About the Book
Title: Blood Rain
Author: Nancy Gray
Genre: YA Fantasy
The night the blood rains from the sky, Mind of
Mercy’s world changes. The savage Blood Wings, bestial creatures that feed on
the blood of Mercy’s people, attack her treetop village in frenzy.
Mercy’s father, the chieftain, tasks her to leave
during the fight and find the source of the storm. The journey takes Mercy
across the continent of Lacern where she must make allies, even from some of
the enemies of her people, to survive. The search forces her to get help from
the least likely of sources, one of the very Blood Wings that attacked
her.
During her journey, Mercy and her companions discover
lies that are widely accepted as truths, secrets hidden by the beast men, and a
power buried deep inside of Mercy herself. Magic is resurfacing in the world
and the blood rain is only the beginning. A hidden power is pulling the strings
to cause a continent wide war that could result in the destruction of humans
and beast men alike.
Author Bio
Nancy Gray lives in West
Columbia, SC, with her husband, two daughters, and two crazy cats. She
attended college at the University of South Carolina and attained a BA in Media
Arts with a cognate in English. Her original career was as a graphic
designer but writing is her calling. Her favorite genres to write are horror,
fantasy (particularly young adult), steampunk, cyberpunk, urban fantasy,
and occasionally light science fiction (space opera). Many of her short
stories and novels also blur the lines of genre fiction. Nancy is an avid reader and also enjoys
drawing, video games, and table top role playing games. She also enjoys anime
and manga.
Links
www.nancygray.net
facebook.com/writernancygray
@NancyGrayWriter on Twitter
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15639927.Nancy_Gray
http://nancygray.blogspot.com/
facebook.com/writernancygray
@NancyGrayWriter on Twitter
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15639927.Nancy_Gray
http://nancygray.blogspot.com/
Book Excerpt
Mercy’s Task and the Blood Rain
(This scene
starts when Mercy is told by her father to leave the village and search for the
cause of the blood rain. The phenomenon has been predicted by their shaman, and
when the blood rains, the enemies of their people, the Blood Wings, will attack
the village in frenzy.)
“Ask around. Follow
rumors. Most of the people in Concord speak either the common language or
Ashen. Mender of Spirits taught you the language of the Ashen Folk, so you
should be able to listen in on their conversations. Don’t trust them and don’t
let them convince you to go anywhere near the capital. Above all, don’t let
them know that you can understand their tongue. It would make you useful as a
slave.”
“The
rumors say they don’t take people from our forest, only the islands.”
Catches
the Eye scoffed and said, “Do you think they really care where their slaves
come from, or that their people would know the difference? You need to stay
sharp or you won’t make it back alive.”
Her
back stiffened as she said, “Yes, Chieftain.”
He
smiled warmly. “Under the circumstances, I think you should try to start
calling me father.”
Mercy
felt a lump in her throat but quickly swallowed it down and said, “Yes, father.”
He
continued, “The city is divided into sections. The section you should try to
get to is called ‘The Park.’ That’s where most of our people reside. You should
be able to barter some of the raw materials for a place to sleep. That should
be your first step.”
“The
Park, okay.”
He
said in a softer tone, “I want you to come back. And, I know you’re smart
enough to do this. You’re the best rider in the village and you’re one of the
few gifted that we have. Don’t disappoint me.”
“I
won’t.”
Mercy
felt a droplet of water sliding down her cheek. She reached up and wiped it
away, only to see a long scarlet smear on her hand. Her hand began to tremble,
as the clouds above them suddenly burst with a sheet of pounding red rain.
Instantly, a terrible keening noise echoed through the forest. It sounded
piercing, like a woman’s scream, but there was something more raw and
terrifying behind it.
Other screeches began
to answer it from all around them. It was a cacophony of howls coming from what
sounded like the entire tribe of Blood Wings, and they were already in the
canopy. She had never heard so many bestial shrieks. Just one frenzied Blood
Wing could make a sound that could practically paralyze a victim in fear, but
this was a chorus that rang above the sound of thunder and swept through the
village like the howling of a gale wind.
Catches
the Eye said in a terrified whisper that Mercy barely could hear, “We’re out of
time. Go,
now!”
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