Analiese Rising by Brenda Drake | Excerpt

Hello everyone,
Kicking off the new year, I'm bringing you an exclusive excerpt of a book I'm super excited about, Analiese Rising by Brenda Drake, which will be out in 8 days!

But first, here's the synopsis--

When a stranger gives Analiese Jordan a list of names before he dies, the last thing she expects to see is her own on it. Not. Cool. Her search for answers leads to the man’s grandson, Marek, who has dangerous secrets of his own. Both are determined to unlock the mystery of the list.

But the truth is deadly. Analiese is a descendant of the God of Death, known as a Riser, with the power to raise the dead and control them. Finding out she has hidden powers? Cool. Finding out she turns corpses into killers? No, thank you.

Now the trail plants her and Marek in the middle of a war between gods who apparently want to raise an army of the Risen, and Analiese must figure out how to save the world—from herself.

Doesn't that sound like a rollicking good time?! So excited!

The gas light flashes on.

“Crap. Dalton,” I seethe under my breath. He’s always running out of gas. I’m approaching the next exit and turn on the blinker.

The Turkey Hill Minit Market isn’t as busy as I thought it’d be during morning rush hour. I pull up to the pump right beside a black Audi sedan with a front license plate that reads My God Carries a Hammer.

“Nice.” I snicker and pop open the gas tank cover.

I fill up the Civic and rush inside to get a horrible gas station coffee. The lanky guy behind the counter straightens. His wide-set eyes follow me the entire way to the coffee bar. A man, way over six feet tall, with red hair that’s short on the sides and fades up to a dovetail on top, has one of the refrigerator doors open. With his stare on the contents inside, he rubs his neatly cut beard.

The Styrofoam coffee cup plunks from the holder when I tug it out. I pour a premade cappuccino from the fountain.

The man steps back and looks over, his hand still holding open the door.

The air between the man and me feels off—tense. It’s probably just me, and the fact I’m practically alone with a suspicious man in a gas station. I secure a lid over my cup and turn to leave.

“Which one do you suggest?” he asks, stopping me. There’s a slight accent to his voice, but I can’t place it. Possibly Scottish?

I glance around, and my eyes stop on him. “Are you talking to me?”

“There’s no one else about.” His smile is off. Like he has to remember how to create one or something.

“I don’t drink the stuff, but my brother likes the one with the gold star.” I want to look away, but something in his eyes captures me. They’re like a kaleidoscope of fall leaves—orange, yellow, and brown. Their focus on me causes the tiny hairs at the nape of my neck to stand straight up.

He picks up a can of the drink I suggested and lets go of the refrigerator door, his eyes never leaving me.

Now he’s freaking me out.

About the Author

Brenda Drake grew up the youngest of three children, an Air Force brat, and the continual new kid at school. Her fondest memories growing up is of her eccentric, Irish grandmother's animated tales, which gave her a strong love for storytelling. So it was only fitting that she would choose to write stories with a bend toward the fantastical. When she's not writing or hanging out with her family, she haunts libraries, bookstores, and coffee shops, or reads someplace quiet and not at all exotic (much to her disappointment).

Follow the rest of the tour and read ALL the excerpts--

Dec. 27- https://agingerlyreview.wordpress.com (Excerpt 1)

http://www.velarisreads.wordpress.com (Excerpt 2)

Dec. 28- http://thelovelybooksbookblog.blogspot.com (Excerpt 3)

https://indecisiveopinions.blogspot.com (Excerpt 4)

Dec. 29- http://www.ohheybooks.com (Excerpt 5)

http://pagesbetween.blogspot.com (Excerpt 6)

Dec. 30- https://confessionsofayareader.wordpress.com/ (Excerpt 7)

http://chaptersthroughlife.blogspot.co.uk/ (Excerpt 8)

Dec. 31- http://www.travelsnreads.com (Excerpt 9)

http://smadasbooksmack.blogspot.com (Excerpt 10)

Jan. 1- https://instagram.com/live.laugh.love.library (Excerpt 11)

http://booksandmakeup.blogspot.com (Excerpt 12) << YOU'RE HERE