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Oct 29, 20213 min read

Dragons Walk Among Us by @DanRiceWrites is a Trick or Treat Bonanza pick #yalit #dragons #giveaway



Title: Dragons Walk Among Us


Author: Dan Rice


Genre: YA urban fantasy


Book Blurb:


Shutterbug Allison Lee is trying to survive high school while suffering the popular girl's abuse. Her life is often abysmal, but at least her green hair is savage. Her talent for photography is recognized by the school paper and the judges of a photo contest.


While visiting her friend Joe, a homeless vet, Allison's life irrevocably changes after an attack leaves her blind. All her dreams as a photojournalist are dashed as she realizes she'll never see again. Despair sets in until she is offered an experimental procedure to restore her vision. But there are side effects, or are they hallucinations? She now sees dragons accompanying some of the people she meets. Can she trust her eyes, or has the procedure affected her more than she can see?


Excerpt:


“She’s like you,” I say, staring at the silver dragon projecting out of the police officer and the wall.


“Ah,” Dr. Radcliffe says. “You really can see us. Interesting.”


The officer, a petite woman, carries herself with military bearing. She sniffs the air. “These two are human,” she says, her words clipped, and gestures to Haji and Dalia. “I can’t place the other one.”


“What’s going on?” Dalia demands, her gaze shifting from Dr. Radcliffe to the officer. “Of course, we’re human.”

Haji fiddles with his phone and holds it up as if he’s making a recording.


“Are you live streaming this?” I ask.


“No signal.” Haji is deadpan. He’s always like that when he’s working on a story. That must be what he’s doing now, playing at being a reporter.


“What should we do with them?” the officer asks.


“Bring them in. Allison Lee...” Dr. Radcliffe pats me on the shoulder. I wince. “...is a fascinating conundrum. I cannot tell what she is. The others, I am sure, will want to see her. Handcuff those two and come smell her.”


“Handcuff?” Haji says. “Why?”


“Are we under arrest?” Dalia asks.


“Please, let them go. I’m the only one who can see the dragons,” I say, but Dr. Radcliffe and the officer ignore me.


Dalia and Haji look desperate, like one or both might make a run for it. The officer blocks the entrance, but surely there is an emergency exit somewhere.


“On the ground, or I’ll tase you,” the officer says.


“We’re not resisting,” Dalia says.


“I’m recording. I will send this to Channel 5. Police brutality,” Haji says.


The officer gives Haji an incredulous stare that says more loudly than words that he is an idiot. In two quick, compact paces, she covers the ground between them, her draconic companion following, and snatches the phone out of his hand.


“Hey.” Haji makes a grab for the phone.


The officer moves so fast I can’t tell what she does, but it’s effective. Haji doubles over, clutching his gut, and teeters to the floor. Dalia makes a run for the exit.


“Please, don’t hurt them. Please,” I say, fearing my BFF will be tased.


Something flies through the air and entangles Dalia’s legs. With a cry, she belly flops on the floor with a loud thud and a whoosh of air. Whatever was thrown clatters to the floor and thuds against the base of a wooden bookshelf. I realize after a moment it’s the officer’s flashlight.


“Do not worry, dear, Ion did not hurt them permanently,” Dr. Radcliffe says.


Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):


· BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/dan-rice



If you could dress up as anything or anyone this Halloween, what or who would it be and why?


I’d dress up as a dragon because they are the most incredible fantasy creatures of all time.


Explain why your featured book is a treat to read:


Halloween is about lifting the veil of reality to glimpse ghosts and goblins and demons. Dragons Walk Among Us is about a girl who is changed forever after discovering she can see the denizens hidden behind the veil.


Giveaway –

One lucky reader will win a $75 Amazon gift card.


Open internationally. You must have a valid Amazon US or Canada account to win.


Runs October 1 – 31


Drawing will be held on November 1.



Author Biography:


Dan has wanted to write novels since first reading Frank Herbert’s Dune at the age of eleven. A native of the Pacific Northwest, he often goes hiking with his family through mist-shrouded forests and along alpine trails with expansive views.


Dragons Walk Among Us is his debut novel. He is currently writing the sequel to Dragons Walk Among. You can explore his blog at https://www.danscifi.com.


Social Media Links:


· BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/dan-rice

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