QQ: In Someone Else's Dream

Marita rubbed her eyes and scowled at the sunlight streaming through the window. Morning already? It can't be.

She was tired enough to border on cranky, but that wouldn't do. The craftsmaster at the palace would be sure to notice if she even brushed against cranky. No - better get up and make the most of it.

The morning would have been better if she had gotten more sleep. For some odd reason, her eyes had snapped open a few hours before dawn, and try as she might, she couldn't doze back off. Maybe I'll skip going to the cave tonight and get to bed early. The thought was tempting, even when she considered how much she wanted to be at the cave.

Inga Kadlec stirred as Marita rolled off her pallet. "Grandmother, are you awake?"

"I am now."

"Do you need something?" Marita stifled a yawn.

"No, I - darling, are you alright?"

"Of course."

Her grandmother eyed her carefully. "You look exhausted."

 Marita shrugged it off. "I didn't sleep well last night. I woke up early and couldn't get back to sleep."

Inga's brow wrinkled. "I wonder if it is true, then."

"What's true?"

"The legend. It says that when you can't sleep at night, it's because you're awake in someone else's dream."

Marita snorted. "That's nonsense."

"I'm not so sure it is," Inga said. "You didn't sleep last night."

"And?" Despite herself, Marita was curious to see where her grandmother was going with this.

"I dreamed about you last night."

"You dreamed about me?"

Inga nodded. "You were in the woods. I told you to remember your shoes at least a dozen times, but you were sill barefoot."

Marita smiled. "Are you sure this was a dream, Grandmother?"

"Oh, yes, dear. Because your hair was brushed."

Marita's hand flew up to her tangled curls. Yes, that must have been a dream. "What was I doing?"

"You were dancing. And singing."

"I usually whistle."

QQ July Inspiration

"But you were singing this time. I don't know what the song was, but it was very pretty. Almost haunting, in a way. There were birds with you, too. And rabbits and squirrels in the thicket. And I think there was an owl sitting in a hollow tree nearby."

"Was that it?" Marita asked.

Inga stopped, lost in thought, a thought that had the promise to be pleasant.

"Grandmother?"

"There was a young man there, too."

Marita sat down on the edge of the bed. "Who was it?"

"I don't know. I'd never seen him before."

"What did he do?"

Inga was silent for a full minute before she spoke again. "He danced with you."

~*~

It had been a week since her grandmother's dream, and still Marita couldn't get it out of her mind. I've never danced with a young man before in my life. I've never even danced before! Where would she have picked up an idea like that?

She rolled over and adjusted the blanket covering her legs. And I wonder what I was singing? The question came to her so many times a day, and yet there had been no answer. She might have been singing a number of different things. Who could know for certain? Inga probably wouldn't recognize the song unless she heard it again.

Her pallet felt unnaturally hard tonight. Maybe that's why it was taking so long to get to sleep. And it was too hot. Marita kicked the blanket off. That was better.

She lay still for a few minutes. Then she rolled onto her back. The cottage around her was dark -- the perfect darkness for a good night's sleep. 

The pallet was still uncomfortable. Marita flopped herself over onto her stomach. Maybe this position would be better. 

I am tired! Why can't I fall asleep?

It was after another half hour of twisting and flopping that Marita gave up. Some heroine I'd make -- can't even fall asleep!

Inga snorted in her sleep across the room, and Marita hesitated. Is she dreaming about me again? Is that why I can't sleep? It might be nice if she'd stop dreaming about me. 

A yawn overtook her, and she settled on the pallet once more. An hour passed. Then two. Her eyelids grew gradually heavier and heavier, and though she yearned to doze off, sleep was slow in coming. Marita's breathing steadied, her mind wandered into a delicious fog, and then -- 

Her eyes closed of their own accord.

~*~

At the exact same moment, Felix bolted upright. 

"Marita!"

The cold, stone wall of his chamber mocked the fire that had just consumed him. All was still and silent, yet he could hear the echo of her cry ringing in his ears. 

Felix tried to calm his racing heart. "Go back to sleep. It was just a dream. Just a dream."

Be sure to visit Melody's blog for more Quote Queste fun!

God bless!

Half-Blood Review & Author Interview

Review first!

How Jaye knew we needed this book before we even asked for it still amazes me. I absolutely loved Resistance and I've been dying to get my hands on a copy of The King's Scrolls. Jace has proven himself an epic character again and again in my mind, so to get a chance to take a peek into his life before Rayad was truly amazing. If you call yourself any kind of fan of Jaye Knight's work, then you simply must read this book.

First off, it was a lot shorter than Resistance. I really wasn't sure what to expect reading this prequel, but even from my confused thoughts, Jaye blew me quickly away. I had been afraid at first to dive into it, lest by some terrible design the character of Jace that I had grown to respect in Resistance be damaged. Nope. No way. Instead, this novella opened up an entire new world of understanding who he really was. It added so much depth to him. I was dumbstruck. Pretty much.

I love that Jaye starts out with Jace as a younger boy. She takes us through his childhood, how he grows, what he learns from those he comes in contact with. The foreshadowing... the suspense... the desires... the pain. Wow. Instead of just throwing us directly into his gladiator fights with Jasper, Jaye gave us to see Jace before the fights. 

But the fights themselves! *whistles* I was concerned with how Jaye might handle the progress of the fights, as there were many of them over the course of... quite a long time. But she did marvelously. There were times I felt I was at the arena with Jace - fighting with him, or yelling from the sidelines. He lived up to every one of my expectations and hopes... and then of course, Jasper walked on the scene, and my heart just broke for Jace. 

Really, what more can I say than this book is a must for all Ilyon fans, fantasy lovers, and adventure nerds alike? I give five stars whole-heartedly.    

Advisory: Quite a bit of violence as Jace fights different opponents/enemies, so please expect some descriptions of that. Several characters are wounded and, as a result of his fighting, more than one death follows Jace, haunting him. 

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

*Please note that I was given an advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.* 

~*~*~*~

For those of you who were interested, this book review will show up later this month on my book review blog, KiriBeth. I am so honored to have been able to review this novella for Jaye. 

Okay, ready for that interview now? *grins*

Half-Blood is a prequel to the Ilyon Chronicles, focusing on everybody's favorite - Jace. What inspired you to write his backstory?

I had Jace’s backstory in my mind for a very long time. I mean, as a writer, you have to know all such details about your characters. I always wanted to write it, but the ideas sat for a while, until this last winter. I thought I would write a short story that started just before he met Rayad and tell that meeting from Jace’s point of view. Once I started it, however, it grew and grew until it spanned several years and was novella length instead of a short story. As tragic as his story is, I’m happy readers will be able to read it because it shows so clearly why he is the way he is and exactly what he has to overcome.

Did you find that exploring his background in this novella changed your perspective of Jace?

I wouldn’t say it has that much, though I didn’t realize just how compassionate he was all through his life until I wrote it. I certainly did discover some things he went through that I never knew before though. And having it all written down is sure to help as I build on his character over the next few books, especially in book three in which a lot of things from his past are brought up.

Let's look forward into the Ilyon Chronicles. Might you share a bit of an adventure coming for Jace and his friends?

Well, how about a little scene from Samara’s Peril? :)

  

The sun was only just lighting the way when Jace and the others rode up to Marlton Hall the next morning. Most of the countryside was still asleep, and they hoped to be off before too many noticed their departure. Trask dismounted first and knocked on the back door. Sir John answered it, spilling light into the yard, and invited everyone inside. Anne and Lady Catherine greeted them as they entered.

Sir John closed the door behind them and gestured to the dining room table. “I have the uniforms for each of you.”

While Anne took Kyrin upstairs to change, the men stepped to the table and donned their uniforms—a deep blue and black tabard with a white dove in the center of the chest. Jace pulled his on over his shirt and buckled on his belt. Looking over the others, he found they made a diverse group, but in matching uniforms, no one would ever guess their true identities or intentions.

His eyes shifted to Trask and Sir John. They may have agreed to this, but neither one looked fully on board. If he thought it would make them feel any better, he would have told them that anyone intending harm to either Kyrin or Anne would have to kill him first, and the same went for every man in the group. He tested his sword in its sheath, making sure it didn’t stick. He’d just put a razor edge on it and his dagger the night before.

A few minutes later, Anne returned with Kyrin who wore a nondescript gray traveling dress and white cap. She looked the part of a servant, though it didn’t make her any less attractive. But Jace only let this thought form for a moment and nothing more. He’d determined not to let his feelings overshadow his reason and common sense as they nearly had yesterday.

Thank you so much, Jaye! I'm really looking forward to reading more of the Ilyon Chronicles!

Also, wonderful world of blogger, be sure to check out my post earlier today and enter the Ilyon-themed giveaway!

Half-Blood Blog Tour & Giveaway

Jaye L. Knight’s new novella, Half-Blood, has been released! Learn more about this prequel story to Ilyon Chronicles and make sure you also enter the tour giveaway at the bottom!


About the Book
The gasps and murmuring grew. Though some were hardly more than whispers, clear words reached Jace’s ears—dangerous, monster, animal, soulless. He tried to back away from their accusing eyes, but the collar pulled hard against his throat and held him in place.

For all his years as a slave, Jace has known nothing but the hatred people hold for his mixed blood—one half human, the other half the blood of a race considered monsters. Always, he is the outsider and quickly learns it is better to keep to himself. But, when his volatile ryrik blood leads him to do the unthinkable, he is thrown into a world of violence and bloodshed.

Forced to become a gladiator, Jace finds more and more of his heart dying as his master works to break down his will not to become the monster everyone believes he is. When a stranger interferes with his master’s harsh punishment, Jace’s world is upended yet again. But with it comes the possibility of hope that has long since died. Could the man possibly hold the key to escaping the hopeless darkness that is Jace’s life? Is there such a thing as life beyond the cruelty of slavery?

See where Jace’s story all began . . .



 
Haven’t discovered the world of Ilyon yet? Find out more at the official Ilyon Chronicles website!



Giveaway
Share in the excitement of the release and enter to win a themed giveaway pack! Prizes include an autographed copy of Half-Blood, a blue feather bookmark hand crafted by Jaye, a bronze sword pendant, and a $5 Amazon gift card! (Giveaway is open to US residents only. Cannot be shipped internationally.)

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Tour Schedule

Tuesday, July 14

• Tour Introduction at Jaye L. Knight
• Review and Author Interview at 26 Countless Possibilites
• Review and Author Interview at Lianne Taimenlore
• Review and Author Interview at Crumpets 'n' Cream
• Review at Tialla's Tellings

Wednesday, July 15

• Review at The Destiny of One
• Book Spotlight at One Servant's Heart
• Review and Author Interview at Leah's Bookshelf
• Review and Author Interview at Red Lettering
• Review and Author Interview at Zerina Blossom's Books

Thursday, July 16

• Review and Author Interview at Sutori no Hana
• Review and Author Interview at Scattered Journal Pages
• Review and Author Interview at The Splendor Falls on Castle Walls
• Author Interview at A Writer's Faith
• Review and Author Interview at writinganyone

Friday, July 17

• Review and Author Interview at Written Rest
• Book Spotlight at Tell Tale Book Reviews
• Review and Author Interview at The Pen of a Ready Writer
• Review and Author Interview at Morgan Elizabeth Huneke
• Review at Poetree

Saturday, July 18

• Review at A Writer's Heart
• Review at Reality Calling
• Author Interview at The Art of Storytelling
• Book Spotlight at Thilly Little Nothings

Sunday, July 19

• Review at Through My Lens
• Review at Elvish Pens, Fantastical Writings
• Book Spotlight at Letters from Annie Douglass Lima
• Review at bookend

Monday, July 20

• Review at Pencils Can Change the World
• Review at Backing Books
• Review at Melody Jackson, Author
• Book Spotlight and Author Interview at In the Character's Shadow

Tuesday, July 21

• Review at A Vintage Girl in the Modern World
• Book Spotlight at However Improbable
• Review at God's Peculiar Treasure Rae
• Review and Author Interview at Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections

Wednesday, July 22

• Review at To Be a Person
• Tour Conclusion at Jaye L. Knight

About the Author
Jaye L. Knight is an award-winning author, homeschool graduate, and shameless tea addict with a passion for Christian fantasy. Armed with an active imagination and love for adventure, Jaye weaves stories of truth, faith, and courage with the message that even in the deepest darkness, God’s love shines as a light to offer hope. She has been penning stories since the age of eight and resides in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.

You can connect with Jaye on her website, blog, Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Etsy, and on her new fiction forum where you can interact with other readers of the series.

Be on the lookout for my review of Half-Blood and a special author interview with Jaye coming up in a few hours! 

Spindle Snippets

Thought all you lovely peoples would like to see what I've been working on. These are all from the newest story I've been typing madly at, introduced in this post. Let's just say I'm having way too much fun taking Sleeping Beauty and turning it upside-down to deliciously fit my own needs. 

~*~

“They say if you dream a thing more than once, it's sure to come true.”

Felix shook his head. “Then they'd better be wrong.”

~*~

Braden resisted the urge to shake his brother by the shoulders. Felix had twenty-one good years to his name, but that didn't mean he was always sensible. Braden had a toddling son who proved rather a handful, but that didn't mean he was always patient.

~*~

 “Ouch!”

Marita Kadlec yanked her hand back from the spinning wheel and glared at her finger. Already, a drop of blood was forming. Annoyed, she wiped at it hastily with a rag bearing the pain of previous pricks. Directing a well-deserved scowl at the spindle, she shook her injured finger at it.

“And this is just one reason why I hate you so.”

~*~

Early mornings never liked Marita. She was a night owl, through and through. Her mind awoke at night; her brain thrived on the light of the stars. Thoughts and questions bombarded her in the darkness like no other time. But here she was now – off just after dawn to start her new job. Her grandmother thought the morning bright and early, but Marita disagreed. There was nothing bright about this morning.

She kicked at a stone in her path and watched it skitter away. It settled dejectedly in a small gully near the edge of the road, right where the ground dropped off to allow the stream to follow the curve of the road. Or perhaps the road followed the curve of the stream. Marita sighed – what did it matter?

~*~ 

 “Now where is your rider?”

The horse nuzzled her, and she stoked his velvet face. She couldn't remember the last time she'd been around a horse. It would have been before Mother... her mind quenched the rest of the thought.

“Samson!”

Marita turned to see the rider stumbling up the road. He could have been only a year or two older than herself, and his clothes would have been fine save for the fact that they left a trail of water on the road. His head was bare, and disheveled dark hair dripped into his eyes. And due to some unknown circumstance, he walked bootless. The sight was rather hilarious, and Marita struggled to hold a giggle in check.

He approached the horse and shook a dripping finger at it. “No carrots.”

If horses could smirk, Marita was pretty sure Samson smirked.

God bless!