Dark Fantasy, Romance set in a world of magic, corruption and greed.
In a post war world of barren women, children are 'birthed' through a magical portal. However, when a powerful Duke's young wife becomes pregnant he will stop at nothing to manipulate his way onto the throne.
Excerpt
The audience, that had been sedate up to this point, jumped out of their seats. The atmosphere charged with violence as the prisoner stepped into view. Boos and jeers rang out against him as the guards moved to place the noose around his neck. Blood trickled from the blow he had received and dripped from his brow, further inciting the crowd into a massive frenzy.
In the front row Kathayr spotted a young woman strapped to a seat. The man’s lover, receiving her punishment for daring to defy the law of society by taking a companion of low status. For her sins she’d watch this man forfeit his life. A guard sat on either side of her, the one on her left placed a hand on her forehead. The other under her chin and whispered in her ear. She kept her eyelids squeezed shut and shook with sobs. The first guard was less patient and pulled out a knife. The terrified woman opened her eyes as the blade touched her throat. Kathayr hated them even more for forcing the girl to witness her lover’s execution.
The lovers stared at each other, then Gradyl resumed fighting and the woman wept as the guards continued to beat him. The man with the knife pressed it tighter against her skin and drew a faint line of blood.
On the gallows, the man witnessed her struggle and gave up fighting for his life. His eyes met with hers once more and he mouthed “I love you” as the rope tightened around his neck. The woman watched as they pulled the lever, releasing the platform from under his feet. Her shrieks and the sound of his neck snapping chilled Kathayr’s blood.
The scene ended and Kathayr sank to the floor. She could no longer bear looking at the devastation on the poor girl’s face. With her palms pressed over her ears to drown out the cries, she rested her forehead on the rough floorboards. The curtains closed and gut-wrenching sobs wracked through her. She wept for the lifeless body dangling above, for the distraught woman in the audience and for another sense of unknown loss. Something just at the edge of her memory she couldn’t quite grasp.
Professional Reviews
Entertaining
This book has some fascinating characters but I was most intrigued by Kathairs. She was the most genuine and relatable person I think. Given the pretext, the author did a great job keeping all the characters believable. The writing style is fresh and keeps things interesting. The jumping passage of time I didn't mind as it was still a very connected story. Overall it was very entertaining and I recommend it.
Magic, corruption, power and love...it has it all
Ms. Fettig has created a world of the future in which the behaviours and mores of the past seem to be prevalent. There is magic, power, corruption, evil and, of course the ever-present good.
The exploits of Kathair and her companions are well portrayed. The feelings generated in the reader for the protagonists and for the antagonists are well defined and strong. The author draws the reader through the pages, wanting to know what will happen next.
This is a story of lust for power, evil vs. good, and love. At the end of the book I was left wanting to read more of the exploits of Kathair. I hope there will be a second novel to follow.
There are some simple proofreading errors throughout the text, but they do not detract from the story.
I recommend Monsoon Reign to anyone who wishes to remove themselves from their everyday lives and be transported into a realm of fantasy.
A Page Turning Adventure
This is a book that will keep you up all night because you can't wait to see what happens next! It is full of adventure, danger and romance. It is the perfect mix. I adored every moment of it, I literally could not put it down. It is so well written and each character is so well developed. I am officially a huge fan of this author! I can't wait to read the next one!
A handfull of survivors wash ashore from a ship wreck in a strange new world. Two centuries later their descendants have populated the Islands they found and are now striving to populate a mainland infested with trolls and dragons. Only some of the
