Showing posts with label fantasy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fantasy. Show all posts

Monday, November 24, 2014

GGR Presents~Gregory Jonathan Scott's Take To The Sky Book Blog Tour & Giveaway!


Hi and welcome to For Whom The Books Toll. Today I'm hosting Gregory Jonathan Scott's Take To The Sky Book Blog Tour & Giveaway presented by GGR Promo Group.




Title: Take To The Sky
Author: Gregory Jonathan Scott
Publisher: Gregory Jonathan Scott
Genre: Gay Romance/Fantasy/Suspense/Erotic
Book Length: 257 pages

Blurb:
 An angelic romance that’s Powerful, Suspenseful, Sexy, Uniquely Erotic, and Romantic
    
In a secret Michigan Laboratory, an experiment developed a superior creation that was anticipated but not expected.
He was the ultimate conception, a core life-being merged with avian. He was born with a gift, a rare one; the ability to fly.  
    
His wings instinctively brought out the urge in him to fly, and Kellan's need to be free became his obsession.
    
When the dark, swirling clouds loomed one night, Kellan abandoned the place he had called home, taking to the sky in search of his freedom and to seal his heart that seemed incomplete.
    
Because Kellan's secret was too great for anyone outside the institute to know about, TC unleashed genetically altered Maniacs to bring him back.
    
Through independence, his amazing reality brought riveting adventures to a man he found and couldn't seem to live without. They get tangled with hair-raising suspense that adds heart-pounding tension to every attempt they make at living their unique affair. They faced uncertainty so
hectic that staying together was the least of their challenges, and it caused many of their bouts with passion to spiral in and out of chaos.
    
Along their frenzied path to survive, hidden secrets surface about Kellan, prompting each move they make in order to truly set him free.
    
Could Kellan's one true love and passion to fly be the death of him?
    
It's a magnificently inventive adventure of menace, romance, and extreme erotic pleasures.

Buy Links:
Amazon US: Take To The Sky
Amazon UK
ARe
Barnes & Noble

Excerpt
“Okay, I’m sorry,” Kellan said. “I only wanted your first flight to be memorable. Next time I’ll  go easy on you.”

“Ppphh! Next time?” Neil spat and started to walk away. “I don’t think so, there isn’t going to be a next time.”

“Get over here.” Still chuckling in a playful manner, Kellan reached for Neil’s wrist and  tugged. “Yes there will be, and I promise I’ll go easy on you.”

Neil jerked and spun into Kellan’s arms, hitting his chest hard. It seemed warmer this time and what Neil liked most of all was when Kellan wrapped his feathery wings around him for that added hug. And then there was the kiss. Another beautiful kiss that transported them to a world of their own and just like before, it was perfect.

Hardly a minute had passed when the thrill of the other’s touch set off definite arousal inside both their jeans that fought like hell to bust loose and connect in a way that only two men could. 

Neil brought his hands to Kellan’s bare chest and stroked it. If he wasn’t mistaken, his chest wasn’t as smooth as it was before, maybe superfine feathers like the downy growth found on a newborn bird. It was shadow black where they were at and the darkness kept Neil from being able to tell for sure, but his exploring hands that roamed Kellan’s chest made him grow much harder than he was just seconds ago.

The low moans that came out of Kellan told Neil that whatever was happening between them needed to continue. When he felt Kellan’s tongue push between his teeth, he took that as proof that the angel wanted more of him. 

Was it a good thing or a bad idea?   

The night air was still, too still, almost peculiar enough to be a bad sign. It was like the calm before an approaching storm. 

Neil longed for more of Kellan, but wasn’t sure it was the best thing for them to do. The idea of getting wrapped up with an angel who just escaped a top-secret government facility might not be a good one. He desperately tried to put his mind elsewhere, anywhere but on the man he was kissing. Anywhere in the universe would do fine, but the thought change wasn’t working to save his ass – he was hooked.



Gregory Jonathan Scott was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan where he met and shared a life with Scott that began just out of high school. Meeting by chance in Grand Rapids before relocating to South Florida where they live now with their lovable Shetland sheepdog and a sweet stray cat that showed up one day and decided to make their house a home. As a child, Gregory was always told he had a creative imagination and the artistic ability to turn a blank canvas into a beautiful work of art. Shortly after high school graduation, and together with his true love Scott, discovered the thrill of pottery and ceramic art. Here is where they opened a business for ceramists that quickly exploded before their eyes as the number one location for any hobbyist, storefront and scholastic industry looking for supplies related to ceramics and pottery. During this time, Gregory was approached by art magazines to write short articles and educational columns pertaining to the ceramic artistry. Captivating readers by his writing style grew fast, which ignited his desire to express himself further. From there, it began. Finding a love for writing, alongside his artistic hand, gave him inspiration to design and write this M/M romance Novel. Gregory and Scott are still together and are currently enjoying home life in South Florida.

Author Contact Links:
Email:  GregoryJonathanScott@gmail.com
Website   
Facebook  
Twitter  @GregoryJonScott 
Google+  





Giveaway:
Grand Prize (US Only):  Kindle Fire HD 6 Tablet and a Signed Paperback Copy of, Take To the Sky

First Prize:  E-copies of Take To The Sky, The Plantation Affair and Heartbreak Beat.

Second Prize:  E copy of Take To The Sky

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Tuesday, September 2, 2014

Jen Halligan PR Stacey O'Neale Fragile Reign Cover Reveal & Giveaway!


Welcome to my post on Stacey O'Neale's Fragile Reign Cover Reveal & Giveaway presented by Jen Halligan PR.

Details about the cover from Stacey:

In case you're curious about the cover, the model represents Marcus. The background represents the woodland court and the caves at the bottom are where the members of the royal family live. I chose caves because the woodland court protects the forests of the world. I didn't think they would choose to cut down trees to make a castle, so the massive caves worked out nicely. If you zoom in, you can see where the doors and windows are cut out. The inside is very lavish. If you read FRAGILE REIGN, you'll learn all about it.


Title: Fragile Reign
Author: Stacey O'Neale
Series:  Mortal Enchantment Book 2
Genre: YA Fantasy Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Phoenix Reign Publishing
Release Date: November 18, 2014
Length~(Pages/#Words): 250
Goodreads   

Blurb:
It’s been a week since all hell broke loose…

Rumors of King Taron’s weakened powers have left the air court vulnerable. Kalin is desperate to awaken her akasha powers, except she doesn’t know how. Tension within the court is at an all-time high. Pressure is mounting for her to ascend to the throne, but a halfling has never ruled over any court. To solidify her position, the council has advised her to marry Sebastian—a high ranking air elemental she’s never met and her betrothed.

Will Kalin sacrifice her relationship with Rowan to strengthen her court?

Rowan and Marcus return to a fire court in turmoil. Liana’s death has fueled the fire elementals’ distrust against the air and woodland courts. The unbalanced elements have set off natural disasters all over the mortal world. Rowan takes the throne to restore balance, promising to unite the fire court. But not all elementals are happy with his leadership. Many are secretly loyal to Valac, which means Rowan needs to find allies for his cause.

Can Rowan unify the court of fire before the elements destroy the world?


PreOrder Links:


THE SHADOW PRINCE (Mortal Enchantment #0.5) 
"Filled with betrayal and intrigue, THE SHADOW PRINCE is a dark and twisty novella from an exciting new author!" 
Katee Robert, New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author 

Sixteen-year-old Rowan has spent most of his life living among the mortals—learning to control the element of fire, impatiently awaiting the day his vengeful mother, Queen Prisma, will abdicate her throne. When he finally returns to Avalon for his coronation, his mother insists he must first prove his loyalty to the court by completing a secret mission: 

Kill Kalin, the half-human, half-elemental daughter of the air court king. 

Willing to do anything to remove his mother from power, he agrees to sacrifice the halfling. He returns to the mortal world with his best friend, Marcus, determined to kill the princess. But as he devises a plan, he starts to question whether or not he's capable of completing such a heinous task. And what price he will pay if he refuses?

Add Shadow Prince to your Goodreads shelf: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20542942-the-shadow-prince


Buy Links:
Amazon: The Shadow Prince: The Prequel to Mortal Enchantment
Barnes & Noble



MORTAL ENCHANTMENT by Stacey O’Neale
“Mortal Enchantment spins a unique twist on elemental mythology. This series is not to be missed.” 
Jennifer L. Armentrout, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author 

In Kalin Matthew's world, elementals control the forces of nature. They are divided into four courts: air, woodland, fire, and water. At sixteen she will leave the life she's built with her mortal mother. Kalin will move to Avalon to rule with her father—the elemental king of the air court. Along the way, she's attacked by a fire court assassin and saved by Rowan, a swoon-worthy elemental with a questionable past. 

Worst of all, she learns her father is missing. 

To rescue him, Kalin will have to work with a judgmental council and a system of courts too busy accusing each other of deceit to actually be able to help her. But, they aren’t her biggest challenge. With the Midwinter’s Ball only five days away, Kalin must take over her father’s duties, which includes shifting control of the elements—power Kalin has yet to realize. 

As Rowan attempts to train her, a war looms between the four courts. If Kalin fails, her father will die and the courts will fall, but the betrayal she’s about to uncover may cost her even more...

Add Mortal Enchantment to your Goodreads list:

Buy Links:
Barnes & Noble


Author Bio:

Stacey O’Neale lives in Annapolis, Maryland. When she’s not writing, she spends her time fangirling over books, blogging, watching fantasy television shows, cheering for the Baltimore Ravens, and hanging out with her husband and daughter.

Her career in publishing started as a blogger-turned-publicist for two successful small publishers. Stacey writes young adult paranormal romance and adult science fiction romance. Her books always include swoon-worthy heroes, snarky heroines, and lots of kissing. Stacey loves hearing from readers. 

Contact Stacey:
Website       
Facebook    
Twitter   
Pinterest     

Friday, July 11, 2014

~Coffee & Characters Presents~ Frances Pauli's Seen Cover Reveal~



Thanks for stopping by Frances Pauli's Seen Cover Reveal presented by Coffee and Characters.


Title: Seen
Author: Frances Pauli
Series: Princes of the Shroud Book 2
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy/Romance Elements
Publication Date: November 2014

Blurb:
Rowri is a priestess with prophetic dreams—and she’s dreamt of her soulmate. So when she volunteers to be the gifted bride in a peace negotiation between her own peoples and the Tolfarians, she is certain that the lilac-skinned man in her visions is the Tolfarian leader she is to marry.

But prophecy is never simple, and visions are never clear. Shayd, a seer and one of the Shrouded, is summoned to transport Rowri to her new husband-to-be. When Rowri sets eyes on his lilac skin, she knows she’s made a terrible mistake—one she’ll have to live with for the rest of her life if she wants to save her people and prevent war.

The two are drawn together, and the fates of two races hinge on the decisions they make. On the precipice of volcanic eruptions, galactic terrorism, and mercenary attacks, Shayd and Rowri must give up every hope of happiness for their people, or sacrifice everything for true love.





Frances Pauli was born and raised in Washington State. She grew up with a love of reading and storytelling, and was introduced to Science Fiction and Fantasy at an early age through the books kept and read by her father.Though she always held aspirations to be a writer, she chose to obtain her Bachelor's degree in visual arts. The stories, however, had other plans for her. By the time she entered her thirties, they were no longer content existing solely in her head. Compelled to free them, she set aside her easel and began to write in earnest.Her original love of Speculative fiction led her into the realms of Urban Fantasy and either romantic or humorous Science Fiction, where she finds herself quite comfortable. Her tales feature fairies, aliens, alternate dimensions, and the wonders of space, usually with at least a touch of romance.

Frances currently resides smack in the center of Washington with her husband and two children. When not writing she dabbles in insane things like puppetry, belly dance and playing the ukulele. She collects rocks, and is a firm believer in good wine, fine chocolate and dangerous men.More information on Frances and her writing can be found at www.francespauli.com



Saturday, July 5, 2014

Review for The Dark Citadel by Jane Dougherty




Title: The Dark Citadel
Author: Jane Dougherty
Publisher: Musa Publishing
Genre: YA/Fantasy
Publication date: October 4 2013
ISBN: 978-1-61937-528-4
Length: 227 pgs
Book Series and number: The Green Woman Book 1
Rating: 5
Heat Rating: 0


I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. I rated it 5 out of 5 stars.

Reviewed for For Whom The Books Toll
5, No heat


Evil is slouching into Providence. Will the awakening memories of a rebellious runaway be enough to send the demon back into the shadows?

Fifteen-year-old Deborah is angry and bitter. Rebelling against an arranged marriage to an idiot, she flees the oppression of Providence’s religious Elders to search for her exiled mother, the legendary Green Woman.

Zachariah, dark, brooding and unhappy crosses Deborah’s path as they both plot escape from the House of Correction. Dislike is instant and mutual, and Zachariah blunders off alone to seek the Green Woman’s magical Garden. In the desert wasteland, Jonah, the dog boy takes Deborah’s hand, first as a friend and guide, then as something more.

Abaddon, Lord of Hell is waiting to crush the green magic that will destroy his realm on earth. Deborah is discovering love and the mysterious power of her memories, but will this be enough to defeat the demon and the Elder’s regime, and dispel the shadows cast by the Dark Citadel?


My review:
I was captivated by this story starting with page one. The terminology took me a few pages to get used to but didn't hinder my enjoyment of the book. The characters are fantastic and very well written.

Deborah was young and rebellious and questioned the ways things were in her world. She got into a lot of trouble and that didn't stop her from wanting to find her mother and way out of Providence. I admired Deborah's spunk and tenacity and her never quit outlook.

Zachariah was a dreamer and had a wonderful creative mind. He often didn't do as he was told and got into some trouble of his own. Zachariah had a strong character and was enchanted by the stories of The Green Woman and wanted to find her. I so wanted him to succeed in escaping.

Jonah the dog boy was from outside in the wasteland and knew how to survive. He helped Deborah when she needed it most. There were times when neither Deborah nor Jonah understood the other. The dangerous journey they traveled together only made them stronger.

As I was reading this book, my mind flashed on 'this is a different take on the bible' or the way the would could be if evil truly took over the world.
The Dark Citadel gives the reader a full range of emotions, a wild roller coaster ride into the unknown and evil that is inside and outside of Providence. The story also has some shocking and surprising scenes.

I wouldn't have thought I would enjoy a YA book, but I can't say enough great things about The Dark Citadel and I can't wait to continue reading this series.


Buy Link:

Saturday, May 24, 2014

Review for Portals of Oz by Sheri Fredricks



Title: Portals of Oz
Author: Sheri Fredricks
Publisher: Temple Publishing, LLC
Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal Romance
Publication date: June 22, 2013
ISBN:
ASIN: B00DK2U7OY
Length: 76 pgs
Book Series and number: A Wood Nymph Novella
Rating: 4
Heat Rating: Spicy


I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. I rated it 4 out of 5 stars.

Reviewed for For Whom The Books Toll
4, Spicy



A Wood Nymph Novella

Abelia, a Boronda Forest Wood Nymph…
She came to Willow Bay to satisfy her curiosity of human life, and got more than she bargained for.

Jack, an archeologist bent on discovery…
He can't wait to leave Pennsylvania and return to his explorations in Australia, where life is filled with dingos and roos.

Danger abounds…
Human hunters stalk the enthralling Abelia, and Jack comes to her rescue. The hunters back off, but she suddenly vanishes, and he's left confused as he returns home to the rugged Outback.

They’ll risk it all…
When Abelia magically appears in Jack's kitchen, she must divulge who and what she really is and risk the mythic people's secret for his help to return home. Meanwhile he risks his heart in convincing her to stay.




My Review:
Abelia is quite brave for leaving the protection of the Boronda Forest to visit a human town. She's very curious after listening to Patience talk about Willow Bay.
Abelia likes looking at all the shops and their wares, when she passes a bar and is noticed by some men. Trying to get away from them, she bumps into a handsome man who aides her in escaping the men. The men are hunters of the inhabitants of Boronda and don't give up easily.

His stay in Willow Bay is almost up and Jack is anxious to get back to his home is Austraila to continue his archeologist discoveries. A gorgeous woman literally runs right into him, she looks frightened. Ever the gentleman, Jack stays with Abelia.
When she suddenly disappears, Jack is very surprised. He gets on a plane and heads home. I can only imagine how surprised Jack was when Abelia disappears. I think Abelia has lived a very protective life in Boronda and seems naïve. I liked Abelia a lot, she was just curious after all she had heard from Patience. I admired her bravery when she and Jack encountered danger in his house. I also liked Jack, he helped rescue a damsel in distress. There are lots of surprises in store for both Abelia and Jack. Will they be able to handle them?

Portals of Oz is a quick read that has adventure, danger, excitement, and romance. Sheri has infused wit and humor, romance and passion into a short story. This is a fun book and I hope there will be more like it.

Buy Links:

Monday, May 12, 2014

Enticing Journey A.R. Von Lady's Destiny Blog Tour & Giveaway!


Welcome to my blog. Today I'm hosting A.R. Von's Lady's Destiny Blog Tour & Giveaway presented by Enticing Journey Tours. Don't forget to fill out the rafflecopter form for your chance to win.





Title: Lady’s Destiny
Author: A.R. Von
Release:  April 2014
Goodreads 

Blurb:
A Unique Magical, Erotic Novel.

When dreams haunt you in the most delicious ways and fate pulls you into destiny’s path, what can be done other than to accept and submit to it.

Can Iria truly get what she’s always dreamed of or will it always just remain a memory? Being a rare creature such as her with exceptional beauty and rarity of existence should be enough. Though, all she wants is her desire, her destiny… To be with a man—one man.

Are these dreams she’s having real? Could she really take on human form and become a Lady to be with the man she craves?

Dezso discovers a magical creature—a being of incredible light and peace. He is drawn to it again and again, and his feelings grow with every encounter. He carries a dark secret that he wishes never existed. The only thing that truly brings light upon his existence is the beauty that warms his heart but seems to only exist in his head—with dreams and visions of a magical woman, full of heartwarming light. 

Will he ever know true love and happiness? Will he ever be able to lighten the weight and share his dark secret with another...?

Darkness is growing stronger, weakening the light and killing off what makes the world a beautiful place to live in. Enter a world of fantasy and dreams, passions and temptations. A world where dragons, unicorns, magic and mermaids really do exist. A world where love WILL conquer all!

Book Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zX47tbKbX8g

Playlist: https://play.spotify.com/user/1296987519/playlist/2Z7lk58YtKUJBjuRpiTwBK

Buy Links:
Amazon: Lady's Destiny (Destiny Series)
Paperback: Lady's Destiny (Destiny Series) (Volume 1)
Amazon CA
Amazon UK
Barnes & Noble
Smashwords

Excerpt:

My nipples harden almost painfully from the brush of his hands and the fabric against my human skin. Without realizing it, I let out a moan.
He stops pulling down the fabric and looks at me questionably.
I do not know his question. But I know my answer will be yes.
He tilts his head slightly and moves closer to my face.
I feel his breath on my lips. It smells like that furred fruit my family likes so much. The kiwi. I want to taste him so very badly. I lick my lips and clumsily close the space between us. I want to swallow him, consume him until we are a permanent part of each other.
Dezso lets out a groan and gives me what I want. All the while, he is caressing my back with the most wonderful of touches.
I move my hands down his back and grip his rump, pulling him as close as I possibly can against my body. Oh my, what a delight! So firm, it is like a perfect peach ready for picking. Yet, squeezable like something that can be molded into a shape. I stay, with my hands kneading his flesh, as his hands slow move lower to my rear.
I feel wetness between my legs and let out a gasp of pleasure, feeling an undeniable need to move that area closer to him. There is a hardness between his legs and I know EXACTLY what it is. I want to touch it, taste it, and see if it is just like in my dreams. I slowly pull away from his lips and ease my way to kneeling position.
He looks at me, panting. Desire consumes his eyes.
I wonder if mine are the same, I think to myself, as I pull at the material that covers what I crave.
He grabs my hands and gently pulls me to my feet. “Not here, my Lady…”



A.R. was born and raised in Bronx, NY and is the oldest daughter of two girls. She holds an Associate’s Degree in Computer Science and Information Technology, which was only briefly used. She’s a mother of two entertaining teen boys (as well as a lovely fawn Chihuahua, whom she considers her furry daughter.) She’s also a wife to a delightfully handsome and amazingly funny man-beast. She loves anything dragon and fantasy related. In her free time, she enjoys exercising, writing, listening to music, hiking, cooking, dancing, and reading. She also loves a great adventure in and out of a book!
She writes to free her mind of its constant wondering and clutter. She thrives on the fact she can share some of it with readers that have the same passion for a great story.
She also loves to hear from her reader’s and chat away, so feel free to reach out to her any time.
 For various ways to reach out to her. Visit: http://ar-von.com/ 

Social Media Links:
Website 
Faebook  
Goodreads  
Twitter 


Giveaway:

3 winners swag pack (including a temporary tattoo of Lady's binding mark)

3 winners a $5.00 Amazon gift card (also a temp tat for each winner)

3 winners-winner's choice 1 back-list of my books (anthologies included-Lady's Destiny, not included) and a temp tat for each of them as well.

Tuesday, April 15, 2014

Coffee & Characters Presents- Francis Pauli's Kundalis Cover Reveal & Giveaway!


Welcome to my stop on Francis Pauli's Kundalis Cover Reveal & Giveaway presented by Coffee & Characters.




Title: Kundalis: Storm Dragon
Author: Frances Pauli
Series: Kundalis
Release Date: June 2014
Genre: New Adult/Fantasy
Goodreads  

Blurb:
Karin knows she’s gone completely insane—nuts—absolutely batshit crazy, when she spots an insidious blue dragon twining through the trees at a rest stop in the Cascade Mountains. Despite agreeing to join her roommate at a psychic fair, she’s never believed in anything metaphysical. She’s pretty sure the Reiki treatment she succumbed to has brought on a frighteningly realistic hallucination—until they roll their mini-van in the middle of I-90, and she is rescued from the vehicle by the same monstrous blue figment of her imagination. 

She awakens to find that she’s been delivered to a cabin high in the mountains instead of to a proper hospital. The “doctor” looking out for her is more of a new-ager than a physician, and the people who own the house, including the urban highlander version of Fabio, don’t have any intention of letting her leave.

Faced with the unimaginable, and strapped to an all-too-real dragon, Karin must decide how to tame the beast or risk losing herself to it forever.





Frances Pauli writes across multiple genres. Her work is speculative, full of the fantastic, and quite often romantic at its core. Whenever possible, she enjoys weaving in a little humor. Once upon a time she was a visual artist, but she's since come to her senses. Now she fills her miniscule amount of free time with things like crochet, belly dance and abysmal ukulele playing. She lives in Central Washington State with her husband, two children, a pair of hairless dogs and five tarantulas.



a Rafflecopter giveaway




Friday, April 4, 2014

Xpresso Presents-Terah Edun's Blades of Magic Book Blitz!!


Welcome to For Whom The Books Toll. Today I'm hosting Terah Edun's Blades of Magic Book Blitz presented by Xpresso Book Tours.



Title: Blades of Magic
Author: Terah Edun
Series: Crown Service #1
Publication date: March 31st 2014
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Goodreads   

Blurb:
It is not a peaceful time in the Algardis Empire. War is raging between the mages and seventeen-year-old Sara Fairchild will be right in the middle of it.

She just doesn’t know it yet.

Sara is the daughter of a disgraced imperial commander, executed for desertion. Sara is also the best duelist and hand-to-hand combatant in Sandrin. She lives quietly with her family’s shame but when challenged about her family’s honor, her opponent inevitably loses.

On the night she finds out her father’s true last actions, she takes the Mercenary Guilds’ vows to serve in the emperor’s army. Using her quick wits and fierce fighting skills, she earns a spot in the first division.

There she discovers secrets the mages on both sides would prefer stay hidden. Dark enemies hunt her and soon it’s not just Sara questioning the motivation behind this war.

While fighting mages, blackmailing merchants and discovering new friends, Sara comes across something she’s never had before – passion. The question is – can she fight for her emperor against a mage who has unwittingly claimed her heart?

This is year one of the Initiate Wars. Sara is hoping it doesn’t become the year she dies.

Buy Links:
Amazon:
Blades Of Magic: Crown Service #1
Barnes & Noble


Excerpt:

Chapter Seventeen
It took two days. Two days of Ezekiel not speaking of her. Two days of setting up camp with strangers who glared at her and tried to pick fights. Two days of getting the last of the food from the slop cart because no one would tell her where the mobile kitchen would be located at the end of that evening’s ride. And a day since she fell off her horse because someone had cut the straps on the saddle without her noticing. It had been six-hours since she’d woken up, huddled not in a tent, but on the freezing cold ground where she’d been forced to sleep next to her horse so that she could make sure no one messed with her tack or Danger again. So she gave up her stubbornness. Gave up her pride. She was damned tired of being alone.

She went to look for the only person who might even be half a friend in the entire convoy. She went after Ezekiel Crane. Well, she and Danger went after Ezekiel. The convoy was currently parked on a giant bluff overlooking a crystal clear lake and meadowland. Many of mercenaries were taking the day to enjoy their first bath since leaving Sandrin. Sara was hiking along the bluff looking for a curator who didn’t want to be found with her horse in tow. She couldn’t trust the horse wranglers to look after Danger like the other mercenaries could. Mainly because everyone seemed to hate her from that one outburst the first morning she joined.

So she led Danger by the reins with her scimitar strapped to the left side of the saddle, her sword on her back and her knife at her waist. She had ridden Danger up the slope but it was more of a problem getting down. The slope was slippery, littered with rocks, and had a steep incline. Making it hard for a horse to get down without breaking its legs. She knew the wind mages and earth mages of the guard would work together to make a smooth incline when they were ready to leave. The way it was now was just a defensive tactic that would slow down any enemy’s forces. 

They were a further three days out from the nearest deployment site and Sara had to wonder who or what Captain Barthis Simon feared that he would stick his entire mercenary regiment atop a hill with defensive rings all round them. 

Sara shrugged irritably at the thought, It’s his problem, not mine. We’re sitting ducks up there. All it would take would be for one enemy soldier to get the brilliant idea of starving us out and we’d die on that hilltop.

That was part of the reason she was heading down. That and the solace of Ezekiel’s company. 

“Crap!” yelled Sara as her foot nearly slid out from under her. She refocused on getting down the hill without breaking her neck.

What made life difficult for their enemies, made life even more difficult for a single rider just trying to get from atop the slope to grassland.

As they eased down, Danger whinnied anxiously.

If he could talk Sara had a feeling he’d be saying, “I’m a warhorse, not a mountain goat you idiot.”

They came close to a few tumbles, with the earth sliding out from underneath Danger’s hooves and the gelding almost pulling her down the slope with him. But they regained their footing and made it to the base. When they did he gave the loudest snort she’d ever heard.

“Good boy,” she cooed to him softly. “You were a good, agile boy.”

She reached a hand up towards his nose. Danger tossed his head away from her, refusing to let her pet him.

“Fine,” said Sara. “You’re welcome to be mad at me too. But make no mistake, you’re coming.

Author Bio:
Terah Edun's next YA Fantasy novel, BLADES OF MAGIC - Crown Service Book #1 (set in the Algardis Universe), will release on March 31, 2014. Book Five of Courtlight, SWORN TO DEFIANCE, will release in April 2014.

Her favorite writers include Mercedes Lackey, Tamora Pierce, Kristin Cashore, Robin Hobb and Maria Snyder.

Check out Terah's author website (teedun.com) for more information about her books, find her online @TEdunWrites and subscribe to her newsletter (bit.ly/SubscribetoTerahsNewsletter) to be notified of upcoming releases.


Book 1 - Sworn To Raise
Book 2 - Sworn To Transfer
Book 3 - Sworn To Conflict
Book 4 - Sworn To Secrecy (smarturl.it/tenewrelease)
Book 5 - Sworn To Defiance (Coming April 25, 2014)

Crown Service Series:

Book 1 - Blades of Magic (March 31, 2014)

Author links: