Blog Tour - Saturday Sneak-Peek: Avery by Charlotte McConaghy

I'm thrilled to be taking part in the Avery Blog Tour being hosted by Random House Books Australia amongst a heap of other great Aussie book bloggers. For a list of all the blogs taking part in this tour, please go to Avery's blog tour page at the Random House website here.

The tour was kicked off yesterday by Booklover Book Reviews who asked Charlotte McConaghy a few questions and is also hosting a giveaway here. Head on over to see what Charlotte had to say about her writing, her characters and the inspiration behind Avery.

Avery is Charlotte McConaghy's first adult fantasy novel, due to be released in February this year and, while I don't read very many fantasy novels at all (I always have a little trouble suspending my disbelief), one thing that has always caught my eye are some of the magnificent covers designed for this genre. Avery's cover, of course, is no exception, so when it arrived on my doorstep, its stunning cover literally took my breath away and the blurb has left me hankering for more. I'm definitely going to give it a go and for all you romance buffs out there, I think you should too!

Here's the blurb:

"The people of Kaya die in pairs. When one lover dies, the other does too. So it has been for thousands of years – until Ava.

For although her bondmate, Avery, has been murdered and Ava’s soul has been torn in two, she is the only one who has ever been strong enough to cling to life. Vowing revenge upon the barbarian queen of Pirenti, Ava’s plan is interrupted when she is captured by the deadly prince of her enemies.

Prince Ambrose has been brought up to kill and hate. But when he takes charge of a strangely captivating Kayan prisoner and is forced to survive with her on a dangerous island, he must reconsider all he holds true . . .

In a violent country like Pirenti, where emotion is scorned as a weakness, can he find the strength to fight for the person he loves . . . even when she’s his vengeful enemy?

The first book in The Chronicles of Kaya series, Avery is perfect for fans of romance and fantasy alike."

About the Author

Charlotte McConaghy grew up with her nose in a book and her head in the clouds. Her first novel, Arrival, was published at age seventeen, followed by Descent when she was twenty, launching The Strangers of Paragor series. Soon she started her first adult fantasy novel, Avery, the prologue of which came to her in a very vivid dream. Avery is the first book in The Chronicles of Kaya series.

Charlotte currently lives in Sydney, studying a Masters in Screenwriting at the Australian Film, Television & Radio School, which allows her to explore different aspects of her writing and indulge in her passion for film and television. She will, however, always be a novelist at heart, still unable to get her nose out of the books.

To whet your appetite even more, here's the Prologue of this soon to be released novel:

"The people of Kaya die in pairs. So it is and will always be.

Which is how I know, as I seep onto the cool stone flaggings, that she too will die tonight.

*

The weight of the blade at my waist was comforting as we made our way through the dense forest. Our group was small, led by Gidion himself. The Royal Captain’s brutally scarred face was tight with readiness as we approached the fortress wall. Six of us, only six, and we were attempting to infiltrate the stronghold of the Barbarian Queen of Pirenti. A fool’s mission, based on a fool’s hope.
But we had three weapons no Pirenti could deny. Three warders. I felt my lips curl as I watched their eyes shift to the colour of falling snow. These men were nigh on impossible to kill, and they terrified the fierce northern soldiers  as nothing else did. In a warder’s blood was an ancient, dark power, and it was only with this power that we’d have a chance.
Ava fell into step beside me. I cast her a quick glance; her violet eyes were bright with eagerness. I winked and saw her grin flash in response. We needed no words – our orders had been given – so into the enemy stronghold we swept, invisible beneath the shield- ing wards.
The front hall was alive with a ferocious energy. Sitting at row after row of long tables were the eating, drinking, laughing barbarian soldiers. Beasts of men they were, larger by far than any Kayan would ever be and bristling with a brutality unique to their kind. Ava’s heart quickened as she watched them – I could feel it in my own chest. I silently willed her to curb her recklessness.
Our group moved quickly through the chaos. Though we could not be spotted under the wards, we could be felt or worse – scented, as was the Pirenti method of hunting.
As we reached the end of the hall a fight broke out and a heavy man was thrown backwards through the air. He crashed into the edge of our ward, sending Ava sprawling on the cold floor. Perfectly visible to the soldiers.
I didn’t think, only moved. Hurling myself forward, I covered her in the shaggy fur pelt I was wearing and dragged her bodily through the western door. This wasn’t the plan, and it separated us from the rest of our force, but at least for the moment we found ourselves in an empty corridor.
Breathing quickly, we looked at each other.
‘This just got a lot more interesting,’ she said, and there was an undeniably wicked glint in her eyes.
‘Too dangerous without the warders, petal,’ I shook my head.
‘We get out now.’
Her eyebrows arched. Up this close I could see the smattering of freckles over her sun-drenched nose and cheeks. ‘Please don’t tell me I’ve fallen in love with a coward.’
The familiar scent of her lavender soap reached me and for a moment the bond that tied us together flared and changed our eyes to a shining gold.
‘Ava, I really don’t want you hurt. Understood? ’ Even though we both knew the mission came first.
 ‘Whatever, Ave,’ she muttered impatiently. ‘Let’s move.’"

This tour continues on Thursday, 5 February over at Speculating on SpecFic and it would be fabulous if you could hop on over to their website here, where they will be posting their review of Avery.

Don't forget that you can also join the conversation on Twitter using #Avery and tag @CharMcConaghy in your tweet.