M.L. Farb
|
ML Farb is a Whitney Award Finalist and SPFBO Semi-Finalist author of noblebright fantasy and retellings of less known fairytales.
Ever since she climbed up to the rafters of her barn at age four, she’s lived high adventure: scuba diving, hiking, rappelling, rock climbing, and even riding a retired racehorse at full gallop—bareback. As a youth, she made up stories to help her little sisters go to sleep. It backfired. They stayed up for hours continuing the tale. Her first novel was born in those late, whispered nights. She earned a bachelor’s degree in English and Music Composition a couple months before her oldest child was born. Now she is the author of many novels and no music. However music heavily influences her writing, helping her create poetry and lyrical stories. |
The King's Trial
|
Fantasy
A mute radical. A brutal queen. A quest through a deadly maze. Yosyph fences his heart and keeps his mouth shut. Posing as a mute tavern-hand, he gathers information on his bigoted queen and silently seeks to raise a rebellion. But when he discovers the monarch’s scheme to enslave thousands, he fears leading a revolt now would only end in a massacre. Desperate for allies in the coming war, Yosyph travels through a deadly desert in search of his kin. But he’s shocked to discover his only option to defeat the queen’s vast military is an ancient magic that will consume him–unless he opens himself to the voice of his god. Will Yosyph’s unexpected answers to his prayers stop his realm from descending into bloody darkness? 2019 Whitney Awards Nominee 
|
The King's Shadow
|
Fantasy
Two princes lead a war-broken people. One rules while the other serves in the shadows, haunted by encroaching death. Halavant overthrew his queen mother to save his people from slavery, and now she seeks his life. Yosyph acts as the new king’s eyes and ears, but being invisible comes at great cost and his life is slipping away. To save his closest friend, Halavant travels to the land of the skin-carving Carani, leaving Yosyph to rule a troubled people despite his ill health and the nobles on the verge of rebellion. Unless Halavant can survive in the land of his enemies to find a cure and Yosyph can unite the frightened and starving people against a second war, both will die and their budding democracy will crumble under a new tyrant. Sequel to The King’s Trial 2020 Whitney Awards Nominee 
|
Vasilisa
|
Fantasy / Fairy Tale Retelling
“Forest born! Ogre child! You’re nothing but a demon wild!” Vasilisa has always been strong. She’s strong enough to break the arm of the bully that daily taunts her. She won’t because she and her mother are servants at the Orlov manor, and her mother would be punished for her retaliation. Instead Vasilisa bides her time until she is sixteen and can return to the forest. Only Staver, the master’s son, shows her kindness. His friendship pulls as strong as the forest, but their classes are divided forever by law. She is a forest born, fatherless servant and her future at the manor holds mockery filled drudgery. War threatens. The forest calls. Will she stay to protect the one who can never be more than a friend, or flee to the peace that the forest offers? Inspired by the folktale Vasilisa and Staver 
|
Fourth Sister
|
Fantasy / Fairy Tale Retelling
Whitney Award Finalist 2021 Little Women x Spirited Away Shisei is said to be the cursed twin—bringer of death—plagued by a kitsune only she can see. Feeling unwanted, she flees her home, finding solace within an isolated mask maker’s hut. Yet some secrets cannot remain hidden. Fate may find her still. When her youngest sister is accused of murder, Shisei must lead her sisters in a deception that will either save the youngest or condemn them all. An exquisite tale of hope and redemption that combines complicated sisterly bonds, deadly deceptions, the poetry of possibility, and a trickster kitsune. Inspired by the folktale The Seven Brothers 
|
Heartless Hette
|
Fantasy / Fairy Tale Retelling
SPFBO8 Semi-Finalist 2022 When Princess Hette refuses a sorcerer’s proposal, he retaliates by stealing her heart—literally. Desperate to resist his influence, Hette makes herself emotionless, stifling all feelings until she can find her heart and win it back. Only Konrad, the despised Court Fool, knows where to find the sorcerer, and he has his own curse to battle. Riddles and magic plague their path, including a memory stealing witch, an unbeatable knight, and a magic book that would as soon drown them as lead them to their destination. Yet, if Hette can’t find the sorcerer in time, her heart will be the least of her losses. Inspired by the folktale The Princess Who Never Laughed 
|
When I was a Pie: And Other Slices of Family Life
|
Parenting/Family/Relationships
Most stories end with Happily Ever After. This one starts with it. These are slices of life in the form of short stories, musings, comics, and poetry—showing bright moments, soul pondering, frustrations and side-aching laughter. Join our family as we play compliment tag, create piano calls, and cut a crawl hole in the bathroom door to rescue a toddler. It is life, lived in the moment and observed. Welcome to the eclectic joy we call our family. 
|
