Title: Tides of Magic
Age and Genre: Adult Epic Fantasy
Word Count: 104,000
Age and Genre: Adult Epic Fantasy
Word Count: 104,000
Query:
Elena Tarbon never dreamed she would become an Empress at only twenty-six winters past, but neither had she imagined committing mass murder.
Fear grips her town as the advent of magic in the land causes mysterious deaths. With nothing but gems connecting the events, vengeful villagers blame Elena’s father for assisting in the escape of the town jeweler, and hang him. But when Elena discovers that she can control the magic in all jewels, she unleashes her own brand of justice, banishing non-magic folk from the town. Standing as a messiah for nascent sorcerers being persecuted throughout the land, she raises the city of Ianthine as their safe haven.
Her upstart rule draws the ire of other states of the empire. A war is stalled by the nobility-hating prince of the ruling regime, Fabius Throdden, who wants to make up for breaking her heart ten years ago. Elena finds it hard to rebuff the ever-persistent and charming prince’s advances, especially when he claims he had no idea that she was even alive.
With political unrest against both Ianthine and the Throddens rising, accepting Fabius’ offer to run away and abandon their respective rules seems the obvious choice; until the elder prince of the Throddens turns up with an army of monsters capable of draining magic. Running away would mean getting her soul-mate back at the cost of deserting her people, yet the only way she can defend them is to draw from gems buried so deep, it could literally shatter the land.
Fear grips her town as the advent of magic in the land causes mysterious deaths. With nothing but gems connecting the events, vengeful villagers blame Elena’s father for assisting in the escape of the town jeweler, and hang him. But when Elena discovers that she can control the magic in all jewels, she unleashes her own brand of justice, banishing non-magic folk from the town. Standing as a messiah for nascent sorcerers being persecuted throughout the land, she raises the city of Ianthine as their safe haven.
Her upstart rule draws the ire of other states of the empire. A war is stalled by the nobility-hating prince of the ruling regime, Fabius Throdden, who wants to make up for breaking her heart ten years ago. Elena finds it hard to rebuff the ever-persistent and charming prince’s advances, especially when he claims he had no idea that she was even alive.
With political unrest against both Ianthine and the Throddens rising, accepting Fabius’ offer to run away and abandon their respective rules seems the obvious choice; until the elder prince of the Throddens turns up with an army of monsters capable of draining magic. Running away would mean getting her soul-mate back at the cost of deserting her people, yet the only way she can defend them is to draw from gems buried so deep, it could literally shatter the land.
First 250:
Elena handed the child back his jeweled yoyo as a flash of yellow streaked past the window, a black jet of smoke trailing behind. Acrid fumes seeped in.
Her auburn hair came undone as Elena pressed her face to the window. At twenty-six winters past, she had handled many unpleasant people. But her heart pounded at the sight of the raucous mob gathered in front of the shop.
The flames crackled as smoldering embers of straw floated down. Elena picked up the two-year old and burst out of the shop. Fire shot though the thatched roof as two more torches landed. She clasped her master’s child closer, though he remained engrossed in the glittering blue and red toy.
“You can’t burn down the shop!” Elena shouted to the rambunctious crowd. “Have you people lost your mind?”
“Stay out of it, Elena. Dirma must pay for what he’s done.” Hogarth raised his left hand and waved her to move away.
Elena wasn’t surprised to see the burly farmer among the mob. She looked around for a sympathetic face in the throng but icy eyes fueled with rage stared back at her. “He didn’t do anything. None of us know how all of this is happening, least of all, Dirma,” she pleaded, wrapping her left arm around the child tightly.
“Tell that to Samuise Lothar.” Hogarth grabbed her free hand and pulled her away from the shop. “You didn’t have to look at the horror of his body turned to ice.”
Her auburn hair came undone as Elena pressed her face to the window. At twenty-six winters past, she had handled many unpleasant people. But her heart pounded at the sight of the raucous mob gathered in front of the shop.
The flames crackled as smoldering embers of straw floated down. Elena picked up the two-year old and burst out of the shop. Fire shot though the thatched roof as two more torches landed. She clasped her master’s child closer, though he remained engrossed in the glittering blue and red toy.
“You can’t burn down the shop!” Elena shouted to the rambunctious crowd. “Have you people lost your mind?”
“Stay out of it, Elena. Dirma must pay for what he’s done.” Hogarth raised his left hand and waved her to move away.
Elena wasn’t surprised to see the burly farmer among the mob. She looked around for a sympathetic face in the throng but icy eyes fueled with rage stared back at her. “He didn’t do anything. None of us know how all of this is happening, least of all, Dirma,” she pleaded, wrapping her left arm around the child tightly.
“Tell that to Samuise Lothar.” Hogarth grabbed her free hand and pulled her away from the shop. “You didn’t have to look at the horror of his body turned to ice.”
Fantastic! Please send the full manuscript to submit@jollyfishpress.com and address it to Reece Hanzon and Kely Thompson so we don't miss it. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI'd love to read this for Carina! You can find instructions and guidelines here: http://carinapress.com/blog/submission-guidelines/
ReplyDeleteAnd please mention Son of a Pitch in your query letter. :)
Thank you!
Stephanie