02nd
Dec
Dec
Today I’m excited to participate in the cover reveal for ‘Song
of Blood and Stone’ by L. Penelope. This is an Adult Fantasy Romance. ‘Song of
Blood and Stone’ officially releases January 12, 2015 and I think it sounds
like an really exciting book.
of Blood and Stone’ by L. Penelope. This is an Adult Fantasy Romance. ‘Song of
Blood and Stone’ officially releases January 12, 2015 and I think it sounds
like an really exciting book.
The cover of ‘Song of Blood and Stone’ was designed by
James T. Egan at Bookfly Design.
James T. Egan at Bookfly Design.
The Book:
Between love and duty lies destiny.
Orphaned and alone, Jasminda is an outcast in her
homeland of Elsira, where she is feared for both the shade of her skin and her
magical abilities. When ruthless soldiers seek refuge in her isolated cabin,
they bring with them a captive – an injured spy who steals her heart.
homeland of Elsira, where she is feared for both the shade of her skin and her
magical abilities. When ruthless soldiers seek refuge in her isolated cabin,
they bring with them a captive – an injured spy who steals her heart.
Jack’s mission behind enemy lines nearly cost him his
life but he is saved by the healing power of a mysterious young woman. Together
they embark on a perilous journey straight into the heart of a centuries-old
conflict.
life but he is saved by the healing power of a mysterious young woman. Together
they embark on a perilous journey straight into the heart of a centuries-old
conflict.
Thrust into a hostile society, Jasminda and Jack must
rely on one another even as secrets jeopardize their bond. As an ancient evil
gains power, Jasminda races to unlock a mystery that promises salvation.
rely on one another even as secrets jeopardize their bond. As an ancient evil
gains power, Jasminda races to unlock a mystery that promises salvation.
The fates of two nations hang in the balance as
Jasminda and Jack must choose between love and duty to fulfill their destinies
and end the war.
Jasminda and Jack must choose between love and duty to fulfill their destinies
and end the war.
And now without further ado the cover of ‘Song of Blood and Stone’…….
Guest Post: Reality Bites
When people think of fantasy, many immediately bring to
mind to a medieval setting – castles and dragons, wizards and elves. While that
time period and those archetypes are certainly very common, thanks in large
part to the influence of Tolkien, there are so many other options for creating a
fantasy world.
mind to a medieval setting – castles and dragons, wizards and elves. While that
time period and those archetypes are certainly very common, thanks in large
part to the influence of Tolkien, there are so many other options for creating a
fantasy world.
Worldbuilding is my favorite part of fantasy, both as a
reader and a writer. I love to see how an author has conceived of the
political, economic, social and religious systems in their world and how those
structures link with the characters and plot. As a reader, I’m hungry for new
and different backdrops, societies and mythologies. With an entire planet full
of cultures to draw from and thousands of years of human history in which to
place stories, sometimes it’s hard to understand why diverse settings are not
more frequently created.
reader and a writer. I love to see how an author has conceived of the
political, economic, social and religious systems in their world and how those
structures link with the characters and plot. As a reader, I’m hungry for new
and different backdrops, societies and mythologies. With an entire planet full
of cultures to draw from and thousands of years of human history in which to
place stories, sometimes it’s hard to understand why diverse settings are not
more frequently created.
‘Song of Blood and Stone’ takes place in what I like to
call an alternate 1920’s-esque world. The technology of that time period is
present: cars, phones, and electricity; but there is also magic, called
Earthsong, which is possessed by one group. This world has undergone centuries
of war, and there is a deep divide filled with mistrust and fear between those
who wield magic and those who don’t.
call an alternate 1920’s-esque world. The technology of that time period is
present: cars, phones, and electricity; but there is also magic, called
Earthsong, which is possessed by one group. This world has undergone centuries
of war, and there is a deep divide filled with mistrust and fear between those
who wield magic and those who don’t.
The story could really take place in any era, the
technology is not the focus, but the early twentieth-century type time period just
felt right for these events and characters. It wasn’t really a conscious
decision, but it’s one of the few aspects of the story that’s been the same since
the very first draft.
technology is not the focus, but the early twentieth-century type time period just
felt right for these events and characters. It wasn’t really a conscious
decision, but it’s one of the few aspects of the story that’s been the same since
the very first draft.
I love escaping to another place and time and
experiencing the very real magic of losing yourself in an alternate world.
What’s your favorite part about fantasy worlds? What time periods or places
would you like to see more of?
experiencing the very real magic of losing yourself in an alternate world.
What’s your favorite part about fantasy worlds? What time periods or places
would you like to see more of?
Excerpt:
“Untie him,” Jasminda said, staring at Jack’s lashed
wrists. “I need to check his wounds.”
wrists. “I need to check his wounds.”
Ginko pulled a knife from his boot to cut the rope. The
sharp edges of the pain had been bound by whatever spell she’d sung a few
moments before, but the weakness in his limbs couldn’t be ignored. The lack of
food and water, the days of walking and hiding, had all left him teetering on
the edge of his endurance. She too had deep circles under eyes, and he wondered
what she’d been doing up on the mountain.
sharp edges of the pain had been bound by whatever spell she’d sung a few
moments before, but the weakness in his limbs couldn’t be ignored. The lack of
food and water, the days of walking and hiding, had all left him teetering on
the edge of his endurance. She too had deep circles under eyes, and he wondered
what she’d been doing up on the mountain.
As she settled next to him, his awareness of her pulsed
like an extra sense. She smelled of cool mountain air, pine, and something
light and feminine that he couldn’t place. He closed his eyes and inhaled her
nearness, allowing it to soothe and calm him. He imagined himself far away, in
the barracks he’d called home since childhood or maybe even farther away,
floating on his back in the Delaveen Ocean, the sun warming his face.
like an extra sense. She smelled of cool mountain air, pine, and something
light and feminine that he couldn’t place. He closed his eyes and inhaled her
nearness, allowing it to soothe and calm him. He imagined himself far away, in
the barracks he’d called home since childhood or maybe even farther away,
floating on his back in the Delaveen Ocean, the sun warming his face.
The vision faded when her fingertips grazed his forehead.
“Does that hurt?” she whispered, her voice gentle. He
opened his eyes to find her closer than he’d expected. Unable to find his
voice, he shook his head.
opened his eyes to find her closer than he’d expected. Unable to find his
voice, he shook his head.
“Take that off,” she said, pointing to his shirt. He had
the absurd desire to chuckle. How many times had he longed to hear a woman
ordering him to take off his shirt? What he’d felt of her touch so far had been
very soft . . . She must be soft all over. He’d never imagined a Lagrimari girl
could be so lovely. The coils of her hair called to his fingertips and—
the absurd desire to chuckle. How many times had he longed to hear a woman
ordering him to take off his shirt? What he’d felt of her touch so far had been
very soft . . . She must be soft all over. He’d never imagined a Lagrimari girl
could be so lovely. The coils of her hair called to his fingertips and—
Tensyn’s oily voice broke through Jack’s musings. “Has
your tribute day been scheduled?” He and Ginko stood in the doorway behind him,
and Jack hated having anyone at his back. That kind of sloppiness had literally
been beaten out of him. He blamed the pain and the fatigue.
your tribute day been scheduled?” He and Ginko stood in the doorway behind him,
and Jack hated having anyone at his back. That kind of sloppiness had literally
been beaten out of him. He blamed the pain and the fatigue.
His bruised fingers faltered on the tiny buttons as he
shrugged awkwardly out of his shirt. Once again, she assessed his injuries
impassively, though he suspected things were quite a bit worse than yesterday
when she’d seen him.
shrugged awkwardly out of his shirt. Once again, she assessed his injuries
impassively, though he suspected things were quite a bit worse than yesterday
when she’d seen him.
“No,” she said, answering Tensyn.
“And your family?”
“Dead.” The unexpressive mask of her face slipped for an
instant, and he glimpsed a cavernous well of grief in her eyes.
instant, and he glimpsed a cavernous well of grief in her eyes.
“May they find serenity in the World After,” Tensyn
intoned.
intoned.
Jasminda repeated the blessing. Jack’s eyes met hers briefly
before she looked away. “Lie back,” she told him.
before she looked away. “Lie back,” she told him.
She dipped a cloth in the water and ran it across his
chest, cleaning away the blood and grime. He suppressed a groan at the
incredible coolness of the water on his skin, relishing in it until she stopped
suddenly. He craned his neck down to see what had caught her attention. The
bullet wound was far worse today, the skin black with infection, blood and pus
seeping out.
chest, cleaning away the blood and grime. He suppressed a groan at the
incredible coolness of the water on his skin, relishing in it until she stopped
suddenly. He craned his neck down to see what had caught her attention. The
bullet wound was far worse today, the skin black with infection, blood and pus
seeping out.
The screen door slammed. He looked up to find the two of
them on the porch alone.
them on the porch alone.
“What is your name?” She pitched her voice low, speaking
directly into his ear in perfect Elsiran as she continued cleaning his chest.
directly into his ear in perfect Elsiran as she continued cleaning his chest.
He took hold of her wrist, stilling her hand. Even the
former POWs spoke only a broken version of Elsiran. How had she been able to
learn it when no one in Lagrimar spoke the language? She shook free of his grip
and continued cleaning his chest and face. Inside, the soldiers chortled,
ensuring they would not be overheard.
former POWs spoke only a broken version of Elsiran. How had she been able to
learn it when no one in Lagrimar spoke the language? She shook free of his grip
and continued cleaning his chest and face. Inside, the soldiers chortled,
ensuring they would not be overheard.
“Jack,” he whispered, scanning her face desperately. “Are
you a Keeper of the Promise?”
you a Keeper of the Promise?”
She frowned, darting a look at the door. “No. I don’t
know what that is.”
know what that is.”
“How can you—”
“This is not Lagrimar.” The door opened again, and Ginko
emerged, taking a stance with his arms folded while he chewed on a stick of
jerky.
emerged, taking a stance with his arms folded while he chewed on a stick of
jerky.
Jasminda switched back to Lagrimari, speaking quietly. “I
need to cut away the dead flesh from the wound. Otherwise the infection will
kill you.”
need to cut away the dead flesh from the wound. Otherwise the infection will
kill you.”
He nodded faintly, still trying to process her last
words. If they weren’t in Lagrimar, that meant they had all passed through the
Mantle without knowing it. He’d been on home soil the whole time. That must be
why she’d acted as if he were deranged.
words. If they weren’t in Lagrimar, that meant they had all passed through the
Mantle without knowing it. He’d been on home soil the whole time. That must be
why she’d acted as if he were deranged.
Escape was so close. The despair threatening to pull him
under faded away like mist in the sun.
under faded away like mist in the sun.
About the Author:
Leslye Penelope has been writing since she could hold apen and loves getting lost in the worlds in her head. She’s a romance junkie
who self-medicates with happily-ever-afters and steaming mugs of green tea. She
lives in Maryland with her husband, an eighty-pound lap dog, and an attack cat.
Visit her online at http://www.lpenelope.com.
For more information about ‘Song of Blood and Stone’ and L. Penelope please visit Goodreads, Facebook and Twitter. Or sign up for L. Penelope’s newsletter.
Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveawayThis event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.
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Maureen is a mom, wife, nurse, and Ravenclaw living in the Netherlands. She spends her days juggling mom-life, reading, blogging, planning date nights with her husband and working as a nurse. Maureen also is a big Anglophile, loves cooking, Gilmore Girls, Bridgerton and Harry Potter.. Always! Facebook | Instagram
Thank you for posting the cover reveal!
You're very welcome! It looks beautiful 😉
Thank you so much for posting!
You're welcome! Thanks for the opportunity!