From the foothills of the Freotho Mountains to the marble halls of Mahriket, factions of deities rise to threaten not only Master Rothahn’s crown, but all Onweald’s people. The battles fan the gates of the dark spirit world, releasing demons of every species to aid the enemy, but an embattled Nigel Taiman brings Malachi’s power to the Arcanan Army’s camp in hopes of tipping the balance in his bride’s favor. 
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The Choices Trilogy
There’s no doubt: Amanda Chariss is in danger. Her geasa is hampered by the effects of a doomed wedding. The dashing Nigel Taiman hides something from her, yet demands she stay at his family’s estate where he and her wizard guardian intend to keep her safe. But the sorcerer Lord Drake and Julette the Betrayer know she’s there, and their monstrous army marches that way.
When prophecies stack up to threaten an arrogant deity, Chariss must choose between the dragon that courts her and the ostracized kings of the Southlands for help. Evil stalks her at every turn and madness creeps over the goddess who guides her. Can an orphan-turned-Protector resist the dark side of her heritage? Or will she sacrifice all to keep her god-charge safe? (BOOK 2)
Not even the gods noticed when Amanda Chariss was born with the mark of The Protector. Now she and her wizard guardian hide from a mad sorcerer in a household full of false hope and whispered secrets. The same god who watches over the family school sheltering Chariss will soon reveal her role in an impending war.
When a wizard’s ward sets aside a lifetime of running and fear to accept the responsibilities of guarding an arrogant deity, can she face the trials in the prophecies they uncover? Will Nigel Taiman of her latest refuge dare to use his dragon heritage to bind her to his estate or to help her in her duty? (BOOK 1)
Dangerous times call for strange allies from all quarters.
To restore the geasa that should save the god she’s sworn to protect, Amanda Chariss must escape the very Betrayer’s grasp and make choices for the good of everyone. Does she have the will to sacrifice all that she holds dear in the process? Dive into the action-packed conclusion of the Choices trilogy to discover how prophecy works with, and against, those who would heed it.
​(BOOK 3)

Welcome to Onweald!

Amanda Chariss's dragon companion, Malachi, shares his thoughts on our world and trivia from the fantasy world of Onweald in the monthly eNewsletter "SandySaysRead."
You should check that out!

Immerse Yourself
In the World of Onweald

Shadowflame Creations and Sandy Lender teamed up to provide a range of scents from the Choices series. From perfumes to pet-safe candles and a lovely room diffuser that swirls the essence of Hleo-Arcana in your own home, Damon Phelps has brought Sandy's world into vivid reality for you!
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Visit Shadowflame Creations to learn more.

IMPORTANT CHARACTERS of the CHOICES SERIES

Nigel is the regal, shadowy son of the evil Julette and Godric Alan Taiman. He was raised by the former goddess Kora Rothahn Taiman at Hleo-Arcana. He was born in the autumn (harvest season) of 7192 in the wilds and brought immediately to Hleo-Arcana. His heritage means he holds a power and a curse within him.
Amanda Chariss Derdriu (sha-rees deer-drew) is the heroine of the Choices series. She was born in the planting season/spring of 7200 in the city of Kharole with an amethyst near the corner of her right eye and this marks her as The Protector of The Master.
Hrazon is the greatest of the twelve wizards the gods created. He was born in 6774 in the area of Mon’dore. He still has the limitations that hinder wizards, such as a limited ability to heal, but his level of geasa is impressive. When he turned twelve winters—in 6786—the lesser goddess Mia approached him from Mahriket and offered him his task: to train The Master’s Protector.

Amanda Chariss Derdriu

Hrazon of Mon'dore

Joshua Nigel Taiman

His full name is not spoken aloud. The Master Rothahn (Rohne in informal settings) is the highest active god from Mahriket, born to The Ultimate One and Julette circa 4200. During 7220, He left the city of the gods to help His daughter, Kora Rothahn Taiman, in the mortal world and to complete Amanda Chariss’s training leading up to the Vale War.
Malachi is another character's dragon persona. The Ungol Priestess Nilthi revealed his name when she arrived at Hleo-Arcana in 7220 to collect Jorin Taiman and Sorne Jeel.
Hrell Baine is an ofersey’n from Treown who served as a benefactor to Chariss for two winters. He rode to the aid of his friend and fellow ofersey’n, Frenir Gint, in the spring of 7220.

Malachi

Lord Hrell Baine

Mechehl Jusette Rothahn

Honoring Best Friends

Henry Bakerson

Captain Henry Bakerson is Nigel Taiman’s childhood friend. This gruff and boisterous sailor was falsely accused of fathering a child with Hattie Jenkins of Arcana City, before he set out to sail The Meredore.
From Choices Meant for Kings:
"Henry stood taller. No one would doubt his lack of discipline, but might mistake him for useful in a fight."
Throughout the Choices series, the reader sees examples of friendships that stand the test of time and trials. From gods in Mahriket, who’ve been friends for centuries, to youth in the school at Hleo-Arcana, who’ve recently met, we experience a range of relationships throughout the story/stories. One relationship that has incredible depth is that of Chariss and her wizard guardian Hrazon. A reader could easily argue they are as much best friends as they are ward and mentor. But a friendship that is spelled out and called out as “best friends since childhood” is that of Nigel Taiman and Henry Bakerson.

The broody, somewhat neglected heir-apparent from Hleo-Arcana and the overly indulged son of a baker made an unlikely duo when they first met, then became practically inseparable as they grew up and sowed their wild oats in the Southeast of Onweald. They’ve matured, thank goodness, over the winters into strong, responsible men who still honor friendship. Rooting for them is a joy.

I’m excited to see which of the friendships in the world of Onweald other writers pick up on for an upcoming anthology! (stay tuned)

The Betrayer's Curse

Julette

Julette’s origin is mostly forgotten among mortals, but her power infamous. Few stories exist in history that predate her deification; fewer still portray her in a positive light.
Those seeking more of the worldbuilding for Onweald will want to know...

Julette—also known as The Dragon, The Betrayer, Kelthowr, the devil—centuries ago placed a curse on the women of Onweald making it difficult for them to beget female children and making childbirth increasingly dangerous for a woman with each consecutive pregnancy. Families that wished to attempt having a girl child risked the woman’s life doing so; families that succeeded in having a girl child were considered blessed and the child was highly favored. A family with a girl child would be able to marry her off to a wealthy or important family when she came of child-bearing age. This resulted in fewer women over the centuries and was resulting in fewer children overall as Onweald society progressed.

Children of Julette also carried a power within them, referred to as “Julette’s curse.” This was different and specific to her offspring.

First, when Julette left one of her babies with an unsuspecting woman, the child had a charm about it that compelled the woman to care for the baby. The spell more or less removed free will from a mortal woman’s decision-making when it came to caring for the child, thus securing the child’s safety and well-being.

Next, when the child reached a certain age, he or she might begin to shape-shift at night when the second moon reached its zenith. The children who carried Julette’s curse morphed into their dragon form. For those with no idea what was happening, this often resulted in a family member (other than the devoted foster mother) or neighbor killing him or her, thus there were fewer of her offspring populating Onweald outside of The Ultimate One’s lineage than one might think.
"Julette wore military boots that were standard issue in Jovera’s army, but her legs grew out of them like the sinuous limbs of a fig tree, reaching under a chain mail skirt. The exposed flesh was the sun-soaked color of ripe wheat but had the hard look—and smell—of baked leather. In fact, all about her was the scent of burned things. Burned leather, burned leaves, burned fabrics. The woman reeked of embers still consuming life beneath a bubbling surface yet oozed the heat of desire."
Image by the artist Piolka