I first heard of the Krillonian Chronicles in May of 2016. When book two came on sale, I picked it up. That began a love affair with Annie Douglass Lima’s works. The Prince of Alasia introduced me to a different world that I enjoyed just as well despite my misgivings which I wrote about earlier this year. If fantasy isn’t your forte, and I have know idea why it wouldn’t be, Annie Douglass Lima also has a coloring book.

This week the conclusion to the Krillonian Chronicles comes out. In celebration, I get to share with you an excerpt, but first, I’d like to tell you what I thought of book 3.

Review of The Student & the Slave

Having already been pulled into the world of Cavvarach fighting and slaves, it didn’t take me long to dive in when a chance came my way to read book three. The book picks up right where book two left off–with a freedom and enslavement.

I eagerly awaited the satisfying conclusion, but as I read, I began to wonder if that happily-ever-after I so longed for would be possible. I couldn’t see how the character development would enable it to come about. Either way, I was sure someone would be disappointed and not able to have what he wanted. To my great pleasure, I was wrong.

This page-turner kept me guessing to the end with great plot, characters, and world building. I do suggest reading them in order, unlike me who read them book two, book one, and book three. However books two and three are available for 99 cents right now.

Get your copy of The Student & the Slave

 

Information about The Student & the Slave

Is this what freedom is supposed to be like? Desperate to provide for himself and his sister Ellie, Bensin searches fruitlessly for work like all the other former slaves in Tarnestra. He needs the money for an even more important purpose, though: to rescue Coach Steene, who sacrificed himself for Bensin’s freedom. When members of two rival street gangs express interest in Bensin’s martial arts skills, he realizes he may have a chance to save his father figure after all … at a cost.

Meanwhile, Steene struggles with his new life of slavery in far-away Neliria. Raymond, his young owner, seizes any opportunity to make his life miserable. But while Steene longs to escape and rejoin Bensin and Ellie, he starts to realize that Raymond needs him too. His choices will affect not only his own future, but that of everyone he cares about. Can he make the right ones … and live with the consequences?

Excerpt from The Student & the Slave

In this excerpt, a gang member who has seen Bensin fight is trying to recruit him.

“Where do you guys get your money?” Bensin challenged. “How do you afford to wear silver?”

Deiv chuckled. “Some of us have day jobs, believe it or not. But I know what you’re thinking.” He lowered his voice. “You see that building way off in the distance? Eighteen stories, white with green trim?”

“Yeah?”

“That’s Entitled, Tarnestra’s classiest clothing store. Back before Emancipation, it had a reputation for treating its slaves worse than any other company in the province. Eighteen-hour work days, no lunch break, you mess up or talk back or show up late and they’d beat you half to death. Even after they had to free their slaves, they’ve treated their paid employees almost as bad. There’s more people looking for work in Tavallia these days than there are jobs, so they can afford to be as mean as they want.”

“Okay. So?”

“So, let’s just say that no one felt sorry for them the night they lost a bunch of their most expensive inventory and all the money in their cash registers.” Deiv grinned. “Things like that are how come we can afford our silver. Nobody who actually needs the money ever loses anything to Silverheads. Only the lazy, greedy, rich corporations.”

“Well, I still don’t want to break the law.” Bensin kept walking.

“You wouldn’t have to do anything you didn’t want to. You could always just keep watch and sound the alarm if necessary. At least think about joining us. You don’t have to decide right now.”

“Okay, I’ll think about it.” Not think about it as in consider saying yes, of course. Just think about it as in ponder how weird and unnerving it was that a gang member was trying to recruit him. I probably shouldn’t tell Ellie and the others about this. They’ll only worry.

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Ready to grab your copy now, or do you still want to know a bit more? You can check out a character interview with Officer Shigo, who plays an important role in books one and two and has a cameo in book three.

Get your copy of The Student & the Slave