Release date: April 30, 2018
Subgenre: Epic fantasy
About Shards of the Nightmare:
They expected her to die within hours of being born, this strange child
with blue skin. But she grew; unnatural, wild, curious and defiant.
And then her mother found the Sea-Stone Sword, and her father became a tyrant.
Torn between who she is and who she wants to be, Sini follows her bodyguard into the forgotten lands and the forbidden seas, searching for an answer that the Seers have sought for centuries: how can they defeat a tyrant? How can the Sea-Stone Sword be silenced?
And the answer lies in the Shards of the Nightmare.
And then her mother found the Sea-Stone Sword, and her father became a tyrant.
Torn between who she is and who she wants to be, Sini follows her bodyguard into the forgotten lands and the forbidden seas, searching for an answer that the Seers have sought for centuries: how can they defeat a tyrant? How can the Sea-Stone Sword be silenced?
And the answer lies in the Shards of the Nightmare.
Excerpt:
There was a settlement outside the walls, and eyes followed Sini as
they passed. They knew who she was on sight, the blue skin giving
her away. Occasionally, she’d hear someone whisper about the
‘Seer’s child’. It made her feel hot and uncomfortable inside.
“They don’t know what they’re talking about,” Merri said under her
breath. “That flame-ridden Seer doesn’t deserve half…” she grumbled
and her hand tightened around Sini’s until she made a noise. “Oh,
sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Sini said, flashing a reassuring smile. “I’m used to
it. I don’t even hear the whispers half the time. There are some who say I’m supposed to marry you, and there are
some who say I’m supposed to be a magic person and the Sword isn’t
really a sword and that I’m the Sword and it’s just a symbol the
Seer made up so they wouldn’t kill me and don’t you think that
might be a thing?”
“Did you say you’re supposed to marry me?” Merri gave a wry smile.
“It’s just what the people were saying,” Sini looked away, her face
burning as she felt twisted up.
The bell tower gave a long, trembling tone. Then another. It rang
heavy; this bell had not been rung for a long, long time. Sini
clasped Merri’s hand harder and looked at her, searching her face
for some clue.
“Let’s find out,” Merri said in answer to Sini’s unasked question.
They rushed across the moat and up the rising grass until they came
to the wall. A postern was open and the guard nodded them through,
her own features full of confusion. Beyond the wall, the courtyard
was in disarray, markets and soldiers all clamouring as people
hurried by. A large, sinuous beast was guided past them, a scaly
creature with three horns and a bony frill on its head. Sini wanted
to stare at it, but was pulled out of the way.
The crowd hushed as a voice rose, shouting and raging. Sini
cringed, slipping behind a crate and hoping the approaching storm
would pass over her. But soon, a figure emerged from the crowd and
approached, fury in his face.
Varirosi stood resplendent in fine clothes, sea gems studded across
his body. He wore blue and green like the soldiers, but his dress
was cut low to show his lithe body, tattooed with symbols of the
sun, and an eye within it. Merri was looking at this tattoo in
particular – she always did, and she always looked furious.
That was the symbol of the Seer, and Varirosi had worn it ever
since the Seer had told him that his blue child heralded the
beginning of their power. It was the reason her mother had gone
looking for the mythical Sword of the Sea. That Seer had given
Sini’s parents a fanaticism shared only by the cult of Razal.
He shouted something incomprehensible towards the tower and moments
later, the bells stopped. The fortress grounds were drenched in a
sudden, shimmering silence.
“Tell me what is going on,” Varirosi demanded, his eyes going to
the commander of the soldiers. “Euna, speak. I said speak!”
“Sir, I believe Tekat has returned,” Euna said, her hands behind
her back. This made Varirosi bristle.
“Stand to attention!” he demanded. “And tell Tekat, now that her
fool’s errand is at an end, we shall put thought to serious
matters. Have my son brought to me and we can finish this.”
“Your daughter, sir,” Euna corrected, nodding at Sini. “She is
here. But I do not think Tekat’s errand was a fool’s one.”
“Speak not to me of fools! I am no fool! This is my fortress, and
these are my children, and I will speak of them how I wish. I am
Varirosi!”
“Your pardon, sir, but it is Tekat who rules this fortress,” Euna maintained a bland expression, but her voice softened. “And what is more, as I said, her errand was successful. She has
found the Sea-Stone Sword.”
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About Joel Cornah:
Joel Cornah is an author, journalist, and blogger. He is the author
of a number of novels and novellas including; The Sea-Stone Sword,
The Spire of Frozen Fire and The Silent Helm, and The Sky Slayer.
He is an editor for The Science-Fiction and Fantasy Network, head
of the Doctor Who department, and member of the Tolkien Society. He
is a frequent blogger for the Pack of Aces blog, focussing on
issues of Asexuality in media, specialising in sci-fi and fantasy.
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