If you are a fan of my Elemental Witches or Dark Magick paranormal romance series, or are familiar with any of my erotic romances like The Chosen Sin, Jeweled, or Jaded, you will find Raven’s Quest to be a much different kind of story. Raven’s Quest was one of the first books I ever wrote and it’s a pure fantasy romance, weaving an enduring tale of love through a world rich with magic.
I wrote this novel right after the 9/11 attacks on the Pentagon and the World Trade Center. At that point in my life, I’d given up on my writing. Then my husband and I ended up trapped in Europe for an extra week because of the attacks. We were on one of the first passenger planes allowed back into U.S. airspace. On the flight home, I thought a lot about the people who’d been on those hijacked planes and how fast their lives had ended. I wondered why I wasn’t doing the one thing in my life I loved the most. Because I feared failure? What a stupid reason!
How much would the people on those planes give for a second chance to follow their dreams?
I came home and began work on Raven’s Quest right away. Since then I’ve written over forty other works, but Raven’s Quest still claims a very special place in my heart.
If you’re in need of a hero in your life, you might escape for a while with Lucan. The fourth son of a great king, he never expected—or wanted—to rule, but when his uncle kills Lucan’s family and takes the throne for himself, Lucan has no choice but to form a rebellion and force his unjust uncle from the throne.
Branna is a woman of magic and mystery who comes from a country far away. When she meets Lucan she knows he’s special in more ways than one. Strong and compassionate, Branna is willing to sacrifice her life for the good of her people, but the longer she knows Lucan, the harder leaving him becomes….
I had so much fun writing Branna and Lucan, building their magical world and guiding them both toward love. I hope you will enjoy reading their story as much as I enjoyed writing it.
Praise for Raven’s Quest
“RAVEN’S QUEST is a story of revenge, need, forgiveness and redemption…. Overall, (this novel) is a quest for more than just magic. It’s for the soul.”—Four Blue Ribbons, Romance Junkies
“Once again Ms Bast has developed a world that is incredibly detailed and rich with life…. I highly recommend this story to anyone who likes fantasy books.”– Top Pick from Nightowl Romance Reviews
“… a brilliant and enchanting tale of destiny, love, and sacrifice with twists and turns along the way. I couldn’t put it down…definitely a five-star read!” –FRESH FICTION
“…good world-building…intriguing….” – Romantic Times BookCLUB
Excerpt from Raven’s Quest….
Branna knelt by the alhorn plant she’d found. The cool, verdant strength of Terrestra’s energy spiraled up from the ground. She held out her hand, palm down, and savored the gift of power. A breeze stirred the fine hairs around her face. She sank back on her heels and closed her eyes.
She stayed that way, eyes closed, head bowed, for several long moments and allowed the power to wash over her and calm her. Fiall grew near. The distinctive pattern he made in the Universal Fabric pulsed through her as he came closer.
They had traveled slowly and cautiously all morning because of the Valorian in the area. Now they’d stopped in a clearing to let the horse drink from a stream and give themselves a rest. They’d both been quiet, each lost to their own thoughts.
Opening her eyes, she unsheathed her athame, and cut a bit of the plant. Alhorn was a good healing plant to use when magic was not an option.
When she stood, she found Lucan’s star-stone gaze on her. His blue-gray eyes were filled with a heat that had little to do with the warm midday sun that shone down on them. Every muscle in his body seemed to be attuned to her in that moment. She returned his gaze steadily, not wanting him to see how much he disturbed her.
Her examination of his memories had shown he was of no threat to her, and he seemed pleasant enough, and unquestionably in control. But beyond all that, deep within him, there was a kind of ferity. Branna wondered if it was related to the pain she’d felt within him yesterday. She could glean nothing from him emotionally. This man had learned long ago to control his feelings.
All she knew was that, Goddess, the man made her uncomfortable.
He walked toward her, and her hand tightened on the grip of her athame. He reached out. She looked at his upturned hand, not understanding what he wanted.
“Give me the herb,” he said.
She opened her hand to him. He placed his hand over hers, and she felt his heat, his essential body’s energy radiate from him and warm her skin. He placed his fingertips at her wrist and ran them down the length of her palm, catching the small bits of herb as he went. Tingles rippled through her hand and up her arm at his touch. A current of reaction passed from him to her and sent a jolt straight up her spine.
She tore her hand away. The rest of the alhorn fell to the ground. Lucan grasped the remaining herb and regarded her without a word. It was as if he tried to make her uncomfortable. Anger flared within her.
He turned and went to the horse’s saddlebags. “I’ll keep the herb in here until we arrive at Kern.”
That he’d given up that bit of information piqued her interest enough that she forgot her anger. She sheathed her athame. “Kern? Is that the safe place you talked of earlier?”
“It is.” He deposited the herb and drew up the lacings of the saddlebag, then turned to her. “Is it true the high priestess of Tir na Ban is called Raven and is chosen by a bird of the same name when she is but a babe?” Raw curiosity showed in his eyes.
“Yes, it’s true. The raven is the messenger of the Goddess. When the old high priestess has lived her life fully and reaches a certain age, or if a young high priestess is to be called to Vallon unexpectedly, a raven will alight upon the cradle of a newborn girl.”
He shook his head. “Solan, the far-bloods have always amazed me.”
The people of Tir na Ban and Ileria were often referred to as the “far-bloods.” It was believed a race that originally came from the stars had seeded the two magical peoples.
“It is in that way that the Goddess makes it known which one will follow in the footsteps of the older.” Branna sighed wearily. “It has always been so and shall always be so, even if Magnus kills us down to our last two women,” she finished. She knew sadness had crept into her voice, but she couldn’t help it.
