A
Game of Wings and Marks
Game of Wings and Marks
Rebecca
Crunden
Crunden
Genre: urban fantasy, paranormal
romance
romance
Date of Publication: 27 June 2017
ISBN: 1548194581
ASIN: B073DL6CZV
Number of pages: 237
Word Count: 75K
Cover Artist: Heather Maddalozzo
Book Description:
When Octavia Coal goes to the
mountains to clear her head, she doesn’t expect to find an angel in trouble.
mountains to clear her head, she doesn’t expect to find an angel in trouble.
He tells her his name is Tamiel
and he’s one of the Irin – the army of angels tasked with keeping demons from
overwhelming humanity. But Tamiel broke a sacred law – he fell in love with a
human – and now he’s being hunted by the same angels he once served.
and he’s one of the Irin – the army of angels tasked with keeping demons from
overwhelming humanity. But Tamiel broke a sacred law – he fell in love with a
human – and now he’s being hunted by the same angels he once served.
With nowhere else to go, Octavia
and Tamiel – along with Jack, the human in question, and her brother Caleb –
appeal directly to Zev, the Demon of Games. A trickster of unparalleled power,
Zev gives nothing for free, and the gift he offers Octavia to keep Tamiel alive
comes with a confusing catch: He makes her the Healer of Raphael, archangel and
Commander of the Irin.
and Tamiel – along with Jack, the human in question, and her brother Caleb –
appeal directly to Zev, the Demon of Games. A trickster of unparalleled power,
Zev gives nothing for free, and the gift he offers Octavia to keep Tamiel alive
comes with a confusing catch: He makes her the Healer of Raphael, archangel and
Commander of the Irin.
Suddenly a target for both angels
and demons, Octavia quickly learns that the only way to survive is to play the
game better than they do.
and demons, Octavia quickly learns that the only way to survive is to play the
game better than they do.
The only problem is, she doesn’t
know whose game she’s playing …
know whose game she’s playing …
Excerpt
from A Game of Wings and Marks by Rebecca Crunden
from A Game of Wings and Marks by Rebecca Crunden
There was a loud
banging on the door behind them. Everyone turned sharply to look at it.
banging on the door behind them. Everyone turned sharply to look at it.
Zev waved his
hand and for a moment the banging stopped, only to renew with more gusto. He
stood and strolled over to the door, purple flames curling around his hands
like vines.
hand and for a moment the banging stopped, only to renew with more gusto. He
stood and strolled over to the door, purple flames curling around his hands
like vines.
‘Wait,’ said
Tamiel. ‘It’s the Irin.’
Tamiel. ‘It’s the Irin.’
‘They have no
authority in Blood and Bone, Tamiel,’ said Zev before yanking open the door and
glaring at the loud intruders. ‘What?’
authority in Blood and Bone, Tamiel,’ said Zev before yanking open the door and
glaring at the loud intruders. ‘What?’
In the doorway
stood three very intimidating angels, one male and two females. The Watchers
wore black trousers and boots, but no other clothes. Their chests were covered
in armour and each had multiple weapons. But it was their wings Octavia stared
at, only then understanding the extent of what had been done to Tamiel.
stood three very intimidating angels, one male and two females. The Watchers
wore black trousers and boots, but no other clothes. Their chests were covered
in armour and each had multiple weapons. But it was their wings Octavia stared
at, only then understanding the extent of what had been done to Tamiel.
Angel wings were
stunning. There was nothing birdlike about them. They were nearly reptilian.
Sinewy. Feathers like satin and metal, bone like armour made from earth.
Weapons and transport, beautiful and deadly. Two of the angels had grey wings,
one had white. They were also enormous. A chill went down Octavia’s spine.
stunning. There was nothing birdlike about them. They were nearly reptilian.
Sinewy. Feathers like satin and metal, bone like armour made from earth.
Weapons and transport, beautiful and deadly. Two of the angels had grey wings,
one had white. They were also enormous. A chill went down Octavia’s spine.
Zev closed the
door behind them, his eyes flashing irritably at this intrusion. Octavia got
the feeling that they were only getting as far as they were because he wanted
to see exactly what it was they would do, not because he couldn’t make them
leave. He seemed to have a good deal of power and she hoped he was on their side.
door behind them, his eyes flashing irritably at this intrusion. Octavia got
the feeling that they were only getting as far as they were because he wanted
to see exactly what it was they would do, not because he couldn’t make them
leave. He seemed to have a good deal of power and she hoped he was on their side.
‘Tamiel, you are
to come with us,’ said one. ‘You have broken the law.’
to come with us,’ said one. ‘You have broken the law.’
Octavia, Caleb
and Jack all moved closer to Tamiel. It wasn’t like they could actually do much
if the angels decided to take him, but there was strength in solidarity, and
Octavia felt more courageous with them beside her. At least they were all
equally as screwed.
and Jack all moved closer to Tamiel. It wasn’t like they could actually do much
if the angels decided to take him, but there was strength in solidarity, and
Octavia felt more courageous with them beside her. At least they were all
equally as screwed.
Tamiel regarded
the three angels with a look of disappointment. ‘I didn’t think it would take
you nearly so long, Hamon.’
the three angels with a look of disappointment. ‘I didn’t think it would take
you nearly so long, Hamon.’
The angel
nearest them sneered. ‘How’s life without wings?’
nearest them sneered. ‘How’s life without wings?’
Tamiel bristled.
‘I hope you never know.’
‘I hope you never know.’
‘Come with us,’
said the second angel. ‘It’s better to go quietly, Tam.’
said the second angel. ‘It’s better to go quietly, Tam.’
‘I thought you
were better than this, Peliel,’ said Tamiel softly. ‘Aren’t we friends?’
were better than this, Peliel,’ said Tamiel softly. ‘Aren’t we friends?’
Peliel looked
away, jaw clenched.
away, jaw clenched.
Hamon, on the
other hand, seemed to delight in being there. ‘Take him,’ he said to Peliel and
the other.
other hand, seemed to delight in being there. ‘Take him,’ he said to Peliel and
the other.
Before they
could move, Zev’s eyes flashed, and the very air seemed to shudder.
could move, Zev’s eyes flashed, and the very air seemed to shudder.
Everyone looked
at him.
at him.
‘Blood and Bone
is a haven for all species from all worlds, from all planes, Watchers, and best
you remember it,’ he snapped. ‘Tamiel is under my protection and I will remove
you all if you annoy me further.’
is a haven for all species from all worlds, from all planes, Watchers, and best
you remember it,’ he snapped. ‘Tamiel is under my protection and I will remove
you all if you annoy me further.’
‘Take down the
wards, Zev,’ said Hamon. ‘You are interfering in business not of your
understanding.’
wards, Zev,’ said Hamon. ‘You are interfering in business not of your
understanding.’
‘Oh,’ mocked
Zev, ‘do demons not understand angel business? You do not have authority here.
This is my home and I am the law. Blood and Bone is a sanctuary.’
Zev, ‘do demons not understand angel business? You do not have authority here.
This is my home and I am the law. Blood and Bone is a sanctuary.’
Hamon’s hand
shot out, but if he expected that to do anything he was sorely disappointed. He
looked at Zev as if he would enjoy nothing more than ripping his spine out
through his chest. ‘Remove the wards, filth.’
shot out, but if he expected that to do anything he was sorely disappointed. He
looked at Zev as if he would enjoy nothing more than ripping his spine out
through his chest. ‘Remove the wards, filth.’
Zev looked at
him with unmasked scorn. ‘I am far older than you, Watcher. Don’t test me. I
have signatures in blood from your betters which will see you sent back to
Parid if you choose to ignore their truce.’
him with unmasked scorn. ‘I am far older than you, Watcher. Don’t test me. I
have signatures in blood from your betters which will see you sent back to
Parid if you choose to ignore their truce.’
Octavia and
Caleb exchanged looks of impressed approval. She wondered what it must be like
to have that sort of confidence in one’s own abilities and powers.
Caleb exchanged looks of impressed approval. She wondered what it must be like
to have that sort of confidence in one’s own abilities and powers.
It didn’t seem
like Hamon particularly cared. He raised his sword.
like Hamon particularly cared. He raised his sword.
Tamiel held up
his hands. ‘There are humans amongst us – we must all remember that.’
his hands. ‘There are humans amongst us – we must all remember that.’
The third angel
said, ‘Then best leave with us and avoid bloodshed.’
said, ‘Then best leave with us and avoid bloodshed.’
It was
impressive how little fear Tamiel showed. His glare ought to have levelled her.
‘I’m going nowhere, Sorush.’
impressive how little fear Tamiel showed. His glare ought to have levelled her.
‘I’m going nowhere, Sorush.’
‘Then you leave
us no choice,’ said Hamon. ‘No one will miss one Healer who’s broken the law.’
us no choice,’ said Hamon. ‘No one will miss one Healer who’s broken the law.’
‘There are three
humans here!’
humans here!’
‘The ends justify
the means, Tamiel. That is our law. You have broken our most sacred!’
the means, Tamiel. That is our law. You have broken our most sacred!’
Zev’s hands shot
out, the tattoos on his fingers shimmering purple before returning to black.
out, the tattoos on his fingers shimmering purple before returning to black.
About
the Author:
the Author:
Rebecca Crunden is an Irish-based
author originally from Texas. Obsessed with both writing and reading for as
long as she can remember, she began writing as a child. After completing her
first series, she decided to start independently publishing her novels in 2017.
To date she’s published one series, two standalone novels, a novella, and
co-written an anthology. When she’s not writing, reading or drinking ridiculous
amounts of coffee, she’s hiking with her partner and watching an insane amount
of science fiction-fantasy shows.
author originally from Texas. Obsessed with both writing and reading for as
long as she can remember, she began writing as a child. After completing her
first series, she decided to start independently publishing her novels in 2017.
To date she’s published one series, two standalone novels, a novella, and
co-written an anthology. When she’s not writing, reading or drinking ridiculous
amounts of coffee, she’s hiking with her partner and watching an insane amount
of science fiction-fantasy shows.
Interview with Rebecca Crunden
Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you feel like you have the reigns of the story?
I keep a fairly fluid outline of a plot in my head and a general ‘let’s go in this direction’ mantra, but if the characters change, the plot can, too.
Convince us why you feel your book is a must read.
I had such fun writing it, and it plays like a movie in my head, so I’d like to think it’s a great quick read for anyone who likes fantasy, LGBT+ rep and character banter.
Have you written any other books that are not published?
I have two novels in the works for later this year. 😊
Pen or typewriter or computer?
A combination of pen and laptop.
Anything you would like to say to your readers and fans?
You guys are the best! <3 font="">
No comments:
Post a Comment