LORELEI MATTHEWS
The gates of destiny
Cambria knows relatively little about herself or her life.
After being rescued from beneath a pile of burned bodies by Jorian and Lynnsey Raviers at sixteen, she quickly learns she has no memory of her past and an ability not seen in generations—water casting.
Fearing for her safety, she is forbidden from using her casting outside the walls of her home. Cambria grows up in the throes of a noble household, falling in love with both her new friend Kasami and the prince of Erindel, Lucan, along the way. Her life is calm, if not frustrating, until the Earth God, Soleth, takes mortal form to warn her of a prophecy hinged around her.
On the eve of a plan to run away with the prince, the water goddess Lesya steps in and saves Cambria as her family is slaughtered. Imprisoned falsely for their deaths, Cambria must learn to survive a fate worse than death, hoping to escape her prison and fleeing to Payora to thwart the evil that is threatening to not just take over her world, but all worlds.
DESICCATE, Book 1 of GATES OF DESTINY, will be released
from Shadow Spark Publishing
on June 23, 2026
Lorelei Matthews is a lover of all things fantasy who enjoys creating new worlds with interesting characters and creatures, many of them coming to life from from the depths of her dreams. She lives in Colorado with her husband, animal horde, and children.
Her writing journey includes getting her BA in Creative Writing and English from Southern New Hampshire University.
When she's not writing, Lorelei enjoys reading, watching cool shows, and spending time in nature.
She can be found on Twitter @booksofgeronimo