Bleeding Edge

Weeping Dark #1

by Raven Bower, Lain Bower

When a rash of brutal murders target the most defenseless of her people, spunky captain Shayla Dormyr is determined to bring the culprits to justice. Defying the command of the Prima Canticle, who claim jurisdiction over the ritually slain children, Shayla embarks on a rebellious mission that could cost her rank and freedom. When she unwittingly exposes a Blood Rune to her prime suspect, the troublesome sell-sword Daibryn, it unleashes arcane consequences that renders them vulnerable to an ambitious and cruel Blood Mage. Shayla and Daibryn embark on an adventure that will take them to worlds far larger than they ever imagined where love, hate and mystery put their souls to the test.

360 pages, Paperback

First published February 9, 2013

About the author

I'm the author of three book series:

Apparitions series (supernatural suspense / horror)including: Apparitions, Wendigo and Rags Beneath (2012)

Vengeance series (urban fantasy): Primal (2012), Smoke (2013) and Dead Moon (2014)

and the Weeping Dark series (fantasy): Bleeding Edge (2012/13), Sorrow's Gate (2013/14)

Plus the fantasy novella, Nymph's Lair (2012)

I also enjoy writing scripts - the script for Apparitions has been optioned for a feature film!

I live in Michigan with my husband, four kids, two hell hounds and our cats of doom and chaos.

Reviews

[Michelle Leah Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good Sci-Fi/Fantasy debut for the Bowers!
The beginning felt a little frenetic to me, but then most high fantasies do to me personally - there's just a lot of framework to lay, and the fantastical languages and world building doesn't make for instant comprehension. Raven and Lain did a great job of setting the groundwork though, and once I had everything straight in my head of who was who and from where, I settled in for the ride (and what a ride it was).
Our heroine is very easy to root for, and her motley crew of supporting characters are exciting and compelling.
The story was action packed and gripping - rife with magick,mayhem, mystery, intrigue and heart - and I found myself flipping the pages with gusto waiting to see how it would all end.
-Full review coming soon for our May Author Event

[J.C. Brennan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have to admit this story would have been more intense if I would have read the prior books in this series, read them in order everyone. But other than that, the book was intriguing and exciting to read. I love the character, Lady Shayla, a strong worrier but still filled with emotion. Especially when a horde of creatures is lead by the deadly Kierce under the guidance of Mephrystis, a commanding, strong, dominant Lych. I could go on forever talking about the other characters, Tamrik, Mika, Daibryn, but I don't want to ruin it for those of you who have not read the book.
The story is action packed gripping conflict. Bursting with enchanted mystical mayhem, mystery, deception and emotion. This is a page turner people and worth getting.

[Amelia.S · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weeping Dark: Bleeding Edge merges dark fantasy with an undercurrent of moral rebellion, crafting a tale that’s as emotionally charged as it is perilous. Raven and Lain Bower create a universe steeped in tension where magic and faith collide, and a captain’s defiance exposes the fragile balance between justice and chaos. Through Shayla’s courage and Daibryn’s dangerous allure, the authors explore what happens when conviction and consequence intertwine, blurring the line between heroism and heresy.

[Matt Cowan · Rating 5 out of 5]

WEEPING DARK: BLEEDING EDGE is writing power-couple Raven and Lain Bower's most recent foray into the fantasy-adventure genre. The story starts with Shayla Dormyr, an intense Captain of the Ires Guard investigating a series of child murders plaguing the city. Her prime suspect is an outsider named Daibryn who has set up shop in town selling wine. The ever-impulsive Shayla storms into Daibryn's shop to confront him with her suspicions. A surprise assault on the city forces Shayla, her captive Daibryn and a mismatched collection of allies on the run. The assaulting horde of creatures is lead by the deadly Blood Mage, Kierce under the direction of Mephrystis, a powerful Lych. Kierce carries out his commands with a constant eye out toward her own agendas.

The heroes flight takes them through underground catacombs, untamed forests, and ancient lost cities in search of a way to stop their formidable pursuers. Each location is fully realized with detailed histories and intriguing challenges that require the group to pool their abilities to conquer and survive. I loved the exploration of the world and its perilous sites.

Joining Shayla and Daibryn are acrobatic warrioress/scout Mika, a wisecracking mage with questionable motivations named Dorrin, his lover the savage and beautiful Daywalker Ferial, who the group fears may one day lose control of her appetites, Petre one of Shayla's men, and my personal favorite Anwyn a shy, peace-loving priestess with holy powers. Each character has unique personalities, abilities and goals which leads to inner-party conflicts and questionable loyalties. The characters grow and mature as they face overwhelming odds and death together.

It should be obvious from this review how much I enjoyed the novel. It moves at a crisp pace with lots of magic, adventure, romance and characters you care about. In the early stages I did have some difficulty keeping track of the large cast but as it continued on I got them sorted out and enjoyed the time spent with them. As someone who loves horror, I particularly appreciated the necromancer and ancient, dark entities scenes. There are no boring sections in this novel. By the end of each chapter I was ravenous to continue on. While the ending is satisfying, it leaves room for more adventures, to which I look forward with great anticipation. WEEPING DARK: BLEEDING EDGE receives my highest possible recommendation.