THE ISLES OF ANTARAH TRILOGY
An illustrated coming of age
young adult series
Naiya and the Foxdragon
• Book One in the isles of Antarah series •
Naiya
An independent young teen of 14 years, Naiya loves to spend her time outside. A house servant to a spice merchant, she finds freedom in climbing rooftops and hidden passageways on her errands within the city. Always curious about the greater world, she enjoys learning through books. Naiya has a soft spot for animals, caring for those she finds abandoned in the city.
Aru
A young foxdragon brought to the trade city of Ora, Aru has no recollection of his past. His curiosity and fondness for food can, at times, get him into a bit of trouble. Aru is a loyal friend & companion.
The Characters
Naiya is a young teen who has been hiding from her past and her unkind uncle most of her life until she befriends a foxdragon named Aru. When the last of the magic orbs that once ran their city is depleted, she faces her fears and embarks on an unexpected journey into the heart of the jungle to save her city.
Along the way, Naiya discovers her own self worth as she and her foxdragon navigate the treacherous jungle and learn of her own relationship with the world’s magic.
The Story
Naiya and the Foxdragon has it all: endearing characters on an epic quest, journeying through a beautifully illustrated world that is just waiting to be explored.
~ Katy Whitely, Patron & Beta Reader
While Naiya and Aru’s story can stand on words alone, the illustrations throughout the book add glimpses into their world for a more immersive experience.
The Illustrations
Filled with rich cultural references and a cast of Oceana and Southeast Asian-inspired characters, the inspiration for the lush tropical world of Antarah, in which this story takes place, is Naomi's home country of Indonesia.
The World
naiya and the foxdragon
Chapter One Sample
Naiya ducked behind a crate, squeezing her small body between the wood paneling and into an empty space amongst a pile of lumpy sacks. The fragrance reminded her of mother’s tea, sweet and spicy all at once. Adjusting, she pulled her bare feet into a sitting position, holding a hand over her mouth to keep the giggles from escaping over the gentle creaking of the boat as it rocked beneath them. He would never find her here!
With bony arms and legs, sun-tanned brown skin and a thick head of short, dark brown hair, she was smaller than most 5-year-olds. Or was she 6 now? Mother would know, but mother was no longer here. Father too. She still couldn’t believe that they were gone. Why would they leave her? She absentmindedly touched the necklace at her throat, a smooth, mysterious stone wrapped in waxed, braided cord. It was the only thing that remained of them.
The soft scuff of worn leather sandals on the ship’s deck outside stilled her heavy breathing and brought her back to the present. Pulling her legs in tighter and closing her eyes, she willed herself to disappear. The footsteps stopped just outside of her hiding place.
“Where could Naiya be?” Narendra’s kind voice carried over the sound of water lapping against the hull of the ship. Opening one eye she could just make out the dark sandaled feet and robe of the old man. He wasn’t actually her grandfather, not really. But ever since her parents had passed into the realm of the spirits, she had decided that she would choose who her family was. Narendra, this tall, bearded and dark-skinned man who had saved her, was family. Stifling a giggle, Naiya kept silent as the man turned around in place. “Where did Naiya go…?”
In a rush, reaching through the gap, she grabbed hold of Narendra’s robe. “Gotcha!” She squealed with glee as she wriggled out of her hiding place.
“And I, you!” Narendra laughed heartily, lifting her up off the ship’s deck and tossing her in the air.
Naiya closed her eyes in the bright tropical sunlight as she laughed, her thick dark hair flying up off her face as she flew into the air, landing safely in Narendra’s arms. She felt happiness well up inside her. It was an unfamiliar feeling as it filled her chest, threatening to burst out in more laughter. How long would it last?
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