Step into the enchanting world of Sacia with “Trial By Fire,” the debut Space Opera novel by talented author Riech "rich" Cruz. This first installment in the highly anticipated Rise of a Legend series invites readers on an extraordinary journey filled with adventure, resilience, and the exploration of pressing social and mental health issues.
Felicia Price, the youngest graduate from the Sacian Space Corp Academy, is thrust into the elite training program under the mentorship of Lieutenant Ace Shepherd, the most decorated pilot on Sacia.
But Ace carries the weight of a tragic past, haunted by the loss of his wife. The mystery of Felicia’s origin and her uncanny resemblance to Ace’s wife takes a back seat when disaster strikes and 3,000 civilians from a remote settlement come up missing.
"Trial by Fire" – A story of resilience, of battling both external enemies and the demons within. When there is nothing left… rise from the ashes and learn to live again.
As we walk out of the mess hall, Ace and Andrew are talking. They appear extremely agitated with one another.
Although Andrew’s voice is low, he clenches his fist, repeatedly striking the palm of his hand as if he is demanding something. Then I hear Ace. His voice is loud enough to carry down the hall, where my ears pick up every word.
“I don’t tell you how to train your team, so stay the fuck out of my business with how I train her. I told you before, she’s not your concern.”
Andrew’s face turns red, and now as I walk closer, I can hear the anger in his voice.
“Come on, Ace, I saw her neck. You seriously choked her hard enough to leave marks on her?”
“Did you forget the stitches on her head? How’d she get those, Hawkins?”
“We were in a sparring match. I wasn’t trying to kill her.”
“What you two do in your free time is your business. What I do with her on the clock is strictly my business, so don’t you fucking interfere again.”
Before he could get an answer, Andrew's voice shouted over the radio. “We're taking fire! Repeat, we're taking fire!”
An alarm rang in everyone's cockpit, letting them know they were targeted and missiles were being launched.
“Pull up! Pull up!” Matt shouted.
Each fighter went vertical, shooting straight into the sky and trying to put as much distance as they could between themselves and the unseen missiles rocketing toward them.
Flashes of light erupted from the ground as more projectiles were launched.
“Evasive maneuvers!” Matt called out. Everyone dispersed in different directions.
The rockets screamed through the sky, leaving a trail of fire behind them as they each locked on a target.
Matt easily outmaneuvered the missile that chased him by turning and flying straight towards the ground, making a bold cut before impact. The not-so-agile pursuer could not make such a sharp turn and exploded in a huge ball of fire and smoke.
Radio calls of similar victories over the surface-to-air missiles were called in, with no casualties being reported.
When the squads regrouped, Matt realized Ace and Stacy had not checked in and were nowhere in sight.
Her eyes scanned the beaten man on his hands and knees at her feet. Her voice quaked as she spoke. “Is this the alien who killed Layo?”
Sinri nodded.
“He’s nothing like what I thought he’d be,” she spoke, barely above a whisper. Her eyes fell back to Ace. “I’ve waited so long…” she breathed. As she drew closer, her lip curled in a snarl, exposing her sharp canines. “You think you’re some great hero? You’re not! You’re a murderer, a cold-hearted beast! You took everything from me. I hate you and I hope you and all your kind die a long, horrible death.”
The little boy spat in Ace’s face, then turned to his mother embracing her and sobbed.
“Don’t worry, he’ll get everything that’s coming to him,” Sinri vowed.
“Make sure he does, Sinri. Avenge my husband.”
Trial by Fire: Book One of the Rise of a Legend Series
(Was $13.99)
Trial by Fire: Book One of the Rise of a Legend Series
(Was $19.99)
Trial by Fire: Book One of the Rise of a Legend Series
(Was $15.99)
Trial by Fire: Book One of the Rise of a Legend Series
(Was $24.99)
There were so many moving parts to get Book One ready for the public, and I want to thank everyone who played an integral part in making this happen. First, I thank God, who gave me the visions, the gift to write, and an amazing support team to help me do this.
Special thanks to my husband, Ruben, who has always been my rock, mentor, and the “Ace Shepherd” in my life, bringing out the best in me and never allowing me to quit. Thank you for believing in me and supporting me “Through all These Years.” (A song he plays every morning)
Thank you to our daughter Deborah, my number one fan, and cheerleader in this long journey. Thank you for staying up late and reading with me for hours and hours, going over the story. Thank you for your encouragement and for pushing me out of my comfort zone. You’re amazing!
Thanks to my editor, Ana, from Little Sparks Editorial, for believing in me, not changing my voice, and for coming into my world to help make my dream a reality. Your love for my characters, enthusiasm, editing style, and comments taught me so much and gave me the “little spark” I needed that ignited me towards success.
I also want to thank Felicia and Carl who also played a huge part in making this happen. Thanks for going over my ideas, reading my very rough first drafts, and enduring my relentless talking and obsession with my characters. I appreciate your honest feedback and support.
And last, but not least, to you, the reader, for choosing to come on this exciting journey with me. My hope is that you not only enjoy it but will be able to benefit as much as I have from these stories. Feel free to connect with me on our Facebook Rise of a Legend Page and share your thoughts.
Riech Cruz, pronounced like rich, began writing about a fictional fighter pilot named Ace Shepherd and his adventures with his squadron from a very young age.
As an adult, her stories often stem from dreams and visions that come to her in the most unexpected moments, sometimes prompting her to pull over on the side of the road to capture a fleeting thought. Her characters resonate with readers, many of whom have expressed their astonishment at how closely they relate to the struggles depicted in her narratives. Riech humbly attributes this connection to divine inspiration, believing that she simply writes what she hears.
"I truly believe that storytelling has the power to heal and connect us. Through 'Trial by Fire,' and the other books in this series, I hope to create a space where readers can see themselves reflected in my characters' struggles and triumphs. I want the readers to know that everyone has a path in life to travel, but they do not have to navigate it alone. The fiery trials we face are what forge us to excel to greatness. From the ashes, we rise and legends are born," says Riech in a recent interview.
As she embarks on this literary journey, Riech Cruz invites readers to join her in exploring the lives of her characters. She hopes that her stories will not only entertain but also provide solace and understanding to those who may be navigating their own challenges.
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