Author: M. Dalto
Narrator: Amanda Abeillan
Length: 8 hours 20 minutes
Series: The Empire Saga, Book 1
Publisher: The Parliament House
Released: Feb. 3, 2020
Genre: Fantasy
Two thousand years ago, the prophecy of fire and light foretold the coming of the queen empress who would lead the empire into a time of peace and tranquility. But instead of the coming of a prosperous world, a forbidden love for the empress waged a war that ravaged the land, creating a chasm between the factions and raising the death toll of innocent lives until the final, bloody battle. Centuries later, Alexandra, a 22-year-old barista living in Boston, is taken to an unfamiliar realm of mystery and magic where her life is threatened by Reylor, its banished lord steward. She crosses paths with Treyan, the arrogant and seductive crown prince of the empire, and together, they discover how their lives, and their love, are so intricately intertwined by a prophecy set in motion so many years ago. Alex, now the predestined Queen Empress Alexstrayna, whose arrival was foretold by the annals of the empire, controls the fate of her new home as war rages between the crown prince and lord steward. Either choice could tear her world apart, as she attempts to keep the empire's torrid history from repeating itself. In a realm where betrayal and revenge will be as crucial to her survival as love and honor, Alex must discover whether it is her choice - or her fate - that determines how she survives the empire's rising conflicts.
M. Dalto is a Young Adult and New Adult author of adventurous romantic fantasy stories. Her bestselling debut novel, Two Thousand Years, was a 2016 Watty Award winner (Wattpad.com). She has since released two companion novellas, and its sequel, MARK OF THE EMPRESS. Her sophomore release, LADY MUTINY, has been signed with Magnolia Press for publication in 2020.
She was recruited to participate in Wattpad Paid Stories program for serialized authors in March 2019, and has since been invited into the Wattpad Stars program. She continues to volunteer her time as a literary mentor and freelance developmental editor, where she hopes to engage, assist, and inspire new writers through their literary journey.
She spends her days working as a full-time real estate paralegal, leaving her evenings to pursue her own writing agenda. When she’s not typing furiously at her computer, she enjoys reading fantasy novels, playing video games, and drinking coffee. She currently lives in Massachusetts with her husband, their daughter, and their corgi named Loki.
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Amanda Abeillan has narrated over a thousand hours of audio included in books, educational videos, commercials and more. She loves telling stories and making them come alive for her audiences. She also enjoys singing, playing the piano, and learning French. In her spare time, she can be found watching British panel shows and history documentaries.
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Alexandra ‘Alex’ Ross, Queen Empress Alexstrayna
Alex was a pretty average young woman living on her own in Boston, a Starbucks barista by day until the surprisingly omnipotent stranger, Treyan, takes her away to the Empire. Only there, when she’s tested and tried to her limits, is her true potential discovered– and not just because she’s the predestined Queen Empress.
Alex moved to Boston when she reached her emotional limits while under her controlling parents’ roof. Both having prominent positions within their surrounding community, she felt smothered and often judged for her lack of personal and professional growth.
She claimed a ground-floor, one-bedroom apartment in Boston’s North End as her own, within walking distance to her favorite spot, Faneuil Hall. Even in Boston, however, her relationship with her parents remained strained. They always seemed to know what she was doing, when she was doing it , and who she was going it with. Because of this, she tried her best to distance herself from them- the less they knew about her lifestyle, the better.
In her spare time, Alex enjoys the sights and sounds of the city she calls home. Working as a barista, coffee is a passion, and she often enjoys getting lost in a book or two.
Alex remains a realist, even after being swept away to the Empire. Caring and loyal to those who deserve it, she remains quick to lose her temper, especially when she finds herself being forced into situations against her will.
Treyan, Crown Prince of the Empire
Treyan believed he had everything in his life planned for him once the Queen Empress was retrieved and brought to the Empire, but when his banished brother, Reylor, takes it upon himself to thwart the predestined plans, he begins to question everything his life has been built upon.
Treyan was born and raised within the Empire, another realm much different than the world we currently know until it was time to retrieve the Queen Empress, determined by a prophetic dream only to come to the firstborn of the royal line. He was brought up in the ways of the Empire, training in swordplay and the diplomatic arts, which his twin brother, Reylor, by his side. Their mother died when they were younger, heartbroken after their father’s disappearance, and the loss of both left a hole in their hearts. Together he and his brother were raised by the Councilor, remembering to rule and live by the Prophecy without question, patiently waiting for the day Treyan would leave to bring the Queen Empress to the Empire.
Charismatic and honorable, Treyan is bound by duty to his Empire more than anything else. He chooses to follow the Annals and believes in the Prophecy of Fire and Light, its power the true ruling force behind the Empire and its monarchy.
He is averse to reading and studying, and quickly dismisses anything that makes him question his personal beliefs, but once he brings the Empress to the Empire, it sets in motion events that will change everything Treyan once believed in, leaving him to now question even himself.
TWO THOUSAND YEARS was originally inspired by the Billy Joel song of the same name, and when I initially began drafting it, it was almost used as an outline of sorts to help move the plot forward while I was writing. The version now is far different than what it was then, but the same essence of what I want to convey remains, with the song that inspired it all still at the heart of my story. As for the remainder of the songs on the playlist, I don’t necessarily find songs that fit into certain parts of the story, but rather if I hear a song that I feel could fit a scene, that’s when it gets added. Music is a great added benefit to my storytelling, and I hope that’s conveyed through this playlist!https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1UUlB8UbkZjKASJt6oX12D
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