Half-Blood (Ilyon Chronicles #1.5) {blog tour & giveaway!}

Jaye L. Knight’s new novella, Half-Blood, was released on Tuesday! Learn more about this prequel story to the Ilyon Chronicles and make sure you enter the giveaway at the bottom of this post!


about the book
The gasps and murmuring grew. Though some were hardly more than whispers, clear words reached Jace’s ears — dangerous, monster, animal, soulless. He tried to back away from their accusing eyes, but the collar pulled hard against his throat and held him in place.

For all his years as a slave, Jace has known nothing but the hatred people hold for his mixed blood — one half human, the other half the blood of a race considered monsters. Always, he is the outsider and quickly learns it is better to keep to himself. But, when his volatile ryrik blood leads him to do the unthinkable, he is thrown into a world of violence and bloodshed.

Forced to become a gladiator, Jace finds more and more of his heart dying as his master works to break down his will not to become the monster everyone believes he is. When a stranger interferes with his master’s harsh punishment, Jace’s world is upended yet again. But with it comes the possibility of hope that has long since died. Could the man possibly hold the key to escaping the hopeless darkness that is Jace’s life? Is there such a thing as life beyond the cruelty of slavery?

See where Jace’s story all began . . .

my rating

my review
I said in my review of Resistance (Ilyon Chronicles #1) that Jaye L. Knight has a talent for character development, and I'll say it again here: Jaye L. Knight has an amazing talent for character development.

In her first novel, Jace is a distant character with veiled emotions that we can sense have great depth to them, but we can only wonder at what he hides. In Half-Blood, we finally get an intimate look at Jace, his past, his emotions -- and this person who was a strong supporting character suddenly comes to the forefront and becomes startlingly, tragically real.

This is not a story that begs for pity, nor is it a heroic fight to overcome and conquer. It is a story of survival, and Jaye L. Knight makes it feel very realistic. She captures our hearts and our attention at the very beginning with six-year-old Jace, and guides us on a journey through the experiences that shaped him, and those that he didn't allow to.

I cannot recommend the Ilyon Chronicles enough.

Haven’t discovered the world of Ilyon yet? Find out more at the official Ilyon Chronicles website or read my review of Resistance!




about the author
Jaye L. Knight is an award-winning author, homeschool graduate, and shameless tea addict with a passion for Christian fantasy. Armed with an active imagination and love for adventure, Jaye weaves stories of truth, faith, and courage with the message that even in the deepest darkness, God’s love shines as a light to offer hope. She has been penning stories since the age of eight and resides in the Northwoods of Wisconsin.

You can connect with Jaye on her website, blog, Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Etsy, and on her new fiction forum where you can interact with other readers of the series.

giveaway
Prizes: an autographed copy of Half-Blood, a blue feather bookmark hand crafted by Jaye, a bronze sword pendant, and a $5 Amazon gift card! (Giveaway is open to US residents only. Cannot be shipped internationally.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

tour schedule
Tuesday, July 14
  Tour Introduction at Jaye L. Knight
  Review and Author Interview at 26 Countless Possibilites
  Review and Author Interview at Lianne Taimenlore
  Review and Author Interview at Crumpets 'n' Cream
  Review at Tialla's Tellings
Wednesday, July 15
  Review at The Destiny of One
  Book Spotlight at One Servant's Heart
  Review and Author Interview at Leah's Bookshelf
  Review and Author Interview at Red Lettering
  Review and Author Interview at Zerina Blossom's Books
Thursday, July 16
  Review and Author Interview at Sutori no Hana
  Review and Author Interview at Scattered Journal Pages
  Review and Author Interview at The Splendor Falls on Castle Walls
  Author Interview at A Writer's Faith
  Review and Author Interview at writinganyone
Friday, July 17
  Review and Author Interview at Written Rest
  Book Spotlight at Tell Tale Book Reviews
  Review and Author Interview at The Pen of a Ready Writer
  Review and Author Interview at Morgan Elizabeth Huneke
  Review at Poetree
Saturday, July 18
  Review at A Writer's Heart
  Review at Reality Calling
  Author Interview at The Art of Storytelling
  Book Spotlight at Thilly Little Nothings
Sunday, July 19
  Review at Through My Lens
  Review at Elvish Pens, Fantastical Writings
  Book Spotlight at Letters from Annie Douglass Lima
  Review at bookend
Monday, July 20
  Review at Pencils Can Change the World
  Review at Backing Books
  Review at Melody Jackson, Author
  Book Spotlight and Author Interview at In the Character's Shadow
Tuesday, July 21
  Review at A Vintage Girl in the Modern World
  Book Spotlight at However Improbable
  Review at God's Peculiar Treasure Rae
  Review and Author Interview at Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections
Wednesday, July 22
  Review at To Be a Person
  Tour Conclusion at Jaye L. Knight



*Thanks to Jaye L. Knight for sending me a free e-book in exchange for my honest review!