I'm hosting a stop today on the blog tour, and I'm excited to share this excerpt with you! There are actually three excerpts going live today, and while you can read them separately, if you read them in the following order, you'll get a look at a larger scene!

I've got part 1

Singing Librarian Books has part 2: https://singinglibrarianbooks.com

Wishful Endings has part 3: https://www.wishfulendings.com/2021/05/read-excerpt-from-this-new-ya-fantasy.html 

Enjoy!

EXCERPT: Warehouse Raid Part 1

Desfan crouched lower to the ground as he picked his way to the back end of the alley. The smell of refuse, rotten food, and worse burned his nose, and he tried not to think about the puddles lapping the sides of his boots. That briny scent definitely wasn’t seawater.

  He was glad the weak light of the moon didn’t reveal much; he didn’t want a close look at what hid in the shadows of this forgotten alley.

  He reached the corner and raised a closed fist. The silver light was dim, but the men behind him halted at once and followed his lead as he pressed his shoulders against the stone wall of the warehouse. A breeze swept up from the harbor, delivering a breath of fresh, salty air. He closed his eyes and could almost imagine he was back on his ship.

Adrenaline pumped through his veins, and his grin was unstoppable.

He only felt a little guilty that he hadn’t woken Karim, but his bodyguard had become even more protective of Desfan since he’d been named regent. He was a year older than Desfan, and had been his bodyguard since Desfan was fifteen. There was no way Karim would have allowed him to join this middle-of-the-night excursion. But Desfan refused to miss it. Not when he was so desperate to do something.

He strained his ears and, after a moment, determined there were at least two guards on the warehouse door. They weren’t speaking, but one shuffled his feet restlessly, and one a little further away kept clearing his throat.

Desfan lifted two fingers. From his periphery, he saw the nearest soldier nod.

His pulse thrummed with a fast tempo he loved. Danger, adventure, risk—he needed this.

With a flick of his brown fingers, Desfan sparked the attack. He was the first to round the corner, simultaneously drawing the two swords sheathed across his back. The twin blades cut through the air as he shifted his grip on the leather-wrapped hilts.

The two guards at the door were startled by the sudden appearance of the city guard and reacted too slowly. Desfan’s swords tapped both their throats, stopping their shouts.

He smiled. “Keep quiet, and you can keep your heads.”

The man on the left gulped.

“How many men are inside?” Desfan asked, his voice low.

The one on the right stammered. “I—I don’t know.”

“Hm. How disappointing.” Desfan shifted his blade, increasing the pressure until a drop of blood appeared.

The man hissed. “Six. There are six men inside.”

“Excellent.” He eased back and one of the soldiers moved to take his place. “As long as they don’t fight, they live,” Desfan said.

Kiv Arcas arrived at his side. “Perhaps you should stay back during the initial sweep, Serjah.”

He shot the man a grin, lightly swinging his dual blades. “Where’s the fun in that?” He used his shoulder to shove open the door to the warehouse and the city guard poured in with him.

A warning shout went up and the cluster of men in the warehouse scrambled for weapons. The lamps hanging on hooks revealed that there were far more than six smugglers. Desfan’s glance placed the count closer to twenty, which would make this a more even match.

Perfect.

Royal Spy (Fate of Eyrinthia #2) comes out on May 20th, and to celebrate the release we have a whole week of fun content for you! The blog tour starts on May 13th and runs through the 20th, and you can find the schedule and links to all the stops below. I hope you'll check out all the awesome stops!

And don't forget to preorder Royal Spy so you can claim your EXCLUSIVE gift! (Details and links below.)

BLOG TOUR LINKS

May 13
A Bella Fairytale - Book Review: https://abellafairytale.wordpress.com/2021/05/13/blog-tour-royal-spy-by-heather-frost/?preview=true
Bookish Travelings - Book Review & Deleted Scene: www.instagram.com/bookishtravelings
Crossroad Reviews - Book Review: http://www.crossroadreviews.com/2021/05/booktour-royal-spy-fate-of-eyrinthia-2.html

May 14
Lala's Book Reviews - Book Review & Excerpt: www.laurenbodiford123.wordpress.com
Mundie Moms - Excerpt: www.mundiemoms.com
Purple Shadow Hunter - Book Review & Author Guest Post: https://purpleshadowhunter.blogspot.com/2021/05/royal-spy-blog-tour.html

May 15
Michelle Book Briefs - Book Review & Deleted Scene: https://bookbriefs.net/2021/05/15/arc-review-deleted-scene-royal-spy-by-heather-frost/
Min Reads and Reviews - Book Review & Excerpt: http://minreadsandreviews.blogspot.com
The Nature of Pages - Book Review & Excerpt: https://thenatureofpages.wordpress.com/2021/05/15/royal-spy-by-heather-frost/

May 16
Kameo Monson - Author Interview: http://kameomonson.com/a-day-with-heather-frost-author-interview/
A Midsummers Night Read - Book Review: www.instagram.com/a_midsummers_night_reads
Why Not Because I Said So - Book Review & Excerpt: www.whynotbecauseisaidso.blogspot.com

May 17
Books Over Everything - Book Review: https://booksovereverything.com
Books Read By Tracy - Book Review & Character Interviews: www.booksreadbytracy.com
Dini Panda Reads - Book Review & Excerpt: https://dinipandareads.home.blog/
Stars Books and Tea - Book Review: https://starsbooksandtea.com

May 18
Heather Frost's Blog - Excerprt: https://www.heatherfrost.com/post/blog-tour-stop-excerpt-from-royal-spy
The Reading Pantry - Book Review & Guest Post: www.instagram.com/the_reading_pantry
Singing Librarian Books - Book Review & Excerpt: https://singinglibrarianbooks.com
Wishful Endings - Excerpt: https://www.wishfulendings.com/2021/05/read-excerpt-from-this-new-ya-fantasy.html

May 19
Darkest Sins - Character Interview: https://darkestsinsblog.com/interview-with-prince-grayson-royal-spy-blog-tour/
Literary Time Out: Andrea - Book Review: www.literarytimeout.blogspot.com
Literary Time Out: Rorie - Book Review & Excerpt: www.literarytimeout.blogspot.com
Reading Nook - Excerpt: https://readingnook84.wordpress.com
Kait Plus Books - Excerpt: https://www.kaitgoodwin.com/books/
Lisa Is A Bookworm - Book Review & Extra: http://lisaisabookworm.blogspot.com

May 20
A Court of Coffee and Books - Book Review & Deleted Scene: https://acourtofcoffeeandbooks.com/2021/05/20/blog-tour-review-deleted-scene-royal-spy-heather-frost/
Getting Your Read On - Book Review & Excerpt: www.gettingyourreadonaimeebrown.blogspot.com
Thind Books - Book Review: https://thindbooks.wordpress.com
What Makes Patri - Author Interview: https://whatmakespatri.blogspot.com/2021/05/interview-with-heather-frost-for-royal.html ​

A huge thank you to all the bloggers and reviewers who participated and made this tour possible!

Return to Eyrinthia on May 20th!

A DECOY recruited to be a spy.
A PRINCE compelled to become an assassin.
A SERJAH pressured by an unwanted crown.
A WORLD covered in shadows.

Mere months ago, Clare was just a kitchen maid. Now, she is a decoy for Princess Serene and a novice spy, caught in the royal family's web of secrets. While journeying to Mortise to finalize the princess’s betrothal to Serjah Desfan, Clare lives for the stolen moments she has with Bennick, the bodyguard who is quickly claiming her heart. But when a notorious assassin is hired to kill her, Clare’s life and the alliance hang in the balance.

In Ryden, Grayson prepares to leave for Mortise with his brother, Liam. Their orders are to ignite a war between their enemies, and Grayson has been tasked with assassinating Princess Serene. It may cost his soul, but he is ready to comply, as long as he gets something in return: freedom for Mia, the girl he loves. But the more time he spends with his brother, the more he begins to wonder if Liam is what Grayson wishes he had the courage to be . . . a traitor.

Desfan feels trapped. By his disapproving council, his impending marriage to a stranger, and the imminent arrival of enemy princes who may not want the peace they profess. When a dangerous drug threatens his people, Desfan jumps at the chance to rely on his swords instead of politics. But his investigation uncovers more than he bargained for--a plot that may destroy Mortise from within.

Eyrinthia hovers on the edge of war. Spies. Rebels. Traitors. All must choose a side.

PRE-ORDER GIFT DETAILS

​Pre-order Royal Spy and get an EXCLUSIVE short story from Bennick's POV!

*****

​Bennick is a royal bodyguard, prepared for anything—except Clare Ellington. 

THE DECOY AND THE BODYGUARD follows Bennick and Clare during their first day together, but from Bennick’s POV. 

Of course, things go terribly wrong . . .

*****

It's easy! Just preorder the book, take a screenshot with proof of your order, and fill out the form (link above) and the short story will be emailed to you after Royal Spy releases!