Cover Art by Dan Skinner , Cerberus Art           

Sequel to "The Dragon and the Rose" 

originally published as the Sword of Niraz    

       Another Tarlisian Saga   Book 2

To be re-released as "The Betrayed"

Four unlikely companions are drawn together on a  quest to save a kingdom and retrieve a stolen magical sword.

A secret exposed... An old wound re-opened...    

All you would expect       

 from one of Julie A. D'Arcy's Romantic Fantasy Novels

2 short reviews followed by an Excerpt

Title: (The Betrayed) Sword of Niraz, Author: Julie A. D’Arcy

coming 2009

Genre: 50/50 Heroic Fantasy  Romance  

Reviewer: Linda. Romance At Heart

 Julie D’Arcy crafts another brilliant tale that engages immediately from the first page. With her in-depth characters, wonderful intrigue, and detailed description of a breathtaking area, this is one story that should not be missed. If you haven’t read the first of the series, The Dragon and the Rose it would be best to read it first, then spring right into The Betrayed.

  Just get a comfortable chair, sit back and get ready for a fascinating venture that will not be forgotten. She blends in excellent conversation, and a storyline that keeps the story moving along, creating a tale that practically comes to life with every flip of the page. From the lovely castles, the intense fighting and the damsels often in need of help, she pens a charming book that is a timeless piece of art. I like the way she makes her heroine’s strong, yet tender, and her hero’s ready to do anything for the one woman they love. This is one explosive read that shouldn’t be missed.  An exciting fun-filled adventure waits in this dynamite read! I love her work! And the covers are spectacular.

Reviewer: Dena Kosche      Rating: 5 Angels (Recommended Read)

Julie D’Arcy weaves a saga of undying love, betrayal, forgiveness, and healing. Johden must choose between her acrimony and her love for Vellandril. Previously Vellandril sacrificed Johden for his people, he will not repeat it. The Betrayed hauntingly and evocatively renders the hostility and anguish caused by the elves refusal to accept the love between a human and an elf.

 Excerpt

          Butterfly soft, something tickled her neck. In the hazy dream she raised her hand and wiped it away, but it came again whisper soft on her cheek. She groaned and rolled over on the verge of consciousness, her hand slipping beneath her pillow.

          This time it touched her lips.

          Her eyes shot open; her hand came up, her knife to his throat. “You’re late.”

His hands raised slowly into the air and he backed away. “Sorry.” His grin was captured in firelight, and it made her heart ache for the want of him.

          “I will never be late again.” His voice dropped a notch. “Promise.”

“Good, now undress and get into bed.” Morganna slipped her knife back beneath her feather pillow and lay watching. She could see his powerful body silhouetted in the light of the low burning fire, but it was the sound of his cloak, tunic and breaches being peeled then dropped to the rug  that did peculiar things to her stomach. The mattress sagged beside her and strong arms came gently around her. She was enveloped in his manly scent of leather, spruce trees, mountain springs and the sweet heavenly taste of spiced mead on his breath.

She smiled and sighed into his kiss as she wondered if he’d had to fortify his courage before coming to her. Then all coherent thought died as his hand stroked down her body, brushing across her nipple, then dropping lower to that soft moist place between her thighs. His fingers delved, but as she opened her mouth to speak her protest, his lips claimed hers and his tongue danced time to the magick being woven by his exploring hands. She tried to breathe, to brake away, but he held her fast.

 “Hush.” He breathed against her. “Let me love you.” His words were a gentle aphrodisiac, as was the next touch of his warm wet mouth to the small rapid pulse beneath her ear, and the moist trail he left down the soft curve of her neck to the valley of her breasts.

Morganna pressed closer, but he eased back and ran his lips still further down the flat of her stomach to the roundness of her hip, then to just above the place his fingers stirred.

          She clutched at Gabriene’s shoulders, and he moved up over her, seeming to dwarf her, and for a moment she hesitated, remembering the initial hurt of their first encounter, then she encircled his neck and welcomed him down into her body....

Book One

 coming soon