Kindle Edition Amazon Mary Adair Amazon CreateSpace Category:  Fantasy Publisher: CreateSpace ISBN-10:  1482549727 Pages: 248 Copyright: March 18, 2013 ISBN-13: 9781482549720 Price: $2.99 (eBook) Aztar is a planet where no one remembers a time of peace. Fear of those who wield a mystical cruelty holds people as CAPTIVE SPIRITS. All that remains is the waning belief in a savior who will someday come to restore peace to a blood soaked land. Aztar is a planet where no one remembers a time of peace. Fear of those who wield a mystical cruelty holds people as CAPTIVE SPIRITS. All that remains is the waning belief in a savior who will someday come to restore peace to a blood soaked land. Zmeria, an ancient text recovered, brings a Prophecy to life. The leaders of each Region come together with a plan to reunite Aztar's divided people and make way for their savior. They arm themselves with the recently discovered revelation of peace long past. A dream is born and legends revived as Aztar’s people determine to fight the evil and Reclaim Aztar. The Evil’s grasp is strong on the CAPTIVE SPIRITS of Aztar. Leaders know this battle to free the will and spirit of the people will not be easily won. They decree a King must be chosen. One man of the entire world stands out from the rest. Si, the firstborn son of the house of Volcum, is well known for valor and victories in battle. A kingdom must be established. As the center of his kingdom, Si Volcum decreed an ancient, long deserted castle far to the north that contained the lost records of Aztar’s forgotten glory. He accepted his chosen bride, Alexis, unseen from a house as old as his own. Si ruled and the land prospered for fifteen years while evil silently waited. The King did not know when evil struck it would be personally against him or that the price would be so high. The people of Aztar chose well in their King. Si will not hesitate. The King will pay the price. From his love and chosen path, the Saga of Aztar begins with the legend of her first King, Si Volcum. “Reclaim Aztar,” will be their battle cry.       Excerpt Prologue Evil Comes: Ryasi Volcum gripped the stone ledge of the North tower as his eyes scanned the edge of the forest. Something evil approached. He had tried to tell the others in the castle but they would not listen. No one would listen to a servant, especially a servant with the sight. He hit the stone with his fist. Is all of Aztar oblivious to the foul wind? Because of his large size, his rank cast him as nothing more than a servant. After all, his size made him a good shield to hide the tiny Royal Family. The Museth were the smallest of all the races and the smartest. It was being smart that made them special, made them the guardians of the Books of Zmeria. And as guardians, they revealed to the people only as much as they believed necessary. Ryasi first admitted to having the sight a season ago. He warned the King an evil was coming, evil spoken of in the Zmeria. You would think a race so well known for its wisdom and cunning would have spared a moment to consider his words. But for his warning he was beaten and told to never speak of the sight again. It is an abomination, the King proclaimed with each lash of the whip. There, Ryasi saw something. It was moving closer to the castle. The wide expanse of snow-covered ground between the castle and the forest appeared to shift. Ryasi Volcum knew the sight was no abomination. The castle was about to fall. He had to save the Zmeria. He hurried to the hidden doorway and entered. He rushed through the tiny passage that ran between the walls. Finally he reached the hidden chamber. The chill that grew from his inside outward held him almost immobile, but he struggled through it. There were so many scripts. He could not carry them all. He could barely read and so had no idea what he should take. Quickly, he decided to let the sight lead him and began to stuff as many as he could push inside his clothing. A pain of such magnitude slammed into his head that he dropped to his knees. He knew he was not wounded. It was a warning from the sight. He had to leave this place. He had to leave now!

Captive Spirits
5 Stars: Reviewed by Kathryn Bennett for Readers' Favorite

"Captive Spirits" the first book in the 'Legends of Aztar Series' by Mary Adair takes us to the planet of Aztar, a place that is never known to be at peace. There is a deep fear of those who wield mystical powers and use them for cruelty and hold people as captive spirits. There is a small belief among the people, however, that some day a savior will come and take them out of the blood and gore of war. The leaders of each region come together to try to reunite the divided people so that they can have things ready for their savior. The leaders know the battle to free the will and spirit of the people of Aztar will not be an easy one. Many will be lost and so they decree that a King must be chosen. And they choose the first King of the land, Si Volcum.

What an adventure Mary Adair has created for readers of all ages! There are enough twists in the plot and curious intrigues to keep an adult brain mulling over them as they go, with the right punches of adventure for the young adults it is geared for. This is an enjoyable read with a very fast pace. Aztar may be a planet in war but to me it is still beautiful. The way the spirit of the people continues to live and wants to be free is a beauty to me. This is a skillfully written story and I very much look forward to reading the next book in the series.

Captive Spirits
5 Stars
Reviewed by Amazon Best Selling Author Caroline Clemmons

Si Volcum has been selected King of the planet Aztar, and rules well. His queen is Alexis, and their children are their daughter Cordea and son Lyon. With Si's rule, peace has come to the land, but evil men are jealous of his popularity and reign. They plot against the royal house and its downfall. Good forces work to counter evil. Who will win?

This first in a series by M A Adair (Mary Adair, bestselling author of Native American romances)reminds me of C S Lewis and the Chronicles on Narnia. Full of symbolism from an incredibly imaginative author, this book has unexpected twists and turns that keep the reader guessing what lies around the next bend. Anyone who enjoys fantasy will fall in love with CAPTIVE SPIRITS. I highly recommend the novel.


Captive Spirits
By Patricia Reding

Mary Adair has presented, in Captive Spirits (Book 1 in the Legends of Aztar Series), a tale for young adults. Seeking to save the Books of Zmeria, as the castle around him begins to fall, Volcum Ryasi knows that what he is about to do may determine whether his people will one day reclaim Aztar. He makes provision to save the scripts, then carries the queen and her young babe to safety, only to discover later that the people have suffered the loss of their king. Thus, a new king must be chosen, one capable of reading the Zmeria records, and a new home must be found. In the quest for a new land, the survivors pass through caverns through which the evil ones may not go. So opens Captive Spirits with a 2000 year old history of the people of Zmeria.

Si Volcum, the King of Aztar, has problems. He and his infant son, Lyon, are kidnapped, leaving behind, Si's wife, Alexis and their daughter, Cordea. When Si tries to break for freedom, he is severely injured and left for dead, and his son taken. In the quest to find Lyon, Volcum is befriended by locals who become like family to him. Meanwhile, having lost all memory, Alexis is left behind, unsure of whom she may trust, as a result of which she and Cordea become pawns of betrayers.

Mary Adair offers readers a story filled with love for family, sacrifice for the sake of seeking freedom and insight into the consequences of betrayal. Perhaps most significantly, Adair has created a full new world, complete with its own history, religion, government system and social mores. Added in are magical creatures and trinkets. As all fantasy aficionados know (whether readers, writers, or both), it is the creation of an alternate world that is the most important--and the most difficult--thing to do in a fantasy tale. Adair has done so while providing a story that will keep readers moving forward in their quest to discover who is fair and who is foul. . . .