Released: June 16th 2017
Publisher: Alisha Klapheke
Pages: 325
Formats: Paperback, eBook
Buy links: Amazon, Barnes and Noble
Summary from Goodreads:
A ruler’s young bride with a body to conceal, a mercenary bent on revenge, and the Fire magic that will alter their story forever.
The Wrath and the Dawn meets Truthwitch in the second standalone, full length novel of the Uncommon World series.
When her new royal husband dies at the beginning of an invasion, Seren must hide his body and use the visions the Holy Fire gives her to save the Empire from itself and its enemies. But if the high-ranking general who hates her discovers her secret, he’ll have her put to death.
When invaders slaughter Ona’s family and shatter her artist life, she joins Lucca, an experienced mercenary and her exact opposite, and heads into war. She just knows the “chanting” she can do—imposing one’s will on the world and watching it come to life—will break the invaders and give her sweet vengeance.
Both want to save the Empire but with tangled histories and new passions swirling around them, their divided motivations turn a possible victory into a deadly storm.
Join the battle today!
Make sure to grab the companion novels in the Uncommon World Series!
WATERS OF SALT AND SIN
FEVER
Amazon
About Alisha:
When she's not writing, Alisha teaches Thai kickboxing, Brazilian jiu jitsu, and krav maga at her family's dojo just outside of Nashville. That may be why writing fight scenes is her favorite.
Kathleen Rushall of Andrea Brown Literary Agency represents Alisha in all things books.
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Instagram
And now to the guest post!
What is the role that female empowerment plays in your novel? What were the challenges of writing a feminist narrative in a fantasy land ruled by a patriarchal society?
Hello and thanks for having me!
So you asked about the role of female empowerment in Plains of Sand and Steel. In the story, Seren and Ona are both powerful, albeit in very different ways.
Seren is quiet but determined in doing what she believes needs to be done in the Empire. She lets the overbearing figures in her life shout and bluster while she works in the background, nodding and thoroughly ignoring any demands she feels aren’t working toward her people’s good and what she wants.
There is nothing quiet about Ona. She simply refuses to be cowed by the men in her life. Aside from Lucca, she hasn’t met someone strong enough to bend her will in the slightest bit. Ona actually longs for someone like Lucca, but not Lucca, who will challenge her and give her a good argument, a way to sharpen her steel, so to speak. Even Dom, the vicious leader of their mercenary group, can’t quell her drive to do as she sees fit. Ona does occasionally listen to Lucca’s advice, and he to hers, because they have a good, close relationship of mutual respect. He is older and more experienced in their world, and Ona does sometimes take that into consideration. Later in the story, we’ll see changes in Ona, but I don’t want to spoil anything so that’s all I say. :)
In this fantasy version of an ancient world, some women enjoy freedoms most women in the real ancient world did not. In the Uncommon World, women are warriors and leaders in some areas. You see more of this in the first standalone, Waters of Salt and Sin. In Plains of Sand and Steel, the area is more male dominated—influenced by the ruler there and his cohorts. Ona and Seren come up against several overbearing men early on in the story and they bust through the men’s obstacles in their own ways.
I hope the girls and women who read my stories are reminded that no matter what anyone—man or woman—says, their goals and beliefs are valid and deserve full devotion. I also want my readers to see that every person is different and to be sure not to simply judge a person on their sex. Men are just as varied as women. Some are jerks. Some are heroes. Some have days being a bit of both. Just like women. I hope my readers see Seren and Ona (well at some point in their arcs) as examples of women who refuse to let the bullies in their lives ruin their chance at accomplishing their goals.
Giveaway Details: 1 winner will receive signed paperbacks of WATERS OF SALT AND SIN, FEVER, and PLAINS OF SAND AND STEEL & Swag (Stickers & A Signed Map), AND Paperbacks of AIR AWAKENS by Elise Kova & FIRST YEAR by Rachel E. Carter, US Only. 3 winners will receive eBooks of WATERS OF SALT AND SIN, FEVER, and PLAINS OF SAND AND STEEL, International.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Be sure to check out the rest of the tour!
Week One:
6/5/2017- MNBernard Books- Interview
6/5/2017- Pooled Ink- Review
6/6/2017- Rachel's Book Reviews- Review
6/7/2017- Novel Novice- Excerpt
6/7/2017- Hooked To Books- Review
6/8/2017- Taking It One Book at a Time- Review
6/8/2017- Bibliobibuli YA- Review
6/9/2017- Wandering Bark Books- Excerpt
6/9/2017- PC Book Reviews- Guest Post
Week Two:
6/12/2017- Fiction Fare- Guest Post
6/12/2017- What the Cat Read- Review
6/13/2017- Two Chicks on Books- Interview
6/13/2017- Why I Read- Review
6/14/2017- Booklove- Review
6/14/2017- Just Another Bookaholic- Spotlight
6/15/2017- Crystal's Chaotic Confessions- Excerpt
6/15/2017- BookHounds YA- Review
6/16/2017- BookBriefs- Review
6/16/2017- Page Turners Blog- Review
6/5/2017- MNBernard Books- Interview
6/5/2017- Pooled Ink- Review
6/6/2017- Rachel's Book Reviews- Review
6/7/2017- Novel Novice- Excerpt
6/7/2017- Hooked To Books- Review
6/8/2017- Taking It One Book at a Time- Review
6/8/2017- Bibliobibuli YA- Review
6/9/2017- Wandering Bark Books- Excerpt
6/9/2017- PC Book Reviews- Guest Post
Week Two:
6/12/2017- Fiction Fare- Guest Post
6/12/2017- What the Cat Read- Review
6/13/2017- Two Chicks on Books- Interview
6/13/2017- Why I Read- Review
6/14/2017- Booklove- Review
6/14/2017- Just Another Bookaholic- Spotlight
6/15/2017- Crystal's Chaotic Confessions- Excerpt
6/15/2017- BookHounds YA- Review
6/16/2017- BookBriefs- Review
6/16/2017- Page Turners Blog- Review
Let us know what you think of the guest post and of the book itself!
Your friends,
The Autumn Bookshelf
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