Book and Author Details:
(Smoke and Mirrors, #1)
Publication date: July 19th 2015
Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult
Synopsis:
In the gritty city of Dusk, seventeen-year-old Irina makes her living as the street magician Bantheir’s assistant. The job isn’t glamorous, but she loves the crowds, the shows, and most of all, the illusion of magic. But Irina’s world is shattered the night she is arrested and charged as Bantheir’s accomplice to murder—murder by magic.
Real magic, the kind that’s been forbidden since the old wars.
Irina finds the idea of flashy showman Bantheir using actual magic to kill someone laughable, but she’s the only one who sees how ridiculous the claim is. But how can she convince everyone Bantheir is innocent when they’ve already made up their minds? Desperate, Irina must decide who she can trust to help her win her freedom. Is the surly, handsome Captain Leonid telling the truth when he says he believes Irina is innocent, or is he just using her to get to Bantheir? What about Aden, the sweet soldier and longtime fan of Irina’s who claims he’s on her side?
Irina said she wanted to know the truth, but when she stumbles across a dark secret that changes everything, will she be strong enough to survive?
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25954617-the-fading-dusk
Purchase:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0125KV45W/ref=cm_sw_su_dp
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-fading-dusk-melissa-giorgio/1122399040?ean=9781515150589
Author Bio:
Author links:
Blog: https://melissagiorgio.wordpress.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7133276.Melissa_Giorgio
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melissagiorgiofan
Twitter: https://twitter.com/melissa_giorgio
Excerpt:
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I wanted to put my hands on his chest and give
him a good shove so he’d topple over. Instead, I snarled, “I’m so sick of
everyone talking badly about Bantheir! If you knew him—the real him—you’d know
how impossible this is! He’s been framed! He wouldn’t hurt a fly, let alone
kill someone!”
Aden dropped his gaze to the floor. “I’m sorry,
I didn’t mean to make you upset.”
“Oh, Aden.” I covered my mouth. “I shouldn’t
yell at you, not when you’re the only one being nice to me.”
He gave me a small smile. “You’re allowed to be
angry.” He offered his hand and I took it, stumbling once as I stood. We left
the interrogation room, walking down a narrow, dark corridor.
“So much has happened, I don’t even know what to
think! Between the murders and being arrested and, well, what about the men in
my house?” I continued. “Doesn’t anyone else find it suspicious that they
showed up the same night the couple was murdered?” I was struck with a sudden
idea. “Maybe they killed those people and left evidence behind that would
implicate Bantheir! Why don’t you ask them about it?” I paused, making a face.
“Oh, wait, you can’t, because your dear, stupid captain killed them! If he’d
been thinking, he would have apprehended the real criminals, bringing them in for questioning instead of me.
How dumb can he be?”
Stumbling to a halt, Aden turned around and
frantically waved his hands in front of his face.
“What?” I asked, confused.
He pointed behind me.
Slowly, I turned around to see Captain Leonid
leaning against a doorway we had just passed. “Oh, don’t mind me,” he said
dryly. “I’m just stupid and dumb, apparently.” He arched an eyebrow. “Next time
someone’s trying to kill you, I’ll gladly let them finish the job.” He ducked
back into the room, slamming the door shut behind him.
I sputtered incoherently.
“My fault,” Aden said meekly. “I should have
warned you that that’s the captain’s quarters.”
We resumed walking. “What, he lives here?”
“Most of the time, yes.”
“Doesn’t he have a home to go to?” I couldn’t
think of anything more depressing than living in a prison if you weren’t
actually incarcerated.
“He does, but it’s complicated. He—”
“Flirting with the new prisoner already?” A
soldier sitting on one of the benches stood and pounded Aden hard on the back.
He had chestnut-colored hair that hung down to his chin and dark blue eyes that
sparkled mischievously. Shorter than Aden, this soldier was bulky, and his
uniform strained against his chest. “You don’t waste any time, do you?”
Aden winced, rubbing his back. “It’s not
flirting, it’s called being nice. If I hadn’t stepped up, she’d still be
gagged.”
“You should have kept the gag on,” I said. “It’s
not like they listened to anything I said, anyway.”
“I heard you stood up to Raynard,” the
brown-haired soldier said to me, nodding his approval. “You’re brave.”
“Not brave,” I corrected, “just really annoyed.”
He laughed at that. Holding out his hand, he
said, “I’m Vernen, by the way. I’m heading out on assignment, but it was really
nice to meet you before I left.” We shook hands. “I almost regret leaving.
You’re definitely going to add some excitement to this place. I can tell
already.”
Despite the circumstances, I found myself
grinning. Vernen’s positive attitude was infectious. “Well, why should I be the
only one miserable, right?”
Vernen laughed again.
“Oh, I’d pay money to watch Leon try and deal with you!” With a wave, he walked
away.
Giveaway:
Tour-wide giveaway (US/CAN)
- One signed paperback of THE FADING DUSK and one signed paperback of THE SIGHT SEER
You can check out the other stops on this tour HERE.
