Set

Haven

by Joel Shepherd

Published 1 January 1960
The Army of the Regent Arosh advances on the forces loyal to Saalshen, homeland of the serrin people, as the serrin's friends are in full retreat. Their only hope is to reach the city of Jahnd - the serrin word for Haven - across the River Ipshaal, the only human city in Saalshen itself. The Army of Lenayin marches with the Regent, but Sasha, sister of the newly crowned King Koenyg, can no longer stomach the awful cause for which her people march. As tensions between herself and her brothers rise, Sasha's sister Sofy, wedded to the Regent, travels to the city of Tracato, to attempt to negotiate a peaceful transition of its wonderful heritage of her husband's rule. But there are forces beneath the Regent's banner that wish to see all serrin and serrin-influenced civilisation destroyed for good. As the serrin people fight for survival, families must be betrayed, enemies reconciled, nations persuaded and great armies fought, as A Trial of Blood and Steel reaches its dramatic conclusion.

Set

Petrodor

by Joel Shepherd

Published 1 July 2008
Sasha, the wilful but talented heroine, returns to battle in Joel Shepherd s stunning second volume of A Trial of Blood & Steel quartet. Away from the hills of her Lenayin homeland, Sasha is making a new life in the dark alleys and wealthy houses of Petrodor. An influential trading centre, Petrodor holds the key to preventing the coming war between Lenayin and the mighty Bacosh. Together with her old mentor Kessligh, Sasha attempts to navigate the political intrigues of the port city and find a way to stop the war. It is the serrin, the beautiful but dangerous people from beyond the Bacosh, who will be pivotal in this struggle. How much can Sasha trust her old serrin friend Errollyn? And how much can she trust herself? Praise for the first book, Sasha Sasha is an original and fresh heroic fantasy, showcasing a well drawn, well realised world filled with fascinating, three dimensional characters who pulled me in for the ride and carried me away. www.andromedaspaceways.com Shepherd paints such vivid pictures that I became totally absorbed. His characters effortlessly draw you into their thought and conversations. aurealisXpress