Dark Heart of Magic (Black Blade #2)
by Jennifer Estep
Publisher: Kensington
Release Date: October 27th 2015
Genre: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal, Magic, Supernatural
Synopsis:
Something Wicked This Way Comes...
As a thief, I stick to the shadows as much as possible. But when the head of the Sinclair Family picks me to compete in the Tournament of Blades, there's no escaping the spotlight—or the danger.
Even though he's my competition, Devon Sinclair thinks I have the best shot at winning what's supposed to be a friendly contest. But when the competitors start having mysterious "accidents," it looks like someone will do anything to win—no matter who they hurt.
As if I didn't have enough to worry about, mobster Victor Draconi is plotting against Devon and the rest of my friends, and someone's going around Cloudburst Falls murdering monsters. One thing's for sure. Sometimes, humans can be more monstrous than anything else...
Hello Jennifer ! Welcome Back! We are super excited to have you in our FFBC tours again!
JE: Thanks for featuring me again. I appreciate it.
Could you tell our Book Addicts a little bit about where Dark Heart of Magic picks up without giving away spoilers?
JE: Dark Heart of Magic is book #2 in my Black Blade young adult urban fantasy series. The book focuses on Lila Merriweather, a 17-year-old thief who lives in Cloudburst Falls, West Virginia, a town dubbed “the most magical place in America.” Tourists come from around the world to tour all the magic-themed shops and attractions, as well as see monsters like tree trolls, copper crushers, and more in their natural habitats.
Lila does her best to stay off the grid and avoid the Families — or mobs — who control much of the town. But when she saves a member of the Sinclair Family during an attack, Lila finds herself caught in the middle of a brewing war between the Sinclairs and the Draconis, the two most powerful Families in town.
In Dark Heart of Magic, Lila is picked to represent the Sinclair Family in the Tournament of Blades, but she quickly realizes that someone will do anything to win the tournament, even hurt the other competitors. So there’s a lot of action, adventure, danger, and magic in the book, along with a little romance.
Is there a specific scene that you had the most fun to write?
JE: I always enjoy writing fight scenes, and there are several of those in Dark Heart of Magic. I’ve always liked stories that feature tournaments/contests where the heroine has to use her wits and fighting skills, so the scenes at the Tournament of Blades were really fun for me to write in this book.
When writing a sequel in a series, do you have to go back and re-read the 1st book?
JE: No. If I have a question about a character or a plot point, then I’ll go back and re-read the passage that relates to that, but I don’t go back and re-read the whole book. I can usually keep all the characters and plotlines in my head from book to book.
Is there anything about writing that still surprises you after publishing so many books?
JE: I would say in every book that I write that a character does something unexpected or that the story goes in a slightly different direction than I expected. So every time I sit down to start writing a book, it’s like a new adventure to me, and I look forward to seeing how the story might twist and turn in ways that I didn’t expect.
Is there a specific routine you follow when you sit down to write?
JE: I don’t do a lot of plotting or outlining. I usually think of my heroine, her magic, and how she can use it to defeat the bad guys. Then I sit down and start writing and see where the characters and story take me. That’s just the process that works best for me.
Do you have a favorite fan moment?
JE: I’ve gotten so many nice comments about my books and met so many nice folks that I really couldn’t pick out just one moment. But it’s always great to hear that folks are enjoying my books, and it always makes my day.
What would you say is harder to write, the first line of a book or the last?
JE: I would say that it’s harder to write the last line. With the first line, you want to grab the reader’s attention, and that line opens up a world of possibilities for your story.
But with that last line, you want to wrap everything up and leave the reader feeling like your book was time and money well-spent and hopefully leave the reader looking forward to checking out more of your books in the future. So I would say that it’s harder to write that last line.
What authors are auto-buys for you?
JE: Some of my favorite authors include Robin McKinley, Lisa Kleypas, Donald Westlake, David Eddings, Ian Fleming, and too many others to name.
Favorite book of 2015?
JE: Some books that I’ve read and enjoyed this year are The Mark of the Tala by Jeffe Kennedy; The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen; and In Your Dreams by Kristan Higgins.
What shows are you currently watching?
JE: I love fantasy and superhero shows, so I’m watching Arrow, The Flash, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., and Once Upon a Time, along with several others. I also want to check out the new Supergirl show when it debuts. It looks like a fun superhero show.
Thank you for participating in our FFBC Tours again Jennifer!
JE: Thanks for hosting me again. I appreciate it. Happy reading, everyone! J
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Jennifer Estep is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy and paranormal romance.
Her Elemental Assassin series follows the life and times of Gin “the Spider” Blanco, a barbecue restaurant owner who also happens to be an assassin with magical control over the elements of Ice and Stone.
The Mythos Academy series focuses on Gwen Frost, a 17-year-old Gypsy girl who has the ability to know an object’s history just by touching it. She studies at Mythos Academy, a school for the descendants of ancient warriors.
Her Bigtime paranormal romance books feature sexy superheroes, evil ubervillains, and smart, sassy gals looking for love.
Estep’s new Black Blade series is about 17-year-old thief Lila Merriweather, who has a Talent for sight, along with the ability to take magic others used against her to boost her own powers. She tries not to get involved with the Families who control much of the town, but ends up in the middle of a potential turf war.
Win (1) of (3) print copies of Dark Heart of Magic (US only)
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