Sage Nestler's Blog, page 45
March 20, 2017
Into The Fog Character Sneak Peek #1
Hello, Everyone!
After much thought and discussion, I have decided to redo and expand my novel, Into The Fog!
I have created such a vast cast of characters that it is vital for me to expand the story, and I can’t wait for you all to experience the final product! I created this novel when I was a child due to the bullying that I was experiencing, and each character has become a part of me. Into The Fog has grown along with me into adulthood, and I look forward to watching it develop even further. That being said, I want to share each character with you as a lead-up to the release of this special edition!
Today I am happy to present to you Harlisisle, my favorite character from Into The Fog. He was the first character that I ever created for this story, and the story has grown around him.
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Harlisisle is a Reincarne, a new monster that I created for Into The Fog. Reincarnes are created from human bodies that have been dead for over 100 years. However, Harlisisle is an illegal Reincarne because he was created from a newly deceased body – the body of Prince Tarum of England. Before Tarum died, he was in love with Darielle and he was set to marry her. However, when Tarum died, Darielle’s heart died along with him. It is because of this that Harlisisle now owns Darielle’s heart since he is made from Tarum’s body. Harlisisle’s existence relies heavily on his closeness to Darielle, and his duty is to protect her.
Harlisisle has the ability to see through the lies of humans, and he only sees others how they see themselves. This means that he is able to see how vulnerable a person is. This helps Harlisisle connect well to others because he knows more about them than they know about him.
Gender: Male
Race: Reincarne – Xanicoy Clan
Eye Color: Switches Between Ocean Colored and Purple Flames
Haircolor: White – Blonde
Weapon of Choice: His Ability to See Through the Lies of Humans
Home of Origin: England – 1600s
I hope you enjoy meeting Harlisisle, and if you have any questions about feel free to ask me in the comments below!
Much love,
Ashley
THE INFORMATION IN THIS BLOG POST IS COPYRIGHTED AND MAY NOT BE SHARED WITHOUT PERMISSION FROM THE AUTHOR. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE COPYRIGHTS TO INTO THE FOG, EMAIL PEACHYKEENREVIEWS@GMAIL.COM
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March 19, 2017
The Unseen by Jacob Devlin – ARC
Title: The Unseen
Author: Jacob Devlin
Rating: 3/5
Release Date: May 9, 2017
Synopsis:
Crescenzo and his friends may have survived their confounding journey to the enchanted realms of Florindale, but now they find themselves fighting for their sanity and lives while stuck on the other side of the very mirror they set out to destroy.
With their families trapped by a former ally with a crippling fear of the queen, Enzo, Rosana, and Zack must play a deadly game in Wonderland, where shadows are on the move, kings are at war, and one of them wants Rosana dead.
As darkness hovers over the world, the friends must lean on each other and stop the King of Hearts from following through on Avoria’s orders: Break them.
Review:
The Unseen is the sequel to The Carver by Jacob Devlin, and I was very excited to pick up this novel. I enjoy how clean and crisp Devlin’s writing style is, and I was excited to see that his second novel takes place in Wonderland. Devlin has explored an eclectic cast of characters that range from many different fairytales, and I enjoyed seeing his take on them.
However, The Unseen – like The Carver – was clearly inspired by the television series, Once Upon A Time. I am usually a big fan of fairytale retellings, but there were too many similarities in The Unseen when compared with Once Upon A Time. Many of the characters were the same, and they were thrown into Wonderland, which was used in the Once Upon A Time series as well. Once Upon A Time was refreshing when it first released, but now I feel that the use of fairytale worlds and fairytale characters mixed together – such as in The Unseen and Once Upon A Time – is dried up. Even though I love the idea behind The Unseen, and I enjoyed Devlin’s take on these different characters, I wish that there had more originality to his ideas. For example, many of Devlin’s characters – such as Mulan, Pinnochio, and Peter Pan – were not only pulled from classic fairytales, but from Once Upon A Time as well. Though the storyline of The Unseen was different from Once Upon A Time, I had a hard time separating the too.
That being said, I am amazed by Devlin’s writing skills. Devlin’s writing is advanced, and I found his dialogue to be entertaining. It is clear to me that Devlin is a seasoned author, and I enjoyed how his words flowed from page to page. Devlin knows how to absorb the reader into his stories, and I enjoyed exploring the world that he has written about. I just wished that his ideas had been more of his own.
If you are a fan of Once Upon A Time, I am sure that you will gain enjoyment from the Order of the Bell series. But if you have not seen Once Upon A Time, I think that you will love this series even more because the ideas behind the Order of the Bell series will appear more original. I do enjoy Devlin as an author, and I look forward to what he writes next. I just hope that he will choose to write a new series soon that will better represent his talent.
*ARC provided by Blaze Publishing for an honest review.*
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March 18, 2017
Compendium: A Horror Novelette by Roxie Prince
Title: Compendium: A Horror Novelette
Author: Roxie Prince
Rating: 4/5
Synopsis:
Humanity has fallen victim to an apocalyptic condition in which the affected become bloodthirsty monsters out of the most terrible of nightmares. Different people, different situations, same hellish circumstances — what would you do?
Review:
Ah, how I love a horror novelette that portrays an eclectic cast of characters within the same horrific situation. Roxie Prince has become one of my favorite authors due to her other novels, The Way We Go and Growth Spurt, but the beauty of Compendium is that it is so different when compared to her young adult novels. Prince has a way of inventing characters that could be your next door neighbor, and they leap off of the page and under your skin.
Apocalyptic conditions are always a favorite in horror novels and movies, but Prince took this plotline to the next level in Compendium. She turned humans into monsters, and she portrayed how each one of us is capable of turning to the dark side of life. Prince’s characters were almost unbearably believable, and there were many times during this novelette where I had to put the book down. However, I soon picked it back up again out of curiosity.
I am a strong believer that some of the best stories come in small packages, and this is what Compendium does. Prince doesn’t add unnecessary filler to her novelette, and she uses her language like a paintbrush – no stroke out of place. My only criticism is that this novelette could have benefitted from a deeper analysis for some of the characters, but it packed a punch all the same.
If you are looking for a quick, horrific read, then Compendium is your answer. It brings life to the overused apocalyptic horror concept, and I hope that Prince decides to write more horror! Her work brings something new to the literary horror genre, and I look forward to watching her grow.
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March 17, 2017
Once Upon A Book Club – February Review
Once Upon A Book Club is an original book subscription box that includes 1 novel (either paperback or hardback), a quote art print, and 3 – 5 items that correlate with a quote or item mentioned in the book. Each item included is wrapped and labeled with a different page number to let the reader know that they shouldn’t open up the item until they reach that specific page. Once Upon A Book Club is $34.99/monthly + shipping, and they do ship worldwide. They also have the option to buy 3 months at a time ($100.99/month + shipping), 6 months at a time ($199.00/month + shipping), or 12 months at a time ($390.00/month + shipping) with a slight discount. Their shipping prices are:
$8.50 within the US
$15 for Canada
$26 for Worldwide
SUBSCRIBE NOW
I received the February box to review, and I was so excited to dig in! The originality of this box is amazing, and I adore the box design.
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Once Upon A Book Club shows up in a gorgeous pink box that is designed to look like a book. The box itself is something to savor, and I will be displaying it on my bookshelf!
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When opening the box, you are presented with a lovely interior script design. All of the items are also neatly packed with a friendly warning card:
Once Upon A Book Club comes with a card that links a discussion question to a date during March. On each date, the subscriber can visit the box’s Instagram or Facebook page to discuss the questions with other subscribers. I like how they based the questions in March because it allows time for subscribers to begin reading the book.
As promised, the box also includes a quote art print from the book of the month, From Sand and Ash. I am always a sucker for quote art prints, so I absolutely love this one! It sets a stage for the reading experience, and I like having a piece of the book to display in my room.
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The book choice is a romantic historical fiction novel called From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon. Once Upon A Bookclub sends out historical fiction, contemporary fiction or women’s fiction novels, and I love how this sets them apart from other book boxes. This months’ book is a paperback, and it was released in 2016.
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Here is the synopsis:
Italy, 1943—Germany occupies much of the country, placing the Jewish population in grave danger during World War II.
As children, Eva Rosselli and Angelo Bianco were raised like family but divided by circumstance and religion. As the years go by, the two find themselves falling in love. But the church calls to Angelo and, despite his deep feelings for Eva, he chooses the priesthood.
Now, more than a decade later, Angelo is a Catholic priest and Eva is a woman with nowhere to turn. With the Gestapo closing in, Angelo hides Eva within the walls of a convent, where Eva discovers she is just one of many Jews being sheltered by the Catholic Church.
But Eva can’t quietly hide, waiting for deliverance, while Angelo risks everything to keep her safe. With the world at war and so many in need, Angelo and Eva face trial after trial, choice after agonizing choice, until fate and fortune finally collide, leaving them with the most difficult decision of all.
I read this novel before reviewing the box, and I am IN LOVE with the story! From Sand and Ash is a gorgeous portrayal of Italy during World War Two, and I am so happy to have been able to experience the novel along with the interactive items.
If you would like to see my full review of From Sand and Ash, please go here.
The first item that we open when reading the book begins on page 190. The present includes a yellow purse with a national registration identity card that was created to go along with the main character, Eva Bianco.
I am amazed at the identity card because it is clear that Once Upon A Book Club had it made exclusively for their box! I love having a visual for Eva, and the creativity that went into the item is wonderful. These items also go perfectly with this quote from page 190 in the book:
“She fumbled in her pocketbook and rushed to set her fake pass in his hand.”
These items are ripped straight from the book, and I was amazed at the details that went into them.
[image error]Peachy Keen Book Reviews Request Form" target="_blank">Peachy Keen Book Reviews Request Form
I will review your novel for you if you supply me with the book.
I am also active on Goodreads and will be posting all of my reviews on there as well. That being said, all of my blog posts will appear on Facebook and Tumblr and I will be posting updates of reviews on my Instagram account.
I also am providing a donation button on each post that I make. A lot of my time and effort goes into helping market authors and I do it all for free; however, donations would be greatly appreciated and will help me to keep my blog and services running. All donators will also receive a free gift.
Thanks and enjoy,
Ashley Nestler
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The next item is derived from page 221 in the book. It is a gorgeous gold ring with emerald and white stones, and it is of high quality.
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The ring correlates with the following quote in the book:
“She picked up a dainty ring and realized that it was Giulia’s. Giulia had given her ring to keep Rome’s Jews from being slaughtered. But they’d been taken anyway, some of them reduced to ash, and Giulia’s ring sat in a closet at Via Tasso collecting dust – ignored, forgotten, and completely insignificant to the men who had extorted it.”
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I love how poetic and symbolic this ring is to the story, and I am so glad that it was included in the box. Every time I wear this ring, I will think about everyone who was lost in the Holocaust. The velvet pouch itself is also handy to keep the ring in, and to remind me of which page the ring correlates with.
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The next items are also astoundingly connected to the book. Included is a gray pocketbook with documents that were created from the novel, but even the newspaper that is wrapped around the items has been made exclusively for the box, and it is derived straight from the story as well. Here is the corresponding quote:
“Eva kept her eyes on Aldo’s face. His eyes were closed, mercifully so, and his glasses were slightly askew, making him look like a child who had fallen asleep reading. She crouched beside him and felt for the newspaper he’d shoved inside his coat. There. It was fat with documents.”
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This moment in the novel is heartbreaking, but the items give us a piece of one of the characters who does end up dying because he was Jewish.
[image error]Peachy Keen Book Reviews Request Form" target="_blank">Peachy Keen Book Reviews Request Form
I will review your novel for you if you supply me with the book.
I am also active on Goodreads and will be posting all of my reviews on there as well. That being said, all of my blog posts will appear on Facebook and Tumblr and I will be posting updates of reviews on my Instagram account.
I also am providing a donation button on each post that I make. A lot of my time and effort goes into helping market authors and I do it all for free; however, donations would be greatly appreciated and will help me to keep my blog and services running. All donators will also receive a free gift.
Thanks and enjoy,
Ashley Nestler
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Again, I am flabberghasted at the documents that Once Upon A Bookclub created to go along with From Sand and Ash. They make the story leap off of the page, and it is like having pieces of the book with you to keep forever.
The last item correlates with the last page of the novel before the epilogue, page 368.
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It is a candle decorated with musical notes, and after reading the book, I noticed how the musical notes and candle both tied up the novel well. It was nice that they included an item to correlate with the last page of the book before the epilogue because it made me feel like I had closure after reading the story.
Here is the quote that goes along with the candle:
“Angelo watched Eva playing from an upstairs window in the apartment that overlooked the street, his son in his arms, his ears peeled, not wanting to miss a note. It was a miracle. There had been many, and before the war was over, there would be more. He lit a candle and watched it flicker, its light reflected in the cross that hung on the wall. And he listened to Eva play.”
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Overall, I was more than please with Once Upon A Book Club! The creators clearly put a lot of time and effort into creating items that correlated with the book, and you cannot find this experience elsewhere. Once Upon A Book Club is perfect for those looking for a book club to discuss the book with, as well as a reading experience that will take the reader right into the book included. If you love historical fiction, contemporary fiction, or women’s fiction, then it doesn’t’ get any better that Once Upon A Book Club!
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From Sand and Ash by Amy Harmon
Title: From Sand and Ash
Author: Amy Harmon
Rating: 5/5
Synopsis:
Italy, 1943—Germany occupies much of the country, placing the Jewish population in grave danger during World War II.
As children, Eva Rosselli and Angelo Bianco were raised like family but divided by circumstance and religion. As the years go by, the two find themselves falling in love. But the church calls to Angelo and, despite his deep feelings for Eva, he chooses the priesthood.
Now, more than a decade later, Angelo is a Catholic priest and Eva is a woman with nowhere to turn. With the Gestapo closing in, Angelo hides Eva within the walls of a convent, where Eva discovers she is just one of many Jews being sheltered by the Catholic Church.
But Eva can’t quietly hide, waiting for deliverance, while Angelo risks everything to keep her safe. With the world at war and so many in need, Angelo and Eva face trial after trial, choice after agonizing choice, until fate and fortune finally collide, leaving them with the most difficult decision of all.
Review:
Amy Harmon is a gorgeous author. She takes historical fiction and brings it to light for readers who may not be as knowledgeable about history. But unlike many other historical fiction authors, she does not glamorize the past. Instead, Harmon presents history as is and produces stories that are relevant to the time period.
“Then Eva’s mother had said her daughter’s name, and it crackled and broke between her lips like old paper.”
From Sand and Ash is a remarkable novel in the way that it examines Italy during World War II in 1943. But the best part about this novel is that it skips back and forth between the future and the past in order to connect the events between a Catholic and Jew who are friends and grew up together. They are in love with one other, but they can’t be together based on their differing religions. This in itself is heartbreaking, but Harmon expands on the time period to portray the laws that were created against Jews during World War II in Italy. Before reading this novel, I was not aware of how Jews were treated in Italy during the war, and I found From Sand and Ash to be an impromptu history course in this untold history. Harmon has a way of making her novel educational while also tearing at the readers’ heartstrings.
“The way she said the name, the rasping whisper, the way she sighed through the syllables like it was the last word she would ever say, had made Eva hate her name for a very long time.”
Harmon is an artist with her words, as can be seen in the sample quotes that I have provided. She turns simple sentences into poetic art, and her words made the story leap off of the page. I fell in love with Eva and Angelo’s relationship, and I found my heart breaking for them and the terrible events that occurred throughout the novel. Harmon even made a suicide in the novel seem poetic, but she revealed the awfulness of the situation as well. Her words did not glamorize the horrific events that occurred during World War II, but she took the sorrow and used it to amplify her story.
I have not rated a novel 5 out of 5 in quite a long time, but From Sand and Ash more than deserves it. This book had everything that I look for in a historical novel: poetic language, knowledge about lesser known history, and vibrant characters who uniquely reflect their time period. From Sand and Ash is one of those rare novels that teaches the reader history while also bringing them enjoyment, and I will gladly continue to read this author’s work.
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Navigating Indieworld’s Spring Book Festival
Hello, Everyone!
I am excited to let you know about a Spring Book Festival Hosted by Indieworld! This book festival is online, and it will feature various genres and authors all across the publishing spectrum.
I love online book festivals because it allows you to connect with authors and readers all over the world, and you can do so at home in your pajamas!
The Spring Book Festival will take place March 27 – 29, 2017, so please make your calendars! You won’t want to miss it. I will also be attending, so please reach out and say hi!
You can access the festival by going here.
I hope to see you all there!
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Much love,
Ashley
FOR BOOK REVIEWS, FILL OUT THIS FORM: Book Review Request Form
FOR BOX REVIEWS, EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com
March 16, 2017
The Hunters by Heidi Angell
Title: The Hunters
Author: Heidi Angell
Rating: 3/5
Synopsis:
For those who believe Vampires should be killed, not kissed.
What would you do if you found your town had been infested with vampires? For Chris and his brother Lucas, the answer was simple enough: you fight back. Gathering a small band of other people in their town who have been affected by the vampires, they begin a resistance. But after a year of fighting, they have only managed to kill a handful, while the vampire leader has turned five times that many.
Then two enigmatic strangers appear, changing their lives even further.
Fury and Havoc. They call themselves hunters, and want no part in this little band of heroes. Ordering them to lay low, the duo vow to rid their town of vampires. When Fury is injured, Chris aides these strangers, entwining his future with theirs.
Now that the vampires know the hunters are here, and that Chris and his friends have helped them, the group is in more danger than ever before. Lucas is torn between protecting his new family from the vampires, and protecting them from these seemingly inhuman beings who say they are there to help.
After all, what beings could be so powerful as to scare a vampire?
Review:
The Hunters is clearly Heidi Angell’s response to Twilight and similar vampire romances. The vampires in her novel are vicious and intriguing, and I enjoyed reading a novel that went back to the classic vampire mythology by making vampires monsters once again. The vampire is my favorite mythological creature, and I thought that Angell’s take on them was outstanding. The Hunters is reminiscent of The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare, and fans of that series would enjoy Angell’s The Hunters Saga.
Angell’s cast of characters is bright and original, and I loved how they complimented the action packed plot. The relationship between Chris and Lucas is heartwarming, and I loved how comical they could be. They brought a strong familial element to the story, and their relationship was similar to the television series, Supernatural.
However, I couldn’t help but feel that Angell did pull too many of her ideas from Supernatural and The Mortal Instruments. While her story is unique in many ways, it is too similar to Supernatural for me. The concept of two brothers fighting monsters and having their ups and downs throughout their adventures is essentially the basis of Supernatural. I also found that the over-descriptions of some of the characters and events were distracting, and too many adverbs were used.
But with that all being said, I commend Angell for taking back the mythical vampire monster and putting it back into current literature. I loved being able to revisit my favorite monster in an action packed, horrific way. Angell has a strong imagination, and she does well with presenting a horror themed – plot to a general audience. If you are looking for a new take on this classic monster, I am sure that you will enjoy The Hunters!
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Double the Books Magazine
Hello, Everyone!
This month I was featured in Double the Books Magazine, as was my subscription book box, Literary Vacation Club! I am so excited to share with you all this amazing bookish magazine, and I hope that it helps to introduce you to some new books and authors that you might enjoy!
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View the Magazine Here
Much love,
Ashley
FOR BOOK REVIEWS, FILL OUT THIS FORM: Book Review Request Form
FOR BOX REVIEWS, EMAIL: peachykeenreviews@gmail.com
March 15, 2017
Cooking with Dice Character Spotlight – The Boucher
Hello, Everyone!
Today’s Cooking with Dice Character Spotlight is on “The Boucher”! Read more about this fun character, and learn about the cooking role play game, below!
Cooking with Dice Character Spotlight: THE BOUCHER
Special Ability – Earn bonus XP for describing the dire fate of one of your ingredients, with graphic details.
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You belong to the night. When the inky darkness rolls in, you’re completely in your element. You gracefully navigate your way through unlit alleys filled with dark spirits, shady merchants, and skillful pickpockets, unseen and untouched by any of them. Once you’ve picked up the scent of treasure, be it a priceless jewel or the perfect cut of meat, nothing can keep you from it. You’re always on the alert, planning each heist carefully, knowing that behind every shadow could lie certain death. No worries – your blades are your life. You keep them sharp, and they keep you breathing.
Learn more about Cooking with Dice here!
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Maharia by Joshua Robertson Release
Hello, Everyone!
Today is the release day of Maharia by Joshua Robertson! I am so excited to be able to share an excerpt of this book with you, as well as the rest of his series.
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Maharia Synopsis
In Valor There Is Hope!
Branimir has remained hidden from the enemy, withholding the cursed dagger from their erroneous hands. When a stranger arrives, and offers the chance to end his never-ending battle, Branimir sets off for the City of the Gods for answers. Now, hoping his faith has not been misplaced, Branimir undergoes his darkest adventure yet. He can only trust that he has the courage to survive the truth.
Buy Links:
Author Links:
Tweets by RobertsonWrites
Author Bio:
Joshua Robertson is a bestselling author in dark fantasy. Robertson is a Licensed Master Social Worker, who received his degree from Wichita State University. He has worked with children and families for the past fifteen years in a variety of unique venues: a residential behavior school, a psychiatric treatment facility, and the child welfare system. He has functioned as a supervisor, an educator, a behavior specialist, and a therapist during his career. Mr. Robertson has presented trainings for hundreds of professionals and military personnel on topics that include child abuse and neglect, human trafficking, strengthening the parent and child relationships, and the neurobiological impact of trauma.
You may recognize him as the dude whose dragons were said to destroy George R.R. Martin’s and Christopher Paolini’s dragons in a very biased Twitter poll. His first novel, Melkorka, was released in 2015, and he has been writing fantasy fiction like clockwork ever since. Known most for his Thrice Nine Legends Saga, Robertson enjoys an ever-expanding and extremely loyal following of readers.
He currently lives in North Carolina with his better half and his horde of goblins.
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Excerpt 1:
Branimir’s heart jumped at the thought of leaving Gaetana. He spun around and rose to his feet. Adamus faced him, beard hanging to his chest, and blue eyes wild with excitement. Witigor, a head taller than the Ariadnean, joggled his head in agreement, the overhanging flap of his ridiculous brown hat bouncing over his brow.
Sulanna stilled them with her hand. “What about Dorofej? The Stuhia has not survived this long simply to stay captive in a dungeon. Are we to continue to trust that he will find a way to escape?”
“Tis a thought I hope to be true, Sulanna,” Adamus said, “though the odds are not favorable. I am not proposing we attempt to free Dorofej. We simply cannot stay here much longer. Besides, if Dorofej does escape, he can always find us with that thing he does.”
“Klukas,” Branimir said. “Yes. He can find us in the shadow world.”
“Oh, here we are again, talking of this mysterious, all-knowing man called Dorofej.” Wit grimaced, pulling the sleeves up on his shirt. “The man might as well be a god, the way you speak of him.” Wit’s eye twitched. “Still, you are correct on this matter. The Stuhia can find anyone in Klukas if they have come across them before. Their gift of scrying supersedes the skill of the greatest oracle. He would be able to find you no matter your destination, I assure you.”
“Oh. Are you suddenly an expert with the Stuhian people, Wit?” Sulanna mocked, twisting her mouth with suspicion. “Funny you have not said a word of them until recently.”
“Well…I have read Tom Flitter’s Mystagogical’s Forlorn Folio and Colin Turney’s Unchanted and Unequaled.” Wit crossed his arms, leaned back like he had taken a blow to the bits, and then wobbled his head back and forth in disbelief. “Do you not know I have access to every book in the known world, Sulanna? I would have been reading about the dragon people long before now if I had known anyone cared to know about them. But you three keep your tongues wrapped so tight, I would not be surprised if you did not have any tongues at all. I don’t know how you expect me to help.”
Branimir stuck out his tongue. “No one asked for your help. We asked for one book on ancient religions, and here you still are—”
“Yes, I remember. The Compendium of Infernal Light by Emrys Trudgeon.” Wit widened his eyes. “No other man could have gotten you that little treasure. If you don’t want me, I can be on my way.” He stomped the back of his foot against the earth, indicating he had no intention of budging. “You know, it is not everyday someone asks about a text not highlighting the Lightbringer.”
“Czern’s breath. You mustn’t go anywhere,” Adamus said, angling an eyebrow at Branimir.
Sulanna flashed her teeth, chiming in, “Indeed. Your input is always welcome, but our business will remain our own.”
“Of course, my Lady,” Wit said, nodding his head again with enough momentum to bounce his hat. “And I don’t mean to pry, but anything you need to know, I can find.” He winked, pointing at Branimir. “Don’t get me wrong. The Kras have wicked memories, but none are as old as books. None can know how their minds have twisted their words over time.”
Excerpt 2:
Again, the bearded Kadari and Beryl tightened their hold on his arms.
With a flash in her eye, Kveta pulled aside Branimir’s cloak and pulled the dagger from the belt. Kaelandur stayed hanging from its sheathe around his waist. She barely looked at the copper blade, twisting the iron dagger in her hand. The sharpness of the weapon gleamed in the firelight.
Her free hand grabbed his shoulder roughly, balancing her weight to keep pressure off her bandaged leg. “Should I wedge this in your leg, your eye, or your dear, little bits?”
Beryl’s blithe snigger robbed the air from Branimir’s lungs. “Why choose only one?”
Disbelief and horror seized Bran, his timorous lip quaking with realization. He twisted against the Kadari holding him, hardly budging.
He dared to break from Kveta’s ghastly expression to look at Falmagon. The twisted smile under the Patrician’s mustache screamed of gratification. After Harrowhal, he realized how far gone Falmagon truly was. He once thought Falmagon, at least, considered himself decent, but nothing was left of the Highborn Long-Walker.
Nothing could have readied Branimir for the shockwave of pain riddling through his body as Kveta speared him with the dagger. He reacted at instinct, thrashing violently against the two Kadari holding him hostage, his wail causing the very flames of the distant fire to waft. He could not pinpoint where she struck him at first, only knowing the pain surged from beneath his belly. The heat of the immediate wound was only diluted by the warmth of the thick blood flowing down his slender leg.
He moaned. Tears descended from his cheeks with heaved sniffles, snorting his slick snot back into his nose and off his upper lip.
Kveta twisted the blade, grating the sharp edge against his femur, isolating the dagger’s location. Branimir blubbered softly, catching the saliva on the edge of his tongue, hatefully glaring at the Kadari woman.
He gagged in effort to keep his throat from closing, gasping for oxygen. He needed to breathe. He had to shake away the abysmal pain. Inhaling the metallic odor of his own blood, Branimir gazed to Falmagon and exhaled the bitter thoughts flooding his mind. “I will kill you! I swear it! Marheena will leave you broken and deformed!”
Excerpt 3:
Branimir could not guess how much time had come and gone since they entered the gate and started up the never-ending staircase. Not only did the sun stay at its apex over the City of the Gods, giving constant warmth and light in every crevice, but also something kept his stomach from hunger and his body from exhaustion. Every time his foot lifted and fell, his body seemingly had forgotten he repeated the same movement a hundred times before. In the beginning, the mundane climbing had been a game; but after a couple hours, he lost interest in playing. He stopped counting the stairs after reaching the thousands. Yet he felt no aching in his back, legs, or feet. Bran supposed he should be thankful for being away from the snow and wind on the mountain pass, but the monotony was wearing on him.
“You would think,” he said, after several hours, “with all the magic in this place they would find a quicker way to the top. I bet the Svet’s gateway takes them straight to the top of the peak.”
Alyona ambled along behind him, responding with a dull tone. “Close. You arrive on the seventh tier, near the temple.”
“Nine Lands. And no one thought to put one of those gateways at the bottom of these stairs?” Branimir asked, gazing at the rocky wall on either side of them. He was certain a dragon could fit on the staircase without discomfort. Which did not matter much, considering the dragon could fly to the peak of the mount.
Tyr held the smile on his face, climbing besides Branimir on the right. “Bah! Can you imagine when we go back down to leave? I bet we will lose our minds going back down these stairs.” Tyr swung is giant arms back and forth as he climbed. Branimir hardly noticed he had six fingers anymore. “How about if we were to arrive through the doorway up there? And then, when we went to leave, we were faced with this? At least, we know, right?” Tyr rumbled, peering over his shoulder for an instant. The bottom of the winding staircase could no longer be seen. “I might consider flinging myself down the steps, or simply lying down and rolling. Maybe the gods will spare me if I crack my head.”
Alyona’s dry tone answered the unasked question. “No, they will not.”
