Blurb:
When an invasion threatens the land of the Mountain King, the fate of the people rests on the shoulders of young governor Judah. She has sworn to prove herself a skillful leader by protecting her kingdom from foes, but difficulty and danger surround her.
Then Judah’s life is saved by two different men who divide her loyalty. One, a fascinating healer, captures the hearts of Judah and her people. The other, a mysterious shepherd, forces Judah to question what she believes to be true.
When a conspiracy comes to light that could destroy Judah and her kingdom, a single choice might cost her people everything. Will the headstrong leader prove herself—or find herself trapped?
Extract:
This was always my favorite part.
At a signal, a few young men stepped forward bearing beautifully ornamented boxes. The wood was intricately carved with mountain settings and animals, with graceful accents of gold and precious stones. The first young man came forward to present his box, and as he raised the lid, I gasped at the contents. A glow emanated from a folded fabric. Putting the box down, the young man carefully lifted the gift. It was a robe of the most delicate fabric, with designs reflecting the beautiful scenes of the box. The threads were gold, catching and flashing light around the room. I had never seen anything so lovely, so perfect, and it was a struggle to maintain my composure in the face of this regal gift. I signaled an attendant to collect the present.
The second young man brought his box, which, when opened, contained a letter fastened with the royal seal. Having received gifts from previous envoys on behalf of the Mountain King’s son, I was not surprised by this gift. I once again nodded my gratitude.
To my surprise, a third young man advanced.
Alongside him stood a rather ugly old woman clad in plain, homespun clothes. A long, white braid hung down her back. The woman bore deep wrinkles and a squint that reminded me of the dried apple faces children carve in the wintertime. What in the world? Why is she here?
Lord Gregory was smiling. "Lady Judah, I present the final gift from the son of the Mountain King. I present Mesda."
Links:
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Short bio:
Olivia is an author, globetrotter, and educator. While traveling through 30+ countries, her adventures have ranged from exploring Istanbul's Grand Bazaar to dining with Roma royalty in Romania to summitting Tanzania's Mt. Kilimanjaro. Olivia taught middle school English for many years before retiring to raise her kids and to write. She lives with her husband and two daughters in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, where they hike, kayak, and explore.
Behind the Scenes:
Like a crack in the proverbial dike, a literary/writing “aha!” moment came to Olivia in her childhood. The scene: an otherwise normal lunch while Olivia and her sisters listened to their mother read The Chronicles of Narnia. They were riveted to the part in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe when Aslan is sacrificed on the stone table. Horrified, captivated by the depiction, Olivia remembers her mother seizing the opportunity to teach about allegories, describing the deep connections between the book scene and the biblical description of Christ’s crucifixion. The moment was pivotal. The concept that some stories were created to be enjoyed and understood at multiple depths, a mind-blowing one. From that moment, Olivia’s reading life has been flooded with a fascination for allegorical stories. C.S. Lewis shot to the top of her favorite authors list, and then George MacDonald with his glorious fairytales. Hannah Hurnard’s classic story, Hinds’ Feet on High Places, followed a few years later as a significant allegory in Olivia’s life and faith journey, and she searched for further books that could communicate spiritual truths through accessible, exciting stories. Now, over 30 years later, Olivia has crafted a new allegorical fantasy for modern readers to enjoy. Son of the Mountain King tells the greatest love and adventure story: the story of God’s love for His people.
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