Daughter of Aithne by Karin Rita Gastreich - Book Tour - Guest Post - Giveaway - Enter Daily!

Hello lovelies! It gives me great pleasure today to host Karin Rita Gastreich and her new book, “Daughter of Aithne”!  For other stops on her Goddess Fish Promotions Book Tour, please click on the banner above or any of the images in this post.

Be sure to make it to the end of this post to enter to win a $15 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift Card!!  Also, come back daily to interact with Karin and to increase your chances of winning!

Thanks for stopping by!  Wishing you lots of luck in this fabulous giveaway!

Daughter of Aithne

by Karin Rita Gastreich

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GENRE: Fantasy

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BLURB:

Betrayed by her own prodigy, Eolyn stands accused of treason. As power-hungry nobles dismantle her life's work and honor, the desperate queen forges a risky alliance with the ruthless and cunning Mage Corey. Determined to defend her son's claim to the throne of the Mage King, Eolyn prepares for her last and greatest battle, this time against her own sisters in magic.

Across the Furma River, Taesara of Roenfyn is drawn out of seclusion and into an ever-more vicious game of intrigue and war. Subject to the schemes of a shrewd uncle and the mysterious ambitions of the wizards of Galia, Taesara struggles to assert her own destiny, even as she takes up arms to defend her daughter's inheritance.

In the climactic finale to The Silver Web trilogy, threads of love, honor, betrayal, and vengeance culminate in a violent conflict between powerful women, opposed to each other yet destined to shatter a thousand-year cycle of war.

"An enticing and elegant series finale, filled with magic and turmoil." 

- KIRKUS REVIEWS

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EXCERPT TWO:

“Speak plainly, my Lord King,” Eolyn said. “I will not be subject to this cat-and-mouse game. If you do not trust me, if you do not believe me, then say so.”

“I trust your heart, Eolyn,” Akmael replied, “but your heart has led you to ill-advised decisions in the past. For this reason, I am not always inclined to trust your judgment.”

“For the love of the Gods! I am not the confused and frightened girl I was when my brother took up arms against you.”

“No, but you must understand the dilemma you have put me in.”

“The dilemma I have put you in?”

“If you knew of Ghemena’s plan and did not inform me, you were party to treason. If you did not know, then your authority over the magas is uncertain. Either way, the magas must remain bound and imprisoned until this conflict is resolved.”

Eolyn blinked and stepped away. “The magas have lived in peace in Moisehén for more than a decade. You cannot let the action of one woman—”

“Three women. The blatantly treasonous act of three women, all devoted students of yours. They have brought war upon us, Eolyn. Who knows how many others among your followers support them?”

“The magas who remain in my service have done nothing to merit suspicion.”

“All magas merit suspicion.” Akmael hesitated at her stricken look. He let go a slow breath and softened his tone. “There is a history here that we have not yet overcome, Eolyn. You, of all people, must understand that. Too many of our subjects still remember the war against my father.”

“And the purges that followed?” she shot back.

“The violence that tore this kingdom apart,” he conceded. “Right or wrong, the magas were left with the blame. We must manage this situation carefully, to protect you and your daughters. To see that justice is done.”

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GUEST POST:

Five Reasons You Should Read “Daughter of Aithne”

1.   Women rule the world.

You’ve probably read fantasy novels that feature one or a few remarkable women who earn their spot as “one of the guys,” but when was the last time you read a fantasy where all the key roles were filled by women? Daughter of Aithne sets the genre on its head by populating a magical, medieval world with women of power. Rival queens take up arms against each other, women warriors charge into battle, and sisters in magic are forced to choose sides as the ultimate contest for the throne determines the fate of four kingdoms. 

2.   Romantic leads to die for.

A woman-centered story, Daughter of Aithne is nonetheless packed with romantic tension. Determined, passionate men prove worthy – if sometimes unreliable – suitors for the women they serve. Eolyn’s partner in magic, Akmael, will win your respect with his capacity to cross the barriers of death in order to protect the ones he loves. The enigmatic and irresistibly sexy Mage Corey will keep you up at night wondering about the secrets he keeps – and the true nature of his ambitions. The charismatic warrior Prince Savegre will steal your heart as Queen Taesara’s most important – and handsome! – ally in the battle for the throne of Moisehén. These and many other romantic threads add spice to each turn of the page.

3.   War without villainy.

One of the greatest things about Daughter of Aithne is that there is no true villain. Opposed to each other, Eolyn and Taesara are nonetheless very likable characters.

Sole heiress to a forbidden tradition of magic, Eolyn starts The Silver Web series as a refugee. By the third book, Eolyn’s life-long struggle to restore women’s magic has culminated in a great love with Akmael, the Mage King of Moisehén. Eolyn and Akmael have ruled in peace for more than a decade, but trouble descends on the kingdom when Akmael’s daughter by his first marriage, Eliasara, lays claim to Akmael’s throne.

Eliasara’s mother, Taesara, joins the fight to take up arms against Akmael and Eolyn. Due to the beliefs of her people, Taesara eschews all magic. Yet she faces many of the same challenges as Eolyn as they lead their people into war. Taesara has a dash of dogmatism, but she is a woman of honor and compassion. Under different circumstances, these two remarkable queens would have found much in common with each other, and might even have become friends.

4.   An impossible choice.

Faced with equally likeable characters locked in a powerful and poignant conflict, readers of Daughter of Aithne will have a very hard time deciding who to root for! Eolyn and Taesara are both admirable women in their own right. How is it possible time and fate has dragged them into war against each other? Yet wage war they must, and as in all wars, there can be only one victor.

5.   The end you never saw coming.

So how will it all finish? I can’t give that away, of course, but I can promise you this: the denouement of Daughter of Aithne is unlike anything you’ve read in fantasy. The path of these formidable women – the choices they make and the fates they weave for their people – will amaze and inspire you.  Daughter of Aithne is the book I’ve always wanted to write; I hope you’ll soon discover it’s the book you’ve always wanted to read.

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AUTHOR BIO:

Karin Rita Gastreich writes stories of ordinary women and the extraordinary paths they choose. She lives in Kansas City, Missouri, where she is part of the biology faculty at Avila University. An ecologist by vocation, Karin has wandered forests and wildlands all her life. Her pastimes include camping, hiking, music, and flamenco dance. In addition to THE SILVER WEB trilogy, Karin has published short stories in World Jumping, Zahir, Adventures for the Average Woman, and 69 Flavors of Paranoia. She is a recipient of the Spring 2011 Andrews Forest Writer’s Residency.

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CONNECT WITH KARIN:

Website:

http://krgastreich.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Eolyn-110814625640244

Twitter:

https://twitter.com/EolynChronicles

Goodreads Author Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4431702.Karin_Rita_Gastreich

Goodreads Book Page:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/34224889-daughter-of-aithne

Amazon Author Page:

http://amzn.to/2xyLo2z

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BOOK BUY LINKS – DAUGHTER OF AITHNE – BOOK THREE:

Amazon Kindle:

http://amzn.to/2ozmsFh

Amazon Paperback:

http://amzn.to/2oznxNk

Barnes and Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/daughter-of-aithne-karin-rita-gastreich/1126164063

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BOOK BUY LINKS – SWORD OF SHADOWS – BOOK TWO:

Amazon Kindle:

http://amzn.to/2qaMZce

Amazon Paperback:

http://amzn.to/2p6DPw3

Barnes and Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/sword-of-shadows-karin-rita-gastreich/1124367750

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BOOK BUY LINKS – EOLYN – BOOK ONE:

Amazon Kindle:

http://amzn.to/2p6AY6g

Amazon Audible:

http://amzn.to/2oM5EGh

Amazon Paperback:

http://amzn.to/2p6EzRM

Amazon Hardcover:

http://amzn.to/2qhTS7S

Barnes and Noble:

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/eolyn-karin-rita-gastreich/1100046332

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GIVEAWAY INFO:

Karin will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via Rafflecopter during the tour.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**This post contains affiliate links and if clicked and a purchase made I may receive a small commission to help support this blog.  This does not cost you anything, it just helps pay for all those awesome giveaways on here.**

This contest is sponsored by a third party. Fabulous and Brunette is a registered host of Goddess Fish Promotions.  Prizes are given away by the sponsors and not Fabulous and Brunette. The featured author and Goddess Fish Promotions are solely responsible for the giveaway prize.