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The Sword of Rhiannon #1
Tree of Bone and Mist
Looking for clues to a past she cannot remember, Rhiannon stumbles into a dangerous new world. Can she survive the evil that hunts her long enough to fulfill her destiny?
**This book has been previously published as The Empress of Ventra**
Suffering from vivid nightmares, Rhiannon Kossi is sure that she’s been lied to about her childhood. Seeking the answers to long forgotten questions, she is mysteriously taken from her quiet, simple life on a Montana cattle ranch and thrust into a new, violent world where she is forced to either fight or die. In her quest for answers to her past Rhiannon must accept hard truths that will forever change the course of her life…that is, if she can stay alive.
Get lost in this fantastic journey through a breathtaking world of legendary battles, dangerous quests, an ancient prophecy, forbidden love, and brutal self-discovery in book one of the new page turning epic fantasy series, The Sword of Rhiannon: Tree of Bone and Mist. Buy Tree of Bone and Mist today.
**This book has been previously published as The Empress of Ventra**
Suffering from vivid nightmares, Rhiannon Kossi is sure that she’s been lied to about her childhood. Seeking the answers to long forgotten questions, she is mysteriously taken from her quiet, simple life on a Montana cattle ranch and thrust into a new, violent world where she is forced to either fight or die. In her quest for answers to her past Rhiannon must accept hard truths that will forever change the course of her life…that is, if she can stay alive.
Get lost in this fantastic journey through a breathtaking world of legendary battles, dangerous quests, an ancient prophecy, forbidden love, and brutal self-discovery in book one of the new page turning epic fantasy series, The Sword of Rhiannon: Tree of Bone and Mist. Buy Tree of Bone and Mist today.
- GenresFantasy
338 pages, Paperback
Published April 9, 2018
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
April 10, 2019
"Where did you come from Rhiannon Kossi?"
Lost in long forgotten memories, she almost did not hear him. Finally, she looked up at him as he turned towards her in realization that she had heard his question. "I'm from the other side of that tree," she said just as quietly.
Gods! What a story! I loved this fantastic book that ended with a spectacular cliff-hanger.
I loved this amazing book about a main character who knows how to stand up for herself. The story managed to surprise me multiple times. And the setting is absolutelly magical. The way author describes it... it felt like I was there. I highly recommend this compelling read.
Lost in long forgotten memories, she almost did not hear him. Finally, she looked up at him as he turned towards her in realization that she had heard his question. "I'm from the other side of that tree," she said just as quietly.
Gods! What a story! I loved this fantastic book that ended with a spectacular cliff-hanger.
I loved this amazing book about a main character who knows how to stand up for herself. The story managed to surprise me multiple times. And the setting is absolutelly magical. The way author describes it... it felt like I was there. I highly recommend this compelling read.
February 7, 2017
The book was great, witty dialog and a fantastic setting!
February 17, 2018
The cover of this book is totally awesome, and it goes along with the book exceedingly well. I can totally see the characters on the cover, just as I imagined them. And the two fit perfectly together.
However, I did want to mention something I discovered on Amazon with the listing of this book. It has asterisks and has stated that this book has been previously published as: “The Empress of Ventra.” Therefore, I wanted to put that in here, as a heads up.
Rhiannon Kossi is the main character in this book, and she feels that she has been lied to all through her childhood. Why does she feel this way? Because she is suffering from these nightmares, that keep calling to her, and wanting her attention.
Rhiannon was living on a nice secluded cattle ranch in Montana, where she dealt with the nightmarish memories of wonder.
Until one day she gets forced into a new World where violence forces her to fight to survive. Nothing like she expected, she is forced to discover truths about herself, and try to survive.
Through the discovery of prophecy, legends and worlds and truths, Rhiannon even manages to find forbidden love, as she discovers herself along the way.
Rhiannon is forced to learn rights and wrongs, and see the light of day through passageways, wants, desires, needs, survival, and discovery.
The descriptions of the World, the people, the life, the needs, and everything throughout this book was just so powerful, it was like you are right there. And the characters are just so unique, not the everyday characters. I like that the elven characters are seemingly a more specific kind, that makes them unique from any other.
This book was truly a five-star enjoyable read. I loved every minute of it, through and through. It was fascinating clear to the end! Definitely an enjoyable read!
However, I did want to mention something I discovered on Amazon with the listing of this book. It has asterisks and has stated that this book has been previously published as: “The Empress of Ventra.” Therefore, I wanted to put that in here, as a heads up.
Rhiannon Kossi is the main character in this book, and she feels that she has been lied to all through her childhood. Why does she feel this way? Because she is suffering from these nightmares, that keep calling to her, and wanting her attention.
Rhiannon was living on a nice secluded cattle ranch in Montana, where she dealt with the nightmarish memories of wonder.
Until one day she gets forced into a new World where violence forces her to fight to survive. Nothing like she expected, she is forced to discover truths about herself, and try to survive.
Through the discovery of prophecy, legends and worlds and truths, Rhiannon even manages to find forbidden love, as she discovers herself along the way.
Rhiannon is forced to learn rights and wrongs, and see the light of day through passageways, wants, desires, needs, survival, and discovery.
The descriptions of the World, the people, the life, the needs, and everything throughout this book was just so powerful, it was like you are right there. And the characters are just so unique, not the everyday characters. I like that the elven characters are seemingly a more specific kind, that makes them unique from any other.
This book was truly a five-star enjoyable read. I loved every minute of it, through and through. It was fascinating clear to the end! Definitely an enjoyable read!
January 4, 2017
To be honest it has been some times since I’ve sat down and actually read something and not have had it read to me. I really like audiobooks, blame it on the mom in me. But reading this book has reminded me that reading word for word makes you pay attention more thoroughly than you would otherwise to detail. Even if that were not the case I imagine I would still have enjoyed this novel immensely and have it imprinted in my mind for a long time to come.
I cannot wait till the sequel is written.
The Empress of Ventra, is not usual my haunt. I'm into romance novels all the way. This hardly had any of that in it, but it didn't much need it. I was caught up in all the roadblocks Rhiannon had to go through from page one, the connections she made along the way, and the overall splendor of being thrust into her world.
Easily the richest thing I've read in a while.
I cannot wait till the sequel is written.
The Empress of Ventra, is not usual my haunt. I'm into romance novels all the way. This hardly had any of that in it, but it didn't much need it. I was caught up in all the roadblocks Rhiannon had to go through from page one, the connections she made along the way, and the overall splendor of being thrust into her world.
Easily the richest thing I've read in a while.
February 10, 2017
Be ready to fall in love with this world that Melissa E. Beckwith has created! The characters are well-developed, and the dialogue is witty! I absolutely love the banter between Flath and Rhiannon. There are interesting settings and lore to be devoured in this epic fantasy. I am so looking forward to reading more!
July 20, 2017
Dnf'd pretty quick, maybe chapter 3. Descriptions were either over or under done. Things were confusing and rushed. It struggled to keep my attention, then i gave up. Interesting premise, but i think the author needs some better editors and feedback.
March 19, 2018
American author, Melissa E. Beckwith is off to a roaring start with her enchanting Celtic fantasy, Tree of Bone and Mist. This is her second novel - the sequel to Flight of the Raven. Although her scenic, poetic writing is categorized under science fiction and fantasy, it also appeals to romance and mystery readers.
Lurking in the Forest Folk village of Ghroc is the shape-shifting, murderous wanna-be dark queen, Baobh. She is searching for the central jewel missing from an ancient necklace she stole. Once the gem is in its rightful spot, Baobh will have immeasurable powers. She has kidnapped a man in the hopes his daughter will come for him.
Enter the six-foot-tall, beautiful protagonist, Rhiannon. She is as mysterious as the lyrics in her namesake song by Stevie Nicks.
Rhiannon Kossi strays from her Montana ranch in search of her father who mysteriously disappeared. Deep in a forest, she accidentally accesses a route to Baobh’s world (hence the title of the book) and that’s only the beginning! Other-worldly characters like elves, giants, gypsies and soldiers appear, as well as Rhiannon’s pet wolf, her great stallion, Zellan and a winged cat-like beast called a pax. During her tireless search, she falls in love and discovers her destiny; her calling and the reason she was born.
The theme of good and evil is alive and well in this passionate story of vengeance and heirship. This is a truly magical adventure; it’s a world where men wear chain mail and swords and a knife-carrying woman cannot escape her birthright. I enjoyed this modern, mid-evil romp in all its splendor and was sorry to encounter a cliff-hanger ending. Mature and young adult readers who enjoy clean fantasy should not miss Tree of Bone and Mist. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.
Lurking in the Forest Folk village of Ghroc is the shape-shifting, murderous wanna-be dark queen, Baobh. She is searching for the central jewel missing from an ancient necklace she stole. Once the gem is in its rightful spot, Baobh will have immeasurable powers. She has kidnapped a man in the hopes his daughter will come for him.
Enter the six-foot-tall, beautiful protagonist, Rhiannon. She is as mysterious as the lyrics in her namesake song by Stevie Nicks.
Rhiannon Kossi strays from her Montana ranch in search of her father who mysteriously disappeared. Deep in a forest, she accidentally accesses a route to Baobh’s world (hence the title of the book) and that’s only the beginning! Other-worldly characters like elves, giants, gypsies and soldiers appear, as well as Rhiannon’s pet wolf, her great stallion, Zellan and a winged cat-like beast called a pax. During her tireless search, she falls in love and discovers her destiny; her calling and the reason she was born.
The theme of good and evil is alive and well in this passionate story of vengeance and heirship. This is a truly magical adventure; it’s a world where men wear chain mail and swords and a knife-carrying woman cannot escape her birthright. I enjoyed this modern, mid-evil romp in all its splendor and was sorry to encounter a cliff-hanger ending. Mature and young adult readers who enjoy clean fantasy should not miss Tree of Bone and Mist. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.
May 18, 2018
I must admit I am completely in love with the writing of Melissa E. Beckwith, her characters are so charismatic and her descriptions both of the forests and of the cities are magical, I also love the way she weaves her tale with myth and magic and creatures also from myth around the rebellion and the battle scenes. Rhiannon is transported from Montana where she lived during our current time through the Jar Tree to a land of magic and forest creatures where she discovers that she is part of a long foretold prophecy. She travels with her wolf Luna and a Pax who also has magical powers and her stallion Zellan, she is captured by the head of the rebellion, a gypsy called Flath and whilst held captive discovers not only what she truly is and what is expected of her but that she is more emotionally involved with Flath than would be acceptable. Rhiannon garners loyalty from those around her without even trying, Tim becomes her protector and shadows her every move. She also held the stone, given to her by her mother before she died and which the evil queen Boabh was looking for, to become all powerful. This is the wonderful story of Rhiannon who though she fought the prophecy with all her might had to finally start remembering who she had really been in her childhood and to come into her own as the empress of the Archigos! Can she reclaim her throne and defeat Baobh, the woman who had killed her mother so many years ago? What a beautiful book, written with so much wisdom about woman's lore. Love the poems at the start of every chapter, they are so very apt! Dying to continue the series, so on to book 2 and all those who love fantasy, magic and great battles will definitely love this series!
May 23, 2018
Having become aquainted with Boabh, the now evil queen of Beaynid,and her upbringing in Raven, a prequel to this series, it is great to revisit the land and become better associated with the other citizens of the realm. It is widely diverse and Melissa E. Beckwith creates it before our eyes in vivid detail.
We first meet Rhiannon in modern day Montana where she has been raised. Any assosiation with her past has been lost in her memory but lately she has been haunted by horrifying nightmares of being swallowed by a mysterious tree. When her father goes missing, she encounters the tree in the mountain forest and entres through it to a portal leading her to her lost home of Beaynid, another world, in search of her father.
She is met with capture and escape, atlernately from both the queen's army and the rebel alliance that fights Baobh. Filled with visions of retuning memories from her childhood as she ecounters familiar places, her wolf, Luna, and stallion, Zellan, are her only solace. Rhiannon fights her destiny even when she hears of a prophecy regarding her future. Yet she is drawn to the rebel alliance and the man who leads it, Flath, as he is drawn to her.
Will Rhiannon accept who she is and go to her mother's people of the Achigo? Will she stand to defeat the evil that has taken over the land of Beaynid as the prophecy fortold?
This is the beginning of an epic tale with chaismatic chacters that will grow and devlop along with it! Start here or with its prequel Raven and you won't be able to wait for the next!
We first meet Rhiannon in modern day Montana where she has been raised. Any assosiation with her past has been lost in her memory but lately she has been haunted by horrifying nightmares of being swallowed by a mysterious tree. When her father goes missing, she encounters the tree in the mountain forest and entres through it to a portal leading her to her lost home of Beaynid, another world, in search of her father.
She is met with capture and escape, atlernately from both the queen's army and the rebel alliance that fights Baobh. Filled with visions of retuning memories from her childhood as she ecounters familiar places, her wolf, Luna, and stallion, Zellan, are her only solace. Rhiannon fights her destiny even when she hears of a prophecy regarding her future. Yet she is drawn to the rebel alliance and the man who leads it, Flath, as he is drawn to her.
Will Rhiannon accept who she is and go to her mother's people of the Achigo? Will she stand to defeat the evil that has taken over the land of Beaynid as the prophecy fortold?
This is the beginning of an epic tale with chaismatic chacters that will grow and devlop along with it! Start here or with its prequel Raven and you won't be able to wait for the next!
June 21, 2017
The Empress of Ventra- The Sword of Rhiannon
Rhiannon believes that there is nothing extraordinary about her. All she wants is to be reunited with her father who has been abruptly snatched away.
The Sword of Rhiannon is a well-written Fantasy by Melissa E Beckwith which draws you into a world of warriors and to a time where nations fight for peace.
Rhiannon's tale is an absorbing one and at no point did I detect any discordant note in the writing or feel the need to skip pages.
Book One is her journey of self- discovery. Her angst, grace under pressure, reluctant acceptance of powers, and the wonder and the bewilderment – all of it has been beautifully brought out by Melissa during the course of her narrative.
The other characters are not ignored, embellishments and trimmings to each character in the story add soul without being overly dramatic.
Read this book for a riveting tale of the coming of age of a reluctant Empress.
Rhiannon believes that there is nothing extraordinary about her. All she wants is to be reunited with her father who has been abruptly snatched away.
The Sword of Rhiannon is a well-written Fantasy by Melissa E Beckwith which draws you into a world of warriors and to a time where nations fight for peace.
Rhiannon's tale is an absorbing one and at no point did I detect any discordant note in the writing or feel the need to skip pages.
Book One is her journey of self- discovery. Her angst, grace under pressure, reluctant acceptance of powers, and the wonder and the bewilderment – all of it has been beautifully brought out by Melissa during the course of her narrative.
The other characters are not ignored, embellishments and trimmings to each character in the story add soul without being overly dramatic.
Read this book for a riveting tale of the coming of age of a reluctant Empress.
January 27, 2018
Rhiannon believes that there is nothing extraordinary about her. All she wants is to be reunited with her father who has been abruptly snatched away. Her search leads her down an unexpected path, one she never imagined.The Sword of Rhiannon is a well-written Fantasy by Melissa E Beckwith which draws you into a world of warriors and to a time where nations fight for peace.
Rhiannon’s tale is an absorbing one describing a world different then our own with it's own set of rules.
Book One is Rhiannon’s journey of self- discovery. The angst of the character, the grace under pressure, reluctant acceptance of powers, and the wonder and the bewilderment – all of it has been beautifully brought out by the author, Melissa during the course of her narrative.
Embellishments to each character add soul and beauty to the story without being overly dramatic.
Read this book for a riveting tale of the coming of age of a reluctant Empress.
Rhiannon’s tale is an absorbing one describing a world different then our own with it's own set of rules.
Book One is Rhiannon’s journey of self- discovery. The angst of the character, the grace under pressure, reluctant acceptance of powers, and the wonder and the bewilderment – all of it has been beautifully brought out by the author, Melissa during the course of her narrative.
Embellishments to each character add soul and beauty to the story without being overly dramatic.
Read this book for a riveting tale of the coming of age of a reluctant Empress.
May 14, 2018
A seemingly ordinary young woman from our contemporary existence makes a transition to a parallel medieval dimension, much as fiction itself draws readers into another world. In this fantastic setting, replete with prophesies, a royal birthmark, Technicolor flora and fauna, fabulous sunsets, majestic dawns, a powerful magic necklace (from which a single stone can mean the difference between life and death) and an evil queen, the main character finds herself enmeshed in the heart of a titanic struggle between the forces of right and freedom versus tyranny and injustice. Along the way she meets a dashing warrior renegade leading the idealistic outnumbered rebellion who steals her heart and a large flying cat with wings who shows her visions of the future with its third eye. Will Rhiannon realize her destiny as empress of her warrior nation? Can she rescue her father from the clutches of the evil queen? You'll have to read the book to find out.
May 25, 2017
Very strong laundry of what I hope is a truly epic fantasy.
A black stallion, a huge shewolf and a flying feline become heroic characters. A dashing knight helps our heroine accept her identity as a Warrior Empress destined to overthrow the evil women that murdered her mother for a necklace of awesome power an forced her father flee with her to our world. Now a powerful queen, she struggles to kill Rhiannon to take the final stone and complete the necklace give her the ultimate power.
A black stallion, a huge shewolf and a flying feline become heroic characters. A dashing knight helps our heroine accept her identity as a Warrior Empress destined to overthrow the evil women that murdered her mother for a necklace of awesome power an forced her father flee with her to our world. Now a powerful queen, she struggles to kill Rhiannon to take the final stone and complete the necklace give her the ultimate power.
November 21, 2018
I loved the way the descriptions of the things happening and characters are. They put you in a new world full of wonderful and scary things. This is a true must read book. You are transported into a different world with it's quirks and strange creatures. I was captivated by it all. Just glad I didn't go there!!! But the main characters are vivid and alive to you as you read this great story. Can't wait for book 2 to come out!!! Keep up the good work!
November 13, 2019
The first book in The Sword of Rhiannon series is off to a grand start. The world building is great and the characters are brought to life in fantastic detail. We watch Rhiannon grow from a very naive and foolish girl into a young woman. Her rash decisions taking her from one dilemma into another until, at the end, she has finally begun to learn and accepted her destiny. A very engaging page turner that will hold your attention to the last word!
May 24, 2020
I felt unsure of which directions the secretive and indirect narration would take, but the story took hold fast and just like Rhiannon I felt a connexion to this new world, the discovery melting with old memories. I loved how the characters were developed along their journey and trials. And how all was not perfect happiness and showed very real consequences and hurt for the characters. I showed a beautiful but cruel world. A very realistic world.
February 18, 2018
Brilliant start to the series, I struggled to put this one down. Descriptive dialogue melts you away into this fantasy world, some interesting and gripping scenes. Can't wait to get stuck into book number two.
July 14, 2017
2.5 Stars
October 7, 2017
Rhiannon is taken from her ranch and embarks on an adventure of a lifetime. It took me a little while to get into it, but once I did, I enjoyed it. One for fantasy fans.
December 30, 2017
I really, really wanted to like this book but the descriptions were overblown, the characters flat, and the plot convoluted. Maybe if it had gone through some more editing it would be a great read.
January 14, 2018
I like it
Well where do I start, I don't normally read fantasy but thought I'd give this one ago, I found it slow going but after a while I managed to get into the book.
Well where do I start, I don't normally read fantasy but thought I'd give this one ago, I found it slow going but after a while I managed to get into the book.
October 23, 2018
2 stars. Finished but overall this book was filled with too many stupid actions made by too many stupid people in too many unrealistic situations. Won't read sequel.
December 18, 2019
The story is relatively fast paced with descriptions that make it very easy to picture the country side and the people in this story. Very enjoyable.
February 24, 2020
Wonderful book and a fun read
March 20, 2017
If you can read any high fantasy novel and enjoy it, give THE EMPRESS OF VENTRA a try. Otherwise, you might be disappointed.
Read the rest of this review at UndergroundBookReviews dot org
Read the rest of this review at UndergroundBookReviews dot org
March 13, 2017
From Underground Book Reviews.
The book got better as it went along, in part because the more I read, the less I was confused by the book’s world, and in part because as the book went on, [main character] Rhiannon stopped making such obviously bad decisions. Some of the side-characters were enjoyable, especially those in [other main character] Flath’s merry band of rebels. Typos did become distracting after a while (e.g., the “long line of massive bowel-like alters”). If you can read any high fantasy novel and enjoy it, give THE EMPRESS OF VENTRA a try. Otherwise, you might be disappointed...
Read the complete review on Underground Book Reviews: https://www.undergroundbookreviews.or...
The book got better as it went along, in part because the more I read, the less I was confused by the book’s world, and in part because as the book went on, [main character] Rhiannon stopped making such obviously bad decisions. Some of the side-characters were enjoyable, especially those in [other main character] Flath’s merry band of rebels. Typos did become distracting after a while (e.g., the “long line of massive bowel-like alters”). If you can read any high fantasy novel and enjoy it, give THE EMPRESS OF VENTRA a try. Otherwise, you might be disappointed...
Read the complete review on Underground Book Reviews: https://www.undergroundbookreviews.or...
March 13, 2017
"The Empress of Ventra" is an enjoyable, light fantasy novel.
Pretty good.
Pretty good.
February 27, 2017
I enjoyed this book very much. It was refreshingly different for me. I often read time travel romance, time travel sci-fi, sword and sorcery romance and historical romance. I rarely read fantasy. The combination of all these elements worked really well in the story. Rhiannon is an easily likeable character, with a love, respect and compassion for animals, humans and shape-shifters. Her quest to find her father is admirable. The ending nicely set up book two. I received a free kindle format copy of this book. This is an honest review.
February 16, 2017
A great first novel! The story kept me interested and the cliffhanger ending keeps me waiting for the next book in the series. The story flows quickly, though you do have to get through some overly flowery prose at times, which is a bit distracting. However, I really think this book was a fun read overall and look forward to the rest of the series!
February 2, 2017
The Empress of Ventra, book one in The Sword of Rhiannon series, is the debut fantasy novel by Melissa E. Beckwith. This is a crossover epic fantasy series that brings Rhiannon Kossi from our modern-day world over to a fantasy world of Ventra and Beaynid.
Like most crossover fantasy the protagonist must first come to terms and accept the strange new world she finds herself in. She knows only that her father has been kidnapped and she must free him from the usurper queen who holds the realm of Beaynid under her evil rule. Along the way, she discovers her heritage and a man to love. The novel provides a fast-paced series of events that push Rhiannon to discover her inner strengths. All the while flashbacks of a previous life, long forgotten, emerge to bind her to this new world.
As a debut novel, the author hits the right notes and provides a compelling story I found leaving me wanting to know more. The characters are early in their development and no doubt will become more complex as the story develops.
I have always enjoyed crossover fantasy from authors such as Joel Rosenberg and Stephen R. Donaldson. It has been a while since I’ve read one and I welcomed Beckwith’s tale. I must mention that the story suffers from several editing errors but I suspect that will soon be corrected. This is a good start to a new series.
Disclaimer: I have met Melissa E. Beckwith in the Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors Facebook public group because I am also an author. This was a freely purchased novel on my part with my review freely given without solicitation.
Like most crossover fantasy the protagonist must first come to terms and accept the strange new world she finds herself in. She knows only that her father has been kidnapped and she must free him from the usurper queen who holds the realm of Beaynid under her evil rule. Along the way, she discovers her heritage and a man to love. The novel provides a fast-paced series of events that push Rhiannon to discover her inner strengths. All the while flashbacks of a previous life, long forgotten, emerge to bind her to this new world.
As a debut novel, the author hits the right notes and provides a compelling story I found leaving me wanting to know more. The characters are early in their development and no doubt will become more complex as the story develops.
I have always enjoyed crossover fantasy from authors such as Joel Rosenberg and Stephen R. Donaldson. It has been a while since I’ve read one and I welcomed Beckwith’s tale. I must mention that the story suffers from several editing errors but I suspect that will soon be corrected. This is a good start to a new series.
Disclaimer: I have met Melissa E. Beckwith in the Science Fiction and Fantasy Authors Facebook public group because I am also an author. This was a freely purchased novel on my part with my review freely given without solicitation.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews