The Maiden of Caldara: An Epic Fantasy

by Mackenzie Friel, Nikki Chris (Illustrator)

“Silas, you must travel to the tall mountains of the west. There you will find a maiden with fire in her eyes. You must bring her back no matter the cost; only she can save us now.”
Silas has never known peace. War against the Magic Keeper of Darkness has plagued Caldara for over fifty cycles. Their numbers dwindle with each passing day. But there is hope. A spark to ignite the fire, or so his father believes. Silas’ quest for a mysterious maiden leads him down a road of secrets and lies. Old wounds are reopened, new battle lines are drawn. The fate of Caldara lies in the hands of a man who yearns for a peaceful life, and a maiden who has nothing else to lose.
The Maiden of Caldara is pulsing with action from start to finish. Embark on the journey to discover more about the world of Caldara; from the people who reside within its lands, to the Magic Keepers who demand their respect.

249 pages, Paperback

Published January 6, 2021

About the author

Mackenzie Friel is a lover of all things sci-fi and fantasy related. With a strong imagination at a young age, she has honed her creative skills to bring worlds to life. Taking a variety of courses online, she can dive deeper into the world of fiction. Mackenzie resides in Virginia with her husband, two children, and cats.

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Reviews

[Lina · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The story begins during a very dark time in our history…”

Caldara has been at war for many cycles. Kieran, a Magic Keeper, has tormented the land, threatening to wipe out every person in existence. Silas, son of Lord Cassius, has not known a time without war. He is sent to find the one person who might be able to save them all; the maiden of Caldara.

I really enjoyed this book! It is well written, and I reveled in the story. I was tentative of the love aspect at first; worried that Silas and the maiden would fall in love. Not that that would have been bad, but terribly cliche. That definitely did not end up being a concern, though.

I enjoyed the Magic Keepers, how they each had their own element. Although my beliefs are monotheistic, I have a slight obsession with polytheism in books. I’m not sure that all of the Magic Keepers were intended to be gods, but that’s how I read them. I liked how each Magic Keeper we met had its own personality (and picture in the back of the book!).

I really enjoyed this book, I can’t wait for more from Mackenzie!

[Jennifer Beverage · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It has a medieval time frame, but in a different world, but not alien. (Think Lord of The Rings) We join Silas on a journey to save his people from the evil Kieran who has been tormenting the land for many years. He is a determined young man who will stop at nothing to overcome these horrendous and never ceasing attacks. Enough is enough, and Silas has the courage to fight for the safety and lives of his people.

Filled with historical background, fear, violence, humor, mystery, magic, adventure and a hint of love, this story will become a treasure on your bookshelf.

[Dan Kenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of fantasy and this was a perfect itch to that scratch. First of all, it was very fast paced, and the shorter chapters made it easier to read more quickly. The loved the intrigue with the Maiden herself, but the main character was very relatable. That, plus the addition of the Magic Keepers kept me glued until the last page!

[John Friel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book! Epic action from start to finish. I absolutely love this book!

[C. D'Arc · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting world and character relationships.