Sunday, November 18, 2012

David Blixt Virtual Book Tour, December 4 – 21

Posted By amy @ 12:30 pm | 1 Comment

Author David Blixt will be touring the blogosphere with Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours from December 4 – 21, where five of his novels will be featured:  The Master of Verona (Star Cross’d #1), The Voice of the Falconer (Star Cross’d #2), Fortune’s Fool (Star Cross’d #3), Her Majesty’s Will and Colossus: Stone and Steel.

ABOUT THE BOOKS

The Master of Verona (Star Cross’d #1)

Romeo & Juliet is the greatest love story ever told. And every story has a beginning.

A sweeping novel of Renaissance Italy, THE MASTER OF VERONA follows Pietro Alaghieri, eldest son of the poet Dante, as he’s caught up by the charisma and genius of Verona’s ruler, Cangrande della Scala. Pietro risks battles, duels, and murder to impress his new lord. At the heart of the story is an infernal plot against Cangrande’s bastard heir, and the rivalry of two friends over the affections of a girl. That rivalry will sever a friendship, divide a city, and initiate a feud that will someday produce the star-cross’d lovers.

Based on the plays of William Shakespeare, the poetry of Dante, and the history of Italy, THE MASTER OF VERONA is a novel of brutal warfare, lost friendship, and dire conspiracy, combining to create a heart-stoppingly epic journey into the birth of the Renaissance that recalls the best of Bernard Cornwell and Dorothy Dunnett.

Voice of the Falconer (Star Cross’d #2)


It’s eight years after the tumultuous events of THE MASTER OF VERONA. Pietro Alaghieri has been living as an exile in Ravenna, enduring the loss of his famous father while secretly raising the bastard heir to Verona’s prince.

But when word reaches him of the death of Cangrande della Scala, the master of Verona, Pietro must race back to Verona to prevent young Cesco’s rivals from usurping his rightful place. With the tentative peace of Italy at stake, not to mention their lives, Pietro must act swiftly to protect them all. But young Cesco is determined not to be anyones pawn. Willful and brilliant, he defies even the stars. And far behind the scenes is a mastermind pulling the strings, one who stands to lose, or gain, the most.

Born from Shakespeare’s Italian plays, in this novel we meet for the first time Romeo, Juliet, Tybalt, the Nurse, as well as revisit Montague and Capulet, Petruchio and Kate, and the money-lending Shylock. From Ravenna to Verona, Mantua, and Venice, this novel explores the danger, deceit, and deviltry of early Renaissance Italy, and the terrible choices one must make just to stay alive.

Fortune’s Fool (Star Cross’d #3)


Italy, 1326. While the brilliant and wily Cesco is schooled in his new duties at the hand of a hard master, Pietro Alaghieri travels to Avignon, current seat of the Papacy, to fight his excommunication and plead for Cesco’s legitimacy. He doesn’t know an old foe has been waiting to ruin Pietro’s life and seize control of Verona for himself.

Back in Verona, separated from everyone he trusts, Cesco must confront his ambitious cousin, a mysterious young killer, and the Holy Roman Emperor himself. A harrowing series of adventures reveal a secret long hidden, one that threatens Cesco’s only chance for true happiness.

Inspired by Shakespeare, Dante, and Petrarch, full of Renaissance intrigue and passion, this third novel in Blixt’s acclaimed Star-Cross’d series reflects the heights of drama, exploring the capricious whims of lady Fortune, who has her favorites – and her fools.)

Her Majesty’s Will

Before he was famous, he was a fugitive.
Before he wrote of humanity, he lived it.
Before he was the Bard of Avon, he was a spy.

A very poor spy.

England, 1586. Swept up in the skirts of a mysterious stranger, Will Shakespeare becomes entangled in a deadly and hilarious misadventure as he accidentally uncovers the Babington Plot, an attempt to murder Queen Elizabeth herself. Aided by the mercurial wit of Kit Marlowe, Will enters London for the first time, chased by rebels, spies, his own government, his past, and a bear.

Through it all he demonstrates his loyalty and genius, proving himself to be – HER MAJESTY’S WILL.

Colossus: Stone and Steel 

Judea, 66 AD. A Roman legion suffers a smashing and catastrophic defeat at the hands of an angry band of Hebrews armed with only slings and spears. Knowing Emperor Nero’s revenge will be swift and merciless, they must decide how to defend their land against the Roman invasion.Caught up in the tumult is the mason Judah, inadvertent hero of Beth Horon, who now finds himself rubbing shoulders with priests, revolutionaries, generals, and nobles, drafted to help defend the land of Galilee.

Denied the chance to marry where he will, he turns all his energy into defending the besieged city of Jotapata. But with a general suffering delusions of grandeur, friends falling each day, and the Roman menace at the walls, Judah must brave a nightmare to save those he loves and preserve his honor.

PRAISE FOR DAVID BLIXT

“David Blixt bursts onto the historical fiction scene with this masterful tale of adventure, love, and intrigue — this is high adventure at its best, an epic novel filled with the breathtaking feats and evanescent beauty of the early Renaissance.”   — C.W. Gortner, THE LAST QUEEN and THE CONFESSIONS OF CATHERINE DE MEDICI

“Shakespearean actor David Blixt traces the genesis of the famous feud between the Montagues and Capulets in this sharp, arresting novel that is completely impossible to put down.” — Michelle Moran, NEFERTITI and MADAME TUSSAUD

“Dante’s Italy and the internecine, blood-feuding struggle of the dominant families of the northern city states. This story of corruption and the quest for power is as compelling as Mario Puzo’s Godfather and as thrilling as any of Rafael Sabatini’s historical adventures. David Blixt, with The Master of Verona, has burst onto the literary scene as a master of the historical novel, combining a wonderful evocation of time and place with an easy writing ability that commands the reader’s attention from the outset.”  Peter Tremayne, THE CHALICE OF BLOOD

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Author and playwright David Blixt’s work is consistently described as “intricate,” “taut,” and“breathtaking.” A writer of Historical Fiction, his novels span the early Roman Empire (the COLOSSUS series, his play EVE OF IDES) to early Renaissance Italy (the STAR-CROSS’D series, including THE MASTER OF VERONA, VOICE OF THE FALCONER, and FORTUNE’S FOOL) up through the Elizabethan era (his delightful espionage comedy HER MAJESTY’S WILL, starring Will Shakespeare and Kit Marlowe as inept spies). His novels combine a love of the theatre with a deep respect for the quirks and passions of history. As the Historical Novel Society said, “Be prepared to burn the midnight oil. It’s well worth it.”

Living in Chicago with his wife and two children, David describes himself as “actor, author, father, husband. In reverse order.”

For more about David and his novels, visit www.davidblixt.com.
  

VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE

Tuesday, December 4
Review (Her Majesty’s Will) at A Bookish Affair
Review (The Master of Verona) at Ageless Pages Reviews

Wednesday, December 5
Review & Giveaway (Colossus) at Broken Teepee
Author Guest Post & Giveaway (Her Majesty’s Will) at A Bookish Affair

Thursday, December 6
Feature & Giveaway (The Master of Verona) at Peeking Between the Pages

Friday, December 7
Review (Her Majesty’s Will) at So Many Books, So Little Time
Review (The Voice of the Falconer) at Tanzanite’s Castle Full of Books

Monday, December 10
Author Guest Post at Bibliophilic Book Blog
Review & Giveaway (The Master of Verona) at Confessions of an Avid Reader

Wednesday, December 12
Review (The Master of Verona) at The Musings of a Book Junkie
Author Guest Post (Her Majesty’s Will) at A Bookish Libraria

Thursday, December 13
Review (Her Majesty’s Will) at Oh, For the Hook of a Book!
Author Interview (The Master of Verona) at The Musings of a Book Junkie

Friday, December 14
Review & Giveaway (Her Majesty’s Will) at Kinx’s Book Nook
Author Guest Post & Giveaway (Her Majesty’s Will) at Oh, For the Hook of a Book!

Monday, December 17
Review (Her Majesty’s Will) at Broken Teepee

Wednesday, December 19 
Review & Giveaway (Her Majesty’s Will) at The Maiden’s Court

Thursday, December 20
Review (The Master of Verona) at Enchanted by Josephine

Friday, December 21
Review (The Master of Verona) at Bippity Boppity Book
Review (The Master of Verona) at Historical Tapestry & The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader
Author Interview at Enchanted by Josephine

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