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Monday, October 30, 2017

Of The Divine by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes - Virtual BookTour and Giveaway



Of The Divine
by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE:   FICTION/Fantasy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Henna is one of the most powerful sorcerers in the Order of Napthol, and her runes ’s runes tell her that the future of Kavet is balanced on the edge of the knife. The treaties between Kavet and the dragon-like race known as the Osei have become intolerable. The time has come for the royal house to magically challenge Osei dominion. Prince Verte, Henna' lover, is to serve as the nexus for the powerful but dangerous spell, with Naples--an untested young sorcerer from the Order of Napthol--a volatile but critical support to its creation.

Amid these plans, Dahlia Indathrone’s arrival in the city shouldn’t matter. She has no magic and no royal lineage, and yet, Henna immediately knows Dahlia is important. She just can’t see why. 

As their lives intertwine, the four will learn that they are pawns in a larger game, one played by the forces of the Abyss and of the Numen—the infernal and the divine. 

A game no mortal can ever hope to win.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

I asked Amelia Where are five places you might visit for inspiration for your books?  Here are her answers.

I wish I had more opportunities for travel, because there are always places I’ve wanted to go to help inspire and research books, but I can describe places I have gone in the past and places I hope to go.

Some of my research was done close to home:  Kavet, the country where the Mancer Trilogy takes place, is roughly analogous to the coastal areas of Maine in terms of climate, and the structure of the capital city is inspired by 18th century Salem, Massachusetts. As part of research, I’ve enjoyed visiting the Salem wharf district, and the historical sites that are focused on the port-city’s maritime history (instead of just witches).

Other research has been based on trips I’ve gone further afield, the most notable being a hike on a glacier in Alaska. I didn’t go to Alaska specifically to do research-- I was visiting a friend-- but said friend is also an active writer, and I’m sure she understands that much of Ice House (a novel I’m considering for publication after the Mancer trilogy ends next year) takes place in the glacial lands known as the Embracing Sea, where brave sailors can gain wealth in exotic trade, but any ship who lingers too long at the end of the season is likely to find itself iced in place for the long winter.

Another fun and inspirational adventure was a trip through the Howe Caverns in New York. At the time I was working on a novel set primarily in a subterranean complex formed from a series of natural caves, which had been initially intended to be part of a resort but had become nearly the last refuge for human beings on the planet (this for a futuristic sci-fi novel I currently call Sororcula). I would love to go back at some point and take the “extended tour” that opened up in 2015.

There are a couple places I would like to revisit before revising Disappearing Isle, a novel that takes place after my last YA novel Promises to Keep. For one, I want to explore a few of the major routes and junctions in Boston, New York and Florida-- the character ends up taking trains from Boston down to Tampa, and if it were remotely practical (it isn’t) I would love to trace his route. More importantly, I would like to spend a bit of time at the campsites on the western coast of Florida, which also play a role in the story. Besides, who doesn’t want an excuse to visit the Gulf side of Florida?

Last but not least, I want to see the Frank Church—River of No Return wilderness area in Idaho. The Salmon River area is more or less where the entire Maeve’ra Trilogy took place, and I would love to see it (and probably see how much I got wrong!). We have forests in Massachusetts, but they’re young forests; most of this area was clearcut not long ago and re-planted more recently. I want to go see the old forests.


Of course, all these are sites I know are inspirational because they have already inspired or been featured in a book. As for the places I would like to go, it’s hard to say. Every new place has the potential to whisper a new story in my ear. That’s why I like to take any opportunity I have to see and do new things.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT

The ocean that covered most of the Numen’s first level was clear and sweet. It lapped against diamond sand where tiny long-legged birds spread wings the color of honey as they raced back and forth, plucking drifting seeds from the air. The Numini—those perfect, beautiful sentinels who ruled the divine realm by might and decree—watched the birds’ antics with gentle amusement.

One Numini looked past the white sands and crystal waters below to a realm where the ocean was cold and tasted of salt, where verdant green cascaded across rich earth, and where the mortal creatures lived.

Soon, she thought. She was one of the three arbiters who ruled the Numen, second only to the high justice of her kind.

“I am concerned about the Abyssi,” remarked one of her brothers, a lesser judge. “We have worked for generations to nurture these lines of power, and now they could all be—”

“Have faith,” she assured him. “Abyssi scrabble at the mortal realm like dogs at a closed door. They always have. They lack the wisdom or discipline to do more than that.”

“But do the mortals have the wisdom to keep the door closed?” he challenged.

“Faith,” the arbiter said again. This time it was a clear chastisement.

She knew their children in the mortal world were defenseless. Humans had minds barely capable of comprehending their own existence, and as a consequence lived short and brutal lives. They needed their divine guardians to guide and nurture them. The Abyssi—vicious, mindless beasts of the infernal realm—could fight for sovereignty all they wanted. In the end, it wouldn’t matter.

In the mortal realm, all things served the divine.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Amelia Atwater-Rhodes wrote her first novel, In the Forests of the Night, when she was 13 years old. Other books in the Den of Shadows series are Demon in My View, Shattered Mirror, Midnight Predator, all ALA Quick Picks for Young Adults. She has also published the five-volume series The Kiesha’ra: Hawksong, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year and VOYA Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror List Selection; Snakecharm; Falcondance; Wolfcry; and Wyvernhail.

Buy link:



~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

Amelia Atwater-Rhodes will be awarding a limited edition print copy of the book *U.S. only* to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Visit the other blogs on the tour:


October 9Laurie's Paranormal Thoughts and Reviews
October 10The Kronicles of Korthlundia: A Window into Fantasy
October 11Independent Authors
October 12It's Raining Books
October 13Long and Short Reviews
October 16The Reading Addict
October 17Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer
October 18Readeropolis
October 19The Avid Reader
October 20Sharing Links and Wisdom
October 23Rogue's Angels 
October 24Sea's Fire
October 25T's Stuff
October 26Lisa Haselton's Reviews and Interviews
October 26Writers and Authors
October 27Author Deborah A Bailey
October 30Mixed Book Bag
October 31Mello and June, It's a Book Thang! - promo
November 1Up 'Til Dawn Book Blog
November 2Jazzy Book Reviews
November 3Rainne's Ramblings

Son of the Moon by Jennifer Macaire - Book Blast and Giveaway




SON OF THE MOON
by Jennifer Macaire

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE:  Time Travel

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

In Nysa, Alexander the Great and time traveling journalist Ashley find their abducted son Paul being worshiped as ""the son of the moon"". Knowing she can’t change history and that Alexander’s kingdom will be torn apart when he dies, Ashley must make the terrible decision to leave her firstborn son in the sacred valley.

Alexander presses on to India, where he and Ashley are welcomed with feasts - and treachery.  They struggle through monsoons, face the might of Porus’s army, and outwit deadly Brahmin rebels. Facing the reality of Alexander’s looming death, Ashley considers the unthinkable - How to save him, and the consequences of cheating the Fates. Book III in the Time for Alexander series"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT

The battle that day was over by mid-morning. Alexander lost twelve men. The enemy lost half their army and sued for peace before noon.

Alexander was carried into the infirmary where I was helping Usse. His ankle had been shattered by a lance.

“Are you all right?” I asked, rushing to his side.

He stared at me, sweat pouring off his face, and his eyes two wells of pain.

“Would I come here if I was all right?” he gasped.

I sat down next to him and held his hand while Usse took off his sandal and examined the wound. When he probed, my own hand was nearly broken in Alexander’s grip, and I yelped.

“Sorry,” muttered the slender Egyptian doctor, dousing the ankle with hot water mixed with different herbs. He cleansed it and put a splint around it. There wasn’t much else he could do. Now we just had to pray it didn’t get infected.

We stayed for three days while we organized the peace talks with both tribes. Then Alexander decided to pull out and head straight to Nysa. An ambassador for the Assacenian king told us that the child of the moon was being worshipped in Nysa.

The child of the moon was Paul, my baby, now nearly five years old. I hadn’t seen him since he was ten days old.

Alexander left two divisions behind with his general Coenus while we took the rest of the army. We would all join up at the Indus River.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Jennifer Macaire lives in France with her husband, three children, & various dogs & horses. She loves cooking, eating French chocolate, growing herbs and flowering plants on her balcony, and playing golf. She grew up in upstate New York, Samoa, and the Virgin Islands. She graduated from St. Peter and Paul high school in St. Thomas and moved to NYC where she modeled for five years for Elite. She went to France and met her husband at the polo club. All that is true. But she mostly likes to make up stories.

Twitter : @jennnifermacaire


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION

 THE AUTHOR WILL BE GIVING AWAY: $10 Amazon/BN GC

Of The Divine by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes Virtual Book Tour and Giveaway



Of The Divine
by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Fine the five places Amelia goes for inspiration after the Blurb.

GENRE:   FICTION/Fantasy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Henna is one of the most powerful sorcerers in the Order of Napthol, and her runes ’s runes tell her that the future of Kavet is balanced on the edge of the knife. The treaties between Kavet and the dragon-like race known as the Osei have become intolerable. The time has come for the royal house to magically challenge Osei dominion. Prince Verte, Henna' lover, is to serve as the nexus for the powerful but dangerous spell, with Naples--an untested young sorcerer from the Order of Napthol--a volatile but critical support to its creation.

Amid these plans, Dahlia Indathrone’s arrival in the city shouldn’t matter. She has no magic and no royal lineage, and yet, Henna immediately knows Dahlia is important. She just can’t see why. 

As their lives intertwine, the four will learn that they are pawns in a larger game, one played by the forces of the Abyss and of the Numen—the infernal and the divine. 

A game no mortal can ever hope to win.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Where are five places you might visit for inspiration for your books?

I wish I had more opportunities for travel, because there are always places I’ve wanted to go to help inspire and research books, but I can describe places I have gone in the past and places I hope to go.

Some of my research was done close to home:  Kavet, the country where the Mancer Trilogy takes place, is roughly analogous to the coastal areas of Maine in terms of climate, and the structure of the capital city is inspired by 18th century Salem, Massachusetts. As part of research, I’ve enjoyed visiting the Salem wharf district, and the historical sites that are focused on the port-city’s maritime history (instead of just witches).

Other research has been based on trips I’ve gone further afield, the most notable being a hike on a glacier in Alaska. I didn’t go to Alaska specifically to do research-- I was visiting a friend-- but said friend is also an active writer, and I’m sure she understands that much of Ice House (a novel I’m considering for publication after the Mancer trilogy ends next year) takes place in the glacial lands known as the Embracing Sea, where brave sailors can gain wealth in exotic trade, but any ship who lingers too long at the end of the season is likely to find itself iced in place for the long winter.

Another fun and inspirational adventure was a trip through the Howe Caverns in New York. At the time I was working on a novel set primarily in a subterranean complex formed from a series of natural caves, which had been initially intended to be part of a resort but had become nearly the last refuge for human beings on the planet (this for a futuristic sci-fi novel I currently call Sororcula). I would love to go back at some point and take the “extended tour” that opened up in 2015.

There are a couple places I would like to revisit before revising Disappearing Isle, a novel that takes place after my last YA novel Promises to Keep. For one, I want to explore a few of the major routes and junctions in Boston, New York and Florida-- the character ends up taking trains from Boston down to Tampa, and if it were remotely practical (it isn’t) I would love to trace his route. More importantly, I would like to spend a bit of time at the campsites on the western coast of Florida, which also play a role in the story. Besides, who doesn’t want an excuse to visit the Gulf side of Florida?

Last but not least, I want to see the Frank Church—River of No Return wilderness area in Idaho. The Salmon River area is more or less where the entire Maeve’ra Trilogy took place, and I would love to see it (and probably see how much I got wrong!). We have forests in Massachusetts, but they’re young forests; most of this area was clearcut not long ago and re-planted more recently. I want to go see the old forests.

Of course, all these are sites I know are inspirational because they have already inspired or been featured in a book. As for the places I would like to go, it’s hard to say. Every new place has the potential to whisper a new story in my ear. That’s why I like to take any opportunity I have to see and do new things.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT

The ocean that covered most of the Numen’s first level was clear and sweet. It lapped against diamond sand where tiny long-legged birds spread wings the color of honey as they raced back and forth, plucking drifting seeds from the air. The Numini—those perfect, beautiful sentinels who ruled the divine realm by might and decree—watched the birds’ antics with gentle amusement.

One Numini looked past the white sands and crystal waters below to a realm where the ocean was cold and tasted of salt, where verdant green cascaded across rich earth, and where the mortal creatures lived.

Soon, she thought. She was one of the three arbiters who ruled the Numen, second only to the high justice of her kind.

“I am concerned about the Abyssi,” remarked one of her brothers, a lesser judge. “We have worked for generations to nurture these lines of power, and now they could all be—”

“Have faith,” she assured him. “Abyssi scrabble at the mortal realm like dogs at a closed door. They always have. They lack the wisdom or discipline to do more than that.”

“But do the mortals have the wisdom to keep the door closed?” he challenged.

“Faith,” the arbiter said again. This time it was a clear chastisement.

She knew their children in the mortal world were defenseless. Humans had minds barely capable of comprehending their own existence, and as a consequence lived short and brutal lives. They needed their divine guardians to guide and nurture them. The Abyssi—vicious, mindless beasts of the infernal realm—could fight for sovereignty all they wanted. In the end, it wouldn’t matter.

In the mortal realm, all things served the divine.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Amelia Atwater-Rhodes wrote her first novel, In the Forests of the Night, when she was 13 years old. Other books in the Den of Shadows series are Demon in My View, Shattered Mirror, Midnight Predator, all ALA Quick Picks for Young Adults. She has also published the five-volume series The Kiesha’ra: Hawksong, a School Library Journal Best Book of the Year and VOYA Best Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror List Selection; Snakecharm; Falcondance; Wolfcry; and Wyvernhail.

Buy link:



~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 
Amelia Atwater-Rhodes will be awarding a limited edition print copy of the book *U.S. only* to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sunday, October 29, 2017

Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 153 - Perfect Gravity by Vivien Jackson, Steal the Stars by Mac Rogers, World Made by Hand by James Howard Kunstler

Perfect Gravity (Tether #2)Perfect Gravity by Vivien Jackson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This had a very interesting start. Perfect Gravity starts at the same point in time that Wanted and Wired, book one in the Tether series, started. While the time line is the same this time Angela Neko and Kellen Hockley are the main characters and we see things from their point of view. Seems that someone wants Angela dead. She runs to her old flame, Kellen, for protection. Turns out that many things are not as they seem as Kellen and Angela try to stop a war only to find out that the war is also not what they thought it was. This is full of twists and turns driven by some very interesting characters. My favorite is the cat. Seems she has been augmented and in addition to cuddling and purring she can make a big difference in the outcome of the story. This does come to a nice conclusion leaving me wondering if this is a two book series. I hope not as the world building and back story leave many more places for the story to continue.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

 Steal the StarsSteal the Stars by Mac Rogers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This one has a interesting punch at the end. Something is not as it seems and the main character just does not get it until the end. This was a pod cast first and then the story was released as a book. Dakota “Dak” Prentiss is the head of security and she tells the story starting with her obsession with Matt Salem. That drives the story with all of its twists and turns. Interesting read.


World Made by Hand (World Made by Hand #1)World Made by Hand by James Howard Kunstler
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A interesting take on what could happen if our world fell apart. As the narrator tell us this is the story of one summer after the world changed. There is no gas, you walk for go by horseback, and many people died as the result of a very bad strain of the flu. This tells what and how people live when their local area becomes their whole world. A interesting take with believable characters, backstory and world building. This is our Science Fiction Book Club selection for November and I think it will spark a very interesting discussion.

View all my reviews

Saturday, October 28, 2017

Short and Sweet Book Reviews # 152 - Starship Grifters by Robert Kroese, Duke of Desire by Elizabeth Hoyt, Empaths by S. H. Jucha

Starship GriftersStarship Grifters by Robert Kroese
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this as a audio book however it is one that I might not have liked as well if I was reading it instead of hearing it. The best character in the book was Sasha, the robot. Her lines were priceless as she tried to keep Rex on track. I knew that the scam was probably for real what I did not expect was who and what both Rex and Sasha's part really was. A very fun listen and probably a fun read too.


Duke of Desire (Maiden Lane, #12)Duke of Desire by Elizabeth Hoyt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Lords of Chaos are still around and have kidnapped Lady Iris Jordan. Raphael de Chartres, the Duke of Dyemore, has made it his lifes work stop the Lords and comes to Iris's rescue. Both are really interesting characters. Raphael has so many secrets in his past; most not good. Iris is the light in his world. It was interesting to watch them interact. Iris is very strong and can stand up to Raphael. Raphael thinks that the things done to him in the past mark him as tainted. It is a very long journey in a very short time to their HEA. A nice ending to the series.


Empaths (Pyrean Series, #1)Empaths by S. H. Jucha
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Empath revolves around Aurelia Garmenti, a young empath who has been held prisoner her entire life and Captain Jessie Cinders who rescues her when she escapes after causing the death of the person abusing her. As the story progresses the world of Aurelia and Jessie becomes more and more real. This is the first book in the Pyrean Series and all of the action and character development focuses on both back story and world building. It is a rather long book and I felt it could have been edited down some without losing the focus on the important parts of the story. Even so I really liked both the characters, the action and the world that was being built. I will be watching to see how the series develops. Some things are solved but there are many threads left hanging.

I received a free copy of the book in return for an honest review.

View all my reviews

Friday, October 27, 2017

Snakes Can't Run by Ed Lin - Virtual Book Tour and Giveaway



Snakes Can't Run
by Ed Lin


After you read about the book be sure to read Ed's post on World Building.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE:   FICTION/Mystery & Thriller

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

Set in New York City in 1976, Snakes Can't Run finds NYPD detective Robert Chow still haunted by the horrors of his past and relegated to tedious undercover work. When the bodies of two undocumented Chinese men are found under the Brooklyn Bridge underpass, Chow is drawn into the case. Most of the officers in his precinct are concerned with a terrorist group targeting the police, but Chow's investigation puts him on the trail of a ring of ruthless human smugglers who call themselves the snakeheads. As Chow gets closer to solving the murder, dangerous truths about his own family's past begin to emerge. Steeped in retro urban attitude, and ripe with commentary on minorities' roles in American society, this gritty procedural will appeal to fans of George Pelecanos and S.J. Rozan.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPTS 

The mind is a funny thing. After I got on the wagon and fell in love with a girl, I started seeing my father out in the streets. I didn't literally see his ghost walking around, but I'd see his nose in profile on another guy's face. Sometimes I'd be walking behind someone who had his slouchy shuffle, his spotted ears, or the back of the head that looked like an elderly porcupine with spikes gone soft and white.

One time, a hand reached out to my shoulder and touched me exactly where he used to touch me from his chair after dinner to ask me to get him a beer from the fridge.

Of course it wasn't my father. It was an older guy who wanted to know if I was the guy whose pictures used to be in all the Chinese newspapers. The man was almost completely bald and had two light brown spots on the top right of his head that looked like an imprint from a woman's high-heeled shoe.

He called me the Sheriff of Chinatown. I tried to get away from him as soon as possible, but he was one of those people who liked to say good-bye and then ask another question just when you're about to part. The guy ended up grabbing both of my hands twice before I was able to make the corner and get away. I checked that my wallet was still in my pocket, though, just in case he had been working me with a partner. I guess he was genuinely glad to meet me.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ed's Take on World Building

I’ve been accused of doing more world-building than plotting out a mystery. That may be valid because I think the separation of “good guys” and “bad guys” as characters is so dumb. We all have a subjective morality. We all believe in karma to a degree. We read about some kid being bullied and share it online and we share the story thousands of times on social media. The bullied kid becomes this presence that everybody wants to build up and protect while the bully is demonized a thousand times over.
Of course it’s wrong that anybody is bullied but the story takes on a archetype in which we deny the bullied her own complexity and bully is denied her own nuanced existence. Maybe the victim really enjoys shoplifting and online porn. Maybe the bully lives in an abusive home and power plays are the only way she knows how to relate to people.
I enjoy exploring the complications, the strange destinies that all the characters need to fulfill. I can’t remember who said it, but there’s an adage that there’s no such thing as a simple, isolated crime. In Dog Day Afternoon, for example, the bank robbery was supposed to pay for a sex-reassignment operation, and to get two siblings out of foster care. Life is strange, and mysteries today should accommodate as much as of the messy and absurd as possible while remaining an intelligible story. Moreover, it has to be believable, while real life doesn’t have to be.

I feel like we are all alive to do good things for the people we love, if not everybody. This may or may not come at the expense of people we either don’t know or don’t like. Fiction is a zero-sum game. There is a poetic justice that a reader is acutely aware of. I want to make complex characters, put them in nuanced situations and have readers feel the thrill of almost getting away with “it.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Ed Lin, a native New Yorker of Taiwanese and Chinese descent, is the first author to win three Asian American Literary Awards and is an all-around standup kinda guy. His books include Waylaid and This Is a Bust, both published by Kaya Press in 2002 and 2007, respectively. Snakes Can't Run and One Red Bastard, which both continue the story of Robert Chow set in This Is a Bust, were published by Minotaur Books. His latest book, Ghost Month, a Taipei-based mystery, was published by Soho Crime in July 2014. Lin lives in Brooklyn with his wife, actress Cindy Cheung, and son.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY INFORMATION 

Ed Lin will be awarding a limited edition print copy of the book to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.


a Rafflecopter giveaway