[Blog Tour] Carved Amidst The Shadows by M.T. Fontaine – Interview & Giveaway!

Welcome to my MTMC Tours stop for Carved Amidst The Shadows by M.T. Fontaine!

Excited to dive into my tour stop for this epic book. There’s an interview with the author below plus don’t forget to watch y TikTok 😌👌🏻 This is the first book in the A Brands of Taelgir, an Epic Historical Fantasy series full of romance and rebellion and it releases on August 30th, 2022!

It’s a complex and dark fantasy, full of intricate world building and a fascinating magic system. Kianne gives Arya Stark vibes as she goes from naive opinionated little princess to a fierce and capable fighter who will stop at nothing for revenge. Andreiyes also faces excellent character growth 👌🏻 as he unravels the truth about the corruption in their kingdom and realises his easy life as a prince comes at great cost. Definitely one for Game of Thrones fans!

Visit my instagram for the INTL Giveaway! Thanks to MTMC Tours and the author for the copy.

Title: Carved Amidst the Shadows (A Brands of Taelgir Novel #1)
Author: M.T. Fontaine
Publication Date: August 30, 2022
Genres: Adult Epic Fantasy
Purchase a copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Indiebound | Blackwell’s
Add on Goodreads
Trust the enemy, or die. To be a Marked means to be loyal and protected. To be a Carved is to be the vilest of traitors.
Born branded as a Marked, Kaianne trusts the system. When her brother is born brandless, her misconceptions come crashing down. Now, an orphan and with only one uneasy ally, she turns to the Carved.
What she finds is purpose, a chance for revenge, and a family as strong as the one she lost. She will stop at nothing to protect them and further their growing rebellion.
If the talented disciples from the realms’ religious order cannot dissuade her, a prince certainly cannot stop her. Her once ally must either step aside, cut her down, or join her people’s crusade.
The Brand Edicts were meant to bring stability, but more people are born brandless as the decades pass. The Carved are growing more combative against the realms’ edicts. And like wounded animals, those in power are more dangerous than ever. It’s time for a change.

 

@cgdrews ad | with @mtmctours 📖 Carved Amidst The Shadows by M.T. Fontaine is Epic Historical Fantasy series full of action, romance and rebellion. Out August 30th, 2022! #mtmctours #books #booktok #fantasybooks #fantasybooktok #bookish ♬ tiptap foot transition – yonn don ✨

Hi M.T.! Thanks so much for chatting with me today about Carved Amidst The Shadows! Tell us a bit about your publishing journey and how your book went from first idea to finished novel on our shelves!

Wow, that’s a long and complicated answer. In short, I’ve had this series in mind for a few years now. About a year before covid, I wrote a book that takes place later in the Brands of Taelgirl series. I ended up shelving that one, but it influenced the creation of some characters in CatS such as Kaianne who was previously mentioned but not present. Carved Amidst the Shadows was written over 17 months on my lunch breaks and early in the mornings before waking the kids up for school with many bouts of editing in between and at the end. Back in March 2022, I ended up starting my own publishing house in Spain, and I do hope to add more than my own books to its publishing record in the years to come.

That’s an incredible journey, and we’re already excited for what you create next. 😌🙌🏻 Can you introduce us to Kaianne and Andreiyes?

Society makes demands of us all, no matter what time period we live in. That’s exactly the type of situation both Kaianne and Andreiyes start out in. Kaianne is a noble’s young daughter expected to marry for the betterment of her family despite her young age. That’s the situation where the story starts off. She’s willful but delicate, wishing for a way out and yet wanting to keep her quality of life. Events, of course, give her one, not both, and it’s through strength of will that she survives and grows into a woman that not only others can respect but fear.

Andreiyes is a prince, floating through his teenage years on his wealth and status without a care in the world. He’s never had to want for anything or try hard to obtain something. What happens to Kaianne and her family thrusts him off that self-serving course where suddenly he’s forced to decide what he’s willing to accept out of life and how much he’s willing to work to achieve new goals. He wants him and his family to have a role other than what they were pre-ordained to become.

Honestly loved both of their character development so much. Favourite vs least favourite part of the writing process?

I’d have to say editing is my least favorite, simply because in that time I’m not writing new words. My favorite is drafting. I find it extremely relaxing to let the words flow onto the page.

Which is your favourite to write: beginnings, middles, or endings?

Writing middles is my absolute favorite. I’m a pantser when it comes to plotting. I know where the story begins and where it must end, but I discover the journey and the characters as much as the reader while I write them. Two of the most important secondary characters in CatS didn’t exist until I started writing the chapters in which they first made an appearance.

I love it when characters just appear in a draft and make themselves important too. Can you give us a teaser about what you’re working on next?

I’m currently writing Book 2 in the Brands of Taelgir series where Kaianne and Andreiyes will rally Carved and Marked alike against the Order. It’ll be a tough journey with difficult decisions ahead. I’m also jotting down ideas for two other series, one based on a Persian and Viking setting while another is fae-based.

Those sound amazing. And lastly! What are some of the best author moments you’ve had so far?

To me, writing itself is my favorite author moment. I use it as a stress reliever. But getting positive feedback is definitely right up there alongside it for first place. That satisfying feeling of knowing someone appreciates what you’ve created is amazing!

For sure! It’s the best knowing your book has found its audience. So thank you for this interview, and congrats on your new release!!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mari-Tris grew up as that kid whose thoughts always raced faster than what her mouth could spout out. That kid who woke up in the middle of the night to write down ideas. That left notes behind for friends and family to find. She quickly discovered spun stories expressed her emotions far better than the spoken word. The rest was a matter of time, patience, and many deletions. Mari-Tris lives under Spain’s gorgeous sun and warm weather, gorging on tapas and tea. Lots and lots of tea. Website | Instagram

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