Synopsis
It is not a peaceful time in the Algardis Empire. War is raging between the mages and the seventeen-year-old Sara Fairchild will be right in the middle of it.She just doesn't know it yet.
Sara is the daughter of a disgraced imperial commander, executed for desertion. Sara is also the best duelist and hand-to-hand combatant in Sandrin. She lives quietly with her family's shame but when challenged about her family's honor, her opponent inevitably loses.
On the night she finds out her father's true last actions, she takes the Mercenary Guilds' vows to serve in the emperor's army. Using her quick wits and fierce fighting skills, she earns a spot in the first division.
There she discovers secrets the mages on both sides would prefer stay hidden. Dark enemies hunt her and soon it's not just Sara questioning the motivation behind this war.
While fighting mages, blackmailing merchants and discovering new friends, Sara comes across something she's never had before - passion. The question is - can she fight for her emperor against a mage who has unwittingly claimed her heart?
This is year one of the Initiate Wars. Sara is hoping it doesn't become the year she dies.
Excerpt
It took two days. Two days of
Ezekiel not speaking of her. Two days of setting up camp with strangers who
glared at her and tried to pick fights. Two days of getting the last of the
food from the slop cart because no one would tell her where the mobile kitchen
would be located at the end of that evening’s ride. And a day since she fell
off her horse because someone had cut the straps on the saddle without her
noticing. It had been six-hours since she’d woken up, huddled not in a tent,
but on the freezing cold ground where she’d been forced to sleep next to her
horse so that she could make sure no
one messed with her tack or Danger again. So she gave up her stubbornness. Gave
up her pride. She was damned tired of being alone.
She went to look for the only
person who might even be half a friend in the entire convoy. She went after
Ezekiel Crane. Well, she and Danger went after Ezekiel. The convoy was
currently parked on a giant bluff overlooking a crystal clear lake and
meadowland. Many of mercenaries were taking the day to enjoy their first bath
since leaving Sandrin. Sara was hiking along the bluff looking for a curator
who didn’t want to be found with her horse in tow. She couldn’t trust the horse
wranglers to look after Danger like the other mercenaries could. Mainly because
everyone seemed to hate her from that one outburst the first morning she
joined.
So she led Danger by the reins with
her scimitar strapped to the left side of the saddle, her sword on her back and
her knife at her waist. She had ridden Danger up the slope but it was more of a
problem getting down. The slope was slippery, littered with rocks, and had a
steep incline. Making it hard for a horse to get down without breaking its
legs. She knew the wind mages and earth mages of the guard would work together
to make a smooth incline when they were ready to leave. The way it was now was
just a defensive tactic that would slow down any enemy’s forces.
They were a further three days out
from the nearest deployment site and Sara had to wonder who or what Captain Barthis
Simon feared that he would stick his entire mercenary regiment atop a hill with
defensive rings all round them.
Sara shrugged irritably at the
thought, It’s his problem, not mine.
We’re sitting ducks up there. All it would take would be for one enemy soldier to get the brilliant idea of
starving us out and we’d die on that hilltop.
That was part of the reason she was
heading down. That and the solace of Ezekiel’s company.
“Crap!” yelled Sara as her foot
nearly slid out from under her. She refocused on getting down the hill without
breaking her neck.
What made life difficult for their
enemies, made life even more difficult for a single rider just trying to get
from atop the slope to grassland.
As they eased down, Danger whinnied
anxiously.
If he could talk Sara had a feeling
he’d be saying, “I’m a warhorse, not a mountain goat you idiot.”
They came close to a few tumbles,
with the earth sliding out from underneath Danger’s hooves and the gelding
almost pulling her down the slope with him. But they regained their footing and
made it to the base. When they did he gave the loudest snort she’d ever heard.
“Good boy,” she cooed to him softly.
“You were a good, agile boy.”
She reached a hand up towards his
nose. Danger tossed his head away from her, refusing to let her pet him.
“Fine,” said Sara. “You’re welcome
to be mad at me too. But make no mistake, you’re
coming.
Giveaway
1 ebook copy of Blades of Magic
Open international
Author bio
Terah Edun's next YA Fantasy novel, Blades of Magic - Crown Service Book #1 (set in the Algardis Universe), will release on March 31, 2014. Book Five of Courtlight, Sworn to Defiance, will release in April 2014.
Her favorite writers include Mercedes Lackey, Tamora Pierce, Kristin Cashore, Robin Hobb and Maria Snyder.
Check out Terah's author website for more information about her books, find her online @TEdunWrites and subscribe to her newsletter to be notified of upcoming releases.
Extra
Title: Blades of Magic
Author: Terah Edun
Series: Crown Service
Publication date: March 31st 2014
Genres: Fantasy, YA
Other books: Courtlight series
- Sworn to Raise
- Sworn to Transfer
- Sworn to Conflict
- Sworn to Secrecy
- Sworn to Defiance
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