Title: War of Nytefall: Eradication
Author: Charles E. Yallowitz
Genre: Vampire Fantasy Action Adventure
Book Blurb:
As Dawn Fang vampires are found dead across Windemere, their infamous leader will remember what it is to be afraid. With the truce between Nyte and Nytefall nearing its end, an old enemy has emerged to rekindle the vampires’ most ancient feud. A Duragian priest is on the move and he is wielding a weapon that can depower and kill Dawn Fangs. This follower of the Sun God has claimed enough victims that Lord Tempest wants the weapon for himself and Clyde is beginning to worry that his fledgling kingdom is in danger of extinction. When it becomes clear that the mysterious relic and Clyde’s transformation into the first Dawn Fang are connected, he will be forced to face a past that he can barely remember. What can Clyde do to defend his people, his life, and the child he does not know is on the way from the terrifying Fist of Durag?
Excerpt:
The thick darkness that greets Clyde’s eyes is suffocating and disturbingly familiar. A disconcerting numbness flows along his skin and plunges all of his senses into a mental fog. He groans as he sits up and touches the warm ground beneath him, his fingers finding it rough and jagged. The memory of being in Gregorio’s lair strikes his mind like a perfectly aimed arrow and he tries to stand up. A dull ache courses through his legs and forces him to remain on the floor, which trembles for a brief moment. Picking up a stone, he can feel the faint carving of half a sun with a grinning face. With a yawn, the vampire throws the rock away and waits for it to land, but the sound of it bouncing takes several minutes to reach his ears. Clyde scowls when the noise ends with a strange thud that reminds him of a fist punching flesh. The distant gurgling of a stream draws his attention to the right and he squints at a strange form that is gradually taking shape in the gloom. Finding the energy to rise, he gets to his feet and wipes the dirt from his body, which he learns is unclothed. The Dawn Fang’s senses steadily return to their full strength and he realizes that his vision has been blocked by his own hair. Luscious and tangled tresses cascade from his head to cover everything from his scalp to his elbows. Wrapping all of the strands around his left hand, he uses his right to slice them off and is about to use his fingers like scissors when his body locks.
The ruins of the Duragian temple are laid out before Clyde, their details making it clear that they are the genuine articles. Bodies of civilians and priests are strewn about the area, all of them having been drained of blood. A white-bricked wall has been marked with scratches that the vampire knows are a foolish attempt to keep track of time, which he abandoned after he had run out of prey. Far in the distance, he can see the tower where he was once held prisoner, its top seven floors having snapped off as it sunk. Light pulses from the enormous structure to drive the cavern’s darkness into the corners. Smaller shrines help to illuminate the streets, which are littered with debris. The smell of rotting meat is thick in the air, the stench emanating from the abandoned food and corpses. Not far away, the vampire sees a cleared area with a burn mark in its center. It takes him a moment to recognize the battered ruins of the execution square, its right side having slumped into a sinkhole.
A pang of doubt and anxiety races through Clyde’s mind as he recalls getting struck by the fake Fists of Durag. He begins to walk through the ruins in search of signs that he is being tricked, but it becomes clear that he is not trapped within an illusion. All attempts to see through the spell are met with failure, which feeds a primal rage in the pit of his soul. Coming to a broken fountain, he kneels and scoops up a handful of stagnant water to drink. The foul liquid makes his tongue burn and his stomach twists to the point where he has to vomit in order to avoid passing out. Focused on his own body, Clyde releases his severed hair when he realizes that his heart is no longer beating. Jamming a finger between his ribs, he touches the organ to find it wrinkled and still. With a growl, he swings his fist at the nearest building only to find that he cannot knock the whole structure over. The vampire stares at the hole in the wall and flexes his fingers, which make the gestures for a claw-growing spell. He curses loudly when he feels his nails lengthen and harden into natural blades.
“What in all of Windemere is going on?” Clyde asks before lashing out at a bench. He easily shreds the furniture, but the destruction only fuels his frustration. “Is this supposed to be a trick? Hit me with those orbs and make me think I’m back in the ground? Leo would have been able to use a spell to scan the ruins while he got the Fist of Durag. That could have been used to create a detailed illusion. Of course, he wouldn’t know the exact placements of the bodies or get the smells right. No, this has to be a trick.”
“You were going insane near the end,” a voice echoes in the vampire’s head. The hazy figure briefly appears in a nearby window, but vanishes as soon as it comes into focus. “You remember what happened. Wishing you could see your friends again. Wondering what was going on above your head. You were angry that nobody came to rescue you, especially Mab. They forgot about you. That’s why you did what you did.”
“You can’t break me that easily,” he angrily growls.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
If you could dress up as anything or anyone this Halloween, what or who would it be and why?
I always wanted to dress up as Edward Elric from Fullmetal Alchemist. It would be expensive, especially if I tried to include his metal arm in some fashion. Loved the red jacket and how it contrasted with his black clothing too, but I think the real reason is I enjoyed his personality. Being able to pretend to go berserk if I think someone called me short would be fun.
Explain why your featured book is a treat to read:
War of Nytefall: Eradication is simply a fun book. It has a lot of action, some humor, and colorful characters that are up against a really dangerous threat. A big part of it involves the Dawn Fang vampires facing an enemy that can kill them fairly easily, which means their immortality and regeneration are nearly negated. They have to be more careful and you see many of them face a sense of mortality, which can be a strange perspective from one who could live forever. Still, the big reason it’s a treat is that the story is designed to be fun, pure escapism.
Giveaway:
Enter to win a $50 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card
Enter to win a $50 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card
Enter to win a $25 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card
Enter to win a $15 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card
Enter to win a $10 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card
Open internationally
Runs October 1 – 31
Drawing will be held on November 1.
Author Biography:
Social Media Links:
Blog: www.legendsofwindemere.com Twitter: @cyallowitz Facebook: Charles Yallowitz Website: www.charleseyallowitz.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cyallowitz/