Today we’re spotlighting Fire, Ice, Acid & Heart by Danielle M. Orsino!
Read on for more about Danielle, her book, and a giveaway!
Meet Danielle M. Orsino:
Danielle M. Orsino is a fantasy novelist whose lifelong vision to create whimsical realms that her readers can escape to. Her compelling word-weaving pays homage to a multitude of personal muses, from Chris Claremont and George Pérez (both famous comic book writers), to Anne Rice and Wonder Woman.
The creative spark of storytelling has been with Danielle ever since she was a child, but martial arts and her nursing career took center stage into adulthood. Then, on a day like any other, it was reignited during the most unexpected of moments: while treating one of her patients. Seeing that they longed for a distraction during their arduous treatments, the floodgates of inspiration soon burst forth. So, Danielle took it upon herself to tell them a story; a fantastical narrative that would leave the confines of that IV room’s walls and land upon a page. Before she knew it, what started as an imaginative tale to pass the time, turned into book, followed by an entire series: The Birth of Fae. This awe-inspiring series includes Locked out of Heaven (Book One), Thine Eyes of Mercy (Book Two), and From The Ashes (Book Three), all of whichare published by 4 Horsemen Publications, Inc. And with an unwavering passion for cosplay and comics, it was a unanimous decision to place her on the cover of each book in all her Fae cosplay glory. The Birth of Fae also features Los, an affable chameleon dragon inspired by her fun-loving Yorkie named Carlos.
When writing wasn’t at the forefront of her mind, Danielle was a successful Martial Artist. Some of her achievements include “1999 World Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee”, “Female Martial Artist of the Year”, “WKA World Champion Silver Medalist 2008”, and numerous more. She has also garnered hundreds of martial art tournament wins, various other national and world titles, and features on big-name channels like TLC and CBS. She even had the rare opportunity to perform for former U.S. President Bill Clinton and collaborate alongside Vincent Lyn and Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. From there, she pursued her Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology and Exercise Science, and she is now a Licensed Practical Nurse who focuses on Lyme disease research.
This “New Queen of the Fae’s” unmatched world-building and masterful Fae-origin retellings have led to an ever-growing queendom of “Fae-natics”. To begin embarking upon a quest in an epic world unlike any other, visit Danielle M. Orsino’s official website.
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About the Book: Fire, Ice, Acid and Heart
Where is your honor? Where is your heart?
Dark Fae soldier Jennara and her Fire-Breather, Kali, have endured months of training for the Tournament of Fire, Ice, and Acid. Each cycle, the Dark Fae compete with their dragons to determine who will be promoted to the elite fighting forces. Five nominees are chosen, followed by a day of battles in which the last pair standing fights an elite dragon and rider of Chief Dragor’s choosing.
For centuries, the tournament in Blood Haven has been one of honor and respect, but this cycle goes wrong when High Council Guard Yagora severs tradition and deliberately excludes Jennara and Kali. Elder Fae guard, Azrael, intervenes, hoping to keep the tournament ethical. But Azrael has much to learn about what is really going on inside the walls of Blood Haven.
As Jennara and Kali battle for their place in the Tournament of Fire, will they instead end up fighting for their lives?
~Excerpt~
Chapter Seven: Game On
Jennara marched back to the ring, Kali next to her, their armor soaking up the rays of the sun. Kali’s sickle tail swished side to side, making an S pattern in the dirt behind them. Jennara pulled her helmet on. “Kali, you know what needs to be done.”
The Fire-Breather snapped her tail, but her gaze remained focused on the arena.
The two competitors stopped at the edge of the ring, watching a group of Fae clean up the remnants of Haus and Famina’s match. A wheelbarrow with a pile of what looked like dissolving rock, tree branches, and whatever else was used to scrub the ring went past them in an oozing, bubbling mess. The stench caught in Jennara’s throat; she put her hand to her nose. “Oh my.”
Kali shook her head a few times and grumbled.
“Okay, okay, try and look tough. Us whining about the smell of dissolved crap isn’t exactly going to intimidate Grina and Tatcha.”
Kali nodded and the two straightened, both still looking a little green. The dragon started to dry-heave, her black tongue flopping in and out of her mouth as her eyes bulged.
″Don’t do it, Kali. If you go, I will.”
The dragon puffed out her cheeks, fighting the bile down. Jennara started with short, quick inhales through her mouth.
Azrael observed from the side, muttering aloud at his nominee, “Oh, that’s great, Jennara. Something smells bad and that is going to make you and Kali toss your breakfast? Fabulous. They haven’t even been called into the ring.” He hit his forehead with his palm and slid it down his face. Now Jennara had her hands on her knees as she tried to regain her composure. “Can someone get her water, please!” he called out. Since they hadn’t started, he was still within his rights to get his nominee water.
Yagora sauntered up to him and bumped into his shoulder, whispering in his ear, “Gee, Jennara is looking a wee bit sick. Told you she couldn’t handle the pressure.”
Azrael didn’t turn to look at Yagora, keeping his focus on Jennara as she was brought a bucket for Kali and a cup of water. Jennara’s color was already getting better, less pale, and her breathing was deeper, more even. Good. “She is fine, Yagora. I know you pushed Haus into using a flash-bang and told Pria about it, so Grina was prepped. That is cheating. Pria wanted to get rid of Haus because she believed him to be the real threat in the competition. What I don’t understand is why you went along with it. He was your nominee.” Azrael turned to face his fellow High Council Guard.
Yagora did not step back, but her eye twitched—always her giveaway.
“Did Haus tell you that?” she spat out.
Azrael gave her a sly smile. “No, Haus told me nothing of the kind.” Technically, Haus told Jennara, not me—partial truth.
Yagora narrowed her gaze, tucking her hair behind her ear, and tilted her head. “You are making up stories because Haus was originally your nominee, and he lost.”
Azrael closed the distance. “Ah, but he is no longer mine.” He pointed to Jennara. “She is, and if anything happens to her or Kali that I deem outside the rules of this tournament—well, dear Yagora, I will seek retribution. With or without Jarvok’s blessing. Never forget who the right hand of Archangel Michael was for so long.” Azrael patted her cheek and walked to the edge of the ring. He looked back to wink at Yagora and saw her swallow hard. Good.
Zion took to the platform. “Competitors, take your places. This will decide who goes to the final round!”
The crowd cheered as Grina and Tatcha entered the ring, followed by Jennara and Kali. Acid-Breather and Fire-Breather banners flapped in the breeze. Since this was the third semifinal round, DaVita herself placed the competitors’ eggs on each stand. She nodded to Zion, her pastel-tipped hair waving in the wind as she mounted her Ice-Breather, Jasper, and rode out of the ring.
Asa asked all four competitors to meet at the boundary line. “We had a tragedy in our last match; we will not repeat it. I want a clean bout. Do we understand each other?”
The riders and dragons all answered with a resounding, “Yes, Lieutenant.”
Grina looked Jennara up and down, smirking. “This won’t take long, Tati. Don’t worry about backing up. Hold the line,” she said, not bothering to lower her voice.
Kali let out a rumble, her fire plating beginning to compress with her breathing.
Asa glanced side to side. “Can you save the trash-talking until after I leave the ring?” She signaled to Zion as she walked away.
“Take your places,” Zion commanded.
Tatcha did not move back to guard the egg.
Jennara raised an eyebrow at Grina. Fine, underestimate us. It’s your mistake. “Kali, guard the egg. They plan on bum-rushing us.” Kali backed up, her eyes focused on the threats in front of her.
“Oh, how cute, Tati. They think they are going to put up a fight.” Grina cocked her head, smoothing her pink mohawk as she put on her helmet; it complemented the blush-colored Acid-Breather, who tittered in response.
“Fight!” Zion yelled.
Grina and Tatcha bucked and stuttered at the boundary line, but Jennara remained stationary, not falling for their feints. “Steady, Kali,” she called back to the Fire-Breather.
Tatcha jumped onto the boulder formation and took to the air as Grina formed a plasma orb. Tatcha spit royal acid and Grina threw the half-formed white orb skyward, catching the acid like a fish in a net, and when the orb came down, Grina roundhouse-kicked it. The plasma ball screamed across the boundary line, just seconds after Grina had formed it.
Jennara jumped to the left to avoid the hit, but the orb caught her left leg.
“Dynamic energy play,” Zion called. “Hit for Grina and Tatcha.” The Acid side of Jennara and Kali’s egg lit up.
The acid spread up Jennara’s leg, eating at her leg greaves, creating channels inside the black kyanite armor. The acid did not eat through the leg armor but compromised its integrity. “Damn it to Lucifer,” she muttered, a curse the Dark Fae rarely used. Kali started to run to her, but Jennara held her hand up. “I am okay, girl. Stay. That’s what they want. It didn’t hit the pants.” Flashes of Haus’ injuries flew through Jennara’s mind.
Grina high-fived the tip of Tatcha’s tail as the dragon landed. The crowd chanted, “Acid Assault!” and stomped their feet.
Jennara looked up through her eyelashes at the two. Our turn.
“Kali, scorpion sting,” she growled through gritted teeth.
The click of Kali’s back teeth could be heard. Jennara formed three small plasma orbs, and the dragon flicked three flint rocks over her head with her tail and heated the rocks with her fire breath. Jennara caught them in the plasma orbs, and suddenly the Dark Fae bent down into a standing split and launched each plasma ball one after the other with a kick, the red-hot rocks arcing like a scorpion’s tail over her head at Grina and Tatcha. The smaller orbs flew faster than Grina’s big one, and all three found their targets. Grina and Tatcha were still busy acting overconfident, huddled together.
“Three direct hits for Jennara and Kali,” Zion bellowed.
The Fire side of Grina and Tatcha’s egg opened.
“One side is open,” Asa announced.
Grina’s eyes flashed with rage, her upper lip curling in a snarl.
The onlookers loved it, and the chant of “Blaze Battalion” grew.
“That trick won’t work again,” Jennara said, backing up. As Kali nodded in agreement, Jennara added, “And I think they are pretty pissed off. So now what?”
The dragon gurgled.
“Stay alive? That’s your best idea, Kali?”
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously and any resemblance to persons living or dead, locales, businesses, or events is coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any matter whatsoever, electronically or otherwise, except with the express written permission of the author. Please do not participate or encourage piracy of copyrighted material in violation of the author’s rights.
Title: Fire, Ice, Acid & Heart
Author: Danielle M. Orsino
Release Date: 7/20/22
Publisher: 4 Horsemen publications
ISBN-10: 1644505932
ISBN-13: 978-1644505939
Genre: Fantasy
Age Range: 13 & up
*GIVEAWAY DETAILS*
Looks really great
My students love fantasy books like this!
The cover is stunning and this sounds exciting.
The dragon is stunning!