Across the square, Amena cupped her hands around her mouth and called, “For peace!”
The crowd took up the call. “For peace!”
Amena shouted again, “For equality!”
“For equality!” the crowd echoed.
Amena looked around, and the other rebels joined her on the final shout. “For freedom!”
“For freedom!”
I looked around at everyone’s enthusiasm for the future, and I smiled. Maybe this would be a new, better way of life.
Pronunciation Guide
Amena (ah-MAY-nah): a divine warrior and pop singer, champion of Qachmy
Arkia (ahr-KEY-ah): the dominant language and culture of the Arqan Empire
Arqan Empire (AHR-kahn): the joint government of nations on the continent
Bymonten (bee-MON-tehn): Amena’s manager
Chelynne (shay-LEEN-nah): goddess of the earth, the world
Chysa (SHEE-sah): goddess of the sun
Damon (DAHM-ohn): the head temple of Lyndamon City
Damondytti (DAHM-ohn-DEECH-ee): a port city on Jenatta’s Bay
Deejanara (DAY-yah-NAHR-ah): the goddess of friendship, daughter of Qachmy
Deryt (DEHR-eet): a divine warrior and engineer, champion of Sano
Eberet (eh-BEHR-eht): a rebel and a librarian
Janera (yah-NEH-rah): a divine warrior and cook, champion of Omer
Jabin (YAHB-ihn): a hidden village in the jungle, once a rebel base
Kyra (KEE-rah): a divine warrior and exorcist, champion of Xiso
Linar (LIHN-ahr): god of blacksmiths and other crafts
Lyda (LEE-dah): the head priestess of Damon Temple
Lyndamon (leen-DAHM-ohn): a floating city, the capital of the Central Province
Marauket (mah-RAW-ket): a detective constable in Pisan
Nayaraq (nay-YAR-ahk): a rebel
Nexita (nah-ZEE-tah): Riwenne’s sister, former divine warrior of Linar
Olona (oh-LOH-nah): a floating city, capital of the Northern Province
Omer (oh-MEHR): god of agriculture
Owaqao (OH-wah-KAH-oh): the train station in Rurarqie
Pisan (PIH-sahn): a town in the Northern Province
Pomavar (poh-MAV-ahr): an engineer, Rennu’s assistant
Qachmy (KASH-mee): goddess of the rainforest and wild animals
Quilla (KEY-yah): goddess of the moon
Rennu (REN-noo): minister of Technological Research & Development
Riwenne (rih-WEHN-nah): divine warrior of Quilla, former champion of Sawycha
Ruraqie (ROO-rah-KEY-uh): a city in the Central Province
Sawycha (sah-WEE-shah): goddess of the ocean
Tamarau (TAH-mah-RAW-oo): goddess of the arts
Tika (TEE-kah): a sandpiper bird, messenger of Sawycha
Uqra (OOK-rah): a gold quetzal bird, messenger of Qachmy
Ursan (UHR-sahn): an ancient language and culture
Vilqa (VIHL-kah): a non-binary person from Damondytti Port
Warawa (wah-RAH-wah): a dance instructor and choreographer
Xiso (ZEE-soh): god of domesticated animals
Thank you for reading Riwenne & the Bionic Witches! I’d appreciate it if you took a few minutes of your time to write a review online. Your feedback can help other readers decide to give the book a try. Word-of-mouth is the most important way for books to get discovered by readers.
I’m currently writing the sequel, Riwenne & the Airship Gambit. You can follow my blog and mailing list for updates. In the meantime, I have other series you may enjoy.
A complete list of all my books:
www.kristenwalker.net/books/
Thank you for reading Riwenne & the Bionic Witches! I’d appreciate it if you took a few minutes of your time to write a review online. Your feedback can help other readers decide to give the book a try. Word-of-mouth is the most important way for books to get discovered by readers.
Read More
Are you ready for more adventures? Join Riwenne and her friends in the next book!
Riwenne & the Airship Gambit
A young prophet still learning her powers. A single city standing against the might of the empire. Can the dream of the rebellion last?
Fifteen-year-old Riwenne never considered herself a prophet, but when she rescued Lyndamon City from destruction, people called her a miracle worker. Now the city she saved is under an even greater threat. When they declared their independence, the rest of the empire prepared their airships for attack. Lyndamon is still defenseless from the last battle and they don’t have resources to rebuild.
In a desperate bid to protect her fragile home, Riwenne must find more divine warriors to fight for her cause—but not everyone with a god’s power is on her side. When mysterious warriors attack, she must persuade them to join her team or defeat them. Still haunted by her last kill, Riwenne is reluctant to use lethal force again.
Between negotiating with gods and her new relationship, Riwenne barely has time to rest. Her sleep is haunted by nightmares of what she’s done and visions of what could happen if she fails.
The fate of the gods hangs in the balance.
A complete list of all my books:
www.kristenwalker.net/books/
Free Book
Get a free book! When you sign up for my author newsletter, you can receive a free copy of “Amena’s Rise to Stardom,” the prequel novella!
Amena’s Rise to Stardom
The truth about the pop singer’s dark past.
Fifteen-year-old Amena is a spy and thief for the rebellion, but she dreams of being a singer. Fame seems impossible when she lives in a hidden village in a remote part of the empire. But when she gets arrested on an easy recon mission, a magical doorway appears and offers her a way out.
When the goddess of the rainforest Amena a chance at her dreams, she chooses to risk it all. Leaving behind the rebellion, her mother, and everything she’s ever known, she can finally start her singing career. But the goddess’s magic comes with hidden costs.
Joining the big competition, Star Search, Amena tries to balance her music with training as a divine warrior. She must serve the whims of the goddess and avoid her criminal record. A rival singer takes her breath away—but she’s hiding her own secrets. Her new life is more dangerous than the spy game she left behind.
Is the price of fame too high when death is on the line?
Amena’s Rise to Stardom is a prequel novella in the Divine Warriors, a steampunk fantasy series for teens. It can be read as a standalone or at any point in the series.
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About the Author
Kristen S. Walker wishes she was a pirate mermaid who could speak with sharks, but she settles for being an author. She currently resides in Northern California with her family and a rescued cat, but she grew up in the mountains, running barefoot through the woods and chasing imaginary dragons. Her fantasy novels for teens and adults explore diverse characters, detailed worlds, high-stakes adventures and emotional journeys. When she's not writing, Kristen enjoys geeky crafts like cosplay, toy photography, and watching anime.
For more books and updates:
www.kristenwalker.net