Friday, October 23, 2015

Portia~ Angelbound Offspring #2 by Christina Bauer Blog Tour! Interview, Review, Giveaway and more!

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Title: Portia
Series: Angelbound Offspring
Vol or Book #: 2

Author: Christina Bauer
Audience: Adult 18+
Genre: Romance/Fantasy
Format: E-book and Paperback
Publisher: Ink Monster LLC
Cover by: Art by Ana Cruz, Graphics by Paddy Donnelly
Editor: Ink Monster LLC
Pages: 250 pages
ISBN: 9780990635246
ASIN: B00W2A9Q0G
Date Published: 10-27-15



blurb (1)
Unlike her famous older brother Maxon, Princess Portia isn't known for killing demons or attracting admirers.  The reason why is simple:  a spell was cast on Portia, and the magic has marked her to one day transform into a dreaded Void demon.  To fight this horrible fate, Portia's spend her life hiding in libraries and learning magic.  But when the Void demons threaten to destroy all the after-realms—and the handsome dragon Emperor Tempest offers his help—then Portia suspects that her future holds more than just a demonic metamorphosis.  Fate is calling the bookworm princess onto the battlefield, and it's a fight against both deadly enemies and her heart's desires.

book links (1)
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excerpt (1)

Chapter One

I am so late.

My heart beats at double speed while I rush up the staircase to the Ryder mansion. After pulling open the fancy wooden door, I step inside a large and empty foyer. Well, it’s almost empty.

The President of Purgatory is waiting for me. Not good.

Even worse, her mouth is pressed into a thin and frustrated line. No question why she’s unhappy. My lecture on Magic Across The After-Realms should’ve started twenty minutes ago.

“Portia, you’re finally here,” she sighs. “We were getting frantic.”

The President’s known for being tough on crime, graft, and well, everything really. But she’s also my grandmother. When it comes to family, Gram’s a softie who worries like crazy. I should know, being a softie myself. I give her a quick peck on the cheek. “So sorry, Gram. I got caught up.”

Gram’s tail sways warily over her right shoulder. No shock, there. Every quasi-demon in Purgatory has a tail. Gram’s variety is long and black with an arrowhead-shaped end and a mind of its own.

Currently, that mind totally suspects that I’m up to something.
Good suspicion, actually.

“What are you working on this time?” asks Gram. “Is it dangerous magic? Please tell me you’re being safe.”

“No, it’s not dangerous at all,” I say.

Which isn’t entirely true.

My cheeks redden with guilt, but I can’t exactly admit that I was up all night trying to track Void demons by casting spells with an enchanted canopic jar. It’s super-tricky stuff. I could’ve ended up with a Void demon in my living room, and I’m not what you call battle-hardy.
 
about the author (1)
image
 
Christina graduated from Syracuse University’s Newhouse School with BA’s in English along with Television, Radio, and Film Production. An avowed girl geek, Christina loves creating immersive fantasy worlds with action, adventure, romance, and kick-ass female protagonists. As part of her work in Ink Monster, Christina has co-developed the ‘Heroine’s Journey,’ a blueprint for telling female myths inspired by the work of Joseph Campbell. She lives in Newton, MA with her husband, son, and golden retriever Ruby.

Thank you for speaking with me.  I'm trying not to fangirl too much, though I'm not much good at it.  I gush about this series and Ink Monsters different series as a whole since I first read Angelbound and Becoming Alpha what seems like forever ago.  Anywho thanks again I guess I'll ask questions now ;)
               Aw, shucks!  You made my day!

What are three things on your bucket list?
               Good question!  One.  Quit my day job and write full time.  Two.  Visit the pyramids.  Three.  Support my son into becoming the best little guy that he can be.

How did you first get into writing?
               I started telling 'my stories' as soon as I could talk.  By the time I hit first grade, the nuns had to set aside story hour for me at the end of the day so I wouldn't interrupt class anymore! To this day, stories are going on in my head all the time.  My Aunt was a writer, so she steered me in that direction from an early age.  Guess I was lucky she didn't work in an asylum, because I sometimes wonder where my behavior could have sent me otherwise!

What inspired the world of Angelbound? 
               Angelbound came right out of my experiences working at Microsoft and founding a global investment program for our small reseller partners.  I was having a great time kicking ass, taking names, and building the program across multiple groups.  At the time, people kept warning me about becoming a target—back then, it was dangerous to build something across groups—but I was having such fun, I didn't care.  Myla's voice is exactly how I sound when I'm in the zone on a good work battle.  I do fist bumps, happy dances, the whole nine yards.  I even sing little songs on calls when I have good news.  Ba-ba-ba-bah-bah-bah-BAAAAAAH!  I had people search me out 'just to meet me,' and I thought this side of myself might be fun to make into a character.

               So you know, I did get the backlash from a new boss who wanted me and my program gone.  He got what he wanted.  Today, I still work with Microsoft but as a partner.  I'm going out to Remond next week to meet with the VP of Global Alliances.  Myla FTW!

Purgatory sure is full of different creatures that make sure there is never a dull moment.  Briefly tell us a little about the main ones we'll be focusing on in Portia.  Void demons, Quasi-demon, Thrax, and Dragon Emperor.
               Ooooh, I love this question!  I do Pinterest boards to inspire my world building.  I've linked the appropriate ones below.

               Void demons are nasty goop monsters who eat the Firmament, which is the magical network that keeps Purgatory, Heaven, Hell and everything else connected.

               Quasi-demons run Purgatory.  They are mostly human with a little demon DNA that manifests as a tail and as a power across one of the seven deadly sins.  Portia's mother is quasi.  Since Portia has a little demon blood in her as well, that makes her quasi, too.

               Thrax are demon fighters who are part angel and part human.  They live far below the Earth's Surface in Antrum.  Portia's father is thrax.

               Tempest is the Emperor of the Furor, a race of dragon shifters who have special powers over the deadly sins of lust and wrath.  Tempest is known for constantly taking new lovers.  However, those closest to him have recently noticed a change in the Emperor.  Is he getting ready to chose his Rhana, what dragons call their life mate?  Or has the choice already been made long ago?

Dragons.  There s a dragon on the cover and in the summary.  How did you decide on the mythology of your dragons?
               OMG.  This is something I spent a ton of time on and then, it got like two paragraphs in the book!  The way my mind works, it just turns over a world 24-7 while I'm in a book.  I can't shut it off if I tried!  Once I get on a roll, I use Pinterest to help me visualize things.  For Portia, the dragons are organized into different tribes.  There are glassdragons, water dragons, butterfly-sized dragons, and dragons who craft gems in order to gain power over magic.  And a ton more.

We started out with Myla.  Now we have progressed forward jumping a bit forward with each book moving to the children.  What made you decide to jump forward and from Myla as primary?
               This is all Tempest's fault.  He started showing up in scenes in book 2 and would not get out of my head.  He appeared as this fully realized character and I fell in love with him.  I was like, hey now!  You're who and you want what?!  He was even already buds with Maxon and had a thing for Portia.  Now that Tempest has his book and can shut the f*ck up, I'm thinking about going back and doing another book in Myla's voice between Scala and Armageddon.  It would cover their wedding and all that good stuff.  It's tentatively called Acca and I should have a release date soon.

The Igni predicted Portia and even whispered her name to her mom, did her parents have any say in her name? 
               No, they had no say whatsoever in Portia's name.  Kind of like how I felt when Tempest started showing up J From a story perspective, the ingi got in cahoots with Verus and came up with the name together.

Also how did you as the author or the Igni come up with the name?
               From a writer side, I like the idea of Portia and Tempest.  Her character is a 'port in the storm' of Tempest's life.  Can't say more without giving anything away!

What do you want readers to take away from your books?
               Oh, if you have a good time and can escape from reality for a while, then I'm a happy camper.  I love it when people tell me that my books inspire them to go out and kick ass in some way, too!

Do you have any new projects coming up?
               Yes, I'm working on a new series called Beholder.  The first book, Cursed, is due out in March 2016.

How can your readers get in touch? (Links provided just below)

Thank you so much!  I can't wait to see your answers.
               Thank YOU for your thoughtful questions!

 
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Instagram Username : CHRISTINA_CB_BAUER


                So now that you know all the awesome reasons you should be reading this series I want to share with you my thoughts on the newest edition.  I was beyond excited when this one became available on NetGalley.  Like out of town download the kindle app on my phone and stayed up all night at my friends not sleeping but reading.  Yep. That is how good.

Rating: 5 Stars

                As if it wasn't clear I LOVED this book.  Meeting Portia and seeing a different type of character was super interesting.  She is kick-ass no doubt, but she is a different kind of kick-ass.  She's not as battle ready as the rest of her family but she is fierce in a way of handling the adversity she has been plagued with from birth and not standing around waiting for things to happen to her but fighting to challenge them.  And of course she's not completely unequipped in battle, she is the daughter of Myla and Lincoln after all.  Oh and then there is Tempest.  I liked him in Maxon sure, he was intriguing and such but now to have so much of him is even better!  I can see what Christina was compelled by this dragon.  He's a charming and mysterious bad ass with a soft side that makes you want to sin. 

                There is more magic in this story that previous ones and we also learn more about the world as a whole, how all the realms work and are connected.  The story is a roller coaster that doesn't stop moving.  There is constantly something happening, never a dull moment, probably why I couldn’t put the book down to sleep.  You are instantly pulled into the world, into Portia's destiny, the salvation of all the realms.  There is something in the story for everyone. 

                Portia and Tempest work together, both new to one another and figuring the other out but still working together on the quest.  I liked how the story built.  There is some insta-attraction, but come on both parties have part lust demon in them and are sexy that was bound to happen but the connection builds from just attraction which is something I loved discovering with them.  Plus did I not mention he can turn into a full on dragon!  How awesome is that?  I would totally want him on my side.  Even when there was some vague answers thrown about courtesy of our favorite angel of visions, seriously I think she likes talking in riddles, everything blended into the larger story.  I also love how the characters I fell in love with from the first book are still active and present in the story and not just a foot note.

                That's all I have to say on it.  I highly suggest picking up Portia, the whole series really because they are all such great fun to read.  I hope you all have enjoyed these fun events I know I have.  Fangirl central being able to interview authors whose books I loved, hello.  I only have one more thing for you today and that is the giveaway just below.  Take a moment and enter you could get some awesome goodies! 


                Until next time…    
giveaway (1)
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/33870edf7/?widget_template=55f70ccb0e6eaee8318e2421









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