The Unfamiliar, page 41
But letting go of my grief was hardly as easy as wishing to do so. Despite my work on myself, my past was a perpetual specter that haunted me despite my best intentions. I could no more rid myself of it than I could change what happened. As much as I wished I could.
There was a loud knock, then the door swung open. Quinn’s friend walked in wearing a corset top that my chest would bust right out of, and I sighed enviously. A guy I vaguely recognized walked in behind her with two packs of pumpkin beer in his hands and a lazy smile on his face as he brazenly looked me up and down.
“I’m fine,” I murmured to Quinn, grabbing the bottle opener from the table and walking toward the new guests—mostly to get away from this conversation. “Don’t worry about me.”
Her answering look told me she knew exactly what happened but was willing to let it go now that I no longer looked possessed by the ghosts of my past.
“Come on,” Quinn said, following me. “There are about ten different types of foods that shouldn’t be pumpkin flavored waiting in the kitchen.”
Don’t stop now. Keep reading with your copy of THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MIRROR by City Owl author, Dana Burke.
And find more from Lilla Glass at www.lillaglass.com
Don’t miss the next The Reel of Rhysia book, and find more from Lilla Glass at www.lillaglass.com
Until then read THE OTHER SIDE OF THE MIRROR by City Owl author, Dana Burke.
What if the fairytale was always a lie?
Seven years after her family’s murders, Eva is attacked by a magical creature and abducted to the faerie realm. When a handsome fae saves her, Bash reveals that he must bring Eva to her faerie soulmate to stop a world-ending Curse. She relents, but only for the opportunity to find answers about her parents’ deaths.
As their journey progresses, Eva delves into her previously hidden magic—and grows steadily closer to Bash. But when she meets her prince, she soon learns that all is not what it seems. While mystery and intrigue surround her, Eva takes it into her own hands to uncover the truth. But what she discovers is beyond her imagination, as she unravels the fae’s web of lies.
Don’t miss this romantasy into the fae realm with hidden secrets, steamy romance, and true fantasy adventure.
GET IT NOW
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Glossary of Fae
The world of The Unseen is rife with strange and spectacular beings, any one of whom will resent (and possibly maim) you for confusing them with another. For your safety, I’ve enlisted the help of a certain plucky piskie in comprising this compendium. May it serve you well.
Augusky (ä-güs-kē):
“The Shifting Wilds are chaos—the dwelling place of fools,
But these fickle, half-goat shifters despise structure as a rule.
While not expressly evil, they’ve no respect for life,
To hear their racing hoof-steps is an omen of pure strife.”
Daoine Maithe (dī-nuh mä-hä):
“If you run across the light-fae, you are guaranteed to stare,
They’re as stunning as a sunrise, and they’re very much aware.
These Talunasan denizens dwell ’neath a ceaseless sun,
And bend its brilliance to their will, becoming anyone.”
Daoine Sidhe (dī-nuh shē)-
“The residents of Réimsdarg are the meat of many tales,
These giants fight for Justice, Light, and (on occasion) ale.
With magic made for shaping stone, and tactical renown,
They can craft cities in an eve… or smash them to the ground.”
Glaistig (glī-stig)-
“They dance beneath the moonlight and sing a pretty song,
And though you’ll try resisting, you’re bound to dance along.
It takes less than a measure for your heart to be beguiled,
But in the end, they’ll leave your veins as empty as their smiles.”
Goblin-
“Some goblin-kind are summoned by a dark and spiteful curse,
Others are shaped by accident when mindless magics merge.
Entropic aberrations in a world with fickle laws,
Be they made of mire or shadows, they are born with eager claws.”
Hag-
“Though stories paint them darkly, they’re often very bright,
And it’s a shame they’re often blamed for pestilence and blight.
No matter how you’re ailing, they have salves and balms to spare,
Their remedies will cost you, but the price is always fair.”
Hobgoblin-
“They toil beneath a blood-red sun, mining for gemstone veins,
It’s more a hobby than a job, so they seldom complain.
These neighbors of the Daoine Sidhe are generally polite,
They share the goblins’ pointed teeth, but do not share their bite.”
Kelpie (kel-pē)-
“They take the form of horses to race across the plains,
Distinguished by their dusk-dark forms and tangled, seaweed manes.
But don’t mistake these fae-folk for trusty, noble steeds,
They’d haul you to the briny depths before bucking you free.”
Korrid Sidhe (kōr-id shē)-
“These ambitious Unseelie truly see their cause as right,
But the wily winter wanderers cannot withstand the light.
They dwell in frigid darkness ’round a palace called Gemhread,
And craft a headless army to extend the Shadows’ reach.”
Lenanshee (le-nan-shē)-
“A porcelain face with yellow locks, or dark with sable curls,
She looks just like you want her to (provided you want girls.)
But that’s the thing about most dreams—they oftentimes cloak fears,
Her kiss lasts for a moment, but it might well cost you years.”
Leprechaun-
“A leprechaun attired in green might meddle with your luck,
If wearing white, it’s on a break and more than likely drunk.
If clothed in red, you’d better run before the chance is gone,
Or better yet, despite their dress, avoid the leprechauns!”
Piskie (pis-kē)-
“A streak of iridescence, giggling as it zips by,
You might think it a dragonfly, if insects spoke in rhyme.
These pert, precocious, wing-ed things can make for decent friends,
But if you dare offend them, they will get swift revenge.”
Rot Fae-
“A bit smaller than piskies with brittle leaves for wings,
These pests fly through the Shifting Wilds in search of florid things.
Their fangs produce a venom that can cause instant decay,
So if you chance upon them, you’d do best to walk away.”
Selkie (sil-kē)-
“They occupy dark bogs and brooks and hazy moonlit fens,
And sing of wondrous things most mortal hearts cannot resist.
They aren’t looking to feast, and they are not truly deranged,
They’d simply like to wrap you up and watch your colors change.”
Sluagh (slü-uh)-
“These souls fell short of Heaven; vast evils weighed them down,
And, either doomed by deeds or deals, Hell swiftly spat them out.
So, now, they weave between the worlds—the vilest of all fae,
And spread their anguish far and wide, awaiting Judgement Day.”
Sprite-
“They drift around like pollen, shimmering in the dark,
Like elemental spirits, or maybe simple sparks.
None know whether they think or feel, or if they just react,
But sometimes, if you smile at them, you’ll catch them smiling back.”
Sylph (silf)-
“The stoic, Spring Isles wind-fae are healers of great skill,
They have a touch like static and white wings that sprout at will.
Many are vowed to silence; the rest are careful with their words,
So, even if they don’t reply, have faith that you’ve been heard.”
Trow-
“From afar they look like boulders or hefty chunks of ice,
And while they’re often neutral, they’re very rarely nice.
They may not be too eloquent, but brawling is their gift,
So if you pick a fight with one, at least it will be swift.”
Undine (uhn-dēn)-
“Some sailors call them sirens although they seldom sing,
And few engage in wrecking ships, despite the mirth it brings.
They breathe both air and water and can grant that gift to you,
But be certain of their motives before they drag you ’neath the blue.”
Wulver (wul-ver)-
“They keep mostly to the woodlands and their cold, cavernous homes,
Though they might look malicious, they just like to be alone.
Despite their lupine features, they don’t stalk after the weak,
But should your hand cause harm, it might wind up ‘twixt their teeth.”
Acknowledgments
I started writing this book under the logical (and highly incorrect) assumption that a second novel would be easier to complete than the first. Unfortunately, second novels come with a lot of something that a first book has almost none of: pressure—ninety percent I placed on myself. Regardless of the source, I’ve never handled pressure particularly well. I might have crumbled to dust a thousand times over were it not for the many sturdy supports in my life.
First and foremost, I’d like to thank City Owl Press and my editor, Tee Tate, for believing in this series and providing it with such a lovely home. More, I owe a massive thanks to the badass owls, both past and present, who’ve taken me underwing. I’d also like to thank narrator Patricia Santomasso and the wonderful folks at Dreamscape Lore for bringing the first book of this series to life in audiobook format. She captured my weird little wordlings so perfectly, I’m utterly amazed!
My husband/best friend Justin Glass has been a constant source of support and cheesy jokes, and he deserves credit for naming both Deinua and Koa. He’s also provided me with a real life love story, without which my romantic subplots would probably ring hollow.
Since families of all kinds are a core component in this series, I have many examples to thank: my mom and dad, who were always passionate about all forms of art, my siblings (Angie, Jason, Eli), my aunt (Pauline), my foster family (the Miesses), families who took me in for a time (Lupos, Ericksons), and my very own found family, the members of which are too numerous to name.
This book absolutely would not have been possible without alpha and beta readers (Allie, Chani, Jay, Melissa, Yael, and Blaze), most of whom read through multiple versions of this story while I was trying to smooth the wrinkles from it. I truly appreciate these fantastic individuals, and I value their feedback dearly. Of course, I’m also grateful to God for giving me the opportunity and passion to write. He sets a lofty standard for worldbuilding and character development.
Most of all, I want to thank the wonderful readers who’ve stuck with my misfit fellowship throughout their journey so far. I hope you’re enjoying the adventure, and that you continue to walk alongside them as their twisty tale unfolds.
About the Author
LILLA GLASS is an author from Olympia, WA. While fantasy is her first love, she dabbles in horror, sci-fi, and the occasional (gasp) non-speculative work. Her short stories have been published in anthologies by Mystic Owl Press, Papillon du Pere, and Madhouse Books.
In the rare event that she isn't writing, Lilla works one of those pesky day-job thingies, reads stories and poetry she wishes she wrote, hangs out with her husband and bunny, and plays the occasional tabletop RPG.
www.lillaglass.com
About the Publisher
City Owl Press is a cutting edge indie publishing company, bringing the world of romance and speculative fiction to discerning readers.
Escape Your World. Get Lost in Ours!
www.cityowlpress.com
Additional Titles
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THE SHADOW OF THERON
By: Kathryn Troy
The powers of old are fading. A new Age is dawning.
Holy relics are all that remain of Theron’s sacred legend.
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Lilla Glass, The Unfamiliar
