{"id":734,"date":"2018-04-11T10:10:19","date_gmt":"2018-04-11T17:10:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?page_id=734"},"modified":"2025-10-22T12:55:53","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T19:55:53","slug":"sons-of-apollo-book-i-mate-for-a-centaur","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?page_id=734","title":{"rendered":"Mate For A Centaur (Book 1)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A herd of centaurs arrives in Olympia to compete for the ultimate prize.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n<h2 data-start=\"258\" data-end=\"308\"><strong data-start=\"261\" data-end=\"308\">Mate for a Centaur \u2014 Sons of Apollo, Book I<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p data-start=\"342\" data-end=\"722\">Step into <strong data-start=\"352\" data-end=\"370\">ancient Greece<\/strong> like never before in <em data-start=\"392\" data-end=\"412\">Mate for a Centaur<\/em>, the first book in Norma Sue O\u2019Neil\u2019s <em data-start=\"451\" data-end=\"467\">Sons of Apollo<\/em> series. When a herd of centaurs arrives in Olympia to compete for Princess Nais\u2019 hand, destiny, prophecy, and epic challenges collide. Mythic fiction, heroic adventure, and subtle romance combine to reveal the untold stories of the centaurs themselves.<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"724\" data-end=\"727\" \/>\n<h3 data-start=\"729\" data-end=\"756\">\ud83d\udcd6 Book Blurb<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"757\" data-end=\"1032\">As <strong data-start=\"760\" data-end=\"783\">Princess of Boiotia<\/strong>, Nais expects only an arranged marriage. Her father, <strong data-start=\"837\" data-end=\"853\">King Nycteus<\/strong>, seeks guidance from the gods for her betrothal. The <strong data-start=\"907\" data-end=\"925\">Delphic Oracle<\/strong> decrees that Nais\u2019 hand will go to the winner of the Olympic Games\u2014a prize many assume will be Heracles.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1034\" data-end=\"1271\">Everything changes when a <strong data-start=\"1060\" data-end=\"1098\">small herd of kentauroi (centaurs)<\/strong> arrives in Olympia, determined to compete for the princess. Their arrival sparks epic challenges, divine intrigue, and the first glimpses of the centaurs\u2019 untold stories.<\/p>\n<p data-start=\"1273\" data-end=\"1420\"><em data-start=\"1273\" data-end=\"1293\">Mate for a Centaur<\/em> is mythic fiction at its finest: heroic feats, ancient prophecy, and a fresh perspective on the centaurs of Greek mythology.<\/p>\n<hr data-start=\"1422\" data-end=\"1425\" \/>\n<h3 data-start=\"1427\" data-end=\"1466\">\u2b50 \u201cWhy You\u2019ll Love This Book\u201d\u00a0<\/h3>\n<p data-start=\"1526\" data-end=\"1560\"><strong data-start=\"1526\" data-end=\"1558\">Why Read Mate for a Centaur?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li data-start=\"1563\" data-end=\"1619\">Mythic fiction told from the <strong data-start=\"1592\" data-end=\"1617\">centaurs\u2019 perspective<\/strong><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1622\" data-end=\"1676\">Epic prophecy, heroic challenges, and subtle romance<\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1679\" data-end=\"1734\">Rediscover Greek mythology <strong data-start=\"1706\" data-end=\"1732\">through untold stories<\/strong><\/li>\n<li data-start=\"1737\" data-end=\"1806\">Perfect for readers who love mythic adventures and legendary heroes<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr data-start=\"2199\" data-end=\"2202\" \/>\n<h3 data-start=\"2204\" data-end=\"2229\">\ud83d\udcd6 Read a Free Sample<\/h3>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button aligncenter\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?page_id=748\">Read chapter 1<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button aligncenter\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?product=preorder-mate-for-a-centaur\">Buy the book<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-fe48e5de wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/books2read.com\/u\/m0lJ2W\">view all retailers<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In Mate for a Centaur, the first book in Norma Sue O\u2019Neil\u2019s Sons of Apollo series, a herd of centaurs arrives in Olympia to compete for Princess Nais\u2019 hand. Epic prophecy, heroic challenges, and untold centaur stories unfold in this mythic fiction adventure. Begin the saga with Book I today.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1407,"parent":1395,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"templates\/grid-page.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"tags":[],"class_list":["post-734","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","without-featured-image"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/P6v7yg-bQ","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1395,"url":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?page_id=1395","url_meta":{"origin":734,"position":0},"title":"Sons of Apollo- Series","author":"normasue","date":"July 11, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Explore Sons of Apollo, a mythic fiction series by Norma Sue O\u2019Neil, where Greek centaurs face prophecy, battles, and redemption. Heroic stories, epic conflicts, and subtle romance reveal myths from the centaurs\u2019 perspective. Begin with Mate for a Centaur, Book I in the series.","rel":"","context":"In \"centaur\"","block_context":{"text":"centaur","link":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?tag=centaur"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/2025-03-24_13-59-57_7946107803744239349539.jpeg?fit=1200%2C621&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/2025-03-24_13-59-57_7946107803744239349539.jpeg?fit=1200%2C621&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/2025-03-24_13-59-57_7946107803744239349539.jpeg?fit=1200%2C621&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/2025-03-24_13-59-57_7946107803744239349539.jpeg?fit=1200%2C621&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/2025-03-24_13-59-57_7946107803744239349539.jpeg?fit=1200%2C621&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1674,"url":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?page_id=1674","url_meta":{"origin":734,"position":1},"title":"Ixion&#8217;s Curse (Book 2)","author":"normasue","date":"September 1, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"After leaving Olympia with her centaur betrothed, falling in love becomes the least of Nais\u2019 concerns as tensions escalate between her unhappy handmaids and the eagerly amorous herd.Forced to mediate rather than spend time with her equine champion, Nais\u2019 diplomacy is tested when the company encounters another herd. While the\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/ebook-cover.jpg?fit=752%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/ebook-cover.jpg?fit=752%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/ebook-cover.jpg?fit=752%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/ebook-cover.jpg?fit=752%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1719,"url":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?page_id=1719","url_meta":{"origin":734,"position":2},"title":"Sons of Apollo III, Centaur Without A Herd","author":"normasue","date":"January 27, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"With the pain of loss and betrayal too great, Petraios leaves his brother\u2019s herd to seek distraction among a neighboring herd. When politics and matchmaking compel him to abandon herd life altogether, he wanders the mountains of Arcadia. There the gods remind him that the Oracle promised him a victory\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":245,"url":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?page_id=245","url_meta":{"origin":734,"position":3},"title":"Sons of Apollo Series Publication Release","author":"normasue","date":"August 25, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"Sons of Apollo Series is well under way! In 2018 I finished drafting the final novel in my mythological fantasy series, Sons of Apollo. I'm in the final revision stages of the manuscript for book one, Mate For A Centaur.\u00a0Be sure to read an excerpt of book one, Mate For\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Right-On-Target-tinypix.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":1666,"url":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?page_id=1666","url_meta":{"origin":734,"position":4},"title":"Ixion&#8217;s Curse, Chapter 1","author":"normasue","date":"September 1, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Morpheus brought Nais pleasant dreams and sweet sleep for the first time since she\u2019d arrived in Olympia. The centaurs\u2019 appearance at Zeus\u2019 festival caused quite the stir in the polis. Admittedly, Nais initially felt uneasy over the prospect of her centaur\u2019s victory. Then she met, Amymone, a centaur\u2019s mate. Whether\u2026","rel":"","context":"In \"centaur stories\"","block_context":{"text":"centaur stories","link":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?tag=centaur-stories"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1912,"url":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/?page_id=1912","url_meta":{"origin":734,"position":5},"title":"Sons of Apollo, Mini Myths I","author":"normasue","date":"January 27, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"It was meant to be a celebration the day Kentauros and Lapithus, Sons of Apollo and the Oracle, went to begin their training with the centaur Kheiron, but when they entered their father's temple in Delphi, their mother, the Oracle, saw a vision of war in their future. My name\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/normasueoneil.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Untitled-design-1.png?fit=512%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/734","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=734"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/734\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1979,"href":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/734\/revisions\/1979"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1395"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1407"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=734"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/normasueoneil.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=734"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}