Welcome to the Official Blog Tour for Summer Queen, the book two of the Fairy Queens Series, by Amber Argyle! Today, I get to kick off an exciting blog tour with this spotlight and giveaway for this amazing author! Check it out!
Genre:
Young Adult
Paranormal/Fantasy
Series:
Fairy Queens Series, #2
Publish Date:
April 2, 2015
Publisher:
Starling Publishing
Synopsis:
Nelay never wanted to be queen.
Poised to become the most powerful priestess in Idara, Nelay doesn't have time to become a pretty bauble for the king. She's too busy saving her people from the invading army sweeping across her kingdom.
But in defeat after defeat, Nelay begins to realize a bigger power is at play than that wielded by mere mortals. Only she can stand between the cinders of her once-great nation and the vengeance of a goddes.
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*Excerpt*
Nelay slipped down alleys, went through a bar and out the back entrance, and twisted down two more blocks to make sure she hadn’t been followed. She climbed up a wall, using a windowsill and beams as steppingstones, before hopping onto a roof.
She crouched, staring at a man of the desert tribes. Though she’d contracted with him to smuggle her out of the city, she’d never met him. They had communicated only through her spies, so now she scrutinized the man who held her life in his hands. He wore the robes and headscarf similar to that of an Idaran, but in muted colors that blended in with the deserts. With his veil tied up, only a thin slit of his eyes showed.
The skin around those eyes crinkled in amusement when he saw Nelay. “So, this is the woman willing to pay a king’s ransom to slip behind enemy lines.”
“I don’t owe you an explanation, Rycus.” She didn’t want him to say anything that would give away her identity to any listening fairies.
He tugged his veil down under his chin, revealing a surprisingly young face, only a couple years older than her. His nose was a little on the big side, and his forehead reminded her of a shovel. But he had liquid eyes the color of sand at midnight and a nice smile, with brilliant white teeth against his dusky skin. This was the most renowned smuggler in two kingdoms?
“No,” he replied, “but we’ll be sharing close quarters for two months, so we might as well be friends.”
Nelay had enough experience with criminals to know they had their uses, but they were also incredibly unpredictable, and therefore dangerous. “I don’t need friends,” she said.
“Everyone needs friends.”
“If I’d known you were going to be this talkative, I would have picked someone else.” Rycus grunted. “No you wouldn’t have. You wouldn’t have settled for less than the best.”
Nelay tossed him the bag of coins she’d received in exchange for two of her ceremonial rings. When the high priestess found out, she’d be furious, but Nelay would deal with that later. “We must hurry—the Immortals are nothing to be trifled with.”
Rycus pushed the bag into the folds of his robes without counting the money. He would receive the other half when he returned her and her family safely to Thanjavar. “You don’t have to come with us, you know,” he said.
Nelay snorted. He might have a reputation as a fair man, but it didn’t mean he wouldn’t cross her—say, if the king offered more money. “I already told you. It’s not a place marked on a map.”
“I could figure it out,” Rycus replied.
“No offense, but I don’t trust you.”
He shrugged. “And afterward, you’re sure you wish to return? Whatever has you running away will still be here then.”
“That is not your problem.” She might be Suka’s favorite, but even the high priestess couldn’t overlook what she’d done. Nelay’s only hope was to stand in the public bethel and announce herself the next high priestess. Then she had to beat Suka in the game of fire, the winner of which would become the next high priestess. King Zatal wouldn’t dare touch Nelay then.
And if she failed . . . she shuddered. She’d have the wrath of a king and a high priestess to face.
“What are you running from?” Rycus questioned.
She crouched, staring at a man of the desert tribes. Though she’d contracted with him to smuggle her out of the city, she’d never met him. They had communicated only through her spies, so now she scrutinized the man who held her life in his hands. He wore the robes and headscarf similar to that of an Idaran, but in muted colors that blended in with the deserts. With his veil tied up, only a thin slit of his eyes showed.
The skin around those eyes crinkled in amusement when he saw Nelay. “So, this is the woman willing to pay a king’s ransom to slip behind enemy lines.”
“I don’t owe you an explanation, Rycus.” She didn’t want him to say anything that would give away her identity to any listening fairies.
He tugged his veil down under his chin, revealing a surprisingly young face, only a couple years older than her. His nose was a little on the big side, and his forehead reminded her of a shovel. But he had liquid eyes the color of sand at midnight and a nice smile, with brilliant white teeth against his dusky skin. This was the most renowned smuggler in two kingdoms?
“No,” he replied, “but we’ll be sharing close quarters for two months, so we might as well be friends.”
Nelay had enough experience with criminals to know they had their uses, but they were also incredibly unpredictable, and therefore dangerous. “I don’t need friends,” she said.
“Everyone needs friends.”
“If I’d known you were going to be this talkative, I would have picked someone else.” Rycus grunted. “No you wouldn’t have. You wouldn’t have settled for less than the best.”
Nelay tossed him the bag of coins she’d received in exchange for two of her ceremonial rings. When the high priestess found out, she’d be furious, but Nelay would deal with that later. “We must hurry—the Immortals are nothing to be trifled with.”
Rycus pushed the bag into the folds of his robes without counting the money. He would receive the other half when he returned her and her family safely to Thanjavar. “You don’t have to come with us, you know,” he said.
Nelay snorted. He might have a reputation as a fair man, but it didn’t mean he wouldn’t cross her—say, if the king offered more money. “I already told you. It’s not a place marked on a map.”
“I could figure it out,” Rycus replied.
“No offense, but I don’t trust you.”
He shrugged. “And afterward, you’re sure you wish to return? Whatever has you running away will still be here then.”
“That is not your problem.” She might be Suka’s favorite, but even the high priestess couldn’t overlook what she’d done. Nelay’s only hope was to stand in the public bethel and announce herself the next high priestess. Then she had to beat Suka in the game of fire, the winner of which would become the next high priestess. King Zatal wouldn’t dare touch Nelay then.
And if she failed . . . she shuddered. She’d have the wrath of a king and a high priestess to face.
“What are you running from?” Rycus questioned.
Right now, Winter Queen (book 1) is on sale for $0.99.
Sale will run from April 10th-17th.
Sequel to:
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**About the Author**
Amber Argyle is the #1 bestselling author of the Witch Song Series and the Fairy Queen Series. Her books have been nominated for and won awards, in addition to being translated into French and Indonesian.
Amber graduated Cum Laude from Utah State University with a degree in English and physical education, a husband, and a two-year-old. Since then, she and her husband have added two more children, which they are actively trying to transform crazy small people into less crazy larger people.
Stay connected with Amber Argyle
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Amber Argyle's Street Team:
Amber graduated Cum Laude from Utah State University with a degree in English and physical education, a husband, and a two-year-old. Since then, she and her husband have added two more children, which they are actively trying to transform crazy small people into less crazy larger people.
Stay connected with Amber Argyle
Amber Argyle's Street Team:
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Thanks so much for the spotlight!
ReplyDeleteTotally off topic, but can I have the coding for the scrolling widget? I've been looking for one like that forever!
Thank you! I know right! Sure! I'll email it to you. What email address would you like me to send it to?
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