Paperback
ISBN: 978-0-9906-6945-6
$21.99
Epic Fantasy
585 pages
November 17, 2016
|
Hope still lingers.
Seth D'Antoiné, Bearer of the Lion Ring, journeys to the great Obsidian Citadel
seeking a magical relic, the Book of Ancients. Its power could hold the key to
Andara's defense. He alone can open its pages, sparking the magic into life and
restoring the Jalora's waning power. Finding the book won't be easy. Elusive
Obsidian Gates - appearing and then vanishing again by their own will - keep
the secret of the book's location well hidden.
In the depths of
the mountain fortress, he finds treachery and intrigue hiding within its walls.
Can Seth open the Book of Ancients before the Sarcion's men find him? Or will
the power of Good leave the land forever? Andara's future awaits behind the
Obsidian Gates…
Digital eBook
coming in January 2018!
Start from the
beginning with The Lords of Valdeon.
PRAISE FOR THE HEART OF THE WARRIOR SERIES
“The Obsidian
Gates (Heart
of the Warrior Book Two), by C.R. Richards, is a gripping tale of courage and
sacrifice as the men who have sworn to save their land Andara battle the evil
forces intent upon gaining command of it. The appealing, vividly-drawn
characters struggle to overcome centuries of political intrigue as well as
mysterious powers arrayed against them. In this sequel to The Lords of Valdeon, (Heart of the Warrior Book One) the
award-winning Richards continues this sweeping adventure in breathtaking
style.” - Yvonne Montgomery, Author of the Wisdom Court Books, Edge of the Shadow; A Signal Shown; All in Bad Time
“C.R.
Richards is an excellent storyteller. The story carries you along at a good
pace, while maximizing suspense and piquing your curiosity. As an adult, I
loved it, and I think my teenagers would enjoy it, too.”
“I
was hooked! There’s something about these characters that just made me need to
know what happens to them all!”
“C.R. Richards
is an amazing writer. Amazing…my expectations are high for upcoming books in
the series.”
“Intense and
involved”
“This is not
your typical evil vs good story. It grips you through the entire journey and
has your full attention.”
“Great blend of
suspense, intrigue and adventure. Highly recommend this read.”
"This book
is like the Night Circus in its
extensive descriptions, mixed with Star
Wars' family feud, with a hint of fantasy and mystery mixed in. I think
this is an amazing start to the series, and my expectations are high for the
nextbook!"
MEET
AUTHOR C.R. RICHARDS
A huge lover of horror and dark fantasy stories,
C. R. Richards enjoys telling tales of intrigue and
adventure. Having began writing as a part-time columnist for a small
entertainment newspaper, Richards has worn several hats: food critic,
entertainment reviewer and cranky editor. She has now published a handful of
novels, including Phantom Harvest - book one in The Mutant Casebook
Series -
which took home the EPIC eBook Award for Fantasy in 2014. Richards beat out entries from the U.S.,
Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and other English speaking countries.
The youngest of five army brats, Richards was born
on a military base in Utah. She spent
much of her childhood in the back of her family’s sky blue station wagon on
trips to see her grandmother - who would show her how to spot faeries in the
backyard. “Sometimes she’d put candy in small silk slippers and tell us the pixies
had done it,” says Richards. “She’s
the one who gave me my love of fantasy creatures.”
Her most recent literary projects include the horror
short story, Lost Man's Parish and
the newly-released dark fantasy thriller, Pariah.
She is an active member of Rocky Mountain
Fiction Writers
and Horror Writers Association.
In November, Richards releases her epic dark
fantasy novel The Obsidian
Gates, the second installment in the Heart of the Warrior
series. Through her storytelling, Richards aims to reach lovers of fantasy who
are exploring alternatives to the traditional status quo. Her message is
simple: One person can be a catalyst for change.
Connect with the Author Online
Website:
http://crrichards.com
Facebook:
/authorcrrichards
Twitter:
@CR_Richards
Instagram:
@authorcrrichards
Goodreads:
http://tinyurl.com/AuthorCRRichards
GET TO
KNOW C.R. RICHARDS
The Obsidian Gates is the second book in your Heart
of Warrior series. Can you catch readers up on where you left off in The Lords of Valdeon?
Seth is the new Bearer of the Lion Ring. He
and his squire, Riley, are on the run from the same blood thirsty creatures who
murdered his father - Edmund the Leo. Escaping Marianna, with the help of
Xavier the Wolf, they set sail aboard a cargo ship headed toward the mainland
of Andara. Seth is determined to find answers about his parents and the family
behind their murders.
Julian, after
arranging Edmund’s murder, continues his attempts to kill the new Bearer of the
Lion Ring. He tries to pursue Seth, but is stopped by the invading Jackal.
Julian is taken to their command ship to find he’s been outsmarted by the Jackal
General, Lord Gorman. Hopes of seizing the throne of Valdeon begin to Dwindle.
Julian isn’t one to be easily stymied. He begins plotting for new ways to exact
his revenge.
What do
you think will surprise readers most about this new chapter in your series?
The main characters in the series are
devastated by loss in book two. They have their homes and their loved ones torn
away by invaders. I think the readers will find encouragement in their ability
to endure through all the trials they face.
Was there
any special research you conducted while writing The Obsidian Gates?
I love doing research and had several topics
to pursue in this book: old schooners and potential designs to turn them into
airships, basic military ranks and protocol, and my favorite - visiting Key
West for location ideas.
Epic Fantasy’s take big imagination! Can you tell us how
the Heart of the Warrior series came to fruition?
All my story ideas start with one pivotal scene I
envision in an intense and vivid dream. The first seed of an idea for the Heart
of the Warrior Series came to me when I dreamed of a boy from the 18th century.
He was kneeling beside his mother's grave in a cemetery beside a high seaside
cliff. A strange man joined him there. The scene made me wonder who the man was
and his relation to the boy. They were strangers. I could tell from the man's
dress, he was a foreigner.
I began to ask
several "What if" questions to flesh out the story: What if the man
was the boy's estranged father? What if his mother had hidden him in the remote
village? WHY? Who are these people and what brought about the tragedy that
bound them to one another? I wanted to find out and the only way to get to the
truth was to write the first book.
What fascinates you the most about writing?
The act of creating
art - whether it be writing, music or visual art - is a miracle. We begin with
a blank surface. The object we create when we've finished isn't done by the
holder of the pen or the brush - something guides our hand.
I'm always
fascinated when I go back and read a passage out of the novel I'm working on.
Very rarely do I remember writing the words. It's almost as if my mind goes and
retrieves the story from another realm. I think, perhaps, this is the reason I
work so hard to finish each story. I don't know where they come from or why
they come to me. I just know I've been given the responsibility to bring them
out and make them available for everyone to read.
Was that part of what made you want to pursue life as an
author?
I'd always dreamed
of being a writer. Unfortunately, I gave up on the dream for many years while I
pursued other careers. Eventually I became a miserable and depressed mess. I
turned to the one thing I knew would make me happy. Once I picked up my pen and
paper again, I never stopped.
People glibly throw
around the term, "Living the dream." I am living my dream. I can't
wait to get out of bed in the morning and share my unique vision with the world
via my stories. It really does make a huge difference in your life. Purpose
gets you out of bed in the morning with hope and happiness. It makes your
outlook positive and productive.
Who has influenced you the most in your writing?
My father was an
amazing person. He lied about his age to join the army during WWII. Dad was
captured and taken on the death march. He faced hard challenges his entire
life, but he always kept trying. He taught me to be tough and to work for what
I want in life.
Dad was also a
beautiful artist and a writer. He never sought fame, but was always supportive
of his creative children. Though Dad passed away several years ago, I still
hear his voice in my head during those hard times. Keep going. You'll make it.
Have you ever had a mentor, or someone who sparked your
passion?
I'll never forget
the year New
York Times Best Selling author Joseph Finder came to the Rocky
Mountain Fiction Writers conference here in Denver. He is so kind and
supportive - no matter the level of success he achieves, he remains genuine.
His workshop changed my outlook on writing. He told us our first draft of the
book would be terrible. Accept it. Then just write the crappy draft (his
words!). The important thing is to finish. You can correct all your mistakes
later. Essentially, he gave me permission to not be perfect. My books can never
be perfect, because I'm an imperfect human being and that's okay.
What kind of other works (books, scripts, poems etc.)
have you had published?
I coauthored a
horror romance novel (out of print), before deciding to go out on my own. My
first solo dark or urban fantasy novel, Phantom
Harvest, was traditionally published. The three books that followed were
all Indie Published: Lost Man's Parish,
Pariah and The Lords of Valdeon. I've also been a freelance journalist and
columnist in local newspapers and entertainment magazines.
What’s
next for the Heart of the Warrior
series?
Book Three (In the works right now) takes the
story to an isolated marsh where Seth must search for the fabled “Creed of the
Guardian.” It won’t be easy. Their outpost is surrounded by treacherous bogs
and fierce predatory creatures.
The perils outside the walls of the outpost
can’t compare with the dangers from within. Many of the rangers in Seth’s new
battalion have seen his raw power. They fear he will lose control of the
destructive force of the Lion’s Roar. Others fear what his mixed blood means
for the future of the Legion.
Only by finding the Creed of the Guardian can
put their minds at ease and restore the Jalora Legion’s hope.
