Characters

  • Charley

    Hi. I’m Charley and I guess I’m the hero of this series although, between you and me, being a hero isn’t all it’s made out to be.

    In fact, if I’m honest, it pretty much sucks. Sure, if being a hero was just about rescuing kittens from trees, helping old ladies across the road, or helping out at charity shops, then I’d be fine with it.

    But it’s not…at least not in my case.

    Being bullied at school was bad enough but then along came these monsters, a crazy girl called Violet, and a whole load of shit, and I lost everything that ever meant anything to me—my home, Martha (my guardian) and my entire life as I knew it.

    Why?

    Because this bad guy called Moloch decided he wants to be in charge of some magical place called Elorysia and make everyone do what he wants.

    And therein lies the next unbelievable fact I have had to come to terms with—magic really exists and guess what…I’m supposed to be able to use it.

    Just like that! I mean, come on. We all know magic is just a load of made-up stuff that writers and film makers come up with to keep us all throwing money into their pockets…isn’t it?

    Well, the answer to that is a big fat NO, and yours truly here just got a crash course in what it means to have magical abilities. Only, no matter how hard I try, I just don’t seem to be able to actually use my co-called powers so how the hell I am supposed to be this hero and put Moloch back in the hole he apparently belongs in, I don’t know.

    Anyways…if you want to find out what happens and how I get along with all this magic shit, grab the first book in this series—Shadows of Darkness—and join me in my adventures (if that’s what you want to call them. To me, it’s just more crap to deal with on top of being a teenager, but I guess that’s destiny for you.)


  • Ardreth

    Hello Friend. It is an honour to meet you and for you to get to know a little more about me.

    The first thing you should know is that I am an elf, and not just any elf. I am descended from Ilmar, the Glass Master—the greatest elven wizard to have ever lived—and it is (or was) my duty to become the next elf to hold that title and the power which goes with it.

    However, destiny had other plans for me, so here I am, baby-sitting a precocious teenager from a completely different world who knows nothing about magic, let alone how to use it. As well as that, she has no self-confidence, lacks any kind of battle training, and is a monumental pain most of the time.

    Sometimes I wonder what made me bind myself to her with blood ties that can never be broken, but I suppose that is the thing about destiny—it often takes you down roads you might never have thought to travel, and makes you do things any sane person would never contemplate.

    But I don’t complain. Elorysia is my home and its future is under threat from a monster of darkness, the likes of whom has not been seen for generations. Even were it not my destiny, I would fight ‘til my last breath to protect this land and the people I love, and make sure the light is never allowed to fade.

    Destiny has put me here with Charley and given me a purpose which I intend to fulfil. Besides, if I had not accepted my fate, I would never have met Violet, the woman of my dreams, the love of my life, and my heart’s desire. So, maybe this destiny is not so bad after all.

    As you read about our adventures, I look forward to travelling this path with you and helping you to discover more about me, Charley, and Violet. You never know…you might find out for yourself if magic really does exist in your world as well as mine.

    Until we meet again…


  • Violet

    Hello. My name is Violet and I am a half-breed. There, I got that out right at the start of this introduction just so you know the truth.

    It’s not that I am ashamed of who I am, but Goblins are not exactly liked very much in Elorysia and, as my father is the king of the Goblins, I tend not to explain my bloodline to most people. Fortunately, I look like my mother and have not inherited any part of my father other than the blood that runs in my veins.

    Despite my mother dying at birth, I had a happy childhood. I was brought up on an island called Viridia, a rocky island off the southern coast of Elorysia, and it was my happy privilege to be able to serve, Beldren, one of the guardians who protected the great Crystal of Light.

    The four Guardians and the others who helped care for them were my family until the day we were all betrayed, the Crystal had to be destroyed, and I lost everything to a monster called Moloch.

    I wish it had not happened, but for some reason, I was appointed the task of finding the hero who is supposed to defeat Moloch and restore the light to Elorysia.

    As if that wasn’t bad enough, this so-called hero turned out to be a girl from a totally different world to mine, and someone who flatly refuses to believe in magic. She’s argumentative, has a mouth like a sewer, doesn’t believe she can be a hero, and can be downright rude when she chooses, but you know what…I quite like her.

    My people—the Hashani—are always described as being fiercely passionate and deeply loyal, and I see a lot of that in Charley. Maybe that’s why I understand many of the things she does, but it’s also probably why we clash so much.

    But we have lots of fun too, despite the dark situation we are all in, and it’s nice to have another female to talk to about—you know—girl stuff. I just wish she didn’t have this crush thing on me. It gets a bit awkward sometimes, especially as I know she gets jealous of my relationship with Ardreth.

    I know there’s something between the two of them as well, although I don’t know what and I’m not going to ask. If either of them wants to tell me anything, they will do it in their own time and if not…well, I’ll do my best not to be annoyed by them having secrets.

    So, that’s a bit about me. I could tell you lots more but that might give away too much about what happens to us as we do our best to fulfil our destinies. Instead, I will let you read about it in Shadows of Darkness, the first book in the series which will reveal everything in the fullness of time.