Fantasy Novel Features Epic Battle Between Two Very Different Groups of Humans
Steven Maus' imaginative debut novel "Branchwater" introduces a richly detailed world, filled with free and captive humans, an evil council known as the Anahalmist, and Mantliks, a guardian race created by humans for protection from hostility.
Chandler, AZ (PRWEB) February 11, 2008 -- In the land of Branchwater, on the continent of Esrael, humans and their created guardians, Mantliks, have lived peacefully together for 700 years. Their centuries-old serenity is suddenly shattered one morning when they awake to find an invading army outside their castle town. The epic battle and heroic acts of camaraderie that follow are detailed with breathtaking finesse in Steven Maus' debut fantasy novel "Branchwater" (ISBN 9780595451913, iUniverse, 2007).
The humans of "Branchwater" were given by God the power to create life shortly after they landed on Esrael, a continent filled with a hostile race of underground creatures. To protect themselves, the humans created Mantliks, an alternate race of people who willingly guard them; eager to repay the debt they own the humans for their lives.
However, nearly 600 years ago, when the power-hungry Anahalmist banished the humans to Esrael, they kept a group of humans captive, and though they were never able to create life, they are able to cheat death. It is this group of 600-year-old humans that invades Branchwater on the Anahalmist's orders, prepared and willing to fight their own descendents to the death.
One of the most important characters in "Branchwater" is a young Mantlik girl named Desirae. Shunned by her mother for her exuberant personality and short stature, Desirae is drawn to her Aunt Greta, a 600-year-old, formidable Mantlik warrior. When the siege begins, the children hide deep inside the castle walls, and young Desirae finds herself wandering inside the basement. Here she stumbles across a powerfully potent secret, something magical that only she can access.
Desirae must take advantage of an unexpected alliance and use her power wisely if her race and their human dependents are to survive. For unbeknownst to all others, Desirae's secret discovery has the strength to bring either glorious salvation or tremendous destruction to "Branchwater."
About the Author
Steven Maus resides in Chandler, Ariz. He wrote "Branchwater" at the impressive young age of 20, before he started attending college. He is now a student at Chandler-Gilbert Community College in Arizona, and urges young writers to go to school: "If you don't go to school and learn about writing and storytelling, you're cheating yourself big time," he says. Maus is now hard at work on his second book, "Madeline City," and has plans for a sequel to "Branchwater" in the near future.
"Branchwater" (ISBN 9780595451913, iUniverse, 2007) can be purchased through local and online bookstores. For more information, visit www.humansandmantliks.com. Publicity contact: www.readerviews.com. Review copies available upon request.
###
|
