Official Cover Reveal: Wings of Nestor by Devri Walls

Today on the blog, I have the pleasure of bringing you the cover reveal for the final third book in Devri Walls' Solus trilogy series.  (Edit:  I just found out from the author that this series will now have four books, meaning this third book will not be the last book following Kiora and her adventures.)  I loved the first two books and can't wait to get my hands on Wings of Nestor to see how it all ends what's next for Kiora and friends.

And without further ado, the cover for Wings of Nestor, due out late spring/early summer:

Kiora needs answers. Who is the Shadow? Who is Jasmine? Are they connected? And even more pressing: how can she stop Shadow from using Kiora’s dreams as a map to find them? They have escaped three times, but are living on borrowed time—and everybody knows it.

Her search for help will push her closer to Alcander, send her to the dragon mountain of Toopai, and straight back to Meros—where magic will finally return to the land of no magic. Answers will be uncovered and plans unearthed that have been waiting for thousands of years.

But with the Shadow’s forces gathering, it looks like the land’s path is hurtling towards one outcome: war with the Shadow and death to all rebels. Armed with knowledge and hope, Kiora is determined to change that path. But will fate allow it? Or will it deal her a hard lesson about following ones own destiny?

For your viewing pleasure, here are all three covers together:



I just love them, don't you?  They complement each other so well!  And I love how a different character is featured on each book cover.

About the author:

Devri Walls lives in Kuna ID with her husband, two kids and one very bouncy lab. After suffering from an abundance of creativity with not enough places to put it, she turned to writing. Which in the end, turned out to be exactly where she should have been putting it all along.

Find out more about Devri Walls and her books: 
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon

What do you think of the latest cover?

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Labels: devri walls, fantasy, indies, official cover reveals, the solus trilogy

Blog Tour: Wings of Tavea by Devri Walls - Review + Giveaway

Welcome to my stop on the Wings of Tavea Blog Tour, hosted by Xpresso Book Tours.  You can check out the full tour schedule here.  On my stop, I have a review of Wings of Tavea, the second book in The Solus Trilogy by Devri Walls, as well as a couple of awesome giveaways for you guys.  But first, a little about the books:

Title:  Wings of Arian
Author:  Devri Walls
Series:  1st book in the Wings of Arian series
Publisher:  Stonehouse Ink
Publication Date:  April 24, 2012
Purchase:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Kiora thought she had never heard a lie until she was sixteen. But she was wrong. Her entire existence was based on nothing but. She thought that evil did not exist. Lie. That magic was not real. Lie. And that the land of Meros was all there was. One more lie.

With Aleric telling her that evil is knocking on the door and that she is the only one who can stop them she has a choice to make. Refuse, or start the wildest most painful ride of her life.

She reluctantly dips her toe into her new existence of magic and threads, dragons and shapeshifters, and the person who wants to take control of it all: the evil Dralazar.

However, this journey was never meant to be hers alone. She will be accompanied by a Protector. To her disbelief, and utter irritation they name the hotheaded, stubborn, non -magical, (albeit gorgeous) Prince Emane. They will have to trust each other with their lives, but right now Kiora would settle for a non hostile conversation.

And now it comes down to this, If you had never heard a lie, would you know when you heard one? Is knowing good from evil innate? Kiora finds herself having to decide who lives and who dies on those very questions.

Title: Wings of Tavea
Author: Devri Walls
Series: The Solus Trilogy, book #2
Publisher: Stonehouse Ink
Publication Date: December 11, 2012
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Kiora is rapidly learning that evil and lies come in shades of black and white and swirling greys, but nothing could have prepared her for the shock of leaving Meros. Kiora and her protector Emane step through the pass into a world they never knew existed but were always meant to save, only to find it far worse than they could have ever imagined. Good has been forced into hiding for its own survival, while the rest of the land bows to the Shadow, a force that pushes any remaining thoughts of Dralazar from Kiora’s mind. This land is full of new creatures, each more dangerous than the last. Her visions have taken on a deadly twist, and magic, or what comes of it, was never so real. And then there is Alcander: a Tavean, their guide, and an entirely different kind of trouble.

I was so excited to return to this world of magic and strange beings and to find out what old friends are up to.  Things were left rather unfinished in Wings of Arian, so I knew I could expect some serious action from Wings of Tavea, but I had no idea there'd be a new villain and even more odd creatures than in the first book.

I loved how everything developed in Wings of Arian:  the romance, the world, the magic.  I kind of missed all of that in this second installment.  But all in all, everything was pretty well established in the first book, and so this one focused more on the new evil on the other side of the magical barrier, the evil that has stolen all of the good away.  And that was kind of awesome in itself.

The beautiful imagery and lush descriptions in this series are part of why I enjoy the books so much.  It's so easy to visualize the setting and even to put yourself in the midst of all of those magical creatures.  But I also love the characters and everything they learn about each other and themselves.  They are really put to the test in this book, and I loved seeing the outcome.  And the introduction of new characters adds a bit of intrigue to the storyline, though I can't say I liked them as much as the characters I've already grown to love.

Like the first book, this one really captured all of the fantasy elements that I enjoy so much:  magic, mythical creatures, and of course, a world with secrets just waiting to be discovered.  It was fast-paced and full of action that kept me riveted until the end.  I can't wait to see what else is in store for Kiora in the final book of this trilogy.

Rating:  

About the author:

Devri Walls lives in Kuna Idaho with her husband and two kids. She has worked as a music teacher and currently, a preschool teacher. She majored in theater and her love of a story still drives her today. Thankfully, she has finally found an outlet for all the voices in her head. Her first novel, Wings of Arian, is available on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and Apple. The second book in the Solus trilogy, Wings of Tavea is scheduled for release Nov 2012.

website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Rules:

• This giveaway is international.
• One entry per household.
• All entries will be verified.  Any entry found to be falsified will result in disqualification of all entries for that participant.
• Winner will be notified via email.  Winner will then have 48 hours to respond before another winner will be selected.  Please check your SPAM folders!
• I am not responsible for lost packages.
• This giveaway is sponsored by the author.  Winner's name will be provided to the author/tour host and prizes will be provided by the author.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And now for the grand prize:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thanks for stopping by & happy reading!

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Labels: blog tour, devri walls, fantasy, giveaways, indies, the solus trilogy

Teaser Tuesday #42: Hysteria by Megan Miranda & Wings of Tavea by Devri Walls

Teaser Tuesday is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (Make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!


This week's teaser(s) comes from the following book(s):

Title: Hysteria
Author: Megan Miranda
Series: stand-alone
Publisher: Walker Childrens/Bloomsbury
Publication Date: February 5, 2013
Source: from publisher via Netgalley
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Mallory killed her boyfriend, Brian. She can't remember the details of that night but everyone knows it was self-defense, so she isn't charged. But Mallory still feels Brian's presence in her life. Is it all in her head? Or is it something more? In desperate need of a fresh start, Mallory is sent to Monroe, a fancy prep school where no one knows her . . . or anything about her past. But the feeling follows her, as do her secrets. Then, one of her new classmates turns up dead. As suspicion falls on Mallory, she must find a way to remember the details of both deadly nights so she can prove her innocence-to herself and others. 

In another riveting tale of life and death, Megan Miranda's masterful storytelling brings readers along for a ride to the edge of sanity and back again.

My teaser:

"Krista froze when she saw me.  Jason tried to smile at me, but his lower lip was swollen and the top of his cheek was reddish purple, and he winced from the pain.  "Your boyfriend fights dirty," he said.  Then a sound that must have been laughter escaped from his throat."

-- 59%/Loc 1661 of galley

This is my second go at this novel.  Not because I didn't like it the first time...just that other books took priority for a bit.  Hoping this one is as good as Fracture!

Title: Wings of Tavea
Author: Devri Walls
Series: The Solus Trilogy, book #2
Publisher: indie
Publication Date: December 11, 2012
Source: from author via Xpresso Book Tours
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Kiora is rapidly learning that evil and lies come in shades of black and white and swirling greys, but nothing could have prepared her for the shock of leaving Meros. Kiora and her protector Emane step through the pass into a world they never knew existed but were always meant to save, only to find it far worse than they could have ever imagined. Good has been forced into hiding for its own survival, while the rest of the land bows to the Shadow, a force that pushes any remaining thoughts of Dralazar from Kiora’s mind. This land is full of new creatures, each more dangerous than the last. Her visions have taken on a deadly twist, and magic, or what comes of it, was never so real. And then there is Alcander: a Tavean, their guide, and an entirely different kind of trouble.

My teaser:

"No," Alcander whispered.  "It's not possible."  His face went even whiter than it had been. "It's just a legend."

-- 18%/Loc 800 of galley

I really enjoyed the first book in this series, Wings of Arian, so I have high hopes for this book.  It's already off to a good start!  Stop back by on the 4th for my stop on the tour...I'll have a giveaway, too!

What are you teasing this week?  Share it in the comments or leave a link so I can visit!

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Labels: bloomsbury, devri walls, high fantasy, hysteria, indies, megan miranda, murder mystery, psychological thriller, teaser tuesday, the solus trilogy

Official Cover Reveal: Wings of Tavea by Devri Walls

Today on the blog, I have the pleasure of bringing you the cover reveal for the second book in Devri Walls' Solus series.  I loved the first book and can't wait to get my hands on Wings of Tavea to see how Kiora and Emane are faring on their adventure.

About the author:

Devri Walls lives in Kuna, Idaho, with her husband and two kids. She has worked as a music teacher and currently, a preschool teacher. She majored in theater and her love of a story still drives her today. Thankfully, she has finally found an outlet for all the voices in her head. Her first novel, Wings of Arian, is available on Amazon, Barnes and Nobles and Apple. The second book in the Solus trilogy, Wings of Tavea is scheduled for release in November 2012.

Find out more about Devri Walls and her books: 
website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon

And without further ado, the cover for Wings of Tavea, due out in November:

Isn't it gorgeous?!?  If that was Emane on the cover of Wings of Arian, this must be Kiora.  Absolutely stunning!  And here's the synopsis for this second installment in the Solus trilogy:

Kiora is rapidly learning that evil and lies come in shades of black and white and swirling greys, but nothing could have prepared her for the shock of leaving Meros. Kiora and her protector Emane step through the pass into a world they never knew existed but were always meant to save, only to find it far worse than they could have ever imagined. Good has been forced into hiding for its own survival, while the rest of the land bows to the Shadow, a force that pushes any remaining thoughts of Dralazar from Kiora’s mind. This land is full of new creatures, each more dangerous than the last. Her visions have taken on a deadly twist, and magic, or what comes of it, was never so real. And then there is Alcander: a Tavean, their guide, and an entirely different kind of trouble.

And now I'm even more excited, if that's even possible!  So, what do you think?

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Labels: devri walls, high fantasy, indies, magic, official cover reveals, wings of arian

Blog Tour: Review & Excerpt for Wings of Arian by Devri Walls

***

Today on the blog, I'll be featuring a review and excerpt for my stop on the Wings of Arian Blog Tour, brought to you by The Bookish Brunette.  Be sure to check out Ashley's tour kick-off post because she's teamed up with Devri Walls, the author of this fantabulous book, to give away not one but TWO $100 Amazon gift cards.

Title:  Wings of Arian
Author:  Devri Walls
Series:  1st book in the Wings of Arian series
Publisher:  Stonehouse Ink
Publication Date:  April 24, 2012
Source:  eARC from author
Purchase:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Kiora thought she had never heard a lie until she was sixteen. But she was wrong. Her entire existence was based on nothing but. She thought that evil did not exist. Lie. That magic was not real. Lie. And that the land of Meros was all there was. One more lie.

With Aleric telling her that evil is knocking on the door and that she is the only one who can stop them she has a choice to make. Refuse, or start the wildest most painful ride of her life.

She reluctantly dips her toe into her new existence of magic and threads, dragons and shapeshifters, and the person who wants to take control of it all: the evil Dralazar.

However, this journey was never meant to be hers alone. She will be accompanied by a Protector. To her disbelief, and utter irritation they name the hotheaded, stubborn, non -magical, (albeit gorgeous) Prince Emane. They will have to trust each other with their lives, but right now Kiora would settle for a non hostile conversation.

And now it comes down to this, If you had never heard a lie, would you know when you heard one? Is knowing good from evil innate? Kiora finds herself having to decide who lives and who dies on those very questions.

I approached Wings of Arian with some trepidation.  The last indie novel I read left me with a bitter taste, and I really wanted to like this novel.  I'm on a bit of a fantasy kick right now, and I really enjoyed the last few I read, so it became even easier to begin to expect the worst.  But Wings of Arian surpassed all my expectations -- and not because I set the bar low...it's a truly awesome novel.  This book really captured all of the fantasy elements that I enjoy so much:  magic, mythical creatures, and of course, a world with secrets just waiting to be discovered.

First, let me touch on the characters.  Our two champions, Kiora, the wielder of magic, and Prince Emane, her protector, are thoughtful, well-developed characters with established backgrounds.  The chemistry between these two characters was immediately evident to me, though it took longer for them to see it.  Their cause is truly a noble one, and I think the goodness in each of their hearts will prevail on their quest.  Sometimes, I found myself wondering if Kiora was a little too good; the fact that she harbored no ill will toward anyone, even her enemies, could prove problematic in future endeavors, but at least she makes life interesting, right?  And that Emane...the only time his anger bubbled to the surface was when Kiora was in danger.  That fierce over-protectiveness, for which he was assigned the task of her Protector, may prove to be his downfall yet.  But I sure hope not.

Ah, the world.  Lush.  Picturesque.  And of course magical, though for the last thousand years, that fact has been kept kidden from the residents of the valley.  But now that evil has returned, they have to be made aware, and they have to pick a side.  The supporting cast of characters help to make the world fantastical, as they were as much a part of the valley as the trees or the grass, and they all serve to aid Kiora and Emane in their efforts to rid the world of the evil that has once again been unleashed on it.

Wings of Arian is relatively fast-paced, and it was a rather quick read, as well.  The plot kept me interested, as one by one, secrets of the magical world were loosed upon Kiora and Emane, though they never got all of the answers at once...no matter how much they demanded it.  My only complaint would be that the ending leaned toward the anticlimactic, though it did pave the way for a great future for this fantasy series.

Witty and humorous and full of magical potential, I'd recommend this novel to fans of Kristin Cashore's Graceling and the newly-released Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo.

Rating: 

Excerpt:


   Kiora laughed.  "I am improving, aren't I?"
   "Yes, you are."  He wiped his mouth with the back of his sleeve.  "I had an idea about where to get the bedding from."
   "What kind of idea?"
   "If you summon it, it can come from anywhere, right?"
   "Yes."
   "So, it could feasibly come right off of somebody's bed while they are sleeping."
   Kiora giggled again and was immediately embarrassed.  She seemed to do that more around him.  "That would be a shock, wouldn't it?"
   "Yes.  But blankets are also expensive to buy and time-consuming to make.  I would feel badly taking something like that from the villagers.  So I want you to try to take my bedding, from the castle."
   "Do you have enough?"
   Emane laughed, "Yes, I definitely have enough."
   "I am going to have to be very specific to get it.  Can you describe it to me?"
   Emane described the room, where it was at in the castle, and how many blankets, sheets and quilts were on his bed.
   "Twelve!  You have twelve blankets!"
   "I know, it's a lot."
   "A lot!?  I had one, and it's two inches too short for my legs!"
   "Excess seems to come with being born into the royal family."
   Kiora shook her head, "Alright, give me a few minutes, and no talking."  Kiora closed her eyes and tried to remember the castle.  She moved her mind down the hallway she knew held the Prince's quarters and tried to imagine inside just as he described.  She pictured herself walking down the hall to his room and opening the large wooden door.  She could see the large four-poster bed in her mind:  carvings curling up and around the pillars, the gold fabric draped from the top.  She concentrated as hard as she could and imagined the piles and piles of blankets and sheets moving from the bed to the cave.  The magic was draining out of her; it was a lot more work than a few food items.  She could see the blankets in her mind but she didn't know if they had moved yet.  She gave it everything she had before she finally had to turn around, with a gasp.  To her surprise, there was a pile of bedding sitting on the floor; not only blankets, but the sheets and all the pillows, too.
   She looked at Emane.  "How long have these been here?"
   "A couple of minutes."
   She couldn't believe it.  "A couple of minutes!  Couldn't you see that I was dying over here?!"
   He just smiled at her.  "You didn't look like you were dying.  You looked like you were concentrating.  Besides, you said not to talk."
   "Oohhh!"  Kiora picked up a pillow and threw it at him.  Looking around she scowled, "I don't understand, why didn't I know they were here?"  She examined the pile.  "Did I get everything?"
   "More than everything, you got the blankets, the pillows, the sheets.  I even think you got the down filler."  He pulled through the pile, "Yep, here it is."
   She started pulling through one blanket at a time.
   "What are you doing?"
   "Counting."
   "Counting?  Why?"
   She didn't answer him until she had finished pulling through the entire pile.  Sitting back on her heels, she looked at him.  "Eleven."
   "What?"
   "There are eleven blankets here."
   "So?"
   "So!  No wonder I thought I was going to die.  I was trying to summon a blanket that wasn't even there.  That's why I didn't know they were here.  At least I think that's why."
   Emane started laughing.
   "It's not funny!"
   "Yes, yes it is...very funny."  His laugh was echoing around the cave.  Kiora had never heard him so happy before.  She couldn't help but smile.
   "Alright, let's get this thing set up."  She tried not to let Emane see her smiling, but it was hard to hide.
   Emane got up, still laughing and started to pull the blankets off to get to the down filler.  It was so thick and comfortable she might as well have summoned the whole bed.  Emane put it down and Kiora started tucking a sheet around the outside.  Emane took another blanket and set it on the floor across from the down filler.
   "What are you doing?"
   "Making my bed."
   "You can't sleep with one little blanket, when we have got this luxurious thing!"
   "Sure I can.  You can take that."
   Kiora looked back and forth between the down filler and his sad pile of blankets.  "No, Emane, this is ridiculous.  This thing is huge -- we can share."
   "Kiora, I couldn't."
   "Stop it, Emane.  I appreciate you being chivalrous, but you can sleep on one side and I will sleep on the other.  We could even roll a blanket down the middle, if it would make you feel better."
   "I will be fine over here on the floor."
   "No, you won't, because you are sleeping over  here.  I can't have you trying to defend me with a knot in your shoulder, can I?"
   Emane rolled his eyes, again.  "Alright, fine.  But I am warning you--I kick."
   "That's alright, I bite."  Emane stared at her.  Kiora broke into laughter.  "I am just kidding, Emane."  She set another blanket down on top of the down filler.  "Oh, you should have seen your face."
   "Very funny."



***



About the author:

Devri Walls lives in Kuna, Idaho, with her husband and two kids. She has worked as a music teacher and currently as a preschool teacher. She majored in theater and her love of a story still drives her today. Thankfully, she has finally found an outlet for all the voices in her head. Her first novel, Wings of Arian, will be released on Amazon in May of 2012.

Find out more about Devri Walls and her books:  website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Amazon

Don't forget to stop by The Bookish Brunette to enter to win the Amazon gift cards and check out the rest of the tour schedule!

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Labels: blog tour, devri walls, excerpts, high fantasy, indies, magic, reviews, wings of arian