Wednesday, November 30, 2022

BLOG TOUR: Illuminated by Iris Marsh


Welcome to the Official Blog Tour for author Iris Marsh's Illuminated, the first book in the Illuminated, an all-new fantasy, coming-of-age series! Today, on our tour stop, we have an exclusive excerpt and a tour-wide giveaway to share! So... Be sure to check it out and start the series now! Follow the tour, HERE.

Genre:
Young Adult
Fantasy/Thriller
Coming of Age
Series:
Illuminated, #1
Publish Date:
November 21, 2022
Publisher:
Iris - Content & Creatie

Synopsis:
In this coming-of-age YA contemporary fantasy, a teenage girl has her life turned upside down when her family is breaking apart, and she discovers her supernatural powers. There’s no time to deal with it, however, as she’s targeted by a dangerous power-siphoner.

Nikki Chase, a 16-year-old striver, feels like her life is falling apart around her. Her parents’ marriage seems in trouble, her best friend prefers to spend time with the popular girl, and she’s quite certain she’s on the verge of a psychosis. After all, normal people don’t see colors around people or hear voices, right?

When a volunteering assignment leads her to a mental hospital, Nikki is determined to figure out what’s going on with her—and if perhaps she belongs in that facility. What she discovers is nothing she expected: Lorene, a volunteer, tells Nikki she’s not crazy but, in fact, has the power to influence people’s thoughts and beliefs. However, someone has been sucking the power out of people just like her, leaving them behind as an empty shell. Desperate for help and someone to trust, Nikki teams up with Lorene to discover who is behind the siphoning. But can she stop them before she becomes a victim? And can she do so without becoming addicted to the power herself?

Fans of suspenseful contemporary fantasy will love this YA coming-of-age fantasy thriller book about coping with difficult emotions, navigating relationships with family and friends, and the addictive quality of power.


       

*Excerpt*

My dad narrowed his eyes. “Why do you want to talk about this now?”

I knew what he meant: why was I ruining this moment, which was supposed to be a happy one, just the two of us connecting.

Of course, I could tell him the real reason. But what if he decided that I needed to go to Calgary Psychiatry? Then I would surely lose Carmen.

“I just think it’s interesting.”

My dad gave me a long hard look and opened his mouth to say something.

“There you go.” Rosemary appeared in front of us. “Two blueberry pies and two hot chocolates.”

She put the plates and mugs down. My dad’s smile was back, as well as that glint in his eyes. “Thank you so much; you’re a true saint.”

Rosemary giggled, putting a hand on his shoulder. Lingering. “Oh, stop.”

I looked down at my pie. My skin tingled again.

“Enjoy!” She squeezed my dad’s shoulder, turned, and walked back to the counter to help the next customers. Her long, blonde hair swayed from side to side as she did.

My dad stared after her.

“Dad?” I leaned forward, trying to catch his eye.

“Hm?” He jerked his head back to me, plastering a smile on his face. He sat back, placing his hands next to the plate with pie. “Well, let’s enjoy these, shall we?”

I nodded, picked up my fork, and dug in. The sweet-sour taste of the blueberries filled my mouth. It wasn’t enough to stop the uneasy feeling, nor the increasing pricking of my skin. I couldn’t believe it was happening again—I thought I’d managed to push it away.

“Is Mom home for dinner tonight?” Talking surely would provide some sort of distraction. I hoped.

My dad scoffed, then checked himself and gave me a small smile. “No, she’s working late. But she said she hoped we could play some games when she got home.”

I nodded. It wasn’t unusual; my mom’s job as an attorney required long hours and hard work. But it was a job she loved.

What worried me was the strained tone in my father’s voice as he said it.

This summer, we’d gone camping—enjoying the great outdoors. We’d been doing that for years, and I always loved the peacefulness. Well, I suppose I didn’t always enjoy them, but I did now I was older.

This year, however, my mom brought her laptop with her. So she could still check her email every now and then. She was close to making partner—she didn’t want to ruin it.

“This is important, don’t you understand?” my mom hissed at my dad, both of them thinking I was sound asleep.

“More important than spending time with us? Your family?” he snapped back.

“That’s not fair.” My mom’s voice broke a little. “I’ve been supporting this family for years. I’m the reason we get to go on this vacation in the first place. You don’t know what it’s like. To stand your ground between all those men. Some still treat me as their fucking secretary!” 

My father shushed her, likely to keep me from hearing their conversation. I suppose they both forgot that the walls in a tent are very thin.

“You know I’m proud of what you’ve achieved. I am. But is it really more important than… than me?”

The silence stretched on.

“I-I don’t know.” Her voice was barely a whisper, yet it seemed like she was shouting in my ear.

It was then that I first experienced that crushing feeling, the clenching in my chest. The inability to breathe. The pricking and burning of my skin.

The eruption of colors. The voices.




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**About the Author**
Iris Marsh is a behavioral researcher turned writer. As such, she focuses on her character’s journeys as well as the plot. Her YA fantasy debut novel Illuminated is no exception: it’s both suspenseful and heavy on character development. Currently, she lives in the Netherlands with her partner and cat.

She would be overjoyed if you visited her website IrisMarsh.com and would love it if you followed her journey on Instagram.

Stay connected with Iris Marsh
     

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***The Giveaway***

Giveaway Open Internationally
- ends December 8, 2022
Note: Not Responsible for Lost & Damaged Prizes in Your Mail Box

Blog Tour Organized by

RELEASE DAY BLITZ: The Nephilim Universe: The Ebony Angel Series by L.L. Hunter


Today, we have a Release Day Blitz celebrating the release of Bestselling Author L.L. Hunter's The Nephilim Universe: The Ebony Angel series box set! So... Be sure to check it out and grab your copy now! Start the Ebony Angel series now!

Genre:
Young Adult
Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Romance
Series:
Ebony Angel, #1-5
(The Nephilim Universe)
Publish Date:
November 30, 2022

Synopsis:
When you have the most dangerous ability in the universe, nowhere is safe.

Being related to one of the most powerful Nephilim families in the universe has its perks… and its curses.

Ebony is the daughter of Eden and Asher and should have the worlds at her feet.
But when you have the most dangerous ability, the power to destroy anything with a mere thought, nowhere is safe.

Her parents kept her existence a secret until she was sixteen, but now Ebony needs schooling, and her family need help.

But after seeking guidance about Ebony’s ability from her family in the Nephilim Capital, and the heavenly realm of Fire, Eden, Asher and Ebony soon discover that many want the Blackbell family gone from government, or from this world.
A new threat is surfacing, and Ebony and her family must juggle not only the rising rebellion, but her dangerous trait all the while keeping up her studies.


The fourth series collection in The Nephilim Universe series. This boxed set collection includes all 5 books in the bestselling Ebony Angel series:

Daughter of Darkness
Son of Light
Children of Angels
The Goddess Apprentice
Bane of Angels

      
   


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Ebony Angel series:
  
 
(covers link to Goodreads)

      
   

iBooks:


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**About the Author**
L.L. Hunter is the bestselling author of over 50 published works, including The Nephilim Universe and The Summervale Series. She has studied and worked in a range of professions, including dog grooming, forensic science, and the dramatic arts, but has always known her true calling was to be an author. 
When not working on her next novel, she can be found at home in Australia, reading somewhere comfortable with her fur babies, drinking wine, or watching true crime documentaries.

Stay connected with L.L. Hunter
      



Release Day Blitz Organized by