Beyond a Darkened Shore by Jessica Leake with Giveaway

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Congratulations to Jessica Leake on the release of Beyond a Darkened Shore. Today you can check out an excerpt and rave reviews of this new YA historical fantasy. Be sure to pick up a copy! You can even pick up a signed one. Just note that some of those buy links may be affiliate links, which can earn me a few pennies toward maintaining my websites, but at no additional cost to you. Also be sure to enter the giveaway that includes a $25 Amazon gift card!


Release Blitz for

Beyond a Darkened Shore

By Jessica Leake

Beyond a Darkened Shore

by Jessica Leake
Young Adult Historical Fantasy

Hardcover & ebook, 384 pages
April 10th 2018 by HarperTeen

The ancient land of Éirinn is mired in war. Ciara, princess of Mide, has never known a time when Éirinn’s kingdoms were not battling for power, or Northmen were not plundering their shores.

The people of Mide have always been safe because of Ciara’s unearthly ability to control her enemies’ minds and actions. But lately a mysterious crow has been appearing to Ciara, whispering warnings of an even darker threat. Although her clansmen dismiss her visions as pagan nonsense, Ciara fears this coming evil will destroy not just Éirinn but the entire world.

Then the crow leads Ciara to Leif, a young Northman leader. Leif should be Ciara’s enemy, but when Ciara discovers that he, too, shares her prophetic visions, she knows he’s something more. Leif is mounting an impressive army, and with Ciara’s strength in battle, the two might have a chance to save their world.

With evil rising around them, they’ll do what it takes to defend the land they love...even if it means making the greatest sacrifice of all.

Praise for the Book

"Beyond a Darkened Shore is thrilling and romantic. This is a must-read for lovers of fantasy, mythology, and folklore." - Kody Keplinger, New York Times bestselling author of The DUFF and Run 

“With undead armies, flesh-eating spirit horses, and a powerful heroine, fantasy, romance, and historical-fiction readers will have a great time.” - Booklist 

“While Morrigan and Odin are terrifying, raven-haired Ciara is the star. Beautiful, strong, and independent, she is the perfect warrior princess. Epic historical fantasy filled with deadly creatures, simmering romance, and nonstop action.” - Kirkus Reviews

Grab a signed copy from Fiction Addiction

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Excerpt

The waves viciously beat against the worn rock, sending sprays of white water into the air. It should have been deterrent enough, but the Northmen were relentless. Their longship had already landed. Men poured from its side like a wave of death. As I took in the square sail—white with a crimson skeletal dragon—my heart beat a furious rhythm in my chest. I’d fought countless Northmen in battles throughout our kingdom, but the sight of that sail still made every muscle in my body clench in warring fear and anger—and memory. 

My clansmen’s blood staining the earth red—
—my sister’s hand in mine as we tried to escape—
—her eyes wide as the blood trailed down her throat, and me, screaming, screaming—

I shook my head, banishing the memories before they could weaken my mind further. Sleipnir snorted and pawed the ground in response. Like other horses, he could sense my emotions. But unlike other horses, my apprehension only made him bolder. 

Fergus wheeled his horse over to me and spat on the ground. “Let us pray the blood of the raiders will flow this day.” 

I glanced at the men assembled beside me and frowned. A Northman longship of the size of the one on our shore could hold at least sixty men, far more than our own crew. “The battle can go no farther than this cliff—not this time.” 

“I will cover you as best I can,” Fergus said. “You search for their leader.” 

I tightened my grip on the hilt of my sword. My arm muscles tensed, and my heart pounded. Anticipation of the battle was always the hardest: the prickling adrenaline, the torrent of memories, the cold dread. I endured it all because my sisters and mother were huddled in fear in their room. We were the only things preventing them from being killed. 

I snapped my attention back to the battle. The Northmen had begun the treacherous climb to our stronghold. With any luck, we would pick them off as they emerged at the top of the cliff. The Northman raiding strategy was always to ambush. Instead of recognizing such actions as dishonorable, they seemed happy to live to fight again. They wouldn’t expect us to be waiting for them, and if we could defeat their leader quickly enough, they might retreat. There was no dishonor in retreat in their eyes either, not when their strategy to ambush meant they were usually slinking into a castle and catching its warriors unawares. 

Holding the high ground was our advantage. We had to make it count. 

With a shout, the first man made it to the top. He showed a momentary flash of surprise that we were lying in wait for him, but he recovered quickly. Battle-axe raised and shield in front of his chest, he charged. More of the enemy followed, their armor and long beards making them indistinguishable from one another. My clansmen made rivers of their blood.

About Jessica Leake

Jessica Leake is the author of the adult novels Arcana and The Order of the Eternal Sun, both with Skyhorse. She worked for years as a psychotherapist, but even though she loved her clients, she couldn’t stop writing. She lives in South Carolina with her husband, four young children, lots of chickens, and two dogs who keep everyone in line. Beyond a Darkened Shore is her YA debut. Visit her at www.jessicaleake.com.

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Release Blitz Giveaway

1 winner will receive a copy of Beyond a Darkened Shore + $25 Amazon Gift Card

US only

Ends April 14th

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review of 'Too Close to Home' by Tressa Messenger

When the body of a beautiful and popular senior head cheerleader, Melissa Cooley, is found brutally stabbed to death at the local high school it sends the small coastal community in North Carolina into a frenzy. To make matters worse…another body is found.

A slacker boy by the name of Ronald Marks is found hanging from the field goal post on the football field only a day later. Pamlico County native Detective Carma Jones, and her partner Harold Green, set out on a search for this ruthless assailant who is wrecking havoc in a normally peaceful community. No one is safe and everyone is a suspect.

The twists and turns along the way lead them in a direction Carma would’ve never guessed. One filled with deep secrets that were meant to stay buried…

 

Buy on: Amazon | B&N | Kobo

**My thoughts**

I think this series has some great potential. It was nice to read a mystery for a change. I had actually been craving one to take a break from all of the new adult romances I have been reviewing lately. The opening chapter grabs your attention, as it is told from the POV of the first victim. The final lines in that chapter actually haunted me a bit and stayed with me as I kept on reading. 

The rest of the book is told mainly from the point of view of Carma, the lead detective on the case. I felt at times like the author was rabbit-trailing as she would dive into elaborate descriptions of the scenery, or the history of a place or relationship. They would almost take too long and then suddenly return to the present action. I realized that we were deep in Carma's thoughts. Carma is a keen observer with a lot of history in the small town of Dawson's Creek. She is using it to her advantage. Plus, I recognized that I can also get lost in thought for a moment all throughout the day, being reminded of memories in a place or with a person. It just seems longer when written out on paper that those few seconds in which it actually happens. Once I wrapped my head around this, I was able to better appreciate those extra passages and better understood Carma as a person.

There are plenty of little twists and turns to keep you returning to the book. I read it in bits and pieces in between doing other things. Some of the twists I easily saw coming. Carma is likable enough. I am mixed on a couple of her coworkers and the other kids. 

I liked it enough to want to finish it and am interested in seeing how the series progresses. I know that a second book is coming. I think that the more that the author writes in this genre, the stronger the stories will become.

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Tressa Messenger grew up in a very small town in Eastern North Carolina called Reelsboro in a coastal county called Pamlico. Being as it was such a small area Tressa developed an immense imagination at a young age. That is where she harnessed her love for writing.

To date Tressa lives in New Orleans Louisiana with her husband, daughter and an assortment of critters.

As of right now Tressa has nine books published, some self-published and some being published through Limitless Publishing.

As a young writer Tressa has overcome adversity of Dyslexia and continues to exceed expectations.

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The Author is giving away a $25 Amazon Gift Card to one lucky reader. Please fill out the form below to enter. a Rafflecopter giveaway