Welcome to the January 26th stop on the blog tour for The Twelve Tasks by Katharine E. Wibell, organized by Lola’s Blog Tours. Be sure to follow the rest of the tour for excerpt spotlights, reviews, guest posts & interviews with the author, and a giveaway! (More on that at the end of this post.)
Since this is a guest post stop, I’ll let Katharine take it away and then I’ll be back at the end with the rest of the tour info.
Guest Post
Prompt: “Geek out about magic systems!”
I have always been drawn to magic systems which revolve around the concept that using magic invariably comes at a cost. Regardless of whether the intent is good or ill, there are always ripple effects, many of which are unanticipated. Manipulating the natural world for one’s own purpose could affect others around them in drastic ways.
This idea influenced me as I was developing the concept of Universal Equilibrium for my newest book, The Twelve Tasks, and the rest of The Djed Chronicles. The universe and everything within it, including magic, strives to reach and maintain a perfect balance. Yet not everyone is in tune with or cares about nature. These are the ones who can disrupt the equilibrium and set in motion a series of events resulting in dire consequences.
Many of these self-aware, intelligent entities develop a superiority complex simply because they understand that they can bend, alter and change what is around them. For example, cutting down vast forests to build housing so that one’s race can be warm and comfortable could result in the loss of habitat for others. Actions and accompanying reactions all affect the perfect balance.
In this series, there are only twelve worlds in the entire universe where magic exists. However, not all entities living on these planets can access this spectacular force or exercise it to the same degree. Beings are ranked by their ability to utilize magic and are categorized into one of nine bands of power, from low to high. Unfortunately, the main character is human, and humans cannot wield magic. The question for her is if she is simply just another human.
Now, circling back. Entities that dominate on the strength of numbers or power, especially those that practice magic, are capable of causing extensive damage. If the balance shifts too far, the Universal Equilibrium will be forever broken, and that ripple effect will result in the loss of all life.
The series begins just as certain beings, both old and new, have begun to shift the balance. If they succeed, will anyone survive?
About the Book
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The Twelve Tasks
Djed Chronicles Book One
by Katharine E. Wibell
Published 13 November 2020
by Phaesporia Press
Genre: YA Epic Fantasy
Page Count: 321
Add it to your Goodreads TBR!
The precarious balance between two opposing forces has begun to shift and threatens the very existence of life throughout the universe. Only the Djed—the prophesied savior—has a chance of thwarting a catastrophe that could destroy the cosmos. And the next Djed is predicted to be a child of Earth.
Katie awakens on a world far from her own, a world bound in magic, one of twelve that hosts entities of vast power and might. She is suspected to be that savior. However, to be acclaimed Djed, difficult and dangerous tasks, one on each of the magicked worlds, must be completed. Katie and a menagerie of misfit companions—a precocious witch, a half-blood elf, and a humanoid pup—work together to discover her fate. If proven true, a terrible burden will be placed upon her, one that will link her destiny with war, a war led by a thirteen-year-old girl.
The Djed Chronicles follows Katie over her teenage years as she confronts dark forces and discovers that the right choices are not always apparent and wrong choices can have deadly consequences.
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Excerpt
He could taste blood.
His own.
Adrenaline coursed through his body, preventing him from feeling the pain of biting his tongue. Stumbling along the dimly lit corridor, he tripped over his own feet and collided with the stony floor. Scraped knees were of little importance now. People needed to be warned. The signal must be sent.
There was no pleasure in being the first to know, in interpreting the signs. A target was now on his back. He had not a chance for survival.
His frantic footfalls were the only echoing encouragement for this, his last, great mission. Their reverberating sounds masked his panting and his rapid heartbeat. He should have lit more sconces. He should have prepared more Wards. He should have done a lot of things. Would this last act of his be enough to redeem his soul?
The end was coming. For everything. If the Djed was not discovered and proven true, the scales would tip too far, the balance would be shattered, equilibrium lost. And along with it, all life.
A sudden catch in his side caused him to stumble once again. He must make it—yet he knew he was being hunted, and he knew he was slowing down.
The Darkness had awakened. And she was hungry.
Looking ahead, he could see his goal. The circular device was before him now, in his line of sight. Ancient as it was, it would work for him. It had to.
One at a time, he forced the concentric stone rings to spin. The runes and timeworn symbols on each ring must align in the correct pattern, or the result would be disastrous.
With each grinding click as specific sections locked in place, the room dimmed oppressively. Almost there. Almost there. Almost…
The room went black, sucking all light and the last hope of sight into its depths, leaving only two eyes that glinted like the golden coins used as offerings for Charon, the boatman of the underworld. No scream was heard as the dial turned for the final time.
The Darkness had claimed her first victim.
About the Author
Katharine Wibell’s lifelong interest in mythology includes epic poetry like the Odyssey, Ramayana, Beowulf, and the Nibelungenlied. In addition, she is interested in all things animal whether training dogs, apprenticing at a children’s zoo, or caring for injured animals as a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. After receiving degrees from Mercer University in both art and psychology with an emphasis in animal behavior, Wibell moved to New Orleans with her dog, Alli, to kick start her career as an artist and a writer. Her literary works blend her knowledge of the animal world with the world of high fantasy.
Wibell grew up in a rural town in Georgia, and this series was inspired by her childhood play with her sister. Together, they set up the groundwork for the twelve magicked worlds, the Djed, and the plethora of characters that come to life in these books.
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Giveaway Alert!
There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of The Twelve Tasks. One winner will win a $25 Amazon Gift Card.
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