Sellsword's Oath by Gail Z. Martin

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Gail Z. Martin will be awarding a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Welcome back to It's Raining Books, Gail. Why do you write in your genre? What draws you to it?

I’ve always been interested in the Medieval time period, and I was a history major in college. I like stories about knights and kings and sword fights, with plenty of magic and monsters. I’m a sucker for stories about heroes!

What research or world building is required?

A: I base my magic on a lot of lore and traditions from the real world to make it as believable as possible. I also generally pick a time period in history as a rough equivalent for technology, even though my books don’t take place in our world. That way I can research weapons, architecture, and how people went about their everyday lives and bring that sense of reality to ground the book.

Name one thing you learned from your heroes.

Blowing things up isn’t very stealthy!

Do you have any odd or interesting writing quirks, habits or superstitions?

Not really, other than requiring a great deal of coffee!

Are you a plotter or pantser?

Mostly a plotter, because I am writing multiple books a year so I need to have the story clear in my mind to write efficiently. Of course, there are always surprises that turn up as I’m writing that I didn’t expect. That keeps it fun!

Look to your right – what’s sitting there?

Kipp, our Maltese dog.

Anything new coming up from you? What?

I’ll have new books out in a number of different series this year if all goes well. And I’ll be working on the next book in the Assassins of Landria series, the sequel to Sellsword’s Oath, so stay tuned!

Do you have a question for our readers?

I’d love to know if being able to binge-watch things on Netflix has changed the way they want to consume books or series. Are they still willing to wait for a new book every year, or do they want new stuff sooner?

If you could live in any time period, what would they pick and why?

Even though it’s not perfect, I’m happy with modern times’ indoor plumbing, medicine and internet!

Buddy flick epic fantasy! The second in the Assassins of Landria series from the award-winning, bestselling author of Scourge: A Novel of Darkhurst and The Chronicles Of The Necromancer books!

Wandering mystic Yefim Makary, known to his followers as the ‘Witch Lord’, disappeared before he could be accused of inciting dissent against King Kristoph. His supporters among the disenchanted aristocrats who weren’t arrested have fled or died by their own hand. The king is happy to put the matter behind him. Yet Burke, the commander of the elite King’s Shadows, doesn’t believe the threat is over, and he assigns his two most troublesome, rule-breaking—and successful—assassins to ferret out the real threat and put a stop to Makary’s plots.
Joel “Ridge” Breckinridge and Garrett “Rett” Kennard rose through the ranks of the Landrian army together, from teenaged conscripts to seasoned fighters. Together, they became the most feared team of assassins in Landria, surviving longer that most in their profession by virtue of excellent fighting skills, legendary bravado, peerless strategy, and an uncanny synchronicity.

As the threads of a new plot come together revealing disloyalty among the priests and generals, Ridge and Rett once again find themselves on the run, hoping they and their allies can figure out the Witch Lord’s latest scheme before it costs them their lives—and the king his throne.

Read an Excerpt

“Moving along,” he said with a grimace, “there’s the matter of your next assignment. The Witch Lord has disappeared. We know he wasn’t killed or captured, but right now we have no idea where he’s gone. The nobles who supported him have either vanished, committed suicide, or been imprisoned for attempted treason. Some of us believe it’s only a matter of time before the Witch Lord makes another move, but until then, King Kristoph is eager to move on and put the incident behind him.”

Ridge thought the king didn’t want to look weak by dwelling on the attack. Kristoph had narrowly escaped death, and now he needed to show his enemies he was strong enough to take the matter in stride. That didn’t change the reality of Kristoph’s situation, and it presented a complication when it came to protecting him.

“Do you agree?” Rett asked.

Burke looked pained. “I serve the king, which requires doing what he asks and what he needs,” he added in a quiet voice. “So I am authorizing you to keep your ears open, but anything you find out—anything—you bring it to me before you act. Are we clear?”

Ridge and Rett nodded.

“In the meantime, I have a job for you. Those counterfeiters I mentioned before. Treason of a different kind.” He slid a folded paper across the table to Ridge.

“It’s your letter of marque to go after anyone illegally producing the coin of the realm,” Burke said. “We believe there’s a group set up near the border, where they can prey on merchants looking to exchange gold for Landrian currency. Counterfeiting is an act of violence against the king’s treasury and the realm itself. You’ll be passing as traders. Find the people responsible, destroy their forge, and end the threat. As quietly as possible.”

“Yes, sir,” Ridge replied.

“If in the course of your duties you learn more about the Witch Lord and his disciples, I’ll be fascinated to hear about it,” Burke added. “Now, finish your ale and go home. You’ll be leaving in the morning.”

About the Author: Gail Z. Martin writes epic fantasy, urban fantasy and steampunk for Solaris Books, Orbit Books, SOL Publishing, Darkwind Press, and Falstaff Books. Recent books include Witch of the Woods, Sellsword’s Oath, Inheritance, and Night Moves. With Larry N. Martin, she is the co-author of the Spells Salt & Steel, Wasteland Marshals, Joe Mack and Jake Desmet series. As Morgan Brice, she writes urban fantasy MM paranormal romance including the Witchbane, Badlands and Treasure Trail series. Recent books include Loose Ends and Unholy.

Website: http://www.GailZMartin.com
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/GailZMartin
Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/WinterKingdoms
Blog: http://www.DisquietingVisions.com
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/GailZMartin
Amazon author page: https://www.amazon.com/Gail-Z-Martin/e/B002BM8XSQ
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/gail-z-martin
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/morganbriceauthor/

Never miss out on the news and new releases—newsletter signup link http://eepurl.com/dd5XLj


And get a free complete short story, Catspaw, here: https://claims.prolificworks.com/free/UAjd6

Join her Facebook group, the Shadow Alliance; https://www.facebook.com/groups/435812789942761/

a Rafflecopter giveaway