Tales of Sand and
Stars
Luminous Lands
by Juliet Vane
Published: January 7,
2020
Publisher: Juliet
Vane
Genre: Young Adult,
Fantasy
Blurb:
Let
me tell you, dear ones, a tale of sand and stars.
The
Kingdom of Sand found Nima wandering in the desert as a young girl.
Now
seventeen, Nima is the storyteller for her adoptive kingdom, weaving tales for
their entertainment while yearning to learn the truth of her past.
When
the king from the nearby Kingdom of Stars demands that Nima be brought to him,
she has no choice but to go with the warriors. The palace is dark and stifling,
and the king’s rule is tyrannous. Nima immediately begins plotting her escape,
even though it means traveling back through a desert full of
windhaunts—memory-stealing spirits that roam the dunes.
As
Nima grows closer to one of the king’s sons, though, danger from the windhaunts
and palace secrets threaten her at every turn. She must use her stories to
discover—and create—the truths of her past and the shared history of the kingdoms
in order to preserve her freedom, save her people from the windhaunts, and
reunite the Kingdoms of Sand and Stars.
Links to Tales of Sand
and Stars
Excerpt:
I sit on my sleeping
mat and unweave the braids in my hair, wondering if I’ll be able to sleep. I
knew I never fully belonged in the Kingdom of Sand, and it wasn’t just my eyes
telling me that. They welcomed me as their Storyteller, but it wasn’t enough.
The Kingdom of Sand might have been my home, but to them, I was always just a
visitor.
I try to swallow away
the thickness in my throat, but it escapes as a sob. I bite it down. I’m not
going to let these strangers hear me cry.
Boots crunch on sand
outside, stopping at my tent.
“Can I come in?” a
male voice asks.
“I don’t want
company.”
“I’m the victim of a
terrible bet, and my friends will take all my wages if you don’t let me in.”
I recognize the
playful timbre of his voice—it’s the boy who kissed me just a few moments ago.
He goes quiet, waiting for my permission.
He can wait forever.
“If you let me in,”
he whispers, “they’ll owe me quite a bit of coin. I’ll share it with you.”
That gives me pause.
Coin, I can use. The king may or may not pay me for my stories, and if I want
to escape the Kingdom of Stars, I might need more than what my jewelry is
worth. I’ll need to hire a guide, and pay for food, water.
I say, “I’ll take two
thirds.”
“It’s my bet. I’ll
give you one third.”
“It’s my tent. I’ll
take two.”
“Half and half?”
I clear my throat.
“Fine,” he says. “You
can have three fifths.”
I grin, hoping he
can’t hear it in my voice. “Done.”
His handsome face
appears in the tent opening, followed by the rest of him.
I scoot back on my
sleeping mat to put more space between us in the small tent. A group of
warriors outside groans in disappointment.
“There’s more coin in
this for you if you let me sleep here for the day.” The boy flops down on his
side, getting comfortable. The faint spiciness of cloves washes over me.
“You’re going to lose
that bet.”
My Review:
At the young age of four Nima was adopted by the people of
the Kingdom of Sand. The people took her in and raised her as one of their own
but Nima has always wondered who her family was and why they would abandon her
at such a young age. Nima has high hopes of finding out who she is and why she
was left behind one day.
A tragedy occurs in the Kingdom of Sand and when Nima is
accused of this tragedy she escapes into the desert. The king of the Kingdom of
Stars hears of Nima’s mishap and sends his men into the desert to search for
her with orders to bring her to the Kingdom of Stars.
Within the walls of the Kingdom of Stars Nima receives
information in bits and pieces of who she maybe. After putting all the pieces
together she learns that the Kingdom of Stars maybe her true home. Now the
question is does the king know of this?
Nima also learns that the Kingdom of Sands and the Kingdom
of Stars was once one big kingdom until they were divided. Now Nima’s wants to
put a plan into motion to unite the two kingdoms once again. Can she pull it
off? Can she reunite the two kingdoms?
Nima learns that the Windhaunts are coming for both kingdoms
and needs to warn both kingdoms before it is too late. Windhaunts are memory
stealing spirits that comes to visit at night but can come in the daylight if
they choose to do so. Nima must warn the Kingdom of Sand but to do so she must
travel through a land full of Windhaunts but if she can save the people it will
be worth it. Will she make it to the Kingdom of Sand in time to warn them about
the Windhaunts?
Tale of Sand and Stars is a story with kings and queens and
Windhaunts with Storytellers set in a world of fantasy. Tale of Sand and Stars
pulled me in from the first page and then I was lost and couldn’t turn the
pages fast enough as I was chomping at the bit to see how Nima’s story came to
be and where it would lead. Now I can’t wait to see what adventures Nima may
have in the next book. Well at least I am counting on there being a next book.
Do I recommend Tale of Sand and Stars? You bet I do and I
also recommend any and all of Juliet’s other books too. One click yourself a
copy today!
Tales of Wind and
Wolves
by Juliet Vane
Published: September
30, 2019
Publisher: Juliet
Vane
Genre: Mystery, Young
Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal
Blurb:
I refuse to be merely an ally in someone else's story.
As one of the kingdom's warriors-in-training, Inez has spent
more time practicing with her sword than honing her imagination. But tales are
revered in the Kingdom of Sand, and so Inez has spent most of her life in the
shadow of her best friend, the kingdom's storyteller.
Living in shadows has been fine for Inez, because who wants
merciless light when they live in a sun-scorched desert? Yet her heart is
pulling her toward their other friend, Markus, more and more, and Inez yearns
to be seen.
If she wants a chance to stand by Markus's side, Inez will
have to claim her own story.
"Tales of Wind and Wolves" is a short prequel
story to Tales of Sand and Stars. It introduces the beauties and dangers of a
magic-studded desert and the fantastical creatures that roam the dunes.
Links to “Tales of Wind and
Wolves”
About
the Author
Links to “Tales of Wind and
Wolves”
INTERVIEW
WITH Juliet Vane:
Q: What makes your
writing stand out?
A:
There is always an element of storytelling in my writing, because it’s such a
fundamental human gift—both telling stories and hearing (or reading) them. My
books feature strong female protagonists who aren’t always “strong” in the
traditional sense of the word, but maintain a strength that helps them grow and
change during their story. My fantasy novels contain imaginative settings and
creatures that challenge my characters, and there is almost always a touch of
romance within them.
Q: What other books
have you published?
A:
Aside from Tales of Sand and Stars,
there are three other books in the Luminous Lands series: The Scorpion’s
Lullaby, and two short stories. “The Scorpion’s Daughter” is set in the
same jungle as The Scorpion’s Lullaby and “Tales of Wind and Wolves” is
a prequel to Tales of Sand and Stars. I’ve also published several YA
Gothic mysteries set in unique, contemporary settings. The Rosebud Academy
series is set in a haunted school during a summer classical music program. The
Winter’s Cavern series features a storyteller heroine who gives tours in the
cave system beneath her family’s property.
Q: What’s next for
you?
A:
I plan on writing more Luminous Lands novels that connect to The Scorpion’s Lullaby and Tales of
Sand and Stars in some way. I really enjoy this world and the creatures and
characters within it.
The Scorpion's Lullaby is on sale for 99 cents
grab a copy HERE!
About
the Author
Juliet
grew up in northern California, where she spent her free time staring at spooky
lakes and making up stories about the old buildings surrounding them. Years
later, she still lives in California and she still makes up spooky
stories…about lakes and the old buildings surrounding them. Like April in April’s
Ghosts, she’s terrified of spiders and she’s obsessed with Hamilton.
Like Lissa in June's Blood, she plays the piano...but not very well.
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