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Proving Grounds
A shot at glory. A quest gone terribly wrong. Can an aspiring hero and his band of misfits survive their first taste of real adventure?
Caeldan is ready to prove himself. Frustrated when he, his twin, and best friend aren’t enough to enter a guild-run competition, the bighearted rogue is thrilled when they recruit an enormous half-orc and a gnome pyromancer to fill out their party. But upon entering the pretend dungeon, they stumble across a slain hero and monsters that seem too real, leaving the young Shadow Elf fearing that their friendly contest may have taken a deadly turn.
Trapped in a game with rules gobbled up by disease-riddled glomes, Caeldan and his unlikely companions struggle to fight as a team while battling giant spiders, an ill-tempered hydra, and ravenous undead. But as they venture ever deeper, the mischievous thrill-seeker can’t shake the feeling that someone intends to ensure they never reach the finish line.
Can Caeldan turn his ragtag band into boon companions before their first quest becomes their last?
Proving Grounds is the first book in the Leftovers YA fantasy series. If you like sarcastic but good-hearted protagonists, slavering beasties, and unlikely friendships, then you’ll love Lee Dunning’s boisterous tale.
Buy Proving Grounds to gird your loins today!
Caeldan is ready to prove himself. Frustrated when he, his twin, and best friend aren’t enough to enter a guild-run competition, the bighearted rogue is thrilled when they recruit an enormous half-orc and a gnome pyromancer to fill out their party. But upon entering the pretend dungeon, they stumble across a slain hero and monsters that seem too real, leaving the young Shadow Elf fearing that their friendly contest may have taken a deadly turn.
Trapped in a game with rules gobbled up by disease-riddled glomes, Caeldan and his unlikely companions struggle to fight as a team while battling giant spiders, an ill-tempered hydra, and ravenous undead. But as they venture ever deeper, the mischievous thrill-seeker can’t shake the feeling that someone intends to ensure they never reach the finish line.
Can Caeldan turn his ragtag band into boon companions before their first quest becomes their last?
Proving Grounds is the first book in the Leftovers YA fantasy series. If you like sarcastic but good-hearted protagonists, slavering beasties, and unlikely friendships, then you’ll love Lee Dunning’s boisterous tale.
Buy Proving Grounds to gird your loins today!
- GenresFantasy
68 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 11, 2020
About the author
Lee Dunning
13 books26 followersLee has done many things over the years, including daring the horrors of IT for over 26 years. Having grown weary of that, she went back to school to study accounting. While such a job may not be the stuff of legends, it is a skill needed pretty much everywhere which makes it possible for her to keep a roof over her head regardless of where she chooses to live.
Of course, there is more to Lee than that. She's loved writing since grade school. She finished her first novel length story in high school, though she cringes now to read it. She's also worked with digital art since 2004. She's done several book covers for other authors as well as her own books. She also games both on the computer and tabletop. Her dice slinging has encompassed all versions of D&D, Fantasy Hero and most recently 13th Age.
As of July 26th, 2014, Lee published her first book, "Exile's Redemption" available here at Amazon in Kindle and Trade Paperback formats. The second book, "Exile's Gamble," and the third book, "Exile's Legacy," have since hit the virtual shelves of Amazon. Lee has finally finished the fourth book—"Exile's Vengeance" which concludes the current story line in the Chronicles of Shadows series. Currently she's working on some short pieces taking place ten years in the future from the events in Chronicles.
She currently shares her home with three cats, two Siamese and one horrified orange tabby. She recently moved to the Pacific Northwest, but longs to relocate to Alaska someday.
Of course, there is more to Lee than that. She's loved writing since grade school. She finished her first novel length story in high school, though she cringes now to read it. She's also worked with digital art since 2004. She's done several book covers for other authors as well as her own books. She also games both on the computer and tabletop. Her dice slinging has encompassed all versions of D&D, Fantasy Hero and most recently 13th Age.
As of July 26th, 2014, Lee published her first book, "Exile's Redemption" available here at Amazon in Kindle and Trade Paperback formats. The second book, "Exile's Gamble," and the third book, "Exile's Legacy," have since hit the virtual shelves of Amazon. Lee has finally finished the fourth book—"Exile's Vengeance" which concludes the current story line in the Chronicles of Shadows series. Currently she's working on some short pieces taking place ten years in the future from the events in Chronicles.
She currently shares her home with three cats, two Siamese and one horrified orange tabby. She recently moved to the Pacific Northwest, but longs to relocate to Alaska someday.
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