Arrow of the Mist
by Christina Mercer
Publication date: March 21st 2013
Genre: YA Fantasy
Terror strikes the Celtic
inspired kingdom of Nemetona when barbed roots breach the veil of a
forbidden land and poison woodsmen, including 15-year-old Lia’s beloved
father. Lia and three others embark on a quest to the forbidden land
of Brume to gather ingredients for the cure. But after her elder
kinsman is attacked and poisoned, she and her cousin, Wynn, are forced
to finish the quest on their own.
Lia relies on her powerful herbal wisdom and the memorized pages of her
late grandmother’s Grimoire for guidance through a land of soul-hungry
shades, trickster creatures, and uncovered truths about the origin of
Brume and her family’s unexpected ties to it. The deeper they trek into
the land, the stronger Lia’s untapped gift as a tree mage unfolds.
When she discovers the enchanted root’s maker, it forces her to
question everything about who she is and what is her destiny.
Ultimately she must make a terrible choice: keep fighting to save her
father and the people of the lands or join with the power behind the
deadly roots to help nature start anew.
EXCERPT
Nettles stung Lia’s flesh. She pressed her fingers against her mouth for relief. This is what I get for letting my thoughts wander. Grandma wouldn’t have been so careless while harvesting sting-leaf. She wouldn’t have let the villagers’ opinions prick at her mind, no matter how many called her mad for crafting remedies in the old ways.
Koun whined and nudged Lia’s arm with his nose.
“I’m all right, boy.” Lia gazed into her hound’s violet eyes and then turned her attention to the friendlier mallow plant. Its white flowers matched Koun’s coat and its leaves and roots promised a soothing balm for the nettle’s bite. She’d make another batch of salve for Da, too. He swore her “potions” kept his hands fit enough for hewing wood and soft enough for holding Ma. Her ma could use a bit more mallow infusion for her soaps, as well, and she’d take a bundle of clippings to Granda—
Her thoughts scattered as Koun shot from the garden. Lia whirled around to the pair of horses charging up the path. She squinted in the dusky light and recognized Da’s friend, Kenneth, on one of the horses. Then her insides went cold. Across the other horse’s back lay Da’s limp body.
She dropped the harvested mallow and sped from her garden toward them. Ma’s scream shot like a bolt through her, but Kenneth’s words, “He’s alive,” offered Lia a morsel of hope.
Kenneth carried Da into the cottage, and Lia caught a glimpse of her father’s torn and bloodied clothing. “I’ll fetch Granda,” she cried, and hurried to her filly.
Clad in her usual boy’s breeches and high leather boots, Lia raced her horse down the path with her heart pounding in rhythm to the hoof beats.
REVIEWS
“Ancient magic and herbal lore mark this engaging, fast-moving fantasy with a botanical bent. Lia, 15, is a winning heroine, discovering and wielding her magical gifts. Smoothly crafted writing conjures up a wondrous world where trees impart wisdom and dwarves tend ancient and powerful crystals. Well-developed characters, elegant dialogue, trickster creatures, exciting scenes of mystic battle and intriguing riddles stir up a powerful potion that will charm readers.” –Publishers Weekly
“Arrow of the Mist is an intriguing, well crafted fantasy novel for young adults. It abounds with magic, mystery and adventure. Lia is a girl whom the reader will cheer on as she labors to save her beloved father.” –ABNA Expert Reviewer
“A fresh voice in the YA fantasy genre, Mercer blends a delicious mix of Celtic lore, herbal remedies, threatening foes and the romantic tension of first love. Arrow of the Mist takes you on a coming of age journey with heroine Lia, leaving you breathless in the battle scenes and soothed in the tender moments.” –Susan Salluce, MA, Author of Out of Breath
AUTHOR BIO
Christina Mercer writes fiction in addition to mothering two young
adults, a pack of large dogs, and about 100,000 honeybees. She's been an
avid reader since she could walk and took her first writing job at age
10 as reporter for her local 4-H group. Her varied interests and
ambidextrous skills prompted her to study creative writing in college,
earn her official degree in Accounting from California State University
at Sacramento, become a CPA., acquire a certificate in Herbal Studies
from Clayton College of Natural Health, and become a hobbyist beekeeper.
She took Writer’s Best in Show at the 2012 SCBWI CA North/Central
Regional Conference and was a semi-finalist in the 2010 Amazon Breakout
Novel Award Contest. You can find her at www.christinamercer.com or
blogging with the girls over at www.indie-visible.com
That cover is wicked!
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