Happy Friday! We're really happy today to be hosting Kristi Strong, author of the Land of Kaldalangra series, as a part of her blog tour. Kristi stopped by to share her "Songs of Kaldalangra" playlist, and we also have an excerpt from the first book in the series, The Lady of Steinbrekka, and a giveaway for you!
Kristi is offering a signed paperback copy of The Lady of Steinbrekka, along with a Land of Kaldalangra bookmark prize pack. So be sure to enter via the Rafflecopter form at the end of this post!
Before we get to the excerpt, the playlist, and the giveaway, here's a little bit of information about all three books in the series and about Kristi. You can also click on the banner above to see the rest of the tour schedule; be sure to check out all of the other awesome stops on this tour!
About the Books
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Paperback | Goodreads
Title: The Lady of Steinbrekka
Author: Kristi Strong
Publication Date: August 9, 2012
Synopsis: Rhea Aralia lived an uneventful life in Virginia, until the fateful night of her kidnapping. Taken to a strange realm of destruction, despair, and mysterious people with dark secrets, the young woman must learn a new way of life to survive.
With the help of her new companions, Rhea discovers the courage to defy the tyrant King Verikhan and his heir, the cleverness to deceive the court, and the power within herself to transform this world of darkness into one of beauty and hope.
Will Rhea triumph over those who seek her destruction, or will she be forever lost in the darkness known as Kaldalangra?
Join Rhea as she fights to take destiny back into her own hands.
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Paperback | Goodreads
Title: Heart of Kylassame
Author: Kristi Strong
Publication Date: June 26, 2013
Synopsis: It has been two years since the reign of the tyrannical King Verikhan has ended, and the realm of Kaldalangra flourishes.
Nyssa has taken her place as Queen of the realm, with her secret love, Sebast, now openly at her side. She rules with a fair hand, striving for justice and prosperity for all of her people.
Rowan and Rhea travel the realm, spreading peace and healing wherever they go. In Kylassame, they have formed a strong bond with friends and spread deep roots in the community.
The people of Kaldalangra are joyful, and life in their world is better than ever before.
But a string of tragedies has the ability to bring Rhea to her knees, and with her, the entire realm. While Rowan struggles to recover the village of Kylassame from a devastating crime, Rhea’s faith in her own strength weakens, with dire consequences.
Re-enter the world of Kaldalangra, and join the adventure as Rhea and Rowan endeavor to continue upon their chosen destiny.
Title: The Lady of Steinbrekka
Author: Kristi Strong
Publication Date: August 9, 2012
Synopsis: Rhea Aralia lived an uneventful life in Virginia, until the fateful night of her kidnapping. Taken to a strange realm of destruction, despair, and mysterious people with dark secrets, the young woman must learn a new way of life to survive.
With the help of her new companions, Rhea discovers the courage to defy the tyrant King Verikhan and his heir, the cleverness to deceive the court, and the power within herself to transform this world of darkness into one of beauty and hope.
Will Rhea triumph over those who seek her destruction, or will she be forever lost in the darkness known as Kaldalangra?
Join Rhea as she fights to take destiny back into her own hands.
Title: Heart of Kylassame
Author: Kristi Strong
Publication Date: June 26, 2013
Synopsis: It has been two years since the reign of the tyrannical King Verikhan has ended, and the realm of Kaldalangra flourishes.
Nyssa has taken her place as Queen of the realm, with her secret love, Sebast, now openly at her side. She rules with a fair hand, striving for justice and prosperity for all of her people.
Rowan and Rhea travel the realm, spreading peace and healing wherever they go. In Kylassame, they have formed a strong bond with friends and spread deep roots in the community.
The people of Kaldalangra are joyful, and life in their world is better than ever before.
But a string of tragedies has the ability to bring Rhea to her knees, and with her, the entire realm. While Rowan struggles to recover the village of Kylassame from a devastating crime, Rhea’s faith in her own strength weakens, with dire consequences.
Re-enter the world of Kaldalangra, and join the adventure as Rhea and Rowan endeavor to continue upon their chosen destiny.
Title: Soul of Asimina
Author: Kristi Strong
Publication Date: December 25, 2013
Synopsis: In the land of Kaldalangra, one woman stands at a crossroads
Sabina de Nespa has known a life of freedom and peace, thanks to the actions of her heroic parents. As a child of royalty, she has kept her intentions pure and her heart guarded, always aware that the crown of the realm may one day rest upon her brow.
When two strangers stumble across her path, she finds her peace shattered as dangerous family secrets begin to emerge, along with a malignant force that threatens to destroy her entire world. These men have the ability to help her rise to brilliant heights, or cause a devastating plunge into darkness.
It is now up to Sabina to continue her parents’ legacy of honor, courage, and strength through adversity. With the fate of Kaldalangra upon her shoulders, she has vowed to follow the path of righteousness, or die trying.
About the Author
Fixing broken computers, wrangling a very spirited little toddler, and creating a world with a tyrant king, are all parts of the average day for Kristi Strong. While she has called Virginia her home for two decades, her head has rested in two countries, three states, and far too many houses to count. She was more than happy to give up her nomadic lifestyle and settle down with her husband, daughter, cat and chinchilla.
While attending James Madison University, she was given the rare opportunity to work as part of an archaeological team on a variety of dig sites in Virginia, including the homes of former Presidents, James Madison and George Washington, civil war sites such as The Stevens’ House and Fort Evans Mississippian Encampment, and a variety of pre-historic hunting sites and camps.
Kristi now uses her extensive studies in human cultures to create her own world in her fantasy novels, beginning with her debut novel, The Lady of Steinbrekka, and continuing with Heart of Kylassame and Soul of Asimina.
Excerpt from Lady of Steinbrekka
Rhea threw up her hands in defense as she saw the man smile. “Hello, little mouse.”
She bolted out of her hole, too frightened to know if she was heading away from the door or towards safety. Direction did not matter; all that mattered was getting away from the person who pursued her. The un-swept floors threatened to betray her as her sneaker soles slid on the years of sand and dirt. She turned the corner as the second man stepped into the aisle, then tripped over a box as she quickly backed up.
“What do you want? I have money, take it, it’s yours.”
The man gave a hollow laugh that echoed off the walls of the basement. Rhea grabbed an old volume off the shelf and threw it at him, using the precious seconds of confusion to force her feet to move and run down the next aisle. She could see the main aisle, could see freedom streaming through the door and took a precious second to inhale for a scream of help. A large hand clamped across her mouth, an arm lifted her from the ground and took that precious freedom away.
“It is not worth it to struggle, little one. You have no chance of winning.”
Rhea caught a finger between her teeth and bit down hard, wildly kicking her feet out to try to contact any body part of her assailant. She growled, “It’s always worth trying.”
Songs of Kaldalangra
Kaldalangra is a world that is cloaked in darkness, with the tiny glimmers of hope and love threading the deceit and chaos. People are rarely who they seem, and those on the side of goodness and truth must fight against the corruption with every ounce of strength that remains.
Here are the songs that inspired the creation of the land of Kaldangra:
Evanescence - Bring Me To Life
When Rhea arrives to Kaldalangra, it is a realm kept under the finger of King Verikhan, a man who rules through fear and dismay. Only she has the power to undo the damage and give hope to the people
Evanescence - Forgive Me
Rhea and Rowan are not always kind to one another, and say many things that they wish they could take back. Eric needs mercy even more, for he has committed crimes that may never be forgiven.
Staind - Everything Changes
When Eric comes to Kaldalangra, he immediately meets Sabina and finds himself falling for her, until he realizes who here father is, and that he has done things that her family will never forget.
Pink - Just Give Me a Reason
When tragedy hits, it pulls at the bonds between Rhea and Rowan, and threatens to destroy every positive step they have taken together.
A Great Big World - Say Something
Gary Jules - Mad World
When the series begins, Kaldalangra is a land of death. Then it begins to change, to morph, and Rhea can't help but wonder if this is really all a dream (it's not).
Queen - The Show Must Go On
(I also love the version of this done in the movie Moulin Rouge)
If there is one thing that all of the people of Kaldalangra have in common, it is putting on the mask and bearing unspeakable pain. Desires do not matter, only the will of the court.
The Giveaway!
Kristi is giving away one signed copy of The Lady of Steinbrekka and a Land of Kaldalangra bookmark pack!
Which song on Kristi's playlist is your favorite? Let us know in the comments! Thanks for stopping by and supporting Kristi and her books!
--Ashley & Paul
Thank you for hosting today
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome :)
DeleteNice playlist
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for hosting!!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome! Thank you for the awesome playlist! :)
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