**Notice** Due to transfering back from a godaddy hosted wordpress blog back to blogger, reviews published before june 2017 don`t all have a pretty layout with book cover and infos. Our apologies.

Saturday, August 20, 2011

FF: Sleepy Hollow by Melanie Card

** Today on Dark Faerie Tales read an interview with Sarah Beth Durst and you could win a copy of  Drink, Slay, Love **

RRHfinalsmall_thumb3_thumb

Thanks to Tynga for inviting me to be here today. I was excited about the idea of doing a twisted fairy tale with a character from my debut YA/New Adult fantasy novel, Ward Against Death, until I realized it already is a twisted fairy tale. Waking the girl from her cursed sleep is Sleeping Beauty. Or, in my hero’s case waking the girl from the dead. And the twist: the heroine is nothing like a fairy tale princess and so much more happens after she wakes.

My hero, Ward, is a necromancer. He’d rather be a surgeon, but surgery is illegal in his world, and he’s already been expelled from the physician’s academy for digging up bodies to perform necropsies. Now the only career option he has is the family business, waking people from the dead so loved ones can say their final goodbyes, except when he wakes the heroine (aka Sleeping Beauty) he get so much more than he bargained for.

Ward was partly inspired by Ichabod Crane in Sleepy Hollow, so for my twisted fairy tale I thought I’d pit Ward against the Headless Horseman and see how he does.

2766358-2-sleepy-hollow

A piercing scream shattered the silence, enveloping the village. Ward jerked his gaze from the book he was searching, his heart pounding. The horseman had returned. There wasn’t any time left and he still hadn’t found the location of the horseman’s soul.

Through the window of the one-room temple lay the no-longer-sleepy village of a dozen houses. Same as last night, the townspeople were probably trembling within their shuttered and locked residences, terrified of the apparition outside and fearing they would be the next the fall victim to its hunger.

Fog billowed up the muddy street, tangled in low-hanging naked branches, and clung to thatching. The horseman’s wail came again, making the hair on the back of Ward’s neck stand up. A blast of cold autumn air swept through the fog, swirling it around and around, revealing the dark, mounted apparition. His massive horse trotted onto the bridge into town, its hooves clattered on the bricked crossing, shattering the silence. Proof it was all too real and all too deadly.

Ward shoved the book aside and threw opened the next one. The last one. There were no other records of where the horseman’s soul might be imprisoned. Generations ago, a black necromancer had terrorized these lands and while the necromancer had been stopped, his soul jars had never been found. One of those souls, the horseman, had found a way to free part of himself, and now wreaked vengeance every year on the five nights leading up to his murder.

Tonight was the last night. If Ward didn’t find the horseman’s soul jar now, free his entire spirit, and guide him across the veil into the eternal embrace of the Goddess, he’d have to wait another year and more people could die. He had to find that jar.

There, a handwritten note scrawled in the margin. The village had taken the black necromancer’s house and turned it into a temple, keeping the existing foundation and cleaning the evil from the cellar. Ward was right on top of the jars. Black necromancers kept a workshop where they performed their blood magic rituals and kept their soul jars. If they hadn’t been found, they had to be hidden in one of the walls. All he had to do was get outside to the cellar doors and—Ichabod_Crane_by_kaytii

With a thunderous boom, the doors to the temple burst open, cracking from their hinges and falling to the floor. Framed in the archway was the horseman and his rearing mount. The apparition’s black cloak shined with semi-congealed blood, and the wound at his neck was ragged as if it had taken multiple blows to decapitate him. His enormous horse snorted and eyed Ward with glowing red eyes.

The sword in the horseman’s free hand dripped blood that hissed and seared the floor where it fell. He swung it around over his head—or rather over where his head should have been—spraying droplets of blood into the temple. Blood spattered Ward’s clothes and face, stinging like acid.  As the spatter hit the open page of the book, smoke curled from the parchment and it burst into flames.

Ward scrambled back. He needed to get into the cellar but the horseman blocked the only door. The window was his only other option. He raced toward it, but the horseman kicked his horse into the temple, slashing his sword between Ward and the window.

Flames leapt from the wooden floorboards, blocking the window. The horseman swung again, this time at Ward. Heart racing, Ward twisted, caught his heel on the edge of the table, and toppled backward. The sword whooshed over his head. A few seconds slower and he’d have been joining the horseman.

He shoved himself to his feet and lunged for the door, feeling the whoosh of the horseman’s blade at his back. The horse’s hooves pounded on the floorboards and another ear piercing scream roared behind Ward. He didn’t look back. He certainly didn’t want to see that thing coming after him.

He raced around to the back of the temple with the horseman pounding after him. There, the cellar door, almost level with the ground and partially hidden by the straggled remains of an autumn-naked bush. Ward grabbed the handle. Out of the corner of his eyes, he caught the flash of movement, a shadow in the fog. He jerked aside.

The horse’s hooves crashed into the cellar door, shattering the wood, opening the way. Ward ducked inside. The cellar was dark, only a hint of light coming from a small window by the ceiling at the back of the room. Whips of smoke from the fire above danced along the ceiling and ghostly cobwebs draped from the half dozen shelves cluttered in the space.

Behind him, the horseman leapt from his horse and lumbered down the steps. Ward ran between the shelves, the cobwebs catching on his face and hands. He’d hoped the soul jars’ location would be obvious—although now that he thought about it, if they hadn’t been found in generations, their hiding place wasn’t easily noticeable. Just a few minutes more and he was sure he’d figure out behind which wall the black necromancer had hidden them.

The horseman yanked the closest shelf out of the way, tossing it onto the one beside it and toppling them both over. He swung, but Ward ducked. The bloody blade cut into the wall and when the horseman jerked it free, part of the stone flew out with it.

Ward rushed behind another shelf, a plan starting to take shape. The soul jars had to be in the walls somewhere. What better way to find them then get the horseman to reveal them—if, of course, Ward could manage to keep dodging the horseman’s blade.

New Image

The horseman swung again and again. Ward twisted and scrambled. Stone flew around him and slid from the walls, but still no secret shelf filled with soul jars. Ward was running out of breath and the cellar was running out of walls. What if he’d been wrong about the soul jars’ location?

With a growl, the horseman lunged. Ward wrenched out of the way and the blade pierced the wall. Finally, as the last stone cracked and fell away, Ward saw a hidden shelf containing half a dozen clay jars. But only one was cracked, just a sliver, enough to allow a part of an angry soul free. That had to be the horseman’s.

Ward grabbed it and smashed it against the ground. The horseman screamed and staggered back, black smoke enveloped him, gathering around his ruined neck, forming into a head. Seizing a broken shard of crockery, Ward sliced open his hand and pressed his palms together. With the magic in his blood, he called upon his Goddess for grace, Her Light Son for knowledge, and Her Dark Son for strength.

The horseman jerked, the blood from his blade splattering Ward, stinging his face and hands. He ground his teeth against the pain. He needed to concentrate. Even blind to the magic surrounding him, he had enough power within him to open the veil and release the horseman from his earthbound imprisonment. He focused on ripping open the veil between worlds, imagined it cracking open. The horseman screamed again, and dissolved into thick black smoke. Ward was doing it! Just a little longer.

The smoke whirled into a tight vortex, tossing dust and stone fragments around the room. Ward squinted against the storm. He had to see this through, had to ensure the horseman’s spirit was finally at rest. Concentrate. Keep the veil open long enough fore the magic to work. And then, with a ferocious wind that momentarily sucked the air from the cellar, the vortex and the horseman disappeared.

Ward sagged against the wall beside the hidden shelf, his palm burning from the cut, his face stinging from the horseman’s fiery blood. But it was done. The horseman had passed over and wouldn’t terrorize the village anymore. It, however, wasn’t finished. Once Ward caught his breath, he’d release the rest of the souls trapped so they, too, could find eternal rest. The job of a necromancer was never done.

------------------

giveaway_thumb2_thumb

Twenty-year-old Ward de’Ath expected this to be a simple job—bring a nobleman’s daughter back from the dead for fifteen minutes, let her family say good-bye, and launch his fledgling career as a necromancer. Goddess knows he can’t be a surgeon—the Quayestri already branded him a criminal for trying—so bringing people back from the dead it is.

But when Ward wakes the beautiful Celia Carlyle, he gets more than he bargained for. Insistent that she’s been murdered, Celia begs Ward to keep her alive and help her find justice. By the time she drags him out her bedroom window and into the sewers, Ward can’t bring himself to break his damned physician’s Oath and desert her.

However, nothing is as it seems—including Celia. One second, she’s treating Ward like sewage, the next she’s kissing him. And for a nobleman’s daughter, she sure has a lot of enemies. If he could just convince his heart to give up on the infuriating beauty, he might get out of this alive…

Read an excerpt

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Interested in winning this book?

Lucky you, I have 3 copies to giveaway!

  • This giveaway is open to US and Canada only

  • To enter, just leave a comment letting me know why you want to read Ward Against Death

You can to earn an extra entry (1) by spreading the word, please provide link in a second comment

tweet: #FantasticFables Read @melaniecard 's take on Sleepy Hollow | Win Ward Against Death http://www.tyngasreviews.com/2011/08/ff-sleepy-hollow-by-melanie-card.html #giveaway PLZ RT 

Ends September 7th, 2011.

--------------

MelanieCard_72dpiI have always been drawn to story telling. In fact, I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t telling a story in my head or on paper. In grade school, we had journal writing time which I turned into story telling time, weaving tales of magic and adventure that mimicked the fairy tales and myths that I loved to read. It was there, with the help of two very special teachers, that I nurtured this love and started my journey as a writer.

I write fantasy, paranormal romance, and everything in between, seasoned with a good dash of adventure and mystery. Join me on my tales of magic, adventure, and romance.

Visit Melanie

tyngasig_thumb2_thumb

Tynga is a 32 years old mom of two, from Montreal, working as a lab technician in an hospital specialized in heart disease. In her free time, she enjoys reading all things Paranormal and photography.

Follow Tynga on: Facebook | Twitter

65 People left their mark' :

  1. This sounds so very different from most things I read. I loved the story too. I'd like to read this because it is different and I really want to find out how all this effects Ward.
    vsloboda(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. This sounds like such a unique concept that I think it will really stand out among other urban fantasies.
    rickimc[at]aol[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  3. This sounds fascinating different (and I adore the fact that Ward was partly inspired by Ichabod Crane. I love your take on the Headless Horsemen and I am absolutely intrigued by the premise of this book!

    Thank you for the giveaway!

    twiztidsharkie@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love reading new authors! I've found some really good books this way. The books sounds so good. I would love to win it.

    miztik_rose@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  5. The book sounds dark with a dash of humor mixed in like dark chocolate with cayenne pepper. My favorite type of book. And food.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love the creep factor in this book along with romance...Would love the chance to win it! Thanks for the giveaway!

    clderwee at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I think this necromancer story sounds like it's going to a lot of fun, with Ward getting sucked into Celia's plans to solve her own murder. The more I hear about it, the more excited I am to read it.

    Barbed1951 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  8. I loved the Headless Horseman story. I also like necromancer stories, like Jaime from Kelley Armstrong's Women of the Otherworld series. This book sounds good and I have it already on my wislist.

    rachaelmccully@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. This book sound dark and edgy and I love finding new authors!

    mmafsmith at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. http://twitter.com/#!/Maria_Smith_76/status/104975633502842881

    mmafsmith at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. This one sounds different then anything I have come across, sounds like it would be a wonderful read!


    moiraethefates(AT)gmail(Dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  12. The premise sounds amazing!! Thanks again :)

    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  13. +1 spread here
    http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/128657-ff-sleepy-hollow-by-melanie-card

    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  14. Thanks for hosting me today, Tynga.

    @ Mary & Maria: I love finding new authors, too.

    @ Nick: that's a pretty spectacular mix. Mmmm, dark chocolate and cayenne.

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'd love to win this! I've never read anything about necromancers before. It will be a nice change to read about a guy going after the girl..I've been reading the opposite where the girl is going after the guy. Also I love the cover...it just looks like a great read and there of age...lol..so maybe a little romance action going on ;)
    Tanyaw1224(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I also tweeted at http://twitter.com/#!/Tanya1224/status/104995962237358080
    to spread the word.
    Tanyaw1224(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I love the aspect of the storyline in this book. I haven't read anything on necromancers before but this definitely makes me want to know more.

    ReplyDelete
  18. also tweeted:

    http://twitter.com/#!/lolarific322/status/105010653739233282


    dani3222001(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  19. I want to read more about Necromancer! Many books just expalin the meaning in the passing its not a forfront in the plot. Plus falling for someone whose sappose to be dead sounds like a good dilema!
    Sign me up!
    Sayomay
    tirnanog77@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Fantastic blurb and great cover! I love fiction with a little darkness and a little humor and a lot of out-of-the-ordinary and this book sounds like it fits the bill.

    feynico at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Also tweeted:
    http://twitter.com/#!/anagramforink/status/105034693161926657

    feynico at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  22. I'd like to read it because it's different from what I normally read. I'm intrigued by the role of a necromancer. Ward seems like a fun character. Many thanks for the great giveaway.

    mljfoland AT hotmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  23. +1 Tweet http://twitter.com/#!/Rogue237/status/105038881925251075

    ReplyDelete
  24. I love the story, about because it's around Sleepy Hollow.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I would love to read this because this is just the kind of book I love.

    Lizzi0915 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  26. I want to read this book because it looks different and spooky and like it has a great mystery that must be solved and I love the cover. I really loved the author's take on Sleepy Hollow, I got some serious goosebumps while I read it.

    eckstein99@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  27. I would love to read this book b/c it has such an interesting and original premise! Thanks for the story, it definitely made me want to read the book! :) and for the awesome giveaway!

    efender1@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  28. I'm not sure why, but for some reason, books featuring necromancers or people who can interact with ghosts are one of my favorite paranormal themes, although there aren't that many out there, so of course I would love to read this book. Loved the fable - that was very inventive.

    jen at delux dot com

    ReplyDelete
  29. I read the excerpt and it's definitely VERY different from anything I've read before! Really interested to see what's up with the dead girl!

    ReplyDelete
  30. http://twitter.com/#!/erinmacmahon/status/105140042980270080

    ReplyDelete
  31. First of all I want to read it because I like Necromancers. Second come on she sounds like she's bipolar - that's going to be interesting! Sign me up!
    tlabunski <at--- gmail

    ReplyDelete
  32. tweeted in here!
    http://twitter.com/#!/Pabkins/status/105146737802485763

    ReplyDelete
  33. I would like to read Ward Against Death because it sounds like interesting urban fantasy that's told from a male's perspective. We have a hero rather than a strong female heroine, so it'll be interesting to see the story from his perspective.

    angeldream3[AT]gmail[DOT]com

    ReplyDelete
  34. I just love "discovering" a new author. Plus it would be a nice change to read a male POV.

    (\___/)
    (='.'=)
    (")_(")

    alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
    http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  35. I want to see how this story ends!

    lag110 at mchsi dot com

    ReplyDelete
  36. I really, really want to read this book because it sounds so good, and everything I've read about it has been very positive! I like to judge for myself, though, so I really need to win a copy to read :)
    jwitt33 at live dot com

    ReplyDelete
  37. I tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/jwitt33/status/105256456776978432

    jwitt33 at live dot com

    ReplyDelete
  38. I've seen some god reviews of this book. And The story is different.

    sgiden at verizon.net

    ReplyDelete
  39. I love Ichabod Crane! I'm most interested to read more about Ward, and I love necromancer stories!

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  40. +1 for tweeting:

    http://twitter.com/#!/DarleneBookNook/status/105258654848131072

    darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  41. I want to read this book -- and I need something different than what I am reading
    audie@wickerness.com

    ReplyDelete
  42. i want to read it because it's a book i've never heard of before. ;-)

    terri
    oklahomamommy0306@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  43. I want to read this because I have not read anything by her yet and I love finding new to me authors!

    aliciahall0605(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  44. I want to read it because I really like stories with Necromancers. :)

    starmetaloak(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  45. +1 tweet

    http://twitter.com/#!/starmetaloak/status/105425615989121026

    starmetaloak(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  46. I want to read this because it sounds just a little like the show Pushing Daisies- and I miss that show terribly.

    b(dot)cardone(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  47. I love the idea that Ward is a necromancer. It such an unusual concept. Thanks for the giveaway.
    jepebATverizonDOTnet

    ReplyDelete
  48. Sounds great and I have been reading so many good things about it that I am looking forward to reading it soon.

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

    ReplyDelete
  49. tweet - http://twitter.com/#!/DonnaS1/status/105503279986900992

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

    ReplyDelete
  50. I have been haunting this tour and each stop and sharing by the author and about the book makes my fingers itch more and more. I would love to read it. Thank you for the wonderful giveaway opportunity.

    dz59001[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  51. @ Stephjx - Thanks! Writing the fantastic fable was lot of fun.

    @ Bethany C. - I loved Pushing Daisies, too. It was such an interesting concept with unusual characters.

    @ Danise Z - Good to see you again. Thanks for stopping by. My fingers are crossed for you.

    ReplyDelete
  52. oOo this one sounds sad, I want to read this just to see how it ends, does the girl get to stay alive?

    ReplyDelete
  53. I have seen this book around just recently and I have been itching to read it for one, I haven't read anything about necromancy and this premise is fascinating.

    vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  54. It has that beautiful gothic cover for starters, the story sounds original and has a lot of potential to suck me in!

    miss.smileygirlie@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  55. I want to read Ward Against Death because there is a huge mysterious aspect to the story and I would like to get to the bottom of it and find out what happens!

    chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  56. First: The cover-art. It's stunning. And yes, I'm frequently flawed enough to judge a book by it's cover.

    Second: From what I can see, it takes place from the guy's point of view. Which isn't terribly common so it'd be a nice switch-up

    And lastly...I'm a sucker for Necromancers!

    brittanynoelle at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  57. This sounds like a great book would love to read it! Thank you for the great giveaway !
    tishajean@ charter.net

    ReplyDelete
  58. Tweeted too
    http://twitter.com/#!/latishajean/status/110091645386620930
    tishajean@ charter.net

    ReplyDelete
  59. Omg I read the exerpt and now I'm totally hooked! The story of bringing back someone from the dead and then trying to solve the murder has got me really intrigued. I hope I win!

    Tweet
    https://mobile.twitter.com/#!/itzKelseyD/status/110117163418927104

    Poisnivyred AT GMAIL.COM

    ReplyDelete
  60. I want to read it because if the Headless Horseman tale is an example of the exciting story this author can tell, how can I possibly resist?

    little lamb lst at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  61. All these mix emotions building up I'd like to know how Ward manage the whole situation :)

    GFC: kimyunalesca
    kimyunalesca(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  62. Really liked this take on Sleepy Hollow ty for sharing! I love the whole premise of Ward's story. It's quite intriguing and I've note read many necromancer stories.

    pams00 @ aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  63. https://twitter.com/#!/pams00/status/111320883007725569

    pams00 @ aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  64. I'd love to read WAD because the concept looks very original

    thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  65. Thanks everyone who posted a comment and thank you Tynga for inviting me to write a Fantastic Fable. It was great fun!

    Congratulations to the winners.

    ReplyDelete