Title: Legends of Windemere: Beginning of a Hero
Author: Charles E. Yallowitz
Genre: Fantasy, Action, Adventure
Book Blurb:
Every hero must take the first courageous step into adventure. For Luke Callindor, it’s more of a blind stumble. Depending more on bravery than common sense, Luke sets out to protect a royal heir who is attending the prestigious Hamilton Military Academy. With a demonic assassin in the shadows, the determined warrior will have to think on his feet to defend his charge. If only he waited long enough to find out which student is the hidden noble. With Luke’s dream on the horizon and a deadly enemy on his path, how will he transform from a reckless adventurer to a true hero of Windemere?
Excerpt:
“What is it?” Luke asks from the back of the group.
“This step is about an inch wider than the others,” Nimby whispers, bending down until his nose is almost touching the step. “It makes me think that there is a trap here. The mechanics involved in a step trap tend to make the trigger step a different size than the others. Not sure what the switch does though. I’ve seen traps like this before and they don’t always do the same thing. Thankfully, all of them are set off the same way. It’s a basic pressure plate and pulley system, which means we only have to hop over the step to avoid it. Kind of strange that such a basic trap is in this place. The person who set this up might have been a great caster, but they didn’t have any imagination with their trap making.”
“There could be more to it. Let me take a look,” Fritz offers. The gnome straddles the step with Nimby before a metal clink is heard from the walls. Everyone holds their breath as the two steps that Fritz and Nimby are standing on quickly sink into the ground.
“A false pressure plate flanked by two perfectly hidden plates,” Nimby says with a nervous smirk. “Well, that’s a nice twist to a classic. I am very impressed”
A wet crash is heard from the top of the stairs and they can hear liquid splashing down the stairs. All of them cover their noses when a foul stench wafts down the staircase in front of whatever liquid that has been released. Luke quickly sheathes his sabers and Aedyn puts his staff over his shoulder before they each pick up one of their diminutive friends. The half-elves break out into a mad sprint down the staircase.
“Hey, guys! I know that smell! It’s oil!” Fritz shouts. He maneuvers himself, so that he is on Aedyn’s back. The gnome takes the priest’s staff, making it a little easier for Aedyn to run.
“What does that mean exactly?” Luke replies, ricocheting off a wall when the stairs make a suddenly twist to the left. He has Nimby tucked under his arm while he moves as fast as he can. He can hear Aedyn behind him almost trip and fall down the stairs when he comes to the twist.
“Not to make anyone panic, but oil is flammable!” Nimby shouts over the growing sound of rushing oil. “I distinctly remember there being torches on the walls.”
“By Durag’s light, do not tell me such things!” Aedyn yells in a panic. “If you do not have any good news then please be quiet!”
Luke is so busy running that he is unable to avoid a step that is slightly darker than the others. He steps on it with all of his weight, making it sinks into the ground. This time the torches along the wall turn upside down, spilling fiery coals onto the dusty steps. The staircase erupts into flames behind the small group as they fight to run faster. They can feel a wave of heat hit them from behind as the ankle-high river of oil becomes a rolling torrent of fire.
“Take Nimby and run ahead, Aedyn! Maybe I can do something to slow the trap!” Luke shouts. He turns in time to see the flood of flaming oil turn a corner far behind them. Like a liquid fireball, the flaming oil grows bigger and bigger, eating up the fiery coals along the steps.
“Care to repeat that idea, hero?” Aedyn asks with a nervous laugh.
Luke gulps and tightens his grip on the halfling. “Maybe another time. How long are these damn stairs anyway?”
Luke makes a sharp turn and sees a sealed door ahead of them. He is about to burst into a flood of curses when he hits another stair switch and the door begins to open. The glitter of gold and gems nearly blinds him as a fresh breeze enters the stagnant tunnel. Luke roars as he hurls Nimby at the opening, desperately hoping to get the halfling out of harm’s way. He watches Nimby land headfirst on a pile of gold before turning to see where Aedyn and Fritz are.
“This is really bad!” Fritz urgently shouts. “Fire gets attracted to areas that have a sudden intake of fresh air! Move faster, Aedyn!”
Aedyn barely notices that he is passing Luke as he pushes his legs into a final sprint for safety. The priest dives through the opening, turning in time to see the roiling fireball charging down the stairs faster than ever. It licks at Luke’s heels as he hurls himself through the opening. Unlike his friends, Luke has no time to jump behind anything when the fireball blasts into the chamber. It rolls along the ceiling of the airy chamber for a few minutes until the door slams shut.
Buy Link:
What’s the first binge-worthy book you read and why was it a must-read?
The first binge-worthy book that I remember reading would have to be ‘Jurassic Park’ by Michael Crichton. I was in middle school and had to read it in order for my parents to take me to the movie. It was the first book I read where the characters hopped off the page and the action came easily to my imagination. Didn’t hurt that it had dinosaurs and I was getting into science at the time too. There was also a fascination since I hadn’t read anything with this level of violence and gore before, so it really grabbed me.
What makes your featured book a binge-worthy read?
‘Beginning of a Hero’ is the start of my series ‘Legends of Windemere’ and I made sure to create an exciting jumping point. The characters are designed to be flawed and relatable even if their circumstances are fantastical. They make mistakes and show emotions as their adventure progresses, especially Luke Callindor. I made sure to create action scenes that are highly descriptive to give readers a sense that they are witnessing the action as it unfolds. Many have said that it is like reading a television episode because the action is very detailed and immersive thanks to using present tense. A final reason to binge this book, and maybe the series, is that I always enjoy throwing in some humor. Not enough to destroy all sense of seriousness, but some banter and gags that will have a reader chuckling if not belly-laughing. Life can be both serious and funny, so why can’t fiction be the same?
Giveaway:
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Open internationally.
Runs August 1 – 31.
Drawing will be held on September 1.
Author Biography:
Charles Yallowitz was born and raised on Long Island, NY, but he has spent most of his life wandering his own imagination in a blissful haze. Occasionally, he would return from this world for the necessities such as food, showers, and Saturday morning cartoons. One day he returned from his imagination and decided he would share his stories with the world. After spending many years fiddling with his thoughts and notebooks, he decided that it was time to follow his dream of being a fantasy author. So, locked within the house with only pizza and seltzer to sustain him, Charles brings you tales from the world of Windemere. He looks forward to sharing all of his stories with you and drawing you into a world of magic.
Social Media Links:
Blog: www.legendsofwindemere.com Twitter: @cyallowitz Facebook: Charles Yallowitz Website: www.charleseyallowitz.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cyallowitz/