I pondered the concept behind the Secret Warrior Series for years as it took shape in my mind. My love of history, fantasy, and my fascination with the mountain people and Native Americans is at the heart of the series. Living in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia surrounded by mountains veiled in mist and mystery lent itself well to creating the characters and setting for YA fantasy romance, The Hunter’s Moon, and the stories that followed, Curse of the Moon and The Panther’s Moon. Some of the characters and creatures are based on lore, while others appeared to me, as characters have a way of doing. A great deal of research and intuition went into writing the Secret Warrior Series. I purposely kept these stories to novella length. The Hunter’s Moon, Book One, is only available in eBook and audio format. The next two books in the series are out in kindle, print, and audio.

The Wild Rose Press published this series.

The Hunter’s Moon, Book One: Seventeen-year-old Morgan Daniel has been in the witness protection program most of her life. But The Panteras have caught up with her and her younger brother. Her car is totaled, she’s hurt, and the street gang is closing in when wolves with glowing eyes appear out of nowhere and chase away the killers.

Then a very cute guy who handles a bow like Robin Hood emerges from the woods and takes them to safety at his fortress-like home.

And that’s just the first sign that Morgan and her brother have entered a hidden world filled with secrets…

Amazon Review for The Hunter’s Moon

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fantastic Start to a New Series

Reviewed in the United States on December 29, 2015 by Born with Book

Sixteen-year-old Morgan Daniel and her younger brother Jimmy are on the run again, after having been tracked down by The Panteras—the gang that forced them into witness protection in the first place. Forced to choose between letting Mateo’s goons run them off the road and taking charge of their fate, Morgan purposefully steers the car down an embankment, careening them into a world far wilder than their car ride.

I’ve read a number of Beth Trissel’s books, and I’m always amazed by her creativity. This holds true for The Hunter’s Moon. She takes bits and pieces from a number of different areas, including Native American folklore, pop culture, and the paranormal, throws them in the proverbial pot, and creates her own unique world out of the mix. Her characters are easy to like and relate to (even for an adult like me) and they handle the circumstances in which they find themselves with a mix of the deadly serious and good dose of humor. Morgan’s relationship with her brother Jimmy is and interesting dynamic, especially when Jimmy takes on the occasional role of protector. The blossoming romance between Morgan and Jackson is sweet and I love that the focus is on the innocence of first love—it provides a nice counterpoint to the fear and chaos Morgan and her cohorts encounter.

Curse of the Moon, Book Two

“If you enjoy your fantasy laced with a bit of the paranormal, you will love this book and the entire series. Mysterious ghostly beings, shapeshifters, witchcraft, ancient Native American creatures, and even aliens from other planets all coalesce around a story steeped in age-old American history and ancient folklore. I was in fantasy reading heaven!” Reviewer Colleen M. Chesebro

Curse of the Moon: The bad news? Morgan Daniel’s wolf is out of control. The good news? There’s a treatment. She just has to get a potion from a lizard shifter witch–without looking into the witch’s eyes. Easy, right? But when the witch puts a spell on her younger brother, Morgan has to do the witch’s bidding to save him.

Fortunately, Morgan isn’t alone. She has Jackson to lean on, a few witches coming into their powers, a secret warlock, and the always mysterious Chief Okema. What could possibly go wrong?

The Panther Moon, Book Three

The Panther Moon: Being the seventh Morcant has its perks: Morgan is learning to fly and wield magical blue fire.

But the coyote shifters are growing bolder. Mateo and his panthers seem impossible to defeat. And vampires aren’t real – are they?

When the elusive and enigmatic Chief Okema disappears and the wards protecting the Wapicoli territory falter, Morgan and Jackson are forced into the role of leaders. Badly outnumbered and outgunned, do they have time to search for the secret of the Divining Tree, and will it help them in the final battle?

Review for The Panther Moon

by Colleen M. Chesebro

5.0 out of 5 stars Native American Mythology and Fantasy At It’s Best

In this last installment of the Secret Warrior Series, Morgan continues to grow in power as the Seventh Morcant. The tribe has accepted her as their co-leader along with Jackson, her soul mate and future leader of the tribe. Morgan is essential to the survival of the Wapicoli Tribe because Okema, the ancient and magical Chief has disappeared – taking his magic with him. The conflict between the warring factions is imminent, and the wolf pack needs all the help they can get.

Jackson grows as a character in this volume, and the reader begins to understand the formidable task he has ahead of him. Doubts cloud his direction, but through Morgan’s love and understanding, they agree to share the burden of managing the tribe together. I liked that both characters had doubts about their abilities. It made them human and believable at the same time.

This series, and particularly this final book, is filled with fast action and quick dialogue. There’s the Panteras to worry about, and the coyote shifters are a constant threat. Throw in a few vampires, and you’ve got all the excitement a wolf-girl can handle. If Morgan can summon all the blue magic she needs in time to do battle, the tribe has a chance.

The relationship between Morgan and her brother, Jimmy reminded me of the banter between my kids long ago. This is another thing I enjoy about this author’s style of writing. She breathes life into fantastical creatures and characters that will leave you wanting more.

If you haven’t read the first two books, I would suggest backtracking to read them. The ancient culture of the Wapicoli Tribe and the historical tidbits found throughout this book and the series are some of my favorites, and you will need this background information to follow the events that unfold in the final volume. I do wonder if the series will expand to include further adventures into the lives of Morgan and Jackson and the Wapicoli Tribe. I sure hope so.

This is a supernatural fantasy for young adults, but I’ve got to tell you I enjoyed it more than The Twilight series. I loved the wolf pack and the sense of family portrayed in this novel. Yet, it was the Native American mythology that I loved best.~

The Secret Warrior Series is available in kindle, print, and audio at Amazon, and from other online booksellers. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0749RTW62