Hello!
My name is Melissa Snark, and I'm a fantasy and romance author. If I could have
a moment of your time, I'd like to ask for your help as a reader. Please
consider nominating my Norse folklore fantasy novel Battle Cry on Kindle Scout.
Amazon's
new publishing program is called Kindle
Scout, an innovative platform that provides readers with a sneak peek at
unreleased books as well as the opportunity to have a say in what gets chosen.
The timing of Scout was amazing. The
announcement came just as I neared completion of my novel. The terms being
offered are attractive. As a publisher, Amazon has as much clout as one of the
traditional publishers. This simply seemed like too good of an opportunity to
pass on, so I submitted Battle Cry for
consideration.
Per the FAQ: How does Kindle Scout benefit readers?
Kindle Scout readers get to preview new, never-before-published books and
influence which ones are made available to millions of readers on Amazon. In addition, any time a reader's nomination
gets published, they will receive a free copy.
I
appreciate your support! To nominate Battle Cry, you only need to be logged
into your Amazon account. You can head over to the Kindle Scout website and
view Battle Cry's
profile page.
If you like what you see, please consider voting for Battle Cry. Thank you so
much!
BATTLE
CRY
Book #2 in the Loki's
Wolves series
Melissa Snark
Genre: Norse
folklore fantasy
Number of
pages: 375 approx.
Word Count:
95,000
Cover Artist:
Farah Evers
Logline:
One man dares defy Fate.
Survival demands sacrifices; healing requires forgiveness.
Men revere him; monsters fear him. Jake Barrett, the notorious
Hunter King, values loyalty to family and followers above all else. When the
daughter of his closest ally murders Daniel, his oldest son, it sets off a
chain reaction of violence and destruction that claims the lives of both wolves
and hunters. Determined to avenge his son, Jake seeks the truth at any cost.
After losing her lover
and then her mate, Victoria Storm simply wants to get on with building a new
life in Sierra Pines, California. A vengeful Jake Barrett and his organization
aren't going to make that easy, especially with the unwelcome attraction
between her and the Hunter King's second son. Perils beyond the mortal coil
plague Victoria.
When the Norse Fates
predict Victoria will destroy the world, her duties as a priestess of Freya
come into conflict with her responsibilities as a Valkyrie of Odin. When they
tell her she will do it to save her unborn child, she's not so sure they are
wrong.
Sawyer Barrett has been
trying to kill Victoria for so long, he doesn't know whether he loves her or
hates her. Desperate to end the war, he's willing to take chances with
everything–except his heart. The hunter harbors a deadly secret he can't reveal
without risking the ceasefire and his life.
At Sawyer's urging,
Victoria agrees to peace talks with Jake. All the while, an ancient vampire
plots the destruction of wolves and hunters alike. If the embittered rivalry
between hunters and wolves doesn't end—and fast—there is no hope for Victoria's
pack... or for their world.
Attribution: Norns weaving destiny, by Arthur Rackham (1912). Public domain.
Setting the Scene:
Norns are female beings who influence the
destinies of men and gods. They are some of the more interesting and thought
provoking figures in Norse Mythology. In Western culture, they are often
compared to the Fates from Greek and Roman mythology and are depicted in film
and literature, including Shakespeare's Macbeth. However, it should be noted that the
Norns were not the exact equivalents of the Fates.
Ancient Norse culture did not regard
destiny as predetermined and unalterable. Rather, they held destiny to lie
somewhere between the two extremes of pure free will and absolute predetermination.
There are mentions of both greater and lesser Norns.
The Three Norns
The greater Norns were three sisters who
personified Fate in all of its forms: past,
present, and future. They lived together beneath the roots of Yggdrasil, the eternal tree which
supported The Nine Worlds, including the home of men as well as Asgard, the
home of the gods. Their names were UrĂ°r
(the past), VerĂ°andi (the present),
and Skuld (the future).
In
this excerpt from BATTLE CRY, the heroine Victoria Storm has descended along
the trunk of Yggdrasil. Her mission is to seek the counsel of the Norns who
dwell along the shores of Urd's Well. Please enjoy this sneak peek!
Excerpt:
Shade enshrouded Skuld,
and her voice manifested upon the air, thick and oppressive, closing in from
all sides. "Your daughter will not grow to adulthood in Midgard."
Victoria's heart slammed
against her breastbone. Her breath expelled in a horrified gust. The bowl
dropped from her hands and flew to protect her abdomen. "What do you
mean?"
"Your daughter will
be taken from you on the eve of her third birthday," Skuld said. "The
one you trust most, a member of your own pack, will give the child over to your
greatest enemy."
A growl trembled in
Victoria's throat, and her entire body shook under the dual assault of fear and
rage. The suggestion of betrayal from within her own pack filled her with
disbelief to the core of her being. It was unthinkable. Gritting her teeth, she
sought a solution, refusing to dwell on it. "How am I to prevent this?"
"We speak of what
will come to pass," VerĂ°andi said in a sympathetic tone.
"Your predictions
are not carved in stone," Victoria said. Arguing with Fate was a foolish
endeavor, but she refused to accept their prophecy.
The old woman, UrĂ°r,
smiled with a frightening gleam in her eyes. "Predictions, carved into the
trunk of the World Tree, carved into the spiritual fabric of the world."
Stubborn determination
settled over Victoria like armor. Her mother had taught her there was no
absolute fate, just as there was no absolute free will. Life consisted of a
wide range of possibilities between the two extremes. She refused to allow her
daughter to die at three years of age. She would move worlds, alter fate, slay
gods.
Whatever it took.
"Do you wish to
save your child?" Skuld asked.
Victoria answered
without thought. "Yes. I'll do anything. Tell me. Please."
"The final days are
upon us," VerĂ°andi said.
Skuld took over
speaking. "To save your daughter, you will side with Loki against the
Aesir. You will use your enchanted dagger to cut the binding of the great wolf
Fenrir. You will be responsible for freeing the beast that kills Odin."
Victoria's stomach
turned. Her head shook in automatic denial. "When the gods imprisoned
Fenrir, my people pledged fealty to the Aesir. We have served them loyally ever
since. Even when we were driven from the homeland, almost a millennium ago, we
remained faithful. I will never cut Fenrir's bonds. To do so would end the
world we live in and doom us all."
Skuld's gaze held
steady. "You will."
Victoria snarled her
denial. "No. I will never become the servant of the Trickster or willingly
take part in bringing about Odin's death."
Skuld turned her head
and pinned Victoria with one black eye that rolled in its socket like a liquid
marble. "To save your daughter, you will."
Fast Facts About Melissa Snark:
- Melissa
Snark is published with The Wild Rose Press & as an Indie author with
five unique titles: A CAT'S TALE, THE MATING GAME, LEARNING TO FLY, THE
CHILD THIEF, and HUNGER MOON.
- Her Loki's
Wolves series includes THE CHILD THIEF, HUNGER MOON and BATTLE CRY.
- She lives
in the San Francisco bay area with her husband, three children and a
glaring of cats.
- She is a
professional cat herder and unrepentant satirist who blogs about books and
writing on The
Snarkology.
Connect with
Melissa Snark:
Email: melissasnark at gmail.com
Battle Cry Kindle Scout Giveaway
1. Nordic Lights Jewels of the
Moon Pendant Amulet Talisman for Psychic Ability by Maelstrom Odssonn
2.
(3) Signed Paperbacks of HUNGER MOON
3.
(2) $10 Gift Cards to Amazon
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