Victoria DeLuis's Blog, page 10

Rune Witch Mysteries

The first book in my new series: the Rune Witch Mysteries is now available!

Fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Charmed will love this modern take on witchcraft and Welsh mythology.

TAKEN

 

There’s always a price to pay with magic. The question is… who pays?

It took a while for Summer to pluck up the courage and visit her childhood home, but when a fairy is murdered and a teenage girl kidnapped, she doesn’t hesitate to put her past on hold and use her magic to catch the culprits.

Caught in the middle of a deadly plot, Summer fights to avenge her lover and friend, but when faced with the threat of unknown magic, her only choice is to risk her freedom and find the true face of her enemy.

Will Summer be able to bring down the kidnappers and rescue the girl? Or is there more to the case than meets the eye?

You can get your copy now for only 99c on Amazon – also available in KU!

HIDDEN

 

One death, one pledge, one price to pay!

For Summer Daniels, there’s nothing better than a walk amongst the trees with the man she loves. But when she discovers the body of a young man in her forest, summer soon finds her plans for the day cut short.

Determined to solve the case, Summer doesn’t hesitate to use her magic to find the killer. But how far can magic take her and how much is she willing to pay?

Will Summer be able to find the killers and bring them to justice? Or is she a pawn in a game she hasn’t begun to comprehend?

You can pre-order your copy of Hidden on Amazon now!

 

Cursed Magic – Relic Guardians Book Three

Cursed Magic, Book Three is the Relic Guardian series is now available

Glimpses

Glimpses is a FREE collection of 16 short fantasy  stories.

Each story gives a glimpse into a fantasy world and also acts as an introduction to that author’s writing – you never know, you might find your next favourite author here.

Stolen Magic, a short story set with the Relic Guardians series, and features a new character, Nathan Scott. It is available exclusive to this set, so check out an excerpt below and grab your FREE copy

Hidden Magic – Relic Guardians Book Two

Hidden Magic the second book in the Relic Guardians series co-written with Meg Cowley is now available!

One little stone holds the key to multiple realities… and their survival.

On secondment from the British Archaeological Museum, curator Hayley Bevan is in New York cataloguing the exciting discoveries from an ancient Buddhist temple. But beneath the ordinary exterior of the world, there’s a magical underground operating on the fringes of society, and Hayley is about to discover more than she bargained for.

One impulsive act catapults Hayley out of her ordinary world and into one full of danger, wish fulfilling stones, and doorways to alternate realities.

Can Hayley find her place is the world of magic, or will she fall victim to a ruthless killer hell bent on getting what he wants?

***

Excerpt:

I gripped the door handle as the cabbie tore around the corner and joined the thundering traffic on Grand Central Parkway. Blankets of dark cloud released a torrential load that pounded on the roof of the taxi and obscured my view through the window.

If I wiped away the condensation from my breath on the glass and squinted through the droplets, I could just make out the strobe lights of aircraft overhead. “How much longer?” I asked the driver.

“Twenty minutes, if we’re lucky.” He smiled at me in the mirror before returning his attention to the road.

I looked at my phone. Twenty past five. Great. This day had barely started, but it kept getting better and better. First, no wake-up call, and then no pickup. Instead of experiencing the comfort of the museum’s Audi A4, I sat on a spongy seat, pinned by a seat belt that kept tightening itself around my chest, and endured the lingering stench of sweat, Thai food, and banana air freshener.

Stress tightened my chest. I fought the urge to nibble my fingers and glanced at the time again. Damn it! I smoothed the creases out of my forehead, took a deep breath and dialled Ben’s number for the umpteenth time.

For a heartbeat, I thought he might answer, but no; I went through to voicemail. “Hi, Ben,” I said. “It’s Hayley. Again. I’m not sure if you’re still asleep. I tried banging on your door, but couldn’t wait any longer. I’m on my way to meet the shipment. The museum car was a no show, so I grabbed a taxi. Hopefully, I’ll be there in twenty minutes. Call me as soon as you get this message, okay?”

After an eternity, the rain eased and we left the densely-populated area of Queens, only to be greeted by the immense expanse of JFK.

“Which cargo area did you say again?” the cabbie asked.

“Area A.” I pulled the paperwork from my satchel to check the details. “Hanger 19b.” I delved in deeper and emerged a few seconds later with my temporary ID from the New York Museum of Life and Antiquities, along with my ID for the British Archaeological Museum, which enabled us to pass through the security checkpoint with the minimal of fuss.

Now that we had arrived, I was practically jumping out of my seat to see the cargo. I’d only just heard of the Kailash exhibition in Tibet —  no surprise, it was kept under tight wraps given the sacred beliefs surrounding the site —  but it was being heralded as a complete success; at least within the confines of the museum. My job was to catalogue the finds and manage their future preservation.

Hangar 19b stood secluded at the end of a quiet road. As soon as the car came to a stop, I thanked the cabbie, paid the fare, and scrambled outside. The smell of jet fuel mingled with the oil-slick stench of water from the surrounding Bergen Basin hit me like a wall.

The Taxi driver rolled down his window. “Hey, lady,” he shouted over the sound of an aeroplane taking off. “There doesn’t seem to be anyone around. You sure this is the right place?”

I took another look at the paperwork in my bag, and then at the large building surrounded by a chain-link fence. “That’s what the paperwork says.”

The cabbie looked at me as though I was from another planet. Although, being a British woman in New York, that might not have been far from the truth. “I’ll stick around for a bit, make sure you get in safely,” he said after a moment.

I nodded my thanks, then proceeded towards the building. The gate was open, so I slipped inside, moving through the vast, empty courtyard and scanning the area for any sign of movement. The sound of aircraft overwhelmed any other noises, and the eerie darkness of the night was only punctuated by the glare from the taxi headlight reflecting on the rain-kissed tarmac.

I pulled my jacket tighter around me, but was unable to block out the cold air and the incessant thought that somebody would jump out and shoot me at any moment.

Now that the rain had stopped, I looked to the sky and wondered if the clouds would part and let the stars shine. Given the light pollution over New York, I doubted if the stars ever shone on the city. I sighed, frustrated with man’s obtrusive impact on nature, but then I realised part of the sky-glow was emanating from the far side of the hangar.

Somewhat reassured, I glanced over my shoulder and waved to the cabbie, then edged around the immense metal structure to the main doors. As soon as I did, my viewpoint on the world changed. I was definitely in the right place.

***

I hope you enjoyed this brief excerpt

Alchemy and Arcana: An Urban Fantasy Novella Collection

Alchemy and Arcana is out today, and I am super excited to tell you that a second story in my Summer Daniels, Rune Witch Mysteries is available in the set, which is available for the introductory price of 99c!

To celebrate it’s release, here is a quick excerpt of A Magical Bond:

***

I squirmed beneath the duvet and opened my eyes to the bright morning sun blazing through the window and into the bedroom, then rolled to find Thomas staring at me.

“Good morning, sleepy head,” he said.

“Morning.” I took in the delicious form of the man stretched out beside me. Rays of light danced over his lithe body, twinkling on his firm, smooth skin and highlighting the sparkle in his eyes. Could there be a better sight to wake up to in the morning? The heat radiating through my body didn’t think so.

His strong hand brushed the hair from my shoulder and smoothed a gentle trail down my arm, sending a tingling sensation along my skin. My gaze travelled to his lips and I inhaled the fresh scent of apple shampoo that surrounded him. He leaned in close, a devilish light shining on his face, and damp hair flopping in his eyes. My heart thundered as his lips moved close to mine, but before they could touch, I whipped the sheet between us and giggled. “Not with my morning breath, Mister,” I said.

Thomas leaned back and propped his head on his elbow next to me. “Like that matters, Summer,” he said and pumped his eyebrows comically.

I jumped out of bed and ran to the en-suite. “Says the man who already showered,” I shot back.

Thomas growled in mock frustration.

Before I could reach the bathroom, his mobile rang on the bedside table. As I grabbed the toothpaste. I heard Thomas acknowledge Gwen, a witch friend, but the running tap drowned out the rest of the conversation when I brushed my teeth and washed my face.

Within minutes I was back in the bedroom. “What did Gwen want?” I asked.

“Oh, she wondered if we could pick her up some Alder and Rowan when we were out harvesting.”

Harvesting! It had slipped my mind that we were going to the forest today. Which completely does not sound like me. I’m normally champing at the bit to get there.

Although we try to visit at least once a week, with our busy schedules, we don’t always make it, and it had now been three weeks since our last visit. Trust me, that’s a lifetime to a rune-witch, who channels the magic of trees. I couldn’t wait for the ancient peace of the forest to wash over me and soothe my soul. I’d been so excited last night I’d had trouble sleeping.

“What time is it?” I asked Thomas and jumped on the bed beside him.

He looked at the mobile, “Ten-twenty,” he said.

“Ten-twenty.” I grabbed a pillow and knocked him over the head. “How could you let me sleep so late? We’ve got to go.”

Thomas flipped me onto my back, pinned me with his rock solid presence and traced kisses down my neck. “Well, maybe we have a little more time,” I said as his warm breath caressed my skin.

***

For the rest of this story, along with 21 more – some by NYT and USA Today bestselling authors, check out Alchemy and Arcana!

 

Ancient Magic, Relic Guardians Book One

The Relic Guardians series is co-written with the talented Meg Cowley,

Meg’s books will follow Zoe Stark, a no nonsense witch and bounty hunter, and my books will follow Hayley Bevan, a museum curator, newly endowed with magical powers and caught up in a world she never knew existed. We will also have a few short stories following other characters in the series available for free – more details to follow

Rebels & Runes: An Urban Fantasy Novella Collection

My Story, Magical Retribution is available in the Rebels & Runes Boxed set for a limited time only.

There’s always a price to pay with magic. The question is… who pays?

Summer Daniels had simple plans. A pizza, a movie, a quiet night at home with her boyfriend. But when a teenage girl is kidnapped, Summer doesn’t hesitate to use her magic to find her. No matter the cost.

Caught in the middle of a deadly plot, Summer will fight to avenge her lover and friend. With the threat of unknown magic, her only choice is to risk her own freedom and find the true face of her enemy.

Will Summer be able to bring down the kidnappers and rescue the girl? Or is there more to the case than meets the eye?

***

Rebels & Runes: Available on AMAZON US      AMAZON UK

The Rebels & Runes boxed set contains an incredible 23 URBAN FANTASY STORIES, including works by NYT and USA Today bestselling authors!

Spell-binding tales of magic, malice, mayhem and madness can be found in this impressive assortment. If you enjoy stories about shape-shifting creatures, monsters, ghosts, wizards and witches, then this is the collection for you.

 

 

Edward Gorey on Cats

“Books. Cats. Life is Good.”
~ Edward Gorey ~

Fantasy Focus: The Tainted Crown by Meg Cowley

Today the spotlight is on Meg Cowley and The Books of Caledan:

The Tainted Crown: The First Book of Caledan

What is the price of kingship?

The kingdom of Caledan is thrown into turmoil by the queen’s murder. Her heir, Soren, flees with a price on his head after being framed for the killing by his uncle Zaki, who seizes the legendary throne of the Dragon Kings and rules with an iron fist to crush dissent. However, suspicion is rife following Zaki’s ill-omened coronation and a crime ill-fitting the beloved Prince Soren.

Now a fugitive roaming the wild, Soren has lost everything. He tries to reconcile his grief and determine how he can reclaim his throne when fate has left him with just one old man, but the odds are greatly against him. If no-one follows him, or believes his innocence, is he worthy to rule?

Across the kingdom, Soren’s cousin Eve takes matters into her own hands and journeys to the ethereal Eldarkind on his behalf, however this reveals her own inescapable fate. As she comes to terms with the gift and the curse of magic, Eve risks her life to help Soren.

Before the fragile peace shatters, can Soren reclaim the throne – and should he?

***

The Brooding Crown: The Second Book of Caledan

What is the line between good and evil?

Soren has defeated his usurping uncle and the semblance of peace has returned to Caledan, but surrounded by the twelve noble houses of Caledan, King Soren can trust few. In the shadows, treasonous thoughts grow. When news of Zaki’s presence in Roher reaches Soren, can he ally all of Caledan to his cause – and keep them?

Zaki has not given up on his plans to regain Caledan’s throne. First he must prove himself to Harad, the mighty king of Roher, but Zaki will stop at nothing to gain the support of Roher’s army, march on Caledan’s borders and take back the throne of the dragon kings.

War returns to Caledan, but a greater threat looms. The pact is broken. The Eldarkind are fading. The dragons war amongst themselves. A power too terrible to name grows in the North, and He seeks revenge. Only Eve stands in His way – but can she stop magic as old as time?

Return to Caledan for the fast paced sequel of The Tainted Crown, that fans of The Lord of the Rings, Inheritance Cycle and Books of Pellinor will love.

***

The Tainted Crown is available on AMAZON US and AMAZON UK

The Brooding Crown is available for pre-order on AMAZON US and AMAZON UK

But you can get a taste for the series by downloading a FREE copy of the Caledan Novelete, The First Crown, on Instafreebie.

***

If you’d like to learn more about Meg and her books, check out her WEBSITE.

You can also connect with Meg on FACEBOOK and TWITTER 

Happy Reading

Join the February KU Challenge & Giveaway 1/2 – 28/2!

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Join the February KU Challenge & Giveaway 1st – 28th February!

In celebration of the release of my new PNR, Lucas, I have teamed up with Love Kissed Book Bargains, and over 90 authors, who have come together to offer an awesome giveaway in an effort to find new readers!

Come meet your new favourite author. Read for FREE with KU. Even better, we’ve pooled our funds to offer an awesome giveaway! Enter to win a Kindle and Amazon Gift Cards just for reading and telling us what you liked.

Not a Kindle Unlimited Member? You can enjoy a 30 day trial membership.

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