Titan Magic is a solid, unique fantasy, and you can listen to me gush about it more here (and in a number of vlogs...); but first, sit back, enjoy this excerpt (and the exquisite "need to know!"-ness of what comes next), and then enter to win one of 2 copies for yourself!
She fidgeted, tangling her fingers in the chain around her neck and pulling the locket from her chemise. The little window caught the morning light as the locket turned, like dawn itself dangled from her fingertips. This was the last book her brother had given her. This was all she had left of home.
She opened the locket and touched the tiny book inside. It was beautifully bound in a cover of deep umber with a gold title: Joseph of Prague. Maddy examined it under the little magnifying glass and marveled at her brother’s handiwork.
Then she opened the book and began to read.
Once upon a time, a people called God’s People lived and suffered in the heart of a city called Prague. Now Prague hated God’s People and invented lies about them, saying they drank the blood of children like vampires. Sometimes, the city even stole its own children so it could blame God’s People for the crime.
In those days, it seemed the innocent were doomed to grieve forever. But then, one night, a great teacher decided to create a powerful savior. He gathered his companions at a riverbank, and together, they formed the clay they found there into the shape of a man.
Maddy found it difficult to turn the book’s tiny pages and hold the magnifying glass steady. Her hands trembled too much. She wondered at the power this story had over her imagination. She could almost see the clay man stretched out lifeless on the riverbank, his dead eyes staring at the empty sky.
Was this Marcus’ last message to her, this ordinary fairy tale? “Read it carefully,” he had said. But Maddy couldn’t focus any more. She squirmed inside, itched all over, as though a tone too deep to be heard buzzed just under the surface of her skin. She closed the miniature book back into the locket and tucked it away again.
The rest of the story would have to wait. Something was coming.
The buzzing under Maddy’s skin grew more ferocious as the seconds ticked away. Her muscles tensed. Her back arched and snapped her to attention. And before she understood what she was doing, she had leapt over the stag and spread her arms wide, guarding him against the sharp, hissing bird that flew toward them.
It thumped into her chest with the weight of a slingshot stone.
Jas scrambled to his feet, jolted from his troubled rest. His eyes betrayed his horror. “We have to run,” he said. “Now!”
Maddy followed his gaze and saw the arrow, planted like an exotic flower between her ribs.
She opened the locket and touched the tiny book inside. It was beautifully bound in a cover of deep umber with a gold title: Joseph of Prague. Maddy examined it under the little magnifying glass and marveled at her brother’s handiwork.
Then she opened the book and began to read.
Once upon a time, a people called God’s People lived and suffered in the heart of a city called Prague. Now Prague hated God’s People and invented lies about them, saying they drank the blood of children like vampires. Sometimes, the city even stole its own children so it could blame God’s People for the crime.
In those days, it seemed the innocent were doomed to grieve forever. But then, one night, a great teacher decided to create a powerful savior. He gathered his companions at a riverbank, and together, they formed the clay they found there into the shape of a man.
Maddy found it difficult to turn the book’s tiny pages and hold the magnifying glass steady. Her hands trembled too much. She wondered at the power this story had over her imagination. She could almost see the clay man stretched out lifeless on the riverbank, his dead eyes staring at the empty sky.
Was this Marcus’ last message to her, this ordinary fairy tale? “Read it carefully,” he had said. But Maddy couldn’t focus any more. She squirmed inside, itched all over, as though a tone too deep to be heard buzzed just under the surface of her skin. She closed the miniature book back into the locket and tucked it away again.
The rest of the story would have to wait. Something was coming.
The buzzing under Maddy’s skin grew more ferocious as the seconds ticked away. Her muscles tensed. Her back arched and snapped her to attention. And before she understood what she was doing, she had leapt over the stag and spread her arms wide, guarding him against the sharp, hissing bird that flew toward them.
It thumped into her chest with the weight of a slingshot stone.
Jas scrambled to his feet, jolted from his troubled rest. His eyes betrayed his horror. “We have to run,” he said. “Now!”
Maddy followed his gaze and saw the arrow, planted like an exotic flower between her ribs.
****GIVEAWAY****
Jodi has offered up to e-copies of Titan Magic to two lucky winners! This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL, and it ends on April 10, 2013 at 12 am EST. Fill out the Rafflecopter below to enter.
As with all of the giveaways for Fairy Tale Fortnight, make sure you've already filled out our Giveaway Registration Form - this only needs to be done once!
Please do not leave any sensitive info or email addresses in the comments!!
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Get It | Add It
Mute, heartless, and tormented by auditory hallucinations, Madeleine Lavoie never questions why her family has hidden her from the world. But the night her brother casts her out, she learns the mysterious voice she thought existed only in her mind is no delusion, and no matter how hard she tries, she can never disobey it.
Now Madeleine must find her own voice in a cacophony of powerful tyrants, monsters, and gods. If she fails, she will forfeit her life and the lives of everyone who loves her. But if she succeeds, she may finally gain the ability to love someone in return.
Now Madeleine must find her own voice in a cacophony of powerful tyrants, monsters, and gods. If she fails, she will forfeit her life and the lives of everyone who loves her. But if she succeeds, she may finally gain the ability to love someone in return.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
 |
| Click here to go back to the Fairy Tale Fortnight Main Page, where you can access the schedule! Or go here to get involved! Credit to these awesome Deviants for our button [ 1, 2 & 3]! |
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
ReplyDeleteThe book sounds great. I loved the excerpt and cannot wait to read it
ReplyDeleteYou sold me! I love excerpts and this sounds like something really new. Never read anything based on Jewish folklore! Can't wait!
ReplyDeleteHeather
This book sound interesting and I really liked the excerpt. Good luck with your writing.
ReplyDeleteLove the sound of this book, cannot wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteChills! I can't wait to read this!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the excerpt! The magnifying glass made me laugh, as it reminds me of my parents who persist in doing all their reading with one. :)
ReplyDelete