Reign Returned: The Felserpent Chronicles

by Katie Keridan

Overview

Kyra Valorian is the most gifted Astral healer the golden-blooded realm of Aeles has seen in ages. When tragedy strikes, Kyra discovers she possesses a life-changing gift: she’s a Recovrancer, able to enter the realm of the dead and recover those who’ve died before their time. Unfortunately, recovrancy is outlawed in her realm. Desperate for answers, Kyra will do anything to get them . . . even partner with a dangerous enemy.

Sebastian Sayre is the most sought-after Daeval assassin in all of Nocens. A silver-blooded Pyromancer, he wields fire and dreams of finding Rhannu, a legendary sword that makes its holder invincible. Since the sword was long ago stolen from Nocens and hidden where no Daeval can retrieve it, however, such a dream seems impossible . . . until he encounters the one Astral who might be both able and willing to help him.

As Kyra and Sebastian work together to uncover the secrets of their realms, they also uncover secrets within their own pasts—pasts that are far more intertwined than they ever imagined. Ultimately, in this tale of discovery, destiny, and a love strong enough to outlast time, remembering the past just may prove to be the only way to change the future.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781684631551
Publisher:	SparkPress
Publication date:	09/13/2022
Pages:	376
Product dimensions:	5.50(w) x 8.40(h) x 1.10(d)
Age Range:	13 - 17 Years

About the Author

Katie Keridan made her literary debut at ten years of age when she won a writing contest by crafting a tale about her favorite childhood hero, Hank the Cowdog. After that, Katie continued to write, through college and graduate school and during her career as a pediatric neuropsychologist. While Katie enjoyed being a doctor, scientific research didn’t bring her nearly as much joy as did creating her own characters and worlds, so she slowly left the medical world behind to focus exclusively on writing. In 2018 she self-published a poetry book, Once Upon a Girl, and her work has been featured in Highlights Hello Magazine, The Blue Nib, Youth Imagination Magazine, Red Fez, The Red Penguin Review, Sand Canyon Review, and Every Day Fiction, to name a few. She loves sharing her writing with others who feel different, misunderstood, or alone. Katie lives with her husband and two very demanding cats in San Jose, CA.

Editorial Reviews

2023 National Indie Excellence Awards Finalist in YA Fiction
2022 Foreword INDIES Finalist in Young Adult Fiction
2022 Best Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Young Adult
2022 American Book Fest Best Book Awards YA Fiction Finalist
2023 Reader Views Literary Awards Bronze Award Winner in Young Adult

“Keridan’s worldbuilding is excellently crafted and seamlessly integrated into the story, enhancing the exposition. . . . A fine questing adventure and a promising start to a series.”
—Kirkus Reviews

From the Publisher

2022-05-24
In Keridan’s fantasy series starter, a grieving young magic user must collaborate with an enemy to find answers about their world and themselves.

Eighteen-year-old Kyra Valorian has always been magically gifted, with many spells coming to her with ease. It’s assumed that she will one day take over her father’s job as the Princeps Shaman of Aeles. However, after a tragedy takes her father from her, Kyra discovers her powers are something much greater than she thought—and more dangerous. It turns out that she is a Recovrancer: a person who can travel into the world of the dead and come back. This type of magic is illegal in her society, and there haven’t been any Recovrancers for centuries. Meanwhile, in the realm of Nocens—home of Aeles’ longtime enemy, the Daevals—an assassin named Sebastian is looking for information on Recovrancers. His mother was killed 13 years ago, and ever since, he has had to rely on himself to adapt to a harsh world. He wants to retrieve an ancient, powerful sword called Rhannu, and while searching for a unicorn horn as part of a plan to do this, he nearly dies. Kyra helps heal him, and as they avoid authorities, they realize that they must work together to find the information about recovrancy. Neither knows if they can trust each other, but they feel a spark and familiarity around each other that’s hard to explain. Keridan’s worldbuilding is excellently crafted and seamlessly integrated into the story, enhancing the exposition. The author’s rich and immersive imagery further supports the atmosphere: “The warmth of the sun provided a nice contrast to the cool wind arriving in fits and spurts. Red and orange leaves stood out against the greenery of the forest, and the shrill warble of a bird sounded nearby.” The characters of Kyra and Sebastian feel complex and realistic, and they make dynamic, active decisions throughout. Secondary characters—family members, friends, colleagues, and enemies—all feel important to the story, as well, and have their own depth.

A fine questing adventure and a promising start to a series.

Kirkus Reviews