Kingdom of Jior Fantasy Series
Hey Fantasy lovers! I have your next series right here! Check out the Kingdom of Jior series by Wendy L. Anderson. Below are a few snippets from each book to get you started and a chance to win the whole series in print!
Of Demon Kind
Publication Date: November 14th, 2016
Publisher: Infinity Publishing
Prince Lorn of Jior is what’s left of an evil empire. King Kullorn was the epitome of evil. Together they led demon hordes reaping death and destruction. Kullorn is killed, leaving Lorn alone to wallow in the desolation of defeat. Years later, Lorn is accused of following in his father’s footsteps and kidnapping Princess Lililaira. Risking capture, imprisonment and death Lorn attempts to learn who is using his name to start another war. During a rescue of the Princess, Lorn is badly wounded and they must fight to remain together as he is healed by her, body, heart and soul
Excerpts from Of Demon Kind
Book One in the Kingdom of Jior
Epic Fantasy
series.
Excerpt #1
Memories of how life used to be, circled through Lorn’s mind as he contemplated the events of five years ago. His father, King Kullorn of Jior, had raised him with one purpose in mind and that was to lead the Jiorian armies out of the Violent Mountains and conquer the entire island continent of Vedt. Kullorn had been an evil tyrant who had reigned over the once vast empire of Jior that was now only jagged mountains, left to the encroaching forest and wild animals.
Excerpt #2
“One moment my Prince, if you will.” the Sorcerer said. “I have news for you.” The Prince stopped but did not turn to face the other, asking in a barely audible voice. “What news could possibly interest me?” “News of a large army, coming here to finish tearing down your crumbling castle walls.” “An army? Coming here? What for?” Lorn scoffed turning, “What does this army hope to find?” He gestured expansively. “There is nothing here! Certainly, there is no treasure which is what usually draws men’s greed. I haven’t bothered anyone in years and I don’t want to be bothered!” “I know not entirely what brings them, my Prince. I only know they intend on tearing down the castle and skinning alive the Demon Prince.”
Excerpt #3
“King Koran of Skoria I hear is convinced you are responsible for kidnapping his beautiful daughter, the Princess Lililaira. They plan to bring war against you, take your lands and castle, and rescue the Princess from your evil clutches.” Lan-Loe laughed a little a shook his head at the folly of men.
Excerpt #4
“What could I do alone? I’d need an army to defend these walls.” He laughed. “Not even mercenaries would follow me anymore? I’ve nothing to pay them! Do the Kings of Skogur and Skoria think I'm trying to conquer the continent with just one aging magician?”
Redemption of the Fallen
Publication Date: April 17th, 2018
Publisher: Infinity Publishing
Five years have passed since Lorn liberated himself from Lan-Loe, his evil father’s Sorcerer. Legends were born from tales of the great battle between Lorn and a black-winged demon, of Lan-Loe’s death, and the defeat of demon-kind. Ever since that time, people have been flocking to Jior to make their homes there, and the Kingdom of Jior is revived. Lorn is crowned King of Jior, Lililaira is Queen and they rule peacefully side by side.
Now a new war threatens everything they have built and everyone they love. One hundred miles away from the City of Jior, the combined armies of Vedt march toward Jior intent on slaying everyone in the kingdom and taking revenge for Lorn’s past evil deeds. With the forces of the whole country coming against them, Lorn and Lililaira have little hope of defeating their enemies.
In the midst of impending war, strange dreams plague Lorn’s sleep at night. He feels that something is waiting, something he needs very badly, something is calling him!
When he answers the call, he learns that he is a descendant of a race of winged people that profess to be from the Heavens. He also learns more about his past and is given hope for the future, but that hope comes with a high price. Lorn is given a choice: he can save his family or watch them die.
Lililaira and their daughter are taken prisoner by her father, the King of Skoria, Lorn must call on all his resources to rescue them. Forced out of the protective walls of Jior, he must face his many enemies who use his wife and daughter as bait. King Lorn must deal with old enemies and new friends, but will he be able to tell the difference?
Excerpts from Redemption of the Fallen
Book Two
Excerpt #1
King Lorn of Jior stood looking down from the highest balcony of his black castle in the Violent Mountains. Hands gripping the black granite rail tightly, his brow furrowed as he surveyed his kingdom with a flashing violet gaze. The muscles in his shoulders and chest tightened, and his biceps flexed as violent emotions caused him to shake with barely contained rage. He wanted to rage and howl, to gnash his teeth, to strike out, and feel bones breaking in his hands.
Excerpt #2
Strange dreams plagued his sleep at night. At first, he thought the dreams were caused by apprehension over the news of the army advancing on Jior. Each night the dreams seemed to grow more urgent, and he could not assign blame to that cause anymore. As soon as he closed his eyes, images of a strange place haunted him. Night after night he dreamed of the same mountaintop. On the high peak stood an ancient structure with tall marble columns, circling a huge stone floor. The columns did not support anything solid but seemed to hold up the deep blue sky that quickly swelled with impending snowfall. The wind swirled ice crystals through the columns and seemed to call his name in the whispery tinkle of ice against stone. Lorn felt compelled to fly west. He strained to resist the compunction, telling himself it was the greatest folly to think that a place from his dreams truly existed and that he could find it.
Excerpt #3
Lorn flew over the vast mountain range called the Violent Mountains. Peaks so high that they were forever covered in deep snow, sped beneath him. Following an awareness to go west, to fly fast and find the destination in his dreams, his wings beat steadily. Breathing in the cold, crisp air of the coming winter, he shuddered with the exhilaration of flight. Soon the snow-capped peaks began to look familiar, and he felt as if he were captured in the dream again. He flew for hours recognizing cliffs and valleys he knew he had never seen before, except in the dream. Some small anxious feeling inside told him he was getting close.
Excerpt #4
Since the death of King Kullorn’s Sorcerer Lan-Loe, five years earlier, people had been flocking to Jior. Word had spread of the great battle between Lorn and a black-winged demon and of the Black Sorcerer’s death. A more glorious tale had spread of how Lorn with only one hundred men had fought the demon-kind and cast them back into the underworld. Lan-Loe’s treachery was revealed, and word spread rapidly about how he had tried to manufacture the rebirth of Kullorn’s legacy and tried to manipulate Lorn into taking up where Kullorn had left off. The enchantments Lan-Loe had placed throughout the Violent Mountains to disguise and hide Castle Jior had completely vanished with his death. Now that the way was open, many people braved the high mountain passes and deep, jagged valleys seeking a new life there. Roads were constructed, and impassable mountain passes were made passable. Jior’s reputation for evil also vanished, forgotten, and soon men sought their fortunes in Lorn’s Kingdom, forgetting the sins of his father completely.
Excerpt #5
“I will. I will.” Koran breathed heavily as if in a trance then reviving from his stupor, he turned towards Lorn and grinned greedily. “I will have it all!” Narrowing his eyes at him, he lashed out, “I knew there was treasure in Jior. I will have it and Lililaira and your demon-spawn! There is nothing you can do to stop me. If you had the slightest chance, you wouldn’t be here bartering for your lives.”
Heirs of Jior
Publication Date: February 27th, 2019
Publisher: Infinity Publishing
This set of adventures starts out with Princess Lyra Song, young and beautiful, stepping into maturity. She and her family attend the funeral of a dear friend. During this sad time, she pursues her hopes and dreams endeavoring to explore a betrothal with the Heir of Krickgold. However, when she is mistaken for a witch by a Lord from a neighboring country, her dreams are dangerously interrupted. Waylaid, taken prisoner and thrown into an iron cage, the delicate Princess of Jior is charged with a crime she didn’t commit and she must do whatever it takes to escape or be wrongfully executed.
Prince Vannier of Jior, known to the Ny-Failen as Little Wing, has been devastated by what happened to his sister Lyra Song, but life must go on and he goes forward with his plan to marry his childhood love. The day of the wedding ceremony he finds his betrothed with another man and now he must face devastating reality and some difficult choices. When his younger brother Dark Star goes missing, Vannier must set aside his own problems to go into the Violent Mountains and find who has taken his little brother. Amidst the turmoil of the hunt, Vannier must face danger, loss, and possible heartbreak.
Dark Star, the youngest Prince of Jior, has been changed forever by the events of his capture and he remains troubled and unable to find peace. A mysterious compelling draws him away from the safety of his home and family. He sets off on his own to investigate and finds a black castle and a beautiful sorceress in dire need of his help. Dark Star must face a demon from the Hells to free them both.
It seemed like hours later when the sound of a door opening and closing reached through his self-imposed trance. The faint glow of a lamp barely drew Dark Star’s attention. He was standing completely still, cocooned within his white wings watching through barely slit eyes. He had withdrawn into his own mind, holding madness at bay.
Excerpts from Heirs of Jior
Book Three
Excerpt #1
Never in her life had she been so cold. Biting, lashing wind stung her flesh where it was exposed to the frigid air. Her face and hands were especially numb, so much so that she could barely feel them and feared frostbite had taken hold. Her soft leather britches and long-sleeved, woolen shirt offered little protection against the icy mountain wind. Though she was grateful for her hood and her fur-lined boots, she was still frozen through. It was growing dark. Shivering, she hugged herself as tightly as she could to conserve what little body heat she had left. Her breath misted white from her lips and rose to vanish in the night air above her.
Excerpt #2
The Jiorians arrived a few days before the funeral and stayed at Krickgold Castle as guests of Kranell’s heir, Kambrian Christoff. Lyra Song had been infatuated with Kambrian ever since they were children and the hope between the families was that someday they would marry. Though no formal offer had been made, the two were very close friends and Lyra Song began to have high hopes that someday they would be more than friends. Although, this was a time of sorrow over the death of Krickgold’s King, Lyra Song was ecstatic to have the opportunity to see Kambrian again and explore her growing feelings for him.
Excerpt #3
As Vannier advanced further into the room and found his bride’s hand being held by someone other than himself, he raised a quizzical eyebrow and narrowed his eyes slightly. The dark, handsome man quickly let go of the bride’s hand and took a hasty step backward. The startled bride whirled guiltily toward Prince Vannier with a sharp intake of breath. Her blush was shameful, but her eyes turned curious to see how her future husband would react at having found her being addressed so intimately by another man.
Excerpt #4
Kain and Dark Star had camped at the far southeastern edge of Igiverbegg Canyon. This was the canyon where, more than twenty years previously, Jior had fought the infamous Great War against Skoria, Skogur and the combined forces of Vedt. They kidnapped Queen Lililaira and Princess Lyra Song in order to draw King Lorn and his army out from behind Jior’s impenetrable walls. The plan was to spring a trap on Jior’s inferior numbers, crush them and move on to the destruction and looting of the City of Jior. However, Jior’s forces sprung their own trap and with the help of the Ny-Failen, and two thousand men from Krickgold, were able to overcome their enemies and prevail against them. After that, Skoria fell under the rule of Queen Lililaira’s mother’s side of the family, and peaceful, if not strained, relations prevailed with Jior. Skogur sank into civil unrest after the Great War and had been through a number of ruling factions since. That country never seemed at peace but had left Jior out of their civil unrest since King Bower’s defeat and death in the Great War at Igiverbegg Canyon.
Excerpt #5
Panic struck like a lightning bolt, and he stood up and whirled around, taking stock of the boundaries of his prison. It was nearly his undoing as pain, nausea and dizziness overtook him. Since his capture by the Troggs a few years back, Dark Star could not stand confined spaces. His wings beat against his back as if telling him to fly and escape. Searching for a door or exit, he could not find one, so he threw himself against the bars on all four sides, testing their strength. He flew up to the barred cage top and heaved. It was no use, he was imprisoned in a strong, heavy, iron prison, and that was all there was to it. He was locked in with no way out, like a bird in a cage. His brain kept screaming over and over, ‘Not again! Not again!’ and he flapped uselessly around the confines of his cage until the pain in his head forced him to stop. Tamping down hard on his terror, concentrating on settling his breathing, he stood in the middle of his cage, wrapped his wings around himself and huddled within their protective embrace. Closing his eyes, he retreated into his mind and waited.
It seemed like hours later when the sound of a door opening and closing reached through his self-imposed trance. The faint glow of a lamp barely drew Dark Star’s attention. He was standing completely still, cocooned within his white wings watching through barely slit eyes. He had withdrawn into his own mind, holding madness at bay.
Giveaway
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About the Author
Wendy L. Anderson is a Colorado native and mother of two boys. She has an English Degree from Regis University and writes books, short stories and poetry. Wendy is a devout reader of the classics, fantasy, sci-fi and historical fiction. She has decided it is time to write down the fantasies from her own mind. Writing about everything from fantastical worlds to the stuff of her dreams she takes her stories along interesting paths while portraying characters and worlds she sees in her mind’s eye. Her goal is to deviate from common themes, write in original directions and transport her reader to the worlds of her creation.
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