Death’s Reckoning by Quinn Thomas
Death’s ReckoningMortal Aspects Book OneQuinn Thomas
Genre: Epic FantasyPublisher: Ebbing Neptune Publishing Date of Publication: July 18, 2023ISBN: 979-8390605110ASIN: B0BRWW31XHNumber of pages: 419Word Count: ~125k
Tagline: The power of the dead gods is held by mere mortals. When the Aspect of Death, thought to be the last neutral force in the world, joins the struggle, he promises to bring an end to their wars by any means necessary.
Book Description:
The battle for power is fierce in a world where mortals wield the strength of dead gods in this first book of a high-stakes epic fantasy series from Quinn Thomas.
A thousand years ago, the immortals were slain, their power passed down to a chosen few known as aspects. The competition between noble families for control of these aspects has plunged the land into a never-ending cycle of war and bloodshed.
The Tevulun family has been driven to the brink of extinction by the most recent war. When Tarana Tevulun, who possesses the abilities of Calamity, learns of her family's intention to murder her, she flees with the assistance of a band of mercenaries. The Tevulun’s enemy, the Ma’isans, take advantage of her absence to advance and besiege the capital city of Vicrum. Tarana returns to fight for the city, but faces a difficult challenge due to the involvement of the mortal aspect of Death – thought to be the sole remaining neutral aspect.
Meanwhile, a young soldier named Micol deserts the army after his first taste of battle. When he ends up in the besieged city of Vicrum, he finds himself embroiled with a group of outlaws. Thrust into a world of thieves and rebels, he must confront his deepest fears and make a decision that will change his life forever.
Death's Reckoning is a page-turning epic fantasy for fans of ensemble casts and character-driven plot twists, with echoes of Steven Erikson's Malazan series. Join these mortals as they wield god-like power in a world where even the noblest intentions can lead to destruction.
Available on Amazon
Excerpt
Micol’sblood ran cold. He closed his eyes, concentrating on taking deep breaths. Pleasedon’t let them see us, he prayed to Loss. Please, let them pass by. It’snot supposed to end like this. Please.
Another man stepped into view.Then a third. Their conversation continued, but Micol couldn’t focus on thewords. He was too busy listening to the growing sounds of movement around them.The pounding boots and squelching mud hinted at a larger force than the threemen who had already passed, although he could only guess at how much larger.
At least a half dozen more cameinto view, most of them near Asoka’s hiding place. The three who’d led the waywere nearly out of sight; Micol could barely see their torches through thethick trees. To his left, a glint of light caught his eyes. When he followed itto its source, he nearly collapsed.
Silvery-blue armor covered thewoman from head to toe, flowing around her like water. Every inch of skin wascovered, leaving only a pair of thin slits for her eyes. She was close enoughto Micol to touch. His entire body began to shake, demanding action.
He couldn’t be still anymore. Hisevery fiber screamed one word: escape. He had to get out, but there wasnowhere to go. The beating of his heart raged thunderous in his ears until itfelt like the sound alone would betray him. Cold sweat beaded on his feveredskin. The aspect’s head swung in his direction.
Micol tried to bolt from the tree– away from the aspect – but she reacted faster than he would have thoughtpossible. Her hand snapped out, stopping his momentum and taking the pair ofthem to the ground. He managed to twist in time to see her liberating a rusteddagger from its sheath.
From out of sight, he heard thegroan of a bowstring. The aspect’s dagger plunged toward his chest, but beforeit could strike the tip of an arrow spiked through one of the slits in herhelm. Its force pushed her off him, and Micol took his chance. He was on hisfeet in an instant, running away from the group of soldiers.
He met Asoka’s wide-eyed stare;the other boy still held his bow in a ready position. Time stood still for asolitary moment before Micol broke the contact.
Bodies thudded; wood cracked fromout of Micol’s view. “Got him!” he heard someone say. “He doesn’t look like anassassin to me.”
Micol kept running. He heard thefootsteps of several men behind him, but he didn’t dare stop to check theirprogress.
“Get the other one!” someone elseshouted.
“Over there! He’s headed towardthe undergrowth!”
Micol fell into a row of densebushes, forcing himself through. Branches and thorns tore at his skin andclothes, but he paid them little mind. The men chasing him reached the bushes amoment after he broke through the other side.
His days on the streets of Vicrumcame back to him, lessons born from a thousand beatings doled out by thoseolder and larger.There was always someone faster, someone stronger. But Micolhad had one advantage: he was willing to go further. A path ahead promised easyescape, but instead of heading for it he plunged deeper into the undergrowth.
A thick root tripped Micol,sending him toppling head-over-heels down a stream bed. He hissed as a flare ofpain shot up from his ankle; he inched toward the running water, but a soundcame a moment later that stopped him cold.
“Micol!” a distant voice cried.Asoka’s voice. “Help! Please help me!” The pitiful cry was like an icy knifeplunged into his lungs.
He didn’t makeit out, Micolthought. I didn’t even stop to think about helping him escape. He roseto his knees, taking stock of the situation. He’d lost his bow when the aspecthad taken him, which left the small hunting knife on his belt as his onlyweapon.
“Help! Oh, aspects, please!”
Micol knew what he was supposedto do. The stories soldiers shared were full of such scenarios; if he had beenthe hero in one of those stories, he would have drawn his knife and carved apath of blood back to his friend to save him. The men searching for him weregetting close, and he knew he had to make his decision soon.
A sound like an axe hitting atree echoed through the forest, sending a morbid shiver down Micol’s spine. Hesummoned all of his courage, but it wasn’t enough. He turned back to the streamand jumped in, letting the water carry him away.
About the Author:Quinn Thomas is an Epic Fantasy author and occasional pool shark from Denver, Colorado. When she’s not writing stories about people thrust into situations that turn them into heroes (or more frequently, villains), she’s wrestling her 100-lb labrador retriever. Her favorite fantasy series is Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson.
Things Quinn has tried exactly once and wants to mention because she thinks they make her seem cool: skydiving, surfing, paddle-boarding, yoga.
Things Quinn has tried several times and wants to mention because they make her seem less cool: eating Cheetos on the couch while wearing yoga pants, tripping on her own feet, singing karaoke songs completely sober.
Website: https://quinn-thomas.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/29763228.Quinn_Thomas
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Quinn-Thomas/author/B0BS493VHK
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