Monday, January 21, 2019

Excerpt & Giveaway: A Prophecy Fulfilled by Andi O’Connor


A Prophecy Fulfilled
Andi O’Connor
(The Vaelinel Trilogy #3)
Publication date: December 9th 2018
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal
Regrouping after their escape from the Light Elves, Irewen and her companions fear the worst after black smoke plumes on the horizon. Allowing compassion to rule over reason, they ignore Finnwyn’s warning and return to Lilendvelle, hoping to help some of the survivors stranded in the city’s wake. Instead, they run into a trap.
Completely surrounded by an endless army of Drulaack, they fight for their lives, but their efforts aren’t enough. Irewen is captured and dragged into the heart of the Corrupter’s lair.
Having his prize, the others in the company are granted their freedom, but at a great cost: the one named in the prophecy who is meant to unite the elf forces and stand against the Corrupter is lost to the world – trapped beneath the Corrupter’s talons.
With the aid of his mother’s spirit, Brendell must now find a way to gather an alliance strong enough to march against the Corrupter and his army, but his time is running out. Each day that passes brings Irewen closer to death.
And the world closer to destruction.


EXCERPT
Dark plumes of smoke billowed up from the horizon. Irewen tensed. The Somdyrr carrying her placed her gently on the ground. She hovered there for an instant before falling heavily to her knees. The cold from the freshly fallen snow radiated through her worn leather trousers to her skin beneath, quickly turning her legs numb, but she didn’t move. Her mind remained fixated on conjuring images of the terrors the elves in Lilendvelle must have experienced.
Despair filled her heart.
“We’re too late.” Her whisper dissipated into the still air, dying before it reached her companions’ ears. Irewen slumped her shoulders further forward in defeat. It didn’t matter if anyone had heard her. Their own thoughts would be echoing the same sentiment.
Coming to a stop beside her, Laegon put a hand on her shoulder. “Perhaps there are some survivors.”
“Yes,” she replied half-heartedly, knowing by Laegon’s deflated tone that he didn’t believe a single word he’d said.
Silence fell among the company, everyone doing their best to comprehend the Corrupter’s wrath.
After fleeing the Light Elves, Irewen and the others had allowed themselves two days in the northern mountains of Grelden to regroup and strategize before setting out once again for Lilendvelle. They’d left in hopes of warning Lord Greldir of the Corrupter and doing what they could to save the Light Elves from the creature’s destruction.
But they’d failed.
Staring at the black smoke continuing to spread like a noxious poison across the sky, Irewen couldn’t keep the twinge of guilt at bay. If only they’d returned to Lilendvelle the moment Glynnduil had revealed to them the details of the prophecy, perhaps they would have been in time to prevent the Corrupter’s attack.
“We might be able to find a few people who were able to escape the devastation,” she said, “but what good will that do? Aside from healing their injuries, what aid can we give them? We don’t have enough supplies for ourselves.”
“Wouldn’t healing them alone be worth our time?”
Irewen looked up at Laegon, ashamed she’d become so callous. She took his hand in hers and squeezed it gently. “Aye,” she replied, her heart melting at the relief evident in his large, brown eyes. “It would.”
He smiled down at her, the grime and dried blood covering his face seemed out of place against his delicate elven features. His struggles continued to wear on him, but he somehow
kept fighting. He continued to put everyone else’s problems before his own, even those of people he’d never met.
Truthfully, Irewen couldn’t decide if it was a good characteristic to have. Nevertheless, she greatly admired him for his resolve; something she had yet to discover for herself.
“I don’t think we should waste time actively searching for survivors,” Brendell offered. “I know it sounds rather cruel, but we need to remain focused on our task of dealing with the Corrupter. Thousands more lives can be taken by his hand while we search the wilderness for days in hopes of finding a handful of survivors.”
“I agree,” Laegon said. “We’ll help anyone we encounter along the road to Lilendvelle, and we’ll leave it at that. Veering off that course will cause more harm than good.”
“No.”
Everyone turned to Finnwyn in exasperation. Her violet eyes stared into the distance. Her tall, lean body remained completely rigid. “It’s a trap.”



Author Bio:
Andi O'Connor is the award-winning author of The Dragonath Chronicles, The Vaelinel Trilogy, and The Legacy of Ilvania. The Speaker is the 2018 Independent Press Award Winner for Fantasy and a Finalist in the 11th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards. Andi's novel, Awakening, is a 2018 Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite for Fantasy. Her critically acclaimed novel, Silevethiel, is the 2015 Best Indie Book Award winner for Science Fiction/Fantasy and the 2015 New Apple Official Selection for Young Adult. Silevethiel was also named to Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of 2013.
You can frequently find Andi as an exhibitor and guest panelist at Comic Cons throughout the country including the Rhode Island Comic Con, Awesome Con, Philcon, Conclave, and Chessiecon. For more information, visit Andi's website at www.andioconnor.net

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