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The Precious Quest #1
The Precious Quest I: Death-Bringer Blessings
Life had always been a gift from the goddess, but then no more gifts were given, and the people had not been blessed with a child for decades. Armed with a DreÓdreng (Death-Bringer) blessing from the goddess, and a heart as unyielding as the steel of her sword, Laywren musters her horde of nomadic warriors on an epic journey to find out why. As they traverse their dying world, they discover it has been seeded with unnatural creatures. In an effort to clear the land of evil, Laywren demands endless sacrifices from her people, and their faith slowly frays in each battle, each loss, and each day without hope, but Laywren drives them on. Unexpectedly, the horde stumbles on a goddess fertility temple, and the women's ceremony of "Módor" begins. Laywren joins the other women in asking the goddess for life, even though her destiny is one of the sword and not the womb. Will the goddess bless Laywren one last time or has the lives she's taken cursed her to be Death-Bringer forever?
- GenresFantasy
188 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 21, 2019
13 people are currently reading
27 people want to read
About the author
Cheryl R. Cowtan
13 books69 followersCheryl R Cowtan is an award-winning educator and fantasy author who loves to write on the wild side, digging deep into those unspoken secrets of society's seedier sins.
If you love suspenseful, edgy fantasy that digs up the unspeakable, then Cowtan is the author for you. Her novels won't leave you morose, but they will make you think about a lot of things... things we often ignore.
With a background in Social Work and Teaching, it is no surprise Cheryl's stories inspire strong emotions in her readers. Her writing often contains themes of struggle, social awkwardness, betrayal, and determination as well as teaching workbooks and lessons on character improvement. Her books can enrich discussion in the classroom, the book club, and the homeschool.
Cheryl's experience in working with disadvantaged youth often infuses her stories with gritty reality, and by contrast, more brilliant opportunities for her characters' to grow and improve through believable character arcs.
Reading her children's books, on the other hand, is like living in an imagination station. Humour and hope abound for parents and children.
Follow this author to be notified when new books are released.
If you love suspenseful, edgy fantasy that digs up the unspeakable, then Cowtan is the author for you. Her novels won't leave you morose, but they will make you think about a lot of things... things we often ignore.
With a background in Social Work and Teaching, it is no surprise Cheryl's stories inspire strong emotions in her readers. Her writing often contains themes of struggle, social awkwardness, betrayal, and determination as well as teaching workbooks and lessons on character improvement. Her books can enrich discussion in the classroom, the book club, and the homeschool.
Cheryl's experience in working with disadvantaged youth often infuses her stories with gritty reality, and by contrast, more brilliant opportunities for her characters' to grow and improve through believable character arcs.
Reading her children's books, on the other hand, is like living in an imagination station. Humour and hope abound for parents and children.
Follow this author to be notified when new books are released.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 24, 2020
Great story building and plot. Unlike any other dystopian novel I have read. I found the beginning to be rather complicated and hard to get into. But perseverance paid off. I very much enjoyed this story and look forward to more from this author.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 17, 2019
i haven't read a lot of epic fantasies, but I loved this. Laywren is a complicated main character, one of the toughest female warrior characters I have ever read about. The world she inhabits is ours – but not really. It might be an alternate universe, or a post-apocalyptic earth. Doesn’t matter. The setting is as interesting as the characters. The story reaches a natural conclusion, but it’s clear it’s not the end. I’m looking forward to reading the next installment.
March 13, 2019
It took me a while to get into this story which I feel is lacking in world building hence making it more difficult for the reader to follow who these people are, where they came from and why they are cursed with not bearing any more young. Had there been more background I think the plot would have been good, even great as an idea for a dystopic world. Furthermore The Horde follows Laywren, their Queen who is brutal to such a horrible extent even to those who serve her, maybe it is because she has to show her strength to the brutes who follow her as this is the only way they know and respect but I did not really like this main character around which the story unfolds. The people follow the Goddess and believe that it was she who turned them all barren but some are questioning including Laywren and if this were to become known it would be considered heretical. She is walking a thin line and has to make a decision whether she wants to remain the Dreodreng or to become Modor, seems she could not be both! I really liked the gentle giant Nethaz who is part of the Horde and has vowed loyalty to Laywren, seems he is the only one with a bit of sense and humanity, but will he survive in such a brutal dog eat dog world!
February 29, 2020
Queen Llewelyn the Barbarian!
In this dystopic world, Queen Llewelyn reins extreme. She is a brutal warrior who everyone fears; even her servants. Queen Llewelyn rules over her horde which follows her and fears her. Queen Llewelyn has to show strength and power so that her horse will respect her. The horde believes Llewelyn is the reason why they turned barren. However, some are beginning to question the Queen including Laywren and if ever this questioning is found out it will be heretical. Llewelyn is walking a thin line with her indecision to choose between remaining in Dreodreng or to become Modar. I loved and enjoyed Nethaz the giant, who is part of the horde. He vows his loyalty to Laywren. He is kind and good but will he survive this brutal world? I loved this book. It reminded me of Conan the barbarian and ZENA: THE WARRIOR PRINCESS! (I'm dating myself) lol. But I loved that show. I liked how the author drops you into a scene and you are completely inside her world. Inside her book. Lol. The characters were three-dimensional and the story was brutal but riveting. It kept my interest to the end. I love this author and can't wait to read her next book. I'd like to thank the author and BOOKSIRENS.COM for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
In this dystopic world, Queen Llewelyn reins extreme. She is a brutal warrior who everyone fears; even her servants. Queen Llewelyn rules over her horde which follows her and fears her. Queen Llewelyn has to show strength and power so that her horse will respect her. The horde believes Llewelyn is the reason why they turned barren. However, some are beginning to question the Queen including Laywren and if ever this questioning is found out it will be heretical. Llewelyn is walking a thin line with her indecision to choose between remaining in Dreodreng or to become Modar. I loved and enjoyed Nethaz the giant, who is part of the horde. He vows his loyalty to Laywren. He is kind and good but will he survive this brutal world? I loved this book. It reminded me of Conan the barbarian and ZENA: THE WARRIOR PRINCESS! (I'm dating myself) lol. But I loved that show. I liked how the author drops you into a scene and you are completely inside her world. Inside her book. Lol. The characters were three-dimensional and the story was brutal but riveting. It kept my interest to the end. I love this author and can't wait to read her next book. I'd like to thank the author and BOOKSIRENS.COM for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
February 13, 2019
The setting is epic. The different humans who are banded together as the Horde are epic. The will of the Goddess is definitive. Has our heroine made an irrevocably wrong choice in the case of the giant with white skin?
This world is built exceedingly well. It's amazing that being a half-blood herself, Laywren can be so intolerant of diversity, but she was rigidly raised. I am hoping that in the next two volumes her heart opens, for the fate of the world depends on it.
I must admit, I also read the author's Girl Desecrated and was horribly disappointed at its absence of moral compass. This new series holds out a promise of future redemption.
This world is built exceedingly well. It's amazing that being a half-blood herself, Laywren can be so intolerant of diversity, but she was rigidly raised. I am hoping that in the next two volumes her heart opens, for the fate of the world depends on it.
I must admit, I also read the author's Girl Desecrated and was horribly disappointed at its absence of moral compass. This new series holds out a promise of future redemption.
November 27, 2019
This book is certainly different to anything I have ever read before. It is interesting, if a little complicated to understand at times.
The characters come from a harsh world, and they themselves are harsh because of it. They still feel like strangers to me and I didn't feel a real connection to any of them. Which, being the characters they are, they do not care either way if I like them or not.
The interpretation of the cycle of life was an interesting concept, a different spin from the usual explanations and I would like to know what the outcome is in this very alien world.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The characters come from a harsh world, and they themselves are harsh because of it. They still feel like strangers to me and I didn't feel a real connection to any of them. Which, being the characters they are, they do not care either way if I like them or not.
The interpretation of the cycle of life was an interesting concept, a different spin from the usual explanations and I would like to know what the outcome is in this very alien world.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
September 7, 2019
This was well-written, but I didn't love it. The dystopian world created is unusual and compelling. I had trouble relating to the main character Laywren, but I'm not sure I actually understood any of them that well. I absolutely hated the ending of the book, and not just because it's a cliffhanger. To be honest, I’m too confused to write more. Because I love this author, I am looking forward to reading book two, and I'm hopeful I will find it more enjoyable and it will have a happier ending.
May 10, 2019
I really struggled to get into this one. I'm not sure if it was lack of a background or the fact that you are dumped straight into their world with no map.
The characters were interesting, each main character having a kind of moral dilemma of a sort. The book only really picked up for me about 1/3 of the way in, where I became hooked. Definitely would like to read the rest of the series.
The characters were interesting, each main character having a kind of moral dilemma of a sort. The book only really picked up for me about 1/3 of the way in, where I became hooked. Definitely would like to read the rest of the series.
April 21, 2020
This was a very interesting and well written book. The author does a great job describing scenes and character personalities. It was fast paced and exciting to read. I'd recommend it to fantasy readers.
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October 26, 2019
The hypothesis that a group will die out is frightening, and the reason – no children have been born for a generation – is intriguing, and that’s what kept me reading through a rather slow and confusing start. I can’t say I liked Laywren, queen of The Horde, but it is a fascinating fantasy.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews