Filled to the brim with forbidden love, an ancient evil, and a nation in disrepair, Empyreal Fate is a tale of riveting bravery and mortal corruption.
The land of Llathala lingers on the brink of war between men and elves, a dark history surrounding each race. Stirred by tensions of the land, a shadow of the past reemerges, taking precedence in reality and consuming the very soul of mans’ mortal weakness. Darrion, the son of a poor laborer, is ensnared in a hostile world, forced to choose between loyalty to his king or the counsel of the elves. Yet Fate has other plans in store, tying his course to Amarya, an elven royalblood of mysterious quality and unsurpassable beauty. But this forbidden connection incites betrayal from members of their own kin, marking them as traitors to the crown. In a land torn asunder, only Fate’s decree can allow such love to coexist with an ancient enmity.
Behold: A Llathalan Annal: Empyreal Fate – Part On
Extra Excerpt:
Skipping to Amarya’s side, Kierlyn beckoned that she rise so she could measure every limb and slender curve. She hummed as she worked - a melody in her throat - as if preparing for an evening of her own. As her attention deepened, sweet lyrics spilled from her lips, filling the chamber with gay musings:
“Candied apple limbs doth sway;
Rubber trees do light the way.
Molten crystal turned to glass;
I hurry far, I hurry fast.
I nimbly touch a ragged land;
So far, so free - alone I stand.
This is my realm; ‘tis mine to please,
I claim impossibility.”
Kierlyn giggled when her words met silence. "Ah, the morn is certainly bright! And before long, its close shall fall. Pity such preparations see the hours stray away. But as these things take time, I see the wisdom in getting you dressed early. We seek not to waste a moment.”
-–Scene from Empyreal Fate - Part One of Rachel Hunter’s Llathalan Annal series.
Born in 1993, Rachel Hunter has always been fascinated with words and the intricate way in which they combine. Since a child, she has been an avid writer, winding vibrant tales and elaborate stanzas on folded bits of paper.
As the years passed, her love of words never died; her adoration for reading fared no equal. Always with her nose in a book, Rachel took fondly to works spanning all genres. Yet it was the compelling grasp of fantasy and science fiction that wrenched her fascination above all.
In 2007, Rachel was selected a state winner of the Minnesota Promising Young Writers Program. Accordingly, her winning poem, “It All Starts with Creativity”, was published in An Anthology of Poetry by Young Americans.
Senior year of high school proved another momentous year. A winner of the Oklahoma Young Writers Competition, Rachel was awarded with publication of her “Sestina of Elven Regret” in the 2010-2011 anthology, Growing Voices.
In March of 2012, Rachel published her first short story with Trestle Press, titled, “Perfect Nothing“, which recounted her harrowing relationship with an eating disorder and was also fueled by her passion for psychology. But her writing does not end there. While currently pursuing a degree in psychology and in the medical field at the University of Oklahoma, she aspires also to illuminate the creative spark of eager readers. In her desire to incite intrigue, she is simultaneously exploring new worlds and creating vast empires of her own. "Empyreal Fate" is only the first in her Llathalan Annal series. Indeed, it is only the beginning.
I recently read Ms. Hunter’s book, and I can’t say enough good things about it. As a published author myself, I envy her vocabulary and command of the English language, and I’ve had a thirty-eight year head start on her! I have not read many fantasy books, but I must say I completely lost myself in her book (that’s a hint as to which of her reviews on Amazon I wrote). I also can’t say enough good things about Ms. Hunter herself. She is a recent acquaintance of mine, and a kinder, more polite and respectful nineteen-year-old you will never meet--she seems to have the ability to enchant everyone who comes near. I give fair warning also to her classmates when she returns to college this fall--she will set the curve. Indeed, I would say she sets the curve for IQ. But she is not one to boast about her abilities; in fact, it took me a little time to find out just how smart she was. She is a prolific writer, and I will be watching intently for her next book release. You will love Empyreal Fate.
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