Showing posts with label #ShamiStovall. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #ShamiStovall. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Blurb Blitz and Giveaway: Plague Arcanist by Shami Stovall


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Shami Stovall will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Deserts. Rogues. A secret hidden in an underground maze.

Every moment counts as Volke Savan races south to the city of New Norra. His goal: find Theasin Venrover, the famous artificer who may have a cure for the arcane plague. Separated from most of the Frith Guild—and even his sister—Volke must rely on the crew of the airship, the Sun Chaser, to help him find Theasin in time.

To complicate matters, the desert city of New Norra is steeped in mystery, and the massive maze under the streets could potentially solve all of Volke’s problems. With hunters after him, and dread pirates in the port, Volke finds himself forced to choose between equally terrible options…

Continue the Frith Chronicles with the fourth book, Plague Arcanist!

Praise for the Frith Chronicles!

“Perfect for those who enjoy the Codex Alera series, the Homas Wildus series and the Harry Potter series. Stovall is quickly becoming a name I look for." - Seattle Book Review (for Knightmare Arcanist, Book I)

“Dread Pirate Arcanist is a brilliant novel from start to finish.” – Coffee Pot Book Club (for Dread Pirate Arcanist, Book II)

“Marvelously entertaining!” - The Prairies Book Review (for Coliseum Arcanist, Book III)


Read an Excerpt

I had been infected.

Not with something mundane or manageable, but with the arcane plague—a blood disease that affected only the magical. It drove mystical creatures insane within days and slowly corrupted arcanists over the course of months. Each beat of the infected person’s heart betrayed them, spreading the disease throughout their body.

Those infected turned to mayhem and evil. Their madness made even cruel suggestions seem reasonable. It warped every inch of them, and there was no known cure—at least, not yet. Once someone contracted the illness…

The legendary swashbuckler, Gregory Ruma, had thought he could bring back his dead wife with the deaths of countless others. Rylin, the griffin, had tried to consume his own son. The plague-ridden gargoyle I had fought on Calisto’s ship had tried to rip apart all life he’d come into contact with.

I carried the same disease they did.

I rubbed at my arms as goosebumps formed. If I dwelled on the situation, I’d never have the strength to solve the problem. I had to focus on the immediate—on the new day awaiting me.

“Volke, are you okay?” Fain asked.

I nodded. “As much as I can be.”

He stood close, his dark eyes narrowed in concern.

When I had first met Fain, he had been a pirate aboard the infamous Third Abyss. It amused me, that of all the people willing to stand by my side, he was one of them. He was immune to the arcane plague, however, which was the primary reason I hadn’t insisted he abandon me.

All arcanists had a mark on their forehead—a star with the picture of their bonded mystical creature, their eldrin, wrapped around the seven points. Fain’s arcanist mark had a wolf woven throughout. Well, not a wolf, but a wendigo, a mystical creature with a wolf-like body, a skull mask over its face, and large antlers. They were beasts of consumption and known as man-eaters, the one category of creature unaffected by the plague.

Wraith, Fain’s wendigo, sat at Fain’s side, his wolf-gaze locked on the descending airship. Wraith’s gray pelt swished around in the wind, but his fluffy tail remained tightly wrapped around the side of his body. He had no antlers, just nubs where they had once been.

“Do we have to board that… thing?” Wraith whispered, his voice gruff.

Fain patted Wraith behind his skull mask. “It’ll be fine.”

“I’ve never flown before. It doesn’t seem safe.”

“I haven’t heard of any airships crashing.” Fain gave me a questioning glance. “Right?”

Airships were few and far between. Of course no one had heard of them crashing—most people had never even seen one. But I didn’t want to spook him or Wraith. “I doubt it’ll crash.”

About the Author: Shami Stovall is a multi-award-winning author of fantasy and science fiction, with several best-selling novels under her belt. Before that, she taught history and criminal law at the college level, and loved every second. When she’s not reading fascinating articles and books about ancient China or the Byzantine Empire, Stovall can be found playing way too many video games, especially RPGs and tactics simulators.

If you would like to find a full list of her novels and audiobooks, you can do so here: https://www.amazon.com/Shami-Stovall/e/B07KXXPJ74%3F

If you want to contact her, you can do so at the following locations:

Website: https://sastovallauthor.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GameOverStation/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAStovall
Email: s.adelle.s@gmail.com

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Plague-Arcanist-Frith-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B085DT4YWC

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DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW THE TOUR AND COMMENT
ON EACH STOP TO EARN MORE ENTRIES TO WIN!

June 1: Unabridged Andra's
June 3: White Sky Project - review
June 8: Rogue's Angels
June 9: Kit 'N Kabookle - review
June 11: Harlie's Books
June 16: Viviana MacKade







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Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Blurb Blitz and Giveaway: Coleseum Arcanist by Sham Stovall


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Shami Stovall will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Adventure. Competition. A duel to the death.

While on a journey to the famous city of Thronehold, Volke Savan learns of the Sovereign Dragon Tournament. The massive celebration involves hundreds of arcanists competing for fame and glory, and Volke is determined to win.

Dark forces dwell in the city, however, and rumors of the legendary world serpent spread amongst the shadows. Whoever bonds with a god-like mystical creature will gain magic beyond compare, and the queen’s guards suspect cutthroats will use the chaos of the tournament to hide their plotting.

Unsure of who to trust, Volke investigates the terrible rumors while advancing in the ranks of the tournament. Unfortunately, the true villain may be closer than he realizes…

Continue the Frith Chronicles with the third book, Coliseum Arcanist!

Praise for the Frith Chronicles!

"Absolutely brilliant." - Archaeolibrarian for Knightmare Arcanist (Frith Chronicles, Book 1)

"With a thoroughly satisfying ending that hints at an incredible future for the series, Dread Pirate Arcanist is an unequivocal triumph." - ManyBooks for Dread Pirate Arcanist (Frith Chronicles, Book 2)

Read an Excerpt

Nothing hurt quite like the sharp beak of a phoenix jabbed straight into my scalp.

I growled a curse as I leapt up into a sitting position on my bed. Was I bleeding? I ran a shaky hand through my disheveled black hair and flinched when I grazed the tiny puncture wound. Some blood, but not much.

“Good morning, Volke,” the phoenix said, his voice chipper.

I took a deep breath. “Hello, Forsythe.”

“My arcanist wanted to know if you were ready to train.”

“Yeah. Just give me a moment.”

The stinging pain removed all grogginess. I couldn’t go back to sleep now, even if I wanted to. After another deep breath, I peered through the open window. The sun had yet to rise. The purple hue of the sky, dotted with a handful of stars, meant we still had an hour before dawn.

“He’s already awake?” I asked.

“He’s been determined to work hard ever since he escaped Calisto’s pirate ship.” Forsythe tilted his head from side to side. “And you did say you would train with him whenever he asked.”

Although it was dark outside, Forsythe illuminated my room. A gentle glow radiated from beneath his scarlet feathers, like his body was made of flame. The rest of him resembled a large heron with delicate features, including a long neck and a pointed beak. His gold eyes stayed fixed on me as I flung my legs over the side of the bed.

I loved phoenixes, but every time they moved around, soot fell from the smolder of fire hidden beneath their feathers. A trail of it led from the windowsill to my bed.

About the Author: Shami Stovall is a multi-award-winning author of fantasy and science fiction, with several best-selling novels under her belt. Before that, she taught history and criminal law at the college level, and loved every second. When she’s not reading fascinating articles and books about ancient China or the Byzantine Empire, Stovall can be found playing way too many video games, especially RPGs and tactics simulators.

Check out her latest novel, Coliseum Arcanist: https://www.amazon.com/Coliseum-Arcanist-Frith-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B07ZBNF1XW

Website: https://sastovallauthor.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GameOverStation/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAStovall/
Email: s.adelle.s@gmail.com

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DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW THE TOUR AND COMMENT
ON EACH STOP TO EARN MORE ENTRIES TO WIN!

February 18: Rogue's Angels
February 19: Mythical Books
February 20: The Avid Reader - review
February 21: All the Ups and Downs
February 26: Our Town Book Reviews
February 27: michellemengsbookblog - review
February 28: Fabulous and Brunette
March 3: Travel the Ages
March 5: Kit 'N Kabookle - review







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Tuesday, June 18, 2019

Book Blast and Giveaway: Knightmare Arcanist by Shami Stovall


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will award a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Magic. Sailing. A murderer among heroes.

Gravedigger Volke Savan wants nothing more than to be like his hero, the legendary magical swashbuckler, Gregory Ruma. First he needs to become an arcanist, someone capable of wielding magic, which requires bonding with a mythical creature. And he’ll take anything—a pegasus, a griffin, a ravenous hydra—maybe even a leviathan, like Ruma.

So when Volke stumbles across a knightmare, a creature made of shadow and terror, he has no reservations. But the knightmare knows a terrible secret: Ruma is a murderer out to spread corrupted magic throughout their island nation. He’s already killed a population of phoenixes and he intends to kill even more.

In order to protect his home, his adopted sister, and the girl he admires from afar, Volke will need to confront his hero, the Master Arcanist Gregory Ruma.

A fast-paced flintlock fantasy for those who enjoy How to Train Your Dragon by Cressida Cowell, Unsouled (Cradle Series) by Will Wight, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan.

Read an Excerpt

I outlined a fresh grave for the cemetery as bells rang from the isle’s tower, signifying the start of the celebrations. The soil reeked of ammonia and rot, but the crisp morning breeze washed the scent away, dispersing it over the ocean. I removed my shirt, allowing the wind to cool me while I worked.

Every ten years, the people on the Isle of Ruma gathered to watch the fledgling phoenixes bond with a few chosen mortals. Lamplighters did their duty despite the glorious sunshine, each lamp’s fire representing the flames of phoenixes. Merchants cleared their horses and carts from the main road in anticipation of the crowds.

This was my second Day of Phoenixes. A decade ago, on my fifth birthday, I missed the bonding ceremony to attend my father’s trial. He was convicted of murder, but because he hadn’t been born on the island, he was taken to the mainland for final judgement. That was the last time I saw him.

Although the last Day of Phoenixes had been inauspicious, I intended to change that. Once I had finished digging a shallow grave, I would make my way into town.

I slammed the shovel’s head into the dirt and scooped deep. The cemetery sat near the edge of the island, far from those gathering to observe the hopeful students trying to win the favor of the phoenixes.

Tradition stated that anyone who handled sewage, waste, and dead bodies wasn’t allowed to attend the bonding ceremony, which was just my luck. After my father was sent away, I could’ve been given to any profession for apprenticeship. I could’ve gone to the carpenter and learned the craft of woodworking, or I could’ve gone to the silversmith and learned the art of fine metal work, but misfortune hounded me like a shadow. I was given to the gravekeeper, slated to dig corpse-holes until the end of time, forever exiled from the festivities.

I still intended to go. Even if it meant ignoring the traditions of the isle—something unheard of on our tiny spit of land—no one could stop me from proving myself to a phoenix. No one.

About the Author:Shami Stovall relies on her BA in History and Juris Doctorate to make her living as an author and history professor in the central valley of California. She writes in a wide range of fiction, from crime thrillers to fantasy to science-fiction. Stovall loves reading, playing video games, entertaining others with stories, and writing about herself in the third person.

Website: https://sastovallauthor.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/GameOverStation/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SAStovall/

https://www.amazon.com/Knightmare-Arcanist-Frith-Chronicles-Book-ebook/dp/B07QMKVFJM
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/knightmare-arcanist-shami-stovall/1131291989

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Wednesday, April 17, 2019

Review Tour and Giveaway: The Ethereal Squadron by Shami Stovall


The Ethereal Squadron
by Shami Stovall

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE:   Fantasy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

It’s 1916, and the world is on fire.

The Great War has already consumed much of the globe, but a second, secret war between sorcerers threatens to crack it in two. The ruling families of Germany and Austria-Hungary, those with the chill of magic in their blood, will stop at nothing in their quest for power, and they’ve drawn the entire world into a bloody war because of it.

But Florence Cavell—codename Geist—means to stop them. She had to defy her family, cut her hair, and disguise herself as a man to join the legendary Ethereal Squadron: a joint US-UK division of the allied powers’ mightiest sorcerers. Armed with her powerful specter sorcery, which allows her to “ghost” through bullets and barbed wire alike, Geist fights a tireless battle to end the war once and for all.

Fans of Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld, Airborn by Kenneth Oppel, Shadow Ops: Control Point by Myke Cole, and The Roar by Emma Clayton will love this book.

This book is for anyone who likes reading about:

Strong female protagonists
Military fantasy
Historical fantasy
World War I
Adventure stories


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT

“I thought Fort Souville was on the front lines,” Percival commented, his hands on his hips and his eyebrows knit together in confusion.

“It is,” Albatross said as he withdrew a pack of cigarettes from his trouser pockets.

“I figured there would be combat. Where are the Germans? Why aren’t we fighting?”

“Kid, nine out of ten times you just have to pass the time. Hurry up and wait—that’s the military’s motto.”

“What happens the tenth time?”

“You try not to die.”


~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Shami Stovall relies on her BA in History and Juris Doctorate to make her living as an author and history professor in the central valley of California. She writes in a wide range of fiction, from crime thrillers to fantasy to science-fiction. Stovall loves reading, playing video games, entertaining others with stories, and writing about herself in the third person.
Twitter: @GameOverStation
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWA:

Shami Stovall will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.



a Rafflecopter giveaway



DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW THE TOUR AND COMMENT
ON EACH STOP TO EARN MORE ENTRIES TO WIN!
April 17: The Avid Reader
April 24: White Sky Project








My Review


The Ethereal Squadron is a quite different of a read for me. I am not normally a reader of fantasy fiction, but devour anything historical I can find. I was not sure how this book would be with the combination of the two. With it being set during World War I, I had to give it a try. I am so glad I did. I thought it was a pretty good story. It was refreshing to read outside my comfort zone. 

I give The Ethereal Squadron four and a half stars. I would be interested in reading more by this author in the future. 

I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.



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