Today is the cover reveal for A Light in the Window by Dan Lutts. In A Light in the Window a tough-minded girl flees from a politically arranged marriage while the insulted suitor chases after her, but an unexpected attack by brigands leaves her alone in a strange countryside with as seriously wounded boy.
The covers are designed by Yvonne Lauzière of Stark Creative. This cover reveal is organized by Lola's Blog Tours.
By Dan Lutts
Genre: Fantasy
Age category: Young Adult
Release Date: 21 October 2022
Blurb:
FLIGHT
PURSUIT
CATASTROPHY
ALYSE DEJUNE FLED Caldon to avoid becoming a pawn in her matriarch’s attempt to have the Dejunes remain a powerful First Family among their noblesse allies. She intends to seek refuge at her uncle’s legionary camp deep within the forest-covered wilderness of The Marches while he tries to patch things up between her and their matriarch. But even the best of plans can go awry, and Alyse’s does when she is captured by brigands. She believes they intend to hold her for ransom but soon learns they have a worse fate in store for her.
RILL LARKIN FINALLY achieved his lifelong goal of becoming a mage even though he alienated his family and his best friend in the process. Now a mage serving the powerful Estati Family, he is part of a search party that intends to find Alyse and bring her back to Caldon—by force, if necessary. But Rill didn’t anticipate having to deal with a band of brigands who vastly outnumber his small group of pursuers or with a brigand leader who loathes the Dejunes. Those miscalculation have horrible, life-threatening consequences for Rill.
Excerpt
Standing by the embedded ax, Rill shot an arrow at the lead brigand chasing the girls. From the corner of his eye, he noticed a group of outlaws had almost reached the woodpiles. He pivoted, releasing three swift arrows.
A mage cast a spell at them, but Troy countered it.
And then the brigands were too close for spell casting or arrows.
Rill backed into the space between the piles, dropping his longbow and drawing his sword with one hand and his dagger with the other.
Troy’s shout sounded behind him. “Here they come, Freya!
Yells and the clanging of steel on steel rose from beyond the charging brigands as Kate, Yall, Jade, and Magnus desperately fought a huge pack of bandits.
Rill didn’t hold out much hope for them, or for Troy, Freya, and himself. But an unexpected peace settled over him. As long as Alyse and Livia made it to safety, his death would be a small price to pay for keeping them alive.
And then Rill’s inner peace shattered when the outlaws arrived and surrounded the woodpiles.
A woman thrust a spear at him.
Rill banged it away with the flat of his blade, then thrust his sword into her belly.
Another brigand pressed in, stepping on the dead woman’s chest.
Rill cut him down too.
An angry voice rose above the shouts and clangs of steel on steel. “Alive! I want them all alive!”
The remaining bandits backed away from the entrance. Some disappeared, but many stood at either opening, weapons in hand, making it impossible for Rill, Troy, and Freya to escape.
Rill exchanged puzzled looks with Troy and Freya.
Suddenly wood from the split kindling pile toppled into the passageway. Rill jumped backward, mumbling a profanity. The brigands were shoving the kindling into the opening between the two piles. This was something Rill hadn’t anticipated. He traded anxious looks with Troy and Freya. “We gotta get outta here!”
More split logs landed between Troy and Freya. Troy slashed at an exposed arm. The blade cut all the way through. The victim screamed, “We’re hemmed in.”
More and more firewood came tumbling down while Rill slashed at exposed hands and arms that were shoving the kindling.
“Push from the middle!” a voice cried. “We’ll bury ’em under the wood.”
“Idiot!” another voice shouted. “Didn’t ya hear Palquo say he wants ’em alive? Push from the top and flush ’em out.”
Rill stepped back as several pieces of firewood fell on the spot he’d been occupying. He traded desperate looks with Troy and Freya. “We gotta make a run for it!”
Troy stepped back from a hail of kindling, almost tripping on wood scattered behind him. “How? We’re trapped in here.”
“We ain’t got no choice.”
“Running is suicide.”
“So is stayin’.”
Just then a voice said, “Are you sure he said we can do it?”
“Yeah,” another voice responded. “Palquo said he doesn’t care now if they’re half dead. He’ll still get his revenge.”
Hoots and hollers followed the words.
“Now,” the voice yelled, “all together . . . heave!”
Horror overwhelmed Rill. It was too late to run. And he was going to die.
Wood all along the pile began toppling over.
Charm Wars by Dan Lutts
“Welcome to Caldon, a land of mages and magic, where the noblesse possess massive political and magical power and destroy anyone who threatens the noblesse way of life—especially the commoners.”
Links:
- Goodreads
- Bookbub
- Amazon
- B&N
- Kobo
- Apple
Dan Lutts, the author of Charm Wars, was brought up in Quincy, Massachusetts, and began addictively reading Batman, Superman, and Wonder Woman comic books at an early age, much to his mother's distress. In junior high school, he switched to reading science fiction novels. While in high school and college, he wrote science fiction short stories.
Dan taught history and archaeology in high school for ten years. After being laid off because of budget cuts, he used his love of writing to retrain and became a software technical editor and writer. He worked for several computer companies, taught technical writing at the college level, and worked as a freelance writer.
Dan loves to read and has varied tastes, including Young Adult, historical fiction, mysteries, 18th-century sea epics, and history. He especially enjoys Young Adult fiction and decided to try his hand at it. Charm Wars, Dan’s first novel, is the result.
Dan lives in rural Maine with his wife, Lisa. When he’s not working or writing, Dan can be found reading, making and shooting medieval arrows with his longbow, or playing with his dog and two cats—all rescue animals.
Author links:
- Website
- Newsletter
There is a cover reveal wide giveaway for the blog tour of A Light in the Window. Three winners each win a $25 gift card to either Amazon or B&N (winner’s choice). US Only.
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