About The Queen of Swords, a paranormal tale of undying love
Author: Nina Mason
Publisher: Vamptasy Publishing
Heat level: spicy
Formats: Kindle and paperback
Where
to buy:
Amazon.com
Taglines:
A paranormal tale
of undying love.
The story of a love
powerful enough to span centuries.
How can she be his
soul mate if he doesn’t have a soul?
Blurb:
When Graham Logan, a Scottish earl
turned vampire by a dark wizard’s curse, draws the Queen of Swords, he knows
he’s about to meet the love of his life. For the third time. But surrendering
his heart will mean risking her life…or making her what he is. Neither of which
his morals will permit him to do. Graham, who believes he lost his soul to the
curse, rages at God: Why give her back only to take her again?
Cat Fingal, the third incarnation
of Graham’s twin flame, won’t let him escape so easily. As soon as they meet,
she feels she knows him and begins having past-life flashbacks. A white witch,
she casts a spell to summon him, wanting answers and to fill the void she’s
felt all her life.
Graham has other problems, too.
Like the seductress who wants him for herself and the dark wizard who cursed
him and killed his beloved the first two times.
Will he find a way to save her this
time around? Or will she save him?
Excerpt:
Biting his lip, Graham turned the card of the here
and now quickly. Seeing what he’d most feared tightened his chest. The central
figure sat in profile upon a throne carved with angels and butterflies. She
wore a white gown and a cloak decorated with clouds. More clouds gathered in
the background, suggesting a storm was coming. The woman’s left hand reached
out toward someone or something unseen in the distance. Her other hand gripped
the up-thrust symbol of her suit.
The Queen of
Swords.
He’d drawn the card only once before: the morning
he’d met Catharine La Croix at a sidewalk cafe overlooking the Seine. To say
her resemblance to Caitriona discomposed him was an understatement. He’d been
floored by the likeness. He’d also been drawn to it like a sailor to a siren’s
song. Unfortunately, he’d had no ship’s mast to rope himself to until the
danger passed. Within a few weeks, they were deeply in love. He never suspected
she might meet the same fate as her previous incarnation. Not until it was too
late, anyway.
He’d done his best to protect her. After seeing
Gerard Fitzgerald, the dark wizard who’d cursed him, on the street outside her
apartment on Rue de Cherche Midi,
he’d kept a watchful eye on her. Being as stubborn as before, she didn’t care
for his vigil. One morning, she slipped out after he’d fallen asleep. He’d
searched for her everywhere, out of his mind with worry. He’d had her blood,
should have felt her, but he didn’t. That evening, he learned why.
Fitzgerald had done it. Of that, he was certain. He
just didn’t know why. Now, it looked as if history was about to repeat. And
what could he do about it except tear out his hair, beat his fists on the walls,
and cry to heaven, “Why? Why give her back to me only to take her again?”
Grief closed around his throat like a strangler’s
hands. Coughing to ease its grip, he overturned the card of his future.
Surprise stung his heart when he saw The
Fool. Squinting, he studied the image of a gaily-dressed youth whose open
arms seemed to embrace the world. His right hand held a knapsack, his left, a
single white rose. Nipping at his heels was a wee white dog. The Fool, fearing nothing, looked
skyward with a dreamy expression as he strode toward the edge of a cliff.
Bewildered, he shook his head. What could it mean? The Fool stood on the threshold. He was
the protagonist of the tarot, the archetypal hero embarking on his quest, the
soul starting its journey toward atonement. The
Fool, in other words, was the polar opposite of the hopeless, faithless
tightrope walker Fitzgerald’s dark curse had turned him into over the past one
hundred years.
Trailer:
Rafflecpopter giveaway a Rafflecopter giveaway :
About Nina Mason, author
Social-media links:
Website:
http://ninamasonauthor.com
Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/ninamasonromance
Twitter:
http://www.twitter.com/ninamasonauthor
(@ninamasonauthor)
Goodreads:
http://www.goodreads.com/ninamasonauthor
Interview with the author:
Q. Tell us about your book.
A. The Queen of Swords tells the story of
a bookish white witch who returns every century to reunite with her earthbound
soul mate. He’s a Scottish earl turned vampire by a dark wizard’s curse back in
the Regency era on the eve of their wedding. She came back once before in the
Edwardian era only to be killed by his maker in the same manner as before. He
believes he has no soul, so can’t understand why she keeps coming back. She
believes he does have a soul and that she comes back to free him from the
curse. The story follows their journey as they try to work out who’s right and
how they can stop history from repeating.
Q. After this, what's your next
project?
A.
My current work-in-progress is book two in The Knights of Avalon series. After
that, I haven’t decided. Probably another paranormal romance/urban fantasy.
I’ve got a stalled manuscript about an oil company spokeswoman who gets
involved with a merman during an oil spill in the Hebrides. Might get back to
that one, or write one featuring Benedict and Avery, the secondary couple in The Queen of Swords. I’d also like to
maybe write a sequel to The Tin Man,
my political thriller releasing in August. It tells of two journalists thrown
together to solve a series of murders tied to a global conspiracy to take over
the media.
Q. What inspires you to write what
you do?
A.
All of my paranormal stories are inspired by my love of the history and mythology of Scotland, my
interest in the unknowable, and my belief in the redemptive power of love.
Q. When did you start writing?
A. About
as soon as I could write the alphabet. When I was a kid, I won an essay contest
sponsored by the local library (I was an avid reader and always did the summer
reading challenge). Back in the days of typewriters, I wrote a romance novel
about a couple of ballet dancers, but never did anything with it. Didn’t try my
hand at fiction again until five or six years ago, when I started what is now The Queen of Swords.
Q. What inspired you to write the
book?
A. I
started the first draft after reading Twilight.
While I liked the saga, I also found myself frustrated by the lack of sex and
Edward’s lack of history. In literature, vampires originally personified
uncaged sexuality, so a chaste vampire seemed counter-intuitive to me. Plus, I
felt writing an immortal creature provided fantastic opportunities to build an
interesting backstory. What had he/she seen and experienced over the centuries?
How was he/she affected by it? My immortal characters all have a history tied
to the world and what they’ve seen and experienced has colored them in some
way.
Q. Are you a careful planner or do
you let the story guide you?
A.
I do a bit of both. I work out the characters and their motivations, setting,
and where I want the story to go. I also tend to do index cards for each scene
or major plot point from start to finish. Once I begin to write, it can go
completely off the rails, depending on where the characters want to take it. As
long as they’re reaching the touchstones, I let them do what they want. If they
go too far off track, I either re-plot the novel or rein them in, depending on
which direction seems better at the time.
Q. Who is your favorite among your characters?
A.
I love them all, of course. Graham, the hero in The Queen of Swords, is both
noble and funny. Callum, the hero in The Knight of Wands, is a good-hearted
romantic. Leith, the hero of my WIP, is a bit on the dark side, but still
well-intentioned. If pressed to pick just one, I’d have to go with Alex
Buchanan, the journalist hero in The Tin
Man. He’s very complex and has lots of demons to overcome, but also is a
really good guy.
Queen of Swords by Nina Mason
Review by Wennie Conedy
An eBook copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Warning: This book is most definitely for adults only, due to graphic scenes of sex and violence.
Are you familiar with the occult, specifically with Tarot cards? If you are, then you must be familiar with the symbolism of the Queen of Swords card. If you are not, don’t let that stop you from reading this book, as Nina explains the symbolism of the cards quite well.
The Queen of Swords is billed as a paranormal romance of undying love, between a vampire and a human. No, it’s not the same as that widely popular vampire series. The world that Nina Mason has created is far more sinister, darker and toes a fine line between acceptable and gruesome.
Graham Logan believes in the power of the Tarot Cards. When he draws the Queen of Swords, he braces himself for what is to happen next, for he knows that he will be meeting the love of his life, again, for the third time. He has learned from the first two encounters. He knows that to save her life this time, he must protect his heart.
Cat Fingal, also known as Caitrona and Catharine in her past two lives, is a white witch. She meets Graham in the library and is immediately drawn to him. She is intrigued by him and feels a connection that she cannot explain. She casts a spell to summon him, as she wants answers to a number of questions she has. Plus, she also has a condition that she wants reversed, and she needs Graham to get it done.
In Queen of Swords, I found it refreshing that the dark force’s who are keeping the lovers apart are obsessed with Graham, not Cat. And when I say, “dark forces” I am not kidding. There is a chapter aptly titled “The Full Metal Jacket of Kink.” Here’s a tip – when you get to that chapter, brace yourself. Take to heart the “full metal jacket” part of the chapter title.
In telling this story, Nina walks that tightrope that separates acceptable and cringe-worthy scenes. Considering that 80% of the characters are either preternatural beings, possessed with bloodlust and superhuman strength, don’t be surprised at how some of the scenes turn out.
Nina has a unique writing style and for this story, she draws heavily on the Irish brogue for character conversations as well as background and experiences. It was mostly due to the use of Irish language, the retelling of Irish history from the character’s POV, and the setting of the scenes that made it difficult for me to accept that this story is set in present day time. I found myself jarred a bit when a passage related to current technology found itself in the story, or when the Cat describes herself as wearing jeans or doing her dissertation. There were also a few gaps for me that I wished were addressed; like what happened to the caretaker of his castle when the final confrontation was happening? Where were the dogs?
This book is a completed story, though I do sense that the author left the door open for a possible story featuring Graham’s best friend and Cat’s roommate.
If you are looking for a story on the struggle of two lovers to be together and face the obstacles that separate them with some magic and paranormal abilities thrown in to the mix, then grab this book, and settle in for the ride. Just be warned, if you are squeamish of heart or into vanilla relationships, this book is definitely not for you. But if you are willing to explore some darkness, some kink, and yet hold on to the hope and idea that love conquers all, Cat and Graham can show you the way.
I HEART BOOKS REVIEW
Review by Wennie Conedy
Stars: # 4
An eBook copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Warning: This book is most definitely for adults only, due to graphic scenes of sex and violence.
Are you familiar with the occult, specifically with Tarot cards? If you are, then you must be familiar with the symbolism of the Queen of Swords card. If you are not, don’t let that stop you from reading this book, as Nina explains the symbolism of the cards quite well.
The Queen of Swords is billed as a paranormal romance of undying love, between a vampire and a human. No, it’s not the same as that widely popular vampire series. The world that Nina Mason has created is far more sinister, darker and toes a fine line between acceptable and gruesome.
Graham Logan believes in the power of the Tarot Cards. When he draws the Queen of Swords, he braces himself for what is to happen next, for he knows that he will be meeting the love of his life, again, for the third time. He has learned from the first two encounters. He knows that to save her life this time, he must protect his heart.
Cat Fingal, also known as Caitrona and Catharine in her past two lives, is a white witch. She meets Graham in the library and is immediately drawn to him. She is intrigued by him and feels a connection that she cannot explain. She casts a spell to summon him, as she wants answers to a number of questions she has. Plus, she also has a condition that she wants reversed, and she needs Graham to get it done.
In Queen of Swords, I found it refreshing that the dark force’s who are keeping the lovers apart are obsessed with Graham, not Cat. And when I say, “dark forces” I am not kidding. There is a chapter aptly titled “The Full Metal Jacket of Kink.” Here’s a tip – when you get to that chapter, brace yourself. Take to heart the “full metal jacket” part of the chapter title.
In telling this story, Nina walks that tightrope that separates acceptable and cringe-worthy scenes. Considering that 80% of the characters are either preternatural beings, possessed with bloodlust and superhuman strength, don’t be surprised at how some of the scenes turn out.
Nina has a unique writing style and for this story, she draws heavily on the Irish brogue for character conversations as well as background and experiences. It was mostly due to the use of Irish language, the retelling of Irish history from the character’s POV, and the setting of the scenes that made it difficult for me to accept that this story is set in present day time. I found myself jarred a bit when a passage related to current technology found itself in the story, or when the Cat describes herself as wearing jeans or doing her dissertation. There were also a few gaps for me that I wished were addressed; like what happened to the caretaker of his castle when the final confrontation was happening? Where were the dogs?
This book is a completed story, though I do sense that the author left the door open for a possible story featuring Graham’s best friend and Cat’s roommate.
If you are looking for a story on the struggle of two lovers to be together and face the obstacles that separate them with some magic and paranormal abilities thrown in to the mix, then grab this book, and settle in for the ride. Just be warned, if you are squeamish of heart or into vanilla relationships, this book is definitely not for you. But if you are willing to explore some darkness, some kink, and yet hold on to the hope and idea that love conquers all, Cat and Graham can show you the way.
Thanks for featuring my book on your blog and for the insightful review. One wee note: I took out the dialectic brogue on the final edit of the book, so it would be easier to read.
ReplyDeleteI belong to You by Lisa Renee Jones.
ReplyDeleteQueen of Swords by Nina Mason is so worth reading
ReplyDeleteDrowning by Nina Firasek
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading your review of this book. I absolutely loved it and would recommend it to all book lovers.
ReplyDelete