Inside Look: Elizabeth Haydon and The Symphony of Ages series

Hey book lovers! I hope you're all ready for another rendition of "Inside Look." Today I'm focusing on American fantasy writer Elizabeth Haydon.

I chanced on "Rhapsody," the first book in her Symphony of Ages series, in the library. I was still in high school at the time and voracious for new authors to read. While browsing the library shelves, I saw the title and started walking past. I'm glad I stopped and went back. The cover art was intriguing and reading the inside flap really sparked my curiosity.

I fell immediately in love with the book.

What makes Haydon's writing so unique is that it's not strictly fantasy. There are no wizards or overt amounts of magic being used. Okay, there are dragons, but they are a part of the lore she has created for her world. Fantastical elements are present, but she writes as if such things are part of our reality. Nothing seems out of the ordinary.

Another strong element of Haydon's books are the characters. The skill with which she developed her characters is one to be envied by all writers. Some fantasy writers find it hard making their characters believable and seem real. Haydon does this with ease. For example: the main protagonist, Rhapsody, is pretty much a natural beauty. She has blond hair, green eyes, is petite, etc. What automatically jumps to mind when you hear that description? I think of the dumb blond stereotype. But, Haydon gives Rhapsody flaws. She does not see herself as beautiful or even moderately attractive. In the first novel she undergoes a transformation of sorts that enhances her beauty and allure ten fold. She thinks she is a freak because she misreads the reactions people have when they see her.

Rhapsody is also a very strong character. She went through a lot of terrible things as a child and is forced to face dangers beyond compare as an adult. I can see these qualities in real life people and a connection is easily formed to this fictional character.

Haydon is also very good at keeping you in suspense. She had a large and intricate story to tell. Like any good writer, she spread it out through three novels ("Rhapsody," "Prophecy," "Destiny") and I didn't even know for sure who the main bad guy was until she revealed it in the plot.

Another thing Haydon does is tease her readers. Rhapsody travels with two companions, Achmed and Grunthor. Throughout the series you can see that there's more to Rhapsody and Achmed's relationship than just friendship. Haydon throws hints and scenes in the series, but never gives enough to quite satisfy her readers. I'm personally rooting for the two of them to be together because, as she states in the series, they are opposite sides of the same coin.

If you'd like to learn more about Elizabeth Haydon go to http://www.sffworld.com/interview/29p0.html to read an interview she did back in the 90's. I'm trying to get in contact with Haydon to conduct my own interview. When that happens, I will post the interview for you to read. Below is a list of the novels in the Symphony of Ages series. They are linked with pages from amazon.com of the book descriptions.

Come back on Wednesday to read about an author taking a different turn on a classic story that will have you skipping on the yellow brick road.
~Nepenthe

Symphony of Ages series:
-Rhapsody: Child of Blood
-Prophecy: Child of Earth
-Destiny: Child of the Sky
-Requiem for the Sun
-Elegy for a Lost Star
-The Assassin King