A Small Gift: Daggers of Ariyon Excerpt

May 13, 2018 Bran Lindy AyresLeave a comment

If you’ve been following anything about the state of the writing industry these past few weeks, you’ll be well aware of the kerfuffle that has gone on. Many much more talented and eloquent writers than myself have weighed in on the #cockygate and KU issues. In fact, I’m not going to discuss anything to do with the writing industry today.

I think we are all tired of the constant issues that have been cropping up in the industry. I am happy though, to see so many of us pulling together to support and help each other. That’s what we need. This isn’t a competition. There is room for us all.

That being said, today I’m giving you all a small gift. The rough draft of the first chapter of The Daggers of Ariyon which is the sequel to The Jeweled Dagger. It picks up just a few weeks after the events at the end of JD. It does contain major spoilers for the end of JD, so I recommend reading JD first. You can grab a copy on Amazon, B&N, Smashwords, and most other major retailers.

FYI: This is a rough draft and subject to change.

Continue reading “A Small Gift: Daggers of Ariyon Excerpt” →

Book Review: Blood & Ink by Holly Evans

July 30, 2017July 30, 2017 Bran Lindy AyresLeave a comment

51n2bwvpdril It has been quite a while since I’ve read urban fantasy yet this past month I’ve seemingly been on a UF kick. While it’s not high on my list of go-to genre’s (mostly due to lack of MOGAI representation) I have enjoyed it in the past. Which is what makes Evans’ book all that much more fun to me.

When I picked up Stolen Ink a few weeks ago, I had no idea what to expect and found myself completely wrapped up in the story and characters. I read nearly the entire thing in one sitting. Thankfully, I’d had the forethought to buy the second at the same time as the first. I delved right in as soon as I had a spare moment. And again the story and characters held me captivated from start to finish. I even took my Kindle to the pool with me so I could keep reading. Evans was kind enough to indulge my Twitter flailing.

@KhaosFoxe I am sitting here at the public pool holding back tears at the end of chapter 4 of Blood and Ink. 💔

— Brohne (@brohne) July 29, 2017

On one hand… don’t cry! But on the other, I’m glad I captured that moment, it was definitely not easy to write. 🧡— 🧡Holly (@KhaosFoxe) July 29, 2017

All flailing aside, this book was excellent for several reasons. I appreciated the added world building that I missed in book one. Learning more about the magic system was fascinating and I love her take on the fae and Sidhe. There were only a few little things that tripped me up here and there such as repetitive phrases, but overall nothing serious. The characters are lifelike, well written, and believable. The plot buzzes along but doesn’t leave you grasping for context or missing pertinent details.

Mostly I enjoyed getting to know Dacian better. While at times he gets pissy and aggressive, it’s never without reason and I love that he’s allowed to make mistakes and be totally human, selfish and then own up and deal with consequences. It is also nice to see side characters be fully realized with their own motivations and for Dacian to have to adjust his perceptions as he learns things.

Keirn is such a sweetheart and I feel so much for him. I’m looking forward very much to learning more about him in the next book.

The next book, Ink Bound, comes out August 4th! You’re going to want to pre-order this one, I promise you. I’m so glad I did. I can hardly stand the wait after finishing Blood & Ink.

Books · Going Over the Rainbow · mogai

New Book Release: Masquerade

May 28, 2016May 28, 2016 Bran Lindy AyresLeave a comment

I’d hoped to have this ready back in February, but life. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ In other news the Going Over the Rainbow series is going on hiatus while a major revamp/restructure is in the works. I hope to have more news for you soon. I’m super excited about the new direction and I think it will be much more helpful to writers and really anyone looking to bring more diversity into their lives.

Now on to the new release.

Masquerade is a novella prequel to The Jeweled Dagger and follows Lafayette on their ill-fated mission in Galey. If you’ve had a chance to read The Jeweled Dagger this will give you more insight into what happened and introduce you to a couple of characters who are only mentioned in passing in the novel. If you’ve not had a chance to read the novel and want to read this first, it’s a great introduction to Lafayette & Genevieve. The events lead directly into the opening of The Jeweled Dagger.

Plots and intrigue are Marchioness Genevieve Merlot’s specialty, and opulent balls teeming with bored aristocrats are the perfect opportunity to uncover the secrets behind idle gossip and courtly scheming.

However, things take a sinister turn when they overhear a plot to assassinate the Orandon Queen.

It will take all their skill and ingenuity not only to survive but to foil the assassins and return home.

Masquerade is available for pre-order on Amazon as an e-book only release. It will be available June 1st.

The Jeweled Dagger Cover You can purchase The Jeweled Dagger here: