The Fading Dusk
(Smoke and Mirrors, #1)
Author: Melissa Giorgio
Publication Date: July 19th, 2015
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
(Smoke and Mirrors, #1)
Author: Melissa Giorgio
Publication Date: July 19th, 2015
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Book Description:
In the gritty city of Dusk,
seventeen-year-old Irina makes her living as the street magician
Bantheir’s assistant. The job isn’t glamorous, but she loves the crowds,
the shows, and most of all, the illusion of magic. But Irina’s world is
shattered the night she is arrested and charged as Bantheir’s
accomplice to murder—murder by magic.
Real magic, the kind that’s been forbidden since the old wars.
Irina finds the idea of flashy showman Bantheir using actual magic to kill someone laughable, but she’s the only one who sees how ridiculous the claim is. But how can she convince everyone Bantheir is innocent when they’ve already made up their minds? Desperate, Irina must decide who she can trust to help her win her freedom. Is the surly, handsome Captain Leonid telling the truth when he says he believes Irina is innocent, or is he just using her to get to Bantheir? What about Aden, the sweet soldier and longtime fan of Irina’s who claims he’s on her side?
Irina said she wanted to know the truth, but when she stumbles across a dark secret that changes everything, will she be strong enough to survive?
Real magic, the kind that’s been forbidden since the old wars.
Irina finds the idea of flashy showman Bantheir using actual magic to kill someone laughable, but she’s the only one who sees how ridiculous the claim is. But how can she convince everyone Bantheir is innocent when they’ve already made up their minds? Desperate, Irina must decide who she can trust to help her win her freedom. Is the surly, handsome Captain Leonid telling the truth when he says he believes Irina is innocent, or is he just using her to get to Bantheir? What about Aden, the sweet soldier and longtime fan of Irina’s who claims he’s on her side?
Irina said she wanted to know the truth, but when she stumbles across a dark secret that changes everything, will she be strong enough to survive?
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Excerpt
I could still feel the eyes of the soldier who’d killed the burly man boring into me. I knew I should be thankful that he’d saved me, but all I could focus on was the knife in the burly man’s back, and the blood that was staining his clothes and dripping onto the floor.
The soldier took one step toward me. “Are you—”
I’m going to be sick! I jumped to my feet, ignoring the soldier’s startled exclamation, and turned on my heel, racing through the kitchen and out the back door.
The chilly autumn air hit me like another punch to the face. The yard was covered in inky shadows and I blindly moved forward as I listened to the soldier’s heavy footsteps behind me. Why is he chasing me? I thought tearfully. I haven’t done anything!
“Stop!” he ordered.
I ignored him and kept going through the tall grass, away from the well we shared with our neighbors. I was concentrating so hard on not stubbing my foot on the bricks that I didn’t see the exposed tree root until it was too late. My foot got caught and I went sprawling, scraping my palms against the ground.
“I did tell you to stop,” the soldier said, watching as I rolled over ungracefully. My skirt had risen up and I tugged it down to cover my legs, my face flaming. I hoped he hadn’t seen anything in the dark, but with the way my night was going, I was sure he’d seen plenty.
At least the need to empty my stomach had passed. Now I felt a stab of irritation as the soldier simply stood there, watching me. A decent man would at least offer me his hand, help me to my feet, and ask if I was all right. So far, this man had done none of the above. “What do you want with me?” I asked harshly.
His face was cloaked in shadows, so it was impossible to get a good look at him. I could see that he was tall, though, and lean. “You need to come with us, to the prison.”
Prison?! My heart jumped. “Why? I haven’t committed any crimes!”
“That remains to be seen.”
I couldn’t believe this. I’d been threatened, assaulted, and almost murdered, and I was the one being arrested? “No,” I told him.
The soldier paused. “Excuse me?”
“No, I’m not going to prison. I’m going to sit and wait for Bantheir to come home, and we’re going to file a complaint for your absurd treatment of civilians!” I threw my hands up in the air. “Any normal person would realize the culprits are the two men you just killed! Is this your first day on the job, soldier?”
Before he could answer, two more soldiers jogged up to us. “Captain!” one called out, and I realized with a growing sense of dread that he was referring to the man I’d just yelled at.
He’s a captain?
“It’s all clear, Captain,” the other soldier said. “It was just the two men.”
“Very good,” the captain said. “Just the two men and… her.”
All three turned to stare at me like I was an exhibit on display. I squirmed uncomfortably. “What should we do with her, sir?” one asked.
The captain tugged on his gloves, one at a time, before answering, “We’re taking her back to the prison. Tie her up and gag her if you have to, just bring her in!”
“Yes, sir!” they shouted in unison as the captain turned on his heel and stalked back into the house.
“Hey!” I shouted, my cries echoing off the buildings. “Wait a second! I told you I wasn’t going! Hey—”
One of the soldiers stuffed a rag into my mouth, silencing me. The other one produced a rope and I realized with alarm that they really were going to tie me up.
Tears stung my eyes at the injustice of it all. After everything that had happened, this was how they were going to treat me?
Could my day possibly get any worse?
I could still feel the eyes of the soldier who’d killed the burly man boring into me. I knew I should be thankful that he’d saved me, but all I could focus on was the knife in the burly man’s back, and the blood that was staining his clothes and dripping onto the floor.
The soldier took one step toward me. “Are you—”
I’m going to be sick! I jumped to my feet, ignoring the soldier’s startled exclamation, and turned on my heel, racing through the kitchen and out the back door.
The chilly autumn air hit me like another punch to the face. The yard was covered in inky shadows and I blindly moved forward as I listened to the soldier’s heavy footsteps behind me. Why is he chasing me? I thought tearfully. I haven’t done anything!
“Stop!” he ordered.
I ignored him and kept going through the tall grass, away from the well we shared with our neighbors. I was concentrating so hard on not stubbing my foot on the bricks that I didn’t see the exposed tree root until it was too late. My foot got caught and I went sprawling, scraping my palms against the ground.
“I did tell you to stop,” the soldier said, watching as I rolled over ungracefully. My skirt had risen up and I tugged it down to cover my legs, my face flaming. I hoped he hadn’t seen anything in the dark, but with the way my night was going, I was sure he’d seen plenty.
At least the need to empty my stomach had passed. Now I felt a stab of irritation as the soldier simply stood there, watching me. A decent man would at least offer me his hand, help me to my feet, and ask if I was all right. So far, this man had done none of the above. “What do you want with me?” I asked harshly.
His face was cloaked in shadows, so it was impossible to get a good look at him. I could see that he was tall, though, and lean. “You need to come with us, to the prison.”
Prison?! My heart jumped. “Why? I haven’t committed any crimes!”
“That remains to be seen.”
I couldn’t believe this. I’d been threatened, assaulted, and almost murdered, and I was the one being arrested? “No,” I told him.
The soldier paused. “Excuse me?”
“No, I’m not going to prison. I’m going to sit and wait for Bantheir to come home, and we’re going to file a complaint for your absurd treatment of civilians!” I threw my hands up in the air. “Any normal person would realize the culprits are the two men you just killed! Is this your first day on the job, soldier?”
Before he could answer, two more soldiers jogged up to us. “Captain!” one called out, and I realized with a growing sense of dread that he was referring to the man I’d just yelled at.
He’s a captain?
“It’s all clear, Captain,” the other soldier said. “It was just the two men.”
“Very good,” the captain said. “Just the two men and… her.”
All three turned to stare at me like I was an exhibit on display. I squirmed uncomfortably. “What should we do with her, sir?” one asked.
The captain tugged on his gloves, one at a time, before answering, “We’re taking her back to the prison. Tie her up and gag her if you have to, just bring her in!”
“Yes, sir!” they shouted in unison as the captain turned on his heel and stalked back into the house.
“Hey!” I shouted, my cries echoing off the buildings. “Wait a second! I told you I wasn’t going! Hey—”
One of the soldiers stuffed a rag into my mouth, silencing me. The other one produced a rope and I realized with alarm that they really were going to tie me up.
Tears stung my eyes at the injustice of it all. After everything that had happened, this was how they were going to treat me?
Could my day possibly get any worse?
About the Author
Melissa Giorgio is a native New Yorker who graduated from Queens College with a degree in English. She’s always dreamed of being a writer and has been creating stories (mostly in her head) since she was a little girl. Also an avid reader, Melissa loves to devour thick YA novels. When not reading or writing, she enjoys watching animated films, listening to music by her favorite Japanese boy band, or exploring Manhattan. She is also the author of the Silver Moon Saga.
Melissa Giorgio is a native New Yorker who graduated from Queens College with a degree in English. She’s always dreamed of being a writer and has been creating stories (mostly in her head) since she was a little girl. Also an avid reader, Melissa loves to devour thick YA novels. When not reading or writing, she enjoys watching animated films, listening to music by her favorite Japanese boy band, or exploring Manhattan. She is also the author of the Silver Moon Saga.
Author Links:
***GIVEAWAY***
One signed paperback of THE FADING DUSK and one signed paperback of THE SIGHT SEER (US/CAN).
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