Description:
Freya Catten has lived on the fringes of society her entire life, growing up in hiding with her mother in the deepest, wildest places left in North America—the national parks and forests. Freya's mother taught her how to live off the land, away from civilization—mysteriously warning her of the dangers of getting involved with society and leaving traces of her DNA behind. But five years ago Freya's mother abandoned her, leaving Freya to survive on her own.
Freya knows how to stay alive, whether she's hiding in the forest or running on the city streets. She changes her appearance often and owns nothing but her backpack filled with survival gear and a necklace that had been her mother’s.
But, keeping one step ahead of Social Services isn't her biggest fear. Freya's true terror lies with The Takers—strange men who rappel from silver cords out of the deep blue sky from nowhere. They snatch up their victims then evaporate without a trace. Freya holds a dark suspicion—that the Takers are really after her, and they are closing in.
Freya realizes that if she is to ever have a normal life she must first find her mother and answer the questions that have kept her in hiding. Along the way, she meets Theron Hawk—a rugged teenage soldier from a war-torn country—and finds herself truly trusting someone for the first time in her life.
As secrets are uncovered, and Freya comes closer to solving the mysteries surrounding her life, her blood and the priceless necklace that lays at her throat, the scars of the Bifrost will threaten to rip apart Freya's very existence.
SCARS OF THE BIFROST is the first story in The Scars Saga and is a Young Adult science-fiction/fantasy/paranormal romance novel infused with wilderness survival, urban fantasy, dystopian elements and mythological realism.
How has Freya survived all of these years by herself in the middle of nowhere with no one to help her? Her isolation must have been like a prison; no one to talk to or share with, no one to comfort her. Almost five long years since her mother abandoned her. It seems as if her tough, introverted “I take care of myself” attitude she first displayed to me when we met has been a camouflage created by necessity – purely a survival mechanism, because now that I’m here with her, she’s warm and sharing, bright and alive. She loves to talk and has taught me about the forest and how to live from the land. She’s not hardened either, very tough but not stone – she’s nothing like me. She’s still soft and kind. And perfect.
I turned in another direction to escape when I felt my backpack being grabbed from behind.
“No!” I screamed as I struggled against the inevitable, like an animal caught in a snare.
My attacker spun me to face him as if I were nothing more than a rag doll. He looked like a hot young actor who was supposed to be attending a red carpet event in Hollywood instead of a thug pulling off a kidnapping—they all did in their dark blue suits.
I instantly planted my knee into his groin, but my kneecap met with a hard armored shell. I peered up into his hardened face and stunning purple irises as a wide sinister smile spread across his face. I tried reaching for the hunting knife at my hip, but before I could get to it he grabbed hold of both of my arms and pinned me against his body. I was embraced in some grotesque lover’s dance.
My hat was pushed off of my head as my cheek was crushed against him. I could feel the armor across his chest and stomach under his clothing.
He began to tie me up with the silver cord. I wriggled my arms up and, thinking quickly, pulled a bobby pin from my braided hair. You can do a lot of damage to an assailant by jamming a bobby pin into their ear canal. I plunged the bobby pin hard into the tender opening and slammed it with the palm of my hand, forcing it in as far as it could go. The Taker howled in pain and dropped me to grab at his injured ear.
I pitched myself to the side and away from him as he got tangled in his own cord and disappeared.
I scrambled to my feet but my foot slipped, tearing at the earth beneath me. Instantly, I was hoisted by my upper arms into the air by a tall, fierce-looking Taker. He looked like he had seen what I just did to his buddy and was going to kill me for it. The hate on his face was intimidating and palpable, while his grip held me like a vice. I couldn’t take a breath.
My mind panicked as I thought, This is it, the fight is over.
GUEST POST
Theron Hawk
How has Freya survived all of these years by herself in the middle of nowhere with no one to help her? Her isolation must have been like a prison; no one to talk to or share with, no one to comfort her. Almost five long years since her mother abandoned her. It seems as if her tough, introverted “I take care of myself” attitude she first displayed to me when we met has been a camouflage created by necessity – purely a survival mechanism, because now that I’m here with her, she’s warm and sharing, bright and alive. She loves to talk and has taught me about the forest and how to live from the land. She’s not hardened either, very tough but not stone – she’s nothing like me. She’s still soft and kind. And perfect.
She cares for children and rabbits; she’s passionate about people who are hurting and the world’s problems. It used to be, when she noticed I was seeing through to that side of her, she would quickly flip the switch. Her walls came up and a survivor’s mask would come over her face and demeanor as if to say, “You go no further!” But I have to go further. I have never known anyone like her. She can transform pain and darkness into something full of light. She doesn’t even know she does it, it just happens.
She still fights with her own scars. Her dreams betray her. She cries in her sleep and calls out for her mother.
I’ve become part of her story now. She has let me into her world. I want to erase her pain and fear. I want to hold her until my ice melts and my stone cracks. I want to see what I might be under all of this tragedy that has been my pathetic life. She could never love me and I could never forgive myself for everything I’ve done, but maybe if I could comfort her and protect her. Maybe I could earn some measure of redemption and become worthy of just being near her.
EXCERPT:
EXCERPT 1
“No!” I screamed as I struggled against the inevitable, like an animal caught in a snare.
My attacker spun me to face him as if I were nothing more than a rag doll. He looked like a hot young actor who was supposed to be attending a red carpet event in Hollywood instead of a thug pulling off a kidnapping—they all did in their dark blue suits.
I instantly planted my knee into his groin, but my kneecap met with a hard armored shell. I peered up into his hardened face and stunning purple irises as a wide sinister smile spread across his face. I tried reaching for the hunting knife at my hip, but before I could get to it he grabbed hold of both of my arms and pinned me against his body. I was embraced in some grotesque lover’s dance.
My hat was pushed off of my head as my cheek was crushed against him. I could feel the armor across his chest and stomach under his clothing.
He began to tie me up with the silver cord. I wriggled my arms up and, thinking quickly, pulled a bobby pin from my braided hair. You can do a lot of damage to an assailant by jamming a bobby pin into their ear canal. I plunged the bobby pin hard into the tender opening and slammed it with the palm of my hand, forcing it in as far as it could go. The Taker howled in pain and dropped me to grab at his injured ear.
I pitched myself to the side and away from him as he got tangled in his own cord and disappeared.
I scrambled to my feet but my foot slipped, tearing at the earth beneath me. Instantly, I was hoisted by my upper arms into the air by a tall, fierce-looking Taker. He looked like he had seen what I just did to his buddy and was going to kill me for it. The hate on his face was intimidating and palpable, while his grip held me like a vice. I couldn’t take a breath.
My mind panicked as I thought, This is it, the fight is over.
About the author:
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About A.J.M. Mousseau: I am an author and university student. I live in a recreational vehicle -- by choice -- with my awesome husband, four amazing kids, and huge, fluffy, 85 pound golden retriever named Titan. I write and do school on line as we travel throughout the U.S. and Canada. It is incredible to live in a new place every few months (sometimes weeks) and to see everything! We have lived this clan and tribal lifestyle for two years now and have been to over twenty national parks and forests. They gave me a lot of inspiration for Freya's story.
Unlocking Brísingamen, the next book in the Scars Saga, will be released very soon!
Author's INT Giveaway
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can't wait ro read scars...thx u so much :)
ReplyDeleteO carte interesanta.Are o esenta de Hunger Games,dar e departe de subiectul seriei.
ReplyDeleteCant wait to read book.
ReplyDeleteSeems to be a great read!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway!!! :D
I already have the ebook, and I love the author and her work!
ReplyDeleteThe author is amazing. .haven't read this one but will surely do soon.
ReplyDeleteCoperta este atat de frumoasa <3.
ReplyDeleteDa,sunt o persoana care se ia si dupa coperta:))
Excited to read..hearing such wonderful things.
ReplyDeleteGreat giveaway
ReplyDelete