Greater Treasures

Greater Treasures, written by Karina Fabian, is filled with unique diversity, and drama.  A dragon, a nun, a thief, a valuable artifact, and so much more will whisk you in to the workings of a world weary  PI and his conflicts with society.  The dragon (Vern) expresses his experiences in a sometimes droll and exhausted manner.  Nevertheless, he is always enticing, moving you to the next page for more of his whimsical personality.  His friendship and loyalty to his partner and friend Grace, (the nun) is undying.  

Two worlds begrudgingly share their space in this story, and the history of Vern unravels as he desperately tries to solve a case and save his partner's life.  The story is not without belligerent authorities,  Neo-nazis, and those who would connive, steal, and betray. 

Greater Treasures is a page turner, and without a doubt, a great read.  If you like dragons with abundant personality, then Find a comfy spot and enjoy the search with Vern and his raspy acquaintances.   

Five stars ***** plus

Video Trailer Link:  http://youtu.be/tnv4Tp3JUcw

This book has been reviewed by Susan Hornbach, author of children’s literature and more. 
  

Excerpt:

Given the day I was having, it came as no surprise that when I got home, I found the dogs sprawled in a drugged sleep and the sounds of things being overturned from within the warehouse. I decided not to bother with subtlety, but I did resist the urge to burst in with flames going full-blast. I had questions first.

Naturally, I walked straight in to find an automatic weapon—yep, a bona fide black-market AK-47—and I thought only Faerie lived their clichés—and six other weapons of various types pointed at me. I didn't stop, just closed the door with my tail while I strolled in slow and placid-like. My visitors had shaved heads, faces painted white with clown paint, and black t-shirts with swastikas in white circles.

"If you're the housekeeping service, you're fired."

"You stay right there, or we gonna fire you!" said one guy from the sidelines as he held his nunchucks at the ready.

What'd he think he would do—whack me on the nose? I turned to the one holding the assault rifle. "Scraping the bottom of the barrel with that one, weren't you?"

"He's right. You just stay still while we search the place."

"The place" was a ten-thousand square foot warehouse with offices on the upper floor. Boxes I still hadn't opened line the walls and made a maze in the second warehouse room. I settled myself on the floor and rested my head on my crossed arms. "Go ahead. I get half of anything you find."

They stared at me, unbelieving. I smiled back. Mr. Cooperation, that's me. Finally, Big Gun snarled for the others to get to work. As he turned his back on me, Nunchucks muttered, "I got your half. Don't think I don't." Guess he learned such witty repartee in Hitler Youth Summer Camp.

I watched and listened and waited. With eight teenage skinheads trashing my place, it was only a matter of time.

"I wouldn't go in there if I were you," I suggested as Nunchucks made a grab for the doorknob to Grace's workshop.

"You gonna stop me?" He turned the knob.

"Nope," I said as I closed my ears and my eyes. Even so, I saw the otherworldly light and heard the harmonious roar of Divine Vengeance followed by Mundane screams.

"The Heavenly Host on the other hand…"

I waited until the screams died down to whimpers before opening my eyes and rising.

Four of the skinheads were unconscious. Three may as well have been; they were curled up in the fetal position, whimpering. Nunchucks was actually crying for his mommy. Big Guns had collapsed to the floor as well, the gun thrown away from him. He was sitting and rocking and making high-pitched keening through the roof of his mouth.

I'd tell Grace to tone down her wards some, except that the effect is directly proportional to the evilness of the intent. Suddenly, I was feeling a little shaky about my earlier entrance.

Knights out of the armor now. I went around, collecting weapons in the office trash can and poking through pockets. I found the usual stuff—driver's licenses, credit cards, petty cash… One kid had a condom; wishful thinking on his part, I knew. Another had a report card. MLK High. Wonder if he was the one beating up Faerie kids? Honor roll grades, too. Of all the years I've battled evil, there were still some things I didn't understand.

As I was returning Big Guns' (aka Rick Matherston's) wallet back into his jacket pocket, he blinked and focused on me.

"What was that?"

"Angels, kid." Actually a kind of magical shadow of the real thing, but close enough.
          "But I thought angels were—"

"There's a reason why their first words are usually 'Fear not!' whenever they meet a human."

His eyes returned to their unfocused stare. I almost felt sorry for him. Then I noticed the letters FARISLAR tattooed on his knuckles. Faerie slayer.

Greater Treasures by Karina Fabian, Part

 of the DragonEye series of novels and stories

 Book information:

Pages: 130

ISBN-13: 978-1484848296

ISBN-10: 1484848292

ASIN B00CEH934G
Fantasy, paranormal, urban fantasy, noir,

Tag line: When Grace’s life is in danger, Vern will do just about anything to find a cure—but will he sacrifice the fate of two worlds for her life? #dragoneye http://tinyurl.com

greatertreasureskindle

Tweet-sized Tag line 1: Grace’s life is in danger & Vern will do anything for a cure-but will he sacrifice  two worlds for her?  #dragoneye http://tinyurl.comgreatertreasureskindle

Tweet-sized Tag line 2:  Some things are worth dying for—but what’s worth letting a friend die? “Greater Treasures” by Karina Fabian #dragoneye  

http://tinyurl.com/greatertreasureskindle

Blurb:  Being a private detective in the border town of the Faerie and Mundane worlds isn’t easy, even for a dragon like Vern.   Still, finding the wayward brother of a teary damsel in distress shouldn’t have gotten so dangerous.  When his partner, Sister Grace, gets poisoned by a dart meant for him, Vern offers to find an artifact in exchange for a cure.  However, this is no ordinary trinket—with a little magic power, it could control all of mankind.  Can Vern find the artifact, and will he sacrifice the fate of two worlds for the life of his best friend?

Link: http://tinyurl.com/greatertreasureskindle  and https://www.createspace.com/4244586 or www.amazon.com/Greater-Treasures-DragonEye-Karina-Fabian/dp/1484848292/

About Greater Treasures:  Most people associate the DragonEye stories with high humor ranging from puns to slapstick, and in fact, the first stories and the novels have certainly been crazy fun.  But the life of a cynical dragon PI isn’t all laughs, and Vern has had a few chilling stories to tell me.  Some of these, I’ve sold to anthologies, but some are too long for that.  Thus, I’ve decided to start publishing them on my own.  One thing I like to do for DragonEye stories is watch old noir films.

 Greater Treasures came to me while watching the Maltese Falcon.  If you’ve never seen it, I recommend it.  (Then, reread the story to see if you catch the in jokes.)  I needed something with more “oomph” than a bird statue, and since Vern has some history with the Lance of Longinus, it made a good fit.  I enjoyed looking up all the conspiracy theories about the use of the Lance by Hitler, which is where the neo-Nazi angle came in.  To say more would be spoilers, so please, enjoy the story. 

And if you do, be sure to check out Vern’s other tales at http://dragoneyepi.net.

  Karina Fabian

Author

  Bios:

Tweet-sized:  Karina Fabian: SFF + horror writer & award-winning fantasy humorist, enjoys getting dragons in over their heads. http://fabianspace.com

Small:  Karina Fabian is an award-winning fantasy, science fiction, and horror author, whose books make people laugh, cry, and think.  Check out her latest at http://fabianspace.com

Big:  Winner of the 2010 INDIE for best Fantasy (Magic, Mensa and Mayhem), Karina Fabian has imagination that takes quirky twists that keep her--and her fans--amused. Nuns working in space, a down-and-out Faerie dragon working off a geas from St. George, zombie exterminators—there’s always a surprise in Fabian’s worlds. Mrs. Fabian teaches writing and book marketing seminars, but mostly is concerned with supporting her husband, Rob Fabian as he makes the exciting leap from military officer to civilian executive, getting her kids through high school and college, and surviving daily circuit torture…er, circuit training.  Read about her adventures at http://fabianspace.com.   

Find Karina at:

Website: http://fabianspace.com, http://dragoneyepi.net

Blog:  http://fabianspace.blogspot.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/karina.fabian

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/#!/KarinaFabian

Google +:  https://plus.google.com/103660024891826015212

Review Roundup and tweets

Karina proves once more that she is a veritable fount of puns and one-liners, causing random hoots of laughter at the twists she puts into the language of the hard-headed dragon. Vern's smart-aleck character leaps from the page in 3D, weaknesses and all, but don't forget, the dragon always wins. This world she has created involves complex interactions between Faerie and Mundane, religious and anti, science and magic. Splashdown Book Reviews http://reviews.splashdownbooks.com/2013/05/greater-treasures-by-karina-fabian.html

Greater Treasures would be the perfect weeknight read for anyone who love pun-filled fantasy in the style of Esther Friesner. If you get huffy at the mix of spec fic elements, you can't abide religion in your fantasy, or magic in your religion, then you might want to skip this one. Or better yet, pick it up and give it a read. You might find your tastes expanding! http://www.letters-to-the-cosmos.blogspot.com/2013/05/blog-tour-greater-treasures-by-karina.html

Rebecca Ryals Russel, http://www.spellbindingsblog.com/2013/05/my-two-cents-about-greater-treasures-mg.html#.UZvYUMr3XYw: One evening recently I read Greater Treasures while my husband was watching television.This is significant only in that he kept glancing at me then telling me to please be quiet because I COULDN'T STOP LAUGHING. It is clear Karina enjoys and understands the Noir detective style of story-telling. She has infused such a sly, smart-alec sense of humor into all of the characters in any of her DragonEye Pi books they are a delight to read. Greater Treasures is also short enough to be read in one or two sittings. But the best thing is that this story would be enjoyed and understood by anyone able to read--Middle Grade through Adult. 

“(In Vern), , I found someone who carries the weight of remorse, responsibility and the hope of redemption on very large shoulders. His humor comes out of a history of loss and the challenge of caring. His care for Sister Grace, a siren turned nun, drives this story.” http://speculativesalon.blogspot.com/2013/05/greater-treasures-starring-vern.html

I love the idea of taking the Mystery that suffuses Catholicism and using it to drive the “magic” of another world. Yes, there are clichés being wielded here, but Karina uses our expectations to turn the story on Vern's wit. http://speculativesalon.blogspot.com/2013/05/greater-treasures-starring-vern.html

“It is a great read. You’ll keep following along with Vern’s adventures. And, the best part for me is the underlying story. Fabian’s research about the Lance of Longinus is well done and makes the book very interesting to read.” Dianne Sagan

Greater Treasures

I love the idea of taking the Mystery that suffuses Catholicism and using it to drive the “magic” of another world. http://speculativesalon.blogspot.com/2013/05/greater-treasures-starring-vern.html

there are clichés being wielded here, but Karina uses our expectations to turn the story on Vern's wit http://speculativesalon.blogspot.com/2013/05/greater-treasures-starring-vern.html

All in all, this is a delightful introduction to Vern and his world. http://speculativesalon.blogspot.com/2013/05/greater-treasures-starring-vern.html

"A well-done romp into a place that's both strange and familiar" Grace Bridges

“Vern's smart-aleck character leaps from the page in 3D, weaknesses and all” Splashdown Book Reviews

“a fun romp of a read with enough of a dark side to make the story really matter” Letters to the Cosmos

“definitely well-worth the price of admission if you like off-beat humor in your non-traditional fantasy” 

Letters to the Cosmos

“the perfect weeknight read for anyone who love pun-filled fantasy in the style of Esther Friesner” letters to the Cosmos

Go see the Maltese Falcon, then read Greater Treasures. You won't be disappointed.  http://apiusman.blogspot.com/2013/05/blog-tour-greater-treasures-mini-review.html

P.I. Vern is back in dramatic dragon fashion in this cozy Faerie-Mundane mystery that's sure to delight long-time fans and create new ones.  Lyn Perry, Residential Aliens

Karina Fabian delights fans of Vern, Dragoneye P.I. with another thriller of a mystery set in her imaginative Faerie-Mundane world.

"Greater Treasures" is compelling mystery that straddles the line between cozy and noir - and set in the imaginative world that combines the Faerie and Mundane. Fun and delightful. Lyn Perry, Residential Aliens

“It's a story of friendship and faith and I loved it.” Snoring Scholar

“Sister Grace, who’s as badass as she is devout and complements Vern’s quirks and personality in a way that I delight in more with every tale I read.” Snoring Scholar

“Fabian’s DragonEye books have never failed to make me reread passages and guffaw” Snoring Scholar

“Vern, a dragon detective, is an awesome character with a lively personality.”  Kittyb78

“Entertaining and easy to lose myself in. My only complaint is that it ended far too soon.” Kittyb78

“Greater Treasures was a real treasure to read!” Virginia Jennings

“Vern’s wit and sarcasm is absolutely hilarious and Karina’s melding of religion and fantasy together into one world is genius!” Virginia Jennings

“Want a wild and entertaining ride? This book is as good as the Sherlock Holmes stories!” Virginia Jennings

“Karina Fabian does it again with her newest Dragon Eye, PI book – Greater Treasures,” Dianne Sagan

“The best part for me is the underlying story. Fabian’s research about the Lance of Longinus is well done and makes the book very interesting to read.” Dianne Sagan

“infused (with) a sly, smart-alec sense of humor… a delight to read” Rebecca Ryals Russel

“It is clear Karina enjoys and understands the Noir detective style of story-telling.“ Rebecca Ryals Russel

“(Greater Treasures)would be enjoyed and understood by anyone able to read--Middle Grade through Adult” Rebecca Ryals Russel