Lydia Redwine's Blog: Lemma Beans Books, page 2

Why You Should Read Spirit Followers

Spirit Followers, if you do not already know, is a book that I began writing at age thirteen. This book was the most cliche fantasy story you would have ever read. It would have been a female version of Lord of the Rings meets The Last Airbenber (which sounds awesome) except it was nothing really original. Since then, I have developed the story of Camaria Brair and others in a world where two crowns (The Instruments of Sacrifice) are the major magical artifacts.

Tolkien and Lewis once said that they wrote the books that they wanted to read. I did not realize until I was 11 years old that they stories in my head were only real in my head. The only way they could exist outside my head was if I wrote it. That is how Eva Goes Swimming for Hope was born.

And now Spirit Followers, the first in a fantasy series, is to be released quite soon! Below is a summery and 10 reasons why this should be your next read.

Spirit Followers summery:

When a Royal dies, the realms elect the one to take their place. By reasons Camaria does not know, her realm elects her as the next Royal. Now that she is the new-found sixteenth Royal of the nation of Mirabelle, Cam embarks on a journey with her sisters and a young huntsman to the four realms of the nation to complete training in the four kinds of magic. Once she has completed this training, she will then be permitted to consume her annual amount of magic and possess manifested powers. Her ventures are unexpectedly steeped in precarious events when Cam discovers a secret plan of revolt, a past she never knew, and an ancient people group thought dead who call themselves the Spirit Followers.

Reasons you should read Spirit Followers: (Not to brag or anything…I mean this might just be a total piece of crap…but I wouldn’t write anything I didn’t love myself)

Instruments of Sacrifice is a high fantasy series with not one, not two, but THREE magic systems that all intertwine, correlate, are not ubber complicated, and are well explained throughout the series. Plus, these magic systems have rules, regulations, and limits which, personally, is a favorite. Originally, this series was going to hold your typical four elements magic kind of deal…I assure you that now, this series holds unique magic systems. I spent hours on end creating their rules and histories.
This series holds a plethora of biblical mythology. Whether you believe in what the Bible has to say or not, there is no denying that the mythology is interesting. The entire concept of the Instruments of Sacrifice was first based off an idea of: What if the crown of thorns we read about in the bible was actually a magical artifact and far more valuable to the death of Christ than we are told? Throw this concept into a fantasy world and you’ve got yourself a well-worth-your-time read. Among other things this series holds mythology on: Leviathan, the Nephilim, Shedim, and great events such as the flood, the exodus from Egypt, the entire book of Daniel, etc. This series holds dark, twisted, bible story retelling. What more could you want?
The series isn’t preachy.  Why would I want to preach when I can tell a story of action, adventure, mystery, murder, and sprinkles of romance instead?
The main relationship in the series is between two sisters. How often do we get this in YA? Um…never…? Never have I ever read a series where this was the main relationship. Yes, romantic relationships exists as do those between parents and children, enemies, frenemies, friends (female and male alike), siblings, and even human and dog.
The story comes chock full of plot twists and turns, big reveals, and ventures to far off lands. 
Book comes with a hand drawn map. Who doesn’t love maps for fantasy worlds?
I turn your typical groan-inducing tropes upside down after making it appear as though it were leading in a direction that would have readers pulling their hair out.
Diversity is apparent and relevant in this series. The majority of characters are not white (though white characters still exists), and these people come from homes and places of diverging world views and beliefs.
The line, “she/he released a breath they didn’t know they were holding,” exists nowhere in any of my writing other than just now.
The world created in this book sprang from my mind rather than a combination of other worlds I’ve read about. (Not that Narnia and Hogwarts are not wonderful) Which makes for a new and interesting world for you to explore.

 

 

Several of the chapters in Spirit Followers is available on wattpad under the username @lemmabeansbooks for you to read for free! For more updates on my writing and the publication of this book visit our bookstagram @lemmabeansbooks

Thank you for reading!

-Lydia (1/2 of Lemma beans)