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The Mountain Fell #0.5
The Binding Day Truce
The end of centuries of war is looming.
Ilyas of Vine, War Leader of the armies of the Mad Queen Maevian Oriset, is sent off once again to hunt the deadliest foe he has ever faced: Willow of Herb. Tired of the fighting, but with too much on the line, Ilyas knows that this will be their last fight. This time, failure is not an option. This time, he will kill that damn monster, or die trying.
Willow of Herb has fought against Vine all of his life. Ever since the day the Mad Queen’s forces killed his parents, he has revealed in the bloodshed of war. As the only one with a hope of matching Maevian’s power, it is up to him to find a way to put an end to her reign of terror. Only one thing stands in his way: Ilyas.
In a war where neither side is truly good or evil, and shades of grey run rampant, who will be triumphant when these two forces meet again for the final time?
Ilyas of Vine, War Leader of the armies of the Mad Queen Maevian Oriset, is sent off once again to hunt the deadliest foe he has ever faced: Willow of Herb. Tired of the fighting, but with too much on the line, Ilyas knows that this will be their last fight. This time, failure is not an option. This time, he will kill that damn monster, or die trying.
Willow of Herb has fought against Vine all of his life. Ever since the day the Mad Queen’s forces killed his parents, he has revealed in the bloodshed of war. As the only one with a hope of matching Maevian’s power, it is up to him to find a way to put an end to her reign of terror. Only one thing stands in his way: Ilyas.
In a war where neither side is truly good or evil, and shades of grey run rampant, who will be triumphant when these two forces meet again for the final time?
65 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 13, 2021
8 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Allegra Pescatore
14 books126 followersBorn in a small Italian village, I went on a quest around the world and have finally settled into a magical cottage in PA. I write a lot, and I read a lot. Love all fantasy and sci-fi, especially if it features diverse characters or authors.
My ratings:
5 stars - Wonderful. I loved reading it, had a great time, and will likely read it again and talk about it with my friends.
4 stars - good, solid, enjoyable book. I had fun and while I may not read it again, I'm glad I did.
3 stars - Not particularly memorable, but I'm happy I found it. While it may not have been my cup of tea, I'm glad it exists.
2 stars - This had issues. Not unreadable, but not something I finished or enjoyed in the end.
1 star - DNF or read because I am a masochist to loves pain. Someone else might love it, but it was not for me.
No rating: Either I haven't gotten around to writing a review, I didn't finish it, or it was not my genre of choice and therefore I chose not to review it because I am not the intended audience.
My ratings:
5 stars - Wonderful. I loved reading it, had a great time, and will likely read it again and talk about it with my friends.
4 stars - good, solid, enjoyable book. I had fun and while I may not read it again, I'm glad I did.
3 stars - Not particularly memorable, but I'm happy I found it. While it may not have been my cup of tea, I'm glad it exists.
2 stars - This had issues. Not unreadable, but not something I finished or enjoyed in the end.
1 star - DNF or read because I am a masochist to loves pain. Someone else might love it, but it was not for me.
No rating: Either I haven't gotten around to writing a review, I didn't finish it, or it was not my genre of choice and therefore I chose not to review it because I am not the intended audience.
Ratings & Reviews
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
June 25, 2021
"This war will be the death of me, Willow of Herb. I have accepted and embraced that fate.
"Then why do you fight so hard?" Willow asked.
"For the same reason you do. It's all I know."
Two warriors on opposite sides in a seemingly never ending war. Both of them deadly and both determined to end the other.
Ilyas of Vine, bonded against his will to a mad queen and Willow of Herb, set on picking the mad queen's bonded one after another. The next best thing to weaken her and make a difference in the blasted war.
One - a black winged silver fury, leaving carnage in his wake, armed to the teeth and hell bent on fulfilling an order
the other - armed with only a pair of glistening sharpened brass knuckles, a little bit of magic and a hell lot of guts.
Both striking uneasy truce that's bound to leave a mark.
Gripping, imaginative and with a deliciously dark feel, this short story is one that will manage to not only get you invested but also wish for more.
For those of you who have read A Bond of Thread this provides a great insight into both the past of Ilyas and the conditioning he's been subjected to. It's a real treat people!
For readers who are new to these authors, if you liked this short story here, you're gonna love A Bond of Thread.
"Then why do you fight so hard?" Willow asked.
"For the same reason you do. It's all I know."
Two warriors on opposite sides in a seemingly never ending war. Both of them deadly and both determined to end the other.
Ilyas of Vine, bonded against his will to a mad queen and Willow of Herb, set on picking the mad queen's bonded one after another. The next best thing to weaken her and make a difference in the blasted war.
One - a black winged silver fury, leaving carnage in his wake, armed to the teeth and hell bent on fulfilling an order
the other - armed with only a pair of glistening sharpened brass knuckles, a little bit of magic and a hell lot of guts.
Both striking uneasy truce that's bound to leave a mark.
Gripping, imaginative and with a deliciously dark feel, this short story is one that will manage to not only get you invested but also wish for more.
For those of you who have read A Bond of Thread this provides a great insight into both the past of Ilyas and the conditioning he's been subjected to. It's a real treat people!
For readers who are new to these authors, if you liked this short story here, you're gonna love A Bond of Thread.
January 18, 2023
Firstly I recommend reading A Bond Of Thread before this prequel as it gives a lot of context that may not makes sense otherwise. Also being as short as it is, there is little world building because it was done so well in the first book of the series.
I feel like this was a love note for the fans of book one that wanted/demanded the origins of Willow and Ilyas's relationship.
I was one of them and this is exactly what I wanted. Loved this and can't wait for book 2 in this series.
I feel like this was a love note for the fans of book one that wanted/demanded the origins of Willow and Ilyas's relationship.
I was one of them and this is exactly what I wanted. Loved this and can't wait for book 2 in this series.
September 21, 2021
This was a great short story. Ilyas & Willow were suppose to be on opposite sides but they had to make an agreement with each other. I can't wait to read the next book.
June 1, 2022
Enjoyable short story set in the Land of the Nine Mountain Fells. I have already read A Bond of Thread which I think helps as I already have an introduction to the world and the magic system. This story being so short, the authors are limited in the amount of world building they can do.
Having said that, this is a peek into an age old enmity between two warriors who are tired of the pointless fighting, and the continued slaughter just because a mad Queen forces them to. The sad thing is that you can see Illyas and Willow would have been friends if not for the war and this brief truce cements the wary respect they have for each other.
I aready love Illyas, he is such a sympathetic characater. Deep down he is a loyal and honest warrior, corrupted by years of abuse he has recieved from the mad Queen. He has just about given up hope of any peace, for himself or the people.
Willow of Herb is a relatively new character, though he seems just as haunted and wounded by the battles he has fought. The characters are definitely engaging and you want to know more. I only wish the story was longer-this is far too short! Thankfully the authors have written more in this world and there is more to come!
This is a wonderful series, and you should definitely read this 2 hour read (if that!) and the full length novel A Bond of Thread.
Having said that, this is a peek into an age old enmity between two warriors who are tired of the pointless fighting, and the continued slaughter just because a mad Queen forces them to. The sad thing is that you can see Illyas and Willow would have been friends if not for the war and this brief truce cements the wary respect they have for each other.
I aready love Illyas, he is such a sympathetic characater. Deep down he is a loyal and honest warrior, corrupted by years of abuse he has recieved from the mad Queen. He has just about given up hope of any peace, for himself or the people.
Willow of Herb is a relatively new character, though he seems just as haunted and wounded by the battles he has fought. The characters are definitely engaging and you want to know more. I only wish the story was longer-this is far too short! Thankfully the authors have written more in this world and there is more to come!
This is a wonderful series, and you should definitely read this 2 hour read (if that!) and the full length novel A Bond of Thread.
June 18, 2022
Beautiful writing with just enough detail to hint at a big, rich world. I am looking forward to reading more by these authors. The only problem I has was the big fight scene felt a little TOO unbelievable. Yeah. I know. It's fantasy so realism is suspended. But this was just a little too much. Perhaps in a longer book where more of the world and magic system can be shown, it will make more sense.
July 2, 2021
Two warriors pledged to opposing sides, both with lifelong histories misery and war. They face off yet again just mere hours before a truce and Mother Nature intervenes throwing the common instinct of survival at both of them. This tale totally grabbed me. I could feel the angst and hopelessness. The presumed loss of purpose. A wonderful short!
January 19, 2023
“There was no justice in this war anymore…” As soon as I started listening to this, I realized it was a short story from the A Bond of Thread world, which I think helped because it meant I understood the magic systems and the eye colors, which had initially confused me.
Ilyas of Vine faces off against Willow of Herb in what would be their final battle, but end up having to declare a truce in order to survive.
I don’t think I was expecting Ilyas’ actions in this, and can’t remember if this was hinted at in Bond of Thread) but listen for yourself. Highly recommend.
Ilyas of Vine faces off against Willow of Herb in what would be their final battle, but end up having to declare a truce in order to survive.
I don’t think I was expecting Ilyas’ actions in this, and can’t remember if this was hinted at in Bond of Thread) but listen for yourself. Highly recommend.
January 31, 2025
:)
next book pls
next book pls
October 6, 2022
Excellent short story!
This is an amazing short story. It's not just good vs evil. It is two warriors on opposing sides that truly believe what they are fighting for is Right! An ongoing war that seems to have no end in sight. Ilyas and Willow, they both are great warriors with remarkable qualities, yet they are both damaged souls.... I was captivated by this story. Thankfully there are novels to dive into now that I have a taste of something great!
This is an amazing short story. It's not just good vs evil. It is two warriors on opposing sides that truly believe what they are fighting for is Right! An ongoing war that seems to have no end in sight. Ilyas and Willow, they both are great warriors with remarkable qualities, yet they are both damaged souls.... I was captivated by this story. Thankfully there are novels to dive into now that I have a taste of something great!
April 28, 2025
This novelette is the first I have read of The Mountain Fell series by J.P. Burnison and Allegra Pescatore, as it belongs chronologically before Book 1, A Bond of Thread. While I did enjoy the story, I would probably (and very rarely for me!) recommend reading the main books in the series first and treating this as more of an added bonus, as there is little world-building, background or character context to place this story in as a standalone.
The main characters are Ilyas of Vine and Willow of Herb and we see the story from their alternating viewpoints from opposite sides of a war over the Mad Queen’s rule. Despite their differences, a temporary ceasefire in hostilities allows them to see each other in a different light and changes the course of both of their lives irrevocably as a result.
I was definitely intrigued by these characters and by the glimpses of worldbuilding and backstory here and am looking forward to reading the main novels in the series to find out more about the world of the Nine Lands. And for those who are ahead of me and have already read Books 1 & 2, I would recommend this novelette for a sneaky peek at the pre-story!
The main characters are Ilyas of Vine and Willow of Herb and we see the story from their alternating viewpoints from opposite sides of a war over the Mad Queen’s rule. Despite their differences, a temporary ceasefire in hostilities allows them to see each other in a different light and changes the course of both of their lives irrevocably as a result.
I was definitely intrigued by these characters and by the glimpses of worldbuilding and backstory here and am looking forward to reading the main novels in the series to find out more about the world of the Nine Lands. And for those who are ahead of me and have already read Books 1 & 2, I would recommend this novelette for a sneaky peek at the pre-story!
July 15, 2025
**NO SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW**
Firstly, I highly recommend reading the first and second books in this series before reading this short story—A Bond of Threat and A Peddler of Chains, respectively... After reading the first two tales, you'll have a deep appreciation for the content of this short snippet from the world of The Mountain Fell.
I couldn't stop myself from speed-reading through this mini-addition to the stories of the Mountain. I started it immediately after finishing A Peddler of Chains, which was the perfect time for me to venture through its content... I had a longing to gain a deeper understanding of the characters' pasts discussed in A Peddler of Chains, which this short addresses directly and impactfully.
Though a short/quick read, The Binding Day Truce is the perfect tale to help solidify your understanding of the Mountain's dark past and leave you in excited anticipation for the next addition to this awesome series.
Firstly, I highly recommend reading the first and second books in this series before reading this short story—A Bond of Threat and A Peddler of Chains, respectively... After reading the first two tales, you'll have a deep appreciation for the content of this short snippet from the world of The Mountain Fell.
I couldn't stop myself from speed-reading through this mini-addition to the stories of the Mountain. I started it immediately after finishing A Peddler of Chains, which was the perfect time for me to venture through its content... I had a longing to gain a deeper understanding of the characters' pasts discussed in A Peddler of Chains, which this short addresses directly and impactfully.
Though a short/quick read, The Binding Day Truce is the perfect tale to help solidify your understanding of the Mountain's dark past and leave you in excited anticipation for the next addition to this awesome series.
March 18, 2023
"The Binding Day Truce" by Allegra Pescatore and J.P Burnison
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This short read was very enjoyable! I enjoyed reading it after the two books available in the main series, "A Bond of Thread" and "A Peddler of Chains". I think it's best if read after "A Peddler of Chains" as it refers to a character we really get to know in Book Two. It added quite a bit to the characters development from the other two books and now I feel as though I have more understanding and can answer more of the 'why's?'.
I really enjoyed learning how these two main characters know each other and how a single moment, changed who they were to one another. This series is a worthwhile read...and I'll be purchasing the final installation, day one. In the meanwhile, I eagerly await book three!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This short read was very enjoyable! I enjoyed reading it after the two books available in the main series, "A Bond of Thread" and "A Peddler of Chains". I think it's best if read after "A Peddler of Chains" as it refers to a character we really get to know in Book Two. It added quite a bit to the characters development from the other two books and now I feel as though I have more understanding and can answer more of the 'why's?'.
I really enjoyed learning how these two main characters know each other and how a single moment, changed who they were to one another. This series is a worthwhile read...and I'll be purchasing the final installation, day one. In the meanwhile, I eagerly await book three!
July 19, 2024
This is a prequel in the Mountain Fell series. Ilya and Willow have been fighting each other for many many years. Both are tired of the war, but neither can stop.
After a fight where neither will survive on their own, can they set things aside and help each other to survive? What will happen after that?
This is an intense short story that introduces you to characters in the main series. (I was starting book 1 but decided to reread this story to jog my memory!) After being bound to mad Queen, Ilya Is depressed and just trying to survive without pain. Willow has been adversary to stop him but is alienating his own army.
This was a great (re)introduction to these characters and the history behind them before I started A Bond of thread!
After a fight where neither will survive on their own, can they set things aside and help each other to survive? What will happen after that?
This is an intense short story that introduces you to characters in the main series. (I was starting book 1 but decided to reread this story to jog my memory!) After being bound to mad Queen, Ilya Is depressed and just trying to survive without pain. Willow has been adversary to stop him but is alienating his own army.
This was a great (re)introduction to these characters and the history behind them before I started A Bond of thread!
January 20, 2024
While waiting on my library audiobook app to let me finish the book I'm working on, I decided to go through some of the short audios I have and have never read. A few lines into this and it sounded familiar. I then remembered it was included in the From the Shadows villain anthology. I enjoyed reading it then, and I enjoyed listening to it again 3 years later.
Ilyas and Willow are both great characters, both trying to do the most they can with the awful cards they were dealt in life. The magic system and binds are really interesting, and since I find I do own book 1 in the series, I'm making a note to continue the series since I forgot about it before.
Ilyas and Willow are both great characters, both trying to do the most they can with the awful cards they were dealt in life. The magic system and binds are really interesting, and since I find I do own book 1 in the series, I'm making a note to continue the series since I forgot about it before.
August 26, 2023
Ilyas and Willow have fought many battles against each other and can't kill each other. Ilyas's Queen has given him one more chance to kill Willow or else. Ilyas and Willow are locked in their last do-or-die battle when midnight strikes to herald the beginning of Binding Day and the start of a nine-day truce to celebrate the season.
Battered and beaten they go to the battlements to share a glass of brandy and have time to talk. They make an agreement and so begins a great start to The Mountain Fell series.
Battered and beaten they go to the battlements to share a glass of brandy and have time to talk. They make an agreement and so begins a great start to The Mountain Fell series.
June 30, 2023
A heartbreaking introduction to two of our main MMCs in the series - Willow and Ilyas.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews