Issaura’s
Claws
The
Incarn Saga Book 1
by
Katharine E. Wibell
Genre:
YA Fantasy
“According
to legend, when the world was young, the goddess Issaura appeared
among men. Those who treated her with kindness received the gift of
the gods—the ability to transform into an animal form. This was a
great honor but one that separated this race from other humans.
Before Issaura departed the mortal realm, she promised to return if
her people were ever at the point of destruction.
“Now
a threat is rising from a land across the mists of the ocean, a
threat that will push this race to the brink of extinction.
Responding to the call to war, seventeen-year-old Lluava heads off to
find her destiny, one that will carve her name in history.”
The
Kingdom of Elysia consists of two races: the dominant race of humans
and the native race of Theriomorphs who can shift into animal form.
Although law dictates equal treatment, they neither like nor trust
each other. Now brutal and ruthless Raiders are approaching; there is
only one chance to defeat them. An army must be raised and trained.
An army where each human will be paired with a Theriomorph partner.
An army that must fight as one to defeat their common enemy.
Women
are not warriors. However, Lluava is not like other women – human
or Theriomorph. Her animal form is a magnificent beast whose power
and fury she must learn to control. Although Lluava endures intense
physical training and strives to overcome the doubts of the male
recruits, she faces an unexpected adversary in the commanding general
who seeks to break both her spirit and her body.
At
the paring ceremony, Lluava is humbled when presented with a unique
and ancient weapon. Yet she becomes distraught and angry when her
human partner is revealed. If they fail to trust each other, the
consequences will be devastating. Death and destruction are on the
horizon and time is running out.
The
Incarn Saga is a young adult fantasy series inspired by ancient
myths, filled with fast-paced action and adventure, and enriched by
an understanding of animal behavior that defines the shape-shifting
Theriomorphs.
Ullr’s
Fangs
The
Incarn Saga Book 2
“According
to legend, when the world was young, two gods of war — one male,
one female — were destined for each other. Yet Ullr, forever
unfaithful, lost the love of Issaura, his true match, and was
forsworn. His violent anger and bitter rage grew and intensified,
poisoning all creation and humanity.
Now
that the Raiders’ long ships have faded from sight, the kingdom of
Elysia is beginning to recover from the summer’s war with the
brutal invaders from across the sea. Yet darker forces have taken
root, forces that can alter the future of the land and its people in
unthinkable ways. Seventeen-year-old Lluava must discover the means
to prevent her world from collapsing. But in doing so, will she
succumb to that darkness?”
Crocotta’s
Hackles
The
Incarn Saga Book 3
“According
to legend, when the world was young, Crocotta, Queen of the Gods,
discovered her mate’s faithlessness. She vowed to prevent future
threats to all matrimonial pacts henceforward, but for her it was too
late. The child born from the illicit coupling was a warrior
goddess—one whom Crocotta would seek to destroy throughout
eternity.
Now
that the Raiders’ elite army is threatening the kingdom of Elysia’s
northern borders, seventeen-year-old Lluava must leave the
familiarity and safety of her native land to venture into the
wilderness. Her mission is to discover others like her who will come
to Elysia’s aid; her hope is to unravel the secrets behind what it
means to be Incarn. But what she finds could destroy everything.”
Lluava’s
story continues in Crocotta’s Hackles, the third book in The Incarn
Saga’s award-winning new-adult series.
Katharine
Wibell’s lifelong interest in mythology includes epic poetry like
the Odyssey, Ramayana, Beowulf, and the Nibelungenlied. In addition,
she is interested in all things animal whether training dogs,
apprenticing at a children’s zoo, or caring for injured animals as
a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. After receiving degrees from
Mercer University in both art and psychology with an emphasis in
animal behavior, Wibell moved to New Orleans with her dog, Alli, to
kick start her career as an artist and a writer. Her first literary
works blend her knowledge of the animal world with the world of high
fantasy.
Crocotta’s Hackles Excerpt
That night, Lluava’s dreams took a new direction. The white that had suffused all her thoughts
now took on vibrant, lush colors. Everything around her was green. Was she in a forest? If so, it was
different from any she had seen before.
Trees sent filtered light through their canopy, but they were a strange, unknown variety. The
underbrush was thick and full of broad leaves longer than her arm. Tangled vines cascaded from above,
and flowers reminiscent of those in the capital’s garden bloomed in profusion.
One flower caught her eye, the only one she recognized: a black-andwhite striped beauty known in
Elysia as the Theri iris. The first time Varren gave her one, he said it reminded him of her dual form.
Afterward, he had given her one every night in a fresh bouquet.
Lluava moved closer. As she approached, the flower began to wither and dropped off the plant
before she could reach it. Almost tripping over a root, she realized that her clothes were stuck to her body
and a film of sweat was building. How hot was it? She couldn’t tell. The plant’s leaves begin to brown
and wither.
What was happening? As Lluava reached toward the plant, tendrils sprang out at her like serpents
striking at prey. Suddenly a vine wrapped itself around her arm. She tried to untwist the thick botanical
rope as it looped around her ankle.
Vines don’t do this, she thought. They can’t grow that fast. Was she hallucinating? All at once,
she realized what it was: an anaconda! Immobilized by the snake’s ever-tightening grip, she heard a
sound reverberate through the forest. It was the pealing of laughter, rising and falling in waves.
“Issaura!” the voice called out, “Fight! Kill or die!” The laughter returned as the coils of the giant
snake contracted about her waist.
Lluava couldn’t breathe, much less defend herself. The air in her lungs was being squeezed out.
She was suffocating. Her gasps for air were drowned out by the unending laughter. Could she have
spoken, she would have screamed, “Stop laughing! Help me!”
Without air, Lluava’s thoughts were beginning to fog. Was this her end?
A hand grabbed her shoulder and ripped her free of the anaconda’s coils and the frightening
dream.
“Lluava, wake up!” Apex was shouting. He pulled her partially out of her tent, which had
collapsed during the night. “You’re okay.”
“I can’t sleep anymore.” She was exhausted. “I can’t take the dreams.”
“You’ll rest better once you have eaten,” Apex told her. “Look, our friend has returned.”
There on the ground were the lone caribou’s hoof prints. It must have decided to explore their
camp during the night. This meant it was nearby.
“Let’s go hunting!” said Apex.
Energized, Lluava sprang to her feet and reached for Issaura’s Claws, her weapons. “Way ahead
of you.”
She slipped each golden Claw over her knuckles, smiling at her distorted reflection in the three
slightly curved blades. Lluava tested each, relaxing her hands so the claws retracted, then balling her
hands into fists around the grip, which caused the blades to spring erect. They felt so right, like razor-
sharp extensions of herself.
Ever since she had broken the arm-brace attachments Holly had made for her, Lluava had been
more cautious when she used the Claws. She was able to use them, but her old shoulder injury could be
aggravated by the strain of impact. Nonetheless, if her shoulder became dislocated again, she could reset
it. A good breakfast would be worth the pain.
Nearby, Apex pulled out Ullr’s Fangs. The twin Gladius swords looked as fierce as the
determination on the huntsman’s face. By his feet, Sköll stretched and yawned. It seemed that everyone
would take part in the hunt.
Several hours later, Apex spotted a brown shape treading off into the distance: their prey. Food
would be coming soon. Lluava salivated at the thought of fresh venison. They couldn’t let this animal
escape.
Following Apex’s command, the trio moved downwind and began to inch their way closer to the
unsuspecting creature. Though not heavy, it was surprisingly well fed, which meant it had a food source
nearby. More good news, Lluava thought happily. Maybe their luck was turning.
Lluava tested the air as the huntsman gave an unspoken command to Sköll. The wolf-mix bolted
toward the caribou. Suddenly, the young woman’s senses exploded.
“Stop him!” she shouted, but it was too late. Apex whistled, but the mongrel was solely focused
on its prey.
Exasperated, Lluava sank to the ground. “He’s chasing a Theriomorph.”
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Author: Angie
I'm a wife and a a mom of 4: 3 boys and a girl. I also have 3 fur babies, cats named Soleil, Luna, and a Savannah cat name Malkia. I work part-time outside my home as a COTA/L at a local hospital. I cover Johnstown, Altoona, and Pittsburgh areas. I love to do reviews and host giveaways for my readers. Contact me: angwith4 at gmail dot com if you would like a review.
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Love the cover
I am liking the book cover
Oh, I really like the cover. Actually, I like the entire series of covers.