Storm of Chaos
Page 40
Hailen and the artifact had done this. The power of the Serenii, unlocked by Hailen’s blood, had saved their lives.
Secrets of Blood
(Heirs of Destiny Book 4)
To weather the storm of chaos and death, young heroes must dare to challenge the impossible.
Civil war rages in the City of the Dead. The lowest castes have taken up arms in revolt. Blood runs thick on the golden streets of Shalandra.
Amidst the uproar, Evren hunts down the leaderless, scattered brutes of the Ybrazhe Syndicate to put an end to their depredations and dispel the riots. Issa and her elite warriors battle rampaging mobs in a desperate fight to restore order.
Kodyn and Aisha pursue killers that could lead them to not only the villains orchestrating the turmoil, but the monstrous foes lurking in the deep, dark places hidden beneath the city.
Yet facing enemies far beyond their abilities to defeat alone, will they triumph against evil and put a stop to the chaos before all of Shalandra is destroyed?
If you love heart-racing, spine-tingling, nerve-wracking fantasy, Secrets of Blood will have you on the edge of your seat! Perfect for fans of AC Cobble, Robin Hobb, and Jeff Wheeler.
Click here to continue the journey...
In the Heirs of Destiny series:
Trial of Stone (Book 1) – Jan 22, 2019
Crucible of Fortune (Book 2) –Feb 5, 2019
Storm of Chaos (Book 3) – Feb 19, 2019
Secrets of Blood (Book 4) – Mar 19, 2019
Ascension of Death (Book 5) – Apr 16, 2019
AND BONUS:
The Renegade Apprentice (Book 0) May 14 <--Evren’s Prequel Novella
Try the Prequel Novella for FREE
Connecting and starting a relationship with readers is why I got into writing in the first place. I love that my stories, thoughts, feelings, and emotions to resonate with you, but I’d also love to get to know you, the reader, personally—or as personally as this crazy internet/email/social media world allows.
My VIP Reader List is exactly how I get to do that. I let you know more about me, and you tell me about you. Plus, you get to find out what books I’m reading and enjoying, updates on works in progress, special deals, and other bits of news relating to me and my world (fictional and real-life).
If you sign up, you get a free copy of Evren’s prequel novella, The Renegade Apprentice:
A desperate breakout. A perilous life on the streets. A fight to the death.
Evren’s life as an apprentice priest is an endless torment, until he seizes the chance to escape his slavery.
But his freedom, and his life, may be cut very short because the dark alleys of Vothmot hold their own dangers...some deadlier than others!
Sign up for my VIP Reader List at
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Enjoy More Series by Andy Peloquin
Plus, get backstory and insight into the epic Heirs of Destiny characters!
For more of Kodyn’s origin story,
read Queen of Thieves
"They killed my parents. They took my name. They imprisoned me in darkness. I would not be broken."
Viola, a child sold to pay her father's debts, has lost everything: her mother, her home, and her identity. Thrown into a life among criminals, she has no time for grief as she endures the brutal training of an apprentice thief. The Night Guild molds an innocent waif into a cunning, agile outlaw skilled in the thieves' trade. She has only one choice: steal enough to pay her debts.
The cutthroat streets of Praamis will test her mettle, and she must learn to dodge the City Guards or swing from a hangman's rope. But a more dangerous foe lurks within the guild walls. A sadistic rival apprentice, threatened by her strength, is out for blood.
What hope does one girl have in a world of ruthless men?
Fans of Sarah J. Maas, Scott Lynch, and Brent Weeks will love Queen of Thieves…
Book 1: Child of the Night Guild
Book 2: Thief of the Night Guild
Book 3: Queen of the Night Guild
To read about Aisha’s trials,
try Traitors’ Fate:
One Death Changes Two Cities Forever
Ilanna, Master of the Night Guild, has waged a war for eight years to cleanse her city of the rival criminal organization that nearly destroyed it. When she uncovers a ring of slavers trafficking young girls for sexual servitude around the continent, she is forced to venture into the city of Voramis, the seat of her enemy's power, to hunt down the true culprit and put an end to the enslavement of innocents.
But her enemies will not be so easily eliminated. She must turn to the one man certain to get the job done: the Hunter, legendary assassin of Voramis.
The Hunter willingly accepts a fortune in gold to kill one of the richest men in his city. A mansion fortress and a private army should prove no match for his inhuman abilities.
But as he stalks his target, he unmasks a bloodthirsty conspiracy in the guise of a holy mission. If he doesn't stop the men responsible, the gruesome murders will continue and people—including those he has sworn to protect—will die.
Note: This book is a standalone that takes place after the events of Queen of Thieves Book 3.
Traitors’ Fate (Queen of Thieves/Hero of Darkness Crossover)
Take a glimpse into Evren and Hailen’s origin,
dive into Hero of Darkness
The best assassin in the world doesn’t come cheap. Betraying him will cost your soul.
The Hunter is a name feared by all in Voramis. He is an outcast, driven by a cursed dagger with an unquenchable thirst for blood and death.
Yet he follows one simple code: kill those who truly deserve to die. His creed is put to the test when, deceived by a shadowy employer, he unknowingly slaughters an innocent man.
With the most powerful criminal organization in the city after his head, the Hunter must fight for his life and find a way to atone for his mistake. When his enemies harm the people under his protection, it will take much more than an army of criminals to stand in the way of his revenge.
If you love anti-heroes like the Punisher or Dexter in a breathtaking fantasy realm, then immerse yourself in Hero of Darkness today! Dive into an epic tale of one man’s struggle to survive in a world of magic, blood, and death.
Book 1: Darkblade Assassin
Book 2: Darkblade Outcast
Book 3: Darkblade Protector
Book 4: Darkblade Seeker
Book 5: Darkblade Slayer
Book 6: Darkblade Savior
Book 7: Darkblade Justice
Different, Not Damaged: A Short Story Collection
About the Author
I am, first and foremost, a storyteller and an artist--words are my palette. Fantasy is my genre of choice, and I love to explore the darker side of human nature through the filter of fantasy heroes, villains, and everything in between. I'm also a freelance writer, a book lover, and a guy who just loves to meet new people and spend hours talking about my fascination for the worlds I encounter in the pages of fantasy novels.
Fantasy provides us with an escape, a way to forget about our mundane problems and step into worlds where anything is possible. It transcends age, gender, religion, race, or lifestyle--it is our way of believing what cannot be, delving into the unknowable, and discovering hidden truths about ourselves and our world in a brand new way. Fiction at its very best!
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Glossary
Shalandra, City of the Dead
Gods of Einan
Kiro, the Master: God of virtue and nobility
Deralana,
Lady of Vengeance: Goddess of warriors and vengeance
Garridos, the Apprentice: God of ventures and enterprise
The Maiden: Goddess of purity, devotion, and festivities
The Illusionist: God of coin, success, and madness
The Bright Lady: Goddess of healing
The Swordsman: God of war, heroism, and metal-smithing
The Mistress: Goddess of trysts, secrets, and whispered truths
The Bloody Minstrel: God of sickness, plague, and horrible music
The Watcher: God of the night, god of justice and vengeance. Thieves and criminals know him as “the Watcher in the Dark”.
The Lonely Goddess: Goddess of orphans and broken hearts
The Beggar God: God of outcasts, the destitute, and the needy
The Long Keeper: God of death.
Kharna – Serenii that sacrificed himself to feed Enarium and fight the Devourer to protect Einan
The Devourer of Worlds, the Great Destroyer – force of chaos seeking to unmake the world
Storm of Chaos Characters
Listed according to appearance/mention
Issa: 17 year-old Earaqi, chosen to serve as a Keeper’s Blade, resilient, strong-willed, determined (Chapter 1)
Kellas: arrogant Dhukari, chosen to serve in the Keeper’s Blades, disdainful of the lower castes, skilled warrior, murdered and crucified (Chapter 1)
Arch-Guardian Suroth: Briana’s father, high priest of the Secret Keepers in Shalandra, member of the Keeper’s Council, mute, slain by the Gatherers in Trial of Stone (Chapter 1)
Callista Vinaus: Lady of Blades, highest-ranked military official in Shalandra, rules the Keeper’s Blades and Indomitables, stern, proud, warrior (Chapter 1)
Tannard: commanding Invictus of the Keeper’s Blades of Shalandra, commandeered Issa’s training, cruel, ruthless, callous (Chapter 1
Ennolar: high-ranked Secret Keeper, member of the Venerated, lover of banquet delicacies, provides Kodyn and Aisha a map of the Serenii tunnels, set to replace Suroth as Arch-Guardian (mentioned in Chapter 4, first appearance in Chapter 1)
Evren: 17 year-old former pickpocket and clever thief from Darkblade Slayer, former apprentice in the Master’s Temple in Vothmot, recruited to the Hunter’s mission of feeding Kharna (Chapter 2)
Killian: blacksmith, leader of the Mumblers, Issa’s trainer, surprisingly well-connected, cunning (Chapter 2)
Destes, Kellin, Benem: young Earaqi and Mahjuri youths, Killian’s Mumblers (Chapter 2)
Daver: young apprentice that had escaped the Master’s Temple with Evren in Vothmot (see The Renegade Apprentice)
Hallar: founder of Shalandra, dead for thousands of years (Chapter 2)
Aisha: 17 year-old former trafficking victim rescued by Ilanna and the Night Guild (see Traitors’ Fate), apprentice to House Phoenix, Kodyn’s best friend, child of a Spirit Whisperer (Chapter 3)
Briana: daughter of a high-ranked member of the Secret Keepers in Shalandra and Keeper’s Councilor, graceful, elegant, intelligent, studious, rescued by Kodyn and the Night Guild from kidnappers (Chapter 3—see Darkblade Justice)
Hailen: child cared for by the Hunter and trained by the Cambionari, descendent of the ancient Serenii, the Hunter’s ward, possesses mysterious magical abilities (Chapter 3)
Eldesse: Briana’s former maidservant and friend, believed to have aided in the Gatherers’ kidnapping attempt, innocent, murdered by Gatherers (Chapter 3)
Osirath: Eldesse’s husband, one of Arch-Guardian’s household guards, disappeared the night of Briana’s abduction, believed to be complicit in the kidnapping, innocent, murdered by Gatherers (Chapter 3)
Thimara: spirit of a dead Secret Keeper, speaks to Aisha (Chapter 3)
Kodyn: 17 year-old apprentice to House Hawk, third-story thief of the Night Guild, son of Ilanna the Guild Master and Ria the Master of House Phoenix, protective (Chapter 4)
The Black Widow: one part spymistress of Shalandra, one part information broker, and four parts deadly when crossed (Chapter 4)
Angrak: high-ranked Dhukari and Necroseti, pawn of the Keeper’s Council, elected to Councilor upon Suroth’s death, secretly skimming shalanite and selling it in the Council’s name, slain by an assassin (Chapter 4)
Handsome: assassin, responsible for murdering Councilor Angrak, bad-ass (Chapter 4)
Hykos: veteran Archateros of the Keeper’s Blades of Shalandra, Issa’s trainer, friendly and welcoming, two years older than Issa, handsome (Chapter 5)
Byrach: veteran Archateros of the Keeper’s Blades of Shalandra, Kellas’ trainer, hulking, powerful (Chapter 5)
Etai: Issa’s fellow Blade-in-training, born of the lowest-ranked Mahjuri caste, a proud warrior (Chapter 5)
Chirak: veteran Archateros of the Keeper’s Blades of Shalandra, Etai’s trainer, woman of few words, inhumanly strong (first appearance in Chapter 12, first named in Chapter 5)
Imbuka: Ghandian shaman, Umoyahlebe, Spirit Whisperer, provides Aisha information about her gifts (Chapter 7)
Nysin, Enyera, Rilith, and Viddan: Indomitable trainees assigned to patrol the Slave’s Tier with Issa, all from low castes, valiant despite impossible odds (Chapter 8)
Quen: Dictator of the Indomitables, aids Issa in controlling the rampaging soldiers (Chapter 8)
Villasa: Nysin’s great-aunt, witness to the crucifixion of Kellas, sharp-tongued (Chapter 8)
Roethel: Mahjuri busybody, spiteful, petty, nearly gets an innocent man killed (Chapter 12)
Samril: innocent Mahjuri accused of being a Gatherer, eyewitness to crucifixion (Chapter 12)
Tianath: high-ranked Guardian of the Secret Keepers, alchemist, travels to the Hall of Bounty to collect grain samples to analyze for poison, purple-haired (Chapter 14)
Umild: Dictator of the Indomitables, brute, arrested by Issa (Chapter 15)
Aterallis: messiah, formerly high-ranked Dhukari, called “Hallar Reborn” and “Child of Gold, Child of Secrets, Child of Spirits”, preaches peace to the lower castes (Chapter 18)
Dyrkton: Invictus, Elder of the Blade (Chapter 21)
Amhoset Nephelcheres: Pharus of Shalandra, Servant of the Long Keeper, Word of Justice and Death, a noble and honorable ruler hamstrung by the Keeper’s Council (Chapter 21)
Blackfinger: Leader of the Ybrazhe Syndicate, not a very friendly man, arrested by Issa and Evren (Chapter 22)
Goble: Ybrazhe thug, champion scowler, not too bright (Chapter 22)
Annat: Crewman of the crime gang known as the Ybrazhe Syndicate, cruel, enticed Snarth to treachery by offering him a place in the gang, captured and tortured Serias and Killian, slain by Evren (Chapter 22)
Uryan: sharp-faced, high-ranking Guardian of the Secret Keepers, has a link to the spirit of Thimara (Chapter 23)
Robban: Secret Keeper leading the hunting party to the Heartspring (Chapter 33)
Turwar: priest of the Necroseti, disguised as Gatherer to lead the attack on the Heartspring (Chapter 37)
Tinush: High Divinity, oldest member of the Keeper’s Council, a priest of the Necroseti, servant to the god of death (Chapter 37)
Desenne: Secret Keeper, accompanies Kodyn and Aisha to the Palace with their prisoner (Chapter 37)
Military Ranks
Indomitables:
The ranks in the Indomitables are similar to the martial ranks of Praamis and Voramis:
Executors: Commanders
Sentinels: Captains
Protectors: Lieutenants
Dictators: Sergeants
Neophytes: Privates
Keeper’s Blades:
Prototopoi: trainees new to the Keeper’s Blades
Defteteros: Blades serving for fewer than six months after the Anointing of the Blades
Katoteros: two-year veterans of the Keeper’s Blades.
Archateros: four-year veterans of the Keeper’s Blades.
Ypertatos: ten-year veterans of the Keeper’s Blades.
Invictus: twenty-year veterans of the Keeper’s Blades. All of the Elders
of the Blades are Invictus.
Proxenos: a rank reserved only for the Lord or Lady of Blades, equivalent to High Commander