THE FIRST BOOK IN THE EPIC FANTASY SERIES CARTHARIA In this first installment in the epic fantasy series Cartharia, Spencer Reaves McCoy introduces us to a fantasy world collapsing under an iron fist. The Warriors of Valishna takes us on an adventure following a small resistance armed with the coldest steel and the strongest magic. The Black King, Richard Sullivan has declared war on the Kingdom of Arinford: the first war in centuries. He has shown the world his strength by destroying Valishna, killing thousands of people and razing the Arinford city to the ground. He rules a much larger kingdom and the military he commands grows daily with fanatical supporters. Matilyn Malevus stands at the heart of the Arinford Guard. Her ability to use magic awards her a position of prestige and power in the small, but powerful band of survivors who escape the fall of Valishna. When she marches to war, she leaves behind a grief-stricken girlfriend and an ailing father. With her best friend at her side, she must cope with wavering beliefs, the strain of separation from those she cares about, and the ever increasing responsibilities of command. "I need you to have the wind manipulators make a funnel directly above the gate," Matilyn said, trying to catch her breath. "I don't think that's going to knock them off," Sean said. "Their armor is just too heavy." "That's not what I'm going after," Matilyn said. "Just have them create and hold the funnel." The manipulators began to contort the winds, following the orders. Sean looked momentarily confused, but his eyes widened when he saw the fire manipulators begin shooting flames into the funnel. The inferno climbed higher and higher, faster and faster, and soon a large flame engulfed the top of the ramparts. For a few seconds, the guards seemed unaffected by the firestorm. Matilyn was worried their armor provided too much protection for this plan to work, or that the protectors were somehow able to keep them from harm. It was only after that moment of doubt that she noticed several of the guards' armor turning a cherry red. The wind manipulators didn't have to throw them off the ramparts. Many of the guards handled that themselves. THE WARRIORS OF VALISHNA, the first volume of the six-book Cartharia series, is a story about the brutality of war and the pristine power of magic. It is a story about the intricacies of politics and the depth of deception. It is a story about the struggles of romance and about the deepest of betrayals. It is the story about the Greater Good... and the need for revenge.