Book Spotlight: Sword of Audantei by Ashley Holmquist

Lieutenant Commander Danilo Altamura is torn between his commitment to his city and his desperate desire to escape the clutches of his deranged father, High General Llodis Altamura. When Danilo’s blood bonds with a powerful Stormthrower sword, Llodis labels him a traitor and he flees to Audantei's deadly alleyways, where survival means staying hidden. But after stumbling upon an unexpected incident during Audantei's notorious Hanging Day, his world takes a dark and twisted turn.

Seeking refuge among Audantei's enemies, the Stormthrowers, Danilo strikes a deal with their reticent leader, Enzo Sapienti. In exchange for safety, Danilo finds himself a captive among the most dangerous of their kind.

As secrets unravel and loyalties shift, Danilo's dormant magic is awakened, revealing the true extent of his exile. When the Stormthrowers capture Llodis, they discover the vengeful Royal Beseecher hunts Danilo, leaving him to choose which fate to Enzo's threats or the tantalizing promises of his father.

Incorporating ancient legends and a mystical atmosphere, “Sword of Audantei” will transport young adult readers on an extraordinary journey. Will Danilo discover his true destiny and uncover the truth behind Audantei's dark past? Find out in this captivating fantasy epic that will leave you breathless.

GENRE: Young Adult Fantasy

PURCHASE LINK: Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Ashley Holmquist is a first-time author of the mystical fantasy-adventure series Artifacts of Anarchy. Her short stories have been published in multiple online magazines.

She’s the eldest of five gremlin children, a socially-awkward Christian, and a book hoarder. She has been a racehorse owner, a counselling major, an office manager, an interior designer, and has travelled to multiple countries. She is also an avid gamer, so long as the video game is a solo experience.

Ashley’s writing thrives in loud and chaotic surroundings that are usually impossible to focus in. And despite that success, her writing is best done in her quiet church office, where her flawed characters can live in untamed, unabashed ruthlessness in an attempt to hide their soft hearts.

International Giveaway

Head over to the Instagram hashtag #SwordofAudanteiMTMC to enter the International tour giveaway with 1st, 2nd, 3rd place prizes:

• 1st place winner: A signed physical copy of my novel along with additional swag, a book purchased from their amazon wishlist, and a $25 amazon gift card.
• 2nd place winner: A book purchased from their amazon wishlist and a $25 amazon gift card.
• 3rd place winner: A book purchased from their amazon wishlist.

Ends on October 14th, 2023. Winner will be announced on @mtmctours’ Instagram account.

The Protagonist Playlist

Okay, but this isn't what you think! I like doing mood playlists, especially for my own books. Then I thought, why not try something new for a change?

So I popped our protagonist's name into YouTube and, viola!

• "Danilo" by Nahir - This song's in French, so I have no idea what the lyrics mean. There's something about zombies and being bored?? The tune's kind of catchy though.
• "Danilo" by Benja Coloma - This one's Spanish. It actually sounds kinda romantic? I only know a little Spanish though, and Google hasn't gotten back to me with lyrics.
• "Danilo" by Jose Duque's Zumbatres - Sounds like this one's for dancing!
• Bonus: "Altamura" by Manuel Randi and Alex Trebo - Didn't expect to find this one, but I like it! It's relaxing, perfect for a siesta.

First Impressions

I have read neither Legendborn nor The Sword of Kaigen, but I was drawn by the promise of found family, and the grumpy dad/hyperactive son dynamic that's apparently in it. I just love found family, so I have high hopes for this one!

I'm not far enough to leave a full review, and things are still building up, but at this point, I can say it has a lot of potential! The desert setting is also intriguing (though I might just be biased after having read The Phoenix King by Aparna Verma) and all the Spanish names.

Now to put those Danilo songs on and get back to my reading! 🥳