Win a $50 GC: Blood of Azure series by Jonathan J Michael



This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. One randomly chosen winner via rafflecopter will win a $50 Amazon/BN.com gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Pondering the Muse


A muse is not entirely understood. Like a phantom on the wind ready to strike or be wisped away with the wave of a hand. They’re misunderstood, whether because they are thoughtful or they don’t know how to articulate thought. They are studious and their creations are studied. They are a breed to be feared. They are the idolized hero. I speak of sources of inspiration championing deep thought.

Not to be confused with the Muses of Greek mythology, a muse can be found nearly everywhere. I do believe a muse is often personified as someone who inspires deep thought, but…a muse is anything which inspires deep thought. An unpoetic example: I was staring out my window during sunrise this morning. There were pinks, blues, indigos, and violets—a subtle variety of colors if analyzed closely. But where these colors caught my eye, and sparked interest, were in the reflection of my stainless-steel grill. The light is the muse. How does it bend and separate in the sky, only to bounce off my outdoor cooking appliance and make its way to my eye? Light is fascinating. I imagine these are the kind of musings inspiring the Lightbringer series by Brent Weeks. A muse can be found in science. A muse can be found in art or the artist. A muse can be found in craftsmen or the workings of their craft. A muse can be found in anyone who has the desire to look beyond what their eyes show them.

A muse inspires thought. For that reason, they are feared. Those in control (speaking of an authoritarian society) don’t want thinkers. They want doers. A muse comes in the form of lions and sheep, and is the phantom haunting those tinkering with the pawns. On the contrary, a muse is the first spark in a cold, damp firepit. The beginnings of something great and powerful. The dawn of a new era. A muse is a tool. And like any tool, it can be misused. A muse is a source of power.

So, if a muse is no different than a lightsaber, a tool used for good or evil, then why not consider it taboo altogether? If a muse wields so much power, are we worthy? Should we shun the muse as dark magic? Absolutely not. Without the muse, there is no growth. And what is purpose without growth? Are we to let time pass us by as we sit idol on a floating rock traveling through the universe? Or are we to grasp the muse and place them in the heavens? The answer is neither. The answer is, and always will be… balance. The muse shall continue to be a phantom on the wind ready to strike or be wisped away with the wave of a hand.

BLURB: BLOOD OF AZURE SERIES

Four races with powers dictated by the seasons seek balance and prosperity. However, life instinctively primes itself for survival, and when one race commands the touch of death, all others fall in line. Tyranny plagues Azure as an immortal ruler governs the knowledge of the seasons and those wielding its power.

Four young protagonists, Stone, Jaymes, Goose, and Astor, each navigate their way to escape his shadow and reclaim their freedom. Simple ambitions for young souls. But little did they know, they would uncover the secrets the realm is built upon, and the unique talents they each carry. Their ignorance allows the knowledge of the seasons to escape into the world around them little by little, and with it, a power loosing anarchy upon the realm. A power most aren’t worthy of wielding. It is up to Stone and his companions to tame that power and reclaim the balance.

Four seasons to balance the land. Four sages to balance the life.

SEASON OF SACRIFICE, BOOK 1

Courage is for the bold. It is not for Stone McLarin. He’s been in hiding for four seasons after being orphaned by the Taoiseach. He doesn’t care for the heroic antics of avenging his parent’s death or securing his freedom. He only desires one thing—to protect his sister’s life.

This proves challenging when his sister, Jaymes, possesses a rivaling power of decay to that of the tyrant ruler’s. She’s a threat to his dominance, and there will be no escaping his shadow.

When the Taoiseach manipulates his way into Jaymes’s life and steals her away, Stone has no choice but to follow. He must venture into the heart of the tyrant’s domain and figure out how to penetrate the impenetrable. And if he succeeds there, he will have to slay the most powerful man in Azure.

In a world ruled by decay, what chance does life stand?

Season of Sacrifice is part one of the Blood of Azure series—an epic fantasy full of grim encounters, heroic adventures, unique magic, and a captivating world to explore.

Author’s Note: Contains explicit language and some graphic descriptions.

SEASON OF SUFFERING, BOOK 2

A villain in his own mind, Stone McLarin is labeled the hero for murdering a man.

Not only is Stone weighted down as a hero, but he’s idolized by the dominant religion, and he’s the sole protector of the knowledge of the ages. The pressure of the entire realm is on his shoulders.

Carib Reign, a shapeshifter building an army of immortals, plans to purge the Crimson Capital to find this hidden knowledge. His motive, to give the people of Azure the freedom they deserve.

With many adventures along the way, Stone will lead the charge to defend the Crimson Capital against the Immortal Army. Should he fail, anarchy is inevitable. Death for all Azure, a possibility.

Where there is life, death anticipates. But what if death is abandoned? Life will rebel.

Season of Suffering is part two of the Blood of Azure series—an epic fantasy with both light and dark hearts. You’ll experience many fantasy tropes, clashing swords, unique magic, fantastical beasts, and a wide range of Azure’s scenic terrain.

Author’s Note: Contains explicit language and some graphic descriptions.


Enjoy an excerpt from SEASON OF SACRIFICE

My heart beats heavier. I inhale and, with the back of my hand, brush a drop of sweat that has found its way down my forehead. I know what these tracks be-long to. But why now? Am I projecting my ambitions—to slay a Creature of the Night? I grab a handful of Everweed from the ground and reluctantly head in the direction of the trampled vegetation.

My experience with these beasts is nonexistent, but then again, there isn’t another who can claim otherwise. They’re the type of animal man stays far away from, which was the primary reason for choosing this location as a refuge. We chose to risk being mauled by the Creatures of the Night over the public execution we would have inevitably encountered by hiding in a small village. Some would consider us the biggest halfwits in all of Vedora, all of Azure even, for making the decision we made, but I know Harris Martelli personally, and the fact he is capable of persuading a strong-willed and morally sound man like my father to do what he did is far more threatening than any beast living in the wood.

About the Author:
Jonathan J Michael was born and raised in the greater Seattle area in the scenic state of Washington. Jonathan is an advocate of science, nature, and exploration, which has a heavy influence in his debut series, Blood of Azure.

"When I drive down the freeway, I often want to veer onto the backroads and head for the mountains. When I'm at an evening gathering, I'm eager to step outside and gaze at the stars. When I'm on a ferry, I'm at the guardrail staring into the depths wondering what kind of leviathans lurk below. I'm an explorer, and since I'm not on the next Crew Dragon headed for the ISS, fantasy novels let me have what I seek. I write to explore a world of wonder." ~ Jonathan

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Comments

  1. Thank you for hosting my series. Much appreciated.

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  2. The book series sounds fantastic. Love the eye-catching covers.

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  3. The cover looks great. Sounds like an interesting story.

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  4. I like the cover art, synopses and excerpts, The Blood of Azure series is a must read for me. Thank you for sharing the author's bio and book details

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