Publisher: Book Liftoff
Publication Date: May 1, 2019
SCROLL DOWN FOR THE GIVEAWAY!
Lonely and plain-featured, Mona Parker is just another faceless teenager at Spring Hill High School. One day she runs afoul of Lady Anne Golightly, a beautiful and arrogant classmate who turns Mona’s colorless life into a hellish existence. Bullied relentlessly and with nowhere to turn, Mona considers suicide. One night, Thaddeus Finkle, her guardian angel, appears. He offers her a way out—swap lives with another.
The choice seems easy, and Mona takes the angel up on his offer. She awakens on Meredith, a parallel world of Earth where magic has replaced technology. Mona discovers she is Alexandria, a woman of breathtaking beauty, and the daughter of a Duke complete with servants and riches.
Then she discovers the price of her bargain.
Trapped behind the Veil, an impenetrable curtain of magic, the Duchy of Wheel is the last major province still unconquered by Marlinda, the creator of the enchanted barrier. Known as the Dark Queen, Marlinda’s cruelty includes a singular fondness for melding men, women, and children, with animals…and she has special plans for Alexandria.
Tal, the Prince and Heir of the Empire of Meredith, burns with an intense hatred for Marlinda and her minions. The Dark Queen’s raiders regularly cross the Veil to prey upon the helpless citizens living near the magical boundary. Despite an elaborate system of Watch Towers along the enchanted barrier, it is impossible for the Empire to stop all the raids. Desperate to protect his people, Tal takes dangerous risks to prevent these attacks. Banished to a remote garrison for his reckless behavior, while on a routine patrol, Tal leads an elite unit that happens upon a group of raiders—one whose leader possesses the means for opening a way through the Veil.
Thus begins the conquest of the Veil.
“Always trust your heart…”
The Open Portal is a fantastic, intriguing, and adventurous beginning to the Conquest of the Veil series! With the planet Meredith, Michael Scott Clifton has created a world that is similar to Earth but is filled with an abundance of both good and evil magic rather than technology. What stands out as unique in this fantasy is that the author transitions the protagonist from Mona Parker on Earth to Alexandria on Meredith, yet rather than lose her original identity, this young woman is now both Mona and Alex. When Mona accepts her guardian angel’s request to leave her unhappy life on Earth forever and make a difference on Meredith, the adventure begins!
As with many fantasy/paranormal series, the seemingly disparate scenes can be confusing at first, but it is quite satisfying when the pieces connect and fall into place as battles are fought, characters are solidified, and the line between good and evil is clearly drawn. Meredith is a world of magic, danger, and evil, and Michael Scott Clifton does an amazing job of bringing that complicated world to life and infusing it with several memorable characters and some pretty extraordinary creatures.
As the story switches back and forth between Mona/Alex adapting to her dangerous environment and the epic battle between the Storm Riders and the Veil Raiders, the overall conflict intensifies, and everything begins to meld into a single story of greed, power, and violence entwined with integrity, peace, and truth.
Mona/Alex certainly has her work cut out for her as she navigates her new world and new identity and discovers who her enemies and allies are, which are no easy tasks because she is filled with uncertainties about her own identity and purpose on this strange planet.
On a deeper level, Mona’s transition into Alex, both physically and psychologically, offers an interesting study on the human desire to be different because of a lack of self-confidence in appearance and natural abilities/talents. Outward beauty has its advantages because it can boost self-esteem, but it can be dangerous as well if used as a weapon or as a means to manipulate. Through this unique main character, the reader is reminded that while physical beauty can open doors and bring apparent happiness, a beautiful heart is the greater asset. Mona is now Alexandria, but she retains her awareness and gentle understanding of others and their feelings, even as she embraces Alex’s beauty as her own.
No less important, Tal is an interesting character in this story. This Blood Prince wields his magic on the side of good, but he is still young and impetuous, so watching his character evolve throughout The Open Portal is exhilarating.
The explosive ending and several loose ends set the stage for the next book, which will no doubt be just as intense and exciting as The Open Portal.
Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win a signed copy or an eBook of The Open Portal by Michael Scott Clifton.
Michael Scott Clifton, a public educator for over thirty-eight years as a teacher, coach, and administrator, currently lives in Mount Pleasant, Texas with his wife, Melanie and family cat, Sadie. An avid gardener, reader, and movie junkie, he enjoys all kinds of book and movie genres. His books contain aspects of all the genres he enjoys…action, adventure, magic, fantasy, and romance. His fantasy novel, The Janus Witch, received a 5-Star review from the prestigious Readers’ Favorite Book Reviews, and he has been a finalist in a number of short story contests with Edges of Gray winning first place in the Texas Authors Contest. Professional credits include articles published in the Texas Study of Secondary Education Magazine. Clifton’s latest book, The Open Portal, launches the fantasy book series, Conquest of the Veil. In addition, look for the YA novel, Edison Jones and the Anti-Grav Elevator, to be released soon. He is available public speaking.One Signed Copy Winner, Three eBook Copy Winners
VISIT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:
|
5/14/19
|
Guest Post
|
|
|
5/14/19
|
Character Interview
|
|
|
5/14/19
|
BONUS Post
|
|
|
5/15/19
|
Review
|
|
|
5/15/19
|
Review
|
|
|
5/16/19
|
Excerpt
|
|
|
5/17/19
|
Review
|
|
|
5/18/19
|
Scrapbook Page
|
|
|
5/19/19
|
Review
|
|
|
5/20/19
|
Review
|
|
|
5/20/19
|
Review
|
|
|
5/21/19
|
Excerpt
|
|
|
5/22/19
|
Review
|
|
|
5/22/19
|
Review
|
|
|
5/23/19
|
Review
|
|
|
5/23/19
|
Review
|
