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Darkling Chronicles #1
Shadow Blues
*This is the first short story in The Darkling Chronicles series*
At the age of four, Patrick Benjamin Solomon becomes Anka Rehmling’s human charge. By eight, he can SEE her. At thirteen, he breaks her heart, and by eighteen, she finds herself fighting for his life.
As a darkling shadowcaster, Anka casts shadows in the human world, harnessing some of the earth’s UV light to bring back to Montenai—a world full of darklings, nymphs, satyrs, phantoms, and dragon lords. Her job is crucial to preserving the vitality and balance in her town of Shadowland. However, Anka has trouble following the strict rules set by the Shadowland Council, a ruling body comprised of three dragon lords.
The lords’ decree states all shadowcasters will abide by the rules or face the penalty of harsh punishment, banishment, or death. Torn between her world and his, Anka must choose to defy the Council or turn her back on love.
At the age of four, Patrick Benjamin Solomon becomes Anka Rehmling’s human charge. By eight, he can SEE her. At thirteen, he breaks her heart, and by eighteen, she finds herself fighting for his life.
As a darkling shadowcaster, Anka casts shadows in the human world, harnessing some of the earth’s UV light to bring back to Montenai—a world full of darklings, nymphs, satyrs, phantoms, and dragon lords. Her job is crucial to preserving the vitality and balance in her town of Shadowland. However, Anka has trouble following the strict rules set by the Shadowland Council, a ruling body comprised of three dragon lords.
The lords’ decree states all shadowcasters will abide by the rules or face the penalty of harsh punishment, banishment, or death. Torn between her world and his, Anka must choose to defy the Council or turn her back on love.
- GenresParanormal
76 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 16, 2013
6 people are currently reading
84 people want to read
About the author
Tricia Zoeller
11 books30 followersTricia lives in Marietta, Georgia with her husband, Lou, her little yappy dog, Lola Belle, and her big orange mutant cat, George. Her two stepsons, Joseph and Robert, make stopovers as well, making sure to keep life an adventure.
Tricia earned a B.A. in Journalism and Anthropology from Indiana University in Bloomington. After moving to Atlanta in 1992, she obtained her Masters of Education in Communication Disorders from Georgia State University and spent a decade working as a Speech-Language Pathologist, most recently in the pediatric field treating children on the Autism Spectrum.
Writing has always been a part of her life–like breathing and chocolate. To reach Tricia or get the latest stories, please visit:
http://www.triciazoeller.com or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tricia-...
Tricia earned a B.A. in Journalism and Anthropology from Indiana University in Bloomington. After moving to Atlanta in 1992, she obtained her Masters of Education in Communication Disorders from Georgia State University and spent a decade working as a Speech-Language Pathologist, most recently in the pediatric field treating children on the Autism Spectrum.
Writing has always been a part of her life–like breathing and chocolate. To reach Tricia or get the latest stories, please visit:
http://www.triciazoeller.com or http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tricia-...
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 3, 2015
I’m so happy that I Stepped Through The Portal and read “Shadow Blues” ~ It’s a great short story by Tricia Zoeller, an opener into an amazing world. Zoeller’s world building is phenomenal. I like to read for an escape, and that is exactly what she gives you, when you get lost in the World of Montenai. Very cool characters, and twist on mythical creatures. Meet Anka and Ben and follow them on their tale of young love as rules are broken and lives are changed forever.
January 5, 2017
New kind of fantasy for me that makes you think of what's going to happen next
July 26, 2016
Anka is a darkling shadowcaster and is up to her to cast shadows in the human world. She has to follow the rules and help keep the balance in the Shadowland. When she was four she is assigned to Patrick Benjamin Solomon. She isn't to show herself to him but when he is eight he sees her. Something he shouldn't do. She has broken one rule but they let it slide and she is aloud to become his imaginary friend. When he turns thirteen he breaks her heart and she is punished. At the age of eighteen his life is in danger and Anka will have to pick whether she should keep to the rules or break them for love.
This is a short story but a good one. You learn about what all Anka can do and the rules she must follow. It is a fascinating world full of all kinds of paranormal beings all with their own powers. Even at a young age Anka knows the rules and knows she can't break them. She will do anything to stay close to Patrick. He is her closest friend growing up but as they grow older she sees something more in him. He has her heart. When he is in danger Anka will stop at nothing to help him even when she knows it may mean her death. The council is watching her and while she hasn't been around him in a while she still loves him. I love the world the author created and the characters. The only down side to this is it is a short story you want more of.
This is a short story but a good one. You learn about what all Anka can do and the rules she must follow. It is a fascinating world full of all kinds of paranormal beings all with their own powers. Even at a young age Anka knows the rules and knows she can't break them. She will do anything to stay close to Patrick. He is her closest friend growing up but as they grow older she sees something more in him. He has her heart. When he is in danger Anka will stop at nothing to help him even when she knows it may mean her death. The council is watching her and while she hasn't been around him in a while she still loves him. I love the world the author created and the characters. The only down side to this is it is a short story you want more of.
May 6, 2015
Reviewed for Paranormal Romance and Authors That Rock
Novella length.
Shadow Blues tells the story of a young shadowcaster named Anka. She and her fellow shadowcasters are responsible for casting shadows in the human world to protect the humans from UV rays and harnessing their power to take back to her world. Shadowcasters are required to follow a very strict set of rules and Anka has trouble following them, especially when she does something completely forbidden: she falls in love.
I really loved the world that Tricia Zoeller created here. My major issue with the book is that it is really short and it ends rather abruptly. I had just really gotten into the book when it ended. I was glad to see that there are further books in the series and, while I've rated this book on its own merit, I believe the book would have been a much better one had it been more fully-developed and, possibly, combined with the second book.
The world is definitely my favorite part of this book and, I expect that will continue as I read further books in the series.
Novella length.
Shadow Blues tells the story of a young shadowcaster named Anka. She and her fellow shadowcasters are responsible for casting shadows in the human world to protect the humans from UV rays and harnessing their power to take back to her world. Shadowcasters are required to follow a very strict set of rules and Anka has trouble following them, especially when she does something completely forbidden: she falls in love.
I really loved the world that Tricia Zoeller created here. My major issue with the book is that it is really short and it ends rather abruptly. I had just really gotten into the book when it ended. I was glad to see that there are further books in the series and, while I've rated this book on its own merit, I believe the book would have been a much better one had it been more fully-developed and, possibly, combined with the second book.
The world is definitely my favorite part of this book and, I expect that will continue as I read further books in the series.
December 2, 2013
Review to follow soon! Exciting first short story in The Darkling Chronicles! Looking forward to the next in the series!
May 27, 2015
Review to come
January 4, 2017
Tidy, light, clean, and well-crafted. Newcomers to the portal fantasy genre, YA readers, and/or anyone who enjoys a magic-driven coming of age tale should take a look.
November 30, 2013
I really loved this short story. The world the author built is amazing. Go read it!
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews