Teaser: His Third Attack

Not going anywhere for awhile?
Choose a good kaishakunin!

Teaser from my upcoming release The Second Cut.  Enjoy!

Not content with giving himself the one necessary cut, he slashed himself thrice horizontally and twice vertically. Then he stabbed himself in the throat until the knife protruded on the other side, with its sharp edge to the front; setting his teeth in one supreme effort, he drove the knife forward with both hands through his throat, and fell dead.

Algernon Bertram Freeman-Mitford

Tales of Old Japan

His third attack was lightning quick, a series of strikes that forced Tomoe to take a small step away.  Her wounded leg gave her a warning shot of pain and her knee began to buckle.  She swayed backwards and felt the sword pass through where her stomach and chest had been.  When she brought herself up, her naginata Autumn Dance licked out again, a feint to the right that urged him to move left, which he did.  The haft spun in her hands, dipped high and came up, to draw a line down his left arm and drew an audible gasp.  This time, she didn’t wait for him to recover.  She pulled back and struck out again, drawing a matching line down his right arm.  A quick twist of her wrists and the blade flicked up to the other side of his neck.  He now had four matching wounds in the space of moments.

She didn’t smile at what she’d wrought.  Hirotsuna had dishonored her, both as a woman and as samurai.  It was bushido that demanded he be repaid in kind, which could only mean death at her hands.  She didn’t regret the loss of life.  His karma had brought him to this point.  As ronin his honor was already suspect.  However, she could turn his life, at least the end of it, into meaning for her and her duty and the other men with him.

Hirotsuna was flagging.  The cuts had taken their toll both mentally and physically.  Fear and anger filled his gaze, but Tomoe could now see resignation.  He was a competent swordsman, and he must have thought himself twice the match for any woman.  He now knew that was not the case.  He danced back several paces from her last cut, took a firm hold on the hilt of his sword, two hands placed side by side close to the tsoba guard, and set his feet.

“Kai!” he screamed, rage and brutal fury filled his voice.  He ran forward, his sword swung down in a dynamic arc of power and destruction.  Every instinct in her screamed that she should move, that she couldn’t stand and meet such an attack, but she knew her leg would betray and kill her.

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Happy reading!

Nine Heroes Includes Yours Truly!

Stencil Press is proud to release its first Heroic Fantasy short story anthology: “NineHeroes.” “Nine Heroes” is a collection of short stories from some of the most exciting fantasy authors working today.  Proceeds from the work will go towards promoting the Heroic Fantasy Facebook group.  The hope is that this book will generate sufficient funds to allow the members of Heroic Fantasy to promote the work of new and upcoming writers.

Stories include:

Black Sword by Janet Morris and Chris Morris

The Act of Sleepless Nights by Walter Rhein

To Kill a Myth by Jesse Duckworth

No Life Too Small by Douglas R. Brown

To Live by Tom Barczak

Dozen by Shane Porteous

Just One Mistake by A.L. Butcher

Witness to Death by Teel James Glenn

Through the Sting of Fairy Smoke by R.A. McCandless

“Nine Heroes” is currently available on the Createspace Bookstore and will be available through other retailers such as Amazon shortly.  Please visit the create space “Nine Heroes” page and help us out by clicking the blue Facebook “like” button available there.

Five Star Review from Amanda Masters

Special thanks today to Amanda Masters of Wicca Witch 4 Book Blog.  Here’s her review of Tears of Heaven:

This was an amazing book! I don't think I have ever read a more compelling take on the Nephilim before. There was lots of action in this book as well which I really like when it comes to these type of books and I really enjoyed the main character, her snarky and rebelling attitude kept me quite entertained throughout.

The book jumps from the past to the present which can be a little off setting at first but you quickly get the gist what all the jumping around is all about. R.A. McCandless is a strong author who makes stories that his audience can grasp a hold of and identify with even within a world of fiction. This book book is a greatness among the world of Nephilim and Fallen Angel books out there.

Del has lived for centuries carrying out the Thrones plans, hunt the rouges and take them out. In her world it is the only choice afforded the Nephilim, work for the Throne, or be destroyed by it. Her new assignment won't be so simple and has never been done before, three rouges are working together and have kidnapped children. Together with her sometimes partner Marrin, another Nephilim, they must track them down and save the children's lives or forfeit their own.

Centuries ago Nephilim lived in peace, unhindered by the Throne. They got greedy with their blood lust they proved too strong, too ambitious, and too cunning for their own good. They became warlords, conquerors and emperors. They caused war and strife until the Throne stepped in and forced them to submit to Its will, or die. Del loved and lost back then for she had no use for power as the others, she is one of the first Nephilim.

Del will prove to the Throne that can do this task set before her, that she is not weak. For she is one of the first, and she will prevail if it is the last thing she does.

Thank you so much Amanda.

Outcasts, Allies, Song Maidens and Monsters - Jesse Duckworth's "A Song of Betrayal"

Following is my review for Friend of the Blog, Jesse Duckworth of Harren Press:

 

Jesse Duckworth’s A Song of Betrayal is a fun fantasy read, and excellent introduction to the world of Harren. There is excellent depth and breadth in a world that clearly has a history and characters that live and breathe on the page.

Duckworth tells the story of Weylin, and through him we start to understand the race called Balauri, and their rich, divided history. Weylin has somehow fallen from grace and been banished from his homeland in disgrace. But Weylin, a Balauri who had only been second to the queen, isn’t content to simply live his life. He has a plan, though one that is very thin, and he has started to collect allies like Falk, a fellow outcast.

A Song of Betrayal provides a well-developed world in which the action of the plot takes place. Duckworth includes bits of historical text, and wonderful songs reminiscent of those found in “Lord of the Rings” to provide layers of depth. The characters are caught up in both their own past and the history of their world, which is a delight to learn about.

Duckworth does an excellent job creating a believable world and living characters in a dangerous and thrilling world. One of my favorite sequence of chapters included the ship’s crew that Weylin and Falk travel with as they journey to find other allies, where they fight the sea, storms, and great monsters. The writing is crisp, clean and the plot moves along at a wonderful pace.

While the book is a bit on the short side (which left me wanting more), and Duckworth relies on some classic fantasy tropes, the entire effort is well-crafted and the story holds together beautifully. A Song of Betrayal sets up the world of Harren, the flawed and believable characters that inhabit it, and a plot wrapped around the desires of those characters. Duckworth is more than just a capable storyteller. He’s very enthusiastic about his writing, and the reader will definitely feel that intensity coming off the page.