Not the Heir

Book excerpt: A jealous prince. A legendary key. An enchanted forest. In the kingdom of Silverkeep, seventeen-year-old Basil Avington is accustomed to his opulent life as a prince. That is, until the king's unforeseen death. Now the future is approaching sooner than Basil thought. His twin-eldest by seven minutes-has stolen his first love, his dignity, and soon, will take the throne. There's only one way for Basil to attain power: embarking on a perilous venture to find King Philip's key, which, according to ancient lore, bestows the kingdom upon its possessor. But it's been lost for centuries. Armed with only a bejeweled sword and imaginative wit, Basil is not prepared for what's to come. The magical forest of Golden Grove will pull him into a world of horse-legged satyrs, a stunning nymph, and the evil Ambrosia-a forest tyrant with baffling powers. His selfish hunt for the key will endanger his life, but failure would lead to an unbearable existence second to his undeserving brother. Unfortunately, the Silverkeep throne seats one.