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“This action-packed Canadian animal fantasy trilogy is recommended for its unique mythology and diverse characters.” — School Library Journal

Three months after the battle of Zabor, the five friends that came together to defeat her have been separated. Burdened with the Calamity Stone she acquired in Scion of the Fox, Roan has gone to Scotland to retrace her grandmother’s steps in an attempt to stop further evil from entering the world.

Meanwhile, a wicked monster called Seela has risen from the ashy Bloodlands and is wreaking havoc on the world while children in Edinburgh are afflicted by a strange plague; Eli travels to Seoul to face judgment and is nearly murdered; Natti endures a taxing journey with two polar bears; Phae tries desperately to obtain the key to the Underworld; and Barton joins a Family-wide coalition as the last defense against an enemy that will stop at nothing to undo Ancient’s influence on Earth — before there is no longer an Earth to fight for.

Darkness, death, and the ancient powers that shape the world will collide as our heroes discover that some children collapse under their dark inheritance, and those who don’t are haunted by blood.

Samantha Mary Beiko is a Winnipeg-based author of award-winning teen fantasy fiction. Her titles include The Lake and the Library, Scion of the Fox, Children of the Bloodlands and The Brilliant Dark. She has worked extensively in the book and comic publishing industries since 2010 as an editor, graphic designer, and publisher, and was the editor on Gothic Tales of Haunted Love as well as its follow up, Gothic Tales of Haunted Futures. Beiko is also the artist and writer behind the award-nominated Webtoon, Krampus is My Boyfriend!

S.M. Beiko's profile page

“The rewardingly complex mythology is deepened through parallel humanizing themes in the protagonists’ storylines, while game-changing action sequences unleash real consequences in the highly diverse world. A densely-packed, well-crafted sequel that will leave readers eager for the trilogy’s finale.” — Kirkus Reviews

“[An] intricately plotted and pleasantly creepy volume. Roan, with her sarcasm, intensity, and increasing world-weariness, is a compelling, realistic protagonist … This action-packed Canadian animal fantasy trilogy is recommended for its unique mythology and diverse characters.” — School Library Journal (online)

“The five protagonists are vibrant and well developed characters, realistically diverse … The world is interesting, the mythology is unique and the characters are engaging.” — CM: Canadian Review of Materials

“In book 2 of The Realms of Ancient, Beiko brings the hammer down while continuing all that I loved about Scion of the Fox — the characters, the originality, and the real-world locations. I cannot wait to read the series finale. Bravo!” — Julie E. Czerneda, author of the Night’s Edge series

“S.M. Beiko’s Children of the Bloodlands is a wild, fiery, earth-shattering, sky-scraping ride. Roan and her friends, who came together so memorably in Scion of the Fox, must now follow separate paths, which lead them into realms that are both terrifying and beautiful, and truths that hurt before they heal. Book 3 can’t come soon enough!” — Caitlin Sweet, author of The Door in the Mountain and The Flame in the Maze

“Children of the Bloodlands is an exceptional instalment to the Realms of Ancient saga. S.M. Beiko injects her narrative with a passion and pathos that had me hooked from the very first page. This is a complex and compelling fantasy from one of Canada’s most exciting literary-spec writers. I’m eagerly awaiting book three.” — Charlene Challenger, author of The Voices in Between and The Myth in Distance

“Beiko does a wonderful job creating this world … I loved the ending and I loved how all the characters worked together but also apart and really loved how it all came together. I can’t wait to read the third book.” — Cover2CoverBlog

“[S.M. Beiko’s] world building abilities are again at their peak in this book, building onto the lush setting she has given us in the first book … I really enjoyed this book.” — Midsummer Night’s Read

“Children of the Bloodlands took the foundations of lore and mythology laid in the first book and grew it to a whole new level … I was fully engaged in the story and totally smitten with and protective of the characters.” — Brains, Books, and Brawn blog

“Written with the same maddeningly clever style as [Scion of the Fox], Children of the Bloodlands was a powerful and extremely exciting continuation of book 1 … The Realms of Ancient books are perfect for any YA fantasy reader.” — Rad Babes Read blog