Toot's Book Reviews: Spotlight, Excerpt & an AWESOME Character QA by the Author : Essenced (The Division Chronicles: Book One) By Connie L. Smith (YA/UF)

Book Blurb

Years ago, demons were forced out of the earth’s realm by a band of supernatural fighters, banished from the place and its people in the aftermath of a horrific war. It should’ve ended there – would’ve – if not for the final demon’s claw snagging on the open portal. What felt like victory became only a reprieve, the winning warriors understanding that the tear would spread, and the demons eventually would escape exile. It was only a matter of time, and a need for future defense – a question of genetics and essences, magic and power.

Now centuries later, a new army must bind together – one of teenagers with inhuman potentials and abilities…

AJ went to bed Sunday night an average teenage girl, clumsy to a fault and athletically lacking. So when she wakes up Monday morning with super-strength, she does what any rational person would do: She goes into denial. When a smoking hot guy in a suit shows up, rambling about the end of the war and demons spilling through some kind of rift, she refuses to listen, telling herself he’s insane. Except weird things just won’t quit happening, and the guy keeps popping up in her life, trying to explain the changes suddenly happening within her. Is she crazy, or is this guy…. not so crazy after all?

Buy Link
Amazon

Book Excerpt

The moments she stood staring at her painting did little to settle her tears. Surrendering, she turned – watery eyes and all – to the trainer waiting a few feet behind her, watching her. “Thank you so much,” she whispered as the drops began spilling down her face.

He walked to up her, wiped them away with his thumbs. “I’m glad you like it, swe… AJ.”

She shook her head, teary smile on her face. “You can call me sweetheart again.”

He smiled in return. “I’m glad you like it, sweetheart. But it doesn’t…”

Again, she shook her head. “It does. And I started it. I called you a coward.”

“Yeah, but…”

“But nothing. We were both mean, and you…” She laughed, still smiling and crying, with another happy scan of the room. “And this…” Shaking her head once more, she glanced back at him. “It’s perfect.”

He pressed his forehead to hers, closing his eyes to let the acceptance pour through him before he eventually pulled away, both hands remaining on either side of her face. “So we’re okay?”

“Yeah.” She grinned. “We’re okay. For now. I imagine you’ll drive me crazy again tomorrow.”

He laughed. “Pot and kettle, sweetheart.”

Character QA Interview by Author Connie L. Smith

Connie: Hey, guys! I’m the author of this fairly new book called Essenced, which is the first of a trilogy (The Division Chronicles), and I’m here with two of the characters. The first is AJ, who happens to be the initial non-prologue character we encounter in the novel. She’s essenced, though I suppose if you haven’t read the book, that might not mean too much to you…

AJ: Wait… Why haven’t these people read the book? It’s awesome!

Connie: Well, it’s a pretty new book… And besides. You’re biased, having been in it.

AJ: …You might have a point.

Connie: Of course I do. And the gentleman rolling his eyes at her every statement is Julius, the thorn in her side from early on in the storyline.

Julius: I am NOT a thorn in her side.

AJ: You so are!

Julius: How am I the thorn? You’re the walking mood swing!

AJ: Should we go back to our first meetings?

Julius: *sighs* I really thought we were over all of that, sweetheart.

AJ: I didn’t bring it up. The author did.

Connie: *shifts uncomfortably under their stares* I’m just relaying what I read. Wrote. Whatever.

AJ: *raises one eyebrow* Very eloquent.

Connie: Well, I am a writer…

Julius: It shows…

Connie: Okay, back to the point. You guys are inarguably two of the main characters within this story, and both somewhat hesitantly. I don’t want to go into too many details and throw in spoilers, but there was some resistance in the beginning. Did you find that feeling followed you through the book?

AJ: Not really, no. I mean, once I jumped into training, I really jumped into training. Sure, I had my moments and made some mistakes, but I can’t really say that I’ve felt bitter or anything. At least not lately.

Julius: I’m not gonna tell you that I love being here, or that hanging out with her so often is a walk in the park.

AJ: Right back at you.

Julius: But it’s a focus thing. I don’t want to be doing this, so there’s a determination to push on and see it through. Get it over with and be done with it.

AJ: *furrows brow* Your desire to be near me is heart-warming.

Julius: Being near you can be migraine-inducing.

Connie: *sighs* Now I know how Nicholai must feel… Guys? Interview?

*AJ and Julius slouch back, still glaring at one another*

Connie: Alright. Let’s think back to those early moments, when you two first started crossing paths. What’s the first thing you noticed about the other?

AJ: Well, I heard him before I saw him, so I guess I’d have to say his voice. But when I did see him, the suit threw me off. *snorts* Who wears a suit and sunglasses to a high school parking lot?

Connie: *narrows eyes* I don’t think you’re being entirely honest here, AJ. I mean, you did think he was the most beautiful man in existence.

Julius: *smirks* You thought that?

AJ: *glares at Connie* Alright, blabbermouth! Just because you know what we’re all thinking…

Connie: Yeah, yeah. Just answer the question truthfully, would you?

AJ: Fine. If you must know… I thought he had nice lips.

Julius: *smirk grows* Did you now?

AJ: Yes. I didn’t know how many annoying things would come flying out of your mouth. Call it blissful ignorance.

Julius: *raises an eyebrow triumphantly, still smirking*

Connie: Okay, Julius. Let’s turn the tables. What was the first thing you noticed about AJ?

Julius: You mean besides the fact that she power-walks when nervous?

AJ: Julius…

Julius: *shrugs* She has pretty eyes. They were petrified the first time I saw them, but they’re bright, and blue. A perfect midnight blue. Sort of sparkle here and there. That day, the sun reflected off of them and… *clears throat* She has pretty eyes.

AJ: *jaw drops* That was actually nice…

Julius: *frowns* I can be nice…

Connie: You both can be very nice, provided that the other is nowhere around.

*AJ and Julius glare at Connie*

Julius: We had nice moments!

AJ: Yeah! Some of them were really sweet!

Connie: And the rarity made them all the more precious, right?

AJ: You know, for the author, you’re really a jerk.

Connie: Careful! The trilogy isn’t over yet. I could kill you.

AJ: …Another good point.

Connie: But that actually brings us to a specific question in this interview. You guys have had a rocky situation, good and bad all over the place. If you could, would you change anything about what you’ve been through so far?

AJ: *laughs* Well, I’m not sure how honestly I can answer that without a few spoilers....

Julius: *chuckles* Yeah… That’s a fine line to walk.

AJ: I guess, in the end, things turned out alright (so far – like you said, the trilogy isn’t written completely yet), so there’s really no point to go back and change anything. Unless of course something we’ve done gets us killed. Then I want a do-over.

Julius: I suppose, author, you won’t give us details about the future proceedings?

Connie: Not a chance.

Julius: Then I guess I’d have to agree. Whatever bad has happened so far, I really think it’s turned out to be for the better. So, no. I wouldn’t change anything.

Connie: Interesting. I would’ve thought you would want to undo the…

AJ: Spoilers!

Connie: *clears throat* Right. Right. Okay. I know you guys are busy, you know, keeping the world alive, so I’ll end the interview fairly soon. But there are a couple of things I have to know first. AJ… Have you gotten used to Travis yet?

AJ: *sighs* I don’t know. I mean, it’s hard, working that close with an Incubus-Essenced, gawking at you all the time, but I understand where he’s coming from enough to not hold it against him. I don’t think you ever get used to something like that, but… I’m more accustomed to it, I guess?

Julius: I’m not…

AJ: *laughs*

Julius: What? I don’t like him staring at you all the time. It’s creepy.

AJ: *coughs* Jealous *coughs*

Julius: I do love how we bring out the maturity in each other…

Connie: What about Clint? Have you gotten used to him?

AJ: *chuckles* Him, yeah. I mean, it was a little weird at first, having a Necromancer-Essenced who randomly spouts emo poetry, but once you know to expect it, it gets easier.

Julius: And some of it’s good, when you listen to it.

AJ: Actually, I hear Isaac and Johnny are turning a piece of it into a song.

Julius: I hope the Dwarf-Essenced alpha doesn’t sing it…

AJ: I thought he did a lovely Pat Benatar cover….

Connie: Okay, readers. If you haven’t gotten the basics – the world is at stake in this book, my characters are quirky and insane, and these two drive each other up a wall.

Julius: I couldn’t have said it better myself.

AJ: Well, if you had said it, wouldn’t that just mean she said it anyway?

Julius: Don’t philosophize at me…

Connie: So, if you’re intrigued, please stop by Amazon and buy a copy. AJ, Julius – thanks for taking time to do this interview.

AJ: Well, I couldn’t just leave it up to him. Nobody would buy the book afterward.

Julius: People would flock to the website to buy it just because of me.

Connie: *sighs* Guys? Don’t you have, you know, demon problems and such?

AJ: Please! Book burning would become popular again with you leading this publicity stuff.

Julius: You know, your left eyebrow quivers a little when you’re trapped in those kinds of delusions…

AJ: I’m not delusional! People are gonna buy this book in spite of you!

Julius: Just wait for the reviews, sweetheart. We’ll see who’s the favorite.

Connie: *sighs* You might as well go ahead and leave. They’ll be doing this for a while.

AJ: You wouldn’t be the favorite if it was a big monologue of you…

Julius: *rolls his eyes* How can I not be the favorite if I’m the only one there?...

Author Info

Connie L. Smith spends far too much time with her mind wandering in fictional places. She reads too much, likes to bake, and will be forever sad that she doesn't have fairy wings. And that she can't swing dance. When she isn't reading or writing, there's a good chance she's goofing off with her amazing, wonderful, incredible, fabulous nieces and nephew, or listening to music that is severely outdated. She has her BA from Northern Kentucky University in Speech Communication and History (she doesn't totally get the connection either) and likes to snap photos. Oh, and she likes apples a whole big bunch.