Shattered Veil (The Diatous Wars #1) by Tracy E. Banghart Publication date: February 28th 2014
Genres: New Adult, Science Fiction
For Aris, a talented wingjet pilot, war
means sacrificing everything: her home, her name, her face—and the one
promise she swore she’d never break.
In the small village of Lux, everyone flies wingjets, but nobody flies them like Aris Haan. When she’s not dancing through the skies, she’s spending every minute with Calix, whom she’s loved since childhood. They plan to Promise, but instead he is sent to defend their dominion against a bloody invasion. Determined not to lose him, Aris follows, joining an underground network of women inside the male-only military. Using secret technology that allows her to pass as a man, she becomes “Aristos”, a Flyer in a search-and-rescue unit.
As Aris grows stronger on the battlefield and more comfortable in her guise as Aristos, her personal mission becomes less and less clear. When she and her enigmatic commander, Major Vidar, uncover an astonishing conspiracy that could destroy everything, she must make a choice that will determine not only the fate of her heart, but the future of her dominion.
In the small village of Lux, everyone flies wingjets, but nobody flies them like Aris Haan. When she’s not dancing through the skies, she’s spending every minute with Calix, whom she’s loved since childhood. They plan to Promise, but instead he is sent to defend their dominion against a bloody invasion. Determined not to lose him, Aris follows, joining an underground network of women inside the male-only military. Using secret technology that allows her to pass as a man, she becomes “Aristos”, a Flyer in a search-and-rescue unit.
As Aris grows stronger on the battlefield and more comfortable in her guise as Aristos, her personal mission becomes less and less clear. When she and her enigmatic commander, Major Vidar, uncover an astonishing conspiracy that could destroy everything, she must make a choice that will determine not only the fate of her heart, but the future of her dominion.
Aris cleared her throat, swallowing against the perpetual lump made by the voice modulator. “We’re both stupid, you know,” she said wryly. “Doing this, coming here for them.”
Dysis raised a brow and looked ready to argue, but Aris continued, “But it’s okay. Because in the meantime, while we’re looking…” she paused, thinking of Dianthe. “We’re going to save a lot of people.”
Dysis broke into a sudden, only mildly bitter laugh. “You’re a real romantic, aren’t you?”
Aris smiled and shrugged. “Just ask my friends back home. Practically the moment Calix was Selected, they were telling me to move on, ring around. Thought I was silly for not letting go.” Except for Phaedra, who had Rakk and understood. Aris wondered what she’d think now. “But I am a romantic,” she said, “I don’t care what anyone says. I want to believe things will work out. I’ll be with Calix. You’ll find your brother—”
“We’ll win this war.” Dysis’s voice was quiet, her face serious. No hint of bitterness or sarcasm. In that moment, the look they shared forged them as sector mates – friends – as surely as any two soldiers in any dominion, in any time. In any war.
“Yeah,” Aris echoed softly. “We’ll win the war.”
Dysis gave herself a little shake and laughed. “We better finish up. Lights out any minute now.” They replaced their veils and with a nearly imperceptible shimmer of air, their curves smoothed and faces hardened. As if on cue, the room plunged into darkness, a faint glow along the floor of the washroom the only hint of light.
In the dark, they felt their way to their cots. Aris sighed as she sank onto the hard bed. She was exhausted. Every moment of the day she’d worried she’d slip up, say the wrong thing or move the wrong way. She’d been sure everyone would see through her disguise to her real face and her real motives.
And tomorrow, with the physical trials and combat training, it would be even worse.
“Goodnight, Dysis,” she whispered into the darkness.
“Goodnight, Aristos.”
That night Aris dreamed, as she so often did, of flying. Only this time Calix had been captured. She flew over the endless deserts of Safara seeking him until, in a great flash of light, she was shot down. The earth rushed toward her, a terrifying golden blur.
She woke, soaked in sweat and shivering with fear.
Dysis raised a brow and looked ready to argue, but Aris continued, “But it’s okay. Because in the meantime, while we’re looking…” she paused, thinking of Dianthe. “We’re going to save a lot of people.”
Dysis broke into a sudden, only mildly bitter laugh. “You’re a real romantic, aren’t you?”
Aris smiled and shrugged. “Just ask my friends back home. Practically the moment Calix was Selected, they were telling me to move on, ring around. Thought I was silly for not letting go.” Except for Phaedra, who had Rakk and understood. Aris wondered what she’d think now. “But I am a romantic,” she said, “I don’t care what anyone says. I want to believe things will work out. I’ll be with Calix. You’ll find your brother—”
“We’ll win this war.” Dysis’s voice was quiet, her face serious. No hint of bitterness or sarcasm. In that moment, the look they shared forged them as sector mates – friends – as surely as any two soldiers in any dominion, in any time. In any war.
“Yeah,” Aris echoed softly. “We’ll win the war.”
Dysis gave herself a little shake and laughed. “We better finish up. Lights out any minute now.” They replaced their veils and with a nearly imperceptible shimmer of air, their curves smoothed and faces hardened. As if on cue, the room plunged into darkness, a faint glow along the floor of the washroom the only hint of light.
In the dark, they felt their way to their cots. Aris sighed as she sank onto the hard bed. She was exhausted. Every moment of the day she’d worried she’d slip up, say the wrong thing or move the wrong way. She’d been sure everyone would see through her disguise to her real face and her real motives.
And tomorrow, with the physical trials and combat training, it would be even worse.
“Goodnight, Dysis,” she whispered into the darkness.
“Goodnight, Aristos.”
That night Aris dreamed, as she so often did, of flying. Only this time Calix had been captured. She flew over the endless deserts of Safara seeking him until, in a great flash of light, she was shot down. The earth rushed toward her, a terrifying golden blur.
She woke, soaked in sweat and shivering with fear.
AUTHOR BIO
Tracy E. Banghart is a cheesy movie–loving, fantasy
football–playing (go Ravens!), globe-trotting Army wife who
began “practicing” her craft at the age of five, when she wrote her
first story. She loves visiting the international friends she met while
pursuing her MA in Publishing and spends a portion of every summer at
her family’s cabin in Canada, where she finds inspiration and lots of
time to relax on the dock. She lives with her husband, son, two lazy
dogs and one ornery cat. When not writing or spending time with
her family, she is on a mission to bake the perfect cupcake.
Tour wide giveaway
4 prizes:
--$50 Amazon gift card (INTL)
--3x
"swag packs" which will include: a notebook, magnet, button, 2 signed
bookmarks, and Shattered Veil-themed temporary tattoos - picture
attached. (US/CAN)
Oh, these are some names, I'm telling you. I'm so happy you shared this, because I wasn't even aware of this book. I love the hidden intensity of this excerpt and I hope that they win the war they are fighting. Thanks for sharing, Lily:)
ReplyDeletePretty cover! Thanks for sharing the excerpt, I enjoyed it. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for being part of the tour! :-)
ReplyDeleteOh, I really love this cover! The books sounds really interesting, I'm a sucker for books that have the heroine go in disguise and switch identities. Thanks for sharing a excerpt :)
ReplyDeleteSo.. what is wingjet? Are ther aliens? :) I just love when book summary makes me want to read a book.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing.
I have the same thought. What an interesting new... creature.
DeleteThis does sound cool, I should read more sci-fi
ReplyDeleteHuh, I don't know if I'd pick this up right away, but probably if I was in the mood for it. It does sound interesting.
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of this one before but the cover certainly has caught my eye...
ReplyDeleteNice cover and the excerpt has me curious Lily
ReplyDeleteThis is not my typical read, lately, but I am actually loving the premise. The excerpt too. Thanks for sharing, Lily!
ReplyDeleteSuch a pretty cover! I'm definitely intrigued by the premise, too! Thanks so much for sharing and for the giveaway! Happy Reading :)
ReplyDeleteoh it's interesting, I didn't know this one so thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for being on the tour, hun! <3
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like a good one... thanks for sharing the excerpt =]
ReplyDeleteTeresa @ Readers Live A Thousand Lives
The excerpt sounds awesome :) And I really like the cover fort his book. Great post!
ReplyDeleteJanina @ Synchronized Reading
Holy, that cover is gorgeous. Excerpt was good too :)
ReplyDeleteI don't think I've actually read any NA Sci-Fi before, but I love both categories and this one sounds great. I love the idea she goes undercover as a man in the war.
ReplyDeleteThis one does sound good. Thanks so much for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for being part of the tour! The cover was done by Regina at Mae I Design...she's amazing! :-)
ReplyDelete