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Deal
Note: this is a free short story given away for newsletter subscribers
Once there was a nine-year-old boy Leith Torren who only wanted to bring food home to his mother...and was noticed by Lord Respen Felix of Blathe.
Once there was a nine-year-old boy Leith Torren who only wanted to bring food home to his mother...and was noticed by Lord Respen Felix of Blathe.
14 pages, ebook
1 person is currently reading
101 people want to read
About the author
Tricia Mingerink
12 books464 followersTricia Mingerink is a twenty-something, book-loving, horse-riding country girl. She lives in Michigan with her family and their pack of pets. When she isn't writing, she can be found pursuing backwoods adventures across the country.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
May 26, 2017
Even though this is really short, in that time, I couldn't help but feel and care for little Leith. It is written so well, that it made me want to take Leith into my arms and protect him.
April 30, 2023
Oh baby Leith😭😭😭 I want to give him a hug and tell him all will be well.
February 4, 2019
What??? What???
*screeches*
I have so many feels right now. How? Why? What? I just can't think straight. *sobs* Leith! LEITH!! I cannot believe what happened to you!
Guys that was a 14 paged story and it broke my heart. That's what I was anticipating. All the pain and heartache of striving for Love and not finding it. The desperation of survival of meeting standards set to high and never being enough. The torment of being stolen from your only life because your father wanted whiskey. Oh, the pain that boy feels and he won't cry!!
I have so many feels right now... like the description ( as I explained above ) was heartbreaking. It had so many emotions tied up inside it. The characters.... let me just explain them on their own..
Leith : He was so hurt. He was so strong. He was so ferocious. He was so brave. He was so loving. He was.... just a boy.
Lena : I fell in love with her right away. She was just perfection. A loving mother, a kind woman, a survivalist, and hurt as well. I can't believe how she, she, she...... ahhh... perished.
Onar : Arg! *calls dragons* *tells my dragons to burn him till there's nothing left* You, you, horrible man!!
Respin : Okay I kinda understand him.... maybe? Like I feel sorry for him and I hate him at the same time. I mean he had a hard life but that doesn't mean he turns around and destroys someone else's!
This little prequel was so sad. Heartbreaking because of the reality of the situation. I would suggest reading it before Dare ( although I didn't because I didn't know ) but it's helps give a better perspective on the series. I have so much 💞 love for this little book. I can only hope that I described it adequately. ( I received this 14 paged book for free by signing up for her newsletter )
Deal ~ let's never make a Deal like that. *weak laugh* Never.
*screeches*
I have so many feels right now. How? Why? What? I just can't think straight. *sobs* Leith! LEITH!! I cannot believe what happened to you!
Guys that was a 14 paged story and it broke my heart. That's what I was anticipating. All the pain and heartache of striving for Love and not finding it. The desperation of survival of meeting standards set to high and never being enough. The torment of being stolen from your only life because your father wanted whiskey. Oh, the pain that boy feels and he won't cry!!
I have so many feels right now... like the description ( as I explained above ) was heartbreaking. It had so many emotions tied up inside it. The characters.... let me just explain them on their own..
Leith : He was so hurt. He was so strong. He was so ferocious. He was so brave. He was so loving. He was.... just a boy.
Lena : I fell in love with her right away. She was just perfection. A loving mother, a kind woman, a survivalist, and hurt as well. I can't believe how she, she, she...... ahhh... perished.
Onar : Arg! *calls dragons* *tells my dragons to burn him till there's nothing left* You, you, horrible man!!
Respin : Okay I kinda understand him.... maybe? Like I feel sorry for him and I hate him at the same time. I mean he had a hard life but that doesn't mean he turns around and destroys someone else's!
This little prequel was so sad. Heartbreaking because of the reality of the situation. I would suggest reading it before Dare ( although I didn't because I didn't know ) but it's helps give a better perspective on the series. I have so much 💞 love for this little book. I can only hope that I described it adequately. ( I received this 14 paged book for free by signing up for her newsletter )
Deal ~ let's never make a Deal like that. *weak laugh* Never.
April 4, 2017
A nice prequel story that tells about the day that changed young Leith Torren's life forever, and sends him down the path to become a Blade, and later the spy and hero who would be instrumental in bringing the resistance to victory.
December 30, 2025
My heart. 🥺🥰
October 14, 2019
4.5 Stars! =D
What do I say when I'm still in this emotional puddle??? This book was so emotional and sad and great, and I think I loved it, okay? *Cries*
Leith was just a precious, brave boy who wanted to please his mother by getting some nice food for dinner. He didn't deserve this fate. He didn't deserve what his father did to him and his mother. This is a precious story. It's sad, but moving. And we know that Leith will never give up.
Content in Book:
1. Violence (getting bit by dogs. A boy getting knocked out by grown men. Physical abuse. Someone biting someone else. Etc.)
2.
3. Gambling.
4. Child slavery? I think that's what you would call it in this case.
5. Drinking alcohol.
Who I Would Recommend This Book Too:
Those who like kingdom adventure. Medieval like stories. Stories about assassins. Those who like sad stories.
What do I say when I'm still in this emotional puddle??? This book was so emotional and sad and great, and I think I loved it, okay? *Cries*
Leith was just a precious, brave boy who wanted to please his mother by getting some nice food for dinner. He didn't deserve this fate. He didn't deserve what his father did to him and his mother. This is a precious story. It's sad, but moving. And we know that Leith will never give up.
Content in Book:
1. Violence (getting bit by dogs. A boy getting knocked out by grown men. Physical abuse. Someone biting someone else. Etc.)
2.
3. Gambling.
4. Child slavery? I think that's what you would call it in this case.
5. Drinking alcohol.
Who I Would Recommend This Book Too:
Those who like kingdom adventure. Medieval like stories. Stories about assassins. Those who like sad stories.
July 28, 2024
Updated review:
I've been wanting to get back into the world of Tricia Mingerink's The Blades of Acktar, so I started with Deal... Which I once again forgot how sad it was. But it is still a short masterpiece.
Content warning: Mentions of abuse, Leith's father is horrible, drinking, and some gambling.
Original review:
Arg!
I forgot how painful this was.
It was more painful this second read.
And how I hated yet loved it.
And so starts my official reread of the series!
I've been wanting to get back into the world of Tricia Mingerink's The Blades of Acktar, so I started with Deal... Which I once again forgot how sad it was. But it is still a short masterpiece.
Content warning: Mentions of abuse, Leith's father is horrible, drinking, and some gambling.
Original review:
Arg!
I forgot how painful this was.
It was more painful this second read.
And how I hated yet loved it.
And so starts my official reread of the series!
March 17, 2026
4 stars. So, this was my first venture into the Blades of Acktar series (and anything by Tricia Mingerink), and I'm intrigued about how this tiny tale will connect with the other books.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a review, positive or otherwise. These are my honest thoughts & opinions.*
*I received a complimentary copy of this book for promotional purposes. I was not required to write a review, positive or otherwise. These are my honest thoughts & opinions.*
June 16, 2021
We finally get the story from Leith’s POV on how he came to be with Respen, and it was so tragic and heartbreaking.
The love Leith and his mom have for each other was so strong and real, and Respen ruined that through his own selfish greed and gain and it just makes me mad to think about it. Leith was only nine! And when he agreed to Respen’s deal because he was a scared, alone kid, I was internally screaming “no, run away, run away quick!” but poor Leith had NO IDEA what would be asked of him in the end. And Orn is a creep—good riddance. Not sorry at all he died.
A lot of emotional feels in fourteen pages, but so, so worth it. Makes me want to reread the series all over again. Maybe someday…
The love Leith and his mom have for each other was so strong and real, and Respen ruined that through his own selfish greed and gain and it just makes me mad to think about it. Leith was only nine! And when he agreed to Respen’s deal because he was a scared, alone kid, I was internally screaming “no, run away, run away quick!” but poor Leith had NO IDEA what would be asked of him in the end. And Orn is a creep—good riddance. Not sorry at all he died.
A lot of emotional feels in fourteen pages, but so, so worth it. Makes me want to reread the series all over again. Maybe someday…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2024
Awww, poor baby Leith! <\3 My heart broke for him, and I despised his father so much. Also, seeing his hunger for praise and the way Respen twisted his very conditional approval into something better than Leith had had before was just gut-wrenching. Not a fun read on its own, but a good one in the context of the rest of the series.
May 4, 2017
Oh my heart! My poor, little Leith! *hugs him* Deal by Tricia Mingerink is a prequel short story to THE BLADES OF ACKTAR, giving us a glimpse into the young Leith Torren's life. His mother. His father. And how he met the to-be-king, Lord Respen Felix.
Oh, I love the character of Leith so much, and this backstory just made him put himself a little deeper into my heart. The harsh life he experienced, the deep pain of thinking he was unlovable. The tragedy. The betrayal. *clutches bleeding heart* Now I need to go re-read Dare, Deny, Defy, and Deliver! -To remind myself that there's still so much ahead for Leith ... yes, some of it quite bad. But WONDERFUL THINGS too! *hugs him again for good measure*
Tricia Mingerink pens another tale, well-written and interesting. And hurtful! But the end left me wanting to delve back into this emotional, intense, amazing fantasy world.
If you are into THE BLADES OF ACKTAR series, you must read Deal, short though it is, for more backstory and insight into these beloved characters! ^_^
I received an e-book copy of Deal after signing up for Tricia Mingerink's newsletter.
Oh, I love the character of Leith so much, and this backstory just made him put himself a little deeper into my heart. The harsh life he experienced, the deep pain of thinking he was unlovable. The tragedy. The betrayal. *clutches bleeding heart* Now I need to go re-read Dare, Deny, Defy, and Deliver! -To remind myself that there's still so much ahead for Leith ... yes, some of it quite bad. But WONDERFUL THINGS too! *hugs him again for good measure*
Tricia Mingerink pens another tale, well-written and interesting. And hurtful! But the end left me wanting to delve back into this emotional, intense, amazing fantasy world.
If you are into THE BLADES OF ACKTAR series, you must read Deal, short though it is, for more backstory and insight into these beloved characters! ^_^
I received an e-book copy of Deal after signing up for Tricia Mingerink's newsletter.
May 26, 2018
I read this book before reading the rest of the series and then again afterwards. I’d definitely recommend it afterwards! On its own, it’s a bit sad and dark, being a very short backstory. After the rest of the series, it provides interesting background into Leith’s childhood and some backstory for a few other characters as well. Poor Leith! The author does an excellent job getting inside his head.
May 1, 2017
The book was really short, and I felt like it didn't REALLY explain that much more about Leith, but it was a really good read and was very interesting. :) I guess it did explain how he ended up in the Blades which is probably what Tricia was trying to do. :) But other than that I really enjoyed hearing a little of Leith's backstory. :)
February 27, 2017
This was a nice short prequel to the other books. It gives you a nice look at how some of the characters came to where they are when the story begins. The only problem is now I REALLY want book four in the series.
September 6, 2025
Leith's backstory breaks my heart. 😭 ❤️🩹
October 10, 2024
Very intriguing prequel to the Blades of Acktar series. This short story had me 'hooked' to continue the series. I have already read Book 1 and the short story was enlightening with some background into Leith's past when he was a young boy and how he came into the service of Lord Respen.
November 3, 2018
Oh my goodness, poor Leith! 😥 I need to read this series!
February 5, 2018
This isn't actually a book, but rather a very short story (free on the author's website) about how Leith Torren, the hero in the awesome "Blades of Acktar" series, meets King Respen in the first place, years before he becomes the Third Blade. Although this freebie was short, I really enjoyed learning Leith's backstory, which gave an extra layer of depth to an already lovable character. I would love to see the author expand this into a novel of its own.
Tricia Mingerink is an extremely talented writer. I absolutely LOVE all her books that I've read so far!
Tricia Mingerink is an extremely talented writer. I absolutely LOVE all her books that I've read so far!
January 12, 2021
It’s been a while since I’ve read of Leith. This is a sad but fitting entry to his story.
January 21, 2019
CANNOT WAIT FOR THE NEXT TWO BOOKS. I NEED THEM NOW. <3 <3
November 26, 2020
This was an interesting introduction to the series that had me curious the whole time. Though it is a short story, it stood on its own and gives enough interest to the reader to continue reading the series. A longer review can be found here: http://baileymarissa08.blogspot.com/2...
Recommended 12+ for violence, violence towards children, alcoholism, and human trafficking/slavery?? - not sure what exactly it falls under but it is under this umbrella.
Disclaimer: I received this for free in exchange for signing up for Ms. Mingerink's email list. This does not affect my view of this story and all thoughts are my own (blah, blah, blah, we all know the drill).
Recommended 12+ for violence, violence towards children, alcoholism, and human trafficking/slavery?? - not sure what exactly it falls under but it is under this umbrella.
Disclaimer: I received this for free in exchange for signing up for Ms. Mingerink's email list. This does not affect my view of this story and all thoughts are my own (blah, blah, blah, we all know the drill).
November 22, 2018
Poor, little Leith! :'( My heart broke for our beloved character while reading this short story. This gripping backstory brought so much depth to Leith's story and was a wonderful addition to The Blades of Acktar series! I'd highly recommend reading it!
February 4, 2023
I can’t remember exactly what but there was some sort of reference to the backside and bodily functions, and of course this is Leith’s back story so there’s definitely some content about drinking and gambling. But overall, a solid origin story!
May 8, 2025
THIS WAS SO SAD 😭😫
Content warnings:
Language: N/A
Sexual content: Leiths father mentions his wife not having any other children even when he “got her corralled right”.
Violence: Domestic abuse, dog attacks, and death
I have loved the first five books of this series (haven’t bought the last one yet) for a year or two now… but I only just read this one. When I tell you my heart shattered for Leith, I mean it. He already had such a hard life, but he was older so I could look past it with him… seeing him so young and going through it though? POOR BABY! 😭😭😭
If you haven’t read this series, you need to. 😭
Content warnings:
Language: N/A
Sexual content: Leiths father mentions his wife not having any other children even when he “got her corralled right”.
Violence: Domestic abuse, dog attacks, and death
I have loved the first five books of this series (haven’t bought the last one yet) for a year or two now… but I only just read this one. When I tell you my heart shattered for Leith, I mean it. He already had such a hard life, but he was older so I could look past it with him… seeing him so young and going through it though? POOR BABY! 😭😭😭
If you haven’t read this series, you need to. 😭
October 7, 2021
I absolutely loved reading Leith's backstory. It only made me love him more. He was so young, and vulnerable... and brave. Even in such a fragile state, he was willing to do anything for those he loved.
Overall a wonderful short story. Highly recommend reading it before Dare. You can get it for free by signing up to Tricia Mingerink's newsletter.
Overall a wonderful short story. Highly recommend reading it before Dare. You can get it for free by signing up to Tricia Mingerink's newsletter.
November 28, 2021
This story explains so much about Leith and how he became a Blade. I found myself sympathizing and empathizing with young Leith and his mother as they lean on each other against someone who should have protected them.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a copy from the author and I am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 12, 2017
4+ Stars
A free 14 page novella that tells the story of how young Leith came to be under Lord Respen's care.
A free 14 page novella that tells the story of how young Leith came to be under Lord Respen's care.
May 30, 2018
Nice background on Leith and his relationship with King Respen.
September 16, 2020
A very good short story that gives a great insight into the issues faced by Leith in his childhood - a must read for all fans.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews