"And I was totally surprised by how the book ended. Now I cannot wait to see what happens next. My honest review is - an enjoyable read that mixed history, magic, and gods into a story that makes you want to read the next book." - Christinaraven, Goodreads
Published: June 19th, 2017
Frayka must find and convince the dragon gods of the Far East to appease the gods of her Northland heritage. If she fails, her own Northlander gods will destroy all the mortals who once promised to worship them.
The Far East is a mysterious place of legend to Northlanders like Frayka. Only an old map can show her how to get there. Once she arrives, all of Frayka’s sensibilities put her in danger. And every dangerous turn delays her from finding the dragon gods whose help she so desperately needs.
Although Frayka looks like a Far Easterner, she is a powerful Northlander warrior who is quick to voice her thoughts. She is trained to fight and won’t hesitate to do so.
But everything about Frayka puts her in deadly peril in the Far East, where the laws are strict and the punishment cruel.
Especially when the one being punished is a woman.
EXCERPT
How did my life become so turbulent?
As
the pale blue and pink light foretold the dawn of a new day, Frayka walked the
narrow length of the Northlander ship, a long and sleek vessel that looked like
a sea dragon slicing through the choppy ocean waves. The oars piled on the
center of the deck rattled against each other. The scent of fish and brine
permeated the air. The taste of salt in the air gave her a thirst that seemed
impossible to quench. Frayka focused on the horizon instead.
She
approached the rail and leaned on it, barely noticing the sound of her
sweetheart Njall grunting while he adjusted the sail. After several days at
sea, Frayka recognized the coast of her homeland, the Land of Ice, in the
distance ahead. But instead of filling her heart with happiness or even meager
content, the sight made her stomach twist into knots.
All
her life, Frayka had given no thought to the fact that she looked like no other
Northlander. Everyone in her homeland—including her own family—stood tall with
long blond hair and blue eyes. While Frayka stood as tall as any Northlander
woman, she inherited her looks from her father’s grandmother, a woman from the
Far East who must have died many years ago.
Although
Frayka’s skin looked similar to everyone else’s during the winter months, too
much exposure to the sun simply turned Frayka’s skin a golden brown while the
skin of all other Northlanders burned bright red. And her long black hair,
straight as rain, made her stand out, as well as her dark brown eyes.
Njall
joined her side and draped an arm across her shoulders. “Home at last.”
Exhausted
from the journey and lost in worry about the days ahead, Frayka didn’t respond.
Njall
squeezed her shoulder. “Why so glum?”
“No
one told me I’d be meeting a Northlander god,” Frayka said. “I’m still reeling
from what the All-Father told me.”
Weeks
ago, a shaman led Frayka to the ethereal world of the gods. The god of all
Northlander gods—the All-Father—singled out Frayka because she dared to live as
a Northlander despite her Far Eastern looks.
To
appease the anger of all Northlander gods, the All-Father tasked Frayka with
the duty of finding the dragon gods of the Far East. The All-Father told Frayka
she then must figure out how to make peace between those dragon gods and the
Northlander gods. If Frayka failed, the Northlander gods would kill her.
Why
did all gods have to act so foolish and petty?
Why
should it be her problem that Northlanders had once worshipped the dragon gods
instead of their own gods?
Why
should the Northlander gods involve her just because they felt angry and
rejected by the mortals who adopted the dragon gods in their absence?
Frayka
knew the dragon gods destroyed the Northlands and surrounding countries, even
though she’d been an infant at the time. The full blame for that destruction
fell on the true Northlander gods, who were enraged first for being ignored and
then for being faulted for something they didn’t do.
Why should I care that mortals blame
the Northlander gods for the sins of the dragon gods?
The
task given to Frayka by the Northlander gods overwhelmed her. Frayka wished she
could crawl below deck, curl up in a corner, and sleep until her life felt
normal again.
But
Northlanders never talked of such feelings. If Frayka admitted to any of them,
she would appear weak in Njall’s eyes. He loved her because of her strength and
courage. And right now, only Njall knew about the task she’d been given. If no
one else believed her, she’d still have Njall by her side.
I can’t afford to lose him, too.
Njall
laughed. “You’re spoiled by your own portents. Welcome to the ordinary world
that the rest of us live in.”
Frayka
knew Njall was right. Since birth, her portents gave her regular glimpses into
the future, something no other Northlander could do. She’d known for years that
Njall would someday marry her, and her faith never waived. Years ago, he teased
Frayka about her portents. Thinking about those days, she said, “Remember when
you used to call me Frayka the Freak?”
“Be
fair,” Njall said, failing to hide his shame. “I don’t call you that anymore.”
He ran his rough hand against her silky black hair. “Not since I saw you become
a brave warrior. Not since you saved my life. Once I tell everyone what you’ve
done, everyone will love you as much as I do.” Njall hesitated. “Wait. That’s a
terrible idea. Someone might try to marry you before I can.”
“If
anyone tries to get between you and me, I’ll kick him in the shins.” Frayka
laughed briefly before worry overtook her again. “But it’s not my portents I’m
worried about. It’s what the gods want me to do. What I have to do.”
“This
isn’t like you. You never worry.”
Frayka
cleared her throat, knowing the time to keep secrets had to end. “I had a
portent last night after you fell asleep. A portent about the gods.”
His
arm tensed. “What kind of portent?”
Frayka
looked at the sea. “I saw what will happen if I fail. If I don’t do what the
gods ask.” When Njall stayed silent, she continued. “They will kill every
Northlander who still survives. They will kill you and me and our families and
everyone in the Land of Ice.”
“But
your portents,” Njall said. “Sometimes they give you an idea of the future.
They’re not always exact.”
“This
one was,” Frayka said. “Very exact and very clear. I have to find the dragon
gods and figure out how to make peace between them and the Northlander gods.
Otherwise, we all die.”
Njall
shifted his weight when the ship tilted. “Then let’s fight the Northlander
gods. Let’s kill them before they can kill us.”
Frayka
shook her head. “You don’t understand. All the stories we heard about gods are
lies. Northlanders thought the dragon gods were their gods, but it’s not true.
Mortals thought the Northlander gods forced the dragon gods to destroy our
homeland, but that’s not true either.” She frowned. “Not entirely. Even if we
could find the Northlander gods—which is impossible—it wouldn’t solve anything.
The All-Father told me what I have to do, and nothing else will satisfy him.”
Njall
wrapped his arms around Frayka and held her close. “You’re not alone, you
know,” he said. “You’ve got me, and I’ll walk by your side every step of the
way.”
His
words comforted Frayka. For a moment she found hope and felt excited about the
chance to make a difference in the world. She felt no fear of the danger she
might face.
Njall
pointed at the coastline, now close enough that Frayka saw its black sandy
beaches glitter and sparkle in the sunlight. “We’re home,” Njall said. “Look
how beautiful it is.”
Taking
his advice, Frayka stared at the waterfalls falling from the high cliffs
standing behind the beaches. Pointing, she said, “There’s Blackstone.” The
settlement of small stone houses rested a short distance from the shore, and
grassy hills stretched behind it. In the far distance, a mountain of ice
glinted. “What are we going to tell them about why we left?” Frayka said.
“The
truth always strikes me as a good idea,” Njall said.
But
the truth would involve stories about Frayka’s portents and gods and strange
lands.
“What
if they don’t believe me?”
“Be
yourself!” Njall said. “This is your home! Your family knows you. Everyone in
Blackstone knows you. And I know you, too.”
But I befriended someone who suffered
because she looked different. Because she came from a different world than the
people she lived with. Because she walked with one foot in each world: the one
she came from and the one she lived in.
And if I do what the gods ask me to do,
won’t I have to do the same?
“Frayka?”
Njall said. “Did you hear me?”
“Of
course.” Frayka straightened her spine and drew again on her new-found hope.
“Let’s go home.”
About the author:
Resa Nelson is the author of the 4-book Dragonslayer series: The Dragonslayer’s Sword (nominated for the Nebula Award, finalist for the EPPIE Award), The Iron Maiden , The Stone of Darkness , and The Dragon's Egg . Her 4-book Dragonfly series takes place after the Dragonslayer series.
Her standalone novels include the mystery/thrillers All Of Us Were Sophie and Our Lady of the Absolute .
Resa has been selling short stories professionally since 1988. She is a longtime member of SFWA (Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America), and she is a graduate of the Clarion SF Workshop. Resa was the TV/Movie Columnist for Realms of Fantasy magazine for 13 years as well as a regular contributor to SCI FI magazine. She has sold over 200 articles to magazines in the United States and the United Kingdom.
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This series sounds super amazing. Totally crossing fingers!
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