Bethany Atazadeh's Blog
February 26, 2024
Revealing the cover for The Queen's Rise + a Kickstarter launch!
HAPPY COVER REVEAL DAY for THE QUEEN'S RISE!
This is the character art omnibus cover—meaning this book is a bind up of The Queen's Rise series (The Secret Gift, The Secret Shadow, and The Secret Curse) with an exclusive never-before-seen bonus scene inside!
What do you think?!
Isn't it pretty?
GENRE: YA Fantasy
PAGE COUNT: 498 pages
TROPES:
And, because apparently I'm extra now... this book is exclusively available on Kickstarter for the next 19 days!
I am FREAKING OUT! The kickstarter funded in 23 minutes and is currently sitting at 59 backers, $3,882!
HUGE shout out to everyone who's already grabbed a copy of this book— you're the BEST! I appreciate you so much, and cannot WAIT to send you a copy ahhh!
Check out the Kickstarter here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
Just in case you haven't heard of kickstarter and/or don't know why I'm releasing the book there, here's the basics:
What's Kickstarter?
It's a mix between a crowdfunding platform and a pre-order—in this case I'm leaning mostly on the pre-order side. Basically if a creative has an epic idea but isn't sure they should (or could) invest the money to make it happen, they can ask people if they're interested in purchasing it in advance.
So what's MY reason for using Kickstarter?
I haven't done a Kickstarter since my debut novel, Evalene's Number (7 years ago!), but thanks to some wonderful author friends, I realized I have a TON of valuable reasons to come back to it and give it another chance.
(1) Instead of a generic preorder, I can offer SIGNED copies. And not just of The Queen's Rise, but my other fantasy books as well!
(2) I can include tons of cool SWAG and extras, and
(3) it'll be EARLY ACCESS months before the rest of the world!
For me, it's not about funding the costs of the book because I already paid for the character art a year ago (lol I really thought I'd be able to share it sooner, I swear).
But what we COULD do is potentially order enough copies to afford a collector's edition print run with cool exclusives like gold foil on the cover for example. (I really, really want this one ahh!)
These types of extras are expensive and usually have to be ordered in bulk, so that's not something an indie author like myself can typically do. But if they were purchased in advance, it's a game changer and becomes totally doable!
Other fun Kickstarter Facts:
This book is only available on Kickstarter for the next 19 days.
A public pre-order will become available once it ends for a (tentative) November 2024 retail release. But backers who choose to grab a copy now will get this beautiful book MONTHS before that.
Oh - and did I mention that bonus scene?? ;) Because I would do this whole extravaganza for that ALONE. It. is. so. good.
If you've read the individual books already, then you'll enjoy knowing it's from Koda's POV at a pivotal moment near the end of the series, revealing something shocking about him and his people that you'd never expect.
And if you HAVEN'T read the series yet, well... check out the reviews on the final book and you'll notice a common theme along the lines of "OMG I DID NOT EXPECT THAT ENDING!" Hehe... same goes for this bonus scene. You're gonna love it.
Check out today's YOUTUBE VIDEO for more fun info and behind the scenes stuff about the book here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSv1l...
And if you'd like to help blast the book everywhere and help get the word out then feel free to share the beautiful cover/kickstarter info AND better yet, add it to your TBR below!
ADD TO YOUR TBR here: The Queen's Rise
Super excited to sign these copies and start mailing them out to you — woohoo!!
<3 Bethany Atazadeh
This is the character art omnibus cover—meaning this book is a bind up of The Queen's Rise series (The Secret Gift, The Secret Shadow, and The Secret Curse) with an exclusive never-before-seen bonus scene inside!
What do you think?!
Isn't it pretty?
GENRE: YA Fantasy
PAGE COUNT: 498 pages
TROPES:
And, because apparently I'm extra now... this book is exclusively available on Kickstarter for the next 19 days!
I am FREAKING OUT! The kickstarter funded in 23 minutes and is currently sitting at 59 backers, $3,882!
HUGE shout out to everyone who's already grabbed a copy of this book— you're the BEST! I appreciate you so much, and cannot WAIT to send you a copy ahhh!
Check out the Kickstarter here:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/...
Just in case you haven't heard of kickstarter and/or don't know why I'm releasing the book there, here's the basics:
What's Kickstarter?
It's a mix between a crowdfunding platform and a pre-order—in this case I'm leaning mostly on the pre-order side. Basically if a creative has an epic idea but isn't sure they should (or could) invest the money to make it happen, they can ask people if they're interested in purchasing it in advance.
So what's MY reason for using Kickstarter?
I haven't done a Kickstarter since my debut novel, Evalene's Number (7 years ago!), but thanks to some wonderful author friends, I realized I have a TON of valuable reasons to come back to it and give it another chance.
(1) Instead of a generic preorder, I can offer SIGNED copies. And not just of The Queen's Rise, but my other fantasy books as well!
(2) I can include tons of cool SWAG and extras, and
(3) it'll be EARLY ACCESS months before the rest of the world!
For me, it's not about funding the costs of the book because I already paid for the character art a year ago (lol I really thought I'd be able to share it sooner, I swear).
But what we COULD do is potentially order enough copies to afford a collector's edition print run with cool exclusives like gold foil on the cover for example. (I really, really want this one ahh!)
These types of extras are expensive and usually have to be ordered in bulk, so that's not something an indie author like myself can typically do. But if they were purchased in advance, it's a game changer and becomes totally doable!
Other fun Kickstarter Facts:
This book is only available on Kickstarter for the next 19 days.
A public pre-order will become available once it ends for a (tentative) November 2024 retail release. But backers who choose to grab a copy now will get this beautiful book MONTHS before that.
Oh - and did I mention that bonus scene?? ;) Because I would do this whole extravaganza for that ALONE. It. is. so. good.
If you've read the individual books already, then you'll enjoy knowing it's from Koda's POV at a pivotal moment near the end of the series, revealing something shocking about him and his people that you'd never expect.
And if you HAVEN'T read the series yet, well... check out the reviews on the final book and you'll notice a common theme along the lines of "OMG I DID NOT EXPECT THAT ENDING!" Hehe... same goes for this bonus scene. You're gonna love it.
Check out today's YOUTUBE VIDEO for more fun info and behind the scenes stuff about the book here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSv1l...And if you'd like to help blast the book everywhere and help get the word out then feel free to share the beautiful cover/kickstarter info AND better yet, add it to your TBR below!
ADD TO YOUR TBR here: The Queen's Rise
Super excited to sign these copies and start mailing them out to you — woohoo!!
<3 Bethany Atazadeh
August 21, 2023
🥳 🎉 4 BOOK COVER REVEAL!!
For the 4 year anniversary of publishing The Stolen Kingdom, we have 4 new cover reveals!
GENRE: Young Adult Fantasy, Fairytale Retellings
SERIES: complete 4 book series
The series starts with THE STOLEN KINGDOM...
GET YOUR FREE COPY (available on all vendors): https://books2read.com/thestolenkingdom
ADD ON GOODREADS: The Stolen Kingdom
How can she protect her kingdom, if she can’t protect herself?
Arie never expects to manifest a Jinni’s Gift. When she begins to hear the thoughts of those around her, she hides it to the best of her ability. But to her dismay, the forbidden Gift is growing out of control.
When a neighboring king tries to force her hand in marriage and steal her kingdom, discovery becomes imminent. Just one slip could cost her throne. And her life.
A lamp, a heist, and a Jinni hunter’s crew of thieves are her only hope for removing this Gift - and she must remove it before she’s exposed. Or die trying.
THE STOLEN KINGDOM is a loose Aladdin retelling. Set in a world that humans share with Mermaids, Dragons, and the elusive Jinni, this isn’t the fairytale you remember…
If you enjoy fantasy worlds, magical races, and surprising spins on classic fairy tales, then you'll love this spellbinding retelling of Aladdin.
Reading order for THE STOLEN KINGDOM series:
Book 1: The Stolen Kingdom
Book 2: The Jinni Key
Book 3: The Cursed Hunter
Book 4: The Enchanted Crown
What do you think of the new covers??
Can't wait to hear what you think!
<3 Bethany Atazadeh
GENRE: Young Adult Fantasy, Fairytale Retellings
SERIES: complete 4 book series
The series starts with THE STOLEN KINGDOM...
GET YOUR FREE COPY (available on all vendors): https://books2read.com/thestolenkingdom
ADD ON GOODREADS: The Stolen Kingdom
How can she protect her kingdom, if she can’t protect herself?
Arie never expects to manifest a Jinni’s Gift. When she begins to hear the thoughts of those around her, she hides it to the best of her ability. But to her dismay, the forbidden Gift is growing out of control.
When a neighboring king tries to force her hand in marriage and steal her kingdom, discovery becomes imminent. Just one slip could cost her throne. And her life.
A lamp, a heist, and a Jinni hunter’s crew of thieves are her only hope for removing this Gift - and she must remove it before she’s exposed. Or die trying.
THE STOLEN KINGDOM is a loose Aladdin retelling. Set in a world that humans share with Mermaids, Dragons, and the elusive Jinni, this isn’t the fairytale you remember…
If you enjoy fantasy worlds, magical races, and surprising spins on classic fairy tales, then you'll love this spellbinding retelling of Aladdin.
Reading order for THE STOLEN KINGDOM series:
Book 1: The Stolen Kingdom
Book 2: The Jinni Key
Book 3: The Cursed Hunter
Book 4: The Enchanted Crown
What do you think of the new covers??
Can't wait to hear what you think!
<3 Bethany Atazadeh
June 30, 2023
COVER REVEAL for the final book in The Queen's Rise Series
Super excited to share the cover for the third book in The Queen's Rise series: THE SECRET CURSE!
GENRE: Young Adult Fantasy, Fairytale Inspired
RELEASE DATE: January 26, 2024
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
Dragons, shape-shifting, a love triangle, and a magical race of Jinn that everyone fears... this is a YA Fantasy villain origin story inspired by the evil fairy in Beauty and the Beast.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Engaged to a prince, Jezebel anticipates a new respect from her peers as their future queen. Instead, they disregard and undervalue her at every turn…
As Jezebel and the Jinni prince begin their engagement tour, the only thing worse than the Jinni resentment is the increasing attacks from the Khaanevaade that hint at impending war. When they attempt to kidnap the illusive prince, Jezebel is captured—and taken instead.
Despite their fearsome dragon-like abilities, Jezebel believes she could easily save herself. But first she hopes to learn the enemies’ secrets. This way, she’ll prove her worth to the royal family once she escapes.
Instead, she discovers the tribe’s fierce hatred of all things Jinn, including her. The leader’s son hates her most of all. Yet, as time passes, her handsome captor surprises her by being just as remarkable as the prince. Maybe even more so…
When the royal family makes a bargain that cuts her out of the picture completely, she begins to wonder if she truly wants a future with them at all, or if perhaps she wants to carve a new path of her own… with the enemy.
THE SECRET CURSE is the third and final book in THE QUEEN'S RISE series, inspired by your favorite fairy tale villains in Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Beauty and the Beast. It’s a spin-off of The Stolen Kingdom series, but can also be read on its own. Over a century before Queen Jezebel crosses paths with Arie, Rena, and Nesrin, she’s just an innocent Jinni girl… who was betrayed.
Reading order for THE QUEEN’S RISE series:
Book 1: The Secret Gift
Book 2: The Secret Shadow
Book 3: The Secret Curse
PREORDER (available on all vendors): https://books2read.com/thesecretcurse
ADD ON GOODREADS: The Secret Curse
What do you think of the new cover??
Can't wait to hear what you think!
<3 Bethany
GENRE: Young Adult Fantasy, Fairytale Inspired
RELEASE DATE: January 26, 2024
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT:
Dragons, shape-shifting, a love triangle, and a magical race of Jinn that everyone fears... this is a YA Fantasy villain origin story inspired by the evil fairy in Beauty and the Beast.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Engaged to a prince, Jezebel anticipates a new respect from her peers as their future queen. Instead, they disregard and undervalue her at every turn…
As Jezebel and the Jinni prince begin their engagement tour, the only thing worse than the Jinni resentment is the increasing attacks from the Khaanevaade that hint at impending war. When they attempt to kidnap the illusive prince, Jezebel is captured—and taken instead.
Despite their fearsome dragon-like abilities, Jezebel believes she could easily save herself. But first she hopes to learn the enemies’ secrets. This way, she’ll prove her worth to the royal family once she escapes.
Instead, she discovers the tribe’s fierce hatred of all things Jinn, including her. The leader’s son hates her most of all. Yet, as time passes, her handsome captor surprises her by being just as remarkable as the prince. Maybe even more so…
When the royal family makes a bargain that cuts her out of the picture completely, she begins to wonder if she truly wants a future with them at all, or if perhaps she wants to carve a new path of her own… with the enemy.
THE SECRET CURSE is the third and final book in THE QUEEN'S RISE series, inspired by your favorite fairy tale villains in Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Beauty and the Beast. It’s a spin-off of The Stolen Kingdom series, but can also be read on its own. Over a century before Queen Jezebel crosses paths with Arie, Rena, and Nesrin, she’s just an innocent Jinni girl… who was betrayed.
Reading order for THE QUEEN’S RISE series:
Book 1: The Secret Gift
Book 2: The Secret Shadow
Book 3: The Secret Curse
PREORDER (available on all vendors): https://books2read.com/thesecretcurse
ADD ON GOODREADS: The Secret Curse
What do you think of the new cover??
Can't wait to hear what you think!
<3 Bethany
June 20, 2023
NEW RELEASE!
Oooooh my goodness, THIS AUTHOR! (I'm just kidding hehe, it's me ;)
I started writing this book almost exactly a year and a half ago, just a month or so after having a baby. So this story is a game changer in multiple ways because not only has my writing grown a lot, but it also showed me that it's still possible to create and be multi-passionate as a mom!
GENRE: Young Adult Fantasy, Fairytale Inspired (Sleeping Beauty specifically)
#: Book 2 out of 3
RELEASE DATE: June 20, 2023
What you can expect in this story: shapeshifting, girl saves herself, fly on the wall (literally!), enchanted castle lockdown, fairytale easter eggs from sleeping beauty, slow burn romance, villain origin story, dragons, royal court intrigue, magical clothing and other enchanted objects, "doesn't know her own strength", loophole spells, and more!
What readers are saying:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I didn't put down my iPad a single time while reading The Secret Shadow. I couldn't. I was captivated from the first page and had to know what would happen. The stakes felt so high … There were two big reveals in this book: the twist at the halfway point, and a revelation about Bel…These were both written well, with breadcrumbs laid out so it didn't happen out of nowhere and if you looked back, it was clear where it was headed. I still didn't see the twist coming though, and wasn't able to predict where any of it was going to end. Everything was woven so seamlessly. I need book three now!
- CAITLYN PRICE
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WOW! What a captivating story. The last sentence of the book is spine-chilling- in a good way… I've always enjoyed Bethany's books and this is no exception. Brilliant twists, amazing writing, and what a great ending. Now I simply cannot wait to read the next book from the series. Must read!
- RUCHA PANTOJI
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I finished this book so fast, it was so entertaining. I like it so much more than the first one and I can not wait for the last book.
I have to read all her books.
- ABBY CARRERA
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I am loving seeing this side of Jezebel in The Queen's Rise series! While not required to enjoy this prequel series, having read The Stolen Kingdom series and seeing where she will end up gives a very unique perspective on this character. The little easter eggs throughout have been fun to catch and will give readers who have read that series a lot of great "ah-ha" moments. … I am also a complete sucker for fairytale retellings and this author knows how to weave in elements readers will recognize while not have it be overpowering. Overall, I am obsessed with this series and I cannot wait for book 3!
- KIRA ASSAD
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed this sequel! Bethany Atazadeh definitely did a great job building onto the tension from book 1!
The stakes were built up consistently, which kept me on the edge of my seat! The final few chapters were especially tense!
I also liked how there were little clues tucked here and there, subtle enough to be nothing, but distinct enough to pique my curiosity, until they were fully revealed! Very clever.
- SARAH RODECKER
When another shape-shifter breaks into the castle and threatens the royal family, the search for the intruder begins—and Jezebel fears they’ll catch her instead.
The castle is locked down until the danger is eliminated. Everyone is suspect. Still learning the ropes of the secretive Jinni court, the life she's worked so hard for is in jeopardy.
With the Jinni Guard on the hunt for this formidable shifter, it’s only a matter of time. Once they discover Jezebel’s shape-shifting Gift, her future with Prince Shem—and all her carefully formed plans—are over.
Jezebel must persuade the prince to buy her time, so she can track down this unknown shape-shifter before the Guard. If she fails, she’ll have no choice but to flee before the Guard discovers her hidden abilities and severs them immediately—a fate worse than death.
The Secret Shadow is the second book in The Queen’s Rise series, inspired by your favorite villains in Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Beauty and the Beast. Over a century before Queen Jezebel crosses paths with Arie, Rena, and Nesrin, she’s just an innocent Jinni girl… who was betrayed.
Reading order for THE QUEEN’S RISE series:
Book 1: The Secret Gift
Book 2: The Secret Shadow
Book 3: The Secret Curse
LINK TO BUY (on all vendors): https://books2read.com/thesecretshadow
ADD ON GOODREADS: The Secret Shadow
Can't wait to hear what you think of it!
<3 Bethany
I started writing this book almost exactly a year and a half ago, just a month or so after having a baby. So this story is a game changer in multiple ways because not only has my writing grown a lot, but it also showed me that it's still possible to create and be multi-passionate as a mom!
GENRE: Young Adult Fantasy, Fairytale Inspired (Sleeping Beauty specifically)
#: Book 2 out of 3
RELEASE DATE: June 20, 2023
What you can expect in this story: shapeshifting, girl saves herself, fly on the wall (literally!), enchanted castle lockdown, fairytale easter eggs from sleeping beauty, slow burn romance, villain origin story, dragons, royal court intrigue, magical clothing and other enchanted objects, "doesn't know her own strength", loophole spells, and more!
What readers are saying:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I didn't put down my iPad a single time while reading The Secret Shadow. I couldn't. I was captivated from the first page and had to know what would happen. The stakes felt so high … There were two big reveals in this book: the twist at the halfway point, and a revelation about Bel…These were both written well, with breadcrumbs laid out so it didn't happen out of nowhere and if you looked back, it was clear where it was headed. I still didn't see the twist coming though, and wasn't able to predict where any of it was going to end. Everything was woven so seamlessly. I need book three now!
- CAITLYN PRICE
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
WOW! What a captivating story. The last sentence of the book is spine-chilling- in a good way… I've always enjoyed Bethany's books and this is no exception. Brilliant twists, amazing writing, and what a great ending. Now I simply cannot wait to read the next book from the series. Must read!
- RUCHA PANTOJI
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I finished this book so fast, it was so entertaining. I like it so much more than the first one and I can not wait for the last book.
I have to read all her books.
- ABBY CARRERA
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I am loving seeing this side of Jezebel in The Queen's Rise series! While not required to enjoy this prequel series, having read The Stolen Kingdom series and seeing where she will end up gives a very unique perspective on this character. The little easter eggs throughout have been fun to catch and will give readers who have read that series a lot of great "ah-ha" moments. … I am also a complete sucker for fairytale retellings and this author knows how to weave in elements readers will recognize while not have it be overpowering. Overall, I am obsessed with this series and I cannot wait for book 3!
- KIRA ASSAD
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I really enjoyed this sequel! Bethany Atazadeh definitely did a great job building onto the tension from book 1!
The stakes were built up consistently, which kept me on the edge of my seat! The final few chapters were especially tense!
I also liked how there were little clues tucked here and there, subtle enough to be nothing, but distinct enough to pique my curiosity, until they were fully revealed! Very clever.
- SARAH RODECKER
When another shape-shifter breaks into the castle and threatens the royal family, the search for the intruder begins—and Jezebel fears they’ll catch her instead.
The castle is locked down until the danger is eliminated. Everyone is suspect. Still learning the ropes of the secretive Jinni court, the life she's worked so hard for is in jeopardy.
With the Jinni Guard on the hunt for this formidable shifter, it’s only a matter of time. Once they discover Jezebel’s shape-shifting Gift, her future with Prince Shem—and all her carefully formed plans—are over.
Jezebel must persuade the prince to buy her time, so she can track down this unknown shape-shifter before the Guard. If she fails, she’ll have no choice but to flee before the Guard discovers her hidden abilities and severs them immediately—a fate worse than death.
The Secret Shadow is the second book in The Queen’s Rise series, inspired by your favorite villains in Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Beauty and the Beast. Over a century before Queen Jezebel crosses paths with Arie, Rena, and Nesrin, she’s just an innocent Jinni girl… who was betrayed.
Reading order for THE QUEEN’S RISE series:
Book 1: The Secret Gift
Book 2: The Secret Shadow
Book 3: The Secret Curse
LINK TO BUY (on all vendors): https://books2read.com/thesecretshadow
ADD ON GOODREADS: The Secret Shadow
Can't wait to hear what you think of it!
<3 Bethany
January 24, 2023
COVER REVEAL for Book 2 in The Queen's Rise series: THE SECRET SHADOW!
GENRE: Young Adult Fantasy, Fairytale Inspired
RELEASE DATE: June 20, 2023
When another shape-shifter breaks into the castle and threatens the royal family, Jezebel's secrets are at risk of being exposed yet again.
Still learning the ropes of the secretive Jinni court, the life of power she's worked so hard for is put in jeopardy as the castle is locked down until the danger is eliminated.
With the Jinni Guard on the hunt for this formidable shifter, it’s only a matter of time before they catch Jezebel instead. If they do, her future with Prince Shem—and all her carefully formed plans—are over.
Jezebel must persuade the prince to buy her time, so she can track down this unknown shape-shifter before the Guard. If she fails, she’ll have no choice but to flee before the Guard discovers her hidden abilities and severs them immediately. Or worse.
The Secret Shadow is the second book in The Queen’s Rise series, inspired by your favorite villains in Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Beauty and the Beast. Over a century before Queen Jezebel crosses paths with Arie, Rena, and Nesrin, she’s just an innocent Jinni girl… who was betrayed.
Reading order for THE QUEEN’S RISE series:
Book 1: The Secret Gift
Book 2: The Secret Shadow
Book 3: The Secret Curse
Reading order for THE STOLEN KINGDOM companion series:
Book 1: The Stolen Kingdom
Book 2: The Jinni Key
Book 3: The Cursed Hunter
Book 4: The Enchanted Crown
PREORDER LINK (for all vendors): https://books2read.com/thesecretshadow
ADD ON GOODREADS: The Secret Shadow
What do you think of the new cover??
Book 2 in The Queen's Rise series continues Jezebel's story as she's drawn into the castle, hoping to find a place for herself, only to be threatened by another unknown shapeshifter who upends her entire existence and all her carefully laid plans...
Can't wait to hear what you think of it!
<3 Bethany
RELEASE DATE: June 20, 2023
When another shape-shifter breaks into the castle and threatens the royal family, Jezebel's secrets are at risk of being exposed yet again.
Still learning the ropes of the secretive Jinni court, the life of power she's worked so hard for is put in jeopardy as the castle is locked down until the danger is eliminated.
With the Jinni Guard on the hunt for this formidable shifter, it’s only a matter of time before they catch Jezebel instead. If they do, her future with Prince Shem—and all her carefully formed plans—are over.
Jezebel must persuade the prince to buy her time, so she can track down this unknown shape-shifter before the Guard. If she fails, she’ll have no choice but to flee before the Guard discovers her hidden abilities and severs them immediately. Or worse.
The Secret Shadow is the second book in The Queen’s Rise series, inspired by your favorite villains in Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Beauty and the Beast. Over a century before Queen Jezebel crosses paths with Arie, Rena, and Nesrin, she’s just an innocent Jinni girl… who was betrayed.
Reading order for THE QUEEN’S RISE series:
Book 1: The Secret Gift
Book 2: The Secret Shadow
Book 3: The Secret Curse
Reading order for THE STOLEN KINGDOM companion series:
Book 1: The Stolen Kingdom
Book 2: The Jinni Key
Book 3: The Cursed Hunter
Book 4: The Enchanted Crown
PREORDER LINK (for all vendors): https://books2read.com/thesecretshadow
ADD ON GOODREADS: The Secret Shadow
What do you think of the new cover??
Book 2 in The Queen's Rise series continues Jezebel's story as she's drawn into the castle, hoping to find a place for herself, only to be threatened by another unknown shapeshifter who upends her entire existence and all her carefully laid plans...
Can't wait to hear what you think of it!
<3 Bethany
December 4, 2022
Happy release day to The Secret Gift!
Happy release day to The Secret Gift! So excited for you to read this beauty!
Title:
Genre: YA Fantasy Fairytale Inspired
Series: Book 1 of 3 in The Queen’s Rise series
BUY THE SECRET GIFT:
https://books2read.com/thesecretgift
THE QUEEN’S RISE READING ORDER:
Book 1: The Secret Gift
Book 2: The Secret Shadow
Book 3: The Secret Curse
Grab your copy today! I can't wait to hear what you think!
<3 Bethany Atazadeh
Title:
Genre: YA Fantasy Fairytale Inspired
Series: Book 1 of 3 in The Queen’s Rise series
BUY THE SECRET GIFT:
https://books2read.com/thesecretgift
THE QUEEN’S RISE READING ORDER:
Book 1: The Secret Gift
Book 2: The Secret Shadow
Book 3: The Secret Curse
Grab your copy today! I can't wait to hear what you think!
<3 Bethany Atazadeh
September 9, 2022
COVER REVEAL for THE SECRET GIFT
GENRE: Young Adult Fantasy, Fairytale Inspired
RELEASE DATE: December 5th, 2022
WHAT IF THE EVIL QUEEN WAS INNOCENT… BEFORE SHE WAS BETRAYED?
In the realm of Jinn, enchantments and magical abilities are conceived and often exploited. At 17-years-old, Jezebel has developed a powerful shape-shifting Gift—and she’s determined to keep it a secret.
When her friends find a portal to the human world, she reluctantly follows. There, she’s tempted to embrace her Gift. After all, no one but the humans will see. Unfortunately, one of her friends witnesses her secret, and he won’t let it go. He pushes her to use her ability for his own selfish purposes, no matter the cost.
But when he crosses a line, Jezebel hits her breaking point. How far will his betrayal push her?
THE SECRET GIFT is the first book in THE QUEEN’S RISE series, inspired by your favorite villains in Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Beauty and the Beast. It’s a spin-off from The Stolen Kingdom Series, but can also be read on its own. Over a century before the evil Queen Jezebel crosses paths with Arie, Rena, and Nesrin, she’s just an innocent Jinni girl… who was betrayed.
PREORDER LINK: https://books2read.com/thesecretgift
ADD ON GOODREADS: The Secret Gift
What do you think of the new cover??
I'm obsessed with it and especially love the hint at "mirror mirror on the wall" since this is a fairy tale inspired story based on the evil queen in Snow White...
Can't wait to hear what you think of it!
<3 Bethany
RELEASE DATE: December 5th, 2022
WHAT IF THE EVIL QUEEN WAS INNOCENT… BEFORE SHE WAS BETRAYED?
In the realm of Jinn, enchantments and magical abilities are conceived and often exploited. At 17-years-old, Jezebel has developed a powerful shape-shifting Gift—and she’s determined to keep it a secret.
When her friends find a portal to the human world, she reluctantly follows. There, she’s tempted to embrace her Gift. After all, no one but the humans will see. Unfortunately, one of her friends witnesses her secret, and he won’t let it go. He pushes her to use her ability for his own selfish purposes, no matter the cost.
But when he crosses a line, Jezebel hits her breaking point. How far will his betrayal push her?
THE SECRET GIFT is the first book in THE QUEEN’S RISE series, inspired by your favorite villains in Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, and Beauty and the Beast. It’s a spin-off from The Stolen Kingdom Series, but can also be read on its own. Over a century before the evil Queen Jezebel crosses paths with Arie, Rena, and Nesrin, she’s just an innocent Jinni girl… who was betrayed.
PREORDER LINK: https://books2read.com/thesecretgift
ADD ON GOODREADS: The Secret Gift
What do you think of the new cover??
I'm obsessed with it and especially love the hint at "mirror mirror on the wall" since this is a fairy tale inspired story based on the evil queen in Snow White...
Can't wait to hear what you think of it!
<3 Bethany
September 7, 2021
An exclusive chapter for RELEASE DAY! 🥳 🎉
Ahhh it's release day for The Secret Gift!
THE SECRET GIFT is a villain origin story that can be read as a standalone, or before or after The Stolen Kingdom Series. Over a century before the evil Queen Jezebel crosses paths with Arie, Rena, and Nesrin, she’s just an innocent Jinni girl… who was betrayed.
I'm excited to share the FIRST CHAPTER with you below!
❤️
GET A COPY:
https://books2read.com/thesecretgift
ADD TO YOUR GOODREADS TBR:
The Secret Gift
FOLLOW THE AUTHOR:
Bethany Atazadeh
READ THE FIRST CHAPTER:
CHAPTER 1
“LET’S HOPE YOU NEVER develop that garbage Gift your mother had,” my father grumbled after his second cup of mead. He was getting an early start tonight. “That woman thought she could use me to hide her shifting? I’ll tell you what, in the end, I used her Gift to my advantage far more than she ever—” the rest was too muffled to hear, but it was no doubt the same litany of complaints I’d heard every night since I could remember.
He tossed his empty drink in my direction.
I didn’t bother to duck. The wooden cup bounced harmlessly across the stone floor only halfway across the room, dribbling liquid onto the surface that was now covered in stains.
“Jezebel. Another,” he mumbled, closing his eyes and burrowing deeper into his Lacklore-hide chair. He draped his arms over the bear-like paws, claws still sharp, and leaned back beneath the ox-like head where it was stuffed and set into the tall back of the chair.
Growing up, I used to whine that he could take care of himself. Without fail, he would point to his legs—those legs that started out like any other Jinni male, but transformed into the legs of a goat. Hoofs and all. A permanent gift from my mother. Or, in this case, a curse.
“Yes, father.” I lifted my chin and obeyed, bringing him a third full cup, setting it on the table beside him. My hand shook slightly. Straining against the desire to slam it down or scream at him, I kept my face serene, not revealing any hint of my feelings.
Sometimes I secretly wondered how my mother had stopped at the legs alone.
Our home was small. Only a few steps to get back to the sink, where I continued to slowly do the dishes. If I looked too idle, it’d encourage him to focus his bitter diatribe on me.
I stared out the kitchen window, past the faded blue curtains, at the street below where my few friends gathered. Asher waved when he saw me, but I couldn’t wave back without giving myself away. Pressing my lips together in a pained smile, though he was too far below to see, I wished I was with them.
Other Jinn my age had mentors after their discipline years ended. As their Gifts manifested between the ages of fifteen to twenty-two, someone with similar Gifts would take them on and train them in how to use them. How to be a lethal weapon or a benefactor or anything in-between.
I was only seventeen, so some would say I still had time.
My secret Gift was still fairly new. It’d manifested a few short months ago, after I’d finished my discipline years. Thankfully, no one else was aware. And I, for the most part, was too terrified to use it.
Still, I’d never have a mentor because no one could know my true Gifts. My mother had made that clear.
Just five years old when she’d left, I’d gripped her short skirts and wrapped myself around her tall sandaled legs.
“Please don’t leave, mama.”
“I have to, darling,” she’d said, ruthlessly prying me off of her before retying the laces and strapping on her ornamental breastplate. “When you have Gifts like mine, that’s all anyone can see. The royal family fears this Gift and wants to take control of my abilities, as your father did.” She stood. “I’m not going to let them.”
“But papa loves you,” I’d cried.
“He loves my Gift,” she’d snapped, bending down again to face me. “And I plan to break him of that.” Her grip on my shoulders hurt as she shook me slightly. “Always remember this: don’t share your Gifts with anyone, Jezebel. People will use them and use you. Better to keep them for yourself.” She’d stood, brushing off her hands as if brushing me off for the final time. “If I could go back in time, I’d keep mine a secret. Then we would see who truly loved me.”
If she would’ve known that I’d develop the same Gift as her years later, would she have stayed? Or better yet, would she have taken me with her? I still didn’t know the answer to that, but I’d never forgotten those words.
Part of me wanted to believe she was wrong. The burning question came back as it always did: if I showed my true self to someone, would it change how they saw me? Would they still love me?
My father certainly wouldn’t. He hadn’t been the same since she’d left.
“Your mother’s Gift was as useless as her,” he said now, sloshing his drink as he lifted himself out of the chair.
He set the cup down and made his way to the bed on the far side of the room, falling into it. He’d moved it out of his bedroom to eliminate unnecessary steps.
That was my cue to go to my own room for the night, though it wasn’t even dark out. Better to let him sleep it off than to make noise and risk waking him.
I dried my hands quickly, dimming the flickering ceiling lamp and pulling my door closed, when he muttered,
“She was ugly besides.”
Despite myself, I paused and looked back at him.
His cold eyes were on me, clear for once, aware of his cruelty. “You look just like her, Jezzie.”
My hands twitched, wanting to touch my long, black hair and my pale face. Lips too small and thin. Brows too thick. Nose too long. I knew it all by heart.
Instead, I let the door to my room close softly, refusing to give him the satisfaction. Though he didn’t realize it, I could easily change all of that. And someday, I would.
Someday, I promised myself I’d get away from him and find a place where I could be my true self. And I would never let anyone call me that name again.
The minutes passed slowly as I paced my tiny room, from one side of the small bed to the other, past my few possessions inside the dresser and the bare walls with peeling gray paint. Outside, the sun began to set.
Only when my father’s heavy snores pierced the air did I finally steal toward my window and crack it open.
Our cramped living quarters were located on the third floor of the acropolis that surrounded the capital.
Hundreds of Jinn lived in the little apartments above, below, and to the sides, as well as roamed the streets at any given time of day, so this was always a fear-inducing moment. It was far too high to jump, and the spells surrounding the acropolis prevented Jinn from traveling to the ground in a flash. Since there was no way I’d risk sneaking past my father, that left me with only one option.
I shifted as quickly as possible into a green lizard the size of my palm, glancing over my shoulder the whole time until it became green and scaly, along with my clothes, and basically ceased to exist. This form would be permanent until I chose to shift again.
Then, with those helpful sticky footpads, I crawled up the wall, out the window, and down the tall columns to my hidden corner near the acropolis’ main entrance. In the dark space where no one could see, I shifted back to myself—short white dress, sandals, gold arm bands, and all.
Being forced to keep my Gift to myself meant I didn’t always know exactly how it worked the way it did, but as far as I could tell, it was like molding clay and reshaping it into something new. I had to do it a little bit at a time, but as I got used to sculpting certain things, they came to me quicker. Such as returning to myself; that always snapped back into place.
All four of my friends stood in the shade of the acropolis, lounging by one of the passways. They all had ebony hair and pale, almost translucent skin with a hint of blue veins beneath like all Jinn, but that was where the similarities ended.
“Bel,” Asher called softly, his deep-red eyes flashing in excitement as I strode up to them. “We were starting to wonder if you were coming!”
I warmed to him and the nickname as always, to the whole different person I became with them, though I still kept my shifting a secret.
“You know I have to wait for old donkey-legs to fall asleep,” I retorted, but I let the corner of my mouth tip up a bit. Summer heat radiated off the dark-stone street, even now after the sun had set. “What’re we doing tonight?”
Besides Asher, our group was made up of three other adolescent Jinn: tiny Phillipa, whose strongest Gift let her sense when fruit was ripe, obnoxious Simon, whose main Gift allowed him to put himself and others to sleep, and the ill-tempered Miriam who—like Asher—couldn’t claim a single Gift. Not even the most common Gift of Traveling. Which meant I fit in with them perfectly. As far as they knew, traveling was my only Gift, and only short distances.
Other Jinn our age looked down on us; often they wouldn’t even acknowledge our presence, as was evidenced by a small group of former friends walking past right now who pretended we weren’t there. Our own parents saw us as a disappointment. Since we weren’t strong enough to be considered for the Jinni Guard, and most of us couldn’t even acquire a basic mentor, we were for the most part left to ourselves.
Until eventually, one by one, we’d be forced to take on some kind of menial labor.
“We can’t talk here,” Asher whispered, which immediately made me perk up. Secrets were Jinni bread and butter. It must be an especially good secret to worry that another Gifted one might overhear. “Take us to the usual place,” Asher commanded, holding out a hand.
Times like this, when his insecurities about being Gift-less made him sharp, I oddly liked him more. To be seen as powerless—well, I knew the feeling better than he realized.
So, I simply took his hand and traveled with him to the edge of the main island where the others had already landed.
When we glanced back at the enormous capital city of Resh we’d left behind, it looked like a miniature toy town in the distance, with the acropolis stretching protectively all around it. The castle rose above everything else in the center, glowing white in the moonlight.
Here at the edge of the island, clouds drifted past, close enough to reach out and touch. Somewhere far below, too distant to see from our elevation, was the human world. And there to the right, floating in and out of clouds, was Urim, one of the smaller Jinni islands. It was close enough that many Jinn could travel the distance between these particular islands without the use of the bridges.
Not the five of us, of course… but some.
Asher pulled his hand away as soon as we landed, and I tried not to let my disappointment show. He turned to the others who stood in a half-circle. Miriam was next to Simon, since he’d brought her. Her wrinkled forehead and crossed arms said she felt the same as Asher about their lack of abilities. Simon might’ve brought Phillipa too, I couldn’t tell; though she could travel on her own, she preferred to stick with one of us and fade into the background of our little group.
After a quick glance around, to where tall grasses swayed in the bright moonlight on one side and the island dropped off on the other, I whispered, “You have to tell us! I can’t stand the suspense!”
Asher’s pinched lips relaxed into a smile. Knowledge was a kind of power, after all. He waved for us to follow him into the trees. “Remember our discipline years, when they taught us what a Daleth was?”
“A portal to the human world,” Miriam snapped, though her expertise didn’t seem to make her feel better. She hated being out in nature. “What of it?”
“I found one.”
Simon immediately traveled in front of Asher to halt him in his tracks, though he’d only been two steps away. He liked to show off the meager skills he did have. “You’re making that up.”
“You wish,” Asher said with a grin, hitting Simon’s decorative silver breastplate as he stepped around him.
“Those don’t pop up one day out of nowhere,” Miriam said, swatting at bugs as she followed. “How would no one have found it before? I don’t think it’s really a portal at all, you’re just trying to trick us.”
“You’ll see.” Asher didn’t stop, grinning over his shoulder. “This one is nearly impossible to stumble onto. If I hadn’t tried to pick a specific herb right between two trees, I’d have missed it myself.”
The details made me start to believe him. My heartbeat sped up. We could use information like that as a way to curry favor with the royal family—maybe find a better profession at the castle than what we were destined for. Better yet, being introduced to such powerful Jinn could help me finally get away from my father completely.
Maybe it’d even produce an opportunity to meet the handsome Prince Shem. I glanced over at Miriam and Phillipa, wondering if they were thinking the same thing.
The royals were always looking for Daleths. For whatever reason, they liked to have control over them. Probably because an unguarded portal was asking for trouble when it came to adolescent Jinn like us.
At the smirk on Asher’s face, I sighed.
He’d chosen the trouble.
Leading us away from the edge of the island, on a curving path through the grass and the trees, he couldn’t stop talking. “I found it when I was looking for some star anise.” His cheeks blushed slightly blue. Since his natural-born Gifts were non-existent, he’d been determined to learn Jinni spells and enchantments instead. Though we all knew this, he changed the subject quickly. “Besides the Jinni Guard, no one we know has ever visited the human world.”
“Except for Master Yeshiva,” Miriam reminded him. All of our thoughts turned to the teacher we’d had briefly during our discipline years, right around the time we’d all met. He’d been banished to the human world for breaking one of the Three Unbreakable Laws: Never use a Gift to deceive, never use a Gift to steal, and never use a Gift to harm another. To this day, we still didn’t know which one he’d broken.
“Well, we don’t know anyone personally who’s ever come back,” Asher modified. “We’re going to be the first! We’ll see this human world with our own eyes, instead of hearing dull bedtime stories about it. Maybe we’ll even have a little fun with the humans themselves.”
He and Simon chuckled as each tried to hit the other’s breastplate first, making the showy armor clang loudly when Simon succeeded.
I shuddered at the thought of interacting with humans, exchanging tight-lipped glances with Miriam and Phillipa.
Humans were said to be slimy to the touch and terribly unsanitary. Not to mention their intelligence level was about the same as one of our mutton grazers. You couldn’t approach them in groups or you’d be more likely to be attacked than greeted.
We had a few humans living in the capital city of Resh, but it was rare, and usually only for a short time before someone with the Gift of Memories made them forget. They were usually employed by Jinn who thought they had a special talent or ability they needed. I couldn’t fathom it. What could a human do that a Jinni couldn’t?
Though the dangers of the human world didn’t appeal to me, I trailed along behind them anyway.
Asher drew up next to a seemingly empty space between two trees that gently arched toward each other. Other than that, there was nothing to indicate they were anything special. Gesturing to the bark on one, where some scratches created a poorly carved circle, he said, “I marked it so we can find it whenever we want.”
“But do we really want to go to the human world?” I finally spoke up, arching a brow at him.
“Everyone knows they’re inferior,” Miriam agreed, though coming from her it didn’t mean much. “I hardly see the point.”
Asher ignored her and stepped through the space between the trees. He disappeared.
“The point—” Simon mocked her “—is to have a little fun. But if you’re as scared as an actual human and want to stay behind, then we’ll see you when we get back.” With that, he followed Asher.
Unlike traveling, where the whole body vanished at once, the daleth seemed to almost eat his body, swallowing it in pieces.
Miriam shook her head at the empty space, while Phillipa glanced between us, and I rolled my eyes.
When Asher stuck his head back through unexpectedly, I was closest, and I couldn’t help myself—I squeaked.
He roared with laughter. Miriam shoved his head back through and followed, no doubt anxious to prove herself. Giving me a small shrug, Phillipa stepped through next.
Once again, I brought up the rear.
Throwing my head back, I took a deep breath, then pressed through the invisible portal to the human world. The tingle of magic on my skin as I passed through made me shiver.
In the dark, it surprised me how similar it appeared to home. Though the moon above was naturally smaller from this lower vantage point, the rest of the landscape wasn’t terrible. Wildflowers grew along the edge of the woods. A town on the hill ahead shone like a cheerful lamp, lights flickering in windows and laughter flooding out all the way to where we stood in the clearing.
Asher was already moving.
From the dark edges of the forest, we were still invisible to the humans, but there were at least a dozen of them ahead, hurrying in different directions like little ants on a mission.
“Wait for us,” I called softly, rushing to take his elbow and pressure him into waiting for the rest of us. Though I’d never made my feelings for him known, I liked to think I held some sway over him. He did slow a bit, even if he refused to stop altogether. I tugged harder to get his attention. “What exactly are you hoping to accomplish here?”
With a glance back at the others, he leaned in to whisper, “I’d like to talk to one.”
I frowned. A human? Why? Glancing up at his feverishly bright eyes, I could tell there’d be no arguing with him.
Still I tried. “We won’t blend in.” I waved toward Miriam, Phillipa, and myself with our short skirts and sandals that laced all the way up our bare calves, then at the village ahead. “The human women dress much more conservatively than the Jinn.”
Phillipa and Miriam nodded sagely, attempting to hide
their relief as they slowed to a stop.
“That’s fair. You can wait here, if you’d like,” Asher said over his shoulder, not pausing in his stride. I stuffed down my disappointment yet again. He could be stubborn when he was focused on something.
“We should probably make a plan first,” Simon tried, when I glanced over at him in desperation.
Finally, Asher stopped pressing forward. Turning to face us, he waved his hands wide. “Why must you all make everything so difficult? We’re just going to talk to them.”
“But what about the Unbreakable Laws?” Phillipa asked in her high, reedy voice.
“You think I somehow forgot about them?” Asher snapped, fists clenched at his sides. “We’re not going to use our Gifts to steal from anyone, deceive anyone, or harm anyone, because none of us has any real Gifts in the first place.”
The reminder dulled the pulsing excitement in the air for a moment. Technically, we all had more Gifts than him except for Miriam, but he was sensitive to that, so none of us mentioned it.
I pondered the advantages of the human world as I searched their faces. What if I didn’t even worry about talking to a human at all, but instead found a safe place to finally explore my Gift outside of the tiny boundaries of my bedroom at night? I flexed my fingers tentatively. What if I could test my limits? See what else I could do? The others never needed to know. The freedom that had always been out of my reach tempted me like a rare dessert.
“Fine,” I pulled away from the uneven circle toward the town. “We’ll all talk to a human. Meet back here by midnight.”
“Wait, Bel,” Asher hissed as he caught up to me. “I, uh, I kind of thought we’d all talk to a human together.”
“We can’t,” I said, ignoring the other’s nods and my own little thrill at him admitting he wanted me there—even if he did lump the others in too. “If we all show up in one place, it’ll be far too suspicious.”
Not to mention it’d ruin my half-formed plans. “We must each go alone. Avoid any crowds, only talk to a human if they’re on their own, and make sure you have an escape route if it goes poorly. Understand?”
“Who put you in charge?” Miriam muttered, but she didn’t seem to expect an answer, and I didn’t bother to give one. It felt good to lead for once.
[ END OF EXCERPT ]
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Happy reading!
❤️ Bethany
THE SECRET GIFT is a villain origin story that can be read as a standalone, or before or after The Stolen Kingdom Series. Over a century before the evil Queen Jezebel crosses paths with Arie, Rena, and Nesrin, she’s just an innocent Jinni girl… who was betrayed.
I'm excited to share the FIRST CHAPTER with you below!
❤️
GET A COPY:
https://books2read.com/thesecretgift
ADD TO YOUR GOODREADS TBR:
The Secret Gift
FOLLOW THE AUTHOR:
Bethany Atazadeh
READ THE FIRST CHAPTER:
CHAPTER 1
“LET’S HOPE YOU NEVER develop that garbage Gift your mother had,” my father grumbled after his second cup of mead. He was getting an early start tonight. “That woman thought she could use me to hide her shifting? I’ll tell you what, in the end, I used her Gift to my advantage far more than she ever—” the rest was too muffled to hear, but it was no doubt the same litany of complaints I’d heard every night since I could remember.
He tossed his empty drink in my direction.
I didn’t bother to duck. The wooden cup bounced harmlessly across the stone floor only halfway across the room, dribbling liquid onto the surface that was now covered in stains.
“Jezebel. Another,” he mumbled, closing his eyes and burrowing deeper into his Lacklore-hide chair. He draped his arms over the bear-like paws, claws still sharp, and leaned back beneath the ox-like head where it was stuffed and set into the tall back of the chair.
Growing up, I used to whine that he could take care of himself. Without fail, he would point to his legs—those legs that started out like any other Jinni male, but transformed into the legs of a goat. Hoofs and all. A permanent gift from my mother. Or, in this case, a curse.
“Yes, father.” I lifted my chin and obeyed, bringing him a third full cup, setting it on the table beside him. My hand shook slightly. Straining against the desire to slam it down or scream at him, I kept my face serene, not revealing any hint of my feelings.
Sometimes I secretly wondered how my mother had stopped at the legs alone.
Our home was small. Only a few steps to get back to the sink, where I continued to slowly do the dishes. If I looked too idle, it’d encourage him to focus his bitter diatribe on me.
I stared out the kitchen window, past the faded blue curtains, at the street below where my few friends gathered. Asher waved when he saw me, but I couldn’t wave back without giving myself away. Pressing my lips together in a pained smile, though he was too far below to see, I wished I was with them.
Other Jinn my age had mentors after their discipline years ended. As their Gifts manifested between the ages of fifteen to twenty-two, someone with similar Gifts would take them on and train them in how to use them. How to be a lethal weapon or a benefactor or anything in-between.
I was only seventeen, so some would say I still had time.
My secret Gift was still fairly new. It’d manifested a few short months ago, after I’d finished my discipline years. Thankfully, no one else was aware. And I, for the most part, was too terrified to use it.
Still, I’d never have a mentor because no one could know my true Gifts. My mother had made that clear.
Just five years old when she’d left, I’d gripped her short skirts and wrapped myself around her tall sandaled legs.
“Please don’t leave, mama.”
“I have to, darling,” she’d said, ruthlessly prying me off of her before retying the laces and strapping on her ornamental breastplate. “When you have Gifts like mine, that’s all anyone can see. The royal family fears this Gift and wants to take control of my abilities, as your father did.” She stood. “I’m not going to let them.”
“But papa loves you,” I’d cried.
“He loves my Gift,” she’d snapped, bending down again to face me. “And I plan to break him of that.” Her grip on my shoulders hurt as she shook me slightly. “Always remember this: don’t share your Gifts with anyone, Jezebel. People will use them and use you. Better to keep them for yourself.” She’d stood, brushing off her hands as if brushing me off for the final time. “If I could go back in time, I’d keep mine a secret. Then we would see who truly loved me.”
If she would’ve known that I’d develop the same Gift as her years later, would she have stayed? Or better yet, would she have taken me with her? I still didn’t know the answer to that, but I’d never forgotten those words.
Part of me wanted to believe she was wrong. The burning question came back as it always did: if I showed my true self to someone, would it change how they saw me? Would they still love me?
My father certainly wouldn’t. He hadn’t been the same since she’d left.
“Your mother’s Gift was as useless as her,” he said now, sloshing his drink as he lifted himself out of the chair.
He set the cup down and made his way to the bed on the far side of the room, falling into it. He’d moved it out of his bedroom to eliminate unnecessary steps.
That was my cue to go to my own room for the night, though it wasn’t even dark out. Better to let him sleep it off than to make noise and risk waking him.
I dried my hands quickly, dimming the flickering ceiling lamp and pulling my door closed, when he muttered,
“She was ugly besides.”
Despite myself, I paused and looked back at him.
His cold eyes were on me, clear for once, aware of his cruelty. “You look just like her, Jezzie.”
My hands twitched, wanting to touch my long, black hair and my pale face. Lips too small and thin. Brows too thick. Nose too long. I knew it all by heart.
Instead, I let the door to my room close softly, refusing to give him the satisfaction. Though he didn’t realize it, I could easily change all of that. And someday, I would.
Someday, I promised myself I’d get away from him and find a place where I could be my true self. And I would never let anyone call me that name again.
The minutes passed slowly as I paced my tiny room, from one side of the small bed to the other, past my few possessions inside the dresser and the bare walls with peeling gray paint. Outside, the sun began to set.
Only when my father’s heavy snores pierced the air did I finally steal toward my window and crack it open.
Our cramped living quarters were located on the third floor of the acropolis that surrounded the capital.
Hundreds of Jinn lived in the little apartments above, below, and to the sides, as well as roamed the streets at any given time of day, so this was always a fear-inducing moment. It was far too high to jump, and the spells surrounding the acropolis prevented Jinn from traveling to the ground in a flash. Since there was no way I’d risk sneaking past my father, that left me with only one option.
I shifted as quickly as possible into a green lizard the size of my palm, glancing over my shoulder the whole time until it became green and scaly, along with my clothes, and basically ceased to exist. This form would be permanent until I chose to shift again.
Then, with those helpful sticky footpads, I crawled up the wall, out the window, and down the tall columns to my hidden corner near the acropolis’ main entrance. In the dark space where no one could see, I shifted back to myself—short white dress, sandals, gold arm bands, and all.
Being forced to keep my Gift to myself meant I didn’t always know exactly how it worked the way it did, but as far as I could tell, it was like molding clay and reshaping it into something new. I had to do it a little bit at a time, but as I got used to sculpting certain things, they came to me quicker. Such as returning to myself; that always snapped back into place.
All four of my friends stood in the shade of the acropolis, lounging by one of the passways. They all had ebony hair and pale, almost translucent skin with a hint of blue veins beneath like all Jinn, but that was where the similarities ended.
“Bel,” Asher called softly, his deep-red eyes flashing in excitement as I strode up to them. “We were starting to wonder if you were coming!”
I warmed to him and the nickname as always, to the whole different person I became with them, though I still kept my shifting a secret.
“You know I have to wait for old donkey-legs to fall asleep,” I retorted, but I let the corner of my mouth tip up a bit. Summer heat radiated off the dark-stone street, even now after the sun had set. “What’re we doing tonight?”
Besides Asher, our group was made up of three other adolescent Jinn: tiny Phillipa, whose strongest Gift let her sense when fruit was ripe, obnoxious Simon, whose main Gift allowed him to put himself and others to sleep, and the ill-tempered Miriam who—like Asher—couldn’t claim a single Gift. Not even the most common Gift of Traveling. Which meant I fit in with them perfectly. As far as they knew, traveling was my only Gift, and only short distances.
Other Jinn our age looked down on us; often they wouldn’t even acknowledge our presence, as was evidenced by a small group of former friends walking past right now who pretended we weren’t there. Our own parents saw us as a disappointment. Since we weren’t strong enough to be considered for the Jinni Guard, and most of us couldn’t even acquire a basic mentor, we were for the most part left to ourselves.
Until eventually, one by one, we’d be forced to take on some kind of menial labor.
“We can’t talk here,” Asher whispered, which immediately made me perk up. Secrets were Jinni bread and butter. It must be an especially good secret to worry that another Gifted one might overhear. “Take us to the usual place,” Asher commanded, holding out a hand.
Times like this, when his insecurities about being Gift-less made him sharp, I oddly liked him more. To be seen as powerless—well, I knew the feeling better than he realized.
So, I simply took his hand and traveled with him to the edge of the main island where the others had already landed.
When we glanced back at the enormous capital city of Resh we’d left behind, it looked like a miniature toy town in the distance, with the acropolis stretching protectively all around it. The castle rose above everything else in the center, glowing white in the moonlight.
Here at the edge of the island, clouds drifted past, close enough to reach out and touch. Somewhere far below, too distant to see from our elevation, was the human world. And there to the right, floating in and out of clouds, was Urim, one of the smaller Jinni islands. It was close enough that many Jinn could travel the distance between these particular islands without the use of the bridges.
Not the five of us, of course… but some.
Asher pulled his hand away as soon as we landed, and I tried not to let my disappointment show. He turned to the others who stood in a half-circle. Miriam was next to Simon, since he’d brought her. Her wrinkled forehead and crossed arms said she felt the same as Asher about their lack of abilities. Simon might’ve brought Phillipa too, I couldn’t tell; though she could travel on her own, she preferred to stick with one of us and fade into the background of our little group.
After a quick glance around, to where tall grasses swayed in the bright moonlight on one side and the island dropped off on the other, I whispered, “You have to tell us! I can’t stand the suspense!”
Asher’s pinched lips relaxed into a smile. Knowledge was a kind of power, after all. He waved for us to follow him into the trees. “Remember our discipline years, when they taught us what a Daleth was?”
“A portal to the human world,” Miriam snapped, though her expertise didn’t seem to make her feel better. She hated being out in nature. “What of it?”
“I found one.”
Simon immediately traveled in front of Asher to halt him in his tracks, though he’d only been two steps away. He liked to show off the meager skills he did have. “You’re making that up.”
“You wish,” Asher said with a grin, hitting Simon’s decorative silver breastplate as he stepped around him.
“Those don’t pop up one day out of nowhere,” Miriam said, swatting at bugs as she followed. “How would no one have found it before? I don’t think it’s really a portal at all, you’re just trying to trick us.”
“You’ll see.” Asher didn’t stop, grinning over his shoulder. “This one is nearly impossible to stumble onto. If I hadn’t tried to pick a specific herb right between two trees, I’d have missed it myself.”
The details made me start to believe him. My heartbeat sped up. We could use information like that as a way to curry favor with the royal family—maybe find a better profession at the castle than what we were destined for. Better yet, being introduced to such powerful Jinn could help me finally get away from my father completely.
Maybe it’d even produce an opportunity to meet the handsome Prince Shem. I glanced over at Miriam and Phillipa, wondering if they were thinking the same thing.
The royals were always looking for Daleths. For whatever reason, they liked to have control over them. Probably because an unguarded portal was asking for trouble when it came to adolescent Jinn like us.
At the smirk on Asher’s face, I sighed.
He’d chosen the trouble.
Leading us away from the edge of the island, on a curving path through the grass and the trees, he couldn’t stop talking. “I found it when I was looking for some star anise.” His cheeks blushed slightly blue. Since his natural-born Gifts were non-existent, he’d been determined to learn Jinni spells and enchantments instead. Though we all knew this, he changed the subject quickly. “Besides the Jinni Guard, no one we know has ever visited the human world.”
“Except for Master Yeshiva,” Miriam reminded him. All of our thoughts turned to the teacher we’d had briefly during our discipline years, right around the time we’d all met. He’d been banished to the human world for breaking one of the Three Unbreakable Laws: Never use a Gift to deceive, never use a Gift to steal, and never use a Gift to harm another. To this day, we still didn’t know which one he’d broken.
“Well, we don’t know anyone personally who’s ever come back,” Asher modified. “We’re going to be the first! We’ll see this human world with our own eyes, instead of hearing dull bedtime stories about it. Maybe we’ll even have a little fun with the humans themselves.”
He and Simon chuckled as each tried to hit the other’s breastplate first, making the showy armor clang loudly when Simon succeeded.
I shuddered at the thought of interacting with humans, exchanging tight-lipped glances with Miriam and Phillipa.
Humans were said to be slimy to the touch and terribly unsanitary. Not to mention their intelligence level was about the same as one of our mutton grazers. You couldn’t approach them in groups or you’d be more likely to be attacked than greeted.
We had a few humans living in the capital city of Resh, but it was rare, and usually only for a short time before someone with the Gift of Memories made them forget. They were usually employed by Jinn who thought they had a special talent or ability they needed. I couldn’t fathom it. What could a human do that a Jinni couldn’t?
Though the dangers of the human world didn’t appeal to me, I trailed along behind them anyway.
Asher drew up next to a seemingly empty space between two trees that gently arched toward each other. Other than that, there was nothing to indicate they were anything special. Gesturing to the bark on one, where some scratches created a poorly carved circle, he said, “I marked it so we can find it whenever we want.”
“But do we really want to go to the human world?” I finally spoke up, arching a brow at him.
“Everyone knows they’re inferior,” Miriam agreed, though coming from her it didn’t mean much. “I hardly see the point.”
Asher ignored her and stepped through the space between the trees. He disappeared.
“The point—” Simon mocked her “—is to have a little fun. But if you’re as scared as an actual human and want to stay behind, then we’ll see you when we get back.” With that, he followed Asher.
Unlike traveling, where the whole body vanished at once, the daleth seemed to almost eat his body, swallowing it in pieces.
Miriam shook her head at the empty space, while Phillipa glanced between us, and I rolled my eyes.
When Asher stuck his head back through unexpectedly, I was closest, and I couldn’t help myself—I squeaked.
He roared with laughter. Miriam shoved his head back through and followed, no doubt anxious to prove herself. Giving me a small shrug, Phillipa stepped through next.
Once again, I brought up the rear.
Throwing my head back, I took a deep breath, then pressed through the invisible portal to the human world. The tingle of magic on my skin as I passed through made me shiver.
In the dark, it surprised me how similar it appeared to home. Though the moon above was naturally smaller from this lower vantage point, the rest of the landscape wasn’t terrible. Wildflowers grew along the edge of the woods. A town on the hill ahead shone like a cheerful lamp, lights flickering in windows and laughter flooding out all the way to where we stood in the clearing.
Asher was already moving.
From the dark edges of the forest, we were still invisible to the humans, but there were at least a dozen of them ahead, hurrying in different directions like little ants on a mission.
“Wait for us,” I called softly, rushing to take his elbow and pressure him into waiting for the rest of us. Though I’d never made my feelings for him known, I liked to think I held some sway over him. He did slow a bit, even if he refused to stop altogether. I tugged harder to get his attention. “What exactly are you hoping to accomplish here?”
With a glance back at the others, he leaned in to whisper, “I’d like to talk to one.”
I frowned. A human? Why? Glancing up at his feverishly bright eyes, I could tell there’d be no arguing with him.
Still I tried. “We won’t blend in.” I waved toward Miriam, Phillipa, and myself with our short skirts and sandals that laced all the way up our bare calves, then at the village ahead. “The human women dress much more conservatively than the Jinn.”
Phillipa and Miriam nodded sagely, attempting to hide
their relief as they slowed to a stop.
“That’s fair. You can wait here, if you’d like,” Asher said over his shoulder, not pausing in his stride. I stuffed down my disappointment yet again. He could be stubborn when he was focused on something.
“We should probably make a plan first,” Simon tried, when I glanced over at him in desperation.
Finally, Asher stopped pressing forward. Turning to face us, he waved his hands wide. “Why must you all make everything so difficult? We’re just going to talk to them.”
“But what about the Unbreakable Laws?” Phillipa asked in her high, reedy voice.
“You think I somehow forgot about them?” Asher snapped, fists clenched at his sides. “We’re not going to use our Gifts to steal from anyone, deceive anyone, or harm anyone, because none of us has any real Gifts in the first place.”
The reminder dulled the pulsing excitement in the air for a moment. Technically, we all had more Gifts than him except for Miriam, but he was sensitive to that, so none of us mentioned it.
I pondered the advantages of the human world as I searched their faces. What if I didn’t even worry about talking to a human at all, but instead found a safe place to finally explore my Gift outside of the tiny boundaries of my bedroom at night? I flexed my fingers tentatively. What if I could test my limits? See what else I could do? The others never needed to know. The freedom that had always been out of my reach tempted me like a rare dessert.
“Fine,” I pulled away from the uneven circle toward the town. “We’ll all talk to a human. Meet back here by midnight.”
“Wait, Bel,” Asher hissed as he caught up to me. “I, uh, I kind of thought we’d all talk to a human together.”
“We can’t,” I said, ignoring the other’s nods and my own little thrill at him admitting he wanted me there—even if he did lump the others in too. “If we all show up in one place, it’ll be far too suspicious.”
Not to mention it’d ruin my half-formed plans. “We must each go alone. Avoid any crowds, only talk to a human if they’re on their own, and make sure you have an escape route if it goes poorly. Understand?”
“Who put you in charge?” Miriam muttered, but she didn’t seem to expect an answer, and I didn’t bother to give one. It felt good to lead for once.
[ END OF EXCERPT ]
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❤️ Bethany
July 29, 2021
The Secret Gift COVER REVEAL!
Did you catch the COVER REVEAL for THE SECRET GIFT?
THE SECRET GIFT is a villain origin story that can be read as a standalone, or before or after The Stolen Kingdom Series. Over a century before the evil Queen Jezebel crosses paths with Arie, Rena, and Nesrin, she’s just an innocent Jinni girl… who was betrayed.
PREORDER (ebook only, paperback TBA):
https://books2read.com/thesecretgift
ADD TO YOUR GOODREADS TBR:
The Secret Gift
FOLLOW THE AUTHOR:
Bethany Atazadeh
Want to know more? CHECK OUT THE YOUTUBE COVER REVEAL VIDEO which includes 10 Fun Facts about THE SECRET GIFT here:
https://youtu.be/KI96pIehNHk
What do you think of the cover?! :D
THE SECRET GIFT is a villain origin story that can be read as a standalone, or before or after The Stolen Kingdom Series. Over a century before the evil Queen Jezebel crosses paths with Arie, Rena, and Nesrin, she’s just an innocent Jinni girl… who was betrayed.
PREORDER (ebook only, paperback TBA):
https://books2read.com/thesecretgift
ADD TO YOUR GOODREADS TBR:
The Secret Gift
FOLLOW THE AUTHOR:
Bethany Atazadeh
Want to know more? CHECK OUT THE YOUTUBE COVER REVEAL VIDEO which includes 10 Fun Facts about THE SECRET GIFT here:
https://youtu.be/KI96pIehNHk
What do you think of the cover?! :D
March 23, 2021
THE ENCHANTED CROWN is PUBLISHED!
Happy release day to The Enchanted Crown! So excited for you to read this beauty!
Title: The Enchanted Crown
Genre: YA Fantasy Retelling
Series: Book 4 of 4
BUY THE ENCHANTED CROWN:
https://books2read.com/theenchantedcrown
THE STOLEN KINGDOM SERIES READING ORDER:
Book 1: The Stolen Kingdom: An Aladdin retelling
Book 2: The Jinni Key: A Little Mermaid retelling
Book 3: The Cursed Hunter: A Beauty and the Beast retelling
Book 4: The Enchanted Crown: A Sleeping Beauty retelling
Grab your copy today! I can't wait to hear what you think!
<3 Bethany Atazadeh
*This is the last book in a four book series.*
Title: The Enchanted Crown
Genre: YA Fantasy Retelling
Series: Book 4 of 4
BUY THE ENCHANTED CROWN:
https://books2read.com/theenchantedcrown
THE STOLEN KINGDOM SERIES READING ORDER:
Book 1: The Stolen Kingdom: An Aladdin retelling
Book 2: The Jinni Key: A Little Mermaid retelling
Book 3: The Cursed Hunter: A Beauty and the Beast retelling
Book 4: The Enchanted Crown: A Sleeping Beauty retelling
Grab your copy today! I can't wait to hear what you think!
<3 Bethany Atazadeh
*This is the last book in a four book series.*
