This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions.
C.B. Samet will be awarding an Avant Champion tote bag, world map (11x17), prequel novelette, and bookmark (US ONLY) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner above to see the other stops on the tour.
The Avant Champion: Rising
By C. B. Samet
GENRE: Fantasy
BLURB:
An EVVY award-winning epic fantasy adventure. When Marrington Castle is overtaken by a dark and ancient evil, Abigail Cross finds herself in the precarious situation of protecting Queen Rebekah. Charged with a quest to summon the Avant Champion, can she save the kingdom or doom everyone to everlasting devastation?
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EXCERPT:
As the carriage began to roll, I listened to the rhythmic click of horse hooves against the cobblestone. Since the Queen and I were seated facing the rear, I watched the grand pavilion, with its shimmering lights, fade into the distance. It would be a 500-meter ride from the ballroom to the Queen’s quarters, and what a beautiful scene through the decorated grounds lit with streams of dancing lights that cast colored shadows from the arching trees above the path. I couldn’t help but lean just a little out the window to take in the beauty of it all.
In the distance, I could see my brother’s carriage and imagined that Paul was wondering as much as I what I was doing in the Queen’s carriage.
I looked around at the courtyard. It was vast and elegant and surrounded on all sides by the castle’s enormous buildings. The real beauty of the castle belonged to its grounds, or inner ward, though I may have had that perception because of my preference to being outdoors. The northeast corner of the courtyard was an open dining facility surrounded by immaculately groomed bushes sitting atop lush trimmed grass.
The northwest corner contained awe-inspiring statues were housed the Queen, the court and the ministers, as well as all of their meeting halls and business rooms, ornately furnished with dark mahogany wood and regal draperies. There were figurines and expansive collections of artifacts from centuries of diplomatic excursions across the world. I knew them intimately, since I dusted them weekly.
With a sudden chill, the light from the lanterns all abruptly extinguished and the line of carriages came to a halt. I heard the horses neigh with unease. My eyes adjusted to the moonlit darkness, and I could see Paul’s carriage once again in the distance around the bend, just at the last gate leaving the pavilion. It was black under the light of the moon, looking more like a box cage than a carriage.
Shadows came to life as tall, lanky, dark figures appeared on either side of Paul’s carriage. Their general form was similar to human, with two arms and two legs, but their body and limbs were thinner, and they appeared taller than any man I had ever seen. My stomach lurched in alarm. Whatever they were, their stealth and demeanor conveyed the danger of a predator.
Long arms stretched and opened the doors on both sides of Paul’s carriage, and silently and swiftly, the passengers were lifted out and swallowed whole. The horrible figures vanished into the dark shadows as quickly as they had appeared.
I shook once, not believing my own eyes, but too frightened to scream. My heart was pounding with spasms threatening to spread to the rest of my body at any moment.
I turned to the only other person who sat in a position to see what I had seen. The Queen shot me a look of caution, shutting my mouth before I could speak. She had seen, I knew, and if it were possible, her pale face seemed even whiter. Although her eyes were not as wide as mine, her pupils had dilated, the way I had seen an untamed filly’s eyes when cornered by a would-be rider. Yet, she kept her composure.
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A Few Words About the Series from The Author
"The Avant Champion: Rising by C.B. Samet is an intelligently written book that will turn fantasy readers into fans. With active scenes, sympathetic characters, and hooks throughout the story, you can count on being rooted to one spot until the last word is read."
-- Judge, 25th Annual Writer's Digest Self-Published Book Awards.
What if a world was at peace—a peace tenuously created through the use of magic thousands of years ago? And every thousand years the woven fabric of that magic becomes brittle? When this happens, The Avant Champion must be summoned to defeat an ancient evil to maintain peace. What sacrifices would such a person have to make and would they be willing to make them?
The Avant Champion series is an epic fantasy adventure. Currently books 1-4 and two novelettes are complete with the final book, book 5, in process. The series follows an unlikely and reluctant heroine on her journey to help defend her continent against evil. The Avant Champion series has action, adventure, magic, battles, giants, brownies, man-eating octopi, wizards, ghosts, romance, and a strong heroine.
The sequence of the series is:
Book 1: The Avant Champion ~Rising~
Prequel: Malakai ~an Avant Champion Story of Malos novelette~ (best read after book 1)
Book 2: The Avant Champion ~Honor~
Book 3: The Avant Champion ~Ashes~
Book 3.5: Brothers’ Bond, a novelette
Book 4: The Avant Champion ~Conquest~ (coming June 2019)
Book 5: coming 2020
Fans can find additional information on my website: http://www.cbsamet.com/epic-fantasy.html.
In addition to a world map and the Book of Stones. You can sign up for my newsletter HERE and get a free Malakai ebook. Through the website, you can also request bulk orders of signed copies if you are looking to do a book club.
I have an entire Pinterest page devoted to The Avant Champion series—characters, poems, imagery, and more.
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About the Author
I love reading, writing, and time with my family. In warmer weather, you can find me writing pool-side or playing tennis with friends and family.
How to connect with CB Samet:
· You can find me on social media at https://www.facebook.com/authorcbsamet/, or https://www.facebook.com/groups/337384960147128/, or instagam @cbsametauthor.
· You can peruse my Amazon page at https://www.amazon.com/CB-Samet/e/B01HLCURWK/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
· You can see cool pictures of books or book settings at my Pinterest site: https://www.pinterest.com/novelsbycbsamet/pins/
AUTHOR BIO
Christina is a writer, mother, and pet lover.
“I write seeking to create riveting action and intrigue with female heroines. I love the quote, ‘She needed a hero. So she became one.’ My novels have empowered women overcoming powerful obstacles and the strong men who support them.”
AUTHOR LINKS
AUTHOR LINKS
Samet's Strong Women https://www.facebook.com/groups/337384960147128/
Amazon Author page https://www.amazon.com/CB-Samet/e/B01HLCURWK/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1
Goodreads Author page https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6012528.C_B_Samet
Instagram @cbsametauthor
Mailchimp http://eepurl.com/c3EOvb
Buy LINKS: The Book is FREE during the tour
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ENTER GIVEAWAY
C.B. Samet will be awarding an Avant Champion tote bag, world map (11x17), prequel novelette, and bookmark (US ONLY) to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.
