BTS Tour: Katalina Leon and Amber Skyze

TITLE: The Strix (Bag of Tricks)

AUTHOR(S): Katalina Leon and Amber Skyze

PUBLISHER: Loose Id LLC

LENGTH: 234 Pages

SUBGENRES: Vampire, Shapeshifter, Fantasy

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BLURB:

A cursed amber amulet unearthed in Pompeii flings Arcona into a past life of witchcraft, bloodshed, revenge and sexual slavery to the cruel Master of a gladiatorial school. This violent parallel world is populated with “Slayers,” blood-drinking immortals devoted to the gods of war and mayhem.

As a Strix, or malignant witch, Arcona once used sex and blood rituals to create a race of immortal warriors to unleash on Rome. Now it’s time to pay.

The gladiator Tyr was one desperately lonely lover she betrayed. Against his will, she turned him into Upir Likhyi, a foul vampire. For two millennia he’s lived a grim existence as a Slayer, in constant sexual arousal yet denied release; now, he's pissed off and wants revenge. He kidnaps Arcona planning to drink her dry and break the curse. 

Along the way Arcona and Tyr relive their sexual slavery at the hands of Rome and blood sport in the arena, but the real magic is they forgive and fall in love. 

Too bad another Slayer wants them dead.

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This excerpt (rated R) takes place on a densely wooded sacred island on the Rhine. Arcona has just taken a vow of chastity and completed a lonely vigil and initiation to the Goddess Nerthus, when she is discovered by Roman soldiers and taken captive.

EXCERPT:

78 AD

Arcona crouched on the gravel beach. The wet river stones left her soaked and shivering. She carefully concealed her empty hands in the folds of her tunic and tried to stare the Roman soldiers down, knowing it was only a matter of moments before they realized she wasn’t armed and rushed in on her.

Why did she leave her knife by the campfire? It was foolish. At least with a weapon in her hand she could die fighting.

The soldiers stealthily fanned in a half circle around her. Their intense gazes never broke. She had the feeling she was an exotic animal trapped in a snare. The icy river and 
Hedron’s dead body were at her back. She refused to glance behind her and look at them. Her heart couldn’t bear it.

Several of the Romans appeared to be her age or younger. She guessed these men were scouts and not seasoned centurions. They had a light dusting of black whiskers on the sides of their jaws and muscular, compact bodies. Their breath came quickly, and despite the cold morning, perspiration glistened on their sun-browned skin. The youngest men possessed a feral, undisciplined look in their dark eyes. Those men scared her the most.

The legate wore a deep crimson cloak and an ornate sword belt and appeared to be the most mature man in the group. “Come here.” He coaxed her forward with the wave of his hand. “I want to look at you.”

“By Jupiter, their women are dirty,” one of the soldiers said in disgust. “Look at the filthy rags wrapped around her arms.”

“She’s been injured.” The legate hissed a warning at the man to be silent.

The man sheepishly shut his mouth.

Another soldier darted forward, threw his arms around Arcona, and knocked her to the ground.

Arcona hit the gravel beach with a thud. The soldier landed hard on top of her and pinned her. His weight pushed down on her until it was difficult to draw breath.

The soldier snarled in her face. “The legate wants to look at you; don’t ignore him!”

“There’s no need to shout in her face. She can’t understand you.” The legate strode toward Arcona. His cool gazed poured over her. A slight smile lit his lips. “She certainly is dirty, but a simple bath will solve that problem.” He leaned closer. “Her eyes are a stunning shade of green, very earthy. They look a bit crazed, but that’s probably because she’s scared.” He knelt and rubbed his fingers against a few strands of her hair. “I can’t tell beneath the layers of sooty ash, but I think her hair has a touch of scarlet in it. Lift her tunic,” he demanded. “Let’s see if the other thatch of hair matches.”

The soldier lying on top of her pushed her tunic higher. “I’m hard as stone,” he muttered. “Can we take turns with her?”

“No,” the legate said coldly. “We don’t know what we have yet.”

Arcona spit in the soldier’s face and wildly kicked him.

“She’s hurting me!” the soldier complained. He wrestled Arcona into submission. “Get over here and help me!” he barked to his younger companion.

A mean-looking young man approached.

“Draw your knife,” the legate ordered. “Cut these rags off so we can look at her.”

The young man drew a dagger from his hip belt, took hold of the hem of Arcona’s tunic, and sawed the blade against the cloth. The threads popped and tore as the fabric ripped higher.

The young man parted the frayed cloth and gasped. “Look at her; she’s beautiful. Wide hips, big tits, milky skin.” His gaze locked on her. “I’m certain a woman like this has had a man. What fools would let something this tempting walk around and not put their cocks in it?”

The soldier pinning her to the ground looked up at the legate with pleading eyes. “Can I just rub my cock between her thighs?”

Fear swept over her. Arcona fought like a she-bear. She remembered a horrible insult the old scout had dared to teach her. She opened her mouth and screamed, “Vestri Deus Jupiter combibo spurcus gallo of sulum pauper in vicus!”

The legate reeled in shock. “What did you say?”

“You heard me!” Arcona sneered at the Romans. “Your god Jupiter sucks the filthy cocks of every beggar on the street.” She didn’t really know what a street was, but the scout had assured her such a thing was the wrong place for sex.

“Who taught you that?” The legate looked scandalized.

 “Ego narro vestri lingua. Volo veneration.” She spoke slowly with as much authority as she could muster. “I speak your tongue. I want respect. Who is your leader?”

The legate looked flummoxed, as if a bird in the treetops had just spoken to him. “Gaius Julius Civilis is our commander.”

“I have a message for Gaius. Unless you want me to scratch your eyes out with my dirty fingernails, take me to him!”

“All right.” The legate appeared stunned. “I will.”

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BUY LINKS:

Loose Id LLC: http://www.loose-id.com/the-strix.html

All Romance eBooks http://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thestrix-882524-139.html

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=Katalina+Leon

BOOK TRAILER:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHkumnAXaiQ&list=UUKWmBpg3YYPkdrDkpTpEj1Q&index=0&feature=plcp

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Review

5 Stars

If you haven't read this book be warned; this review contains possible spoilers.

Being a fan of mythology and history I was intrigued by the blurb for this book. I personally adore reading about the way the world once was and what different civilisations believed and how they lived. I also very much enjoy seeing what writers do with such knowledge.

For me, The Strix had it all; the gritty truth and violence of the Roman era, magic, sex, the supernatural, reincarnation, and love. From page one you are sucked into the old world, learning right away the origin and the beliefs of the heroine, Arcona. It's wonderful to see the difference between the past and the present and how much has changed over the centuries. How magic and superstition was once integrated - and through religion most of the time - in the world and yet it has been lost.

I immediately sympathized with past Arcona and the path that she decided to walk down. Times were hard, and any person had to do what they must for survival in those days. I enjoyed how present Arcona was awakened to her past life, and reunited with the man she had wronged, Tyr. Or should I say vampire? I thought the magical creation of these creatures we hear so much about was a very refreshing and interesting approach, and added just that extra does of supernatural flavour to the story.

It was wonderful to see how a soul can change through time and reincarnation - something I believe strongly in - and how two souls can share a connection that can last through the ages. How a second chance and the strength to forgive can change a person and their life.

Wonderfully descriptive, intriguing, and with a does of magic and the paranormal, The Strix is definitely a book to be read; especially for anyone who loves some history. 

Great first book in the series and I am totally looking forward to reading the next.


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ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

My name’s Katalina Leon, I’m an artist, an author, mother and wife. I write for Loose Id Publishing and Ellora’s Cave. I try to bring a touch of the mystical and a sense of adventure to everything I write because I believe there’s a bold, kick-ass heroine inside all of us who wants to take a wild ride with a strong worthy hero.