Welcome to the official blog tour for
THE LAST ENCHANTER,
Book II of The Celestine Chronicles,
a fun-filled fantasy adventure series for middle grade readers!
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In Book I, THE ROCK OF IVANORE, enchanter’s apprentice Marcus Frye and five other boys set out on a dangerous journey to locate the Rock of Ivanore and bring it back to their village.In THE LAST ENCHANTER, months have passed since they succeeded in
their quest. One of the boys, Kelvin, is living as royalty in Dokur,
and Marcus is studying magic with Zyll. When Lord Fredric is murdered and Kelvin
becomes king, the Enchanter Zyll and Marcus head for Dokur in hopes of protecting Kelvin from
meeting the same fate, though it quickly becomes apparent that none of them are
safe, and Marcus has had disturbing visions of Zyll’s death. With the help of
his old friends Clovis and Bryn, joined by new friend Lael, a feisty girl in
search of her mother, Marcus uncovers a powerful secret that will change the
course of his life forever.
their quest. One of the boys, Kelvin, is living as royalty in Dokur,
and Marcus is studying magic with Zyll. When Lord Fredric is murdered and Kelvin
becomes king, the Enchanter Zyll and Marcus head for Dokur in hopes of protecting Kelvin from
meeting the same fate, though it quickly becomes apparent that none of them are
safe, and Marcus has had disturbing visions of Zyll’s death. With the help of
his old friends Clovis and Bryn, joined by new friend Lael, a feisty girl in
search of her mother, Marcus uncovers a powerful secret that will change the
course of his life forever.
In addition to THE LAST ENCHANTER being released on OCTOBER 15th in hardback, THE ROCK OF IVANORE is also now available in paperback! Both titles can be purchased at bookstores nationwide and online at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, and Indiebound. They are available as E-books, too.
To celebrate the release of her newest book, author Laurisa White Reyes is giving away a brand new 16 GB NOOK HD!!! Details on how to enter the giveaway can be found at the end of this post. In the meantime, please enjoy this excerpt from THE LAST ENCHANTERfollowed by an interview with the author, Laurisa White Reyes.
EXCERPT from THE LAST ENCHANTER
Marcus waited until he heard Zyll turn the lock in his door
before heading back down the corridor. Zyll had told him to do what he thought
was best, and that’s exactly what he would do.
before heading back down the corridor. Zyll had told him to do what he thought
was best, and that’s exactly what he would do.
He passed several armed sentries, one at every door, as he
made his way through the lower level of the Fortress. Kelvin was determined not
to let the Agoran rebels get inside again. Maybe Marcus shouldn’t worry about
his brother. With all these guards around, Kelvin was far safer than Fredric
must have been. Still, he deserved to know how their grandfather died. Secrets
had nearly destroyed Marcus and Kelvin’s relationship during their quest eight
months ago. There would be no secrets between them ever again.
made his way through the lower level of the Fortress. Kelvin was determined not
to let the Agoran rebels get inside again. Maybe Marcus shouldn’t worry about
his brother. With all these guards around, Kelvin was far safer than Fredric
must have been. Still, he deserved to know how their grandfather died. Secrets
had nearly destroyed Marcus and Kelvin’s relationship during their quest eight
months ago. There would be no secrets between them ever again.
Marcus didn’t want to go back to the dining room. Kelvin and
Jayson were probably still arguing over dinner, and what Marcus had to say was
private anyway. He would go instead to Kelvin’s council chambers and wait for
him there.
Jayson were probably still arguing over dinner, and what Marcus had to say was
private anyway. He would go instead to Kelvin’s council chambers and wait for
him there.
Other than the sentries, the interior of the Fortress was
quiet. Most of the servants had already retired to their rooms for the night.
Marcus hurried across the vast entry hall toward the east alcove where the
offices were located. He had made it halfway when he suddenly had the feeling
that he was not alone. He turned and
looked behind him, but there was no one beside the guard standing at the
Fortress’s main door. The light from several oil lamps left the corners of the
room hidden in darkness. Someone could easily conceal himself in one.
quiet. Most of the servants had already retired to their rooms for the night.
Marcus hurried across the vast entry hall toward the east alcove where the
offices were located. He had made it halfway when he suddenly had the feeling
that he was not alone. He turned and
looked behind him, but there was no one beside the guard standing at the
Fortress’s main door. The light from several oil lamps left the corners of the
room hidden in darkness. Someone could easily conceal himself in one.
This is silly, Marcus thought. I’m letting my mind play
tricks on me. Still, he walked the rest of the way as fast as he could without
actually running.
tricks on me. Still, he walked the rest of the way as fast as he could without
actually running.
The door to Kelvin’s council chambers stood just inside a
narrow alcove. To Marcus’s surprise, the sconces on the wall were not lit. The
alcove was dark except for a weak glow from the lanterns in the great
hall. He had expected to find a guard
here, too, but the alcove was empty—or was it?
narrow alcove. To Marcus’s surprise, the sconces on the wall were not lit. The
alcove was dark except for a weak glow from the lanterns in the great
hall. He had expected to find a guard
here, too, but the alcove was empty—or was it?
Near the door to Kelvin’s chambers Marcus saw a large, dark
clump of something on the floor. He approached cautiously and touched it with
his foot. An arm fell forward, hitting
the floor with a dull thump. Marcus stepped back, his breath quickening. The
dark clump was a sentry. In the dim light, Marcus couldn’t tell if he was
unconscious or dead.
clump of something on the floor. He approached cautiously and touched it with
his foot. An arm fell forward, hitting
the floor with a dull thump. Marcus stepped back, his breath quickening. The
dark clump was a sentry. In the dim light, Marcus couldn’t tell if he was
unconscious or dead.
Behind him, Marcus heard the sound of footsteps which
stopped abruptly.
stopped abruptly.
“Hello?” Marcus called out hoping it was one of the other
guards. “There’s a man here,” he said. “I think he’s hurt!”
guards. “There’s a man here,” he said. “I think he’s hurt!”
When no one replied, Marcus realized once again that his
imagination was running away with him. But he did need to find help for the
sentry. He was about to leave when he heard a new sound coming from inside the
chambers: an unmistakable rattle as if something had fallen and rolled across
the floor.
imagination was running away with him. But he did need to find help for the
sentry. He was about to leave when he heard a new sound coming from inside the
chambers: an unmistakable rattle as if something had fallen and rolled across
the floor.
Marcus stepped over the guard’s body and took hold of the
door handle. Slowly he turned it, pushing open the door just an inch.
Candlelight spilled through the narrow crack into the alcove. Marcus saw now
that the sentry’s eyes were open, staring dully up at nothing. He was most
certainly dead. And Marcus suspected that whoever was inside the room had done
it.
door handle. Slowly he turned it, pushing open the door just an inch.
Candlelight spilled through the narrow crack into the alcove. Marcus saw now
that the sentry’s eyes were open, staring dully up at nothing. He was most
certainly dead. And Marcus suspected that whoever was inside the room had done
it.
Pushing the door open a little further, Marcus stepped
inside. Large tapestries hung floor to ceiling against the walls. Three stories
above, the stained glass ceiling looked like a patchwork of black and gray.
Charred remains of a log stood cold in the fireplace, though six candles burned
in an ornate candelabra beside Kelvin’s desk. On the floor lay an ink bottle,
dark liquid trailing from it like a tail. This must be what had made the noise.
Marcus bent to pick it up. The glass bottle felt warm to the touch.
inside. Large tapestries hung floor to ceiling against the walls. Three stories
above, the stained glass ceiling looked like a patchwork of black and gray.
Charred remains of a log stood cold in the fireplace, though six candles burned
in an ornate candelabra beside Kelvin’s desk. On the floor lay an ink bottle,
dark liquid trailing from it like a tail. This must be what had made the noise.
Marcus bent to pick it up. The glass bottle felt warm to the touch.
The air in the room was chill. So why would the bottle be so
warm? Someone must have been holding it, Marcus thought, but who?
warm? Someone must have been holding it, Marcus thought, but who?
As he set the bottle back on the desk, he noticed movement
from the corner of his eye. A tapestry fluttered ever so slightly. Marcus’s
heart raced. He reached for his knife, but then remembered he had left it in
his room for he had thought he was just going to talk to Kelvin. What would he
have needed it for? He reached for the tapestry with trembling fingers and
jerked it aside, but the only thing behind it was a bare wall.
from the corner of his eye. A tapestry fluttered ever so slightly. Marcus’s
heart raced. He reached for his knife, but then remembered he had left it in
his room for he had thought he was just going to talk to Kelvin. What would he
have needed it for? He reached for the tapestry with trembling fingers and
jerked it aside, but the only thing behind it was a bare wall.
All of sudden, something heavy hit him from behind. Sharp
pain exploded across his shoulders, and Marcus’s face smashed into the wall. He
felt drops of hot blood trickle onto his lips. Licking them, he tasted copper,
and he wondered if the loud crack he’d heard had been his back breaking or
something else. He turned and saw Kelvin’s chair in pieces behind him on the
floor. Someone had thrown it at him! He had only a second to think before
something else came flying at him, but this time it was a man.
pain exploded across his shoulders, and Marcus’s face smashed into the wall. He
felt drops of hot blood trickle onto his lips. Licking them, he tasted copper,
and he wondered if the loud crack he’d heard had been his back breaking or
something else. He turned and saw Kelvin’s chair in pieces behind him on the
floor. Someone had thrown it at him! He had only a second to think before
something else came flying at him, but this time it was a man.
The man yelled. Marcus caught the glint of a blade in his
hand just before it came down on him. Marcus twisted away just in time, the
blade grating instead against the stone wall. But the man did not stop. He
sliced his dagger wildly in every direction. Marcus jumped and slid his way
across the room, doing his best avoid the attacks. The man was slender, almost
frail-looking, and yet was surprisingly fast and strong. He lunged at Marcus,
not with the dagger, but with a set of blood-stained claws extended for the
kill. It wasn’t a man at all, Marcus realized. It was an Agoran.
hand just before it came down on him. Marcus twisted away just in time, the
blade grating instead against the stone wall. But the man did not stop. He
sliced his dagger wildly in every direction. Marcus jumped and slid his way
across the room, doing his best avoid the attacks. The man was slender, almost
frail-looking, and yet was surprisingly fast and strong. He lunged at Marcus,
not with the dagger, but with a set of blood-stained claws extended for the
kill. It wasn’t a man at all, Marcus realized. It was an Agoran.
Marcus grabbed the candelabrum. As he swung it in an arc,
the candles flew off. Two went out as they hit the floor, but the other four
stilled burned, casting long, unnatural shadows onto the tapestries. One lit
the corner of a tapestry on fire, the flames soon licking the woven patterns
like a hungry snake. The candelabrum hit the attacker with a force that would
have knocked most men to their knees, but this one didn’t even flinch. When the
Agoran took hold of it, Marcus expected him to yank it out of his hands. Instead
he thrust it forward, pushing Marcus off balance. He fell onto his back,
sending a fresh tremor of pain through him. A second later, the attacker was on
top of Marcus, holding the point of a blade to his throat. Damp tendrils of
long, shaggy hair clung to his face. His pupils, narrow like a cat’s, peered at
Marcus, recognition slowly dawning. The
Agoran and Marcus stared at each other, both remembering the day months earlier
when they had first met.
the candles flew off. Two went out as they hit the floor, but the other four
stilled burned, casting long, unnatural shadows onto the tapestries. One lit
the corner of a tapestry on fire, the flames soon licking the woven patterns
like a hungry snake. The candelabrum hit the attacker with a force that would
have knocked most men to their knees, but this one didn’t even flinch. When the
Agoran took hold of it, Marcus expected him to yank it out of his hands. Instead
he thrust it forward, pushing Marcus off balance. He fell onto his back,
sending a fresh tremor of pain through him. A second later, the attacker was on
top of Marcus, holding the point of a blade to his throat. Damp tendrils of
long, shaggy hair clung to his face. His pupils, narrow like a cat’s, peered at
Marcus, recognition slowly dawning. The
Agoran and Marcus stared at each other, both remembering the day months earlier
when they had first met.
Just then the door to the chamber flew open. A guard rushed
in, his sword raised. Behind him came Kelvin and Jayson. The Agoran leapt off
of Marcus and crossed the room in half a breath’s time. The guard ran after
him, but the Agoran tore the burning tapestry free from the wall and flung it
at him. The guard screamed in pain as fire engulfed his uniform. The tapestry
dropped to the floor, the flames trapping the Agoran at the back of the room.
Marcus managed to roll clear of it, though he felt his skin blistering with the
heat and smelled the guard’s scorched flesh.
in, his sword raised. Behind him came Kelvin and Jayson. The Agoran leapt off
of Marcus and crossed the room in half a breath’s time. The guard ran after
him, but the Agoran tore the burning tapestry free from the wall and flung it
at him. The guard screamed in pain as fire engulfed his uniform. The tapestry
dropped to the floor, the flames trapping the Agoran at the back of the room.
Marcus managed to roll clear of it, though he felt his skin blistering with the
heat and smelled the guard’s scorched flesh.
Jayson ripped the burning fabric from the guard’s body as
Kelvin picked up his fallen sword. Kelvin slashed at the tapestry, trying to
make a path through the fire. As he broke through, Marcus looked up to see what
would happen next, but to his and everyone’s surprise, the Agoran was gone.
Kelvin picked up his fallen sword. Kelvin slashed at the tapestry, trying to
make a path through the fire. As he broke through, Marcus looked up to see what
would happen next, but to his and everyone’s surprise, the Agoran was gone.
INTERVIEW w/ LAURISA WHITE REYES
What books influenced you most when you were growing up?
My favorite series for years was the TRIXIE
BELDEN MYSTERIES. I still have the entire set of books in a box in my
garage. Some of my other favorites included ROBINSON CRUSOE, OF MICE AND
MEN, GONE WITH THE WIND, WUTHERING HEIGHTS and ROOTS. Heavy duty stuff
for a kid, I know, but I loved them. Still do. As an adult I learned
more about writing from Dan Brown (THE DAVINCI CODE, ANGELS &
DEMONS) than anyone else. He is a master of suspense, every chapter a
cliffhanger so that you just can’t put his books down. Period. And I
love how he weaves multiple points of view together until they all
collide at the end. I wish I could write like that.
BELDEN MYSTERIES. I still have the entire set of books in a box in my
garage. Some of my other favorites included ROBINSON CRUSOE, OF MICE AND
MEN, GONE WITH THE WIND, WUTHERING HEIGHTS and ROOTS. Heavy duty stuff
for a kid, I know, but I loved them. Still do. As an adult I learned
more about writing from Dan Brown (THE DAVINCI CODE, ANGELS &
DEMONS) than anyone else. He is a master of suspense, every chapter a
cliffhanger so that you just can’t put his books down. Period. And I
love how he weaves multiple points of view together until they all
collide at the end. I wish I could write like that.
What gave you the idea for your book series The Celestine Chronicles?
I’ve always enjoyed reading to my kids at
night before they go to bed. When my oldest son was about 8 years old,
he asked me to make up a story instead of read one. So I told him about
an enchanter’s apprentice who botched his spells. Each night my son
would tell me what he wanted to hear that night, whether it was dragons,
or magic, or sword fighting, and I’d weave it into the story.
Eventually I started writing it down. A year later I had a completed
manuscript of THE ROCK OF IVANORE. I wrote THE LAST ENCHANTER two years later.
night before they go to bed. When my oldest son was about 8 years old,
he asked me to make up a story instead of read one. So I told him about
an enchanter’s apprentice who botched his spells. Each night my son
would tell me what he wanted to hear that night, whether it was dragons,
or magic, or sword fighting, and I’d weave it into the story.
Eventually I started writing it down. A year later I had a completed
manuscript of THE ROCK OF IVANORE. I wrote THE LAST ENCHANTER two years later.
What is your writing day like?
I don’t have a typical writing day. As a mom of five kids, I actually have very little time to write. Years ago I used to stay up late at night to write, but I now I try to wake up an hour before the kids do and get a little work done then. On a good day I might write 1,000 words — the equivalent of about 5 printed pages.
Who are your favorite characters in THE LAST ENCHANTER?
That’s a tough question. While I like all the characters (I wouldn’t write a character I couldn’t like) Lael is new to this book. She wasn’t in Book I. Lael is Marcus’s age but wasn’t included in the original quest because she is a girl. She really proves herself, though. While the boys use swords and bows and arrows, Lael is adept with the sling. Also, Bryn (the Groc who parades around in the form of a little boy) is particularly fond of her. And any friend of Bryn is a friend of mine.
Will there be a book III in The Celestine Chronicles?
Yes. The Seer of the Guilde is tentatively slated for 2015. However, in the meantime, I am working on the parallel series called The Crystal Keeper, which chronicles Jayson’s years in exile in Hestoria. Anyone interested in the story of Jayson and Ivanore will want to read it. In the meantime, I hope everyone will enjoy THE LAST ENCHANTER.
GIVEAWAY TIME!!!
Laurisa White Reyes, author of THE LAST ENCHANTER,
is giving away a brand new
16 GB NOOK HD!!!
There are many ways to win:
1) Take a pic of you and your copy of THE LAST ENCHANTER – post it on the web (Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, a website, etc.) and email the link to: laurisawhitereyes(at)yahoo(dot)com
2) Follow Laurisa’s blog and/or Facebook page
3) Tweet about this giveaway
4) Leave a comment below
The winner will be chosen at random via Rafflecopter.
To enter the giveaway, fill out the form below.
U.S. residents only, please.
This giveaway will end on November 6th.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book (soon to be donated to my son’s school library) and a pewter griffin medallion (already given to a young friend named Griffin) in exchange for being a stop on this blog tour. Good luck with your book, Laurisa!
Tallulah’s Tutu by Marilyn Singer. Art by Alexandra Boiger. Tallulah wants a tutu more than anything, but her mother suggests taking some lessons first. It takes some effort, but Tallulah learns to focus on class and knows she’s a good ballerina. Still, she expects her tutu after her second lesson. When it doesn’t arrive after her third, she decides to give up ballet, until something happens that changes her mind. This is a lesson in perseverance, told with gentle understanding. Tallulah’s little brother wanting her to teach him, too, is adorable. Boiger’s beautiful watercolors add a lot to the story, showing Tallulah’s many imaginings in big clouds over the pictures. This is the first of a recent and ongoing series, including Tallulah’s Solo, Tallulah’s Toe Shoes, and Tallulah’s Nutcracker. I like Tallulah enough to print and cut out the paper doll and the five position flash cards which are available on the book’s web site.
Dancing in the Wings by Debbie Allan. Art by Kadir Nelson. Sassy is taller and has bigger feet than anyone else in her ballet class. Her brother and the other girls in her class are always mocking her for it. Still, with support from her uncle and her mother, she decides to try out for the summer ballet workshops in Washington, D.C. anyway. Bonus points for having a hard-to-find all-in-color cast of characters. The author, Debbie Allan, is herself a noted choreographer of African-American heritage, and Nelson’s oil paintings tell the story beautifully. I wasn’t entirely comfortable with the amount of teasing in the book, but Sassy proves stronger than it in the end and my daughter adored the book enough that I had to renew it.
Angelina Ballerina by Katherine Holabird. Illustrations by Helen Craig. A classic, with many sequels in print and dvd. Angelina the mouse can’t help dancing everywhere she goes, to the extent that she knocks things down and neglects all her other responsibilities. But enrolling in ballet school gives her the outlet she needs to have energy to devote to other things outside of class. These have a strong British village feel, and the original illustrations do wonderfully well at showing little mouse bodies doing ballet. The books have been made into TV shows (which my daughter also loved) and then had books inspired by the TV show. Unsurprisingly, it’s worth going back to the original.
Ballerina Swan by Allegra Kent. Illustrated by Emily Arnold McCully. Somewhere in the big city, a swan falls in love with the ballet class she watches through the studio window from her pond. Eventually, she works up the courage to try to attend class. Her first try is a failure, but when a younger, friendlier teacher takes over, she tries again. It’s never clear how the swan and humans communicate – the people know that her name is Sophie – but this didn’t matter to my daughter. She loved the story of the swan learning what ballet moves were easier and harder for her body, and earning herself a part in – yes – Swan Lake. This is another one told by a professional ballerina.
Too Many Fairies Retold by Margaret Read MacDonald. Illustrated by Susan Mitchell.
Fyre. Septimus Heap Book 7 by Angie Sage. Narrated by Gerard Doyle.
The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg.
Janes in Love by Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg.
Revenge of the Dragon Lady. Dragon Slayers’ Academy Book 2. by Kate McMullan.
Touchstone is an adult fantasy novel, telling the story of theater geeks in a world where the theater runs on magic. It might be the epic tale of a small company’s rise to prominence, but refreshingly so far, kingdom politics are tangential to the main plot, and saving the world is not on the agenda.
Kat, Incorrigible. The Unladylike Adventures of Kat Stephenson Book 1. by Stephanie Burgis.
The Mark of the Golden Dragon. Bloody Jack Adventures Book 9. by L.A. Meyer. Read by Katherine Kellgren.
A Corner of White. The Colors of Madeleine Book 1. by Jaclyn Moriarty.
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