The Dragons of Nova by Elise Kova (Blog Tour Guest Post & #Giveaway)


I really enjoyed the first book in this series that I read last year and have been anticipating this 
second book ever since. Today the author talks about magic and chimera in her fantasy world...

The Dragons of Nova
(Loom Saga #2)
by Elise Kova

Adult Fantasy
Hardcover, Audiobook & ebook, 488 Pages
July 11th 2017 by Keymaster Press

Summary

Cvareh returns home to his sky world of Nova with the genius crafter Arianna as his temperamental guest. The mercurial inventor possesses all the Xin family needs to turn the tides of a centuries-old power struggle, but the secrets she harbors must be earned with trust -- hard to come by for Ari, especially when it comes to Dragons. On Nova, Ari finds herself closer to exacting vengeance against the traitor who killed everything -- and everyone – she once loved. But before Ari can complete her campaign of revenge, the Crimson Court exposes her shadowed past and reveals something even more dangerous sparking between her and Cvareh.

While Nova is embroiled in blood sport and political games, the rebels on Loom prepare for an all-out assault on their Dragon oppressors. Florence unexpectedly finds herself at the forefront of change, as her unique blend of skills -- and quick-shooting accuracy -- makes her a force to be reckoned with. For the future of her world, she vows vengeance against the Dragons.

Before the rebellion can rise, though, the Guilds must fall.

(Affiliate links included - I receive a small kickback if you make a purchase using my links.)

Chimera in the World of Loom
by Elise Nova

The magic system in THE ALCHEMISTS OF LOOM is something I love very much. In my first series, AIR AWAKENS, magic wasn’t tied to the blood or genetics. There was an element of familial magic being special, but, overall, magic was a “luck of the draw” sort of thing. Just because your parents did or didn’t have magic didn’t mean you would.

For THE ALCHEMISTS OF LOOM, I took this concept in the complete opposite direction. Instead, I imagined, “what if magic was ONLY in the blood?” This led me to wonder how it would affect a person’s organs, and if magic could be “stolen” by taking a person’s body parts.

In the world of Loom, there are two races: the Fenthri and the Dragons. Both are humanoid but have differences in their appearance and abilities. The Dragons bleed gold and have magic. The Fenthri bleed red and have no magic. The Fenthri discovered that, through transfusions and implants, they can take magic that the Dragons have. A Fenthri with Dragon blood (and organs) is known as a Chimera and bleeds black.

To become a Chimera, a Fenthri undergoes a blood transfusion in which Dragon blood is slowly introduced to the body. This "re-trains" the liver by damaging it and healing it over and over to produce blood with magic. Once this has happened, the Fenthri is a Chimera and can take on other organs.

Different types of magic are tied to different organs; for example, the stomach offers immunities to most illnesses and poisons. So, if a Fenthri were to take a Dragon's stomach and swap it for their own, they gain that magic. But, since magic isn't naturally occurring in a Fenthri's body, it breaks down their tissue. The healing properties of Dragon blood negate this some, but there's only so much that the Fenthri body can take before it rots from the inside, brain included, and ultimately goes mad and dies. Thus, a "Perfect Chimera" is one that can have all Dragon organs without "falling" or going mad and dying.

Other Books in the Series

The Alchemists of Loom
(Loom Saga #1)
by Elise Kova

Adult Fantasy
Hardcover, Audiobook & ebook, 395 Pages
January 10th 2017 by Keymaster Press

Summary

Her vengeance. His vision.

Ari lost everything she once loved when the Five Guilds’ resistance fell to the Dragon King. Now, she uses her unparalleled gift for clockwork machinery in tandem with notoriously unscrupulous morals to contribute to a thriving underground organ market. There isn’t a place on Loom that is secure from the engineer turned thief, and her magical talents are sold to the highest bidder as long as the job defies their Dragon oppressors.

Cvareh would do anything to see his sister usurp the Dragon King and sit on the throne. His family’s house has endured the shame of being the lowest rung in the Dragons’ society for far too long. The Alchemist Guild, down on Loom, may just hold the key to putting his kin in power, if Cvareh can get to them before the Dragon King’s assassins.

When Ari stumbles upon a wounded Cvareh, she sees an opportunity to slaughter an enemy and make a profit off his corpse. But the Dragon sees an opportunity to navigate Loom with the best person to get him where he wants to go.

He offers her the one thing Ari can’t refuse: A wish of her greatest desire, if she brings him to the Alchemists of Loom.

Read my review HERE.

Praise for the Book

“A heart-stopping adventure! Elise Kova reaches new heights with this fast-paced triumph of steampunk, fantasy, and a touch of romance. The Alchemists of Loom is a must-read!”
– DANIELLE L. JENSEN, USA Today bestselling author of the Malediction Trilogy

 “Prepare to have your mind blown. THE ALCHEMISTS OF LOOM is the perfect mashup of genres, with a killer heroine, fiery romance, and friendships that run as deep as blood.”
– LINDSAY CUMMINGS, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Zenith and The Murder Complex

“A new favorite. Kova has created a world of contrasts that I can assure you, is like none you have read before.”
– MEG MCGORRY, N3rdbomber

“Reading THE ALCHEMISTS OF LOOM was like curling up with a favorite fantasy classic. Yet what truly transported me was the brilliant twists and layers that make this story totally unique, totally fresh.”
– SUSAN DENNARD, New York Times bestselling author of the Witchlands series

“The Alchemists of Loom is bloody, epic, and brimming with violence. Elise Kova gives fantasy, and steampunk fans, two whole new worlds to delight over as new characters strike out in an adventure sure to leave readers reeling for more. The cast of characters takes readers into a darker realm where no one is pure, everyone has an agenda, and, sometimes, the best friends one can have can be formed between enemies”
– RACHEL E. CARTER, bestselling author of The Black Mage

(Affiliate links included - I receive a small kickback if you make a purchase using my links.)

About the Author


Elise Kova has always had a profound love of fantastical worlds. Somehow, she managed to focus on the real world long enough to graduate with a Master’s in Business Administration before crawling back under her favorite writing blanket to conceptualize her next magic system. She currently lives in St. Petersburg, Florida, and when she is not writing can be found playing video games, watching anime, or talking with readers on social media. She is the USA Today bestselling author of the Air Awakens Series as well as the upcoming Loom Saga (Keymaster, 2017).


Tour Schedule

Week One:
7/3/2017- Quite The Novel Idea- Interview
7/4/2017- Once Upon A Twilight- Review
7/5/2017- Wishful Endings- Guest Post
7/6/2017- Emily Reads Everything- Review
7/7/2017- Two Chicks on Books- Interview

Week Two:
7/10/2017- Lost in Ever After- Review
7/11/2017- Always Me- Excerpt
7/12/2017- The Book Nut- Review
7/13/2017- YA and Wine- Interview
7/14/2017- NovelKnight - Review

Tour-Wide Giveaway

1 winner will receive a signed finished copy of THE DRAGONS OF NOVA.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Have you read either book in the series or will you be? What did you think about the guest post?

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