Maeve’ra: Bloodtraitor

April 12, 2016
$17.99 [Hardcover Edition]
$8.99 US [Kindle Edition]
Hardcover: 304 pages
ISBN 978-0-385-74307-5 (0-385-74307-6)

Description

Malachi Obsidian was born in Midnight, a slave bred for traits he failed to inherit who was therefore deemed worthless. At a time when he might have been culled, thrown away like any broken toy, the desperate child told a lie that saved his life- and forever changed the fate of not only himself, but everyone around him.

What is the price of survival?

Synopsis

Predicting her rule was just the beginning.

Malachi Obsidian has been his guild’s prophet ever since he was a child. Years ago, he envisioned a future in which his sister, Misha, ruled and the vampires’ empire was destroyed. His people have made many questionable decisions to keep their dream alive, and now Misha is finally on the verge of becoming queen of the serpiente, just as Malachi predicted. Only one obstacle stands in Misha’s way, and she’s prepared to do whatever it takes to remove it—even if it means selling a family member into slavery.

When a mercenary from the vampires’ inner circle proposes a daring plan to bring down the empire of Midnight once and for all, Malachi must feign support for his unstable sister so his prophecy can be fulfilled. He must do it for his family, for his people—and for their freedom.

Excerpt

The child expected a blade, when the door next opened. Instead, a stranger stood there. Though the new man’s face was blank and should have been unreadable, Malachi saw him surrounded by so many dreams and desires, so much hope, all stained dark with despair and helplessness. He worked with Midnight occasionally in order to keep himself and his family alive; he traded with the empire for tools, weapons for hunting, food, clothing, essentials.

He looked at the white viper woman, with her two children huddled close to her, and he recalled the earliest myths of the serpiente. He remembered how Maeve had led her people out of darkness… only to be driven out from their number. Without her, the clan had fallen to chaos, thousands dying as their magic ran amok. Her descendants, the white vipers, had lived on the edge of serpiente society ever since, always refusing to bow to the Cobriana line that called themselves kings.

Farrell had taken the name of that group when he formed his own band, but he had believed then that the white vipers were extinct.

The boy-child lifted his head, and to Farrell he looked blind. His eyes never focused. Farrell tried to speak to him, but the boy just stared at nothing.

Was he deaf and mute? Or too terrorized by this place to speak?

Or was Jeshickah right, that his power had damaged his brain?

Jeshickah wanted to get rid of the entire set, but Farrell had nothing of value he could trade. Maybe Jeshickah would let him buy the poor, blank-faced child, the one she said had falcon blood, in exchange for some kind of labor. The others had some value if only as common slaves; Jeshickah did not care for their looks, but she would use them for menial labor all the same. But the boy… she planned to get rid of the boy, who she had declared useless. Maybe…

The child could not speak, but he could hear every thought in Farrell’s head. He knew what was coming. So he reached into the hopes and dreams he saw around the strange serpent in front of him… and he spoke. A few words, that was all. When you have Maeve’s blood mingled with a falcon’s blood, and you say aloud the deepest-held dreams of the one before you, a few words is enough.

In the Author’s Words

* In an interview with BookishBabes [1], Amelia said, “After the Maeve’ra Trilogy ends, I might take a break from young adult to work on an adult fantasy-romance novel tentatively titled, Of the Abyss. Abyss first came into existence through NaNoWriMo in 2006, and I’ve been occasionally revisiting and revising it since.” That is exactly what she did! You can read The Mancer Series: Of The Abyss, Of The Divine, and Of The Mortal Realm. [1]

Praise for Bloodtraitor

“An intense cap on an already engrossing adventure. Atwater-Rhodes excels at multipart epics with complicated characters and histories, and fans will be sad to see this story end.” —Booklist

Praise for the Maeve’ra trilogy:

“Atwater-Rhodes made a splash with her first novel. . . . Since then she has continued writing lush fantasies of fully realized, well-conceived worlds, and the first volume in the new Maeve’ra series is no exception.” —Booklist

“Edgy world building, with cultures and societies based loosely on real history, is compelling. This book is highly recommended for Atwater-Rhodes fans and urban fantasy or alternate reality readers.” —VOYA

“A satisfying read.” —SLJ

“Plenty of fun ahead for the author’s many fans.” —Kirkus Reviews

Did you know..?

* This was the last young adult novel in Nyeusigrube, the Den of Shadows, that Amelia Atwater-Rhodes published.

Alternate Covers:

None yet!

References

[1] BookishBabes – “Interview With Amelia Atwater-Rhodes, Author of Bloodtraitor” Dec 11, 2015
https://bookishbabes.wordpress.com/2015/12/11/interview-with-amelia-atwater-rhodes-author-of-bloodtraitor/

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Maeve’ra: Bloodkin

April 14, 2015
$16.99 [Hardcover Edition]
$8.99 US [Kindle Edition]
Hardcover: 288 pages
ISBN 978-0-385-74305-1 (0-385-74305-X)

Description

When a shapeshifter/vampire nation is charged with a crime against Midnight that sixteen-year-old Kadee and her friend Vance played a hand in, Kadee feels compelled to return to the Shantel forest where she must confront her past and the decisions she has made in the pursuit of freedom. (From Library of Congress http://www.loc.gov)

Synopsis

Some lines should never be crossed.

Sixteen-year-old Kadee is proud to be a part of the Obsidian guild, whose members refuse to bow to anyone in Midnight—including the vampires who claim to rule this world and the shapeshifter royals who obey them. She knows firsthand what it’s like to live with the Shantel and serpiente, and she’ll never forgive these shapeshifters for taking her from her real father as a sick and frightened human child. Fortunately, Kadee is the master of her own life and decisions now, but some of the choices she’s made to protect her Obsidian family—and one of her peers in the guild—have begun to haunt her.

Excerpt

I was walking away when I overheard the words Obsidian guild. They hadn’t recognized me, or there would have been more shouting, and I knew better than to give myself away by visibly reacting. I discreetly kept my attention on the merchant who had spoken, even as I pretended to stop at another booth.

“I don’t know all the details,” the merchant said. “All I know is they were involved. They set fire to the Shantel trade stall in Midnight’s market. They must have been working with Midnight in some way, or else they would have been picked up by the guards right then for disrupting trade. The Shantel stormed off before I got any more of the story–well, I suppose they had no reason to stay, what with all their goods going up in smoke. Long story short, hopefully they’ll have more of those combs next time I go north to market. They might cost a little more,” the merchant warned, “since the Shantel lost profitable wares in that fire.”

My blood ran cold, in a way that had nothing to do with the rain.

Others had drifted closer, drawn by the gossip, and I let myself join that crowd.

The Obsidian guild was the serpiente boogeyman. While it was certainly true that we lived outside serpiente law–my bag was proof of that–it would have been physically impossible for us to be responsible for every crime the serpiente laid at our door. We were blamed for everything from sick sheep to missing children. Every disaster that befell the serpiente people was put before us, added to a constantly growing tally of unforgivable crimes.

We had been actively hunted ever since the serpiente queen, Elise, had died in a fire. Her three-year-old daughter, Hara, had cried arson, and on the basis of that child’s hysterical testimony, every member of the Obsidian guild was suddenly guilty of treason.

This time, though . . .

I had helped set fire to the Shantel market stall. I had done so with their blessing, to make a pyre for the dozen blackened, rotting bodies of human slaves, who had been collateral damage in a Shantel plot to murder the masters of Midnight. The corpses had been piled on the Shantel stall as evidence of their failed treason.

I was one of a very few who knew how close the Shantel had come to succeeding, and what part our guild had actually played in the plot. Malachi, Vance, and I had breathed in the acrid stench of charred blood after magic slew the Shantel witch responsible–the witch we had encouraged to take the attack one step further so he could destroy Jeshickah herself. I had feigned ignorance, of course; we all had. Miraculously, Jeshickah had believed us. Her continued belief in that lie was essential to our survival.

I listened long enough to confirm that the current rumor, while unflattering, was no more dangerous than the dozens of crimes of which we had already been convicted. According to the serpiente, we were bloodtraitors in fact if not by law; we had betrayed our own kind, and were working for the vampires. Rumor said that the Shantel had attempted to fight Midnight, but we had turned them in.

I turned away with my stomach rolling. The merchant, who spoke with the exaggerated drama for which serpiente were famous, made his living trading with Midnight. Yet he called us traitors? He probably hadn’t complained when the serpiente king sold two of us into slavery less than a year ago.

I returned to the palace gates with my mind heavy but no hesitation visible in my step. I swallowed thickly as I passed the guards, but they saw nothing.

Time to go home.

Hunted, hated . . . being in the Obsidian guild wasn’t an easy life, but it was a good life.

In the Author’s Words

None yet!

Praise for Bloodkin

“Like all of Atwater-Rhodes’ heroines, Kadee is brave and brash but still has realistic doubts. Fans of the first volume will appreciate this solid follow-up.” —Booklist   

“This rich story is recommended for libraries serving readers with an avid interest in fantasy. The book ends on an action-packed cliff-hanger, generating a ready-made rapt audience for the conclusion of the trilogy, due to be released in 2016.” —VOYA 

“In this second installment in the trilogy, Atwater-Rhodes thickens the plot and carefully crafts a tale of suspense and intrigue.” —The Bulletin  

Did you know..?

None yet!

Alternate Covers:

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References

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Maeve’ra: Bloodwitch

May 13, 2014
$16.99 [Hardcover Edition]
$7.99 US [Kindle Edition]
Hardcover: 288 pages
ISBN 978-0-385-74303-7 (0-385-74303-3)

Description

Raised by vampires, a shapeshifter learns that he may be a bloodwitch who possesses rare and destructive magic that the leader of the powerful Midnight empire seeks to control. (From Library of Congress http://www.loc.gov)

Synopsis

Vance Ehecatl was raised with every luxury he could imagine in a beautiful greenhouse within the powerful empire of Midnight. Vampires are the only guardians Vance has ever known since he was abandoned by his shapeshifter family as a baby quetzal, and he is grateful to them for generously providing for all of his needs. When an act of violence forces Vance from his sheltered home, he is startled to meet Malachi Obsidian, a fellow shapeshifter with conflicting ideas about Midnight and its leader, Mistress Jeshickah.

Malachi claims Vance is a bloodwitch, who Jeshickah and her trainers, Jaguar and Taro, are trying to control. Vance doesn’t know anything about the rare and destructive magic Malachi says he possesses, and he can’t believe Jeshickah would use it to hurt others. But when his friends begin falling ill, Vance starts to realize his perfect world may not be as flawless as it seems. Now Vance must decide who to trust-the vampires he’s always relied upon, or the shapeshifters who despise them.

Excerpt

My foot slipped again. I had been standing this way for a very long time. I could have slept on one of the perches higher up and been perfectly comfortable, but the steel one Lady Brina had provided near her canvas so I could model for her was slick under my talons. It was hard to find purchase and keep my balance.

I relaxed a little when I realized that Lady Brina was distracted, feeding. I still didn’t dare turn my head to look at her, but I could see shadows in my peripheral vision–two women, their forms made giant by the late-afternoon light. I had witnessed similar scenes often enough to know what they meant.
Lady Brina pushed her blood donor away. The second shadow stumbled, and I heard the scuff of a toe against the soft dirt ground. Moments later my shapeshifter friend Calysta crossed my view.
Calysta had promised to give me a dance lesson later, but now she would need to rest instead. I tried to squelch my disappointment. Lady Brina’s needs came before my wishes. I would have given her my own blood, if she had asked.

“You need to take a break,” Lord Daryl said to his sister.

I needed a break, too, but he wasn’t talking to me.

“I just did,” Lady Brina replied. I could hear the rattling that meant she was gathering her brushes and tools again.

“I mean you need rest,” he insisted. “Feeding is important, but so is sleep. You have been in here for two days straight.”

“The light is better in the day.”

“Two days and two nights. I just received the bill for the lamp oil you have burned.”

Lady Brina scoffed. I could picture her tossing her hair. It was sleek and black, and reflected every color of light that fell upon her.

“Kendra’s yuletide ball is in less than a week,” she said, sounding frustrated. If her brother could convince her to take a break, that would be nice. Normally I loved having her near. I loved seeing her, even when she ignored me. But the last day or so, she had been cranky. “She has promised me a place of honor for this piece, and I intend to make sure it is ready. I’m sure you understand.”

“Of course I understand.”

His voice was soft. I saw their shadows move as he gently removed the brushes and palette from her hands. “But without sleep, without feeding, without time to rest your eyes on something other than your canvas and oils, how can you possibly see your masterpiece anymore? You risk ruining it in your haste to perfect it.”

That argument was probably the only one that could have swayed her. She sighed and let Daryl put her tools aside.

Two years ago assistants had helped her erect this canvas, which was twice as high as I was tall, and even wider than that. Occasionally she worked on other, smaller pieces, but inevitably she returned to this massive work. She called it Tamoanchan.

I had never been allowed to look at the painting itself, but I had been honored weeks ago when she had asked–no, ordered–me to come model. Lady Brina never asked anything. That was fine, since I would never have refused her.

Lady Brina had been a frequent presence throughout my life. Even on the days when she failed to acknowledge me at all, which was most days, my beautiful little world seemed to shine brighter when she was around. When she smiled, pleased with the way a particular painting was going, or lay on the soft, dappled grass in the multicolored sunlight, it made my heart beat faster.

At that moment both shadows disappeared. The tingling sensation that always told me when one of their kind was present also faded.

I fluttered down to the ground, landing awkwardly because of my stupid tail plumes, which had recently started to lengthen and were now twice as long as my bird body. Not wanting to deal with them, I changed into human form quickly . . . though my human form wasn’t much better. Growth spurts had left my arms and legs feeling gangly, and even my dance lessons with Calysta couldn’t seem to make my limbs work gracefully.

I shook my head, and the leather cord that had been holding my hair back instantly fell out. Though my clothes always reappeared properly when I changed back to human form–trousers, shirt, and sleeveless waistcoat falling tidily into place–I inevitably ended up with a mess of burnt-umber hair in my face.

Pushing my hair back uselessly, I took a step toward the painting. I just wanted a peek. Lady Brina had never asked me to model before.

No.

I wasn’t supposed to. I wouldn’t violate her trust that way. Instead, I did my rounds, occupying my time with responsibilities I had neglected over the last two days as Lady Brina had worked on her painting.

I searched the ground for any fruit that had fallen, so it wouldn’t rot and befoul Lady Brina’s greenhouse, and then went to check the stream.

Water welled up on one side from the pores between several large stones, meandered across the greenhouse floor, and then disappeared on the opposite side through another grouping of boulders. The second set of rocks tended to collect debris like leaves, feathers, and misplaced paintbrushes, which I needed to clean out. This time of year the water was frigid when it first bubbled up, but it warmed as it passed over the white stones that lined the streambed. The symbols carved into those stones sparkled as the water flowed over them, creating a warm, golden glow even in the middle of the darkest night.

An animal’s shrill cry, carried by the breeze, caused me to lift and then shake my head. Though the glass walls let in plenty of light, even the white ones were so etched and frosted that it was impossible to see through them. The screens allowed gentle breezes to enter the greenhouse but were not conveniently placed for visibility. Sometimes I tried to peer through them, to get a glimpse of the world outside, but they were too high when I was in human form, there were no nearby perches, and my quetzal form did not hover well.

It didn’t matter. I had a beautiful world right here. Why did I need anything more?

In the Author’s Words

* An interesting bit about writing the Maeve’ra books is that they occur in the same time period as the Ebony Series, which is also a very important historical period to modern Nyeusigrube. As a result, I know a lot of the major events that need to happen, or where these characters will be- sometimes 10 or 20 or more years down the line. So I stare at them and wonder, “How the hell do we get there?” [1]

* I started writing Vance on December 27th [2009], and except for a couple breaks for a computer crash and packing to move, I had a goal of averaging 1k a day until it was done. Now I am mostly done with all three books, having approached them all with a kind of NaNo focus, since that was the only way I can tackle this period of Nyeusigrube’s history – if I throw myself into it, and don’t think about it too much. This means there is a whole lot of editing to go into this bunch.” [2]

Praise and Reviews for Bloodtraitor

“An intense cap on an already engrossing adventure. Atwater-Rhodes excels at multipart epics with complicated characters and histories, and fans will be sad to see this story end.” —Booklist

* Kirkus Review, March 12 2014 – https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/amelia-atwater-rhodes/bloodwitch/

Vance makes for a naïve, rather hyperconscious narrator, continually speculating as to who may be telling the truth and what their motives may be. With this series, the author takes inspiration from the mythology of ancient Mexico, basing names and spellings on Mayan and Aztec words. It’s clear that this installment is just a setup volume, and the plot to take Midnight down will span many characters and pages to come.

Plenty of fun ahead for the author’s many fans.

* Publishers Weekly, March 3 2014 – http://publishersweekly.com/978-0-385-74303-7

While this trilogy opener lacks some of the poetry and complexity of Atwater-Rhodes’s Kiesha’ra series, it effectively explores the perils of hierarchy and the importance of independent thought. Set in the author’s empire of Midnight in the year 1803, this coming-of-age tale introduces 14-year-old shape-shifter Vance, who idolizes the vampires who raised him. However, an exposition-heavy encounter with witty outcast Malachi Obsidian shows him that not everyone supports their slave-based empire. Though Vance’s initial naïveté frustrates, vivid secondary characters maintain interest; fans of Midnight Predator will enjoy the reappearance of Jeshickah, the whip-wielding vampire ruler of Midnight, and Jaguar, Vance’s irreverent mentor. As Vance moves in Jeshickah’s circles for the first time, he cannot ignore the slaves’ blighted lives, memorably illustrated when Jaguar instructs him to cut one to test his blood-linked magic. Midnight’s shape-shifter opponents are equally unscrupulous, using Vance as a plague vector to infect vampires and slaves alike. “[Y]es, I’m manipulating you,” Malachi admits. “I’m fairly certain that’s almost all that anyone does to you.” Agendas collide in an intrigue-filled, unpredictable climax.

Praise for the Maeve’ra trilogy:

“Atwater-Rhodes made a splash with her first novel. . . . Since then she has continued writing lush fantasies of fully realized, well-conceived worlds, and the first volume in the new Maeve’ra series is no exception.” —Booklist

“Edgy world building, with cultures and societies based loosely on real history, is compelling. This book is highly recommended for Atwater-Rhodes fans and urban fantasy or alternate reality readers.” —VOYA

“A satisfying read.” —SLJ

“Plenty of fun ahead for the author’s many fans.” —Kirkus Reviews

Did you know..?

None yet!

Alternate Covers:

None yet!

References

[1] Nyeusigrube.com Forum – “Week 2: May 8 – May 14” May 12, 2010
http://nyeusigrube.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=83&t=3746&p=97595

[2] Nyeusigrube.com Forum – “Post-NaNo Encouragement/Commiseration” Dec 01, 2010
http://nyeusigrube.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=84&t=3907&p=99710

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COVER REVEAL: Bloodwitch by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

Hey Havenites! Guess what? Amelia posted on facebook today a picture of the ARCs that arrived at her house… They just so happen to be for the up-coming “Bloodwitch“, due out May 13, 2014!

Also, we have the synopsis from the Library of Congress:

Raised by vampires, a shapeshifter learns that he may be a bloodwitch who possesses rare and destructive magic that the leader of the powerful Midnight empire seeks to control.

This might not be the final cover. It could change and only have been a working cover. After all, there is not mention of it being Maeve’ra #1.

Still, we see a long green feather (likely a quetzal’s feather as that is the protagonist’s shapeshifter form), thorned vines, black tree branches, and I believe some roses petals on the ground.

What do you think of the cover? What do you think of the phrase “ONLY THE LOYAL SURVIVE”?

WANT MORE MAEVE’RA? CAN’T WAIT UNTIL NEXT MAY?

Then check out “Lilith’s Explorations of Midnight”. It’s a continuing story that Amelia is doing on her facebook page (edited):

https://www.facebook.com/notes/amelia-atwater-rhodes/about-liliths-exploration-of-midnight/558066950922556

Or if you’re on the forum, have a sneak peek on what’s upcoming:

http://nyeusigrube.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=99&t=4378&start=15

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Maeve’ra Short Story

There is going to be a short e-story published pre-Maeve’ra trilogy, currently “Untitled”.

From Amelia’s facebook on December 6th:

It’s a short story that takes place in Midnight in the late 1700s, and focuses on a pivotal moment that essentially sets up the entire Maeve’ra Trilogy. I can’t say much more without giving away too much.

[The] particular area [the story takes place in] is a bit of a no-man’s-land at this time in history (“owned” by multiple countries who haven’t bothered yet to do much with it, even very little native population in this century) which is why I chose it.

The series as a whole will reference world events, but the only one that influences this particular short story is the Inquisition. It doesn’t take place during the Inquisition, though, as you might imagine from the date.

No word on when the short story will be available for purchase and download. In the meantime, enjoy your holidays and have a Happy New Year!

Also! There’s an update on our previous post, regarding ARCs for book bloggers. Check it out!

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