New Release: Eire's Devil King by Sandi Layne

 

PRESENTS. . .
Éire's Devil King Book 3 of Éire's Viking Trilogyby Sandi Layne

Release Date: April 2 , 2015Published by The Writers Coffee ShopGenre: FICTION / Historical Fiction Time Periods/ Medieval / Viking
ISBN e-book: 978-1-61213-376-8 Available from: Amazon, Kobo, Barnes and Noble, and TWCS PH [image error]

~~SUMMARY~~ A man of ability and ambition, Tuirgeis Erlingrson has nurtured the desire to carve a place of leadership for himself on the Green Island, Éire, that he has raided multiple times. After the death of his wife in Nordweg, he takes his surviving son to Éire. Having connections with his adopted brother, Cowan, and Agnarr, his former countryman, Tuirgeis feels he has the support he needs to make his claims strong.Agnarr is torn. His promise to Aislinn to remain with her on Éire is still in force, and he resists Tuirgeis’s requests to join the conquering forces from Nordweg. He desires above all things to maintain a safe home for his wife and children in Dal Fíatach. Charis encourages Cowan to do the same, though this makes for tense moments between them.After initial disastrous attempts to achieve his ambition, Tuirgeis comes to learn that there is more to claiming a kingship than merely overpowering the locals. Tuirgeis finds himself at odds with the very people he had hoped would reinforce him. In addition, he wants to establish his father-line. He has one son; he wants another to be born of Éire. Will the woman of his choice accept and support him?At length, Agnarr and Aislinn—though she is heavy with child—sail with Cowan and Charis to join Tuirgeis as he battles over one final summer to attain the High Kingship of the island.Tuirgeis knows he doesn’t have long to make his claims; the Danes are coming in greater numbers than before. As he wins men of Éire to his cause, he has to maintain the relationships he has already fostered with Agnarr and Cowan. Charis finds that her Otherworldly gifts are needed by a man she considers her enemy.

~~CONVERSATION WITH THE AUTHOR~~EL: You have a tag line to promote É ires Devil King that says: "If Tuirgeis wants to be High King, he’ll have to prove he’s more than a Viking." At this time in history why did you have to be 'more' than a Viking to rule?
SL: This is a terrific question, Elizabeth, and I thank you so much for asking and for hosting me here for the Éire’s Devil King blog tour.
The Éire’s Viking Trilogy takes place during the early years of the Viking raids, during the first half of the 9th Century. At this time, the raiders from Norway were not organized into a kingdom, though there were jarls and overlords and men of standing in the many communities along the coastline and fjørds. The tradition of kingship, then, wasn’t established.
What they had were leaders of battle. Tuirgeis—alternately known in history as Thorgest or Thorgeis—would have been such a leader. As a raider, he was adept at earning the personal loyalty of others. He could see an objective, strategize how to attain it, kill or capture his enemies in the conflict, and emerge victorious with a profitable haul. These were necessary skills for a leader of the Northmen.
A kingdom, though, requires different handling. A hopeful king couldn’t slaughter all he met; he’d have no one to hold the land. A king would have to win longterm loyalties, he’d have to show his loyalty toward men he had conquered. He would have to learn to govern, not just conquer.
For Tuirgeis, the path he takes in Éire’s Devil King is meant to show how he has to learn this. His historical legacy names him a devil of a king, bloody and tyrannical. Can he bring together the Norsemen of his country and the Irishmen of his new land or will he fail?
The difference between being a Viking and being High King can be found in the answer. 

~~EXCERPT~~ It was dark in the langhús, save for the glowing of the coals banked in the fire ring. Agnarr enjoyed his wife’s responsiveness to him, and when they made love, he never forgot to thank his new God for letting her live through the births of the children their bodies made together. Before the sun crept under the door and through the shutters over the new windows, they were smiling and silent and relishing the moments—he knew there would only be moments—before the children stirred in the bench-bed they shared. Later, as their son and daughter began shifting restlessly prior to awakening, Agnarr sat up and blew out a breath. “Wife.” “Yes, husband?” She joined him, finding his hand with hers in the shadowy enclosure of their private area. “We need to be ready. You need to be ready. You and the children.” She sighed and shifted on the blankets so that she was looking directly at him. As was her habit, she continued to touch him with her fingers as she spoke. “I can fight. And you gave Dow a real knife at the Christ Mass.” Discomfort tightened his stomach as he shook his head. “You need to be able to escape, just in case.” He knew far too well what would happen if someone found his attractive wife. Someone whom he didn’t know. Someone who would find her dark hair appealing and the tatú on her cheek mysterious and alluring. Someone who would want to take her as their leman, as he had once taken Charis. Someone who might take his son as a slave. Jaw tightening in anger, he shook his head again. Hard. “You know what can happen to you.” Her eyes were on his face, and he met their steady gaze. “And the children. You need to be able to get away. We should find a way to make you safe.” Goodreads * Add to Want To Read List 
~~ABOUT THE AUTHOR~~ Award winning author of short Celtic fiction, Sandi Layne is the creator of the Éire's Viking Trilogy, as well as works of contemporary Christian romance.

She began by self-publishing her novels in 2000, garnering a loyal group of readers whom she continues to appreciate to this day.Married for more than twenty years to a fantastic man, she has two sons, no pets, and a plethora of imaginary friends. Her interests range from ancient civilizations to science fiction. With degrees in English and Ministry, she also claims Theology’s crimson Masters collar which she has been known to don on rare occasions.

If you drive by her window before dawn, it is likely she’ll have a light on for you. Or at the very least, she’ll be alert on twitter. She invites you to visit her online space at http://sandyquill.com.

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~~CONNECT WITH THE AUTHOR~~Twitter * Facebook * Goodreads * Website * Tumblr

~~PRAISE FOR EIRE'S DEVIL KING~~


"If you are looking for a read that makes history read real, this is the series for you." - Kathie on Goodreads
"This is how historical fiction should be done. ...  love was a deep and abiding theme, as was loyalty to family and leaders. Bonds will be tested and hearts will be broken." - Lissa Bryan 
~~OTHER TITLES IN THE SERIES~~ 
TWCS PAPERBACK AMAZON PAPERBACK   AMAZON KINDLE KOBO BARNES AND NOBLE iTunes    
 
TWCS PAPERBACK AMAZON PAPERBACK BARNES AND NOBLE AMAZON KINDLE BARNES AND NOBLE Kobo