Blog Tour (Excerpt): Song of the Forever Rains by E. J. Mellow

Praise for SONG OF THE FOREVER RAINS

“A spellbinding read…A dark, lyrical fantasy that merges vast worldbuilding with the best of romance tropes.” —Kirkus Reviews

“It’s so easy to lose yourself in Mellow’s evocative and engaging prose. Song of the Forever Rains blends excellent world building, wonderful character dynamics, and slow burn romance. I’m already looking forward to the sequel.” —Charlie N. Holmberg, Wall Street Journal bestselling author

“A story so immersive, it will haunt you long after the last page.” —Staci Hart, bestselling author

From the award-winning author of the Dreamland series comes a new dark romantic fantasy about a young woman finding hope in her powers of destruction.

The Thief Kingdom is a place hidden within the world of Aadlior. Many whisper of its existence, but few have found this place, where magic and pleasure abound. There, the mysterious Thief King reigns supreme with the help of the Mousai, a trio of revered and feared sorceresses.

LarkyraBassette may be the youngest of the Mousai, but when she sings her voice has the power to slay monsters. When it’s discovered the Duke of Lachlan is siphoning a poisonous drug from the Thief Kingdom and using it to abuse his tenants, Larkyra is offered her first solo mission to stop the duke. Eager to prove herself, Larkyra accepts by posing as the duke’s potential bride. But her plans grow complicated when she finds herself drawn to Lord Darius Mekenna, Lachlan’s rightful heir. Soon she suspects Darius has his own motivations for ridding Lachlan of the corrupt duke. Larkyra and Darius must learn to trust each other if there is to be any hope of saving the people of Lachlan—and themselves.

Welcome to the world of Aadilor, where lords and ladies can be murderers and thieves, and the most alluring notes are often the deadliest. Dare to listen?

You can purchaseSong of the Forever Rains at the following Retailers:

       

SONG OF THE FOREVER RAINS BY E.J MELLOW

Crossing a small bridge that led to the last ring of the lower quarters, a commotion brought Larkyra to glance down a side alley.

A group who looked a lot like her were surrounding a man who looked nothing like any of them. His well sewn clothes gleamed with a higher standard of living, his boots waxed to shine a matching glint as his sword in hand.

While he was armed, he was surely outnumbered and the crude shivs and iron-spiked balls resting in his opponents’ grips didn’t help matters.

Now, normally those who lived in the lowers learned to pay no mind to scuffles like these. Survival was not just for the strong, but also for those who kept their noses clear from other’s troubles. But Larkyra was not ‘normally’ anything, and the pang of empathy she felt in her chest seeing anyone cornered, pulled her into the ally.

“I do not want to fight,” said the man, his accent thick with well-bread education.

“Thens don’t.” Smiled one of the street dwellers, his shoulders spanning two men. “Hands over whats youvs gots in yer pouch—”

“And yer sword,” said another.

“And that pretty cape,” added one more.

“The boots,” concluded the last. “I’d like thems shiny boots.” “Then we leaves you right be,” finished the first.

“Why stop there?” challenged the man. “Why not take all my clothes?” “Nah, that would be right greedy.”

The man raised a shocked brow. “Good to know you all are not without reason.”

The larger street dweller stepped threateningly close, blade raised. “I thinks he laughs at us gents.”

“If he does not,” chimed in Larkyra from where she was leaning against a wall, watching. “I certainly am.”

“Who are ya?” barked the leader, his crew all glancing her way.

“I’m here to tell you to leave this poor man alone.”

A laugh burst from the giant. “He ain’t poor anything, little mop. Now be on yers way and we’s promise not to hurt ya next.”

“I can’t do that,” said Larkyra, her magic beginning to stir in her belly.

“And whys that?”

“Because today is my birthday, you see, and I’d really like it if I could spend it without seeing anyone get robbed…or killed,” she added for good measure.

“Then I’d spend yer day in bed, little mop, or pop out dem pretty blue eyes, fer no grains fall down here without all dem things.”

“Yes,” agreed Larkyra. “But I’d still like to try. Now, as I said, you should leave.” More amused chuckles from the group.

“Please, miss,” said the cornered man. “I have this under control.” “But for how much longer?” challenged Larkyra.

He appeared to think on this as he resized his opponents.

They sneared and raised their weapons.

Larkyra wasn’t in the mood for a fight, but she also didn’t want to merely walk away. Not now. Yet currently with only one proper working hand…

Ours, crooned her magic. Let us do it for you.

Larkyra internally stroked her powers which swam restless in her lungs, a master calming a hungry tiger.

Gentle, she coaxed.

Larkyra had already sensed this group was without the lost gods gifts, a common finding in Jabari, and one reason she had decided to intervene. She wanted to help, but quickly and without drawing attention. And though she wasn’t meant to use it, was supposed to be without, today, the last day of her Lierenfast, she decided a little magic wouldn’t hurt anyone. At least not as she was now, calm, collected, controlled.

With Larkyra’s mind made up, her powers tickled up her throat as she commanded, “GO.”

A burst of her yellow magic smacked into the thugs faces, ceasing the last of their laughter.

Larkyra moved closer, her voice dripping in warning. “Be on your way or you will have

more than blood to pay.”

If any passerby possessed the Sight, as all who held the lost gods’ gifts did, they would have seen warm honey-colored mist pouring from each of Larkyra’s words, clouding the heads of her vicitims. But no one here held such gifts, so no one here saw a thing.

With glazed eyes the men blinked before they each turned and left.

The alley sat quiet as her magic retreated.

“Well,” said a deep voice from behind her. “That was rather…odd. But I thank you.” Larkyra found the genteel man seething his sword, while his curious gaze lingered over her. Now alone, Larkyra had a chance to get a good look at him as well. She instantly knew one thing; He was beautiful.

Annoyingly so.

His deep copper hair sang in a glint of light that cut through the alley and contrasted nicely against his pale skin and dark attire. His crisp, clear features shone with youth, yet his greeneyes

held walls, calculated distrust. Larkyra wondered if this young man always wore it, or only now because of what he looked upon: another street urchin after his fine things.

“You’re a fool for coming here dressed like that,” said Larkyra.

The man glanced down. “Yes, perhaps I should have done better. But these were the plainest clothes I had near.”

“You’re twinkling like a shiny copper coin in a pile of dirt,” scoffed Larkyra. “Anyone passing will want to snatch you.”

“Is that what you’re doing now? Snatching me?”

Larkyra raised her brows. “I thought it was rather clear. I was saving you.”

“Yes,” mused the man. “That was rather impressive. How did you get them to listen to you like that?”

Larkyra pushed down her twinge of annoyance. “You stand here, still with your pouch of coin and cape and sword and shiny boots. What does it matter how anything came to be? Now, I’d hurry back to where you came. I don’t know if I’d be inclined to save you again today.”

She set off toward the main street.

The man followed. “That’s just the thing. I was trying to go back to where I came, as you put it. But you see, I seem to have…well…”

“You’re lost,” said Larkyra.

“Yes,” said the man.

She let out a sigh, catching the strange glances from those around. They no doubt assumed she was a girl trying to pull trix standing and conversing with such a well-bred.

“Follow me,” said Larkyra.

“Where are we going?”

Excerpted from Song of the Forever Rains by E.J. Mellow with permission from the publisher, Montlake. Copyright © 2021 by E.J. Mellow.