Shipwrecked on an island in the empty restricted zone, Laurelin is rescued by an unusual and deformed man named Yaron who speaks to the birds and seems to live here alone. Although she has traveled across Balia to speak of TrueGod, she has no idea how to touch this man, who cannot communicate in any way. Soon, though, she realizes he isn't here alone. An entire village thrives on the island, and Yaron fears this village for reasons Laurelin can't understand.
Yaron has dreamed of leaving the island and finding a home where he can belong, where he needn't live in fear and silence, and he wonders if Laurelin has brought him escape. However, he can't communicate with her, and he fears even in her world his deformed body and bizarre mind will never find peace and community.
Together they discover the secrets behind this island world, ancient secrets that the leaders will kill to hide. Not only does the pair face danger from the village, but danger comes from the lands beyond the island, as well, and Laurelin and Yaron may be the only ones with the ability to save the village.
Tales of Balia
Jill Penrod wrote her first novel in high school. It was a space opera (she watched Star Wars A LOT), and it was not great literature. But she persevered, graduating college with top honors in writing. Since then, she’s published more than thirty novels. She now has six series available in several genres, including Christian teen romance, sweet romance, and Christian fantasy stories. None of them are space operas.
Jill lives in Kentucky with her husband and college-aged son. She has three other adult children out there doing adult things like work and marriage. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys crafts and photography and spoils her long-haired Chihuahua Sparrow. Recently she fulfilled her dream of moving to the country, although it has yet to be seen if this city mouse can become a country mouse or not.
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