Tuesday, July 16, 2019

Witch Hunt (Staci Drenvauder Chronicles, Book 1) by L.R. Deney

Release date. July 6, 2019
Subgenre: Urban fantasy

About Witch Hunt

 

Strange kidnappings are taking place throughout Seattle. In the wake of a problematic election in America, the crimes seem to be racially motivated. Left behind at the scene of each disappearance is the symbol of the Black Sun, a symbol that is connected to Naziism.

It's up to Staci Drenvauder, a witch and mistress of the Dark Arts, to investigate the kidnappings. But the Nazis appear to be infecting everything, even the secret, magical city of Azramoas seems to be affected with strange happenings taking place on the ruling Council. To complicate matters further, a demonic force from Staci's past makes itself known once more.

Snark, gloom, and romance intermix within this riveting tale. Join Staci in her quest to punch Nazis.

 

Excerpt:

 

“Staci Drenvauder, you are brought before us charge with the high crime of illegal use of magic,” Speaker Ravenford announced, his face coated with disgust and fury. “You’ve gone too far this time, Miss Drenvauder.”
            “Spare me the scolding, John,” Staci replied in her usual defiance. “We all know that this Council has always had it out for me and has been gnashing at the bit for a chance to bend me over and fuck me. For that reason, you’re far from unbiased and ergo any court you hold will be unfair in the extreme.”
            “Do you think this is a game, Miss Drenvauder?” Councilor Frandsen asked, her steely gray eyes glaring daggers at Staci.
            “The amusing part is that I’m the only one present who knows it’s a game. You all take yourselves far too seriously and don’t understand the bare naked truth that surrounds you.”
            “And what truth is that?”
            “The Emperor has no clothes. You pretend yourselves to be more enlightened and superior than our mundane compatriots on Earth, but the reality is you’re practically identical. You’re obsessed with power, wealth, and authority, and there isn’t a single non-human among you, and I only count one person of color at that—apologies Drake—and most of you are men, which shows you share the same damn white, patriarchal structures as the civilization you split off from. You were trying to escape the Church’s government, so you became a government.
“And so little do you realize that your world is so closely intertwined with Earth’s that you often forget the number of times Azramoas has been dragged kicking and screaming into its major conflicts. Hell, even now while a dangerous, genocidal ideology reemerges in Earth’s new century, infiltrating their major governments, you too have become compromised. The motives of someone here do not match the rest of yours and it will all bite you in the ass.
            “It could almost be funny if it wasn’t so sa—”
            “That’s quite enough, Miss Drenvauder,” Speaker Ravenford interrupted, his voice a bit louder than usual. “We didn’t bring you here to make complaints about how the Council of Magic is governed, regardless of how many conspiracy theories you cook up about it. We brought you here because you face a grave charge.
            “Illegal use of magic is no laughing matter. Attacking and interfering with mundane law enforcement like you have done is not only disturbing their peace, but also risking our world to exposure. Should the Church find out we still exist, it will seek to hunt us down. It has happened before and it can happen again.
            “We cannot risk you continuing this personal crusade of yours against the gods know whatever it is that you think you’re fighting. You are a public menace and you must be contained indefinitely for Azramoas’ own good. Our survival as a people, as a culture, and our highest Art, must never be threatened again!”
            Staci huffed. “It sounds like you’ve already decided I’m guilty.”
            “You are guilty!” Councilor Vasiliev interjected from the right-side edge of the Council. She was seated next to Fromm. “We have a witness to what you did.”
            “So much for a fair trial. What even happened to my rights? Don’t I even get a lawyer?”

 

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About L.R. Deney:

Laura Ruby Deney is a reclusive, vampiric witch that shuns the light and thinks kitties make good company. Having gone through her fair share of trials and tribulations in the all too cruel and unforgiving world, she has embraced her wretched existence and seeks to rule the world someday. But for now, writing. Lots and lots of writing.

 

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