A Battle of Past and Present (Chronicles of Tanithor: Age of the Oracle #2) by Sharayah Maurice -- Blog Tour Review + Excerpt

About the Book

​Journey back to Tanithor in A Battle of Past and Present, the action-packed sequel to A Bounty of Secrets and Rebellion where the threats are greater, the stakes are higher, and the future of Tanithor remains unknown.
 
It's been one week since Prince Fynnegan Corden Greenway arrived in Latera to claim his promised bride. Upon discovering the kingdom to whom he is to ally through marriage is mistrusting of his intentions toward their princess, the Gaellen prince has been hard at work restoring their faith in him. However, the one person with whom he wishes to find favor is the only one who seems resistant to his efforts. His betrothed.
 
Fynn may be entitled to Alana's hand in marriage, but her heart is something he must earn on his own merit if he wants to have the future of which he has always dreamed.
 
Griff has been left reeling. After a shocking revelation in which he discovers an ability he never knew he had, he and Halyn seek to unravel the truth of his past while they struggle to survive in yet another foreign kingdom. Together they will face seemingly impossible odds while they, once again, attempt to return to Hoken where the fate of the kingdom's future hangs in the balance.
 

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Excerpt

“…so full of rage, this guy then hurls his sword over his head and sinks it deep in the tree stump.” Officer Avery was in the middle of telling a story to the group.
Fynn hung back, listening to the rest of the tale as Avery continued, “So I try to pull it out of the stump and this thing won’t budge. I mean I’m literally yanking it with all my strength and the sword isn’t coming free. It’s like a true sword in the stone moment.” Avery paused for effect, looking around at everyone’s faces with wide eyes. While they had lost a lot of Gaellen soldiers, a few Lateran guards hadn’t made it either. Officer Hobbs and Officer Swift were among the dead count. “So he comes walking up and smoothly pulls his sword out like King Arthur himself and asks if I want to train.”
There were chuckles around the fire as Avery added, “So I kicked his butt sparring with a staff. The guy has no hidden talent there, I can assure you that.”
Fynn stepped into the circle just then and took a seat on a crate next to Murtaugh and across from Alana. She was already sandwiched between Koa and Captain Pike on a fallen log. He leaned over his knees and turned to Avery. “Who is this you’re talking about?”
Avery looked up with glittering green eyes and a mischievous smirk as he pointed a finger at Koa. “Officer Kai, Your Highness. Better watch out for that one.”
Fynn turned to Koa whose face instantly hardened to stone as the officer met his gaze. A silent challenge seemed to ripple in the air between them. Without a second thought, Fynn replied coolly, “I’m sure I can take him.”
Alana cleared her throat and the noise seemed to break the spell between him and the guard. “Does anyone want some tea? I’d like some tea.” She jumped to her feet and searched the campsites around them. “Katalina?” She immediately dashed out of the circle to find her maid.
“Did I tell you about the time I whupped Menard in a staff fight?” Avery asked to no one in particular. The group groaned collectively as Menard countered, “His idea of whupping me is like a…”
Whatever Menard was going to say was lost on the wind as Fynn silently slipped away from the circle and followed Alana out of range of the soldiers laughing by the campfire. She had headed in the direction of the carriage which was parked just inside the southern edge of the thicket of trees. The light from the campfire didn’t reach far, and he found Alana fiddling blindly with a trunk that was hanging off the back of their carriage.
“I wanted to thank you for staying to help my soldiers settle into the camp this evening,” he offered quietly as he came around the carriage to stand beside her.
Her hands dropped from the trunk as she abandoned her efforts with a huff and turned, squinting through the dark in Fynn’s direction. “Oh, it was nothing. Anyone would have done the same, I’m sure.”
Fynn took in the delicate curves and lines of her face from the dim light of the moon as he stepped closer to her. Even in the darkness, her golden skin seemed to glow like a wisp in the night as they guided lost travelers into danger.
Fynn would follow her anywhere.
“It may have been nothing to you, but to me it meant everything.”

About the Author

Sharayah Maurice has been a lover of books since she first learned to read and has dreamed of being an author for just as long. She is the author of The Chronicles of Tanithor: Age of the Oracle series. Her stories are filled with adventure, political intrigue and swoony romance that will leave you desperate for more. She lives in north Texas with her husband and five children.

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Review

Author Sharayah Maurice has written an excellent addition to the first book in the series, A Battle of Past and Present.  This story is told from multiple points of view, adding to the story dynamics, and will carry readers away with thrilling adventure, danger, mystery, and romance.  And the intriguing elemental magic system continues to enthrall readers in this story as well.  The twists and turns in the story will keep readers engaged and wanting to read more.  They will not want to put this story down and will be anxiously awaiting the next book in the series.

Series: Chronicles of Tanithor: Age of the Oracle
Genre: YA Fantasy Romance
Publisher: Indie
Publication date: February 2, 2024
Number of pages: 323

Books in the series:
1-A Bounty of Secrets and Rebellion
2-A Battle of Past and Present

Disclosure statement: A complimentary review copy of this book was provided from tour groups, publishers, publicists, authors, and others, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, Or borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR borrowed from Deseret Bookshelf, OR pre-ordered/purchased for review, including Audible.  A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are my own.​