Torn

by J.W. Elliot

The magic knows. It feels. And it’s searching for him.

For two thousand years, the Order of the Varaná has nurtured and protected the Anarwyn, a sentient magic that has developed a symbiotic relationship with humans. The Order has kept the land free of the ageless evil called the Bragamahr that once controlled the destiny of humankind.

Over the long years, the secrets of the magic have been lost, and the Varaná have dwindled until only one remains. Then, from the shadows come the Mahrowaiths of the Bragamahr, ancient creatures of evil who attempt to hunt the remaining heirs of Anarwyn to extinction.

The Anarwyn seeks out a young man, named Cam, who can stand between the rise of the Bragamahr and the final destruction of the Anarwyn. When the terror and death of the Mahrowaiths find Cam first, he must choose between saving his friends by assuming the terrible burden of the magic that killed his mother or denying his heritage and remaining free. The Anarwyn might not wait for him to decide.

This series is perfect for fans of Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, Shadow and Bone, and Wheel of Time.

419 pages, Paperback

Published January 22, 2022

About the author

James is a twenty-nine-year-old stuck in an older man’s body. He loves to paddle his canoe, shoot his handmade longbows in the woods, make knives, study martial arts, and generally enjoys challenging himself. When not teaching or writing about the real past, he is imagining worlds and histories that might have been, should have been, or may yet be.

James has two homes (though only one house)--the mountains of Idaho and the forests of New England--where he canoes, hikes, camps, rock climbs, and shoots the longbows he makes himself. He lives in Massachusetts with his wife. ​

James is a professional historian whose published works include two histories of the Inquisition, a documentary history of Columbus's first voyage, a transcription of a colonial era account book from Weymouth, Massachusetts, and a global history of piracy. This means that he is a professional teller of stories, both real and imagined.

James's favorite author is J.R.R. Tolkien, though he will never be able to watch the Peter Jackson Hobbit films again. The first viewing nearly gave him a fit. He loves The Giver and The Book Thief. He has read all the Hunger Games novels, but thinks Katniss should have ended up with Gale. (Sorry Peeta fans.) He enjoys Harry Potter and thinks magic should be real--so long as he owns the Elder Wand.

For more background, images, videos, and information related to my stories and my hobbies, see my Pinterest boards. https://www.pinterest.com/jwelliot1/b...