Category: Fantasy Type: Fiction
Pages: 586
Copyright: Feb 4 2013
A sword and sorcery epic fantasy novel. The first part of a trilogy
To the people of the kingdom of Floroth, where magic is a normal part of life and fantastic creatures inhabit the surrounding lands, harpies are seen as an evil race. But when a Duke near the border of Floroth discovers a baby harpy, abandoned for the crime of merely being male, his kindhearted daughter convinces him to spare the baby and adopt him. The boy’s true nature is hidden from everyone at first, including the harpy himself, but the web of secrets surrounding young Reyes must eventually unravel to reveal the truth. When it does and Reyes discovers his true identity, will he revert to his unscrupulous harpy nature, or stay true to his human upbringing? The answer will determine the fate of Floroth as elves prepare to invade the kingdom.
Excerpt said Joneth, the midwife. She was thirty-seven years old. She had done well to survive so long, but just last year, while they had still been living on the side of a mountain, she had begun to show the first few signs of senility. It wouldn't be long before the leader of the village decided it was time to remove her. It maybe should be noted that the chief was just the male. Humans tended to assume the chief was in charge, likely because being a male-dominated society themselves, they couldn’t imagine anyone taking orders from a woman. However, the true ruler of any harpy village was usually a capable female huntress, chosen by the chief. Her official title within the village was simply leader, or occasionally she might be known as the war-leader if circumstances demanded. It was the leader who decided which females should be sent to the male. It was also she who judged when a huntress was past her prime and whether she should be retired or given what amounted to a babysitting job inside the confines of the village. Although she was the best huntress in the village, Gaggara wasn't the current leader.
commented one holding Gaggara's hand. This was Gaggara's best friend in the village, Lagnoth. It was of somewhat less importance to the harpies themselves that Lagnoth also happened to be Gaggara's half-sister. In a village such as this, most of the harpies were related in some way. They usually had the same father. Lagnoth had felt a little pang of jealousy when Gaggara had been summoned to the chief's hut, but now she too was heavily pregnant and was due to deliver any day.
Joneth said excitedly. Lagnoth tried to lean in closer.
Harpy tails weren’t prehensile, something Lagnoth should have been happy about, because as she leaned forward to get a better view of what was happening, she rested a hand on Gaggara’s stomach, making Gaggara quite uncomfortable. Had her tail been prehensile, Gaggara would probably have whacked Lagnoth in the face with hers. She hissed, Joneth commented.
Lagnoth said. She looked at Gaggara and asked, Gaggara groaned painfully. She could feel the baby emerging faster and faster.
Joneth pulled the baby free and held it in her arms, cradling the baby. It may have been her age, but it took a few seconds to notice that something was wrong. Gaggara asked concernedly. She tried to sit up. It took quite an effort, but with Lagnoth helping her she managed it.
Joneth told her. The harpy language was very limited in some ways; it had few male pronouns.
Lagnoth exclaimed. Gaggara refuted.
Joneth handed the baby to Gaggara. Gaggara took the baby, and all it took was one glance to know that Joneth was right. She had been through so much pain, and the chief was no doubt hoping to hear news of his new daughter. This was bad. This not only meant that her entire pregnancy had been for nothing, but that she could actually lose face over this.
Joneth petted her gently on the leg and said, Lagnoth agreed, Gaggara shook her head and said, Lagnoth said. Joneth agreed.
Lagnoth suggested.
Danielle enters a baking contest that the Rainbow Dream Trains are hosting to impress a small UN counsel that is coming to the Castle of Imagination. But things quickly go wrong, for a very dark reason.
This is the long-awaited 4th book of The Chronicles of Henry Roach-Dairier, a future world without people. Think Planet of the Ants, not Planet of the Apes, for young adults and adults.
The hoar witch and her forest full of malformed creatures await Vanx and his curious group of companions as they try to save the fairy folk and their magical Heart Tree from the powerful old crone and her evil.
