A STUNNING BAEN BOOKS DEBUT. A brilliant Americana flintlock fantasy novel set in a world of Appalachian magic that works.
Sarah Calhoun is the fifteen‑year‑old daughter of the Elector Andrew Calhoun, one of Appalachee’s military heroes and one of the electors who gets to decide who will next ascend as the Emperor of the New World. None of that matters to Sarah. She has a natural talent for hexing and one bad eye, and all she wants is to be left alone—especially by outsiders.
But Sarah’s world gets turned on its head at the Nashville Tobacco Fair when a Yankee wizard‑priest tries to kidnap her. Sarah fights back with the aid of a mysterious monk named Thalanes, who is one of the not‑quite‑human Firstborn, the Moundbuilders of the Ohio. It is Thalanes who reveals to Sarah a secret heritage she never dreamed could be hers.
Now on a desperate quest with Thalanes to claim this heritage, she is hunted by the Emperor’s bodyguard of elite dragoons, as well as by darker things—shapeshifting Mockers and undead Lazars, and behind them a power more sinister still. If Sarah cannot claim her heritage, it may mean the end to her, her family—and to the world where she is just beginning to find her place.
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too many ideas, story gets lost.The writing is good but I found the side story details very distracting. Great main characters but almost too much detail in "meet once" characters and their back story.
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What an writing debut!D. J. Butler, keep writing! I want to see more of this universe you've dreamed up.
I really love mountain folk. You've captured their essence well. We can see this mindset in the mountains on Tennessee, Kentucky and the Virginias to this day.Posted on
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I want more!Unable to put it down. Wow! The ending leaves room for more and I'll wait impatiently for it. Fantastic characters and a great story.
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