O is for Ouroboros

Release Day for Fire Storm…

 

I’m thrilled that today is Release Day for Fire Storm, Book 2 of the Fire Dance Chronicles. Fire Storm concludes Maia’s story. If you’ve been thinking of getting hold of a copy of book 1, this is the weekend to do so as, to celebrate, the price of the ebook version of Book 1—Fire Dance—has been slashed to 99c (Amazon.com only). 

Today’s extract from Fire Dance introduces us to Quei, an enigmatic figure who shatters Maia’s plans to live a quiet life as a temple follower.

The envoy brought Maia’s hand up to his eyes and he examined her palm and the back of her hand. “For a girl who plays with fire, you’d expect some burn marks.”

Her breath fluttered, panic and confusion momentarily clouding her mind. But Quei was talking about her dance not her behaviour. Maia forced her words out as nonchalantly as she could. “My lord, we acolytes of the Goddess of Light know how to protect ourselves from our Mother’s gift.” She gave a stiff bow and again tugged at her hand. “I have to leave.”

He didn’t let go. Instead, he traced a line down her palm. “You were in no hurry before. The burns on the High Sentinel’s face show that Sentinels aren’t always able to protect themselves from fire.” He gave a snort of derision. “If you wish me to release you, call your flames.”

Her breathing grew shallower; her insides knotted. He couldn’t know. No one knew.

And now on to this week’s fantasy creature…

O is for Ouroboros

The ouroboros is a symbol more than an actual creature. The name derives from Greek for ‘tail devourer’ and in fact the ouroboros is a serpent, or dragon, continuously devouring its tail. As a symbol it represents eternity, as well as the cycle of life, death and re-birth.

In some cultures, the ouroboros is a symbol of fertility, in others a symbol of the seasons. In modern fiction it’s been used as a symbol of time travel, especially looping through time.

The oldest image of an ouroboros was found in the ancient Egyptian tomb of the pharaoh Tutankhamun.

References: https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20171204-the-ancient-symbol-that-spanned-millennia

https://www.feelnopain.it/en/blog/the-ouroboros-history-meaning-and-symbolism

https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Ouroboros

Books You Might Like

Nicholas Woolde-Smith is offering a TEN book Box Set for just over a dollar. Now that’s a bargain!

I was orphaned and left for dead…

Until a ghost found me and taught me to slay monsters.

My name is Kat Drummond. Part-Time Monster Hunter. Full time badass. After watching a necromancer dissect my parents, I swore vengeance against the undead and the maniacs who bring them into this world.

But hunting monsters isn’t easy. Especially in Hope City. The city at the end of this magical, monster-filled world.

Lucky for me, I’ve got a ghost from another world here to train me.

He’s got a bone to pick with the undead just as much as I do. Together, we’ll become the greatest monster hunters Hope City has ever seen.

There’s a new necromancer on the block, and an army of undead monstrosities at his command. This could be my shot at entering the big leagues.

Or wind up a walking corpse.

For lovers of all things fantasy… FREE BOOKS

“Terry Pratchett meets Ghostbusters in an RPG world.”

Beast Be Gone is a comedic fantasy fiction that follows Eric, a pest control agent in a fantasy world plagued by adventurers who are putting him out of a job.

Creatures in your basement? Undead spooking your castle? Infestation of goblins? Beast Be Gone will clear out those pesky pests and save your health and business – (no dragons)

Adventurers rampage across the land, stealing everything from bread rolls to ancient heirlooms, slaughtering countless innocent monsters in their hunt for glory. Eric, the owner of Beast Be Gone pest control, knows that most creatures can be removed with a bit of repellent, however, the adventurers want to do things the flashy way; blowing up half of the dungeon with fireballs in the process. With no work left, Eric is broke and desperate. That is until a young woman equipped with mechanical gadgets becomes his apprentice. Together they uncover the mystery of a diabolical plot that answers the timeless questions about adventuring… Why are there so many Chosen Ones? Are goblins inherently evil or are they just misunderstood? Why do all the shopkeepers say they have the best swords in the land? What are the socio-economic implications of all these sword merchants? Somebody wants a world full of adventurers, but why…

And Free through KU…

Some self-promo!

The Hyllethan Gifts Trilogy

When sixteen-year-old Shael helps a mortally wounded messenger, he entrusts her with delivering to the queen three magical statuettes stolen from the Hyllethans, her country’s feared enemies. But Shael accidentally cuts her fingers while handling the statuettes and magic links her to them—any breakage or pressure on the clay is felt on her flesh. Shael’s fate is now inexorably tied to the Hyllethans, the statuettes, and the political turmoil in the land.

Fire Dance

A terrified girl with a deadly ability. A penniless soldier who loves her. A lord with the power of life and death over them.

For seventeen years, Maia, a promising acolyte of the Goddess of Light, has hidden her unholy ability to conjure flames. But when she performs in the temple’s Summer Solstice ceremony, the Emperor’s envoy, Lord Quei, tells her he knows her secret. Quei threatens to enslave Vane, the young man Maia loves, and execute her as a demon unless Maia recovers coins that were stolen from him. He claims these will reveal Maia’s true nature and restore their memories of who he and Maia were in previous lives.

To save herself and Vane, Maia goes against her principles and resorts to deceit and thievery in her search for both the coins and the truth about her fire. But if what Quei says is true, the coins will destroy her beliefs about who she is, the nature of her world, and even worse, Vane’s trust and love.

Fire Storm

How do you choose between protecting your family or following your heart?

Maia, her family, and Ryse, the love of her several lives, are desperate to reach their spacecraft and return to their home planet. Only Ryse’s presence there can prevent a devastating war from erupting. But Maia’s heart is torn: the spacecraft is too small to take them all and leaving means abandoning family members in a land ravaged by conflict and rebellion.

Their plans are further thrown into disarray when they attract the attention of General Dardarin, who suspects they are enemy spies.

With the enemy armed with alien weapons, with the rebellion entangling Maia in its web and with Dardarin following their every move, Maia races against the clock to find a way to protect all those she loves on both worlds. Even if it means sacrificing her happiness and her centuries-long love for Ryse.

Colours of Fantasy (FREE DOWNLOAD)

Not enough time to read, but love fantasy?

Colours of Fantasy is an anthology of short stories that range from magical realism to sci-fi fantasy. They are short enough to be easily read while commuting or during a lunch break. Read about paintings that are truer than true-to-life, or the heart-wrenching decision Poseidon’s human son-in-law has to take, or perhaps you’ll prefer a glimpse of life after an apocalypse, or a story about a space pirate with an uncomfortable past. 

And if you like longer reads, Colours of Fantasy gives you a taste of Book One of two series: The Hyllethan Gifts Trilogy and Fire Dance Chronicles.

Till next time! Wishing you a great two weeks with a good book!

Caroline

N is for Naiads

I’m bowled over! Another Fire Dance review was uploaded on Amazon and Goodreads and it has me grinning from ear to ear. I mean, who won’t be left speechless by a review that compares Fire Dance to From Blood and Ash and Fourth Wing, two of the hottest bestsellers of the moment. You can read the review HERE. Moreover, copies of Fire Dance have arrived, and the cover, inside map and chapter layout look just great, so it’s been a great week. 😊

To continue with what I started in my last post, I’m including another extract from Fire Dance which introduces an important character. This is the first time the reader meets Vane, a young man the protagonist grew up with and loves.

Maia weaved her way through the crowd still waiting to enter the temple’s sacred stone circle. As she was about to step into the preparation room, someone grabbed her hand and pulled her to his body.

Maia instinctively balled her fist. A soldier’s belted tunic; a short sword. The boyish face grinning down at her made her release her breath in exasperation. “Vane, you came close to having your stomach punched and knee kicked in.”

He released her, his eyes crinkling in the mischievous smile she knew well. “Since I taught you the few moves you know, I think I can defend myself from your dainty fists and dancing feet.”

“Ha-ha.” She glanced around, but no one was paying them much attention. “Come inside.” She stepped into the preparation room where they could talk more privately. Vane had filled out these past months since he’d stopped coming to the temple for lessons. His bare arms and legs had a more solid look than they’d had before his half-brother enrolled him in the island’s military. But Vane’s shock of untidy hair, as if he’d forgotten what a comb was for or even that such a thing existed, was still the same. “Aren’t you on guard duty?” She motioned to where she’d last seen Governor Hoore and his unwelcome guest.

His smile deepened. “I volunteered, seeing as it’s the only way to meet you.”

“You know I can’t visit the town without permission.”

“Excuses. You can get permission whenever you want.” The smile dropped from his eyes, and he lowered his voice. “I’m being sent to Lisenthe.”

Maia’s insides tightened. The main island of the Empire, home to the Emperor, lay many days away from Basica. “Why?” 

…

And now on to today’s fantasy creature…

N is for Naiads

Naiads are beautiful minor Greek goddesses associated with fresh water. There are naiads of wells, springs, fountains, rivers, lakes, marshes and wetlands, for example. Several towns, cities and islands have been named after them and they are revered by the inhabitants as protectors of the area’s water supply.

The water under the protection of some naiads is thought to have healing powers while particular springs are believed to inspire poetry and prophecies.

Naiads are long-lived young women but they are not immortal. They often marry kings or are loved by gods. They are also found as nurses of young children and protectors of girls, helping them get through their childhood till they reach adulthood.

While naiads are mostly well-meaning, they can be dangerous, especially when events trigger their jealousy. One naiad is known to have destroyed a ship’s crew in revenge, while another blinded an unfaithful shepherd.  

References: https://www.theoi.com/Nymphe/Naiades.html; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naiad; https://www.britannica.com/topic/Naiad-Greek-mythology

Books You Might Like

For lovers of all things fantasy… a ton of FREE BOOKS

If like me you love a novel seeped in history and entwined with magic and romance, one of my author friends has a great historical fantasy which she’s currently offering for FREE. I’ve downloaded it and I can’t wait to start reading it.

A runaway thrall. A “cursed” thief. One daring quest for freedom.

A heart-warming coming-of-age medieval adventure with budding romance

“Wow! Adventures, grace, mercy, incredible world building, and a heart-warming story. Truly a perfect historical fantasy to introduce a reader new to fantasy or just in love with great storytelling.” – Goodreads

“This action-filled story doesn’t let up for a minute, propelling me from one dire event to the next…the found family in this one warmed my heart. So poignantly written.” – Goodreads

“This book was so gripping I started at midnight, and though I DID put it down for a couple hours of sleep, I finished it within 18 hours of starting. I just couldn’t stop. The heart break, the triumphs, and the FEELS… the book ends on a very strong hope point that I absolutely loved.” – Amazon/Goodreads

******

In the aftermath of a rebellion against William the Conqueror, northern England lies in ruins, its people scattered and starved.

Aelfric, a 14-year-old thrall, flees from his master and stumbles upon a cache of stolen laundry. The thief? Aliwyn, a girl around his age ostracized for being “cursed.” In her care is a lost toddler she has rescued from the clutch of greedy thrall traders.

Forced to cover each other’s secrets, Aelfric and Aliwyn form an unlikely friendship…and maybe something more. They embark on a perilous journey to reunite the child with his family and seek a cure for Aliwyn’s mysterious condition.

But time is running out. Aelfric’s master is on the hunt, and the shadows of death loom ever closer over Aliwyn. Will they find the courage to press on and defy fate, or will their quest end in capture and ruin?

*****

Immerse yourself in a fast-paced tale of unforeseen twists and heart-stopping challenges. The Thief’s Keeper is a thrilling young adult novel that transports you to an alternative medieval world, where Celtic-inspired tribes live alongside the last Vikings. Begin your adventure today!

And more intriguing free books…

Fantasy. Adventure. Romance.

A stubborn princess vrs a devious outlaw. Winner takes the throne.

A ruthless outlaw determined to conquer her kingdom. A courageous stranger who saves her life. She never suspected they would be the same man… With the king bound in enchanted slumber, unrest spreads through the Seven Rivers. Outlaws ravage the land, destroying peaceful villages. Left alone to rule, Crown Princess Tahlea leads her army in defense of her people. When her efforts fail to capture the criminals, she makes a perilous journey to seek aid from a reclusive mystic. He grants her power to erase the memory of her enemy, Andevaar.

Betrayed and ambushed, Tahlea fights for her life. Captured by outlaws, she learns the attacks are only the beginning, and her entire kingdom is in danger. Desperate to stop Andevaar, she casts her spell. Bent on vengeance, Andevaar plans to conquer the Seven Rivers. Only Princess Tahlea stands between him and seizing control. But everything changes when he loses his memories. Can he abandon his past and become a new man? Or will he deny his feelings for the stubborn, courageous princess and destroy her to win the throne?

How do you get into witch school?

YA Urban Fantasy Academy story

A teen girl fears her family’s reputation will label her for life. Her mother wants her to follow in her footsteps and learn witchcraft. Can she become a witch on her own terms? Brie knows two things about the witches in her family. Her grandmother almost destroyed their hometown with magic. Her mother saved it. But the upheaval from their fight has caused problems for twenty years. Now witchcraft is subjected to strict laws and everyone knows the McAddams family is to blame. When Brie is old enough to study witchcraft under the new laws, her mother, Rosa, assumes that she’ll attend the school where she teaches. But everyone would put Brie under a microscope to see if she’ll turn out to be a hero like her mother or a villain like her grandmother. She wants to hide in anonymity. Then her second mother suggests that she try a different school—one where people won’t know her family name. Brie would have to be accepted under her own merit. The MATs—Magical Aptitude Tests—will score her ability to learn magic. But if she succeeds, Brie might find a more welcoming home at Santa Cruz Witch Academy. She just has to pass the entrance exams. Third Generation Witch is a prequel to the upper YA urban fantasy academy trilogy, Santa Cruz Witch Academy. The series takes place twenty years after the Fae of Calaveras trilogy, but does not require prior reading. If you like teen witches, magical schools, and queer families, you’ll enjoy Kristen S. Walker’s story about the struggle to be accepted.

If you prefer a mix of Sci-fi and fantasy, click the following picture.

And Free through KU…

Some self-promo!

The Hyllethan Gifts Trilogy

When sixteen-year-old Shael helps a mortally wounded messenger, he entrusts her with delivering to the queen three magical statuettes stolen from the Hyllethans, her country’s feared enemies. But Shael accidentally cuts her fingers while handling the statuettes and magic links her to them—any breakage or pressure on the clay is felt on her flesh. Shael’s fate is now inexorably tied to the Hyllethans, the statuettes, and the political turmoil in the land.

Fire Dance

A terrified girl with a deadly ability. A penniless soldier who loves her. A lord with the power of life and death over them.

For seventeen years, Maia, a promising acolyte of the Goddess of Light, has hidden her unholy ability to conjure flames. But when she performs in the temple’s Summer Solstice ceremony, the Emperor’s envoy, Lord Quei, tells her he knows her secret. Quei threatens to enslave Vane, the young man Maia loves, and execute her as a demon unless Maia recovers coins that were stolen from him. He claims these will reveal Maia’s true nature and restore their memories of who he and Maia were in previous lives.

To save herself and Vane, Maia goes against her principles and resorts to deceit and thievery in her search for both the coins and the truth about her fire. But if what Quei says is true, the coins will destroy her beliefs about who she is, the nature of her world, and even worse, Vane’s trust and love.

Fire Storm

How do you choose between protecting your family or following your heart?

Maia, her family, and Ryse, the love of her several lives, are desperate to reach their spacecraft and return to their home planet. Only Ryse’s presence there can prevent a devastating war from erupting. But Maia’s heart is torn: the spacecraft is too small to take them all and leaving means abandoning family members in a land ravaged by conflict and rebellion.

Their plans are further thrown into disarray when they attract the attention of General Dardarin, who suspects they are enemy spies.

With the enemy armed with alien weapons, with the rebellion entangling Maia in its web and with Dardarin following their every move, Maia races against the clock to find a way to protect all those she loves on both worlds. Even if it means sacrificing her happiness and her centuries-long love for Ryse.

Colours of Fantasy (FREE DOWNLOAD)

Not enough time to read, but love fantasy?

Colours of Fantasy is an anthology of short stories that range from magical realism to sci-fi fantasy. They are short enough to be easily read while commuting or during a lunch break. Read about paintings that are truer than true-to-life, or the heart-wrenching decision Poseidon’s human son-in-law has to take, or perhaps you’ll prefer a glimpse of life after an apocalypse, or a story about a space pirate with an uncomfortable past. 

And if you like longer reads, Colours of Fantasy gives you a taste of Book One of two series: The Hyllethan Gifts Trilogy and Fire Dance Chronicles.

Till next time! Wishing you a great two weeks with a good book!

Caroline

It’s arrived

What a great couple of days. Copies of Fire Dance have arrived, and the cover, inside map and chapter layout look just great. (You can see me leaf through the pages here.)

And to make my week even better… another Fire Dance review was uploaded on Amazon and Goodreads. It has me grinning from ear to ear. I mean, who won’t be bowled over by a review that compares Fire Dance to From Blood and Ash and Fourth Wing, two of the hottest bestsellers of the moment. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CSGCFMBS

In case you haven’t heard me say anything about this book (hmm, I know, I know, but I’m thrilled at how it’s turned out) Fire Dance is a fantasy with a difference. It’s a fantasy adventure and a romance and has a smidgeon of science fiction, so technically it’s a science fantasy. You can read the blurb below.

A terrified girl with a deadly ability. A penniless soldier who loves her. A lord with the power of life and death over them.

For seventeen years, Maia, a promising acolyte of the Goddess of Light, has hidden her unholy ability to conjure flames. But when she performs in the temple’s Summer Solstice ceremony, the Emperor’s envoy, Lord Quei, tells her he knows her secret. Quei threatens to enslave Vane, the young man Maia loves, and execute her as a demon unless Maia recovers coins that were stolen from him. He claims these will reveal Maia’s true nature and restore their memories of who he and Maia were in previous lives.

To save herself and Vane, Maia goes against her principles and resorts to deceit and thievery in her search for both the coins and the truth about her fire. But if what Quei says is true, the coins will destroy her beliefs about who she is, the nature of her world, and even worse, Vane’s trust and love.

#fantasy #sciencefantasy #romantasy #fourthwing #frombloodandash

N is for the Nephilim

These last couple of weeks saw me ticking off a few goalposts: the blurb for Fire Dance has been updated to reflect the novel’s primary focus better (I hope), and Fire Dance is finally available both as an ebook and paperback. I’m counting the days to get my box of paperbacks. That’s when it will finally sink in that the story is now done and out of my hands.

To celebrate, I’m pasting a passage from the first pages of the book which introduces the protagonist, Maia, a seventeen-year-old acolyte studying in the temple of the Goddess of Light. Maia has a secret ability which could get her executed if discovered.

Maia walked past the temple guard with an unconcerned gait. Reaching the stout door of the underground cell, she bent down to push the dish against the food flap. The plate was too large to pass, which was why she’d chosen it.

“You’ll have to open the door.” Maia looked over her shoulder at the guard breathing down her neck. She again stooped to push the plate against the flap.

The man grunted. “You could change the plate.”

Showtime. Maia let her gaze wander from the guard’s sandal straps criss-crossing his beefy lower legs, to his belted tunic with the dagger and bunch of keys hanging from his waist and up his broad chest—as if she had every right to demand and expect obedience. As if she were already a Sentinel.

He flinched, and the slight tension in her guts relaxed. The Day of the Mother was thirty-four days away. To the temple employees, that made her practically already one of the Mother’s chosen. One of the elite.

The guard dipped his head, his irritation at having to obey a slip of a girl tightening his face. “Prefect.” He fumbled for the keys and unlocked the door.

Even her title rhymed with her reputation.

The creak of the wood and the stench of sweat and burning beams released through the open doorway hurled Maia into the scenes of the nightmares that woke her up at night. Smoke filled her mouth; the crackle of flames and the sound of someone screaming numbed her mind.

It’s a trick of the mind. It doesn’t exist.

Maia tightened her grip on the plate. Perhaps she should have let the guard see her indecision and guilt and given him a reason to doubt the wisdom of obeying her. She would have had a good excuse then for not helping Dorienne.

She lifted her chin and hid her shortening breath and the shake in her limbs. Fear—especially irrational fear—was a sign of weakness. But the very stones round the cell door sucked in the light and air.

Maia stepped into the darkness, as thick and smelly as Cook’s kitchen on chicken-butchering-and-plucking day. A rustling to the left told her Dorienne was awake.

And after that (hopefully) intriguing introduction to the protagonist, let’s move on to today’s fantasy creature…

N is for the Nephilim

Nephilim are the children of a human parent and an angel. They often have a human appearance but are very attractive, strong and brave.

Nephilim have great powers but the type of power and their general physical characteristics depend on who they take after and who their immortal parent was. In fact, some Nephilim are closely similar to mortals while others more closely take after their angelic parent both physically and emotionally.

Nephilim can be long-lived especially as they don’t easily sicken. They are often the good-guys when they use their supernatural abilities to protect humanity and hunt demons or other evil-doers.

References: https://unnaturalworld.fandom.com/wiki/Nephilim; https://powerlisting.fandom.com/wiki/Nephilim_Physiology; https://xsupernaturalcreaturesx.weebly.com/nephilims.html

Books You Might Like

My ex-crit partner’s debut novel Blood of the Stars is out. I’m honoured to say that I got to read part of it before its release and it immediately hooked me. So happy for you, Karyne.

Harnessing the power in her blood could turn the tides of war—if it doesn’t destroy her first.

It’s been fourteen years since Prince Gaeren lost Aeliana, the childhood friend he’d sworn to protect. Haunted by the unfulfilled promise, he searches for a way to bring her home. But with threats against the kingdom from both a rebel faction in the south and Mayvus, a power-hungry priestess in the east, he only has time to follow one last clue across the seas.

Kidnapped as a child, Aeliana is desperate to be rid of the chaotic magic in her blood, magic her captors use to ravage the land. When she’s found by Gaeren’s rebel enemies, she joins their fight to rescue her mother from Mayvus, but her unwieldy power only serves to attract Mayvus’ attention. Aeliana must learn to control her magic before they reach her mother, or risk becoming the weapon Mayvus needs to take complete control of the kingdom.

Blood of the Stars is the first book in an epic fantasy series full of magic, intrigue, found family, reluctant royalty, & descendants of Stars on the brink of war.

For lovers of all things fantasy…

And… FREE BOOKS

Visions of the past forge second chances for the future.

Silas isn’t just a thief. He’s the best in Veralian. But he’s not the city’s biggest problem. As the leader of the Ashen Hawks, Silas has to keep a clear head, even when his younger sister gives him a piece of her mind. But even with her warning, he can’t resist helping a beautiful prisoner escape the city’s barracks, not realizing she’s the prize he was searching for. Lucca uses trinkets to see glimpses of the past under the military’s cruel control. When an emotionally damaged, yet annoyingly handsome thief gives her an opportunity to start over, she sets her focus on saving him from a danger neither of them saw coming. When the truth of Helgath’s experimentation is exposed, it will either destroy the Hawks or force them to rise above and become the corrupted country’s most notorious criminal guild. Dawn of the Thieves is a prequel novella in the Pantracia Chronicles.

**This book is intended for mature readers and contains violence and sexual scenes.

An enemies-to-lovers romance

Vendrick is my captor and savior, a man with darkness mirroring my own- fueling conflicting emotions. My instincts scream to despise him while an undeniable attraction sizzles between us. Abducted and thrust into Sayah in the treacherous Dark Realm, I am forced to endure grueling training to awaken my latent “Light” powers. They call me the “Chosen One,” yet they keep the true purpose shrouded in secrecy. Vendrick unveils the dangers and injustices of Sayah. It ignites my unwavering resolve to train relentlessly and safeguard its innocent souls. As we face mutual adversaries and delve deeper into Sayah’s secrets, we must find a way to work together. Every moment I spend in Vendrick’s presence, I risk surrendering my heart to him. I’m trying to resist the allure of darkness and fulfill my destiny as the Chosen One. But love may lead me astray in a world of perilous seduction.

Some self-promo!

The Hyllethan Gifts Trilogy

When sixteen-year-old Shael helps a mortally wounded messenger, he entrusts her with delivering to the queen three magical statuettes stolen from the Hyllethans, her country’s feared enemies. But Shael accidentally cuts her fingers while handling the statuettes and magic links her to them—any breakage or pressure on the clay is felt on her flesh. Shael’s fate is now inexorably tied to the Hyllethans, the statuettes, and the political turmoil in the land.

Fire Dance

A terrified girl with a deadly ability. A penniless soldier who loves her. A lord with the power of life and death over them.

For seventeen years, Maia, a promising acolyte of the Goddess of Light, has hidden her unholy ability to conjure flames. But when she performs in the temple’s Summer Solstice ceremony, the Emperor’s envoy, Lord Quei, tells her he knows her secret. Quei threatens to enslave Vane, the young man Maia loves, and execute her as a demon unless Maia recovers coins that were stolen from him. He claims these will reveal Maia’s true nature and restore their memories of who he and Maia were in previous lives.

To save herself and Vane, Maia goes against her principles and resorts to deceit and thievery in her search for both the coins and the truth about her fire. But if what Quei says is true, the coins will destroy her beliefs about who she is, the nature of her world, and even worse, Vane’s trust and love.

Fire Storm

How do you choose between protecting your family or following your heart?

Maia, her family, and Ryse, the love of her several lives, are desperate to reach their spacecraft and return to their home planet. Only Ryse’s presence there can prevent a devastating war from erupting. But Maia’s heart is torn: the spacecraft is too small to take them all and leaving means abandoning family members in a land ravaged by conflict and rebellion.

Their plans are further thrown into disarray when they attract the attention of General Dardarin, who suspects they are enemy spies.

With the enemy armed with alien weapons, with the rebellion entangling Maia in its web and with Dardarin following their every move, Maia races against the clock to find a way to protect all those she loves on both worlds. Even if it means sacrificing her happiness and her centuries-long love for Ryse.

Colours of Fantasy (FREE DOWNLOAD)

Not enough time to read, but love fantasy?

Colours of Fantasy is an anthology of short stories that range from magical realism to sci-fi fantasy. They are short enough to be easily read while commuting or during a lunch break. Read about paintings that are truer than true-to-life, or the heart-wrenching decision Poseidon’s human son-in-law has to take, or perhaps you’ll prefer a glimpse of life after an apocalypse, or a story about a space pirate with an uncomfortable past. 

And if you like longer reads, Colours of Fantasy gives you a taste of Book One of two series: The Hyllethan Gifts Trilogy and Fire Dance Chronicles.

Till next time!

Caroline

News on Fire Storm (Bk 2), plus N is for the Night Hag

First of all, congratulations Rita K for winning the Sorcery and Stardust Book Giveaway. And secondly, some book-news from my end: Fire Storm, book 2 in the Fire Dance Chronicles series is finally ready and the paperback is now available through Amazon (the ebook will be released on 20 April). I’m releasing both book 1 and 2 within a month of each other because I reckon most readers are like me – once I start a series, I want to continue reading it till the end.  Books 1 and 2 of the Fire Dance Chronicles focus on Maia, Quei and Ryse’s story so book 2 brings their adventure to a (hopefully) satisfying conclusion.

The book cover for Fire Storm is the most romantasy one I have. I’m curious to know what feelings or ideas it brings to mind when you see it. Both positive and negative comments welcome 🙂

And now, on to today’s fantasy creature…

N is for the Night Hag

The night hag (or old hag) is a creature that appears like a shadowy old woman or a witch.

The night hag visits sleeping mortals and sits on their chest while triggering terrifying dreams. These dreams often reflect the sleeper’s wrong doings or fears. The night hag’s presence on the sleeper’s chest also results in the sleeper feeling a sense of suffocation or even paralysis till the night hag releases them from her grasp.

Has the night hag every visited you? 😊

References: https://www.sinistercoffeeandcreamery.com/blog/theoldhag#:~:text=Legend%20has%20it&text=Folklore%20beliefs%20in%20places%20such,terror%2C%20difficulty%20breathing%20and%20paralysis.

Books You Might Like

For lovers of all things fantasy… 6 FREE BOOKS that all yell ‘Read Me’!

She thought she was magicless, but she is the most powerful one…

A high fantasy romance with a dark side

“…never trust a Pebble Pincher.” Terhese’s dream of becoming an Official is within her grasp. Weeks before she is to leave for the Sandstone Academy, her powers show their true colors. Instead of accepting this new identity, she continues on her path and starts classes at the academy. She is warned to keep her magic hidden, but temptations pull from all sides as she spends time with new friends on the beach in the sun and around the bonfires at night, passing the bottles of green and amber liquor. Shadows of extinct creatures and unraveling falsehoods surround her. How long will Terhese be able to keep her forbidden Ràej powers a secret from everyone she knows, including the man who seems too good to be true?

Falling for the prince could cost her everything, or make her every dream come true

A Cinderella-inspired tale of deceit and desire.

Spare to the throne, Prince Lonan escapes the tedium of the Gnome Castle to go for a ride through the woods on his trusty steed, River. Whilst out riding and dressed as a commoner, he collides with a mysterious young woman hunting pheasants on the Crown’s land. But neither are quite what they seem… Daya’s family has fallen on hard times since her father passed, she’s forced to put food on the table while her mother and sister work their fingers to the bone to keep the roof over their heads. Could a chance meeting in the forest be the answer to all her problems? When their worlds collide at the Winter Solstice ball and the truth is revealed, will the secrets they keep bring them together, or tear them apart? A FAIR DECEPTION is a companion novella to The Fair Chronicles, set in the Gnome Kingdom.

Fae magic and true love

A romantic, gender-swapped Rumpelstiltskin retelling

Get ready for a fast-paced, romantic, gender-swapped Rumpelstiltskin retelling. *** Years ago, Pel fell for a gorgeous Faerie . . . and enslaved herself to him in the process. Now, she’s making the best of it by using borrowed Fae magic to render herself invisible and steal from the wealthy at court. While she’s there, a handsome human man named Cole is arrested when his father claims he can spin straw into gold. Intrigued, Pel follows Cole into his cell. When she learns he has no such talent, she offers to help, if he’ll pay for her assistance. But a little help isn’t enough. The king demands he spin more and more straw into gold. Pel has grown attached to Cole’s generous heart and wants to truly protect him. But to do so, she’ll have to ask him for his firstborn. If she does that, Cole will never trust her again. And if she doesn’t . . . the king will take his life. Is it possible to find both love and freedom?

Moonlighting as the love of an alien rock star. What could possibly go wrong?

An Alien Rock Star Romance

Zoe Price will do anything to avoid being drafted as a Canary for the Human-Alien Committee—even if that means sucking up to one of the best-known aliens in the world, scandalous rock star Chaz Reckward. Unfortunately, Chaz expects something in return for his protection: he needs a wife, and he needs one now. As Zoe’s deadline draws near, her false relationship with Chaz is put to the test. Unless they can fool multiple worlds into falling for their love, they risk losing everything—and plans as elaborate as theirs seldom work as intended. This standalone novella is a sweet, PG-13 romance prequel for the Alien Rock Star series. It features a happy ending and can be read on its own or enjoyed with the other books in the series.

Is our default programming always correct?

A thought provoking sci-fi story

When a robot suffers a catastrophic system failure and is revived by a young man, it begins to piece together it’s primary purpose. But as a reboot signal is simultaneously downloaded, the robot must quickly decide which program is superior; its default programming or the one it created for itself.

She thought the people in her head were just her imagination, until she started to meet them.

Epic YA fantasy with a strong female lead

Alyssia Gale is a daydreamer. A liar. An attention seeker. Everyone she’s ever known has found a label to stick on her, but one thing’s for sure: she can’t be telling the truth. The flashes she sees of the dark and difficult lives of four other people, living in a world that’s not her own … they can’t be real. Alyssia understands that as well as anyone, even if she does keep catching herself thinking of the people she sees as friends. Then she’s pulled into that other world by blood and dark magic, and realises that everyone she’s ever known was wrong. To start with, her focus is on surviving until she can find a way home. Yet it doesn’t take long for her to figure out that where before she was merely a spectator, now she can change things. And with one of her friends being forced into an abusive marriage, and another trapped in the cruellest of prisons, there’s plenty that needs changing. She just needs to survive long enough to do it. What she doesn’t know is that something connects her to these four people. Something she never could have imagined. And it’s not long before she isn’t just fighting to find her place between the worlds – she’s fighting to protect her closest friends from a narrative that wants them dead.

And don’t forget to download my FREE book – Colours of Fantasy (see below for link) – if you haven’t done so yet.

Some self-promo!

The Hyllethan Gifts Trilogy

When sixteen-year-old Shael helps a mortally wounded messenger, he entrusts her with delivering to the queen three magical statuettes stolen from the Hyllethans, her country’s feared enemies. But Shael accidentally cuts her fingers while handling the statuettes and magic links her to them—any breakage or pressure on the clay is felt on her flesh. Shael’s fate is now inexorably tied to the Hyllethans, the statuettes, and the political turmoil in the land.

Fire Dance

What do you do when you’re tormented by someone else’s memories?

For seventeen years, Maia, a promising acolyte of the Goddess of Light, has hidden her ability to manifest flames over her skin. But after she performs in the temple’s Summer Solstice ceremony, the Emperor’s mysterious envoy, Lord Quei, threatens to have her executed as a demon unless she joins him on a quest to recover lost coins, claiming they contain memories of their past lives on a distant, far more advanced world. To avoid a death sentence, Maia must turn her back on her principles and resort to deceit and thievery. The truth might explain the strange wisps of memories that haunt her dreams. But it could also destroy her beliefs about the Goddess she reveres, the nature of the world she lives in, and her own identity.

Fire Storm

How do you choose between protecting your family or following your heart?

Maia, her family, and Ryse, the love of her several lives, are desperate to reach their spacecraft and return to their home planet. Only Ryse’s presence there can prevent a devastating war from erupting. But Maia’s heart is torn: the spacecraft is too small to take them all and leaving means abandoning family members in a land ravaged by conflict and rebellion.

Their plans are further thrown into disarray when they attract the attention of General Dardarin, who suspects they are enemy spies.

With the enemy armed with alien weapons, with the rebellion entangling Maia in its web and with Dardarin following their every move, Maia races against the clock to find a way to protect all those she loves on both worlds. Even if it means sacrificing her happiness and her centuries-long love for Ryse.

Colours of Fantasy (FREE DOWNLOAD)

Not enough time to read, but love fantasy?

Colours of Fantasy is an anthology of short stories that range from magical realism to sci-fi fantasy. They are short enough to be easily read while commuting or during a lunch break. Read about paintings that are truer than true-to-life, or the heart-wrenching decision Poseidon’s human son-in-law has to take, or perhaps you’ll prefer a glimpse of life after an apocalypse, or a story about a space pirate with an uncomfortable past. 

And if you like longer reads, Colours of Fantasy gives you a taste of Book One of two series: The Hyllethan Gifts Trilogy and Fire Dance Chronicles.

Till next time!

Caroline

Fire Dance chapter 3, plus M is for Mandrake

It’s been a busy, but exciting, week, what with launching Colours of Fantasy, preparing for the forthcoming ebook release of Fire Dance and going through the edits of Fire Storm, book two in the series. Moreover…

Fire Dance has just got its first review and I couldn’t have asked for anything better! (Absolutely enchanted by “Fire Dance”! A fast-paced story… The arena scenes are full of heart-pounding excitement… I couldn’t put it down). It’s such a relief when a new book launches and other people say they like it.

If you’re interested to know more about Fire Dance, you can still read Chapter 1 and  Chapter 2 and this is the link to the last chapter which I’ll be uploading: Chapter 3.

As I mentioned in my previous email, Fire Dance is also part of a group giveaway, so if you wish to win 27 Fantasy and Sci-Fi novels including Fire Dance do participate. There’s nothing to lose and a lot to win 😊

And now, on to today’s fantasy creature…

M is for Mandrake

Mandrake

The Mandrake, or Mandragora, plant has become very well-known thanks to the Harry Potter stories. The mandrake has unique roots—they grow into a human form (a baby in Harry Potter) and its shriek when pulled out of the soil is deadly: whoever hears the sound goes deaf, mad or dies. Therefore, best block one’s ears before attempting to pull out a mandrake!

The Mandrake plant however has excellent medicinal properties and is also used to perform magic. In fact, it’s often associated with spells, especially the female-formed ones.

In reality, the Mandrake is a real plant. In fact, Maia, the acolyte-healer protagonist of Fire Dance, uses it to treat two of her wounded patients. The long-leaved plant has a large brown root that is sometimes forked into two to three branches and this gives it its somewhat human shape.

References:

https://www.wattpad.com/65386501-mythological-creatures-mandrake#:~:text=The%20mandrake%20or%20mandragoras%20is,that%20will%20serve%20his%20master.

Books You Might Like

2 Free Books…

A window into the mythology of Kulebra: A Collection of Folktales

Here are eight well-known folktales from Derian, the setting of Kulebra. In Derian, festivals and holidays are times for stories, times to pass the mythology of their world and origins on to their children. Alongside three Anansi retellings are five new short stories where readers discover Derian’s mythology of the history of the world, the balance between good and evil, and the origins of Chuioke’s powers. Settle in, enjoy, and gain a bit more insight into the world of Kulebra.

Will it be the end of Elementals era?

A high stakes prequel novella to the YA Dystopian Scifi Fantasy series

Five Elemental Elders… Facing an unknown enemy… On an alien planet… Failure marks the end of the Elemental era… Will they be able to keep hope alive?

Other books – for lovers of all things fantasy…

Every young woman in the village receives a dragon egg when she comes of age. Young Kleia watched every single egg hatch with a heart full of longing. Raising a dragon of her own was her destiny. Her reason to live. Nothing else could give her life meaning the way a dragon could. When she eventually got a dragon egg of her own, she learned that destiny is not always what it seems. This is no ordinary tale of dragons—the kind with daring adventure, great battles, intrepid heroes, or comforting victories. This is the tale of The Dragon That Never Was.

Other books can be found here…

ARC readers wanted…

Some self-promo!

The Hyllethan Gifts Trilogy

When sixteen-year-old Shael helps a mortally wounded messenger, he entrusts her with delivering to the queen three magical statuettes stolen from the Hyllethans, her country’s feared enemies. But Shael accidentally cuts her fingers while handling the statuettes and magic links her to them—any breakage or pressure on the clay is felt on her flesh. Shael’s fate is now inexorably tied to the Hyllethans, the statuettes, and the political turmoil in the land.

Fire Dance

What do you do when you’re tormented by someone else’s memories?

For seventeen years, Maia, a promising acolyte of the Goddess of Light, has hidden her ability to manifest flames over her skin. But after she performs in the temple’s Summer Solstice ceremony, the Emperor’s mysterious envoy, Lord Quei, threatens to have her executed as a demon unless she joins him on a quest to recover lost coins, claiming they contain memories of their past lives on a distant, far more advanced world. To avoid a death sentence, Maia must turn her back on her principles and resort to deceit and thievery. The truth might explain the strange wisps of memories that haunt her dreams. But it could also destroy her beliefs about the Goddess she reveres, the nature of the world she lives in, and her own identity.

Colours of Fantasy (FREE DOWNLOAD)

Not enough time to read, but love fantasy?

Colours of Fantasy is an anthology of short stories that range from magical realism to sci-fi fantasy. They are short enough to be easily read while commuting or during a lunch break. Read about paintings that are truer than true-to-life, or the heart-wrenching decision Poseidon’s human son-in-law has to take, or perhaps you’ll prefer a glimpse of life after an apocalypse, or a story about a space pirate with an uncomfortable past. 

And if you like longer reads, Colours of Fantasy gives you a taste of Book One of two series: The Hyllethan Gifts Trilogy and Fire Dance Chronicles.

Till next time!

Caroline

A Gift for You – free book

If you’re wondering why I’m writing a post a week early…

It’s been a long-held, secret dream of mine to gather some of my short, published stories into one book. I decided to go for it and gift it to all of you who have followed me and encouraged me to continue writing my stories. So, it’s with great pleasure that today I’m sending you the link to the Free Download of Colours of Fantasy.

Downloading the book will place you on my Substack newsletter list but you can unsubscribe at any time of course. I hope you don’t though 🙂

The book’s title came to me while editing ‘Artist’ (the first short story in the book) since the stories span so many genres (colours) under the umbrella term of Fantasy. As for the picture on the cover… I fell in love with that image as soon as I saw it. It encapsulates, at least to me, all that is whimsical and hints at the fantastical and the female protagonist of at least one of the stories (I’ll leave it up to you to decide which). The yellows and orange and nature imagery too called to my mind the switch of seasons and so metaphorically the life-changing decisions that are pivotal in each protagonist’s life.

All the stories have been adapted and edited for the book. One change, for example, is the names of some of the protagonists as I realised that some recur in different stories that have nothing to do with one another.

I hope you enjoy the stories and I’d really, REALLY, appreciate it if you let me know which is your favourite – or least favourite – and why.

Don’t forget to download Colours of Fantasy 😊

Books You Might Like

Another free download…

And other books…

Some self-promo!

The Hyllethan Gifts Trilogy

When sixteen-year-old Shael helps a mortally wounded messenger, he entrusts her with delivering to the queen three magical statuettes stolen from the Hyllethans, her country’s feared enemies. But Shael accidentally cuts her fingers while handling the statuettes and magic links her to them—any breakage or pressure on the clay is felt on her flesh. Shael’s fate is now inexorably tied to the Hyllethans, the statuettes, and the political turmoil in the land.

Fire Dance

What do you do when you’re tormented by someone else’s memories?

For seventeen years, Maia, a promising acolyte of the Goddess of Light, has hidden her ability to manifest flames over her skin. But after she performs in the temple’s Summer Solstice ceremony, the Emperor’s mysterious envoy, Lord Quei, threatens to have her executed as a demon unless she joins him on a quest to recover lost coins, claiming they contain memories of their past lives on a distant, far more advanced world. To avoid a death sentence, Maia must turn her back on her principles and resort to deceit and thievery. The truth might explain the strange wisps of memories that haunt her dreams. But it could also destroy her beliefs about the Goddess she reveres, the nature of the world she lives in, and her own identity.

Colours of Fantasy (FREE DOWNLOAD)

Not enough time to read, but love fantasy?

Colours of Fantasy is an anthology of short stories that range from magical realism to sci-fi fantasy. They are short enough to be easily read while commuting or during a lunch break. Read about paintings that are truer than true-to-life, or the heart-wrenching decision Poseidon’s human son-in-law has to take, or perhaps you’ll prefer a glimpse of life after an apocalypse, or a story about a space pirate with an uncomfortable past. 

And if you like longer reads, Colours of Fantasy gives you a taste of Book One of two series: The Hyllethan Gifts Trilogy and Fire Dance Chronicles.

Till next week!

Caroline

Huge SFF giveaway, Fire Dance chapter 2, plus M is for Medusa

Fire Dance is live in print form on Amazon, (listening to fireworks in the distance 🙂 ) Seriously, I’d love to know what you thought of Chapter 1. If you haven’t downloaded it yet, it’s still available here. While today’s link will take you to Chapter 2.

And…

Fire Dance is part of a group giveaway, so if you wish to win 27 Fantasy and Sci-Fi novels do participate. There’s nothing to lose and a lot to win 😊

Click on the picture for the giveaway link:

And now, on to today’s fantasy creature…

M is for the Medusa

Who’s never heard of Medusa and her tragic tale?

Medusa was a very attractive woman.  But after Poseidon forced himself on her, she was turned into a monster by the goddess Athena in revenge. Medusa’s beautiful hair became snakes and anyone who looked at her was turned to stone.

Medusa was finally killed by Perseus and beheaded, but since her head still had the ability to turn people to stone, Perseus gave it to Athena to use as a weapon.

Two interesting and little known facts: since Medusa was pregnant when she was killed, her unborn children, Chrysaor and Pegasus, sprang out from her severed neck. Secondly, while Perseus flew over Libya with Medusa’s severed head, drops of her blood fell onto the ground and turned to snakes. This is why Libya has a lot of snakes, apparently.

References: https://www.worldhistory.org/Medusa/

https://www.greekmythology.com/Myths/Creatures/Medusa/medusa.html

Books You Might Like

ARC readers wanted…

 

If you’re in KU, these books are free:

And for lovers of all things fantasy…

 Some self-promo!

The Hyllethan Gifts Trilogy

When sixteen-year-old Shael helps a mortally wounded messenger, he entrusts her with delivering to the queen three magical statuettes stolen from the Hyllethans, her country’s feared enemies. But Shael accidentally cuts her fingers while handling the statuettes and magic links her to them—any breakage or pressure on the clay is felt on her flesh. Shael’s fate is now inexorably tied to the Hyllethans, the statuettes, and the political turmoil in the land.

Fire Dance

What do you do when you’re tormented by someone else’s memories?

For seventeen years, Maia, a promising acolyte of the Goddess of Light, has hidden her ability to manifest flames over her skin. But after she performs in the temple’s Summer Solstice ceremony, the Emperor’s mysterious envoy, Lord Quei, threatens to have her executed as a demon unless she joins him on a quest to recover lost coins, claiming they contain memories of their past lives on a distant, far more advanced world. To avoid a death sentence, Maia must turn her back on her principles and resort to deceit and thievery. The truth might explain the strange wisps of memories that haunt her dreams. But it could also destroy her beliefs about the Goddess she reveres, the nature of the world she lives in, and her own identity.

Till next time,

Caroline

Excerpt from Fire Dance, link to ARCs, plus M is for Mermaid

Update on Fire Dance

I’m excited and relieved that Fire Dance is now formatted and uploaded on Amazon. I’m only awaiting the graphic design company to send me the updated version of the print book cover to fit the number of pages of the book for the print book to be released, while the ebook is already available for pre-order at the reduced price of $2.99. Release date for the ebook is set for 15^th March.

To celebrate, I thought you’d like to read the first three chapters of Fire Dance over the course of the next three newsletters. Today’s link will take you to Chapter 1. If you think this will interest anyone you know too, do share the newsletter and link with them.

ARC copies of Fire Dance will be available till its release. You can apply for a FREE copy of the whole novel, through this Google Form: https://forms.gle/mWaYmmvCxkbpY7f16  or through Story Origin, where you can also read a longer sample before applying: https://storyoriginapp.com/reviewcopies/c510f544-ac6c-11ee-88fd-e38d8d619506

Blurb: What do you do when you’re tormented by someone else’s memories?

For seventeen years, Maia, a promising acolyte of the Goddess of Light, has hidden her abnormality to manifest flames over her skin. But after she performs in the temple’s Summer Solstice ceremony, the Emperor’s mysterious envoy, Lord Quei, approaches to say he knows about her secret ability. Even worse, Quei threatens to have her executed as a demon unless she joins him on a quest to recover lost coins, claiming they contain memories of their past lives on a distant, far more advanced world.

To avoid a death sentence, Maia must turn her back on her principles and resort to deceit and thievery. The truth might explain the strange wisps of memories that haunt her dreams. But it could also destroy her beliefs about the Goddess she reveres, the nature of the world she lives in, and her own identity.

And now, on to today’s fantasy creature…

M is for Mermaid

The creature I tackled in the last newsletter was Lorelei, a siren. Some on you might be wondering if there is a difference between a mermaid and a siren.

In European folklore, mermaids are beautiful sea-creatures that have the upper body of a woman and a fishtail. They have a good reputation as kind and gentle creatures.

Sirens, on the other hand, are viewed as dangerous creatures who lure sailors to their death with their song.

The Siren myth originates from Greek myths. Originally, sirens were seen as half-bird, half-woman but in more recent tales, sirens became fishtailed too, which has led to the distinction between mermaids and sirens to blur.

For a more detailed description of how the image of a siren evolved, read: https://talesoftimesforgotten.com/2019/05/01/what-is-the-difference-between-a-siren-and-a-mermaid/

References: https://mythicalcreatures.blog/mermaids-vs-sirens-untangling-the-myths/

Books You Might Like

Not surprising, I love reading epic fantasy, sword and sorcery, fantasy adventure and paranormal fantasy so it’s not surprising that these are the type of books I write. The Hyllethan Gifts Trilogy is in good company in this group of Fantasy Adventure books. Click on the image to view the books.

And, if that’s not enough….

The promo on dragon books continues. If you haven’t yet checked them out and you love reading fantasy books that include dragons, click on the link below. For those of you who are enrolled in KU, the books are all FREE!

Some self-promo!

When sixteen-year-old Shael helps a mortally wounded messenger, he entrusts her with delivering to the queen three magical statuettes stolen from the Hyllethans, her country’s feared enemies. But Shael accidentally cuts her fingers while handling the statuettes and magic links her to them—any breakage or pressure on the clay is felt on her flesh. Shael’s fate is now inexorably tied to the Hyllethans, the statuettes, and the political turmoil in the land.

If you like magic, enemies to lovers, twists and turns, harrowing escapes and family drama, then you’ll enjoy The Hyllethan Gifts Trilogy.

Dawn of Purple and Grey, Days of Wind and Snow, and Night of Rites and Wraiths (The Hyllethan Gifts Trilogy) are available through Amazon as ebooks and paperbacks or as a Complete Series Box Set in ebook format.

Till next time,

Caroline

Author Interview: Cordia Pearson, ARCs for Fire Dance, plus L is for Lorelei

Today’s newsletter is going to be on the longer side as I’ve loads of news! First, I’d like to welcome fantasy author Cordia Pearson. I’ve known Cordia for years and I’m excited that she’s released her debut Iridesce in the last few days.

Book: IRIDESCE

Genre: Epic Fantasy

Author: Cordia Pearson

Hello Cordia, can you tell us something about your book?

Of course! This is the book’s blurb:

When your skin’s the wrong color, and eyes a hated shade of blue, life is one godsdamned battle after another.

All that’s kept me alive is the birthmark for which I was abandoned, the night of my birth—a Luna moth, symbol of the Mother Goddess, with its terrifying potential for magic.

I worship the fierce warrior who found and named me Thea. In a moon, I turn seventeen, and should he deem me worthy, will join his forces. Through service alone will I achieve citizenship and deflect the hate heaped upon me daily. Yet, my foster father’s mission to deny my desert people access to this country’s many resources troubles me.

A warrior mage I’ve never trusted swears we’ve known each other in other lifetimes. He sees a different path for me—one wherein I embrace the mystical destiny my birthmark portends.

Faced by this alarming possibility, I find myself asking: can I kill my own kind? Or will this mage, to whom I’m inexplicably drawn, convince me to give up a life of honor, for one of paradox?

Your cover is so striking. What are your thoughts behind this choice of design?

Quite simply, my cover artist is beyond compare.

Why did you choose this title for the book?

I sought titles reflecting each book’s theme in the series.

Tell me more about your protagonist? Why did you choose to write her?

Thea has been my obsession for more years than I care to count. Her story came to me in a dream that took me twenty pages to record.

Who is your favourite character in the book?

It’s a tossup. Kemu’s layers unfold slowly, which sustains the love between them. Rafi sprang to life, unplanned and a perfect foil for all the ‘you know what’ a writer heaves upon their protagonist.

What do you consider to be something fascinating about your work?

As an avid fantasy reader, I love magic arising from nature and the miraculous. Hope, justice, love and equality are my driving themes.

What are your plans for the future?

There are five books in the Day Without Dawn series. Luminesce will release 2024 and there’s a good chance Acquiesce may as well.

Who or what inspired you to write and why did you choose Fantasy?

I re-read Andre Norton’s books till their spines broke, never suspecting I’d follow her path. Apart from that,I was a horse crazed kid who became a horse obsessed Society of Master Saddlers Qualified Saddle Fitter and the breeder of the two time Grand Prix Pony Dressage Horse of the Year, Avatar’s Jazzman (also a Breyer Horse!) Horses are at the heart of my life and writing.

Thank you so much for joining me today. One last question: Where can readers find out more about you and your work?

http://www.CordiaPearson.com

http://www.saddlefitter.com 

FB: https://bit.ly/44gBfng

Twitter: https://bit.ly/3EWJWc9

Insta: https://bit.ly/3aTtfDd

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3tArLqV

Medium: https://bit.ly/3NRaQXK

About the Author:

Cordia Pearson lives on 80 acres in MN surrounded by a huge wildlife management area whose denizens visit often. Writing, riding her Morgan Horses, time in and on the water, yoga, dancing, gardening, and couldn’t ask for more. She writes about love, justice, and the exhilarating freedom of life on the back of a horse.

Link to book on Amazon: https://a.co/d/fhIe3rW

Update on Fire Dance

Now some news about my forthcoming release: I’ve received the edits for Fire Dance and I was happy to see there was little to change and update (apart from a number of missing commas! 😊), which means the book is ready for the final step: formatting. In the meantime, I’ve made the book available as an ARC (advanced reader copy) for anyone who’s interested in reviewing the book before its release. If you’d like to apply for the free copy, this is the application form:

Link to Google Form: https://forms.gle/mWaYmmvCxkbpY7f16

Or you can apply through Story Origin, where you can also read a sample before applying: https://storyoriginapp.com/reviewcopies/c510f544-ac6c-11ee-88fd-e38d8d619506

Blurb: What do you do when you’re tormented by someone else’s memories?

For seventeen years, Maia, a promising acolyte of the Goddess of Light, has hidden her abnormality to manifest flames over her skin. But after she performs in the temple’s Summer Solstice ceremony, the Emperor’s mysterious envoy, Lord Quei, approaches to say he knows about her secret ability. Even worse, Quei threatens to have her executed as a demon unless she joins him on a quest to recover lost coins, claiming they contain memories of their past lives on a distant, far more advanced world.

To avoid a death sentence, Maia must turn her back on her principles and resort to deceit and thievery. The truth might explain the strange wisps of memories that haunt her dreams. But it could also destroy her beliefs about the Goddess she reveres, the nature of the world she lives in, and her own identity.

Books and more books about… Dragons!

If you can’t get enough of reading fantasy books and love those that include dragons, I’ve great news. Click on the link below to see a list of fantasy books involving dragons. (The Hyllethan Gifts Trilogy books are there too 😊) And if you’re enrolled in KU, they are all FREE! Link: https://storyoriginapp.com/to/o4aeeTt

And finally, on to today’s fantasy creature…

L is for Lorelei

I first heard the name Lorelei when I followed a popular series called the Gilmore Girls, which I loved. But Lorelei is actually a beautiful siren who sends fishermen and sailors to their death by luring them onto rocks with her beautiful voice.

She is especially associated with the Rhine River because according to German legend she had once been a beautiful young girl who threw herself into the river when her lover betrayed her.

She was changed into a siren and takes her revenge by luring fishermen and sailors to their death.

Interestingly enough, a large rock on the banks of the Rhine River is named Lorelei. The rock produces an echo which could have given rise to the legend.

References: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Lorelei-German-legend

https://finalfantasy.fandom.com/wiki/Lorelei

Some self-promo!

When sixteen-year-old Shael helps a mortally wounded messenger, he entrusts her with delivering to the queen three magical statuettes stolen from the Hyllethans, her country’s feared enemies. But Shael accidentally cuts her fingers while handling the statuettes and magic links her to them—any breakage or pressure on the clay is felt on her flesh. Shael’s fate is now inexorably tied to the Hyllethans, the statuettes, and the political turmoil in the land.

If you like magic, enemies to lovers, twists and turns, harrowing escapes and family drama, then you’ll enjoy The Hyllethan Gifts Trilogy.

Dawn of Purple and Grey, Days of Wind and Snow, and Night of Rites and Wraiths (The Hyllethan Gifts Trilogy) are available through Amazon as ebooks and paperbacks or as a Complete Series Box Set in ebook format.

Till next time,

Caroline