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Awake in the Dark: Sister Seekers 9

by A.S. Etaski

The Dragon is awake, and he's ready to rejoin the game.

When the Valsharess compelled the novice Sister Sirana to leave for the Surface, she also commanded the Lead Sister Jaunda to leave her beloved city for the dark labyrinth of the underground wilderness.

Jaunda seeks the lair of a legendary creature who's been asleep since before she was born. After spans of searching, she approaches her goal at last, only to discover he just woke up ... and he wants to play.

Meanwhile, Sirana waits for her bodyguard to rise out of an abrupt and powerful sleep. In the aftermath of the Temple City's fall, surrounded by battle-weary refugees and bustling Dwarves, she uncovers wounds among critical allies within the redoubt. The Red Sister must help them heal before they can continue her Queen's unspoken mission.

Sister Seekers is dark epic fantasy for adults with an ever-broadening scope. The saga genre-hops a bit so things never get stale. Found Family is a core theme throughout, and fans of Dungeons & Dragons will find familiar grounds. Perfect for fans of entwined plots, challenging themes, immersive worldbuilding, and elements of erotic horror. Sexuality and inner conflict play into character growth with nuanced intrigue, intense action, and fantastical magic.

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Genres:
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Tropes: Antihero, Astral Projection, Band of Brothers/Sisters, Band of Misfits, Becoming a Monster, Beyond the Grave Communication, Cross-Species Friendships, Enemy to Ally, Evolving Powers, Found Family, Immortality, Inaccessible Magic, Lost Civilization, Lucky Novice, Magic Talisman, Powerful Artifact, Pseudo European Society, Psionic Powers, Quest, Redemption Arc, Reluctant Hero, Sex Magic, Wise Mentor
Word Count: 135500
Setting: Underground city, aboveground fort
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Continuous / Same Characters
Tropes: Antihero, Astral Projection, Band of Brothers/Sisters, Band of Misfits, Becoming a Monster, Beyond the Grave Communication, Cross-Species Friendships, Enemy to Ally, Evolving Powers, Found Family, Immortality, Inaccessible Magic, Lost Civilization, Lucky Novice, Magic Talisman, Powerful Artifact, Pseudo European Society, Psionic Powers, Quest, Redemption Arc, Reluctant Hero, Sex Magic, Wise Mentor
Word Count: 135500
Setting: Underground city, aboveground fort
Languages Available: English
Series Type: Continuous / Same Characters
Excerpt:

Good thing I like tight places.

Jaunda kept telling herself this around every bend, despite a few spots in that burrow where her breath hitched.

No way I would have gone this way earlier, no matter the spell.

Small bones, broken and gnawed, scraped along the rock beneath her body. She spotted scratches in the rock along with old, dry scales and coarse white hairs stuck in the creases. Occasional strips of rotting cloth stolen from caravans, and patches of soft, cooling moss used for their nests left a trail for the Red Sister to follow.

As for the rest of the desiccated, crumbling dirt beneath her elbows ... Probably drake pellets.

I’ve crawled in worse.

About the Author

Etaski writes mature epic fantasy with an ever-broadening scope. ​​​​​​​Inspired by table-top RPG, her stories weave through subgenres, so things never get stale. Found Family is a core theme throughout her world​​​​​​​.​​​​​​​ She adores sensual, subversive Dark Elves facing off with cunning demons, clever dragons causing trouble, and deadpan necromancers summoning the walking dead alongside dwarves in battle through high-stakes adventures.

Her series begins underground with an isolated race of Dark Elves. The beginning is not for the faint of heart, and perfect for fans of entwined plots, challenging themes, immersive worldbuilding, and elements of erotic horror. Sexuality and inner conflict play into character growth with nuance, intrigue, action, and fantastical magic.

Her most inspiring epic stories are Neil Gaiman's Sandman, Wendy Pini's ElfQuest, Melanie Rawn's Dragon Prince, and J. Michael Straczynski's Babylon 5.

Get the official Sister Seekers Prequel, "Sons to Keep," when you join Etaski's newsletter at her website!