I am so excited to be
hosting another awesome cover reveal from Entangled Publishing today! RELIC by
Renee Collins looks like an amazing story and I can’t wait to read it! Make
sure you check out the excerpt below and enter the contest for one print ARC of
Relic (US/CA only) and one e-galley of Relic (open internationally)!
Relic
Renee Collins
Release Date: September
3, 2013
Publisher: Entangled
Teen
Paperback: 400 pages
ISBN: 1622660145
After a raging fire consumes her town and kills her parents, Maggie Davis is on her own to protect her younger sister and survive best she can in the Colorado town of Burning Mesa. In Maggie’s world, the bones of long-extinct magical creatures such as dragons and sirens are mined and traded for their residual magical elements, and harnessing these relics’ powers allows the user to wield fire, turn invisible, or heal even the worst of injuries.Working in a local saloon, Maggie befriends the spirited showgirl Adelaide and falls for the roguish cowboy Landon. But when she proves to have a particular skill at harnessing the relics’ powers, Maggie is whisked away to the glamorous hacienda of Álvar Castilla, the wealthy young relic baron who runs Burning Mesa. Though his intentions aren’t always clear, Álvar trains Maggie in the world of relic magic. But when the mysterious fires reappear in their neighboring towns, Maggie must discover who is channeling relic magic for evil before it’s too late.Relic is a thrilling adventure set in a wholly unique world, and a spell-binding story of love, trust, and the power of good.
EXCERPT 1:
"I
shrugged a little. “Studying my papa’s relic almanac used to be something of a
hobby of mine.”
Moon John smiled. “Good. And can you classify
these by magic category?”
A
thrill passed through me as I examined the pieces. I’d take any reason to stay
close to them, to touch them. “This one’s water,” I said. “But that’s an easy
one.” I ran my finger along the relics remaining on the table. “Looks like
griffon relic here. That’s sky. I’m thinking this one is troll—earth. That’s
dragon. Another easy one—fire. And…”
I went to lift the final relic, a pebble-sized
piece as black as obsidian, into my hand. But as my fingertip set against it, a
deep, angry breath cut through my mind. A stab of hunger reached into my chest,
hot and lustful. Startled, I jerked my hand back as if the relic were red hot.
I shot a look up to Moon John.
“Is that what I think it is?” I asked, my
pulse racing.
“Vampire,”
Moon John confirmed matter-of-factly.
“Álvar
has shadow relics?”
Moon
John smiled a little. “As you become more familiar with this world, Miss Davis,
you will come to see that the government’s ban on relics such as this one are
merely a front to feed the ignorant masses an illusion of security. I’ve never
met a relic expert west of the Mississippi who didn’t peddle a little vampire
or banshee.”
It
certainly didn’t comfort me any to hear that shadow relics were common. I loved
magic, sure, but not magic that dealt out death or pain.
“I suppose I should test you now, as Castilla
wishes,” Moon John said. “Though I think your birth in the year of the unicorn
explains everything.”
“You
should test me. Just to make sure.”
Moon
John gave me a wry smile. “As you wish.” He motioned to the relics. “Shall we
begin with the dragon bone?”
My
fingers itched to snap the piece up, but I controlled myself.
“Go
on, Maggie,” Moon John said. “See if you can produce a small flame here on this
table.”
I
plucked the smooth piece of opaque amber—about the size and shape of a
walnut—into my palm. Instantly, a current of warmth spread up my arm, into my
core. The heat flickered out across my chest, swarming like ornery bees. The
sensation made my breath catch in my throat, and I staggered back a little.
“Fire relics have an agitating effect on the
nerves,” Moon John said. “The feeling will subside.”
“I’ve never used one before,” I said, holding
up the bright piece with trembling hands.
Moon
John motioned to the table. “Try. Most can create at least a spark their first
time.”
I
curled my fingers around the relic. That darn antsy feeling made it hard to
focus, but as I did, a faint growl, like the whisper of a roar, pierced the
dull hum. The sound sent chills up my neck. I squeezed my eyes shut.
And
the next thing I knew, an exploding burst filled the room.
About Renee
Renee Collins grew up
in Hawaii, where she and her twin sister created countless stories to write and
act out in their backyard. She took those stories with her to Brigham Young
University and graduated with a degree in History. She currently lives with her
family in the shadow of the Colorado red-rock cliffs, though she hasn’t
unearthed a relic. Yet.
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