Broken Arrow
Azaria M.J. Durant
(Darkened Destiny Saga #1)
Publication date: July 29th 2018
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
An ancient power long kept dormant stirs in the shadows once more as one boy embarks on a quest to earn his freedom and the freedom of his world!
Magic has turned to myth, the Vaelhyreans of old to legend, and the power wielded by the ancients has long been forgotten. However, with Ealdred, a mere half-breed slave boy, myth becomes real, the forgotten remembered, and the power of legend is reborn within him.
Ealdred is merged into a world of mystery, brimming with deceit, where the remaining Vaelhyreans are in a desperate fight for their very survival. When Ealdred is kidnapped by the power-mongering dark lord Zeldek himself, he must make a choice; to commit his newfound magic to Zeldek’s service or die. But when he meets Bellator, clever yet treacherous servant of Zeldek, an alternative is presented to him: to escape from Zeldek’s stronghold and embark on a quest to find a cursed arrow and free the Vaelhyreans from the spell that keeps their powers at bay.
Yet how can he survive in a world where magic is illegal, half-breeds are hated, and the four countries are on the brink of war?
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Author Bio:
Azaria M. J. Durant is a young, passionate writer of fantasy with plans to branch out into sci-fi and dystopian. She enjoys writing stories with action, adventure, unexpected plot twists, and fleshed out characters that challenge gender roles and expectations.
Azaria lives in Atlantic Canada with her family, cats, and dogs, and her big dreams to travel the world. In the moments when she isn’t writing, she is sketching concept art for her stories, participating in community theatre, or curled up with a good book and a bag of mint chocolates.
GIVEAWAY!
-My Books-My World >> Top 10 List Top Ten Fictional Character Ships
I’m very much a fan of true love and soul mates in fiction. What I appreciate most is when a character meets their one and only, and stays in love with them the entire book/movie/series. I hate love triangles for that reason, and I especially hate when a character has fifty different love interests in a given series, or when a character cheats on their significant other (I don’t care what the reason!). All respect is gone at that point. What I need to see is beautiful, innocent, lasting romance.
So here is my list of perfect romances I’ve come across in fiction and really, actually ship!
- Oliver/Felicity (Arrow) – In spite of the drama that now surrounds the relationship, I was one of those weirdoes that shipped Oliver and Felicity the moment they laid eyes on each other. I wished hard for them to be together, even through all of the cringy side romances that were going on at the time. And when they /finally/ got together, I was so happy!
- Sybil/Branson (Downton Abbey) – As much as I hate how this relationship ended (spoilers), Sybil was the sweetest child and Branson was perfect for her. Their secret, forbidden romance kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time, and made everything all the sweeter when they were finally allowed to be together.
- Zuko and Mai (Avatar: The Last Airbender) – “I don’t hate you.” “I don’t hate you either.” If you were looking for a cute emo couple to root for, this is it! Zuko, abandoned, dishonoured prince finds a soulmate in a girl whose personality has been suppressed to the point where she feels nothing. And yet they make each other better, and would defy even the fire lord for one another. It’s adorable!
- Eowyn/Faramir (The Return of the King) – This was probably one of my very first ships. Faramir, hated by his father to the point of being suicidal, and Eowyn afraid being caged and not making a difference; both crippled and trapped in darkness until Bam! They see one another. And together, they slowly repair each other. I don’t know what confounded human being decided it was a good idea to take the kissing scene on the wall of Minus Tirith out of the movie script, but whoever you are… let me just say that you disappointed some people.
- Rose/The Doctor (Doctor Who) – Ten and Rose were adorable as friends, and even more when things started getting more than that. I tend to like tragic romances, and this was certainly one of those. A couple fighting through universes to get to one another, only to be constantly torn apart by circumstance… it hurts, and I love it!
- Anakin and Padme (Star Wars) – There was a lot of good that the prequels added to the Star Wars universe, but the tragedy of Anakin and Padme is probably the best of all worlds. Before his past was revealed, Darth Vader was a power hungry, cruel embodiment of evil that was finally returned to the light in his last moments by his sudden love for his son. But when you see his past with Padme, and you realize just how important family was to Anakin, and that his fall to the dark side was to save his children, it makes perfect sense that his return to the light side would be for his family too. The entire thing, starting with meeting as children, Anakin’s love of her from the moment he saw her, leading all the way to their forbidden marriage, was beautiful. No wonder his fall to the dark side to protect her and his children was so tragically beautiful too.
- Obi-Wan and Satine (The Clone Wars) – I really wish this story was fleshed out a lot more than it is, but even what we can assume from what we were told in The Clone Wars episodes surrounding Satine and Obi-Wan makes for a very good – and in typical Star Wars fashion, tragic – love story. A young Duchess and her Jedi protector are forbidden to be together. And unlike Anakin, both Obi-Wan and Satine choose to follow their own vows and dedicate their lives to others instead of following their hearts. Yet years later, they are still completely in love with one another and would die – or even kill – for one another. It’s beautiful and completely tragic.
- Hiccup/Astrid (How To Train Your Dragon) – Hiccup and Astrid’s relationship was fun from the beginning, and with all of the TV shows added in that explore their romance a little more than the movies do, it is very much shippable. Hiccup being his soft and gentle self, and Astrid being her tough, yet endearing warrior self – ugh! So many feels. I can’t wait to see what they do with them in the third movie!
- Katniss/Peeta (The Hunger Games) – Let’s face it people; Gale never stood a chance. Not only was Peeta willing to give up his life for Katniss in the first and second hunger games, but he also fought through intense mind manipulation and brainwashing so he could find his way back to her! If that isn’t true love, I don’t know what is. Mr. Tall, Dark, and Brooding can go somewhere else. I didn’t see him volunteering to go to the games to protect Katniss when Peeta was selected. Did you?
- Fitz/Simmons (Agents of Shield) – From kids uncleared to go into the field to two badass scientists, Fitzsimmons has fought through thick and thin, crossed galaxies and worlds more than once, and endured the most painful, horrible circumstances to be together. Leo Fitz and Jemma Simmons are the most beautiful couple I have found in fiction yet and will remain that way as they proceed to outsmart death itself to be together.
My Books-My World 