From A Youth A Fountain Did Flow (The Fountain of Youth book 1) YA Dark Urban Fantasy Horror by Miranda Levi ➱ Book Sale with Guest Post & Giveaway
From a Youth a Fountain Did Flow
The Fountain of Youth Book 1
by Miranda Levi
Genre: YA Dark Urban Fantasy Horror
Supernatural meets The
Raven Boys in
this thrilling young adult fantasy horror novel about a girl who has
lost everything and finds herself in the center of a war between
witches and demons. In a world where anything is possible, can she
find the things that keep her human? Or is she doomed to a dark
destiny?
Love. Fate. Courage. Darkness.
Thrust
into a timeless battle between an ancient network of witches and the
demon underbelly who will stop at nothing to possess her regenerating
body. Scarlet Singer must decide what is worth fighting for in this
life. Love, fate, and a greater destiny are all at stake.
When
Scarlet stumbles upon a poem written in a journal for her more than a
hundred-and-fifty years earlier, she must face her greatest fears and
accept the possibility that she is the fountain of youth
personified.
Only a Telepath named Marcus and a Void named Zig
stand between Scarlet and the battle over her future. Whom can she
trust when both sides have enough reason to end her? If any of them
knew the truth, her life would be forfeit.
Praise for From a Youth A Fountain Did Flow
"Pursued
by demons, a teenage girl must confront darkness and a terrible
destiny in Levi’s YA fantasy novel. In Washington State,17-year-old
Scarlet Singer is haunted by nightmarish shadows and a feeling of
wrongness. Her bad dreams come true when her home is invaded by a
monster in the guise of a man. Her mother sacrifices herself to give
her daughter time to escape, and a teenage telepath named Marcus
Castillo is drawn to Scarlet, sensing her distress. His grandmother,
a witch named Kara, accompanies him and slaughters the demonic killer
with magic, and Scarlet’s perception of reality is forever changed
(“I know magic isn’t real, and demons are like fairytales
designed to scare children. Except, I am now swayed to the argument
that demons are real, and magic seems to exist despite my
reservations”). Packed with demons, humans reduced to “meat
suits,” blood-letting and blood-drinking, witches, telepathy,
time-shifting, and supernatural realms reachable through magic
portals, the novel is never dull. The abundance of fantasy and horror
tropes could have been overkill, but the author weaves them into a
neat twist on the concepts of the fountain of youth and
reincarnation. The catalyst is the 19th-century journal of a young
woman named Kelby, which causes Scarlet, sheltered by a powerful
Witches Council, to begin to wonder who—and what—she is, leaving
her with a secret she can’t share, hunted by demons and ostensible
friends alike. Throughout, Scarlet’s closeness to Witches Council
members Marcus and the handsome Zig complicates things... The author
effectively keeps the plot moving forward by shifting narratives
between Scarlet, Marcus, Zig, Kelby’s journal, an enigmatic witch
named Azeltha, Scarlet’s demonic nemesis, Dagon, and a few minor
but essential characters. The shocker of a cliffhanger at the end
signals a sequel to come. An imaginative fantasy-horror tale anchored
by a relatable teen hero, engaging ..." Kirkus
Reviews
“A
fast-paced, intriguing, richly written puzzle box of a book. Every
twist and turn left me breathless. That first paragraph grabbed me
and wouldn't let me go.” –Aaron Michael Ritchey, award-winning
author of The Sages of the Underpass and The Cunning Man
series.
"This is a captivating tale about witches and
demons and a battle as old as time. It is a story of love, loss, and
being captured by purpose. The main character is likable and brave,
and her growth as she discovers the truth about her past and her
power over the future makes a story well worth reading. I highly
recommend Mrs. Levi's 'From a Youth a Fountain Did Flow'"
~Cheree Alsop, author of the Werewolf Academy series.
**Kindle countdown deal July 23 – 27! Get it ON SALE now!! **
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1
SCARLET
|
W |
ith each step, the city sucks a little more
light from me. I’ve become a shriveled fraction of my former self. My insides
let sorrow and darkness take hold. It grips onto my heart and seems to weave a
thread through my core, sewing torn and broken pieces together again. I want to
stop walking and lay down to die. But giving up is only an option for the
broken. I’m patchwork now. So, I keep walking.
I’m not sure why I follow
the old woman and a boy named Marcus. We walk for twenty minutes in silence. I
consider leaving, turning right when the others go left. Each step is moving
lead. I am dead weight.
I should have called the
police myself. I should have stayed behind with mom. When I think about what’s
happened, it
feels like lies slipping off my tongue to speak my truth out loud. A tightness
rises in me, choking out my ability to ruminate rationally. I don’t think I
would even believe
it had I not witnessed it myself.
The pizza delivery guy
crouched over my cat’s slain body. He looked up at me with inhuman black eyes.
I’m going crazy.
The scene plays over and
over in my brain. Like a movie on repeat, I can’t shut off. I
was backing out of the bedroom,
knocking things over along the way,
stumbling into Mom as I clamber over
the top of the couch to get
away from the black-eyed man.
Limp fur, black eyes, and
Mom telling me to run.
I don’t let myself think
past that. I don’t want to remember.
“Run.”
It is the last word Mom ever spoke to me. She looks at me with chocolate
brown eyes and points.
“Run.”
Mom’s voice is calm, collected. It’s not a question.
“Run.”
It’s not a demand either. I want Mom to grab my hand and drag us out of
the house together.
“Run.”
It’s a plea.
All I want is her, whole
and perfect. To be in her warm arms one more time. Hear her voice whisper me to
a safe harbor. Only I know one more time would never be enough. No amount of
time would be.
Her screams still echo in my mind.
I can hear her begging for a savior, for someone to help her.
But nobody came.
My mom is dead, and it’s all my fault.
There she is.
Cane is positioned between a girl and a meat suit, vertical, spinning at
sixty-six miles per hour counterclockwise. Cane starts to glow. An energy field
stretches beyond the girl, encompassing her and Cane in its white light.
I move to Abuela’s side. She puts her arm out in front of me, forcing me
to take a step backward. I want to move in front of the girl—an internal need
to put me between her and the meat suit.
“What do you want, hag?” the possessed boy says. He can’t be much older
than I am, seventeen or eighteen.
“Oh, the meat suit can speak. Good for you,” Abuela takes a step closer,
and so do I.
Dark trundles shadow his eyes. A red t-shirt with a Pizza Time logo
clothe the stolen body. “I will have her first. Then I’ll have you for
dessert,” The meat suit winks at Abuela, his voice silk.
Abuela smiles, “Aw, you think I’m sweet. But first, Cane, let’s see if
this demon has a heart.”
Cane moves quicker than a melting snow-cone in hell. Flesh rips away
from the body snatcher’s chest cavity leaving Cane embedded.
“You were wrong. She wasn’t the one to worry about. I am,” a wicked
smile plays at Abuela’s paper-thin lips. I start to understand why she didn’t
want me to come, why she put off my street training for this long.
Wide eyes blink back as a bloodied heart pulses its last beat.
Silence falls in the ally. My stomach turns its lunch, and I think I
might hurl. One, one, two, three, five, eight, thirteen… I take a deep breath
to calm my stomach and look away from the pizza delivery guy, away from the
demon.
36
SCARLET
|
G |
asoline and a lit match, Azeltha’s words burn
through me. She’s opened a doorway in my mind. It’s shattering my memories and
forming new connections to old ones. Shutting out the new cerebral network is
an impossibility. I am and was Kelby. I was so many other people. Each of them experienced regret, loss, and love. I am all these people, and in the same breath, I am none of them.
I am Scarlet Singer.
I am me.
The necklace works as a
conduit to my past lives. I can feel the flood of memories, as though they’d
always been. It hones them and grants me access to all of it. Whether I want it
or not. With the good, there is the bad, an un-tipping scale. I take the necklace
off,
and my brain eases. It doesn’t stop the memories, but it lessens the impact.
Anything specific you want to tell your readers?
To my readers, I want to express my heartfelt
gratitude and appreciation. Your support and belief in my stories mean the
world to me. Each and every person who chooses to embark on the journey of my
words fills me with awe and gratitude.
I still vividly remember the moment when my
sophomore English teacher first saw the potential in me as a storyteller. That
belief in my abilities ignited a spark within me, and it continues to burn
brightly as I grow in my craft. However, it is the readers, like you, who have
truly bolstered my confidence and reinforced my belief in myself as a writer.
Your enthusiasm, feedback, and unwavering
support inspire me to keep pushing the boundaries of my creativity, to delve
deeper into the worlds I create, and to tell stories that resonate with you. It
is your presence and engagement that breathe life into my words and give them
purpose.
So, from the depths of my heart, I want to
express my sincere appreciation for each and every one of you. Thank you for
taking the time to immerse yourself in my stories, for embracing the characters
and their journeys, and for joining me on this incredible adventure.
I am forever grateful for your support, and I
hope to continue sharing stories that captivate, entertain, and touch your
hearts. Together, we create a powerful bond, connecting through the universal
language of storytelling. Thank you for being a part of my world and for
allowing me to be a part of yours.
Are your characters based off real people or did they all
come entirely from your imagination?
My characters are a blend of both reality and
imagination. While they may draw inspiration from real people I have
encountered in my life, they ultimately take on a life of their own within the
realm of my imagination.
As a writer, I observe the nuances of human
behavior, the complexities of emotions, and the relationships that shape our
lives. These observations undoubtedly influence the development of my
characters. They may embody certain mannerisms, histories, or physical
attributes that are reminiscent of individuals I have encountered. However, it
is important to note that my characters are distinct entities, separate from
their real-life inspirations.
Once a character emerges in my mind, they begin
to develop their own unique personality, motivations, and experiences. They
take on a life of their own, growing and evolving throughout the story. While
traces of real people may be woven into their fabric, the characters become
independent beings, shaped by the narrative and the world in which they exist.
In essence, my characters are a fusion of
inspiration from the people I have encountered and the creative depth of my
imagination. They are individuals with their own stories to tell, their own
struggles to overcome, and their own journeys to embark upon. While elements of
reality may influence their creation, it is within the realm of my imagination
that they truly come alive.
Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel
like you have the reins of the story?
As the writer, I believe it's important to
strike a delicate balance between allowing the characters to guide the story
and maintaining control over the narrative. There are instances when the
characters seem to take on a life of their own, becoming vibrant and complex
individuals who drive the plot forward. During these moments, it can feel as
though they are hijacking the story in the best possible way.
Allowing the characters some freedom to develop
and express themselves can lead to unexpected twists, deeper insights, and
richer storytelling. It is during these instances that I often learn the most
about the characters and the world they inhabit. They may surprise me with
their actions, motivations, or even their interactions with other characters.
However, while the characters may have their own
desires and agendas, it's crucial for me as the writer to maintain the reins of
the story. I must ensure that the narrative remains focused and coherent,
following a cohesive thread. There are times when I need to step in and guide
the characters back on track if they veer too far from the overarching plot or
if their actions no longer align with their established personalities.
In these moments, I exercise my role as the
writer and make decisions that serve the story as a whole. It's about striking
a balance between allowing the characters room to grow and evolve, while also
maintaining the overarching structure and direction of the narrative.
Ultimately, the relationship between the
characters and the writer is a dynamic one. They may have their moments of
hijacking the story, but it is the writer's responsibility to rein them in when
necessary, ensuring that the story remains on track
Have you written any other books that are not published?
Yes! All in good time.
If your book had a candle, what scent would it be?
Chocolate and blood
Miranda Levi is an accomplished fiction writer and poet hailing from the Pacific Northwest. Her writing is known for captivating readers with her evocative storytelling and lyrical prose, which transport readers into other worlds and perspectives. With a passion for exploring the human experience, Levi’s works delve into the complexities of life, love, and loss and offer a glimpse into the human soul. She lives in Seattle with her husband, Peter, and their cat Hamilton.
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I so love the cover.
ReplyDeleteAwe thank you! I hope you get a chance to read it! It's actually on a Kindle Countdown right now :)
DeleteThe excerpt sounds really interesting.
ReplyDelete