The only bad dreams are those not worth chasing.
TheMikeReynolds.com
  • Home
  • Bookshelf
    • Lake of Dragons >
      • Kill the Dragon >
        • About Kill the Dragon
      • Kallum's Fury >
        • About Kallum's Fury
      • Kill the Gods >
        • About Kill the Gods
      • The Forgotten One
    • Hell and the Hunger >
      • About Hell and the Hunger
      • The Players
    • Stiletto Rose >
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 1
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 2
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 3
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 4
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 5
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 6
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 7
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 8
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 9
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 10
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 11
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 12
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 13
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 14
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 15
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 16
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 17
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 18
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 19
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 20
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 21
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 22
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 23
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 24
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 25
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 26
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 27
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 28
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 29
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 30
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 31
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 32
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 33
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 34
      • Stiletto Rose - Chapter 35
  • About Mike
  • Musings - Mike's Blog
  • Old News - The Archives
  • Contact Mike
  • Mike's Reviews
    • Review - The Fine Line
    • Review - Rising Tide: Dark Innocence
    • Review - The Apocalypse Begins
    • Review - Superhighway
    • Review - Morium
    • Review - Wren
    • Review - Saving Wihe
    • Review - Black Easter

Kill the Dragon Cover Reveal

5/1/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Title: Kill the Dragon
Series: Lake of Dragons Series #1
By: E. Michael Mettille
Publication Date: May 15, 2021
Publisher: TMR Books
Cover Design: Mayhem Cover Creations
Genre: Epic Fantasy
Picture
Maelich has trained as a warrior under the strict tutelage of Ymitoth since he was old enough to lift a sword. This training is all he has known his entire life. At the end of his twelfth summer, everything changes. Attacked by nightmare creatures from the darkest places of man’s imagination, Maelich is left abandoned and confused.

With no one left to guide him, the young warrior embarks alone on his journey to find truth. Along the way, he learns of a prophecy in which he is the savior who slays the last dragon and frees Ouloos from the terror that great power represents. Not all he encounters believe in the prophecy. There are those who would see him ride the dragon against the god he has worshipped his entire life. Blasphemy.
​
Before reaching the goal of his quest, the terrifying dragon who wields the greatest power on Ouloos, he will come to question everything he has ever believed. What is truth? He must find the answer to that question in his own heart and decide which path is his.
Picture
CHAPTER 1
CHILDHOOD'S END

Maelich leaned against the mighty oak crowning Keller’s Hill. The spot was a favorite of his, a place to ponder both days gone by and days yet to come. This particular occasion was similar to most. After a full day of rigorous training his mind often had a tendency to chase concepts rather than relive memories or form new ideas. Of all the concepts he mulled over while leaning against the rough bark of the great oak, mother earned the lion’s share of his attention. Of course, he knew what the concept meant. He simply had no experience with one. His died shortly after he was born. All he had were stories, and they were vague at best. There was something about a young woman and a great power. None of it was anything tangible. Nothing more than loose concepts and generic ideals.

“Hey there, lad,” Ymitoth’s voice shattered the quiet. “It be time for your feeding.”

Maelich waved his response, collected himself, and tromped on down the hill. Pink clouds caught his attention, painted by the sun setting behind him. He must have lost track of the hour. His stomach grumbled loudly as if to confirm the idea. He quickened his pace down the hill.

Admiration swept through Maelich as Ymitoth glanced back at him. His stern mentor looked like he had jumped right off a painting Maelich had seen once. It was an image of valiant men standing tall against a horrible dragon. Ymitoth could easily stand among heroic men like that. He was massive, a half-head taller than most and broad about the shoulders. The wind caught hold of his hair. It danced about the breeze glinting like rusty gold in the failing light of the setting sun. He was every bit the hero in Maelich’s eyes. There wasn’t a man who stood mightier.

Then something about Ymitoth’s expression changed. It was odd and unfamiliar. It resembled a smile the way it parted his beard from his mustache and plumped his cheeks out, but it didn’t quite fit, like a dwarf seated on a giant’s throne. Normally the sharp lines of his face looked like something that could cut stone. Accompanying the strange smile-like thing twisting up his beard was an uncustomary wave. The warrior almost looked…happy.

Maelich grinned and quickened his pace all the more. He puzzled only briefly over Ymitoth’s odd behavior as he worked to catch up to the man he had grown to know as father. There was a concept far more readily available to him. Ymitoth had always been very clear about the fact he and Maelich shared no blood. However, as far as Maelich could tell, his teacher, mentor, and trainer accepted him as a son. And, of course, Maelich loved and admired Ymitoth as he imagined any lad would love and admire the one teaching him to be a man. Ymitoth wasn’t one to fall victim to bouts of affection and show anything which might be construed as weakness. There were times, though, times when the rough and tough would crack just enough for Maelich to catch a hint that Ymitoth cared for him. The odd smile combined with the awkward wave equaled one of those times. Those brief moments were enough for Maelich. They had to be.

Every day was the same for him. Rise with the sun, take in the morning feeding, run the pastures with Ymitoth—who seemed to get slower as Maelich grew—and then bathe in Yester’s Pond. All those things were considered by Ymitoth to be, “the warm-up.” After the warm-up came sword training. Sword training always seemed to last forever. By the time it was finished he could barely lift his sword. He didn’t mind too much as he was but a lad of twelve summers and already close to being Ymitoth’s equal. The fact made him feel powerful. Stories of his master’s conquests spread as far as Maelich had ever been.

After sword training was complete it would be time for the midday feast, the nucleus of the day. Every other activity was planned around it, even the short nap that followed. Maelich’s workday ended with his book lessons, when he learned about how the world came to be and how to make your way through, “The great journey of life,” as Ymitoth called it. Once all his daily tasks were complete, Maelich was allowed a bit of time to himself before the evening feeding, which brings us back to where we began.

Picture
Picture
Amazon US: ​https://bit.ly/KFKindleUS
Amazon UK: https://bit.ly/KDFKindleUK
Amazon CA: http://bit.ly/KTFKindleCA
Picture
Amazon US: bit.ly/KTGKindleUS
​
Amazon UK: bit.ly/KTGKindleUK
​
Amazon CA: bit.ly/KGKindleCA
Picture
E. Michael Mettille is the author of Kill the Dragon (Lake of Dragons Book 1), Kallum’s Fury (Lake of Dragons Book 2), Kill the Gods (Lake of Dragons Book 3), and Hell and the Hunger (as Mike Reynolds). He has also written numerous short stories and poems. Mike has spent the last twenty years in direct marketing, print, and communication. He is fascinated by history, belief systems, the human condition and how all of those things work together to define who we are as a people. The world is a wonder and, based on the history of us, it is a wonder we have a world left to wonder about. Mike lives in Milwaukee, WI with his wife, Shelia.

​
Social Media Links
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/themikereynolds
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8344778.Mike_Reynolds
Twitter: @MikeReynoldsAut
Website: www.themikereynolds.com
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Me

    This is my playground...the place where I let all the weird stuff in my head come out.

    Archives

    December 2022
    November 2022
    November 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    May 2019
    September 2016
    August 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014

    Categories

    All
    About The Author Interviews With Storytellers
    About The Author - Interviews With Storytellers
    Free Reading
    Random Thoughts
    Stiletto Rose
    The Witch In My Head
    Updates From The Lake

    RSS Feed

Copyright ©2020 Mike Reynolds, All Rights Reserved