Elle Boca
on Tour
December 5-9
with
Gypsies, Tramps and Weeia
(SciFi/Fantasy – urban fantasy)
Release date: February 1, 2016
at Poyeen Publishing
ISBN: 978-1932534115
262 pages
SYNOPSIS
Sworn to protect the secrets of their race, marshals are trained to police Weeia hiding among humans. After completing her advanced marshal training, Danni is blown away by her new plum assignment to Paris. But, all is not well in the City of Lights; the offices are a shambles, her boss is apathetic, and her predecessors died under mysterious circumstances; it’s almost like somebody doesn’t want the law there. Despite that she risks her life in the seedy underworld of gypsies and tramps to search for a missing Weeia man.
REVIEW
This book follows Danni who just became a level 3 Marshal
for Weeia. She gets a post in Paris to
help police the Weeia. Danni experiences
some setbacks when she arrives in Paris such as a bad living situation and a
boss who is MIA. Danni then works hard
to prove herself as the new marshal in town.
I loved Danni as a character. The author did a great job creating a whole
new world regarding Weeia and it was very easy to follow along with. Danni was a very interesting character she
obviously had a difficult upbringing, which has continued into her adult
life. I liked that Danni was able to
admit her faults and in turn able to be stronger because of them. Danni was a very independent character and
someone who would work very hard to achieve a goal.
The author does a great job describing Paris when Danni is
touring the town. I felt like from all
the vivid details I could imagine myself traveling through this town along with
Danni and picture exactly what Paris looked like. I also liked that we got to not only see the
tourist areas, but other areas of the town.
It was great that we also got some background on the current economy in
Paris during the book. The details that
the author used to describe the setting were great I felt like I was right
along with Danni.
The beginning of the book is a lot of background information
on Weeia as well as getting to know the characters. I feel the book picks up towards the middle
to end with a large amount of action.
The author does a great job writing the action scenes I felt like I
could imagine what was going on with Danni during these settings.
My major issue was I felt like I was missing a huge bit of
information by not knowing what happened to Danni’s family. The author kept alluding to something bad
happened, but didn’t elaborate in the beginning. I felt like I was missing a big piece while
reading since it was brought up several times in the beginning of the book and
was definitely a major issue that effected Danni’s life.
I would suggest this as a nighttime read. It was easy to follow along in the book and
was easy to find natural stopping points to put the book down and pick it up
the next night. The story flowed very
quickly and was easy to read.
I received a copy of this book from France Book Tours in
exchange for an honest review. This does
not affect my opinion of this book.
My Rating: 4/5
EXCERPT
"Marshal Metraeux, what a pleasure to see you,"
Professor Hardley said with fake enthusiasm as I arrived out of breath by his
side. "I trust our early morning appointment isn't interfering with your
busy social life. You have less than twenty minutes to complete the
tasks."
The arrogant disembodied voice of Professor Sonal sounded puny in the open
space, "Why hurry on our account?"
I was glad she was there as an observer and it was Professor Hardley who was in
charge of the exam. He wasn't a fan of mine, but on the other hand, he didn't
appear to be biased against me either. If anyone would be fair it would be him.
My enemy was time.
"Run," Marla screamed at me, her face a mask of concern.
"Go."
I turned to Professor Hardley. He motioned with his hand toward the marker for
Start. I ran as fast as I could, forgetting all about the anxiety about my
uniform I had felt that morning.
The test required me to find the "rogue person," and capture him or
her with my marshals collar while avoiding the other Weeia in the field, one
from each henki, whose job it would be to stop me from catching my quarry
within the time limit, half of what I should have had if someone hadn't pranked
me. Weeia abilities were related to one of four henkis, Emotional, Material,
Mental, and Temporal. Each player was supposed to rely on her ingenuity and
particular ability.
In preparation for the final Marla and I had practiced every type of attack we
could imagine. My friend Ernie, who worked at the academy, and a few first year
marshals Marla had befriended helped set mock attacks of various kinds. We
struggled the least with the "assailants" from our own henkis. Marla
had trouble getting through the course. When she did it took her double the
minutes allotted for the exam. From the beginning, I made it with time to spare
so we dedicated a lot of energy to preparing her to speed up through the
course. During the practice test there were many variables we couldn't
anticipate.
As I ran toward the first area of cover a feeling of dread and despair flooded
my mind. It was a kind of whispering, filling me with a sense of failure,
convincing me I wouldn't pass the test, telling me it was too late. When I
entered a small copse of trees, I saw a figure sending out the emotional henki
blast I was feeling. I couldn't afford to slow down so I launched myself at the
figure, lashing out with a flying kick and follow up punch that knocked my
opponent out cold. The moment the person dropped unmoving the debilitating
emotions faded.
Regaining my clear head allowed me to think about next steps. The words of one
of my instructors popped into my head unbidden, "Where there is one
assailant you can expect others." Of course I knew that, but I was in such
a hurry I had forgotten for an instant. I didn't have the luxury to dawdle. I
would have to find a way to flush the attacker out in a hurry. I cast an
illusion of myself collaring the suspect and leading him away. It prompted
another one of my opponents to expose herself, thinking I had already completed
my goal. I could tell from a quick glance at my badge I had flushed the
temporal henki out from hiding.
As I ran along the path toward the far side of the grounds, the Weeia with
temporal ability realized what had happened and threw a slow time field in
front of me. I felt it forming and spun, focusing all my strength and hurling
an energy burst at her. Perhaps she was not expecting it because it was an
advanced technique I had mastered in my hours of extra training.
While other students were enjoying the distractions downtown Portland offered I
had to save my pennies so I studied and practiced all I could. For most
students moving up the ranks was a matter of pride and family tradition. For me
it was more. I had to pass the exam. The job and salary raise would come in
handy, not to mention the added self-esteem that came with the promotion. It
was more than that. I had to prove to myself and to everyone else that I was a
good marshal.
My reaction disrupted her grip on the time field, freeing me to keep moving. I
ran as fast as my legs would carry me. I couldn't keep her from using the same
tactic again, but if I was out of range it wouldn't matter.
That meant two henki attacks down and the possibility of two more to go. I
wanted to look at my watch to see how much time was left, but that would only
make me nervous. Keep your eye on the ball or in this case the field, I told
myself.
The path in front of me split into three, straightforward and off to the left
and right. Soon after I turned left I felt the expenditure of Weeia energy.
Using my badge, I realized I had been fooled by a mental henki into going in
the wrong direction. When I backtracked I spotted a small object on the ground
emitting Weeia energy. It was the cause of my confusion. It took me less than
two minutes to find a large rock and smash it. That suppressed it, ending my
disorientation.
I knew I was nearing my target when a material henki made of a stone like
substance appeared, blocking my way. Although I had heard there were Weeia
capable of transforming themselves that way, I had never seen one. It was rare
and required considerable energy, from what I knew. While I was interested in
knowing more, the situation didn't lend itself to introductions and social
chitchat. The stone being was ready to engage. Hand-to-hand combat with such a
creature was nearly impossible to win thanks to its large size and hard to hurt
exterior.
I was wondering if I could get around the thing when it caught me in a bear
hug. Its dry earth scent reached my nostrils at the same instant it squeezed me
tight, making it hard to breathe. When I tried to break loose I felt its tough
skin, rough against mine, with an unshakable strength. Thoughts of dread,
losing the exam, and failure circled me, but I was too busy trying to escape to
notice. It was as if time had stopped, all that mattered was the being and me,
locked together. Our relationship at that moment was not of combatants so much
as captive and captor.
In my desperate efforts for release somehow I found a tiny opening in its
midriff. Poking my pinky through I discovered it was ticklish. It loosened a
smidgen as I stroked it with the tip of my little finger. Realizing it would
take more than a fraction of an inch of contact for the being to release its
iron grip I focused my ability on tickling it. I threw an illusion of thousands
of feathers making their way through the opening, brushing against the thing's
sensitive middle. I thought of the feel of them against its body, the urge to
giggle, and in particular the intense desire to let go to make the tickling
cease. Its hold loosened a tiny bit.
Once I had enough ease of movement, I pulled a small packet from my pocket and
blew at one end of the tube, sending white powder into its face and causing it
to sneeze. In the process of sneezing it transformed back to a rather surprised
Weeia man. His nose was scrunched and his mouth open in preparation for the
next spasm.
His grip loosened enough for me to make my move. Summoning all my might I
kicked him between the legs, and pushed him down and away from me. His features
expanded in a grimace as he howled, and bent forward to protect his genitals
from further harm. I mouthed "sorry," before running past him as fast
as I could.
I relied on my training to find my exam target. Before I saw him, I knew he was
near.
"There you are," I blurted when I spotted my quarry.
I confirmed on my badge that he was my target. He looked startled as he stood
steps away from me on the path. He must have been expecting a different
outcome, confident I would lose. As a happy coincidence the fake quarry was in
real life someone I disliked. He was a nasty piece of work who enjoyed
belittling the staff whenever he thought nobody would notice. I felt no
hesitation as I took him down with a bola and snapped the collar on, seconds
before the final horns sounded the end of the exercise.
The arrogant disembodied voice of Professor Sonal sounded puny in the open space, "Why hurry on our account?"
I was glad she was there as an observer and it was Professor Hardley who was in charge of the exam. He wasn't a fan of mine, but on the other hand, he didn't appear to be biased against me either. If anyone would be fair it would be him. My enemy was time.
"Run," Marla screamed at me, her face a mask of concern. "Go."
I turned to Professor Hardley. He motioned with his hand toward the marker for Start. I ran as fast as I could, forgetting all about the anxiety about my uniform I had felt that morning.
The test required me to find the "rogue person," and capture him or her with my marshals collar while avoiding the other Weeia in the field, one from each henki, whose job it would be to stop me from catching my quarry within the time limit, half of what I should have had if someone hadn't pranked me. Weeia abilities were related to one of four henkis, Emotional, Material, Mental, and Temporal. Each player was supposed to rely on her ingenuity and particular ability.
In preparation for the final Marla and I had practiced every type of attack we could imagine. My friend Ernie, who worked at the academy, and a few first year marshals Marla had befriended helped set mock attacks of various kinds. We struggled the least with the "assailants" from our own henkis. Marla had trouble getting through the course. When she did it took her double the minutes allotted for the exam. From the beginning, I made it with time to spare so we dedicated a lot of energy to preparing her to speed up through the course. During the practice test there were many variables we couldn't anticipate.
As I ran toward the first area of cover a feeling of dread and despair flooded my mind. It was a kind of whispering, filling me with a sense of failure, convincing me I wouldn't pass the test, telling me it was too late. When I entered a small copse of trees, I saw a figure sending out the emotional henki blast I was feeling. I couldn't afford to slow down so I launched myself at the figure, lashing out with a flying kick and follow up punch that knocked my opponent out cold. The moment the person dropped unmoving the debilitating emotions faded.
Regaining my clear head allowed me to think about next steps. The words of one of my instructors popped into my head unbidden, "Where there is one assailant you can expect others." Of course I knew that, but I was in such a hurry I had forgotten for an instant. I didn't have the luxury to dawdle. I would have to find a way to flush the attacker out in a hurry. I cast an illusion of myself collaring the suspect and leading him away. It prompted another one of my opponents to expose herself, thinking I had already completed my goal. I could tell from a quick glance at my badge I had flushed the temporal henki out from hiding.
As I ran along the path toward the far side of the grounds, the Weeia with temporal ability realized what had happened and threw a slow time field in front of me. I felt it forming and spun, focusing all my strength and hurling an energy burst at her. Perhaps she was not expecting it because it was an advanced technique I had mastered in my hours of extra training.
While other students were enjoying the distractions downtown Portland offered I had to save my pennies so I studied and practiced all I could. For most students moving up the ranks was a matter of pride and family tradition. For me it was more. I had to pass the exam. The job and salary raise would come in handy, not to mention the added self-esteem that came with the promotion. It was more than that. I had to prove to myself and to everyone else that I was a good marshal.
My reaction disrupted her grip on the time field, freeing me to keep moving. I ran as fast as my legs would carry me. I couldn't keep her from using the same tactic again, but if I was out of range it wouldn't matter.
That meant two henki attacks down and the possibility of two more to go. I wanted to look at my watch to see how much time was left, but that would only make me nervous. Keep your eye on the ball or in this case the field, I told myself.
The path in front of me split into three, straightforward and off to the left and right. Soon after I turned left I felt the expenditure of Weeia energy. Using my badge, I realized I had been fooled by a mental henki into going in the wrong direction. When I backtracked I spotted a small object on the ground emitting Weeia energy. It was the cause of my confusion. It took me less than two minutes to find a large rock and smash it. That suppressed it, ending my disorientation.
I knew I was nearing my target when a material henki made of a stone like substance appeared, blocking my way. Although I had heard there were Weeia capable of transforming themselves that way, I had never seen one. It was rare and required considerable energy, from what I knew. While I was interested in knowing more, the situation didn't lend itself to introductions and social chitchat. The stone being was ready to engage. Hand-to-hand combat with such a creature was nearly impossible to win thanks to its large size and hard to hurt exterior.
I was wondering if I could get around the thing when it caught me in a bear hug. Its dry earth scent reached my nostrils at the same instant it squeezed me tight, making it hard to breathe. When I tried to break loose I felt its tough skin, rough against mine, with an unshakable strength. Thoughts of dread, losing the exam, and failure circled me, but I was too busy trying to escape to notice. It was as if time had stopped, all that mattered was the being and me, locked together. Our relationship at that moment was not of combatants so much as captive and captor.
In my desperate efforts for release somehow I found a tiny opening in its midriff. Poking my pinky through I discovered it was ticklish. It loosened a smidgen as I stroked it with the tip of my little finger. Realizing it would take more than a fraction of an inch of contact for the being to release its iron grip I focused my ability on tickling it. I threw an illusion of thousands of feathers making their way through the opening, brushing against the thing's sensitive middle. I thought of the feel of them against its body, the urge to giggle, and in particular the intense desire to let go to make the tickling cease. Its hold loosened a tiny bit.
Once I had enough ease of movement, I pulled a small packet from my pocket and blew at one end of the tube, sending white powder into its face and causing it to sneeze. In the process of sneezing it transformed back to a rather surprised Weeia man. His nose was scrunched and his mouth open in preparation for the next spasm.
His grip loosened enough for me to make my move. Summoning all my might I kicked him between the legs, and pushed him down and away from me. His features expanded in a grimace as he howled, and bent forward to protect his genitals from further harm. I mouthed "sorry," before running past him as fast as I could.
I relied on my training to find my exam target. Before I saw him, I knew he was near.
"There you are," I blurted when I spotted my quarry.
I confirmed on my badge that he was my target. He looked startled as he stood steps away from me on the path. He must have been expecting a different outcome, confident I would lose. As a happy coincidence the fake quarry was in real life someone I disliked. He was a nasty piece of work who enjoyed belittling the staff whenever he thought nobody would notice. I felt no hesitation as I took him down with a bola and snapped the collar on, seconds before the final horns sounded the end of the exercise.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Elle Boca
is the author of two urban fantasy series
about superhumans called Weeia,
the Unelmoija Series in Miami
and the Marshals Series in Paris.
Growing up the only child of a monkey mother
and a rabbit father
she learned to keep herself entertained
and spend time reading.
Elle makes her home with her king cat husband in South Florida.
Visit her website. Follow her on Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon
Subscribe to her newsletter
Buy the book: on Amazon
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Thanks for your nice and honest review. The details on Paris sound great. Emma at FBT
ReplyDeleteThank you for stopping by!!
DeleteWhat an interesting title! I don't think I've ever read a book featuring gypsies. It'd probably be really cool to read because of the traveling and different settings. I'm glad you enjoyed this book! =)
ReplyDeleteAlyssa @ The Eater of Books!
It was a very interesting book to read and a lot of action!! This is my first book on gypsies as well!
Delete