It’s Tuesday, so as I promised, I’m announcing the name of the first book in my Slavic fantasy series today!
I’ve been working on this book for six months now, and I’m excited to finally give it a name to the world. It will still be some time before publication, but as I continue to make progress on the series, I will be starting to make more posts and videos specifically about the books while continuing my Slavic Saturday posts as well.
I’m currently accepting beta readers and ARC readers (readers who receive an early copy in exchange for a review) who would like to participate in the book’s release, when that comes.
The name of the book is A Dagger in the Winds, drawing from the eight winds in Slavic mythology and the magical dagger that plays a key role in the book. I won’t reveal too much right now as I’ll be talking plenty about the books over the next few months, but I would love to introduce you to the two protagonists.
Wacław, our first protagonist, is the second-born son of the high chief, yet he is scoffed at as the “Half-Chief,” since his mother is a concubine, a second wife. He’s always found himself trapped by the demands of his father, especially when he was torn from his closest friend, the sorceress Otylia, at a young age. But when the goddess Marzanna reveals the power in his soul and gifts him a dagger capable of killing a god in return for his service, Wacław soon realizes Otylia is his only hope of saving everything and everyone he’s ever known.
Otylia, our second protagonist, is the sole daughter of the tribe’s most powerful priest – and the high chief’s rival. Her mother was stolen by Marzanna’s fatal disease just four years ago. Now, she serves as a szeptucha, a whispering sorceress of her goddesses, Dziewanna and Mokosz. No szeptucha has ever been chosen by two gods before and neither has the fiercely independent Dziewanna ever chosen one at all. That makes her special – and dangerous. Otylia would do anything to get revenge on Marzanna, and when she discovers the truth of Wacław’s dagger, she realizes this may be her only chance.
Wacław and Otylia will confront deities, demons, sorcerers, and cultists alike in a journey that will determine the fate of their tribe.
I am interested in being an advanced reader OR beta reader, let me know what you’re more in need of.
Awesome! Both are always incredibly helpful, but since you have writing experience (checked out your website), I think beta reading would be most helpful.
Shoot me an email at brendan@brendan-noble.com