Every weekend a wonderful blog hop happens where writers share their stories. Click the box below to visit the other bloggers.
This week my snippet shows my villainess Isa in action, on the battlefield at Castle Elias, adding to her growing list of crimes against the elves and dragons in The Kingdom of Chalvaren.
“Ligare Ignis Draco in Adferunt mortem. Bind the dragon. I want him bleeding and suffering before he dies!” Isa cried.
A rigid black webbing studded with three-inch barbs shot from her fingertips.
Mia gulped in air. What kind of magic was this? She shook her head and drew back, watching Isa manipulate matter out of thin air, watching Magnus’s father tortured and defeated.
Razor-wire shot from Isa’s hands, encircling Garnet, biting through the ice which held him fast. As the black magic tore into his scales, the massive animal roared in pain. Mia’s belly spasmed and she broke free of Elissabet and Lucan and bolted forward to help.
Okay, Weekend Writing Warriors, what makes you hate a villain most?
With the love of Kort, Chalvaren’s warrior-prince heir, Mia Ansgar will seize her birthright and become the great dragon-riding wizardess prophesied to free that elven kingdom from her embittered sorceress kin.
TO ASCEND TRIUMPHANT
Twenty-five years ago, Theo Ansgar abandoned the Kingdom of Chalvaren for a hiding place on another world. Some called him traitor. Some, thief. Now his fully grown daughter Mia must return to the land of her birth…and their war.
It was the elf prince Kort Elias who brought her back. Theirs was an instant connection, an inescapable union of body, soul and sorcery, reminding Mia of what she truly is, and what she must become. There is also Magnus, destined to be more potent than any wyrm Chalvaren has ever seen, a three-day-old dragonlet Mia must nurture and then ride. And then there is the Dragonstone, an artifact of power nonpareil. Joined, they can tip the scales of battle against the wraith-possessed forces of darkness, of Mia’s own embittered kin.
Redemption will be offered, the protected will become the protector, and an ancient prophecy will come to fruition, but only righteous love can conquer all.
I’ve been busy with promo the past two weeks, finishing up my blog tour, and telling the world about Chalvaren Rising. If you’re interested in your own copy, the links are listed below.
BOOK BUY LINKS:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/chalvaren-rising-paula-millhouse/1122654652?ean=2940152348019
https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/576283
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-chalvarenrising-1887385-153.html
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/chalvaren-rising
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26326979-chalvaren-rising
https://www.createspace.com/5625321
Oh I just got chills from picturing that in my head. Intense scene and I hope Mia doesn’t get hurt herself by running to help. Who am I kidding though? The heroine always does get hurt. Great snippet!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad you checked in Daelyn!
LikeLike
Isa seriously needs a taste of her own medicine. Good that Mia doesn’t have to sit and watch only.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Linda – nope – Mia’s off to the races to save that dragon.
LikeLike
Too intense for me today! Which means it was very well done…
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ll take that as a huge compliment, Veronica.
LikeLike
This was an intense snippet. Great job.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Celilia – the scene was intense to edit – and the emotions that follow with the downed dragons had me in tears. I’m glad you liked it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And NOW I see the elf connection, LOL!
Great descriptions; I could see it unfold before me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Huge compliment there, Karysa! Thanks for stopping by. Yes, we now have an elf connection through Orlando’s pirate.
LikeLike
Great imagery here! I could picture the scene perfectly. Poor dragon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know, right, Karen. I was reduced to tears when Isa hurt Garnet in this scene. The next chapter, even moreso. Thanks for checking in.
LikeLike
Whoa, I am bowled over by this well written snippet.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Charmaine. I know our writing genres are worlds apart, but I appreciate your input so much.
LikeLike
I felt the pain too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good, Aurora. I’m glad Readers are feeling the emotional impact of this story. Thanks for commenting today.
LikeLike
What a nasty villainess! I do hope Magnus gets revenge! Splendid snippet Paula.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Kim,
I think everyone wants to see Isa Ansgar meet her due. Thanks for checking in.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ugh, mean to dragons! I hate her already. Great description of her awful magic.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know, right Christina! I hate her for that too. Thanks so much for stopping by.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Way to paint a scene, Paula! Very visual. 🙂
What makes me hate a villain? Not just that they’re bad, and that they inflict pain and hurt others…but that they take some sense of pleasure in the act.
Examples– Joffrey Baratheon, or Ramsay Snow/Bolton 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right, Teresa, that they take pleasure in the act is disturbing. I totally agree.
LikeLike
Intense scene. I hope you continue from here next week!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, PT. This is a pivotal scene in the story, and so many changes in the novel springboard from here. Glad you liked it. It’ll check in next week. 🙂
LikeLike
Oh my, I just wanted to cry as I read that snippet. A villain who can inflict pain and seemingly enjoys it while feeling absolutely NO remorse makes me MAD. Great snippet that just yanks at our emotions.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Chelle, it’s good to hear this scene tore at your emotions. When I was writing this, and the following scenes, when Mia and the elves are trying to save the dragon Garnet I was reduced to tears several times. I’m glad that came across on the page. Thanks for commenting.
LikeLike
I think the villains I hate most have it in them to do right, but they choose not to. And of course, not all villains are villains. They may be valiant, honorable people who happen to oppose the protagonist. Those kinds of villains are great, too.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It took me a while to understand the difference in an antagonist, who teaches our protagonist lessons, and a villain, Ed. Antagonists aren’t always villains. Villains overall are antagonists. And, I agree with you on the point that the worst villains could definitely choose to do better, but don’t. They really push my hot buttons. Like Isa Ansgar killing dragons.
LikeLike
Redeeming features may make it easier to identify with a villain, but at the same time it’s a balancing act. You don’t want to go so far with reader identification that the bad guy rivals or eclipses the protag.
The main thing that helped me with villains is the understanding that they’re the heroes of their own stories. They have solid, though perhaps twisted, reasons for what they do. Evil madmen, the stock villains of so much schlock TV and superhero movies, aren’t the best models, IMHO.
LikeLike
I can tell Isa will be nasty. I love the phrase “manipulate matter out of thin air.”
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good. I’m drawing in Readers who don’t normally read the fantasy romance genre. Thanks for stopping by, Tamara.
LikeLike