Matthew K. Perkins
Matthew K. Perkins is a proud Wyoming native who completed an MA in English Literature at the state’s lone university. He currently lives in Denver, Colorado, with his wife, three sons, and two dogs.
He is the author of two novels, 'Saint in Vain' (2018) and 'The Ghosts of Rathalla' (2024).
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Guest Post from the author of The Ghosts of Rathalla
The Duel of the Fates
Creativity and inspiration are so fickle. Back in February of 2022, I was maybe three-quarters done writing The Ghosts of Rathalla, but I was really starting to drag and lose momentum because I wasn’t sure I had my ending. I had an ending in mind that I liked quite a bit, but I didn’t love it. I was having a bit of a writing crisis because of this.
Anyway, one day I’m scrolling my phone and a bunch of stuff regarding John Williams (the composer) starts showing up in my feeds. Posts that are tributes and stories, and people sharing their favorite pieces of music by him. The vibe was very eulogistic, and I was thinking, Wow, I can’t believe John Williams is dead, he’s such a legend. I dove into a few posts, appreciating his work and the stories that people were telling, and I came across someone talking about a particular piece from Star Wars, titled “Duel of the Fates.” It’s an epic piece of music that I had heard many times before, but I didn’t know what it was called until that day—Duel of the Fates.
It’s an extraordinarily good title and I had to know more about the meaning behind it. To keep it short and simple: the fight between Darth Maul versus Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan has even more at stake than it may seem, because not only are the three fates of the combatants at risk, but the result of the fight will also determine the future of Anakin (which is a very consequential future to determine).
This was a eureka moment for me (I don’t want to get into specifics due to spoilers of my book) but the inspiration from this song, and its meaning, led directly to an ending for my book that I loved. From that point forward I had no drag, and it was full steam ahead. I ended up writing the last quarter of the book in a matter of weeks because of how excited I was to write the finale.
And the punchline of the whole story is that many, many months later I shared this same story with my wife and she cuts in and says, “Wait a minute, John Williams died!? I didn’t know that.” And, it turns out, John Williams had not died. That day I referenced was people celebrating his 90th birthday (I think). He’s alive and well and, in fact, was nominated for an Academy Award just this year. Long live John Williams.
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Giveaway!
Win a signed copy of THE GHOSTS OF RATHALLA by Matthew K. Perkins (1 winner) (USA and Canada) (ends June 26)
Please visit more stops on the tour for extra chances to win!
Official Tour Page for The Ghosts of Rathalla
Full Blog Tour Schedule:
May 28 – Country Mamas With Kids May 28 – Ilovebooksandstuffblog May 29 – Locks, Hooks and Books
June 3– Cover Lover Book Review June 3 – FUONLYKNEW June 3– My Tangled Skeins Book Reviews
June 6 – Diane’s Book Journal June 12 – Liese’s Blog June 13 – Deborah-Zenha Adams
June 18 – Gina Rae Mitchell June 18 – Book Corner News and Reviews
You can find the full list of Bookstagram tour stops HERE!
THE GHOSTS OF RATHALLA by Matthew K. Perkins Book Tour Giveaway
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Book Title: The Ghosts of Rathalla by Matthew K. Perkins
Category: Adult Fiction (18+), 200 pages
Genre: Epic fantasy
Publisher: Resource Publications
Release date: February 2024
Tour dates: May 28 to June 24, 2024
Content Rating: PG-13: Some swearing and violence.
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This looks exceptionally good. Thanks for sharing and hosting this tour.