Spotlight & Excerpt: The Elven Spymaster’s Thief, by Elisa Rae

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The Elven Spymaster’s Thief

Elves of Eldarlan Book 1

by Elisa Rae

Genre: Fantasy Romance

 

In a world full of elves, woodwose, gargoyles, and brownies among others, humans can’t help crossing paths with all of the magical species. Well, everyone except Avril. She manages to avoid all elves. Then one day, her master orders her to steal a dagger from the very elf she wishes to evade most, the elven spymaster of Eldarlan. Bound by her indenture, she has no choice but to obey. She plans a swift sneak and grab mission, but things go awry.

Illeron knows more than any elf should. The gathering, analyzing, and disseminating of information consumes his life to the point his brother suggests he needs a distraction. So, when a human woman breaks into his study to steal his dagger, he seizes the opportunity and offers her a bargain she can’t refuse. And a fate he never imagined.

The Elven Spymaster’s Thief is a light, fantasy romance novella full of banter, flirting, and fun romantic moments. It features an opposites-attract romance between a human girl and a smoldering elf lord with a bit of a culture clash thrown in for fun.


excerpt

Avril
The moment my eyes fell on the dagger, I knew something was very wrong. The thing was ugly, roughly made, and hardly even functional. Why did my master send me into the den of the greatest mastermind in Eldarlan to steal a child’s toy? I squinted at it. It was not even an enchanted toy.
Still, I had my orders. My life and livelihood depended on fulfilling this mission. Grimore wouldn’t tolerate anything less than absolute success. Letting out the smallest of silent sighs, I approached the table. I ascertained that it hadn’t been boobytrapped either magically or otherwise using all of my observation skills.
Well, here I go, I thought. I reached across the table and lifted the small dagger from its display.
“Are you sure you want that one?”
I jumped. My heart threatened to leap from my chest. For one frantic moment, I feared I would die from fright. I whirled toward the voice. Anger replaced panic in an instant. “Are you trying to kill me?”
“No.” He was lean, but there was a substance to his frame, unlike most elves I had seen from afar. Muscle across the chest and shoulders gave his long lines a dangerous power that had nothing to do with magic. His piercing green eyes assessed me with a sharpness that made me want to flinch away. Unlike most of his kind, he had cropped his brown hair instead of letting it flow down his back. The tapered curls did nothing to hide the pointed tips of his ears. His clothing also had a simpler cut, but the fabric was no less fine. It hung in elegant lines, accentuating his feline-like movements as he stalked across the hardwood floor. “I was merely curious.”
“Whether or not you could shock my heart into stopping?” I backed up until my hips hit the edge of the table behind me. I still clutched the sheathed dagger to my chest. After all this, I had no intention of leaving without it.
“Human hearts are fragile, but I have never known one as young as yours to stop due to shock. Blade, curse, poison, draining, or ripping it from the chest, yes. Those can kill, but fright, no.” He held out his elegant hand. “Give me the blade.”
“No.” Unnerved by how unfailingly he stared into my eyes despite my bespelled cloak and the mask obscuring my features.
“I could take it by force.”
“You will lose more than you gain in the process.”
His impassive features moved. An eyebrow rose slightly as though intrigued. “I am stronger than I look.”
I snorted. “So am I.” I slid my favorite blade from its hiding place without letting go of the useless one I was trying to steal. There was no way this thug of Whispier’s was going to relieve me of my prize, elf or not.
In an instant, before I could react, a long thin stiletto flicked into his fingers, and the cool edge of the blade rested against my throat. “I am faster.”
“That may be,” I admitted.
A twitch near his eye broke through his stoic mask. “But?”
I leaned slightly back from his blade, giving me the ability to swallow. His eyes narrowed as he watched the movement of my throat. I used the distraction wisely.
“Speed isn’t everything.” I pressed the edge of my deadly iron-laced blade to his gut, perfectly positioned to drive it straight up into his stomach at the slightest provocation.
To my surprise, the corner of his mouth twitched, and he stepped closer. “I doubt you will have time to follow through on that threat. A quick flick of my wrist, and you will be dead in seconds.”
I stared into the mysterious depths of his enigmatic spring green eyes. He was close enough that I could see the blue flecks near his pupil and the ring of silver around the iris’ outer edge. I could also feel him. His deep, even breaths fluttered against the mask, bringing the scents of trees, fresh air, and the promise of something inexplicable. A tingle of wild magic different from the comfortable brownie charms on my cloak invaded my head. A sleep spell! It whispered sweetly of warmth and comfort, tempting me to relax.
I closed my eyes. Abruptly the sensation ceased. I jabbed my knife into his gut, not hard enough to break the skin, but enough to get him to back up ever so slightly.
“Your death will be more painful,” I growled as I opened my eyes to glare at him. The spell was still there, trying to invade my head again. However, now that I was aware of it, I could resist it.
“I will heal.” Something changed in his eyes.
“But you will suffer while you heal.” I frowned. What had changed in his eyes? Laughter? “You are laughing at me!” I shoved at his chest hard. He complied, but the way he did it—moving long enough after I pushed—made it clear he was doing it because he wished, not because I forced him to.
He tossed the blade in his hand. It disappeared into the air. The magic was so neat and tidy that the blade blinked out without a sound, flash of light, or puff of air. It was hard not to gape in wonder at the trick. And he knew it. His mouth quirked briefly. “You will stay.”
“I beg your pardon?” I glared at him. “I am going to take this and leave.”
“You will find that impossible.” He turned his back on me, clearly not caring in the least that I was still armed. Prowling over to the large desk before the great windows opposite the door I had entered, he started flipping through papers. “What is your name?”
“I don’t see how that has anything to do with the matter.” I knew about the tricks the elves and other fae played once they knew a person’s name. There was no way he was getting mine.
“Family name then, paranoid one.”
“Soleil,” I reluctantly offered.
“Ah, I thought so.” He straightened, a strange pen glowing in his hand. “You have a brother.”
“Yes.”
“He is in my service.”
“He contracted himself into Whispier’s service.” I emphasized the name. Why would I deal with an underling when it was Whispier I wished to hurt for taking Solon from me? “I don’t know who you are.”
This time his eyes lightened. “Do you want to free him?”
I pressed my lips together to suppress the urge to scream at him. I glared at him instead. “Why do you ask?”
“That is a yes then.” He plucked a document from the air. The glowing edges gleamed despite the dimness of the room. “What if I offer you a bargain? Your brother’s freedom for your companionship.”
“What?”
“Friendship, conversation, company—nothing untoward or physical beyond being in the same room frequently.”
“Only Whispier has that power,” I pointed out.
He tilted his head slightly to the side. “I am Whispier. The fact you haven’t figured that out yet doesn’t speak well of your intelligence.”
“In that case, I might kill you.”
His mouth did the funny little quirk again. “You might find me hard to kill.”
I eyed him from beneath raised eyebrows. “Is that a challenge?”
“You won’t be able to kill me. The bond will prevent you from attacking my person.”
“What about maiming? Poisoning? Papercuts?”
His eyes turned silvery. “Papercuts aren’t lethal.”
I just grinned at him.
“Besides, I heal quickly.”
“How about cuts from iron-edged paper?”
“That is a myth, you know.” He turned his attention to the glowing edged document. “Iron only gives us a stomachache.”
I snorted. “Maybe I will just make it so you wish to die.”
A soft sigh of air whispered through the room, and suddenly there was a third presence. The shadow elf from earlier materialized next to Whispier. What had Whispier called him—Casimir? He no longer appeared to be a solid black shadow. Like Whispier, he was tall, lean, and dangerous. Unlike the mastermind, his skin was a dusky brown. His pale green eyes, almost precisely the same shade as Whispier’s, flicked from side to side, assessing the two of us.
“Are you quite finished?” he asked the mastermind.
“Almost.” With a flick of his slender fingers, he flipped the document to face me. “Our agreement. Your friendship in exchange for your brother’s freedom from my service. Your every need will be provided for—food, clothing, housing—in exchange, you will attend me here in my study or other public rooms in the palace.”
“And do what?” I demanded. It sounded too good to be true.
He shrugged. “Talk, eat, ignore me, whatever you wish.”
“Annoy you?”
He waved the paper impatiently. “Should you wish. Do we have a deal?”
“And Solon is free?”
“The moment you sign this.” He offered the glowing pen.
“What about my current master? It isn’t as though I am a free woman.”
“What is your master’s name?”
“Grimore.”
His eyes flared silver and he tilted his head to the side. “Interesting. And the nature of your contract is?”
“Thievery in exchange for room, board, and protection.”
“Protection from what?” His impassive features tightened. “Do you have a price on your head?”
“Not that I know of. He keeps me safe from those who would prey on a lone woman.”
“I can provide that.”
I snorted softly. “And who will protect me from you?”
“The agreement will. I bound it into the clauses that I cannot touch you with the intent to hurt or take advantage. The spell will hold me to it.”
I had heard of spells reading the intents of a person’s actions so that made sense. Food, shelter, protection, and all I had to do in exchange was keep a man company. It sounded almost too good to be true. But then—
I took the paper and read the terms. Solon would be free. I signed the document in glimmering silver ink that appeared to absorb into the paper as I wrote. With the last stroke of my name, I felt the bond take hold with a tingling jolt of magic. The paper disappeared as abruptly as it appeared. Whispier muttered something in Elvish. The shadow elf rolled his eyes and disappeared in a soundless rush of displaced air.

 


A reader of fairytales and folklore, Elisa Rae loves a happy ending. Noblebright characters, dastardly villains, and chemistry between characters delight her. When she isn’t writing, she loves to watch superhero movies and literary dramas.

Elisa Rae is the pen name of Rachel Rossano.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads


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$20 Amazon

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Spotlight & Giveaway: The Dreadbound Ode, by Jordan Loyal Short

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The Skald’s Black Verse

The Dreadbound Ode Book 1

by Jordan Loyal Short

Genre: Epic Grimdark SciFi Fantasy

 

Brohr has been lied to, abused.

All he wants is to live in peace, away from the ignorance of his village, to outrun the raging ghost which haunts him.

But a hidden evil seeks to harness his fury.

Accused of murder, hunted by ruthless soldiers, Brohr delves the way of the Skald, unlocking forbidden blood magic as he unearths terrible family secrets.

When the red moon is broken, and all is lost, it’s up to Brohr to lead a rebellion, or face the end of the world!

An epic blend of norse fantasy and grimdark sci-fi!



Praise for the Dreadbound Ode…

“Rich in detail, bringing his tale to life with a foreboding atmosphere and characters that are intense. Good dialogue, rapid-fire action scenes, explosive magic and wicked political machinations.” -Tome Tender

“This is extremely well-written grimdark and if you like your fantasy and sci-fi gritty…this is a book you should pick up.” -Booknest

“The Weeping Sigil never stops. It has a relentless forward motion. It’s painful, and its glorious, and there are twists and turns that I never saw coming. It made my heart pound and yes, there was even a tear or two.” – Sarah Chorn, author of Seraphina’s Lament

“Perfect for grimdark fans.” -Grimdark Magazine

“[The Weeping Sigil] took everything that I had loved from The Skald’s Black Verse and lifted it to a whole other level, and I for one can’t wait to see what Jordan Loyal Short will do next. This is a fantastic book, great for anyone who enjoys a delectable mix of fantasy and science fiction, with a good dash of grimdark.” – Beneath a Thousand Skies

“I love the cultures, the magic system, the spaceships and the interplanetary communication. There’s lots of action and peril. It’s a great book! I’d very much recommend it.” – Lee Conley, author of the Dead Sagas

The Weeping Sigil

The Dreadbound Ode Book 2

 

Adrift in the void, Henrik’s rescue is only a prelude to slavery.

But his new life on Tyria is not at all what he expected. When the illustrious House of Quoll purchases him, Henrik finds himself living in the home of his old enemy, Prefect Brasca Quoll. Desperate to hide the truth of his last days on Heimir, Henrik dives into the murderous game of Tyrianite politics. Devastated by the catastrophe on the Norn homeworld, the Federation teeters on the brink of civil war.

While the Shining Ones maneuver their champions for the final confrontation, Henrik’s fevered visions unveil the scope of Moriigo’s nightmarish rebellion.

Aboard a stolen voidcraft, Brohr and Lyssa hurtle into the depths of the starry abyss, on a desperate exodus in search of safe haven. But the outer reaches of the system are full of strange worlds, haunted ruins, and bizarre cults.

As anarchy grips the streets of Tyria, Henrik vows to reveal the true peril facing the Federation: Moriigo’s return! While rival electors, assassins, and federal inquisitors plot the downfall of House Quoll, Henrik must bind himself to the future of his onetime enemies, lest the horrors of his prophetic visions come to pass!

Goodreads * Amazon * Audible


 

Travels in the Dark

The Dreadbound Ode Book 3

 

The final chapter of the Dreadbound Ode…

Lyssa is going to the Dead Place and everyone she killed will be waiting.

As the Hidden One’s twisted plan to resurrect the Deep Gods unfolds, the only way to stop him is a secret buried in the land of death.

But Lyssa has not given up. If the Deep Gods can return, so can she.

Can Lyssa find a way back? Can she delve into hell’s darkest corners and emerge with the lore to stop the Deep Gods’ rise? Or will she become a lost soul, like so many of those she loved in life?

Ancient horrors will wake. Skalds will sing. And a blind seer will see the shadows gather.

Lyssa Pedersten has tasted poison, and hell had best beware.

Goodreads * Amazon


Jordan Loyal Short is an author of epic fantasy. His first novel, The Skald’s Black Verse, is a dark and beautiful story about families, cultures, and beliefs at war with themselves. The protagonist, Brohr, must navigate the tangled loyalties and unforgiving biases of a planet conquered by invaders from another world. Using black magic, and the bizarre bond he shares with his stillborn brother’s spirit, Brohr unravels the truth about himself and an eon spanning war that has reached its end game.

Jordan has worked in a variety of industries, as a web developer, bartender, copywriter and more. He lives in Washington state with his wife where he is currently daydreaming about the end of the world.

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram * Bookbub * Amazon * Goodreads


Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$20 Amazon giftcard – 1 winner

Audiobooks of the first 2 books – 3 winners!

 

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Cover Reveal & Giveaway: Within the Darkness, by Kira Adams

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Title: Within the Darkness

Series: Darkness Falls, Book Four

Author: Kira Adams

Genre: Post-Apocalyptic

Release Date: March 1st

 

Life just can’t hand
them a break, can it? Just when things start looking up, it all comes crashing
down. Ike Glass has had his fair share of heartache throughout the past year,
but meeting Francesca Jackson renewed his faith in life and his will to live. Phoenix
Blue has been through the wringer losing her sister, having to rise up and lead
amongst all the chaos, and it doesn’t help that she’s having an identity crisis. Ace
Cullen is simply happy to have the woman he loves back, but nothing feels the
way it was before.

Friends brought
together by tragedy and chaos; the world is testing them. New threats will
emerge, new roadblocks to slow them down. When plans are changing and agendas
are exposed, how much more can this family withstand within the darkness?

Pre-order Within the Darkness here




Krista Pakseresht has always been a dreamer,
from the first time she opened her eyes. Creating worlds through words is one
thing she is truly talented at. She specializes in young adult/new adult
romance, horror, action, fantasy, and non-fiction under the pen name
Kira Adams. She is the author of the Infinite Love series, the Foundation
series
, the Darkness Falls series, and a handful of standalone novels.

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