Lorareedpalmer

When her uncle is murdered by a curse, seventeen-year-old water mage, Selena, must use her skills to solve his murder and stop the killer's plans to purge the world of those without magic. ****Selena Mendelson, a sharp-tongued, ambitious student whose social skills are lacking, dreams of forging a career in spellcraft and potions. However, her authoritarian, dark-leaning father is pushing to recruit her to work for the government in his department, the Defense Bureau.When Selena's uncle is murdered by a freezing curse in front of her eyes, she vows to avenge him. During her investigation, Selena discovers records in her father's study that reveal he may have killed her uncle to conceal information about a special project at work. When Selena asks to join her father on his business cruise as a cover for her investigation, he refuses, leaving her no choice but to sneak onboard the magical cruise ship, The Augurey of the Seas. As Selena uncovers the truth, what she finds chills her to the core. There is more at stake than she ever imagined. Can Selena avenge her uncle while stopping the Defense Bureau's plans, or will her investigation freeze in its tracks?Cover by @Shreya_VA…

Lorareedpalmer

Kassi Blake, a ballerina dragged to Mars by her parents, must solve the mystery behind an escalating series of disasters and thwart an ancient guardian spirit to save the colony.****When seventeen-year-old Kassi Blake's father is chosen by the Joint Space Commission to help terraform the red planet, Kassi gets dragged away with her family to join Mars Colony 1. Mars is a sterile wasteland 33.9 million miles away from home and her dance academy. Heartbroken over sacrificing her ambitions of becoming a prima ballerina for the sake of her father's dream, she has no choice but to make a new life with the limited options available on Mars. She learns the excavation team is accepting applications and takes the opportunity to prove that her physical stamina and grit honed from years of ballet can translate into a new dream - success in one of the most challenging fields Mars offers.Kassi's assigned partner in hunting archaeological treasure is Noah, a former football player and grandson of the habitat's commander. He teases her new friend with the term of endearment, "Goth Girl," he's got a cocky grin that's too cute for his own good (and hers), and she's stuck with him. On their initial dig, they unearth prehistoric cave drawings and pottery emblazoned with a mysterious symbol. When the habitat's hull breaches during a freak sandstorm that vanishes as quickly as it came, Kassi sees that the walls of their compound now bear that same strange symbol.With the colony's commanders in denial that this was something more than a natural disaster, Kassi and Noah team up to unravel the mystery of the symbol and discover who - or what - attacked their new home. The next disaster targets the greenhouse. Then the habitat's oxygen circulation system fails. With dwindling food stores and air supply, Kassi and Noah must confront an ancient force before it wipes out the entire community.1st Place winner - Science Fiction Category, Winter 2021 Four Seasons Awards.…

Lorareedpalmer

Leah Ellis never knew why she was found abandoned on the beach at two years old. Content with her adoptive family and small town life, she hadn't thought much about it over the years. That is, until her life takes a bizarre turn when she begins seeing images in mirrors she can't explain--cloaked figures using powers that manifest like lightning bolts, or flash-frozen beaches on another world beneath a purple sky. She practices mirror-gazing, driven to understand these images and their possible connection to her forgotten past, and discovers that it's kind of addictive with its wild, boundless power coursing through her veins. Soon, she learns to control what the mirror shows her.When new neighbors move in, Leah is shocked that they're dead ringers for the people in her visions. According to Brian, with the gorgeous ice-blue eyes, and his father, she is a MirrorMaster--an alien with a gift that lets her travel through mirrors, even to worlds light years away. Her birth parents sent them to take her from Earth back to her homeworld of Jantyr, a planet she doesn't remember. They've searched for her ever since she disappeared. But Leah's long-lost birth sister, a sorceress, activated an ancient device to trigger a cataclysm on Jantyr as a bid to consolidate her own power. Leah must return to Jantyr, master her newfound ability in order to locate and wield crystals that will disable the device, and thwart her sister's plans. Otherwise, the destruction will consume the entire galaxy, including Earth and everyone she loves.This is a novel published by Clean Reads, and it is available in Kindle, paperback, and Audible formats. I'm sharing the first several chapters here as a sample. Hope you all enjoy Leah's journey!…

Lorareedpalmer

Seventeen-year-old Larkspur Everbloom has a secret. The women in her family stop aging once they reach adulthood. They can never die of old age. Instead, they end up murdered.Feared for their agelessness, they are pursued by a shadowy organization known as BloodSlayers. Larkspur has known this her whole life. Aunt Magnolia, who took her in when her mother was murdered four years ago, reminds her every single day. They've moved from place to place on a yearly basis, always settling in remote locations to remain undetected by the BloodSlayers' vast network. Now their money has run out, so Aunt Magnolia needs a job to keep them afloat. The closest work she can find is in the city.Fitting into a new school, WoodBridge High, after being homeschooled to avoid the BloodSlayers is a massive struggle. Keeping time and regimented schedules seems so stressful compared to relaxing in nature with a book to study and cultivating skills such as gardening, creating artwork, and music on her own schedule. Even more stressful is avoiding the the omnipresent social media, whatever that is. Who would understand that a simple tweet with her picture could be seen by the BloodSlayers and bring danger crashing down on her doorstep?Unfortunately for Larkspur, the BloodSlayers determine the Everblooms' location as soon as Larkspur enrolls. A boy in her class, Tanner James, befriends her despite her attempts to remain an invisible loner. He has a secret, too. He comes from a long line of BloodSlayers, and Larkspur is his first assignment. Toy with their prey, then capture and kill is what he's been taught. When two of them uncover the truth behind what caused a centuries-old blood feud between the Everblooms and BloodSlayers, the pair must stand together to end the feud before it decimates their two clans.Author's Note: I am writing this story as part of the NaNoWriMo 2022 challenge. Happy writing to everyone doing this challenge along with me! :)…

Lorareedpalmer

A Harry Potter Fanfic. Fem!Snape Selena has other plans for her life than becoming a Death Eater, but her skills in spellcraft and Potions have placed her in Voldemort's sights. If she wants to survive long enough to escape his clutches, she must play a flawless game of politics in Slytherin house -- even if it means losing her best friend Lily. On her worst day, a new ray of hope comes into her life. Now, with a new last name and an amazing opportunity to complete her education on the Caribbean island that is the Prince family's winter home, a tropical paradise far from Voldemort's reach, Selena may just reach her dreams. Unfortunately, Voldemort's forces are not so willing to let her go, drawing Selena inexorably into the coming war. Used to staying in the shadows, she must now choose her side -- submit and stay safe, or step into the light and fight for her newfound freedom, opportunities, love, and family.…