Elegy: The Black Diamond

by Martha Gilstrap

Master gemsman Shay Bladen had a good life until betrayal set him on a course he never would have chosen for himself. Forced away from the remains of his home, Bladen flees with an heirloom battle-axe created from a single black diamond. With nothing but a cryptic note, he searches for answers among the bloodstone pillars within the Crystal Mountains. The note promises the revelation of the axe’s creation and its magic, a lure he cannot resist. A chance meeting with a Sheethe warrior proves his only blessing in the battle against his betrayer and the bloodthirsty assassin intent on manipulating anyone around him to further his selfish cause. Will the axe’s secrets bring Bladen comfort or will the ancient knowledge offer more personal devastation for the man who is not who he thought he was?

388 pages, Paperback

First published January 3, 2013

About the author

Martha Gilstrap’s life is filled with stories: the ones she reads, the ones she writes, and the ones she lives. Her family’s oral tradition claims descent from the legendary Leif Erickson, the discoverer of America–a tale of which she is inordinately proud, although her mother always wondered why she’d claim “that old pirate.”

She’s ridden motorcycles, earned a black belt in RyuTe® Karate, owned her own dojo, trained on the grounds of an Okinawan castle destroyed in WWII, and edited and published an international karate newsletter. She’s taught Latin to grade-school children, worn a bite sleeve for a Rottweiler “attack,” got thrown by a horse — twice — within five minutes, and spent New Year’s Eve on the Puerta del Sol in Madrid. She’s been in the pen with wolves (well socialized, of course), played with horny toads, petted snakes, ridden an elephant, and once sang with the band on a yacht in Acapulco Bay.

Martha’s home is filled with dogs–four, of which three are owned by her daughter, who currently lives with her. All are rescues, including a sweet-natured mutt who was driven 1000 miles in one day to bring her to me, by the wonderful people who rescued her from her abandonment near their home.

Reviews

[Phyllis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I usually never choose fantasy genre, but my fascination with Martha Gilstrap's writing guided me to this book of hers.
I could not stop reading this engaging story.
Please give this engaging, well written book a try. You will NOT regret it!

[Natalie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well-written adventure that fantasy lovers will enjoy.

[J.M. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elegy is a great fantasy novel with an original take on "magic" and plenty of action. I couldn't put it down until I reached the end.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gilstrap was a Lyons resident.
A fantasy with jewels.