Book Excerpt from Dark Tidings by Ken Magee
Way back in the medieval mists of time, long before most people counted which century was which, Tung shivered violently on an ice-cold, stone floor.
Dark, dank and putrid were the words an ancient estate agent might have used to glamorise this miserable dungeon. There were no words horrible or nauseating enough to describe what it was really like. To be fair though, it was not all bad, at least the green slime, which oozed like pus from small cracks in the walls, added some colour to the drab greyness
Tung huddled in the darkest corner of the freezing, granite cell wishing he was dead. He would not have to wait long for his wish to come true because he was due to be tortured to death the very next day. Now he just prayed for sleep, because sleep would give him merciful nothingness before the excruciating morning.
Roll on death, he thought, it could not come a moment too soon. He was soaking wet, bruised, starving and parched with thirst. Yes, roll on death
By some miracle his brain dragged his racked body into an uneasy slumber. Thank all the gods for sleep, at least he had not been denied that last sanctuary. His nightmares replayed his pathetic life as his subconscious tried to figure out how he had ended up in this tragic predicament. The work of the devil, no doubt… with a little help from his fiends
Blurb
What happens when
ancient magic meets the internet? One thing is certain, modern life will never
be the same again. A thousand years ago, a young thief, Tung, and a disgraced wizard, Madrick, are thrust together in an executioner’s dungeon.
In the darkness, Madrick reveals an incredible secret about a legendary spell. The great spell helps them escape their prison cell... and eventually their century.
Catapulted into the present day, their lives collide with Michael, a computer hacker who plans to destroy the world’s largest bank. But sinister people are tracking their every move and they will stop at nothing to steal their spell.
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Author Bio:
Deep down, I have
always wanted to be a writer. Like a lot of people, I was sure there was at
least one book in me and I wanted to get it out. Unfortunately life intervened
and it decided that I needed a career that would feed the family, so I worked
for many years in the IT industry in a variety of roles including programming,
sales and eventually CEO. Just to complicate things, in the middle of all this,
I also served in the British Royal Naval Reserve for five years.
In 2010, I semi-retired and decided it was time to finish the book I had started writing years earlier. I don’t think any of the original book survived the process, although it did remain a Fantasy novel because that’s my real passion! Even as a young boy, I loved Fantasy and Science Fiction books and, if they had a good sprinkling of comedy, then I was happy. Harry Harrison and the Stainless Steel Rat probably paved the path which eventually led to the likes of Terry Pratchett. I would love to think that my first book at least hints at those influences. One review seemed to think so, and that really pleased me…
“Imagine the worlds of Terry Pratchett and Dan Brown coming together - Dark Tidings provides a witty and clever read that will appeal to all readers.”
I am married with two grown up children, and two dogs. I love reading, writing and words. I have a keen interest in music (mainly rock), technology, movies, travel and the Internet. To keep fit I play badminton when I get the time… and I walk the dogs even when I don’t get the time.
Buy the book:
Amazon.co.uk (Paperback)
Amazon.co.uk (Ebook)
Amazon.com (Paperback)
Amazon.com (Ebook)
In 2010, I semi-retired and decided it was time to finish the book I had started writing years earlier. I don’t think any of the original book survived the process, although it did remain a Fantasy novel because that’s my real passion! Even as a young boy, I loved Fantasy and Science Fiction books and, if they had a good sprinkling of comedy, then I was happy. Harry Harrison and the Stainless Steel Rat probably paved the path which eventually led to the likes of Terry Pratchett. I would love to think that my first book at least hints at those influences. One review seemed to think so, and that really pleased me…
“Imagine the worlds of Terry Pratchett and Dan Brown coming together - Dark Tidings provides a witty and clever read that will appeal to all readers.”
I am married with two grown up children, and two dogs. I love reading, writing and words. I have a keen interest in music (mainly rock), technology, movies, travel and the Internet. To keep fit I play badminton when I get the time… and I walk the dogs even when I don’t get the time.
Buy the book:
Amazon.co.uk (Paperback)
Amazon.co.uk (Ebook)
Amazon.com (Paperback)
Amazon.com (Ebook)
Giveaway:
Leave me a comment with your email address to be entered to win a giveaway of an ebook of Dark Tidings by Ken Magee. Giveaway ends 9th December!
5 extra entries if you comment on this post Ken Magee's top 5 favourite books!
DARK TIDINGS has already caught my attention & imagination.
ReplyDeletemarypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com
Dark Tidings makes a very interesting scenario of internet and magic. It reminds of the Inferno Saga in Marvels Comic . It's a battle of technology and magic colliding into each other. I wonder if Dark Tiding has demons in the story. OK, I know I will have to read the book.
ReplyDeletekmccandle(at)yahoo(dot)com
Thanks again, Megan, for hosting the Dark Tidings tour. I'd love to know what your readers think of the trailer I did for Dark Tidings and the sequel, The Black Conspiracy.
ReplyDeletehttp://tinyurl.com/DT-TBC-trailer