Thank you to Author’s Lounge for a chance to share my latest series. It is my pleasure today to introduce you to “The Hunger”, the first in a trilogy, called “The Penultimate Dawn Cycle”.

What is your book all about?

“The Hunger” is a high fantasy book set in a world where people have to consume magical sustenance every day in order to prevent themselves from becoming hideous monsters that are the slaves of everyone else. Here’s the blurb that’s on the back of the book:

In a distant land, political upheaval shakes civilization. Poverty and corruption run rampant. Three great clans stand on the brink of war. 

The god Rahim has abandoned mankind.  

Azil the scholar enjoys a life of wealth and comfort while he studies the nature of Rahim. But uncovering long-hidden truths leads Azil to a mysterious woman who wants to do more than learn—she wants to change the world. Claiming to be a divine messenger, she promises Azil all the answers he is looking for if he helps her steal the sacred gems of Sustenance, which are guarded in forbidden fortresses across the land. The gems are the key to restoring Rahim and ushering in a golden age for the world.

But the journey will be treacherous; bloodthirsty bandits, floating cities, and ravenous mage wraiths bar the way. And even more troubling is the gems’ volatile magic—magic so strange and powerful it could turn its wielder into the darkest of villains.

What inspired you to write the book?

I actually had the idea pop into my head while I was driving on a road trip and saw some billboard about food. I had the idea, “What if you had to eat certain kinds of food to cast magic?” That idea developed into the series.

What is your target audience for the book?

I try to keep all of my books family friendly, and I think that this book could be enjoyed by teenagers through adults.

What do you hope readers could get out from your book?

One of the biggest things that I hope people get from the book is the sense that it’s good to strive for knowledge, even if that doesn’t fit your current status quo, and even if that means you need to get out of your comfort zone, like my main character does. He lives a very charmed life, but goes on a quest to figure out things that will benefit the rest of the world. This takes him very far out of his comfort zone, but in the end, it’s best for everyone. It also shows people from different backgrounds and social classes can work together.

What are your future goals/plans for the book?

As for the future, I have already made the book into a trilogy, which includes “The Hunger”, “The Thirst”, and “The Longing”. I’m hoping to write others in this same world at different time periods so that they could be read together or as separate entities. 

And something more about yourself.

I live in Utah with my wife and three kids. During the day I am a junior high teacher in a German dual language immersion program. I learned German while living for two years in Germany as a missionary. In addition to writing, I love all things music. I play the piano and organ and I’ve been in both handbell choirs and traditional choirs. I currently sing with the well-known choir The Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square. I grew up as a military kid as my dad was a pilot in the US Air Force. I’ve lived in Japan, in Germany, and all over the United States. I started reading fantasy books in writing from a young age and I’ve never stopped.

Learn about my other books and podcasts at my author website: www.authormichaelyoung.com. You can also join me on Facebook.

You can also purchase “The Hunger” on Amazon.com: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086KQG8LQ/