Breath of Angel (The Angelaeon Circle)

306 Pages·2011·1.19 MB·English

by  Karyn Henley

Praise for
Breath of Angel
“Karyn Henley spins a lyrical young-adult tale of
mythical and legendary beings, of reimagined angels
and terrifying malevolents, in a small kingdom where
the world’s fate rests on a young priestess’s
shoulders.”
—KATHY TYERS, author of Shivering
World and the Firebird series
“Karyn Henley’s novel starts with a jolt, grabs the
reader by the collar, and doesn’t slow down one
minute. This author infuses her text with imagery,
suspense, and a cast that will appeal to all ages. In
addition, it has a feeling that I can only describe as
“folklorish,” with all the best elements that come with
that—music, magic, and mystery. I think it’s destined
to become a classic.”
—KATHI APPELT, author of The
Underneath, National Book Award
finalist, Newbery Honor Book, PEN
USA Award
“This lusciously written fantasy has it all: epic battles,
earthbound angels, immortal humans, and a bright,
engaging heroine. Henley’s young priestess-turned-
warrior is forced to put her past together like a jigsaw
puzzle with pieces so sharp they cut. Her story is
nearly impossible to forget, so readers will be eager
for more!”
—LOUISE HAWES, author of Black Pearls:
a Faerie Strand, AAUW Juvenile
Literature Award nominee; Gold Award,
Hall of Fame, www.teensreadtoo.com

BREATH OF ANGEL
PUBLISHED BY WATERBROOK PRESS
12265 Oracle Boulevard, Suite 200
Colorado Springs, Colorado 80921
The characters and events in this book are fictional, and any
resemblance to actual persons or events is coincidental.
eISBN: 978-0-307-73013-8
Copyright © 2011 by Karyn Henley
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying and recording, or by any information storage
and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the
publisher.
Published in the United States by WaterBrook Multnomah, an
imprint of the Crown
Publishing Group, a division of Random House Inc., New York.
WATERBROOK and its deer colophon are registered trademarks of
Random House Inc.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Henley, Karyn.
Breath of angel / Karyn Henley. — 1st ed.
p. cm. — (The Angelaeon circle; bk. 1)
Summary: In a land of angels and humans, shape shifters and
sylvans, warring brothers have destroyed the only portal to heaven,
stranding tortured souls on earth, and only sixteen-year-old
chantress Melaia—half angel and half human—can restore it.
[1. Angels—Fiction. 2. Fantasy.] I. Title.
PZ7.H3895Br 2011
[Fic] — dc22
2011000430
v3.1
With gratitude to my Vermont College
of Fine Arts friends and mentors,
angels all.
Camríthía

CAST OF CHARACTERS
Benasin: Advisor to the overlord of Navia.
Caepio: Leader of an acting troupe that travels
Camrithia.
Cilla: Serving woman to the nobility at the palace in
Qanreef.
Dandreij: The firstborn son of legend, who ate a
seed from the fruit of the Wisdom Tree and
became immortal.
Dreia: One of the Archae. Guardian of plant life,
including the Wisdom Tree.
Dwin: Fifteen-year-old brother of Trevin and aide to
Lord Rejius.
Earthbearer: One of the Archae. Guardian of ground
and underground; also known as the Lord of the
Under-Realm.
Esper: A sylvan earth-angel. Wife of Noll.
Flametender: One of the Archae. Guardian of fire.
Gerda: Dwarf. Angelaeon. Wife of Gil.
Gil: Dwarf. Angelaeon.
Hanamel (Hanni): High priestess of the city of Navia.
Iona: Fourteen-year-old novice priestess from Navia.
Jarrod: Nephili. Priest in the city of Redcliff. Admitted
to the ranks of Angelaeon as Exousia, a warrior
and keeper of history.
Laetham: King of Camrithia.
Livia: A servant-messenger of the lower order of