Rhuna
– Keeper of Wisdom
A
Quest For Ancient Wisdom Book 1
by
Barbara Underwood
Genre:
YA Urban Fantasy, Paranormal
In
the ancient, mystical past when an idyllic Atlantis-like civilization
flourished, its people with exceptional powers could build giant
stone structures like the Pyramids, and transform elements such as
sand to stone and metal to gold with concentrated energy of the
mind.
This utopian Atlan Empire is rocked when one of its most preeminent Masters rebels and seeks to subvert the ideals of Atlan society. Roaming the countryside in a black robe, misusing his powers on innocent people, he becomes known as the dreaded Dark Master.
This utopian Atlan Empire is rocked when one of its most preeminent Masters rebels and seeks to subvert the ideals of Atlan society. Roaming the countryside in a black robe, misusing his powers on innocent people, he becomes known as the dreaded Dark Master.
On
a distant and isolated island on the fringes of the Atlan Empire, a
young girl named Rhuna comes of age when she meets a man from Atlán
and learns that her father was an Atlan Master who was killed in his
attempt to destroy the Dark Master.
Journeying
across oceans and ancient worlds, Rhuna learns to master her inherent
mental powers, transforming elements and summoning visions by means
of the Gazing of the Waters. Unlike her peers, however, Rhuna
discovers she has an extra power, namely the ability to summon
visions mentally, without incantations or powders.
When
the Dark Master’s activities become a threat to the peaceful Atlan
Empire, the Atlan Masters come to realize that they cannot defeat him
without Rhuna’s special visionary powers to observe the Dark
Master’s activity and whereabouts.
The
first book in this extraordinary Urban Fantasy series lays the
foundations of the Atlan Empire and Rhuna’s world, and even when
the Dark Master appears to have been defeated, secret and sinister
powers continue to threaten the ancient Utopia.
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Rhuna-
Crossroads
A
Quest For Ancient Wisdom Book 2
This
exciting second book in the Rhuna YA Urban Fantasy Series can also be
read as a standalone novel.
Some
years have passed since Rhuna helped to defeat the Dark Master in her
new home of Atlán, and now Rhuna has a teenage daughter who
accompanies her on an assignment in Ancient Egypt to investigate some
disturbing reports.
She
soon discovers an astonishing underground network of the Dark
Master's followers, along with the secret group of Atlans dedicated
to stopping them. In the process of trying to carry out her
assignment, Rhuna is confronted with enormous challenges that could
drastically change her entire life and everything she has ever
believed in!
Rhuna
– The Star Child
A
Quest For Ancient Wisdom Book 3
This
thrilling sequel to Rhuna: Crossroads is set in mystical Ancient
Egypt where Black Magic was developed by the followers of the
legendary villain, The Dark Master. As strange and frightening curses
plague the population, Rhuna discovers the underground organization
that performs this uncanny new magic, but she can only combat it with
the help of her long-lost father. Having learned from her father
amazing new skills to empower her on the Astral Plane, Rhuna once
again strives to preserve peace and harmony in the idyllic Atlan
civilization.
Far
more challenging than fighting powerful Dark Forces, however, is
Rhuna’s personal anguish when her daughter becomes involved with
the leader of the Black Magic movement, and the once-perfect Atlan
society based on utopian principles begins to crumble all around her.
Shocking events escalate Rhuna’s world to a breathless climax as
she and her family undergo a momentous upheaval, and she is forced to
make great personal sacrifices for her loved ones.
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Rhuna
– New Horizons
A
Quest For Ancient Wisdom Book 4
The
fourth book in the series, Rhuna: New Horizons can also be read as a
standalone novel.
After
sacrificing a life of comfort and security for her daughter’s sake,
Rhuna and her family go into exile and start a new life in the former
Atlan colony of Varappa. This faraway land is a frontier of new
technology such as air travel, loops in time and a society apparently
flourishing without a governing body of any kind.
On
the surface, everyone appears to thrive in this liberated society,
but this kind of free thinking is fertile ground for the Dark Master
and his followers. Just when Rhuna and her family settle into their
beautiful new lakeside home, strange things begin to happen. Powerful
conjurers cause upheaval with their sinister magic, driving people
from their homes.
An
isolated society claiming to adhere to the ways of the First Atlans,
appear to be fighting a losing battle against these followers of the
Dark Master. While attempting to find a diplomatic solution to the
escalating conflict, Rhuna faces great challenges in her personal
life. Aradin’s love for her has cooled off inexplicably, and
Lozira’s emotional wellbeing teeters on a precarious threshold. In
desperation, Rhuna combines her magical powers and Varappan
technology to do the unthinkable. What she does, however, is
forbidden, and brings about a rift between her and her own father.
Rhuna may have headed down a path from which there is no turning
back…
(From Part Seven)
After shuffling around for a short time, Goram indicated the exact spot where he should be seated, and one of the Guardians scurried to provide a seating cushion for him. Once he had made himself comfortable, he looked around at his fellow-Guardians who stood around him, ready for instructions.
“Now, we need models of the Ubanti Army,” Goram said to Progress of the Wind. “Find clay or make stone soft enough to mould, then make spears and swords from twigs or blades of grass.” Progress of the Wind nodded eagerly and promptly proceeded to do as he was told.
“Charmer of Snakes,” Goram said, turning to the dark-skinned man with the lopsided smile. “We require ten small mirrors.”
“I shall make them by transforming sand into glass!” he said proudly, and Goram gave him a nod of approval.
When the clay models and mirror pieces were ready, Goram assembled them at the point he had deemed most efficacious for the harnessing of earth and lunar energies.
“This is the point of convergence, the confluence of energy currents,” he explained, indicating the precise position with his hands. He placed the mirrors like a wall around the group of encamped soldiers, leaving only a narrow funnel pointing in the direction of Safu. Rhuna bent down to look at the models and was taken aback to see endless reflections of models in all the mirrors, as if the models were a vast army reaching from one horizon to the other.
“Make a large circle around me,” Goram instructed his fellow Guardians of Knowledge as he made himself comfortable on the ground.
“Lozira, sit outside this circle,” he told her gently. Lozira remained seated, and Rhuna heard her ask about his weakness and wellbeing.
“The conflux of energies shall most probably strengthen me physically, as well as mentally,” he told her. Reluctantly, Lozira stood up and walked towards Rhuna, sitting next to her on the perimeter of the large circle made by the Guardians.
“Why do we have to sit so far away?” Lozira complained nervously.
“Any person within a certain range would interfere with the energy flow Brother Goram is harnessing,” came a voice from behind them.
Rhuna looked around and recognized one of the Guardians of Knowledge she had seen in visions. She was a woman with long dark hair, which Rhuna found unusual for an Atlan. Seeing her so close, Rhuna noticed that she was an older woman whose eyes revealed a wealth of knowledge and experience.
“My name is Seeker of Knowledge,” the woman said after Rhuna had introduced herself and her family.
Sudden silence descended on the Atlan observers when Goram and several of the Guardians on the other side of the circle began a strange and eerie chant.
“Oh!” gasped Rhuna. “It gives me awful prickly skin all over!”
“That is how it should be,” whispered Seeker of Knowledge. “The frequency must be precise in order to affect the correct vibrations enabling access to the ethereal spheres.”
Rhuna recognized the words the woman spoke, and wondered whether she knew about accessing The Infinite.
Barbara
Underwood was born and raised in Sydney, Australia; the only child of
German migrants who provided a rich and diverse childhood
environment. Already in third grade she wrote a short children's book
for a class project and realized that she was deeply satisfied with
creating stories. In sixth grade, for another class project, her
teacher was so impressed by the lengthy story she submitted, that he
commented at the end "I see we are going to have another
author".
Over
the years Barbara kept writing one thing or another, but only as a
hobby while she pursued other interests and goals. In the 1990s, she
completed a correspondence course in professional writing, doing it
in her spare time after work. This led to having a few short stories
published, but what she really wanted to do was write a proper
novel.
At
this time, Barbara had travelled extensively and gained a wealth of
knowledge and experience in subjects that held special appeal for
her, namely ancient history, myths and legends (such as Atlantis, the
builders of megaliths around the world), folklore (the belief that a
god-like race gave mankind its technology), human psychology and the
culture of other countries. What better subject for her first novel
than to combine all these elements into one big adventure!
Follow
the tour HERE
for exclusive excerpts, guest posts and a giveaway!
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