Saturday, November 28, 2020

Born at Dawn Tour and Giveaway

 


Born At Dawn
Da'Valia Trilogy Book 1
by Christina Davis
Genre: YA Fantasy Adventure


When a heist goes terribly wrong and the binding spell holding 17-year-old Neva’s powers at bay is shattered, the half-human thief knows she’s in trouble.
Neva has always hidden her Da’Valian heritage while working risky jobs to make a name for herself and serving at her family’s tavern, but she won’t be able to hide much longer. She can either risk the safety of those she cares about or seek out her mother’s people to gain control over her emerging powers.
The Da’Valia are beautiful, brutal creatures created by the god of war, and the austere Da’Valian soldier Astiand reluctantly agrees to take Neva to his clan under his protection. She makes unexpected friends, including the handsome fighter Emiliand, and a new enemy in the clan’s ruthless leader.
Spying on her guardian, the sly heroine quickly discovers just how deep she has stumbled into a dangerous, developing clan feud.
Will she be able to embrace who she is in time to keep her loved ones safe?

This book is about a race of warriors and contains violent scenes, which may not be suitable for all audiences.

•••

Here's what early readers of BORN AT DAWN had to say...

"It's so good!!! I'm slightly obsessed ♥ ...I need more Astiand and Neva moments" ★★★★★

"I always wanted to read more and struggled to put the book down" ★★★★★

"I adored the book. It's unique, and the characters are incredible." ★★★★★

"The pacing of the plot was one of the things that impressed me when reading this book: from the high-tension beginning, to the way world-building details were strung seamlessly ... every chapter left me eager to read more without making me feel as if I was being constantly strung along by cliffhangers." ★★★★


Neva filled the bard’s cup, but she couldn’t force her gaze from the Da’Valia in front of her. Although his hooded cloak blocked his horns from the customers, her view allowed her to see each was as wide as her wrist at the base, pointed on the end, and black. Instinct told her his ears were molded pointy like her own beneath his unshorn hair.

“And you?” Neva pushed the words out, trying to avoid staring at the scar stretching from below his eye to his jaw.

He was fearsome, yet something about him resonated with her. She had never seen a Da’Valia other than her mother, but she had heard the stories of the male warriors. Her mother’s white skin had almost shone, but the males, the hilans, had not been born at dawn, according to the old stories. The hilans had been born at midnight.

“Of course,” the Da’Valia said, sliding his mug forward. His voice reminded her of a shepherd’s horn, deep and echoing through the mountains.

“Have you heard any news from farther north these past months?” the bard asked as she poured.

Neva shook her head. The more northern regions were so remote only miners with gold fever ventured there. Fewer still ever returned.

“Very little comes to the Pass during Fireside,” she said. “You would probably know of worthy things better than I.”

She spoke with the bard, but every part of her was alert to the Da’Valia. Mentally, she thanked Neil for warning her. As far as her uncles knew, she was entirely human, but the Da’Valia’s presence was intimidating enough.

The Da’Valia moved to pull his mug to him, but the edge of his hand tapped the ceramic, knocking it off the table. Faster than a human could track, Neva set down one of her pitchers and caught the mug by the bottom. She stopped its fall before a drop spilled. The action was pure reflex.

It happened so fast, the bard didn’t take notice, but Neva was aware of the Da’Valia’s unwavering gaze as she scooted the mug back into his hand. She hadn’t taken her eyes off the bard, yet instinct told her the Da’Valia was looking at her. Silently, she cursed her reaction to his clumsiness. It would have been safer to let it drop to the floor and deal with the mess. She knew better than to show her speed in public, but she was rattled.

The bard paused in his story for another sip of mead, and the Da’Valia took advantage of the moment of silence.

“Nevazhi,” he said.

“Aye?” she asked, keeping her eyes down, not wanting to look at him directly.

“I heard the customers call you that,” he said, wrapping his hands around his mug. “It’s an interesting name. How did you come by it?”

“Why, my mother gave it to me, of course,” she said, forcing a chuckle. Polite, not giving anything away.

The silence that met her response dragged, forcing her to glance up. Her eyes locked with the Da’Valia’s. Without meaning to, she held her breath. Maybe he didn’t recognize her for what she truly was. Maybe he was just of odd character.

But his next words shattered her hope.

“Nevazhi is a name in my family as well,” he told her.

“That’s interesting,” she spoke softly, ready to give her standard response. “But my mother was foreign. I suppose it’s popular in other parts.”

“No. It’s not.” The Da’Valia’s voice took on a hard edge.

Neva stilled like a child found out for lying. She swallowed hard. The bard leaned forward, sensing something was amiss.

“Indeed,” the bard said. “Nevazhi is an unusual name. I have not heard it in any of my travels, and I have walked to the far corners of the realm.”

The Da’Valia kept his eyes on Neva’s a moment longer.  

“It’s of no matter,” he said to the bard, settling comfortably back into his seat. “Were she one of my people, she would not be able to deny who she is forever. Regardless, I’m sure the barmaid has more customers to attend.”

Neva nearly bit her tongue to keep from engaging the Da’Valia further. What choice did she have? To accept it publicly would be to invite judgment, fear, and hostility from everyone in her life. Something he couldn’t possibly understand.

“I should move on,” Neva agreed instead, gesturing to the next table.

“Aye, of course!” the bard agreed, nodding.

Neva obtained their coin before moving to the next table. They stayed for more than an hour, and Neva felt the Da’Valia’s eyes on her as they departed. As soon as the door closed behind them, she let out a lengthy breath. The Da’Valia had recognized her name and all but challenged her to admit her bloodlines. That scared her.

Neva stepped into the kitchen to collect herself. She had spent her entire life hiding the true nature of her blood, but for however long he was visiting Glacier Pass, the chances of her being found out were far greater.



Christina Davis was raised in the Santa Cruz Mountains, and she spent much of her childhood in and out of hospitals, embracing reading as an escape. After being home-schooled through high school, she graduated summa cum laude from San Jose State University and attended NYU's Summer Publishing Institute before embarking on a decade-long career in journalism. She enjoys chocolate, cosplay, coffee, and board games, but not necessarily in that order. She now lives in beautiful Monterey County with her husband and daughter.




Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

$20 Amazon


1 comment:

  1. Thanks for helping spread word about Born at Dawn! Happy holidays!

    ReplyDelete

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