Book Spotlight: Sellsword’s Oath by Gail Z. Martin

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Gail Z. Martin will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Genre:   Fantasy

 

Book Description

Buddy flick epic fantasy! The second in the Assassins of Landria series from the award-winning, bestselling author of Scourge: A Novel of Darkhurst and The Chronicles Of The Necromancer books!

 

Wandering mystic Yefim Makary, known to his followers as the ‘Witch Lord’, disappeared before he could be accused of inciting dissent against King Kristoph. His supporters among the disenchanted aristocrats who weren’t arrested have fled or died by their own hand. The king is happy to put the matter behind him. Yet Burke, the commander of the elite King’s Shadows, doesn’t believe the threat is over, and he assigns his two most troublesome, rule-breaking—and successful—assassins to ferret out the real threat and put a stop to Makary’s plots.

 

Joel “Ridge” Breckinridge and Garrett “Rett” Kennard rose through the ranks of the Landrian army together, from teenaged conscripts to seasoned fighters. Together, they became the most feared team of assassins in Landria, surviving longer that most in their profession by virtue of excellent fighting skills, legendary bravado, peerless strategy, and an uncanny synchronicity.

 

As the threads of a new plot come together revealing disloyalty among the priests and generals, Ridge and Rett once again find themselves on the run, hoping they and their allies can figure out the Witch Lord’s latest scheme before it costs them their lives—and the king his throne.

 

Interview with Author Gail Z. Martin

 

What inspired you to come up with the idea for your book?

I have been writing epic fantasy for over a decade, and my first three series were all the usual very thick books you find in this genre. I love those kinds of stories, but so many readers I met at conventions would say that they used to love reading epic fantasy but no longer had the time. So I decided to write a series that had all of the feels of epic fantasy, but not the length.

 

The books in the Assassins of Landria series are ‘buddy flick’ epic fantasy. Shorter, faster-paced, less complicated, with more humor, but still with solid world-building, magic and action.

 

Sellsword’s Oath is the second book in the Assassins of Landria series, so while it is a stand-alone adventure, it follows after the events in book one—Assassin’s Honor.

 

What do you love most about writing?

I love being able to share the stories in my mind with readers and have those characters come to life for them. My favorite thing is finding out that my books helped someone through a difficult time. I also really enjoy developing the characters and building the world, figuring out how the magic works. That’s my idea of fun!

 

Do you have a favorite writing environment?

I’ve had to be pretty flexible. I’ve written in different locations in the house, in hotels, airports, on planes, trains and on cruise ships. The best locations have good wifi so I can do my research on the internet!

 

What other books have you written?

As Gail Z. Martin, I write epic and urban fantasy, as well as steampunk and post-apocalyptic adventure. That includes several series: The Chronicles of the Necromancer, The Ascendant Kingdoms Saga, and the Darkhurst series, as well as the Deadly Curiosities and Night Vigil series. Co-authored with my husband, Larry N. Martin are the Spells Salt and Steel, Wasteland Marshals and Joe Mack Adventures series plus Iron & Blood. As Morgan Brice, I write urban fantasy MM paranormal romance, and have three series so far: Witchbane, Badlands and Treasure Trail.

 

How long have you been a writer?

I usually say that I have been a writer all my life, but I’ve been published since 2007!

 

What’s your writing routine?

I usually do email, social media and other ‘administrative’ stuff in the morning because I’m not really a morning person. I do better thinking and creating in the afternoon and early evening.

Read an Excerpt

“Moving along,” he said with a grimace, “there’s the matter of your next assignment. The Witch Lord has disappeared. We know he wasn’t killed or captured, but right now we have no idea where he’s gone. The nobles who supported him have either vanished, committed suicide, or been imprisoned for attempted treason. Some of us believe it’s only a matter of time before the Witch Lord makes another move, but until then, King Kristoph is eager to move on and put the incident behind him.”

 

Ridge thought the king didn’t want to look weak by dwelling on the attack. Kristoph had narrowly escaped death, and now he needed to show his enemies he was strong enough to take the matter in stride. That didn’t change the reality of Kristoph’s situation, and it presented a complication when it came to protecting him.

 

“Do you agree?” Rett asked.

 

Burke looked pained. “I serve the king, which requires doing what he asks and what he needs,” he added in a quiet voice. “So I am authorizing you to keep your ears open, but anything you find out—anything—you bring it to me before you act. Are we clear?”

 

Ridge and Rett nodded.

 

“In the meantime, I have a job for you. Those counterfeiters I mentioned before. Treason of a different kind.” He slid a folded paper across the table to Ridge.

 

“It’s your letter of marque to go after anyone illegally producing the coin of the realm,” Burke said. “We believe there’s a group set up near the border, where they can prey on merchants looking to exchange gold for Landrian currency. Counterfeiting is an act of violence against the king’s treasury and the realm itself. You’ll be passing as traders. Find the people responsible, destroy their forge, and end the threat. As quietly as possible.”

 

“Yes, sir,” Ridge replied.

 

“If in the course of your duties you learn more about the Witch Lord and his disciples, I’ll be fascinated to hear about it,” Burke added. “Now, finish your ale and go home. You’ll be leaving in the morning.”

 

Author Bio and Links

Gail Z. Martin writes epic fantasy, urban fantasy and steampunk for Solaris Books, Orbit Books, SOL Publishing, Darkwind Press, and Falstaff Books. Recent books include Witch of the Woods, Sellsword’s Oath, Inheritance, and Night Moves. With Larry N. Martin, she is the co-author of the Spells Salt & Steel, Wasteland Marshals, Joe Mack and Jake Desmet series. As Morgan Brice, she writes urban fantasy MM paranormal romance including the Witchbane, Badlands and Treasure Trail series. Recent books include Loose Ends and Unholy.

 

Find her at www.GailZMartin.com, on Twitter @GailZMartin, on Facebook.com/WinterKingdoms, at DisquietingVisions.com blog and on Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/GailZMartin. Never miss out on the news and new releases—newsletter signup link http://eepurl.com/dd5XLj Follow her Amazon author page here: https://www.amazon.com/Gail-Z-Martin/e/B002BM8XSQ On Bookbub:  https://www.bookbub.com/profile/gail-z-martin On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morganbriceauthor/

And get a free complete short story, Catspaw, here:  https://claims.prolificworks.com/free/UAjd6

Join her Facebook group, the Shadow Alliance https://www.facebook.com/groups/435812789942761/

 

Gail Z. Martin will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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