Everybody knows something – about the steps, the tattoos, the kidnappings – but I don’t even know what questions to ask.

Inter-racial tension comes to a head when the queen of the tiny realm of Arcadia is assassinated. The delicate Ellisians, small in number, have dominated the stronger and more numerous Cadians for decades, using the powerful Negaforce to subdue and torture, but the Cadians have finally found a leader who can organise them into resisting. The queen’s two daughters were also supposed to die, but both attempts were botched, and the realm is now in the hands of the eldest daughter, whose cruelty is honed to a fine point by her paranoia.

 

 

 

 

 
   
 
   
 
 

 

 

     
     
     
     
     
 

 

A cataclysmic pole shift has reduced the Earth almost back to stone age times. It has taken decades to claw back much of the Old Order technology, and that has not always led to progress in the
right direction.

 

The story unfolds in an unforgiving terrain populated by humanoid products of genetic engineering, newly evolved creatures and two diverse cults, one that has perfected the art of telepathy and the other the manipulation of energy and an unquestioning belief in their farseer’s prophecies.

 

A community of scientists and traditionalist makes for an oasis of calm, but this calm is temporary. Saffy, one of its most prominent members, and her step-sister, Varney, are taken captive by an escaped prisoner and his companion, a high priest of one of the sects. This sets in motion a kaleidoscope of events in which Saffy faces physical, mental and emotional challenges that take her almost to breaking point.

 

Everything she holds true is challenged. Can she piece together the shards of truth and so unravel the meaning behind The Glass Knight prophecy? Written in an easy style with a dry sense of humour, this novel has many layers for you to unravel.

 

 
   
   
 
 

 

     
     
     
     
 

 

Wrenched from the comparative safety of Adelantos, a peaceful and well-organised community of survivors, Saffy is forced to face the horrors of the Northern Settlement, where only the toughest survive. The Settlement has taken its toll on her ex-lover, Malvern, but for the moment, weak as he is, he is her only ally.

 

Her soulmate (or Integran, in Jouler terminology) has rallied from the blow of losing Saffy and has set out to bring her back, aided by her half-brother, Melgray. He hopes Melgray’s useful talent of telepathy will help locate her, but is only too well aware that Saffy’s hatred of Melgray may block his attempts. And they are both unaware that much more than Saffy’s kidnapping is on the agenda – war is brewing.

 

​The Darkness of the Knight is a dystopian fantasy, set just over a hundred years in the future, after a cataclysmic pole shift has reduced the earth almost back to stone age times. It has taken a century to claw back much of the Old Order technology, and that has not always led to progress in the right direction. This is the sequel to The Glass Knight, which tells the story of Saffy’s fractious relationship with Jarrad and their bid to overcome many obstacles to restore temporary peace to their community.

 
   
   
 
 

 

     
     
     
 

When your ex is a Narcissist and your best friend is after what you've got, who's watching
your back?

When new squash club member, Cheryl, introduces her brother to Wendy, she is hoping romance will be in the air. Instead she galvanises Wendy’s ex, a Narcissist, into action and he only has one person’s interest at heart – his own.

 

He has no scruples about manipulating Wendy’s best friend into helping him sabotage the new relationship. He doesn’t care what damage he causes - even if someone dies along the way.

 

 

 
   
   
 
 

 

     
     
     
 

When her brother causes the death of one of the Brady family, well-known south-east London villains, Kate finds herself forced into a marriage with the eldest Brady son to pay the debt.

 

Despite knowing how violent he is, Kate’s friend, Janey, helps her plot revenge, the seduction and then destruction of Kate’s husband. It is a dangerous game to play, as the Brady family is a powerful London crime family with both money and influence, and very few morals.

 

But it is Kate’s fascination with the seedier side of London life, and her friendship with another of London’s villains, a rival to the Brady family, that introduces complications neither of them saw coming. Just who is playing whom?

 

 
   
           
             
 

I can tell by the first two or three pages if I'm going to like a book. But this book proved me wrong. I started reading, thought that I wasn't going to like this book....then suddenly I was sucked in.

 

I was taken to the dark side of London in the 80's. I was drawn into the world that was built as well as the characters. This also offered me something different.
It wasn't your usual romance, with your usual conflicts. I couldn't stop reading this. I needed to know what happened next.

 

I will be looking for more books from this author.

 

 

Just finished Seduction and Destruction
Really good read, most enjoyable. My wife read the whole book in 1 1/2 days couldn’t put it down. Roll on the next one x

 

 

 

 

This book had me gripped from page 1 The story line is brilliant - love crime and revenge and it has it all. I so hope there will be more to this series. I highly recommend

 
 

Review on NetGalley

 

Review on Facebook

 

Amazon review by a verified purchaser

 
           
   
 
1.
In what modern European language does Jayler Trouvay mean
‘I have found it’?
 
 
2.
Whom can Jarrad hear sobbing when he is in prison?
 
 
3.
Can you find any parallels between Jarrad and various religious figures, such as Jesus?
 
 
4.
Does having a soulmate, an Integran, weaken you or strengthen you?
 
 
5.
Is contentment the greatest gift you could have?
 
 
6.
Is Lord Cydel right – feelings are more important than words?
 
 
7.
Science explains everything and takes away the need for a God. Is this true?
   
Stuck for answers? Email Julia Colbourn on juliacolbourn@yahoo.co.uk, or see the contact page for how to send her a tweet or post on the Facebook page
 
 
 
     
   

Finally I have the time to do what I love best: writing. After twenty years teaching science in a secondary comprehensive school, I am relishing the freedom to be able to get down on paper all the ideas I have been carrying around in my head.

 

My writing doesn’t fit neatly into any particular genre. My third and fourth books come under Romance, but they’re a bit too gritty and earthy to really fit the bill. My first two books (The Glass Knight and its sequel) were first put under science fiction, but fit better under dystopian fantasy. My fifth book was meant to be an historical romance but I ended up writing fantasy again!

 

The thing that links all my books is a fascination with people and in particular, atypical relationships. None of us fit in a box and we all have our shadowy corners. Saffy, in the Glass Knight, is angry nearly all the time and has a terrible relationship with her father and half-brother (for reasons that slowly become apparent). Kate, in Seduction & Destruction, has an unhealthy fascination with violence that doesn’t fit with her privileged upbringing. Wendy, in The Kill Shot, is dealing with a Narcissistic ex and a jealous best friend. I like to think that I tell it how it is, without flinching from my characters’ weaknesses and flaws.


I flesh out my characters by watching them and listening to them in my head! Usually there are little bits of people I’ve met in them, though no character is based on any single person. I can picture how someone’s face expresses itself as they talk. I can hear the tone of voice they would use, the phrases that seem natural. My dialogue sentences often finish with three dots… because in real life people often just tail off a sentence, or someone else jumps in before they’re quite finished.


I hope my writing is also entertaining in that it has, not only some rather dry humour, but some thought-provoking ideas. I myself, love a book that educates or stimulates me, as well as entertains me. Is love necessary for a successful marriage? What technology would we try and recreate, if we lost all that we have now? Is religion of some sort essential? What do the different colours on squash balls mean? (The last is revealed in The Kill Shot!)

 

Born in south east London, I now live in Kent with my husband. I have three grown up daughters and my hobbies include photography, travel and scuba diving.


 
     
   
 

Julia Colbourn would be delighted to hear from anyone who has any questions or comments about The Glass Knight
or any of her other books, You can email her at:

 

juliacolbourn@yahoo.co.uk

 

 

 

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© Copyright Julia Colbourn 2019