Friday, June 20, 2014

Review & Giveaway ~ Wolf’s Bane by Ash Krafton


Book Description:

Since becoming oracle to the demivampire two years ago, advice columnist Sophie has battled werewolves and survived a vampire attack (or two). However, not only was she powerless to save her lover Marek when he slipped to the brink of evolution, she also witnessed his transformation into a falcon, the symbol of Horus United.

Sophie’s quest to save Marek is further complicated when rock star Dierk Adeluf – who also happens to be the king of the Werekind – invites her backstage after a concert. Just when it seems she will find respite from heartache, Sophie is bitten by a werewolf and Dierk decides she is destined to be his queen.

Sophie is caught between the demivamps she loves and the Were who commands her to love him. Throw in his jealous wanna-be girlfriend—a true bitch if ever there was one—and an ambush by witches, and there you have the big mess that Sophie calls her life. And, hello? Her soul mate is still a bird.

She’s supposed to be the girl with all the answers, but Sophie needs more than a little advice–she needs divine intervention.

The first book in the series, BLEEDING HEARTS, is now available for Kindle and Nook readers for only 1.99.

Wolf’s Bane

Demimonde, Book 3

Ash Krafton

Genre: urban fantasy

Purchase Links:

Amazon

B&N




Excerpt:

“What are you doing?” Dierk sniffed at the air around me, frowning. “You are human, yet you command these demivampire. You wear their power. Are you a succubus?”

“A what?” I knew what a succubus was. At least, Syfy's version. If that's what he meant, I had better be hearing wrong or I was going to club him, superstar or not.

His lip curled. Apparently, that’s exactly what he meant. “A vampire whore.”

A condemnation if I ever heard one. I’d known vampire whores and being placed in the same category as Donna made me want to spit. “Is that what you think I am?”

He shrugged, seeming very comfortable with hurling insults. “Perhaps.”

“How dare you!” I raised my hand, intending to slap off his smug expression.

He grabbed my hand before I could strike and held it firmly. Although it didn't hurt, I still didn't like it. I twisted, trying to pull out of his grasp.

“I do not mean to insult you,” he said. “But I am Wolf. This is our world. Don't blame me because my brethren are not overly fond of your demivampire pets.”

“Look. Let's just agree to disagree. Okay?” I struggled to yank my hand loose. His half-smile made me furious. “You don't like my friends. I don't like yours. Let's just say so long and good night and let me go.”

“I cannot.” He lowered our hands to his chest and I could feel his heart beating. “There is still the matter of the Leni.”

“Which is?” His tone made me wary. I was suspicious of foreign words and foreign traditions. I was still trying to figure out the DV, for crying out loud, even with the Sophia giving me an inside track.

“The Leni is a ritual of destiny. The sensation you experience when we are separated is the sign of the soul-bond. The Leni will determine if it is a true bond.”

“A true bond meaning...?”

“It's a mating ritual, you stupid human. Honestly, Dierk, this one? She isn't worthy of ein König!” I didn't have to see the owner of the ugly voice to know it was my new BFF. “She is an insult to Wölfe. An insult to our Leni. She makes mockery of legend.”

Not that I wanted to agree with the mean bitch, but still. “Dierk, I didn't come back here for a mating ritual.”

“Can you deny what you felt when you walked away from me?” His tone was not bossy. It was tender, soft and gravelly. “I know what I felt.”

“Dierk, you must be mistaken,” Cacilia insisted.

“Cassy.” Dierk's voice raised in dark warning. “Now is not the time.”

“It's never the time,” she said, her words running together in a growl. “I will not abide this.”

Pushing aside the people who stood in her way, she stomped out.

“Look, Dierk,” I said. There was something big going on with that woman. I more than suspected the entire drink-down-the-back thing was in retaliation for Dierk speaking to me at the bar. “I don't want to cause problems with your girlfriend.”

He glanced in the direction she had gone. “Cacilia is not my girlfriend.”

“Neither am I.”

“True.” His half-smile deepened and took on genuine expression. “But you may turn out to be so much more.”

“Do I have any choice?”

“Destiny is not a choice, my dear.”

Ugh. Dear? “This isn't my destiny. I've already got one.”

“We will see.” He half-turned and called out: “Clear the room.”

Immediately, several large men, some of whom I recognized as the lovely gentlemen who’d asked me about a missing wallet, began ushering people toward the doors. Murmurs of disappointment trailed in their wake. Several DV spikes, questioning, suspicious.

It was the DV that were being shown out. The people I’d identified as humans, too, I noticed. Alarmed by this, I hesitantly peeked my power out.

Only Were remained in the room, and me. The sudden vacuum made me suck in a hard breath. When the doors closed with a boom, Dierk turned his attention back to me.

Gently, he raised my captive hand to his mouth and I felt the scrape of new beard mingling with the softness of his lips. It was a very courtly gesture and I didn't appreciate it one damn bit.

“Destiny…” His voice carried to the corners of the room. The gathered people and wolves held collective breaths, me included. “Determines the path of the stars and the cycle of the moon. We can deviate from our destinies no easier than the moon or the stars can from theirs. I, Dierk Adeluf, son of Schatten, der König von Wölfenkinder, invoke the Leni to determine if it is destiny that our soul-bond become life-bond.”

Life bond? My eyes must have bulged with the disbelief I struggled to contain. Oh no, he doesn't --

Before I could protest, he thrust our hands out and down to our sides.

A wolf bit into my hand.

The attack was silent. The pain was splintering. The stars and their destinies exploded behind my eyes.

I rocked on my feet. Heat traveled up my arm, filling my head and squeezing out my breath. My knees buckled once, twice. I tumbled forward into Dierk’s open arms. He’d been waiting for me to fall and he caught me, gently sinking to his knees with me, cradling me to his chest.

As the room and the light and the sound faded into the haze of heat and pain, the last thing I saw was Dierk's face and his damnable half-smile.




 About the Author:

Ash Krafton writes from the heart…of the Pennsylvania coal region, that is.

She is the author of the Books of the Demimonde (Pink Narcissus Press).

BLEEDING HEARTS (Demimonde #1) is a six-time RWA finalist and was voted "Reviewer Top Pick" by Gravetells.com. Ash continues the story of Sophie and her Demivampires in her latest release BLOOD RUSH (Demimonde #2). She's hard at work (when she isn't watching Doctor Who) writing the third book, WOLF'S BANE.

Ash Krafton's poetry and short fiction has appeared in several journals, including Niteblade, Bete Noire, Abandoned Towers, and Silver Blade. She's a member of Pennwriters, RWA, and Maryland Writers Association. She lurks near her blog and contributes to the QueryTracker blog.

Ash lives with her family and their German Shepherd dog deep in the Pennsylvania wilds, awaiting the day the TARDIS appears in the driveway (the dog most likely keeps the Doctor away. What a beast.)

Until then, she writes.

Find Ash at:

Blog * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads




Tour Giveaway

1 Demimonde gift pack contains a print book, tote bag, note pad, pens, swag, and a gift card.

Winner can choose between any one of the three print books in the series.

Open to International Shipping

a Rafflecopter giveaway


 My Thoughts:

Wow! I was blown away by the twists and turns. I was consumed with the story from the beginning and I could not stop reading. My only regret was that I hadn't read the first two books. Wolf's Bane stood alone but there was obviously parts that would have been understood better had I read the others. Believe me, the other books have been moved to the very top of my wish list.

The writing style was such that it grabbed a hold of me. :D I laughed, cried, oohed and aahed, was angry, disappointed, surprised, I was on the edge of my seat a few times, etc.... You get the picture, right? On top of being wonderfully written, it was quick paced with plenty of pages too. Perfect!

Wolf's Bane had plenty of supes and they were all unique to this series with different abilities or traditions than most books with a paranormal script.

If you like vamps, wolves, and other special supes, you NEED to READ this book and series.

I received an ecopy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion. I thought this book was awesome! I must warn that there is little to no steam but the plot was so engaging that you'll barely miss it.




Don't forget to enter the Comment Incentive Giveaway. It is a great chance to win a book you'd like to have! The link can be found at the top of the page.

29 comments:

  1. this one sound like a perfect read for me ( starting by book 1^^) poor sophie she has so much on her plate and a big bully alpha can be too much i imagine
    fdefinitively a serie to try especially since it('s available in print

    thanks also to the author for the international great giveaway

    ReplyDelete
  2. This book sounds great, I really want to read it! And the giveaway is so amazing, and it's great that it's open internationally! :) Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thanks for hosting me and my book tour today...glad you enjoyed reading it!

    And if anyone is on Goodreads, there is an autographed copy up for grabs there, too.

    Good luck and happy reading!

    Cheers, Ash

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Welcome here Ash! We are more than pleased to have you here since we are great fan of paranormal here ( werewolves wins by a little^^)

      thank you a lot for telling us about goodreads giveaway i've entered and i will keep my fingers crossed ( as i never won there)as i'm really interested in discovering your story.
      i really hope to win because at the moment on bookdepository, for me, it's really over pricey .... i really love the sound of your books but nearly 30dollars ( each) for a paperback? really out of my budget i will keep them on my wishlist for when i can get them though

      Delete
    2. Thank you, Miki!

      I saw the prices at BD and nearly fell over. I don't know if it's them or the publisher but either way, I'm always doing giveaways 😊 sharing is caring!

      I'm over the moon today because I met actor Sebastian Stan yesterday and have decided he would be a perfect Rode. Now all I have to do is get a director to read the series. Alan Ball, are you listening?

      I did a guest blog on this tour about vamps and weres called Accidental Swinger, and I think were fans will get a kick out of it.

      Oh, these wonderful supes...can't imagine life without them

      Delete
    3. Wow I would have been a total fan girl meeting him! LOL And this would be an amazing tv series. I can tell just from reading the little blurb.

      Delete
    4. Ha ha...my daughter was fan girl enough for the both of us...stop by my blog to see the post about him. The picture is priceless!

      Delete
  4. Thank you for the chance to win

    ReplyDelete
  5. OO Sounds great! Seems like a lots going on but it sounds like another great series to read. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. this one grabbed my attention teh most so far. it's so tempting don't you think? if you do read it let me know what you thought^^

      Delete
    2. Same to you. :) It sounds like another great series for us

      Delete
    3. I obviously can't speak for the first two books because I haven't read them YET, :-( but judging by this one, you guys will be extremely happy with it. The only thing missing that Amber might miss is the sexy scenes.

      Wait till tomorrow. I have another great series for you too. :D

      Delete
    4. I can so live without smexiness... sometimes... LOL ;)

      Delete
    5. i can live without sexy scenes especially when the characters are young^^, will be waiting for tomorrow then

      Delete
    6. That's funny because some readers are glad for the behind-closed-doors scenes. Having a teen daughter, I prefer to write things that I don't have to hide from her and her friends.

      Anyways, I have a pretty fertile imagination and it gets a lot of exercise with this series! I saved the smexy for my paranormal romance. It's happy there 💖

      Delete
    7. Brenda and me read both. She just likes to tease me when there not as sexy as others. :) I can't wait to read this series though. It sounds like a keeper! :D

      Delete
    8. i'm more on the side of those who prefer behind the closed doors scenes^^ i don't mind when it's a little more sexy but it must be welll written ( when it tend more on teh vulgar i hate it)

      your series seems more and more the right one for me^^

      Delete
  6. I was lucky enough to read an ARC of Wolf's Bane and loved it :) The first two books in the series were amazing as well and I'm sure you would love them!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you a lot for sharing this info with us!
      it's better read in order i imagine?

      Delete
    2. Thanks Brandi! I plan to read them ASAP. :-)

      Delete
    3. Hugs, Brandi!!! You're the sweetheart of the Demimonde!

      Delete
  7. sounds like a good book. thank you for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a fascinating book! Thanks for sharing the great excerpt.

    ReplyDelete
  9. All three books sound like exciting reads!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Looks so awesome they all look great.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Thanks for the review and the chance to win a copy!

    nathansmommy619(At)Aol(Dot)com

    ReplyDelete