BLOG TOUR: Tales From the Front 03 MORE CLUES + #GIVEAWAY!

When Elise contacted me and asked if I wanted to take part in "something special" to help celebrate the release of EARTH'S END, I said "duh, obviously." I love the Air Awakens series (you can see my review of Air Awakens and Fire Falling) so it was a no-brainer to sign up to help people get excited about the third installment of the series, EARTH'S END. With my post today, you get another piece of the Earth's End puzzle that has been starting to come together. I'll link the other posts below so you can see the other pieces and try to figure out how the beginning of Earth's End will fit into the ending of Fire Falling.

More about the Series so far...

AIR AWAKENS (Air Awakens #1) by Elise Kova
A library apprentice, a sorcerer prince, and an unbreakable magic bond...

The Solaris Empire is one conquest away from uniting the continent, and the rare elemental magic sleeping in seventeen-year-old library apprentice Vhalla Yarl could shift the tides of war.

Vhalla has always been taught to fear the Tower of Sorcerers, a mysterious magic society, and has been happy in her quiet world of books. But after she unknowingly saves the life of one of the most powerful sorcerers of them all—the Crown Prince Aldrik—she finds herself enticed into his world. Now she must decide her future: Embrace her sorcery and leave the life she’s known, or eradicate her magic and remain as she’s always been. And with powerful forces lurking in the shadows, Vhalla’s indecision could cost her more than she ever imagined. 

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FIRE FALLING (Air Awakens #2) by Elise Kova

Soldier… Sorcerer… Savior… Who is Vhalla Yarl?

Vhalla Yarl marches to war as property of the Solaris Empire. The Emperor counts on her to bring victory, the Senate counts on her death, and the only thing Vhalla can count on is the fight of her life. As she grapples with the ghosts of her past, new challenges in the present threaten to shatter the remnants of her fragile sanity. Will she maintain her humanity? Or will she truly become the Empire’s monster?

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So what exactly is Tales From the Front?

Tales from the Front is a series of notes, alternate POV chapters, and other teasers that take place from just before the end of Fire Falling (Air Awakens, #2) to the beginning of Earth’s End (Air Awakens, #3). They are being sent out at random with the idea that bloggers and readers can ban together to put the puzzle pieces together to find out a different side to the story and uncover truths about the characters.

Pretty cool, right? I have seen some pretty awesome bloodied letters, and other POV chapters, and I am excited to give you a POV chapter today. I am hoping that before the release of Earth's End we can all come to a conclusion about what actually happened at the end of Fire Falling! Hopefully it is a positive one!!!

Without further ado, here is a point of view chapter from the love of my life...

The Golden Prince: Baldair Solaris

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“Erion, Jax.” Baldair clasped the forearms of each of the men in turn. They were two of the most competent leaders and skilled fighters the world had ever known, but nothing put a bigger smile on Baldair’s facet than to return to the front and see his brothers well.

The prince held out the reins of his mount to Raylynn who stared at them incredulously. “What do you want me to do with them?”

“I’d like to hear their reports; will you take my horse with yours?” Baldair flashed the woman a dazzling smile. She simply snorted in reply.

“I’m not your errand girl.”

“Maybe I just enjoy seeing you walk away?” Baldair cooed.

With a sigh that carried the hint of a laugh Raylynn snatched the reins. She started behind Craig and Daniel for the makeshift stables and horse ties.

“I’ll make it up to you Ray!” he called.

“We’ll see.” The girl didn’t even turn to wave him off.

Baldair stared in appreciation of his female guard. She was a dagger coated in honey. Tempting to the eye, but would cut the tongue for taking just one lick. If he had been the settling type, he would’ve long since made her his bride. Luckily, Raylynn felt much the same as he on that front.

“Good to see things between you and Raylynn are as inappropriate as ever,” Erion drawled, summoning back Baldair’s attention.

“Would you expect anything less?” he chuckled and threw his arm around Erion’s shoulders. The Westener was sturdier than he looked and didn’t stumble at Baldair’s weight. The prince appreciated being around people who he didn’t have to hold back his strength with. “So! Have you two ended the war for me as I ordered while I was gone?”

“Progress, yes, but not yet victory,” Erion squirmed free.

“Well, what have you been doing then?”

“Clearly not enough, Erion has been utterly useless.” The other Western man adjusted the high bun on his head as he spoke. “Not that it’s a surprise.”

Erion rolled his eyes, not taking the slightest offense. “The only surprise is that Jax finally found someone to dictate his reports to so that they’re actually legible for the other majors. That’s really been the source of the progress.”

“And who did you have to threaten or bribe to help you with that?” Jax’s antics never failed to amuse Baldair and this promised to be an interesting story.

“The mystery woman from the forest,” Erion answered before Jax could speak.

“Mystery woman from the forest?” Baldair had a little voice that lived in his gut and told him when things weren’t quite right. Generally speaking, so long as he listened to that voice, he stayed alive. The look Jax had about him made that little voice start screaming.

“We need to speak,” Jax confirmed Baldair’s suspicion.

Baldair waited a long moment. “Well?”

“Alone.” Jax’s dark eyes looked at Erion pointedly.

“Jax, I cannot think of one thing that you could have to tell me that you cannot tell your brother in arms.” Baldair was ever eager to nip any possibilities of rifts between his men. If they didn’t see each other as family, they wouldn’t fight alongside each other giving it all they had.

Jax leaned forward and rested his palm on Baldair’s shoulder. He leaned in close, nearly cheek to cheek. After a long pause, he spoke, “Does the name Serien Leral, mean anything to you?”

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Ahh, my lovely book boyfriend is even more lovely here. It is interesting to see the dynamic between Baldair and Jax and Erion here. Since we are seeing everything from Vhalla's point of view, I think sometimes we miss the little interactions that make up the friendship between Baldair and his Golden Guard. I like that Jax seems to trust Baldair above all else, but also that Baldair trusts Erion just as much. I HAVE SO MANY FEELINGS ABOUT THIS. Does Baldair know about what happened to his brother at the end of Fire Falling, because if so, he is acting fairly calm. Like much more calm than I was when I read the ending so either he doesn't care (doubtful) or he doesn't know (much more likely). So why is the first thing Jax asks is if he knows Serien, why not "oh hey did you hear?"

Here are more of my questions: 

Why does Jax know who Serien Leral is? 

Does Major Reale's letter have to do with what Jax knows? 

Why isn't the series written from Baldair's POV (Golden Guard miniseries??)? 

Why is Baldair saying he would marry someone other than me?

What does this chapter add for you? Tell me your (probably not-so) crazy theories below!

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The Clues So Far...

See Elise's post that kicked off our suspicions

Melissa had a POV chapter from Fritz that was a tad bit heartbreaking

A letter from Major Reale that may be about Aldrik and Vhalla?

A letter about the Solaris front line's efforts in the North

A supply list for ~something~ that seems like a potion?

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EARTH'S END (Air Awakens #3) by Elise Kova

A woman awoken in air, a soldier forged by fire, a weapon risen from blood.

Vhalla Yarl has made it to the warfront in the North. Forged by blood and fire, she has steeled her heart for the final battle of the Solaris Empire’s conquest. The choices before Vhalla are no longer servitude or freedom, they are servitude or death. The stakes have never been higher as the Emperor maintains his iron grip on her fate, holding everything Vhalla still has left to lose in the balance.

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As part of this tour, there is a giveaway for a swag pack that includes a canvas Air Awakens bag, a signed bookmark set, a signed copy of Earth’s End, a pair of silver wing earrings, and a letter from Aldrik! It's open internationally!

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