Author’s name: Valerie Comer

Title of book and/or series: Majai's Fury

The countries of Nuomor, Ghairlazh, and Evdrika meet in the midst of the Azhalawar Mountains. Nuomor, to the south, embraces a large body of water called the Inland Sea, providing it with a Mediterranean type climate. Her people worship various deities. Our heroine, Taifa, worships Majai, the water goddess.

Ghairlazh is a cold, foggy and steep country on the north side of the mountains. They worship Azhvah in a ritualistic, legalistic way. Every breath these people take is ruled by the mardazh, a priest/dictator.

Evdrika is ruled by an opportunistic king, ready to side with anyone so long as there's something in the deal for him and his country.

The Holy Temple in the capital of Ghairlazh is an impressive piece of architecture with inlaid gems and domes of gold. While Nuomor's temple and palace are equally amazing, the true beauty of the capital city are the many small islands separated by canals and linked by uncountable bridges.

What dangers should we avoid? 

Depending on where in Nuomor you are, you'll want to look out for random acts from the deities. In the capital, Majai is fond of swelling the tides and altering the fountains. She's even been known to alter the water clock that rules the city.

Beware the Ghairlazhian mutton curry, as it is heavily spiced and salted. Foreigners tend to loath it.

Hand-to-hand combat is most used. However, Majai is raising a secret army for Nuomor, with equally unknown capabilities.

Nuomor is wrapped around the Inland Sea, so water travel is most common: gondolas in the capital and sailing ships on the open sea. Locks enable ships to reach several of the cities that lie upriver.

In Ghairlazh, only those who live on the coast make much use of ships, except on a few small lakes. The terrain is so steep inland that hiking beside pack donkeys is the most common means of transportation.

The people are much like humans. Instead of extravagant plants, animals, and races, the people of these lands must deal with capricious deities and deeply entrenched customs and belief systems.

There are no spells or magic in the traditional sense. However, the deities, good and bad alike, have power to do miracles within their realm of influence. They use their skills liberally.

The most advanced technology is the lock system on Nuomor's rivers, as well as architectural prowess in the entire region.

Both Nuomor and Ghairlazh operate on a five-day week. In Nuomor, it's a hand of days, but in Ghairlazh, it's called a pamh. Ghairlazh is very fond of the number five, actually. Every five pamh there is a festival.

Nuomorans worship various deities, depending on where in the country they live. Taifa lives in the capital city where they worship the water goddess, Majai. A key foundation of the novel is Majai's demand that every woman's firstborn be given in sacrifice.

Ghairlazhians are shocked at the heathen ways of the Nuomorans. They worship one god, Azhvah, with fierce loyalty. He makes demands of his own, though, such as a facial scarification ritual that shows his people's repentance of their sins.

King Ezait is the leader of Nuomor. He rules with a council and a lot of input from Majai's priests.

Ghairlazh is a theocracy. The mardazh is known as the Mouth of Azhvah.

I grew up knowing too much about legalism and doing as you're told, just because. Not to put a bad light on my parents, who were true believers striving to follow God! But I became aware that as children, we absorb the teachings around us and use them as a fallback. It is difficult to question our belief systems. Both Taifa and Shanh are products of their cultures and find it difficult to question.

I'm also intrigued by Old Testament Judaism, the sacrificial system, and the many many laws that the Pharisees gleefully added to. The religion of the Ghairlazhians is very loosely modeled after this system.

The Nuomoran culture encourages promiscuity, practically demands it. Because the story is about a woman trying to outwit Majai's demand for a firstborn sacrifice—and not by remaining chaste—some readers may find several sensual scenes a problem. The door, however, is firmly closed on sex.

Majai's Fury is available in various formats, including Kindle, paperback, and epub.  Click here to download it in any format. 

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