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Battle for Manalar: Sister Seekers 8

by A.S. Etaski

My sister is in grave danger, captive in the city of Witch Hunters. As Manalar prepares for war, her only chance lies with infiltrators from Augran. I shall join them.
The prosperous port of Augran thrives in diverse trade with the Dwarven Clans. The Bishops of Manalar have withdrawn defiantly into the Temple of the Sun, scorning their past allies.

The Ma’ab Empire has sent their dark army out of the Far North, seeking not riches but a small, well-protected spring high upon a mountain. The sacred pool of Manalar is said to bless all mages who control it.

On the fringe, there’s Gavin and me. Each dedicated to our purpose, we garner allies from Augran and the Clans of Taiding willing to see them through. My Dragonblood bodyguard, Mourn, reinforces our strengths as we expect others like us to jump out of hiding and into the fray.

I failed one sister. I will not fail another.

Sirana’s desperate search upon the Surface reaches its culmination in Battle for Manalar, where foes and allies unite and clash in this transformative event driven by opportunity, righteousness, and reprisal.

Sister Seekers is dark epic fantasy for adults with an ever-broadening scope. The saga genre-hops a bit so things never get stale. Found Family is a core theme throughout. Perfect for fans of entwined plots, challenging themes, immersive worldbuilding, and elements of erotic horror. Sexuality and inner conflict play into character growth with nuanced intrigue, intense action, and fantastical magic.

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Tropes: Astral Projection, Band of Brothers/Sisters, Band of Misfits, Beyond the Grave Communication, Big Sword, Born Hero, Burial Ground/Cemetary, Conspiracy, Dragonriders, Enemy to Ally, Evolving Powers, Fellowship, Found Family, Here Comes the Cavalry, Humanity is Dangerous, Humanity is Good, I See Dead People, Immortality, Inaccessible Magic, Interspecies Romance, Library of Secrets, Lost Civilization, Lucky Novice, Magic Talisman, Magical Disaster, Person in Distress, Powerful Artifact, Prophesy, Pseudo European Society, Psionic Powers, Redemption Arc, Sex Magic, Training, Wise Mentor
Word Count: 174300
Setting: City
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Continuous / Same Characters
Tropes: Astral Projection, Band of Brothers/Sisters, Band of Misfits, Beyond the Grave Communication, Big Sword, Born Hero, Burial Ground/Cemetary, Conspiracy, Dragonriders, Enemy to Ally, Evolving Powers, Fellowship, Found Family, Here Comes the Cavalry, Humanity is Dangerous, Humanity is Good, I See Dead People, Immortality, Inaccessible Magic, Interspecies Romance, Library of Secrets, Lost Civilization, Lucky Novice, Magic Talisman, Magical Disaster, Person in Distress, Powerful Artifact, Prophesy, Pseudo European Society, Psionic Powers, Redemption Arc, Sex Magic, Training, Wise Mentor
Word Count: 174300
Setting: City
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Continuous / Same Characters
Excerpt:

“We must break her first,” Keros insisted in the holy tongue unknown to the demoness. “We must present her to the others, docile and harmless, before I lead the purge.”

“Yes, Holiness.”

Keros had expected it to take only a few hours. Now, they hadn’t slept and had barely eaten for more than a day.

It isn’t going well. She deceived us.

For days the captive had sat in the dungeon with no man either witnessing or sensing her capabilities. Now, after revealing her true form in the crypt, the demoness used magic.

Powerful magic.

Through the evening and night and well past the dawn of the next day, the evil creature was still not drained by his manacles despite her body’s clear exhaustion. Her aura surged with little discretion or predictability other than when she was under threat.

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This was a core flaw in his design, Vene soon realized, the workaround she had discovered. She wasn’t concentrating on spells. She had no precision, showing neither intent nor training. He doubted she focused on any affinity, be it life or death, divine inspiration or earthly pattern.

No. She was chaos.

COLLAPSE
Reviews:Erid Adderly on ARC Reader wrote:

We’ve gone from the microcosm of two characters hashing things out, one-on-one, to a dozen+ people all trying to get on the same page. It’s delightful to see all different reactions coming from cultural contrasts and from individual personalities, tested again and again… No character leaves the same as when they entered it.

Sam on Amazon UK wrote:

Compelling. This story, part of a series, picks up immediately where the previous one leaves off, but its nature is a marked change.

Ostensibly, this is a rescue mission and a heist rolled into one, but the twin disorienting factors - of being in a foreign land and the exertions of battle - bring a horror element to the table. The pages seem to turn themselves, and long before the end you can feel the exhaustion creeping into the characters' very bones! Through it all, there remains the hope that the Sun still shines and the friendships formed will be steadfast.


About the Author

Etaski writes mature epic fantasy with an ever-broadening scope. ​​​​​​​Inspired by table-top RPG, her stories weave through subgenres, so things never get stale. Found Family is a core theme throughout her world​​​​​​​.​​​​​​​ She adores sensual, subversive Dark Elves facing off with cunning demons, clever dragons causing trouble, and deadpan necromancers summoning the walking dead alongside dwarves in battle through high-stakes adventures.

Her series begins underground with an isolated race of Dark Elves. The beginning is not for the faint of heart, and perfect for fans of entwined plots, challenging themes, immersive worldbuilding, and elements of erotic horror. Sexuality and inner conflict play into character growth with nuance, intrigue, action, and fantastical magic.

Her most inspiring epic stories are Neil Gaiman's Sandman, Wendy Pini's ElfQuest, Melanie Rawn's Dragon Prince, and J. Michael Straczynski's Babylon 5.

Get the official Sister Seekers Prequel, "Sons to Keep," when you join Etaski's newsletter at her website!