Mercy of the Crow

Mercy of the Crow

Mother has kept many secrets from her daughters—Secrets the one-legged crow will reveal In their mother’s enchanted sprawl of forest, Sirilda and her sister Lirinda share a youth of magical seclusion. In this land they call ‘Haven’, they know only potions and wildflowers, and that the world beyond their trees is forbidden to them. However, when her sister goes missing, Sirilda is thrust into the outside world that has so long been kept from her. As she finds herself in the court of her family’s blood-enemy, the Glindian King, the passages of his ancient castle are somehow familiar to her. How can that be, when all her life she’s only known tangly boughs of forest? Velvet gowns, goblets of delicious wine, and more power than Sirilda could ever resist haunt her by day—and by night, Sirilda is haunted by an unseen Source that beckons to her across time and dreams, to a destiny that may have long awaited her. A beckoning that seems to come from within the castle itself. Is this beckoning Source malicious or benevolent? Could it provide the answers for Sirilda's dark nature she's always longed to understand? And despite what it may cost of her forestine innocence, will she answer its call? "A raw and honest exploration of grief, familial trauma, and the way pain and anger can manifest. This is an epic fantasy story, blending a dark fairytale atmosphere with deep rooted themes of human suffering. Escobar is masterful at weaving significant themes throughout a beautifully written tale, sweeping the reader up in her magical world of gnarled roots, sweet wines, and the dank scent of overturned earth." -C.A. Farran, author of A Dreamer's Misfortune series " When I say I like to disassociate and disappear into books, this is what I'm talking about. Escobar reaches up from a dark scrying pool like the Lady of the Lake and drags you headfirst into a fantasy world rich with ancient spells, dark woods, and characters so complex you'd think she'd met them firsthand. From Chapter One onward, you're engulfed in the horror and mystery of a young woman who has been spared by magical mercy but grows in bitterness, jealousy, and a dark power she doesn't understand. The narrative of her story is unlike any I've read, and though she is a magical being, it all feels aching human. Escobar bravely navigates familial issues of favoritism, trauma, and grief in such visceral and raw ways, it's difficult to walk away without some modicum of change and self-reflection." -Brandi Gann, author of Firebrand "Breathing new life into Arthurian tales with its Gothic and romantic undertones, 'Mercy of the Crow' weaves together myth, legend, and fantastical world-building. Two sisters-one magical, the other seemingly not-and between them lies a kingdom... and a handsome king. 'Obsessed' is an understatement; I reached the end and had to make sure I hadn't made a mistake, as if somehow I didn't download the entire novel. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time. I simply can't wait for more." -Natalie Sierra, poet and author Stephanie Escobar is an author of fantasy and Gothic fiction. She is also known by S. Escobar for her romantic ghost story, A Song Beyond Walls. She lives in a historic home in Washington with her husband and two daughters, where she homeschools and tends to her flower garden.