Destiny’s Gambit by R. J. Wood Book Blitz

This is my stop during the book blitz for Destiny’s Gambit by R.J. Wood. This book blitz is organized by Lola’s Blog Tours. The book blitz runs from 5 till 11 February. See the tour schedule here.

Destiny’s Gambit (The Voyages of Jake Flynn #1)

By R.J. Wood

Genre: Fantasy/ Science Fiction/ Sword and Space/ Space Fantasy

Age category: Middle Grade/ Young Adult

Release Date: January 24, 2015

Blurb:

Jake Flynn’s parents disappeared when he was a baby. On his twelfth birthday, the mystery of why his parents disappeared begins to unravel when he discovers a glowing talisman with a message from his father.

Jake is directed to a derelict sailboat in a field. He watches in awe as the talisman knits ropes and sails for it out of golden energy. Awash in light, the boat sails up into space, and the voyages of Jake Flynn begin.

During the quest to find his parents, Jake encounters space pirates in tall sailing ships, channelers that can wield energy like magic, and evil cabalists led by a sinister snake-woman. Assisted by a young healer and her aged protector, a spirited cabin girl, and a salty space captain, Jake learns that he too can channel, and that he is central to stopping the cabalists from resurrecting a long-dead evil.

Puzzles, a pirate asteroid, walking the plank, fantastic magic, traps, treasure caves, multiple planets and great ship battles – Jake must experience them all on this epic sword and space adventure.

By the end, Jake will discover the truth about his destiny, realize that family can transcend blood lines, and understand that his own needs are sometimes less important than those of others.

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Excerpt #3:
Goldbar scratched his neck concerned. “Robbing the living be one thing,” he said, “but this be a tomb, we should not be stealing from the dead. It be very bad luck indeed.”
“We are not stealing from anyone,” Starla said as she knelt to look at the bottom of the rock, “what Jake needs was left here for him by his father.”
Goldbar narrowed his eyes and gnashed his teeth a few times, his nose working up and down, unconvinced. “Well, we should not be disturbing the dead either,” he said.
“I am afraid we have little choice if we wish to proceed on this quest,” Otto said.
“It won’t matter either way if we don’t figure out a way to move this stone,” Jake said. He turned to Otto, “I don’t suppose you could melt it?” Otto frowned.
“I suppose I could try, but the molten rock might ooze down and damage the items you seek, not to mention the time it will take to heat this type of rock to the point of melting.”
“Longer than we be having,” Goldbar said, “and the heat would drive us all from this here cave.”
“How did your father do it?” Jehn wondered.
“Well, he was a Corsair, he probably used gravity somehow. I think he had crewman with him too.”
“What about leverage?” Starla offered. “We could place something over a smaller stone and use it to shift the boulder.”
“There be not a piece of metal or lumber on this planet that we could use to shift that there stone,” Goldbar said. “No, there be only one way into this tomb and if it has to be done, ol’ Billy Goldbar must be the one to do it.”
The Durian approached the boulder and for a moment Jake thought he was going to try and push it by himself, but instead he placed his furry hands flat on the surface and rested his head between them. Shutting his eyes, he began to make a strange guttural sound similar to a humming growl. He continued this drone for some time pausing only to breathe. It grew louder and Jake felt the hairs on the back of his neck raise. Louder still and Jake realized the sound was now a resonance building inside the boulder. The gigantic rock began to vibrate. Then sand began to appear where Goldbar’s hands were placed along with hundreds of tiny sparks. He pushed forward, and his hands sank into the stone, more sand falling all around his feet.
“That’s incredible,” Jake said and looked at Starla. She came closer to him to speak softly.
“It seems our good captain is no ordinary Durian,” she said, “but a Flintsinger, a shaper of rock and stone. It’s an ancient discipline known only to them. It’s not done by channeling per say, instead they use the Creator’s energy stored within the rock, and transform it to smaller fragments; sand in this case. He could reshape the rock, but it would take much longer.”
As they watched, Goldbar carved his way through the center of the boulder forming a crude doorway with his hands. Then he pushed through at the bottom and the sand began falling into some kind of hole below. He worked until the opening was large enough for him to step down into. Then the sound stopped and he popped back out, covered with dust and sand from head to toe.
“There be some kind of passage below, alright,” he said as he brushed himself off.
“Captain, that was amazing,” Jake said.
Goldbar worked the sand out of his fur and his mouth curled into a smile. “Don’t be thanking me yet,” he said. “It still be a tomb. There could be an angry ghost waiting for you.”
Jake smiled. “I’ll be careful,” he said and moved to the opening. Goldbar caught his shoulder.
“I’m serious. Dead captains don’t be liking their treasures to be touched. Don’t say ol’ Billy didn’t warn you.”

 

You can find Destiny’s Gambit on Goodreads

You can buy Destiny’s Gambit here:

– Amazon

– Barnes & Noble

– Kobo

– Smashwords

About the Author:

R. J. Wood has been creating stories and adventures for others since 1979. A bard at heart, he trained in Drama (BA) and History (MA) while at university. He currently lives near Snoqualmie Falls in Washington State with his wife and children. There he does a little fishing, some adventuring, and of course, his writing.

Like everyone of my generation and beyond I have been heavily influenced by film. I like to think of my books as movies in my mind. I developed my creative writing through fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal RPGs. My degree in drama helps me with story, characters, and especially dialogue. Having an advanced history degree is excellent for plots and characters, but it also helps me with world building.

You can find and contact R.J. Wood here:

– Website

– Facebook

– Twitter

– Goodreads

– Amazon

– Instagram

Giveaway

There is a tour wide giveaway for the book blitz of Destiny’s Gambit. One winner will win a $10 Amazon Gift card.

For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:

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