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Sunday, January 5, 2014

The Courtlight Series: Sworn to Raise

Author: Terah Edun
Genre: Fantasy, Young Adult
Source: Goddessfish Promotions
265 pages

Seventeen-year-old Ciardis has grown up in poverty, a cleaner in a small vale on the outskirts of the empire. But beneath her empire’s seemingly idyllic surface lies a hidden secret. Whispers of an inept crown Prince are growing ever louder—intensified by the five year anniversary of the soulbond initiations.

Amidst scandalous whispers, Ciardis finds herself chosen to train for the Companion’s Guild. She leaves her home and sets off on a personal journey to become a Court Companion. A position she’d never thought possible for a lowly servant to obtain, she must prove that she has the skills to attract a Patron.

But she must master those skills quickly. If the legends are true, only Ciardis can harness the power to raise a Prince in an Imperial Court sworn to bring him down.

This sensational series debut melds intricate storylines with remarkable characters and unforgettable magic. Sworn To Raise is ideal for fans of Kristin Cashore, Michelle Sagara, and Maria Snyder.


Excerpt:
Sworn To Raise Excerpt (Book One)

She stared at the longbow arrow jutting from the animal’s ribs. However, it wasn't enough to bring him down. Only a blade or magical blast to the heart could do that. In pain and fury, the white hart elk whirled around to face his tormentor. He saw the general a dozen feet away and charged. Ciardis watched as the elk raced toward the general, who now clutched a sword in his hands. The elk lowered his rack to spear the invader.

The general knew that he would have one chance to slay the beast. He just needed to get underneath its jaw and pierce straight through to the heart. Ciardis scrambled up and dashed toward the two combatants. She couldn't do anything from here; the elk's magical protection was already going down, thanks to the verbane-laced arrow, and there was no way she'd get a heart-shot in from behind.

Barnaren glanced at her. His concentration had been broken by Ciardis's movement, and he quickly looked away. The elk reached him in that moment and Barnaren had to dodge to the side and under its angry hooves. It wasn't quite enough. His sword stroke missed, but as the stag raced past, it managed to spear the general's thigh with a tine. The tine snapped off in a clean break, but another immediately grew in its place.

The blood poison of the tines did its work within seconds. General Barnaren collapsed, unable to move his leg. His sword lay a few feet to one side.


     At the last minute I realized that I had gotten a copy of this book with my tour kit.  Oopsie!  I am so glad that I realized that I had it because it was such a good book.  I don't read much fantasy anymore but this makes me want to read more of it.  The book seems like any other book until a heat spell was mentioned.  At that point my attention was piqued.  Then there were pegasus and I thought cool!  As with all fantasy you have to learn new cities and words for things.  But despite the fact that the book got confusing at times it was so creative.  At around the middle it gets really good with all kinds of trials and things that Ciardis goes through.  My only pet peeve with the book was Ciardis's name.  I had no idea how to pronounce it and my mind kept changing it throughout the book.  I give this book: ★★★★☆  Well done Terah Edun!


AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Terah Edun is a young adult fantasy writer born and raised in the Atlanta metropolitan area, who transplanted to the Northeast region for college, and has spent years living abroad in South Sudan and Morocco. She writes the stories that she always loved to read as a young girl. 

Connect with Terah: 
Author Site: http://teedun.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TerahEdunAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tedunwrites
Goodreads:  http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6517970.
Terah_EdunSeries 

Order Links:
Sworn To Raise (Book One)
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00C9VC7AY/
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/2940016661742
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/sworn-to-raise/id642043648?ls=1
a Rafflecopter giveaway

5 comments:

  1. I think this story sounds awesome. I enjoyed the comments on the review.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you so much for sharing! Can't wait to check it out. ^_^

    cloud.weaver.girl AT gmail DOT com

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  3. Thanks for the lovely review Lacie! :)

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