New ebooks From Canadian Indies
Description
As the winter ice begins to thaw, the fury of a demon builds — all because one girl couldn’t stay dead …
Roan Harken considers herself a typical high school student — dead parents, an infected eyeball, and living in the house of her estranged, currently comatose grandmother (well, maybe not so typical) — but she’s uncovering the depth of the secrets her family left behind. Saved from the grasp of Death itself by a powerful fox spirit named Sil, Roan must harness mysterious ancient power . . . and quickly. A snake-monster called Zabor lies in wait in the bed of the frozen Assiniboine River, hungry for the sacrifice of spirit-blood in exchange for keeping the flood waters at bay. Thrust onto an ancient battlefield, Roan soon realizes that to maintain the balance of the world, she will have to sacrifice more than her life in order to take her place as Scion of the Fox.
American Gods meets Princess Mononoke in this powerful first installment of a trilogy sure to capture readers’ imaginations everywhere.
Contributor Notes
S.M. Beiko is an eclectic writer and artist based in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She also works as a freelance editor, illustrator, graphic designer, and consultant in the trade book and comic publishing industries in Canada and the U.S. Her first novel, The Lake and the Library, was nominated for the Manitoba Book Award for Best First Book as well as the 2014 Aurora Award. Her fantasy trilogy, The Realms of Ancient, began with Scion of the Fox, followed by Children of the Bloodlands, and will be concluded with The Brilliant Dark (2019).
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age:
- 13 to 17
- Grade:
- 8 to 12
Editorial Review
“In Scion of the Fox, S.M. Beiko introduces us to Roan, a wry, fierce young woman whose world changes in the blink of an infected eye. She’s more than she has ever imagined, and there’s enchantment everywhere — flying, running, and swimming around her — transforming everything and everyone she has ever known. Beiko’s magic-steeped Winnipeg is a marvel, and Roan is a delight. I look forward to following her into her next adventure.” — Caitlin Sweet, author of The Pattern Scars
“A thrilling tale underscored by excellent, deep, and unique world-building.” — Kelley Armstrong, #1 New York Times bestselling author
“S.M. Beiko’s Scion of the Fox is the thrilling first installment in what will surely be an exceptionally imaginative trilogy. Roan Harken is an instantly relatable heroine, a girl with guts and moxie in spades, and Beiko moves her story from hilarious to heartbreaking with true literary grace. Evocative prose and crisp, crackling dialogue perfectly define this rich fantasy world. I can’t wait for Book Two!” — Charlene Challenger, author of The Voices in Between and The Myth in Distance
“Samantha Beiko has managed to create an incredible adventure that is full of emotion, strength, passion, tension & power. The rep in this book for POC and the disabled is brilliant & there were some lines about disability that really resonated with me. I’m incredibly excited for the rest of this series.” —Writing Wolves blog
“A smart, complex, animal-based fantasy.” — Kirkus Reviews
“The first installment in a fantasy trilogy by Beiko has an interesting premise and a lively protagonist … The story is entertaining … ” — Publishers Weekly
“Beiko does a good job giving the reader just enough information to keep them hooked while leaving enough out to have the story progress… I enjoyed this book quite a bit.” — Cover2Cover blog
“Beiko did a fabulous job creating a fantasy world that overlaps with our own and making it come alive! … This book is a blend of fantasy, mythology and reality that makes you want even more!” — Feed Your Fiction blog
“Engaging from the very first page, this novel has the perfect balance of teenage angst, supernatural intrigue, fantasy mysticism, and even talking animals that manage to be neither cute nor precious.” — Bibliotica blog
“Scion of the Fox was a magical, exciting, and captivating read.”— Brains, Books, and Brawn blog
