So, here it is, the much-awaited cover for Light's Bane, the second book in the Daughters of the People series. Yesterday, the cover went on a mini-tour around the web, but today is just for my readers.
When I first conceived of the Daughters of the People series, I had no idea which characters would carry the story forward, except for the seventh and final book. As the stories began to unfold, a pattern became clear, one I hope readers will be able to identify before the series ends.
But that's a story for another day. Today is reserved for discussing Light's Bane and its main characters, Dani Nehring and Dave Winstead. If you haven't guessed already, that's Dave on the cover. Some readers might remember his chest (hubba, hubba) from The Prophecy, which is where Dani and Dave's story really begins.
The synopsis:
Daniella Nehring is a fierce warrior with a turbulent past. Born in the earliest days of World War II to unknown parents, she was raised by Rebecca Upton, one of the People’s most notable leaders. Dani has always had questions about her parents’ identities, information Rebecca refuses to reveal, leaving a gaping hole in Dani's own identity.
Dani travels to New York on Rebecca's orders to search for the mysterious woman who stole a copy of the Prophecy of Light from the People. There, she teams up with Dave Winstead, an FBI agent working undercover with the People's most ancient and deadly enemy. Dave has a soft spot for the young warrior that divides his loyalties between her and the job he took in order to fulfill a promise he made a decade and a half before, a promise he's determined to keep, no matter what the cost.
As Dani and Dave are drawn deeper into the hunt for the missing artifact, Dani's immortality is jeopardized, and with it, her ability to reclaim the Prophecy. When she learns the truth about her heritage, Dani is forced to choose between her heart and her duty, and must confront her past in a struggle that will change her life forever.
Dani is the adopted daughter of Rebecca Upton, the director of the Institute for Early Cultural Studies located in Tellowee, Georgia. (See Settings.) Prior to the beginning of Light's Bane, Dani knew very little about her birth family, and it left her somewhat at odds among the People, who treasure family and lineage. One of my favorite parts of this story line was seeing how Rebecca and Dani, who both have strong personalities, found a way to resolve this issue.
Dave, bless his heart, is a white bread Kansas farm boy who ends up leaving his father's farm to enter the FBI. While in the FBI, he's sent undercover into Lukas Alexiou's organization, ostensibly to investigate the theft and resale of antiquities on the black market.
There are several story lines running concurrently in Light's Bane: the search for the only known copy of the Prophecy of Light and the woman who stole it; Rebecca's relationships with her children; the overall series arc; and, of course, the relationship between Dani and Dave.
Oh, and, turns out there's a reason why Dani's instincts are so strong.
Several familiar characters make appearances, including James Terhune, Tom Fairfax, and Bobby Upton, while several new characters are introduced: members of the Council of Seven, the People's highest ruling body; three more of Rebecca's daughters; and additional members of the Alexiou family.
Look for the release of Light's Bane in paperback and e-book formats on 13 June 2014.