SPELLBREAKER Official Blog Tour (Charlie N. Holmberg) - Ten Facts Guest Post + Giveaway

 

Welcome to my stop on the SPELLBREAKER Official Blog Tour, where you can discover ten facts about the latest magical novel from Charlie N. Holmberg and enter to win a copy! Interested in an excerpt, review, or more author content? Check out the rest of the tour, links below!

TEN FACTS YOU SHOULD KNOW 

ABOUT SPELLBREAKER:

1. It was inspired by a line in Studio Ghibli’s adaptation of Howl’s Moving Castle, where the Witch of the Waste claims her talents only lay in breaking spells. 

2. It’s a late-Victorian fantasy, with a setting based on the series Lark Rise to Candleford. 

3. It’s in a similar vein as The Paper Magician Series. 

4. It’s a [clean] adult fantasy that’s suitable for teens. 

5. When a wizard is killed in Spellbreaker, their corpse turns into a spellbook . . . and anyone can use the spells contained within. 

6. There are four disciplines of magic: physical, rational, spiritual, and temporal. 

7. Part of the magic system was inspired by Dungeons & Dragons. 

8. It contains both a slow-burn romance and a cozy mystery. 

9. This novel touches on issues of class, gender, race, and disability. 

10. It’s the first book in a duology, with the second novel, Spellmaker, releasing March 9th, 2021.

A world of enchanted injustice needs a disenchanting woman in the newest fantasy series by the Wall Street Journal bestselling author of The Paper Magician.

The orphaned Elsie Camden learned as a girl that there were two kinds of wizards in the world: those who pay for the power to cast spells and those, like her, born with the ability to break them. But as an unlicensed magic user, her gift is a crime. Commissioned by an underground group known as the Cowls, Elsie uses her spellbreaking to push back against the aristocrats and help the common man. She always did love the tale of Robin Hood.

Elite magic user Bacchus Kelsey is one elusive spell away from his mastership when he catches Elsie breaking an enchantment. To protect her secret, Elsie strikes a bargain. She’ll help Bacchus fix unruly spells around his estate if he doesn’t turn her in. Working together, Elsie’s trust in—and fondness for—the handsome stranger grows. So does her trepidation about the rise in the murders of wizards and the theft of the spellbooks their bodies leave behind.

For a rogue spellbreaker like Elsie, there’s so much to learn about her powers, her family, the intriguing Bacchus, and the untold dangers shadowing every step of a journey she’s destined to complete. But will she uncover the mystery before it’s too late to save everything she loves? 

ISBN-10 : 1542020093

ISBN-13 : 978-1542020091
Publisher : 47North (November 1, 2020)

Paperback : 303 pages

Praise for SPELLBREAKER 

“…romantic and electrifying…the fast-paced plot and fully realized world will have readers eager for the next installment. Fans of Victorian-influenced fantasy won’t want to put this down.” —Publishers Weekly

“Those who enjoy gentle romance, cozy mysteries, or Victorian fantasy will love this first half of a duology. The cliffhanger ending will keep readers breathless waiting for the second half.” —Library Journal (starred review)

“Powerful magic, indulgent Victoriana, and a slow-burn romance make this genre-bending romp utterly delightful.” —Kirkus Reviews

You can purchase Spellbreaker at the following Retailers:

        

Photo Content from Charlie N. Holmberg

Charlie N. Holmberg is the award-winning author of the Numina series, The Fifth Doll, and many others. Her Wall Street Journal bestselling Paper Magician series, which includes The Paper Magician, The Glass Magician, and The Master Magician, has been optioned by the Walt Disney Company. Charlie’s stand-alone novel, Followed by Frost, was nominated for a 2016 RITA Award for Best Young Adult Romance. Born in Salt Lake City, Charlie was raised a Trekkie alongside three sisters, who also have boy names. She is a proud BYU alumna, plays the ukulele, owns too many pairs of glasses, and finally adopted a dog. She currently lives with her family in Utah. Visit her at her website.

WEBSITE  |  TWITTER  |  GOODREADS  |  FACEBOOK  |  INSTAGRAM

WEEK ONE - REVIEWS AND INTERVIEWS

NOVEMBER 16th MONDAY Kait Plus Books INTERVIEW 

NOVEMBER 17th TUESDAY BookHounds GUEST POST

NOVEMBER 18th WEDNESDAY A Court of Coffee and Books EXCERPT

NOVEMBER 18th WEDNESDAY Nay's Pink Bookshelf REVIEW

NOVEMBER 19th THURSDAY JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW

NOVEMBER 19th THURSDAY Gwendalyn's Books REVIEW 

NOVEMBER 20th FRIDAY Author Kelly Risser EXCERPT 

NOVEMBER 20th FRIDAY Skye's Scribblings GUEST POST

WEEK TWO - REVIEWS

NOVEMBER 23rd MONDAY Casia's Corner REVIEW

NOVEMBER 23rd MONDAY J.R.'s Book Reviews REVIEW

NOVEMBER 24th TUESDAY Ya It's Lit REVIEW 

NOVEMBER 25th WEDNESDAY Wishful Endings REVIEW

NOVEMBER 25th WEDNESDAY The Bookwyrm's Den REVIEW 

NOVEMBER 26th THURSDAY Kalisbookishrambles REVIEW 

NOVEMBER 26th THURSDAY PopTheButterfly Reads REVIEW

NOVEMBER 27th FRIDAY Books and Zebras REVIEW 

NOVEMBER 27th FRIDAY Reading Adventures of a Book Dragon REVIEW

GIVEAWAY

Win one of two copies of Spellbreaker! Ends December 7, 2020.

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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1k Follower Giveaway: Win a *Signed* Novel!

Skye's Scribblings has reached 1,000 Followers!! 🎉

I am seriously stunned. Thank you so much to all of you who have enjoyed my blog enough to officially follow it - I hope my reviews have been and continue to be helpful to you in choosing your next reads and discovering new favorites for your overflowing shelves. 📚

To celebrate such an amazing milestone, and all of you amazing readers, a follower appreciation giveaway is in order! Below is a picture of what's up for grabs - seven books for the seven years I've been blogging. All are *signed* finished copies, a few hardback but most paperback (see list below). To be eligible you must Follow this blog (new Followers welcome, of course 😉) and have a US mailing address (apologies International Followers, I can't afford the postage 😢). I'll have at least one winner, but depending on the interest I may choose more. Thanks again for Following, and best of luck to you! 🤞

The Books

• Ignite the Stars by Maura Milan (HB)
• This Savage Song by Victoria Schwab (HB)
• Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor (PB)
• The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski (PB)
• The Fill-In Boyfriend by Kasie West (PB)
• Relax, I'm a Ninja by Natalie Whipple (PB)
• Etiquette & Espionage by Gail Carriger (PB)

Terms & Conditions

• Giveaway runs 8/5/20 - 8/15/20
• Entrants must Follow this blog (the more ways you do, the more entries!)
• Entrants must have a US mailing addresses (apologies, International Followers)
• Must be 13 years or older

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The Differences Between Japanese Culture & American Culture - Seven Deadly Shadows Blog Tour (Courtney Alameda & Valynne E. Maetani) + Giveaway!

The Differences Between Japanese & American Culture

with author Courtney Alameda

Hi everyone, Courtney Alameda here, co-author of SEVEN DEADLY SHADOWS! I’m here today to highlight some basic differences between Japanese and American culture—but please keep in mind, this list is in no way authoritative or comprehensive! But for those of you who haven’t ever watched a Kurosawa film or read a manga, you might find it easier to acclimate yourself to Kira’s Kyoto if you know a few key cultural differences first.

“First” names don’t come first. In Japan, surnames/family names precede individual given names. I.e., my name would be “Alameda Courtney” in Japan. Calling someone by their given name in Japan infers a close relationship, and given names are used by family and friends. Strangers, acquaintances, and superiors (like school teachers or supervisors) will use an individual’s family name.

You’ll also see the occasional use of honorifics in the novel, such as –san or –sama. These words are added on to names to confer status or respect. The honorific –san is equivalent to the western Mr., Mrs., or Ms.; while the honorific –sama means “lord.” Most honorifics are attached to an individual’s family name, but in some cases where the honorific is diminutive, it’s attached to a given name. –Chan falls into this second category, as it roughly translates to dear. So you’ll see Shimada-sama and Kira-chan in the novel.

While writing this novel, Valynne and I went back and forth on how to format the characters’ names. In the end, we decided to accommodate western readers’ understanding as much as possible.

Bow to your sensei! Bowing is something I wish we did in the west, as it’s a versatile and graceful way to communicate with other people. The Japanese use bows to greet other people, confer respect, ask for forgiveness, thank someone for their service, and more. Depending on the context of the bow, this might be a slight bob of the head, or a full-scale bend to 45 degrees—the deeper the bow, the more empathetic the emotion or intent.

Take the “P” out of your PDA. Public displays of affection are a huge faux pas in Japan! Even holding your significant other’s hand in public is frowned upon, which meant Valynne and I had to get creative as Kira and Shiro’s friendship developed into a romance. We even ended up cutting a kiss on a train platform, because there was no way Kira and Shiro would ever disrespect the other train passengers like that!

Japanese Kit Kats come in hundreds of flavors! I’m not even joking, Japan is a Kit Kat paradise. You want a raspberry Kit Kat? Japan’s got that. Matcha green tea? Sure thing. Butter cookie? They’ve got that, too! Kit Kats are popular gifts for students in Japan, as the words kit kat sound like the Japanese phrase kitto katsu, which means, “You’re sure to succeed.”

Planes, trains, and automobiles.  . . . Actually, just trains. In my opinion, Japan’s railways are the cleanest and most efficient on Earth. Trains are a very popular form of transportation in Japan—I’d say moreso than in the U.S.—and passengers observe a very particular etiquette to ensure that everyone’s ride is comfortable and safe.

Eating on trains isn’t allowed, unless you’re traveling via shinkansen (bullet train). In Japan, people seldom eat in public places (excluding restaurants, of course), as being seen walking and consuming a snack or beverage is seen as bad manners. Loud chatter is discouraged, and talking on a cell phone is considered impolite.

In SEVEN DEADLY SHADOWS, you’ll see Kira and Shiro sharing a bento-box style meal on a shinkansen train to Tokyo . . . but that’s the only kind of train it would be considered fine to do so!

That’s it for now! Thanks for reading, and if you have a chance to pick up SEVEN DEADLY SHADOWS, Valynne and I hope that you thoroughly enjoy it! Until then, don’t fear the shadows . . .

Seven Deadly Shadows
Authors: Courtney Alameda & Valynne E. Maetani
Publisher: HarperCollins
Release Date: January 28th, 2020
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

Synopsis:

Kira Fujikawa has always been a girl on the fringe. Bullied by her peers and ignored by her parents, the only place Kira’s ever felt at home is at her grandfather’s Shinto shrine, where she trains to be a priestess.

But Kira’s life is shattered on the night her family’s shrine is attacked by a vicious band of yokai demons. With the help of Shiro—the shrine’s gorgeous half-fox, half-boy kitsune—Kira discovers that her shrine harbors an ancient artifact of great power . . . one the yokai and their demon lord, Shuten-doji, will use to bring down an everlasting darkness upon the world.

Unable to face the Shuten-doji and his minions on her own, Kira enlists the aid of seven ruthless shinigami—or death gods—to help stop the brutal destruction of humankind. But some of the death gods aren’t everything they initially seemed, nor as loyal to Kira’s cause as they first appeared.

With war drawing nearer by the day, Kira realizes that if this unlikely band of heroes is going to survive, they’re going to have to learn to work together, confront their demons, and rise as one to face an army of unimaginable evil.

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Purchase:

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iTunes | Google Books

About the Authors

COURTNEY ALAMEDA

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Tumblr | Facebook

A veteran bookseller and librarian, Courtney Alameda now spends her days writing thriller and horror novels for young people. Her debut novel, SHUTTER, was nominated for a Bram Stoker award and hailed as a "standout in the genre" by School Library Journal. Her other novel, PITCH DARK, is a genre-blending science fiction/horror novel in the vein of Ridley Scott's 1979 film ALIEN.

Courtney holds a B.A. in English literature with an emphasis in creative writing. She is represented by the talented John M. Cusick of Folio Literary. A Northern California native, she now resides in Utah with her husband, a legion of books, and a tiny five pound cat with a giant personality.

VALYNNE E. MAETANI

Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Valynne E. Maetani (pronounced Vuh-lin Mah-eh-tah-nee) grew up in Utah and obtained a Bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania. In a former life, she was a project manager and developed educational software for children with learning disabilities. Currently, she is a full-time writer. She is a member of the We Need Diverse Books team and is dedicated to promoting diversity in children's literature because every child should grow up believing his or her story deserves to be told. Her debut novel, INK AND ASHES, is the winner of the New Visions Award 2013, a Junior Library Guild 2015 selection, and Best Fiction Book in Salt Lake City Weekly’s Best of Utah Arts Award for 2015. She lives in Salt Lake City.

Tour Giveaway

Open International | Ends February 11, 2020

Grand Prize: Win a signed copy of SEVEN DEADLY SHADOWS, a signed copy of Courtney Alameda's SHUTTER, and a signed copy of Valynne Maetani's INK AND ASHES; anime portraits of Kira and Shiro; a stuffed fox omamori charm from the Fushimi Inari Taisha shrine in Japan; an origami fox hand-folded by Valynne Maetani; a yokai mini sticker sheet; and an assortment of Japanese Kit Kats (not pictured) [INT]

Second Prize: Win (1) of (2) A signed copy of SEVEN DEADLY SHADOWS with anime portraits of Kira and Shiro [INT]

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Be sure to check out the rest of the tour: 

Seven Deadly Shadows Blog Tour

Blog Tour Spotlight: SHADOW CALL (AdriAnne Strickland & Michael Miller) + Giveaway

Today I spotlight AdriAnne Strickland & Michael Miller's Kaitan Chronicles #2: SHADOW CALL! I really enjoyed the first book, Shadow Run (you can check out my review here) and have been excited to continue the series with this sequel. If you enjoy Sci-fi you definitely have to try this series - check it out below, and be sure to enter the giveaway at the end for a shiny new copy of Shadow Call!

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THE BOOK:

Title: SHADOW CALL (Kaitan Chronicles #2)

Author: AdriAnne Strickland & Michael Miller

Pub. Date: April 17, 2018

Publisher: Delacorte Press

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 432

His throne. Her rebellion. Their war.

Qole is the youngest starship captain in living memory on her homeworld of Alaxak and has spent her life hunting a dangerous energy source called Shadow. Alaxans distrust and evade the galaxy’s royalty as a rule, but Qole is now harboring the exiled Prince Nevarian Dracorte, along with some very conflicting feelings about it—and him.

Nev’s feelings are just as complicated, but not towards her. When it comes to Qole, he knows one thing: he’d do anything to stay with her. But when Alaxak is attacked and Nev finds himself framed for murder, he realizes the only way to help Qole and her people is to fight for the throne that should be his. To become the royal she might hate.

As for Qole, she would never have imagined herself as the leader of a rebellion. Despite that, she soon realizes that hiding from her power is no longer an option. It’s time to answer the call, even if it kills her.

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PURCHASE:
Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Indiebound | Book Depository

Check out the first book!

Shadow Run

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Indiebound | Book Depository | My Review

THE AUTHORS:


ADRIANNE STRICKLAND and MICHAEL MILLER met in their hometown of Palmer, Alaska, where they agreed on 99% of book taste and thus decided to write together. Adri spends her summers as a commercial fisherwoman in Bristol Bay, Alaska, and the rest of the year writing. Michael grew up off the grid in a homestead in Alaska and now works in IT and tech. This is their second book together.

Find AdriAnne:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Find Michael:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads



THE GIVEAWAY:
3 winners will receive a finished copy of SHADOW CALL, US Only. 
Ends on May 4th at Midnight EST!

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THE TOUR:

Check out the rest of the tour!

Week One:

4/2/2018- Here's to Happy Endings- Review

4/3/2018- Wonder Struck- Review

4/4/2018- Rhythmicbooktrovert - Review

4/5/2018- Jena Brown Writes- Review

4/6/2018- YA Obsessed- Review

Week Two:

4/9/2018- Emily Reads Everything- Review

4/10/2018- laura's bookish corner- Review

4/11/2018- Literary Meanderings- Excerpt

4/12/2018- Two Chicks on Books- Excerpt

4/13/2018- Good Choice Reading- Review

Week Three:

4/16/2018- Rachel's Book Reviews- Review

4/17/2018- Skye's Scribblings- Spotlight

4/18/2018- BookHounds YA- Excerpt

4/19/2018- The Desert Bibliophile- Review

4/20/2018- Seeing Double in Neverland- Excerpt

Week Four:

4/23/2018- Book-Keeping- Review

4/24/2018- lori's little house of reviews- Review

4/25/2018- Books at Dawn- Excerpt

4/26/2018- Read. Eat. Love.- Review

4/27/2018- MNBernard Books- Excerpt

Week Five:

4/30/2018- Smada's Book Smack- Review

Giveaway: The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl (Melissa Keil)

It's finally time for a giveaway!! 

Up for grabs: two finished editions of Melissa Keil's The Incredible Adventures of Cinnamon Girl (Goodreads), a YA Contemporary set in Australia about comics, best friends, the end of the world, and life after graduation.

I'm giving away both copies pictured, and you can choose your preference: right is the Australian softcover, and left the US hardcover. A note about the hardcover: it includes chapterly illustrations (by Mike Lawrence) - if you enjoy novels with a bit of art, you might want to give it a try. The hardcover also comes with the wire hairband it's wrapped in (courtesy of the publisher).

Want to give this colorful story a read? Enter the Rafflecopter below!

RULES: US only (sorry International Followers!); must be 16 years or older to enter. Following this blog is not required but counts for major points! ;)


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{Nerd Blast} ROAR (Cora Carmack) Excerpt + Giveaway

Welcome to the Official Nerd Blast for 

Roar by Cora Carmack!

Title: Roar

Series: Stormheart #1

Author: Cora Carmack

Publisher: Tor Teen

Publication Date: June 13, 2017

In a land ruled and shaped by violent magical storms, power lies with those who control them.

Aurora Pavan comes from one of the oldest Stormling families in existence. Long ago, the ungifted pledged fealty and service to her family in exchange for safe haven, and a kingdom was carved out from the wildlands and sustained by magic capable of repelling the world’s deadliest foes. As the sole heir of Pavan, Aurora’s been groomed to be the perfect queen. She’s intelligent and brave and honorable. But she’s yet to show any trace of the magic she’ll need to protect her people.

To keep her secret and save her crown, Aurora’s mother arranges for her to marry a dark and brooding Stormling prince from another kingdom. At first, the prince seems like the perfect solution to all her problems. He’ll guarantee her spot as the next queen and be the champion her people need to remain safe. But the more secrets Aurora uncovers about him, the more a future with him frightens her. When she dons a disguise and sneaks out of the palace one night to spy on him, she stumbles upon a black market dealing in the very thing she lacks—storm magic. And the people selling it? They’re not Stormlings. They’re storm hunters.

Legend says that her ancestors first gained their magic by facing a storm and stealing part of its essence. And when a handsome young storm hunter reveals he was born without magic, but possesses it now, Aurora realizes there’s a third option for her future besides ruin or marriage. 

She might not have magic now, but she can steal it if she’s brave enough. 

Challenge a tempest. Survive it. And you become its master.

“I am typically not a fantasy reader, but Roar convinced me to read more. Cora Carmack created a beautiful world and I felt like I was transported to Pavan with her vivid descriptions of the city. I was left wanting more and I can't to find out what happens with the rest of her characters.”—Chelsea Riela, New York Public Library 

“In her electrifying YA debut Roar, Cora Carmack creates a stormy fantasy full of adventure featuring a charismatic ensemble cast. Roar introduces YA readers to Cora’s signature talent for balancing authentic characters and a captivating romance, this time set in a striking new world that will sweep readers away.”—Mary Hinson, Irving Public Library and Mary Had A Little Book Blog

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PURCHASE:
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EXCERPT

The Pavanian princess stared at Cassius, her mouth open slightly. When she first walked into this room, Cassius had thought her stunning in her savagery, colder than the depths of winter. Her dress seduced and threatened in equal measure, clinging to her curves and adorned with carved skyfire crystals that jutted from her shoulders and head like the spikes of a warrior’s armor. And yet for all that careful pageantry, it had only taken a compliment to rattle her. She looked very young in that moment, very sweet, which was never a good thing for a potential ruler to be.

She donned an unreadable expression before his curiosity was satisfied, and her lilting voice turned sharp. “Flattery is not necessary. The betrothal has already been set.”

Another blast of that wintery gaze. She had unusual blue-gray eyes—wide and expressive and lovely enough to bring a lesser man to his knees. Her confident demeanor would likely have convinced most, but he had sharpened his instincts in a court little safer than a lion’s den. Tension rode her—something between unease and fear. He gripped her wrist and had the inexplicable urge to drag her somewhere else, anywhere other than the betrothal celebration that waited upstairs with his family. She was a delicate songbird, and his father was a bird of prey. They all were, Cassius included. And he couldn’t help but wonder how long it would be before this little bird had her wings clipped.

She tugged her arm out of his grasp, hard. He was tempted to take it back. That was part of his nature … to take. But she fixed him with a harsh glare, and he smiled in response. Perhaps his little bird had talons after all.

Enough. She was not his little bird. A jungle cat does not care for prey, even if he wants it with a hunger stronger than any he has ever known. He pushed his more ruthless instincts aside. That would be his greatest challenge here—fighting the need to seize, command, destroy. Those were the things he was good at. The things he’d been taught since he could walk. With Aurora he would have to coax and flatter and comfort—that was his path to control.

She said, “We should probably go. They’ll be calling for us soon.”

Cassius offered her his elbow, and her body was tense as she curled her hand around it. But before they even took a step, it became clear that the voluminous fabric at the bottom of her dress wouldn’t allow them to easily walk side by side. Cassius took hold of her hand, sliding it off his arm and lacing their fingers together instead. Slowly, he lifted her hand until his lips dragged across her knuckles. The blacks of her eyes expanded, swallowing up that lovely color and adding just a touch of sin to her sweet. She jerked within his grip, trying to pull away. Chuckling low, he put some distance between them, but he did not release her hand.

It took entirely too long to cross the throne room in her elaborate attire. She had to kick the bottom of her dress out before she stepped so that it wasn’t underfoot. Cassius was willing to bet that the dress and the headpiece weighed a third as much as she did or more, but her posture remained rigidly upright and her steps smooth.

By the time they reached the staircase at the back of the throne room, her lips were open and her breathing quick. He was beginning to hate this dress, even if it did cling to her curves rather spectacularly.

“You know,” he said, “I have a knife. I’m tempted to cut off the bottom of that dress so you can walk like the rest of us.”

A smile flitted across her mouth, small at first, then widening into something playful and bright. It called to the darkness in him. “You could try. But you’d likely find that knife at your throat with my mother on the other side of it.”

“Not you?”

“If I had my way, we’d burn it once you cut it off. The headdress too.”

He smiled, and for the first time in a long while it felt almost natural.

“Perhaps we’ll celebrate our wedding with a bonfire.”

Every time he mentioned the wedding, she tensed. It was, of course, already agreed upon and signed in ink, but he had plans that would not succeed if she remained reluctant.

They ascended the first few steps slowly, the beaded fabric of her dress pulled taut around her legs. He wanted to throw her over his shoulder and charge the rest of the way, but he distracted himself with studying his surroundings instead. The hallway they were leaving behind was filled with paintings and statues of the Pavan Stormling ancestors. At the hallway’s end a massive, gold-painted statue of the current queen stood in a decorative alcove. Once upon a time, there might have been altars to the old gods—places to pray for good harvest or fertility or even luck—but those days were long past. Too many years of unbridled destruction and unanswered prayers.

No, Stormlings were the gods now. It was Cassius and the people like him who either answered prayers or ignored them.

“You said you faced a blizzard on your journey, but you did it without an affinity.”

He squeezed the hand he still held. “I did.”

She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, scraping at the white paint that covered her skin. She asked, “Would you tell me about it sometime? The blizzard?”

He angled his head to smile at her again, and she looked away. Shy. So many pieces to her puzzle. “On one condition.”

“Which is?” He had expected her to be like most of the well-born ladies of the court in Locke: sirens with claws and teeth or frightened little mice, made to be gobbled up by this world. Aurora seemed neither vicious nor weak, but she was working so carefully to show him a façade that he could not pinpoint exactly what she was.

He had to know. It was his curse, the reason he thirsted for the thrill of a storm. He had to know how things worked, had to know why. And the girl in front of him was no different. In fact, the need to unravel all her secrets was stronger than he’d ever felt because she would be his. And he had a feeling that conquering her would prove more exhilarating than any storm he had ever defeated.

Rather than giving her his condition, he released her hand and wrapped an arm around the slim circle of her waist. She tried to step back, but her feet tangled in her dress, and she gripped his tunic to stay upright.

There it was. A thread of fear in those eyes. He could have stopped then, but he had little self-control when it came to these things. It was not enough to see a measure of her emotions on her face. He wanted them all. So he pushed a little more. “You might be patient enough to fight with this dress, but I am not. Let me get us to the top of these stairs, and I promise to tell you whatever story you want to hear.”

She jutted her soft chin out and said, “You have a deal.”

The paint had begun to wear away on her lips, revealing rosy skin underneath. Was the rest of her flushed beneath all that powder? He dragged his fingers back and forth over her side, feeling hard ridges beneath the heavy, embellished fabric. “Corset?”

She sucked in a breath, and he knew he had shocked her. Innocent. He collected each morsel of her identity like a scavenger in the jungle. He saw just a sliver of panic before she hid it away and met his gaze.

Brave little bird.

“It will have to be like this.” Before she could change her mind or reason could catch up to his own actions, he bent, winding his arms around her thighs, and lifted. She was tall but slight, and he held her tight against him so that her hips pressed against his chest and her stomach hovered in front of his face. She gasped and braced a hand on his shoulder, reaching up to balance her headdress with the other. He could not see her face like this, but he imagined she was scandalized. He chuckled. “I suppose I should have given you some warning.”

He risked offending her or word getting back to her mother through the guards that followed them. Both of which paled in comparison to the risk of his father hearing of his actions. He was a child, poking at a fish with a stick, rather than reeling it in the way he was supposed to. But he could not seem to help himself.

With some measure of urgency, he started up the stairs. Her body swayed toward him, her beaded dress scraping against his chin. This close, he felt her breathing speed up. The hand on his shoulder migrated to her chest, doing her best to cover the cleavage that was only just above his line of sight.

His instincts said to push again, but this time he reined them in. He kept his head down and quickened his feet. Again, the movement made her sway toward him, harder this time without her hand on his shoulder as a brace. He turned his face to the side, and her belly pressed against his cheek just for a moment before her hand was back at his shoulder, righting her position.

He took the last few steps at a pace that was nearly a jog, and when he reached the top, he looked up at her face. Her mouth was open and soft; he knew by the rise and fall of her body against him that her breaths were ragged, and in her eyes was a gleam. Not fear. Not panic. Not even anger.

Want.

He could work with that.

Copyright © 2017 by Cora Carmack

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Photo Credit: Matt Tolbert

Cora Carmack is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of New Adult Romance and YA fantasy. Her books have been translated into more than a dozen languages around the world. Cora splits her time between Austin, TXand New York City, and on any given day you might find her typing away at her computer, flying to various cities around the world, or just watching Netflix with her kitty Katniss. But she can always be found on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and her website. Represented by the fabulous Suzie Townsend of New Leaf Literary.

WEBSITE | TWITTER | GOODREADS | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM

GIVEAWAY

10 Winners will receive a Copy of ROAR and Swag Bundle 

(Everything Pictured, Poster and Coloring Sheet)

Giveaway is International | Must be 13+ to enter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Roar (Cora Carmack) Pre-Order Promotion Giveaway!

Are you a fan of fantasy romance? Does a story about storm magic and those who wield it excite you? Do Cora Carmack romances make you swoon? Then you do not want to miss Cora's foray into fantasy, Roar, coming June 13th from Tor Teen!

And as if you needed any more motivation to order your copy as soon as possible, Tor Teen has announced a pre-order swag bag incentive! Want to receive one? Here's how:

1. Pre-order your copy of Roar by Cora Carmack, on sale June 13, 2017 (links below)

2. Submit your receipt HERE

3. Receive your special swag bag!

Can't get much simpler than that! But the awesome doesn't end there - to celebrate this announcement, Tor Teen is offering one of my lucky readers a double-sided poster of the cover and map coloring sheet! I just know this cover is going to be hailed as one of the top of 2017 (it already is by me), so you definitely want a poster of this pretty for your wall - and a map of the fantastical world to color! So get your swag on by pre-ordering your copy of Roar and then enter to win the poster below!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Roar (Stormheart #1)

Author: Cora Carmack

Pub. Date: June 13, 2017

Publisher: Tor Teen

Summary:

In a land ruled and shaped by violent magical storms, power lies with those who control them.

Aurora Pavan comes from one of the oldest Stormling families in existence. Long ago, the ungifted pledged fealty and service to her family in exchange for safe haven, and a kingdom was carved out from the wildlands and sustained by magic capable of repelling the world’s deadliest foes. As the sole heir of Pavan, Aurora’s been groomed to be the perfect queen. She’s intelligent and brave and honorable. But she’s yet to show any trace of the magic she’ll need to protect her people.

To keep her secret and save her crown, Aurora’s mother arranges for her to marry a dark and brooding Stormling prince from another kingdom. At first, the prince seems like the perfect solution to all her problems. He’ll guarantee her spot as the next queen and be the champion her people need to remain safe. But the more secrets Aurora uncovers about him, the more a future with him frightens her. When she dons a disguise and sneaks out of the palace one night to spy on him, she stumbles upon a black market dealing in the very thing she lacks—storm magic. And the people selling it? They’re not Stormlings. They’re storm hunters.

Legend says that her ancestors first gained their magic by facing a storm and stealing part of its essence. And when a handsome young storm hunter reveals he was born without magic, but possesses it now, Aurora realizes there’s a third option for her future besides ruin or marriage. 

She might not have magic now, but she can steal it if she’s brave enough. 

Challenge a tempest. Survive it. And you become its master.

ADD TO GOODREADS

PRE-ORDER LINKS:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble 
Book Depository | Indiebound

THE AUTHOR

Cora Carmack is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of New Adult Romance and YA fantasy.  Her books have been translated into more than a dozen languages around the world. Cora splits her time between Austin, TX and New York City, and on any given day you might find her typing away at her computer, flying to various cities around the world, or just watching Netflix with her kitty Katniss.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Tumblr

GIVEAWAY

One winner will receive this double-sided poster/map coloring sheet! US only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway