Guest blog and Giveaway: Kathryne Kennedy - The Lady of the storms

Today I have Kathryne Kennedy over with a guest blog about the Elven Court. And at the end of this post there is a chance to win her new book, The Lady of The Storms. 

Welcome :D

THE ELVEN COURT

Thank you so much, Blodeuedd, for having me here today. It’s such a pleasure to talk with your readers once again! I’m looking forward to responding to the comments.

Seven mad elven lords took over England, dividing it into seven realms, each with a scepter which commands different powers. So the courts are different depending on the power of the elven lord that rules them. Here’s a peek into each court:

Dewhame court: The elven lord Breden rules with his blue scepter of sea and sky. The palace is all rounded edges, with water running down the walls and statues spraying fountains of it within the courtyard. Within the palace, there are ponds with fantastical plants surrounding them, and you might occasionally see a naiad swimming about. The court dresses in gowns of silk and satin and gauze, light fabrics that aren’t weighed down by the humidity. A waterfall shimmers behind the elven lord’s throne, and wisps of vapor swirl through the throngs of courtiers: half-breed elven with pale hair and jewel-like eyes.

Firehame court: The elven lord Mor'ded rules with the black scepter of fire, but if you look closely at him, you might see something unusually human in his midnight eyes. His consort, Lady Cassandra, stands by his side, a petite woman who moves with such grace she almost seems to be dancing. The court dresses in flamboyant reds, oranges and yellows, and those lacking the white hair of the elven wear ivory wigs, sprinkled with silver dust to imitate the sparkle of the elven lord’s hair. Lava appears to flow beneath the receiving room floor, and white fire dances like starlight on the vast ceiling above.

Dreamhame court: Here, Roden rules with the golden scepter of glamour and illusion, and the palace is constantly changing depending on his mood. Walls may readjust, ceilings may lift, and pillars carved with creatures that crawl about them may suddenly appear overnight. The great hall may have a glass floor with mermaids swimming beneath it, or a brown desert crawling with snakes. You will not find a single blemish or imperfection on the features of the courtiers, and their gowns move with a will of their own.

Stonehame court: The elven lady La'laylia rules here, with her lavender scepter attuned to the gemstones of the earth. The palace is constructed of one gigantic piece of amethyst, and the very air within the court seems to be tinted with shades of purple. The courtiers sparkle with jewels on fingers and gowns, in lappets and stockings, but none of them dazzle the eyes as much as the elven lady herself, in a gown woven of diamonds.

Bladehame court: Lan'dor holds the silver scepter with power over metal, and the sword at his hip fairly hums with magical resonance. His palace is made of the stuff; silver spires and towers and boxy rooms. The male court is more muscular than most, and their swords are not ceremonial, but crafted for serious use. The women are also unusually robust, and if they do not carry a short sword, then a long dagger can be found hanging from their girdles. The great hall has a sharp smell that even the courtier’s perfume cannot cover, and in the winter the engraved metal floors can be unbearably cold, so shoes and boots have thick soles.

Terrahame court: Elven lady Annanor holds the brown scepter of earth, and her palace is constructed of mud and clay—but the bricks are molded into unusual shapes, and fit together like some mad puzzle. The lords and ladies of the court dress in flamboyant colors, adding a splash of brilliance to the earthen great hall. Golems dash about on errands for the court; spindly creatures of mud and stick waving fans, carrying notes, tripping on flowing trains. Tremors occasionally shake the palace walls, and gentlemen aid the ladies over sudden cracks in the floor.

Verdanthame: The sovereignty of Mi’cal of the green scepter, who transforms plants and trees into beautiful creations with often-deadly intent. His throne is a stump of tree carved with depictions of hunting scenes, and the great hall’s pillars are tree trunks. Vines sway from the high ceiling, white moss flowing down from them like scarves of delicate lace. The court dresses in browns and greens, blending with the plants that grow from the walls and edges of the rooms. The palace itself is perched within an enormous tree, the walls of stone so covered with green moss that it appears to be some odd growth of the tree itself.

Here’s an excerpt from The Lady of the Storm, and I’m keeping it short as my post ran a bit long. :} I chose this excerpt because it captured the feel of Dewhame itself, and I loved creating a liquid world.

Cecily craned her neck up at the palace walls. Water streamed down the sides of the blue-tinted stones, picked up the meager sunlight and transformed the curtain of water into glimmering translucence. Within the courtyard itself, stone carvings spouted waterfalls that sprayed white mist into the air, speckling Cecily’s cheeks and arms.

Which realm would you most like to visit, and why? I’m looking forward to reading your comments!

My Magical Best,

Kathryne

Thank you for this interesting post, Kathryne :D 

Giveaway 

2 copies of The Lady of the storm 

1. Open to US and Canada

2. Ends September 7th

3. Just enter, or make it fun and answer Kathryne's question 

(Which realm would you most like to visit, and why?)

Have fun!

 

THE LADY OF THE STORM BY KATHRYNE KENNEDY—IN STORES AUGUST 2011

Giles is bound to protect her...
In a kingdom viciously ruled by warlike elven lords, village blacksmith Giles Beaumont reluctantly swears to protect the half-elf, half-human Cecily Sutton, never dreaming that he will fall under her enchanting spell.

But duty soon turns to desire...
When Cecily's father disappears, Cecily and Giles set out to find him. But, as their journey unfolds, duty is quickly replaced by desire—and the search for Cecily's father leads to a magical destiny that could end the rule of the elven lords forever...

“Fantastical creatures, magical spells, lengthy quests, angst, and passion will satisfy readers looking for a romance plot in a well-developed fantasy setting.”

—Publishers Weekly

“Kennedy’s exquisite world building and terrific plotting make this a must-read.”

—Booklist Starred Review

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kathryne Kennedy is an acclaimed, best-selling, award-winning author of magical romances. She welcomes readers to visit her website where she has ongoing contests at www.kathrynekennedy.com. She’s lived in Guam, Okinawa, and several states in the U.S., and currently lives with her wonderful family in Arizona, where she is working on the next book in The Elven Lords series, The Lord of Illusion (February 2012).