The Reluctant Sacrifice by Kerr-Ann Dempster
Publication date: August 7th 2015
Genres: Paranormal Romance, Young Adult
Synopsis:
If a Shaw child, born on the 12th day of the 12th month offers her soul in a public sacrifice, then the exiles will be forgiven and welcomed home to Aramith.
Aubrey Shaw is that child, but dying for the exiles is not on her to-do list. Using her gift as a Jumper, Aubrey leaps between bodies to escape relentless shape-shifting hunters. Only, shedding her skin is not enough. Not when Joshua, her best-friend-turned-hunter, is hell-bent on dragging her to the altar.
Will Aubrey’s love for Joshua change his mind?
Or, will she have to trust the scarred stranger who shows up out of the blue cloaked in lies and secrets? Doing so means giving up on Joshua. But betting on Joshua’s love could do more than break her heart.
It could kill her.
Majestic
wings slapped the air. With beaks pointed
toward the ground, the hawks plunged into the market. Shrieking, the shoppers
covered their heads and ducked. But the hawks did not attack. With a burst of
feathers, they transformed into naked, muscular men and women. Wings and tails
billowed out like smoke, and then formed hooded, feathered cloaks around their
bodies.
The
crowd heaved a collective gasp. I did not. I could do nothing but stare at
Joshua Kaito. He stood twenty feet in front of me. Hair as black as soot
spilled down to his chin, and sunlight bounced off the crystal in the gold
medallion at his throat. Shape- shifting had hardened his features, sharpening
them in a way that made him beautiful, but also terrifying to look at. A
whirlwind of emotions whipped through me.
Did
his lips recall mine? “Please remember,” I whispered.
Joshua’s
head swung to the left. I followed his gaze. My heart plunged when I saw Mom.
She was hard to miss since she was the only one moving. Making no effort at
stealth, she shouldered her way toward the gate.
Joshua’s
narrowed eyes clouded with doubt, but then blazed with purpose when Mom flipped
him off. “Over there,” he hollered, pointing to Mom.
Mom
bolted. Joshua dashed after her like a comet. His fellow hunters followed,
jabbing elbows and knees into those who blocked their paths. Panic rolled
through the crowd. Fear screamed at me to go with the tide of bodies to safety,
but instincts—or stupidity—screamed at me to stay.
I
planted my feet, but I was no match for the crowd. I crashed to the ground,
skinning my palms on the pavement. Using my backpack as leverage, I pushed my
body upright.
No
sooner had I stood than a leg the size of a tree trunk struck me in the
stomach. Pain ripped through my chest, threatening to split my heart in two.
The ground tilted up to kiss my cheek. Shades of gold danced beneath my
eyelids. Then the world turned to black.
The Reluctant
Sacrifice FAQs
Q: What is
this book about?
A: It’s
about Aubrey Shaw and her fight to remain alive. Aubrey is an Aramithian exile
and according to prophecy, her death will earn forgiveness for all the exiles
and reinstate their immortal birthright. However, Aubrey is unwilling to play
savior. She wants to live and will do anything to it takes to stay alive.
Q:
Why should I read it?
A: Because
you’re hungry for something fresh and enjoyable? If you want the same-
old-same, this book isn’t for you. However, if you are looking for a fast-paced story
that’s rich with diverse characters, a unique plot, and witty dialogue, then
dive in.
Q: Aubrey
is a Jumper. What’s that all about?
A: Most
Aramithians are born with supernatural gifts, given to them by the creators of
Aramith. As a Jumper, Aubrey’s soul has the ability to leap between bodies.
You’ll get to see it happen a few times throughout the novel.
Q:
According to the blurb, she’s in love with her best-friend-turned-hunter,
Joshua, but she also meets a mysterious stranger. Will there be an eye-rolling
love triangle?
A: No
spoilers! But, for those who hate love triangles, relax. Yes there are two guys
in Aubrey’s life, but I can guarantee you there are no eye-rolling tropes in
this novel. If you’ve ever fallen in love then you’ll find Aubrey’s love life
relatable.
Q: Tell us
about the relationship between Aubrey and Joshua, her best-friend-
turned-hunter.
A: Aubrey
and Joshua were childhood best-friends. They were each other’s firsts in many
ways and have a deep connection. They know each other inside-out, and have a
knack for saying all the things that cut straight to the heart. They know how
each other think. This is great, but it also sucks since Joshua is now a hunter
and has been assigned to drag Aubrey to the altar.
Q: Tell us
about your favorite character (who is not the MC).
A: That
would be Coy. Coy Brady made me laugh out loud a dozen times while writing.
He’s handsome and sexy, but also roguish and flawed in every possible way. I
won’t tell you more. You’ll have to fall in love with him yourself.
Q:
Favorite moment in the story.
A: That’s
hard. I’d have to go with the entire 1st paragraph of chapter 2 when we first
see the Hawk Unit transform. Invoking the right image without being overly
descriptive is a difficult task. The paragraph accomplished that beautifully.
Majestic
wings slapped the air. With beaks pointed toward the ground, the hawks plunged
into the market. Shrieking, the shoppers covered their heads and ducked. But
the hawks did not attack. With a burst of feathers, they transformed into
naked, muscular men and women. Wings and tails billowed out like smoke, and
then formed hooded, feathered cloaks around their bodies.
Q: When
will I get to see more of Landon and the Aramithian community?
A: The
Reluctant Sacrifice takes place largely outside of the Aramithian community, so
the reader only gets to see it when Aubrey does. Thankfully, The Reluctant
Huntress will follow Aubrey’s sister Morgan. Since Morgan lives in the town of
Landon and is a member of the Hawk Unit, I get to show the reader a lot more of
Landon and also take them behind the scenes of the hunter’s world.
Q: When
can we expect The Reluctant Huntress?
A:
The Reluctant Huntress is scheduled for a 2016 release. It will
be swiftly followed by
a novella
that ties the duology together and gives closure.
Q:
Throughout the novel, Aubrey and her friend Tessa discuss Supernatural. Aubrey
is Team Dean, while Tessa is Team Sam. What team are you on?
A: I’d
like to combine those teams. How about Dean’s voice and face, with Sam’s body
and hair? Hmm, excuse me while I daydream.
Author Q&A
Question: Three
books to take into the afterlife? What? Only three ... you’re killing me here.
1.
Angefall by Susan Ee. Because what if the
angels in heaven are as corrupt up as Ee writes them? Penryn is a bad-ass. I’d
want some ideas for surviving.
2.
When Heaven Weeps by Ted Dekker. He is the
best male writer I’ve ever read. I buy just about everything he writes.
Everything.
3.
The Hobbit. It’s a long, glorious read that
will help me past the time. Plus, you know. It’s awesome.
Question:
You’re stuck in an elevator, which 5 book
boyfriends do you want for company?
1.
Joe Hardy from The Hardy Boys. What can I say? A
girl never gets over her first book-boyfriend.
2.
Ren from Wicked. If you have to ask why, then you
should read the book. I’d wrestle Ivy for a chance with this dude. Just saying.
3.
Edward Cullen form Twilight. Because I’d still
like to hear his perspective, and it’s obvious Stephanie Meyer isn’t publishing
Midnight Sun. Plus, I’d like to see the look on his face when he hears he’s now
Edythe in the gender-swapping remake.
4.
Harry Potter. I’ll need someone to put a binding
spell on Edward when he gets thirsty and decides to tap a vein
5.
Coy Brady. He’s from my novel, The Reluctant
Sacrifice. Honestly, he was so much fun to write and interact with (in my
head), that I would love more time with him. Plus, you know "muscles plus
accent equals chew-your-arm-off hot.”
Question: If
you could be a character in any book, who would you be?
I’d be
Karou in Daughter of Smoke and Bone. I’m slowly reading through this series and
I am fascinated by her story. Laini Taylor has written Karou with so much depth
and angles that I can’t get enough of her. She is fierce but gentle. I find her
love for the Chimera race admirable, since she loved them before she knew her
past. I can’t wait to see how her story continues.
Question: Five
authors you’d like to meet?
1.
J. K. Rowling. The woman is a genius. Her
world building and attention to detail is second to none.
2.
C.S. Lewis. His creativity is beyond
anything we’re seeing today. He had just the perfect mixture of light and
darkness without being heavy-handed.
3.
Nnedi Okorafor. Everything about her
writing is fearless. I can’t get enough.
4.
Stephen King. He’s an expert on all things dark,
creepy, and bloody.
5.
Ted Dekker. He gets it. He knows how to
craft thought-provoking stories that
stay in
your head for years after reading them.
Question: Favorite
and Least favorite words?
•
Favorite word: At the moment, it’s
Sepulchral. It conjures these images in my
head that
sets my creativity in motion. No idea why.
•
Least favorite word: Snot. It gives me the
chills. Each time I hear it, I remember that one kid in my kindergarten class
who would lick his upper lip when he had a cold. Yuck.
5
Must haves while writing:
1.
An uncomfortable chair. Comfort kills my
creativity. I do allow myself a blanket though. A nice scratchy one.
2.
Coffee with tons of cream.
3.
A closed door
4.
Headphones for when I listen to previous
chapters
5.
Post-it notes. I write notes for
everything.
3 biggest
distractions while writing
1.
Instagram. So many pretty pictures. so
little time.
2.
The text from that one guy I like but can’t
figure out if he likes me back. I swear.
I’ve been
staring at the damn thing for five hours.
3.
Chex-Mix. If they are in the house, I
cannot focus until they are safe in my
tummy.
Question: Why
do you write Young Adult Novels?
• Because
at 30 years old, I still read YA novels. Being an adult is tons of fun, but it
comes with immense responsibilities. Also, as an adult, I don’t have many
firsts left to enjoy. Writing and reading YA brings back fond memories that
bill-paying
and gray
hairs have caused me to forget. Plus, let’s face it, the stories are more
authentic and interesting than the ones I read as a teen. Don’t get me wrong. I
loved Sweet Valley High and The Hardy Boys, but I would have killed for some
Harry Potter and Beautiful Creatures. I was raised in a strict household and
fantasy novels were a big no-no. Now, I gobble them up and churn them out every
chance I get.
Question:
As both a writer and reader, what do you want to
see more of?
Authenticity.
We’ve come a long way, but I’m sick of vampires and witches. As a writer, I try
to come up with new creatures or put a fresh spin on what’s been done before.
Changing the back story is not enough. Writers need to recognize that readers
are hungry for new stories that explore new ideas and new obstacles. We have to
risk it all and throw out the usual tropes and scare ourselves and readers a
bit with new stories. It isn’t easy, of course. I’ve fallen victim to it
myself, but I am fighting to be authentic. I’m taking more risks and I’m liking
the payoff.
Question: How
do you get inspired?
I’ve
always lived in two worlds. The real world and the one I created in my head. I
skipped my way through childhood, living in the stories I dreamt up and hosting
Q & A’s with my favorite characters. It went on for weeks at a time. When I
grew up, it didn’t stop. I used to think it made me a weirdo, but with time I
understood these stories were meant to be written down and shared.
*I’ve been
told my status as a weirdo is still up for discussions. Question: Could
you talk a bit about your writing process?
I love
writing. I also love notebooks. The two go hand-in-hand when I’m starting a
story. I jot every thing down. Every sentence and dialogue that pops into my
head. Every character quirk and attribute. I keep a second notebook for the
plot. After doing that, I try to look at it as a reader would. What do I need
to know about this story’s world to make me feel like i’m apart of it? Which
characters should I identity with? Which plot twists will I expect? (Those are
the first ones I cut.)
The next
step is outlining. I use a combination of a notepad, Pinterest, and software to
map the story and build a timeline. Timelines always trip me up when writing. I
have to go over them repeatedly.
Then, I
begin writing. At the moment, I am experimenting with writing my first drafts
in 3 months as the author, Stephen King advises. In the past, it took me
six-eight months because the first few chapters are the hardest for me. We’ll
see how that goes. I never share my story before the first draft is complete.
It’s for the best because first drafts are usually crappy, repetitive, and
inconsistent. The story doesn’t come together until the second draft.
The second
draft gets sent to a developmental editor and then revised and presented to
beta readers. I never skip the beta readers. They spot things even an editor
misses. I would be lost without them.
Question: Tell
us about your current project.
I’m
currently working on The Reluctant Huntress. It follows Morgan, the sister of
the main character in The Reluctant Sacrifice (TRS). She is the most hated and
misunderstood character in TRS. Her story will shock those who hate her and
force them to see her actions in a different light. The fun thing is that the
books can be read in any order the reader chooses, which means you will end up
hating the main character from each book because everyone is the hero of their
own story.
Since this
novel takes place in Landon, fans of the TRS will get to see more world
building as I take them deeper into the magical Aramithian community. (A
novella will is also planned to tie the series together).
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26063382-the-reluctant-sacrifice
Purchase:
AUTHOR BIO:
To learn more about Kerr-Ann, connect with her on: Instagram (author.kerr), Twitter (@annk3rr), Facebook and Goodreads. If you live in Michigan, you may also find her in line at Moomers purchasing homemade ice cream.
Author links:
GIVEAWAYS
Each blog participating may host a giveaway for one (1) ebook copy of The Reluctant Sacrifice. Open internationally. You may handle the giveaway however you'd like. Your winner must be selected and turned in by latest November 8th, 2015. Please use this form to turn in your winner's info. You may let your winner know their prize will be sent out after November 9th.
Blitz-wide giveaway (INTL)
A signed copy of The Reluctant Sacrifice + a swag bag (image attached)
Or grab the code here: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/share-code/ZDA0MjUxMjM1OGRlZWRmZWM1YmUyMmFkYTM3OWE5OjkyMg==/?
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