Of Gaea
Of Legacies #1
By- Victoria Escobar
Genre- YA Fantasy
Genre- YA Fantasy
Her choice will change the world.
She hated the wheelchair. Hated the way it made her feel less than what she was. Most of all she hated not being able to do all the things she used to. Ari had been a track and field star, an archery champion and an Eskrima pro. Now she was confined to a wheelchair slowly dying inside from its restraints.
Medical science wasn’t working. The tests, the drugs, the therapies were all useless and a waste of time. She was tired of wasting her time; she was tired of failure. It was time to look away from the obvious and try something unconventional.
Nothing was ever free and that included miracles. Abruptly, Ari finds herself tangled in a web of lies, questioning everything she’s ever known as truth. Never had she believed she’d be thrown headfirst into a world of good and evil, magic and Gods.
Trapped in the middle of a war she had never known existed both parties demanded her allegiance. Ari was a catalyst that could change all the rules of the Earth. But when the time comes to make a choice will she be strong enough to know right from wrong?
And now an Excerpt from Of Gaea
“I’m twenty years old.” Leonidas said quietly. “And I am destined to die before my next birthday. You understand why I have no enthusiasm for hurrying that along.”
“Come on.” Sasha grabbed the handles of the wheelchair and drew Ari back. “He’s not worth your anger.”
“Can I at least have the runes? I’ll get someone else to help, but I need the other runes.” Ari begged. Pride was no longer an option. Her one chance was slipping through her fingers. She could feel tears welling up in her eyes. She wouldn’t just give up. “Please. You may not care at all, and I really don’t care if you do or not. But, please, don’t condemn me to this wheelchair for the rest of my life. Please?”
“Sasha.” Leonidas slowly righted himself. He wanted to ignore her pain. Wanted to pretend it didn’t matter. His ghosts, however, wouldn’t let him. His words were slow and resigned. “You’ll need to pick her up. Her chair cannot go where we need to go. Put it there,” he gestured next to the archway, “out of the walkway and follow me.”
Sasha parked the wheelchair and carefully slid his arms under Ari. He was always very careful with her. Spun glass, was what she reminded him of, though, recently that glass was lined with steel. He waited for Ari to grab her notebooks and nod at him in confirmation before righting slowly and letting her adjust comfortably once upright.
Leonidas watched bemused, but said nothing. It wasn’t his place to say anything, and if he had it would no doubt have met with defensiveness from Ari. While he wasn’t above being argumentative, he wanted them out. It hurt to look at them for too long. Their unit was too solid and it pained him.
Leonidas had been right about the wheelchair. The hall behind the curtain was barely wide enough for them to walk. There was no way a wheelchair could have been navigated through. All the doors were closed so Ari could only guess at what was behind them.
At the end of the hall, Leonidas pushed on a tile in the wall. The panel slid open to reveal an elevator. It was just as brightly lit as the main gallery which made the ride down a little more tolerable. Ari had no idea how far down they went before the elevator dinged to a stop.
When the doors opened there were books as far as the eyes could see. They disappeared into the shadows. There were no windows and the lights were dim. Several of them flickered, dangerously close to blowing out. It made the entire room look like something out of a horror movie.
REVIEW
I was really excited to read this book because I love mythology, but I will admit that it took me some time to really get into this story, and even then, there was just something that held me back from enjoying this story completely.
I enjoyed the way Escobar incorporated certain mythical beings and I enjoyed learning more about Ari's legacy. Then there was the mystery behind whomever she was tied to, and the history between Leonidas and Sasha that had caused such a dislike for each other.
With a few twists and turns, and an intriguing build up to an epic battle between all sides, this story grew into something much more epic. I would love to see how Ari's life will change with the revelations at the end of this book, so I'm excited to read more of this series.
Of Sparta
Of Legacies #2
By- Victoria Escobar
Genre- YA Fantasy
She was the strongest of Gaea’s Servants. Miera had been trained from childhood to be Faithful always to the Goddess. She had been taught with Faith they would always be protected. She had never wavered from that course. She hadn’t counted on the consequences of that choice.
As Ariadne’s birthday draws closer darkness closes in on Sparta. Monsters, both Tainted and Pure alike, were vying for pieces of their island. Doubt and fear grew like pestilence. Death was unavoidable.
Sparta sat on the brink, but of what Miera wasn’t certain. There was no record, no precedence for her to consult. There were no living patrons of the Goddess to seek council from. She only had instinct and Faith. If she could not maintain the balance Sparta would fall before Gaea’s return.
How did the lost lead the people out of darkness?
And now an Excerpt from Of Sparta
“From dust and breath the Goddess created you. To dust I return you to her bosom.”
By the time there was nothing left, but a small gray pile of ash, a militia unit appeared and moving fast. The hummer screeched to a halt and a man jumped out. He looked around before looking at Miera.
His uniform was pristine with a white jacket and burgundy pants. The burgundy was in remembrance of those that came before. His black hair was ruthlessly short and his blue eyes annoyed. He looked around agitated.
“What happened here?”
“It’s nice to see you too Achilles,” Miera said wryly. “It was an Envoy matter and it was dealt with.”
His eyes latched on her and recognition finally dawned in his eyes. His voice was still clipped and annoy though. “I said what happened here.”
“Envoy Guild does not answer to the Militia.” She said evenly and began walking away.
He grabbed her arm before she could take three steps. “You are not above the law.”
Miera looked down at his arm and then looked up at his face. “You will release me, Achilles or your father will be wearing mourning black tomorrow.”
His eyes searched hers and his grip tightened. “I don’t answer to you.”
Miera smiled coldly. “Really? Are you sure of that?”
Before he could answer she placed her free hand over his squeezing hand and sent a charge of electricity through him. He jerked back but she did not let go.
“I’m not sure what’s happening here,” Miera began, “nor do I care what you’ve been doing. I’m telling you what you’re going to stop doing. You are going to tell your father, the Militia unit is to disband back to vacation status and you are to return to your post at the Physis. If I see you in my city again without cause I will consider it a breach of Guild rights and you will be striped of rank and authority. Am I understood?”
His eyes were rolling up into his head from the small charge and she smacked him soundly to get his attention.
“Did you hear me?” she asked again.
He nodded slowly.
Miera let him go and he dropped to the ground. “Do not cross my authority again.”
REVIEW
I enjoyed this book much more than the first. It may have
been because I was now more familiar with the characters and the story behind
everything that was going on, and I always love reading stories that run
alongside another I have already read. It also may have been because this book
took place in Sparta so there was more of a fantastical element to it.
I loved getting to know some of the characters who were only
mentioned in the first book, and to even see events transpire that explained
the thoughts and actions of characters in book one.
This book seemed to be a bit more sinister, as well, with a
bit more danger and chaos. This book has certainly sparked my interest to read
more of this series and to get to know more about Sparta and its people. I’m
eager to continue on with this series, I do hope there will be more books to
come.
About the Author
Born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, but with the ability to claim eight states as home; Victoria Escobar writes fiction from her current home in New York. She writes whatever comes to mind and because of such has a variety of genres written including Young Adult, New Adult, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, and Contemporary Fiction.
In spare time if not with family, and friends Victoria enjoys curling up with a book from a favorite author with music playing. If not reading or writing she spends time drawing, sketching, crocheting, or some other random art project. She enjoys staying busy, but most of all enjoys staying creative.
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