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Albert Camus

Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend.

Friday, August 4, 2017

“Light and soul” - Beacon (Lantern #2) by Chess Desalls

"Master Machin works in strange ways and author Chess Desalls has once again, brought a heart-warming tale of another life changed by the magical man. BEACON is another short, but magnetic read that brings the magic of words and the worlds they create to life. Another warm read filled with the magic of Chess Desalls’ imagination that shines like a diamond!" - Dianne, Goodreads

Description:

Published: January 9th, 2017

When Serah’s life in Havenbrim becomes unbearable, she accepts an apprenticeship with a celestial mechanic and glazier. Her master assigns her the task of opening a globe framed in copper. But the glass and seal are unbreakable. The solution to the puzzle traps Serah inside the globe, and transports her to a world where she longs for home.

EXCERPT

Serah slowed her footsteps as she neared the warmth of the furnace where Machin’s words could be heard more clearly.

“Light and soul,” he muttered, followed by the scratching and sprinkling of glass. “Encased in a vessel that returns to dust.”

Serah frowned. Such words were strange to her ears. What could he mean? Is he talking about the lanterns and their light? 

Instead of making her presence known, she tucked herself behind the heavy border of the archway that led to the furnace, and peeked out along its edge. 

The pouch at Machin’s belt was open. With his gloved hand, he reached inside and grabbed a handful of shards and poured them into the largest pepper grinder Serah had ever seen. He twisted the top of the grinder, crunching the shards into glittering particles. Grains of glass fell from the bottom of the grinder into a bucket wedged between Machin and the furnace.

Serah’s fingernails pressed into the archway’s wooden frame as she watched, her mouth hung open.

“Life returns to light and light becomes life,” said Machin. He set aside the grinder and poured the contents of the bucket inside the mouth of the furnace. “And so, we begin anew.”

The light from the furnace changed from orange, to blue, to a dazzling white. The room grew warmer with each transition of color until the air was too hot to breathe.

Machin set down the bucket and mopped his forehead with a moth-eaten rag. 

Suddenly and unexpectedly, he turned around and looked straight into Serah’s eyes. “May I help you with something, Serah Kettel?”

About the author:
Chess Desalls is the author of award-winning young adult fiction. Her nonfiction writing has been included in academic and industry publications, with a focus on law and technology. She's also a contributing editor for WritersTalk, South Bay Writers' monthly newsletter. When she's not reading or writing, she enjoys traveling and trying to stay in tune on her flute.

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3 comments:

CindyWindy2003 said...

I love a book that takes you and the characters to another world where you have to find your way back. Very Alice in the Wonderland, wizard of oz-ish.

CCAM said...

@Cindy

We, as a species, like to dream about other worlds, isn't it?

Jana Leah B said...

This is such a pretty line - “Life returns to light and light becomes life.”