Release date: March 14, 2023
Subgenre: Historical fantasy
About The Last Lion of Karkov:
Raised in Karkov, a military, male-dominant kingdom, twins Natalia and Jillian know nothing but battle. When Jillian emerges as the dominant twin and apparent heir to the throne, Natalia, the softer and more diplomatic sister, ceases her military training. As Natalia prepares to marry the prince of her father’s favored Western ally, Jillian is set to become the first woman Lion of Karkov. But things don’t go as planned when the older generation of warriors values her womb over her sword. Suddenly, the role Jillian has fought for all her life is slipping through her fingers…and she’s not about to let it go without a fight.
At first, Jillian wants to destroy the young male warrior that the older generation favors. But soon, the two begin to fall for each other, and dark secrets behind Karkov’s past come to light. Now, Jillian finds herself in the unthinkable position of defending her former rival…and defying her father. Her defiance inspires a younger generation of warriors, who dub her the Lioness of Karkov.
Furious, her father ousts Jillian and the warriors who swore allegiance to her, setting in motion a chain of events that will disrupt everything he swore to protect. As innocent lands suffer invasion, greedy monarchies fall to revolution, and the wedding of the century threatens to live up to its name, Jillian and Natalia must reckon with the consequences of love and war. When four nations converge on a battlefield, one sister must decide whether to embrace the life she always wanted—or stand up for the destiny that was never meant for her.
Excerpt:
Not one day did the sun rise without Jillian's waiting for it to appear. One morning, when the horizon provided only enough light to notice the contrast between movement and stillness, Jillian saw beasts creeping through the high grass. They were barely moving enough to keep her eyes trained on; she waited for dawn to reveal what she hoped they would be. The sky gradually lightened as the beasts crept closer, seemingly on their way to the watering hole. By the time they were at the closest point, before their trek would lead them farther away, Jillian was able to see four lionesses.
Three of the lionesses continued on, while one stopped with its nose lifted into the breeze, facing the tower. At first, Jillian assumed the lioness had picked up the scent of the horses, secured inside of stables at the tower’s base. But the longer it stood, frozen like a statue, Jillian wondered if her own scent was somehow being pushed down by the cool morning air. Her scent would be more peculiar than that of the horses.
Jillian also stayed motionless, savoring the moment for as long as it lasted. Standing there naked, with an empty stomach, Jillian marveled at how she had become wild like the lioness. She had spent many days caring about nothing except the carnal desire to reproduce, only leaving the nest when it was absolutely necessary to satisfy her intense hunger. If Jillian could keep from thinking about the past or future, what would be the difference between her and the beast?
Despite seeing the lioness’s belly contract long before the sound reached her, Jillian was surprised and amazed to hear it bellow. It roared three consecutive times. Jillian’s reaction was pure joy. She didn’t understand why it was so pleasurable, but for an instant, Jillian had never been happier. When the lioness resumed its stealthy walk, Jillian wished more than anything that Natalia had shared the experience, and she became less wild.
Three of the lionesses continued on, while one stopped with its nose lifted into the breeze, facing the tower. At first, Jillian assumed the lioness had picked up the scent of the horses, secured inside of stables at the tower’s base. But the longer it stood, frozen like a statue, Jillian wondered if her own scent was somehow being pushed down by the cool morning air. Her scent would be more peculiar than that of the horses.
Jillian also stayed motionless, savoring the moment for as long as it lasted. Standing there naked, with an empty stomach, Jillian marveled at how she had become wild like the lioness. She had spent many days caring about nothing except the carnal desire to reproduce, only leaving the nest when it was absolutely necessary to satisfy her intense hunger. If Jillian could keep from thinking about the past or future, what would be the difference between her and the beast?
Despite seeing the lioness’s belly contract long before the sound reached her, Jillian was surprised and amazed to hear it bellow. It roared three consecutive times. Jillian’s reaction was pure joy. She didn’t understand why it was so pleasurable, but for an instant, Jillian had never been happier. When the lioness resumed its stealthy walk, Jillian wished more than anything that Natalia had shared the experience, and she became less wild.
Amazon
About Dale Griffin:
DALE GRIFFIN is a historical fantasy writer releasing his debut novel "The Last Lion of Karkov" in March 2023. Griffin considers himself a traveler and a writer as a result. Married to his best friend and travel partner, the two explore Europe as frequently as possible. Inspired by those journeys, Griffin uses his experiences to influence his imagined worlds and the memorable characters who dwell in them.
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