THE FIRE IN THE WELL

a novel forthcoming by Raïna Manuel-Paris

Synopsis: With the multi layered depths of a fairy tale, this novel is a story for the ages. A prisoner of her overprotective mother, Martika, Queen of Stondark, Arabella has only known her fellow captive, Finn, through the music he plays on the other side of her locked door. Though a princess, Arabella has no control over her own life, she doesn't look like her mother and never met her father. Finn is a prisoner of war, he’s never met his mother and hasn’t seen his father since he was 6 years old. He struggles to hold on to his identity while making himself forgettable to the Queen. But the two have something in common: their yearning for freedom. When the Queen commits a terrible act of destruction, Arabella and Finn find the courage to flee. Their journey takes them beyond the realm of Stondark to places they could never imagine, and somewhere along the way they fall in love. But their escape sets off the Queen's wrath and when she uses her newfound shadow power against them, Arabella and Finn must make an unthinkable choice: dying without a soul or living without a heart...Unless they find a way to triumph.

Praise from trusted readers:
 

"There are very few books that have this quality of prose, vision, wisdom and devotion to or understanding of beauty and story."

"Wicked psycho-cinematic transitions, flawy story thread."

"I'm incredibly impressed with the characters you have created, the story you are telling and how you are telling it."

"I LOVE the story and characters."