BLOG TOUR, REVIEW, EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY: Stinger and Bow by Orren Merton

Welcome to my tour stop for Stinger and Bow by Orren Merton! This is a young adult urban fantasy and is the first book in a spin off series of The Sedumen Chronicles. The tour runs Feb. 15-26 with reviews, interviews, guest posts and excerpts.  Check out the tour page for the full schedule.

About the Book:

Stinger needs a new crossbow. 

Thirteen year-old Rachel Silver—or as she's known to the world, Stinger—needs a new crossbow. Her last bow failed her when she needed it most. Besides, Firebird Alex, her aunt and fellow Seduman—half-human, half-spirit being—wields a Sedu blade, made with spirit magic.

So Stinger designs herself a magic crossbow, then convinces her best friends to accompany her around the world and into the universe of Sediin to find the right craftsmen to have it made. Trouble is, warriors attract people who want to challenge them, whether they're ready or not. Stinger is still tormented by her last battle—she's suffering night-terrors, shakes, and cold sweats. When the situation turns deadly, will she be able to come to grips with her trauma and become the warrior she needs to be to save her friends?

Goodreads | Amazon

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REVIEW BY: Arianna, age 13 years, 2 months

MAY CONTAIN SPOILER:

This book was great! 

It was about a young girl named Stinger who lives a secret life as a superhero's sidekick. Stinger really wants a new bow so she travels to England to have an expert design her bow. Along the way she encounters some troubles with a few villains. She also shows everybody that she is more than a sidekick, she is a hero. 

My favorite part is when Stinger starts realizing that everyone is her family and friends. She starts to accept her new family. 

I did have to skip and stop reading the book because some of it was inappropriate for me. 

I recommend this book to anyone that likes heroes, friendship, and action. 

I give this book 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 13 and up. 

EXCERPT - CHAPTER 7

“Does that…do you want to feel normal?”

“I don’t even know what that would feel like. Other girls go with their birth parents to try on halter tops at the mall; I’m a twice-orphaned Seduman trying on armor. Other girls are learning to dance, and I’m learning to kill….”

“Are you okay?” Emma asks.

“I…what?” I stall. I can feel myself getting clammy and sweaty. I try to swallow it back and just focus on Emma. Just think about Emma. Emma is awesome. Just Emma.

My pulse starts racing; I can feel it.

Oh God, not this again.

“You went all pale. Like Alex, almost goth-level pale.”

I try to smile, but my lips start trembling.

“What is it?”

“It’s…it’s not easy,” I swallow, since my mouth is so dry. “I can’t forget. I try to…”

“What do you mean? Do you want to talk about it?”

“Sometimes…I see their faces. The faces of the Possessed—before they were turned into walking laser zombies, they were people. I know they were already dead, but I killed them again, and I see their faces.…”

I close my eyes. The face of a middle-aged woman turned into a Possessed, eyes glowing white and about to blast my head off, rushes in front of me. I see myself take the sharp javelin that I’m holding, and I shove it into her left eye. I feel it go into her head, cut through the squishy inside, and then force its way out the back of her skull. Her head flashes white as the Kaayot spirit leaves her body, and then my javelin is just skewered on the head of a dead middle-aged woman. I drop the javelin and the woman falls to the ground, and I immediately grab another javelin, ready to do it again.

My heart starts racing so fast I grab my chest with my hand. I start shivering uncontrollably. I just need to focus on Emma—just stop thinking about it—but the more I tell myself not to think about it, the more I think about it.

Emma throws her arms around me. She’s awesome like that. I lean my head against her neck when I feel my eyes get hot.

“I’ve only ever told Alex and my dad…but sometimes, when I think about it too much, I can’t stop shaking.”

Emma kisses my head and holds me, gently rocking me back and forth. “Shake all you want, sis. I’m right here.” And she starts singing “Here’s Comes The Sun” by the Beatles. It’s one of Mrs. Kelley’s favorite songs; she sings it to Jill and Emma when they’re sad. I try to clear my mind and just focus on Emma’s singing. Emma has an amazing voice. I focus on the words and her voice and the song and being rocked back and forth. She runs out of words and just starts singing the melody until I stop shaking and sobbing. Eventually, my heart stops racing.

About the Author:

Orren Merton started writing fantasy and science fiction at an embarrassingly young age. In high school, he picked up guitar and start playing up and down California in a few loud and moody bands, culminating in his current project  Ember After.  During that time, magazines, developers, and corporations began to pay him to write and edit music software related articles, manuals, and  books. Since then he has written the urban fantasy novel The Deviant and the science fiction novel Skye Entity before working on The Sedumen Chronicles, his current series of urban fantasy YA novels. He lives in Southern California with his family, pets, collection of sci-fi/fantasy memorabilia, and curiously large stuffed animal collection.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon | Goodreads 

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GIVEAWAY:

One winner gets a Kindle and digital copy of Stinger and Bow (US)

One winner gets a $25 gift card & digital copy of Stinger and Bow (INT)

Ends March 2nd

Prizing is provided by the author, hosts are not responsible in any way. Must be 13 or older to enter and have parental permission if under 17. Void where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to enter. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This event was organized by CBB Book Promotions.