VENGEANCE BORN: A Novel of the Light Blade
There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not pure bred is virtually powerless. Until an unlikely champion is born…
Annika, half-blood daughter of the Na’Reish King, longs for more than her tormented life among her father’s people. Conceived in hatred and bred as a tool of retribution, she’s gifted with a special talent that can heal as well as destroy.
With the Na’Reish vastly outnumbering them, Kalan, a Light Blade warrior, knows the future of humankind depends on him alone. Incursions into human territory and raids for blood-slaves by the Na’Reish Horde have increased. As Chosen-leader, he faces the task of stopping the demons—and convincing the Council of aging Light Blade warriors that change is necessary for survival.
When Annika learns Kalan is a prisoner in her father’s dungeon, her dream of escape seems within reach. She agrees to free him in exchange for his protection once they reach human territory. Now, marked for death for helping him, Annika must learn to trust Kalan as they face not only the perilous journey to the border but enemies within the Council—and discover a shocking truth that could throw the human race into civil war…
How's that for a book cover and blurb? Can you tell I'm just a wee bit excited? :-) Thank you, art department at Berkley! This is a superb first cover - it was everything I was hoping for. You nailed Annika to a T and elements of her story are woven into it. Sigh.
The release date for VB is February, 7th 2012! I can't wait (this feels almost like a birth announcement of a baby! LOL).
And you can already pre-order it! Here are some bookstores where you can place a pre-order.
In New Zealand:
In Australia:
And some on-line bookstores if you prefer to go that way.
How exciting!
Posts
Like I said last night, I just can't stop staring at it! Stunning cover Kylie!
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Bec
WOWOWOWOWOW!!!! Did the cover gods ever come through for you! It's so striking! They'll fly off the shelves. :)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous cover!!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous cover Kylie. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful, Kylie! Doesn't get any better than that! Congratulations!!!
ReplyDeleteKylie, beautiful!!! Congratulations ;)
ReplyDeleteWonderful cover Kylie! Congrats!!
ReplyDelete=)
WOW - what a cover - it would make me buy the book! It's beautiful. Lucky you!
ReplyDeleteWow, Kylie, BRILLIANT! Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteOMG Kylie, it's beautiful and exciting and LOOKS SO FABULOUS and I'm so thrilled for you.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Very happy for you!
ReplyDeleteShe looks strong and courageous, and yet delicate at the same time. Great cover, Kylie.
ReplyDeleteOh, my! Kylie, that is so gorgeous and the blurb is incredibly enticing, too. How do you sleep at night? LOL!
ReplyDeleteKylie - it just such a beautiful cover and the blurb is amazing. I've been waiting to read this book for so long now and this is just making me want it even more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, everyone - it's been a long time coming but it's been worth the wait! LOL
ReplyDeleteAnd the cool thing is I think my editor might be aiming for a fantasy genre crossover - hence the lack of a romance hero on the cover. I know the guys I've shown this to have all said they'd buy a copy (I think I know why but let's hope it's because they want to read the story - LOL).
That is a gorgeous cover, Kylie. Congratulations!! I can tell you worked really hard on your blurb too. I can't wait to get my hands on your book. Feb. 2012 is my birthday month. I know what I'm getting. (grin)
ReplyDeleteIt's FABULOUS, Kylie!!! And I pre-ordered this morning on Book Depository!! :-)
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a HUGE copy of the cover on your wall!!
Wow, utterly stunning cover Kylie. Gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteOne of the most beautiful I've seen. You must be beyond thrilled. I know it can very difficult for an author to have such little control over such an important aspect of their work so to hit the jackpot like that, you deserve to feel on top of the moon.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! I'd buy it for the cover alone and the blurb makes it look amazing. I'm so happy for you!
LOL at guys reading for the story. Awesome cover, Kylie, so thrilled for you. I feel like the book's godmother and couldn't be more excited. VP
ReplyDeleteLOVE it Kylie!! Sooooo worth the wait =)))))
ReplyDeleteKylie, that really is a gorgeous cover! And I know you are thrilled so I assume all the little detail (like the tattoo on her right shoulder) is story-correct? How awesome. Good luck with the wait .
ReplyDeleteFantastic blurb and cover! Totally cool
ReplyDeleteOhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh . . . . she's beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI think all who cross her would die happy :-D
I echo all the comments above - this is a stunning cover and great blurb. A long time coming but so well deserved and a great start to what will be a great career.
ReplyDeleteSuzanne
Oh, it's WONDERFUL!!!! I love it!!! Congratulations Kylie, you must be sooo stoked!!
ReplyDeleteTam x
Gorgeous, gorgeous, GORGEOUS, Kylie! Woohoo! No wonder you're excited!
ReplyDelete:)
Sharon
Wow Kylie, such a beautiful cover and a great blurb. I'm off to Book Depository right now to pre-order it!
ReplyDeleteThat model is so beautiful. She looks like that girlfriend of Leonardo Dicaprio's.
ReplyDeleteOMG Kylie, that cover is PERFECT. I love it! Love it love it love it!!! You must be so excited :D (heck, I am!) Sorry about all the !!!'s but it's how I feel!!!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous, gorgeous cover Kylie. Congrats
ReplyDeleteGreat thing was I did get some input into the cover - my editor asked for ideas and so I put together some character/scene descriptions from the book and she agreed with many of the ideas, so I guess that helped when it came to cover concepts in the meeting.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, Valerie! You ARE this book's Godmother, having mentored me through some serious editing of it. I'll be forever grateful being one of your minions! One of the milestones in my writing journey. LOL
It's a little hard to see, Anita, but you spotted one of the paranormal elements to this story - she has body markings down both sides of her face and curving over her shoulders to her back and down to her ankles. She also has violet eyes (VERY hard to see on such a small copy).
The mountain range in the background, her pouch are all elements I suggested as ideas. So thrilled they took so many of my suggestions into account.
Did I say how thrilled I was with the cover dept? LOL
And the bonus - the title will be embossed and foiled!!! Woohoo!
And a huge THANK YOU to anyone who pre-orders it. You've made my day! :-D
Kylie, it's gorgeous! I'd pick it up in a shop based on that cover alone.
ReplyDeleteOh my god Kylie, I love that cover sooo much! It's absolutely stunning. Definitely has a fantasy feel and I really love how it showcases the heroine! Berkley really do some gorgeous covers!! Congratulations! Bet you're still floating :-)
ReplyDeleteOh, Kylie... how beautiful a cover! I can't wait to read it. CONGRATS!!! And it is like a baby - except the gestation period is much too long!
ReplyDeleteRoll on Feb 2012.
Cath
Gorgeous cover, Kylie, and a wonderfully intriguing back cover blurb!! It's beautiful!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations :-)
OH WOW
ReplyDeleteSuper Congrats Kylie
I'm heading over to TBD to pre order it.....GAW-JUS cover and it sounds like a fantastic read too!!!!!!!
Kylie - it's a wonderful cover. I'm looking forward to reading it.
ReplyDeleteGiovanna
Kylie,
ReplyDeleteYour cover is stunning. I have a total girl crush on Annika! Congratulations on such a fabulous debut--I'm so glad you're pleased with the artwork. Can't wait to read the book!
Get ready world - here comes our next Nalini Singh! : )
ReplyDeleteOh, Kylie - this is FABULOUS!! You've got another guaranteed sale here too. Looks like I've found my next series!
Absolutely fantastic cover, Kylie! You must be totally over the moon with it.
ReplyDeleteYou guys are just the best - your comments are heart warming and wonderful, thank you.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks, LaVerne & Cath, for letting me know you're off to pre-order it. What wonderful little vegemites! (affectionate term for great people to any non-Aussie) :-)
Stunning cover, but the best thing of all? Those two little words - Kylie Griffin.
ReplyDeleteThat's you!!!! :-) :-) :-)
I LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT! It's Gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Kylie - super cover!!!!! I can't post on Blogger again, darn it - but I'm not anon -I'm Barbara Elsborg!
ReplyDeleteAwesome cover Kylie! I can't wait to read your book! Annika looks like a kick-ass heroine who also knows how to choose a dress, a new Rennaisance Chick.
ReplyDeleteWhat a stunning cover. Fantastic!
ReplyDeleteAnnie
Love, love, love the cover. Absolutely sensational. Indeed you have been blessed by the cover fairies.
ReplyDeleteIts beautiful Kylie. Stunning actually. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteSuz Hamilton
Thanks, everyone - it's lovely to see you pop in and comment.
ReplyDeleteClare, yes, it was a real kick to see my name on the cover! LOL
Barbara, seems like Blogger is still having issue with posting - you're not the only one. Grr.
Sarah, Annika was an amazing character to write, so conflicted yet with a core of steel and I love how this model has portrayed her to a T. The posture, the mood, the expression...it hints at so much. I'm chuffed and thrilled and ecstatic! Still. LOL
I can't begin to imagine how excited you are. May there be many more (oh wait- there will be LOL)
ReplyDeleteI HAVE ORDERED IT! So excited, now I only have to wait 231 days... : )
ReplyDeleteAwesome, Kylie. It's absolutely gorgeous! Congratulations and I agree with Eleni - blessed by all the creative fairies just as you deserve
ReplyDeleteJuanita
LaVerne, that sounds so achingly far away when you put it like that! LOL
ReplyDeleteHi Jenn and Juanita, thanks! And yes, another two books to anticipate covers for! Woohoo!
Wowzer. I'm late to the party, so most of the OMG comments are taken. But this cover is spectacular. What a poster it will make. People will flock to it. I love it. Can't wait to read the book.
ReplyDeleteOOOH! I finally got here! Heck, I love this cover! It's even prettier! Love the sun medalion. And the light behind,a nd that markings, and... LOL.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on being able to share now! Awesome stuff, girlie!
Michelle
Oh, well... she's just HOT! LOL
ReplyDeleteA sensational cover, Kylie, congrats. I'd buy that even without the blurb... Hope the world agrees.
Roll on February.
Beautiful, Kylie. Well done - and may it sell heaps.....
ReplyDeleteJo
Kylie, you must be thrilled beyond words with what a wonderful job Berkley is doing with your first book. As Clare said, those two words "Kylie Griffin" make this cover really special to all of us who know you. The fact it's an absolutely stunning image of your hero is an added bonus. Definitely get a poster size version :)
ReplyDeleteHow exciting! I hope you're not too excited to work on book three... I think I would be, LOL
Cate
Congratulations, Kylie. An absolutely stunning cover. Roll on Feb 2012!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous cover Kylie. Congratulations. And if that's your birth announcement I have to say your baby bump is showing and you're looking radiant.
ReplyDeletefab cover, Kylie!!
ReplyDeleteKylie, it's GORGEOUS! You must be so excited.
ReplyDeleteOooh nice cover! So thrilling.
ReplyDeleteYou do realise you are immortal now, don't you
ReplyDeletexxx
I'm still smiling widely. See? :-D
ReplyDeleteMega MEGA congrats, Kylie!! It's a sensational cover for a sensational book and a sensational author!! Muchly deserved :)
ReplyDeleteHugs
Serena, great to see you here, and mega-thanks for your comment! :-)
ReplyDeleteshe's so purty! and yet strong, and yet purrrrty!
ReplyDeletei would totally buy this off the shelf, in fact, i can't wait to purchase :-)
congrats kylie - it's just perfect!
That's a great cover & great blurb. Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteWow!
ReplyDeleteKylie, that could possibly be one of the most gorgeous covers I have ever seen!!! Seriously, it is incredible :) I'm so so proud of you!!
ReplyDeleteSoraya
Kylie, it's so beautiful. Congratulations!
ReplyDeleteClaire (Baxter)
Thank you to everyone for your encouraging comments - I'll pass on to the art dept. how well the cover has been received. Their efforts have certainly paid off! :-)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!
ReplyDeleteFantastic cover! Fantastic blurb!
Love the beautiful but feisty heroine! I read a little of your story on your website and always hoped I get the opportunity to see how it ended. Can't wait for it to be released!!
Margaret Midwood
Hi Margaret, thank you! The release day seems so far away, but I've plenty to keep me busy until then. LOL.
ReplyDeleteHello Kylie, I'm glad you like the cover for your book! Just so you know, the photo illustrator who made that is named Gene Mollica, while the model's name is Heather Ann Burton. We have been working with Gene and the models the past several years designing and making the outfits for quite a few books now. A lot of folks (including many of the authors!) don't realize it is a real person and real costumes used to create the cover artwork, and not just computer generated. It's all stitched together on the computer with the background and special effects, but it all starts out as a concept and a live person in clothing and jewelry to fit their character. I'm glad you love it, I sure thought it was a beautiful cover too!
ReplyDeleteVictor & Shirley Forster
Renaissance Sewing
Hi Victor & Shirley - thanks for letting me know about the cover! I suspected the model was real and that the rest had been computer generated and had wondered who the artist & model were.
ReplyDeleteI'm still thrilled with the final result, can't wait to see it on the bookshelf. :-)
My pleasure! When we finished the gown and had it on the mannequin to take pictures for the artist and publisher I was thinking "Eh, it's ok...I guess" But when it was on a real person it became "Wow!"
ReplyDeleteThe cover of this book is really beautiful.
ReplyDelete