Shadow Dance

by H.C. Turk

In 1853, on an island near Indonesia, a girl is selected to unite her nation. Starling Agara becomes Princess Of Betrothal at the age of fourteen. In seven years, she will marry the nation's prince, joining her country's opposing political factions. At the wedding, however, the king's opponents slaughter nearly everyone. Missionaries take Starling to America. Starling begins her true journey when the missionaries are killed by her countrymen. For the next year, Starling traverses her nation, gaining the throne by living the fantastic rituals that previously were only myths.


Review by Diane Donovan, eBook Reviewer, Midwest Book


SHADOW DANCE is set in 1853 on an island near Indonesia and tells of teen Starling Agara, who is slated to marry the island's prince in seven years to join the opposing forces that threaten to tear apart her world.


Sadly, being Princess isn't a solution to the violence wrecking her on the eve of her wedding, opposing forces slaughter nearly everyone and Starling is rescued by missionaries who take her to America, still endangered when the missionaries are murdered by her countrymen.


Her resulting journey will cross nations and bring her into a world of rituals and ongoing dangers.


Descriptions throughout SHADOW DANCE are poetic and "The log's vibrations came as a hard knock that could have been God's tapping a clapbox
of holy bamboo in Heaven's gamelan, orchestrating earthly success."


Religious references abound, social conflicts never cease, and Starling is locked into a world that seems destined to repeat a cycle of hope and violence. Her participation in rituals of life and death result in a slowly-building resolve to save her


Calm as the coral above, the goddess
"One day, fem bird, I shall not be able to save you."
"That day," Starling whispered, "I shall save you."


Linking all her experiences are demons and angels, rituals and rescue, and water and for Starling is being prepared for her ultimate destiny and as in a biblical journey, must overcome much adversity and have many encounters with God before she can realize her true heritage.


This is a fine recommendation...readers will find the action and Starling's journey to be compelling and filled with unexpected moments.


Starling's long journey to become a queen embraces different cultures, different religions, and different at the heart of all of them lies a divine feminine presence identifying wellsprings of family, safety, and worship.


There is no journey comparable to Starling's in SHADOW readers interested in an epic vision will find this unique and compelling reading.

ebook

First published October 29, 2011

About the author

A: This is hard.
Q: Why is making a bio so hard for you?
A: Because it's like talking. I don't like to talk; I like to write.
Q: But people want to know about authors. Reading a book requires a lot of effort.
A: Writing one ain't exactly playtime.
Q: That's better. Go ahead, tell us more. Did you have a pleasant childhood?
A: Ask my dog; he was there.
Q: Your dog is stuffed. He's not a real dog.
A: He's more real than you are. You can’t even ask a good question.
Q: Here’s one: Why should people read your books?
A: Because my puppy will be sad if they don’t.
Q: We need to get serious here. How many novels have you written?
A: 33.
Q: I’ll bet your dog can’t count that high. How long have you been writing?
A: I’ll answer if you promise not to kick my dog again (metaphorically).
Q: He wouldn’t feel it—he’s stuffed.
A: If someone kicked the stuffing out of you, I bet you wouldn’t enjoy it.
Q: Would I enjoy it more than reading one of your books? Or would it be equally painful?
A: You’re cruel to dogs AND to authors.
Q: If you answer my last question, I promise to be nice. How many years have you been writing?
A: [mumbles]
Q: That’s pathetic.
A: Why don’t you ask me about my stories?
Q: Stories are for campfires.
A: The basis of history’s greatest novels is the story: the story of nations, cultures, families, individuals. The greatest idea that can be expressed in fiction is story.
Q: Great, so tell me about your characters.
A: Dull and Dumb are not two of my characters, or characteristics.
Q: Do you ever write about animals, stuffed or not?
A: Rescued greyhounds in Heaven Again, tiny ponies in Only The Impassioned, mudfish in Resurrection Flowers, ghosts in An Atmosphere Of Angels.
Q: Ghosts aren’t animals, they’re unsettled spirits. If ghosts continue to read, what will they find in your novels?
A: They will find passion, idea, and spirited characters whose lives are a story. And puppies.