Publication Day!
I’m beyond thrilled that the penultimate book in the Heart of the Ocean Series is out today. There’s one more book left to go and my debut series will be complete. I want to thank all my readers who have read the series so far. It’s one thing writing a book I love to read, but when others love to read it too, it makes it more special.
To continue the Heart of the Ocean Series, grab your copy here.
Here’s a sneak peek of the prologue.
Prologue
Through the eyes of a fisherman
The Blue Sea of Sequence, serene and silent, sprawled all around me. Dawn was just breaking, the sky softening to a placid blue. The waves were mild, enshrouded by the silvery morning mist. I repositioned my fishing nets, praying to the moons for a good catch. Any catch. This was my life, and the sea was my livelihood. It had been three moon-days, and I had caught nothing. Today was Moon-day one of the Harvest Moon celebrations, and as of yet, I had nothing to offer.
In the quiet of dawn, a high-pitched howl bounced over the sea. I snapped my head back, gripping my nets tightly. A dull and thick mist spread over the waters. Perhaps I shouldn’t have ventured too far into the sea. A chill went through me. The roaring wind lashed over the ocean, spraying water into my boat.
The howling resembled a calling. One I’d never heard before. The strange sound pierced through my ears. Through squinted eyes, I gazed upon the foamy waves rising high. As the sea pulsated, the waves grew powerful. My boat pitched and took in some water. I slipped and tumbled to the floor. As my net dropped, I raced to grip the rope, my knuckles turning white.
Frantically, I tried to pull up the nets, whispering through choppy breaths, “My moons. My gods. My stars. This is my livelihood. The Blue Sea of Sequence gives. It never takes…it never takes…never.”
The sea swallowed my chants. The net became heavy—the heaviest it had ever been. In the rising mist, I peered through the crystal clear waters and I gaped, questioning my sight.
There she was. A creature of the waters trapped in my net.
A mermaid! Impossible.
In distress she waved her hands, screaming. I shook, too shocked to act. As her scream penetrated the surface of the water, her voice echoed inside my head. Within the scream, she sang—a song so melodic, it caused the waves of the sea to undulate.
Mesmerised, I was rendered motionless, taken by the beautiful sound of her voice. It was enchanting serenade—a calling to my soul. Inevitably, I lost my grip and toppled backwards into my boat. My heart beat in my neck and ears, and knowing death was near, I scrambled up. Ahead was a sight like no other. She was not alone.
A dozen—no, hundreds of mermaids—rose above the waves, their long fish tails of various shades scintillating in the morning rays. Blinded and frozen to the core, my life flashed in front of me. The sound of their voices bounced over the sea. They moved so fast, causing the ocean to ripple around them. I gazed at the one caught in my net. Now, she was watching me, an expression of concentration on her face. Her eyes locked onto mine. No blink. No flutter. No flap. But her pupils were rolling like they were engaged in a continuous hypnotic motion.
Transfixed, I listened to her melodic voice ringing in my ears, knowing death was here, but there was nothing I could do about it. When she stopped singing, I found myself again and dove into the water. And I swam hard and fast towards the shore. I couldn’t allow death to catch me. I had a daughter. I was a father. I was a survivor. And I would tell the Larize what I had seen.
The merfolk were real and they were here.
I hope you enjoyed this small sample. Beta readers are saying Unbound is the best book in the series and I can’t wait to hear your views.
Much love,
Lorraine
A Game of Sequence is a long game. It is a game of centuries, multiples, and players that transcends realms. It can have a dozen players or a thousand. But what good is a game if all players are visible at first sight. Supposing there is one hidden under a cloud of fog, veiled inside the Heart of the Ocean, and protected from the gamers of Sequence. She’s the one who holds all the sequences in the palm of her hands. She is the jewel of the ocean, and the living Sequence to Life, Love, and Death.
Once she’s unbound, the playing field is even.
Moon-Day Four
My heart is thumping so hard, I can barely breathe. I see them from a distance before anyone else. The Sleepers are coming, and they’re coming for me. My hearing is heightened. My sight is enhanced. My sense of smell is otherworldly, and a simple touch electrifies me. A whisper echoes on the wind, my heart pounds in my chest, energy crackling like lightning all around. My cravings have multiplied. Even my voice is stronger, my hair thicker, my skin tougher, and my mind sturdier. It’s just as well I am not afraid because what’s coming next is not for the faint-of-heart. I must prevail.
Alessia