Amber Lynn Natusch's Blog, page 3
July 29, 2023
Excerpt! Take a sneak peek at the first chapter of AN ECHO OF FIRE!
WAIT! Did you miss the prologue? Read it here!
AN ECHO OF FIRE
A Fireheart Novel
© 2023 Amber Lynn Natusch
I ran through the silent halls of the manor on light feet, ducking from shadow to shadow to make sure I wasn’t caught. It was clear from the tone of my father’s letter that it wouldn’t end well for me if I was. The Midlands were no longer safe for me.
The front door was the nearest exit but also the most conspicuous. With no time to debate the merits of finding another way out, I darted toward it. When I reached the heavy wooden doors, I pressed myself flat against them and calmed my breathing so I could hear if I’d been followed. I was greeted by eerie silence, which put me more on edge than ever. Instead of weighing what it could mean, I pulled the door open just enough to slip through, then closed it gently.
The dead of night greeted me, its inky black sky peppered with stars and a bright blue moon; the light that would help guide me on my journey. That and the blessing stone in my hand.
My blood-red wings snapped open, stretching before I could take to the sky. But first, I needed to get off Kaplyn’s property. It had long been warded against flight, and for good reason. There was history between my father’s country and his, and it was not pleasant. At least not until the treaty. As I sprinted for the front gate, I wondered what treachery had forced my father to send the note telling me to flee. Whatever the reason, it was clear that the truce between the Nychterídes and Neráides had fallen.
And I was officially an enemy in Neráida lands.
I stuffed that worry away and threw open the wrought-iron gate. The second it snapped shut, a bloodcurdling sound rang out through the night. I looked back to see iridescent green eyes lurking in the shadows near the manor, staring in my direction. With a jolt of fear, I took to the sky, wings beating hard and fast.
And those green eyes followed.
I looked back to find the night swirling behind me, the billowy tendrils curling into the shape of something massive and winged. The shrill cry it made as it neared made my heart stop dead in my chest. Whatever it was, it was after me, but for what purpose, I didn’t know. I had no intention of finding out, either.
With that thought to motivate me, I pushed harder, following the pull of the blessing stone, trusting Delphyne’s trinket to guide me through the dangers of the Midlands. But even it could not save me from the creature gaining on me. I prayed to the gods that Delphyne hadn’t turned on me too; hadn’t sent me off with a beacon for the monster chasing me to follow.
“Aaaaaaaaaariellllllllll,” it cried, its mangled caw butchering my name—but it knew it, and that was a grim sign indeed, for names had power in the Midlands.
I felt my wings slow with every drawn-out syllable.
“No, no, no!” I yelled, panic shooting through my limbs. I tried to think of the tricks Kaplyn had taught me during our training sessions—the ones to ward off the magic of the Neráida—but my mind was too gripped by fear to focus. As I slowed to a crawl, the beast gaining on me with every second, my survival instincts finally kicked in and cleared my head. I screamed my name backwards as loud as I could: “LEIRA!” The second the word left my mouth, the tether holding me back snapped, and I surged forward.
The creature screeched in frustration.
“I won’t let you take me alive!” I shouted over my shoulder. “I am the daughter of Kade, General of the Nychteríde army. I will return to him or die, and not by your hands!” The powerful beat of wings that had chased me for miles ceased. Through a break in the clouds, I saw a massive raven hovering in the air, staring at me with those piercing green eyes. “Tell Lord Kaplyn I know of his plans to betray me,” I yelled at it.
With a sharp dive, I sped toward the ground, my wings tucked in tight behind me. No other had ever been able to match my speed when I did, and I doubted the bird was any different. If I could put enough distance between us, I knew I’d be all right. With the moonlight to guide me, I weaved my way through trees and buildings until far in the distance, miles and miles away, I could see a dark forest of pine and fir trees—the trees of Daglaar. My father’s land. My home.
A final cry from the raven echoed through the Midlands, sounding my escape.
I poured on speed and didn’t stop until I reached the border.
Special Preorder for Early Ebook Delivery
Preorder your copy of An Echo of Fire directly
from my website with early delivery on August 31st!
Preorder From Me Now
Coming to Major Retailers September 14, 2023
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Check out the the extras you get when you back the project!
July 28, 2023
Excerpt! Take a sneak peek at the prologue of AN ECHO OF FIRE!
AN ECHO OF FIRE
A Fireheart Novel
© 2023 Amber Lynn Natusch
The sky was cast in ash and fire—everything around me burned. Mother lay on the ground next to me, unmoving, her bright red wings stained with blood and soot. Even though I was only four years old, I understood that she wasn’t just sleeping. Somehow, I knew she’d never hold me again. Never tell me how much she loved me.
I stepped out into the blood-coated streets and slipped several times, trying to navigate the battlefield in little more than bare feet. I saw movement at the far end of the road; a figure cloaked in smoke and dust. But I could see wings in that silhouette, and that was all I needed. I ran as fast as my little legs could carry me, hurtling toward the unknown with reckless abandon.
Because I was afraid.
Because I was full of hope.
The air seemed to split, allowing a mountain of a male to step through, his black wings tucked into his back. Behind him were two others. The three of them fanned out to take in the carnage. They hardly even noticed my approach until I was only yards away, not slowing. I skidded to a halt just before I slammed into them and looked up at each one, smiling. Then my eyes fell on the leader, and my heart leaped in my chest.
I had seen his face a handful of times before.
My father had returned.
“Baba!” I screamed, latching onto his leg. He reached down to pull me off, and I gripped it tighter.
He said something to the others—words I was too young to understand—then slowly bent down to look at me.
“What is your name, child?” he asked, his dark eyes fixed on me. Had it been so long since I’d seen him that he had forgotten me? Then I looked down at the blood and dirt caked all over my body and I understood.
“It’s me, Baba.” I tried to wipe my face clean so he could recognize me. “Ariel…”
His brow furrowed. “Where is your mother, Ariel?”
I looked back down the road toward the remains of our home and pointed. His dark gaze followed my gesture, then he nodded.
One of the other men bent down and spoke into my father’s ear, the two of them looking me over—especially the oxblood wings tucked in tight behind my back. The ones far darker than my mother’s.
“She comes with us,” my father said, picking me up.
“Kade—”
“She comes with us, and that is final,” he snarled at the one who had dared challenge him. The man lowered his gaze and took a step back to allow my father and me to pass. I wrapped my little arms around his neck and held on tight as he took to the air.
We flew until the sun began to rise and the mountains grew tall, until we arrived at what looked like a village, though it was far different from the one my mother and I had lived in. Warriors walked around everywhere, their black wings spread wide and bodies strapped with weapons. This was to be my new home, I thought. Baba and I would live here together forever.
He took me to a building filled with children. They ran around like wild animals, shirtless and covered in dirt and blood. They fought and played and screamed with delight and pain and everything in between. Mikroús polemistés, he called them. His little warriors. It was then that I realized I was the only girl. The only girl in a crowd of little boys destined to be mikroús polemistés. The only pair of deep red wings in a sea of black ones. I was different, that much I knew.
What that really meant, I would come to learn over time.
As soon as my father left, the others circled me like predators, moving closer with every step. One of the bolder ones reached out and tugged at my wing, stretching it to the point of pain. I cried out, and another one punched me in the face. I fell to the ground, sobbing, and they began kicking me, shouting words I didn’t understand. Names I couldn’t comprehend until I was older. I called for my father over and over again, but he never came.
Someone else did instead.
A boy, only a couple years older than I, tossed the others out of his way as though they weighed nothing. He didn’t stop until the blows quit landing and only he stood in front of me. He reached his small but mighty hand toward me, and I took it.
“My name is Hemming,” he said, a faint accent to his words—one different than my mother’s—than mine.
“Ariel.”
He looked at my wings and nodded, understanding in his pale eyes. “Welcome to Daglaar, mikros drakos.”
Then he walked away, the others parting to let him by.
From that day forward, the boys in the camp thought twice before messing with me outside of our training. Because I was Hemming’s mikros drakos—his little dragon—and whatever he was had them all running scared.
Years later, that would include me, too.
Special Preorder for Early Ebook Delivery
Preorder your copy of An Echo of Fire directly
from my website with early delivery on August 31st!
Preorder From Me Now
Coming to Major Retailers September 14, 2023
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Check out the the extras you get when you back the project!
July 27, 2023
Round and round they go, one by one they fall…
Round and round they go, one by one they fall…
Desperate to find a cure for Ewan, Zara and Winter enter the treacherous Cursed Realm. But Zara quickly discovers someone has been awaiting their arrival, plotting their downfall for many years.
A notorious caster king seizes Winter and sends Zara into the unforgiving wild lands, a place where survival is a daily struggle and evil lurks in the darkness. Determined to return home with both Winter and the cure, Zara places her trust in an unlikely ally who promises to help—for a price.
Danger looms around every corner, with a host of foes just as hellbent on keeping Zara in their world as she is to leave it. Will she unravel the enigmatic web of dark magic that binds their fates and find a way home?
Or will the forces of the Cursed Realm claim them all?
~ Paranormal Romance ~
July 26, 2023
Win the trials, lose those I love—or fail and save them all.
Win the trials, lose those I love—or fail and save them all.
I barely survived my first trials. Now the stakes have been raised. The queen has imprisoned my only family to control me after I defied her. I’d hoped my father the king would become an ally, but he won’t dare betray the queen. Luckily, it turns out I’m not the only one who wants to see her fall. I’m fighting on all fronts, trying to stay alive through the trials while also joining the rebellion’s fight.
As further complication, the pull I feel toward Rush is becoming harder to resist. The bond between us seems to be growing, but his allegiance to the queen persists. I’m not the only one she has leverage over. Each trial grows more dangerous while the queen only appears more and more untouchable. She thinks she’s on top and has already won. She forgot those on top have the farthest to fall. I’m determined to reveal to the mirror world who—and what—she really is.
I will be her downfall.
~ Romantasy ~
July 25, 2023
An Echo of Fire: Signed & Numbered Hardcovers
Well hey there, everyone. It’s been a minute since I’ve written an actual blog post. Apparently they’re regaining popularity, so I thought I’d dust off my WordPress blog and give it a go. I feel like we have a LOT to catch up on, but instead of easing into this, I’m going to dive headfirst into the thick of it….because why not?
I’ve spent the last three years finishing up my open series. Some of you have been around here since the early days of Caged and Unborn, both of which are now completed series. Some of you came around during the Force of Nature and Blue-Eyed Bomb days, which are also both now complete. Some of you might not even remember why the hell you’re here or when you came—don’t worry. I feel that way often. You’re in good company.
Now that almost all of my open series are finished (yes, I feel the weight of you Hometown Antihero fans staring at me….don’t panic. The finale is coming), I’m ready to launch into a project I’ve been sitting on for literal years. It’s an new adult/adult fantasy romance (romantasy) that I wrote four years ago. My agent sent it out on submission in late 2019 (I think you can see where I’m heading with this…), and then the pandemic hit. Traditional publishing was a total mess, and I knew that there was no way any editor was reading my submission anytime in the foreseeable future. So I pulled it and stuck it on the backburner until the right time to publish it. Now is that time.
AN ECHO OF FIRE is a slow-burn fantasy series filled with angst, tension, banter, and action that will have you at the edge of your seat (hopefully).
Special Preorder for Early Ebook Delivery
Preorder your copy of An Echo of Fire directly
from my website with early delivery on August 31st!
Preorder From Me Now
Coming to Major Retailers September 14, 2023
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Because I waited so long to publish this, I wanted to do something really special to launch it. That’s when the idea for the limited edition signed & numbered dual-foil hardcover came to me.
I currently have a Kickstarter campaign running where you can get your hands on one of these signed and numbered special editions, complete with embossed and foiled dust jacket with custom art on the underside, color character art in the book, gold sprayed edges (with possible dragon pattern upgrade), and foiled hardcover back and front with alternate cover design. Sound gorgeous? It will be. I’m hard at work with my cover designer to nuance the foiling on the cover now. It’s tedious but it’s going to be so worth it in the end.
Check out the the extras you get when you back the project!
July 13, 2023
July Kindle Deal: Get QUEEN ME for Just $2.49!
Being a lowly human in a supernatural world, I should have jumped at the chance to be one of them—to possess the magic necessary to fit in. But when a rogue fae corners me in an alley and tells me I have some crazy power he needs to exact his revenge on the House that betrayed him, I had to seriously question that life goal.
The Moonlight Wraith, sexy and disarming as he is, is also a notorious killer—and this alleged power of mine is all that stands between him and the vengeance he craves.
But how can I give him something I don’t have?
And, worse yet, what will he do when he doesn’t get what he wants?
His plot to regain his throne hinges on the popular belief that he’s already dead, and my knowledge to the contrary is a loose end he can’t afford. But after a botched attempt on my life by unknown forces, I find myself allied with the broody harbinger of death because he might just be the only one who can keep me alive.
Assuming he doesn’t kill me himself.
QUEEN ME, a spicy standalone paranormal romance set in the Immortal Vices and Virtues universe. Every book is a guaranteed happily ever after with a satisfying ending and no cliffhangers. Perfect for fans of Immortals After Dark, Black Dagger Brotherhood, and the Demonica series.
Get Your Copy for Just $2.49!
No Strings Attached 4-Day Freebie Sale!
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Click on From the Ashes in the No Strings Attached
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the Force of Nature series for just $2.99 each!
February 15, 2023
Witchy Heroines & Badass Heroes
A Curse of Nightshade is featured in the Witchy Heroines & Badass Heroes Book Fair! This event was organized by fantasy powerhouse Kel Carpenter, and I am surrounded by some of my favorite authors: Kel, Jessica Wayne, Heather Renee, Heather Hildenbrand, and so many more! You should definitely check out the event and score some amazing paranormal romance reads! Click on one of the graphics to see more of the books available!
Click Here to Enter the Witch Heroines & Badass Heroes Event
October 27, 2022
Get FROM THE ASHES for FREE Oct 27th-31st Only!
A Slow Burn Paranormal Romance SeriesWith Just a Touch of #WhyChoose…
A sexy, silent vampire who thinks I’m his. A gorgeous werewolf who wants to claim me. A cunning warlock from my past who wants to finish what he started.
One will betray me. Two will try to kill me.
Not the love story you were expecting? That’s because my life isn’t a fairytale—it’s complicated.
Nothing’s ever been easy for this orphaned supernatural outcast. Survival has been the name of the game since the day I was born. Not an easy feat in a world where you’re the only creature with zero power. But I let my guard down when a beautiful stranger appeared one night, dark and mysterious and everything I ever wanted.
He promised me a life together, and I believed him. Now I’m on the run, lost and more alone than I’ve ever been,
To survive, I’ll have to trust again, but the stakes are more than just my heart. I’d followed it before—and it nearly got me killed. And in a world as dangerous as this one, I can’t afford to make the same mistake twice.
FORCE OF NATURE, a complete paranormal romance series with just a touch of #WhyChoose. Get FROM THE ASHES, Force of Nature book one, FREE for a Limited Time Only!
FREE First-in-Series Oct 27-31 Only
Want More FREE Paranormal Romance???
All titles in this event are either permafree or on a limited time Kindle Unlimited freebie promotion.
Scoop these reads up today before they return to regular price on November 1st!
February 23, 2022
QUEEN ME Cover Reveal + Preorder
Hello, readers!
I teased my Facebook group last week with news of a shared world project I’m a part of this year, but now I can release the full monty!! Each month, there will be a new release in the Immortal Vices and Virtues shared world. All of the books are standalone novels with guaranteed HEAs and no cliffhangers. There will also be crossover of characters in these books too so you might just see some favorite characters pop up again The first release will be out in May, so get ready for this crazy world.
Being a lowly human in a supernatural world, I should have jumped at the chance to be one of them–to possess the magic necessary to fit in. But when a rogue fae corners me in an alley and tells me I have some crazy power he needs to exact his revenge on the House that betrayed him, I had to seriously question that life goal.
The Moonlight Wraith, sexy and disarming as he is, is also a notorious killer–and this alleged power of mine is all that stands between him and the vengeance he craves.
But how can I give him something I don’t have?
And, worse yet, what will he do when he doesn’t get what he wants?
His plot to regain his throne hinges on the popular belief that he’s already dead, and my knowledge to the contrary is a loose end he can’t afford. But after a botched attempt on my life by unknown forces, I find myself allied with the broody harbinger of death because he might just be the only one who can keep me alive.
Assuming he doesn’t kill me himself.
COMING JUNE 30, 2022Preorder Your Copy Today
EACH NOVEL IS A STANDALONE WITH A
GUARANTEED HEA AND NO CLIFFHANGERS.
REJECT ME by Kel Carpenter & Aurelia Jane
QUEEN ME by Amber Lynn Natusch
HAUNT ME by Amanda Pillar
CRAVE ME by Lexi C. Foss
EXPOSE ME by Kaydence Snow
RUIN ME by Jenna Wolfhart
IGNITE ME Heather Renee
CORRUPT ME by Everly Frost
RELEASE ME by Emigh Cannaday
BURN ME by K.A. Knight & Kendra Moreno
WORSHIP ME by Aurelia Jane
