Tales of Malstria: A Spellbinding Vampire Novel

Tales of Malstria

The Immortal Damned

“Always keep your thoughts at heart on these three things true: Where you come from, what you are, and what will come of you. Lullay lullay little Quin, son, lullay lullay lo. With sorrow you came to this world, with sorrow you will go.”

TANGLED

A runaway in twelfth century York, Quin scraps together a life from stolen trinkets and constant hope. His knack for survival keeps him breathing after he’s nabbed by Leoric of Rensweald, a nobleman with generous intentions and dangerous needs. Quin alone knows Leoric’s savage hunger and guards his secret with loyalty born of fear, ambition, and a strangled sense of brotherhood. Richly rewarded for his silence, Quin is content until Leoric adopts a girl named Amarys as his ward. As Quin falls in love with her, his precariously balanced life comes undone.

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Excerpt

I heard a crack; then her head was hanging languidly over her shoulder. Her neck twisted unnaturally, her wide eyes were staring straight at me. She was still blinking when his teeth tore her throat open.

His eyes flashed upward and locked on mine as her blood streamed over his lips and chin. There was a smile in those eyes of his–a smile and a warning, and I couldn’t move until he looked away.

Masterful as I was at tucking myself away until dangers passed, when I fled that room instinct failed me. All I could do was run. By the time sense returned, I found myself in the center of a dark, narrow street even wind and sound had deserted.

An alley cut between the looming buildings on my right, and through the gap, the moonlit spires of Darton Cathedral beckoned me to turn. God put them there for me; for that moment. My eyes fixed on those spires, I dashed into the alley–knowing without thinking where I should hide.

He dropped from above in a streak of darkness and, landing two steps in front of me, blotted out the spires as he rose to his full height. Before I could turn, he clutched my shoulders with a grip so tight my fingers tingled.

“Don’t fight me, Quin,” he growled in my ear. “Don’t fight me and don’t run, or you’ll wish you could trade places with that whore.”

I fought anyway, useless as I knew it was, until he slipped his hand around my throat and squeezed just hard enough to make me gasp for air that wouldn’t come. I clawed and pulled at his wrist, and staring down at me with icy eyes, he slowly tightened his grip.

Those eyes were the last thing I saw and the first thing I awoke to in our room. Frigid and furious, their gaze hadn’t left my face for a moment. Lying on my back on the bed he towered beside, I could still feel the burn of his hand on my throat.

“You shouldn’t have told her my name,” he said.

I followed the flick of his eyes to see the whore’s corpse shadowed by a dark stain where it sprawled beside the bed.

“I’d have let her live, but look what you’ve done to her . . . And, to make it worse, you run off so I’m forced to leave her unfinished. Leaving me wanting more, Quin. Leaving me quite unsatisfied.”

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“This book will leave your mind racing and your heart pounding!”

 

 

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“I was deeply drawn into this book right until the end”

 

 

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“What an amazing squeal”

 

 

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“I’m waiting on the edge of my seat to see what happens when spring comes to London”

 

 

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” I could not put Tangled down!”

 

 

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“A horrifying world where my favorite hero is tested”

 

 

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“I had a hard time putting this book down and by the time I reached the end I was wishing there was more”

 

 

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“Another triumph, the series just gets better”

 

 

Audio Sample

Tales of Malstria

“???”

TANGLED

Map

Characters Of Tangled

Above, I’ve included all of the main characters in Tangled. But, if there’s a character I’ve neglected to include and you’d like to know more about, just contact me and I’d be happy to include it.

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Q&A

Q    What was the biggest obstacle you faced while writing Tangled?

Time was a big obstacle–just trying to find the space in a day to go to my day job, live my life, and keep writing was a struggle. But my husband’s support kept me going.

Q    What is it in Quin that allows him to look for his ‘more’ when life has dealt him such a cruel hand?

He’s flexible and resilient, but I can’t say where he draws that strength from. I’ve known people who have been kicked around by life and not turned that pain inward but simply let it go. I think Quin survives by looking ahead.

Q    Did you find it difficult writing in first person from a male perspective?

At first I doubted I could write first person from a male’s perspective with any realness–especially about love or sex. But when I stopped questioning myself and let him be, Quin’s thoughts and actions flowed out naturally. I think the differences between men and women are more subtle and less definitive than they’re often portrayed.

Q    There are scenes in your novel that encompass the depths of love, hatred and fear. How do you create such diversity in your writing?

I think well-rounded characters whom readers care about create those emotions.

Q    The city and landscape of the story seem alive. How did you develop the sense of scenery?

I visited a number of locations across northern England to get a three dimensional sense of myself in the place. As I was writing, I also relied on photographs and descriptions from histories, travel guides, nature conservatories, and more.

Music That Inspires

  1. The Red – Chevelle
  2. Truth – Seether
  3. Bother – Stone Sour
  4. Spiral – Godsmack
  5. I Will Not Bow – Breaking Benjamin
  6. Last TIme – Fuel
  7. Down and Out – Tantric
  8. Just Like You – Three Days Grace
  9. Silhouettes – Smile Empty Soul
  10. Comfortable Liar – Chevelle

Contact Me

Do you have questions about Tangled? If so, just ask and I’d be happy to answer!

Blooper Reel

I’ve put a great deal of time and energy creating a product you’ll love.

But, if you find a misspelling or grammatical error please contact me so that I can make the necessary correction to improve enjoyability for future readers.

Thank you!

Research for Tangled

Avalon Project, Medieval Documents

Castles of Britain

Gode Cookery

Internet Medieval Sourcebook

Labyrinth

Medieval English Towns

Medieval Technology Pages

Mostly Medieval

Netserf

Regia Anglorum

The Catholic Encyclopedia

The Online Medieval & Classical Library

The Orb: On-line Reference Book for Medieval Studies

The Unicorn Tapestries

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