Have questions about submitting to Pitch Wars or just want to know what it is? Start here!

Blog

PW #364: Young Adult Fantasy: STARS AND REEDS

Friday, 4 November 2016  |  Posted by Heather Cashman

Manuscript Status: Finished

Mentor Name: Kip Wilson
Mentee Name: Sam Taylor
Title: STARS AND REEDS
Category: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Word Count: 82,000

Pitch:

Falsely accused of killing a wealthy merchant, Jameelah faces life in bondage unless she clears her name with star magic, a power inaccessible to Marsh Dwellers like herself. Her only hope of acquiring magic is to escape prison and ally with her childhood enemy Rashida, a star magician—and the merchant’s real murderer.

Excerpt:

Hazine finds me among the other sinners at the temple gates. She jostles through to my side and, with a wink, presses something smooth into my hand. “Want to try another spell tonight?”

“Quiet down! You piping coot.” I glance around, but the guards are busy herding more prisoners to the temple. Still, I put my back to them before studying the stone on my palm.

Hazine grins. “I’ve made new starstones.”

That she has. I curl my fingers around the white ball of clay, my heart racing while my stomach knots. Then a guard stomps too near and I stuff the rock down my sleeve.

“In line, Marsh Girl!” The man swings a staff toward my face. “The rites of penance are about to begin. Though I don’t know why the gods would care about a killer like you.”

Heat flares in my chest and I clench my hands into fists. That brute is more killer than I.

The remaining criminals emerge from squat work sheds; mud-brick huts squished together like segments of a wasp’s nest. Guards shove them into the crowd around the temple. I groan as someone elbows my back, aching from another day hunched over a loom.

“Jameelah. Shall we try a spell or not?” Hazine nudges the stone in my sleeve. Her brown fingers are spotted with clay from an afternoon spent making pots. “Isn’t it magnificent? I have a dozen of them. I think we can summon some real magic tonight.”

Filed: Pitch Wars

Comments are closed.
IMPORTANT!
We're thrilled at the different ways those in our Pitch Wars community are giving back—and we encourage them to do so. However, please keep in mind that Pitch Wars is not affiliated with any of these various contests, promotions, etc., including those of our mentors and mentees. Promoting any such opportunities via our social media channels doesn't imply endorsement or affiliation. We encourage you to do your research before participating.

Pitch Wars takes a stand. ANTI-BULLYING. Click here to review our policy

Pitch Wars 2021

Blog Archives

Blog Categories

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.