http://www.rockstarbooktours.com/

Hello, Readers! Today I am participating in the tour for a YA fantasy by David A Willson – Looking for Dei! Enjoy and don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

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Title: LOOKING FOR DEI
Author: David A. Willson
Pub. Date: March 22, 2018
Publisher: Seeker Press
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, audiobook
Pages: 346

Fifteen-year-old Nara Dall has never liked secrets. Yet it seems that her life has been filled with them, from the ugly scar on her back to the strange powers she possesses. Her mysterious father refuses to say anything about her origins, and soon, she and her best friend must attend the announcement ceremony, in which youths are tested for a magical gift.

A gifted youth has not been announced in the poor village of Dimmitt for decades. When Nara uncovers the reason, she uses her own powers to make things right. The decision sets her on a path of danger, discovery, and a search for the divine. In the process, she learns the truth about herself and uncovers the biggest secret of all: the power of broken people.

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Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37751570-looking-for-dei

BookBub - https://www.bookbub.com/books/looking-for-dei-by-david-a-willson

Riffle - https://www.rifflebooks.com/books/1010203

GBooks - https://books.google.com/books?id=khFKuwEACAAJ&dq=david+a+willson+looking+for+dei&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj03p-imszgAhUQKawKHb-XC3gQ6AEILDAA

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AVAILABLE in hardcover, paperback, ebook & audiobook

Read For Free With Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon – https://amzn.to/2H6iFsX

Audible - https://amzn.to/2H99qIj

B&N - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/looking-for-dei-david-a-willson/1128010607?ean=9780999615010

TBD - https://www.bookdepository.com/Looking-for-Dei-David-Willson/9780999615010

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CHAPTER 5 EXCERPT

Veniti Monastery
West of Fairmont
642 P.B.

Bylo had been sleeping in his cot when Phelan woke him with excited chattering.

"They have it wrong," Phelan said. "They misunderstand!" His unkempt white hair, deeply wrinkled skin, and body odor gave witness to both his age and recent lack of hygiene.

"I was trying to sleep," Bylo said as he struggled to rise. "What are you talking about?" he asked, eager for the reason he had been so rudely awakened.

"The runes have meaning, Bylo. Phyili. The twins." Phelan spoke quickly, his eyes sparkling with enthusiasm. "There is no longer any doubt."

Bylo scratched his own head, further mussing his tousled, greying hair. The sounds of boots in the hallway outside the room announced another patrol of soldiers. The queen's men had swarmed the monastery in recent days, with no explanation given by the abbot.

"Say something!" Phelan pleaded.

Bylo took a moment to focus on the frantic words, rubbing his eyes. "Hold on a minute," he said, climbing out of his cot. "The twins have power?"

"The twins aren't the twin peaks; they are actual human twins! Phyili is used in several places, and in the scriptures of First Light, it refers to the gods Dei and Kai as brothers."

Bylo nodded, following along.

"As you know, the runes in the margin modify the meaning of the nouns in the scripture text. In most of the scriptures, when we see the word phyili, we see the god rune in the margin, making it clear that the writer refers to the twin gods. But in Cataclysmos, where we read of the separation, we see another rune in the margin. It is not the god rune but instead the human one!"

"Phelan, the human rune in Cataclysmos is off. Higher in the margin. One would more likely associate it with a phrase above," Bylo said.
"That's what we always thought," Phelan said. "But if so, why no god rune near this passage, or even on this page, like all the others? If referring to a mountain, as many scholars guess, why no earth rune? Phyili is always accompanied by a god rune, but it is not here!"

"How do you account for it?"

"An error," said Phelan. "You should know. As a scribe, you've been trained to illustrate, like an artist. Embellishment, not replication."

"We couldn't anyway, Phelan. We aren't allowed access to the original manuscripts, so we couldn't be accurate if we wanted to."

"Exactly." A powerful pause built, and an impish grin crept across Phelan's face. "So, I stole one.”

"You're crazy!" Bylo said. "From the abbot?" Concern for both his comrade's safety and sanity washed over him. "They'll whip you—if you're lucky!"

"Probably," Phelan said, but the grin remained on his face. "After the abbot left on his latest trip, I made an excuse to return a codex to his quarters. Brother Alen fell for the ruse and allowed me access. I searched the abbot's room. There, I found the oldest manuscript I have ever seen, tucked away in a sealed compartment under his bed. I had no key, so I used a log poker to force the compartment open."

Bylo was horrified. Lying to get into the abbot's room and then destroying his furniture? Not to mention the theft!

"I waited until after you fell asleep before I took my first glance." Phelan continued, leaning in and resting a hand on Bylo's shoulder in a gesture of affection. "If I couldn't confirm my suspicions, I wanted no witnesses to my crime. Not even you."

Bylo was having difficulty with the implications of his friend's offense. "Where is it now?"

The remnants of a prideful smile still on his face, Phelan reached behind to grab something that rested at the foot of the cot. A musty odor tickled Bylo's nose, and his heart skipped a beat at the sight of the treasure. Scratches in the leather and yellowed pages gave witness to both its authenticity and fragility.

Phelan spoke in a slow-moving, reverent tone. "This manuscript contains the book of Cataclysmos in the original Breshi script, but the second half of the book is translated to Landian. Every reference to phyili has the god rune in the margin, centered to the right."

"Except one?"

Their eyes locked for a moment, and Phelan turned to one of the final pages. "Yes, except one. The last one, right here, in chapter eighteen of the Landian section. The human rune rests in the margin, not the god rune. Perfectly centered. There can be no mistake."

The implications were earth-shattering.

"Our understanding of Cataclysmos is wrong," Phelan said. "Phyili doesn't mean the twin peaks—we should be looking for an actual human being!”

"A person will become two, Bylo. Somewhere, a woman will give birth to a special child. This child will somehow become separated, like Dei and Kai. Twins, perhaps."

"So how would a child be separated into two?" Bylo asked. "It would die. That doesn't make any sense."
"I don't understand it either, but if we don't find this person, or these twins, someone else will. No good will come from allowing them to fall into wicked hands. Remember the scripture. 'Conflict, pain, and death to many.' Bylo, this child may bring the end of all things. Or perhaps a new beginning."

"You are brilliant, my friend, but there are other scholars in this world. Perhaps employed by the queen and the archbishop. They may have come to the same conclusion. Maybe that is why the soldiers are here, seeking this manuscript and those like it."

"I know," Phelan said.

A hard knock on the closed door sent a shiver down Bylo's spine.

Phelan re-wrapped the text, setting it under the cot. Bylo reached the door, opening it to reveal a man standing outside. Captain insignias were visible on his epaulets as he imposed himself into the room.

"I'm here for Phelan."

A heartbeat later, Phelan stepped forward.

"Come with me," the soldier said, his fingers playing upon the pommel of his sword.

"I'll see you later," Phelan said, then turned to put a hand on Bylo's shoulder.

Barely a whisper in his ear, Bylo heard the last word Phelan would ever say to him.

"Run."

Then Phelan exited the room with the soldier.

Bylo stood still, contemplating the peril he now faced. His heart pounded against his rib cage, fear battling a rising sense of urgency. After a moment, the urgency won and he resolved to act. He snatched the book and dashed out of the room. If he could make it to the back of the building unseen, he might escape.

A well-timed scurry through several corridors brought him near the exit. As he walked down the final hallway, he heard the first of several bells ring from far within the structure, driving him to burst out of the monastery into the darkness beyond.

In the fields south of the building, he turned to deliver a final gaze at the place he had called home for nearly ten years. The place he thought he would always call home. An ache grew within his breast as he wondered what would become of his friend. Then he turned and ran. He had a special child to find but did not know where to look.

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One lucky winner will receive a one hoodie and one mug from the Looking for Dei Facebook shop., US Only.

https://www.facebook.com/pg/lookingfordei/shop/

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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David A. Willson has worked as a restauranteur, peace officer, and now, author. Taught by his mother to read at a young age, he spent his childhood exploring magic, spaceships, and other dimensions. In his writing, he strives to bring those worlds to his readers.

Much of his material is inspired by the "Great Land" of Alaska, which he has called home for over 30 years. He lives there with his wife, five children, and 2 dogs. He is passionate about technology, faith, and fiction--not necessarily in that order.

Looking for Dei is Willson's debut novel, set in a land where many more adventures will take place. Stay up to date with his ongoing efforts through the Looking for Dei Facebook page or visiting the website at davidawillson.com.

Website - http://www.davidawillson.com/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/dav_willson

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/lookingfordei/

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16057925.David_A_Willson

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Week One:

1/28/2019- Mythical Books- Excerpt http://mythicalbooks.blogspot.com/

1/29/2019- BookHounds YA- Interview http://www.bookhoundsya.net/

1/30/2019- The Reading Corner for All- Review http://www.thereadingcornerforall.com/

1/31/2019- Two Chicks on Books- Interview http://www.twochicksonbooks.com/

2/1/2019- Smada's Book Smack- Spotlight http://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com/

Week Two:

2/4/2019- Daily Waffle- Spotlight http://dailywaffle.co.uk/

2/5/2019- Miss Elizabeth- Review https://itsmisselizabeth.wordpress.com/

2/6/2019- Kelly P's Blog- Excerpt http://kellyatx.blogspot.com/

2/7/2019- Character Madness and Musings- Interview https://jenabaxterbooks.blogspot.com/

2/8/2019- Writer of Wrongs- Review http://madamewriterofwrongs.blogspot.com/

Week Three:

2/11/2019- Lisa Loves Literature- Spotlight http://misclisa.blogspot.com/

2/12/2019-Adventures Thru Wonderland- Review https://adventuresthruwonderlandreviews.wordpress.com/

2/13/2019- A Bookish Dream- Review https://abookishdreamblog.wordpress.com/

2/14/2019- Viviana MacKade- Interview https://viviana-mackade.blog/

2/15/2019- A Dream Within A Dream- Excerpt http://adreamwithindream.blogspot.com/

Week Four:

2/18/2019- Finding Magic In Books- Review http://findingmagicinbooks.tumblr.com/

2/19/2019- Hauntedbybooks- Review https://hauntedbybooksblog.wordpress.com/

2/20/2019- Christine's Book Corner- Spotlight https://christinesbookcorner.wordpress.com/

2/21/2019- Stormy Vixen's Book Reviews- Excerpt http://stormyvixen.booklikes.com/

2/22/2019- Oh Hey! Books.- Interview http://www.ohheybooks.com/

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http://www.rockstarbooktours.com/

http://xpressobooktours.com/

Today, I am sharing the third book in The Vaelinel Trilogy – A Prophecy Fulfilled by Andi O’Connor! Enjoy and don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

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ABOUT THE BOOK

A Prophecy Fulfilled 
by Andi O’Connor 
(The Vaelinel Trilogy #3) 
Publication date: December 9th 2018
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

Synopsis:

Regrouping after their escape from the Light Elves, Irewen and her companions fear the worst after black smoke plumes on the horizon. Allowing compassion to rule over reason, they ignore Finnwyn’s warning and return to Lilendvelle, hoping to help some of the survivors stranded in the city’s wake. Instead, they run into a trap.

Completely surrounded by an endless army of Drulaack, they fight for their lives, but their efforts aren’t enough. Irewen is captured and dragged into the heart of the Corrupter’s lair.

Having his prize, the others in the company are granted their freedom, but at a great cost: the one named in the prophecy who is meant to unite the elf forces and stand against the Corrupter is lost to the world – trapped beneath the Corrupter’s talons.

With the aid of his mother’s spirit, Brendell must now find a way to gather an alliance strong enough to march against the Corrupter and his army, but his time is running out. Each day that passes brings Irewen closer to death.

And the world closer to destruction.

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Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30635665-a-prophecy-fulfilled

Riffle - https://www.rifflebooks.com/books/1035004

GBooks - https://books.google.com/books?id=6w7kuwEACAAJ&dq=andi+o%27connor+a+prophecy+fulfilled&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj8so3N2oXgAhUI5awKHbhiDOIQ6AEIKjAA

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A Prophecy Fulfilled is the 3rd book in The Vaelinel Trilogy

https://www.goodreads.com/series/182633-the-vaelinel-trilogy

1 Silevethiel
2 The Speaker
3 A Prophecy Fulfilled

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AVAILABLE in print or ebook

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2SkQcQN

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A Prophecy Fulfilled Excerpt 2

Andi O’Connor

Dark plumes of smoke billowed up from the horizon. Irewen tensed. The Somdyrr carrying her placed her gently on the ground. She hovered there for an instant before falling heavily to her knees. The cold from the freshly fallen snow radiated through her worn leather trousers to her skin beneath, quickly turning her legs numb, but she didn’t move. Her mind remained fixated on conjuring images of the terrors the elves in Lilendvelle must have experienced.

Despair filled her heart.

“We’re too late.” Her whisper dissipated into the still air, dying before it reached her companions’ ears. Irewen slumped her shoulders further forward in defeat. It didn’t matter if anyone had heard her. Their own thoughts would be echoing the same sentiment.

Coming to a stop beside her, Laegon put a hand on her shoulder. “Perhaps there are some survivors.”

“Yes,” she replied half-heartedly, knowing by Laegon’s deflated tone that he didn’t believe a single word he’d said.

Silence fell among the company, everyone doing their best to comprehend the Corrupter’s wrath.

After fleeing the Light Elves, Irewen and the others had allowed themselves two days in the northern mountains of Grelden to regroup and strategize before setting out once again for Lilendvelle. They’d left in hopes of warning Lord Greldir of the Corrupter and doing what they could to save the Light Elves from the creature’s destruction.

But they’d failed.

Staring at the black smoke continuing to spread like a noxious poison across the sky, Irewen couldn’t keep the twinge of guilt at bay. If only they’d returned to Lilendvelle the moment Glynnduil had revealed to them the details of the prophecy, perhaps they would have been in time to prevent the Corrupter’s attack.

“We might be able to find a few people who were able to escape the devastation,” she said, “but what good will that do? Aside from healing their injuries, what aid can we give them? We don’t have enough supplies for ourselves.”

“Wouldn’t healing them alone be worth our time?”

Irewen looked up at Laegon, ashamed she’d become so callous. She took his hand in hers and squeezed it gently. “Aye,” she replied, her heart melting at the relief evident in his large, brown eyes. “It would.”

He smiled down at her, the grime and dried blood covering his face seemed out of place against his delicate elven features. His struggles continued to wear on him, but he somehow kept fighting. He continued to put everyone else’s problems before his own, even those of people he’d never met.

Truthfully, Irewen couldn’t decide if it was a good characteristic to have. Nevertheless, she greatly admired him for his resolve; something she had yet to discover for herself.

“I don’t think we should waste time actively searching for survivors,” Brendell offered. “I know it sounds rather cruel, but we need to remain focused on our task of dealing with the Corrupter. Thousands more lives can be taken by his hand while we search the wilderness for days in hopes of finding a handful of survivors.”

“I agree,” Laegon said. “We’ll help anyone we encounter along the road to Lilendvelle, and we’ll leave it at that. Veering off that course will cause more harm than good.”

“No.”

Everyone turned to Finnwyn in exasperation. Her violet eyes stared into the distance. Her tall, lean body remained completely rigid. “It’s a trap.”

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Tour-wide giveaway (US/CAN)

· Signed copies of the entire trilogy (Silevethiel, The Speaker, and A Prophecy Fulfilled)
·
Giveaway ends Jan 31st:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Andi O'Connor is the award-winning author of The Dragonath Chronicles, The Vaelinel Trilogy, and The Legacy of Ilvania. The Speaker is the 2018 Independent Press Award Winner for Fantasy and a Finalist in the 11th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards. Andi's novel, Awakening, is a 2018 Independent Press Award Distinguished Favorite for Fantasy. Her critically acclaimed novel, Silevethiel, is the 2015 Best Indie Book Award winner for Science Fiction/Fantasy and the 2015 New Apple Official Selection for Young Adult. Silevethiel was also named to Kirkus Reviews' Best Books of 2013. 

You can frequently find Andi as an exhibitor and guest panelist at Comic Cons throughout the country including the Rhode Island Comic Con, Awesome Con, Philcon, Conclave, and Chessiecon. For more information, visit Andi's website at www.andioconnor.net

Twitter - https://twitter.com/OConnorAndi

Website - https://andioconnor.net/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/oconnor.andi

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6996400.Andi_O_Connor

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http://xpressobooktours.com/

(Note: I received this book for free as a prize in the MMR yearly event.)

Sigh.  I had to add a new tag for this one - "sucks at his job".  It is a particular dislike of mine when main characters are incompetent, and especially when they are incompetent at their own jobs.  If I can't respect them, I can't like them, and if I can't like them, much of the enjoyment of the book is lost for me.

There was some fun world building in this one - I like the Therians and the tensions between them and the human populace that simmer beneath the surface.  The way the THIRDS teams divide up their roles is cool.  The bad guy is creepy and has lots of nasty surprises waiting for our heroes.  He would have been easily spotted, if not for the lamentable investigative techniques of the THIRDS, but he does have an escape planned.

But then there are our heroes.

Dex Daley is a detective when the story starts and extremely good at his job with the human police. He took the entrance exams for the THIRDS and passed with flying colors.  According to the story he is an excellent fighter and very good at reading people and figuring out where a group dynamic has gone wrong.  Too bad then, that

Sloane Brodie is a powerful Therian, leader of his team, best fighter in the THIRDS, and an excellent leader. Alas,

I couldn't really get onboard with the budding romance either.  It is unprofessional, and Sloane is clearly not ready for a relationship.  

I also felt that the set up for the rest of the series was a little too in my face.  One character in denial about his attraction to another (both on Sloane's THIRDS team) because he isn't gay!  Ew!  A third and fourth character (THIRDS partners) having some kind of issue in between them that causes them to act like idiots. A mysterious background for Sloane that is constantly hinted at.

I wanted this book to be better than it was.  I hope the rest of the series is better than this one was.

And here it is. The last book of the Arcadia Bell series....

"Banishing the Dark" picks up a few weeks after the "you know what happened" in the last pages of Binding The Shadows (book #3).

Feelings are running high, Cady's sociopath of a mother continues lurking on the horizon waiting for a chance to attack _long story ~go read the first book!~ _ and Cady is running out of ideas.

So what does she do?

Well, I could tell you, but then I would ruin the book for you!

So, no telling ;)

Let me just say that reading this was heartbreaking, awe inducing, funny _Jupe is in it, so, what did you expect? _ and completely addictive!

I like the fact that Cady isn't our average urban fantasy heroine.

She really tried to lead a normal life _ well as normal as one can have, being the owner of a bar that caters to earthbounds_ only when people didn't let her _ there was the sacrifice attempts and things of the sort _ did she have to come to terms with the other "aspect" of her life.

So I guess it was to expect, that this series wouldn't have a.. let's say "energizer bunny" duration.

You know the type that.. lasts and lasts, _okay..do you think that's in character with the characters?_ lasts _when will this series end?_, lasts _Okay I'm done with this *****!! *throws book in rage and promises never to touch the series again*

No one can accuse the Arcadia Bell series of that!

What you can say is, that it ended with a very positive bang, surfing the "biggest waves" of the urban fantasy world!

There's so many "quotable" quotes that I could place here to leave you all salivating, but I CAN'T, because this is an arc!

The characters are as great as ever.

I just love  the quirky demon family Cady got for herself. I love their interactions, and the way they are always there for one another!

I love Lon, even with his pirate moustache...and despite his old age!lol  ;)

Then there's Jupe who is the most cutest, infuriating, "hugable" teen ever created! I love him, even when he is being his usual big mouthed self!

Oh, and I can totally see him having his own series! ;) *wink*

Well, him and another member of the Butler family! That ending, lol

Definitely recommended for first reads, and re-reads, which is something I would love to do if I didn't have a pile of arcs to read!

So what are you waiting for in order to start this series?

                  Arc provided by Harlequin Teen through Netgalley

                              Release Date: May, 27 th

An interesting beginning for a new series.

A well written story, with well developed characters, prone to make younger readers swoon.

This turned out to be a little different from what I was expecting, considering the book's summary. And its cover.

Truth is, this reads mostly as a YA romance novel.

Yes, it has paranormal elements that define the plot and the characters, but about eighty percent of this story is about Paige and Logan's relationship.

I had a phase in which I would read almost anything... as long as it had romance in it, lol.

I guess most amongst us has had that phase. Or is still living it! Nothing wrong with that.

If so, this is the right book for you!

However, it is also the right book for everyone who would like to read a well developed YA romance story, and for people who don't mind if the same doesn't deliver all it seemed to promise.

Basically, I can't help feeling that most jaded fantasy readers will feel that the paranormal aspect is a little too vague and not juicy enough for their tastes.

Yes, that's what I felt... as a jaded fantasy reader ;)

However the romance, and Paige's relationship with her parents, is so intelligently done that deserves stars on its own merit.

Truth is, in our days, _rule has it? _ most YA characters are portrayed as these obnoxious, stereotyped people, preferably with parents who are MIA.

Thankfully not in this story.

I keep saying this a lot. But, for me, it doesn't matter if I'm reading fantasy, things have to feel real enough!

Yes, Paige's best friend is a ghost, but her parents are around in her life, and they worry about her.

Paige starts to fall in love with a boy... her father wants to kill him, lol.

It tries to be a balanced story between a contemporary YA and paranormal adventures.

Does it succeed?

Partially. It could be better.

Yes. The world building foundations for this "Dark World" are here. But they feel somewhat incipient.

We get to see some of the Dark World players, and their hierarchy, so we are not completely in the dark on what is happening.

We are also given some history on the Dark World background that will help us follow the next volume.

Paige's friend, the ghost, could have been given a bigger role!

In the beginning when the story seems to be losing momentum, it was Dottie that made me keep reading it.

Bottom Line:

A story that I think would have benefited from a little more action and a somewhat faster pace. It has, however, the promise to be a beloved story to the right audience.

That means that despite my advanced age (lol), I'm curious to see what is going to happen in the next volume.

Cleverly done, Mrs Schultz. I was caught without even noticing it.

Author's Official Site

Pre-order "The Dark World"

@Bookdepository.com (Hardback edition as seen here)

or

@Bookdepository.com (paperback edition)