Thursday, April 27, 2017

Blog Tour Giveaway: Daughter of Etheron by Brandon Young



Daughter of Etheron
by Brandon Young
Genre: YA Space Fantasy
Release Date: April 18th 2017
Starforged Entertainment



Summary from Goodreads:


Born the children of the ruling family.

Betrayed by the ones that swore to protect them.

IN A SHATTERED GALAXY . . .

Siblings, Elenah and Teveran are thrust into a secret war of space magicians that will decide the fate of the galaxy.

But a darkness swells in the galactic depths, magicians wielding magic not seen for millennia, and as the struggle for power grows more desperate, the children might find themselves fighting on opposite sides of the conflict.

The first book in the Saga of the Magicus Eye.


Buy a copy HERE!



About the Author
Brandon Young is the debut author of the Saga of the Magicus Eye. He’s also a musician, gamer, and avid Star Wars fan living in Melbourne, Australia.

Author Links:


GIVEAWAY:
GIVEAWAY + MAGICUS MONTHLY SIGN-UP

Receive a free digital copy of Daughter of Etheron and the first novella in the Magicus expanded universe, Rebel and the Aeonseer! Simply fill-in the signup form to receive monthly updates on the Saga of the Magicus Eye, and automatically go into the draw to be one of ten winners! This giveaway expires at midnight on May 12, 2017 (AEST), with winners being notified that weekend.

LINK TO SIGN-UP FORM :




EXCERPT : Elenah

After escaping from her homeworld of Etheron, Elenah has arrived at the spaceport of Mokuura for refueling, alongside two unlikely allies...

Elenah leapt out of the Voyager, her shoes slapping the glossy stone of the overflowing spaceport. Lights flashed across every surface, amber and blue and occasionally vibrant greens, but the city was not colourful. The sky was black, and there were no stars nor a sun. Shivering in the chill air, Elenah pulled her grey sweater across her blouse and exercised her cold hands.
“There’s a lot more people here than I remember,” Oswald said, ushering Eukaloo from the shuttle. Elenah watched the Troff, whose thin face swivelled upon his long, grey neck as he took in these new surroundings. His large, yellow eyes darted about. The light slithered across his greenish-grey skin, slipping in the cracks between his reptilian scales.
“You’re bringing him?” Elenah asked.
“Not because I like him. Because I don’t trust these people not to kidnap him,” Oswald said as he led them briskly away from the ship, and through an archway that became a broad tunnel.
“I thought it was locked with a protective—”
“If you’d looked around, you’d find that Mokuura is not a Free World. There are magicians here and all breeds of other dodgy sorts. Just keep your eyes on the road and don’t stare.” Elenah wondered what made Eukaloo so special, and what Oswald needed of him, but her thoughts were soon whisked away as she glanced up and around and examined the city.
Windows overlooked a dark metropolis to either side of them. Ships hovered steadily through lanes in the sky. Buildings rose up awkwardly, jutting unevenly into the great dark. Elenah realised it was the first extra-terrestrial world she’d ever stepped foot on. It was also nothing like she’d imagined. Cold, dead, depressing.
“It’s certainly become a lot grimmer,” Oswald said, tipping his top hat so it shaded his face. He brushed a curl of brown hair out of his eyes. “But that’s not saying much.”
“Why is it so bad?” Elenah asked.
“Who knows? One day, I’m sure this place won’t even exist.”
They skirted to the side as a short creature passed them through the tunnel. Is that another Troff? Elenah wondered, glancing at its yellow bulb-like eyes and grey reptilian skin. Walking several strides behind him was a taller nonhuman with broad pink arms ringed with tattoos, and a snout that stuck pointedly from the centre of his face.
They emerged from the tunnel and into some sort of shanty town, with buildings that looked fit for slaves: slanted corrugated roofs, sphere-shaped lamps hanging from the eaves, trashcans spewing papers and scrap metal. Elenah clutched the straps of her knapsack tightly, afraid that somebody might steal it—not that it contained anything of value.
“Best you don’t talk to these folk,” Oswald told her, leaning close. “They’ll do anything to swindle, bribe or murder you.” Elenah followed his eyes towards an old lady sitting in front of a burrowed-out building, proffering a grey tankard that rattled with chits. Beneath the soot and scraggly hair, Elenah could’ve sworn that was a human.
She averted her eyes and quickened her pace to keep up with him. “What are they?”
“Beggars,” he said. “Quite unfortunate. Nobody wants to live in a place like this. And if anybody says otherwise, don’t believe them.” Elenah screwed up her face as a bad smell wafted past. “Most of these people, they’re either hiding from something...or they’re just trapped here.”
“I hope nobody steals your ship,” Elenah said, wishing they’d walk a little faster. The beggars were everywhere, sitting along the skirts of winding roads, smoking, playing dice and cards, scrounging through the trashcans. They reminded her of rats, flitting about, and she wondered why nobody tried to help them. “Will they hurt us?”
“Not if you keep your distance,” Oswald said. “Come here.” He turned a corner and led them out of the town. Buildings here rose two or three times higher, but they remained dark and crooked. Other people lurked among the shadows. They scurried about with backpacks or grey sacks, riffled through fried vehicles and toppled structures. Scavengers. The only thing that hadn’t changed was the acrid, sweaty smell clinging to the air.
“Now, this might be difficult,” Oswald said awkwardly, hauling Eukaloo to a stop and rounding on them outside a shop lit with amber lamplight. The sign was written in glowing alien strokes. A bald-headed creature stood behind the counter with greasy yellow skin. He had one customer: a guy whose face was concealed by a high brown collar, whose eyes were metal spheres that rolled about, blinking red and white. “It might end up taking longer than I would like it to. If you want to take a wander, just don’t go too far.”
Elenah nodded, and Oswald also did—just a little less surely. Then he stepped away with Eukaloo and vanished amidst the crowds. Elenah couldn’t help but notice how well they seemed to blend in. She shouldn’t have been surprised; after all, Oswald was a criminal.



Brandon's Guest Post: The Saga of the Magicus Eye

In a galaxy forged in the debris of a magical explosion...

We enter a war of military might and magic where secret armies collide and an ancient foe threatens to topple the stability of the galaxy. Enter the Saga of the Magicus Eye, a brand new space fantasy epic told in two narrative threads spanning thousands of years:

The Main Sequence is the primary story thread, a series of novels broken up into multiple story arcs beginning with Daughter of Etheron—the first in a trilogy. As the main sequence progresses, we will see reoccurring characters, locations and themes, as well as how they and the galaxy they live in change over generations of warfare and revolution.

Daughter of Etheron is the perfect place to start as it minimizes the learning curve exponentially. In writing it, I knew the story needed to fulfil a number of functions. It had to:

  • Introduce readers to a brand new galaxy
  • Establish the state of the galaxy
  • Have a satisfying ending
  • Set the stage for something exciting to come

So I came up with the simple story thread of a girl who leaves her homeworld for the first time, so as to put her in the reader’s shoes, with the simple quest of finding her brother—which can be easily accomplished in a 100,000-word novel. Meanwhile, a secondary thread follows her brother as he learns about the more mystical aspects of the galaxy under the tutelage of a powerful magician—which in turn introduces us to another important element of the saga: magic.

The use of multiple viewpoints was a conscious choice made in the early stages of idea development. I specifically chose to include a diverse set of characters (human, non-human, old and young) in order to reveal many different aspects of the galaxy and ensure this novel worked as a strong launching point for the rest of the saga.

However, it is not a necessary starting point...

The Expanded Universe serves as a companion to the main sequence, a series of standalone novellas and short stories designed to expand on characters and events mentioned and starring in the main sequence. The EU is not required reading in order to understand the main sequence, although new readers could potentially start here so as to try a smaller story before delving into the meat of the saga. The first novella was released simultaneously to Daughter of Etheron, and is entitled Rebel and the Aeonseer: a story about the birth of the rebellion and the supernatural creatures that set things into motion. Rebel will be included free with every purchase of Daughter of Etheron, but can also be purchased on its own for the low price of $1.99AUD (or about $1.50USD). I’m also excited about the first short story, A Perfect Doom, releasing later this year for free.

I had a lot of fun writing the first two instalments in the Saga of the Magicus Eye, and I hope you’ll come along for the ride and find something you like within its pages!

Blog Tour Organized by:

Saturday, April 22, 2017

Book Blitz Giveaway: Shearwater by D.S. Murphy






Shearwater

by D.S. Murphy

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance/Mermaids

Release Date: January 26th 2017



Summary:


They found the dead girl on my birthday.

And I’m not entirely sure that her killer isn’t the boy I just tried to kiss.


The longer I spend in Ireland, the deeper my life seems to unravel. Whisperings of a dark secret that caused my mother to flee from her homeland. Run-ins with a pair of undeniably handsome and strangely mysterious guys. A sleep-walking adventure that nearly got me killed. The nearness of the moon and the ocean would be almost romantic, if I wasn’t being hunted for powers I didn’t know I possessed.


Not everything in mythology is just a story.

Not every fairy-tale is harmless.

Magic is very, very real… but so are the monsters from your worst nightmares.


Now I’m being chased by immortals, hunted by wizards, and forced to pick sides in a supernatural war I want no part of.


I might be the only one who can stop it.


But it will mean giving up the one thing my heart can’t bear to lose.


Shearwater is on sale for only $0.99! 


Buy a copy HERE!




About the Author

I wrote my MA thesis on Harry Potter and am working on my PhD in literature, while secretly writing YA fantasy novels and designing book covers. I blog about self-publishing, book design and book marketing, and am renting a castle for Nanowrimo 2016. I hope you like my writing!



Author Links:


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GIVEAWAY:
You can enter to win a paperback copy of 

Shearwater HERE!

Book Blitz Organized by:


Thursday, April 20, 2017

Book Blast Civeaway:Elsekind by Celeste Hollister






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Title:   Elsekind
Author:  Celeste Hollister
Published:  April 20th, 2017
Publisher:   Black Rose Writing
Genre:  YA Fantasy
Synopsis:  Kex Mardugal is half human, half something… Else. With her dark skin and wild eyes, humankind considers her a soulless abomination. In the face of prejudice, Kex has carved a place for herself in human society. She earned the rank of King’s Champion, securing a position of strength within her homeland.
This attracts the attention of an inscrutable sorcerer who entreats Kex to join his party of warriors to fight against an enigmatic evil threatening to overtake their world.
But conflicts within the party undermine their ability to work together. All the while, their enemy, a strange and powerful demon, steadily gains strength, commanding deadly storms and legions of curselings to spread its blight across the land.
As an Elsekind, Kex discovers that she alone can define her code of honor in order to fight against the monsters of the world.

Amazon Paperback | Black Rose Writing | GoodReads


Excerpt from Elsekind by Celeste Hollister:

Kex and Hailan

            Kex curled her knees tight against her chest. She breathed in slow, deep breaths. Her weapon felt cold beneath her palm. Rough boards rasped against her cheek as she pressed her face to the floor. Muffled footsteps approached – barefoot, if she had to guess. She tightened her fist around the weapon and waited. The angle was wrong, but she was too small to overpower him in a close fight. She would rely on quickness and the element of surprise. He would never think to find her here.
            Her pulse quickened as the footfalls paused. The door opened on a well-oiled hinge. A sphere of lamplight revealed two hairy ankles, and – just as she hoped – two naked feet. Kex drew a breath and waited.
            Closer, she thought. Come closer. I dare you.
            Lamplight and legs loomed nearer but still out of reach. The lamp's handle squeaked as he set it upon the table. Then he turned and shuffled forward, giving her an unpleasant glimpse of his toenails. Inches away, then half-inches, then precisely where she wanted him.
            Kex lashed out, stabbing down into the top of his foot. He howled and hopped – as she hoped – and she kicked out, her heel connecting with his ankle, knocking his other foot out from beneath him.
            He scrabbled to his side, quick for his size, but by then she had used his own leg to haul herself from beneath the bed. She vaulted astride him, pressing her weapon to his freshly-shaven throat.
            “Where is it?” she hissed.
            Eyes wide, he glanced from her to the weapon pressed into his neck.
            “Oh, by the Saints,” he moaned.
            She bore down, sinking it deeper into his skin. “I asked you a question.”
            He stammered, then refocused. “Is that a fork?”
            “Aye.” The skin blanched around the tines as she leaned her weight into it. “I can make you bleed with a fork.”
            “I think you already did,” he whined. She noted that he lay very, very still as he said, “C'mon, Kex, what's this about?”
            She narrowed her eyes. “Don't play around, Hailan Chase. You know well what I want.”
            “Nope.” Hailan carefully shook his head. “Not me.”
            “I may not kill you with this,” Kex said through her teeth. She bore down enough to make him squirm. “But I will maim you – four perfect little cuts – and everywhere you go, from this day forward, everyone will know that Lady Kex took you down with a utensil.”
            “Oh, Lady, is it?” Hailan said.
            “Don't change the subject,” she said. “Where is my book?”
            “Hmm... Book?”
            “The Codex, damn it. Where is it?”
            Hailan raised his hands. “Xylo has it.”
            “Your sister?” Kex clicked her tongue.
            “She's awful clever.”
            “She's eight.”
            Kex felt his weight shift. She knew this maneuver. If he thought he was going to roll her, she had to ensure he was too frightened to try. She flicked her wrist, caught the fork with her left hand, and positioned it above his eye.
            His dilating pupils told her all she needed to know. He wouldn't be moving. He might not dare to breathe.
            “It is my Mother's book,” Kex said. “I want it back.”
            Hailan swallowed several gulps of air. “She's a curious girl, my sister. You're the only Elsekind she's ever seen.”
            Kex hissed through her teeth. Hailan cringed.
            She said, “Xylo's seen Alusians.”
            “That's different,” he said. “You're different. I mean, not different, not like Halfkin different, but you're not the same.” He moaned. “You know what I mean.”
            Kex eased back but kept the fork pointed at his face. Yes, she knew what he meant. All too well. “With my permission, Xylo may borrow any object in my possession. But you will not take them without asking. Nod if you understand.”
            Hailan nodded. He looked like he might be sick.
            “Go now and fetch it back,” Kex said. She got to her feet and moved to the door. “I will meet you and Aralund on the pitch in one half hour.”
            Hailan massaged his neck. As she opened the door, he said, “Kex, I was only playing.”

            Though she saw his sincerity, she could not afford to soften. She said, “I know that. Which is why you I leave you unharmed.” With a smirk, she added, “Well. Mostly.”

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About the Author:
Celeste Hollister is a novelist, a mom, a travel writer, and willing cat minion. She writes books for people who struggle with racial identity and LGBT+ representation. She graduated from Texas State University with a degree in writing, taught in urban schools for a decade, and lived in South Korea for a year. She loves wine, cookies, traveling abroad, and fanfiction. Currently, she lives in San Marcos with her lovely boyfriend and fabulous daughter.






Giveaway Details:
There is a tour wide giveaway. Prizes include the following:
  • $20 Amazon gift card.
Giveaway is International. Ends April 24th at 11:59 PM EST


a Rafflecopter giveaway






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