Between Sky and Sea

Jharna, a recent graduate from the prestigious Firelite Military Academy, finds herself saddled with a job she never wanted: serving as an ambassador in the Imperial capital. Her first assignment includes escorting an equally reluctant young princess to marry the Emperor’s son. Trained for commanding armies and battling on the front lines, Jharna is ill-prepared for the world of diplomacy and political games. But the Imperial capital is far from the safe haven it appears to be. With threats lurking around every corner, Jharna must rally her skills and defenses to navigate the treacherous political landscape, fulfill her duty, and stay alive in a city on the brink of chaos.

About the book

My 124,000-word novel Between Sky and Sea is a new adult, high fantasy, adventure with a focus on life after "university" when reality hits. This story of friendship, self-discovery, and political intrigue is for fans of Mark Lawrence's Red Sister, N.K. Jemisin's the Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, and Tamora Pierce's Alanna: The First Adventure.

Jharna the Bear is at the top of her class, graduating as an elite soldier specializing in strategies of war and close-range fighting. She's ready to lead, fight, and help the Emperor's conquest, but when she's assigned a role far from the fighting in the capital, she is anything but pleased. Her first assignment is to also take an equally reluctant princess south to marry one of the Emperor's sons. Trying to maintain the Princess' safety while also finding her role much more dangerous and complicated, Jharna must navigate the tricky waters of a world where everyone is out to destroy her while her own sense of self is dangerously close to fragmenting.

Filled with assassins, conspiracies, and an ex-lover that wants revenge, Between Sky and Sea follows Jharna's journey of growth and turmoil, spiraling towards a final climatic end that might break her world and sense of self in two.

The Aphradia

Welcome to the Aphradia (/ɑɸːrɑːˈdɪə/), a world of islands and diversity. Inspired by real-world, ancient island environments and cultures, the Aphradia is a fantasy world unlike any other. To the north, in Rudo (/ruːdəʊ/), is a culture that is reminiscent of ancient Greece/Thracia. In the middle is Dokan (/dəʊkæn/), the conquering Empire that echoes Classical Japan. And to the south is the mysterious world of Igi (/ɪˈɡiː/), yet unconquered and inspired by ancient Indonesia/coastal India.

Firelite Academy

Academy of War

Firelite Academy stands as the pinnacle of military education, renowned for its rigorous curriculum and esteemed Masters. Students from all corners of the Aphradia come to graduate within its storied walls, where they can unlock the secrets of war, fighting, and strategy.

Majors:

- Bear: elite warriors specializing in leadership and strategy

- Viper: assassins, spies; stealth, manipulation, and secrecy

- Wolf: common foot soldiers; hand-to-hand combat

- Eagle: long-range specialists; distance fighters; often bowmen

- Stallion: specialized calvary; horse-masters

- Shark: nautical fighters; naval war captains

- Beaver: military engineers; builders; large siege/trap equipment

- Otter: crafters, blacksmiths, designers; uniforms, weapons

- Crow: medics, specialized in medical field practice

- Owl: military scribes; bookkeepers; specialized in documentation

A Changing World

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Komi & the Imperial Palace

At the heart of the Dokan Empire is Komi, the capital. Fraught with diplomats eager to take control, the Imperial Palace is a treacherous place with an Emperor that has one divine mandate: Order the Aphradia. With power and control as his tools, the Emperor has aimed the bureaucratic oars of the Palace south, to Igi. But there are sharks in the water, eager to take down the Empire and chew up the scraps. Jharna must face the reality of her profession and the Empire's conquest, ultimately facing the decision of which side to be on.

Languages

Languages of Aphradia

There are three main languages of the Aphradia:

Throughout the Empire, the official language is Dokan (/dəʊkæn/).
- This is the language most Dokan citizens speak and learn.
- It uses an a character system, where most characters represent a whole sound, rather than individual letters.
- Real-World Link: This language primarily features aspects of modern Japanese, with some additional elements added in for uniqueness.
In Rudo many also speak Zvornan (/zˈɛdvˈɔːnən/)
- Many Rudoans are bilingual, but in the far northern regions they will primarily speak Zvornan.
- It uses the Cyrillic alphabet.
- Real-World Link: The language features aspects of modern Bulgarian mixed with Greek and Russian.
In Igi, one of the most popular languages is Śalloian (/ˈʃɐlloiən/).
- Most kingdoms have their own language(s), but many learn Śalloian, natively known as Śallo (/ˈʃɐllo/) to converse across the region.
- Śalloian is spoken by a rising leader in the south who is unifying kingdoms against the Empire.
- Śalloian uses a script alphabet, represented by individual letters.
- Real-World Link: Śalloian was inspired by Hindu with Bahasa Indonesia features.