EDITING: A NEW TITLE AND UPDATES!
Hello everybody!
Today I'm here with some teasers for the WIP. I've introduced it in the past as Knife in the Back, but that title hasn't felt correct for a really long time, so today I'm here to announce that the book has a new title, the book has a new blurb, and I'm just REALLY excited to announce more about it and hopefully some updates about when you'll be able to read it! *mysterious smile*
The new title:
A Deal of Knives
The kingdom of Brodie is divided—the king rules the heart of the capital, but the rest of the city is divided between four assassin lords. Or it should be. No one has heard of Lord Nightmare for a generation. The imbalance has created a perfect opportunity for the other lords to take all of the power…if they have the courage to defy a king.
Known as the Mystic, Estelle is the best assassin in the city, working for Lord Darkfire as a token of gratitude. Their entwined past makes it hard for her to see freedom, but her only desire is to leave this life. If only Lord Darkfire's apathy didn't need her to keep fighting and protect an entire kingdom...
Dancing in a circus by day and taking the blood of her enemies by night, Annie is ready to return the Nightmare clan to its place of power. But when Lord Darkfire becomes a self-appointed defender of the balance, Annie steps up the game. If it's worth having, it's worth fighting for...right?
Zayn is the king’s personal bodyguard—and a Hunter. Protecting the kingdom and his four younger sisters is his only priority. When darkness begins to slip past his defenses and the entire kingdom questions his competency, Zayn will stop at nothing to make things right--even making a deal with one of the assassin lords themselves.
The balance existed for a reason. But the balance relied on honor...and Brodie is dangerously short on honor. Now, only an alliance between the assassins and the king can save everyone from a reign of blood.
Tristan Darkfire//run boy run by woodkid//for all the girlies who wished the darkling had a redemption arc//no one ever asked me if i was okay//no reason to complain, his backstory really wasn't that bad//why did you fall in love? why?//leave the past//it's hard to be broken
Estelle the Mystic//buried beneath by red//for all the girls who woke up one day and realized they couldn't take it//forgiving does not mean you have to give them access to you//run but where?//repressed atrocities//old wounds die hard but new wounds are the hardest
Annie//i'll make you love me by kat leon//for anyone who couldn't handle the weight anymore and just snapped//dancing is a release//everything is too heavy//can literally turn her own heart into a rock//will fall in love if she has time, later//wine for the aesthetic
Aver//lullaby by against the current//for the very, very tired PhD candidates who took on too much to help their friends out//if everyone leaves maybe you're the common denominator//drinks too much coffee//speaks inside your head//just wants a family
Zayn Nillden//no time to die by Billie Eilish//for everyone who took on Just Too Much//if you're dying i'll take it//four younger sisters//no time for romance, thank u//could care less about politics//not always capable of speaking//the strongest ones are carrying the most
King Dantyl Lymnest//can't feel my face by the weeknd//for the men who can't say how much it all hurts//the ghosts of your ancestors are watching//heavy is the head that bears the crown//he's changing things but not enough, not quickly enough
Yelena Nillden//midnight oil by tommee profitt//for the ones who hold up the entire background//Zayn's little sister//the palace household manager//fears nothing...except that one thing//a lonely little dance//no time for herself
Some Snippets
Powers were supposed to be helpful, Dantyl mused as he flew toward the door of the Great Hall, where Zayn would be waiting for him. Powers were supposed to contribute something to what you did, something that would make you more effective. Once he’d regretted being able to fly and wished he had something like wisdom or puzzle solving or fire or strength, something that would make him a better ruler. But in the end, he could learn those things, and he had learned most of them. He could learn to be a good ruler.
Flight gave him the opportunity to forget.
Annie's arm was woven through Marston’s as they strolled through the crowds, taking in the sights. She’d liked this day once, back when it was fun, when she was a child. Before the king had swept in and burned the Nightmare district to the ground. Deciding that one lord’s behavior was reason enough to punish all of his citizens. Her fists clenched, and she had to laugh and let them unfurl, because that simply was not ladylike. A lady’s hands were gentle and her fingers did not stab or poke anyone. Especially not herself.
Estelle closed her eyes. It was true. The clan sat on her shoulders, and while Tristan might be the Lord, she was his right hand, his only shot at maintaining power. Protect the king. It rang so hollow when she knew Tristan would put a knife through the king’s back the moment Dantyl stepped out of line on what Tristan considered justice. Tristan’s justice was so complicated. Hers had once been, too. But now it was simple.
Right is right. Wrong is wrong.
~
Zayn clenched his fists. The assassins had done far too much to their kingdom, far too much to disturb their peace. It had destroyed their lives and left Zayn and Dantyl shaking and terrified. No more.
He was running down the stairs before he could talk himself out of it. He was going to find the assassins who had done this and put an end to this, once and for all. He was the Hunter of the king. He had been summoned to the hunt.
“So I’ll hunt, then,” he muttered.
~
“I can hear what you’re thinking.” Tristan spoke through his teeth from the dark corner where he sat. His shoulders were hunched under the blanket he’d put on, and a cup of black coffee jittered between his hands. His knees both bounced in an anxious rhythm. His eyes were fixed on the wall ahead.
Aver rolled his eyes. “You’re not supposed to do that.”
“I got lonely in my own head.” Tristan leaned forward, still staring at the wall. “Where did I go so wrong, Aver? What did I do wrong?”
What's your current WIP? Which of these characters is your favorite? Chat with me down below!
5 comments
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ReplyDeleteUm excuse me but literally every. single. aspect. of this sounds AMAZING. I'm especially fascinated by Annie's story. I mean a deadly circus dancer?? YES PLEASE. But gaaahhh this all just sounds AMAZING. Your story concepts and characters are top-tier every time. EVERY TIME.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! You're so sweet *sobs*
Delete*squints* I do not see the update on when we'll be able to read this...
ReplyDeleteThis sounds so so good!!! Ahh, I can't even pick a favorite character because they all sound so deep and beautiful <3 I literally don't even know who's side I should be on because I want good things for everyone already.
As for my WIP, I'm on break from it currently, but planning to return soon! I need to look at the draft as a whole and figure out why there are so many problems with the plot, lol. But for right now, I'm letting it take a rest. ;)
noooo haha you're right *sobs* I don't actually know? perhaps? but hopefully soon! There WILL be info coming I simply forgot to put it in this post so that should be next month-ish.
DeleteThank you! They all deserve good things, these crazy mess-children.
Ahh that's so entirely fair. Drafting is HARD! Best of luck and I'm rooting for you going forward!
Hello, friends! Do make yourselves comfortable and stay for a while--I'd love to chat with you! I simply ask that you keep it clean. :)