Today we have an excerpt from Wings of Arian, the first novel in the Solus series by Devri Walls. We are also giving away an ebook copy of any book (winner's choice!) in the Solus series.
Book Excerpt: Wings of Arian
Emane started circling around her. “First things first, you need to
protect yourself. I will try to get past your guard. If you block me,
you win. If I get past your guard, I win. And,” he drug out. “I will
expect to be paid with a kiss.”
“What do I get if I win?” Kiora asked.
Emane took advantage of the question and jabbed in quickly, connecting
with her arm. “One kiss for me,” he winked, backing out again.
“That was cheating!” she objected.
Emane swung around the blade, lightly connecting the flat side of the sword between her shoulder blades.
“Two kisses for me.”
“Oohhh,” she growled. “You are an arrogant horse’s ass!” She took a protective stance and blocked the next blow.
“Nice job.” He danced around her and connected with her opposite
shoulder. “Three kisses for the horse’s ass,” he gloated. “Come on,
Kiora, you have to move your feet.” His eyes glinted mischievously.
She started to move and circle, following his lead. She blocked blow
after blow, but missed at least one out of every three. “Come on,
Emane,” she complained. “Take it easy on me. It’s my first day.”
“I am taking it easy on you,” he laughed. “You’re terrible!”
“Thanks a lot,” she said, trying to force a glare at him. “You’re not
exactly encouraging.” She lifted her sword to block another shot.
Pushing his sword down over hers, he leaned in, “I actually like the fact that you’re terrible, more kisses for me.”
Kiora heard a few snickers from behind her and noticed that the camp was
turning up to watch the training session. Pushing back, Emane jabbed in
and caught her in the stomach.
“Hey!” she yelled, doubling over.
“That’s at least fifteen kisses, I am losing count.” Spinning in a wide
lazy circle, he asked the spectators, “Anyone want to keep track for
me?”
“You...are, such a...”
“Uh-uh,” he said, shaking his finger at her, “we have little ears amongst us, watch your language.”
“Jerk” she yelled.
“That’s better.” Emane swung again and she soundly blocked.
It went on like this for longer than she had wanted. The crowd cheered
when she blocked a shot and they counted kisses when Emane made it past
her guard. And they laughed at every joke he made, which only encouraged
him.
“Please,” she gasped. “I am dying, can’t we take a break?”
“Breaks are for girls!” He taunted her, dancing around her with the stupid, albeit gorgeous, grin plastered on his face.
“I am a girl, Emane.” He moved in to take another shot, which she barely
blocked. “I mean it, Emane, I am going to cheat if we don't stop.” He
raised his sword over his head. With a flick of her wrist she swept his
feet out from under him. He reached for his sword, but with another
flick of the wrist, the sword slid across the ground out of his reach.
She dropped to her knees, putting her sword to his neck, “Do you yield?”
The crowd was in hysterics. Emane stretched his neck looking around. “How many kisses am I owed?” he shouted to the crowd.
“Seventy-two,” the answer came.
“Hmmm, seventy-two kisses,” he put both arms behind his head. “That should be enough. Yes, I yield.”
“Thank heavens!” Kiora collapsed on the ground next to Emane as the crowd cheered and laughed with approval.
Emane rolled over and leaned on his elbow, looking down at her through
half-open lids. “I think the Lady should pay up.” He leaned down and
kissed her “One down, seventy-one more to go.” Emane jumped to his feet
and offered her a hand up. “All right, folks, that’s it for today.”
There were some moans and groans as the crowd dispersed.
“You are shameless, you know that?” she said, brushing off her pants.
“So you tell me.” He threw his arm over her shoulder. “Let's go get something to drink.”
My thoughts: I'd already fallen in love with the covers for this series, so when I got my hands on the book excerpt I was so happy to read about these fun, quirky
characters. I think my favorite quip was, "Three kisses for the horses ass." LOL! Do you have a favorite line?
What did you think of the book excerpt?
Wings of Arian (Solus #1) by Devri Walls
Kiora thought she had never heard a lie until she was sixteen. But she
was wrong. Her entire existence was based on nothing but. She thought
that evil did not exist. Lie. That magic was not real. Lie. And that the
land of Meros was all there was. One more lie.
With Aleric telling her that evil is knocking on the door and that she
is the only one who can stop them she has a choice to make. Refuse, or
start the wildest most painful ride of her life.
She reluctantly dips her toe into her new existence of magic and
threads, dragons and shapeshifters, and the person who wants to take
control of it all: the evil Dralazar.
However, this journey was never meant to be hers alone. She will be
accompanied by a Protector. To her disbelief, and utter irritation they
name the hotheaded, stubborn, non -magical, (albeit gorgeous) Prince
Emane. They will have to trust each other with their lives, but right
now Kiora would settle for a non hostile conversation.
And now it comes down to this, If you had never heard a lie, would you
know when you heard one? Is knowing good from evil innate? Kiora finds
herself having to decide who lives and who dies on those very questions.
Wings of Tavea (Solus #2) by Devri Walls
Kiora is rapidly learning that evil and lies come in shades of black and
white and swirling greys, but nothing could have prepared her for the
shock of leaving Meros.
Kiora and her protector Emane step through the pass into a world they
never knew existed but were always meant to save, only to find it far
worse than they could have ever imagined. Good has been forced into
hiding for its own survival, while the rest of the land bows to the
Shadow, a force that pushes any remaining thoughts of Dralazar from
Kiora’s mind. This land is full of new creatures, each more dangerous
than the last. Her visions have taken on a deadly twist, and magic, or
what comes of it, was never so real. And then there is Alcander: a
Tavean, their guide, and an entirely different kind of trouble.
Wings of Nestor (Solus #3) by Devri Walls
Kiora needs answers. Who is the Shadow? Who is Jasmine? Are they
connected? And even more pressing: how can she stop Shadow from using
Kiora’s dreams as a map to find them? They have escaped three times, but
are living on borrowed time—and everybody knows it.
Her search for help will push her closer to Alcander, send her to the
dragon mountain of Toopai, and straight back to Meros—where magic will
finally return to the land of no magic. Answers will be uncovered and
plans unearthed that have been waiting for thousands of years.
But with the Shadow’s forces gathering, it looks like the land’s path is
hurtling towards one outcome: war with the Shadow and death to all
rebels. Armed with knowledge and hope, Kiora is determined to change
that path. But will fate allow it? Or will it deal her a hard lesson
about following ones own destiny?
Wings of Lomay (Solus #4) by Devri Walls
Kiora needs answers. Who is the Shadow? Who is Jasmine? Are they
connected? And even more pressing: how can she stop Shadow from using
Kiora’s dreams as a map to find them? They have escaped three times, but
are living on borrowed time—and everybody knows it.
Her search for help will push her closer to Alcander, send her to the
dragon mountain of Toopai, and straight back to Meros—where magic will
finally return to the land of no magic. Answers will be uncovered and
plans unearthed that have been waiting for thousands of years.
But with the Shadow’s forces gathering, it looks like the land’s path is
hurtling towards one outcome: war with the Shadow and death to all
rebels. Armed with knowledge and hope, Kiora is determined to
change
that path. But will fate allow it? Or will it deal her a hard lesson
about following ones own destiny?
Solus Series Ebook Giveaway
We are giving away one ebook copy of any book in the Solus series by Devri Walls. Winner's choice!
To enter, please leave a comment on this post and include your email address so we may contact you if you win. This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL. Giveaway ends August 15, 2014 midnight EST.
Good luck!
