This book, for readers on the cusp of middle grade and young adult, was published by Burning Ink Press. It’s available where books are sold. In particular:
The Kindle book order. The paperback order.
A boy wizard from one planet, a psychic girl from another, and a magic Planet Smasher bomb.
Are Earthlings really monsters who only look like us, the people of Krasny? That’s what fifteen-year-old Slavik keeps asking. Everyone on his planet says they are. The teachers. The TV. Every poster on the walls. Even the other kids. Everyone except for Slavik’s parents. They have always been different. So is Slavik. The best wizard in his class, yet he asks too many questions. The Supreme Council and its Perun Guardians don’t like that.
When his parents disappear, and no one on Krasny will help, Slavik has only one chance to find them—to escape to Earth through a magic portal. But when he arrives, he discovers that the Guardians plan to attack Earth. Together with his new friend Rita, a talented psychic and sharp-witted, cool-headed girl, Slavik finds he must not only save his parents but also prevent a war and help overthrow the Council.
An interview with me.
The opening:
Chapter 1
Slavik stood on the roof of his home tower, squeezing the rusted iron railing so hard that his hands hurt. Below him, the green-red gulf of the Inner Sea gently broke against the cliffs, and above him nimble listrions hung on wind currents, singing their songs to attract the fish. The birds looked beautiful with their sleek wings the size of a rowing boat. And even more beautiful was the sparkling desert to the right that reached all the way to the Dragon Mountains.
The enchanted lights he made in school at his Magic class also looked great. Floating at night and now attached to the railings, they changed shape every few minutes. From cherries to pine tree cones to apples and back. But who cared what they looked like? Slavik’s dad vanished. Nothing could hurt more.
Slavik breathed in and out. He shook his head and relaxed his grip. Only kids took their anger out on stupid iron and stupid birds. He was an adult now. Well, almost. Give him another few years.
Slavik raised his head above the birds to watch the three waning moons above. The moons, the sisters—Lada, Slava, and Olga—came together only once a month. Dad said they hated each other. But Mom said the evil wizards from below the Dragon Mountains prevented them from meeting more often. Slavik liked Mom’s story more. The Dragon Mountains wizards must be cool and powerful. He guessed it would be great to be powerful. He wasn’t. If he were, he’d bring his dad back right now.
“Earth had only one moon. Poor Earthlings,” Dad told Slavik a few weeks back. “That’s why our ancestors escaped from Earth to Krasny. Now we have three moons and two suns. It was worth the trip. Right?”
Slavik smiled. “You are kidding me, right, Dad? Our people didn’t come to watch the moons and suns. They escaped the evil landlords.”
“And they were a bit of romantics. They named our new home Krasny,” Dad went on. “Do you know what ‘Krasny’ means?”
Slavik frowned. “C’mon, Dad. Every kindergartner knows that. And I’m almost fifteen. It means ‘beautiful’ or ‘bright’ in old Krainian. And also ‘red’ in Roosian.”
Dad slapped him on the shoulder lightly. “Of course, you know, son. You are the best student I’ve ever seen. It’s an honor to have you in our family.”
Slavik raised his chin. He knew that Dad was exaggerating, but he still felt proud.
A week later, in the morning, Slavik ran downstairs, skipping steps, singing aloud, “Happy Birthday to Me.” His fifteenth birthday had happened the day before, but why not celebrate a bit longer? The yellow and blue balloons still hung from the ceiling, adding to his happy mood. But then he saw Mom sitting in the chair. She had buried her face in her hands, crying. He had never seen her cry.
“Dad has vanished,” she said, lifting her tear-stained eyes to him.
Slavik’s breath caught in his throat. “What do you mean, he’s vanished?”
“He’s not home. He’s not at work. He hasn’t answered my calls since yesterday. It has never happened before.”
“But … but he’ll come back, right? Right, Mom? He’ll only be gone a little while, and then he’ll be back.”
His mother broke out into sobs, and upon seeing that, Slavik felt his own tears welling and running down his cheeks like two rivers.