Titles for works of fiction can cause authors a good deal of soul-searching. Ideally, we want to give potential readers clues about content, theme, style, and storyline. Not easy with only one to maybe a dozen words to play with. Of course, the best titles are revealed as obvious choices once a book’s been read, so this series is largely for those who’ve yet to read the books featured.

‘Partings’ is Book 2 in the epic adult fantasy trilogy published by Fantastic Books Publishing under the series title ‘A Seared Sky’. To read why I wanted to use ‘Skyfire’ as the series title, but felt I couldn’t, please read the post on the Book 1, Joinings.

The trilogy covers a period of around three years and deals with many themes, including religious hypocrisy, bad leadership, slavery, sexual liberty and prohibition, justice, love, courage, tenacity, the ills of social injustice, and self-sacrifice, among others.
All three books have similar covers, featuring the map I created as a guide for me to keep track of where various individuals where at any time. Each is slightly different, but the series is united by this background image.

So, why is Book 2 titled ‘Partings’?
Book 1 ‘Joinings’ ends with the pilgrims forced to alter their plans after a misfortune visits Tumalind, the main female protagonist, and an encounter with pirates makes the High Priest nervous of further sea travel. He wants the party to continue on land instead. And the Skyfire is acting in a way that creates doubts in the mind of both the High Priest and his astronomical advisor, suggesting it may not be the expected sacred sign after all. The potential ramifications of such an error are too dreadful for the pair to contemplate.
In Book 2 ‘Partings’ the story continues as Tumalind’s father, Aglydron, and her lover, Okkyntalah, finally catch up with the party in which she’s one of three Virgin Gifts destined for the homeland. I won’t go into detail here, but circumstances cause a considerable alteration in the plans of the High Priest leading his now enlarged party and further meetings with new characters involve unexpected changes. There are many partings of the way, both voluntary and enforced in this part of the story, which is why I titled the book ‘Partings’. The story covers activities on the island left behind by the pilgrims as well as those occurring on the mainland. There is a further parting of Tumalind from Okkyntalah and a brave attempt at rescue. And, on the island, the High Priest’s renegade son risks all to drive the wedge of truth through the myths, legends, and lies of the religion that has held all under its sway for centuries. Thus, the islanders are to be parted from the easy dependence on their faith as well.

This second book holds only 470 pages of relationships, action, adventure, dangers, partings, conflict, love, punishment, romance, corruption, and betrayals. It also contains maps and a couple of appendices so readers can keep track of the many named characters. If I’ve whetted your curiosity, you can find a little more detail here. Or, if you’re intrigued enough to plunge into reading the book straight away, you’ll find it here; though I’d strongly recommend you read Book 1 ‘Joinings’ first. Enjoy! Oh, and if you do, please consider writing a brief review so other potential readers have a clue about what you think of it. Thank you.