Updates on The Guardians of Souls; The Soul Quest Trilogy, Book #2

UPDATE: The Guardians of Souls Blog tour is slated for August 25 - 31, 2011. I am now searching for reviewers. I will provide a free digital copy for the review (ARC). Please email me if you are interested.
amj@columbus.k12.nc.us

This will be the cover for book two in The Soul Quest Trilogy, The Guardians of Souls. I anticipate finalizing the manuscript and publishing it by August. Cross your fingers! In this post I am including the cover art, a synopsis and the first chapter as a teaser. I hope you enjoy it and look forward to the August release.

The Guardians of Souls Synopsis
Liv, Laith, Brayan and Meena are back with a mission and a militia for justice. The four human Oracles join forces with their Spirit counter parts in Arcadia to form The Guardians of Souls. Shy has fled to Los Angeles to escape the consequences of Melissa and Jesse’s deaths and Hala, the Great Spirit, has reason to believe he is not alone. Neither the Spirits in Arcadia or the NYPD in New York City has turned up any trace of Shy since his disappearance after the tragic events played out on Valentine’s Day.
Liv and her companions of Spirit find themselves torn between the human world and Arcadia once more. Their duty as human Oracles continuously interferes and threatens the stability and safety of their friendships and romantic lives.
Get ready for all hell to break loose as Liv and her friends set out on a quest to hunt down Shy and finish him for good. This time the Spirit world means business when they find Shy playing up to his usual tricks. The odds are against Shy this time around but this may not pan out to be such a lucky break for the human Oracles. Could it be that Shy isn’t their worst enemy after all? Is Earth once again safe from the perils of Daevas and Aengels? Are Liv’s human friends safe or will they be baited and harmed again? Only the Spirits know…

The Guardians of Souls Sample Chapter

Chapter One
Liv
Time – July 3, 2015
Place – Liv's house
Queens, New York

“Forgiveness is a virtue of the brave.”

- Indira Gandhi

Liv

It’s been almost one month since I spoke to Jedd. The last four months of school were not easy to say the least. It had been awkward for everyone knowing that Jedd knew about the Spirit world. Brayan was fine with it but Meena was furious and Laith was worried.
“How could you do this, Liv?” Meena demanded. “It isn't logical to let him be a part of our world. It increases the danger for both him and us. Do I have to remind you about what happened to Melissa?” she scolded.
Laith looked at the floor.
“I'm sorry, Laith... but it's true” she apologized to Laith.
“That isn't fair. Shy told Melissa about the Spirit world, not us. Besides, Laith said Jedd had already clued in on his own for the most part.” Brayan defended me.
“They aren't supposed to know about us. It is too much for them.” Meena insisted.
“I agree, it is too much for the average human but Jedd is different. He has a special gift and he wants to help.” I said. “And I think we should allow him to... with in reason.” I argued further.
“He will become a liability.” Meena disagreed. “I can't believe you are backing her up on this.” she accused Brayan.
“As long as Jedd is only functioning in the observatory sense and he isn't directly in the line of fire... well, an extra spiriter is an asset we can't take for granted. It's been over four months since Shy disappeared and no one here or in Arcadia is any closer to locating him.” Brayan reasoned.
“Liv? I think you should tell Jedd to stay out of this.” Laith said.
He looked so sad. Losing Melissa changed him. He had lost some of his bravery and macho. He wasn't Laith anymore.
“Finally, someone with some sense…” Meena snapped at me.
“Don't be mean, Meena!” Laith complained.
He was quiet for a moment before he finally lifted his head to look me in the eyes.
“I mean it, Liv. I think it's a mistake. I think it's not safe for Jedd or us. Please, will you just think about it some more?” Laith's eyes were pleading.
I felt my head nodding in agreement.
“I promise Laith. I will think about it.” I finally surrendered. I hated to cause him any more pain.
So it went like that for the four of us for a while. Brayan and I defended Jedd's knowledge and involvement in our world while Meena and Laith refused to accept it. We never spoke about our differences in front of Jedd but I knew he sensed it. He can see auras and feel allures. He sensed Meena and Laith's anxiety about him as much as he sensed mine and Brayan's trust in him. Meena and Laith were not alone in their anxiety toward Jedd. Beau and Naomi were fiercely against the idea of involving a human in our matters. Kevin and Belinda remained neutral. In the end Hala sided with Brayan and me. For now at least, Jedd was in the loop. Not that it mattered.
Jedd isn't even speaking to me right now. At the end of the school year we had another one of our big blow outs. It was the same scenario. He wants to fight on the front lines and I want him stay in the background.
“Why can't I go with you?” Jedd had demanded on the last day of school.
My companions and I had conveniently provided ourselves with an alibi for the summer. We told Amber, Ray, Jedd and Drue that we were going to summer camp and we would be gone sporadically as a result. Jedd knew what was up. He knew Hala had plans for us to search for Shy this summer, where ever that may lead us.
“Jedd, you can't even go to Arcadia. Only Spirits can go to the Spirit world. Duh!” I said frustrated.
“I can still be a part of your search party when you're here on Earth.” he argued.
“No... you... can't.” I said emphasizing each word. We had been over this one million times. “We made a deal, Jedd.” I said. “You are supposed to stay behind the scenes where it is safe.” I reiterated.
“No, you made a deal... not me. I never agreed to those terms.” he said.
“It is more than just a deal between you and me, Jedd. It is a deal between you, me and Arcadia.” I clarified.
He didn't know about the concession that had been made about his knowledge of the Spirit world.
“What?” he wondered over my words.
He was clueless. I sighed. I had not wanted to get into this with him. I knew the conversation would end badly.
“Jedd, the Spirit world is OK with your knowledge of its existence as long as you stay out of harms way. That means you stay in the background.” I explained. The look on his face was incredulous. As the meaning of my words began to register so did his heartbreak. “Jedd, please understand. Please don't be upset. We just want you to be safe.” I tried to ease his pain but my words only seemed to inflict more.
“We... I used to be included in there somewhere, but not anymore.” he said looking away from me.
I knew what he meant. I was breaking my promise to him. I had promised him that nothing would ever come between us. Now, I realized it was a promise I was not of authority to make.
“I'm sorry, Jedd. Please forgive me.” I had begged him.
That was the last time we spoke. He has since refused to return my phone calls, emails and text messages. I am not forgiven.

I am also working on a Prequel to The Soul Quest Trilogy titled, Soulless; The Story of Shayan. It will be a novella that demonstrates Shayan's downfall from the Spirit world and transition into darkness. I hope to finalize and publish this manuscript by late fall.

Check out the cover art for Soulless!


What do you think? I would love to hear your thoughts!