CINDERELLA'S INFERNO (Cinderella, Necromancer #2) Author: F.M. Boughan
Publication Date: May 28, 2018
Publisher: Month9Books
Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook
Pages: 324
Description:
Purity cannot abide the darkness.
It’s been two years since Ellison defeated her stepsisters and sent her evil stepmother back into the Abyss.
Though she’s learning to control her dark magic and has spent time traveling with Prince William and bringing peace to the kingdom, one fact remains. She is a necromancer and he is a paladin of light. And so, the king refuses to give his blessing for them to marry.
To appease his father, William has begun to avoid her. But when even her younger brother Edward grows distant, Ellison learns her mother’s spirit has been visiting Edward in secret, threatening to overwhelm him with her own loneliness and longing. When Ellison accidentally touches her mother’s spirit, her tainted touch condemns her mother’s spirit to eternal damnation.
Ellison resolves to descend into hell to save her mother’s soul and bring her physical body back to the world of the living. William hopes this good deed will bring Ellison into favor and finally allow them to be wed.
But the journey through hell is fraught with peril. Temptations abound and the demons Ellison sent back to the Abyss are thirsty for revenge.
Evil cannot be defeated without sacrifice—but when that sacrifice means choosing between the ones Ellison loves and her very own life, how far is she willing to go to make her family whole again?
Excerpt from Chapter 4, “The Damning”
I crouched beside the iron gate, peering above the branches of a roughly trimmed hedge to watch Edward’s hand reach toward our mother as she, too, extended hers to him. I hoped for a word of joy or encouragement that Edward might pass on to Father and me. Or, better still, a reason for her absence. I didn’t need to touch her, I would not inflict purposeful pain, but did she truly believe otherwise? Perhaps she recalled that moment two years prior when we’d reached for each other—how angry, black scabs had formed over her luminescent spirit flesh when we’d made contact. I still heard her cries of pain, recalling easily the way my skin had burned at her touch. Did she fear I would reach for her again, that I would cause her purity to fester? Was that why she’d stayed away?
Anger flared in my belly and unbalanced my deep crouch. My toe caught on the front of my skirt and I toppled forward to land directly in front of the closed gate. No longer hidden by the hedge, I held a quiet hope that the fumble had gone unnoticed. But when I glanced up to regard my family, Edward gaped as though he had forgotten my presence at all, and my mother—oh, my dear and most precious mother—was not pleased to see me. If she had any reaction at all, I might have called it … anger. Or was it blame?
“Ella, go back,” Edward pleaded.
“Mother, please,” I breathed. She didn’t speak to me but the air around her shimmering form darkened. The dulled brightness of her spirit dimmed further, and I stared in alarm as I rose to my feet.
“No, Ella. Go.” Edward took a step toward me as I found myself pressed into the iron gate. My trembling fingers caught the latch and raised it. My mother’s spirit, faded and stark, lifted her palms toward me—not beckoning, but forbidding.
“Why don’t you want me?” My voice cracked, and I choked on the words as I stepped through onto hallowed ground. “Why doesn’t anyone want me?”
F.M. Boughan is a bibliophile, a writer, and an unabashed parrot enthusiast. She can often be found writing in local coffee shops, namely because it’s hard to concentrate with a cat lying on the keyboard and a small, colorful parrot screaming into her ear. Her work is somewhat dark, somewhat violent, somewhat hopeful, and always contains a hint of magic. You can follow Faith on Twitter (@FaithBoughan) for plenty of flailing about food (she likes to cook!), TV shows (she watches too many), and world dance (did you know she's been performing & instructing in Bollywood-style dance for over 8 years?).
Or catch her on Facebook where she just might post pictures of her adorable cat & bird... among other things.
F.M. Boughan is represented by Bill Contardi of Brandt & Hochman.
(1) winner will receive a $10 Amazon Gift Card.
Tour Schedule:
Week One:
6/11/2018- Dorky Girl and Skeletor- Excerpt
6/11/2018- Writer of Wrongs- Review
6/12/2018- Book Briefs- Interview
6/12/2018- Book-o-Craze- Spotlight
6/13/2018- For the Lover of Books- Review
6/13/2018- Books a Plenty Book Reviews- Spotlight
6/14/2018- Lauren is Reading- Review
6/14/2018- A Gingerly Review- Excerpt
6/15/2018- Book-Keeping- Guest Post
6/15/2018- RhythmicBooktrovert- Spotlight
Week Two:
6/18/2018- Zach's YA Reviews- Review
6/18/2018- Rattle the Stars- Spotlight
6/19/2018- Bluestocking Bookworm- Review
6/19/2018- A Dream Within A Dream- Excerpt
6/20/2018- books are love- Review
6/20/2018- Here's to Happy Endings- Excerpt
6/21/2018- Blushing Bibliophile- Review
6/21/2018- Two Chicks on Books- Interview
6/22/2018- Bookroomreviews- Guest Post
