J. A. Devenport
DEATH GLIDES ON WINGS OF BLACK
Faced with increasing pressure from rebels, the tyrant king of Dargenn must force a war with the rival nation of Relan to unite the country behind him. To help create chaos, he turns to the most feared assassin in the world, the Raven, a man cursed by ancient demons and forced to kill at their whim; if he fails, he dies. Using his knowledge of the Raven's masters, the king forces the assassin into a contract to kill the one man who might threaten his plans, a powerful sorcerer and scholar named Enias.
But the king may have just handed the Raven the key to breaking his curse once and for all.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
J. A. Devenport was forged from the wilds of Alaska, a true cross between polar bear and man. After obtaining an education from BYU, Devenport began the long journey of making a career from writing. He now resides in Utah where he writes, works out, and chills with his wife, Heidi, and four cats Buddy, Lulu, Chad, and Meow Meow.
Sychoral’s voice was never soft.
Even her lightest whisper roared through his mind like thunder through deep canyons. Like the earth shaking the mountains to rubble. Like the final shuddering breath that leads across the threshold of death.
Master.
Pain flared in his mind. Exquisite pain. She appeared in his dream then, shimmering in her original form before black-feathered wings spread behind her and her body coalesced into the image of a raven. Somehow beautiful. And terrifying. Her black eyes glanced around the room, admiring the bodies on the floor, the blood covering the walls…the sword in his hands.
You always bring me here.
She laughed, cocking her head so that one beady eye settled on him. Her appearance was rare, usually preferring to send one of her minions to communicate with him. If she came herself, it was always for something significant.
We have been summoned.
The room shifted, the walls expanded outwards, the bodies disappeared, and the floor turned to polished marble. A man appeared in front of him, sitting on a throne.
This is your mark.
Again, pain flared through his head, the room vanished, and Sychoral exploded, leaving him amidst a rain of black feathers. Her laugh still echoing in his mind.
The Blackwing Cycle
By Raven's Call
Breath of the Raven (Working Title)
Draft 4.0
In Progress
Wings of Black
In Progress
The Voice of God
In Progress
BUZZ
A fresh new voice in the tradition of Brandon Sanderson and Tracy Hickman.
~Kristen D. Randle
"...this was a five star read for me."
"Suffice it to say it gets better, deeper and more surprising the further we go."
"[feels] like a mix between Sanderson's Mistborn and Bancroft's Arm of the Sphinx."
"Overall, this is definitely one to put on your list--especially if you're looking for something with the wonderment of Mistborn."
"I'm thoroughly impressed by the rich world-building."
"...the scenes are explosive, strong and easy to visualise."
"The power is in the detail, the author’s creative energy crackling through every aspect of the novel...This is a story with dark themes, but it doesn’t stop it being a fun read."
"From the everyday to the brutal wars...it’s all cleverly interconnected...And it never ceases to be surprising."
"It’s amusing and unexpected, a real treat of a story that I can’t wait to continue... Give it a go, it’s a worthy addition to your TBR."
"the characters are three dimensional, unique personalities that fit together like a jigsaw."
"By Raven’s Call is an excellent debut...Devenport has shown he can hold his own in the genre."
