Hinder(Guardian of Monsters, #1)
by Kristin Ping
Publication date: May 15th, 2018
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult, Paranormal
Ethan Sutcliff seems like a normal seventeen-year-old—at least that’s what he’s trying to portray. In a secret society run by the Supernaturals, Ethan is what witches call a Bender. Benders are Witches’ Guardians, who are able to control a witches’ ability, bend it, or move it away from harming humans. In Ethan’s case, he is able to bend the Earth element. But at the age of fifteen, he lost all connection to it, and the reasons behind it could only mean one of two things: His Wielder is either dead, or hiding out somewhere.
Alex Burgendorf has been living in her aunt’s locket for the past sixteen years with her mother—a Fire Wielder, and her father—a Water Wielder. For sixteen years, her parents vowed to protect her, and they have, as she is the last Earth wielding witch. However, time is running out. Alex must find her Bender, or the fate of the Supernaturals might be at stake.
Excerpt:
Before Sentinels it was just earth Wielders. That was how powerful
they were and Ethan was the lucky boy that was going to be part of that. He was
going to become the next earth Wielder’s protector in every way possible.
Tears formed in Ethan’s eyes, but he refused to let them roll down his
cheek. He tried so hard to live up to his element, to be strong and special.
Sad that the boy didn’t know how strong or special he already was.
Maybe it was my fault as a father, as a parent.
I wanted to tell Natalie that she should stop making him feel so
terrible. He was just exploring. But what good would that do? We would just end
up fighting again. I was so tired of our fights. Shoulders slumped, I turned to
go inside. That was when I heard the roar of engines.
The hair on my arms and neck stood straight. Adrenaline poured into my
blood like jet fuel and my heartbeat skyrocketed as I turned to see Natalie
running toward me across the yard, jerking little Ethan along by the hand.
“Get rid of them. Now.” She shouldered past me into the house.
No one had seen what Ethan had done, right? No, it wasn’t possible.
Was it?
Three black Jeeps and a silver one careened into the driveway,
spitting gravel behind their shiny black tires. I leaped off the steps but then
composed myself. With great effort, I slowed to a sedate walk. I had to try to
make this farmhouse seem like any other sleepy home on this continent—even
though it was far from it.
Who are these people? What are they doing here?
They weren’t Necrocretors. Necrocretors didn’t use Jeeps or SUVs to
make their entrances. Whoever they were, they were driving fast. Too fast.
As they pulled closer, the sun glinted off the tinted windows and
blinded me. Then when they turned an angle, I saw it. It was the outline of a
barrel.
I dove for the willow. Bullets shredded bark above my head. Splinters
and sawdust flew everywhere.
My back was firmly against the tree, safe from the bullets, or so I
hoped. Thank goodness he grew a fully mature tree, I marveled. Otherwise I’d be
dead.
I recited words that hadn’t touched my tongue in years. I carried them
in my skin on my tattoo, across my chest, close to my heart. A phrase scribbled
in Latin that I’ve learned at a very young age: Estque vel me vel.
Its meaning was simple: It is either them or me.
If someone had to die, it wasn’t going to be me.
I took out the Zippo in my back pocket, closed my eyes, and used my
diaphragmatic breathing exercises to calm my heart.
More gunshots sizzled overhead. Bits of the porch railing and the
willow bar exploded. The air filled with the scent of sulfur and singed wood.
I took a deep breath.
Then I flicked the flint.
Author Bio:Kristin resides in South Africa with her husband, two beautiful girls, and two bulldogs that try to eat her house.
She has been writing for the past eight years, and her debut novel, Hinder: A Bender’s novel will be published 2018 by Fire Quill Publishing.
When she isn’t writing, she is spending her time with her family, or trying to teach her two bulldogs to not eat her house. You can find more about Kristin at www.authorkristinping.com.
Thanks for hosting today, Jen! :)
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