Shadow of the Dragon by Kyra Dune

Micayta's world has long been gripped in the thrall of an endless winter that has grown worse with the passing of time. Life is a constant struggle. Then catastrophe strikes the small town in which she lives, thrusting Micayta and her brother Pytaki alone into the snow laden countryside. To keep herself and her brother alive will take all the strength that she has. Then a mysterious stranger appears to complicate matters. Tech has an amazing story to tell, but is any of it true? Old wounds and betrayals make Micayta slow to trust, but without Tech she and her brother will never make it across the countryside alive. Through bandits, wolves, and snowstorms, the three struggle their way to the city of Phadra. But the real danger lies within the city walls, where Micayta becomes a player in a deadly game with a dark-eyed mage. Nothing is what it seems. As the truth unravels, Micayta finds herself drawn into a struggle much bigger than she ever dreamed. Choices must be made and sides taken. But the question of who to trust is one not easily answered. Micayta will have to open her heart and find a way to let someone else in, or the flames that destroyed her home will consume the world. http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-of-the-Dragon-ebook/dp/B00AMVNTI2/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_4

Shadow Born by Kyra Dune

Daemon uth Friesard is the unwilling king of Phalindros. Because both his older brothers have died, he finds himself in a role he doesn’t want and isn’t suited for. With a domineering mother, an ice cold wife, a tempting minstrel, and a failing friendship, it’s all he can do to keep from falling into the same kind of darkness that took his father. Clayden Kiel is the youngest High Priest in the history of Phalindros. He is also a Chosen of the gods, gifted with direct communion to the god of light, Basale. A war is coming, a war that he would like to avoid. But the gods are of little help, seeking only to influence so far as to not affect free will, and there are secrets to be kept. Secrets belonging not only to himself and his time, but going all the way back to the founding of the kingdom. As Clayden struggles with his own inner demons as well as those of his long time friend, the king, he must find a way to put aside his humanity in order to better serve the gods and to save the kingdom from a devastating war. Easier said than done. http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Born-ebook/dp/B007VT613S/ref=pd_sim_sbs_kstore_3

Flight of Dragons by Kyra Dune

Fourteen years after fleeing his homeland, Charles Sydon lives under an assumed name, comfortable if not happy with his life as a bookkeeper. Until one night his past comes looking for him in the form of a ruthless dragon hunter. Now, Charles must return to the Ice Ring on a deadly quest for a wild dragon, a quest that will pull him back into the world he left behind. But he’ll soon find there’s more at stake as the past and the present collide. It will be up to Charles to save his people from their past mistakes, providing he can live through facing his own. http://www.amazon.com/Flight-Of-Dragons-ebook/dp/B005TLF0T6/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1

Elfblood by Kyra Dune

Charlie is an elfblood, descended of a conquered people brought to the brink of extinction in the aftermath of a long war. Being able to pass for human gives Charlie an advantage over most of his kind. Only those who look at his record or those he chooses to tell, need ever know his secret. Growing up in an orphanage is hard enough without having to live with that stigma. When soldiers come and haul the kids off to a prison work camp, Charlie finds himself no longer able to hide the truth of what he is. If that isn’t bad enough, the magic buried inside him is growing stronger and more out of control. As Charlie struggles with his own problems, and with the dangers of the work camp, he finds himself swept up in a much larger struggle, one whose outcome could decide the future of the world. http://www.amazon.com/Elfblood-ebook/dp/B008GHMQVU/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_2

Meet The Character

Here it is Friday again and time for another Meet the Characters. Today I'll introduce you to Daemon (day-mun) uth Friesard (fry-zard) king of Phalindros (fuh-lin-dros) in Shadow Born: Time of Shadows Series #1 (High Fantasy)

Age: 20   Hair Color: Black   Eye Color: Dark Blue   Skin Color: Light Brown    Birthplace: Muhray    Parents: Bolsom (bowl-sum) uth Friesard  & Marma Delacorte (della-curt)     Siblings: Gazeden (gaze-uh-den), Kirth, Alida (uh-lee-duh)   Spouse: Gazella (guh-zel-uh) Constintia (con-stin-tia)   Children: Dominus (dom-uh-nus)

Daemon has suffered much loss in his life. His three siblings all died when he was very young and his father passed away after a long descent into insanity. This left Daemon to be king; a position he is ill suited for.  Thus he turns to his mother to help him rule the kingdom. What he wants more than anything else is a family and to be a better father than his own father was. This proves to be much harder than he imagined.

Blurb: Daemon uth Friesard is the unwilling king of Phalindros. Because both his older brothers have died, he finds himself in a role he doesn’t want and isn’t suited for. With a domineering mother, an ice cold wife, a tempting minstrel, and a failing friendship, it’s all he can do to keep from falling into the same kind of darkness that took his father.

Clayden Kiel is the youngest High Priest in the history of Phalindros. He is also a Chosen of the gods, gifted with direct communion to the god of light, Basale. A war is coming, a war that he would like to avoid. But the gods are of little help, seeking only to influence so far as to not affect free will, and there are secrets to be kept. Secrets belonging not only to himself and his time, but going all the way back to the founding of the kingdom. As Clayden struggles with his own inner demons as well as those of his long time friend, the king, he must find a way to put aside his humanity in order to better serve the gods and to save the kingdom from a devastating war. Easier said than done.

Excerpt: Daemon stood in the shadow of the castle, watching the processional wind its way up the hill toward the castle gates. There were twelve white carriages trimmed in bronze, each led by four horses in ceremonial plume and flanked by guardsmen in gleaming chainmail.

In their lead was a single man on a dappled gray stallion. Both rider and mount wore bronze plated chainmail studded with diamonds, and in the rider’s hand waved the standard of Malfrey, a bronze manticore on a white backdrop.

Daemon’s heart fluttered against his chest as the gates swung wide. Events had unfolded around him so quickly since last spring that he felt as if he’d not yet had a chance to catch his breath. And now this.

Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Born-ebook/dp/B007VT613S/ref=la_B00A5WOHGQ_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1357919475&sr=1-2

 

 

Book Review: Guardians of the Lost by Margaret Weis & Tracy Hickman

In this second book in the Sovereign Stone Trilogy, the four pieces of the Sovereign Stone are being sought by the Void Lord Dagnarus. When the human portion is discovered by a Dominion Lord, the battle for the future of Loerem begins. It will be up to an unlikely group of companions to keep the stones from the hands of Dagnarus, or their world will be lost.

I loved this book. So far as I'm concerned, if you want a classic fantasy/adventure with elves and dragons and magic and quests, there are no better writers to turn to than Weis and Hickman. This is an epic story of the struggle between good and evil as two opposing groups vie for the ultimate power the combined Sovereign Stones can give. There is a large cast of characters, but they're all well fleshed out, real people. The balance between world building and character building is perfect and seamless.

I highly recommend this book if you're a fan of the genre.

Meet the Characters

Welcome to Meet the Characters, my weekly introduction to the characters who live in my books. Last week I introduced you to Micayta from my newest novel Shadow of The Dragon (YA Fantasy). Today you'll meet her brother, Pytaki (pi-tuh-ki).

Age: 14   Hair Color: Dark Brown   Eye color: Brown   Skin Color: White   Birthplace: Talphan (tal-fun)   Parents:  Sannel (san-el) & Anora (uh-nor-uh) Sibling: Micayta (muh-kay-tuh)

Pytaki has grown up in a world that is trapped in an endless winter. The cause of this is a mystery. He lost his mother when he was three and his father has always been rather distant and cold. So his sister has become more like a parent to him. He's a little immature but very sweet and desperate to win Micayta's approval.

Blurb:  Micayta’s world has long been gripped in the thrall of an endless winter that grows worse with the passing of time. Life is a constant struggle. Then catastrophe strikes the small town in which she lives, thrusting Micayta and her brother Pytaki alone into the snow laden countryside. To keep herself and her brother alive will take all the strength that she has.

Then a mysterious stranger appears to complicate matters. Tech has an amazing story to tell, but is any of it true? Old wounds and betrayals make Micayta slow to trust, but without Tech she and her brother will never make it across the countryside alive. Through bandits, wolves, and snowstorms, the three struggle their way to the city of Phadra. But the real danger lies within the city walls, where Micayta becomes a player in a deadly game with a dark-eyed mage.

Nothing is what it seems.
 
As the truth unravels, Micayta finds herself drawn into a struggle much bigger than she ever dreamed. Choices must be made and sides taken. But the question of who to trust is one not easily answered. Micayta will have to open her heart and find a way to let someone else in, or the flames that destroyed her home will consume the world.

Excerpt:  Pytaki stood in the doorway of the farmhouse with the quilt from the bed draped across his shoulders. “Where have you been? I was worried when I woke up and you were gone.”

Micayta stopped and forced her whirling thoughts to come into focus. “I went into town to have a look around.”

 “Did you…did you find anyone?” His gaze met hers; pleading for her to say the words he longed to hear.

 

 

http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-of-the-Dragon-ebook/dp/B00AMVNTI2/ref=sr_1_5?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1357226838&sr=1-5&keywords=kyra+dune

 

 

 

 

A good way to start the new year

In the past week I've finished the first draft of Rise Of The Watchtower (Time Of Shadows #4) and the second draft of The Black Mountain (Dragonstar #2). I expect to have two books completely finished by no later than March, The Black Mountain and Dragons Of War (Firebrand #3). My goal for the year is to completely finish five books. I'd say I'm on a good roll so far.

I met that goal in 2011 & 2012 so I don't see any reason why I can't keep it up.

Update: My Novels

 

Flight Of Dragons          Fantasy/Adventure 
ebook: http://www.amazon.com/Flight-Of-Dragons-ebook/dp/B005TLF0T6/ref=la_B00A5WOHGQ_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1356970236&sr=1-2   print:  http://burstbooks.ca/product.php?id_product=70
video trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTnBddNxrHI

Time Of Shadows #1: Shadow Born          High Fantasy
ebook: http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Born-ebook/dp/B007VT613S/ref=la_B00A5WOHGQ_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1356970987&sr=1-1
print: http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Born-Time-Shadows-Book/dp/1771150068/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1356971032&sr=1-2&keywords=kyra+dune
video trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkYYMxBQbFs





Elfblood #1: Elfblood               YA Urban Fantasy
ebook: http://www.amazon.com/Elfblood-ebook/dp/B008GHMQVU/ref=la_B00A5WOHGQ_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1356971418&sr=1-3
video trailer:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PFm6_ZVTxjk





Shadow Of The Dragon            YA Epic Fantasy
ebook: http://www.amazon.com/Shadow-of-the-Dragon-ebook/dp/B00AMVNTI2/ref=la_B00A5WOHGQ_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1356971418&sr=1-4
video trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nvnYkfZl0Ro








Elfblood #2: The Silver Catacombs         YA Urban Fantasy
Coming February 2013










Elfblood #3: City Of Magic   Ya Urban Fantasy      Coming August 2013
Time Of Shadows #2: Shadow Prince      High Fantasy      Coming 2013
Firebrand #1: Firebrand     YA Sword & Sorcery       Coming 2013
Time Of Shadows #3: Shadow King      High Fantasy     Coming 2014
Firebrand #2: Ten Kingdoms       YA Sword & Sorcery     Coming 2014
Dragonstar Duology #1: Dragonstar      YA Epic Fantasy    Coming 2014

WORKS IN PROGRESS
Firebrand #3: Dragons Of War        YA Sword & Sorcery
Dragonstar Duology #2 : The Black Mountain      YA Epic Fantasy
Time Of Shadows #4: Rise Of The Watchtower     High Fantasy
Angel (Working Title)      Urban Fantasy
Web Of Light      Epic Fantasy