tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69747019625601220722024-03-18T12:58:51.567-07:00Melanie KarsakNew York Times Bestselling Author * Writing One Kick-Ass Heroine At A TimeMelanie Karsakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536647286454014302noreply@blogger.comBlogger501125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974701962560122072.post-73899313719313638512024-03-05T07:53:00.000-08:002024-03-05T07:53:20.902-08:00New Release: Heart of a Valkyrie<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimxgPMj3iLWOk3kIzqGpz22wQCqsBiNztRsfi3C130hyphenhyphenc1XYxDwoNAfgqn79dKJlXyThn_A9IVm2SRKhn82eCbkN9J3T7ZrHWgJjGs5zKoRTPHHoA2WjHNcWjc8FJdTOyj9BDt22Fsu-pH_o20fJFe8ZpJ9L4GIrWbylZGreNCT3e1rC_82PrE-a_EPi6b/s1080/Untitled%20design%20(83).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimxgPMj3iLWOk3kIzqGpz22wQCqsBiNztRsfi3C130hyphenhyphenc1XYxDwoNAfgqn79dKJlXyThn_A9IVm2SRKhn82eCbkN9J3T7ZrHWgJjGs5zKoRTPHHoA2WjHNcWjc8FJdTOyj9BDt22Fsu-pH_o20fJFe8ZpJ9L4GIrWbylZGreNCT3e1rC_82PrE-a_EPi6b/w400-h400/Untitled%20design%20(83).png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: times;">It's release day for Heart of a Valkyrie! I'm excited to invite you to dive into the first chapter of Freydis Eiriksdottir's life. Freydis is well-known in history as being an explorer. Alongside her brother Leif Erikson, she is part of the earliest expeditions to the New World. But before that, who was she? This series seeks to flesh our the daughter of Eirik the Red, breathing life into her. We begin the story when Freydis is just a girl, seeing how the situations and people in her early life form who she later becomes.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Heart-Valkyrie-Vinland-Valhalla-Saga-ebook/dp/B0BYMM35D1/">Get Heart of a Valkyrie on Amazon</a></span></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;">About the Book:</span></h2><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: left; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Born hearing the call of Valkyries.<br /></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Dreaming of distant shores.<br /></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Torn between the past and the future.<br /></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Destined to become a legend.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: times;">Iceland, 976—Freydis Eiriksdottir, born to a völva mother and berserker father, lives a quiet life on her remote farmstead in Iceland. Busy dreaming of the sea and haunted by the loss of her mother, she has no idea what the Norns have in store for her. When her father, Eirik the Red, marries the daughter of a powerful chieftain, the course of Freydis’s life changes forever.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: times;">Deciding that Freydis would be better off with the gothar, Eirik sends his only daughter to serve the Norse gods. Freydis learns the ancient ways and discovers that her world is endangered—a rising new religion threatens to reshape everything.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: times;">Amidst the uncertainty, a distant land beckons Freydis. However, as Freydis forms a close bond with Brien, an Irish thrall, she confronts the harsh realities of their world.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Readers will relish this sweeping Viking saga that chronicles the life of Freydis Eiriksdottir. Dive into </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;">The Vinland to Valhalla Saga</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">, a thrilling Viking historical fantasy series by </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;">New York Times </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">bestselling author Melanie Karsak.</span></span></p><p><br /></p>Melanie Karsakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536647286454014302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974701962560122072.post-91465135958306633412024-01-08T06:36:00.000-08:002024-01-08T06:36:00.132-08:00The Blackthorn Queen Now Available on Audiobook<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21NShHcX3eYjN17n-ag46zOyWMLTE1IsTyujF3sGQgYlvbXZxpXjYhj0mhoggIM6iIAgdfE552a27cxC0KPZTecJRE75ZmsdaOeJlumnnvo4VZg5zrM3GzthVp7zSoU_RNawq25hXnMieQcz8OfPZVJ8R2xqpq7EhQdFy4D_zdo8wxDNVSa6MyGZvYxlQ/s1080/Untitled%20design%20(77).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21NShHcX3eYjN17n-ag46zOyWMLTE1IsTyujF3sGQgYlvbXZxpXjYhj0mhoggIM6iIAgdfE552a27cxC0KPZTecJRE75ZmsdaOeJlumnnvo4VZg5zrM3GzthVp7zSoU_RNawq25hXnMieQcz8OfPZVJ8R2xqpq7EhQdFy4D_zdo8wxDNVSa6MyGZvYxlQ/w400-h400/Untitled%20design%20(77).png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>The Blackthorn Queen is now available on audiobook on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Blackthorn-Queen-Eagles-Crows-Book/dp/B0CRBHK3G9/">Amazon</a>, Apple, and <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Blackthorn-Queen-Audiobook/B0CRBGZ5TW">Audible</a>! I know you a lot of you were waiting for this one, so I'm delighted to share that Lesley Parkin is back narrating for us. I found her narration of this work really emotion-filled. I was surprised to find myself tearing up over things I knew were going to happen simply because of the emotion she evoked. Lesley is truly a gem in the narrative world!</p>Melanie Karsakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536647286454014302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974701962560122072.post-5798868691594157842024-01-05T06:21:00.000-08:002024-01-05T06:21:29.873-08:00Cartimandua's Story Continues in The Crow Queen<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejWO5CqhJMJ9BXsWD55H4RxIMJB6DnPhQ1LFoa_cSlD9P1XOfPU18LO2-znf1EqShS_QusMuXQUm5nWDMX1ehm8FUX-8ve7qg1rUyYGu6BYjjLP38PVAd6gQ5Uu47SqbTsqkFGZA6fCP_8vwxPLJz8DZo3ZkhWcUXnYVax2gMbMBBABM1VGEH_FwbEH4U/s1080/Melanie%20Karsak%20(Instagram%20Post).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhejWO5CqhJMJ9BXsWD55H4RxIMJB6DnPhQ1LFoa_cSlD9P1XOfPU18LO2-znf1EqShS_QusMuXQUm5nWDMX1ehm8FUX-8ve7qg1rUyYGu6BYjjLP38PVAd6gQ5Uu47SqbTsqkFGZA6fCP_8vwxPLJz8DZo3ZkhWcUXnYVax2gMbMBBABM1VGEH_FwbEH4U/w400-h400/Melanie%20Karsak%20(Instagram%20Post).png" width="400" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Happy New Year, all! I am pleased to announce that Cartimandua's series, Eagles and Crows, continues with the release of The Crow Queen.</span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">About the Book:</span></h3><h4 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A queen at war.</span></span></h4><h4 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A love woven by the gods.</span></span></h4><h4 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The looming shadow of darkness to come.</span></span></h4><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Britain, AD 38, When destiny crowns Cartimandua queen of the Brigantes, she inherits not just the rule of her ancient tribe but an imminent war. Seeking to take advantage of the upheaval amongst the Brigantes, the Parisii tribe strikes.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Cartimandua’s enemies soon discover the new Brigantes queen wears a crown of thorns and talons. Carti has no time to waste on petty squabbles. The Cailleach whispers of a looming threat from the south. Wielding ruthless strategy and strength, Cartimandua acts quickly to secure her hold on the north before an even worse darkness descends.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But even amongst the shadows, there’s a ray of light. Her new alliance with the Votadini tribe finds her engaged to the enigmatic Prince Cormag. Their bond offers a glimmer of hope for a bright future. Yet, as they carve out a life together, Carti cannot escape the echo of an old love.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">To navigate the darkness looming on the horizon, Cartimandua must hold onto her throne and her heart with an iron grip. Can she protect her tribe and family from the rising storm?</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">From </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;">New York Times</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> bestselling author Melanie Karsak comes </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;">The Crow Queen</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">, depicting the life of Celtic Queen Cartimandua of the Brigantes during the second Roman invasion.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Crow-Queen-Eagles-Crows-Book-ebook/dp/B0CC9XMDDD">Available on Amazon</a></span></span></p>Melanie Karsakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536647286454014302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974701962560122072.post-5748162290975320902023-07-25T06:00:00.001-07:002023-07-25T06:00:00.145-07:00The Blackthorn Queen Now Available<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTuQzwI1Z-2mZPZv3dJVgu5lkKp1w8RIA4uFak22CXSL-V2IIR5cNxuY2FYVHXi4YZTs1QAzi60VCcTifTyGTnbp-79xPURJ70t1qJ81XuheV6RZwoogXSNupawcwJEk6ZFF7RXtTG1H-8TmqK41Grs9ip99GnWZiRMrS5ZyR_bogHSwdKmNDDOlkG7fbd/s1080/New%20Release!.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTuQzwI1Z-2mZPZv3dJVgu5lkKp1w8RIA4uFak22CXSL-V2IIR5cNxuY2FYVHXi4YZTs1QAzi60VCcTifTyGTnbp-79xPURJ70t1qJ81XuheV6RZwoogXSNupawcwJEk6ZFF7RXtTG1H-8TmqK41Grs9ip99GnWZiRMrS5ZyR_bogHSwdKmNDDOlkG7fbd/w400-h400/New%20Release!.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>It' time to escape to ancient henges and misty mountains in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Blackthorn-Queen-Eagles-Crows-Book-ebook/dp/B0C59HT47P/" target="_blank">The Blackthorn Queen</a>. My new adventure set during the time of the second of Roman invasion of Britain is now available. This time, we are looking at this historic even through the lens of the Brigantes tribe and their queen, Cartimandua.</p><p>Boudica is forever remembered as the fierce warrior queen who pushed back against Rome. She has totally earned that honor. But to her north, Queen Cartimandua ruled the largest Celtic tribe, ruled longer, and is the first recorded queen in English history.</p><p>So, who was she? Little is written about Cartimandua and the Brigantes, but a little digging begins to reveal some detail about Cartimandua's world. One clue is found in the tribal name. The Brigantes appear to be named for one of the patron goddesses, Brigantia. Brigantia is a twin goddess. Brigantia ruled the warm seasons from Beltane to Samhain. She was a lady of waters and stars. On the other hand, the dark lady Cailleach ruled the cold, winter months from Samhain to Beltane. This detail helps us get an idea about the Brigantes people. They were a people of who lived under the shadow of duality with many shades of grey in-between. </p><p>For the purpose of my series, I put a lot of emphasis on the worship of these goddesses and the role of their priestesses. The lands of the Brigantes in northern England and southern Scotland is dotted with ancient henges and sacred places. This created a rich, religious landscape for the Brigantes people. So, what did this sacred world look like for the Brigantes people? In my series, I try to answer this question. Cartimandua is a devout follower of the twin goddesses, and that frames many of her decisions, dictates who she listens to, and guides her actions. She is guided by her goddesses and their priestesses. It's a fascinating viewpoint to consider, and I hope you all enjoy this exploration.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">Join me on this adventure in The Blackthorn Queen on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Blackthorn-Queen-Eagles-Crows-Book-ebook/dp/B0C59HT47P/">Amazon</a>.</h3>Melanie Karsakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536647286454014302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974701962560122072.post-84520487918001929802023-07-23T06:00:00.001-07:002023-07-23T06:00:00.149-07:00The Vintage Medium: Now Available on Audiobook!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Medium-Chancellor-Fairy-Tales/dp/B0C94ZTWGD/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9o9BFfgdS31XnsDUy2lYsl_qzu8poaRa6M2wsMoa95Erd9vS-EXm5rRnmfzyl4sIMQfmFsnFoib02FjicX6YOuI237nXMiCcpEzDL5nhYq4PB47MPyFyfIalgB6uYz6-YQnaLkSxh0nGG-WBWNiiRUnt6CYCBFwEk2Vr2uTNmX27djf2wvq_3-MNIJD5b/w400-h400/Audiobook%20Now%20Available%20(Instagram%20Post%20(Square)).png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Anyone else in the mood for fall breezes, autumn leaves, bonfires, crisp nights, apple cider, pumpkin, and all the spooky vibes? Considering the real-feel outside is over 100f, I know I am! If that's the case for you too, I'm delighted to share a solution!</p><p>The audiobook for The Vintage Medium is now available on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Medium-Chancellor-Fairy-Tales/dp/B0C94ZTWGD/">AMAZON </a>and AUDIBLE. Hollie Jackson, who narrated the previous books in the series, and I have teamed up once more to take you back to Chancellor. </p><p>So, if you ware in the mood for a cool autumn breeze, I've got you covered!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Medium-Chancellor-Fairy-Tales-ebook/dp/B0BFW4RGKP/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="3300" data-original-width="2200" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqSkagukH0iGqABG1QOk7tG20ug1jyvumhqFqAH1mNAbsh-2QC2qKAjoC8QNZQk5hoUln5cgdxDI1UXBg7jmniCCosUW4LpqCWq4A98xC7rgszlq5_G61FE3AkKUIAR9o_TXDKu7nPk7VmAKiH4vrsZkCv2lvkg2zdsRkTW5qTjXdZUvc-Jc_uPfoCq6L/w426-h640/TheVintageMedium_ebook_Final.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><h2 style="text-align: left;">About The Vintage Medium</h2><div><h4 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">People think being haunted is a bad thing.</span></h4><h4 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">That’s because they’ve never visited The Curiosity Curio.</span></h4><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The spirits who linger in my store dance the jitterbug, look after the plants, and gossip about long-dead relatives. Even though no one believes me about my mediumistic gifts, it’s my job to aid these lost souls. I can help them, even if I gave up hoping to find someone who understood me long ago. Call me a vintage-items peddler, but it’s my duty to match ghosts—and the objects to which they are attached—with the people who need them.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">That’s where James comes in. James Herringbone, the high-end antique dealer who looks like he just stepped out of an expensive cologne ad, possesses a pocket watch I desperately need. Until I get it back, the spirit of a flapper girl who haunts my shop will let me have no rest. Talking to James isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I mean, he is perfection in glasses and a tweed jacket, even if he looks down on junk-item antiquarians like me.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">But when I try to bargain with James for the pocket watch, things get…complicated.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Of course they do.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Because this is Chancellor, where magic lives on every corner.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;">The Vintage Medium is a stand-alone cozy fantasy romance set in the magical small town of Chancellor.</span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: large; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: inherit; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-style: italic;">The Vintage Medium is available in ebook, paperback, and audiobook on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Vintage-Medium-Chancellor-Fairy-Tales-ebook/dp/B0BFW4RGKP/" target="_blank">Amazon</a>!</span></div><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">You can get a signed paperback of Tess's story from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/1309204270/the-vintage-medium-signed-paperback-book" target="_blank">my Etsy shop</a>!</span></div></span></span></h3></div>Melanie Karsakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536647286454014302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974701962560122072.post-2927599775947263402023-07-22T13:14:00.002-07:002023-07-22T13:14:38.848-07:00Releasing July 25th: The Blackthorn Queen<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Blackthorn-Queen-Eagles-Crows-Book-ebook/dp/B0C59HT47P/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_83mNWa14w8aofbcID2FLHknuXV8muTLBHRLzjS4YNyBKK5eShZQeoTObn0Y-IPrPTRh-fvMiaEHcdkmVhWL0mudhRLWN7zeeXyxXO_n9AdAR_LN5vq87ljTdyn-h8d86sYjiAPmacmir3hCidfi57hjZflFHYMW91mqUo0LTwb8iia0S0qGxE2Umkhg9/w320-h320/blackthorn%20(Instagram%20Post%20(Square))%20(2).png" width="320" /></span></a></div><br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I'm delighted to share that we will be returning to Celtic Britannia once more in my new series, Eagles and Crows. Book one of this series, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Blackthorn-Queen-Eagles-Crows-Book-ebook/dp/B0C59HT47P/">The Blackthorn Queen</a>, will release on Tuesday, July 25th. The Blackthorn Queen begins the saga of Queen Cartimandua of the Brigantes.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Cartimandua is the first recorded queen in English history, but little is known about her. When is written about Cartimandua is recorded by Roman historians. In the hands of these writers, Cartimandua is depicted as a loose woman with poor morals who cannot control her tribe--or her husband. In reality, Cartimandua controlled the largest Celtic tribe during the time of the second Roman invasion. And, she held on to her tribe for a lot longer than many other tribal leaders, including our beloved Boudica. The end of Cartimandua's story is murky, and nothing is written about her early life. I look forward to bringing this ancient queen, a woman of wit, strength, and devotion to her tribe, to life!</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Blackthorn-Queen-Eagles-Crows-Book-ebook/dp/B0C59HT47P/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="4500" data-original-width="2820" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvKlGD8G0aflXnuXUhUamNT2DxFTQgvW3BodhihbYRiESeFuddOkUsNqZWXEG-feE1pY08loa4sHcQjod385DAheZxNZN4xWSdMh2d1Yu_zMZnFXXcXZgvW2L7skYrn1jTPdB4uW5MLA-KV4X2AVuOL9G3QaxU4WF-qI59HlQV_rFhslhUO49Jd8eS7ts/w402-h640/The%20Blackthorn%20Queen%20-%20eBook.jpg" width="402" /></a></div><br /><h4 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">From ancient henges to windswept mountains, dive into a world where pagan gods rule, powerful priestesses weave magic, and fierce Celtic tribes battle for dominance.</span></h4><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Britain, AD 38, Princess Cartimandua—Carti—of the Brigantes tribe faces an uncertain future when her father’s sudden death ignites turmoil. Suspicion falls on the Crow People of the Votadini tribe, straining the fragile peace between the factions.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">But they’re not the only ones bearing a grudge.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">A tangled web of political games soon unfolds. When enigmatic Prince Cormag of the Votadini shows the princess unwanted attention, the Brigantes’ alliance with the Carvetti is shaken. Cartimandua’s dream of marrying gallant Prince Venutiux of the Carvetti is put at risk. Soon, Carti finds herself at the center of a whirlwind of divided loyalties.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Yet amidst the misty forests and the blackthorn trees, the Cailleach, the ancient dark goddess of the Brigantes people, whispers that all is not as it seems. With the fate of her tribe at stake, Carti must learn to navigate the treacherous waters of politics, duty, magic, and love.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">From </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">New York Times</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;"> bestselling author Melanie Karsak, </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">The Blackthorn Queen</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;"> transports readers to northern Celtic Britain on the precipice of the second Roman invasion, introducing us to Cartimandua, princess of the powerful Brigantes tribe.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Blackthorn-Queen-Eagles-Crows-Book-ebook/dp/B0C59HT47P/" target="_blank">Preorder Available on Amazon - Releasing July 25th, 2023</a></b></div></span></h3>Melanie Karsakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536647286454014302noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974701962560122072.post-7331265868744951832023-06-08T12:15:00.005-07:002023-06-08T12:15:00.144-07:00Audiobook Release! Shield-Maiden: Gambit of Swords Now Available<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbK4OJ23yhOd8K2kWU0Simuc_HiK_77S7dwBXYrlBTevDkI0PVCOQNrhzjjVtRDlBYYUvo9e9xaTfWqDKCW8KJlPMrHoQgi12W6wRPkaNvjvG3rYdoA_DGQICmRhxoEt_gvy6ahdVWnQJmNKueEfK-spJRcCM1NmHhQxTMSV_cleMeVf7TAA8K0ZFSg/s1080/NOW%20AVAILABLE!%20(Instagram%20Post%20(Square))%20(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbK4OJ23yhOd8K2kWU0Simuc_HiK_77S7dwBXYrlBTevDkI0PVCOQNrhzjjVtRDlBYYUvo9e9xaTfWqDKCW8KJlPMrHoQgi12W6wRPkaNvjvG3rYdoA_DGQICmRhxoEt_gvy6ahdVWnQJmNKueEfK-spJRcCM1NmHhQxTMSV_cleMeVf7TAA8K0ZFSg/w400-h400/NOW%20AVAILABLE!%20(Instagram%20Post%20(Square))%20(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: -webkit-left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">I know a lot of you have been patiently waiting for the final audiobook installment of Ervie's tale! Lesley Parkin and I are very pleased to share that the final book in Ervie's series is now available on audiobook! You can find it on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Shield-Maiden-Gambit-Swords-Shadows-Valhalla/dp/B0C69ZXFRY/">Amazon</a> and <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Shield-Maiden-Gambit-of-Swords-Audiobook/B0C69WMD8G" target="_blank">Audible</a>!</span></span></h3><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: -webkit-left;"><br /></span></div><br /><p></p>Melanie Karsakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536647286454014302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974701962560122072.post-38255658164643405712023-06-07T12:00:00.003-07:002023-06-07T12:00:00.140-07:00The Blackthorn Queen<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Blackthorn-Queen-Eagles-Crows-Book-ebook/dp/B0C59HT47P" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSoMBPZAdweWc3h_BZoR86gfkx_gwHMM0dkDD_SCfYFEbNrNKVmP4fXXoq2NvtPnyu76diq2wDEwg1zJuhSlMmycp4B4YRO2VEIZ-0x8mbifTLLhVFO7xef9A62eNH7YPgQdD_s132wk-eZEqkObT56iSrrwxDGz0byO41VLPMN2qwID0XfI7SfRB7hg/w400-h400/Copy%20of%20Complete%20Series%20Now%20Available%201%20(Instagram%20Post%20(Square)).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: black;">With the release of Queen of Ash and Iron, the final novel in Boudica's tale, many people will be wondering what's next. I'm delighted to share that we will be staying in this world for awhile longer. We will move north to Brigantes territory for the tale of Cartimandua, the first recoded queen of Britain in a series called Eagles and Crows. The first novel in this series, <a data-link-id="1145443469" href="https://www.amazon.com/Blackthorn-Queen-Eagles-Crows-Book-ebook/dp/B0C59HT47P/" style="color: #3498db; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank">The Blackthorn Queen</a>, releases July 25th!</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: black;">Cartimandua's experience of the second Roman invasion was very different from Boudica's. With her tribe embroiled in internal strife, the Roman invasion hit them differently, and Cartimandua played an entirely different game of chess. I am LOVING unravelling the moves made by this dark queen to secure her crown. As well, with this novel, I am digging into the worship of the Cailleach, the legends of the little creatures of the hollow hills, the goddess Brigantia, and more. I hope you're excited as I am to learn about this fascinating figure.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><strong><span style="color: black; font-size: 18px;">About the novel:</span></strong></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: black;"><em><strong>From ancient henges to windswept mountains, dive into a world where pagan gods rule, powerful priestesses weave magic, and fierce Celtic tribes battle for dominance.</strong></em></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: black;">Britain, AD 38, Princess Cartimandua—Carti—of the Brigantes tribe faces an uncertain future when her father’s sudden death ignites turmoil. Suspicion falls on the Crow People of the Votadini tribe, straining the fragile peace between the factions.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: black;">But they’re not the only ones bearing a grudge.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: black;">A tangled web of political games soon unfolds. When enigmatic Prince Cormag of the Votadini shows the princess unwanted attention, the Brigantes’ alliance with the Carvetti is shaken. Cartimandua’s dream of marrying gallant Prince Venutiux of the Carvetti is put at risk. Soon, Carti finds herself at the center of a whirlwind of divided loyalties.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: black;">Yet amidst the misty forests and the blackthorn trees, the Cailleach, the ancient dark goddess of the Brigantes people, whispers that all is not as it seems. With the fate of her tribe at stake, Carti must learn to navigate the treacherous waters of politics, duty, magic, and love.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><em style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><strong>From New York Times bestselling author Melanie Karsak, The Blackthorn Queen transports readers to northern Celtic Britain on the precipice of the second Roman invasion, introducing us to Cartimandua, princess of the powerful Brigantes tribe.</strong></em> </div><br /><p></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Blackthorn-Queen-Eagles-Crows-Book-ebook/dp/B0C59HT47P" target="_blank">Preorder on Amazon</a></h2>Melanie Karsakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536647286454014302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974701962560122072.post-61266596884782688502023-06-06T12:09:00.003-07:002023-06-06T12:09:55.406-07:00Queen of Ash and Iron Now Available<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Queen-Ash-Iron-Boudica-Celtic-ebook/dp/B0B23N5ZPN/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8D2_zyR4a9JeFT2HM9rBEzigeFXdto6WYbfFWSxFkM5IlBl7vyEW-nFlUT-PFmxKXVQDQcuscsMgeGyvTjG6xcQPSVjpFGJXANuFGOtLsh4IiclpMf_qirJpTiaSIUrYLkzMufLsLmmzAu79JgfqRM10dKa5k7NveMQgf1skgnQq4Fove7V4hcZKJGg/s320/Complete%20Series%20Now%20Available%201%20(Instagram%20Post%20(Square)).jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p></p><table align="center" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mlContentTable" id="ml-block-194165913" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; min-width: 640px; text-size-adjust: 100%; width: 640px;"><tbody><tr><td style="border-collapse: collapse; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><table align="center" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="mlContentTable" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-collapse: collapse; border-spacing: 0px; text-size-adjust: 100%; width: 640px;"><tbody><tr><td align="left" class="mlContentContainer" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; padding: 15px 50px 5px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><p style="line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: black;"><em>Queen of Ash and Iron</em> is finally here! </span><span style="color: black;">The Celtic Rebels trilogy is now complete and available for purchase.</span><span style="color: black;"> </span><em style="color: black;">Queen of Ash and Iron</em><span style="color: black;"> </span><span style="color: black;">is available in ebook and paperback. The audiobook is also in the works! The complete series is available in Kindle Unlimited.</span></p><p style="line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: black;">Writing this series has really been a labor of love. I have always wanted to write Boudica's story. Authors often carry around story ideas for years. I've had this one in my mental filing cabinet since I was a teenager--really! Those of you who've read Grouch's story in the <em>Celtic Blood </em>series will already know I have an affinity for Boudica (and if you haven't read that series yet, you should... It has interesting ties to this one). Needless to say, I've been thinking about this story for a long time. I'm delighted and honored to bring this courageous woman to life.</span></p><p style="line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><b style="color: black;">If you haven't had a chance to do so yet, be sure to pick up the <em>Celtic Rebels Series Bonus Scenes and Shorts</em> book. It shares what happened to many of the characters after the series concludes and gives us a little insight on Aulus Plautius's headspace. If you're like me, you may question his motives. The free novel is linked at the end of Queen of Ash and Iron!</b></p><p style="line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieaW-xPJv65ZKUEXs5Q1vgGarOPbmZA7tyUNMD0ZCawEZeIsadBNMlGsDcnLjTh1br03uMxYmHMAY6wRPCHDI4n7oRX4yE-D1x2I7m4Os7mhnnY5J6MhBRkqu-GUVFSt6x4EqXVjMsmnQao5mDa1u4GhJbKNe-0n2wv9QhpNY2wRwqqTaJc27iSe0cvQ/s320/Copy%20of%20Join%20Melanie's%20Newsletter%20and%20get%20a%20FREE%20bonus%20book%20and%20exclusive%20extras!.jpg" width="320" /></p></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: black;">Despite the technical glitch from Amazon delaying the release, this was my best release in years. I am so happy to see so many people diving into the series or joining me for the bittersweet ending. The reviews of the books have been wonderful. Here are just a few samples from those who were kind enough to leave a review on Amazon!:</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><strong><span style="color: #0f6894;"><em>"Boudica’s life was poignantly made personal through Melanie Karsak’s telling. I fell in love with the heroine Boudica from the very beginning, admiring her strength of character, her commitment to family and extended family and her desire to bring peace to her people."</em></span></strong></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><strong><span style="color: #8e44ad;"><em>"It never fails to amazing me how grand and magnificent, royal and heroic her stories turn out to be. How involved I become in not only the adventure, but in the daily lives and thoughts of each of the characters . . . when the series ends, it feels like I have lost a tiny piece of myself each time. Would I give up these stories for that piece of me back? Nope."</em></span></strong></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><strong><span style="color: #0f6894;"><em>"I wish there were a million stars! I’ve been a longtime fan and Melanie Karsak scores big again. I’m already ready for more!"</em></span></strong></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><strong><span style="color: #8e44ad;"><em>"Queen of Ash and Iron is a very captivating story that will hang on with me for a very long time. After I started reading Queen of Ash and Iron I was drawn in and there was no way I could lay it down as it would not let me go."</em></span></strong></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="color: black;">With this, a hearty thank you to everyone who has journeyed with me on this adventure. </span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Queen-Ash-Iron-Boudica-Celtic-ebook/dp/B0B23N5ZPN/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuzusT-RLOlY6vyCrcIYS1tVB0xNaOJrBb7nh7KuDo9CGLvrAduelsZSpIC9iGPn4szy2FKsYM7RoA3Rvext5TeyhLczhk33_NtCOikcJ5VmcvvPwmJpSiSnfIHIEuJ1FAwi9IkNfiGWsXaJY5H7TrApgAJ4RRO69buD1AlKpmTvGNf8WEKG_yki9MwQ/w400-h225/Copy%20of%20Copy%20of%20Join%20Melanie's%20Newsletter%20and%20get%20a%20FREE%20bonus%20book%20and%20exclusive%20extras!.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>Melanie Karsakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536647286454014302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974701962560122072.post-1913460480858473122023-02-13T06:00:00.001-08:002023-02-13T06:00:00.210-08:00Shieldmaiden Books, Novels, and Series<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7C00jj86C1ASS51mXjMP8UTVtZROzPq9p4ye7PWeOCvtEax1sJgTl_i9xjPmpwuXGkwqdH-31pnP2o1YsCh2V9UV63zn5YfjgMnnWQiaSYrRML_Y0r3wrHGlYanTEXeNQtr81PxjZjfxzvYOaJulndfrfj_OYq6uH5-40kW9mbcvwZEi3DtByQS-Ew/s1080/Best%20Shield%20Maiden%20Books%20and%20Series.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7C00jj86C1ASS51mXjMP8UTVtZROzPq9p4ye7PWeOCvtEax1sJgTl_i9xjPmpwuXGkwqdH-31pnP2o1YsCh2V9UV63zn5YfjgMnnWQiaSYrRML_Y0r3wrHGlYanTEXeNQtr81PxjZjfxzvYOaJulndfrfj_OYq6uH5-40kW9mbcvwZEi3DtByQS-Ew/w400-h400/Best%20Shield%20Maiden%20Books%20and%20Series.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Shieldmaidens have been a topic of fascination for
centuries and their stories have been depicted in various forms of media
including books. If you're looking to dive into the world of these fierce
female warriors, there are many great books that you can choose from. From
historical fiction to retellings of legends, these books offer a glimpse into
the lives of these remarkable women and their impact on history and culture.
Whether you're a fan of epic battles, strong female characters, or rich
cultural heritage, there's something for everyone in this list of great books
about shield maidens.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/sheildmaidens" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGmh91rztxp4GeKRTBRVoMR6C5_nJmhCfL7B3sMGUt9ykLUzRpbpXv_KKn93Q3tvo2VDYVHbQ0vKGYbHXbv_IVh5Na_gm50xzhD-dJ8-VSNHlpRyu8d8L5sQGuSmjTqabp87iKNL-M4JycsedDKO8YDpI2fU7WCaTe64y5EIYcg_XpZenTLZmQutxy2Q/s320/Untitled%20design%20(17).jpg" width="205" /></a></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Under the
Strawberry Moon, The Road to Valhalla series FREE prequel by Melanie Karsak, <a href="https://www.subscribepage.com/sheildmaidens">https://www.subscribepage.com/sheildmaidens</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Shield-Maiden:
Under the Howling Moon, The Road to Valhalla series by Melanie Karsak, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B084NTGZPT">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B084NTGZPT</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Shield-Maiden:
Winternights Gambit, The Shadows of Valhalla series by Melanie Karsak, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09MBBLLX9">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09MBBLLX9</a></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Word and Weaver,
Norse Family Saga by K. S. Barton, </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08WCB4R6S"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08WCB4R6S</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Freydis, Daughters
of Freya series by <span class="a-declarative"><span style="background: white; color: #0f1111;">Gunhild Haugnes, </span></span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FT8T3YM"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FT8T3YM</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="a-declarative"><span style="background: white; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">The Norse Queen, The Norsewomen series by
Johanna Wittenburg, </span></span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086SZYM8N"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086SZYM8N</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">The Furyck Saga
by AE Rayne, check out the box set </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Furyck-Saga-Books-1-3-ebook/dp/B07FLGG837"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">https://www.amazon.com/Furyck-Saga-Books-1-3-ebook/dp/B07FLGG837</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">The Unbroken
Line of the Moon, The Valhalla Series by <span style="background: white;">Johanne Hildebrandt</span>, </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0753CSQBW"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0753CSQBW</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Vikings: The Truth About Lagertha
And Ragnar: Viking Secrets Book One</span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">,
Viking Secrets series by <span style="background: white;">Rachel Tsoumbakos</span>, </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078NK1WKC"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078NK1WKC</span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Rise of the
Shieldmaiden, The Shieldmaiden’s Tale series by <span style="background: white;">Jaime Loughran</span>, </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081VC96LC"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B081VC96LC</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Shieldmaiden, The
Shieldmaiden Viking Series by <span class="a-size-base"><span style="background: white; color: #0f1111;"> </span></span><span style="background: white;">Marianne Whiting</span>, </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075V16J4P"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075V16J4P</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XigGwNgsl7Y3ZqLoYztuTQdEO8HhXuY_TrlcPMg01mmE0tZlw_zEu6HDG0BKiR9ICIVtLd0UcJq4fodHzVv0HyJIcS9ig0qNJ_J_TL_cYVEprOlMU86UYEcvgqiyYhy4sCZv1rY_R2M3KFrtSgS3ComEvOWF3x8DVwn9n44KcThuzIBvGIexIZwHEw/s300/51o0lCz+uVS._SY300_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="200" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8XigGwNgsl7Y3ZqLoYztuTQdEO8HhXuY_TrlcPMg01mmE0tZlw_zEu6HDG0BKiR9ICIVtLd0UcJq4fodHzVv0HyJIcS9ig0qNJ_J_TL_cYVEprOlMU86UYEcvgqiyYhy4sCZv1rY_R2M3KFrtSgS3ComEvOWF3x8DVwn9n44KcThuzIBvGIexIZwHEw/s1600/51o0lCz+uVS._SY300_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Shieldmaiden
Squadron, Shieldmaiden Squadron series by S. T. Bende, </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09984GSHB"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09984GSHB</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="a-size-extra-large"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Shield-Maiden’s Warning, Runes of The
Shield-Maiden series by Ana Fjord, https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B5QBQ75B</span></span><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Song of the
Shieldmaiden, Daughter of Valhalla series by Ashely Hagood, </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BNF8ZXGK"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BNF8ZXGK</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDL8s6yA1yI92-66BhDsoM7waF46HS8TacuEOCoA7D_SywKDedVMJIuTIUa-d09RKBla9fwpK0GViq59tr9aBFYuelhFNcv7_f63Ler-E1crPFoIhCUM879XGfmxNtvsiOebqsEpMphePVoyc6Zv12sOfjLPDvItqaiM1eXBnKQdMJqW64IF6NpXjhw/s346/51Ej6rQEYXL._SY346_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="217" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgDL8s6yA1yI92-66BhDsoM7waF46HS8TacuEOCoA7D_SywKDedVMJIuTIUa-d09RKBla9fwpK0GViq59tr9aBFYuelhFNcv7_f63Ler-E1crPFoIhCUM879XGfmxNtvsiOebqsEpMphePVoyc6Zv12sOfjLPDvItqaiM1eXBnKQdMJqW64IF6NpXjhw/s320/51Ej6rQEYXL._SY346_.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="a-size-extra-large"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;">Anne, Shieldmaiden of Green Gables by David
Powers, </span></span><span class="a-size-extra-large"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Anne-Shieldmaiden-Green-Gables-Book-ebook/dp/B017AL8K7Q/">https://www.amazon.com/Anne-Shieldmaiden-Green-Gables-Book-ebook/dp/B017AL8K7Q/</a></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Shield-Ink-Bone-Casey-Bond-ebook/dp/B08N9HMFCC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="217" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMfWvsKKaM-HfC4ebKZjyq3YypQumf7rmpGE2qhhj5ukqTPouekO0s9AQadpOgaDhMnVl5_HZSMX31Bv669OldKKD-13djWalxpZfFRYD4oZl6iOY_mCH6RXSnu8OBTLIbaLatr-Mmzw0DWxySUk2ZwpOQ_QNO4lwibaGiMh3O6i1ZFbecjs50KWlEQ/s320/51nd3+I47dL._SY346_.jpg" width="201" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">With Shield and
Ink and Bone by Casey Bond, </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Shield-Ink-Bone-Casey-Bond-ebook/dp/B08N9HMFCC"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">https://www.amazon.com/Shield-Ink-Bone-Casey-Bond-ebook/dp/B08N9HMFCC</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Skye in the
Deep, Skye and Sea series by Adrienne Young, </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B087M2YZJ2"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B087M2YZJ2</span></a><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">The Viking
Maiden series by Kelly N. Jane, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Viking-Maiden-complete-boxset-ebook/dp/B07RV5XFX8">https://www.amazon.com/Viking-Maiden-complete-boxset-ebook/dp/B07RV5XFX8</a>
<o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;">Shield Maiden, The
Lone Valkyrie series, by Charley Case, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086DQ223R">https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086DQ223R</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Melanie Karsakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536647286454014302noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974701962560122072.post-38317749651484199392023-02-07T05:00:00.001-08:002023-02-07T05:00:00.156-08:00Queen of Stone Available on Audiobook<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mtlZPli2mSKh56PWCH7CfEUkQQa_Co1pzJyKh4kpPHE0fAHHUCmGNuDFQSrQ0TgLfGKiFj97tmKBpYGis_TNpSULCcjTIuvdoT4iF3ft5mzA0VM1N1tl6Woc1_eLwmUpCwMlFWo9jSVVCn7hmqhZxygxmk7QWP8dI_kqbZHzyjf64txD1dPTME_d_g/s1080/Audiobook%20Now%20Available!%20(Instagram%20Post%20(Square)).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9mtlZPli2mSKh56PWCH7CfEUkQQa_Co1pzJyKh4kpPHE0fAHHUCmGNuDFQSrQ0TgLfGKiFj97tmKBpYGis_TNpSULCcjTIuvdoT4iF3ft5mzA0VM1N1tl6Woc1_eLwmUpCwMlFWo9jSVVCn7hmqhZxygxmk7QWP8dI_kqbZHzyjf64txD1dPTME_d_g/s320/Audiobook%20Now%20Available!%20(Instagram%20Post%20(Square)).png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><p>Ready to head back to Celtic Brittaina? Queen of Stone, book 2 in my Celtic Rebels series, is now available on audiobook. I'm deep in the belly of writing book 3 of this series, Queen of Ash and Iron, so I'm really glad that this novel is now out on audio in advance. Lesley Parkin is back to narrate this new audiobook. You can find the audiobook available on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Queen-Stone-Boudica-Celtic-Rebels/dp/B0BPN5S44G/">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/B0BPN5S4RF/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-332514&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_332514_rh_us">Audible</a>, and Apple. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Melanie Karsakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536647286454014302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974701962560122072.post-26198511862344095292023-02-06T05:00:00.002-08:002023-02-06T05:00:00.162-08:00Signed Books & Merch Now Available on Etsy!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTXB2MYsVVsaQPzC4ALFiLoCmdac5ums7JDVenq5rJZQJN7EVg8fgTZi4lLM66Dt6maQVFU50GUtOrRrNOJam6yqOn0ZMjINtvA7NF0n1ljL6XbQQe9-LCFu3Nr09nCym4-xLpLxBcrluBNwFaf-DmOlYjJcOONO9cxJZUrqxTqUg22WWBjQwCn6GrQ/s1080/Open%20for%20Business!.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimTXB2MYsVVsaQPzC4ALFiLoCmdac5ums7JDVenq5rJZQJN7EVg8fgTZi4lLM66Dt6maQVFU50GUtOrRrNOJam6yqOn0ZMjINtvA7NF0n1ljL6XbQQe9-LCFu3Nr09nCym4-xLpLxBcrluBNwFaf-DmOlYjJcOONO9cxJZUrqxTqUg22WWBjQwCn6GrQ/w400-h400/Open%20for%20Business!.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Looking for signed books? I now offer signed novels, bookmarks, bookplates, and merch on my new Etsy store. As we go forward, I will be adding additional series-themed merchandise to the shop. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">You can find me here: <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/MelanieKarsakBooks">Melanie's Etsy Shop</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuUgGe-2I_9b_Q_XlkQF03v9Qw8BLNyrkMi0J6UbfbJzYBDQfiN8G1Z8-m8aRYEk8v6os7eKRp7oGog2S6tSuZrZLQFubfRRVqEafU9YUgi1IAdSn4jFSROAMNoMQGNV6bJDxxHLMzXWhOWJMtR3Wz2G9pDGJWIXhdLNyygJQfelm7LaQI8ZmQpx08g/s1600/Etsy%20Shop%20Open%20for%20Business!.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuUgGe-2I_9b_Q_XlkQF03v9Qw8BLNyrkMi0J6UbfbJzYBDQfiN8G1Z8-m8aRYEk8v6os7eKRp7oGog2S6tSuZrZLQFubfRRVqEafU9YUgi1IAdSn4jFSROAMNoMQGNV6bJDxxHLMzXWhOWJMtR3Wz2G9pDGJWIXhdLNyygJQfelm7LaQI8ZmQpx08g/s320/Etsy%20Shop%20Open%20for%20Business!.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Melanie Karsakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536647286454014302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974701962560122072.post-36360247596777671292023-02-01T21:00:00.002-08:002023-02-01T21:00:00.166-08:00Now Available! Shield-Maiden: Gambit of Shadows on Audiobook<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtlphxYdodxv7tSyhofe33WJSeMVSBz6Z_3GQVyR267IW7Qiznwsb9CnVF-KXNWpz1f-hn6jwxiaz36YFNx8ujdLA7_XlGYd25ZUte66Dek_7Y_196OdvGR4igSMtRf8Ml69MMPfO3pNQ40SZjhHXFAnafszP6DdOoXk4LO_WRxakoc2kTvh1eUj7Yg/s1080/Coming%20Soon!%20(Instagram%20Post%20(Square)).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFtlphxYdodxv7tSyhofe33WJSeMVSBz6Z_3GQVyR267IW7Qiznwsb9CnVF-KXNWpz1f-hn6jwxiaz36YFNx8ujdLA7_XlGYd25ZUte66Dek_7Y_196OdvGR4igSMtRf8Ml69MMPfO3pNQ40SZjhHXFAnafszP6DdOoXk4LO_WRxakoc2kTvh1eUj7Yg/w400-h400/Coming%20Soon!%20(Instagram%20Post%20(Square)).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm really excited to share that <i>Shield-Maiden: Gambit of Shadows </i>is now available on audiobook! Lesley Parkin is back to narrate the second novel in Ervie's tale. I have to admit, Lesley's narration of this book made me cry. It was so brilliantly done. If you haven't had a chance to hear her work yet, I really think you will enjoy it. The entire series is available via Amazon, Audible, and Apple on audiobook. You can find out more here:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Shield-Maiden: Gambit of Shadows on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Shield-Maiden-Gambit-Shadows-Valhalla-Book-ebook/dp/B09SQ85TNZ/">Amazon</a> or <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Shield-Maiden-Gambit-of-Shadows-Audiobook/B0BSZX6YYN">Audible</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: center;">About the Book</h3><p></p><h4 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">A kingdom at war.</span></h4><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h4 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: start; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">A conflict forged in the tragedies of the past.</span></h4><h4 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: start; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">A shield-maiden thrust into the heart of it all.</span></h4><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Just when Ervie was beginning to break free of the shadows that plagued her, the Gauls set her world on fire. With King Harald murdered, the warhorn calls for revenge. From Skagen to Grund, the Vikings will rally to avenge the heinous attack. Ervie will soon find herself in the middle of it all—even if her heart is still in the Myrkviðr.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">As war with the Gauls flashes to an inferno, the embers of a more serious problem smolder to life. Prince Hlod of the Huns is making plans of his own. Ervie and Loptr will soon find themselves on a collision course with destiny as they race to save the ones they love.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Continue Ervie’s tale in </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;">Shield-Maiden: Gambit of Shadows.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Fans of Viking tales will relish </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;">The Shadows of Valhalla </span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">series. This sweeping Viking historical fantasy retells the story of the second legendary heroine named Hervor—called Ervie by those who know her well—the inspiring shield-maiden from the Norse </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;">Hervarar Saga</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Readers of </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;">The Road to Valhalla</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> series will love this next-generation tale in a beloved Viking world.</span></p></div><p><br /></p>Melanie Karsakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536647286454014302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974701962560122072.post-12541907119456336742023-02-01T06:13:00.005-08:002023-02-01T06:13:25.589-08:00Shield-Maiden: Gambit of Swords, Coming February 15th, 2023<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjt9--K71AP78gtsGLPuOt_NTeH1VqIfSoWZ7ZTTkNiOiAEPT-E-WGbdKUaLZ97SMdPBcI208WeuK-89PI89qbRPbgUYeC1qgXTjyC8X0AcujKP_3H7p0Cj8AfehjfjQAcdMjctSJsgKPdLI8eKdgnmbQgdoRB5MfajIsyvOTxr8QoeDOI7_yr8PwU1g/s1080/Ervie%20Insta%20(Facebook%20Post%20(Square)).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjt9--K71AP78gtsGLPuOt_NTeH1VqIfSoWZ7ZTTkNiOiAEPT-E-WGbdKUaLZ97SMdPBcI208WeuK-89PI89qbRPbgUYeC1qgXTjyC8X0AcujKP_3H7p0Cj8AfehjfjQAcdMjctSJsgKPdLI8eKdgnmbQgdoRB5MfajIsyvOTxr8QoeDOI7_yr8PwU1g/w400-h400/Ervie%20Insta%20(Facebook%20Post%20(Square)).jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>We're just 15 days away from the release of the last book in my retelling of the Hervarar Saga with Shield-Maiden: Gambit of Swords. The tale of the second shield-maiden name Hervor, known as Ervie by those who love her, will come to a gripping conclusion in this last book in the series.</p><p>It's always bittersweet to end a series. I have come to love these characters like they're friends. If you read Hervor's tale in The Road to Valhalla series but haven't started the second-generation tales yet, I strongly encourage you to do so. Many of our favorites--Hofund, Leif, Gizer, Kara, Sigrun and more--are back in this series, and in particular, in this novel. </p><p>You can pre-order the novel on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BMB1C8LL">Amazon.</a></p><p>Let's have a look at the blurb here:</p><h4 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">A broken prince.</span></h4><h4 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">A shield-maiden bent on vengeance.</span></h4><h4 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">A Viking world set on fire.</span></h4><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">With the war against the Gauls over and Angantyr crowned king, everything should have been peaceful. But the arrival of Prince Hlod and its devastating consequences have brought nothing but heartache and darkness.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Determined to avenge their losses, Ervie and Loptr will unite the Scandinavian world, including King Ormar of the Myrkviðr, against the Huns. Such an alliance does not come without complications. The war on the battlefield will rival the war in Ervie’s heart as she struggles to find a way forward with Dag and Ormar. But in the shadows, Loki is scheming. The Norns' loom has been rewoven with unforeseen consequences.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Join Ervie and Loptr, as well as our other beloved heroes, in this epic conclusion to the </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important;">Shadows of Valhalla</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> series.</span></p><p> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BMB1C8LL" target="_blank">Learn more HERE.</a></p>Melanie Karsakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536647286454014302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974701962560122072.post-53579767610976882682022-06-27T14:07:00.005-07:002023-02-01T06:14:32.685-08:00Queen of Ash and Iron: Now Available for Preorder<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJ8YvBY9BJ_7klaDHZGGbCS_slOm_f8rL3qnOd_HdfwNgyQ6b3qNrudEqllZQKTEKe7espYdAMtjJ5VmLjozgbDA3FSvRxtd_xw1livA9EtU1gbFZu58jYueZDdXZYlOtG7BIRpEgmFPQQFY6A-ztwjzsBU5OFIkNpTRgsA_GkEE_J3_aK7zuDs0xIQ/s4500/Queen%20of%20Ash%20and%20Iron%20-%20eBook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4500" data-original-width="2820" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJ8YvBY9BJ_7klaDHZGGbCS_slOm_f8rL3qnOd_HdfwNgyQ6b3qNrudEqllZQKTEKe7espYdAMtjJ5VmLjozgbDA3FSvRxtd_xw1livA9EtU1gbFZu58jYueZDdXZYlOtG7BIRpEgmFPQQFY6A-ztwjzsBU5OFIkNpTRgsA_GkEE_J3_aK7zuDs0xIQ/w402-h640/Queen%20of%20Ash%20and%20Iron%20-%20eBook.jpg" width="402" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Book 3 of the Celtic Rebels series, Queen of Ash and Iron, is now available for preorder on Amazon. The novel will release next year about will continue Queen Boudica's tale as the Iceni people come to terms with the Roman occupation of ancient Britain.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">About the Book:</h3><h4 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Fated to lead a rebellion against Rome.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Destined to become a legend.</span></h4><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Britain, A.D. 47</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">All at once, everything changes.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The rebellion of the Northern Iceni under King Caturix results in dire consequences for Boudica. Without Aulus Plautius’s protection, Boudica must face the new, more severe Roman Governor Scapula. Struggling to make their way in a war-torn landscape, Boudica and Prasutagus persevere, but fate has a way of undoing our best intentions. Catastrophic events take place undermining everything Boudica worked so hard to achieve.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">As the eagle betrays, the queen of ash and iron rises to protect all that she loves.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">Continue the epic tale of the famous warrior queen in </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">Queen of Ash and Iron: A Novel of Boudica</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">, book 3 in the Celtic Rebels series by </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">New York Times</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;"> bestseller Melanie Karsak.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;"><br /></span></p><h3 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;"><br /></span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">Preorder the novel on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B23N5ZPN">Amazon</a>.</span></h3>Melanie Karsakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536647286454014302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974701962560122072.post-45164924726953487312022-06-27T14:02:00.004-07:002022-06-27T14:02:55.886-07:00New Release: Queen of Stone: A Novel of Boudica<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09HV3ZJV6/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlkyniHo2hPVVgPReJOY69DScNWaVYJhQ2WFk9ELd6oXCo7DMfYWfwhQxP80wWITbFCYZJdUEZzA2Asern6onVQXEt942BF0MVmpiXmEYuZcinFaak4nhzsv9pOXD8_G8aj_B-EZpfbg3nEDPlAg6s6B9vvHfFUloGa_9Dons8ySk5f4PmbQzebt8Bg/w400-h400/Untitled%20design%20-%202022-06-01T090917.807.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"> Boudica's tale continues in the second novel in the Celtic Rebels series! Queen of Stone is now available on Amazon in ebook and paperback--audiobook is in production! </span><p></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;">About the book:</span></h3><h4 style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Fated to lead a rebellion against Rome.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Destined to become a legend.</span></span></h4><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Britain, A.D. 43<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />With the arrival of the Romans, Boudica’s world is in upheaval. She and Prasutagus must decide where they stand. Will they fight the invaders alongside Caratacus or bargain with the Romans to secure the future of the Iceni? Every choice seems like a bad one. But more than anything, Boudica wants to keep her people and her family safe. Whispers from the greenwood—the groves, the rivers, and the stones—warn of unseen dangers. Can Boudica protect all she loves without bowing to the eagle?<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">Continue the epic tale of the famous warrior queen in </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">Queen of Stone: A Novel of Boudica</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;">, book 2 in the Celtic Rebels series by </span><span class="a-text-bold a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-style: italic !important; font-weight: 700 !important;">New York Times</span><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;"> bestseller Melanie Karsak.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"><span class="a-text-bold" style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700 !important;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Find the novel here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09HV3ZJV6/">Amazon</a></span></span></p>Melanie Karsakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536647286454014302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974701962560122072.post-14273187398816986812022-02-22T05:00:00.001-08:002022-02-22T05:00:00.175-08:00New Release: Shield-Maiden: Gambit of Blood<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTdRwLgrw_xN2pDustwhUWrmzNQhaDzAhyTPD3kqoweAblzvIsxA-NlWm61_QAkDDMjQ2rxJM1MWp4jHO3reWlZtb_WCVURUjuPF7k569VRLKxUAGhUX1cz8bodsPhQW1Qv17wzmHxbCoxWYoBF6QMJKjx9Zeez9t3BRWuYys6RDsGshiWAOsZMbDmoQ=s1080" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTdRwLgrw_xN2pDustwhUWrmzNQhaDzAhyTPD3kqoweAblzvIsxA-NlWm61_QAkDDMjQ2rxJM1MWp4jHO3reWlZtb_WCVURUjuPF7k569VRLKxUAGhUX1cz8bodsPhQW1Qv17wzmHxbCoxWYoBF6QMJKjx9Zeez9t3BRWuYys6RDsGshiWAOsZMbDmoQ=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>It's release day for Shield-Maiden: Gambit of Blood. My Viking saga continues with the next generation through the eyes of Ervie, daughter of Blomma and Mjord, in this next chapter. In the original Hervarar Saga, the source of this tale, there were two Hervors. We explored the life of the first shield-maiden named Hervor in The Road to Valhalla series. We now will take a ride with Ervie (named Hervor at birth), in this new series! I hope you all enjoy the continuation of this Viking dyntasy.</p><p>You can get Shield-Maiden: Gambit of Blood in ebook and audiobook on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09MB5QDLC/">Amazon</a>!</p>Melanie Karsakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536647286454014302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974701962560122072.post-80708889178463757742022-02-12T16:37:00.002-08:002022-02-12T16:37:29.976-08:00Shield-Maiden: Gambit of Blood Sneak Peek<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3axkGzRNAUK8Vv0GWFesKxwUAkomcAfvMrzbGn2itfVfBbNPG8Q6d_44TPXaLQ6So9PR5wXmBQNGnsDVyTfCSg8YVtuSp3MdMAwc58AHiCPs5P184uyOtk4mOtiCsSokL_XLT9Yvd9SIdHfWZDF0j7cSIzuwRhHEYRcMXm9KD3hzbbYBY2e5idof8gQ=s1080" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh3axkGzRNAUK8Vv0GWFesKxwUAkomcAfvMrzbGn2itfVfBbNPG8Q6d_44TPXaLQ6So9PR5wXmBQNGnsDVyTfCSg8YVtuSp3MdMAwc58AHiCPs5P184uyOtk4mOtiCsSokL_XLT9Yvd9SIdHfWZDF0j7cSIzuwRhHEYRcMXm9KD3hzbbYBY2e5idof8gQ=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09MB5QDLC/">Shield-Maiden: Gambit of Blood</a> releases on 2/22/22! Like that date? :) In anticipation of the release, I wanted to share a little sneak peek of Chapter 1. The novel is a continuation of my Valhalla series with Ervie, the daughter of Jarl Mjord and Blomma. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><h3 style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09MB5QDLC/" target="_blank">Shield-Maiden: Gambit of Blood is available for preorder on Amazon.</a></span></h3><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNzuR8w1dbCaY40fJC7M3E67aMwH-6NqC6TxeTGfjQKOMD_0S9f6w8J4l_mXaV1KuevgSBokcIYIrVmMNK7lP4XabqFZMkzfXoDgdUJix1Pa45PrNwXjQaU2ipYDAOq_IfTcnHIy5t7l2ih1kEFvZ6peZLnmc9RRvPds71YaZ5Yo7a_f-MQznYVsRAqg=s1080" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjNzuR8w1dbCaY40fJC7M3E67aMwH-6NqC6TxeTGfjQKOMD_0S9f6w8J4l_mXaV1KuevgSBokcIYIrVmMNK7lP4XabqFZMkzfXoDgdUJix1Pa45PrNwXjQaU2ipYDAOq_IfTcnHIy5t7l2ih1kEFvZ6peZLnmc9RRvPds71YaZ5Yo7a_f-MQznYVsRAqg=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: center;">Sneak Peek</div><div style="text-align: center;">Chapter 1</div></h3><p><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I stood in the shadows of the great hall
watching the revelry unfold. King Gizer’s warband was drunk on ale and
anticipation. Tomorrow, we would set sail for Skagen, the seat of King Harald,
and for battle. The musicians played loudly, trying to be heard over the
boisterous laughter that permeated the room. I leaned against a carved pillar,
sipping my ale and observing the commotion around me. At one end of the hall,
Queen Kára, a formidable shield-maiden in her own right, sat by the center
fire, joking with the warrior Öd. On the other side of the room, King Gizer met
with his elder warriors, all of them recounting tales of battles past. Gizer’s
five sons were gathered around the end of one table, challenging one another to
feats of strength. That just left…<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Are you hiding, Reindeer Princess?” a voice asked
from behind me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Out of the corner of my eye, I saw her approach. “Hiding?
Why would I be hiding?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Eyfura, the only daughter of Gizer and Kára, and my
dearest friend, joined me. She was handsomely dressed in a spring-green
hangerok gown, the neckline embroidered with tiny blue and pink vining flowers.
Her curling red hair lay on her chest. A string of green stones hung from her
neck.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">As always, many of the young men in the room turned
to look at her.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Doesn’t it become tiresome?” I asked.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“What’s that?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“All those eyes on you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“They’re not staring at me, Reindeer Princess.
They’re staring at you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“They just like my armor.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Eyfura chuckled lightly. “They know better than to
stare at me. My father will take out their eyes.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I grinned. “That is true.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Besides, I have no use for any of them,” Eyfura
said lightly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“No?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I’m waiting on a certain Reindeer Prince.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I smiled, thinking of my brother. “You shouldn’t
marry Loptr.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Why not?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“He’s too stupid.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Eyfura laughed loudly, her voice echoing around the
hall—a laugh she inherited from her mother. “How can you say such a thing about
your own twin?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Because if he has not asked you to marry him yet,
he can’t have much wit. Surely, he must know the most beautiful woman in all of
Scandinavia has many suitors. And still, Loptr delays.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“But he only delays because I asked him to,” Eyfura
said in a whisper, leaning toward me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Surprised, I turned and looked at her.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Your brother and I are at a game of riddles. With
every ship that comes and goes between here and Grund, we play our game. Until
Loptr figures out all my riddles, I will not say yes.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Then you have made a terrible mistake.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Eyfura raised an eyebrow at me. “Is that so?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“As I said, Loptr is short on wit,” I said with a
smirk, knowing my brother was one of the wittiest people I knew. “He may never
figure them out. You’re better off saying yes and being done with it.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">At that, Eyfura laughed. “You disparage your twin’s
name, Ervie. But I see your game. Not even you can hasten my answer by making
me give up my riddles. Although, I am sure Loptr will appreciate that you
tried. I will see my game played through and make him win his prize. Otherwise,
he will not appreciate me in the years to come.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Chuckling, I shook my head. “You cannot blame me for
trying.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“I will be sure to tell your brother you tried to
convince me he was too stupid for my riddles and that I should marry him for
his looks.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“And his title.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Of course. Who wouldn’t want to become Queen of
Grund one day?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Me,” I replied.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">At that, my friend laughed, but all the same, she
set her hand on my shoulder. While my reply came out in jest, there was truth
to it. Loptr and I were twins, both of us having a claim to the throne of Grund
through our foster grandfather King Hofund. But such a life was not for me. I
sought something far different. And that nameless thing had been calling me for
weeks now.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Once, my parents had been the greatest practitioners
of seidr in all of Scandinavia. My father had died in battle, taking what he
knew with him. My mother… The sting of her loss was still too fresh. I could
not bear to think of it. Yet, their legacy called to me. It tugged at something
deep within me, pulling me toward Skagen, where I sensed I would find answers
to a question I didn’t know how to ask.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Reading the expression on my face, Eyfura said, “Ah,
Ervie. I hope you find what you’re looking for in Skagen, my friend.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“As do I.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“As it is, I am jealous of you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“What? You want to come to battle?”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Want? Yes. Of course I do. But I would be of little
use. Instead, I will stay here and be a disappointment to my mother.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I turned and looked at Eyfura. “You could never be a
disappointment to anyone. There is no one with more talented healing hands than
you. Your skills match the priestesses of the temple to the dísir in Grund.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“That is no weak compliment,” she said. “I thank you
for it. But still, Kára was a great shield-maiden, and I could not properly
wield a sword if my life depended on it.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Your mother does not begrudge you for it. Do not chide
yourself.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Kára is too kind to ever speak poorly of me, but
when Gizer sails out in the morning, her eyes will be haunted.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“For herself, because she is not joining us. Not
because of you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Eyfura shrugged.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“You are too hard on yourself.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Eyfura laughed. “So says you, who has traveled half
the world away from her home because she is being hard on herself.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“What home? My father’s jarldom…burned. My mother’s
birthright…burned. I have no home.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Aye, Ervie,” Eyfura said but added nothing more.
She knew my story. I lamented the legacy lost to me in the wars of the previous
generation. All that should have been mine was gone. It was a wound that ran
deep.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Eyfura,” Gizer called to his daughter, waving for
her to join him.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“The king calls,” Eyfura told me with a good-natured
grin. “I made some healing salves for you and my brothers, not that I think you
will need them. All the same, I had the maids pack them with your things.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Thank you.”<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Of course, Reindeer Princess. My beauty is useless,
but at least my healing hands count for something,” she said with a wink then
left me.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I shook my head, then scanned the room once more.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Dag, one of Gizer’s sons, caught my gaze. He
motioned for me to join him and the other brothers, but I shook my head.
Swigging the last of my ale, I went outside.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">It was late in the evening. King Gizer’s forest city
was quiet. All the revelry was happening in the hall. I wandered down a path to
one of the small footbridges over a stream, then sat down, dangling my legs
over the side. The moon overhead reflected its silvery light on the black
water. The creek babbled as it rolled over the rocks on its path to the sea and
beyond.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Like the water, I would join the tossing sea in the
morning.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">For years, I had been wandering aimlessly, hoping
that I would find something to fill the endless ache and emptiness inside me.
King Hofund had done everything he could to make Grund my home, but the aching
sense of loss—of my parents, of my home, of the wisdom my mother and father
once carried—wounded me in a way I could not recover from. I had found nothing
to heal the pain.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">But of late, I had felt the shadow of something new
coming.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Downstream, movement caught my eye. The ferns at the
side of the stream shifted.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I stilled and watched.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">A fox appeared. The creature stepped on silent feet
onto a mossy rock at the side of the stream. Dipping his head down, he drank,
then turned and looked up at me. In the light of the moon, his eyes shimmered.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">I sat perfectly still, my gaze on the creature’s.
After a long moment, the fox yipped, then turned and disappeared into the
underbrush, vanishing from sight.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">Pulling my mead flask from my vest, I took a drink
then poured a little liquid into the water.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">“For you v</span><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">æ</span><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">tts
of this land and stream. Bless my journey tomorrow,” I said, then rose. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in; text-indent: .3in;"><span style="font-family: "Palatino Linotype",serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In the distance, the fox barked once more, its voice
sounding like a warning scream. </span><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p><br /></p>Melanie Karsakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536647286454014302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974701962560122072.post-6140478888961938202022-02-12T16:29:00.004-08:002022-02-12T16:37:39.234-08:00Now Available on Audiobook! Queen of Oak: A Novel of Boudica<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhggOADWzqzcmUzE2ANTcZA2XIVGbntAWPMTBjSmaG1-HlLx-uI2XuQfSlRu9oOsSTKh1shJhiP1byS_RVgPkWK6aSM8XLtXkBeDfHKz0mLU27VWPVgNnb_fnCpxfg1xnla2hrFv_t2l1siFt5PD_3ECYm6cd9yrctRIAZPkoJqAFn1WuO9wRshGzixxw=s1080" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhggOADWzqzcmUzE2ANTcZA2XIVGbntAWPMTBjSmaG1-HlLx-uI2XuQfSlRu9oOsSTKh1shJhiP1byS_RVgPkWK6aSM8XLtXkBeDfHKz0mLU27VWPVgNnb_fnCpxfg1xnla2hrFv_t2l1siFt5PD_3ECYm6cd9yrctRIAZPkoJqAFn1WuO9wRshGzixxw=w640-h640" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">I'm delighted to share that </span><i style="text-align: left;">Queen of Oak: A Novel of Boudica </i><span style="text-align: left;">is now available for purchase as an audiobook on Amazon and Audible! Once again, I have teamed up with the talented Lesley Parkin to bring you a new story of a famous, fierce woman. </span></div><p></p><h3 style="text-align: center;">You can find Queen of Oak on audiobook here:</h3><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Queen-Oak-Boudica-Celtic-Rebels-ebook/dp/B093HDJCS6/" target="_blank">Amazon</a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/B09R8SPVQD/?source_code=AUDFPWS0223189MWT-BK-ACX0-295291&ref=acx_bty_BK_ACX0_295291_rh_us" target="_blank">Audible</a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxtqikcVULvQHs6usWN7-tbVT0uvtIZQ0i47fmzu5Mfo76YrsEttCsjVICA39nce-GLsV6LbTPPsitTTW73-g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></p>Melanie Karsakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536647286454014302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974701962560122072.post-7040554959592208042021-12-06T08:58:00.001-08:002021-12-06T08:58:00.170-08:00Shield-Maiden: Gambit of Blood available for Preorder<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgp87KvfFuBpRIHD3mIHgMLM11q57QOXpFxUB-B_FpCOjXq0vmTS5tEKupsXqdvfxfj1FxMdD0JH-D6oaIX_yowezgbH9ReK783Xg_Sci8uLj6S-zcuLhDVAsfo7uHFtXfl8OC7RjgDw9/s940/Valhalla+Continues...+Begin+the+next+epic+saga+%2528Facebook+Post%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgp87KvfFuBpRIHD3mIHgMLM11q57QOXpFxUB-B_FpCOjXq0vmTS5tEKupsXqdvfxfj1FxMdD0JH-D6oaIX_yowezgbH9ReK783Xg_Sci8uLj6S-zcuLhDVAsfo7uHFtXfl8OC7RjgDw9/w640-h536/Valhalla+Continues...+Begin+the+next+epic+saga+%2528Facebook+Post%2529.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <p></p><p>Valhalla readers, something new is on the horizon! I hope you've had a chance to meet Ervie in Shield-Maiden: Winternights Gambit. This novella was a prequel to my upcoming Shadows of Valhalla series. The first novel in this series will be released in February and is now available for preorder.</p><h3 style="text-align: left;">About the Book:</h3><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: left; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">An orphaned descendant of Loki.<br /></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">A princess without a kingdom.<br /></span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">A shield-maiden plagued by the shadows of Valhalla</span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">Born to rule two jarldoms, Ervie should of had a life of ease. But fate has not been kind. Her parents’ jarldoms destroyed in the wars of a previous generation, Ervie is set adrift in the world. Taking refuge in the lands of the famed King Gizer, Ervie finds a temporary retreat from her aching sense of loss. But when Gizer’s warband is summoned to defend one of his staunchest allies, the journey promises more than just battle for Ervie.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">As it turns out, the Norns have been weaving.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">Once, Ervie’s parents were considered the most powerful practitioners of Norse magic in all of Scandinavia. That same magic has been sleeping under the shield-maiden’s skin. Soon, this descendant of the trickster god will find herself on a path to reclaim what was lost…and follow her destiny.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;">Fans of <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Vikings </i>and <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Last Kingdom</i> will relish <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Shadows of Valhalla</i> series. This sweeping Viking historical fantasy retells the story of the second legendary heroine named Hervor—called Ervie by those who know her well—the inspiring shield-maiden from the Norse <i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Hervarar Saga</i>.</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><i style="box-sizing: border-box;">Readers of The Road to Valhalla series will love this next-generation tale in a beloved Viking world.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09MB5QDLC/" target="_blank">Shield-Maiden: Gambit of Blood is available for preorder on Amazon</a></p><p><br /></p>Melanie Karsakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536647286454014302noreply@blogger.com152tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974701962560122072.post-13177997045348538282021-11-29T06:00:00.012-08:002021-11-29T06:00:00.169-08:00Queen of Stone: A Novel of Boudica, Book 2 in the Celtic Rebels series, Available for Preorder<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09HV3ZJV6/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7GzScn_9WjApyNjB6LxRJs2EhhLP8lFTDA-h4wjGF9KNGrzikPkfvfNuuD100JmxD7N8KE65viCZkYT3qjsYvAyCpnLt5iXde7tZ1y4ZAW8AFgVL8oVtmWyELXDeeksJBcxOGVBm3XvK_/w640-h640/Untitled+design+%252888%2529.png" width="640" /></a></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm delighted to share that book 2 of my Celtic Rebels series, Queen of Stone, is now available for preorder. This novel will continue the tale of Boudica, following her as the Roman invasion of ancient Britain begins.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">About the Book:</div><p style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Britain, A.D. 43</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">With the arrival of the Romans, Boudica’s world is in upheaval. She and Prasutagus must decide where they stand. Will they fight the invaders alongside Caratacus or bargain with the Romans to secure the future of the Iceni? Every choice seems like a bad one. But more than anything, Boudica wants to keep her people and her family safe. Whispers from the greenwood—the groves, the rivers, and the stones—warn of unseen dangers. Can Boudica protect all she loves without bowing to the eagle?</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Continue the epic tale of the famous warrior queen in </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Queen of Stone: A Novel of Boudica</i><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">, book 2 in the </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Celtic Rebels</i><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"> series by </span><i style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">New York Times</i><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"> bestseller Melanie Karsak.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09HV3ZJV6/" target="_blank">Queen of Stone is available for preorder on Amazon.</a></p><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09HV3ZJV6/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1283" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwcAWgwoonpU5D8ivRpz66qjnv-J5_i97LYk4XXtUVR3scO2a3D1nA6zMC4jW6I00I4dZY9n4nuZrXhfupOyHGwV5ZqtjS789LZnK6bmIkgBqdSpoxD_PInbQdIoEdPnfQTh1RJgyRgrDm/w400-h640/Queen+of+Stone+-+eBook+.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Melanie Karsakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536647286454014302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974701962560122072.post-80616652165872819322021-11-22T06:00:00.002-08:002021-11-22T06:00:00.182-08:00New Release! Shield-Maiden: Winternights Gambit Now Available!<p> </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09MB61LRD/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rJgA9jS_8tySRZH0cX5hSxz0EAKgpq71UBZpOIyoos0G51ZIpTQP-RegdsgDT5Bv91lwpqGLGkPa8St3wMb4CPVf_4pO679XKqFfQ8AdjcrZXiCy3F6gsh5OXFqG6GgQgEd-zT80CLxC/w640-h640/Ervie+Insta+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-size: 16px;">I'm excited to finally share a surprise! I will be continuing my Viking sagas in a new series titled <em>The Shadows of Valhalla.</em> The series will focus on Blomma and Jarl Mjord's daughter. While she was named Hervor at birth, this shield-maiden goes by the name of Ervie. I have just published a prequel, winter-themed novella (13k words), to introduce you to Ervie and give you a look at our Viking world after "The End" at the conclusion of <em>Shield-Maiden: Under the Dark Moon</em>. Expect to see many familiar faces in this winter novella.</span></p><h2 style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-size: 16px;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: 16px;">About the Book:</span></h2><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><strong><br /></strong></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><strong>An heir to ashes.</strong></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-align: center; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><strong>A princess without a throne.</strong></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">Ervie, the daughter of the warrior-shaman Jarl Mjord and the völva Lady Blomma, was born to rule two jarldoms and wield a magical bloodline reaching to Asgard itself. But the Norns have not been kind. Her father dead, now all she has is a famous name and a lingering sense of what might have been. But this Winternights blót, the Ǽsir will conspire to set the Reindeer Princess on her path toward destiny.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;">Fans of <em>Vikings</em> and <em>The Last Kingdom</em> will relish <em>The Shadows of Valhalla</em> series. This sweeping Viking historical fantasy retells the story of the second heroine named Hervor—called Ervie by those who know her well—the inspiring shield-maiden from the Norse <em>Hervarar Saga</em>.</p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><b>You will find <a data-link-id="801724733" href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09MB61LRD/" style="color: #00a154; text-size-adjust: 100%; word-break: break-word;" target="_blank"><em>Shield-Maiden: Winternights Gambit</em></a> available on Amazon! </b></p><p style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><br /></p>Melanie Karsakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536647286454014302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974701962560122072.post-74510201013612748572021-11-21T08:35:00.007-08:002021-11-21T08:44:20.389-08:00Anniversary Hardcover Editions of The Celtic Blood Series Now Available!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Melanie-Karsak/e/B009DKGKQG/" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="788" data-original-width="940" height="536" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2c-KO3G13d6zcLBs6fZ7R1k7H5stna1DSMsDf5EeesuFMArPmguziNqCs0IRjsmBTcD7p5FdqlSIYxOLuHAUrAQDHYKgKjbd8QrR2HeRwP-cmnkQALZpOjbCqsPP2V_76YlPc73BHJI-N/w640-h536/Insta+.png" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p>Where are my Celtic Blood readers? I wanted to do something special for the anniversary edition of my Celtic Blood series. To celebrate, I commissioned new covers for the hardback editions of these novels. I am so pleased to share that the anniversary hardcover editions of my Celtic Blood series are now available! Check out these beautiful covers:</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Highland-Raven-Melanie-Karsak/dp/B09LGJVKHX/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifVYjp_0KT68cFZUT452ZZPd5qEqw7n0J0bh4w0sljrRJ9GHNUVfZGOzFCNuSTO-FOUM1nTxqGXKpWr54OkgzxEQJ69wOwTe6paf373OXbGd1wKhnkJV3ESSNksw5gSMUY-D3c2MTp9sx8/w426-h640/Highland_Raven_F+%25282%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Highland-Blood-Melanie-Karsak/dp/B09LGW5895/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Qf0R-VxJA-jORkSKzi1KvuhQyPyvMc3e1QtSPCIpgjcjBjzAx_cDMiC9UV5vCci0YNGqb7HJVm2m0rqAv6ozb8Mp3zvEBIq1I3pS9Ti1Qj2h7aFLwHnfgCicIrWTGdUGP6ASC5Whv2Vj/w426-h640/02_Highland_Blood_s01_v01+%25281%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Highland-Vengeance-Melanie-Karsak/dp/B09LGY91YP/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh76AwZKxDmKSLmtv2H7dwH0emuUju2JyPzn9QMst8M4ZsPo3uk9dsr3UQVwYb9LVix-snua006hskcVrbgyL33eOAQ2xK8720W4qUGMTgDJpGp2t5G4V5BMdtHMCAvo-8lP6v9jCsfL8gS/w426-h640/03_Highland_Blood_s01_v01+%25282%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Highland-Queen-Melanie-Karsak/dp/B09LGRPVG9/" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM2oMJq21mbmmGgMf4Cqmh-zyPzacf0ZnaiOCprTx0w19LL-vECoK078GEswykLAGoOSn4AQKSybz7uh-IQneeiNh90ZPd_n_jNAW4ScY51ZA7dlbajt1rU5fQ4H1k4NfSrRFecOhqx1EE/w426-h640/04_Highland_Blood_s03_v01.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The hardcover editions can be found on Amazon. Be sure to select HARDCOVER to get these covers. The paperbacks and ebook have the old covers. Hope you enjoy them!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Click the covers to go to Amazon or stop by my Amazon author page here: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Melanie-Karsak/e/B009DKGKQG/">Go to AMAZON</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div><br /><div><br /></div></div>Melanie Karsakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536647286454014302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974701962560122072.post-13058849073815241322021-10-12T05:00:00.001-07:002021-10-12T05:00:00.264-07:00New Release: Queen of Oak: A Novel of Boudica<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusByNPI0xlkB2_av3wOR9mjP3AgKsxicG6eBIpxYoTYBzAi_78O_K0B9gsQqybjkBj3MEyDbSVR_dnk3HQbMAZ4vc7BO3NNnl1LfgqQ6jBdvsJ9V6WT4v2IRobH2gDuugQFJXa4tYwp80/s1080/Untitled+design+%252846%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusByNPI0xlkB2_av3wOR9mjP3AgKsxicG6eBIpxYoTYBzAi_78O_K0B9gsQqybjkBj3MEyDbSVR_dnk3HQbMAZ4vc7BO3NNnl1LfgqQ6jBdvsJ9V6WT4v2IRobH2gDuugQFJXa4tYwp80/s320/Untitled+design+%252846%2529.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B093HDJCS6/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Get it on Amazon</span></a></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;">It's release day for Queen of Oak: A Novel of Boudica. This novel, book 1 of the Celtic Rebels series, gives us a peek into the life of the legendary warrior queen before she set fire to the empire bent on destroying her people. Book 1 releases today and is available in ebook and paperback on Amazon.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">About the novel:</span></h2><div><h4 style="background-color: white; color: #333333; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-rendering: optimizelegibility;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Fated to lead a rebellion against Rome.<br />Destined to become a legend.<br /></b><br /><b>From <em>New York Times</em> bestseller Melanie Karsak, author of the Celtic Blood series, comes a gripping historical fantasy series of ancient Britain, Celtic gods, a fated romance, and the warrior queen who defied Rome.</b></span></h4><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Britain, A.D. 42—Boudica, second daughter of a Celtic king, has little concern for tribal tensions and political intrigues. Called by the gods and the stirrings of her own wild heart, she listens instead to whispers of the oaks. But Boudica would be wiser to heed the warning cries of eagles.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Rumors abound that the Romans are amassing forces for another invasion. In an effort to consolidate power, Boudica’s father turns to Prasutagus, the formidable ruler of the Greater Iceni. To win Prasutagus’s aid, Boudica’s father must strike a bargain—a deal with implications beyond Boudica’s imagining.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNQRT8D_cxB3xXzT7RaIIQmsadvlyAKyKCw8PSjaIm77y_pVpOlvCB3GZv20ntQPqg2QNey7LQqxxj9hBrPrr-eLIog30FPTG7OJ5yXlGD-H5cPa8rk-EOyrBuet73Ie0hsaaTeJzRRLW/s1080/Untitled+design+%252844%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnNQRT8D_cxB3xXzT7RaIIQmsadvlyAKyKCw8PSjaIm77y_pVpOlvCB3GZv20ntQPqg2QNey7LQqxxj9hBrPrr-eLIog30FPTG7OJ5yXlGD-H5cPa8rk-EOyrBuet73Ie0hsaaTeJzRRLW/s320/Untitled+design+%252844%2529.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><h2 style="background-color: white; color: #333333; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Chapter 1 Sneak Peek:</span></h2><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><p style="background-color: white; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><strong><span style="font-family: inherit;">Chapter 1</span></strong></p><p style="background-color: white; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Blobs of sunlight shimmered down through the canopy of green leaves overhead. I closed my eyes, swaying in my saddle as Druda made his way down the familiar path. Overhead, a dove cooed. The thick blanket of leaves offered much-needed shade from the summer sun. Exhaling deeply, I undid the lace at the top of my jerkin to breathe a little easier. At the end of the road, the forest opened to the village.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Almost there.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The loamy scent of the forest floor, covered by a thick bank of fern and heated by the morning sun, perfumed the air. The fern fronds twitched, catching Druda’s attention. I pulled the horse to a stop.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“A hare,” I whispered, reaching for the bow on my back. I grabbed it slowly then pulled an arrow from the quiver. I knocked it then waited.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The ferns shuddered again.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I took aim.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">But then…nothing.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I waited.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">A soft wind blew, carrying with it the sweet scent of the forest and the sound of gently tinkling bells. Then I heard the barely-audible echo of laughter. I narrowed my gaze. A breeze made the ferns dance. Blobs of golden light rose from the curling fingers of the ferns, drifting upward into the canopy. A silvery ringing sound and almost imperceptible giggling drifted on the wind.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I relaxed the tension on my bow.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Fey things in a fern glade,” I told Druda, who snorted in reply, pawing the earth.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I looked down to see mushrooms growing all along the lane.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“Bou-di-ca,” a voice called in sing-song on the wind, the sound just a whisper.</span></p><p style="background-color: white; line-height: 27px; margin: 0px 0px 10px; text-size-adjust: 100%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">“We’ll be snatched by the Seelie at this rate. Come on,” I told the horse. Slipping my bow back onto my back, I snatched up the reins once more then goaded the horse with a tap from my ankles. Taking off in a trot, Druda headed away from the glade and down the oak-lined path into the village of Frog’s Hollow.</span></p></div><div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B093HDJCS6/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">Get it on Amazon</span></a></h2></div>Melanie Karsakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536647286454014302noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6974701962560122072.post-29092287784469784752021-10-10T05:00:00.001-07:002021-10-10T05:00:00.203-07:00Shield-Maiden: Under the Dark Moon Now Available on Audiobook<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHkv3fU5sf6VNZrmlTxu36fXRbng9YewNK-LFNkoh0hwN-krkYonFkE11CxlLeY12-c7ZzLxTAGV-sjWjk5M1Bc4-dem8GOdrLp8EOUQeuce4BNeb1UHLnJB4OPJdTevyGatzpi5SqeXqm/s1080/Now+Available+on+Audiobook+%25283%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHkv3fU5sf6VNZrmlTxu36fXRbng9YewNK-LFNkoh0hwN-krkYonFkE11CxlLeY12-c7ZzLxTAGV-sjWjk5M1Bc4-dem8GOdrLp8EOUQeuce4BNeb1UHLnJB4OPJdTevyGatzpi5SqeXqm/s320/Now+Available+on+Audiobook+%25283%2529.png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p>Where are my audiobook listeners? Shield-Maiden: Under the Dark Moon, narrated by the talented Lesley Parkin, is now available on audiobook! You can pick up the novel on Amazon or Audible.</p><p>Get it here on Amazon: <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Shield-Maiden-Under-Dark-Moon-Valhalla/dp/B09GT9LXNF/" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a></p><p>Get it here on Audible: <a href="https://www.audible.com/pd/Shield-Maiden-Under-the-Dark-Moon-Audiobook/B09GSSF9PR" target="_blank">CLICK HERE</a></p><p><br /></p>Melanie Karsakhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10536647286454014302noreply@blogger.com38