Title: Witch of the Lunar Order
Author: S.F. Henne
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Book Blurb:
Exile or forfeit my magic. Not the choices I expected after graduating university.
An unstable magic surges through my veins, and it’s growing harder to suppress. Desperate to save my powers, I moved to the big city to hunt for a cure and escape the witches who would strip away my magic.
After stealing an ancient codex—blame the magical fox—I discover a potion recipe that offers a chance to learn control. The allure of mastering my magic is tempting. A little sip won’t hurt, right? But when I rush to aid my wounded friend, dark creatures ambush us. I unleash my magic, saving our lives and almost destroying the street.
Barista in the morning and alchemist by night. I’m just trying to make ends meet. But a hidden danger stalks the shadows and I fear it's drawn to my new magic. Hunted by demonspawn, nephilim and dark magic, I must decide what I will sacrifice to hold on to my dreams. Will embracing this new power save my future or destroy it?
If you like fast-paced Urban Fantasy with a strong heroine, heart pounding action, found family and a dash of humor, then you’ll love Witch of the Lunar Order.
Excerpt:
Warm magic seeped into my skin from where the fox’s paw rested. It pressed its wet nose against my hand and I blinked down at the page.
Elegant script flowed across the page. The ink had dulled over the years, but I could decipher the text. It was a recipe for a potion I’d never heard of called magiam augere. My gaze snagged on the details below and I had to read it again, just to be sure.
“A potion to cultivate and refine one’s magic?” I said in disbelief. The description stated it could aid the magic user by helping direct the flow of energies and control their power. To allow the person to focus their magic, allowing greater command over their ability.
This couldn’t be a witch recipe. I’d scoured our archives for years, searching for such a spell. Something, anything, that could “fix” me.
The pages shook, and I realized my hands were trembling. Could this be the answer I was looking for? The chance to be whole. To harness all of the magical branches? To be powerful?
The urge to rush upstairs to my alchemy station had me on my feet before I realized what I was doing. No, I needed to research it first, to find cross references and ensure it was safe. Only an ignorant fool would brew some potion they stumbled upon. And I didn’t have half of the reagents.
I shook my head. I couldn’t get my hopes up. What if this potion only enhanced the wildness and I lost control? The witch council deemed this magic was erratic and dangerous. After living with it, I had to agree. What if I only made things worse?
“How did a fox know where to find the potion I’ve been hunting for?” I asked. I narrowed my gaze at the magical creature. Had someone sent it to aid me? Or did it have an ulterior motive? Why else would it help me?
A spark of intelligence shone in its sapphire gaze. In one graceful bound, the fox was beside me again, its cold wet nose pressing against my hand.
“You want me to believe you did all this to help me?” I said with a heavy hint of skepticism. The fox pressed its nose under my hand, wiggling until my hand was atop its head. It blinked up at me with an innocence that made me huff a laugh.
I stroked its head, and the fox closed its eyes. “I guess a thank you is in order,” I said with a smile. Damn it for using its cuteness on me.
To my surprise, the fox stayed by my side when I ventured upstairs to brew. Happy to curl up against my leg as I worked. The contract had only been a single batch. I dedicated the rest of the night to researching the reagents for the Codex’s potion and the other potential binding recipes I’d copied out.
The fox trotted away when I returned to my apartment to dress for work. I wouldn’t admit it aloud, but I had enjoyed its company. The buzz of excitement zipped through me as I locked my door. The research was promising, but some reagents were unaccounted for. I needed a full understanding before I attempted to brew the potion. I wouldn’t jump in head first until it was safe.
The streets were empty and eerily quiet, save for the echo of my footsteps. While I hated the overbearing sound of the city during the day, it was unsettling to see the area void of all life. While my rooftop was peaceful, out on the streets, the silence had me on edge.
As I turned a corner, my steps faltered, a shiver crawling up my spine. My eyes widened, locking onto an unsettling sight just a few paces away. Lurking in the shadows was a creature torn from the pages of ancient legends.
Demonspawn. The word hissed through my mind. I recognized it from pictures, but in a city this large?
It stood hunched, obsidian black scales covered its sinewy body, so dark they absorbed any light that touched it. Elongated and twisted, its limbs contorted from its body. Long, jagged claws adorned its fingers, glinting with lethality.
Two gleaming eyes, like soulless pits, stared out from beneath a furrowed brow, radiating an unsettling intelligence that made me shudder. The creature’s lips curled into a sinister sneer, revealing a row of razor-sharp teeth that were ready to tear flesh from bone.
A tense silence hung in the air, broken only by the creature’s low, guttural growl. My heart pounded against my ribs as if it could escape. My mind blank and body frozen, I could only stare.
The demonspawn’s head tilted as it watched me, its nostrils flaring as it scented the air. The creature snapped its jaws, and I jerked backwards. Wrong move.
It surged forward, claws scraped across the ground and I fumbled for my conduit, my fingers clumsy as I scrambled for my magic. I attempted to summon a shield. Sparks flew from the end of my conduit, pain flaring in my head as the spell shattered and the backlash hit me.
The demonspawn lunged, its sharp talons slicing through the air, but I couldn’t move. I was going to die.
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What makes your featured book a must-read?
Action packed and fast-paced, Witch of the Lunar Order is full of twists and turns to keep you guessing. It has a mix of light, humorous moments mixed in with darker, heart pounding themes. But unlike many urban fantasy novels there is a strong focus on the inner journey, on the personal growth the characters make in each story.
This series focuses on inner strength, healthy friendships, dealing with pain and trauma so that the soul can heal, and growing into the adult the character wants to become.
While these characters have amazing and powerful magical abilities, they are also learning how to navigate the world and live their best lives… and occasionally save the world.
Giveaway –
Enter to win a $25 Amazon gift card:
Open Internationally.
Runs December 5 – December 14, 2023.
Winner will be drawn on December 15, 2023.
Author Biography:
Born and raised in Adelaide, South Australia, Sarah swapped beaches for the ski slopes of Whistler, B.C and started her adventure. Now residing in Washington State with her husband, daughter and lab Luna, she embarked on the next part of her story: telling the tales that have been rattling around her head for years.
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