“With them, there are no happy endings.”
In the remote city of Lushan, they know that the Fey are not fireside tales but a dangerous reality.
Generations ago, the last remnants of a dying empire bargained with the Faerie Queen for a place of safety in the mountains and each year the ruler of Lushan must travel to the high plateau to pay the city’s tribute. When an unexpected misfortune means that the traditional price is not met, the Queen demands the services of Teresine, once a refugee slave and now advisor to the Sidiana. Teresine must navigate the treacherous politics of the Faerie Court, where the Queen’s will determines reality and mortals are merely pawns in an eternal struggle for power.
Years later, another young woman faces an unexpected decision that forces her to discover the truth of what happened to Teresine in the Faerie Court, a truth that could threaten everything she loves.
COLD HILLSIDE: PUBLICATION HISTORY
Trade paperback and ebook editions from ChiZine Publications, 2014
COLD HILLSIDE: REVIEWS
Most of the reviews are online through Amazon, Goodreads or a search. They were mostly positive and, in general, people seemed to like the book for the elements I tried very hard to express. I was surprised and gratified that for some readers, the immersion in the world of Lushan was what they valued. I struggled with the world-building for the novel, so those comments meant a lot to me. If you liked the book – or even if you didn’t – please consider taking the time to review the book on any of the major sites.
Goodreads: rating 4.03, for what that’s worth.
READINGTRANCE: “It’s been a while since I encountered a book that I consciously found myself trying to read more slowly, because I didn’t want to find my time in the author’s world to be over …. but ‘Cold Hillside’ did this.”