Dark Light
of Day (Noon Onyx #1)
By: Jill
Archer
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Ace
Publication: September 25, 2012
ISBN-10: 0425257150
ISBN-13: 978-0425257159
ASIN: B007A9KSMY
Cover Artist: David Palumbo
Armageddon is over. The
demons won. And yet somehow…the world has continued. Survivors worship patron
demons under a draconian system of tributes and rules. These laws keep the
demons from warring among themselves, the world from slipping back into chaos.
Noon
Onyx grew up on the banks of the river Lethe, daughter of a prominent
politician, and a descendant of Lucifer’s warlords. Noon has a secret—she was
born with waning magic, the dark, destructive, fiery power that is used to
control demons and maintain the delicate peace among them. But a woman with
waning magic is unheard of and some will consider her an abomination.
Noon is summoned to attend St. Lucifer’s,
a school of demon law. She must decide whether to declare her powers there…or
attempt to continue hiding them, knowing the price for doing so may be death.
And once she meets the forbiddingly powerful Ari Carmine—who suspects Noon is
harboring magic as deadly as his own—Noon realizes there may be more at stake
than just her life.
Praise for
WHITE HEART OF JUSTICE
“High stakes and
powerful magic collide…”
—Publishers Weekly
“A compelling heroine
and mythos!”
—RT Book Reviews (4 stars)
“Will leave all urban
fantasy lovers wanting more.”
—Night Owl Reviews (Top Pick)
“I spent the entire
novel compulsively reading, racing to the finish.”
—Bitten by Books
“The best so far… I
SERIOUSLY CHEERED… an action packed piece of excellence.”
—Happy Tails and Tales
Fiery Edge
of Steel (Noon Onyx #2)
By: Jill Archer
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Ace
Publication: May 28, 2013
ISBN-10:
0425257169
ISBN-13:
978-0425257166
ASIN: B009NY48SO
Cover Artist: Jason Chan
Lucifer and his army
triumphed at Armageddon, leaving humans and demons living in uncertain peace
based on sacrifice and strict laws. It is up to those with mixed demon and
human blood, the Host, to prevent society from falling into anarchy.
Noon
Onyx is the first female Host in memory to wield the destructive waning magic
that is used to maintain order among the demons. Her unique abilities, paired
with a lack of control and reluctance to kill, have branded her as an outsider
from her peers. Only her powerful lover, Ari Carmine, and a roguish
and mysterious Angel, Rafe Sinclair, support her unconventional ways.
When
Noon is shipped off to a remote outpost to investigate several unusual
disappearances, a task which will most likely involve trying and killing the
patron demon of that area, it seems Luck is not on her side. But when the
outpost settlers claim that an ancient and evil foe has stepped out of legend
to commit the crimes, Noon realizes that she could be facing something much
worse than she ever imagined…
Praise for
FIERY EDGE OF STEEL
“Original and clever urban fantasy.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Fresh
and fascinating series!”
—RT Book Reviews (4 stars)
“A
believability that sucks you in like world-bending magic.”
—Bitten By Books
“A
fantastic blend of danger, adventure, magic, love, and the quest for truth.”
—The
Qwillery
“Entertaining and addicting… cannot wait to see
what future books bring to this series.”
—Night Owl
Reviews
White Heart of Justice (Noon Onyx #3)
By:Jill Archer
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Ace
Date of Publication: May 27, 2014
ISBN-10: 0425257177
ISBN-13:
978-0425257173
ASIN: B00EOARZP0
Cover Artist: Jason Chan
Book description:
Since Lucifer claimed victory at Armageddon,
demons, angels, and humans have coexisted in uneasy harmony. Those with waning
magic are trained to maintain peace and order. But hostilities are never far
from erupting…
After years of denying her abilities, Noon Onyx,
the first woman in history to wield waning magic, has embraced her power. She’s
won the right to compete in the prestigious Laurel Crown Race—an event that
will not only earn her the respect of her peers but also, if she wins, the right
to control her future.
However, Noon’s task is nearly impossible:
retrieve the White Heart of Justice, a mythical sword that disappeared hundreds
of years ago. The sword is rumored to be hidden in a dangerous region of Halja
that she is unlikely to return from. But Noon’s life isn’t the only thing
hanging in the balance. The sword holds an awesome power that, in the wrong
hands, could reboot the apocalypse—and Noon is the only one who can prevent
Armageddon from starting again…
Praise for
DARK LIGHT OF DAY
“Spectacular
debut novel.”
—USA
Today bestselling author Faith Hunter
“An
abundance of adventure, mystery and passion!”
—RT Book Reviews (4 stars)
“Delightfully
dark and unique.”
—Bitten By Books
“Archer
is now down on my ‘never miss’ author list.”
—Night Owl Reviews
“Overwhelmingly addictive.”
—Tower of
Babel
Onto the Reveal!
Pocket
Full of Tinder (Noon Onyx #4)
By: Jill
Archer
Genre: Fantasy
Publisher: Black Willow
Word Count: ~ 85,000
Noon Onyx
is back! In this long-awaited fourth installment, Jill Archer returns readers
to the dangerous world of Halja, where demons, angels, and humans coexist in an
uneasy state of détente.
Maegester-in-Training Noon Onyx feels
like she’s done it all – mastered fiery magic, become an adept fighter, learned
the law, killed countless demons, and survived having her heart broken by both
love and an arrow, but now she’ll face her greatest challenge yet…
Far to the north lies an outpost famous
for its unrest – Rockthorn Gorge. The town’s patron has specifically requested
Noon’s help. Her assignment? Help the neophyte demon lord build his fiefdom and
keep what’s his. The problem? Lord Aristos – Noon’s new employer – is her
erstwhile lover, Ari Carmine, the aforementioned heartbreaker. And the number
one thing he wants is her.
When Rockthorn Gorge’s viaduct is
destroyed by Displodo, an enigmatic bomber, killing a dozen settlers and
wounding scores more, Noon sets off early to aid in the search and rescue. Ari
is listed among the missing and the suspects are legion. But Noon’s search is
just the beginning. Her journey forces Noon to confront not only those she
loves, but also enemies hell-bent on destroying them.
Author Newsletter Sign Up: http://eepurl.com/bAzF7n
Dark Light of Day
Noon Onyx #1
“I’ve
been watching you, wondering, waiting to see where you’d end up. After all,
there are other demon law schools,” Seknecus said, making a moue of
distaste that made it clear exactly what he thought of them. “But I was happy
to see that you chose St. Lucifer’s.”
Technically my mother
chose St. Lucifer’s . . . But there seemed no reason to interrupt to
clarify that bit of misinformation. Seknecus wandered around the room, picking
through papers, flipping open and quickly shutting the front covers of various
leather-bound books, never meeting my eye. I had no doubt, however, that his
attention was fully focused on me.
“So,
you see, seeing your name on my list wasn’t exactly a surprise, although it
appeared much later than I would have liked.”
He
did look at me then, with a frown of disapproval. I did my best to look
expressionless because none seemed appropriate. It wouldn’t do to look amused,
bored or, Luck forbid, rebellious. Seknecus stared at me with narrowed eyes and
then went back to wandering.
“You’ve
got some catching up to do,” he said, addressing a copy of Sin and Sanction: Codification & Case
Law. “It doesn’t matter why or what excuses you’ve got for yourself. You
will be held to the same standards as everyone else, regardless of whose
daughter you are. And you’ve missed a lot of class already.”
I
opened my mouth to protest, but he cut me off with a wave.
“Manipulation
class,” he clarified. “You’re going to have to work ten times as hard as
everyone else just to pass. Quintus Rochester doesn’t go easy on students and
he’s likely to see your absence during the early part of the semester as a
challenge. You know, failing is not an option. Not if you want to
live . . .”
Fiery Edge of Steel
Noon Onyx #2
I nodded warily.
Angels were obsessed with apples. They took their love of this fruit very seriously, worshipping it as a symbol of the lost world they once ruled. A common motif in Angel art was the fallen apple that never rotted. Empyr wines were apple wines that were “enhanced” by some of the best Angel sommeliers in Halja. The enhancements were spells. Each batch had its own name, flavor, coloring, and associated spell. They were served upstairs in the Angels’ infamous restaurant on this building’s thirty-third floor.
I’d had Empyr wine exactly two times in my life. Each time it had produced life-altering effects, although in an indirect manner and not of the kind I could have guessed.
Friedrich turned back toward me and offered me the cup. Inside, the liquid was pink and fizzy and flecked with gold. I reached for the cup and there was a brief moment when I wasn’t sure Friedrich would let go. Was the spell tied to his touch? I yanked harder and the wine nearly spilled out of the cup as it broke free from his grasp. Rochester’s signature nudged mine, like a parent pinching an errant child. I glanced back at Ari, who gave me a tight smile.
I tipped the cup to my lips and drank. Immediately, a bitter, chalky taste filled my mouth. I hid my grimace, finished, and handed the cup back to Friedrich.
“This batch is called ‘Fortuna’s Favorites,’” Friedrich said. “Think you’re one of them?”
Time will tell, I thought, but said instead, “Fortes fortuna adiuvat.” Fortune favors the bold. Another of Dorio’s sayings. Maybe Fitz had the right idea.
Friedrich grunted. Ari grinned.
Rochester held off magically pinching me again. Instead, he handed me a white linen napkin.
“A gift from this batch’s sommelier,” he said. “Some words of wisdom regarding this semester’s assignment.”
I choked back a laugh. From tea leaves to wine tannins, where Angels fear not to tread . . . I accepted the napkin and wiped my mouth gently. I’d been generous in this morning’s application of Daredevil Red lip paint. Who knew what my fortune might be if I added too much of that to the mix? But the laugh died in my throat as I looked down at my napkin. Slowly, a stain of words appeared:
When traveling into the unknown, sometimes the biggest danger is the one you bring with you . . .
White Heart of Justice
Noon Onyx #3
I
paid the cab driver his fare, and we climbed out. In front of us, on a high
windswept hill on the outskirts of north New Babylon, was the Crystal Palace.
We made our way up the steep stone steps that led to its entrance and I
imagined how enticing this building might look during spring. With its great
glass dome full of wintery winds nestled atop a hill full of grass and flowers,
it would, no doubt, look like an enormous snow globe set on a colorful perch, a
veritable beacon to would-be adventurers, Haljan hunters, and other wannabe
travelers dreaming of something different. Today, however, there was little
difference between the gray sky behind the building and the gray atmosphere
within it.
Just
outside the entrance was a fountain, but instead of water, this one sprayed
snow. At its base was a sign:
Winter either bites with
its teeth
or lashes with its tail.
Make a wish and swish.
All proceeds benefit
Kalisto’s Hunters’
Widows’ and Children’s Fund
Beneath
the sign was a cup for offerings. I looked up and suddenly my pulse and
signature skyrocketed with the snow. High above the fountain was the wispy
outline of a yeti—a snow beast. Its face materialized from the snow with black
eyes the size of the cab we’d just climbed out of and an open jaw at least half
the size of Timothy’s Square. It swooped toward us, teeth gnashing, just as Rafe
dropped a coin in the cup. He waved his hand in the air and the snow yeti
slowly dissolved. A mist of cold, wet snow rained down on us.
“Did
you wish for an umbrella?” I said, wiping my cheek with the hem of my cloak.
“Nope,
I made a serious wish.”
I
gave him a dubious look. “Uh-huh. Let me guess. You wished that Kalisto would
have a nose warmer with whiskers inside?”
He
shook his head.
“Levitating
snowshoes?”
Same
response.
“Hot
chocolate, at least?”
Rafe
didn’t answer. Instead he locked his arm with mine and led me toward the
iron-doored entrance. On the way, he sang softly:
“I
wished I could kiss your gap-toothed smile.”
When
he saw my reaction, he stifled a laugh.
“It
would be bliss to do so awhile.”
He
stopped abruptly and turned me toward him, keeping a hold on my shoulders.
“But
you’re fierce and you’re fiery and oh so wisery.”
He
lowered his head close to mine and then said sotto voce:
“So
it’s certain you’d yell, ‘Go straight to hell!’”
The
wind buffeted us from every direction as the snow continued to fall from above.
Suddenly, I was acutely aware that Rafe was holding onto me. He stared at me
and for a single second I wondered if he’d meant it when he’d said he wished
for something serious.
“Wisery?” I said finally, stepping back. “Only
you could come up with a word like that, Rafe.”
Excerpt
POCKET FULL OF TINDER
Noon Onyx #4
The claw-and-ball had been chewed clean off. It
lay on a patch of sunny parquet floor, just to the right of an antique,
aubergine wool rug now covered with the splintered remnants of an eleventh
century pedestal table and one very large, ghastly looking, somewhat repentant
barghest.
Nova’s head rested on her front paws as her gaze
shifted warily from me to Miss Bister, Megiddo’s dormater, or house mother.
“Megiddo’s lobby is not a kennel, Miss Onyx.
That”—she motioned dismissively toward Nova—“beast can no longer be housed here.”
I opened my mouth to respond, but Miss Bister
continued speaking, her tone rising only infinitesimally, her back as stiff as
Luck’s lance must have been, and her expression just as hard. She pointed
toward the previously priceless, three-footed piece of furniture that was now a
worthless, two-footed pile of kindling.
“No amount of money – or magic – can fix that, Nouiomo. It’s beyond repair. I
warned you. I made an exception to my ‘no pets’ rule because you never cause
trouble. You never forget your key; you promptly pick up your deliveries; you
change your own light bulbs; you double bag your trash. You leave nothing
behind in the bathroom; you don’t monopolize the washing machines; you are
exceedingly polite to the lift operator; you don’t sing in the shower.”
I suppressed a sigh. After a year and a half of
painstaking efforts, harrowing experiences, and endless hours of education, my
worth had just been measured by the fact that I could change a light bulb. I’d
mastered fiery magic, become an adept fighter, learned the law, killed
countless demons (one regrettably, the others much less so), freed myriad
immortals from an accursed, tortured bondage, and survived having my heart
nearly destroyed by both love and an arrow, yet none of that meant bupkis next
to the fact that I double bagged my trash. And yet…
I couldn’t really argue with Miss Bister either.
Everything she’d said was true. And who was I to tell her what she should deem
important? I respected that she valued domestic order and antiques. I did too,
if not nearly as much as I valued the thing that now threatened our continued
access to such. I glared at Nova, who swept one paw over her eyes as if she
could hide from me and the evidence of what she’d done.
Barghests are giant hellhounds. They’re bigger
than bears, fiercer than rabid raccoons, and uglier than naked mole rats. Their
teeth are the size of railroad spikes, their claws as sharp as a sickle, their
breath as foul as sewage gas. But they are also affectionate, brave, and loyal.
What barghests lack in magic, they make up for in devotion. And even though I
was plenty mad at Nova for chewing up Miss Bister’s table, I also knew it
wasn’t Nova’s fault.
It was mine – for thinking the lobby of a demon
law school dormitory would be a good place to keep her.
“Miss Bister, please,” I said. “I’m truly sorry.
I know I can’t replace that exact table. But if you would just allow me to—”
“No,” Miss Bister said simply. “Either the beast
goes… Or you do.”
I stared at the small, frail, magicless woman in
front of me, trying desperately to think of some way to fix this problem.
Wasn’t there something I could do, or say, or offer her that would make amends
and convince her not to kick us out?
But all I could think of was how useless some of
the things our society valued most were. As Miss Bister had pointed out,
neither magic nor money would help. If I was going to repair the table, I’d
need to find another way. Which would take time. And that meant I’d need to
find somewhere else for us to sleep tonight. Because if the beast was going… I
was too.
“Yes, Miss Bister,” I said. “I understand.”
She narrowed her eyes, slightly suspicious of my
now gracious defeat since I’d just spent the last half-hour trying to persuade
her to accept various forms of reparation. But then she nodded, handed me a
couple of paper bin bags, and left.
I slid one bag inside the other and stooped down
to pick up the slobbery remains of Nova’s mangled chew toy. When I finished,
she came over to me and nudged my arm with her head. She let out a woofy whine.
Was she sorry? She darn well better be!
I gave her a scratch behind the ears.
“Now that you’ve sharpened your teeth on my
former dormater’s furniture, are you
ready to eat some real food for breakfast?”
Jill Archer writes dark, genre-bending
fantasy from rural Maryland. Her novels include Dark Light of Day, Fiery Edge
of Steel, White Heart of Justice, and Pocket Full of Tinder. She loves cats,
coffee, books, movies, day tripping, and outdoor adventuring.
Website:
http://www.jillarcher.com/
Newsletter:
http://eepurl.com/bAzF7n
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/archer_jill
Discussion Questions: http://jillarcherauthor.wordpress.com/book-clubs/
Thank you, Emily, for participating in the cover reveal!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to you and your readers!
A pocket full of best wishes!!!
ReplyDelete