Samantha MacLeod's Blog, page 5
April 12, 2019
Cover Reveal: The Monster Chained
Or is it a beautiful trap?
The Monster Chained, the fourth book in The Fenris Series, comes out next month.
And look at this gorgeous cover from Ravenborn Covers!
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Tiny Sneak Peek at The Monster Chained
I jumped to my feet and grinned at Fenris. He looked damned handsome, half-naked and dripping wet. For a moment I let myself imagine his expression as I opened the door and his longtime lover Týr walked through…
“I should get dressed,” Fenris said. He was looking around the room as if he were assessing places to hide.
“No,” I whispered. “No, don’t! In fact—”
I grabbed the skirts of my wrinkled dress and pulled it over my head. I had to tug a bit to get the bodice to release my breasts; the person on the other side of the door knocked again while I was struggling to free myself from the blue velvet.
“Coming,” I called as I finally tossed the dress over my head.
Fenris stared at me with wide eyes. “Sol..?”
I smiled at him, then turned toward the door, totally naked. Maybe I could manage to surprise Týr again, and to show him how very welcome he was in this strange, frustrating place. I bit my lip, rocked forward on the balls of my feet, and reached for the door handle. I’ll invite him in, I decided, as the door swung open on its hinges. And then I’ll say—
My thoughts froze.
Standing in the hallway outside our room was the tall man with flaming red hair. The Lie-smith.
Fenris’s father, Loki.
Click here to pre-order The Monster Chained
And stay tuned for more!
Like what you’ve read? Join my newsletter and I’ll send you a free copy of Tam Lin, my sexy modern take on the Scottish folktale.
April 1, 2019
Coming in May: The Monster Chained
[image error]The Monster Chained mood board from my Pinterest page
Is Val-hall truly the sanctuary Óðinn promises?
Or is it a beautiful trap?
Sol and Fenris escaped King Nøkkyn’s castle for the isolation and dubious safety of the Ironwood forest. Yet, as Sol’s pregnancy progresses, they are forced to admit that a cave in the wild forest is no place to raise a baby. But with no family, no gold, and the flames of a civil war burning all around them, where can Sol and Fenris possibly find refuge?
When Óðinn the All-father, leader of the fabled Æsir and Vanir warriors, offers the couple a home within his legendary fortress Val-hall, Sol and Fenris feel they have no choice but to accept. However, even surrounded by the beauty and abundance of Val-hall, Sol fears the dark prophecy unleashed by King Nøkkyn will follow them all the way to Asgard.
And Fenris, despite his assurances to the contrary, may one day fail the strange tests of strength the Æsir demand as proof of his loyalty…
The Monster Chained, book four in the five-book Fenris Series, will come out on May 28th.
Yes, this is the book where shit gets Norse.
Click here to pre-order your copy before the price goes up!
And stay tuned for more!
Like what you’ve read? Join my newsletter and I’ll send you a free copy of Tam Lin, my sexy modern take on the Scottish folktale.
March 28, 2019
Vote Fenris!!!
The Monster’s Lover is currently in the running for InD’Tale Magazine‘s Créme de la Cover Contest!
I happen to think the cover Ravenborn Covers designed for me is the best book cover in the history of the universe. And totally the best cover in the contest!
Want to check it out or give Fenris a shout-out?
Click here to vote!
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And, hey, what’s inside the book isn’t bad either… 
March 26, 2019
Welcome to the Castle!
What waits for Sol in King Nøkkyn’s fortress?
You’re about to find out!
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It’s release day for The Monster and the Prisoner, the third book in the Fenris series. This installment features lots of scheming, plenty of steam, and a devious plan by King Nøkkyn to take down his most formidable enemy: Fenris.
Click here to claim your copy
What Readers are Saying
“I have been loving this series!! The book is excellent. I love the characters. You never know what is going to happen next.” – Michelle S. Goodreads 5-star review
“Once again this story leaves me breathless!!” – Adriana, Goodreads 5-star review
“Can’t wait for the next!” – M. Goodreads 5-star review
But don’t take their word for it!
Click here to pick up your own copy of The Monster and the Prisoner
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Like what you’ve read? Join my newsletter and I’ll send you a free copy of Tam Lin, my sexy modern take on the Scottish folktale.
March 22, 2019
First Chapter Friday: The Monster and the Prisoner
I’d never dreamed a building could be so huge.
My neck craned back as the soldier marched me through a small, open door in the foot of the castle’s massive gates. The castle wall’s skull-topped spikes loomed so high above us they seemed to scrape the very underbelly of the sky.
There was another road inside the castle’s gate, this one leading through a cobblestone courtyard. At first glance, the courtyard almost reminded me of the square in Evenfel in front of the White Bull, although this version must have been at least three times larger. Manure piles, heaps of hay, and a scattering of small, wooden shacks huddled against the stone walls as if seeking shelter from the vast darkness of the sky. Two soldiers bearing King Nøkkyn’s ferocious sigil emerged from the shadows beside the gate, shoved torches in our faces, and started barking questions. I hardly cared what they said, or how my captor responded. I stared around the courtyard in a daze, stunned by the enormity of Nøkkyn’s fortress.
This would have been my home.
If I hadn’t met Fenris along the banks of the Lucky, if Bryn and his friends hadn’t showered me with mud and piss as I carried eggs along the road to town, then this cold mountain of stone would be where I lived. Perhaps one of the narrow slits in the dark towers would have been my window.
My chest tightened with a surge of gratitude so intense it almost brought tears to my eyes. Thank the Nine Realms for Fenris. Even if it cost me my very life, thank the stars for my husband. I would take our cramped cave in the Ironwood over this heap of rock a thousand times over.
My captor shoved me between the shoulder blades, and I stumbled forward. The guards watched me closely; the first cold fingers of dread traced their way down the back of my neck. Biting my lip, I glanced down at my body. Týr’s white shirt, my wedding dress, was now stained beyond recognition. The horse’s blood had dried, turning the front stiff and dark, and the left side was still dripping wet from the water that pooled in the bottom of the skiff.
Even at its best, Týr’s shirt barely reached the middle of my thighs. Now, after I’d been hauled up from the docks over the soldier’s shoulder like a net full of wiggling fish, the dress rode high, barely covering my sex. With my hands bound behind my back, there was little I could do to preserve my modesty.
“So, she’s the one who escaped?” one of the gatehouse guards asked.
My captor grunted. The guard leaned closer to me, grinning as if he were considering devouring me. His breath stank of onion, raw and sharp.
“I can see why the King’s upset,” he said.
I flinched as he reached forward and pinched my nipple through the rough fabric of Týr’s shirt. My captor’s hand closed around my shoulder like an iron vise, and he yanked me backward.
“None of that, now,” he growled at the guards. “Escaped or not, she’s property of the King.”
“I’m not,” I cried, seething.
Both guards laughed. Their onion breath washed over me.
“Oh, she’s a feisty one. Seems a pity to waste her, doesn’t it?”
My captor dragged me past the heat and light of the guard’s torches, his hand still gripping my shoulder. The guards laughed behind us.
“Don’t do that again,” he said. His voice was so low I could barely make out his words. “Don’t speak.”
He shoved me forward until we reached a wide set of carved stone steps. Another guard walked toward us, this one holding an elaborate lamp in his hand. He was older, and his graceful movements spoke of contained power. For a moment I was back in the skiff, watching the soldier slit the throat of the fisherman in one smooth, graceful motion. Shivering, I took an involuntary step backward and struck the muscular chest of the soldier who had abducted me.
“Svensen?” the guard on the steps asked.
My captor pushed me forward, into the flickering circle of light cast by the lamp. “It’s her.”
The guard raised an eyebrow, then turned without a word. He climbed the steps slowly, vanishing into the darkness at the top.
I trembled as the lamp’s weak light was swallowed by the hungry shadows at the top of the stairs. I didn’t want to lean against the man who had just slit someone’s throat in front of me, but I felt like my legs were about to fold beneath me, spilling me across the stone courtyard.
The soldier who must be Svensen tightened his grip on my shoulder, sending a fresh bolt of pain through my arm. Tears flooded my vision, turning the blazing torches at the foot of the stairs into a kaleidoscope of flame and heat. But the pain cut through my weakness, and I found I had the strength to stand after all. I hardly noticed when his hand retreated.
My mind narrowed as I stood at the foot of the stairs to Nøkkyn’s castle. My body ached and burned around me. Somehow, I pulled away from the castle, away from my own pain and discomfort, from the memory of the three fresh graves in my family’s potato field and the howling emptiness of grief inside me. I slipped away from my former life as gently as the fisherman’s body fell to the floor of his skiff. And I remembered my husband’s words. You’re not a whore, Sol. You’re my wife.
“I’m not a whore,” I whispered under my breath. “I am the wife of the Fenris-wolf. And I am not afraid.”
Behind me, the soldier’s feet scraped the courtyard as he shifted position. I raised my eyes to the stairs, determined to hold my head high. Come what may.
The older guard reappeared. He walked toward us with the same fluid grace. This time, I noticed that he refused to meet my gaze. Even when he stopped less than an arm’s length from me, his eyes slid quickly over my face and body, as though he were much more interested in the pile of manure beside my feet or the mouldering skulls atop the gate.
“He doesn’t want to deal with it tonight,” the older guard announced.
“So, where shall I put her?” my captor asked from behind me.
The guard shrugged. “The dungeons?”
His words made my gut roll, but I bit my tongue and locked my knees, determined to show no fear.
Behind me, Svensen grunted. “You take her, then.”
The older guard’s lips twitched in what may have been the barest suggestion of a smile. “Not on your life. You know where the dungeons are.”
Svensen’s feet scraped the cobblestones again, and his hand once again closed around my shoulder. I suppressed my shiver.
“This way,” he said, tugging me toward the enormous staircase.
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The Monster and the Prisoner comes out on March 26, but you can pre-order it now and save a few bucks.
Click here to pre-order The Monster and the Prisoner
Like what you’ve read? Join my newsletter and I’ll send you a free copy of Tam Lin, my sexy modern take on the Scottish folktale.
March 21, 2019
Book Review: Dark Days Series by Liz Meldon
I devoured this series the moment it was released, so to all those who are wandering around, thinking: “Where, oh where, can I find a funny, sexy, well-written, character-driven, paranormal romance series with a plot that takes me by surprise?!?”
I apologize. I should have written this earlier.
And, if you are that person…
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Liz Meldon’s Dark Days duology is everything you need.
This sexy PNR tells the story of a vampire (Calder) and a wolf shifter (Emma) who find each other when they both accept teaching positions in a remote Norwegian boarding school. The pair takes an instant and hilarious dislike to one another, and Meldon takes every opportunity to play up the absurd hilarity of teaching high school students.
I loved every second of Calder and Emma’s snarky dialog, their growing attraction, and their futile attempts to dodge their own feelings. Damn, who knew enemies to lovers could be so much fun?
Meldon (wisely, in my opinion) leaves the paranormal elements on the backburner as the story begins, and she lets her character’s fears, insecurities, and secret desires drive their decisions. This makes the paranormal elements all the more fascinating when they do appear, and the characters have to wrestle with the intersection of their superhuman abilities and their messy, all-too-human emotions.
I’m especially pleased with her wolf shifters’ society. Fated mates, alpha leaders, and close family ties are a staple of wolf shifter romance, and Meldon brings them in while delightfully turning them on their head.
Yes, this is character-driven paranormal romance. And it’s exactly my bag, baby!
Plus, holy plot twists! Meldon isn’t just crafting a romance here – she’s building an entire mythological universe, filled with all sorts of terrifying, beguiling creatures. I really had no idea where she was going with this one
I reviewed the first book, Semester One, when it came out (click here for that), and I’m delighted to report that everything I loved about Semester One continues in the second and final book. Emma and Calder retain their touching, heartbreaking humanity, and they both struggle as their relationship deepens.
And then there are monsters to fight! Not even the monster you’re expecting!
From the very first chapter, September, to the beautiful Epilogue, the Dark Days duology just plain delivers. If you’re looking for your next book hangover — look no further!
Click here for the Dark Days series
Like what you’ve read? Join my newsletter and I’ll send you a free copy of Tam Lin, my sexy modern take on the Scottish folktale.
March 17, 2019
Just call me Queen
InD’tale Magazine just awarded The Monster’s Lover a Crowned Heart for Excellence!
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“Norse mythology is often overlooked in fantasy books, or if used, it is only touched upon sporadically,” writes Majanka Verstraete for InD’tale Magazine. “Here, the story is bristling with references to mythology, to rituals and legends, and it all matches astonishingly well with the setting.”
Awwwwww, thank you!
And, hey, if I just won a Crowned Heart… that makes me a Queen, right?
March 15, 2019
Come in the castle…
If you’ve finished The Monster’s Wife, you know that Sol is headed to an unfortunate spot at the close of Book Two.
But hey, things in the castle can’t be all bad, right?
Thanks to one of my all-time favorite writers Janine Ashbless, you can take a sneak peek inside Nøkkyn’s fortress to see what his guards get up to at night.
Click here for a steamy excerpt from The Monster and the Prisoner
Wondering who the heck these people are? Need to get caught up on the Fenris series? Click here for book one, The Monster’s Lover.
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And stay tuned – I’ll be posting another excerpt next week.
March 13, 2019
Cover Reveal: The Monster and the Prisoner
Her family murdered, Sol has been taken in chains to the foreboding fortress of Nøkkyn the Mountain King. The King intends to make an example out of her disobedience with a public execution. What’s more, Nøkkyn plans to unleash a false prophecy strong enough to bring down the fiercest monster in the Ironwood forest: Fenris-wolf.
Is there any way for the daughter of slaves to escape the King’s castle? Or will Sol’s captivity also bring about the downfall of her husband Fenris?
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Thank you to the amazing Ravenborn Covers for yet another awesome Fenris cover!
If you’ve been waiting on that cliffhanger ending to The Monster’s Wife, the next chapter of Fenris and Sol’s story is coming soon.
The Monster and the Prisoner comes out on March 26, but you can pre-order it now and save a few bucks.
Click here to pre-order The Monster and the Prisoner
Haven’t started The Fenris Series yet? Both books are free in Kindle Unlimited! Click here for book one, The Monster’s Lover.
Like what you’ve read? Join my newsletter and I’ll send you a free copy of Tam Lin, my sexy modern take on the Scottish folktale.
March 7, 2019
Coming Soon: The Monster and the Prisoner
Captured by the cruel king!
Her family murdered, Sol has been taken in chains to the foreboding fortress of Nøkkyn the Mountain King. The King intends to make an example out of her disobedience with a public execution. What’s more, Nøkkyn plans to unleash a false prophecy strong enough to bring down the fiercest monster in the Ironwood forest: Fenris-wolf.
Is there any way for the daughter of slaves to escape the King’s castle?
Or will Sol’s captivity also bring about the downfall of her husband Fenris?
[image error]The Monster and the Prisoner mood board from my Pinterest page
The Monster and the Prisoner, the third book in The Fenris Series, comes out on March 26!
Click here to pre-order your copy before the price goes up
And, of course, stay tuned for the cover reveal, teasers, and more…
