Birth of the Anima: Ancient Language of the Earth: Book One

Over millennia, across the seven seterras of Aligaea, twelve women-the Anima-develop powers akin to apex predators. Along with their bestial strength and speed, they inherit the Task to restore ecological Order to the world. Yet fulfilling the Task seems improbable as the Imperium spreads a plague of ecocide and despotism across the land, ushering in the apocalypse with its infectious Disorder.

Stout and smart Freda Johansson leaves behind a promising career, love, and community to seek the red-capped mushroom capable of turning her into the final Anima. Whether it's plant magic or free will guiding her from emerald forests to austere peaks, she doesn't care. She only needs to find the mushroom before the Imperial Forces can seal the catastrophic fate of the planet.

The sacred balance of Life depends on the birth of the Anima-but even then, she must choose to own her powers as both woman and wild creature.

Kelsey K. Sather is a Montana-based author whose work explores the intersection of humanity and the natural world through literary and fantasy storytelling. She is the author of Birth of the Anima, the first book in the Ancient Language of the Earth series, and Lives of a Salvager, the second installment. She holds an MA in Environmental Humanities from the University of Utah and has taught creative writing at the university level. A former writers' collective co-manager and outdoor sports instructor, she draws inspiration from mountain landscapes and her deep connection to nature.