Welcome to Six-Sentence Sunday!
After a weekend off from doing anything responsible, let’s get back to showcasing THE WITCH’S EYE, Book 5 of the Blood Skies series, due out in January. In this scene, warlock Eric Cross attempts to navigate along the steep and deadly paths along the walls of the Carrion Rift, a deadly canyon filled with horrors from worlds best left unseen…
Cross walked up steep paths of hard black basalt and mounds of ice-bleached bone. The air was heavy with the smell of smelted iron and sulfur, and the caustic red-and-gold smoke burned his eyes. His shins ached like they’d been pelted by a club, and his throat and sinuses were gritty with iron sediment and coal dust.
The path widened. He jumped over pools of black brine and once massive animal skulls that time had worn down to brittle and crumbling shells.
He felt eyes upon him.
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Some very lovely imagery and the sense of foreboding at the end made my skin crawl. When you’re talking about the “smell”, perhaps a stronger adjective would help us to imagine/experience it more easily? Just a thought
Looking back at it, I could probably take out the word “smell” altogether. Bears some thought. ;D Thanks Clare!
or “acrid stench” might work there?
This is another great snippet. I marvel at how you manage to have so much detail in only 6.
Thanks Dana! =D
Great description and vivid imagery. Loved this.
Thanks Stacey!
So many great details, Steven; it is visceral. And nice last sentence. Chills…
This is the kind of scene in which if one was anywhere near anything like this, he would run. If not run, he would at least hold his breath until he was far away. Cross did none of this and I’m struck by his iron will in the face of such…terrible apprehension. As usual, killer scene setting.
Mordor on ice. That’s the impression I get of this world, Steven. Cross must be a powerful character, indeed, if he can come through this.
What a great description, though I must say that it doesn’t sound like the kind of place where I’d want to spend much time.
Given that description whatever is eyeing him can’t be good news! Lovely six as usual, Steven.