GUEST POST

The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles Series

by A.L. Butcher

@Libraryoferana #Fantasyauthor #darkfantasy #Fantasy #Meetacharacter

The Stolen Tower

The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles – Book III

https://www.books2read.com/StolenTower

What stalks the land cannot be, but is.

Where magic is outlawed a troll Shaman calls from her deathbed to her heiress, Mirandra Var, daughter of the storm. Mirandra vows to find her missing kin, sort friend from foe, and claim the dangerous secrets guarded by unthinkable creatures. If she succeeds, she will become the leader of her tribe. If she fails, there will be no tribe to lead.

Excerpt:

A shadowy face peered between the silhouetted trees and the whispers hissed about him. Another appeared, with eyes unseeing yet staring, and face pale as though with a terrible sickness. A shape padded out of the misty half-darkness of his dream, hairy, twisted and fanged. Gregori lay prone, his sword just out of reach as the creature hovered above him, spittle dripping into his face and fetid breath poured sickeningly from the maw of the beast.

The screaming bray of the horse filled his ears and the hissing, snarling of his assailants made the flesh crawl. Fighting the urge to soil himself with fear, he desperately reached for his sword, the pain in his head blurring his vision and the movement making his shoulder scream in pain. The dream folded around him and Gregor twisted in the reality of it. Other shadows moved closer, snapping, grabbing, and he begged for his life, trying to push away the slavering creature above him. As the distant rumble of hooves began to fill his world the creatures, the shadowy shapes began to back away. Crying in fear and confusion as the darkness descended the wolf rose on two legs and turned once to look at the fallen man. Then it was gone.

Guest Post – Meet my Characters – Gregori

Gregori appears in The Stolen Tower – The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles – Book III

Name: Gregori Nadan

What part do you play in this tale?

I am a human merchant. I am seeking the man who I’ve been told is my father – a mage by the name of Danyan. I would like to know why he abandoned my mother. The man I called ‘father’ is, in fact my stepfather. My mother endured an arranged marriage with him – but I think he always knew he was not my true sire.

My mother’s kin are from the Emerald Valley and I come to seek them and tell them of her death. I have questions of my kin.

I’m nothing special – not a hero or an adventurer. I’m passable with a sword, I’m good at talking to people and trade, but I’m not seeking glory or riches.

I was attacked on the road, by monsters. Awful creatures – like wolves only upright. My mother told me such tales to frighten me when I misbehaved as a child. I never knew such creatures existed.

These people I’ve found – three women and a Troll lord are on some quest or other. They helped me….saved my life I suppose.

I’ve dealt with trolls once or twice, and the people here trade with their kind, but these people – I’ve never met anyone who would walk straight into danger like this.

Then there’s Ephany – I’ve never met a woman like her….

How do you see your world?

Until recently I was the son of a well-to-do merchant; mine was not a life of luxury but we didn’t go hungry and all things considered, we were fortunate. I’d have taken over the business, worked hard and lived reasonably well. Then my mother told me the truth – I’m some old mage’s bastard. Everything I knew was false.

My stepfather would leave his business to his own kin, not some embarrassing boy from the wrong side of the blanket. He was too proud for that.

Do you consider yourself a good person?

I’d say so. I try to treat people fairly. I don’t cheat them, I’m not a violent man. I find talking gets me out of most situations.

What do you think of the Witch-Hunters?

I try and stick on the right side of the law, and limit my dealings with them, but they can be heavy-handed. I know my mother had no love for them. The law is the law. At least I used to think that. Now – I’m not so sure. I think most people, at least most humans who aren’t mages tolerate them, or at least don’t try to do much about them.

Truth is not always what it first appears.

Other Books in the Series:

The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles – Book I

In a dark world where magic is illegal, and elves are enslaved a young elven sorceress runs for her life from the house of her evil Keeper. Pursued by his men and the corrupt Order of Witch-Hunters she must find sanctuary. As the slavers roll across the lands stealing elves from what remains of their ancestral home the Witch-Hunters turn a blind eye to the tragedy and a story of power, love and a terrible revenge unfolds.

(18 rated)

https://www.books2read.com/Lightbeyondstorm1

The Shining Citadel – The Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles – Book II

Who rules in this game of intrigue where magic is forbidden, and elves enslaved? Journey where beliefs shatter like glass, truth is unwelcome, and monsters from ancient times abound: share the romance and revenge, magic and passion, and the wages of greed in a world of darkest fantasy.

(18 rated)

https://www.books2read.com/ShiningCitadel

About the Author:

British-born A. L. Butcher is an avid reader and creator of worlds, a poet, and a dreamer, a lover of science, natural history, history, and monkeys. Her prose has been described as ‘dark and gritty’ and her poetry as ‘evocative’. She writes with a sure and sometimes erotic sensibility of things that might have been, never were, but could be.

Alex is the author of the Light Beyond the Storm Chronicles and the Tales of Erana lyrical fantasy series. She also has several short stories in the fantasy, fantasy romance genres with occasional forays into gothic style horror, including the Legacy of the Mask series. With a background in politics, classical studies, ancient history and myth, her affinities bring an eclectic and unique flavour in her work, mixing reality and dream in alchemical proportions that bring her characters and worlds to life.

She also curates speculative fiction themed book bundles on Pubshare – for the most part – the Here Be Series

Alex is also proud to be a writer for Perseid Press where her work features in Heroika: Dragon Eaters, Heroika Skirmishers – where she was editor and cover designer as well as writer – as well as Lovers in Hell and Mystics in Hell – part of the acclaimed Heroes in Hell series. http://www.theperseidpress.com/

Awards:

Outside the Walls, co-written with Diana L. Wicker received a Chill with a Book Reader’s Award in 2017.

NN Light Book Heaven awards:

The Kitchen Imps and Other Dark Tales won the best fantasy for 2018

Echoes of a Song – one of her Phantom tales – won the best fantasy in 2019

Tears and Crimson Velvet won the best Short Story category in 2020

Dark Tales and Twisted Verses – won the best Short Story Category in 2021

Blog https://libraryoferana.wordpress.com/about-a-l-butcher-fantasy-author-poet-author-promotion/

Facebook Author Page https://www.facebook.com/LightBeyondtheStorm/

Twitter https://twitter.com/libraryoferana/

Amazon Author Page http://amzn.to/2hK33OM

BookBub https://www.bookbub.com/authors/a-l-butcher