by Tara West
The two sisters had become so transfixed in building their shrines and strengthening their magic, that they had forsaken their duties as keepers of The Elements, paying little heed when ice storms and cyclones ravaged the land and people. The Elementals, likewise, had no time to manage sky, land, and water, as they were most often preoccupied with their mothers.
Slowly, once again, Tehra began to crumble. The ice melted, the wind howled, and the land shook. The Tryads and the Elementals had failed to protect the Elements from chaos. Now, the people’s only hope of saving their planet lay in hiding, within the powers of the sacred stones.
Books by Tara West
Eternally Yours
Divine and Dateless
Damned and Desirable
Damned and Desperate
Demonic and Deserted
Dead and Delicious
Something More Series
Say When
Say Yes
Say Forever
Say Please
Say You Want Me
Say You Love Me
Say You Need Me
Dawn of the Dragon Queen Saga
Dragon Song
Dragon Storm
Whispers Series
Sophie’s Secret
Don’t Tell Mother
Krysta’s Curse
Visions of the Witch
Sophie’s Secret Crush
Witch Blood
Witch Hunt
Keepers of the Stones
Witch Flame, Prelude
Curse of the Ice Dragon, Book One
Spirit of the Sea Witch, Book Two
Scorn of the Sky Goddess, Book Three
Visit Tara’s Amazon page here: http://amzn.to/2mCjR9T
GLOSSARY
Adolan – A village below the glacier, and far below the peak of Ice Mountain.
Alec – Markus’s older and sickly brother, who is blessed with wisdom beyond his years. He looks after Markus, but is not strong enough to defend himself against his father’s brutal beatings.
Aloa-Shay – A seaside village, several weeks’ journey from Adolan.
Ande Eryll – Bane’s brother and Elof’s middle son.
Ariette – An Elemental, she is Madhea’s daughter and Kia’s sister.
Bane Eryll – Oldest son of Elof Eryll. Vindictive and selfish, he constantly pesters Ura to marry him. Their clan is the most powerful in Ice Kingdom.
Crystal Lake – A large lake at the center of the glacier.
Dafuar – Ancient prophet and son of the fallen Goddess, Kyan. He dwells in Adolan and his twin brother is Odu.
The Danae – A stream beside Adolan. It branches off from The Danae River, which flows beneath the glacier.
Desryn (Des) – Younger brother to Dianna, the witch huntress.
Dianna – A young witch huntress who lives in Adolan. She criticizes Rowlen for beating his son, Alec, and Markus for not defending his brother. Dianna is sister to Desryn, whom she has cared for since their parents died.
Dragon weed – The primary vegetation for the Ice People. Very nutritious, but slimy.
Dragon’s Tooth – A large ‘spiked’ tower of ice.
The Elementals – Daughters of the Elements and of the goddesses. Six Elementals serve Madhea and six serve Eris.
The Elements – The creators of Tehra, and the source of magic for the witches and Goddesses.
Elof Eryll – The Council Chieftain of Ice Kingdom and Bane’s father. He turns a blind eye to the melting ice, more concerned with stuffing his face than protecting his people.
Eris – Goddess of the Sea. Also known as the Sea Witch, she is Madhea’s sister.
Gnull – Large predatory ice creatures (think prehistoric walrus) that are very dangerous and a threat to the Ice People. However, they are prized for their blubbery oil, which is used as candle tallow. Gnull fur is used for clothing, and their bones are used for weapons and crafting boats.
Gunther Eryll – Bane’s brother and Elof’s youngest son.
Ice Kingdom – City within the glacier.
Ice Mites – Light bugs that dwell in frozen crystals, giving the ice formations a glowing appearance.
Ice Mountain – A towering column of ice that stretches beyond the Heavens, built by Madhea as a shrine to herself. She dwells at the top of Ice Mountain with her daughters, the Elementals.
Ice Shield – A thin layer of ice shielding Ice Kingdom from the outside world.
Ingred Johan – Council member and Elof’s cousin. Her son is Ven Jonan.
Jon Nordlund – Kind ice dweller, and father to Ura and Ryne.
Kia – An Elemental, she is Madhea’s daughter and Ariette’s sister.
Kicelin – Village at the base of Ice Mountain.
Kraehn – Fanged fish that dwell beneath the icy river. They devour just about anything, even people, in a matter of moments.
Lazy Eyed Serpents – Ugly, long eel-like fish. Though their meat is soft and slimy, serpents are the main food source for the ice dwellers.
Lydra – Madhea’s dragon, which breathes impenetrable ice.
Lyme tree – A tree large enough for a gathering hall to be built within its branches. Found at the base of the mountain and surrounding the village of Adolan.
Madhea – The Ice Witch. An evil goddess sometimes referred to as the Sky Goddess.
Markus – The boy hunter who brought on The Hunter’s Curse. He is the son of Rowlen and brother of Alec.
Odu – Ancient prophet and son of the fallen Goddess, Kyan. Twin brother to Dafuar, he dwells in Ice Kingdom.
Orhan (O-Ran) – Kyan’s mortal husband, and father to Odu, Dafuar and their six daughters.
Pixies – Small, flying, fanged creatures with razor-sharp teeth, long claws and red eyes. With a penchant for creating mischief and an appetite for blood, they answer to the bidding of Madhea or her daughters.
Rowlen Jägerrson – Alec and Markus’s cruel, drunk father.
Ryne – Ice dweller who tries to convince his people that the ice is melting. Jon’s son and Ura’s brother.
The Sacred Stones – Seven stones, each one possessing the spirit of the fallen goddess, Kyan, and her six daughters.
The Shifting Sands – A land with a hostile, dry climate, which serves as a sanctuary from the witches.
Sindrí – One of Kyan’s daughters turned to stone by Madhea.
Slog – A slow, lazy ice animal, very similar to a modern sloth. Eats ice mites.
Soaring Perch – Fat, winged fish that swim in The Danae River, beneath the glacier.
Snowbear – Similar to a Polar Bear. These bears can be found all along the glacier, Ice Mountain and, occasionally, south of Adolan.
Tar – Ryne’s loyal dog companion. Think of an Alaskan Husky.
Tehra – Their world.
Ura – Ice dweller. Jon’s daughter and Ryne’s sister.
Ven Johan – Bane’s beefy cousin who does his bidding.
Werewood Forest – An enchanted forest, halfway between Adolan and Aloa-Shay.
Zier – The dwarf trader.
TARA WEST
TARA WEST WRITES BOOKS about dragons, witches, and handsome heroes while eating chocolate, lots and lots of chocolate. She's willing to share her dragons, witches, and heroes. Keep your hands off her chocolate. A former high school English teacher, Tara is now a full-time writer and graphic artist. She enjoys spending time with her family, interacting with her fans, and fishing the Texas coast.
Awards include: Dragon Song, Grave Ellis 2015 Readers Choice Award, Favorite Fantasy Romance
Divine and Dateless, 2015 eFestival of Words, Best Romance
Damned and Desirable, 2014 Coffee Time Romance Book of the Year
Sophie's Secret, selected by The Duff and Paranormal V Activity movies and Wattpad recommended reading lists
Curse of the Ice Dragon, Best Action/Adventure 2013 eFestival of Words
Hang out with her on her Facebook fan page at: https://www.facebook.com/tarawestauthor
Or check out her website: www.tarawest.com
She loves to hear from her readers at: [email protected]