Part 2: Backstory, plot line & sneak peak

Life Between the Pages is a fantasy book about Liliana, a young girl who fled from an abusive home only to be kidnapped by a powerful, mind-reading commander with an attitude, Camila; who thrusts her into training with history’s strongest warriors — the way she does it — page bending. The magical art of delving into books and existing in the world written within.

Liliana is forced to spend one year in each realm learning the art of survival, physical abilities, and mental fortitude. The only catch, if you die in the books, you die in real life. Death is death.

Backstory: This book, in my mind, is a kind of prequel to my first book The Potential of Heartbreak. That book actually started with a dream I had about a little bookshop in Seville, Spain and just exploded from there! There are hints here and there in The Potential of Heartbreak that the bookshop is no ordinary place, but Life Between the Pages brings it all to the forefront.

Plot line: It’s going to be fast-paced, intense, and rough. Whereas my previous book was more relaxed, casual, and relatable. Liliana gets thrown into a world she never knew existing because of her fighting spirit. Camila is building an army of bold, strategic, fearless fighters and Liliana fit the bill. Without realizing it, Liliana picked her destiny for the next four years. Having picked up a round shield, a long sword, a spear, and a bow and arrows when faced with an unknown threat and it solidified her path.

The round shield represented the gladiatrix — female gladiators in Rome.

The long sword for medieval combat warriors like Joan of Arc.

The iron spear of the warlike women known for riding skills, courage, and pride — The Amazon Women.

The bow and arrows for the stealth and cunning of Greek Gods.

Liliana chose her fate and will train with historic warriors, conditioning her for what comes next. What could possibly be worse than gladiators, knights, profound warriors, and Gods? Follow along to find out…

Sneak peak:

Enjoy a drafted passage from Life Between the Pages:

“We’re here,” she gestured for me to walk first into the narrow passageway. 

I hesitated a step before those razors shot into my forearms again but I tore away from them finally catching a glimpse of the sickly creatures. I refused to let my fear show and flicked my face towards the doorway. Taking a deep breath I shoved the weighted door forwards on its groaning hinges. 

A dome of stained glass windows at the pinnacle of the ceiling painted the stone floors in deep shades of purple and red. The vast circular room of balconies and lofted seating encompassed a round platform at the center of the space, highlighted only by the deep red color of the glass above. 

A stage, no doubt. For what, I dared not imagine. 

“Why am I here?” My voice steady and demanding. 

“To train,” Camila offered, signaling towards the round platform. Gritting my teeth I looked around, entering further into the great room. The echo of my steps, the only sound. Until I heard the groan of iron. Of a gate, a cage door. I whirled my head, hair sticking to my neck and temples, to glare at Camila. Her smug face only nodded towards a spread of weapons and tools that suddenly materialized before us. 

I’d never touched a weapon besides the steak knife I hid under my pillow, a light piece of sharp metal that I imagined would bounce right off my father had I ever needed to use it. 

Swords of all kinds littered the table, long blades, short stocky ones, and ones comparable to my steak knife. Then weapons and tools I’d never see. Never heard of. A staff, mace, orbs, bow and arrows, whip, chains, ax, wands, even throwing stars. Too many. Too many to choose from when I didn’t even know my opponent. 

A growl chilled my bones till they felt like powder held together by skin alone. What was that? I glared around in search of its origin. The table sprawled out in front of me started to vanish. One by one the weapons disappeared. The mace, the staff, the chains… 

I grasped for a long sword, a round shield, the spear, and the bow and arrows before the rest vanished. 

And without knowing, I chose my destiny right then. And everything went black.

Stay tuned for more about Life Between the Pages by Emma Wagner