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Grove Guardian Press

Amber Queen preview and exclusive short story! ✨💚🍂

Published almost 3 years ago • 2 min read

Hello my wonderful Enclave friend,

I hope this letter finds you well! I'm writing with two really exciting things to share: a preview of Amber Queen, Age of Azuria book three, and an exclusive short story!

If you're still working your way through the series, then you might want to come back to this letter after you've read Hadvarian Heist, book two ☺️ (And, if you're feeling indecisive about the reading order for the novels plus the novellas, I've got you covered here!)

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Amber Queen preview

picture of an epic fantasy book cover showing a ship on a storm-tossed sea with text overlay that reads Amber Queen, Age of Azuria book three, by Beth Ball
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I. Love. This. Novel! And I'm so thrilled to be sharing it with you! Lots of action and really cool things happening in the world and with the characters! Click here or the book cover above to get your extended sneak peek at Amber Queen with the prologue through chapter three!

On the linked page, if you'll enter the same address that I'm writing to you on now, you'll receive the first four chapters of Amber Queen. The email will also provide help if you have any trouble loading the ebook onto your device.

You can access the preview anytime between now and release day, August 31st!

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Spoiler alert! Keep reading below only if you've already finished Hadvarian Heist. I don't want to accidentally spoil anything for you!

The Shadow's Embrace

picture of a fantasy book cover showing a shirtless man with text overlay that reads The Shadow's Embrace, an Age of Azuria story by Beth Ball
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(Yes, the book cover is meant to elicit a giggle! It makes me giggle every time I see it, and I love it so much! I've always wanted to have a romance book cover, and I am delighted to have had that dream come true!)

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This, my friend, is a story about Quindythias.

"The Shadow's Embrace" is Quindythias's retelling of what transpired in the Nocturne dungeon. As you might imagine, it's a smidge different from what you read at the end of Hadvarian Heist 😉

My suggestion is to wait and read it after you've read the Amber Queen preview as it makes more sense in context with chapter three.

Like the extended Amber Queen preview, this story is exclusive to Enclave friends and fiction patrons, and I have been absolutely giddy waiting to share it with you! The same is true here for the link above: Click here (or the book cover) for your signup link for the story and enter the email address you use for the Enclave. Then, you'll receive a link to download the story onto your preferred device/app, and you'll also find help if needed.

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Story Blurb

We all know that there's more than one version of any story. And, truer still, that sometimes what "actually" happened needs a tweak here and there to come closer to how said situation actually felt. (A measure that certainly makes for better stories, I'm certain you'll agree.)
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It was with these thoughts swirling around his clever, active mind that Quindythias Darkstrider tilted his head to the side, studying his eager audience down a perfectly curved, walnut-hued nose. He blinked long, black eyelashes and sighed.
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"You don’t gain the prowess that I possess without facing a great deal of darkness which, of course, I have in my extensive adventuring experience," the elf began. "But I’m sure you already know all about that. Why else would you be here, eager for my newest, most daring tale yet?" His dark eyes flashed. "I call it 'The Shadow’s Embrace.'"
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Because of course, when shadows rise, a true hero has but one choice: To embrace the shadows within.
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A short story perfect for fans of the Age of Azuria series who have read Hadvarian Heist and would like to uncover Quindythias's account of what happened in Nocturne's dungeons. Or what, upon reflection, probably happened, more or less.

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I sincerely hope you enjoy Quindythias's story, told by himself, of course, and that the Amber Queen preview whets your appetite for this next stage in our journey through Azuria!

Thank you so much for joining me on this adventure!

💚 Beth

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Grove Guardian Press

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