The Rhodi Saga, Book One
Megan Linski
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy/Dystopian
Publisher: Gryfyn Publishing
Date of Publication: September 4, 2016
Word Count: 62,850
Cover Artist: Clarissa Yeo
Book Description:
Flight. Hyperspeed. Clairvoyance. These are some of the powers gifted to the Rhodi, an ancient sect of assassins who defend Crescentia, a dystopian world with a dying hope.
Dyliana Fairsson is one of them. After losing her parents to a suspicious accident, she and her twin brother, Devin, join the Rhodi to avoid starvation. Under the direction of her master, Dylan struggles to learn the strength of her magic …as well as hide the growing scars on her wrists.
Can Dylan become the warrior, the hero, she’s destined to be? Or is she fated to fall from the light into the darkness?
Excerpt
“Dylan! Dyliana, wake up! Get out of bed!”
Dylan made an irritated sound and shook her head. She wished that her parents would let her know who was after them or why. Whenever she asked she was only told not to speak of it. It hurt that her parents didn’t trust them enough to let her or her brother know what was going on, even though it consistently interrupted their lives. After awhile bitterness had begun to sink in. She gave up asking, and just supposed that if whoever was after them caught them she would die or be kidnapped without ever knowing why and that would be the end of it.
“Dylan! Dyliana, wake up! Get out of bed!”
The girl sleepily raised her head off the pillow and looked around, her sharp eyes piercing the darkness. Her father stood beside the bed, fully dressed and standing as straight as a board. He was pretending to be calm, yet she knew better. The face her father wore was one that she knew all too well, the one she hated and yet was frightened of at the same time. It was an expression of urgency, of fear.
“It’s time. Your mother is getting Devin up. We have to leave now.”
Dylan shook her long hair out of her face. “But I don’t…”
“Now’s not the time. Come.”
The small fifteen year old pushed back the covers and jumped out of bed, her day clothes on. She knew better than to go to sleep in pajamas anymore. What was the point? They always seemed to flee in the night.
She was a very pretty girl, with golden skin and particular orange eyes that glittered fiercely even in the darkness, but you’d never know it by the sour expression on her face. She wore baggy, tomboyish clothes and her dark black hair was tangled. She swept it sloppily beneath a hat as she clambered drowsily to her feet.
“That’s my girl. Grab your bags.” Her father handed her a suitcase, a large bag of his own by his side. Her father was muscular, rugged from years of hard work with stubble crowding his face. His black hair was trimmed short, his golden skin beaming and radiant. The feature his daughter could see most in the shadows were his two green eyes, vibrant and unrelenting in hope. She didn’t understand how that hope could still be there after they’d been uprooted so many times.
Dylan bent down and took hold of her suitcase, wanting to dawdle but knowing that if she did they could all be in danger. She slipped on her shoes and followed her father out into the hallway, down the stairs and to the front door.
“Is everyone ready, Yeshua?” a woman asked, her voice a low whisper. The full moon outside trickled through the window and lit up her face. She was a tall woman with long, wavy dark hair that nearly fell to her hips and orange eyes just like Dylan’s. Her face was exotic, the look of a desert heiress. That face had thin eyebrows that narrowed in worry.
“As ready as we can be, Kilim. How’s Devin?” the man asked.
“Sleepy,” a voice at Kilim’s side said. A boy Dylan’s age yawned and blinked at his sister. Although nearly identical in features, it was obvious from the beginning that the twins couldn’t be any different. There wasn’t a hint of a wrinkle in the boy’s neat clothes, and his glasses were polished to perfection, though too large for his small green eyes.
“You’ll get over it,” Yeshua promised. “We’re leaving now.”
The family picked up their bags and headed out of the house. As they passed through the front door Dylan noticed a window had been broken during the night. She wanted to ask what had happened but thought better of it.
After everything had been loaded into the car the four of them set down the road, only taking their bags. They left the rest of their possessions behind. The family hardly cared. It wasn’t like they had much to call their own in the first place. The two teenagers looked back as they abandoned their home, but the adults seemed to sag in relief.
“Where are we going this time?” Dylan asked with a sigh. It seemed like they were always running...always scared.
“Out of Marceleno,” Yeshua said. “And into a state called Areos. It’s very far away, but it’s closer to your aunt and uncle. We’ll have to cross several borders.”
“Out of Marceleno?” Devin repeated and Dylan’s heart sank. They moved constantly, but never out of their own country. Marceleno was their home. How could they leave that behind as well?
“We’ve switched countries before,” Kilim reminded them.
“That was when we were babies. It doesn’t count.” Dylan crossed her arms.
“Marceleno is too close to the Far East. It’s not safe to stay here anymore,” Yeshua said.
Nowhere is safe for us, Dylan thought dully, watching the willow trees rush by her window unhappily. Marceleno was beautiful with its gondolas and small stone streets, buildings that sat by long rivers crowded with artists and musicians. Areos was probably very different.
“Does Uncle Keaton know we’re coming?” Devin asked.
“No. It’s better if only we know, for now.”
Dylan made an irritated sound and shook her head. She wished that her parents would let her know who was after them or why. Whenever she asked she was only told not to speak of it. It hurt that her parents didn’t trust them enough to let her or her brother know what was going on, even though it consistently interrupted their lives. After awhile bitterness had begun to sink in. She gave up asking, and just supposed that if whoever was after them caught them she would die or be kidnapped without ever knowing why and that would be the end of it.
Rhodi Rising
The Rhodi Saga, Book Two
Megan Linski
Forced into hiding.
Desperate to find their masters.
In the past few months since the attack on their home, twin assassins Dylan and Devin have grown restless. With the Rhodi facing extinction, they search for their masters Talidin and Tavana, only to discover they’ve gone missing. With nowhere to turn, the twins seek help from a pair of mysterious spies, only to find the trail gone cold, marked by hints of torture and destruction.
Dylan and Devin piece together the events that led to the disappearance of their fellow Rhodi. As their enemies close in for the kill, Dylan discovers that some things are impossible for a Rhodi…but not for a tigress.
The stakes and romance are heightened in this epic dystopian sequel to Rhodi’s Light. Bestselling author Megan Linski brings readers a young adult fantasy with magic, mystery, and an epic adventure that races quickly to a breathless conclusion.
Rhodi’s Lullaby
The Rhodi Saga, Book Three
Megan Linski
Cities burn.
Governments fall.
Lives are lost in a desperate war...one the Rhodi are losing.
The world has been devastated by the tyranny of the Red Huntress. To save Crescentia, Dylan and Devin attempt to decipher the mystery of the ancient letter their ancestors left behind, the only hope of salvation for their kind. Dylan continues to fight foes both on the battlefield and within her own mind, all while wrestling with the confused feelings she has for Enfys, the alluring spy who has become devoted to her cause.
In the epic conclusion to the thrilling Rhodi Saga, one brave warrior will stand in the way of corruption, to take place before her destiny…or her death.
Rhodi’s Lullaby is the third installment in the suspenseful young adult dystopian series fans and critics are calling an original masterpiece in the epic fantasy genre.
Rhodi’s Light and Rhodi Rising are also available. Catch up on the entire series today!
Author Bio
Megan Linski is the owner of Gryfyn Publishing and has had a passion for writing ever since she completed her first (short) novel at the age of 6. Her specializations are romance, fantasy, and contemporary fiction for people aged 14-24. When not writing she enjoys ice skating, horse riding, theatre, archery, fishing, and being outdoors. She is a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and suicide prevention, and is an active fighter against common variable immune deficiency disorder. She lives in Michigan.Megan Linski also writes under the pen name of Natalie Erin for the Creatures of the Lands Series, co-authored with Krisen Lison.
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1 signed paperback copy of Rhodi’s Light
Interview
Please welcome Rhodi’s Light author Megan Linski to Diane’s Book Blog.
What is your favorite part of The Rhodi Saga?
That’s a really, really hard question, because there are so many parts that I absolutely adore. Any interaction between Dylan and her master, Talidin, when they’re really opening up to one another makes my Top 10. I also enjoyed writing the scenes between Dylan and the spy, Enfys, because they have such a dynamic relationship. Half the time, Dylan is falling for him, and she doesn’t even realize it.
How long did it take you to write The Rhodi Saga?
Rhodi’s Light took a year for the first draft and seven years of editing afterwards. Rhodi Rising took about the same amount of time. I had Rhodi’s Lullaby written in two months and edited shortly after.
If you were stranded on a desert island which of your characters do you want by your side?
I would want Tavana, the queen of the Rhodi. She has the power of flight, so she could get me off the island, and she’s super smart, so even if she was hurt and couldn’t fly, she’d have enough skill to keep me alive until help showed up. Plus, she’s the queen, so people wouldn’t stop looking until they find us.
If you could be best friends with one of your characters, who would it be?
I like all the Rhodi kids for different reasons, but I think Dylan truly is my best friend. She’s wild, and she has this appreciation for freedom and nature that I share with her. Even though she goes through so much hard stuff, she still manages to keep fighting and doing the best she can to protect the ones she loves. I wouldn’t want to hang out with just her, though. I would want to be with Jenna and Tito, Dylan’s best friends. They’re bubbly, obnoxious, and know how to have fun.
What is your favorite book that you wrote?
Rhodi’s Lullaby is my absolute favorite, no contest.
How do you overcome writer’s block?
I didn’t write for almost two years because my writer’s block was so bad. I don’t allow it to affect me anymore. When I get it I sit down and force myself to write for a few hours, even if it’s bad. I literally do not allow it to happen.
Do you have anything specific that you want to say to your readers?
The message of The Rhodi Saga is that no matter where you are or what’s happened to you, you do have a chance to be happy again. I want to inspire people to fight for their right to be happy and to live in a peaceful world. I do believe it’s possible, no matter how terrible things may seem.
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