The Waterboy
One mistake could seal his fate…
Zale Teague grew up thinking he was an ordinary boy—until the day he called lightning from the skies and caused an explosion with horrific results. Now the eleven-year-old is fleeing his terrifying new merman powers and the mistake he'll never forget.
When a Romani clan takes him in, he thinks he's found a way to protect his loved ones from disaster… until his past catches up to him. Will Zale ever find redemption, or must he keep running forever?
The Waterboy novella is the standalone origin story of Zale, the first undine male (merman) born in over three thousand years, introduced in Book 1 of the young adult epic fantasy Rise of the Grigori series, The Undine's Tear. It takes place five years before the main series.
In this rich, breathtaking series, join merfolk, sphinxes, dragons, and humans in a search for redemption that will determine the fate of the world . . . they just don't all know it yet.
Download now to start your adventure into the mind-blowing series today!
“A page-turner that draws you in to an amazing world.”
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Equivalent movie rating of PG-13 for assault and intense themes of bullying and accidental death and injury.
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What happened to me?
Beneath the shimmery surface of the shallow water, Zale's body looked strange. The torn legs of his breeches drifted in the current, anchored only by his waistband. Between them—where his legs should be—shimmered a large silvery-green tail from the most enormous fish he had ever seen. His neck felt odd, and when he touched it, he found frilly flaps of leathery skin opening over slits he had never found there before.
Talwyn clambered onto the shore, gasping. Noticing the boys’ reactions, she turned around to see what they were looking at. Afraid that she would react the same way, Zale held up his hands to ward off her terror, blocking his view of her face.
“Zale? Is that you?”
“No—” he whimpered, squeezing his eyes shut tight. He cracked an eye open but refused to look at her. The skin on the backs of his raised hands glimmered wetly. He stared at the slick gel that covered his hands and arms beneath his shirt. Why do I feel so strange?
Gryffyn pulled himself onto a flat boulder on the bank.
“Fynn?” screamed Robbie, flailing near the shore. “Fynny? I can’t see. Help!”
Gryffyn bent and hauled his brother out of the water.
“Demon,” Jory whispered, backing away from Zale and crossing himself.
Gryffyn's gaze locked on Zale. He took in Zale’s tail and the leathery gills, and then glanced at the charred tree that still hissed slightly in the rain. He turned back to Zale with narrowed eyes.
“It was you. What are you?”
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Reviews:
“A page-turner that draws you in to an amazing world.”
“A gripping tale.”
Molly Harrow, reader
“Left me wanting more!”
Amazon reviewer
“I devoured this book! Excited to start the next chapter!”
Larisa F., Goodreads reviewer
“Highly entertaining.”
T. C., Goodreads reviewer
Praise for The Undine's Tear
(Rise of the Grigori Book 1)
“Well-drawn characters immersed in intricate worlds. A rip-roaring read.”
Lorehaven Magazine | Full review.
“A colossal fantasy tale told by an expert storyteller. Spectacular.”
Ruffina Oserio, Readers’ Favorite
“Strong setting, unpredictable plot, memorable characters, and a setting that is brilliantly written.”
Jose Cornelio, Readers’ Favorite*
“The action never stopped… a brilliant start to a new series, superbly composed to entertain!”
Rabia Tanveer, Readers’ Favorite*
“Packed with action, consequences, and oh-so-much heart.”
Anne Sengstock, Immersed in Books | Full review.
“You want to read this book. It’s fantastic!”
Editor-in-Chief, Constellate Publishing
“Stunning writing, vivid descriptions, and endearing characters. Puts the epic in fantasy.”
Books in this Series:
The Undine's Tear (Rise of the Grigori Book 1)
The Sphinx's Heart (Rise of the Grigori Book 2)
The Waterboy (A Rise of the Grigori Story)
Mermaids. Magic. And a search for redemption that could tear the world apart…
Three thousand years ago, a Mad undine healer sank Atlantis. Ever since, the Heartstone that protects the undines’ island has been failing and they haven’t produced a single boy. As the most powerful healer in three millennia, Calandra is the last hope of not only her people, but the entire world. Because if she can’t figure out how to undo her ancestor’s mistake, the Father of Lies will unleash hell on Earth.
Packed with complex characters, lush world-building, gritty action, and impossible odds, this intricately woven epic fantasy series presents mermaids and dragons like you’ve never seen them before.
Join Calandra in a search for redemption that could threaten the very fabric of the universe!
About the Author:
Talena Winters writes page-turning heartfelt fantasy, romance, and adventure stories of sacrifice, redemption, and hope against all odds. She’s also an editor, copywriter, and award-winning songwriter. She and her husband and a varying number of their three young adult sons reside on an acreage in the Peace Country of northern Alberta, Canada, with their two Husky dogs and two neurotic orange cats. Her writing is fuelled by an insatiable passion for stories, dark chocolate, and making the world a better place. And she would really like to know why the tea is always gone.
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