Untethered Realms news!

There is always exciting news coming from the awesome authors of Untethered Realms!

Angela Brown is having a sale for her fantastic book, Beacon. It's 99 cents for the Kindle!

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Misha Gerrick recently released the first two books in her phenomenal epic fantasy series, War of Six Crowns.

The Vanished Knight

The entity living inside Callan’s soul orphaned her at age eleven. By the time she’s sixteen, it’s ensured her being shunted from one foster family to another.

Her thirteenth foster assignment should be routine. Except... it's not. A psycho in medieval armor kidnaps her and she ends up in a magical world. There, she accidentally discovers a secret her parents had kept until the day they died.

Both actually came from this magical world, but left before Callan was born. To cover their tracks, they’d lied about everything. Even who they really were.

Driven to find out where she comes from, Callan’s trapped in a race for life and death. Walking away isn’t an option, but if she stays too long, the entity will find its next victim.

In this world where secrets are sacrosanct and grudges are remembered, finding the truth will be near impossible. Especially when Callan has her own homicidal little secret to deal with.

One with a taste for destroying her life.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

 The Heir’s Choice

After discovering her parents had kept a whole world secret, Callan races to discover her past. Not easy to do with an increasingly agitated entity living in her soul.

Going to her long-lost elvish roots should answer all her questions. Instead, she ends up in the middle of a nightmare.

The elves are on the verge of an apocalyptic war. Their enemy, King Aurek of Icaimerith, will only be appeased if Callan marries his heir. It’s either her life getting messed up, or an entire country’s lives lost. Simple enough, right?

Wrong.

Because when the entity wants the elves blotted out of existence, saving them gets taken to a whole new level of complicated.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

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T.F. Walsh's kick-ass paranormal romance, Cloaked in Fur is now  exclusively on Amazon!

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Huzzah! Only three more months until Realms Faire 2015.
Mary Pax has organized this grand event with lots of fun, games, and daily giveaways. It's a great opportunity for you to not only win prizes, but to giveaway your own wares. A fabulous way of promoting your work. Click on the link to find out how you can join and/or donate.

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Finally, I wanted to give a shout-out to some wonderful speculative fiction authors and their new collection.

Get ready for some rollicking space adventures the likes of which you've never seen!
Beyond: Space Opera is coming August 15th.
And it will be FREE!

The collection will feature:

"The Ungreat Escape" by Siobhan Gallagher 

"All Comms Down" by Anne E. Johnson 

"Remembrance Day" by Simon Kewin 

"The Lion's Den" by Devin Miller

"Captain Clone" by Deborah Walker

"Captain Quasar and the Kolarii Kidnappers" by Milo James Fowler.

The Founding of Foxwick - guest post by Cherie Reich

The Founding of Foxwick

by Cherie Reich

Gather around, children, and let me tell you the tale of how the Kingdom of Foxwick came into being.

Once upon a time, a publisher put out a call for an anthology about assassins. Ooo, assassins are pretty cool. They are usually pretty badass, and it could be fun to write a story for the anthology. The publisher had an interesting stipulation too. They only wanted the first five hundred words of the story before they’d consider reading the entire thing.

But what should I write about? Who was my assassin and who would he/she have to kill?

I selected a female assassin. There are a lot of male ones, so I thought a female would stand out. But who would she kill? Someone royal/presidential/etc.? Perhaps someone close to her. No, no normal human would do. I wanted something bigger. A story that would take notice.

She would assassinate Death himself.

Once I figured out why she would have to kill Death, then I needed a setting. This was a fantasy anthology, and they wanted a Medieval-esque world. I had no readily available world to drop the main character in. I searched some fantasy world naming generators to figure out a name.

Foxwick came up in the second or third search. Foxwick. I liked it. A lot.

Thus, the Kingdom of Foxwick was born with badass Princess Umbria as this particular short story’s main character. Umbria features in five out of the seventeen short stories in People of Foxwick and Their Neighbors, and she’s mentioned in a few others.

A call for a short story inspired a whole new world. And although the story “Lady Death” was short-listed yet not accepted into the anthology, I couldn’t be more grateful for the founding of Foxwick.

The kingdom hangs in the balance.

War threatens Foxwick on all sides.

The dreaded Shadowlands gains more souls. From the shrouded trees in Greymist Forest to the arid Blackden Barrens, monsters roam in search of their next victim. Sirens lure ships beneath Merrilea Sea. In cold and snowy Wintermill, royals plot to claim Foxwick as their own, even if they must use dragons and sorcery. Marriage between Foxwick’s king and Lochhollow’s princess creates a perilous alliance. Although brave Valdale will come to Foxwick’s aid, the cost may be more than a true friend can stomach.

Set over a hundred years, these seventeen fantasy short stories explore the people, creatures, and lands in and around the Kingdom of Foxwick.

Add on Goodreads here.

Available in print and e-formats!

To purchase: Amazon | Google Play | Nook | Other Retailers

Cherie Reich is a speculative fiction writer and library assistant living in Virginia. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies, and her books include the horror collection Once upon a Nightmare, a science fantasy collection titled Fall of Gravity, and the fantasy series The Foxwick Chronicles and The Fate Challenges. Reborn is her debut novel. She is the vice president of Valley Writers and a member of the Virginia Writers Club and Untethered Realms. For more information, please visit her website.

Review for Effigy

Blurb:
The survival of a once-mighty kingdom rests in the hands of its young queen, Haleine Coileáin, as it slowly succumbs to an ancient evil fueled by her husband’s cruelty.

A sadistic man with a talent for torture and a taste for murder, he is determined to burn the land and all souls within. Haleine is determined to save her kingdom and, after a chance encounter, joins forces with the leader of the people’s rebellion. She gives him her support, soon followed by her heart.

Loving him is inadvertent but becomes as natural and necessary as breathing. She lies and steals on his behalf, doing anything she can to further their cause. She compromises beliefs held all her life, for what life will exist if evil prevails?

Her journey leads to a deceiving world of magic, monsters, and gods she never believed existed outside of myth. The deeper she goes, the more her soul is stripped away, but she continues on, desperate to see her quest complete. If she can bring her husband to ruin and save her people, any sacrifice is worth the price—even if it means her life.

My review:
Haleine Coileain's hopes for a happy future are ripped to shreds by her father's loyalty to their king. She's married to a sadistic prince and only sees misery until her husband's greatest enemy, Dana, climbs through her window. No matter how dangerous it is, Haleine cannot help but love Dana, and she agrees to spy for him to help his cause to bring down her evil husband. Yet there is something darker working within the shadows, something eager for death and chaos. Can Haleine find a way to save Dana and her people, or will she be sacrificed to the darkness herself?

My little synopsis of this amazing epic fantasy cannot convey the immensity of the tale. There are layers upon layers, each as thick and tantalizing as the last. Myths, monsters, magic, and mysteries. The world building is incredible. I was sucked into this vast realm which holds great beauty and tremendous horrors.

The cast of characters is large and marvelously diverse. Haleine is an admirable heroine. Forced into a situation she detests, I found myself cheering her on from the beginning even in her most miserable moments. Maddox is a loathsome man, the perfect evil prince, but not quite so detestable as his adviser, Omur. I couldn't stop myself from falling a little bit for Dana, the rebel leader, myself. And then there's Faolan, the wise-cracking mini pegasus. I adored him! There are so many other other great characters to list. Each well written and unforgettable.

There's so much I'd like to say about EFFIGY, but I won't give away any spoilers. There are so many twists and turns in this book, it will have you on the edge of your seat unable to sleep for wanting to find out what happens next. The journey is unlike none other. I highly recommend this book not only to fantasy fans, but to every reader. It will hook you so thoroughly, you won't be able to put it down.

Buy EFFIGY here:

Amazon US * Amazon UK * B&N

Find M.J. Fifield on her site!

Review for A Dragon's Lament

Blurb:
Magic is real. So is betrayal.

David enters the Fire Kingdom and events shift from bad to worse. He learns a shocking truth about the dragons, a truth destined to block his efforts to retrieve the lost magic of Shaylar from the ruling Council. After a cave-in and injuries force a rescue, David finds himself more isolated than before as personal concerns scatter his trusted advisors and the wizard who led him there abandons him.

The head of the dragon Council negotiates separate deals with both David and his father, sowing further discord between them. David's close friend, Lothan, disappears into the caves and doesn't return. A group of dissidents kidnap Wilks, the child empath David is sworn to protect. With no options left, he accepts the Council's demands to help them in their centuries-old conflict, risking a war which might kill them all.

Even if David manages to win, there's no guarantee the dragons will let him leave the region alive. They don't want the Kingdom of Shaylar to rise again and will stop at nothing to see it remain a pile of dust.

My review:
A blast of cold hits David and his friends as they enter the Fire Kingdom. The heat comes with the dragons and their politics, as dangerous as the wizards on the Far Isle. The dragon Council is wrestling with a group of clever dissidents and sticks David in the middle of the conflict to earn the magic that he is seeking. Along with the dragons, David must contend with his father and his missing friends. If he survives the battle, there's no guarantee he'll find the magic he needs to help revive the Kingdom of Shaylar.

If you thought the first book in this epic fantasy series was amazing, you'll be blown away by this second installment. Magnificent worldbuilding and characterization. The dragons are fascinating creatures. I'm a sucker for twisted politics. Lies upon lies, yanked around in circles and unexpected turns, not knowing who to trust. Then the layers are peeled back to reveal the rich and shocking tale beneath.

I love seeing the characters we know struggle and grow. The harmony and animosity amongst David and his group. I also like the new additions, especially the priestess. I can't wait to read more of their adventures!

Available here:

AmazonUS / AmazonUK / AmazonAU / AmazonCA / AmazonBR / AmazonFR / AmazonDE  / AmazonIT / AmazonES / AmazonIN / AmazonJP / AmazonMX / SmashWords / Barnes & Noble / Apple Store /

Paperback - Amazon

 

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About the author:

River Fairchild is somewhat odd, brandishes a dry sense of humor, owned by several cats. Lives in a fantasy world. A fabricator of magic. Makes stuff up and spins tales about it. Believes in Faerie crossings and never staying in one place for very long. Speculative Fiction wordsmith. The secret to her stories? Spread lies, blend in truths, add a pinch of snark and a dash of tears. Escape into her world. She left the porch light on so you can find your way down the rabbit hole.

Blog / Facebook / Twitter / Amazon /

REBORN blog tour - interview with the God of Prophecy

I'm excited and honored to have with me today the God of Prophecy, Apenth.

He plays a crucial role in Cherie Reich's YA fantasy series, The Fate Challenges. In fact, the young heroine is his chosen one.

You can read my review of REBORN here.

Please join me in welcoming Apenth to my blog.

1. You are the God of Prophecy and Wisdom. What other things have mortals attributed to you over the centuries? Healing and Music. Who knows what those mortals will come up with next?

2. Why did you go against Fate and make Yssa your sixth Phoenix Prophetess? I had to complete Amora’s prophecy. She passed into Hupogaia’s realm so many years ago. I miss her every day, but making sure her prophecies are intact brings me closer to her. I also love the city and kingdom she created. Fate may have dictated Amora’s fall, but I will delay Fate’s will as long as possible.

3. Do you have a particular love for the Kingdom of Amora? Why? My consort founded the kingdom, so of course I love it. I love the way dawn’s rosy fingers brush against the white buildings. I love the bustle of the many different people who live within the city. It’s the grandest kingdom in the world, and I will fight to protect it.

4. Do you speak with your other seers as you do with Yssa? Not usually and not where they know it is me. Yssa is pretty unique in her ability to see us gods. Not even the other Phoenix Prophetesses could do so.

5. Yssa thinks that you might be her Phoenix Guard. Have you considered taking that role again as you did in the past? The Council of the Gods has decreed only mortal men can be Phoenix Guards, so unless I become mortal, I won’t go against that rule by the Council.

6. Kisa, the Queen of the Gods, does not seem to have a particular liking for you. Can you tell us if this is something beyond you raising Phoenix Prophetesses? Yes, Kisa’s animosity has little to do with my Phoenix Prophetesses, although they give her a reason to act out against me. My father is Thean, Kisa’s consort. My mother, however, is Postera. Kisa never forgave my mother for the affair she had with Thean, even when the Queen of the Gods cursed Mother. Kisa often seeks to disrupt my plans.

7. You once had a mortal family. Can you tell us a bit about them? Ah, I loved my mortal family. I was a young god—merely a child myself—when I brought Amora back to life. Those purple eyes stole my heart. We grew up together in many ways and fought many battles together to take a small fishing village into a city. Amora and I had two children—twins—Moran and Apentha. Apentha was born first, so we decided she would become queen of our fledgling kingdom. Apentha was smart yet insecure. She had a talent with healing. Her touch could sooth a screaming baby and calm a grieving mother. Moran was always an anxious child. He never wanted to stay still and longed to explore. After Apentha brought him back to life, he traveled east and founded the City of Apentha, which became a kingdom in its own right until the joining of Princess Magna and Prince Cyrun. I miss my family each and every day.

8. Do you still enjoy certain mortal pleasures? Please tell us a few. Ah, mortal pleasures. I enjoy the feel of parchment between my fingers. Too many gods don’t bother with reading. I enjoy hugs. A simple embrace can mean so much. Gods just don’t show simple affection like that. I like the sparkle of gold, how cool and smooth the metal can be.

9. What do you think of Yssa? Has she lived up to your expectations? Yssa hasn’t had it easy, but I’m so proud of her. She’s fought back from devastating losses to defeat her enemies. The poor thing doesn’t even realize how special she is, but I gave my word not to explain unless she figures the truth out. She will, though. She’s very persistent, which is a great trait to have.

10. Is everyone, including the gods, subjects of Fate, or do you believe that everyone should be able to create their own destiny? As nice as it would be for all of us to create our destiny, we are bound by Fate for the most part. The paths that have gone before us dictate the paths ahead of us. Of course, you mortals like to think you have a hand in where you end up, but do you? Or have you played into Fate’s hands all along?

Thank you for joining us, Apenth. I enjoyed our chat.

To save a kingdom, a prophetess must challenge Fate.

On the day of Yssa’s death and rebirth, the god Apenth chose her as the Phoenix Prophetess.

Sea serpents and gods endanger the young prophetess’s journey and sour the omens. Yssa is cursed instead of blessed, and her duties at the Temple of Apenth prove it. She spends her days reading dusty scrolls, which does nothing to help her forget Tym, the boy back home. But the annoying yet gorgeous ferryman’s son Liam proves to be a distraction she can’t predict, even though he rarely leaves her alone for two sand grains.

Her boring temple life screeches to a halt when visions of her parents’ murders consume her. Yssa races across an ocean to stop the future. If she can’t change Fate, she’ll refuse to be the Phoenix Prophetess any longer. Fate, however, has other plans for her and the kingdom.

Yssa must either accept her destiny or fight to change Fate.

Available in Ebook and Print!

To purchase: Amazon | Createspace | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo | Nook | OmniLit | Smashwords | Other Retailers

Click here to add on Goodreads.

A self-proclaimed bookworm, Cherie Reich is a speculative fiction writer and library assistant living in Virginia. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies, and her books include the horror collection Nightmare, a space fantasy novella collection titled Gravity, and the fantasy series The Foxwick Chronicles and The Fate Challenges. Reborn is her debut novel. She is Vice President of Valley Writers and a member of the Virginia Writers Club and Untethered Realms. For more information, please visit her website.

Cherie and the authors of Untethered Realms are giving away over $50 worth of books to one lucky winner. The giveaway is open internationally.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

REBORN blog tour - review & giveaway

Blurb:

To save a kingdom, a prophetess must challenge Fate.

On the day of Yssa’s death and rebirth, the god Apenth chose her as the Phoenix Prophetess.

Sea serpents and gods endanger the young prophetess’s journey and sour the omens. Yssa is cursed instead of blessed, and her duties at the Temple of Apenth prove it. She spends her days reading dusty scrolls, which does nothing to help her forget Tym, the boy back home. But the annoying yet gorgeous ferryman’s son Liam proves to be a distraction she can’t predict, even though he rarely leaves her alone for two sand grains.

Her boring temple life screeches to a halt when visions of her parents’ murders consume her. Yssa races across an ocean to stop the future. If she can’t change Fate, she’ll refuse to be the Phoenix Prophetess any longer. Fate, however, has other plans for her and the kingdom.

Yssa must either accept her destiny or fight to change Fate.

My review:

Yssa grew up on a small island, happy and loved, but she always knew her destiny was elsewhere. She is the Phoenix Prophetess, Apenth's chosen one. She is whisked away from home to serve the Queen, seeing great wonders and facing dangers beyond imagination. As the heavy weight of her position slowly smothers her, she has a vision of her parents' murder. She must save them at the risk of everything else. Can Yssa challenge Fate and win or will she find herself a mere cog in its ever-grinding wheel?

REBORN is the fantastic first book in The Fate Challenges and Cherie Reich's debut novel. The world building is astounding. The people, the cultures, the history, and the lore. Each layer is peeled back as we learn about the world through Yssa's eyes. The wonders and the horrors. I particularly love how the gods mingle with the mortals. The gods do walk among them and whisper in their ears.

Yssa is a strong and sympathetic heroine. I loved seeing her grow not only in her role as the Phoenix Prophetess, but from a small island girl into a young woman to be admired. Liam is the perfect complement to Yssa. He's a bit cocky and sharp at times, but he easily won me over. Their relationship is sometimes rocky and other times sweet. The cast of characters is large and wonderfully varied, but the Queen, Ariala, and the gods themselves are included in my favorites.

With great characterization and a marvelous story, this YA fantasy is not to be missed. I cannot wait to read the next installment in the series.

Available in Ebook and Print!

To purchase: Amazon | Createspace | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo | Nook | OmniLit | Smashwords | Other Retailers

Click here to add on Goodreads.

A self-proclaimed bookworm, Cherie Reich is a speculative fiction writer and library assistant living in Virginia. Her short stories have appeared in magazines and anthologies, and her books include the horror collection Nightmare, a space fantasy novella collection titled Gravity, and the fantasy series The Foxwick Chronicles and The Fate Challenges. Reborn is her debut novel. She is Vice President of Valley Writers and a member of the Virginia Writers Club and Untethered Realms. For more information, please visit her website.

 

Cherie and the authors of Untethered Realms are giving away over $50 worth of books to one lucky winner. The giveaway is open internationally.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Reborn is here!

To save a kingdom, a prophetess must challenge Fate.

On the day of Yssa’s death and rebirth, the god Apenth chose her as the Phoenix Prophetess.

Sea serpents and gods endanger the young prophetess’s journey and sour the omens. Yssa is cursed instead of blessed, and her duties at the Temple of Apenth prove it. She spends her days reading dusty scrolls, which does nothing to help her forget Tym, the boy back home. But the annoying yet gorgeous ferryman’s son Liam proves to be a distraction she can’t predict, even though he rarely leaves her alone for two sand grains.

Her boring temple life screeches to a halt when visions of her parents’ murders consume her. Yssa races across an ocean to stop the future. If she can’t change Fate, she’ll refuse to be the Phoenix Prophetess any longer. Fate, however, has other plans for her and the kingdom.

Yssa must either accept her destiny or fight to change Fate.

Now Available in Print and Ebook!
Print: Amazon /Barnes and Noble / Createspace
Ebook: Amazon / Google Play / Kobo / Nook / OmniLit / Scribd / Smashwords / Wattpad

Bloodlust cover reveal

Hi, everyone! Nicole Zoltack here and I'm so happy to share with you the cover for my upcoming release.

Isn't it just beautiful? And it's perfect for the story.

Here's the blurb for BLOODLUST, a NA epic fantasy romance.

In a world torn by prejudice and hatred, six races struggled for supremacy.

Desperation…

Barbarian-Princess Ivy is unwilling to allow her father to provoke the other races into war and forms an unlikely alliance with Lukor the goliath to save her people from utter destruction.

Betrayal…

Unbeknownst to her, Lukor blames the barbarians for murdering his sister and plans on sabotaging her goal.

Bloodlust…

Almost despite each other, they grow to respect each other on their journey to decode secret messages from the trolls. But nothing Ivy can do will prevent the war as her father is blinded by Bloodlust and incites it himself. Not even killing him and becoming Barbaroness can stop the tide. And when Bloodlust claims Ivy, forcing her to kill everyone in her path, she must make a choice to destroy even Lukor, who she may have started to fall for and him in return.

The cover is so fitting, am I right?

The story will be released on February 24th. Ack! So excited. I'd love for you to share this and I'd even kiss you if you add it on Goodreads.

What do you think about the cover? The blurb? Does it sound like something you'd like to read?

Bio:

Nicole Zoltack loves to write in many genres, especially fantasy romance. When she's not writing about knights, superheroes, or zombies, she loves to spend time with her loving husband and three energetic boys. She enjoys riding horses (pretending they're unicorns!) and going to the PA Renaissance Faire, dress in garb. She'll also read anything she can get her hands on. To learn more about Nicole and her writing, visit her blog.

People of Foxwick and Their Neighbors coming this fall

Epic Fantasy

The Foxwick Chronicles

The Complete Short Story Collection

People of Foxwick and Their Neighbors includes the short story collections Women of Foxwick and Men of Foxwick as well as seven never before seen stories from Foxwick's neighbors.

The short stories in this collection include: Common Love, Blind Scribe, Lady Bard, Siren’s Call, Dragon’s Sacrifice, Tribal Abandonment, Dragon Spy, Dragon Seer, Sword Master, Lady Death, Mage Game, Courting Magic, Monster Hunter, Mourner’s Lament, Magic Seeker, Prince’s Price, and Love’s Challenge.

Add to Goodreads

Like Reborn, Laura Sava created the beautiful cover art for this collection. The ebook and print versions of People of Foxwick and Their Neighbors will be out this Fall.

The 13th Floor Collection tour & Magna's Plea by Cherie Reich

Today has a theme with my tour post and the guest post I'm hosting.

I'll be talking why you should write short stories on the wonderful Summer Ross' blog.

And on my blog, I'm so excited to have the talented YA fantasy author Cherie Reich with a flash piece. It's a prequel to her short story, "Magna's Plea."

A princess will rise and challenge Fate.

While her father, brothers, and people fight against the Kingdom of Apentha, tenacious eighteen-year-old Princess Magna can only watch the destruction of Amora, her besieged city and kingdom. Her mother, Queen Vyvian, has refused to allow her heir to join the fray.

But Magna won't take no for an answer. She seeks out an end of the war from Prince Cyrun of Apentha, their prisoner. If she can't persuade him toward peace, then Amora may fall.

This short story prequel includes a sneak peek of Reborn, Book One of The Fate Challenges, forthcoming May 2014.

YA Epic Fantasy

The Fate Challenges #0.5

A 5500-word Short Story

Best of all, you can download this short story for FREE at Amazon / Nook / iTunes / Kobo / Smashwords / Goodreads and read online at Wattpad.

Cherie Reich is a speculative fiction writer living in Virginia. For more information about her work, please visit her blog and website.

MORAN’S VICTORY
They couldn’t let the Apenthans win.

Hazy twilight hid the Place of Lordéhi from Moran’s view. His sandaled feet sloshed through the reeds along the river’s bank. He plucked a reed and twirled it through his fingers. Guards carrying torches trailed his family and him. No one would attack them here. The sun had dipped into Hupogaia’s realm. War had gone to bed.

Beside him, his brother Thoran emitted a soft grunt in pain. An Apenthan soldier had slashed Thoran’s arm during today’s battle.

“Is the pain real bad?” Moran worried about the wound. Thoran was his best friend, despite a four-year age difference. They’d play-fought against numerous villains throughout the years.

“No, I’m fine.” Thoran gritted his teeth and clutched his injured shoulder. “I’ll be ready to fight again in no time.”

Father patted Moran on the head and ruffled his hair. “Apenth’s healers will heal Thoran.”

Why did he insist on treating Moran like he was ten? Father hadn’t allowed him out of the war tent. Moran wanted to face the same danger his brother and Father did. “I would’ve taken care of those Apenthans, if I’d been out there.”

He swished the reed in front of him as if it was a sword.

Thoran chuckled, despite his face growing whiter. “They have real weapons.”

“Pfft, I can still fight.” He tossed the reed into the water. Ripples spread out from it, but what was that? The waves skirted a slender piece. As his father and brother walked on, Moran got on his hands and knees and leaned toward it.

“Come along. We’ll visit the healer and then return to the palace.” Father called over his shoulder.

“I see something.” His fingers brushed against the object, and he tugged on it.

Something held it in place.

Moran reached out farther and yanked. The force nearly sent him onto his behind. He studied the thing in his hands. It appeared almost like a branch, but it was smooth. He brought it up to his eye and could see all the way through the hole.

“What do you have there?” Father stomped over.

“I don’t know.” He held it out to his father, but before Father could take it, bubbles erupted from the water.

Father jerked Moran from the river’s edge and unsheathed his blade.

The guards around them did the same.

A head popped up from the water and the rest of his body followed. The man—not much older than Thoran—gasped for air.

“An Apenthan!” Moran recognized the red battle clothes the Apenthans wore.

“Seize him.” Father shielded Moran and Thoran as the guards entered the water.

The boy and the guards fought before they overtook him and dragged him to the embankment.

“Let’s take him to the palace. Mother will decide what we should do with him.” Thoran straightened, as if his wound no longer bothered him.

“This can’t wait, but you’re still seeing a healer later, Thoran.” Father instructed a few guards to search the river for more Apenthans, even though we didn’t see any more. Then, he placed a heavy hand on Moran’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “You stopped this Apenthan from breaching our walls.”

Moran’s heart swelled with pride. He alone could’ve saved their kingdom. They’d have to think he was old enough to battle now, right? With a grin and a light step, he walked with the others from the river’s bank to the palace. He couldn’t wait for Mother and his sister Magna to see what he’d done.

He picked up another reed before he left and pretended it was a sword. Apentha could never beat Amora as long as he was around.

Review for Jewel of Shaylar

Blurb:
Archaeologist David Alexander investigates the cave where his father disappeared and hurtles into another world, one filled with magic and bizarre creatures. The mad ravings in his father's journals of icemen and dragons may not be fantasies after all.

Convinced his father may still be alive, David begins a treacherous journey to find him and discover a way home. Along the way, he encounters a few unlikely friends. A Dreean warrior, a beautiful thief and a satyr join him as he searches.

David's arrival into this new world sets off an explosive chain reaction of events. Faced with powerful adversaries and few clues, he may not get the chance to rescue his father before disaster strikes, condemning both of them to death. Or worse.

My review:
David Alexander gets an offer for an archaeological dig that he cannot pass up. It might also help him find his father who has been missing for seven years. Exploring the cave, David is thrown into another world where all the crazy fantastical things his father talked about were real. He meets an odd group of friends on his quest to find his father, and on the way, discovers he is the heir to the lost ancient kingdom of Shaylar. All David wants to do is find his father and go home, but the land calls to him and he cannot ignore its call. Yet the call may lead David to his death and this entire beautiful world's.

A spectacular beginning to the series. The reader is swept into this wonderful fantasy world with wizards, satyrs, and dragons. The people are varied and the politics are thick. David is a highly likable hero that inspires loyalty from those who follow him. Sometimes trust in those he cares for can make him blind, but his heart is true. My favorite characters include his strange group of friends. Rhone the fierce Dreean warrior, Lothan the quirky half-satyr, and Mira the mysterious thief. Each individual is well drawn and fascinating. Plus, the D&D geek in me loves that they make the perfect adventuring party!

Along with great characterization and world building, the book is beautifully written, even poetic in parts. A lot happens in this story, but the reader isn't rushed along nor is the pace too slow. There's time to enjoy the read and get absorbed in the amazing fantasy land Laura Eno has created.

I can't wait for the next installment!

You can buy JEWEL OF SHAYLAR at:
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Author bio: Laura Eno lives in Florida with a very tolerant husband, three skulking cats and two absurdly happy dogs. After spending years immersed in English literature courses, she now writes novels late at night with the help of muses from the underworld.

Laura is a fellow member of Untethered Realms. Ten great speculative fiction authors. Check us out on Facebook!

 

Find Laura Eno on: Website - Blog - Facebook - Twitter - Goodreads

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Lucky 7 Meme - another round

I want to thank the wicked Mina Lobo from Some Dark Romantic for awarding me the Lucky 7 Meme. She posted a cool excerpt from her WIP and it involves vampires. Check it out!

I've done this one before, but I'm going to pick an older manuscript that's in need of a bit of sun.

Here are the rules:

1. Go to page 77 of your manuscript.

2. Go to line 7.

3. Copy down the next 7 lines as they're written. No cheating!

4. Post them on your blog.

5. Tag 7 other writers. (I'm not going to tag anyone. I'm doing this again just for fun. So if anyone else wants to, go for it!)

This is from my epic fantasy called "The Cursed Land." It's near 200,000 words. Yes, I was ambitious. It would work better as a fantasy romance and broken into three books. Maybe one day!

Here's my excerpt:

“Rodolf is not going to send the soldiers to get you! If he was going to do that, then he wouldn't have taken us with him. Not everyone is out to get you, Peri.”

Peri made a little noise of disbelief. “No, you’re not, but Rodolf is a Guard, remember? It’s his duty. I’m a marked girl."