King of Ash & Bone
The first book in The Shattered Realms Series.
Author Note
Writing a book or series of books is a substantial commitment. Authors spend a lot of time and effort avoiding the temptation of shiny new ideas, because chasing other stories will never get you a finished manuscript. But the best inspirations hang around, waiting in the corners of your mind, tugging at your attention until they’ve grown too monstrous and delightful to be ignored. These are the stories that are most fun to tell, the ideas that will not be turned away.
I’m happy to report my newest title is just one of these monsters. King of Ash and Bone began niggling at me about midway through the Descendants Series as a simple idea: a magical apocalypse. A heroine with steadfast determination came in next, followed quickly by the handsome anti-hero who just might have what it takes to break her resolve. And of course he would have something to hide that might test them both. I found myself researching end-of-days scenarios in my spare time, gathering images of winged beasts and deserted cities as this new world grew and grew, forming its own brand of chimera and bursting into a second realm, complete with problems of its own.
The Shattered Realms series is certainly lined up to be the most complex I’ve ever written, and I can only hope it catches readers’ hearts and imaginations the way it has mine.
by Melissa Wright
YA Urban Fantasy
February 2nd 2015
When flying monsters break through the veil into her world, Mackenzie Scott has nothing left to lose. Her brother has been taken, her future has vanished, and all that remains is a desperate need for revenge. After discovering the breach the creatures used as a gateway, Mackenzie devises a plan to stop them, whatever the cost.
When she finds an injured stranger in the street, he just might be the key she needs to succeed. What Mackenzie doesn’t know is that this stranger isn’t the helpless boy he appears to be. He’s one of the monsters. And he’s got plans of his own.
Thrown into a dying city in another realm, Mackenzie is powerless to get back. With the gateway closing, time is not on her side. But the stranger is, and if they can escape execution, this girl and her monster might be able to save both their worlds.
********* Ani’s Review********
I was intrigued by the concept of The King of Ash and Bone. I mean, are these faeries? aliens? what? From the opening pages, this story built up the suspense until Mackenzie runs into Hunter and the story levels out. As our heroine, Mackenzie was interesting and had good motivation but I expected more questions for her new “friend”. Why was this guy targeted, why did he heal so fast, why would he help her…etc. The other world and its’ inhabitants was a unique play on the alien invaders theme. At the end of this book I felt like the story was just beginning and could have used more pages. I think author Melissa Wright is onto a really solid start for this complex series and I hope that she can deliver more novels just as enticing as this one. Fans of the 5th Wave by Rick Yancy would probably enjoy this story.
