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We are writers mainly from Australia and New Zealand who write speculative fiction with romantic elements. Be it fantasy, paranormal, dark urban fantasy, futuristic and everything in between.

Thursday 26 July 2012

Magic Thursday: The Blind Priestess

One of the things I love when I'm reading or following a series are the little extras shared by author's about the characters from their books. Whether it's information shared in an interview or guest blog or even as snippets posted on their websites.

It's like the Special Features in the menu on movie DVD where you can learn more about the making of it, or listen to the actors share insights about the character they play. I usually watch them after the movie, rarely before, but when I go back for another viewing, having that little more information makes the story all the more meaningful.

So, today you get to learn more about Kymora, the blind priestess heroine, from ALLIANCE FORGED, Bk#2 in the Light Blade series (Berkley Sensation). If you've already read the book, then I hope this will make your next reading more interesting, or if you haven't, then I hope it entices you to pick it up! :-)

THE BLIND PRIESTESS

Name: Kymora Tayn

Race: Human

Age: 28

Background: Kymora is the Temple Elect, the high priestess of Sacred Lake and the human provinces. Her Gift was discovered during a search and she entered the Temple as an acolyte at the age of ten.

When she was chosen by the Lady to replace her predecessor, the Blade Council of the time protested her appointment. Having struggled for years to show others she was more than capable, despite her physical disability, Kymora harbored doubt about to her ability to cope. But determined to show them she could, she kept her doubts to herself. It was two years before her brother, Kalan, became the Lady's Chosen, but she often went to both him and Arek for advice in her role as Temple Elect.

The skilled use of her Gift and dedication to her faith earned Kymora great respect and admiration from those around her. It also allowed her a unique insight into people's thoughts and hearts, helping them and fulfilling her role as a Temple priestess.

Kymora first met Varian (the Na'Chi leader) in the Temple when he entered Sacred Lake to find out what had become of Annika (in VENGEANCE BORN). She soon became a champion of the Na'Chi after realising they were the ones the Lady referred to in Her message to the Blade Council. 

Skills: Kymora is able to sense others emotions in their auras. She is able to read people more accurately if she can touch them. In her early days as an acolyte she used her Gift to help resolve conflicts. Both parties would give her their permission to monitor their auras at a much deeper level than she normally would. She'd detect when emotions were running high and diffuse or deflect or clarify them to help the parties come to a mutually beneficial resolution.

This ability is hampered though when Kymora's among a large group of people. Too many sensations bombard her mind and so she has to shut herself off from receiving this sensory input and this leaves her truly blind.

Kymora uses her staff to guide her and help her get around but she's also learned to wield it as a weapon to defend herself.

Interesting Facts:
    •    Kymora and Kalan's parents were traders who travelled all over the provinces but used Sacred Lake as their home base.
    •    6 year old Kymora contracted Claret-rash from her mother after her mother contracted the disease while on a trading trip to the Eastern Crags Province. While her mother died, she survived but was blinded as a result - one of the less severe side effects of the disease. The event triggered her Gift - being able to sense peoples auras and through that, their emotions.
    •    She went from acolyte to Temple Elect at the young age of 21, only the second person in human history to ascend to the position in this fashion.
    •    In her role as Temple Elect, the Lady visits and speaks to her. It's Kymora's responsibility to inform the Blade Council of any message or edict given to her, whether she agrees with it or not.
    •    She dislikes the scent of vaa'jahn, the healing herb used as a generic antiseptic by Healers (a vivid memory left over from the time she was recovering from Claret-rash as a child).
    •    Kymora loves the tactile sensation of Varian's Na'Chi markings on his body.
    •    Keri-blossom is a floral scented incense that she prefers above all others.

There's a similar post to this one about Varian (the hero of ALLIANCE FORGED) over at My Bookish Ways should you be interested, and there are a few posts on my blog about other characters in the Light Blade series (just click on the label characters and you'll find them).

There's also an excerpt of the book on my website.

But before you go dashing off to read the other posts or the excerpt, I have some Light Blade swag* to giveaway (open worldwide).

Kymora loses her sight but gains the power to read auras as compensation. If you were to lose your sight like her, what special Gift would you want to replace it and why?

Answer the question by Sunday, 29th July to go into the draw. The winner will be announced Monday, 30th July. Good luck!


ALLIANCE FORGED
Bk #2 of the Light Blade series

There is no mercy in the demon realm. No escape. In this place of desperation and conflict, anyone who is not purebred is virtually powerless. Until a blind priestess lays claim to a half-breed warrior, body and soul…

Hunted and marked for death by Na’Reish demons for their half-blood heritage, the Na’Chi are searching for a new home—something an alliance offered by the human leader could provide. With both races divided by prejudice, when Light Blade rebels brutally attack the Na’Chi, the alliance seems doomed to fail.

Varian, leader of the Na’Chi, a hybrid race of gifted warriors, is cursed with the darker impulses of his demon heritage. Controlling the part of himself that craves the high of the battle is a struggle he’s afraid he’ll lose—until he meets Kymora Tayn, a priestess driven to serve her deity. While he’s unwilling to trust anyone outside his people, he finds himself drawn to Kymora’s strength and passionate nature, and discovers she has the power to calm the darkness inside him.

When the Na’Reish raid human territory for blood-slaves and kickstart a war, the key to the survival of both races —Na’Chi and human— is an alliance. However, when Kymora is kidnapped, pitting human against human, Varian realizes he must embrace his darker half, not only to save the alliance…but also the woman he loves.



Kylie Griffin’s obsession with all things paranormal/fantasy started at an early age, when she used to imagine the jacaranda tree in her front yard was a spaceship used to defend the world from invading enemies. Writing stories seemed a natural extension to her childhood adventures.

Today, she’s a primary school teacher sharing her love for the written word with young children. In her spare time, she writes and reads all things paranormal.     

Kylie lives in a small rural village in outback New South Wales, Australia, where she volunteers in a number of emergency service organizations in her local community. Visit her website at www.kyliegriffin.com

You can also follow her blog, on Facebook, Twitter or Goodreads, or sign up for her newsletter! 

Kylie's books:
VENGEANCE BORN - Bk#1 of the Light Blade series (released Feb.7th, 2012 - Berkley Sensation trade paperback, upcoming release as a mass market paperback on April 2nd, 2013) 
ALLEGIANCE SWORN - Bk#3 of the Light Blade series (released date April 2nd, 2013 - Berkley Sensation trade paperback)

*The draw will be run using Random.com - the winner will have the choice of 2 x Light Blade swag items they'd like from the following - Vengeance Born book banner (50cmx90cm), Alliance Forged t-shirt (XL), Vengeance Born and/or Alliance Forged large magnet (21cm x 29cm), Alliance Forged mousepad.

15 comments:

  1. This is a tough one to think about. I really like Kymora's gift of being able to see the auras, but I think I will go with premonition's, because I would still be able to "see" glipse's of my family and friends. Thx for giveaway.

    blinkysthebest(AT)aol(DOT)com

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  2. Hmm, a bit of a double edged sword taking on premonitions - you could get some positive and not so nice ones, Lona. But still it would be good to know how family & friends are going (or will be - LOL). :-)

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  3. That is a hard question to answer...the more traditional senses of taste and smell are out of the question for obvious reasons!! and for reasons you mentioned above Kylie, I'm not sure I'd like premonitions either :(
    I think I'd like the gift of knowing if someone is being truthful or not. I'm a big believer in honesty and I despise being lied to...so I'll go with truth-telling powers!!!
    Thanks for all the great posts you've been writing and all the opportunities to win gorgeous Varian and Light Blade swag!!
    Cheers Cath :)
    bookschatter@gmail.com

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    1. Now THAT would be a handy skill to have, Cath. I could use that in the classroom/playground a lot! LOL

      Thank YOU for following the ALLIANCE FORGED & VENGEANCE BORN blog tours and it's great to hear you've been enjoying the posts and snippets of each. It's been a hoot writing them all.

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  4. At first I thought healing powers would be a good one...from all the cuts and bruises from running into things! Haha!

    But one power I think I would love to have is teleportation. The double-edged sword is still definitely prominent though since I would be able to travel but not be able to view any of the beauty I would be in the midst of. I would still be able to instantly visit those I cared about though and that would be enough.

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    1. Oh, I'm jumping on your suggestion and would also like to have teleportation as a skill! Always been a huge Star Trek fan and can't wait for the transporter to actually be invented - although I suspect all transportation businesses and companies would sabotage any progress on inventing one given the amount of money that is spent these days on travel! LOL

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  5. If I lost my sight, I would want the ability to sense the difference between honesty and deception (good and evil). It's easy enough to be fooled when you can see, let alone when you can't.

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    1. Kassa16, that definitely would be a hand skill and you're right, people do take every advantage, particularly when they know you might not be able to see (or hear).

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  6. I would like to be able to sense the life-force of beings within say a radius of fifty to a hundred feet and to know them apart. To be able to differentiate between a tree and an animal and to sense their emotions. (Even the trees) :)

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    1. Now that is a skill no one's suggested before, Sandy. Being able to sense life-forces and tell them apart, a bit like a empathic radar/x-ray of sorts. Very cool choice.

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  7. I once saw a program me where a young boy who is blind had learned how to play basketball, shoot hoops etc by the feel of the wind, the sound the ball made and how close something was by clicking and hearing the sound bounce back. He was incredibly accurate, so I'd say, I'd love his skill if I lost my sight.

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    1. Wow, now that's honing your hearing for you. Amazing how people can adapt given their perseverance and determination, isn't it?

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  8. Probably the power to read minds

    bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

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    1. Hmm, another double edged gift this one, bn100. It could come in handy in some situations, perhaps some sort of conflict resolution or peace negotiations but the down side might be the possibility of discovering what others really believe/think/feel about you & it might not be so fun. An interesting gift to consider having anyway. :-)

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  9. If I were to lose my sight then I would want the power to feel things 20 feet around me so that I would know what was coming my way. Love your site and the extra information about characters.

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