Welcome to the Lost At Sea Scavenger Hunt where we are helping the Kinsman people find a new home. If you’ve just found us, be sure to start the adventure at Stop #1, which is Jill Williamson’s blog.
There was something alive in that forest that Wilek didn’t trust. He led his people southwest, along a river, hoping at this point he might find the sea and his fleet waiting. They came upon a castle on a grassy plain, Stop #14, Acktar, from Tricia Mingerink’s novel Dare, the first volume in The Blades of Acktar series.
Tricia Mingerink is a twenty-something, book-loving, horse-riding country girl. She lives in Michigan with her family and their pack of pets. When she isn’t writing, she can be found pursuing backwoods adventures across the country. Visit Tricia on her website at www.triciamingerink.com.

If you’re looking for the ocean, you won’t find it anywhere near Acktar. It’s a land-locked country of rolling prairie for hundreds of miles in nearly every direction. Its northern border is the Sheered Rock Hills, a stretch of mountains covered in scrub pine and juniper. The Spires Canyon, a deep trench with the Ondieda River at the bottom, marks the eastern border. Beyond the northeastern corner of Acktar, a desert known as the Waste stretches in miles of dusty earth where even the water is too contaminated to drink.
Acktar’s culture is a mix of American West meets Medieval. There are lords, ladies, and manor houses, but also western saddles, rattlesnakes, and mountain lions.
Nalgar Castle, the only castle in Acktar, rises from the prairie near the center of Acktar. King Respen, a usurper and murderer, rules here with his Blades, his group of highly-trained assassins.

Acktar is in the midst of a war between King Respen and the Resistance. If you’re looking to settle here, be prepared to pick a side and fight for it.

Thanks for visiting my blog. Enjoy the rest of the scavenger hunt!
I would love the rolling prairie and the canyon river! Your story sounds so interesting.
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Since I am a big water drinker and I would rather live near the ocean, I don’t think that I would like living anywhere near Acktar. I’ll stick to just reading about it instead!
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Would not like to live in Acktar, not much for hand to hand combat.
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I’m not much for hand to hand combat either. I’d be more likely to slice my own leg off with my sword.
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No, thank you. xD Sounds like an interesting tale and storyworld, though.
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Your books sound awesome!
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I don’t think I would like to live in Acktar because I would miss the ocean too much. I like to be near the water. It sounds like a rough and tough place to live, but very exciting. 🙂
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I wouldn’t like to live in Acktar… too dangerous. 🙂
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I’m not sure I would like all the danger either. It’s fun to write about, but I wouldn’t want to experience it myself.
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I think it would be a fun place to experience!
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Hello Trica!
This sounds like it will be a great read and I am adding it to my wish list right away!
Thank you for the contest!
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I’d like to live in Acktr, but I would not be fond of its rattlesnakes! Mountain lions I can handle, but snakes? No way!
Thank you for the contest and have a great day!
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I can’t handle snakes either. *shivers*
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