Hi peeps! We have T.J. Nichols stopping by today with the tour for his new release Blood for the Spilling, we have a great exclusive excerpt, a brilliant $10 DSPP GC, and we have Shorty’s review so check out the post and enter the giveaway! ❤ ~Pixie~
Blood for the Spilling
T.J. Nichols
Sheets of ice are spreading across the human world, ushering in an ice age as the magic drained from Demonside turns that world into a desert. Angus and reluctant warlock Terrance have defected from Vinland to the Mayan Empire—a land of dark and potent magic. But the Mayans aren’t offering sanctuary for free.
Nor is the world willing to stand back as Vinland attacks, and the backlash will affect all magic users.
Mage Saka has no tribe. He is now just another refugee fleeing the dying Demonside. He knows the conflict brewing now will be worse than the first demon war. Countries are banding together—not just against Vinland, but against all magic. Where will the powerful Mayan Empire stand?
Angus might have the power to fight Vinland and the Warlock College, but the cost will be terrible. Saka is torn between helping Angus and stopping him. And Terrance would do anything for Angus, but he’s terrified of the man Angus is becoming, even as Saka is warming to the idea of a relationship between the three of them.
No matter what choice they make, victory will be bittersweet, and when the ash settles and the snow melts, nothing will be the same.
Exclusive Excerpt!
Terrance is back for Blood for the Spilling (I know some of you love him and some of you hate him) and in a shocking turn of events he is now a point of view character—I know, I was just as shocked as you as I didn’t expect it and yet there he was. The good news is he is given plenty of opportunities to die and betray Angus…er…anyway he’s important for the story and I can’t say more without spoiling the ending, so enjoy this scene where he’s been forced to play for his life.
~~~
They had gone through plays and drills and learned to keep it simple and clean and as bounce free as possible. The strategy was for survival, not glory. But he hadn’t realized how much magic would be here. If he used it, he could ruin Cadmael’s plans for him in under a minute. But he’d never used magic while playing. It was forbidden during rugby, and players wore dampeners to prevent it, though there were ways to cheat.
Magic hadn’t been mentioned during pitz training, but he didn’t have time to think about it as the ball was thrown down and the game was on. Beyond keeping the ball moving, all thoughts fled.
He used his forearm to push the ball high to his partner and his hip as it came back to him. They were trying to move into the territory of the other team to score points, and the other team was trying to get the ball. Sweat rolled down the sides of his face, and the air was sticky and loaded with magic. The other team got the ball and looked as though they were going for the hoop. Terrance used his body to block them and hoped his partner would be there when he sent the ball his way. It bounced once… but the man got under it and used his knee to send it up. Terrance ran to get in place. They were still near the hoop. Should he?
If he failed….
No, keep playing. He started to use the magic that clung to him to direct each strike. He hadn’t used magic in a while, but it was like breathing, and magic made his every strike more accurate and more powerful. Then he used it to be that little bit faster. When the other team went for the hoop again, his partner was there first.
The other man was desperate not to lose. If the other team got it through the hoop, it would be over. If Terrance failed, it would also be over. But he had magic, something his teammate lacked. Their deaths would be on his shoulders if he didn’t try.
His teammate nodded.
Their opponents were better than they were or more desperate.
Terrance had put the ball through the hoop in practice. This should be no different… but it was completely different. The hoop seemed higher. People were watching and expecting his blood to be spilled. For once, he wanted to disappoint the crowd.
He couldn’t breathe as they passed it between them and tried to get into position. He ran at the wall and then relied on his partner to get it to him at just the right moment. It only counted as a failed shot if the ball arched up to the hoop and missed. Any player could run at the wall and gain height. So Terrance moved toward the wall and increased in speed with every step. He had to trust a thief.
The other team realized what they were planning and tried to check Terrance so he couldn’t reach the wall.
He grinned at the man and barreled through him shoulder first. He’d been tackling for over a decade. The man went down, and Terrance picked up speed, launched himself at the wall, and moved his feet up the almost-vertical surface. Magic boosted his height. His teammate sent the ball toward him and Terrance pushed off the wall, gathered every drop of magic he dared, and used it to send the ball off his forearm and toward the hoop. He dropped to the ground like a stone, hands to the dirt for stability, barely able to breathe.
He didn’t want to see if the ball went through or missed.
About T.J.!
TJ Nichols is an avid runner and martial arts enthusiast who first started writing as child. Many years later while working as a civil designer, TJ decided to pick up a pen and start writing again. Having grown up reading thrillers and fantasy novels, it’s no surprise that mixing danger and magic comes so easily. Writing urban fantasy allows TJ to bring magic to the every day.
With two cats acting as supervisors, TJ has gone from designing roads to building worlds and wouldn’t have it any other way. After traveling all over the world and Australia, TJ now lives in Perth, Western Australia.
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Review
Title: Blood for the Spilling
Series: Studies in Demonology 03
Author: T.J. Nichols
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal
Length: Novel (280pgs)
Publisher: DSP Publications (November 27, 2018)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: 💖💖💖💖💖 5 Hearts
Blurb: Sheets of ice are spreading across the human world, ushering in an ice age as the magic drained from Demonside turns that world into a desert. Angus and reluctant warlock Terrance have defected from Vinland to the Mayan Empire—a land of dark and potent magic. But the Mayans aren’t offering sanctuary for free.
Nor is the world willing to stand back as Vinland attacks, and the backlash will affect all magic users.
Mage Saka has no tribe. He is now just another refugee fleeing the dying Demonside. He knows the conflict brewing now will be worse than the first demon war. Countries are banding together—not just against Vinland, but against all magic. Where will the powerful Mayan Empire stand?
Angus might have the power to fight Vinland and the Warlock College, but the cost will be terrible. Saka is torn between helping Angus and stopping him. And Terrance would do anything for Angus, but he’s terrified of the man Angus is becoming, even as Saka is warming to the idea of a relationship between the three of them.
No matter what choice they make, victory will be bittersweet, and when the ash settles and the snow melts, nothing will be the same.
ISBN-13: 978-1-64080-882-9
Product Link: DSP Publications | Amazon US | Amazon UK
Reviewer: Shorty
Review: This is a culmination of the previous two books. Angus, Terrance and Saka are fighting to keep the worlds from being destroyed. It’s a journey into finding out what they are capable of and the reason they are slowly driven to be together at times.
I loved everything about the book. From Angus’ life and what he discovers to Saka and his fight with his own feelings as well as the struggle the three face throughout. It was a well written thought out story that immerses the reader in an awesome series.
I do not want to give away to much so I’ll leave my review with saying it was a great journey.
Fantastic read.
