Wednesday, August 16, 2017

New Release-Excerpt: TWINS by Kim Iverson Headlee


TWINS
The Dragon's Dove Chronicles, the novella genesis of book 6

by Kim Iverson Headlee

Genre: Epic Historical Fantasy


From the award-winning, critically acclaimed pen of Kim Iverson Headlee comes the fall of Camelot as you have never seen it before.

The death of their mother knells the death of any hope for a joyful future for Gyan’s identical twin daughters, Gwenhwyfar and Gwenhwyfach. Their father, Arthur the High King, wastes no time in announcing firstborn Gwenhwyfar’s betrothal to Medraut—the man whom Gwenhwyfach secretly loves. And Gwenhwyfar is in love with Angusel’s son Lannchu.

The twins conspire to defy Fate and trade places. They know how ambitious is their scheme, for Gwenhwyfar is trained in the domestic arts and Gwenhwyfach has chosen the warrior’s path, yet the sisters are confident of success. The wedding and its accompanying night come off without a hitch… for both of them.

Fate, however, shall not be defied.

Incorporating ancient Welsh legends of the “False Guinevere” and “Feasting the Hungry Man,” and featuring many characters introduced in DawnflightMorning’s Journey, and Raging Sea, this glimpse into their destiny, thirty years after the setting of those novels, reveals the destruction of Arthur’s realm that’s unique in all of Arthurian literature.


Praise for other Arthurian works by Kim Iverson Headlee:

“Intense.” USA Today (Dawnflight)

“Solidly entertaining.” Publishers Weekly (King Arthur’s Sister in Washington’s Court)



She blew the three-note signal that only one man would recognize. Lannchu whipped his head around and strode toward her position.

“Gwenhwyfar,” he said in a harsh whisper. “What in God’s name are you doing out here at this hour? It’s too dangerous.”

She stepped closer to lay her cheek against his chest, reveling in the rhythm of his heart as his arms closed about her. “Not anymore.” Laughter, followed by suspicious-sounding crashes and thuds, reminded her that this was a poor trysting place. She grasped his hand. “Please walk with me.”

As they started down the alley, another group of men stumbled from the tavern, swearing loud, drunken oaths of revenge. Lannchu glanced at them, his hand tightening on hers. “Ha. As if I’d go anywhere else.”










Kim Headlee lives on a farm in southwestern Virginia with her family, cats, goats, Great Pyrenees goat guards, and assorted wildlife. People and creatures come and go, but the cave and the 250-year-old house ruins—the latter having been occupied as recently as the mid-twentieth century—seem to be sticking around for a while yet. She has been an award-winning novelist since 1999 (Dawnflight first edition, Sonnet Books, Simon & Schuster) and has been studying the Arthurian Legends for nigh on half a century.



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