Tag Archives: Kylie Griffin

Catching Up With Kylie Griffin

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Catching Up With Kylie Griffin

The Reading Cafe is happy to welcome back Kylie Griffin. Kylie recently released her third book in her The Light Blade series. She is here to discuss Allegiance Sworn, as well as what else we may have to look forward to in 2013

Before we start the interview, let’s refresh your memory about Kylie.

Kylie photo

Kylie Griffin’s obsession with all things paranormal/fantasy started at an early age, when she used to imagine the jacaranda tree in her front yard was a spaceship used to defend the world from invading enemies. Writing stories seemed a natural extension to her childhood adventures.

Today, she’s a primary school teacher sharing her love for the written word with young children. In her spare time, she writes and reads all things paranormal.     

Kylie lives in a small rural village in outback New South Wales, Australia, where she volunteers in a number of emergency service organizations in her local community. Visit her website at www.kyliegriffin.com

 

Interview seafoam:blackTRC:  Hi, Kylie.  Thank you for taking the time to revisit us at The Reading Cafe to discuss your new release “Allegiance Sworn”, as well as to give us an update as to what else you may be working on.

Kylie: Hi Barb, thanks for the chance to meet your readers again. I loved visiting The Reading Cafe last time, so it’s great to be back!

TRC: You have just released the 3rd book in your Light Blade series.  For our members who may not have read this series, can you give us a description of the premise of this series? 

Kylie: Without giving away any spoilers, in the Light Blade world there are three different races – the Na’Reish (demons), Na’Chi (hybrid half-breeds, and humans. The Na’Reish outnumber the humans, and the human race is under threat of enslavement. Both races loath the existence of the Na’Chi as neither can tolerate their mixed heritage.

Each story in the series so far has shown the struggle between the races to survive, and a myriad of secrets and power struggles have thrown characters together and driven others apart. All the while demons and humans have been pushed closer to war with one another.

While the series isn’t epic fantasy in its purest form, it does have similar elements. The overarching plots employ typical themes such as a quest, a guiding deity, struggles against an opposing force, the threat of world domination, revenge and redemption, but readers also get to focus on a romance between main characters.

So if readers like this sort of epic-style story with a good romance then the Light Blade series is one to try. There’s enough back sotry in ALLEGIANCE SWORN to get the gist of the series arc, and each book can be read as stand-alone romances, but I’d recommend reading them in sequence for the full impact.


allegiance sworn

 

TRC: Allegiance Sworn was released on April 2, 2013.  Can you please tell us briefly about the book?

Kylie: ALLEGIANCE SWORN is the third book in the Light Blade series and one I was very excited to write as it features Arek, a rather deliciously tormented (yes, I do like torturing my heroes), secondary character, and one of my Light Blade warriors, who appeared in both VENGEANCE BORN (#1) and ALLIANCE FORGED (#2).

 

Links to order Allegiance Sworn:
Amazon / Barnes&Noble / The Book Depository / Kobo

 

vengeance born

Alliance forged

 

Click pictures to link to reviews of each book.

 

 

 

Links to purchase:
Vengeance Born:  Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository / Kobo
Alliance Forged: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository / Kobo

At the end of ALLIANCE FORGED Arek was wounded and captured by demon-slavers. In ALLEGIANCE SWORN he’s claimed by Imhara, a demon Clan leader.

He’s sworn to die fighting before allowing her to enslave him but then discovers she’s been living a double-life; that her Clan don’t enslave humans and accept half-bloods. And more significantly, they have one goal in common – to kill Na’Reish leader Savyr, the demon who murdered their families and destroyed their lives.

I had a LOT of fun making Arek face his greatest fears in this book but what surprised me the most was the way a couple of plot threads within the story ended – I intended the story to finish with the characters achieving certain goals but they refused to take that path and led me down another!

Lives being threatened, fighting, the death of a major character – all of this was supposed to occur, and it did, but not in the manner I expected and it brought about an entirely different conclusion to the story.

TRC: Will there be more books for the Light Blade series, if so, how many?

Kylie: Well, at this stage there are at least three secondary characters with stories demanding to be told. For example, Rissa, a young child introduced in VENGEANCE BORN, and is a character who definitely has a story to be written but as she’s only 10y.o, she has to grow up first. LOL

So it’s lucky there are some other secondary characters clamoring for their stories to be told in the meantime. They’ll keep me busy for a while yet, and give Rissa the time to grow up.

TRC: Would you like to share with us what you are currently working on?

Kylie: What am I up to, besides a manic blog tour to promote ALLEGIANCE SWORN(and the mass market version of Vengeance Born, which was also released on April 2nd)?

Well, I have a few plans I’m juggling. I’m writing books #4 and #5 in the Light Blade series. There’s no release dates yet for them as that depends on whether the book-gods smile on a new publishing contract.

For those who’ve been following the series, books #4 & #5 are characters you’ve met earlier in the series, or will have, once you’ve read ALLEGIANCE SWORN. 🙂

I’m also keen to write a new post-apocalyptic romance, one that’s been mulling in the back my mind for a few years now. A change of genre would be refreshing and I’m quite excited about this one as I’m venturing into new territory. It’s rather more erotic in tone than I anticipated.

TRC: Would you like to add anything else?

Kylie: Two ideas inspired ALLEGIANCE SWORN.

The first was Arek, the hero, and his hatred for all things demon. Throughout the series and of all the characters he’s probably had the toughest time. He’s found out he has a demon half sister. His grandfather not only tried to kill her but he kept the secret that demons and humans once lived harmoniously together and then betrayed the human race by leading a rebellion to keep the war between them going.

In ALLEGIANCE SWORN Arek is confronted by the truth that his whole life and every decision and action he’s made has been based on a lie, one foster by his grandfather’s deception.

And, having been captured by demon-slavers at the end of Alliance Forged, he now faces one of his greatest fears – being the blood-slave of Imhara Kaal, his new owner. Anyone who’s already read the series will know Arek prefers death over serving as a blood-slave, so you can imagine the conflict this is going to create!

The idea of a double agent gave me the plot thread for Imhara Kaal, the heroine, in ALLEGIANCE SWORN. Unlike other demons, Imhara and her people have create a utopia of sorts where human, demon, and half breeds live peacefully and equally in the Old Ways but they’ve had to sacrifice a lot to remain undiscovered. Living a double-life and adopting two separate lifestyles was essential for their survival.

But it puts Imhara and Arek at odds right from the get go because she had to portray her alter-ego in order to claim him as her slave. You can image how well that went down with Arek, and trying to convince him of her other persona is nigh impossible.

I loved being able to throw these two opposing personalities together and watching the sparks fly!

TRC: Thank you, Kylie for giving us an update on Allegiance Sworn, as well as what we can look forward to in the future.   It was a pleasure having you visit us again. 

Kylie: Barb, it’s been a pleasure catching up with you and I look forward to chatting with your readers!

If you want to learn more about Kylie, you can find her at the following links:

Website: http://www.kyliegriffin.com
Blog: www.kyliegriffinromance.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kylie-Griffin-paranormal-romance/152760788151938
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/KylieGriffin1
GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4882841.Kylie_Griffin

Giveaway-Black and Seafoam

Kylie has graciously offered to give one member of The Reading Café a prize pack of a signed copy of Vengeance Born (paperback just released April 2nd), as well as an Allegiance Sworn Tote Bag,

1.  You must be a member at The Reading Cafe. If you are not a member, please register using the Log-In at the top of the page, or by using one of our social log-ins.

2.  If you are using a social log-in e.g. Twitter, please leave your email address along with your comment.

3.  Please post a comment answering the following question:
    What’s your favorite paranormal/sci-fi/fantasy movie, and why?

4.  Giveaway open INTERNATIONALLY

5.  Contests runs from April 26 to April 30, 2013

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Allegiance Sworn by Kylie Griffin – a Review

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Allegiance Sworn by Kylie Griffin – a Review

Allegiance Sworn revised

Links to order Allegiance Sworn:
Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository / Kobo

Description:
There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not purebred is virtually powerless. Until a demon leader seeks to unify the races…

With the alliance of the humans and the half-blood Na’Chi forged, the demon Na’Reish prepare for war by seizing human blood-slaves. Captured during a rescue mission-gone-wrong, Light Blade warrior Arek Barial finds himself claimed by a Na’Reishi female who offers him an unexpected choice.

Raised in the elite ranks of a society she abhors, Imhara Kaal lives a dangerous double life as a Na’Reish Clan-leader and an advocate for a caste-free life that honors the Old Ways. Openly rebelling against the Na’Reish would mean her death, unless she can find an emissary willing to present her petition to the human Blade council.

But Arek isn’t about to blindly follow a demon—despite the intense attraction growing between them. And while hatred for the Na’Reish is all he has ever known, Arek must learn to trust Imhara, or risk the destruction of all three races

Review:

Allegiance Sworn by Kylie Griffin is the third book in her Light Blade series.  For those of you who may not have read my reviews on the first two books, this is Urban Fantasy Romance.  In this world created by Griffin, we have Humans, Na’Reish (demons), and Na’Chi (half demons). The series premise is built around the Light Blade warriors, and their battle against the Na’Reish demons.  In the first two books, Kalan, the Light Blade Chosen, and his sister, Kymora, who is the Priestess, had their stories told, and we knew Arek, the third member of this close friendship would be next.

Kylie Griffin does a wonderful job continuing this series so smoothly in to the next storyline, where we pick up with Arek now being held by the Na’Reish as a prisoner.  Arek makes such a wonderful and damaged hero, not to mention the hottest one yet.  I loved Arek, with all his hotness, and his issues he must learn to deal with, but more about him later. 

Arek has met his match, when he meets a female Na’Reish leader, Imhara.  As much as I loved Kymora the best female in this series, I totally adored Imhara.  She is a great kickass heroine, who is perfect to battle Arek and his Na’Reish hatred. Imhara, as the Clan leader, is not a true Na’Reish, as she comes from the old ways, believing in the Lady, and helping humans survive against the violent demons.  Imhara has planned for many years to try to form an alliance with the Light Blade humans, and work with them to destroy the leader of the Na’Reish, Savyn. 

It is Imhara’s warriors to rescue Arek, but he is ready to kill Imhara and her warriors, since to him they are demons, and not to be trusted.  What follows is a wonderful story, of Imhara and her people breaking down Arek’s damaged barriers and getting him to learn to trust them.  The chemistry between them was awesome, even if it was a match that could never work, but slowly the barrier and trust between them breaks down.  Arek had to face his own demons of the past, and find a way to help Imhara and her team destroy the enemy. 

This was such an enjoyable read; I could not put the book down.  Besides a great couple like Arek and Imhara, Griffin has created some wonderful secondary characters throughout this series, and in this book, Rassan is excellent.  Watching Imhara work on Arek to open his eyes, and heart, and eventually finding herself totally falling for him, and his fighting off his own attraction was wonderfully done.  The main villain in this series continues to appear, but the new villain, Yur, was despicable. I loved how Imhara handled him and the other Na’Reish warriors who look down on woman, especially a strong and fierce woman like Imhara.  The ensuing battle to attempt to defeat the enemy was filled with excitement, adventure in a dangerous climax. At the end it was great to meet up with Kalan, Annika, Kymora, and Varian. However, Griffin though resolving everything in this story, leaves things open to continue this series, and I for one hope she does.  We need more of this Light Blade series, and the world she has created.  I also love Kylie Griffin’s writing style. I highly recommend that you read this book, but please start with the first book.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Author

 

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Allegiance Sworn (The Light Blade #3) by Kylie Griffin- Cover Reveal

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Allegiance Sworn (Novel of the Light Blade #3) by Kylie Griffin- Cover Reveal

As promised, Kylie Griffin has sent us the magnificent cover of her next Novel of the Light Blade series.   The first two covers of this series were awesome, and the Allegiance Sworn cover continues this trend.

Allegiance Sworn Excerpt
(Release Date April, 2013)

There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of  
desperation and conflict, anyone who is not purebred is virtually  
powerless. Until a demon leader seeks to unify the races…

With the alliance of the humans and the half-blood Na’Chi forged, the  
demon Na’Reish prepare for war by seizing human blood-slaves. Captured  
during a rescue mission-gone-wrong, Light Blade warrior Arek Barial  
finds himself claimed by a Na’Reishi female who offers him an  
unexpected choice.

Raised in the elite ranks of a society she abhors, Imhara Kaal lives a  
dangerous double life as a Na’Reish Clan-leader and an advocate for a  
caste-free life that honors the Old Ways. Openly rebelling against the  
Na’Reish would mean her death, unless she can find an emissary willing  
to present her petition to the human Blade council.

But Arek isn’t about to blindly follow a demon—despite the intense  
attraction growing between them. And while hatred for the Na’Reish is  
all he has ever known, Arek must learn to trust Imhara, or risk the  
destruction of all three races…

Reported by Barb

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An Interview with Kylie Griffin

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An Interview with Kylie Griffin

 

The Reading Cafe is happy to have the wonderful Kylie Griffin as our guest today.

Kylie today has released her second book in her awesome Light Blade series…Alliance Forged, which we reviewed yesterday

Let’s begin our super fun interview with Kylie.

 

 

Hi Kylie.  Thank you for taking the time to answer some questions today. We are always looking forward to reading about the author behind the book.

Kylie: Barb, what auspicious timing with it being my release day for ALLIANCE FORGED, so it’s wonderful to be here – thanks for inviting me! 🙂

TRC: We will start will some background information.

Kylie: Fire away!

TRC:  🙂 Will you please tell us about yourself?

Kylie: I’m a primary school teacher in a small two-teacher school here in a small village in north western New South Wales, Australia. My alter ego, Kylie Griffin, writes futuristic/fantasy/paranormal romances for Berkley.

Outside these two jobs I like to think I’m an easy going, happy person who has an equally shared obsession for cats and dragons.

(I celebrated getting my first book contract by getting a dragon tattooed on my forearm  not everyone’s cup of tea, and it shocked quite a few people, my family included, but it was such a huge milestone for me and this seemed appropriate). 🙂

I also enjoy pottering about in my garden and being out with nature when I’m not chained to my laptop. Oh, and I’m a bit of a chocoholic.

 

TRC: You have three cats, named Splat, Pandaemonium and Furball. Please tell us how you came up with those names.

Kylie: Splat & Panda are sisters. Furball is a cousin. They’re all long furred cats.
As a kitten Panda used to tear around the house like she was possessed and her antics would set the other two off, so she had a bit of a reputation for causing havoc, hence the name. Splat’s a tortoise shell and her tri-colored markings look like someone’s splattered paint on her, thus Splat. Furball is a long-furred tabby and when he was a kitten he was just a ball of fuzz. Fluffy sounds too girly so I had to think of something more masculine – Furball was the result.

TRC: Have you always liked to write?  Tell us your process in writing a novel.

Kylie: The earliest memory I have of writing stories was a fan-fic rip off of Star Wars as an 11 year old. Since then I’ve always felt the compulsion to write. Something. Anything. I have many, many unfinished manuscripts dating right back to high school sitting in crates in my office. One day I might sabotage the core ideas and finish writing them.

I’m a pantster – I write the story as I go, often directed very much by the characters – but I’ve had to learn how to semi-plot (I explain why in a later question). I usually know the beginning scene of my book and how I want the story to finish but not a lot in-between.

So, if you can imagine the main plot points as the tops of hills on a very foggy morning, I start on one, descend into the fog and make my way through it to another hill and so on, until I reach my final destination. The journey isn’t mapped out particularly well, I may take some deviations along the way but I do end up at the place I wanted to go. Eventually. 🙂

I try to set myself a daily word count and write seven days a week until the book is finished (anywhere between 90 000 -100 000 words). Some days are easier than others to get the word count out *grin*. I usually edit my work as I go so I have a fairly clean copy that I send out to some beta readers (one is a writer like me, the other two are readers). They comment on my work. I edit some more then send my work off to my editor. And usually amongst all that I teach, juggle revisions, copy edits for another book, and promotion and marketing.

TRC: How were you notified that Vengeance Born was to be published? What was your reaction when you saw your first published book?

Kylie: I entered the West Houston RWA Emily contest for unpublished authors with VENGEANCE BORN (or Bloodborn as it was known then). I won the paranormal section then the Best of the Best section. The prize was Leis Pederson from Berkley Publishing critiquing a partial manuscript. She liked VENGEANCE BORN enough to request the full manuscript then on Oct.16th 2010 I received an email from her offering to buy the book and the next in the series. An ecstatic moment to say the least.

As for seeing my book in print for the very first time – it was an incredibly emotional moment, something I’d spent almost 20 years working towards achieving. Leis sent me my author copies a few weeks before the release date. When I realised what was inside the box I opened it right there in my local post office.

Taking out the first print book was a moment I’ll never forget. It was like finding the Holy Grail. I smoothed my hand over the cover, flipped through it to see the words I’d labored over in actual print, then promptly burst into tears. Lucky the post office staff knew me and that I’d been waiting for this delivery, otherwise my outburst might have resulted in a call for some professionals in white coats. LOL

TRC: Will you tell us about the premise of the Light Blade series? How did you come up with the idea for this series, and how longdid it take for you to write this book?

Kylie: I’ll answer these questions in reverse order. ALLIANCE FORGED took five months in total – four months to complete the first draft and then another to let it sit and then edit.

Much of my fantasy writing up until the Light Blade series were stories based around human characters, human relationships, human conflicts and I wanted to try something that involved a non-human element. It’s as simple as that. At the time I was writing VENGEANCE BORN vampires, werewolves, and shifters dominated the market, and the stories were set in a contemporary world or very urban fantasy based. Creating a fantasy world with different races (al la Lord of the Rings style) really appealed to me.

But why demons? No idea. LOL All I can tell you is they’re not styled or based on any familiar mythology. While the series isn’t epic fantasy in its purest form, it does have similar elements. The world is entirely fictional, there are different races (not just humans), the plots employ typical themes such as a quest, a guiding deity, struggles against an opposing force, the threat of world domination, revenge and redemption, but readers also get to focus on a romance between the main characters of each book.

The demons, who are known as the Na’Reish, regularly venture into human territory on raids. The purpose for the raids is two-fold – to acquire human slaves, and from these slaves some will become blood-slaves, a convenient food source for the demons.

The humans have a warrior caste known as the Light Blade warriors – the paladin-like protector of their society. They’re able to use kinetic power to kill by channeling it through touch or via any blade or weapon. They’re a cross between holy knights and law enforcement, serving the Lady, the human’s religious deity, the one they believe responsible for Gifting them with their powers. They uphold the Blade Council’s laws and Her tenets and protect anyone who needs help.

The third race are the Na’Chi, a demon-human hybrid, who possess all the qualities of their demon ancestors yet are reviled by the other races for their mixed heritage.

The Light Blade series revolves around three different races coming to terms with their shared history – good, bad and ugly – and learning how to survive or at least get on with one another. So far, three mixed race couples play integral roles in this process, and, they also happen to fall in love in their respective stories *grin*.

If you’d like to know more about these characters I’ve written posts about Annika, Kalan, Varian, Kymora and some secondary characters for my blog (under the heading CAST OF CHARACTERS, you can also search using the label ‘character/s’).

TRC: How many books do you have planned for the Light Blade series?

Kylie: I’m contracted to write three for Berkley Sensation, but I have four other secondary characters clamoring for their stories to be told. Here’s hoping they’ll eventually reach a bookshelf. 🙂

TRC:  Can you please give us a brief description of Alliance Forged, which is being released today?

Kylie: ALLIANCE FORGED

Book #2 of the Light Blade series

There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not purebred is virtually powerless. Until a blind priestess lays claim to a half-breed warrior, body and soul…

Hunted and marked for death by Na’Reish demons for their half-blood heritage, the Na’Chi are searching for a new home—something an alliance offered by the human leader could provide. With both races divided by prejudice, when Light Blade rebels brutally attack the Na’Chi, the alliance seems doomed to fail.

Varian, leader of the Na’Chi, a hybrid race of gifted warriors, is cursed with the darker impulses of his demon heritage. Controlling the part of himself that craves the high of the battle is a struggle he’s afraid he’ll lose—until he meets Kymora Tayn, a priestess driven to serve her deity. While he’s unwilling to trust anyone outside his people, he finds himself drawn to Kymora’s strength and passionate nature, and discovers she has the power to calm the darkness inside him.

When the Na’Reish raid human territory for blood-slaves and kickstart a war, the key to the survival of both races—Na’Chi and human— is an alliance. However, when Kymora is kidnapped, pitting human against human, Varian realizes he must embrace his darker half, not only to save the alliance…but also the woman he loves.

TRC: You look at yourself as a Sci Fi, Fantasy, Paranormal. What drew you to that genre?

Kylie: I believe I might have been a changeling at birth because not a single other person in my family likes or has a passion for this genre.

I grew up watching TV or reading anything in this genre. Star Wars, Star Trek, Dr.Who, Battlestar Galactica, Buck Rogers, Andre Norton, Anne McCaffrey, David Eddings, C.J.Cherryh, Mercedes Lackey…the list could go on! Instead of playing with dolls like my sister, or good guys and bad guys outside with my friends or any other normal kid game, I’d engineer and organise complex empire wars with magical armies or turn a tree into a spaceship and use it to explore an alien world.

I just find the idea of something totally unknown or other-worldly fascinating. So inspirational, so creative. The genre is escapism at its best.

TRC: Do you have any thoughts of future series you would like to try?

Kylie: Absolutely! I’ve two science fiction romance series with Bk#1 in each already written, another fantasy romance series (again, Bk#1 is already written) and I’m dying to rewrite a post-apocalyptic series I’ve had sitting in a crate for years. These are all projects my agent and I are talking over with my editor, so I can’t give any real details yet. 🙂

TRC: Where do you like to do your writing?  What do you feel is the hardest part of writing and publishing a novel.

Kylie: When the weather is good I like to take my laptop out to the back area of my house. It’s an enclosed entertainment area for BBQ’s & I’ve a lovely outdoor setting I can use while getting fresh air, sun and hear the sounds of the bush around me. Otherwise I have an office/library I can work in.
For me, the hardest part of writing and publishing a novel is synopsis writing. I’m a die-hard pantster at heart – I begin writing and the story & characters just evolve – but having signed a contract I’m required to submit a synopsis to my editor. That means I have to know where the story is heading. So, I’ve had to learn how to semi-plot. My editor knows I’m a pantster and I have a little leeway in what’s produced for the synopsis and what I finally produce. As long as I don’t totally veer away from the main storyline, she’s happy. 🙂

TRC: On your website, you mention some of the authors you love to read, many of them are also our favorites.  You are a teacher, volunteer firefighter, member of the State Emergency Services, and you write. How do you find time to read?

Kylie: Sometimes I ask myself this same question! LOL

With teaching, I’ve been at it 20 years now, so most of my processes are streamlined. With my emergency services work I train once a week with my units. Call outs are sporadic. There can be nothing for a while then there might be a rush of them, and at all times of the day and night. I just roll with them and attend as I can. My other volunteer work fits in around the teaching & emergency service work (and writing, of course).

As for reading, BP (before being published), I used to have the evenings, odd weekend or time during the school holidays to read. AC (after contracting) my time to read was severely curtailed. The writing came first. That came as a bit of a shock and I think I went into withdrawal!

What I’ve learned to do is read in chunks (hard when you’ve been so used to reading a whole book in one sitting) but it’s the only way to stay sane and feed that craving. LOL Once I finish writing my latest contracted book I like to go on a bit of a reading binge/break and this really helps recharge me.

TRC: What’s next for you?

Kylie: Well, I’ve just finished ALLEGIANCE SWORN (Bk#3 in the
Light Blade series). Over the next few months I’ll be completing the revisions process for it. The book is tentatively scheduled for an April 2013 release date.

ALLEGIANCE SWORN

Book #3 of the Light Blade series

There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not purebred is virtually powerless. Until a demon leader seeks to unify the races…

With the alliance of the humans and the half-blood Na’Chi forged, the demon Na’Reish prepare for war by seizing human blood-slaves. Captured during a rescue mission-gone-wrong, Light Blade warrior Arek Barial finds himself claimed by a Na’Reishi female who offers him an unexpected choice.

Raised in the elite ranks of a society she abhors, Imhara Kaal lives a dangerous double life as a Na’Reish Clan-leader and an advocate for a caste-free life that honors the Old Ways. Openly rebelling against the Na’Reish would mean her death, unless she can find an emissary willing to present her petition to the human Blade council.

But Arek isn’t about to blindly follow a demon—despite the intense attraction growing between them. And while hatred for the Na’Reish is all he has ever known, Arek must learn to trust Imhara, or risk the destruction of all three races…

Also coming out in April 2013 will be the mass market version of VENGEANCE BORN.

LIGHTNING ROUND

Favorite Vacation Spot: New Zealand – I’ve been back there a good seven or eight times over the last 15 years. Not only do I have lots of friends across the ditch (the affectionate term we use for the Tasman Sea), the scenery is awesome. I think if Australia disappeared or never existed I’d choose to live in NZ.

Favorite Food: sweet – chocolate, savory – baked dinner, fruit – mango.

Favorite Author:

Now that’s just so unfair – do I have to pick just one? Hmm, Nalini Singh.

TRC:  Love your shirt  🙂

 

 

 

Favorite Movie: Lord of the Rings trilogy. Amazing movies! I usually have a back to back marathon of the series at least once a year.

Last book that you read: AFTERLIFE Joey W.Hill (another awesome author!).

Who is your favorite fictional character (not your own): Judd, the ex-Psy Arrow from CARESSED BY ICE by Nalini Singh.

TRC: Thank you Kylie for this fantastic interview, and answering our questions. The Reading Café wishes you the best of luck with Alliance Forged and your Light Blade series.  Keep us informed about your upcoming releases. We look forward to working with you again.

Kylie: Thank you, Barb, for having me. Great interview, I had a hoot of a time answering it! If anyone has any questions about the books or something I’ve chatted about her, please just ask. I’d be more than happy to answer them. 🙂

If you want to know more about Kylie, below are the links where you can find her.

Website: http://www.kyliegriffin.com
Blog: www.kyliegriffinromance.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kylie-Griffin-paranormal-romance/152760788151938
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/KylieGriffin1
GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4882841.Kylie_Griffin
Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/Kylie_Griffin-author
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Alliance-Forged-Novel-Light-Blade/dp/0425256014/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324459468&sr=1-1
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/alliance-forged-kylie-griffin/1107000571?ean=9780425256015&itm=1&usri=alliance+forged+kylie+griffin
Books-a-million:  http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Alliance-Forged/Kylie-Griffin/9780425256015?id=5244581890012
The Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/Alliance-Forged-Kylie-Griffin/9780425256015
Fishpond: http://www.fishpond.com.au/Books/Alliance-Forged-Kylie-Griffin/9780425256015?cf=3&rid=7378568&i=1&keywords=alliance+forged
IndieBound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/9780425256015
Penguin: http://us.penguingroup.com/nf/Book/BookDisplay/0,,9780425256015,00.html#

****GIVEAWAY****

Kylie has graciously offered to give one member of The Reading Café a chance to win a copy of Alliance Forged.  There will also be a second prize of an Alliance Forged Totebag, with magnets. 

1.  You must be a member at The Reading Cafe. If you are not a member, please register using the Log-In at the top of the page, or by using one of our social log-ins.

2.  If you are using a social log-in e.g. Twitter, please leave your email address along with your comment.

3.  Please post a comment and say hello to Kyllie

4.  Giveaway open INTERNATIONALLY (wherever The Book Depository delivers)

5.  Contests runs from July 3-6, 2012.

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Alliance Forged by Kylie Griffin – a Review

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Alliance Forged by Kylie Griffin – a Review

Alliance Forged by Kylie Griffin is the second book of her Light Blade series, and it is going to be rerleased tomorrow, July 3rd. If you remember from my review of Vengeance Born, the Light Blade series is fantasy romance.  Griffin does a masterful job of creating this worldbuilding, of Humans (Light Blade), Na’Reish (demons), and Na’Chi (half human/demons).  The story picks up shortly after Vengeance Born left off, when Kalan,  the Chosen of the Light Blade, forces his command of the Council and Soldiers, by allowing Na’Chi to be part of their alliance, and his commitment to Annika, a NaChi, as his mate.  In order to win the ungoing war with the Na’Reish, the two sides need to join hands to work together to defeat the enemy. 

But prejudice is still a big issue for many to accept the Na’Chi as friends.  Alliance Forged is a dual story, showing how prejudice threatens to divide the Light Blade soldiers, with friends turning against each other.  Those that are willing to work with the strong Na’Chi and those who refuse to accept them as allies.    The other part is the romance between two unlikely pairings, but one that you saw the start of in Vengeance Born.

Kymora is Kalan’s sister, she is the priestess, the Temple Elect.  Kymora, who is also blind, speaks for the Lady, who is the human’s deity. Kymora is such a wonderful character.  She cares about others, and you marvel at how she can get around her blindness. She uses her gift, being able to sense aura’s and has worked to perfect that gift.  Kymora believes she has a destiny that the Lady expects her to fulfill, and that is to bring the Na’Chi and Humans together to help save them all.

Varian is the leader of the Na’Chi. We met Varian in Vengeance Born, when he led his people to follow Annika and Kalan when they returned to Sacred Lake.  That was when Varian and Kymora met, and soon thereafter, an uneasy alliance was born.  In this book, Kymora is working with the Na’Chi to teach them how to live with humans, and help them.  She befriends Varian, who isn’t an easy person to deal with.  Varian takes it upon himself to protect his people, and half of his inner self is full demon, that he brings out during battles.  Varian has a hard time keeping this dangerous angry part of him in control.   He begins to realize that Kymora soothes his anger, and he finds unfamiliar feelings, he doesn’t know how to handle when he is around her.  Kymora, finds herself content and happy around Varian, and she was very aggressive with him, trying to entice him to act on his feelings, until he could no longer resist.  Varian has always believed he would never have someone love him; that his people respected him as a leader, but did not want to be his friend. 

This is an amazing love story, to watch Kymora break the shield around Varian, and how they both explored their growing love, something neither had experienced.  Very nicely done, as I really enjoyed this romance, as it was totally different, and very nice to see. 

The ending was very exciting with the rebels fighting the alliance taking things too far, bringing danger to their own people, and sides have to be chosen.  The climatic ending is a race against time to save their own, and during this battle, Varian opens his heart to his true love.  A great story, and wonderful ending.  The battle is still on the horizon, with the humans/na’chi to possibly face the uncoming Na’reish demons.  The third book will be about Arek, who played a big part early on in this book, and in the first one.  I already cannot wait for his story, and to find out what will happen to him, as well as the war upcoming.  Great book and series by Kylie Griffin.

Reviewed by Barb

Copy supplied by Publisher

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Vengeance Born by Kylie Griffin

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Vengeance Born by Kylie Griffin

Vengeance Born by Kylie Griffin, is the first book in her Light Blade series.  This is a book about two couples, one a half demon and the other a human warrior. Vengeance Born is a Fantasy Romance, and totally different then most romance stories.  It is a story of two unlikely people, who come together to help each other survive a deadly situation.  It is a story of trust, prejudice and how love can change anything. 

Annika, is a half-breed of human and demon; who is also a healer, and has lived all her life in a demon world, run by her demon father who hated her. In her world, the demons (Na Reish), use humans as blood-slaves, but half-human half-demon (Na Chi) children are looked upon with hatred.  Annika thinks of herself as the only Na Chi, as others were killed at birth.  She was kept alive by her father, the King, to torture her as revenge.  Annika dreams of escaping, and grasping a chance at possible freedom, she helps an imprisoned human Light Blade warrior to escape, with the promise of helping her.

Kalan, the Light Blade, agrees to help Annika, but he distrusts her as he knows she is a demon, and he has been brought up to hate all demons. Annika used her healing powers to help Kalan, and then helps him escape his imprisonment.  The beginning of the story is about their escape, running for their lives from the Na’Reish warriors who are searching for them. Kalan, is an honorable man, as well as a strong and handsome warrior.  He finds it difficult to trust Annika, and has a hard time hiding his dislike for what she is.  At times he finds himself sympathetic to the life she has lived, as they learn more about each other during their travel to the human land.  Annika is truly a warm and giving person, but has known what it’s like to be hated all of her life.  She too does not trust Kalan, but is used to that type of behavior towards her.  At times, you find yourself cringing at the treatment others have towards Annika, and even Kalan, does the same with his preconceived notions.  But slowly, Kalan begins to see another side, and the distrust and hatred, begins to change to friendship. 

Griffin does a wonderful job, of showing us the improbability of a friendship coming out of this, not to mention a romance.  It is done so well, and very slowly.  Both learn to open their hearts and learn to love, though for Annika, it is difficult transition, as she knows nothing of love and acceptance.  It was also very well done showing Annika’s need for blood, and how she trained herself to only use animal blood, since her father tortured her as a child to kill for blood. Kalan begins to learn about Annika, and the difficult life she has lived, and you see the change in him as time goes on. Kalan is a good and kind leader of his people, and what he learns from Annika goes a long way to trying to help his people change their prejudices, which will take a long time.   

Griffin also has created some excellent characters in the Light Blade series, whom we will continue to learn about them as this series continues.  I really liked Kymora, and Arek has a lot of potential as a possible hero, and we know Varian will soon get his story.  Of course, in any fantasy, even in romance, there are villains, and this book has them. 

Vengeance Born is an excellent book by Kylie Griffin, and I really enjoyed reading this book.  The romance is so different then the norm, and it is very gratifying.  Prejudice plays a major part, and though this book has a happy ending, it is far from over.  The series will continue, with much anger, hatred and prejudice still to be fought, not to mention the war between the demons and humans.  Up next, Alliance Forged.

Reviewed by Barb

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