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Zale. Gauthier. Varden. These three dynasties…They all sound like something out of an ancient, oriental myth or fairy tale. The concept of humans and dragons helping and living in harmony with one another, without fear. To me, that’s exactly what they are. A distant dream only read of, whispered secretly, quietly yearned for. For, you see, I am the new Quelda of Tynan. These words echo the mystery, horror, and romance found within Schulze's fantasy novel. Along with her new husband, Chalom, Crislin must choose to embrace cruel tradition, run from it, or stand against it. The young couple's only hope is to rally the help of the three peaceful dragon dynasties of Sulaimon—but tradition is not on their side, even outside the realm of Tynan. The dragons outside Tynan's borders have been rumored as too stubborn and proud to believe their Tynanian brothers would commit such horrors as inflicted upon the Quelda. Gaining their aid is not a likely hope. Yet, any hope at all is valued in Tynan... If they are to stand a chance of bringing cruel tradition to a permanent end, Crislin and Chalom must brave the constant, consuming blizzards of the Ever-white. They must brave the three dynasties and the challenges awaiting there. Together, they must convince the dragon emperors to allow them access to the shrines which house the sacred Aria - protective strands of music which may be able to disperse the evil from Tynan and unite the four dynasties of Sulaimon as a whole once again. Their only aid stems from a sprite whose moods are as unstable as her magic, a young minstrel, and a mysterious fox. Despite the odds, such plans are daring, dangerous, unprecedented, but fully possible - if they can escape the Wall first. |
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Bloodmaiden |
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Purchase This Book |
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Helping Authors… Publishing Dreams… |
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All Rights Reserved © Old Line Publishing, LLC 2006-2010 (last update 08/16/2010) |
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Written by Christine E. Schulze |
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Format: Perfect Bound Softcover (B/W) |
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Pages: 208 |
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Size: 5.25x8 |
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ISBN: 9780984476886 |
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DESCRIPTION |
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E-Book |
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Price: $7.95 |
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Coming Soon |
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Perfect Bound Softcover (B/W) |
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Price: $14.95 |
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Published: May 2010 |
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Other Books By This Author |
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In the mystical land of Sulaimon, if the brave young couple of Chalom and Crisilin have any chance of bringing an end to a cruel, longstanding tradition, they must rally the support of their three peaceful neighboring kingdoms – all guarded and ruled by powerful dragon dynasties. Faced with seemingly insurmountable odds, the intrepid husband and wife team contend with a host of increasingly dangerous challenges – including everything from deadly blizzards to the arresting power of disbelief – as they strive to rid their beloved land of evil and reunite the four dynasties of Sulaimon into a peaceful, harmonious whole once more. With only a handful of unlikely “warriors” to help them, though, the unsung heroes must ultimately derive their strength from a source more robust than mere numbers… Crafted in vibrant, visionary fashion, Bloodmaiden, is an all-engrossing fantasy thriller. On par with the likes of Tolkien and Herbert, author Christine Schulze has created a compelling world of epic proportions, populated by mystical figures who find themselves swept up in the throes of a momentous, fateful fight for their very lives. In Chalom and Crisilin, Schulze successfully conveys the selfless valor of heroism while simultaneously depicting the underlying vulnerability that gives rise to such bravery. Realizing that their greater battle isn’t for themselves – but rather for the survival of the land they hold so dear – is all the motivation the young warriors need to hold fast to their cherished cause – even at the expense of their own lives. Highly imaginative and entertaining, Bloodmaiden is a solid new addition to the world of fantasy fiction. A standout debut from a promising young literary talent. ~Chelsea Perry, Apex Reviews |
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REVIEWS |
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To begin with, I would like to clarify one point. This is not Bloodmaiden: A Fantasy Anthology which is an anthology encompassing only the first few chapters of Bloodmaiden and several other short stories written by Christine E. Schulze. No, this is the real deal: the full novel that is 200+ pages long. If you are looking for the complete book, then this is the version you want to buy! The story follows a young girl who has been chosen to take part in a sacred ritual of her native kingdom. Other kingdoms, each ruled by its own dragon dynasty, have their own version of this ritual (there are four in all), but none seem as sinister or horrifying as the one in which our young heroine finds herself trapped. Faced with the looming threat of ruthless, unquestioned tradition, our heroine must find the courage of her own convictions to challenge the dark and twisted customs of her people in the hope that she might somehow bring their hearts back into the light. As the book begins, the reader finds himself or herself very much inside the head of Crisilin. The main character of the story, Crisilin is an every-girl, an avatar through which the reader can experience this strange new world. Perhaps, then, it is good that Crisilin is so perceptive to the things around her, although she perceives these things not only through sight and sound, but also through feeling. To the author, the world she creates is as rich with vibrant emotion as it is with color, and there is no better character to help us traverse this world than Crisilin. Maybe it should come as no surprise, then, when it oftentimes seems as though the main character does more feeling than doing. If Crisilin is, at heart, an avatar for the reader, then it is the characters who make up the rest of the cast who are the heart of the adventure. It is not far into the book that you meet Crisilin's first and most faithful companion for her journey, her husband, Chalom. Each subsequent character has his or her own magical abilities, and, from this point on, the author relies mainly on these characters to propel the plot and provide intrigue, comic relief, or just a convenient way out of a sticky situation. If the first two chapters fooled you, make no mistake: This journey is about friends--without them, Crisilin would long since have succumbed to her fate, leaving readers to wonder why they had ever bothered to feel for a protagonist as timid as she is. This is not to say that timidness is a bad thing. On the contrary, it is refreshing to see a character as shy and childlike as Crisilin take center stage. Especially for a book that seems geared for teens and younger girls, this reviewer can imagine readers easily slipping into her role, already feeling caught up and swept away by traditions and forces much larger than themselves. In these times, what teenage girl doesn't band together with her friends both old and new, or rely on the aunt who might go against others' wishes to help her achieve self-determination, or find herself seeking guidance from the more benign of her paternal figures? What girl doesn't wish she was married with a husband to snuggle to help forget all those worries? For this reviewer, it is this transitioning from innocent naivete to painful carnal knowledge that can be the only explanation for the awkward lurches inherent within an adventure full of quirky characters and optimistic, silly banter that also tries to grapple with dark themes like human sacrifice, suicide, and mothers killing their own babies. It helps to know that the author is a Christian writing what is essentially a story about faith, believing fully that the world has clear boundaries between what is good and evil; once this balance has been tipped, the world can become a terrible and frightening place. The moral of the story? Pure hearts can prevail in even the most corrupt of times, and all things work for good to who hold steadfast in their faith--and rely on their friends. Recommended for teens and younger readers, as well as young adults who are still pure of heart. A+ ~Krepta8 |
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No, this is not deja-vu. My previous review was for an anthology collection of Christine's works only providing samples. Think of a demo album for Paul McCartney's greatest hits. Now I had the opportunity to read one of the works in the anthology from start to finish. The novel and the anthology bear the same name, Bloodmaiden. Once again, I was marveled by this young woman's writing. The depth of her descriptions and the power of her imagery is a testament to more than just years of fine writing tutelage. Christine has true talent. She is a visionary, creating illusory and magical worlds that include sprites, nymphs, dragons and castles. But more importantly she creates heroes, brave and noble and remarkably vulnerable. They spring forward to save others in the midst of terror. Crisilin and Chalom are a vibrant and bold young pair. In saving themselves, they manage to save generations of people, establishing peace in a fear struck society. Regardless of what your preferred genre is, I hope you get to at least sample Christine's work. You won't be disappointed. ~Evie Alexis Reviews |
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Bloodmaiden is a fantasy story set in the mystical land of Sulaimon. It’s four kingdoms are ruled and guarded by four dragon dynasties. The humans and dragons all live in harmony and help one another, all except the kingdom of Tynan. It’s dragon rulers require a human sacrifice to be made to them each year. This year, Crislin and her new husband, Chalom, have been chosen for sacrifice. Rather than face their impending doom, they decide to flee and seek help from the other kingdoms.
I really enjoyed this book! The story focuses mainly on this young couple as they fight to survive and unite the four kingdoms and put an end to the deadly traditions of Tynan. It was full of mystery, suspense and adventure and grabbed me from page one and held my attention throughout the story. It moved at a fairly steady pace and had some great edge of your seat moments. There were also some moving, emotional scenes which made for a well-rounded story! I think fans of the Hunger Games would enjoy this book as well. It has the same elements of survival, suspense and romance. This book is much shorter though, just over 200 pages, so it’s a perfect summer read! ~Shelley |