Welcome to the blog tour for Midnight's Curse, book two in the Beyond the Tales series by Tricia Mingerink. Beyond the Tales is a series of fairy tale retellings with hints of allegorical elements set in a world based on the Appalachian Mountains.
Don't miss the giveaway at the end of this blog post nor the invitation to the
Facebook party on Friday for more giveaways!
Facebook party on Friday for more giveaways!
Beyond the Tales #2
By Tricia Mingerink
High King Alexander has awoken from his 100 years of sleep to a nation divided - the Seven Kingdoms of Tallahatchia are on the edge of yet another war and not sure that they want to be ruled once again by a High King.
Over the years Daemyn Rand has served the High King and with the curse broken finds himself still serving Alex. But his life is different now as he has found love in the Princess Rosanna the princess who broke the curse placed upon the High King. But the past still has its hand on him and the thought of living a normal life and aging with those around him is unfamiliar to him.
Elara Ashen spends her days bemoaning her existence as a maidservant in the home of Baroness Hackett. Elara wants the life that Monica and Beatrice Hackett have - a life of position, of silk gowns, balls, and wealth. And when the King Cassius of Pohatomie invites the High King of Tallahatchia to the Harvest Festival and all the noble persons of the kingdom are invited Elara's wish to attend seems the least possible thing in the world. At least, until a chance encounter with the loveliest Fae she could ever imagine offers her heart's desire. All she needs to do is accept the offered gift of a pair of glass slippers which will make her the envy of every woman and the desire of every man's heart, including the High King's!
But when Elara's dream takes a most unexpected turn she is forced to see just where her jealousy and discontent has lead her - straight into a mess that she doesn't want to be in. And worse she just may destroy all hopes of a reunited Tallahatchia unless she can find a way to stop the curse she now finds herself under.
This is a lovely sequel to Dagger's Sleep as it continues the story that was first presented there (the awakening of the High King). I really like how we see how both Daemyn and Alex are struggling with learning to accept how their lives are now Alex to a kingdom in disarray that has little use for what was and Daemyn who is no longer on a quest to find a princess to break the curse. If you like a twist on the traditional fairy tale this one will most certainly give you that - this is one Cinderella tale that you will want to read again and again.
I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.
About the Book:
The glass slippers might be her dreams come true...or her worst nightmare.
High King Alexander rules the Seven Kingdoms of Tallahatchia—a divided nation on the brink
of yet another war. When an invitation arrives from the king of Pohatomie, Alex knows it must
be a trap, but could it also be his opportunity to unite the kingdoms?
Daemyn Rand has lived a hundred years, served an arrogant prince, fallen in love with a
princess, and lost himself somewhere along the way. He has already died for his loyalty. Will
standing at the high king’s side cost him his last chance to truly live?
Elara Ashen is a lowly, miserable servant. All she wants is to spend even one night in a fancy
dress dancing with the high king. When she is offered a pair of glass slippers, it seems that all
her dreams have come true.
But dreams have a price, and gifts can be curses in disguise. What will it cost to stop this curse
from tearing Tallahatchia apart yet again?
Fairy tales meet the Appalachian Mountains in this adventurous fantasy retelling of the classic
Cinderella story.
Author Interview:
1) Who (or) what is your favorite comfort read author or genre?
Light and humorous fairy tale retellings. They have always been my go-to comfort read from the time I was little. K.M. Shea, J.M. Stengl, Melanie Cellier are my favorites. K.M. Shea especially has a lot of retellings out there, and her writing is so hysterically funny all the time. I wish I could write as funny as she does.
2) What one author past or present would you like to mentor you?
C.S. Lewis. He was seriously brilliant when it came to writing an allegorical story. The Chronicles of Narnia are so well written I get something new out of them every time I read them (and I re-read them at least once a year). I don't know how it is possible to pack so much into the books and still have the allegorical elements feel so natural and integral to the story.
3) How do you develop your setting (a photo, a trip, a random comment)?
Many of my settings are based on places I have actually been. Since I have never traveled outside of the United States yet, that means they are based on settings in the United States. It's a good thing we have such a variety of geography, lol. I write about waterfalls I have actually visited, trails I have walked, places my family got lost in, because it helps me bring the settings more alive on the page.
4) Do you have a favorite author that you would recommend?
A favorite author? Sorry, I can't pick just one, lol. For Christian fantasy: Jaye L. Knight, Morgan Huneke, Nadine Brandes, Jill Williamson, Morgan Busse. For fairy tale retellings, K.M. Shea, J.M. Stengl, Melanie Cellier, W.R. Gingell, Lucy Tempest, and many more are my favorites. I can come up with a mile-long list if you'd like, lol.
I totally agree - whenever anyone asks for my favorite author I can never pick just one - Nope not possible. I love that some of the authors you named are on my list of favorites too - must be why I love your books we have similar tastes in reading!
5) Who is your favorite character (or two) in Midnight's Curse?
I love writing Alex, lol. He can be so annoyingly flawed at times but also so fun to write. It's a good thing I like writing about him since I have two more books with him as a main character. And also, Daemyn. Because Daemyn is awesome.
6) Midnight's Curse and the Dagger's Sleep, do you need to read one to read the other? Do you have a favorite? Why or why not?
It would certainly help to read Dagger's Sleep before Midnight's Curse because Midnight's Curse is a continuation with many of the same characters as the first book. But I did try to write Midnight's Curse so that you could jump straight into it if a Cinderella retelling sounded more appealing than a Sleeping Beauty retelling. You might be mildly confused at the beginning, but it shouldn't be impossibly confusing, if that makes sense.
Follow this link to snag this deal while it lasts!
About the Author
Tricia Mingerink is a twenty-something, book-loving, horse-riding country girl. She lives in Michigan with her family and their pack of pets. When she isn't writing, she can be found pursuing backwoods adventures across the country.You can connect with Tricia on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Facebook Party!
The Facebook party should be a blast with giveaways of
Midnight's Curse,
Dagger's Sleep,
and over ten other Cinderella retellings by indie authors!
Giveaway!
Enter to win signed copies of Dagger's Sleep and Midnight's Curse
(it will be the actual copy, not a proof copy as shown)
as well as a Currently Reading 4oz candle from Novelly Yours Candles.
Due to shipping, the giveaway is open to the US only.
Void where prohibited.
Blog Tour Schedule
Monday – August 5- The Florid Sword – Author Interview and Book Review
- Scribeheart – Author Interview
- The Music of a Story – Book Review
- Jaye L. Knight – Author Interview
- Perfectly Quirky in Every Way – Book Review
- Liv K. Fisher – Author Interview
- Blooming with Books – Author Interview and Book Review
- TJ’s Musing – Book Review
- Imperial Scribis – Author Interview
- Dream Write Now – Author Interview and Book Review
- Morgan Huneke – Author Interview
- The Page Dreamer – Book Spotlight
- Elizabeth Koetsier – Book Spotlight
- Brie Donning – Book Review
- Facebook Party 8-10pm EST, 7-9 pm CST, 6-8 pm MST, 5-7 pm PST
- Novels, Dragons, and Wardrobe Doors – Book Review
- M.H. Elrich – Book Review
Thanks so much for the review and interview! These were fun interview questions!
ReplyDeleteI love the retelling of Cinderella with in Midnight's Curse.
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