Fantasies and Folklore
Stripped Away
In a realm ruled by tyranny, two sisters hold the key to freedom.
The usurper king's thirst for power knows no bounds. Crown and kingdom are not enough; he craves magic, a force only women possess. For years he has tightened his grip, stripping women of their rights and denying them access to their elemental powers through the profane ritual known as the Quickening.
Twins, Kennara and Kellesha, are blessed - or cursed - with these innate magical abilities and have been living in hiding for five harrowing years, concealing their gifts while studying under the protection of a sun-dappled university town. Their peaceful existence shatters when the king's envoys, accompanied by a mysterious scryer, descend upon the town.
Fear grips them, prompting a swift departure. Now, the twins find themselves on the run, joined by Eljin and Cas, friends whose motives remain veiled.
As destinies entwine, the group grapples with a choice that could reshape their world. Is it time to challenge the oppressive order they've known, or should they persist in the shadows, evading the relentless pursuit of the usurper king's Quickenings?
In a narrative woven with trust, romance, and the essence of choice, Stephanie K. Clemens' romantic high fantasy delves into the dynamics of twinhood, the bonds of found family, and a woman's right to wield her own magic.
Cursed by Bandits
Lady by day Bandit by Night
For six years Lady Rowan of Lockersley looked forward to the day she'd return home to the picturesque village of her childhood.
But when she and her friend, Lady Jane, rode into the village, what they saw was anything but picturesque. Not only had the village fallen into poverty but Rowan learned that her beloved father, Laird of Lockersley was dead.
With the help from her band of friends, Rowan devises a plan to take back the money her uncle stole through excessive taxes on the villagers under the dark of night and act the perfect lady by day.
That is until her uncle announces that she is to wed the victor of a tournament held in her honor.
Rowan knew she would marry but believed it would be her choice̶—marry for love or duty—not as a trophy given to a stranger.
Rowan knows she belongs with her merry band of bandits, especially the one who stole her heart. But can she keep her secrets hidden from her uncle long enough to save her village and her future?
Can she save her people before she's handed off as a prize? Will her heart lead her to duty or to the arms of her fellow bandit? And when masks fall away, which Rowan will remain—the lady or the outlaw?