Acceptance
A Fantasy Novel of Cygna
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Coming Soon
Review fron Angela Verdenius, author of Soul of a Witch
Kissre, a mercenary, is visiting her sister in the legendary lands of Cygna, the land of 'magic and witches'. Her sister is a Talent, and a captain of her own squad. The meeting between the sisters reignites old resentments, and family secrets never meant to be told come to light. The rift between them widens even more. However, as Kissre attempts to leave the city of Sidih, she is attacked and injured by unknown assailants.
Dovel, another talent, is falling in love with the 'barbarian mercenary'. He also suspects something more…something dangerous. He suspects that Kissre may have Talent, an untapped pool of power, and unknown even to herself. By the time he finds out what her Talent is, the land is plunged into war. Unrest resides within the lands of Cygna, resentment between the 'nulls', those without Talent, and the Talents themselves. The threat is not just from within Cygna, but also in the approaching, powerful army of the enemy.
An alliance between Kaeraya and Cygna against the powerful forces of Pertelon is built uneasily. In the middle of the Alliance stands Kissre. Politics, intrigue and power…it all rules. But who will win? And what will happen to Kissre as she discovers her Talent - and others do, too, perceiving her a threat? Danger is coming from everywhere…
A fascinating step into a land of magic, of Talents and characters that spring to life from the very pages. A strong heroine who never falters in her beliefs, and a hero who stands by her side. Adventure, war maneuvers, battles, politics and intrigue - what more can you ask for, especially when it's all deliciously combined with romance? I loved it! If you're wanting more than the average fantasy romance, then Rhobin Courtright's "Acceptance" is for you.
Review from Fallen Angel Reviews – Reviewed by Linda
Kissre Pierce sets out on a journey to Cygna to find out if her sister, Tyna, is there of her own will. Not only is Kissre a mercenary but she is also a Colonel in the Kaereya's Royal Guard. She has been very faithful in her service. Cygna is her land of birth and seldom welcomes strangers but she feels she has a duty to locate her sister. She and Tyna have not always been on the best of terms so Kissre begins to dread the trip. After she finds Tyna, she has no idea she will have to endure rebuke and shame. Not only does she have to encounter a visit with her sister but she soon bonds with Dovel and they begin a relationship, at first mostly out of interest. Now that she is in Cygna, things begin to happen in her life where she feels trapped. Can she finally confront her past and accept a second chance before she ends up losing everything?
Tyna needs to find answers. She loves and adores her sister, Kissre, but doesn't understand her reasoning for disliking their mother so much. Other unanswered questions rise as to why Kissre prefers being a mercenary by trade when she could live in Cygna and find a creditable life.
Acceptance is truly brilliant with all the legends of another time combined with betrayal, antagonism and finding that second chance that many so often miss. I could feel the emotions that Kissre was experiencing as she faced many obstacles. The way she only wanted to be loved brought tears to my eyes. I enjoyed the mention of the legend of the black swans during their celebration of Spring Rites. The characters all blended well to enhance a wonderful story. Ms. Courtright undeniably knows how to spin a tale that captivates. The style of her writing painted a picture that seemed so life-like as it captured the pages. It was like being in a magical fantasyland the way that Ms. Courtright depicted the scenery. She is a very expressive author and I look forward to more of her fascinating stories.
A Family Divided…
Responsibility and duty drove mercenary Kissre Pierce to find her sister in Cygna, the land of witches. Her journey to assure her sister’s safety pits sister against sister, country against country,and forces Kissre to face her own frightening nature.
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Excerpt
A mercenary’s welcome to Cygna
Entering the country of her birth brought neither deja-vu, forbidding portent, nor sense of kinship. The earth still greened beneath the previous season’s winter-browned stalks, the slow incline of the road stayed as twisted and rocky, and the budding leaves remained a chartreuse lace against dark green firs.
The few people she passed seemed suspicious and belligerent at once, but unafraid. She put their reaction down to her outlander appearance. Cygnese women didn’t wear a mercenary’s short leather jack over trews and riding boots. They wouldn’t know the deep mist-purple color of the jack’s soft, near immutable leather was the natural skin color from a wild ox found in the mountains south of the distant Zankiri Peninsula. The fawn leather trews, when not scuffed and scratched, were a functional alternative for a woman rider. The Cygnese would only see the foreign dress and short hair. The chin length strands tended to tangle in wild loose curls and waves, a style even more unlike the fastidious, conservative local fashion.
With most of her weapons safely packed away, except, of course, her boot knives, Kissre felt her appearance largely unthreatening. Her dress caught the natives’ attention, but it was the glitter of gold at her ears and right brow that raised Cygna suspicions and widened their eyes, sending them scurrying away. Kissre supposed it just as well that the serpent-bird tattoo wrapping her right wrist and snarling down her hand remained hidden under gloves she had pulled on for warmth.
She hadn’t traveled five furlongs beyond the border before two riders bore down on her, authority implied in the brown uniforms and superior attitudes. One lawman seemed much older than herself, one much younger. Their small but rugged long-haired mountain ponies pulled up before Bother. It was absurd. Bother topped both shaggy gray beasts by at least three hands, maybe more.
She suspected them unfamiliar with warhorses, trained to dispose of small obstacles barring their rider’s way. She squeezed her fingers softly, backing Bother two steps. The roan packhorse pulled up close to her right leg before stopping. Fudge growled and she warned him. “Out.” His head swung toward her, then back to the officers. He sat. A quick yawn exposed a fine set of incisors before his long tongue wiped his muzzle and hung in a light pant.
“Officers?” Kissre asked and greeted in her tone.
“State your business in Cygna, sir!” The younger one spoke first, all appointed aggression.
Kissre stared at him, and when his hand clasped a small hilt, decided escalating the provocation would get her nowhere. She rested her hands on her saddle’s pommel. “Visiting. My sister. I was told she was in Sidih.”
The man looked at her not only in obvious disbelief, but also contempt. “You have relatives in Cygna?” Patent skepticism lined the words.
“Just so.”
“Your name?” His voice supplied insult to the request.
Kissre straightened in the saddle at his tone and looked down on him from Bother’s greater height with a look that worked well on new and recalcitrant recruits. Her fingers gave a subtle twitch on the reins and Bother did his part. His great head rose, alert from his lazy stance, his nostrils widening as if he smelled trouble. The man’s tension showed as his pony protested the sudden jerk of reins.
“Cygna does not easily welcome strangers, sir,” the second officer said in a mollifying tone. Kissre turned to look at him. Obviously the senior officer, but she couldn’t tell from any insignia on their uniforms. Kissre cursed Tyna silently. She considered abandoning her visit and returning to Kaereya, but knew herself too stubborn to retreat before this hurdle.
“Tell your youngster,” she said, looking at the senior officer as she nodded toward his companion, “that inflammatory gestures are a clear challenge to any mercenary. In response, I have restrained my mount from crushing his pony, and my dog from ripping out his throat or hamstringing his animal. If that is not sign of peaceful intent, I don’t know what is.”
The older officer didn’t move but she saw humor gleam in his eyes. The younger man’s hands moved abruptly from his sword and he backed his pony out from under Bother’s nose. Kissre relaxed back into the saddle and Bother’s head lowered with a soft snort of air.
“We still need your name, sir.” The man was good, his voice conciliatory, but the attitude unyielding.
“Kissre Pierce. I’m trying to find my sister Tyna. She brought a trade caravan in about a year ago. And it is ‘mistress’ not ‘sir.’”
Both men started at her comment and Kissre cursed under her breath at their assumption or insult. At that moment, the roan packhorse, with a quick toss of her rust head, bit Kissre’s thigh. Cursing in colorful soldier’s terms, Kissre snapped the ends of the lead rope over the mare’s nose.
The roan snorted, threw her head up and backed, pulling on the lead. Fudge rose to bark and nip at the packhorse’s hocks. The surly animal bucked, and kicked at Fudge before careening forward into Bother. Kissre jerked on the lead, grabbing the halter in a pain-inflicting action. The mare froze, her attention on her pinched nose.
Kissre yelled at Fudge, but by then, his loud barks and circling leaps had spooked the officer’s ponies. The men had their hands full of shying ponies. It took some moments to restore order.
Only Bother stood quiet, swishing his tail in annoyed impatience, his chin drawn into his chest, one foreleg pawing the ground. As the mare settled, Kissre released the halter’s pressure.
“My apologies, officers, for the disruption.” Her anger replaced by chagrin, she rubbed the afflicted spot just below her buttock. “I bought the pack nag before leaving Kaereya. She’s a good beast with a few bad habits.”
The older officer openly grinned, the younger she couldn’t read. “That’s a fine vocabulary you have, Mistress Pierce. Sorry to have delayed your journey, but I think you no harm to Cygna. Just doing our duty, you understand. Good traveling.” In unison the two twirled their mounts and cantered away.
With an exasperated look at Fudge, she said, “no welcome at all.” He barked.