Welcome to the tour for Citadel of the Sky by Chrysoula Tzavelas. This is an adult epic fantasy (clean and appropriate for YA readers).
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Citadel of the Sky by Chrysoula Tzavelas
Her (not very) Serene Highness Princess Tiana tries her best not to think about the dark lords ravaging her country or how the magic in her bloodline makes her family go mad. The descendant of a legendary hero, she prefers bringing the myths of old to life on the theater stage, not on the battlefield.
Then a rash of suspicious deaths strikes the Regents—trusted advisors, friends, and guides to her troubled royal family—and the Noble’s Council tries to cover it all up. Tiana is determined to get to the bottom of the murders and the conspiracy, even if that means making a dangerous pact with a telepathic demon trapped in a magical sword. But he may just be the edge she needs to save the people she loves.
Cursed sword in hand, Tiana and her friends prepare to face the encroaching darkness—and the ultimate truth about her and her family.
Then a rash of suspicious deaths strikes the Regents—trusted advisors, friends, and guides to her troubled royal family—and the Noble’s Council tries to cover it all up. Tiana is determined to get to the bottom of the murders and the conspiracy, even if that means making a dangerous pact with a telepathic demon trapped in a magical sword. But he may just be the edge she needs to save the people she loves.
Cursed sword in hand, Tiana and her friends prepare to face the encroaching darkness—and the ultimate truth about her and her family.
Goodreads
Great-Uncle Jant’s Regent died of old age, and Cousin Cathay’s Regent was thrown from his horse, and Uncle Yithiere’s Regent had a heart attack, but it was all just bad luck until the King’s Regent died. It took more than bad luck to tear somebody’s arm off. It took a fiend, or a team of horses, or somebody really spiteful.
“Perhaps an eidolon,” Princess Jerya observed to her companions. It was a rainy early morning two days after the tragedy, and the daughters of the King were waiting for the funeral procession to begin.
“What a horrible thought,” Tiana, her younger sister, said. She looked critically at her lace gloves. “Do you think these are the proper gloves? The milliner swore they were ash-grey, but in this light, they look silver.”
“Other people have suggested it already,” said Jerya. “You’ll hear it eventually. Best to be prepared.” The wind gusted rain under the umbrellas held by their Regents, and Jerya clapped a hand on her hat.
Tiana frowned at her hand. “But eidolons are part of our magic. That’s ridiculous. We all loved Tomas.” As she considered, her expression grew more shocked, and she added, “How can you make accusations like that?”
Lisette, her Regent, touched her arm soothingly. “It’s not an accusation.”
Jerya said, “It’s a problem, though. The Court won’t let it go.” She paused, reflective. “And they shouldn’t. Look at Cathay.” She nodded at their cousin, a handsome young man their own age, as he walked into the yard.
He was alone and soaked to the skin, oblivious to the rain. His hands were clenched into fists, and one of his cat eidolons prowled beside him, only half-real. “His Regent Sennic was an excellent rider, after all. Do you really believe his horse just threw him?”
Tiana pulled off a glove and crumpled it. “No one talked about murder at Sennic’s funeral.” She shook her head. “It’s so tasteless, Jerya.”
Jerya shrugged. “I’m just warning you. Others will bring it up. But as you wish. Look, here comes Father with Tomas now. Put your glove back on, it’s fine.”
The cavernous funeral carriage was pulled by six grey horses. When the footman opened the door, the Niyhani priest emerged first and then the Chancellor. He gave the princesses a grim nod of greeting and turned to steady the King as he stepped down. The King’s six eidolons, all in his likeness, descended the stairs after him, more adroitly than their creator.
“I’m glad the Chancellor made sure he dressed appropriately,” said Tiana, “but he should have a real escort. Poor Father. It breaks my heart.” She looked away, at her hands again.
“He insisted,” Jerya said. The Chancellor guided the King around to the back of the carriage, where the coffin was mounted under twin lanterns. The King looked startled, as if he’d forgotten why he was there. Then his eidolons flowed past him to lift the polished box.
He turned and looked at the three monolithic Royal mausoleums. His shoulders slumped. Then a seventh eidolon stepped out of him, and his face emptied of pain. The Chancellor took his arm again, and together they led the eidolons and their burden into the cemetery. Tiana and Jerya, along with their own human entourage, fell in behind him. Their other relatives followed after, and so Lord Tomas Ferya, King’s Regent, was escorted to his final rest.
Excerpt:
Great-Uncle Jant’s Regent died of old age, and Cousin Cathay’s Regent was thrown from his horse, and Uncle Yithiere’s Regent had a heart attack, but it was all just bad luck until the King’s Regent died. It took more than bad luck to tear somebody’s arm off. It took a fiend, or a team of horses, or somebody really spiteful.
“Perhaps an eidolon,” Princess Jerya observed to her companions. It was a rainy early morning two days after the tragedy, and the daughters of the King were waiting for the funeral procession to begin.
“What a horrible thought,” Tiana, her younger sister, said. She looked critically at her lace gloves. “Do you think these are the proper gloves? The milliner swore they were ash-grey, but in this light, they look silver.”
“Other people have suggested it already,” said Jerya. “You’ll hear it eventually. Best to be prepared.” The wind gusted rain under the umbrellas held by their Regents, and Jerya clapped a hand on her hat.
Tiana frowned at her hand. “But eidolons are part of our magic. That’s ridiculous. We all loved Tomas.” As she considered, her expression grew more shocked, and she added, “How can you make accusations like that?”
Lisette, her Regent, touched her arm soothingly. “It’s not an accusation.”
Jerya said, “It’s a problem, though. The Court won’t let it go.” She paused, reflective. “And they shouldn’t. Look at Cathay.” She nodded at their cousin, a handsome young man their own age, as he walked into the yard.
He was alone and soaked to the skin, oblivious to the rain. His hands were clenched into fists, and one of his cat eidolons prowled beside him, only half-real. “His Regent Sennic was an excellent rider, after all. Do you really believe his horse just threw him?”
Tiana pulled off a glove and crumpled it. “No one talked about murder at Sennic’s funeral.” She shook her head. “It’s so tasteless, Jerya.”
Jerya shrugged. “I’m just warning you. Others will bring it up. But as you wish. Look, here comes Father with Tomas now. Put your glove back on, it’s fine.”
The cavernous funeral carriage was pulled by six grey horses. When the footman opened the door, the Niyhani priest emerged first and then the Chancellor. He gave the princesses a grim nod of greeting and turned to steady the King as he stepped down. The King’s six eidolons, all in his likeness, descended the stairs after him, more adroitly than their creator.
“I’m glad the Chancellor made sure he dressed appropriately,” said Tiana, “but he should have a real escort. Poor Father. It breaks my heart.” She looked away, at her hands again.
“He insisted,” Jerya said. The Chancellor guided the King around to the back of the carriage, where the coffin was mounted under twin lanterns. The King looked startled, as if he’d forgotten why he was there. Then his eidolons flowed past him to lift the polished box.
He turned and looked at the three monolithic Royal mausoleums. His shoulders slumped. Then a seventh eidolon stepped out of him, and his face emptied of pain. The Chancellor took his arm again, and together they led the eidolons and their burden into the cemetery. Tiana and Jerya, along with their own human entourage, fell in behind him. Their other relatives followed after, and so Lord Tomas Ferya, King’s Regent, was escorted to his final rest.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
As an Air Force kid, Chrysoula went to twelve schools in twelve years and spent a lot of time wondering what made people tick. Books, it turned out, helped with that question. These days she lives in the Pacific Northwest with her family, which includes many small and demanding creatures who fight over her attention. Her first book, urban fantasy MATCHBOX GIRLS, was published in 2012 by the small press Candlemark & Gleam, followed annually by two more books in the same SENYAZA Series, all of which explore the impact of the supernatural on those who are— or who want to be— ordinary. Her next book, CITADEL OF THE SKY, is the first of a new series about the descendants of a Chosen One and the legacy of power and mental illness they’ve inherited. It’s also about Dark Lords and kicking butt in nice dresses.
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GIVEAWAY
The author will be giving away $10 Gift Card to online bookseller of choice (INT) to three winners of the below Rafflecopter. The giveaway ends June 16th.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
thanks for this chance. i love to read.
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome :)
DeleteI enjoyed the excerpt, thank you.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you did :)
DeleteThanks for hosting a tour stop!
ReplyDeleteMy pleasure.
DeleteThis looks great! :D
ReplyDeleteMary Loki
Being a huge fan of fantasy books, this one really appeals to me
ReplyDeleteI love fantasy books too :)
Delete