Breath of Angel
Authors: Karyn Henley
Breath of Angel
“Karyn Henley spins a lyrical young-adult tale of mythical and legendary beings, of reimagined angels and terrifying malevolents, in a small kingdom where the world’s fate rests on a young priestess’s shoulders.”
—K
ATHY
T
YERS
, author of
Shivering World
and the Firebird series
“Karyn Henley’s novel starts with a jolt, grabs the reader by the collar, and doesn’t slow down one minute. This author infuses her text with imagery, suspense, and a cast that will appeal to all ages. In addition, it has a feeling that I can only describe as “folklorish,” with all the best elements that come with that—music, magic, and mystery. I think it’s destined to become a classic.”
—K
ATHI
A
PPELT
, author of
The Underneath
, National Book Award finalist, Newbery Honor Book, PEN USA Award
“This lusciously written fantasy has it all: epic battles, earthbound angels, immortal humans, and a bright, engaging heroine. Henley’s young priestess-turned-warrior is forced to put her past together like a jigsaw puzzle with pieces so sharp they cut. Her story is nearly impossible to forget, so readers will be eager for more!”
—L
OUISE
H
AWES
, author of
Black Pearls: a Faerie Strand
, AAUW Juvenile Literature Award nominee; Gold Award, Hall of Fame,
www.teensreadtoo.com
B
REATH OF
A
NGEL
P
UBLISHED BY
W
ATER
B
ROOK
P
RESS
12265 Oracle Boulevard, Suite 200
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80921
The characters and events in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to actual persons or events is coincidental.
eISBN: 978-0-307-73013-8
Copyright © 2011 by Karyn Henley
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Published in the United States by WaterBrook Multnomah, an imprint of the Crown
Publishing Group, a division of Random House Inc., New York.
W
ATER
B
ROOK
and its deer colophon are registered trademarks of Random House Inc.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Henley, Karyn.
Breath of angel / Karyn Henley. — 1st ed.
p. cm. — (The Angelaeon circle; bk. 1)
Summary: In a land of angels and humans, shape shifters and sylvans, warring brothers have destroyed the only portal to heaven, stranding tortured souls on earth, and only sixteen-year-old chantress Melaia—half angel and half human—can restore it.
[1. Angels—Fiction. 2. Fantasy.] I. Title.
PZ7.H3895Br 2011
[Fic] — dc22
2011000430
v3.1
With gratitude to my Vermont College
of Fine Arts friends and mentors
,
angels all
.
Camríthía
AST OF
C
HARACTERS
Benasin:
Advisor to the overlord of Navia.
Caepio:
Leader of an acting troupe that travels Camrithia.
Cilla:
Serving woman to the nobility at the palace in Qanreef.
Dandreij:
The firstborn son of legend, who ate a seed from the fruit of the Wisdom Tree and became immortal.
Dreia:
One of the Archae. Guardian of plant life, including the Wisdom Tree.
Dwin:
Fifteen-year-old brother of Trevin and aide to Lord Rejius.
Earthbearer:
One of the Archae. Guardian of ground and underground; also known as the Lord of the Under-Realm.
Esper:
A sylvan earth-angel. Wife of Noll.
Flametender:
One of the Archae. Guardian of fire.
Gerda:
Dwarf. Angelaeon. Wife of Gil.
Gil:
Dwarf. Angelaeon.
Hanamel (Hanni):
High priestess of the city of Navia.
Iona:
Fourteen-year-old novice priestess from Navia.
Jarrod:
Nephili. Priest in the city of Redcliff. Admitted to the ranks of Angelaeon as Exousia, a warrior and keeper of history.
Laetham:
King of Camrithia.
Livia:
A servant-messenger of the lower order of angels.
Melaia:
Sixteen-year-old priestess and chantress of the temple at Navia.
Noll:
A sylvan earth-angel. Steward of the Durenwoods.
Nuri:
Twelve-year-old novice priestess from Navia.
Paullus:
Tavern-keeper at the Full Sail in Qanreef. An angel not committed to Angelaeon or malevolents.
Peron:
Six-year-old novice priestess from Navia.
Pymbric (Pym):
Armsman to Main Undrian.
Rejius:
The king’s physician.
Seaspinner:
One of the Archae. Guardian of water.
Silas:
Overlord of the city of Navia.
Stalia:
Daughter of the Firstborn of legend. Became immortal after eating a seed from the fruit of the Wisdom Tree.
Trevin:
Twenty-year-old kingsman who serves Lord Rejius.
Undrian:
A comain of Camrithia. Commander of men-at-arms.
Windweaver:
One of the Archae. Guardian of wind.
Yareth:
Son of the overlord of Navia.
Zastra:
Queen mother of Camrithia.
HE
A
NGELAEON
FIRST SPHERE: The three highest ranks are not strictly angels but winged heavenly beings who serve in the presence of the Most High.
C
HERUBIM
Guard light and sound (music)
S
ERAPHIM
Personal servants of the Most High
O
PHANIM
Guard celestial travel
SECOND SPHERE:
K
URIOTES
Regulate duties of lower angels and govern worlds
A
RCHAE
Guardians of the world’s elements: wind, fire, water, plant life, and earth
T
HRONOS
Negotiators and justice-bearers
THIRD SPHERE:
E
XOUSIA
Warriors and keepers of history
A
RCHANGELS
Guardians of people groups; influential in politics and commerce
A
NGELS
Messengers
WORLD SPHERE:
N
EPHILI
The “clouded ones”; half-angel, half-human
S
YLVANS
Elflike earth-angels; inhabit forests and woodlands
W
INDWINGS
Winged horses