Book Blitz: The Trials of Imogene Sol by C.L. Walters

 

The Ring Academy: The Trials of Imogene Sol
C.L. Walters
Publication date: August 1st 2023
Genres: New Adult, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Imogene Sol has had to work twice as hard for everything she has earned as a cadet at The Ring Academy on Serta. An orphan of notorious parents who killed hundreds of thousands of people in a bombing against the Federation, most people hate her by name alone, others have gone out of their way to make her life difficult. Though she’s managed to acquire a handful of trusted friends over her years at the academy, most of her peers loathe her. But she’s made her mark in the top ten of her cadet class and she’s ready to compete for what’s next.

As the Year Seven Final Trials begin—a series of tests to determine placement within the Federation—Imogene knows all her hopes are riding on her performance. But when she’s framed for an offense that could not only get her expelled from the academy but also incarcerated, Imogene must discover who’s behind the threat against her. When her greatest competition, Timaeus Kade, offers to help her solve the mystery to clear her name, Imogene must decide if she’s willing to trust him. The stakes are high. Only the mysterious saboteur strikes again, justifying she needs his help, proving the stakes aren’t just her future anymore but her life.

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

Imogene raced across the room to grab the bo staff leaning against the wall, her opponent just steps behind her. The zip of his staff buzzed the air near her head as she ducked, rolled across the mat, and grabbed the weapon she needed from the holder. She turned and crouched with her back to the wall, wielding her staff to block her attacker. The clack of his weapon against hers vibrated up her arm through her elbow, jarring her teeth, but she ignored the discomfort—she was used to it—and shot forward.

“That’s all you’ve got?” She smirked at her opponent.

Vempur growled, showing his sharp incisors. His stark, black hair curled against his umber-toned temple slick with sweat as he followed it up by stabbing the end of the staff toward her face. His eyes, usually green flecked with sparkles of gold, turned completely black as he swung.

She blocked and went for a jab.

Vempur parried, then swung the staff at her head, once more with a loud grunt and frustrated huff. “You’re too quick,” he snapped.

Imogene smiled at her best friend but subdued the laugh. She knew he wouldn’t take it well in the middle of a fight. Not with everyone watching. Their silent, judgmental gazes were enough of a deterrent to keep Vempur’s temper in check. Besides, she wouldn’t have appreciated his humor at the moment either. There was too much on the line.

“You’re stronger. Taller,” she grunted out as she ducked once more. It wasn’t to feed his ego. “Find my weakness.”

“What weakness?” he snapped, frustrated more with himself than her, it would seem. “You haven’t lost yet today.”

“Exactly. I’m tired.”

Vempur growled, surging forward.

But she couldn’t afford to lose and that was the difference.

She rocked back, arching as the staff narrowly missed her gut, then swung her stick out to catch Vempur’s feet. He jumped and brought his bow down to the mat barely missing her back as she rolled out from under his strike.

“Stars!” Halo Mins—their instructor—yelled across the sparring room. “It shouldn’t look like a dance. It should look like a fight!”

Several of the other Year Sevens in the room snickered, and she knew it was at their expense.

“Shit,” Imogene swore, resetting as she hopped away. “He’s going to knock me down.”

“He won’t. He can’t.” Vempur punched out, and Imogene blocked the weapon. They pushed against one another and locked, resting for a beat. “You’ve dominated everyone today.”

“Not everyone.” She pushed, using her momentum to twist and swing, the pole wide, catching Vempur’s ankles. His giant frame slammed against the mat, and she went in for the kill, feigning a stab into his throat.

Vempur opened his hands against his bow staff in supplication and frowned. “Everyone knows you belong on the leaderboard, Imogene.”

Author Bio:

As a kid, CL Walters, world revolved around two things: stories and make believe. She's built a real life around those two things: a teacher of stories and a writer of make believe.

With four books now published, she's looking forward to her fifth release October 13, 2020, a YA Contemporary Romance called The Stories Stars Tell.

Sign up for her newsletter for news, goodies, and fun (www.clwalters.net)

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Excerpt Reveal: The Ring Academy: The Trials of Imogene Sol by C.L. Walters

 The Ring Academy: The Trials of Imogene Sol

C.L. Walters

Publication date: August 1st 2023

Genres: New Adult, Science Fiction, Young Adult

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

Imogene frowned. “I fell, sir.” 

It wasn’t a lie, though it was an equivocation. She wasn’t about to tell him the truth and hoped Kade would keep it to himself as well. 

She noted Kade tense next to her, his elbow bumping against hers. She couldn’t turn her head to look at him, but imagined his light, brown eyes widening, and his black brows arching over them with the knowledge she’d lied to their commanding officer. Imogene knew he’d look stupidly endearing. 

She schooled her face, clearing it of any emotion. “Yes, sir. I tripped. Then Kade helped me. He shouldn’t have had any points deducted. It was my fault.” She glanced at Kade, whose eyebrows shifted over his eyes. “I checked in at the infirmary.”

“Yes. I’m aware.” Glyn narrowed his gigantic eyes, tittering in the back of his throat, and sat back in the chair. 

His eyes darted to Kade. “And you, Kade?” he asked. “You came in last as well.”

Though she wanted to look at Kade, sure he stood stone still and straight like the Baskin Monolith at the center of campus, Imogene didn’t move. She knew his face would be as unreadable as ever, though he’d probably be pressing his jaw together, the muscles twitching as he did. 

She chanced a look to see if she was right. He stared straight ahead, stoic and steady, at perfect attention. His beautiful face was carved artwork, with his broad forehead under black hair and his eyes, golden brown in the suns’ light, framed by thick black brows, now impassive. His smooth brown skin stretched over full but sharp cheekbones that tapered to a masculine jaw shaved clean that hinted of new growth—and sure enough, twitching just as she’d thought, which had her suppressing a smile. His nose was strong and prominent from the bridge to tip, drawing her eyes to a generous mouth—a kissable mouth.

Imogene cut her gaze back to what was in front of her, annoyed at the direction of her thoughts. No. No. No. She wanted to shake her head. Focus, Imogene. The problem was that her preoccupation with Kade was happening more and more frequently. And now she was dreaming about him. She couldn’t afford to think that way. Not this close to the end. Even if he had helped her. Her stomach tightened as she maintained her focus out the window behind Sirkuhl Glyn, afraid for Vempur.

Her gaze slid to Kade again.

“Yes, sir. I just wanted to make sure another cadet was okay. I couldn’t leave a teammate behind.” Kade’s voice was deep and rich, and it irritated her that she noticed. And he was keeping her secret. Was she grateful? Yes. Did she trust it? No.

Author Bio:

As a kid, CL Walters, world revolved around two things: stories and make believe. She's built a real life around those two things: a teacher of stories and a writer of make believe.

With four books now published, she's looking forward to her fifth release October 13, 2020, a YA Contemporary Romance called The Stories Stars Tell.

Sign up for her newsletter for news, goodies, and fun (www.clwalters.net)

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter / Bookbub / Pinterest