The Silver Strand by L.J. Clarkson

  Ever since twelve year old Isabelle Tresdon’s silver strand of hair sprouted, it’s been nothing but trouble: bleeding pink dust and sparking like a firecracker. Refusing to be known as the girl with the freaky, grandma hair, she wishes it never grew and the hair withers and tarnishes.

The only problem is, the strand is Isabelle's source of magic, and she can transform particles of energy into matter. It's also her ticket into Mastermind Academy, a secret school inside the earth’s core. Five days remain before the strand drains her magic and life, forcing Isabelle to enter into a deal with two trickster Masterminds to save it. But what she doesn't count on is there is more at stake than just her life.

The Silver Strand, a MG Fantasy Adventure for 9-12 year olds, is book 1 in the Mastermind Academy Series.

Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Add to Goodreads

Excerpt!

The pressure of death motivated Isabelle’s hand to fly across the page. Except her hand shook so badly, it traced a wobbly outline of the dragon’s body. If she didn’t calm down, his portrait would look more like a squiggle drawn by a toddler. And she didn’t want to offend him. Not when Boldrick had bragged about her drawing skills. Taking deep breaths worked wonders to steady her hand.

Using whisked strokes, she filled in his wings and highlighted his muscular arms. Next she shaped his speared tail.

“Roasting you for two hours will do the trick.” Ramala’s tail prodded logs deeper into the fire. “Your flesh shall be just the way I like it: juicy and tender, not crispy and burnt.”

Pressure in her chest squeezed the breath right out of her. Charcoal tore across the sheet, shading his angular face and horns.

The dragon sharpened his sapphire-blue talons against a rock.

The hideous noise stirred shivers in Isabelle.

Ramala leaned his neck forward to sniff her. “I will marinade you in apple sauce.”

Beads of sweat from her brow dripped onto the paper, smudging the charcoal on his eyes. Dabbing it with her cape only made it worse.

Maybe Ramala played on her fear to meddle with her concentration, and that was how he’d never been beaten in a challenge. Well then, he might have dinosaur-sized jaws capable of crushing her, but she refused to let him intimidate her.

The Silver Strand by L.J. Clarkson

Ever since twelve year old Isabelle Tresdon’s silver strand of hair sprouted, it’s been nothing but trouble: bleeding pink dust and sparking like a firecracker. Refusing to be known as the girl with the freaky, grandma hair, she wishes it never grew and the hair withers and tarnishes.

The only problem is, the strand is Isabelle's source of magic, and she can transform particles of energy into matter. It's also her ticket into Mastermind Academy, a secret school inside the earth’s core. Five days remain before the strand drains her magic and life, forcing Isabelle to enter into a deal with two trickster Masterminds to save it. But what she doesn't count on is there is more at stake than just her life.

The Silver Strand, a MG Fantasy Adventure for 9-12 year olds, is book 1 in the Mastermind Academy Series.

Add to Goodreads

Excerpt!

“Did you know Isabelle has a silver, alien antenna?” Bimouth’s voice sang out over the shouts and chatter of the school bus, capturing everyone’s attention. “In science class, a magnet flew out of Mr. Higgins’ hand and stuck to her antenna. How freaky is that?”

Isabelle’s back pressed against her seat.

Bianca leapt up like a jack-in-a-box. Her voice came out as a hiss. “Shut your face horse mite or I’ll shut it for you.”

Looked like the bus ride might end in death.

Bigmouth turned to face Bianca. “What if Isabelle’s antenna, like, turns us into alien zombies?”

A chorus of whispers broke out.

Catching the bus was a very bad idea. Isabelle prayed again for that black hole to open up and suck her in. Better yet, she wished it would gobble up the bigmouth. Isabelle tugged on Bianca’s arm and said in a low voice, “Just cut it off.”

Her friend’s eyes softened. “You sure, Boof?”

“The hair’s caused nothing but trouble since it sprouted.” The little voice inside Isabelle’s mind begged her not to, but she didn’t listen.

“Ok.” Something in Bianca’s school bag rattled as she riffled through it. She yanked a pair of scissors free.

Isabelle’s gut clenched as her friend laid the strand between the blades. “Wait!” She suddenly felt unsure about whether to get rid of it. What if it were special and magical like Bianca had said? A magnetic hair, although cool, was hardly magical. Isabelle decided to test it. Closing her eyes, she willed her strand to turn Bigmouth into a toad.

But Bigmouth’s voice still carried throughout the bus. “And in gym class, like, she bled this weird, pink dust.”

“Definitely an alien,” someone nearby agreed.

So much for Isabelle’s strand being magical. “Cut it,” she said, exchanging a sideways look with Bianca.

Her friend squeezed the handles together. Fuchsia-colored sparks shot out and scalded Isabelle’s right cheek. The strand sizzled and hissed like a firecracker, drawing the attention of Bigmouth.

She shrieked like a real girl. “Look! Isabelle’s antenna’s on fire.”

The Shard of Palrinah: Book 2 of The Remus Rothwyn Chronicles by T.P. Grish

After saving High Peaks from a devastating war between Humankind and Fey, Remus and Elaina head to the grand city of Yondern to continue their adventures, yearning for excitement and the chance to do good.

However, the long-brewing political conflict between the Steelwielders and Paragonites has erupted into open war, and try as they might, the travelers cannot escape the eye of suspicious factions. Once-friendly factions have turned wary, and they find themselves allying with those who they would least expect.

An old friend, the bard Perfidian, confronts them with troubling information, hinting at a deeper objective to the brewing war, and possibly to an object of power that could wreak devastation upon the land in the hands of the power-hungry.

The three friends must discover what the Steelwielder technocrats and Paragonite monks are truly seeking in a remote corner of Glenryth, in a deadly game of cat and mouse involving dark and sinister forces, both Human and otherwise.

This is the sequel to Book 1, Steel, Magick and Faith!

Amazon * Smashwords * Barnes & Noble * Kobo * Sony * Diesel Books

Excerpt!

 'A dead end, but in the right wall there was a small, rough-hewn crevice. Resting in it was a small chest, old and dusty, but bedecked in timeless jewels and the intricate designs their proud ancestors had mastered. A chill went down Renaldin’s spine as he considered the weight of this event, and the worthy ancient hands that had crafted the chest, and this place.

Whatever Boon lay in the chest, it had been placed there by the first Disciples of the faith, back when the Paragonites were stronger and purer. He did not feel worthy. Fingers trembling, he opened the chest.

It was not locked, but groaned under the weight of rust and dust. As it opened, a cloud of dust blinded Renaldin and choked him. Coughing, he waved the dust from his face and stared into the chest.

It was a simple scroll, nothing more. Gently picking it up and unfurling it, he started to read the calligraphed script. It seemed to be a riddle.

‘In The Aerie Of The Long-Dead Eagle, Lies The Nest Of Gold.
Atop The Shrouded Plateau, Rests The Warrior Of Old.

Between The Two Lies A Gully Deep, Locked Away In The Icy Reaches.

Within Lies Treasure Of Virtue Untold, Waiting For A Worthy Hand.

To Bring Its Thunder Upon The World,
And Rally The Hopes Of Man’

Renaldin stood in awe, his mind spinning. This simple scroll was greater than any gift they could have prayed for. It was clear that it gave instructions as to the location of the Shard of Palrinah, the most holy artifact in the history of the Temple, and wielded by St. Palrinah herself in battle! The scroll gave its directions in a riddle, but gave clear ideas which landmarks they should be looking for to find it. Renaldin thought it obvious that the Icy Reaches referred to the Aysalk Ranges, an arctic mountain range which ancient Paragonites had, at times, traversed.

Riddle or not, they were being given the chance to find and acquire the Shard of Palrinah, one of the few remaining artefacts in existence! It made sense that they would be required to search for it. Palrinah did not favour the weak or hesitant, and simply placing the Shard in the catacombs for future generations to use would have been unworthy of it.'

Rift Healer by Diane M. Haynes

Rift Healer is the first installment of the ‘Forest Magic’ series, a Young Adult Fantasy/Romance set in Central and Western Massachusetts.

After a minor earthquake, the enchanted forest in Bidwell, MA, is infested with monster-spewing rifts. Gisele Westerfield’s great nephew, the gifted Micah, and his distant cousin, Selena, arrive to assist. Together with Gisele’s summer students, twins Haley and Lacey, they will try to heal the magical forest.

Much to the consternation of the beautiful Selena, Micah identifies Haley as The One whom he’ll share his future. But after witnessing a terrifying display of Micah’s Gift, Haley cools to his advances and unexpectedly discovers her own Gift– she can heal the earth.

Monsters, mayhem, and teenage angst follow the small group as they confront evil in the forest and a dangerous prediction that ‘one will fall’. Will they heal the rifts in time? Can they save the unicorns? And is Haley really destined to be with Micah?

 Amazon

Snippet!

He tore his eyes from the ceiling, caught and held her gaze. “I can make people do anything on command.”

            “Like, hypnosis?” she asked, blinking under the over-bright fluorescent lights, her spoon halfway to her mouth.

            “Almost,” he said.  “Except, a hypnotist is unable to persuade his clients to do anything they wouldn’t ordinarily do. And I can.” He shrugged his shoulders, almost as if he were apologizing.

              Haley frowned as she sorted through this weird information. “So, let me get this straight. You think you could tell me to do something—anything–and I’d do it?” Her brows knitted together and she shook her head in disbelief.

            “I don’t just think.  I…know.” He lowered his voice as he leaned forward. “I could make you run around doing cartwheels in the parking lot if I wanted to. You would be unable to refuse.”

             At that, she sat straight up, staring at him. She didn’t believe it—not quite, but she was too afraid to disbelieve.

            “It’s true.” He nodded. “Fortunately, I have a strong code of honor that I adhere to and I do not abuse my Gift. But I could make you do whatever I want.”

            She shook her head. “I don’t believe you,” she said in a low voice.

            “I guess I’ll have to prove it to you. Put that spoon down,” he ordered.

            She looked at it, all but forgotten until now. Realizing she wanted to let go of the spoon, she frowned. “No,” she said between clenched teeth as she fought the urge to comply.

            “Haley,” he took a deep breath.  “Put the spoon down.”

            The fingers holding her spoon twitched as she looked into his eyes and said, “No,” in a voice she almost couldn’t hear herself. Her mouth went dry with the effort.

            “Put-the-spoon-down-now.” His glacial blue eyes bored into hers. Her right hand trembled with the effort of resisting his will. Then she watched, wide-eyed, as her traitorous thumb lifted on its own, causing her spoon to waver and fall to the table with a clatter in the quiet restaurant, spilling its load of ice cream.

            She swallowed. “How did you do that?” she asked, now truly frightened.

            “I told you, it’s my Gift,” he said, using his napkin to wipe up the mess. “It’s not one I use often and never on my friends. Never, ever.”

            Haley swallowed once or twice while wondering how fast she could get away from this beautiful, fascinating, irresistible boy with his dangerous Gift. Terrified, yet inexplicably still drawn to him, she slapped her palms down on the table and leaned forward, ready to shove away, to flee at any moment. His eyes softened as he saw the movement and he covered her small hands with his. Her breath caught. What’s he going to do to me?

“Don’t be afraid,” he pleaded.  “I would never, ever, take advantage of you.  Please believe me.”

            “Are you doing it again?” she asked, because all of a sudden she did believe him. And she knew she would always believe him. Could she ever trust her own feelings around him?

            “No, I’m not doing it again, but I am telling the truth. And now, let me tell you about another Gift I have.” He never blinked as he readied himself.

            “I don’t think I want to know–”

            “You do. I promise you do,” he said, holding her there with his eyes.

            She drew in a breath, steeling herself against whatever was about to come.

            He touched a spot in the center of his forehead. “In my mind’s eye, I see people who will be important to me in my future.”

            She frowned and shook her head slightly, not understanding. “And–”

            “And you are all over my future.” He smiled as if that should explain everything.