Review, Interview & Giveaway: Sword of Shadows by Karin Rita Gastreich

Sword of Shadows

by Karin Rita Gastreich

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GENRE:  Dark Fantasy

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BLURB:

Sisters in magic, Eolyn and Adiana seek to revive a millennial tradition once forbidden to women. When war strikes, their fledgling community of magas is destroyed; its members killed, captured or scattered. 

Determined to defend her people, Eolyn seeks to escape the occupied province and deliver to King Akmael a weapon that might secure their victory. Trapped by the invading army, Adiana is taken prisoner and placed at the mercy of the ruthless Prince Mechnes. 

Even as their world is torn asunder, Eolyn and Adiana cling to a common dream. Courage and perseverance guide them toward a future where the Daughters of Aithne will flourish in a world set free from the violence of men. 

"War propels the story forward, and the characters are at their best when circumstances are at their worst." -Publishers Weekly 

This is the second book in THE SILVER WEB trilogy. It can be read as a stand-alone novel, or as the sequel to the first book, EOLYN.

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My Review:

I really enjoyed this fantasy with two great female protagonists. It 's a very intriguing and engaging read, nothing is missing, there is magic, courage, treachery, betrayal, adventure, love. It 's a really epic novel.

Eolyn has been able to restore the magic of women in the world of Moisehén, although she nearly lost her life and especially her great and only love, Akmael. Her adventure is not over and she is in danger again.

The characters are many but all well developed. Eolyn is a great woman, has the strength and courage to fight for what she believes and what she loves in danger of losing everything. Akmael is a strong character, has to struggle between the desire to be with Eolyn and his duty of king to protect his people. They are a magic couple, I really loved the pages which describe their moments of love.

I read and thoroughly enjoyed Sword of Shadows as a standalone book, even though it is actually part of the "Silver Web" series.

This was a great read that left me turning the pages, eager to know what was going to happen next. Wonderfully written, with vivid descriptions, engaging characters and a unique storyline, this book is amazing.

If you are looking for an original fantay with great female protagonists and a wonderful world this book is your ideal book.

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EXCERPT:

As Joturi-Nur’s breath slowed, Rishona wrapped her fingers around the jeweled hilt of his broad sword. She adjusted her balance and tilted the blade, trying to see Abartamor’s oversized figure at her back.

When at last the San’iloman laid still, the priest nodded to the princes. Abartamor’s heavy step sounded behind Rishona, along with the slow unsheathing of his sword. 

“I, the eldest son of Joturi-Nur, challenge your claim,” he said. “Face me, so that I may send you with my father to the Afterlife.”

Rishona spun, hands wrapped around the hilt of the scimitar, and cut deep into Abartamor’s protruding belly. The prince cried out as metal parted flesh. Blood sprayed across Rishona’s shimmering gown. Abartamor dropped his weapon and staggered backwards, eyes wide and lips quivering in protest.

“What have you done?” he stammered. “My niece? A woman? It’s not possible…not permitted…”

He sat hard on the floor and stared dumbfounded at the entrails spilling from his belly.

Rishona strode forward and drove the scimitar into his thick neck. With a few vicious hacks, she cleaved Abartamor’s head from his torso. Tearing off her veil, she leveled the sword at his brothers and demanded, “Who else would challenge me?”

For several moments there was no sound but the gurgle of Arbartamor’s blood, pooling around Rishona’s satin slippers.

Then Paolus-Nur drew his weapon.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Karin Rita Gastreich writes stories of ordinary women and the extraordinary paths they choose. She lives in Kansas City, Missouri, where she is part of the biology faculty at Avila University. An ecologist by vocation, Karin has wandered forests and wildlands for over twenty years. Her past times include camping, hiking, music, and flamenco dance. In addition to THE SILVER WEB trilogy, Karin has published short stories in World Jumping, Zahir, Adventures for the Average Woman, and 69 Flavors of Paranoia. She is a recipient of the Spring 2011 Andrews Forest Writer’s Residency.

Website: http://krgastreich.com

Twitter: @EolynChronicles

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Eolyn-110814625640244/

A little interview

Where are you from?

I grew up in the Kansas City area, on the Kansas side in a small suburb called Overland Park. (It’s not so small anymore.) I went to Texas for college and grad school, and from there moved to Costa Rica, where I lived and worked for many years.

After being away from the Midwest for about two decades, I moved back to Kansas City, Missouri, in 2007 to accept a faculty position at Avila University. Most of my family is still here, so it has been a happy homecoming.

What made you want to be a writer?

I’ve been making up stories ever since I can remember. In high school, I considered being a novelist, but was told by my career counselor that the only way to make writing pay was to become a journalist. In hindsight, I think that would have been a good career choice for me, but to my teenage sensibilities, journalism sounded kind of dull. So I dropped the whole idea of writing and pursued a career in the sciences instead.

Through all my years of grad school, research, and teaching, I continued to write as a hobby. In 2006, I wrote the first scene of what would eventually become my novel Eolyn. With Eolyn, I felt I had at last produced something special, something other people might be interested in reading. So I began exploring the possibility of publishing. The rest, as they say, is history.

Who are your favorite authors and how they have influenced your writing?

I am a great fan of the Nicaraguan poet and author Gioconda Belli. Her memoir of the Sandinista Revolution, The Country Beneath My Skin, inspired many reflections on women, war, and revolution that eventually made their way into The Silver Web trilogy. I also very much like her frank and open approach to women’s sexuality, a theme I try to emphasize in my own work as well.

Another author I keep coming back to is Phillipa Gregory, who writes historical fiction. Although I write fantasy, I probably read more historical fiction than fantasy. I especially admire the way authors like Gregory use their craft to reconstruct the lost history of women in medieval and Renaissance times.

I should also mention Guy Gavriel Kay, though I did not start reading his work until after I had written my own fantasies. More than influence my writing, I think his novels reaffirmed my approach to storytelling. I don’t write on the scale of Guy Gavriel Kay, but his philosophy of crafting characters and weaving tales seems very similar to mine. 

Do you have a special place you like to write?

My favorite place to write is Virginia Beach. Once a year, I get together there with other like-minded women authors. We spend a week enjoying each other’s company and making the stories real.

What other hobbies do you enjoy when you are not writing?

I am very much into dance; currently, I study and perform flamenco. I also love anything that gets me outdoors – camping, hiking, bicycling, anything that puts me out in the woods or in the prairie with some fresh air.

What are your dreams and plans for your future as a writer?

My financial goals right now are fairly modest: I’d like to break even on my self-published works; to recuperate the investment I’ve made in cover art, marketing, editing, attending cons, and all the other related expenses that came with releasing The Silver Web trilogy.

Even if I don’t break even, I’m very proud of The Silver Web, and I feel a great sense of satisfaction that we are putting these books on the market with the care and artistry that they deserve. I know there are many readers out there who will love these books, and I am happy to do my part to make them available to the world at large.

My next big project, already underway, is a contemporary fantasy series entitled Path of Souls. I’m hoping to take advantage of more traditional publishing routes for this series, and I have started querying for the first novel, The Hunting Grounds.

I suppose the biggest goal for any writer is simply to keep writing. That may sound simple and obvious, but actually, publishing - and all the activities that come with it - often takes precious time away from writing. Already, I am in a constant struggle to maintain a balance between the need to write and the demands of publishing. Going forward, I hope to have the wisdom, insight, and resolve to make sure writing remains a priority, and that it does not get elbowed out by other demands on my time.

Purchase link for SWORD OF SHADOWS, Book Two of THE SILVER WEB: https://www.amazon.com/Sword-Shadows-Silver-Web-Book-ebook/dp/B01G5L1GEG/

Purchase link for EOLYN, Book One of THE SILVER WEB: http://www.amazon.com/Eolyn-Silver-Web-Book-1-ebook/dp/B01B8F4G50/

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

Karin will be awarding a $15 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway