Shadows of Insurrection
Book One of The Unremembered King
Vanessa MacLaren-Wray
There’s a kettle of rotten fish on the fire … and the stink’s about to get worse.
– Jeskan proverb
Once in a generation, the matriarchs of Jeska choose a new king to manage the government and command the Guard — protecting Jeskans from crime, invaders, and insurgency. Corren's been training for that job since he was six, but this is an unsettled time: rumors of strange incursions, grumbling discontent, and increasing brigandry.
Corren’s own problems are multiplying. His father, a skeptical shaman, has gone missing, His polyamorous foster-brother keeps interfering with his personal and professional business. And the king needs him to track down the conspirators behind a simmering insurrection.
When a strange woman turns up wearing a shaman’s cape, speaking a weird language, and hiding knowledge that doesn’t belong in this world, all his plans will have to change.
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About The Author
Vanessa MacLaren-Wray
Vanessa MacLaren-Wray writes science fiction and fantasy exploring the challenges of communication and attachment in a diverse, complex universe. She’s the author of the Patchwork Universe series, including All That Was Asked, “The True Son,” and the duology Shadows of Insurrection and Flames of Attrition. She’s also a member of the Truck Stop at the Center of the Galaxy consortium, with “Coke Machine” and The Smugglers. Her short fiction has appeared with Dragon Gems and in the award-winning anthology Fault Zone: Reverse. She hosts regular online open mics for the California Writers Club and acts as a guest host for the podcast Small Publishing in a Big Universe. She is also an active member of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA).
As an energy systems engineer, she has analyzed electric power systems, studied climate-safe technology, and written extensively on energy issues. The oddball robots she builds out of kids’ toys and stray parts do not seek to destroy humans—instead, they brew tea and play music. Vanessa lives in farm country, where fields of strawberries and artichokes hold the developers at bay. When not arguing with her cats, she works on new stories, her email journal Messages from the Oort Cloud, and her website, Cometary Tales. Find all her connections at https://linktr.ee/Vanessa_MacLarenWray.
J. Scott Coatsworth –
“… an easy read that will keep you turning the pages … and there are a number of great reveals. It’s clear there are more to come. Highly recommended.”
J. Scott Coatsworth, author of The Tharassas Cycle