Review – Beyond Atlantis by Lucius Beauchamp @RoxanneRhoads


Beyond Atlantis: An Epic of The Ancient Americas
Lucius Beauchamp

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure
ISBN: Paperback 978-0-6488929-0-8  
ISBN: E-book 978-0-6488929-1-5
ASIN: 0648892905 
ASIN: B01I4OMBVY
Number of pages: 448
Word Count: 158,240 
Cover Artist: Flametree Creative

Tagline: Greater Atlantis, where The Guardian Tribe roam

MY REVIEW

First off, Beyond Atlantis by Lucius Beauchamp has an amazing cover and I love anything to do with Atlantis. Add in some magic and angels, what more can I ask for?

The world I entered holds many things that our world does…love, desire, betrayal, greed, power, lust, good and evil, light and dark.

Priests are people too, with all the foibles the rest of us have.

Galen and Zithia are soulmates, but there is much to be risked for them to be together. I’m not so sure about Galen, but have no doubts about Zithia.

She struggles to build a life for herself. She is bright, determined, giving, an asset to any community. Her struggles and are richly detailed, brought to life through Lucius Beauchamp’s words. I had no idea what was coming, I was just along for the ride.

Sometimes things are so simple…right or wrong. It’s the people that make it complicated.

Will Galen learn in this lifetime, or, will he be doomed to return and try again?

Epic love story…Lucius Beauchmap pulled my heartstrings, drawing me in on this wild adventure.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Beyond Atlantis by Lucius Beauchamp.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars
Book Description: 

10,000 years ago, ancient Atlantian Tribes of magicians flourished in the lower Americas and along the Mississippi. 

Galen, an Atlantian magician priest is locked in a relentless power struggle with an envious sorceress who blackmails, lies, and manipulates. A prince of the blood, Galen is determined that nothing will stop his becoming an Archpriest.

Eten, blackest witch and high priestess sees angels and seeks a forbidden treasure. She finds Galen’s curse of having a soulmate particularly helpful. 

Half a millennia ago the Island of Atlantis sank off the Biminis, the 13th Tribe was held responsible for the demise of Atlantis. The surviving Atlantians stripped the 13th of all technology and exiled them. 

Vengeful, the 13th Tribe wishes to return but the 13th’s warlocks fear crossing into Greater Older Atlantis. They do not dare set foot on the Guardian-protected land. The great Guardian Tribe possess a formidable circle of psychics who roam North America keeping constant vigil to keep Greater Older Atlantis safe for all Atlantians. 


Excerpt:

    With lightning rushing to greet the barbarians, not only sulphur made their guts wrench. That most feared God, the God of lightning, was among them. Sheets of power forked across the ground, felling dozens of the pure race. Repeatedly, the riverbed exploded and sprayed molten sand. Dripping glass sculptures remained and pressure waves threw barbarians into the glowing glass pools. Where some lay stuck, in death or dying.
     The false day reached the refugees, the sky pulsing green. From the Safety of the hillside they saw it all, with deafening thunder rocking them. Dodging lightning bolts, the barbarians ran when they could to slid into super-hot streams of glass where their flesh seared so completely that bare-bones were exposed among living tissue. There was screaming at newly blackened limbs and sizzling holes within a shoulder or thigh, created by actual lightning strikes. And then more astral screams as the black shadows of the underworld chased and fell upon the freshly dead. Only a handful survived. It was another mist-night.

                                                               *

Tancah. Ten ships comprising another fleet had landed. Gold. Mounds of gold was being turned into ingots for shipment to the Far World.
     The gangplanks were sunk into the pink sand by the tread of disembarking
warriors.
     The scarred pyramids were towers with large stone tablets standing
on top. Not very wide, with ladder-like stairs, each had an almost sheer
drop at the back. Saplings burst forth in unexpected places among the ruins.
     The seventh ship to dock was grander than the others. Its occupants always liked to be seventh, from superstition. Rhaim, the commander-in-chief hurried to meet these new arrivals. They were the main reason he’d come back to Tancah. After all, he didn’t want their leader to take offense. In black clothing with wide purple edging, the thirteen glided down the gangplank. Weary soldiers made hasty signs in the group’s direction while dropping their eyes. Even with a close trimmed mustache, the outlines of the first face were a death mask. Udo, the leader. Tall, white-haired and eyes robin’s-egg blue. The whole group was from similar molds.
     Not on land yet, Udo glanced at Tancah. A connoisseur, he breathed
deeply of the destruction. Then he put a foot hard on the sand and dogs began to howl. A flock of monarch butterflies, resting on their way to their wintering ground, filled the air. Raising his hand to the sky, Udo cut a swath through the gossamer wings. The lovelies rained down among the pyramids, while the coven roared with laughter.
     Invisible to everyone, a watcher hovered over the beach within sight of the ships. As one, the black-garbed group turned to look at him, eyes burning. Languidly, Udo said, ‘Kill.’
     Two men vacated their flesh so utterly that their bodies fell to the ground. Their spirits were shadow hounds. Instantly the temple flyer telepathed the sight to his temple, then spirit claws were on him. Dying, screams filled the heads of other flyers.
     The murdered watcher’s body, seated in the temple chamber, spasmed and went limp. A high priest wiped the corpse’s brow, ‘Where is the other?’
     Simultaneously, Udo’s face was in the room, hanging in mid-space.
Gloating, he disappeared. Then he was back at the beachfront. ‘Find the other watched.’
     The two dark hounds pounced forward, but Udo’s snarl sent them scurrying into their bodies. He believed in sharing and signaled a fresh pair.  

 

About the Author:

Like Plato, Lucius believed Atlantis existed. Interpreting Plato’s description of location, backed up by Edgar Cayce’s readings, the Island of Atlantis was off the Biminis. Therefore, for him, the Continent of Atlantis (Greater Older Atlantis) was North America.





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Books From The Backlog – Released by Amber Polo @amberpolo #booksfromthebacklog

Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread.  If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks.

If you would like to join in, swing by Carole’s Random Life in Books.

Released (The Shapeshifters' Library, #1)

Amazon / Goodreads

GOODREADS BLURB

Love dogs? Love books? Love libraries? Hate Book-burning werewolves?

Once long ago the Shipsfeather Academy was a training ground for an ancient race of dog-shifters whose mission was to protect the world’s knowledge. A powerful curse sealed these librarians in the basement of their building and gave the control of the town to a pack of book-burning werewolves.

Librarian Liberty Cutter watches in horror as the town’s public library goes up in flames and plans to re-establish the library in the abandoned Shipsfeather Academy building. Chronus, the Old English Sheepdog headmaster of the academy and leader of the dog-shifters, knows he must make some changes to continue to keep his pack safe. But even if he could persuade Liberty to believe in a talking sheepdog, how far can she be trusted? And will she ever be able to care for him as a man. He has to try, because Liberty Cutter and her staff of zany librarians may hold the key to the dog-shifters’ freedom…and the future of the town.

Goodreads Ratings: 3.68  ·  Rating details ·  145 ratings  ·  38 reviews

I added Released (The Shapeshifters’ Library #1) by Amber Polo to my TBR on 2.7.13. That cover alone would have grabbed first, but after reading the blurb I would have been happy I grabbed it. Now, just gotta find time to read it. So many books get buried in my Kindle…and those stacks over there and back there…I haven’t forgotten you. 🙂 What do you think of that fantastic cover??????

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Books From The Backlog – Talisman of El by Al Stone @thewritestone

Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread.  If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks.

If you would like to join in, swing by Carole’s Random Life in Books.

Talisman of El (T.O.E. Trilogy #1)

Amazon / Goodreads

GOODREADS BLURB

WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE WAS A LIE?

One Planet.

Two Worlds.

Population: Human … 7 billion.
Others … unknown.

When 14-year-old Charlie Blake wakes up sweating and gasping for air in the middle of the night, he knows it is happening again. This time he witnesses a brutal murder. He’s afraid to tell anyone. No one would believe him … because it was a dream. Just like the one he had four years ago – the day before his dad died.

Charlie doesn’t know why this is happening. He would give anything to have an ordinary life. The problem: he doesn’t belong in the world he knows as home.

He belongs with the others.

Goodreads Ratings: 3.97 547 ratings  ·  204 reviews

I added Talisman of El by Alecia Stone to my TBR on 2.5.13. It does have an interesting cover. I didn’t see it for sale anywhere and I can’t find out anything about the author or if other books have been written. Does anyone know where the elusive Alecia Stone is? I hope all is well. That being said, I don’t know if I will ever read this or not, but if it never comes up for sale again, I want it on my virtual shelf.

PS: After further exploration, I found the author and the entire trilogy, under the name Al Stone. This is why I find research an issue…I got lost for an hour. LOL

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Review For New Release – Mr Ultra Mega Love by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff @MimiJeanRomance

From New York Times Bestseller Mimi Jean Pamfiloff comes MR. ULTRA MEGA LOVE, book one of a twisted romance serial with bad language and a cape.
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MY REVIEW

I’ll preface this review by saying that Mr Ultra Mega Love by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff is so much more than I anticipated. I had judged the book by its cover and my previous reads in her paranormal worlds. I got more than I bargained for and that is always a good thing.

Mimi Jean’s books have a lot of humor, but Mr Ultra Mega Love starts out with Joy, an 18 year girl, who is a valedictorian and one of the sweetest girls you would ever know, is lying on the locker room floor being beaten by 4 other girls. That woke me up! This is so much more than bullying. That start had my emotions are all over the place, so I am eager to see where the story will go. I was soooo hooked and only 10% into the book.

The family has tried to go on, but the stink of the town hovers in the air, flashes through the eyes of every person they pass in the streets, whispers start and stop as they walk by. They cannot forget, and neither can the town.

We are focusing on Hudson, Joy’s brother, who is haunted by what happened. He is a NERD, afraid of his own shadow. His best friend, River, convinces him to come to the same college she has been attending for two years. He ran away from the town and towards River as fast as he could. I love the play on names…Hudson and River. Two years can make a difference and River had turned into a hot babe. Hmmm…I wonder….

Mr Ultra Mega Love by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff is not what I was expecting after looking at the cover…it is so much more. Mimi can sure pen a novel that wakes me up and has me anticipating what will happen next.

Well, what happens next, is a douchebag starts manhandling River, and this time he will not stand by and watch anything happen to someone he cares about. He sure didn’t anticipate the results and it is amazing how cruel and thoughtless people can be. The chaos affect…gotta be careful what you do because you cannot always anticipate the outcome.

Question: If you were given a box, and inside was a button that would kill a murderer, would you push it?

After his transformation…when he takes a leak…OMG. I was laughing out loud.

I love that Mimi Jean Pamfiloff took such a refreshing, humorous, tragic turn with Hudson. It is thoughtprovoking in a way that has me unsure if all that happened was good or bad…or just WAS.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of Mr Ultra Mega Love by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

ABOUT THE BOOK

WILL HE EVER GET THE GIRL?

My name is Hudson Ulysses Ferris, better known as Huff. And I’m an ultra-nerd with mega-hang-ups. You’ll see why after you walk a day in my Converse. (My past isn’t pretty.) But hey, that’s no excuse for avoiding everything I want in life, including a fresh start at an out-of-state university.

My first night there, I meet the girl of my dreams (so cool). She’s taken, of course. But even if she weren’t, she’d never date a scrawny loser like me. Then my best friend, River, is manhandled by some dipsh*t twice her size (not cool), and for once, I act like a man. It costs me big because that dude and his friends leave me for dead.

But I don’t die.

And when I wake up the next morning, I look different. I feel different. The bruises and cuts don’t even hurt.

What the heck happened last night?

Because I just lifted a bus to save a puppy, and suddenly all the girls are looking at me. Except one. She might actually be afraid of the transformation that saved my life. Just my luck.

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;

MEET MIMI

Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

MIMI JEAN PAMFILOFF is a New York Times bestselling author who’s sold over one million books around the world. Although she obtained her MBA and worked for more than fifteen years in the corporate world, she believes that it’s never too late to come out of the romance closet and follow your dreams.

Mimi lives with her Latin lover hubby, two pirates-in-training (their boys), and their three spunky dragons (really, just very tiny dogs with big attitudes) Snowy, Mini, and Mack, in the vampire-unfriendly state of Arizona.

She hopes to make you laugh when you need it most and continues to pray daily that leather pants will make a big comeback for men.

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Books From The Backlog – Dragon Stones by Kristian Alva #KristianAlva #booksfromthebacklog

Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread.  If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks.

If you would like to join in, swing by Carole’s Random Life in Books.

Dragon Stones (Dragon Stone Saga #1)

Amazon / Audiobook / Goodreads

GOODREADS BLURB

Series Bestsellers! Over 200,000 copies sold! Sequestered deep in the capital, the tyrannical Emperor Vosper weaves a plan to destroy all the dragons. He succeeds in driving them to the very brink of extinction. Only a handful of dragons and riders remain; living in exile in the desert. When young Elias Dorgumir finds a carved dragon stone in the forest, it brings empire soldiers to his doorstep, and puts Elias on the run with a bounty on his head. Is Elias strong enough to halt the evil that is spreading across the land?

Goodreads Ratings: 3.62  · 1,202 ratings  · 67 reviews

I added Dragon Stones by Kristian Alva to my TBR on 1.10.13. I LOVE dragons and found that I also have the complete trilogy on my Kindle. I look forward to binging the series. The series has sold over 200,000 copies, so don’t let the small review numbers throw you. I find that very impressive, seeing books can easily get lost in the shuffle. Do you have a favorite mythological or supernatural critter?

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Review – God of Temptation by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff @MimiJeanRomance

NEW RELEASE. AVAILABLE 7.22.21

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

The Prologue had me cracking up, but that was nothing I hadn’t expected from this series.

Tula is a mortal, a human, a simple farm girl, but whoever messed with her world and took her man, Zac, the God of Temptation, was going to be held accountable.

Zac had tempted her, but she resisted his hunkaliciousness…until…

Their love will be put to the test.

Never make a deal with a demon.

Talk about walking in someone else’s shes…

I have missed a book or two in the series, but have loved all the ones I have read and each can stand alone.

Gods and demons, supernatural creatures of all races, an evil unicorn, and Mittens…love and romance, the battle between good and evil…

Uproariously funny with characters that stick long after the reading is done. If you love the supernatural world, this is a series you do not want to miss.

I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of God of Temptation by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos
4 Stars

ABOUT GOD OF TEMPTATION

From New York Times Bestseller Mimi Jean Pamfiloff comes GOD OF TEMPTATION, a very-probably-inappropriate Paranormal Romance.

Tula Jones is a simple farmgirl who never dreamed she’d fall for a real-life god. And not just any god. When it comes to Zac, God of Temptation, no man is more dedicated, sexy, and alluring on the planet. Hello! Temptation powers!

But when Zac and his brethren mysteriously disappear, Tula is beside herself. Watch out. I’m coming to save my man! (And the rest of his kind.) But where are they?

Then she receives a photo from a mysterious stranger, and the news is devastating. The gods are prisoners in the underworld, and Zac has been cheating with the other “guests.”

Tula doesn’t want to believe Zac would betray her. She and Zac are soul mates, right?

But if she wants the truth, Tula must answer the summons from a demon who’s hellbent on taking over the world.

And he wants to keep her.

Note: This can be read as a standalone, but it’s a smidgeon more fun if you’ve read the other crazy books. This is the series FINALE. Yes, I mean it this time. No. Really. You can’t have more. Snort.

BUY LINKS

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MY MIMI JEAN PAMFILOFF REVIEWS

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Giveaway – James Dreadful by Alan Creed @iReadBookTours

 



Join us for this tour from June 21 to July 9, 2021!

Book Details:
 

Book Title:  James Dreadful and the Spell-Guardian (The Dreadful Series Book 1) by Alan Creed
Category:  YA Fiction (Ages 13-17),  280 pages
GenreFantasy
Publisher:  Creed Publishing
Release date:  March, 2021
Content Rating:  PG.



Book Description:

Fourteen-year-old James Dreadful is living a normal life in a small Colorado town. But his past is anything but normal. Born in Nobrocoso—a mystical land of magic and myths—James was brought to earth at the age of three to escape sorcerous assassins after the death of his parents.

When a powerful and evil goblin arrives years later to steal a secret book that once belonged to his father, James discovers his father’s true identity—Jack Dreadful was the Dark Lord who waged a terrible war in Nobrocoso.

Now, dark forces are stirring, and James must return to Nobrocoso to confront the legacy of blood left by his father. But as James learns his father’s secrets, he fears saving himself might just cost him his soul.

Can James survive a dangerous, mystical land haunted by his father’s blood-stained deeds? Or will he choose the path of the Dark Lord and meet the same abysmal end?

Buy the Book:
Amazon
Add to Goodreads

Meet the Author:

Alan Creed fell in love with storytelling after seeing Star Wars for the first time as a child. When he was ten years old, his tutor asked him to write sentences containing three words: Ocean, Desert and Jungle. Instead of sentences, Alan wrote a 103-page story entitled Journey through the Desert. That’s when he knew he wanted to be a writer. His 103-page story served as the source material for the Dreadful Series. Alan is currently working on the next installment in the James Dreadful series.

connect with the author: website ~ goodreads
 
Tour Schedule:

June 21 – Cover Lover Book Review – book spotlight / giveaway
June 22 – Working Mommy journal – book spotlight / giveaway
June 22 – Character Madness and Musings – book spotlight / giveaway
June 22 – @twilight_reader – book spotlight
June 23 – Carpinello’s Writing Pages – book spotlight / giveaway
June 23 – Sadie’s Spotlight – book spotlight / giveaway
June 24 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
June 25 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
June 28 –Books for Books – book spotlight
June 29 – Pick a Good Book – book spotlight / giveaway
June 29 – Westveil Publishing – book spotlight / giveaway
June 30 – I Read What You Write – book spotlight / giveaway
June 30 – Stephanie Jane – book spotlight / giveaway
July 1 – Jazzy Book Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
July 2 – fundinmental – book spotlight / giveaway
July 6 – Gina Rae Mitchell – book spotlight / giveaway
July 6 – Lamon Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
July 7 – Splashes of Joy – book spotlight / giveaway
July 7 – GivernyReads – book spotlight / giveaway
July 8 – Locks, Hooks and Books – book spotlight / giveaway
July 9 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – book spotlight / giveaway

Enter the Giveaway:

JAMES DREADFUL AND THE SPELL GUARDIAN Book Tour Giveaway

 


 

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Books From The Backlog – Heart of the Ocean by Heather B Moore @heatherbmoore

Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread.  If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks.

If you would like to join in, swing by Carole’s Random Life in Books.

WOO HOO! I have finished my backlog books for 2012. Only eight more years to go. LOL Will I ever read all those books? Who knows? It’s doubtful, but I’ll give it a shot.

Heart of the Ocean

Amazon / Goodreads

GOODREADS BLURB

A dark secret . . . a grieving ghost . . . a handsome stranger . . . What more could Eliza Robinson want?

Except for maybe her life.

In Heather B. Moore’s enthralling 1840’s historical romance, Heart of the Ocean, Eliza Robinson has turned down the very pretentious Mr. Thomas Beesley’s marriage proposal. As a business partner of Eliza’s father, Thomas quickly discredits the family and brings disgrace to the Robinson name.

While her father scrambles to restore his good name in New York City, Eliza flees to the remote Puritan town of Maybrook to stay with her Aunt Maeve. Maybrook is the last existing Puritan town, having survived centuries of outside influence. Although relieved to be away from all- things-male and unforgiving gossip columns, odd things start to happen to Eliza, and she is plagued by a ghostly voice. Her aunt’s explanation? That Eliza is being haunted by a woman who died of a broken heart twenty years ago.

After Aunt Maeve is tragically killed, Eliza’s life is put in danger as she tries to uncover the mystery of her aunt’s death. She encounters Jonathan Porter in Maybrook, whose presence in the town seems suspicious, yet she finds herself drawn to him. When she discovers that Jonathan’s dark secrets may be the link between the dead woman who haunts her and her aunt’s murderer, Eliza realizes that Jonathan is the one man she should never trust.

Goodreads Ratings: 3.82  · 767 ratings  ·  208 reviews

I added Heart of the Ocean by Heather B Moore to my TBR on 1.9.13. I don’t read a lot of historical fiction, but have enjoyed the ones I have read. Sounds like there is tons of action….and a ghost. How can I resist? Would it haunt me if I didn’t read it? LOL

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Books From The Backlog – Sworn To Raise by Terah Edun @tedunwrites

Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread.  If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks.

If you would like to join in, swing by Carole’s Random Life in Books.

Sworn to Raise (Courtlight, #1)
Sworn to Raise (Courtlight #1)

Amazon / Goodreads

GOODREADS BLURB

Seventeen-year-old Ciardis has grown up in poverty, a cleaner in a small vale on the outskirts of the empire. But beneath her empire’s seemingly idyllic surface lies a hidden secret. Whispers of an inept crown Prince are growing ever louder—intensified by the five year anniversary of the soulbond initiations.

Amidst scandalous whispers, Ciardis finds herself chosen to train for the Companion’s Guild. She leaves her home and sets off on a personal journey to become a Court Companion. A position she’d never thought possible for a lowly servant to obtain, she must prove that she has the skills to attract a Patron.

But she must master those skills quickly. If the legends are true, only Ciardis can harness the power to raise a Prince in an Imperial Court sworn to bring him down.

This sensational series debut melds intricate storylines with remarkable characters and unforgettable magic. Sworn To Raise is ideal for fans of Kristin Cashore, Michelle Sagara, and Maria Snyder.

Goodreads Ratings: 3.47  ·  3,836 ratings  ·  428 reviews

I added Sworn To Raise by Terah Edun to my TBR on 12.28.12, but I didn’t add it to my Kindle until 1.15.14, so I think it speaks for itself if I still wanted after that long. I love paranormal romance and I think the colors for that cover pop off the page. There are two covers for different formats and I love elements of both. What’s not to like? It has a lot of great ratings and reviews. Have any of you read Terah’s book or series?

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Giveaway – The God Queen by M L Tishner @mltishner @XpressoTours

The God Queen
M.L. Tishner
(The Rebirth Saga, #1)
Publication date: October 22nd 2019
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult, Science Fiction

The God Queen returns. So, why is everyone squelching her power?

In a backwater Earth town, Rei Ettowa dreams of traveling across the stars to destroy Infiernen – the knight who murdered her brother.

When Rei discovers she is the reincarnation of the prophesied God Queen, she relishes her newfound ability to channel lightning for revenge. Unfortunately, blazing through a battlefield clashes with the Federation’s plan for Rei and the others like her. All the gods are to be trained as diplomatic figureheads to sway voters, not agents of war. Infiernen must remain untouched.

Unable to let go of her brother’s murder, Rei finds Infiernen. But instead of killing him, Rei discovers a secret the Federation has been keeping from her about her brother.

Now Rei is mad as hell. Her enemies must pay. But who are they? And what else is the Federation hiding from her?

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Chapter 1

The screams drew Rei’s attention. She stood at the steps of the boarded-up temple when the first one pierced the quiet of their small town. It came from the restaurant on the other side of the square.

She dashed down the stairs and onto the street, jumping inadvertently in front of a hover car whose driver honked and yelled. She didn’t listen as she rushed past the long-dead fountain, now filled with sand and earth. Gravel crunched beneath her feet as she approached the ever-growing crowd. Not a cloud dotted the clear blue sky, the sun beat down on them mercilessly, and the smell of sweat and dirt filled Rei’s nose. She pushed her small frame to the front to get a clear view, heart hammering in her chest. He had been threatening this for months, yet Rei prayed he wouldn’t actually go through with it, but disappointment pooled in her belly as her fear was confirmed.

“Drops of *******,” someone muttered. “Why couldn’t the cleric give him a quick death? That poison takes too long.”

The boy lay writhing on the ground, blood running from his nose and ears, sand caking his dark hair. Rei turned to leave, blood pounding in her ears, but the crowd was now too thick around her and she couldn’t move.

“He prayed to false gods,” her neighbor, an elderly woman, said under her breath. “The cleric said this would be the fate of those who won’t worship the One True God.”

Ever since Earth voted to remain a part of the Dominion, the other gods were outlawed, despite the fact the holy city lay only a few hundred kilometers away from where Rei stood.

She fought to breathe as her heart raced. She never intended to convert, and the threat of not doing so had become too real.

The victim’s scream brought Rei’s eyes back to him. Folks said the poison fried the nerves, giving the victim the sensation of being electrocuted as the poison opened all the blood vessels in the head and caused blood to leak out of the nose and ears.

The cleric overseeing the execution sat in one of the outdoor tables of the restaurant, his dark eyes hard. His full lips turned down in a sneer at the poor soul in agony before him. It was a contrast to the cheerful, blue- and white-checkered umbrellas and table covers.

Rei’s stomach turned in knots. “Drops of ******* is a horrible way to die,” she whispered.

Eventually his writhing stopped, and the boy’s eyes stared at the heavens while his mouth opened in a silent scream.

“Let this be a lesson for those who still follow that blasphemous religion,” the cleric said. “The rest of you have until the end of the week to join the correct religion, or else.” He combed his fingers through sleek blonde hair before leaving. The crowd parted as he walked past, until he caught Rei watching him. She averted her gaze, kicking herself for attracting his attention.

She peered at her watch, trying to appear bored as the cleric approached her. The holographic hands reminded her she was running late, but she never ran from a fight. She pulled her dark hair up in a knot as she began to perspire. Her lips pressed together until there was nothing more than a line after the crowd dispersed and left the boy’s body on the ground.

“I hope you’re satisfied,” the cleric said. “His death is on your hands.”

Rei’s nails bit into her palm at the accusation. She wasn’t the one who decided which religion was the correct one and who should die for it. “Mine?” she growled.

“Yes, you and the others who so heinously turn your backs on the One True God.”

“Why are you so threatened by a boy who believes in many gods instead of one?” she asked, finally meeting his gaze.

“I am not threatened. The One True God wills it. The Dominion wills it.”

Rei’s legs grew weak, but she refused to back down as they locked eyes.

“And what of the will of the god queen?” she asked, standing a little straighter.

The cleric cackled. “She doesn’t exist and neither do those other false idols.”

“I believe she does.”

“You believe wrong.”

She rolled her eyes. They had been going back and forth like this for months. At first, Rei wanted to leave him be. She may not have agreed with his religion, but she respected his right to worship as he saw fit. But once he started trying to force his religion by boarding up the temple, bringing in Dominion soldiers to rough up locals who were caught worshiping during holy days, smashing the ceramic statues of the gods around town—including the one her brother bought for her—it became personal.

“I know you’re one of the reasons why many won’t follow the One True God.” His voice was dangerously low. “The people see you not converting, and they think they don’t have to either.”

“They shouldn’t have to.”

He crept closer to her, the smell of his cologne choking Rei. “You will convert. Even if I have to tie you down and perform the rite myself.”

Rei chuckled. “Tie me down? Kinky. Your threats don’t scare me. Try harder.” She spun on her heels and walked away, gritting her teeth. It took all of her willpower to not punch him in the throat.

“Remember you have a week,” he called. “A week until I make you the next example.”

She continued through the alley that opened to the two main roads intersecting at the center of town. She walked along the wall of the basilica of the One True God, where someone had decorated the outside with graffiti. The bright greens and blues contrasted against the pale earth-colored bricks.

Once she was sure the cleric hadn’t followed her, the adrenaline rushed from her legs and she leaned against the wall for support. Her heart pounded in her chest. She shouldn’t have allowed him to get so close.

“I wish someone would tie him down,” she muttered as she cut across the intersection, and one of the hover cars honked as she passed. She needed to get to the bar. It didn’t matter what the cleric threatened; he would never set foot in her place of business. She was safe there.

The cleric came into town shortly after the most recent elections and constantly flexed his powers, knowing he had the full weight of Dominion support behind him. She never bothered learning his name—that would have required humanizing him, and she wanted to do no such thing. Both religions had lived peacefully in the town of Ballarat for years. Rei didn’t understand why that had to change now. That wasn’t true. She knew it was a question of control. It was what the Dominion did best.

Rei wondered if she should go ahead and convert. The action would be hollow since she knew the gods existed. She knew they would return to save the star cluster—one had already been reborn.

She shook her head. If she gave into that monster’s demands, her influence would turn away more people from the gods. The idea fueled her anger and drove her to want to take action. No one should choose a religion based on what she did, anyway. People should believe what they wished.

Chapter 2

Rei meandered down the sidewalk, passing between the parked cars along the sidewalk and the low adobe buildings with curved aluminum roofs until she arrived at the business she owned with her mother, Coronta Bar, with its flickering neon sign of a blooming flower. They couldn’t afford a holographic sign, but Rei liked the way the flower shone at night. She pulled aside the deep green cloth that served as the door, feeling its rough texture in her hand, and entered.

Rei took a moment to let the events of the last few minutes settle around her. She didn’t hate living in Ballarat, right at the edge of the Great Basin—the one on Earth, not the famous one on Proxima Centauri II. Yet ever since the last election, Rei grew more and more anxious to leave. She didn’t mind living on a Dominion planet before, but her religious freedom wasn’t impeded on before either. Unfortunately, she didn’t know where she could go.

She pushed down those feelings and continued down the steps into the bar. The main body dove deep underground where it was naturally cooler.

It was a slow day, but there was plenty of laughter and talk that echoed off the walls and rang in her ears. It was a welcoming sound. The place boasted enough chairs and tables to fit most of the village, and to her left was the bar, a curved structure already filled with a few customers on stools. Her mother, Hotara, stood on the other side, filling orders with a speed and skill that bordered on magic while laughing at some joke.

Eyes shifted to Rei as she entered. Not all of them, but some. She was used to it. Most of the town inhabitants were capable of tracing their family lineage back several generations. With a population of no more than five hundred, their gene pool wasn’t large or varied. Almost everyone shared the same Ballaratan dark eyes and black hair, making Rei’s pale green eyes and brown hair an oddity. Of course, that wasn’t the only thing that drew stares, judging from the way their gazes looked her up and down, lingering a little longer than they needed, but it was one of them. It made her “exotic,” or at least that’s the way she put it.

Hotara, on the other hand, was considered more alluring with her porcelain skin, despite years under the harsh sun, and raven hair, which she always kept in a practical braid. Rei could count on one hand the number of times she had seen her mother’s hair loose. It cascaded like the shiny silks Rei saw in the market. Her mother’s face also had an ageless quality that made patrons always try to guess how old she was. At first glance, Rei and Hotara appeared to be the same age, but it was Hotara’s eyes that gave away her years. Rei couldn’t help but be jealous, especially of her mother’s lilac irises—an even rarer attribute to all the known planets of the star cluster.

Rei approached the bar where her mother poured several shots of Coronta—a deep violet liqueur Hotara personally distilled—on a tray sticky with the remnants of other drinks. Rei snatched two of the shots, quickly tossed back the first one, and gasped. The temporary burning gave way to warmth that started in her belly and flowed through the rest of her body. She sipped the second one slowly. All the while, her mother didn’t comment, simply pouring two more shots. She picked up the tray and handed it to Rei. “Table four, and I am taking those shots out of your pay.”

Rei took another sip. “You don’t even pay me.”

Her mother gave Rei an impish grin. “Oh damn, you’re right. Just take that tray, and there will be another one waiting for you when you get back to me.”

She did as she was told and returned to find Hotara holding another shot. Rei took it gratefully.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Rei let the burning liqueur warm her tongue before she swallowed and spoke. “There was an execution. The baker’s son who refused to convert.”

Hotara was silent for several seconds, staring at the far back wall. “Gods. What is happening to this town?”

“Apparently, I am to blame since I won’t fall in line. If I don’t convert and convince the others to do so, I will be the next sacrifice.” Rei leaned in closer to her mother. “It’s not safe for us to stay here anymore. We should leave, but I don’t want to leave Ballarat at the mercy of that asshole.”

“We’re not leaving.” Hotara took the used glasses and ran them through the motorized brush, the soapy suds covered her hand. “It’s safer for you here. We can deal with the cleric together.”

Rei’s face fell. “Safer? Are you serious? He singled me out.”

“There are more dangerous monsters out in the star cluster than a cleric who has to pick on small women to feel strong.”

Rei leaned against the bar and crossed her arms. Her mother was referring to the stranger who’d been hunting Rei her entire life, who killed her parents.

Rei set down her unfinished shot and took the cleaned glasses from her foster mother to dry them before putting them back on the shelf. “You have yet to tell me who this monster is. An invisible threat was scary when I was a child, but I’m twenty-two.”

“I never told you who it was because I wanted you to have a normal childhood. I didn’t want you consumed by pursuing someone who will never find you here.” Hotara jammed a glass vigorously onto the brush.

“You told my brother.”

Hotara stopped and let out a loud breath. “And look where that got Niklaryn. He was so consumed with revenge that it killed him.”

The hair on the back of Rei’s neck prickled. “Technically he was murdered by his best friend—”

“Don’t get smart with me; you know what I mean. You are safer here. End of discussion.”

Rei sighed, reached for her unfinished shot, and kicked back the rest of it. There were few things that scared her mother and whoever hunted Rei did. That alone gave Rei pause. Without this unknown threat hanging above her head, she would have left to avenge Niklaryn years ago. Instead, she had to stay because her brother died to keep her safe. Perhaps Hotara was right, there was no need to run. They would handle the cleric—he was just one man. She continued drying the rest of the glasses while Hotara drifted between tables for more orders.

Rei’s gaze wandered around their little bar. Since the main room sat so low underground, the only lights came from old lamps stained from years of patrons smoking. The walls boasted a few old posters of bands who used to perform as they passed through. Other posters displayed advertisements, including one for the Ettowa Star Line—her family’s most well-known business endeavor: luxury starships. But they were relatives she’d never met. No one in her family was aware she hid out here. She didn’t dare even speak the name Ettowa out loud without Hotara worrying whose attention they would attract.

Rei used to daydream one of her relatives would find her and bring her back into the family, but the likelihood grew slimmer as she grew older. If an Ettowa were ever to come to Ballarat, now would be the best time. With their money and connections, Rei would use them to avenge her brother, or at least get away from the cleric. Yet, she knew she would never leave Hotara behind, and the stubborn woman refused to leave.

Across the bar sat one of their regulars, Sagitan Bronto, a retired Daer Knight, who wore his white hair short, which contrasted against his dark brown skin. His clothes fit his body well, accentuating that he was still in shape despite his age. For someone who spent a good part of the day at Coronta Bar, he rarely drank. He claimed he “simply enjoyed the company.”

He watched one of the popular video logs on his touch screen, his back to her so she had the perfect view.

Even though Rei didn’t hear what the reporter said, the flash of bombs in another nameless city gave her a hint of what Sagitan was watching.

“More news on the civil war?” she asked.

Sagitan turned and put the screen down on the bar. “Yes. Trappist V wants to become Federation, but there is a strong Dominion base. They have elections coming up, but the violent ones can’t wait. I’m interested in seeing how that plays out.”

Another image of dark figures in red robes appeared on the screen, along with the byline about Infiernen Jessar and his Infinity Dogs almost making an appearance on Trappist V.

“Hasn’t that man done enough damage? People should vote as they want, not because of fear,” muttered Sagitan.

Rei’s hatred for Infiernen ran deeper than his love of violence, and watching him use the same fear tactics as the cleric set her teeth on edge.

“Apparently not,” she muttered. Her hand reached for the ring she wore on a cord around her neck. It belonged to her brother and was all that was left of him. “I wish the god queen would hurry up and return. She could rid us of the Dominion, and we can get some peace and quiet. He can die first.” She pointed to the image of Infiernen on the screen.

“Who says it has to be the god queen?” asked Sagitan. “Or any of the gods? People can also move mountains, even if it is one stone at a time. You simply need to put yourself into a position where you can govern the change you want to see.”

“Me? I am pretty sure you heard Hotara. Putting myself in such a position would require I leave Ballarat, and I am not going anywhere.”

“Like I said, dear, one stone at a time. There’s good you can do here and still defy the Dominion.”

He was right. She hated the Dominion’s current war on religion, among other things, and they needed someone to teach them a lesson. She may not reach the likes of Infiernen, but the cleric was close enough. An idea formed her in mind. It was simple, but it would be a start.

“Hotara,” Rei called across the room. Her mother had been chatting with customers and her head jerked up at the mention of her name. “I hope you don’t mind getting less sleep tonight. I have a stone I want to move.”

Author Bio:

Mari, a native Hoosier, currently lives in southern Germany where she entertains people with her adventures as an American expat in the Land of Beer and Pretzels on her blog adventuresoflamari.com as well as the adventures of her pugs, Abner and Roxy. When she’s not writing, Mari cooks, snowboards, dances to the beat of her own drum, reads late into the night, and binge watches Netflix with her husband. The God Queen is her debut novel.

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