Cephrael's Hand: A Pattern of Shadow & Light Book One [Kindle Edition]

Melissa McPhail (Author)

Book Description

"All things are composed of patterns..." And within the pattern of the realm of Alorin, three strands must cross:

In Alorin...three hundred years after the genocidal Adept Wars, the realm is dying, and the blessed Adept race dies with it. One man holds the secret to reverting this decline: Bjorn van Gelderan, a dangerous and enigmatic man whose shocking betrayal three centuries past earned him a traitor's brand. It is the Adept Vestal Raine D'Lacourte's mission to learn what Bjorn knows in the hope of salvaging his race. But first he'll have to find him...

In the kingdom of Dannym...the young Prince Ean val Lorian faces a tenuous future as the last living heir to the coveted Eagle Throne. When his blood-brother is slain during a failed assassination, Ean embarks on a desperate hunt for the man responsible. Yet his advisors have their own agendas, and his quest for vengeance leads him ever deeper into a sinuous plot masterminded by a mysterious and powerful man, the one they call First Lord...

In the Nadori desert...tormented by the missing pieces of his life, a soldier named Trell heads off to uncover the truth of his shadowed past. But when disaster places him in the debt of Wildlings sworn to the First Lord, Trell begins to suspect a deadlier, darker secret motivating them.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A fantasic read...well written and descriptive... Melissa McPhail is an extremely talented writer.   --Reviewed by Charline Ratcliff for RebeccasReads

This is a richly imagined piece of work...the characters are engaging, and McPhail manages to do some very original things, which is often difficult in fantasy, given that so much work in the genre relies on Tolkienian stereotypes....some strong work here.  --Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards  

A well thought-out story with many layers...the characters are all interconnected...and the underlying mysteries that tie everything together are well hidden and thoroughly disguised. --Reviewed by Marty Shaw for Reader Views  

About the Author

Melissa McPhail is a classically trained pianist, violinist and composer, a Vinyasa yoga instructor, and an avid Fantasy reader.  A long-time student of philosophy, she is passionate about the Fantasy genre because of its inherent philosophical explorations.  Her work reflects a deep understanding of human motivations and adventures into the age-old question of good versus evil as modified by context, viewpoint and time.

Ms. McPhail lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, their twin daughters and two very large cats.  Cephrael's Hand, her first novel, is Book 1 in the series A Pattern of Shadow and Light.

Product Details

• File Size: 1612 KB
• Print Length: 654 pages
• Publisher: Outskirts Press, Inc. (September 22, 2010)
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B0046A9VLO
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #55,063 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 37 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Get it now! Get it for Later! Just GET THIS BOOK! October 5, 2010

By Margaret Pimentel

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

I have my favorite writers -- but I think I just found my next new (Sorry J.C. -- there's a new girl in town!) I found myself so vested in the characters and the story, I shunned spouse and children, snuggled up under a fluffy blanket in front of the fire without benefit of the depressing Washington rain -- just to finish the book! Every chapter just keeps you wanting to read on to find out what happens next. This story is so well done. Pleasantly, nothing is as you expected...except for the good vs. evil part. Or is it? Hm...well you'll just have to read to find out. If I have to wait for years for the next book in this series, things could get ugly for all parties involved.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read - left wanting more... October 4, 2010

By Rachel Karl

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

Melissa McPhail weaves a story filled with magic, adventure, love, seduction, chaos and complexity right from the start. I was captivated from the first page and left wanting more at the last word.

It amazed me that she was able to seemingly easily weave each character's story to a beautiful intersection. Each revelation, each twist had me on the edge of my seat and wanting to read on to find out where it would ultimately lead the characters.

I am not-so-patiently awaiting the next installment in this series...

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Superb! October 18, 2010

By LR

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

For those fantasy fans out there, read this book. Gripping, gripping, gripping. The book kept moving without seeming redundant and is laced with humor and wit. I highly recommend it.

Wheel of Time fans, this is a MUST.

More About the Author

Melissa McPhail is a classically trained pianist, violinist and composer, a Vinyasa yoga instructor, and an avid Fantasy reader. A long-time student of philosophy, she is passionate about the Fantasy genre because of its inherent philosophical explorations.

Ms. McPhail lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, their twin daughters and two very large cats.

Cephrael's Hand is the award-winning first novel in her series A Pattern of Shadow and Light.