Ashes and Blood:Dalya Series Book One by Katie Zaber

Tagline: Trapped in another world—what would you do?

Book Description

“I’ll start at the beginning. Long ago, before roads, before we built structures, before medicine was discovered, before the government was created, before man gained any knowledge, there were The Five. Independent from each other, The Five had a mutual respect for one another. They knew their roles in the world and their duty. They were gods…”

An adventure begins when an otherworldly tree captures the attention of Megan and her friends. The environment morphs around them, transferring them to an exotic planet. Stuck in a rural town still maimed by the plague, a chance encounter with a familiar face gives Megan and her friends some security during their adjustment period.

While settling into new, promising lives, they are attacked and stalked by planet Dalya’s humanoid inhabitants, who focus on Megan. One dark night, after an epic, magical attack, the Fae King’s knight is sent to fetch Megan. When she wakes up a prisoner, she learns that there is much more to this strange world, and it is oddly more like her own than she ever would have expected.

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Excerpts from the Book

Here are a few excerpts from the book provided with permission from the author.

Excerpt 1

Megan

It gives me chills to stand in front of the forest that morphed in front of my very eyes. I’m hesitant to walk through the tree line and down the path. The last time I walked down a path for leisure was a week ago. We had planned a picnic. Something simple, always easy to organize and do. It wasn’t hard planning our walk to Brynjar’s cabin today. What could go wrong?

I try hard not to think of all the possible outcomes—from returning to Earth to traveling to a completely new world.

Sarah and Dana were able to walk by without stopping to take notice or reflect. Ciara paused for a moment and then smiled gleefully, saying she had a good feeling.

I don’t. I feel dizzy, angry, and like I need to vomit. I don’t want to do this. I don’t want to go into the woods that changed my life, I don’t want to meet Brynjar, and I don’t want to go back where it all started.

I don’t.

Excerpt 2

Kevin

Every time my life improves, when business runs smoothly and this world begins to feel normal, there’s a curveball. Always, without fail, either Earth-shattering news or Dalya-shattering news, depending on which planet you come from. Don’t get me wrong; I’m glad to see Megan and her friends alive, but they should be living their lives happily on Earth, not here.

Not trapped.

I honestly thought Megan was a hallucination created by too much alcohol. Standing there in the forge, surrounded by people from both worlds, it made me panic. I was positive I’d lost it, that I either drank myself mad or that I’d gone crazy. Two distant worlds collided together, people from my past and present, from two separate places, standing in the same room. It made me freak out to a completely new level. It took a few moments to realize Megan and her friends actually stood in front of me. What happened to me eight years ago happened to them too.

Good, I’m not insane—not yet—but it sucks for Megan and the girls.

Excerpt 3

Megan

Today has been a whirlwind, and I’m not looking forward to tonight. I’m positive the elite members of society will flaunt their latest ensembles. A competition among the wealthy to win a proverbial pat on the back for the best dressed. A sport for the rich. They won’t work up a sweat—that’s for the poor. Instead, they compete with wits and money. Women prancing around wearing cage ball gowns, adorned with priceless jewels. Their main goal is to uncover juicy gossip while competing for the wealthiest bachelor. Men swirling this world’s version of expensive scotch talk business and watch women swoon. It can’t be very different from Earth’s aristocratic affairs, not that I ever attended. Movies and the internet displayed enough information to know what to expect.

I had assumed it would be a rather humdrum affair, but my opinion changes quickly, standing before the colossal golden doors. Realization hits me. I am so naïve.

It feels like I’m walking into a fairy tale, but the darker Brothers Grimm version.

Beautiful, handcrafted, golden double doors depict a grand party. Intricate artwork chiseled into the doors displays two long banquet tables of food, roasts on fancy platters, piles of vegetables, and dainty desserts. Between the buffet tables, people adorned with masquerade attire dance. They wave, inviting everyone to the party. Guests laugh, drink, and enjoy themselves under the watchful king. The artwork depicts the king having fun, but there’s no doubt in my mind that he studies everyone, meticulously watching individuals, judging their personality, appearance, and demeanor while in his presence. A crooked smile peels his lips back—it hints at his sly and cruel nature. I can’t help but look at the doors and realize this is a perfect portrayal of what awaits me.

Instead of a warm welcome, it’s a stern warning.

Excerpt 4

Kevin

The past stings.

I haven’t spoken about my family for years. Knowing that they are alive and remember me brings back too many partial, bittersweet memories. It hurts to think about them. I can’t picture their faces. It makes me sick not to be able to recall Mary, Emily, or my mom’s faces. I can remember most of their characteristics: hair, skin color, and eyes, but I can’t visualize their actual faces. A hard puzzle to put together that grows harder by the day.

It’s all the small details, their freckles and beauty marks. My mom and sister looked a lot alike. They could be twins if not for the twenty-three-year age difference. Both have long, curly strawberry blonde hair, bright green eyes, and their faces are covered in freckles. I used to tease my sister when we were kids. I nicknamed her Spots when she was in elementary school. Funny how I can remember that, but I still can’t picture her face.

My ex-girlfriend Mary, damn she was hot. At least that’s what my memories tell me, though I can’t recall why. I can’t remember any detail of her face, but I can remember she was short, had tan skin, chestnut hair, and was full of energy, a cheerleader. We didn’t date too long, but I had a huge crush on her senior year of high school. We dated right after Valentine’s Day. I remember a couple dates, but they’re more like fuzzy pictures rather than memories.

Those were the good times, hanging out, sneaking beers under the bleachers, watching the cheerleaders practice, bounce, and stretch. Joking with the guys, smoking joints, not having a care in the world.

It was only four months later when Brian, Dave, and I went camping. Damn, I’ve been here too long.

About the Author:

Katie Zaber knows the best way to decide who is cooking dinner is with a Nerf gun fight in the living room. Her boyfriend is an exceptional cook. When she isn’t baking, going to wine tastings, or reading, she’s busy planning her next trip to Six Flags Great Adventure or Long Beach Island, New Jersey. As a child, her mother would read stories about Atlantis and other fictional places that she dreamed of exploring, fueling her love of history, adventure, and fantasy. After spending her days working in a coffee shop, she moved up the ladder getting an office job where she unfortunately was involved in a filing accident. Unable to move, bored out of her mind, and desperate for entertainment, she turned to her imagination and began writing. These days, she finds herself captivated by her many projects and enjoys quiet nights at home.

https://zaberbooks.com/

https://twitter.com/Zaberbooks

https://www.facebook.com/dalyaseries

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53408816-ashes-and-blood

Trapped in another world—what would you do?

An eerie tree captures the attention of Megan and her friends, transporting them to another planet. She quickly learns there is more to this strange world, and it oddly reminds her of home. $0.99 on Amazon #fantasy #newAdult #fantasybook #booklover #ebook #reading #goodreads #magic #magicportals #book https://amzn.to/2QGRYNu

You may find a reading of the story on my YouTube Channel here- https://youtu.be/UEJqQ5fpijQ

Midnight Musings Information

Hello all! I am a former sociology professor who lost her 11 year job at a community college this May. Due to Covid and mine and my mother's health, a traditional job isn't working out as well as I thought that it would.

So, I decided to try my hand at writing here, providing my self care and yoga classes as well as my metaphysical gifts via Zoom.

I am hoping that my hobbies may take off as a full time career. I have 3 Facebook pages for each endeavor and if you could take a moment and give them a like and subscribe to my You Tube channel then this would be very helpful. Thank you in advance.

Visit my author page at Bertena Varney Author on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/bertenavarneyauthor/ for more information on my books.

And visit Midnight Musings Facebook Page here https://www.facebook.com/midnightmusingswithbertena/ to see what metaphysical things that I am up to.

And subscribe to my new YouTube Channel here https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHA5C5qAsXCJXwbNxqjedVQ/

Visit A New You Self Care and Wellness Center Facebook Page https://www.facebook.com/anewyouselfcare/ for my yoga, meditation and other self-care classes .

If you want to support me in helping make my hobbies become my main job simply leave a tip for me then visit my profile here.

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