Published: September 17th, 2013
When 18-year-old Hana Silna travels to Prague to reclaim her family's ancestral home, she finds herself on an unexpected adventure in a city brimming with ancient secrets. She discovers a riddle by the infamous alchemist Edward Kelley that claims to lead to a long-lost flask. The contents of that flask could change the fate of the world. When a ruthless enemy kidnaps her family, Hana has to find the flask to rescue them. On her quest she meets a mysterious man with a penchant for poetry, a Gypsy girl with a haunting past, and Alex, the motorcycle-riding son of a U.S. diplomat. Alex -- who's trying to save his sister from a crippling disease -- joins Hana on her race across Bohemia to find the hidden flask. It's hard to trust anyone when the stakes are this high -- especially when surrounded by experts at deception. There's only one flask and Hana desperately needs to find it.
The Riddle of Prague is the first of the Quicksilver Legacy Trilogy. Kirkus Reviews describes Laura DeBruce's debut novel as "[a]n exciting...thriller with supernatural elements and a brave, enterprising heroine." Clarion Reviews gives The Riddle of Prague five-stars and calls it "[a] fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat mystery-adventure."
GUEST POST
The Survival Guide to Immortality
In The Riddle of Prague, a number of characters possess DNA that’s been transformed so that they’re immune to most diseases, they don’t seem to age, and they heal extremely quickly from flesh wounds. They’re not completely invulnerable to death, but they often live for hundreds of years without looking any older.
A few tips from our “Immortals” for The Survival Guide to Immortality:
Don Julius Beg, borrow, cheat, and steal—do whatever it takes—to compile a fortune so you can live in a grand villa on the island of Capri, travel to Paris and Prague, and hire minions to do your bidding. Then make a foolproof plan for transferring every cent of wealth to your next incarnation. Death threats are helpful in this regard.
Sophia Brahe When you re-create yourself, come back as a member of your family so you can stay close to your loved ones, and explain why you look so much like your dear departed “Auntie” or “Granny”. You will most likely need to reveal your secret to one or two trusted individuals who can help stage your death and pave the way for your re-entry among the living.
The Pole - Sendovogious Bah! Don’t give a damn about the next life. Enjoy the one you’re in: eat, drink & be merry—all the dumplings you can eat, all the wine you can drink, and all the dancing you can do. Let your future self worry about the future.
The Nomad Seal your memories in a deep, dark part of your mind so that you are not haunted by hundreds of years of sadness and torment. Do your best to forget everyone you ever knew. Trust no one. And above all, avoid falling in love.
Marketa The way to survive a lifetime of centuries is with charitable works. Doing good for all the beasts that roam the earth is the only salve to the wound from watching the world suffer and knowing you are mostly immune, at least to the physical aspects of death.
EXCERPT
Riddle of Prague, Excerpt from Chapter
Thirteen
A loud noise
upstairs makes me jump. The heavyset man pulls a gun from his waistband and
walks with quiet deliberation toward the stairs. I recognize Franta, but with
his glaring eyes and the gun in his hand he doesn’t look like the affable
fellow who offered me Becherovka just a few hours ago. . . . Michal lies on the
ground, his back contorted, a slow trickle of blood oozing from his left
shoulder. I can see now that the woman in black is Simona. Babi’s warning echoes
in my head: “Sometimes she’s someone else.” But who? And why?
Simona hoists
Michal’s arm over her shoulders, drapes as much of his sizeable bulk over her
back as she can, and moves slowly to the garden door. She needs my help. It doesn’t matter who she is or who she’s
pretending to be. Michal is hurt. I take a step to reveal myself, but the sound
of loud, angry voices keeps me shrouded in the shadows.
“Go! Now!”
Franta’s voice bellows down the stairs followed by the unmistakable noise of a
gun exploding. Simona drags Michal to the garden door and kicks it open. Two
figures dressed in beige and white army fatigues scuttle down the stairs
accompanied by the sound of jangling chains. One is square and stout, and the
other is well over six feet with a translucent-white face and short-cropped
hair except for a spiky, blazing-red Mohawk. At first I think the skinhead is a
man, but when they pass me I realize she’s a woman—a very tall and
frightening-looking woman. They both rush at Simona.
“Look out!” I
call, but at the same instant Simona hollers and hurls a glass ball at the
intruders. The glass shatters, vapors steam up from the ground, and a thick,
sweetish smell fills the room. The skinhead yelps and rubs her balled fists
into her eyes. Simona pulls Michal through the door to the garden. I hear the
door slam shut, and then I feel myself falling and the whole room goes dark.
About the author:
LAURA DEBRUCE worked in the television business in Prague where she fell in love with the city and its legends. She is a documentary filmmaker and writer who currently lives in Maryland. The Riddle of Prague is her first novel.
Author's Giveaway
Thank you for featuring The Riddle of Prague!
ReplyDeleteI watched the trailer, and this should be a movie! I wanted to see more. Good job. (jozywails@gmail.com)
ReplyDeleteI'd love to read this, since I've been to Prague.
ReplyDeleteWow, prize kindle is fab. & splendid. 2 fingers snap. It is tight, fly & off the chain. Thank you for the awesomeness, the contest, and generosity. :) Pick me, pick me!
ReplyDeleteI liked both the excerpt, and the book trailer. I've added this book to my book wishlist.
ReplyDelete