Thank you for joining us on the Virtual Book Tour for Song of Princes, an Historical Fantasy by Janell Rhiannon (13 June 2016, Janell Rhiannon, 490 pages). This is the first book in the Homeric Chronicles series.
Don't miss our interview with author Janell Rhiannon.PREVIEW: Check out the book's synopsis and excerpt below. Read the Prologue and the first two chapters with Amazon Look Inside.
Song of Princes is FREE on Kindle Unlimited and Kindle Owner's Lending Library.
Author Janell Rhiannon will be awarding two $25 Amazon gift cards, and a Paperback Triple Firsts (the first book of these series): Song of Princes by Janell Rhiannon, Helen of Sparta by Amalia Corosella, Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn, to randomly drawn winners via Rafflecopter during the tour. Please do take part: comment on our post and follow the tour where you will be able to read other excerpts (☀), interviews (ℚ), reviews (✍) and guest blog posts (✉).
Synopsis | Trailer | Teaser | Author Q&A | About the Author | Giveaway & Tour Stops
Synopsis
The TROJAN WARSing Muse. Sing of the shining citadel of Troy rising from the hot sands of Asia. Sing of the Greek palaces ascending from their rocky hilltops. Sing of one woman’s dream heralding the madness of men and the murder of innocents.
From bull dancing rings and wild meadows, the Forgotten Prince must choose between love and a golden crown. From seclusion and safety, the Golden Warrior must choose between his honor and his life. From behind the Great Wall, the Golden Prince must choose between his family and his city. And from a rugged realm on the far side of Greece, the Warrior King must choose between his son’s life and certain exile.
Here shepherds and princes, warriors and kings, and seers and lovers seek to conquer their passions, outwit destiny or surrender to it.
PARIS, the FORGOTTEN PRINCE.
ACHILLES, the GOLDEN WARRIOR.
HEKTOR, the GOLDEN PRINCE.
ODYSSEUS, the WARRIOR KING.
Where did their legends begin before their lives converged at Troy in one of the most famous battles of all time?
The HOMERIC CHRONICLES tells the stories of Paris, Achilles, Hektor, and Odysseus in one chronological tale, beginning before the ILIAD and ending long after the ODYSSEY. Blending both history and myth, the Homeric Chronicles will satisfy your love of Greek mythology, while paying homage to the original storyteller, Homer.
SONGS OF PRINCES begins with the birth of Paris and Achilles, and introduces us to a young Hektor and Odysseus. The journey of the princes begins…
Janell Rhiannon has a Master’s degree in history. It was during her years studying Alexander the Great that she came to love the Greek and Roman myths. She loves warfare and romance.
Fall in love with Greek mythology for the first time or all over again.
…READ THEM ALL…
#songofprinces
#riseofprinces
#returnofkings
#homericchronicles
Teaser: Excerpt
TROJAN PALACE
1285 BCE
Five years, Hecuba thought. Five years and the ache for the son she’d never known still throbbed painfully in her chest. She’d grown accustomed to the hurt. She sighed watching her children romping in the courtyard. Little Deiphobus entertained his younger twin siblings with his wooden sword and shield. The youngest, Polydorus, nursed at her breast. She refused a wet nurse for all her children after the loss of her second son. She could hardly stand to have them out of her sight. The ache pulled at her again. It never gave her peace. In truth, some days she conjured the pain to remind her of his little face, and some days she cursed the sadness and prayed to Apollo and Artemis to take her memories from her.
She smiled widely despite her melancholy when Hektor appeared at the courtyard gate. He waved and made straight for her. Only he had the power to dull the pain that had become as much a part of her as her hand or foot. The other children were a source of joy, but each of their births reminded her of the one she lost. Hektor’s presence was the only one not marred by grief. He was her golden prince.
Hektor kissed his mother’s cheek. “Mother,” he said. He pinched Polydorus’s bare foot. The baby kicked at his eldest brother’s attempt at affection. “Such a strong leg for someone so little,” he laughed. “You’re sad again, Mother. I can see it in your eyes.”
“Nothing can be hidden from my Hektor. Someday you will be a wise king.” Hecuba sighed. Her eyes found her son’s. “I will always be sad. I fear that if I am not, I will forget him forever. And that would be worse. His memory is all your father left me of him.” She switched the baby to her other breast, adjusting his heavy weight in the crook of her arm. “Deiphobus! Be mindful of Helenus! Cassandra move away from the fountain! Where is Tessa when I need her? Tessa!”
From the balcony above them, Tessa called down to her queen, “Yes, my lady?”
“Come and get the twins and the baby. They must rest.” Deiphobus laughed at his younger siblings. Hecuba added, “And take Deiphobus as well.” The boy threw his wooden armaments down mumbling to himself. He kicked at the ground. Hecuba looked to Hektor. “Truth be spoken, I am the one in need of rest.” She rubbed the side of her swollen belly. “I am forever with child.”
“Where is my father?” Hektor asked.
Hecuba stiffened. “Where he always is this time of day.”
Hektor said nothing. Rumors swirled around the palace about the king’s new favorite and the bastard she was carrying at the same time the queen was expecting.
Tessa came to take the children. The queen handed her servant a very sleepy baby. “My lady, he is a fat one.” The nurse cradled him carefully in her arms and steered the gaggle inside leaving Hektor and his mother alone.
He wrapped his hand around his mother’s, dwarfing hers. “I’ll have only one wife, Mother.”
The queen considered her son. “We will find you a fine wife, my golden prince. A beauty in heart as well as face.”
“If she is as beautiful as you, I will be satisfied. But that is a long way off!” Hektor’s grin warmed her heart. Hektor pulled his mother’s hand, encouraging her to stand. “Come. I want to show you my horse.”
Hecuba stood reluctantly putting a hand to the small of her back. “The stables are a long walk from here.”
“It is not so far. And you smile more when away from the palace.”
They began the leisurely walk through the courtyard and along the cobbled road to the citadel’s lower level where the stables dominated the entire southwest of the grounds. Spread out as far as the eye could see, in fields of tall swaying grasses and low brush, the horse fields were known as the Sea of Trojan Horses.
Hecuba made small talk to pass their steps together. “Strange is it not? That Troy existed without horses not so long ago.”
“I would not recognize our city without horses,” Hektor mindless answered. “Mother?”
“Yes?”
“I remember, too,” he said quietly.
Hektor was tall for a boy his age, but still Hecuba looked down at him, his curly black hair shining in the sun. His heart possessed a kindness and empathy his father did not. Her love and pride swelled for her eldest son. She reached her arm out and wrapped it around his shoulders, pulling him close to her. “You are truly Troy’s greatest treasure.”
Hektor looked up at his mother then. His face beamed. “You say that only because you are my mother. What else would you say?”
“I say it because it is truth.”
*
Priam pulled the woman in his arms closer. “You are beautiful rounded with my son.”
“My king,” Melita blushed. “I hope that he is strong.”
The king kissed her mouth, letting his lips linger to kiss her again. “All my sons are strong.” #All my sons...# he thought, as the old pain surfaced. Sometimes, when walking the palatial halls, he heard the cries of the forgotten prince echoing against the stones, and he wondered if the memory of the child would haunt his waking moments forever. Quickly, he commanded the memory of the forgotten prince back into the darkness it had escaped from.
“As you say. All fine, strong boys,” Melita said. “I am only sorry he will be a bastard.”
“He is my child, bastard or not. And I will love him, as I love all the others. And you.” He leaned down to kiss her again. His hand gently caressing the mound of her belly. His hand slipped lower as his kiss deepened. His fingers found the sacred cross between her thighs. His experienced hands brought her close to finishing before he mounted her. The king pressed his need for comfort deep inside her. Melita moaned her affection for him into the room where it echoed down the hall for gossip mongering servants to overhear.
Priam rolled away from his lover, sweating and satisfied. The mask of king began its slow descent. “Briseus of Pedasus arrives this evening with his wife. I will not return here until he leaves for home.”
Melita frowned against his shoulder. “I understand, my king.”
He kissed her cheek. “Do not be sad. It is just a short while.”
“Will you be staying with the Queen?” Melita asked.
Priam knew the jealousies of women all too well. Since Hecuba’s heart had chilled against him, he’d taken several concubines and minor wives to ease his loneliness. Balancing them all with his own happiness grew a tiresome chore, and he still yearned for Hecuba’s love to return to him. He told himself that if her heart ever warmed from winter to spring in his regard, he would forget all the others.
“Do not fret. Hecuba is my wife. She must give me legitimate sons. It is my duty and hers that we live as man and wife, king and queen.”
“Forgive me, my king,” Melita whispered. “My words carry no bitterness.”
Priam swung his legs from the bed. “There is nothing to forgive.” He pulled his tunic over his head. “The hour grows late. There is much to do before guests arrive.” Melita got up and arranged his sash around his waist, pleating the soft folds of the linen garment in even rows.
“This is a beautiful dye, my king. Deepest blue. It compliments your eyes,” his mistress said.
The king looked down at her. “You are most beautiful today.” He knew returning a fair word would bring him more peace with his hasty departure.
Melita blushed again. “My king.”
“Remember, I will return.”
“I will remember.”
Priam kissed her again on the mouth, not a deep lover’s kiss but a hard certain kiss, his mind turning to his royal duties and away from physical pleasures.
After the king left, Melita released her anguish as hot tears in her eyes. She would always be second to the queen in every way. As a concubine, she had no rights, no say, and no where to run. Her life depended solely on the king’s favor. It burned her heart to cinders knowing he would bed his wife tonight. And she knew full well the queen was also with child, so she reasoned that the queen was cold but not too cold. Perhaps, she grew lonely as well. She scolded herself. It mattered not at all why the queen slept with the king, only that he did. When first brought before Priam, she trembled with fear. His gentleness and sexual appetite won first her body, and then her heart. She never expected to love him, for loving him had become a trap of a different kind. And now that she did, it pained her to have to share him with anyone, especially the only woman who could take him from her forever. She comforted her aching heart by caressing her belly rounded with her lover’s royal seed growing inside her.
1285 BCE
From Chapter 7
Five years, Hecuba thought. Five years and the ache for the son she’d never known still throbbed painfully in her chest. She’d grown accustomed to the hurt. She sighed watching her children romping in the courtyard. Little Deiphobus entertained his younger twin siblings with his wooden sword and shield. The youngest, Polydorus, nursed at her breast. She refused a wet nurse for all her children after the loss of her second son. She could hardly stand to have them out of her sight. The ache pulled at her again. It never gave her peace. In truth, some days she conjured the pain to remind her of his little face, and some days she cursed the sadness and prayed to Apollo and Artemis to take her memories from her.
She smiled widely despite her melancholy when Hektor appeared at the courtyard gate. He waved and made straight for her. Only he had the power to dull the pain that had become as much a part of her as her hand or foot. The other children were a source of joy, but each of their births reminded her of the one she lost. Hektor’s presence was the only one not marred by grief. He was her golden prince.
Hektor kissed his mother’s cheek. “Mother,” he said. He pinched Polydorus’s bare foot. The baby kicked at his eldest brother’s attempt at affection. “Such a strong leg for someone so little,” he laughed. “You’re sad again, Mother. I can see it in your eyes.”
“Nothing can be hidden from my Hektor. Someday you will be a wise king.” Hecuba sighed. Her eyes found her son’s. “I will always be sad. I fear that if I am not, I will forget him forever. And that would be worse. His memory is all your father left me of him.” She switched the baby to her other breast, adjusting his heavy weight in the crook of her arm. “Deiphobus! Be mindful of Helenus! Cassandra move away from the fountain! Where is Tessa when I need her? Tessa!”
From the balcony above them, Tessa called down to her queen, “Yes, my lady?”
“Come and get the twins and the baby. They must rest.” Deiphobus laughed at his younger siblings. Hecuba added, “And take Deiphobus as well.” The boy threw his wooden armaments down mumbling to himself. He kicked at the ground. Hecuba looked to Hektor. “Truth be spoken, I am the one in need of rest.” She rubbed the side of her swollen belly. “I am forever with child.”
“Where is my father?” Hektor asked.
Hecuba stiffened. “Where he always is this time of day.”
Hektor said nothing. Rumors swirled around the palace about the king’s new favorite and the bastard she was carrying at the same time the queen was expecting.
Tessa came to take the children. The queen handed her servant a very sleepy baby. “My lady, he is a fat one.” The nurse cradled him carefully in her arms and steered the gaggle inside leaving Hektor and his mother alone.
He wrapped his hand around his mother’s, dwarfing hers. “I’ll have only one wife, Mother.”
The queen considered her son. “We will find you a fine wife, my golden prince. A beauty in heart as well as face.”
“If she is as beautiful as you, I will be satisfied. But that is a long way off!” Hektor’s grin warmed her heart. Hektor pulled his mother’s hand, encouraging her to stand. “Come. I want to show you my horse.”
Hecuba stood reluctantly putting a hand to the small of her back. “The stables are a long walk from here.”
“It is not so far. And you smile more when away from the palace.”
They began the leisurely walk through the courtyard and along the cobbled road to the citadel’s lower level where the stables dominated the entire southwest of the grounds. Spread out as far as the eye could see, in fields of tall swaying grasses and low brush, the horse fields were known as the Sea of Trojan Horses.
Hecuba made small talk to pass their steps together. “Strange is it not? That Troy existed without horses not so long ago.”
“I would not recognize our city without horses,” Hektor mindless answered. “Mother?”
“Yes?”
“I remember, too,” he said quietly.
Hektor was tall for a boy his age, but still Hecuba looked down at him, his curly black hair shining in the sun. His heart possessed a kindness and empathy his father did not. Her love and pride swelled for her eldest son. She reached her arm out and wrapped it around his shoulders, pulling him close to her. “You are truly Troy’s greatest treasure.”
Hektor looked up at his mother then. His face beamed. “You say that only because you are my mother. What else would you say?”
“I say it because it is truth.”
*
Priam pulled the woman in his arms closer. “You are beautiful rounded with my son.”
“My king,” Melita blushed. “I hope that he is strong.”
The king kissed her mouth, letting his lips linger to kiss her again. “All my sons are strong.” #All my sons...# he thought, as the old pain surfaced. Sometimes, when walking the palatial halls, he heard the cries of the forgotten prince echoing against the stones, and he wondered if the memory of the child would haunt his waking moments forever. Quickly, he commanded the memory of the forgotten prince back into the darkness it had escaped from.
“As you say. All fine, strong boys,” Melita said. “I am only sorry he will be a bastard.”
“He is my child, bastard or not. And I will love him, as I love all the others. And you.” He leaned down to kiss her again. His hand gently caressing the mound of her belly. His hand slipped lower as his kiss deepened. His fingers found the sacred cross between her thighs. His experienced hands brought her close to finishing before he mounted her. The king pressed his need for comfort deep inside her. Melita moaned her affection for him into the room where it echoed down the hall for gossip mongering servants to overhear.
Priam rolled away from his lover, sweating and satisfied. The mask of king began its slow descent. “Briseus of Pedasus arrives this evening with his wife. I will not return here until he leaves for home.”
Melita frowned against his shoulder. “I understand, my king.”
He kissed her cheek. “Do not be sad. It is just a short while.”
“Will you be staying with the Queen?” Melita asked.
Priam knew the jealousies of women all too well. Since Hecuba’s heart had chilled against him, he’d taken several concubines and minor wives to ease his loneliness. Balancing them all with his own happiness grew a tiresome chore, and he still yearned for Hecuba’s love to return to him. He told himself that if her heart ever warmed from winter to spring in his regard, he would forget all the others.
“Do not fret. Hecuba is my wife. She must give me legitimate sons. It is my duty and hers that we live as man and wife, king and queen.”
“Forgive me, my king,” Melita whispered. “My words carry no bitterness.”
Priam swung his legs from the bed. “There is nothing to forgive.” He pulled his tunic over his head. “The hour grows late. There is much to do before guests arrive.” Melita got up and arranged his sash around his waist, pleating the soft folds of the linen garment in even rows.
“This is a beautiful dye, my king. Deepest blue. It compliments your eyes,” his mistress said.
The king looked down at her. “You are most beautiful today.” He knew returning a fair word would bring him more peace with his hasty departure.
Melita blushed again. “My king.”
“Remember, I will return.”
“I will remember.”
Priam kissed her again on the mouth, not a deep lover’s kiss but a hard certain kiss, his mind turning to his royal duties and away from physical pleasures.
After the king left, Melita released her anguish as hot tears in her eyes. She would always be second to the queen in every way. As a concubine, she had no rights, no say, and no where to run. Her life depended solely on the king’s favor. It burned her heart to cinders knowing he would bed his wife tonight. And she knew full well the queen was also with child, so she reasoned that the queen was cold but not too cold. Perhaps, she grew lonely as well. She scolded herself. It mattered not at all why the queen slept with the king, only that he did. When first brought before Priam, she trembled with fear. His gentleness and sexual appetite won first her body, and then her heart. She never expected to love him, for loving him had become a trap of a different kind. And now that she did, it pained her to have to share him with anyone, especially the only woman who could take him from her forever. She comforted her aching heart by caressing her belly rounded with her lover’s royal seed growing inside her.
Song of Princes
Available NOW!
About the Author
Janell always had her nose in a book, reading by flashlight when it was "lights out" time. Her love of reading turned to a curiosity about writing. She now writes in all the spare moments she can squeeze out of a day. She also writes fiction and fantasy with some romantic spice for good measure. Janell adores Mythology and Fantasy. Anything magical and mystical. And dragons. And gargoyles. Her guiding motto: "I tell stories, not genres."
She currently lives in CA.
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