“My plan: Get into the city. Get Nadia. Find a way out. Simple.” A week ago, seventeen-year-old Lela Santos’s best friend, Nadia, killed herself. Today, thanks to a farewell ritual gone awry, Lela is standing in paradise, looking upon a vast gated city in the distance—hell. No one willingly walks through the Suicide Gates, into a place smothered in darkness and infested with depraved creatures. But Lela isn’t just anyone—she’s determined to save her best friend’s soul, even if it means sacrificing her eternal afterlife. As Lela struggles to find Nadia, she’s captured by the Guards, enormous, not-quite-human creatures that patrol the dark city’s endless streets. Their all-too-human leader, Malachi, is unlike them in every way except one: his deadly efficiency. When he meets Lela, Malachi forms his own plan: get her out of the city, even if it means she must leave Nadia behind. Malachi knows something Lela doesn’t—the dark city isn’t the worst place Lela could end up, and he will stop at nothing to keep her from that fate.
Now, a small quote from Sanctum, in which Nadia first sees Malachi's many journals:
Malachi’s quarters had no windows, no decorations. His room was just like everything else about him—nothing unnecessary, nothing wasted. His narrow cot rested in a corner, right next to something that looked like a hat rack. He walked straight to it and hung his bloody, stained armor over it. A small desk stood across from the rack, but the only things that sat upon it were a fountain pen and a single book, like some kind of journal. Neatly stacked in a corner rose a tower of identical books as tall as I was. A lot of journals.
If you want to get to know someone, reading his journal is the way to do it (though you should probably ask permission first). Malachi is no exception: his journals contain his thoughts, hopes, fears, plans, and adventures during his time in the dark city. Starting today, excerpts will post regularly throughout the publication of the Guards of the Shadowlands series at www.guardsoftheshadowlands.
Malachi's Journal Entry
Day 4: Another Guard came to see me today. Takeshi is his name, and he brought Raphael to translate. Takeshi is from the Empire of Japan, but speaks several languages. We realized we both speak German. He wondered aloud how someone as scrawny as I am could manage to take down so many inhuman Guards at once. I took it as an invitation to show him. But as it turns out, Takeshi is even faster than Philip, and his baton extends to become a staff with which he happens to be devastatingly effective. Raphael healed my broken arm and suggested I refrain from attacking the other human Guards, as they are both capable of killing me before I land a blow. We'll see.
Day 4: Another Guard came to see me today. Takeshi is his name, and he brought Raphael to translate. Takeshi is from the Empire of Japan, but speaks several languages. We realized we both speak German. He wondered aloud how someone as scrawny as I am could manage to take down so many inhuman Guards at once. I took it as an invitation to show him. But as it turns out, Takeshi is even faster than Philip, and his baton extends to become a staff with which he happens to be devastatingly effective. Raphael healed my broken arm and suggested I refrain from attacking the other human Guards, as they are both capable of killing me before I land a blow. We'll see.
Sarah Fine was born on the West Coast, raised in the Midwest, and is now firmly entrenched on the East Coast, where she lives with her husband and two children. When she's not writing, she's working as a child psychologist. No, she is not psychoanalyzing you right now.International Contest!
Enter to win one of ten Sanctum swag packs, which include exclusive bonus scenes from Malachi's PoV! Just fill out the Rafflecopter below! Good Luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
You can check out my review of Sanctum HERE. It's one of the most remarkable debuts I've read this year, so even if you don't win, be sure to check it out! :)
I'm loving these journal entries! I just read the one on Heidi's blog and now I've come here and get to enjoy another one. I really can't wait to read this and see if Malachi finally fights his way past all these guards:)
ReplyDeleteI've come across many of these entries today! It looks like a lot of you have enjoyed Sanctum, and I can't wait to try it myself. It's on my list for very soon actually. Thanks for sharing, Keertana!
ReplyDeleteOh Keertana, I completely fell in love with this book! My review, coincidentally, goes up tomorrow. I love Malachi and have enjoyed getting to know him a little better through his journal entries. This has been a great idea for a 'tour' of sorts. I love it!
ReplyDeleteOoh yay, I am so excited for this giveaway! Thanks for sharing the journal entry, Keer!
ReplyDelete*sigh* Takeshi... that whole thing is just too tragic. I love reading about Malachi's first impressions on these people that later become so important to him.
ReplyDeleteIf you want to get to know someone, reading his journal is the way to do it (though you should probably ask permission first) - hehe, wise advice given your earlier comments on him being an utterly kick-ass male :P
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that Sarah has written his journals! Getting into the male character's mind like this is fascinating. I still need to read Sanctum, but I swear, between this and your review... I AM DYING HERE.
Will definitely be reading soon :D
Eeep this journal entries are seriously awesome Keertana! Everyone I know seems to be raving about Malachi I think I better get a wriggle on a get a copy! Thanks for sharing this fab post with us! :)
ReplyDeleteEEEEE! All these journal entries I've been reading from Sanctum makes me want to read the book so badly! Malachi sounds like an awesome character ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this awesome post with us, Keertana ♥
I'm so excited you were part of this too, Keertana. I really want this story to get a lot of attention because it's well deserved. Such a generous giveaway, too! One book/pack for each site! :)
ReplyDeleteI just purchased this book today, after seeing it around the blogosphere and all the rave reviews, I knew I had to buy it!! Thanks for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteI definitely have to get my hands on a copy of this book. I mean you and Rachel really enjoyed it and I always value your opinions.
ReplyDeleteThanks for hosting a brilliant giveaway!
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