Thursday, June 29, 2017

Blade and Soul by C.M. Estopare ~ Excerpt and Giveaway


Blade and Soul
C.M. Estopare
Publication date: June 30th 2017
Genres: Adult, Fantasy
To defy gods, she will sacrifice all.
After the death of its duchess, Safrana is in turmoil. Two equally powerful families vie for power, quickly turning the beautiful citadels of Safrana into a hellish warscape. While, on the outside, there is a desperate search for the one true heir to the throne. The one man who could stop an encroaching civil war and force the citadels into peace. 
But he is no where to be found. Presumed dead. While a threatening war looms over Safrana, promising to tear it apart.
Thrust into a political world which only buys and sells in blood money, with an impending civil war at hand, Marceline Brandy is called to take charge of a peace effort in a foreign city. But nothing is certain in this world rife with political strife. Everything must be questioned, even a push for peace. 
Desperate to complete her mission, Marceline soon finds herself tangled up in the strange political affairs of an arrogant woman with dangerous ties to the long lost heir of the Safranian throne. But there is another, more powerful presence that lurks on the borders of Safrana’s imploding government. A presence that would stop at nothing to see Marceline and her allies fail. 
Seized by a foreign city she is sworn to save, she has few to turn to for help. The list of allies she could count on is cut short by corrupt patriotists hungry for war and livid at the mere notion of foreign driven peace. Months pass as Marceline heads this peace effort, but the fiercer she works the more dire the situation becomes and time is running out.
A war looms, one that promises to destroy Safrana, as mythological creatures rise from ancient graves. The fiends intent on absolute destruction. 
Is this an all-out test of Marceline’s strength and will? 
Or, are the gods themselves against her?

Excerpt
High overhead, gargantuan wings beat against the night air.
Reine raised her chin and the dragon dove, clouds peeling away from its colossal body as it swirled in midair. Veined wings adorning it like a sprawling cape.   
    It plunged head first. Swung its body around and stared from afar, looking at them steadily with glowing red eyes.
    The length of its scaled throat lit up. Fire roaring in its deep gullet.
    Reine's eyes snapped open, “Go.”
    Marceline froze. Staring.
    As the dragon snapped open its gargantuan jaw and screeched.
    The hairs on Marceline's arms rose.
    “Get inside!” Reine screamed. Turning on her heels before sprinting.
    Marceline followed, the creature piercing through the air like an arrowhead. Veined wings stretched out fully, its shadow engulfing the entire chateau.
    They tumbled into Reine's chambers. Smacked their backs to the walls and watched as undead continued to pour in through the broken barricade.
    Outside, the dragon roared. The warcry deafening. Air exploding from its jowls, breaking glass, splintering the walls. Kiran blanched as he flattened himself near Reine. Smashing his fox body into Marceline's legs and hips, Lucius pressed himself against her as the world seemed to pause. Slow.
    A terrifying screech ripped through their ears as the dragon reared back its massive head and spewed fire. Flame burst through the broken balcony doors, orange and yellow mixing as it blasted through the chamber.



Author Bio:
C.M. Estopare is a full-time author, avid yoga enthusiast, and veteran of the United States military. She is the author of HEARTFELT SOUNDS, a young adult coming of age fantasy about the enthralling power of one young woman’s voice.
KINDRED SOULS is a three part epic and dark fantasy series hitting Amazon and Kindle Unlimited beginning in February 2017. The first book, WINTERSKIN, debuted February 9th, 2017. The second book, BLADE AND SOUL, debuts June 30th, 2017. Be sure to mark your calendars!
When not writing, C.M. Estopare enjoys reading about the fantastical worlds in the minds of others. She also enjoys playing around with her puppy, Duke, and adventuring with her husband.

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