I wanted to take a moment to introduce my latest fantasy series.
So far, the Twelve Baronies series consists of one full-length novel (Watersmeet) and one prequel novella (The Falconer), set in a land of castles and temples, with powerful nobility and outlawed magic. In terms of historical analogue, the setting is roughly equivalent to the Early Modern period in Europe, on the cusp of the industrial revolution, but with a dominant polytheistic religion.
The books are unashamedly optimistic in tone, featuring the quieter kind of heroine who is more likely to find her answers through experiment than at swordpoint. (Although there are also a fair few swords.)
When a stranger tells her she's a mage, Ailith is intrigued but she's also afraid. Magic is heresy, and heresy means death under the Temple Law. Even literacy is suspect in a girl of her background, and her sister's impending wedding only serves as a reminder that she should be focusing on her future. Then a local priest asks her to rescue his son, and she starts to wonder if her talents could be a blessing, after all.
The Lord Baron of Watersmeet, Leofwin isn't accustomed to welcoming uninvited visitors. A commoner turning up at his gates should be no more than a minor footnote to his day, but something about Ailith catches his attention. Alchemy can be lonely work and an apprentice might be just what he needs.
As their lessons grow into shared experiments, Leofwin wonders if he might even trust her with his greatest challenge. But Ailith can't forget why she came to the castle.
This was a very enjoyable, well-written read, recommended for fans of quieter, more thoughtful and less action-filled fantasy. -- Fantasy Review Barn
I found Ailith to be a refreshingly strong minded and independent character... I stayed up till 4am on a Saturday night to finish it. -- An Awful Lot of Reviews
The Falconer is a short murder mystery, set in the same world.
Roan wakes at the bottom of a mine shaft, badly bruised but lucky to be alive. He doesn't remember how he got here, but as he'd just witnessed a suspicious death, he's afraid someone is trying to cover their tracks. The only problem is, he can't imagine who would have wanted to kill the young lady Arleigh.
So far, the Twelve Baronies series consists of one full-length novel (Watersmeet) and one prequel novella (The Falconer), set in a land of castles and temples, with powerful nobility and outlawed magic. In terms of historical analogue, the setting is roughly equivalent to the Early Modern period in Europe, on the cusp of the industrial revolution, but with a dominant polytheistic religion.
The books are unashamedly optimistic in tone, featuring the quieter kind of heroine who is more likely to find her answers through experiment than at swordpoint. (Although there are also a fair few swords.)
Watersmeet
When a stranger tells her she's a mage, Ailith is intrigued but she's also afraid. Magic is heresy, and heresy means death under the Temple Law. Even literacy is suspect in a girl of her background, and her sister's impending wedding only serves as a reminder that she should be focusing on her future. Then a local priest asks her to rescue his son, and she starts to wonder if her talents could be a blessing, after all.
The Lord Baron of Watersmeet, Leofwin isn't accustomed to welcoming uninvited visitors. A commoner turning up at his gates should be no more than a minor footnote to his day, but something about Ailith catches his attention. Alchemy can be lonely work and an apprentice might be just what he needs.
As their lessons grow into shared experiments, Leofwin wonders if he might even trust her with his greatest challenge. But Ailith can't forget why she came to the castle.
This was a very enjoyable, well-written read, recommended for fans of quieter, more thoughtful and less action-filled fantasy. -- Fantasy Review Barn
I found Ailith to be a refreshingly strong minded and independent character... I stayed up till 4am on a Saturday night to finish it. -- An Awful Lot of Reviews
Available from Amazon, iTunes, B&N, or (slightly cheaper) buy direct.
The Falconer is a short murder mystery, set in the same world.
Roan wakes at the bottom of a mine shaft, badly bruised but lucky to be alive. He doesn't remember how he got here, but as he'd just witnessed a suspicious death, he's afraid someone is trying to cover their tracks. The only problem is, he can't imagine who would have wanted to kill the young lady Arleigh.
You can download it for free from major ebook retailers or http://payhip.com/b/CKi2