Daughter of the Sun by Zoe Kalo Book Tour and Giveaway :)
Daughter of the Sun
Cult of the Cat Book 1
by Zoe Kalo
Genre: YA Contemporary Mythological Fantasy
EGYPTOLOGY. MAGIC. MYSTERY. AND CATS, LOTS OF CATS...
Sixteen-year-old Trinity was born during a solar eclipse and left at the doorsteps of a convent along with a torn piece of papyrus covered with ancient symbols. Raised by nuns in the English countryside, she leads a quiet life until she’s whisked away to the Island of Cats and a grandmother she never knew.
But before they can get to know each other, her grandmother dies. All that Trinity has left is a mysterious eye-shaped ring. And a thousand grieving cats. As Trinity tries to solve the enigma of the torn papyrus, she discovers a world of bloody sacrifices and evil curses, and a prophecy that points to her and her new feline abilities.
Unwilling to believe that any of the Egyptian gods could still be alive, Trinity turns to eighteen-year-old Seth and is instantly pulled into a vortex of sensations that forces her to confront her true self—and a horrifying destiny.
Chapter 2
There were two things in life I had no patience for. One was animal cruelty. The other one was Beth Thompson. “One more time, please!” little Sophie begged, clinging to my waist, her high-pitch voice a tiny silver bell. I unhooked her arms from around my waist. “Later, darling.” For a moment I stood there, watching Beth and the cat. There were always cats wandering around the grounds of the orphanage, and during the past weeks I’d seen this particular cat several times. It had amber eyes and a long-haired coat with patches of orange, red, cream, chocolate and black. Beautiful. Maybe it was what they called a tortoiseshell cat. I wasn’t sure. A female. Intelligent but shy. On two occasions I’d taken the risk of smuggling a saucer of milk. But the cat didn’t seem particularly hungry and appeared in healthy shape, which made me think it probably came from one of the farms nearby in spite of the fact that it didn’t have a collar. I happened to share DaVinci's opinion that cats are the masterpieces of nature. In fact, all my life I'd always had a special love of cats. Unfortunately, we weren't allowed to have pets here. Go ahead, Beth. Ask for it. I could hear Brianna's voice in my head: Trinity, please. Control your temper. I strode with a purpose across the courtyard. A bunch of girls moved aside to let me pass. I was so annoyed I barely registered their whispers. “Guess who's going to bed without dinner tonight—again,” someone muttered. I heard chuckles. I didn't care. When Beth and her friends saw me approaching, they stopped momentarily and stared at me, slightly surprised. But their surprise lasted only a second before their expressions turned cold and arrogant. I met Beth’s gaze levelly before glancing at the cat. The cat let out a mournful yowl and tried to move toward me, but Beth jerked her back to her side. The cat meowed at me, her intelligent amber eyes locking with mine. There was a heavy cloud of expectancy in the air as the girls waited to see what I would do next. I glanced around, but there was no sign of the Sisters. Beth talked first. “What brings you to this part of the woods, Robin?” she mocked. Her two minions giggled. Beth had nicknamed me Robin Hood years ago after we've had an argument—well, a fight, really—when she’d picked on a girl from a younger class. Once, she’d tried to bully me, too, but she had soon realized her mistake. Luckily, I’d been born with an athletic body. I wasn’t muscular, but my muscles were firm and strong. I had a quick hand, too, quicker than my tongue. And she knew it. “You're making kittens cry now, Beth?” “And who, exactly, invited you here to play?” She shifted and stood straighter, her stance wider. It made me think of a soldier—except she wore the same tasteless, black and white dress uniform we all did. “What’s it to you if I want to keep a little pet?” Beth pulled the string again, jerking the cat to her side. This startled Beth’s friends, as if they weren’t expecting her to do this. One of them actually looked uncomfortable. Sadly, she wasn’t strong enough to show disapproval to her leader. “Don’t make me laugh. Better to stay homeless in the street,” I said. Beth snorted. “You should know.” “Let the cat go, Beth.” “I advise you to look the other way and turn around, Trinity.” This time her voice had lost most of its condescension. It was colder and had an edge of threat in it. “Always playing the hero,” muttered one of her minions. I ignored the comment and grated my teeth, trying to remain calm. “The string is too tight. Let her go!” Beth's expression changed. She hit her head with her hand dramatically as if she’d suddenly realized something. “As a matter of fact, it isn't as tight as it should be. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.” And she leaned over to adjust it. “Beth, come on.” One of her minions. She actually avoided my eyes. The other one looked around uncomfortably, wondering who else was watching. Still no sign of Sister Eveline or Sister Celeste. I prayed they wouldn’t show up. I wanted to handle this on my own. A sudden waft of wind swept my hair, fluttering it all over my face. I glanced up for a second and felt a raindrop on my cheek. Lightning cut through the sky. A moment later, thunder rumbled. I looked again at Beth. I could feel the blood dashing through my hands, pulsing at the tips of my fingers. “I’m warning you.” “Or else?” She straightened, her eyes drilling mine. “Will you make me?” “You're bloody right I will.” Beth took two steps toward me, tugging the cat along. We were both equally tall and I felt her hot breath on my face. But it wasn't her cruel, callous expression that did it. It was the way the cat stumbled when Beth pulled her, the way she had to twist her body to keep up with Beth. That was it. I punched Beth in the face. As she twisted and then staggered backwards, I finally caught sight of Sister Eveline, hands on hips, head shaking, marching in my direction.
Storyteller at heart...
A certified bookworm and ailurophile, Zoe Kalo has always been obsessed with books and reading. The pleasure of writing and sharing her fantasy worlds has remained. Today, Zoe passes her stories to you with lots of mystery, adventure, a hint of romance, and the delicious sweep of magic.
Currently, she balances writing with spending time with her family, taking care of her clowder of cats, and searching for the perfect bottle of pinot noir.
Connect with Zoe Kalo on the web.
An ancient Egyptian themed gift related to the book (I need to decide which, as I have several possibilities)
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