Neiko’s Five Land Adventure
The Neiko Adventure Saga
Book One
A.K. Taylor
Genre: YA Fantasy Action Adventure
Publisher: Two Harbors Press
Date of Publication: September 1, 2010
Cover Artist: A.K. Taylor, Kristeen
Book Description:
The Indians and the
Crackedskulls are locked in the turmoil of war and presently in a stalemate.
Her enemies, Raven and Bloodhawk, have come up with a scheme to up the ante and
break the stalemate into their favor. Neiko later finds out that a land
she thought she had only imagined is actually real and contains a legendary
and otherworldly evil within it. Not only that, she becomes trapped
there and must escape the world, the people within it, and the sinister evil
within.
Neiko must find her way back home and turn the tables on her enemies. Can she come back home and escape the evil that seeks to claim her?
Neiko’s Five Land Adventure Excerpt:
After her eyes adjusted to the glare, the two friends could see there was
a cavern that was full of perfect crystals. They were in all shapes, sizes, and
colors and they came out of the walls, floor, and ceiling. The beauty was
spellbinding. “Wow! If I found this in Hawote, then I’d be rich! This is a rock
collector’s dream come true!”
“Yeah, but didn’t you say that there were writings about Ramses somewhere
in here? I wonder where the ruins of Shadazar are,” Quickstrike rambled.
“Somewhere in here, I guess, and I think we’re close. Let’s keep walking
and look at the walls. If there are any branch-offs, then we’ll split up. If
you find anything, then come looking.”
“Actually, I’d rather stick together, so we won’t get separated.”
“Good idea, well, I like that idea better too,” she said as they
journeyed deep into the caverns. They walked and looked at the walls, but all
they found were arrangements and shapes created by crystal; they gleamed and sparkled
when the light hit them like multicolored diamonds. Luckily for them, there
were no branch-offs, and the caverns appeared as if they were carved into the
crystal. New formations were growing in the hewn walls.
Neiko found several broken pieces on the cavern floor; she picked them
up and slipped them into her pocket.
“Look, there’s an exit up ahead,” said Quickstrike as he saw a break in
the glamour and a darkened cave. As they entered the door, darkness overtook
them and there were ruins just ahead. “We found what’s left of ancient
Shadazar!”
“Yeah, and we have an
underground lake to cross. I wonder what’s on the other side.”
“I dunno, but I’ve noticed the further we go in, the further we go back
in time, so that could mean the writings are probably after the lake. How do we
get across?”
“There’s a boat right there.” They climbed into the boat, and Neiko got
the oars and began to paddle while Quickstrike carried the torch. They could
see broken columns and the remains of a bridge that possibly was a shortcut
long ago towering over them. She kept paddling, and then they saw a waterfall
just ahead. Neiko paddled around it and parked the boat on the bank of the
hidden cavern. When they entered the hallway, there were pictures and writings.
“Neiko, look! We found it!”
“Hmm,” she said as she looked at the letters which were surprisingly in
the alphabet of her tribe.
“Well, it’s written in English, but it is written in the alphabet of my
tribe. This will be easy for me to translate.”
“That’s good. So, what does it say?”
Neiko looked at the battling figures and the dark, shadowy form of the
Dark Pharaoh fighting and slaying them. She ran her finger under the letters as
she read. “This is talking about something called the Good Pharaohs. It says
that God created powerful beings called Pharaohs to protect the universe from
evil.
Escape from Ancient Egypt
The Neiko Adventure Saga
Book Two
A.K. Taylor
Genre: YA Fantasy
Action Adventure/ Historical Fantasy, time travel
Publisher:
Telemachus Press
Cover Artist: A.K.
Taylor, Steve Himes
Book
Description:
Seeking his revenge on Neiko for
exposing him, Francesco banishes Neiko into ancient Egypt just like he did her
friends eleven years ago. During her stay there, she unravels the mystery of
what happened to her four friends. Now she’s faced with a bigger problem—how to
get home. After a series of unfortunate events, Neiko is now entangled
with Pharaoh Ramesses II. Francesco also comes to make sure their
fates are sealed. Can Neiko and her friends beat impossible odds and return to
Hawote and back to the present?
Escape from Ancient Egypt Excerpt:
Neiko’s
vision turned from the green light to the world spinning around her in dizzying
speed. Neiko wasn’t moving, but she felt like she was in freefall—like someone
had cut the cable from an elevator and she was plummeting with it. Descending
in what—space and time? The evergreen and colorful deciduous vegetation of the
Hawote woodlands changed to a desert with a river with some greenery and palms
nearby. The cool autumn air of Hawote in October transformed into stifling, searing, dry heat. Pyramids, sphinxes,
and strange statues spun around her after her house, porch, and front yard
disappeared within the vortex. It was nighttime in Hawote, but the sun rose and
set as time flew by—from west to east--backwards. Beneath her bare feet the
wood from her front porch turned to nothing then into hot, soft sand.
Neiko’s
world stopped spinning, and the sun was high in the sky. Neiko watched the sun
to be sure it didn’t move again. Wherever she ended up, she guessed the time
must be about high noon
there judging by the sun’s position in the sky after a few moments of
observation. The heat was intense, and she discovered she must be somewhere far
from home. “Where?” was the ultimate question. A gust of wind blew the feathers
in her long, black hair. Her hair wrapped around her face, and she brushed it
back. Sweat beaded out on her body, and she tugged at her shirt and headband.
“Phew! It’s hot out here! Where am I--Death Valley?” she asked. Death Valley
was the only desert place she thought of off the top of her head. She had never
been there, but she’d read and watched TV programs about the place. She looked
around, and a city was only a few feet away. She could see the buildings down
below from the high dune where she stood. She took a deep breath and fingered
the fringed sheath of her knife to reassure her confidence—without thinking and
by instinct. Then after a few more seconds, she trudged down to the city in the
soft sand from the dune to go find some answers.
Neiko
entered the city still dressed in her buckskin, decorated warrior clothes and
painted for war. As she took in the sights and from the confusion, she had
forgotten she was armed. Her machete was sheathed to her back, and so was her
knife on her side. Incense, perfumes, and music filled the air. She didn’t
recognize any of the smells, but the music seemed to be like Egyptian
reenactments in movies. The buildings were white alabaster covered in brilliant
wall paintings. Some men rode on camels like horses and others led them by a
leash. Chariots cantered by. Neiko looked around in amazement. This ruled out
Death Valley, Arizona. Neiko lifted her eyes to the sun to get a bearing on
north. North was as good of a direction as any to begin a search for answers.
After her eyes fell from the sun and to the north, she could see the Pyramids
of Giza towering in the distance. She recognized them instantly. She had seen
enough pictures and documentaries on the monuments—they were unmistakable. Even
though they were miles away, they towered above the city and in view. This
definitely wasn’t Death Valley.
In that case I can get on the first flight home, she thought. She believed that she had landed in
Cairo. This city came to mind because it's the only one close to the Pyramids
of Giza. Then she realized she didn’t have any money as she put her hands in
the pockets of her buckskin shorts and only felt the house key. She had left
her wallet in the car back at home when she left from Phoenix’s house after the
battle.
“Well, I can probably make up some story that
I was abducted or something—which is sort of true. Really funny, Francesco. I
guess you meant no way back since I’m broke. I’ll hitchhike back to Hawote if I
have to. I’ll scrounge around to see if I can find some change for a pay phone
on the road,” she remarked to herself, and maybe the phone book would have some
information on where to find an airport or something. But, then again, would
the phonebook be written in English or Arabic? It was a chance she had to take.
The worst that could happen was not getting anywhere.
Neiko
began walking to find help, change, a pay phone, the U.S. Embassy, an airport,
or whatever she could find first. After a few more minutes of exploring, she recognized
the clothing of the people: white linen kilts, some wore robes and fine
jewelry, some wore headcloths while others did not. No one seemed to be dressed
like the Arab residents of 21st century Egypt. “Why is everyone
dressed like ancient Egyptians?” she asked herself. She wondered if this was
some sort of a cult or a weird secret society that lived like the Amish in
Cairo.
A
small group of armed soldiers marched in front of her, but they didn’t pay any
attention to her. They carried swords, shields, spears, and were dressed in
ancient Egyptian armor. She had seen it in books and movies. They weren’t
carrying guns or dressed in desert camouflage BDUs like Egyptian soldiers of
the 21st century.
She
headed farther in to the marketplace. It was obvious since people had shops and
bazaars selling goods. People were yelling and haggling. People thrust things
at Neiko trying to entice her to buy. Neiko put up her hands and shook her
head. She couldn’t understand a word anyone was saying. Funny, no one seemed to
be selling T-shirts, souvenirs, or that type stuff for tourists. Quite frankly,
no one seemed to be selling any maps.
Neiko
walked up to a man who was a merchant at a bazaar. He was selling all manner of
fine jewelry. Heavy collars, bracelets, necklaces, arm pieces, earrings were on
display. All gaudy like the ancient Egyptians liked. “Excuse me, can you tell
me where I am? I seem to be lost. Do you know where I can find a map or where
the airport is? A phone?” she asked as she made her hand like a phone and put
it to her ear; her thumb the earpiece and her pinkie the mouthpiece.
The
man looked at her startled because of her strange appearance and because he
couldn’t understand her. He was dressed in linen like everyone else and sported
some of that same Egyptian bling since he was a successful jeweler.
“That’s a little out of
style, don’t you think? I mean, guys don’t wear eyeliner…and, that skirt and
that sheet on your head are not how people dress nowadays. People dress like
ancient Egyptians only on Halloween. Last I checked it was still three weeks
away,” Neiko said to the man as she shook her head.
Giveaway:
About the Author:
A.K. Taylor grew up in the
backwoods of Georgia where she learned about nature. She enjoys hunting and
fishing, beekeeping, gardening, archery, shooting, hiking, and has various
collections. She also has interest in music, Native American history and
heritage, Egyptian history, and the natural sciences. A.K. Taylor has been
writing and drawing since the age of 16. A.K. Taylor has graduated from the
University of Georgia with a biology degree, and she shares an interest in
herpetology with her husband.
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