Lore of the Wilds (Lore of the Wilds #1)

by Analeigh Sbrana

For those who seek magic within the pages of a book

Lore Alemeyu collected stories like the raven that lived above the apothecary hoarded shiny pebbles.

The fear—the panic—was false. A spell. Some disgusting magic, no doubt placed here centuries ago by the Alytherians to stop the humans from leaving.

I, Lore Alemeyu, vow to always keep my gaze to the heavens. I will search and search so that I might be the one to lead my people home to Shahassa, where we belong.

“I don’t see any ladies here. Just a little mouse with a shockingly filthy mouth.”

“My favorite stories are the ones I can escape into. The ones where I can leave behind this bleak existence and be somebody else, even if just for a little while. Someone braver than me. Someone with the power to change their circumstances.”

When she opened her eyes, she spotted a fox sitting at the edge of the garden wall. Its bright, keen eyes followed her back and forth, back and forth.

“Yes, I did.” Finndryl’s voice was quiet as he spoke. “And I’ll kill you for touching her.”

Rereading a favorite book was like coming home after a long time away.

“We can speak about this more when I return. Just don’t leave m— Don’t leave again.”