Spotlight
Synopsis:
Danger, heartache, grit, tension, brotherhood, trauma, betrayal, sacrifice, fear. Death square in the face. All in a day's work for the REAPERS – an elite black-ops team deployed to remote, untamed conflict zones. Their mission: to assassinate covert targets, conduct rescue operations and gather intelligence.
We follow this tight band as its members evolve; some will die and be replaced by new faces, some will defect, be injured or retire, and others will change in unimaginable ways. All will be tested to their limits.
REAPERS is an epic set in a sprawling dark fantasy universe of tragic characters, complex villains, and shocking story turns.
BOOK ONE is a novel-length collection of the first seven staves (which were originally released as independent episodic chapters in serial format).
Danger, heartache, grit, tension, brotherhood, trauma, betrayal, sacrifice, fear. Death square in the face. All in a day's work for the REAPERS – an elite black-ops team deployed to remote, untamed conflict zones. Their mission: to assassinate covert targets, conduct rescue operations and gather intelligence.
We follow this tight band as its members evolve; some will die and be replaced by new faces, some will defect, be injured or retire, and others will change in unimaginable ways. All will be tested to their limits.
REAPERS is an epic set in a sprawling dark fantasy universe of tragic characters, complex villains, and shocking story turns.
BOOK ONE is a novel-length collection of the first seven staves (which were originally released as independent episodic chapters in serial format).
Excerpt
“There will be nights that feel colder and lonelier than the spaces between the very goddamn stars and days on end lying motionless in stinking muck itchin’ and itchin’ yourself till you itch your skin right off. You’ll experience the sting of a ghost wasp and it’ll burn so bad you’ll curse your own mother for bringing you into a world that knows such a hurt. You’ll come face to face with species that never sleep and think only to murder. A sudden knife at the throat, death square in the face every day. This is what a Reaper must train for.”
Instructor Barda’s words lingered in the marching yard. He stood stern and solemn before a batch of fresh recruits. A flag bearing the Nation’s colors whipped in the wind. Emblazoned on its deep blue backdrop were seven stars that represented the seven city-states. Nevermind that only one such city still stood.
“You have been hand-picked by your superiors as candidates for the most respected and lethal force at the Nation’s disposal. Well, I must say the officers that sent you here ought to be hanged from Beggar Bridge for trotting out such a sorry bunch as what I see standing before me today but I suppose time will tell. The coming weeks will be the hardest, most grueling experience in your pathetic lives. Most of you will go home crying like a baby fit for a cradle and some of you will go home a corpse fit for a grave. And do not believe those who say to die in service to the Nation is an honor for you are of no use to your country dead. Those of you who are not man enough to continue with this program are free to tuck tail and run at any time. But there is a price.”
Barda took a curved knife from his belt. “That price is your blood. Any time this is all too much for you, you are welcome to come take this knife from me and draw blood from your palm and smear it on your own face in shame. Then and only then will I allow you to go home and cry into your mother’s tit. If you ask me, you’re better off slitting your wrists with this blade than facing such a dishonor but that too takes pumpkins you likely do not possess!”
Barda returned the blade to its sheath and stepped up to a recruit with long flowing hair. The soldier was thin as a riding crop with narrow, angular features and eyes that cupped a sorrow beyond their years. Barda yelled into his ear: “What is your name, worm chowder?!”
“Blacwin, sir.”
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