Blog Tour: Of Silver and Beasts by Trisha Wolfe {Review, Excerpt, and Giveaway!}
Of Silver and Beasts
by: Trisha Wolfe
Publication Date: April 19, 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC received from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 305 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 5/5 stars
In the sand-covered queendom of Cavan, the goddess once saved a young Kaliope’s life, preventing the mercury her father attempted to hide in her blood from reaching her heart. Now, a cybernetic clamp filters it, but the silver streaks swirling faintly beneath her skin are a constant reminder that she’s different.
When nineteen-year-old Kaliope is chosen as head of the Nactue Guard, she becomes the sworn protector to her empress. In the midst of an invasion on a neighboring land, Kaliope is placed in charge of guarding Prince Caben, the last heir to his kingdom. But when they’re attacked by the feared Otherworlders, Caben and Kaliope are abducted and taken below to a realm where they must fight for their life in a caged arena.
Kaliope struggles to protect her princely charge, keeping him and herself alive while battling inhumanly opponents, and trying to save the stolen, sacred relic that will restore her empress’s life force and all of Cavan. And if she can somehow awaken the goddess within her, she may save what’s most important.
New Adult Dark Fantasy: Intended for readers 17 years of age and older.
When nineteen-year-old Kaliope is chosen as head of the Nactue Guard, she becomes the sworn protector to her empress. In the midst of an invasion on a neighboring land, Kaliope is placed in charge of guarding Prince Caben, the last heir to his kingdom. But when they’re attacked by the feared Otherworlders, Caben and Kaliope are abducted and taken below to a realm where they must fight for their life in a caged arena.
Kaliope struggles to protect her princely charge, keeping him and herself alive while battling inhumanly opponents, and trying to save the stolen, sacred relic that will restore her empress’s life force and all of Cavan. And if she can somehow awaken the goddess within her, she may save what’s most important.
New Adult Dark Fantasy: Intended for readers 17 years of age and older.
I am so fortunate to have received this from Trish a few weeks ago to read. Because this book is nothing short of amazing. I was hooked from the minute I started reading and I could not put it down. I was immediately pulled into the land of Cavan and into Kaliope's world.
Kaliope is one kick ass female and you all know by now how much I love fierce, strong protagonists in my books. Kaliope has gone through some major trials in her past and still bears a heavy burden. She feels that her clamp in her chest is a curse, where her mother had always praised the goddess that it was a gift. Not many know of the stolen mercury that runs through her blood and Kaliope prefers to keep it that way. She serves as one of the Empress's Protectors and she puts duty and honor above all else. Upon receiving a promotion to be the leader of the prestigious Nactue Guard, her first assignment is to protect a prince (the last of his line) from a neighboring kingdom.
When we first meet the prince, Caben, he is arrogant, stubborn, and a bit pig-headed. He and Kaliope do not hit it off in the beginning at all. She feels that she should be protecting the Empress, as is her duty, not baby-sitting a petulant prince. However, after they are attacked and captured, Kaliope will not waver from protecting her charge.
I liked Kal and Caben. I felt their relationship came naturally and didn't feel forced at all. They both find themselves in a less than desirable situation and must depend on each other to stay alive. Watching Caben chip away at Kaliope's protective exterior made my heart melt. Having been betrayed by the man she calls her father, she never thought she would give her heart to any man. And yes, Trisha sure knows how to write those scenes that make you swoon! :)
"He wraps me in his arms, pulling me closer to his chest. My mouth presses against his, motionless, unsure—and he nips my bottom lip with his teeth. I gasp, and his tongue darts inside. Lips parting and closing, his tongue tangling with mine, Caben guides me to match his rhythm. My fear subsides as we steal each other’s breath."
I loved how devoted Kal was to her friends and her fellow Protectors. She was always willing to put herself at risk for the sake of others and I think that right there tells you just what kind of person Kal really is. Up until the very end, Kaliope is willing to make the hard sacrifices to protect the ones she loves.
What one word would I use to describe Kal? Resilient.
I cannot wait for Of Darkness and Crowns- especially after the ending to this book!!! Oh, and she mentioned it was going to have Caben's POV... *fans self*
*I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
Tuff Girl Legion Presents OF SILVER AND
BEASTS
The cool sensation of the fresh water on my skin helps me
forget my nerves and I lie back, floating just below the top of the water. My
body dulls, the cold soothing my sore muscles, and I welcome the numbness. The
ceiling of the cave is sprinkled with tiny clusters of white lights, dotting
the canopy above our heads like stars in the sky. I feel as if I’m sitting on
the rooftop of my apartment, staring at the night sky, not here in the
Otherworld, awaiting my death.
The water rolls, rocking my body, and I glance over as Caben
floats up beside me. He’s on his back also, and points to the lights dusting
the cave ceiling.
“Diamonds,” he says.
“Really?” I don’t know much about any minerals other than
mercury. And somehow, diamonds as our stars makes my chest heavy. It’s too
beautiful. “How can you tell?”
“The ultraviolet light shows the impurities,” he says. “The
imperfections actually absorb the dark light, causing the diamond to emit a
visible glow.” He chuckles. “A very expensive lighting effect.”
I laugh. “Quite expensive.” They twinkle as they reflect the
rippling water. “But almost more heavenly than the stars.” I lower my voice at
the end, hoping he didn’t hear my spoken thoughts.
Caben doesn’t speak, and the trickling of the stream and lap
of the pool becomes the only sound as we float in compatible silence. I could
drift off, fall asleep in this peaceful place, but I know we still have a
mission to complete before the Reckoning.
This thought awakens me, and I touch my feet to the bottom
of the pool and begin to wade toward the edge.
I hear Caben’s heavy groan. “No you don’t,” he says, and
captures the bottom of my tunic. He tugs me through the water, back to the
pool’s center. “Not yet. This could be our last reprieve, and I plan for us to
enjoy it.”
As I turn to face him, his fingers slip from my shirt to my
waist, grazing my stomach. My skin prickles, and I shiver, matching the
trembling water around us. His deep blue eyes meet mine, and he swallows, his
Adam’s apple working. Slowly, he begins to inch up my tunic—
“Wait.” I place my hand on top of his.
He cranes an eyebrow. “It should really have time to dry
before we go back.”
Logically, that makes sense. But the heated look he’s giving
me says so much more. And regardless of the attraction I may feel for the
prince—a woman would have to be blind—and whether or not we actually escape
this hell ... what then? We share an intimate moment once, and go back to our
stations in life, simply pretending nothing happened?
Or maybe I’m reading too much into his gaze. He’s a man, and
physical desire is self-serving. He may die ... and he probably wants to bed a
woman one last time. Everything about his character screams he’s not one who
thinks past the moment.
I could lose myself for now, give in to the pulse quickening
my blood with need, but I’ve never shown a man the clamp over my heart. It
would have to be something I did for a different reason if I ever chose to do
so. Not merely because I may die soon.
As I push his hand away and start to swim off, he grasps my
waist, encircling his firm arms around my stomach, and pulls my back to his
chest.
“Don’t run from me,” he breathes into my ear. “I’m not
asking for anything. Not even whatever it is you’re hiding. Just stay here.”
Trisha Wolfe is the author of
the YA Steampunk DESTINY'S FIRE (Omnific Publishing), the NA
Historical/Supernatural ASTARTE'S WRATH, and the upcoming YA Utopian FIREBLOOD
from Spencer Hill Press, October
2013. Her NA Dark Fantasy OF SILVER AND BEASTS available May 2013.
She’s the creator of YA Bound, a promotional site for the Young Adult
genre. Also a member of SCWW
and The
Apocalypsies. Check out www.TrishaWolfe.com
for more on her books and bonus material. Follow Trisha on Twitter @TrishWolfe
and like her Facebook page
for updates.
10 comments
Wasn't this book Awesome! I'm glad you loved it too. Kaliope was one amazing chick. Great review.
ReplyDeleteJenea @ Books Live Forever
Jenea- I LOVED every minute of this book!! Kaliope is by far one of my favorite heroines! She totally rocked!
DeleteI have seen Of Silver and Beasts on so many blogs lately, and it looks so good, I can't wait to finally read it!
ReplyDeleteBrynna
It's such a great book Brynna! I loved it! I cannot promote it enough!!
DeleteThis book keeps popping up everywhere - maybe the universe is trying to tell me to hurry up and read it!
ReplyDeleteIt definitely is Amy! I loved this book so much!
DeleteOh wow, what a beautiful book... This is actually the first time I'm seeing it, but I added it to my to-read shelf on Goodreads. Thanks for posting! x
ReplyDelete:D No problem Summer! I'm glad I could introduce you to it!!
DeleteI can't escape this book...guess it's time to jump on the bandwagon :P
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of Trisha's so definitely jump on the bandwagon- it's a good one to jump on!
DeleteLeave me some comment love! And I will get around to commenting back!
My blog is an award-free blog, however, as I just do not have the time to follow-up.