The Book of Astoriya: The Land of the Blooming Forest: 1, #1

By Deema T. Kheiry

The Lands of Astoriya have been unveiled, a magical journey shall be revealed…

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Eleven-year-old Sofie is lost! What started out as an ordinary visit to the Community Library, ended with her thrust into a world that she never thought possible.Armed only with the strange, dust-ridden book that sent her there, Sofie grapples to find her way back home.

 

But not all is as it seems in the Land of the Blooming Forest. Jasmine, Queen of the Fairies, needs help to save the land from a vicious, relentless enemy that seeks to plunge them all into a world of darkness. And Sofie is their only hope.

 

Follow Sofie as she fights to save The Land of the Blooming Forest, makes a few magical friends along the way, and discovers the long-hidden secret of Astoriya, and a secret of her own that she never knew she had…

• Language: English
• Publisher: Deema Kheiry
• Release date: Mar 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9789948190172

Book preview

Seal the Gates!

S-SEAL THE GATES!

The distant humming that was approaching faster and faster did nothing to mask the shaky nervousness in her voice. Jasmine, Queen of the Fairies, had sensed that something had been off lately. But she, like all the fairies, just couldn’t understand what it was. After ages of peace and tranquility, strange things had started to happen. Dark things. And now this. 

SEAL THE GATES! she tried again, this time with more strength. She couldn’t appear to be afraid. They needed her now more than ever.

It’s too late, Your Majesty! Camellia, one of the queen’s most faithful fairies, called out as she rushed toward the Royal Throne.

They have scorched the gates and breached the walls of the Garden, Lily, another faithful fairy, added as she trailed just behind Camellia. What should we do?

Their voices were in a panic as the humming grew louder.

What has become of the elves? the queen inquired.

"Th-there is no sign of them, Your Majesty."

Queen Jasmine tried to prevent the panic rising up from the pit of her stomach from appearing in her eyes as she looked back at the throne behind her. "We must protect it at all costs," she asserted.

Yes, my Queen. Of course, Camellia hesitated to continue, but she knew that she must. They were running out of time. But news has come from the gates. It is not only the Orange Stripes, Your Majesty, but the Red Stripes as well.

Red Stripes!? The Red Stripes showing themselves in the Garden only meant one thing. The King… the queen whispered under her breath, then in a commanding voice called out, GATHER THE FAIRIES!

But it was of no use. Taking advantage of the queen’s weakened state, the Red Stripes arrived, along with their King, and forcefully took what they had spent an eternity yearning for. Finally attaining all the power that he needed, the King of the Dragonflies and his vicious army left the Garden in ruin as the fairies looked on in utter shock. Most of all, Queen Jasmine.

As she isolated herself in her haven, Queen Jasmine puzzled over the events that had just occurred. How could this have happened? How could this be?

She paced around the globe-shaped dwelling, fluttering back and forth as she struggled to find a solution. Now that it was gone, her magic and the magic of all the fairies would be dangerously weakened. They could no longer protect themselves. They could no longer protect anything. That is why the King didn’t even bother to harm her. He knew. He knew that with it in his possession; she was powerless against him.

The queen’s eyes darted around her haven as she tried to think of what to do. Suddenly, she saw something strange. Something she had never seen before. The tiniest speck of light was shining from behind a crack in the grooves of the wall. Although her bright fairy dust filled the haven, this light was different.

Could it be? She curiously walked toward the shining light, noticing that it was getting brighter. It seemed to be calling out to her, trying to get her attention. It can’t be!

Queen Jasmine remembered what was hiding behind that wall. What had been hiding there for an eternity, tucked away, untouched. She knew it was a risk, but she could think of no other option. She looked out of the window of her haven, taking in the aftermath of the King’s attack. Despite it being early in the day, the sky was getting gloomier as darkness started to overwhelm the land. Queen Jasmine knew it would only get worse with time. With the King of the Dragonflies in control, who knew what would come to be.

She turned to look at the wall again, only to see the light shining even brighter out of the hidden opening. She looked at the entrance to her haven and made sure no one was approaching. As their queen, she had promised the fairies that her door would always be open to them. But now, in this one case, they must know nothing of what she was about to do.

She closed the door to her haven and, for the first time ever, sealed it shut. She then made her way to the wall and removed the wooden cover that sealed the hidden opening. No one had ever dared to open it before. Queen Jasmine remembered the day she learned of it. It was just days before her coronation. The former Queen had mentioned it only seconds before her fairy dust had flickered for the last time. It was there, no one was to know about it, and it was to never be opened. But now, it was calling out to her, and she was certain that she had no other choice.

Queen Jasmine pushed past her hesitation and placed her hands through the opening, pulling out a large, dark, dust-ridden book. Its hefty weight took her breath away as she hurried to a table at the other end of the haven. She wiped the dust away, revealing more of the cover. It had the slightest golden glow to it that she hadn’t noticed before, as well as some strange engravings that she couldn’t make out. She looked over at the sealed door once more, took a deep breath, and opened the musty cover.

The blank pages in front of her started to glow, revealing images that she never thought imaginable. The queen stared at the pages and watched as the past, present and future of the Land of the Blooming Forest appeared in front of her. A smile crept over her face as she witnessed the moment she first bloomed out of her flower, her golden fairy dust floating around her wings as they unfolded for the first time. Little Jasmine’s mother, the former Queen of the Fairies, was hovering just beside her, waiting in anticipation. Behind her were hundreds of other fairies, elves, birds, and other creatures of the forest, there to celebrate the birth of their future queen.

The images then shifted to reveal the very room she was in, several years later. Her mother was wilting away on her bed, pointing at the wall that had encased the very book in Queen Jasmine’s hands. An older, more mature Jasmine sat next to her, holding her other hand and listening intently as her mother whispered the words that she had just recalled moments before. Tears streamed down Jasmine’s eyes as she watched the last bit of fairy dust surrounding her mother fade away.

Bright colors glided around the page as images of Queen Jasmine’s coronation appeared in front of her. The same audience that was there for her birth blissfully cheered as a crown of sweet-smelling jasmine flowers was placed on her head. And although her mother was not present in the images, just like on that day, Queen Jasmine could sense that she was there, somehow.

The King of the Dragonflies and his army of Red Stripes and Orange Stripes appeared next. As did the never-ending conflicts and the tireless attempts at forging peace that had always failed in the end. The images revealed Queen Jasmine as she finally decided to cast a spell that was meant to put an end to it all, trapping the King and his followers behind a magical barrier and allowing the creatures of the forest to live in peace for years to come.

Then came the images of the gates to the Fairy Gardens—scorched and in pieces, just as Lily and Camellia had described them. Queen Jasmine watched as the events she had just experienced played out in front of her all over again. The towering King of the Dragonflies pompously hovered to her throne tree as his brutal army fought off the determined fairies and destroyed the once brightly blooming Fairy Gardens. Scorching breaths of fire escaped from the King’s mouth and onto the back of the throne, causing the source of the fairies’ powerful magic to loosen and fall.

The queen held up her wand in an attempt to block the King from causing any more damage to the throne. But before she could start to cast her spell, three Red Stripes quickly burst their flames of fire in her direction, causing her to double back. Before she could regain her balance, the wand slipped out of her shaking hand and dropped down to the scorched ground below. She was helpless now, unable to do anything but look on in shock as the King hovered out of the Fairy Gardens with all the power that he needed clasped tightly to his chest.

Queen Jasmine couldn’t help but look away as the images of what was to come then began to reveal themselves. The more she saw, the more concerned she grew. There seemed to be nothing but danger and misery ahead of them, and with her magic so badly weakened, there was nothing she could do about it. She turned her eyes back down to the pages to face the disturbing destiny that was awaiting the Land of the Blooming Forest. Her tears started to flow down her pale face even more as the images turned into nothing but darkness.

Just as she was about to shut the book in despair, a tiny little sparkle appeared on one of the blackened pages then started to grow bigger and bigger. The book was revealing something new; something different. She stared into the pages once again, a hopeful gasp escaping her mouth.

This is it… she whispered to herself, This is our only hope…

Chapter One

Just Another Boring Day…

Beep-beep, beep-beep…

Sofie Ranary tossed around in her sleep, trying to ignore the blaring sound of the alarm clock. She felt so warm and comfortable cuddled in her bed. The last thing she wanted was to hear the sound that only meant one thing; it was time to wake up and get through another day of school. One that she was not looking forward to at all. Just like all the days that had passed since the beginning of the school year without her best friend, Haley, by her side.

Beep-beep, beep-beep…

The sound continued ringing in Sofie’s ears, waiting for her to take action. Even though it was just a few inches away, balancing on the edge of her top bunk, to Sofie, the clock might as well have been on the other side of the room. Stretching her hand reluctantly across the bed, she switched off the alarm. It would only be a few minutes before her mom came into the room and started rushing around, getting her sister Natalie’s clothes ready for the day. Natty had just started kindergarten and was having a great time making friends and learning new things. She always looked forward to getting to school and hated leaving it.

For the longest time, Sofie felt the same way, that is, when Haley was around. From the moment they crawled over to each other on that first day in nursery school, Sofie and Haley were inseparable. They did everything together. And as they grew up, their bond became stronger. It was only up until first grade that they were allowed to be placed in the same class. Then their constant chattering and giggling throughout the day led their teachers to start separating them into different classes every year since. But that certainly didn’t stop them.

Every break they would be found sitting side by side, eating their food and catching up on all that had happened in the few hours that they were apart. They’d even ask their moms to cut their sandwiches in half so they could share their lunches as well.

Everyone wondered what they could possibly spend so much time talking about. But for them, it was always like no time had passed at all. They shared the same interests, liked the same books, and enjoyed the same games.

So, on that fateful day when Haley came to Sofie, in tears, and told her she would be moving away, they both knew that things would never be the same. And when fifth grade came to a start, the excitement that she had always felt at the beginning of the school year was replaced with boredom and loneliness. She liked her classes, and her teachers were nice, but she was having a hard time making new friends. She and Haley had been so similar that all the other students seemed so different.

Sofie stared up at the wall above her. The darkness of the room and the weight of her blanket held her down in her comfortable bed. Suddenly, from the corner of her eye, she saw a bright little sparkle appear, then disappear just as quickly. She turned to look in the light’s direction, but there was no trace of it, so she shut her eyes tight and rubbed them with her palms. She must have been imagining it. 

Good morning, little ladies! It’s six o’clock. Time to get ready for school. Her mom’s voice rang as the lights suddenly came on, brightening the room too much for what Sofie’s eyes were prepared for.

Right on schedule, Sofie thought to herself as she pulled the blanket over her head. She heard the closet doors open and close.

Good morning, Mommy! Natty’s cheerful voice called out.

Well, a good morning to you too, Natty! Sofie, are you awake? her mom asked, tapping her gently.

Yeah, I just need a minute. Sofie sat up with a scowl on her face and watched her mom hang her sister’s clothes on the closet door handles. I don’t want to go to school. 

And why is that?

It’s boring, I don’t have anyone to talk to during the break. Sofie knew this wasn’t a good excuse, but she figured she’d try her luck, anyway.

There’s much more to school than just the break, sweetie. You know that.

Sofie frowned. That definitely wasn’t the response she was hoping for.