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Thursday, August 11, 2011

FF–Three Little Pigs by Dianne Sylvan

**Today on Dark Faerie Tales read Nina Malkin’s take on the Raven and have a chance to win a copy of Swear! **

RRHfinalsmall

Miranda Grey is an up-and-coming Austin musician whose uncontrolled psychic gift drives her to the edge of insanity…and then into the Shadow World, a society of vampires led by the enigmatic Prime David Solomon. Miranda finds herself entangled in the web of vampire politics and with the help of David and his Second-in-Command Faith transforms from a broken shell of a woman to a warrior Queen destined to change the world.

Shadowflame, the second book of the Shadow World series, follows Miranda’s journey as the new Queen, picking up not long after the first book, Queen of Shadows, left off.

Three Little … Vampires

The Sunset Valley Autumn Carnival was in full swing when the vampires arrived.

The parking lot of the local high school football stadium had been transformed into a midway.  The rich smell of funnel cake frying and the reek of the petting zoo filled the air, as did the shouts of children on the Ferris wheel.   The cacophony made it an ideal place to hide…

…unless the Queen was after you.

Miranda’s boots thudded on the asphalt in a rhythm that almost perfectly accompanied the riotous calliope music from the merry-go-round.  She slipped easily among the families of humans who were milling around in front of the rides and games, her senses on high alert, sweeping the area for the telltale energy of her own kind.

She halted in the middle of the carnival and spoke into the communicator on her wrist. “Report!”

Her Second-in-Command replied, “They split up as soon as they reached the crowd.  We’re tracking them now—one headed toward the petting zoo, the other two into the midway.”

“I’m right by the petting zoo.  I’ll take the first one.”  Miranda veered off toward the left, where an area had been set aside and surrounded by a fence of hay bales to keep a handful of shaggy goats, a pair of bored donkeys, and a single grouchy-looking emu away from the noise.  A few children were in the enclosure offering the goats paper cups of dried corn.

Miranda bypassed them entirely and vaulted over the far wall, landing in the empty area between the carnival’s edge and the rows of cars.  There were tall stacks of hay bales back here too, more than big enough to hide behind.

She paused and closed her eyes, listening, moving her concentration away from the crowd.  She reached into her coat and pulled out a stake.

“Come out, come out,” she said into the darkness.  “Make this easier on yourself.”

The Queen extended her senses, using her empathic gift to look for…there.

Behind one of the haystacks she could sense fear.

She moved around it slowly, making no sound, staying downwind to help keep him from scenting her.   She reached toward him with her gift, nudging his level of terror up slowly until he was virtually paralyzed with panic.  She tried not to push too hard—if she scared him too badly he’d bolt, and if he ran off into the parking lot he’d be much harder to hunt down.  She didn’t want to waste any more time on this one than she had to.  She had other work to do tonight.

You’re so scared.  You don’t want to die.  You want to run.  You want to run to the left—

He let out a cry of fear and burst from the side of the haystack, scrambling to get his feet under him.  
The stake cartwheeled through the air and slammed into his back.  He hit the ground in a sprawl and didn’t move again.

“Get a retrieval team to these coordinates,” Miranda told her Second.  “Where’s the next one?”

“Somewhere in the funhouse.  Wood building, past the Ferris wheel.  The carnival organizers said they didn’t open it because it wasn’t finished in time, so there’s no crowd.  The Prime is already there.”
“I’m going to help him.  You pin down Varken.”

“On it, my Lady.”

The funhouse didn’t look like it would be terribly fun, but then, even when she was still human Miranda had never really understood why people liked to be scared on purpose.  There were enough frightening things in life already…like her.

In front of the hastily-constructed plywood building, which had been cordoned off already with yellow caution tape, a figure in a long black coat stood impassively watching the window.

Miranda came to stand beside him.  “He’s in there?”

Prime David Solomon, monarch of the Southern United States’ vampire population, turned to her with a smile in his deep blue eyes.  “Cowering appropriately. I assume you got Cerdo?”

She gave her husband a bloodthirsty smile. 

David glanced back toward the carnival. “Can you keep anyone from coming near?”

Miranda nodded, and again extended her gift toward the humans, this time lightly implanting the feeling that they should stay in the area they were in and not venture any closer to the funhouse…in fact they shouldn’t even look in its direction.

“All yours,” she said.

David lifted one hand and closed it into a fist.

The plywood walls of the funhouse began to crack and pop off their nails.  The noise was deafening, but Miranda’s gift was strong, and the two hundred or so humans on the midway didn’t so much as blink as the funhouse tumbled in on itself, throwing clouds of sawdust and debris into the air.
“Sire, my Lady, we’ve got Varken cornered in the stadium office—the brick building near the entrance.  We’re awaiting your orders.”

“You go on ahead,” David told the Queen.  “I’ll stay here and make sure he’s dealt with.  I know you want to handle Varken personally.”

She nodded and started to run off, but David caught her hand and kissed it.

“Be careful, beloved,” he said.  “Don’t let your anger get the best of you.”

She shot him a Look.  “What am I, a Jedi?  These bastards killed a van full of kids. We should be stringing them up by their own entrails.”

“Too messy,” he said.  “This is a brand new coat.”

Miranda rolled her eyes.  “Then I’ll get you a rain poncho.”

He kissed her hand again, then walked purposefully past the yellow tape and into the wreckage of the building, where their quarry was, if still alive, about to meet a very unpleasant (but hopefully not too messy) end.

She headed toward the building their Second had indicated, where she could see the shapes of ten of her warriors waiting outside. 

Faith, the Second, bowed to her when she arrived.  “Do you have a plan?”

Miranda shrugged.  “Go in.  Cut his head off. Go home and have a hot bath.”

From inside the building, she heard a child scream.

The Queen met Faith’s eyes.  “Did I forget to mention the hostages?” Faith asked.

“Fantastic.”

“Can you influence him from out here?” Faith asked.  “You could make him want to give up.”

Miranda frowned, shook her head.  “There’s a lot of stuff in the way.  Bricks, drywall, electrical—I haven’t quite mastered reaching through walls yet.”

“You mean you don’t know everything after two months as a vampire?” Faith asked wryly.  “Why, my Lady, I find I’m disappointed.”

“Stuff it, Second.  Is there a back entrance?”

“A door, yes.”

“Keep him focused on the front, then, and I’ll go in the back.”

Before she left, however, Miranda walked up closer to the front door and called where she knew he could hear:  “Arnoud Varken!  You are under an order of execution for the murder of seven humans.  Come out and face justice and a swift, merciful death.”

All she heard were what was surely a series of insults hurled back at her in Dutch. 

Miranda gestured for Faith to take it from there, and quickly scaled the chain-link fence to reach the back of the building.

The door had only a standard lock, not even a deadbolt—these humans, so trusting.  She broke the knob off with one hand and the door swung inward.

Right away she could feel the fear.  There were two humans with Varken, one adult and one child.  He’d snatched them from the carnival and dragged them here as leverage.  He had no intention of letting them leave alive.

Miranda drew her sword.

She made her way slowly through the building, which was really only two rooms, toward the front where she could hear Faith delivering another ultimatum.  She peered around the doorframe carefully.

Varken was behind the front door, crouched down with a girl of perhaps eight clutched back to his chest, his hand over her mouth.  A young woman that was probably the child’s mother was on the floor, unconscious, blood oozing from two holes in her neck.  She was still breathing.

The little girl’s wide, frightened eyes darted toward Miranda.  Miranda projected calm to her, helping her to understand that everything was going to be all right. 

Miranda held the girl’s eyes and showed her teeth, making a soundless chomping gesture with her mouth.  The girl’s eyes got even wider…but she understood.

“I’m not coming out until I see a car waiting!” Varken yelled through the door.  “I want transport and a plane out of Texas or the kid dies next!  Give me—“

His words trailed off into a curse as the little girl bit down on his hand as hard as she could.

Varken all but threw the child into the wall, and she crawled as far from him as she could, sobbing.  He started to go after her.

Miranda stepped out into the room.

He froze.

She stared at him hard, letting him see some of her power, and she didn’t have to influence him.  He shrank back.

“I am your Queen,” she said, each word outlined in ice.  “You will kneel.”

With nowhere to go, knowing it was over, Varken obeyed her, shaking.

Miranda spoke to the little girl.  “Sweetie, I want you to go into the back room and put your hands over your ears, okay?”

As soon as she was gone, Miranda stood over her prey, and without another word swung her sword, neatly bisecting his head from his shoulders.  She moved out of the way just in time not to get showered in blood.

Faith was just about to throw herself into the door when it opened.

“Done,” the Queen said. “Get an ambulance here for the humans.”

“Already on its way,” Faith said just as the sound of sirens cut through the night’s festivities.

Miranda strode back into the room, stepping over Varken’s head as she crossed to the doorway.  She found the little girl balled up in the corner, hands on her ears, just as she’d been told.

The Queen picked her up gingerly and took a moment to soothe her, making her feel sleepy, as if this had all been a long, terrible dream.  “It’s okay now,” she said.  “Let’s get you and your Mommy to the doctor.”

The little girl fixed her big eyes on Miranda.  “Are you the police?” she asked, hiccupping around her tears.   

Miranda smiled.  “No, sweetie…I’m the Big Bad Wolf.”

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

giveaway

It’s been three months since musician Miranda Grey became a vampire and married David Solomon, Prime of the South. As Queen, Miranda must quickly come to terms with her new role and learn how to negotiate the treacherous waters of Signet politics, inevitably making dangerous enemies along the way.

As if complicated vampire politics and a rising music career weren’t enough, an enigmatic but powerful force from David’s past appears, leaving a wake of chaos and uncertainty for the Pair’s fledgling relationship. Miranda begins to realize how little she really knows about her husband. But when an assassin begins targeting her friends and allies, the Pair must track down the killer, even as their lives hang in the balance…

Read an excerpt

Purchase: Amazon | Book Depository

Interested in winning this book? Well it’s your lucky day!

Dianne would like to offer you one (1) signed copy (INT) and Penguin is also offering two (2) copies (US only), for a total of three copies!

  • This giveaway is open to Internationally

  • To enter, just leave a comment letting me know what you think of Miranda

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

Tweet: #FantasticFables Read @DSylvan 's take on The Three Little Pigs | Win Shadowflame http://www.tyngasreviews.com/2011/08/ffthree-little-pigs-by-dianne-sylvan.html #giveaway PLZ RT

Ends September 7th, 2011.

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

Dianne Sylvan, author of the Shadow World novels as well as two books on NeoPagan spirituality, lives in Austin, Texas, the only sane part of the entire state.

Visit Dianne

More books by Dianne Sylvan

tyngasig

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

63 People left their mark' :

  1. Miranda rocks as the Big Bad Wolf
    audie@wickerness.com

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  2. Miranda is just as good as in the first book! Yep, very nicely shaped Big Bad Wolf! :)
    Thank you for the giveaway! I'm international.
    impy80 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I loved that! Miranda does the BIG BAD WOLF to the max!
    vsloboda(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Im new to Miranda but I did add Queen of Shadows to my wish list. Thank you for the giveaway!

    jnmt3@hotmail.com

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  5. This is a new author and series for me. I like series with strong heroines and Miranda sounds like one.

    acm05atjuno.com

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  6. For a Queen, Miranda sure doesn't shy away from action. She's the type of Queen I'd want protecting me.

    International
    Cambonified[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  7. I'm new to Miranda, but she sounds fascinating. Please enter me.

    jasmyn9[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  8. I enjoyed the story!

    sgiden at verizon.net

    ReplyDelete
  9. Miranda kicks ass! I love her! She's right up there with Cat Crawford from Jeaniene's Frost Night Huntress series. Apparently UF redheads are superior.

    brittanynoelle at gmail dot com

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  10. finally got to read the first book and loved Miranda as queen of vampires. am looking forward to the second book, *beams*

    Polly

    mistresspolly (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Miranda sounds like an awesome heroine.
    Crystal816[at}hotmail[dot]com

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  12. Miranda kicks ass and is just the right balance of intimidating and snarky to be a great monarch. Plus we all know she has David's balls on a chain around her neck. All hail the Queen.

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  13. Miranda is my kind of heroine, learning on the run. She makes mistakes (it seems) but learns from them. I like that she is the champion of children! Sounds like a great series.

    glittergirl54[at]ymail[dot]com

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  14. I haven't heard of these books but I love what I read here about Miranda. Definitely going to add to my tbr list.

    vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com

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  15. I’m the Big Bad Wolf... LOL :] I haven't read the series yet, but I like what I've just read in the excerpt, so many thanks for it and the giveaway! Please count me in the international part of it :)

    mikki-mano@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. +1 for tweeting: http://twitter.com/#!/mikkimano/status/101740661581156352

    Thanks again,
    mikki-mano@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  17. She's awesome super kick-a**.
    (I can say that here I hope.)

    moirethefates(AT)gmail(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow, Miranda really knows how to kick a--. I loved that last line. :D

    I'm International. Thanks for the giveaway!

    catarina_romeira(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Miranda sounds like such a bad a**! I haven't read this series yet. I is going on my list!

    sariahwalters at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Miranda sounds like exactly what I love in a heroine, totally tough and somewhat vulnerable. I've read great things about this series and I can't wait to read it.

    eckstein99@comcast.net

    ReplyDelete
  21. I enjoyed the story and I loved Miranda. She's so fierce when needed, but so gentle with the little girl, I can't wait to read Shadowflame.

    Barbed1951 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  22. I like Miranda- she manages to sneak some wit in even when she's all business.

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

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  23. I loved Miranda from the start, she has courage and determination. She made up her mind to survive and thrive. I can't wait to see what happens in the next installment of the Shadow World.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Miranda is wry, awesome, and powerful-just how I like my heroines!

    mljfoland AT hotmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  25. +1 Tweeted: https://mobile.twitter.com/rogue237/status/101813245404397568

    ReplyDelete
  26. i loved this story. Miranda was a kicking big bad wolf. I would love to read this series. I have to add these books to my wish list.

    rachaelmccully@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  27. I've read Queen of Shadows and Miranda is a very strong heroine. She didn't crumble after the attack at the beginning of Queen of Shadows and she gradually became stronger. I would love to follow her story in Shadowflame.

    angeldream3[AT]gmail[DOT]com

    ReplyDelete
  28. I actually haven't read the first book, so this was my first taste of Miranda.....and I like her. She seems to me like she's a really strong heroine, one who doesn't give up and fights no matter what, and yet is relatable and easy to follow.

    Thanks for making this contest international. Winning would be a great incentive to read the first book, lol.

    rachybee101@live.com.au

    ReplyDelete
  29. thanks for the giveaway and the story !
    Miranda is a relly great character, she is strong ans determined.

    ellana_(at)hotmail(dot)fr

    ReplyDelete
  30. I am also new to Miranda and this series. She sounds very fascinating to me. Please enter me in contest. Tore923@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  31. To me she's just like Cat from the Night Huntress series.She kicks ass,she's sexy and of course she has a hot and gorgeous man.:D

    yvetto94@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. Man she sounds like a kickass caring heroine. I love it. Am going to add these to my wish list.
    scrtsbpal atyahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  33. What a great story! I'm going to be going to the Ohio State Fair in a few days and I definitely want Miranda to go with me!
    jwitt33 at live dot com

    ReplyDelete
  34. I think Miranda is a heroine that kicks butt. Yeah! I haven't read any of the books before so I hope I win.

    truebloodfan AT rock.com

    ReplyDelete
  35. Tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/Vamper_Fan/status/102223567990693888

    truebloodfan AT rock.com

    ReplyDelete
  36. Sarcasm and a kickass attitude.. sounds like my kind of character! I'd love to get to know this series.

    https://mobile.twitter.com/#!/itzKelseyD/status/102223950683176963

    Poisnivyred AT gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  37. I enjoyed Miranda, she is a new author for me! tWarner419@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  38. I really like Miranda, she is a strong person.

    Chllybrd(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  39. Miranda sounds like a kick-ass heroine!!
    I'm an international follower.

    GFC-Janhvi Jagtap

    justjanhvi at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  40. Miranda seems a strong woman, but also has a sensitive side which is evident in the way she takes the time to soothe the child first. She makes and exelent "Big bad wolf"

    sarie101 at webmail dot co dot za

    ReplyDelete
  41. Loved Miranda. I really enjoy strong female characters. Thanks for the giveaway.

    sab5723 at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  42. Just a warning

    I've actually read this series and absolutely loved the first book "Queen of Shadows." The second book, "Shadowflame," was also well written but the story line wasn't for me.



    *** MAJOR SPOILERS FOR SHADOWFLAME****

    I have a real problem with infidelity. I believe that love and trust are precious - it doesn't matter whether you're heterosexual, homosexual, or bisexual as long as you are honest and do nothing to betray your partner's trust. After reading Shadowflame, I found myself really disliking David to the point that I don't think I can continue to read the series - I don't want Miranda to be with him anymore. When you love someone and consider them to be your soulmate, you don't betray them with an ex-lover. It doesn't matter whether the ex is male or female, or whether the infidelity occurs three months into the relationship or three years into the relationship. Infidelity had already turned me off - the fact that it occurred three months into the relationship when Miranda was recurring from serious injuries just made the whole thing worse, if that's even possible. And then she was willing to forgive him and let him back in her bed after just 3 weeks??? Sylvan is incredibly talented but I don't want to read about a soul-mated couple where one partner cheats and the other is willing to forgive so quickly. Maybe that's unrealistic, but that's me - I hate infidelity in real life and I don't want to read about it when I'm trying to relax!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Miranda is quite awesome and can certainly take care of herself! :)

    Thank you for the giveaway.

    twiztidsharkie@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  44. I like strong kick-butt heroine's able to take care of themselves. So this book is definitely my kind of book. Thanks for the giveaway!

    LadyVampire2u AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  45. My tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/LadyVampire2u/status/104849216731496448

    LadyVampire2u AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  46. Miranda is new to me but this sound like a book I would get sucked right into!

    mmafsmith at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  47. Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/Maria_Smith_76/status/105005754188181504

    mmafsmith at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  48. I don't know much about Miranda Im new to the books but she sounds like she can kickbutt! Thank you for the great giveaway! GFC follower/latishajean
    tishajean@ charter.net

    ReplyDelete
  49. Tweeted too
    https://twitter.com/#!/latishajean/status/105476886435598336
    tishajean@ charter.net

    ReplyDelete
  50. I've never read this series before but Miranda sounds very badass! Would love to read.

    miss.smileygirlie@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  51. I love it that Miranda holds her own against anyone.

    lesly7ch(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  52. I haven't read any of the books yet but I'm interested! I like Miranda from the excerpt!

    tjotjoc at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  53. I think Miranda can really kick-ass!

    chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  54. I think Miranda makes a good Big Bad Wolf.
    marlenebreakfield(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  55. Miranda sounds pretty fierce!

    little lamb lst at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  56. I really like Miranda. I think she has changes quite a bit since the beginning of the first book. I found her like a little scared childen in the beginning and now I find her a fierce warrior. I am looking forward to see how more she grows. =DDD

    Thanks for the giveaway.
    mystifyingparanormalreviews[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  57. I also tweeted:
    http://twitter.com/#!/mariya_davis/status/109752437388226560

    Thanks for the giveaway.
    mystifyingparanormalreviews[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  58. Miranda is a new character to me I haven't met yet, but I hope to change that soon. What I've heard about her sounds really interesting and I would love to meet her.

    booksforalleternity at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  59. Loved the first one and can't wait to read this one when I get my hands on it!

    ReplyDelete
  60. Haven't gotten to read this series yet but Miranda seems like a great heroine who can hold her own. Enjoyed the Three Little Vampires ty for sharing!

    pams00 @ aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  61. https://twitter.com/#!/pams00/status/111314119247925248

    pams00 @ aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  62. I haven't read this series yet, but what a great post! :-D Miranda sounds like a kick ass heroine :-)

    Thank you for the fantastic giveaway!

    stella.exlibris (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  63. Miranda has been awesome!

    terilhack at gmail sot com

    ReplyDelete