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$25 #Giveaway Awaken by Vanessa MacLellan @mccvan Ends 8.11

July 31, 2022 By Mary



Awaken
Vanessa MacLellan
Publication date: July 30th 2022
Genres: Adult, Dark Fantasy, Fantasy, Horror

Balin stands between two great Powers. One will shatter his mind; the other will destroy his soul. Only one of them can save his people.

Fort Resonbirg, a Norse stronghold in the New World, is besieged by the evil sorcerer Ursulard the Dreamspinner. Though their fields are scorched and homes destroyed, the residents and refugees do not worry, because Fort Resonbirg is Awakened with the power to provide, protect, and grow. But not all is as it seems when a wall of impenetrable mist surrounds the fort, and within the mist hunts the dragon, Nidhogg. Nidhogg hungers for more than flesh and bone. It instills nightmares on its prey, feeding on fear and pain, inevitably taking lives.

Balin Tremore, a commoner bound for the militia but hoping to stay by his noble love’s side, never expected to amount to grand things. When the great power of Cradleweaving is awakened within him, Balin unknowingly becomes the one person with the power to pierce the wall of mist and banish the deadly beast within before it destroys them all—if he can master the new power in time. But to master the power, he must sacrifice much. The question is, will it be his position, his Lady, or his very soul?

The Mist meets Nightmare on Elm Street in this classic tale of personal sacrifice.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

He rapped his knuckles against the wooden door, leaning against the frame to take the strain from his leg.

“Who is there?”

“It is I, Balin Tremore.” He glanced up and down the hallway. Vacant. “I request an audience.”

The door swung open. “Please enter with an open heart, Balin.” Elaine beamed at him, her joy evident in the musical laughter in her words.

Balin stepped inside, and Elaine slammed the door closed.

“Is Kirsten here?” he asked, scanning the suite for Elaine’s handmaiden.

Elaine shook her head. “She’s getting fabric.” With no warning, she threw her arms around Balin’s shoulders and hugged him close. “I’m so, so, so glad you are well,” she said, her words held stiffly, as if voicing a vow. “Don’t ever do that again. Don’t ever.” She squeezed him. His body took a moment to react, and then he melted into her hold.

He embraced her, brushing his cheek against her plum silk shirt, holding her close, praying to Baldr that she’d never be taken from his arms. He inhaled her lilac scent and closed his eyes.

She pulled back, and the intensity in her gaze captured his breath. They were of a same height, except for when she wore ball shoes and could stare down at him with haughty superiority. She’d tease him then, drape her arm over his shoulders when nobody was looking their way. He didn’t mind, he just enjoyed being close to her. Now, however, no tease twinkled in her stormy eyes. Only worry and determination resided there, and he hated to see all those emotions in turmoil over her sweet features.

“Balin, would you just give in? You don’t have to return to the field.”

Balin took in a breath and let his gaze slip from hers to stare at the side of her nose. “I can’t do that.”

“Yes. You can.” She pulled away sharply, turning her back on him as she charged into her sitting room, her strong trouser-clad legs cutting the distance to a few strides. She gleaned pieces of paper from her writing desk and tromped back towards him, shaking the papers in his face. “I’ve completed the requisition. All I need is the Hauld’s approval, and after you and William—” she waved her hands through the air in a grand gesture, the papers crackling under the abuse, “—there’s no way he wouldn’t agree to you being my steward.”

They’d had this argument before, and Balin found it harder and harder to refuse her.

But he wanted to be so much more to her than just her steward.

“I don’t even need your approval, you know.” Her eyes narrowed, and her mouth turned into a frown.

He dropped his shoulders back, attention wandering over the copper molding encircling her ceiling. “You wouldn’t do that.”

“Don’t you tempt me, Balin Tremore. If it means keeping you out of the war, I will do what I have to do.”

The command in her voice drew his attention back to her face. He scooped up her hands, papers and all, and pressed his forehead to hers. They stood that way for a moment, Elaine’s breathing fast, Balin’s heart thumping in his ears. Those weeks in the cage, cold, starving, he’d wanted her. Wanted her soft touch. Her amused smile. He’d kept her stored in his mind in the hidden places Zebbens couldn’t beat out of him.

“We have to fight him, Elaine. Every one of us, we all have to do what we can.”

“Then, Balin,” she argued, her voice a terse whisper, “that means I need to be out there, too.”

Through his bangs, he saw her looking at him. He rolled his forehead against hers until their noses touched. “You can’t go out there, Elaine,” he whispered, the words hovering between their nearly touching lips.

“I’m a better fencer than you.”

“Fencer, not swordsman, they aren’t the same.”

Behind him, the door opened.

“Oh, Miss, I’m so sorry to intrude,” Kirsten said.

The air crackled with anticipation, but Kirsten, so-sorry-to-intrude, didn’t leave.

Balin bowed his head and slowly pulled away. Then he turned to the handmaiden. “Hello, Kirsten.”

 

Author Bio:

Vanessa MacLellan was born and raised in the farmlands of eastern Washington, works as an environmental engineer, and is an avid birder, naturalist and hiker living in Portland, Oregon.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter

 

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Comments

  1. Thomas Gibson says

    August 1, 2022 at 2:18 am

    Congrats on your tour!

  2. Audrey Stewart says

    August 1, 2022 at 4:45 am

    Where has Vanessa MacLellan been? I saw some great books on Goodreads, and I can’t wait to start reading them.

  3. Nancy says

    August 1, 2022 at 4:54 am

    Awaken by author Vanessa MacLellan sounds like a dark fantasy that should be read with all the lights on!

  4. Julie Bickham says

    August 1, 2022 at 6:38 am

    Looks like its going to be a interesting story.

  5. Barbara Montag says

    August 1, 2022 at 6:45 am

    I so enjoyed reading this excerpt – great read!
    Thank you for sharing this.

  6. Cathy French says

    August 1, 2022 at 7:10 am

    I love the green coloring graphics on the cover. The character name, Balin is quite unique, like it

  7. Tracy Fritts says

    August 1, 2022 at 8:57 am

    Like the excerpt. Sounds very interesting

  8. wendy hutton says

    August 1, 2022 at 12:36 pm

    sounds like an amazing book

  9. Cindy Merrill says

    August 1, 2022 at 1:21 pm

    The story’s beginning is as old as War itself- many a man and maid had to part ways either in life or by death.

  10. heather says

    August 1, 2022 at 2:06 pm

    This sounds super good and the cover is really cool.

  11. Piroska says

    August 1, 2022 at 5:09 pm

    Thanks for the great excerpt. The book sounds intriguing. Great cover.

  12. Latifa Morrisette says

    August 1, 2022 at 5:34 pm

    Sounds like a good read.

  13. Saundra McKenzie says

    August 1, 2022 at 6:59 pm

    looking forward to reading this one. Thanks for the chance

  14. Sarah L says

    August 1, 2022 at 9:36 pm

    My brother would like this book.
    Thanks for the contest.

  15. Maria Malaveci says

    August 2, 2022 at 3:57 am

    Sounds like a wonderful read!

  16. Margaret Smith says

    August 2, 2022 at 4:57 pm

    Sounds like an exciting book.

  17. Latifa Morrisette says

    August 2, 2022 at 5:19 pm

    Sounds like a good read

  18. Abigail Gibson says

    August 2, 2022 at 5:42 pm

    Looks like a great book!!

  19. David HOLLINGSWORTH says

    August 2, 2022 at 6:29 pm

    I like the sound and premise of this book.

  20. Cynthia C says

    August 3, 2022 at 9:36 am

    The excerpt is interesting. Thank you for sharing it.

  21. Debbi Wellenstein says

    August 3, 2022 at 9:47 am

    I enjoyed the excerpt. Thank you for the giveaway!

  22. paige chandler says

    August 3, 2022 at 10:33 am

    That was an awesome excerpt. Good work,

  23. Bonnie says

    August 3, 2022 at 2:06 pm

    What an intriguing book! Great cover and excerpt. I’d love to read more.

  24. Antoinette M says

    August 3, 2022 at 7:53 pm

    Awesome cover. Sounds like a great scary read!

  25. gloria says

    August 5, 2022 at 1:46 am

    thanks for the contest

  26. Ann Fantom says

    August 5, 2022 at 5:05 pm

    This sounds like an interesting book and I also like the cover.

  27. bn100 says

    August 5, 2022 at 7:47 pm

    intriguing

  28. Sandra Watts says

    August 6, 2022 at 12:02 pm

    Thanks for hosting. It looks like a good read.

  29. clynsg says

    August 8, 2022 at 8:18 am

    I like the cover, but horror is not really a genre I enjoy reading.

  30. BILL HOFF says

    August 9, 2022 at 6:45 pm

    My daughter would enjoy this book

  31. Judy Gregory says

    August 9, 2022 at 8:55 pm

    Sounds like a great read.

  32. MargaretAnn Rice says

    August 10, 2022 at 10:30 am

    Sunny days here, how about where you are?

  33. Amy Green says

    August 10, 2022 at 5:09 pm

    I loved this unique blend of military and sorcery! There are so many elements that keep you hooked.

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