‘Antiqueus' Magic, adventure, drama

M. E. Hale marks his debut in the world of high fantasy fiction with “Antiqueus: Quest of The Mazzergast” (published by Xlibris). Suffused with magic and menace, this new novel envisions the legendary city of Atlantis where a magnificent adventure is about to unfold.
The epic story introduces Dearkin, a 352-year-old wizard, who takes his three charges – Eric, 18, Amanda, 14 and Harry 11 – back to Antiqueus, the homeland he had left 112 years earlier. They discover, upon their arrival, that a fellow wizard has taken four life-giving crystals triggering an inevitable catastrophe that could not only destroy the continent but also the entire earth.
In their quest to find the crystals, the protagonists explore the fanciful wonders of Antiqueus, while being pursued by vile Psychnaughts trying to capture and sacrifice one of Dearkin’s charges. A young romance is started as an old one is rekindled and all of Antiques is rocked to its core fighting a climactic battle between good verses bad and destruction verses creation.
Hale shares that his debut novel is a culmination of over 15 years of research, writing and art. “Antiqueus: Quest of The Mazzergast” is accompanied by 35 illustrations, maps and an expanded Glossarium, promising a reading experience that is as believable as it is richly imaginative.
“It has, at times been the bane of my life, but all in all, getting the chance to share my story with readers, young and old has been the most rewarding joy my life,” the debut author says.