Today we welcome Karen Furk to my blog with her book Mask of the Gods which is book one in a series called The Mask Chronicles. Check out the other bloggers today Birdie at Birdie’s Bibliotheca and the lovely Kim at Nemesis Book Blog.
So shall we see what the book is about?
Mask of the Gods by Karen FurkSeries: The Mask Chronicles #1
on January 8 2019
Pages: 382
Amazon UK, Amazon US
Goodreads
Soul Demons live off the souls of the living.
When Haydan’s home world is invaded by a soul demon seeking an item shrouded in myth and legend, his father evicts him and sends him to safety. His chosen one and warrior should provide reassurance and sanctuary, but neither appears to be working very well. Just when he thinks matters cannot get any worse his scheming grandmother arrives. She has her own plans that appear to involve him, none of which bodes well.
Diego feels confident he has the soul demon under control. Overlooking his devious mother’s involvement, he fails to appreciate that he is not only storm rider elder, but also an elven prince and certain debts are about to become due.
Lavinia worries about her grandson, but also who she left behind in the elven realm a long time ago. Tallin thinks she abandoned him and he is livid. She has everything under control, including Tallin…at least that is what she thinks.
They all need to learn afresh who to trust. With a soul demon on the rampage, an unleashed, angry and betrayed elven king and a long-forgotten mask surfacing, what could possibly go wrong?
The past is about to catch up with all of them. Nothing is going to go as planned because the mask and the gods have other ideas
So what are the bloggers saying so far on the tour?
Confessions of an avid reader says
Mask of the Gods is a strong start to the upcoming Mask Chronicles. I had trouble putting it down and found myself immersed in the world created by Karen Furk, the author of the debut novel. It was thrilling and overall a fantastic read.
Behind the sentence says
Writing of this book is amazing and the plot is so absorbing that it’s hard to put book down. You just want to know what happens next! I think fans of fantasy, especially of faes would enjoy reading it.
Amazon reviewer says
The mask of the Gods has realms, places outside the world, but even as an earth there is betrayal, revenge and love. The most important is the connection between the souls. I know this sounds abstract but I can’t give away spoilers, so you just have to read the book and discover the original and magical book yourself.
When you take your time, you disappear in a vivacious and original fantasy story with beautiful realms and magical creatures! Amazon reviewer says
I am so drawn to this book with the teasers and the book cover! It really does look so magical! I wish I had picked this book up to read now and made time for it!
So the excerpt from the book
✮ Excerpt ✮
Haydan meets the Whirling Dervish
“Is it true then?” Haydan asked.
Lavinia, his grandmother was stretched out on Diego’s sofa looking like she owned the snug. Her age was always difficult to gauge. She must have been mid-forties, but looked youthful. Haydan always suspected she gave the impression of being timeless deliberately, to keep everyone guessing. Diego, Haydan’s father was talking to a couple of guests near the entrance. A delegation was arriving from one of the nearby planets and Diego was hosting. The first few visitors had just arrived.
“Is what true?” Lavinia said looking perplexed. She appeared distracted as she dragged her attention away from Diego to study Haydan.
“You need to quit listening in. Diego will lose it if he catches you. Whirling dervishes, are they real? I wasn’t sure if they’re just a myth.”
The edge of Lavinia’s mouth twitched and twisted upwards. Her silvery green eyes narrowed. She was up to something. The cunning in her gaze was easy to miss unless you knew her as well as Haydan. Inwardly he cringed.
“Oh, they’re real enough.”
The sing song tone of her voice added to Haydan’s sense of impending doom.
“I’ll send you some as a gift so you can get to know them first hand. Although I should warn you, they take some handling and don’t listen to most of what you say to them.”
Lavinia smiled, but the cold edge glinting in her eyes suggested Haydan was right to be wary. Perhaps she didn’t like Haydan’s guess that she was listening in on Diego’s conversations.
“No, it’s okay, thanks. I’ll pass.” Haydan fidgeted and debated whether to stay or visit Maya. His father had asked him to join them, so he was feeling obliged to stay. Maya was baking with Katherine. The promise of freshly baked cookies was tempting.
Lavinia leant forwards and patted his knee. “You want to go to Maya, don’t you? I can cover whilst you sneak off for a bit. Your father will barely notice.”
Haydan’s stare momentarily clashed with Diego’s. His father continued talking to the visitors but his discreet head shake, narrowed eyes and second furtive glance Haydan’s way suggested he didn’t approve of their plotting. Diego was listening in on their conversation, whilst Lavinia was spying on his. They were incorrigible.
Sinking back into his seat, Haydan sighed. “Diego asked me to stay. I can’t sneak off. Are you trying to land me in hot water deliberately?”
Lavinia tried to look dismissive. Haydan knew her well enough to spot her attempts at stirring everyone up.
“Suit yourself,” she said returning her attention to the male and female talking to Diego. They were now making their way across the snug.
“Haydan, can you do introductions. I’m going to meet the ambassador,” Diego said gesturing to the approaching guests.
Lavinia’s glare of irritation at Diego’s obvious snub was direct and noticeable. Diego ignored it and moved off. Haydan nodded and bowed respectfully to the visitors. That was the way the visitors greeted each other. It was formal, but didn’t require any physical contact.
“Greetings, I’m Haydan, Diego’s son. This is my grandmother, Lavinia.”
There was a loud inhale of breath next to him. Before Haydan could respond he felt a breeze against his face and a sharp sting of pain against his ear, followed by the swift sound of a slap.
Lavinia had hit him.
The movement startled him. Pain focused him fully
Lavinia looked incensed. “What did you just call me?”
Raising his hand, Haydan rubbed his burning ear. It would probably match his burning face as humiliation flooded to the surface, adding to the intensity of the moment. “Hell fire. That hurt.” He refocused on their guests. “Apologies, my…ahem–” What the hell did he call her if Grandmother was inappropriate? Crazy lady. Lunatic storm rider? “–This is Lavinia, Diego’s mother. I’m currently thinking about disowning her.”
Awkward laughter followed and Haydan knew she would make sure he regretted using those words for a long time to come.
The following morning, he crawled to the edge of his sleeping compartment. Sliding his legs over the side he dropped his feet down expecting to find the warm floor of his snug. Instead ice-cold water greeted his feet.
His eyes flew open as he recoiled back onto the safety and warmth of the sleeping mat. He blinked furiously a few times.
There was a dam in the corner of his snug. The waterfall had flooded and the whole of the snug was filling with water. Something wet and bedraggled waved at him from by the waterfall.
A whirling dervish. There were five of them.
“Thank you Lavinia,” Haydan said out loud to himself.
Now he had his answer about whether they existed.
No doubt all of Storm Lands would know about this by the time he sorted out the flood and dried his home out. His grandmother was crazy. He couldn’t help laughing at his predicament.
I want to meet a whirling dervish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for stopping by and I hope you take a shine this book like I have!
Until next time xxx
Thank you so much to Rachel at Arrow Publishing for the tour invite and the author for the excerpt from the book
Simon says
This sounds pretty cool…
Zoe says
It really does! I may have to go and get me a copy!
Simon says
I was thinking that too! ?
Zoe says
Let me know if you do and what you think 🙂 x
Simon says
Of course I will ? x