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a-m-proudfoot · 8 years ago

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BlogTour ~ Rise of the Deva’shi ~ Excerpt

Blog Tour ~ Rise of the Deva'shi (Parthalan #3)

Author: Jennifer Allis Provost

Genre: Fantasy/Science Fiction/ Young Adult

Tour Dates: 20th-24th of March

Hosted by: Ultimate Fantasy Book Tours

Blurb:

A stolen girl. A legendary champion. A plan that might destroy Parthalan once and for all…

Aeolmar, First Hunter of Parthalan, leads a solitary life. Having long since abandoned his quest to kill Mersgoth—the demon that murdered his family—Aeolmar moves through his days with cold efficiency. Everything changes when he leads a training mission in Brennus, where he’s attacked by Mersgoth himself, and saved by an unlikely heroine.

Latera, first born and heir to Gannera’s throne, is kidnapped and left for dead in Parthalan’s vast forests. A lone human amongst Parthalan’s fae, she makes a home in Brennus, and lives a quiet life—until she finds herself defending a wounded First Hunter from a clutch of demons.

Back in Parthalan, Harek warns Asherah of something called the deva’shi—a warrior loyal only to the demon lord, Asgeloth. Both Aeolmar and Latera suspect that there is more to this deva’shi than what Harek has told them, but before they can learn the truth, Parthalan’s borders are attacked. Will Aeolmar and Latera be able to stop the deva’shi in time, or is it a distraction to hide Harek’s true plans?

RISE OF THE DEVA’SHI – book three of the Chronicles of Parthalan

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6587080-rise-of-the-deva-shi

↓Buy Links↓

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1438978987

Author Bio:

Jennifer Allis Provost is a native New Englander who lives in a sprawling colonial along with her beautiful and precocious twins, a dog, two birds, three cats, and a wonderful husband who never forgets to buy ice cream. As a child, she read anything and everything she could get her hands on, including a set of encyclopedias, but fantasy was always her favorite. She spends her days drinking vast amounts of coffee, arguing with her computer, and avoiding any and all domestic behavior.

Visit her at:

Website: https://authorjenniferallisprovost.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/copperraven/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/parthalan

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Allis-Provost/e/B003LXSUFU

Excerpt:

Latera spent the rest of autumn and the entire winter in the sola, training with the other nuvi. There she learned how to fight with swords, spears, and her bare hands. While she had adequate skill with a broadsword, two smaller swords better fit her frame and speed, and she wore them strapped across her back.

Every few days, Aeolmar observed the nuvi train. He watched from the gallery, scowling down into the arena as they went through the motions of swordplay. On occasion Latera caught him watching her. Once, he almost laughed as Latera knocked Adhaire onto his backside in the dust.

Spring burst forth across Parthalan, and the Prelate, Harek, returned to the palace from his winter abode in the south. The nuvi watched from the palace gates as he marched inside with the con’dehr.

“Are the soldiers hunters too?” Latera asked Adhaire.

“Anyone can be a soldier,” he replied. “If you prove yourself good with a sword and can follow orders, they’ll welcome you into their ranks. You need to be selected for the sola.”

“Then we outrank the soldiers?”

“We do. We’re trained to engage demons, whereas soldiers are only trained in standard combat. They cannot make fire, and they aren’t trackers like we are. But Harek outranks Aeolmar, and he doesn’t let the First Hunter forget it.”

“I didn’t think anyone outranked Aeolmar,” Latera said.

“Only Harek and the queen do,” Adhaire continued. “Harek was with Asherah when she took the throne, and has been loyal to her ever since.”

The day after his return Harek inspected the nuvi. They lined up inside the arena, Latera in the last position since she was the newest. He walked past the first nineteen, stopping at every third or fourth nuvi to speak with Asherah, as Aeolmar followed them.

“I still don’t understand the ultimate purpose of that powder,” Asherah was saying. “And would it really be safe to house it in Teg’urnan?”

“It’s a well-known weapon in the southern lands,” Harek replied. “And safe enough when stored properly.” He stopped before Latera, and she got her first look at the Prelate. He was a short, stocky man with a chest like a barrel, small club-like hands, and coarse brown hair. He stood at least a head shorter than the queen and First Hunter, his rough face a sharp contrast to their delicate features, and Latera wondered if some troll blood coursed in his veins. As Latera contemplated Harek’s heritage, Aeolmar spoke.

“This is Latera,” Aeolmar said.

“Where do you hail from?” Harek barked.

“Brennus, my lord,” Latera replied.

The Prelate’s face hardened. “This is the one you told me of? She’s too small to hunt. Any demon could rip her in two.”

“No,” replied Aeolmar, “one could not. I’m standing here today because she defended me against three demons. Mersgoth is dead because of Latera.”

Harek scrutinized Latera. “We shall see,” he grumbled, and the three of them continued on their way.

###

Five days after the Prelate’s return, the Trial by Combat was held. As the nuvi readied themselves, and wagered on who would win, Adhaire bragged about winning the last Trial by Combat.

“I expect I’ll win this bout as well,” he said as he strapped on his gauntlets.

“What will that change?” Alia asked. “You’ve won the last three, yet you’re still a nuvi.” The other nuvi laughed as Adhaire scowled, but Alia laughed them off. “Calm, Adhaire. You know we all want you to win again.”

“If for no other reason than to get him out of here,” Latera muttered.

It was well after midday when the nuvi entered the hot, dusty arena. Every last seat was filled. Latera saw the queen seated on the gallery with Harek and Aeolmar flanking her, an outpost of calm amidst the excited crowd. A gong sounded, and the Trial by Combat began.

Three nuvi rushed Latera at once, and she evaded two as she disarmed the third. Dust churned across the arena, and Latera soon lost count of how many she faced.

An unknown warrior entered and made his way across the playing field, waiting for his opponent. He was clad in gray leather, with a matching helm that covered most of his face. Latera had only glimpsed him before she spun to face her next opponent: Alia. As Alia fell into the dust, Latera turned to the next nuvi and learned that only she and the unknown remained.

They circled one another. Then, the unknown rushed Latera. She parried and stepped aside. He advanced with a great arching blow. Latera crossed her swords and blocked him mid-strike. As they struggled, Latera glanced toward the gallery, which only held Asherah and Harek. In a burst of recognition, she twisted out from under the unknown’s sword and snatched his helm. Aeolmar’s hair fell around his shoulders, and he pulled Latera’s back against his chest, his sword at her throat.

“You did very well,” Aeolmar breathed into Latera’s ear. She twisted free and faced him.

“That is not your sword,” Latera snapped.

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