Notes From My Teddies: The Shadow Of Zahhak

“What really stood out to me is that the magic never felt like power I simply *had*—it felt like something I was being trusted to use. As I read, I kept noticing how deeply magic is tied to relationships, care, and emotional maturity rather than raw talent. Emma’s spells work because of her bond with the teddies and the history they share, not because she’s chasing strength or dominance. That made the magic feel fragile and meaningful; I wasn’t waiting for bigger powers, I was paying attention to whether she was calm, focused, and compassionate enough to use them at all. I also loved how grounded and consequential the system felt. Magic required thought, words, and physical movement, which made it feel learned and embodied rather than instinctive or convenient. …” – Amazon Review

 

Notes From My Teddies:
The Shadow Of Zahhak

When 12?year?old Emma’s parents separate, she finds herself shuttling between her mother’s new apartment and her father’s house. Her world falls apart—until her plush toys, still at her father’s place, start sending her mysterious notes. They carry the spirits of an ancient people from the mythical land of Warka. They warn her that the evil Zahhak threatens to escape his underground prison and conquer both their world and hers.

Emma soon becomes a target. Zahhak sends his cruel henchmen to London to eliminate her before she can master the magic her teddies teach her. As the attacks grow more dangerous, Emma must learn powerful Warkan spells just to survive. She manages to defeat the first wave of enemies.

But as she celebrates, a troubling question remains: Could Zahhak still escape?

Notes From My Teddies begins a trilogy of wonder, adventure, and self-discovery.

About the Author

Cyrus Quintus

Call me Cyrus. Many years ago—never mind how long precisely—I wanted to write. But having little money in my purse, and too many other things that interested me on shore, I never ventured into the literary parts of the world.

As the years have gone by, I have mellowed and look back upon the hot-headed follies of my youth with different eyes. Those follies took me around the world—and taught me a lot, both in my successes and in my failures. With time, the spleen has faded and given way to an appreciation of the simpler pleasures of life. I never found the white whale. But I have found plush toys that can talk.

I have always been a seeker and a wanderer—one who is never quite able to find what he is seeking. And that quest keeps me going as I explore new literary avenues, without abandoning my newfound friends.