The Birth of Death by Joseph P. Macolino Series: The Legacy of Evorath #1
Published by Free Dragon Press LLC on May 1, 2023
Genres: Adult Fiction, Fantasy
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Pages: 376
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What you see on the surface is not always what you get.
Meet Artimus, the head investigator for the elvish kingdom of Erathal who begins to notice the flaws in his apparently perfect society. As he develops feelings for Savannah, a beautiful elvish druid hiding an important secret, he struggles to separate his personal feelings from his responsibilities to the kingdom.
In a nearby center village, the young warrior Irontail struggles to distinguish himself in a tribe where independent thought is discouraged. When their paths cross, they both discover that their own people’s shortcomings may be the least of their concerns. Putting aside their own personal troubles, they must fight against the clock to ensure the very survival of their peoples. As they work towards this common goal, they find that they each have their own, unique gifts to offer. But, will they be strong enough to survive?The second edition of the critically-acclaimed 5-star fantasy epic, The Birth of Death takes readers on an unforgettable fantasy journey. Re-released in collaboration with Free Dragon Press, the second edition brings all the excitement of the initial release in a more refined package. Dark elves, demons, centaur, elves, trolls, and a host of other fantasy creatures, Evorath offers it all!
Editorial Reviews:
“Overall, The Birth of Death is definitely recommended to fans of LOTR and Game of Thrones.” – Readers’ Favorite 5-Star Review“Snappy writing keeps the action moving, and satisfying doses of lore, bolstered by appendices with maps and a glossary, will keep readers wanting to return to the world of Evorath for more.” – The BookLife Prize in Fiction
Excerpt – Cooking Scene
She had already started a small fire with the tinderbox that rested on the rough countertop next to her stove and a bucket of water hung just above the reach of the flames, the water boiling.
“Perfect,” thought Savannah out loud, pulling the bucket out from the stove and placing it on the counter.
She reached beneath the counter, pulling a small mortar and pestle from an otherwise empty shelf. Dropping the Yggdril petals into the pestle, she took the mortar and began grinding them up, crushing them into a fine paste. Savannah was not used to working with her hands, and even when she had prepared this special salad for her village, she always had help for any of the manual labor. Still, this was worth her time, and she wanted to make sure that everything was perfect.
After a few minutes of grinding the petals, she shook them up a bit and, unsatisfied with the results, continued her grinding. With only a few more minutes of this work, her arm was already beginning to tire, but she persisted. Within about fifteen minutes, she had finally ground the petals to a satisfactory fine paste.
She now turned her attention to the water, which still had a small amount of steam rising from it. Bending down to the bottom shelf, which was filled with bowls, plates, and an assortment of covered containers, Savannah grabbed both a medium sized bowl and a small container. Placing both items on the counter, she opened the small container to reveal salt.
Taking the bowl, she dipped it into the bucket of water and carefully pulled it out, pouring a small amount back into the bucket so that the bowl was about three quarters full. Dumping about a fifth of the salt into her palm, she sprinkled it into the water bowl. Next, she picked up the mortar and used her fingers to scoop out the paste, finishing up with a splash of water to rinse out the mortar.
Pushing the mortar and pestle aside and placing the top back on the salt, she bent down again and grabbed a large spoon as well as another small container from the bottom shelf. This other container held thyme, which she dumped straight from the container. With all four ingredients mixed together, she stirred the dressing.
Almost instantly, the water darkened, thickening to a more milky consistency. The silver color of the petals spread through the clear liquid, mixing with the salt and thyme to cause the water to change to a honey-like color. As she continued to stir, the water bubbled slightly, a sign that the salt was bonding properly with the Yggdril petals and releasing their magic into the dressing. Finally, there was a light hiss as she ceased her stirring, the cloudy dressing still swirling within the bowl.
Savannah smiled, delighted that she had finished the most cumbersome task, she gathered the materials and returned them to their proper place. She left the bucket of water on the floor next to the stove, thinking she could utilize it later. Now she just had to cool the dressing for a while, and as that was happening she could buy the rest of the food for her meal. Artimus would have to be impressed by her ability to cook once he tasted this meal.
Leaving the dressing on the counter, Savannah walked across her cabin and reached into the cupboard that was situated by the entryway. From there, she pulled out two new containers and a clear, round bottomed flask. Returning to her countertop, she opened the two containers and dumped the contents of the first into the flask until it reached a small mark that she had left for measuring. The other container held a few small, white solids. Taking one of these deformed rocks out, she dropped it into the flask and twirled the mixture.
The barium hydroxide hydrate began reacting with the solid ammonium chloride. As the two ingredients continued their endothermic reaction, a small amount of vapor rose from the container. Holding the flask away from her nose, Savannah waited for the vapor to slow and then placed the flask directly into the dressing. She watched as a thin layer of frost formed on the outside of the flask and then reached under the counter and took out another bowl. Flipping the bowl upside down, she covered the dressing and the flask that rested within. This would help lock the cold air in.
About Joseph P. Macolino
Husband, father, and seeker of truth, Joseph Macolino has a passion for nature, philosophy, and all things fantasy. An unwavering Christian and self-declared anarchist, he dreams of a future human society where people can truly cooperate and voluntarily exchange ideas, goods, and services.
When he’s not writing Evorath, he’s likely outside gardening, spending time watching a show with his family, or reading a book on philosophy. Considering himself a lifelong student of humanity, Joseph enjoys meeting new people and being exposed to new perspectives. He believes each person’s unique gifts can help contribute to stronger communities and hopes his work encourages others to embrace their gifts.
Evorath introduces a rich world full of magic, adventure, and diverse characters trying to find their place in the world.