Gypsy Knights by Metz Brothers

Gypsy Knights
(The Gypsy Knights Saga)
by Two Brothers Metz

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Published: 2011
Publisher: LoudCloud Publishing
Genre: Action, Fantasy, YA
ebook
Rating: 5

Amazon | Barnes&Noble

fyi: ebook is currently available for $2.99

Fourteen-year-old Durriken Brishen has lost his parents, his grandfather, and though he doesn't know it, his Gypsy culture's dangerous gift.

Taken in and raised on the rails by the first woman to pilot a freight train, Durriken has one remaining connection to his Romani roots: a small wooden box that hangs from the hammer loop of his overalls.

The last gift he received from his grandfather, the box contains the world's first chess set. But a piece is missing: the Red Queen. According to Durriken’s family lore, the complete set awakens the power of Tărie, a mercurial gift that confers unique abilities on each new Master.

When a suspicious fire erupts in the Chicago rail yard, Durriken's escape produces an uneasy alliance, though not without its silver lining. Dilia is a few inches taller, several degrees cleverer, and oh yes – very pretty. While Durriken is uneasy allying with a girl whose parents were convicted of sedition, there's no doubt she is a powerful partner. And while it's not immediately clear to either, her own Guatemalan culture and family history are deeply entwined with the ancient Romani mystery.

Jumping box cars, escaping riverboats, deciphering clues, crossing swords with the brilliant madman Radu Pinch – with great American cities as its backdrop – Gypsy Knights is the page-turning saga of Durriken Brishen and his quest to rediscover his past.

Quote to note:
Perhaps, my dear Radu, is a dangerous word.
- page 16, chapter 3

Concoction to note: hmmm, think i might want to try this
An hour later, their dessert was ready: carmelized strawberry potato crisps.
- page 132, chapter 26

My two-bits:
In-a-word(s): everything's jake
I reeeeeally enjoyed this adventure! This is one of those books that engage you with its colloquialisms and colorful characters.

And too, the sights, sounds and food during the journey around the US via railway makes for an interesting travel guide of the past.

~*~
* review copy courtesy of author

* read Rhett's guest post for rrRoad trip Event which include characters from this book

Roadside Attraction: Salton Sea

~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
by Rhett Metz
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
Duri and the DeHavilland Beaver bank 32 degrees into a controlled dive.

Watching through aviator shades, he sees his passenger’s grip tighten on the armrest. A smile flickers across his face.

Dilia looks up from her magazine and slaps the train engineer’s cap off Duri’s head with a flick of her hand.

Dilia: You’re an idiot.

Duri: And you’re a control freak. Read your Cosmo and let me fly the plane.

Dilia: Stop screwing around and land already.

Duri: Land, you say? Right away, madam.

The DeHavilland groans in protest as Duri pushes its limits.

The eerie grey surface of the Salton Sea, buried an improbable 200 feet below sea level, rushes up to meet them. The pontoons splash into the water, jolting the passengers.

They taxi into the shallows and bump to a halt. Duri drops the anchor and jumps into the knee deep water, soaking his jeans to mid hip.

Dilia: Ahem!

Duri: Huh?

Dilia: Aren’t you going to spread your cape across the puddle?

Duri: No.

Dilia: Come here flyboy.

Duri obeys and Dilia pounces on his back for a piggyback out of the sour smelling water. When he sets her on the sand, she blows him a kiss.

Duri and Dilia walk around a thicket of beach grass and find a rusted out bus half buried in the salt flat sand.


Dilia: No sign of him.

Duri: Your father said he’d be here.

Dilia: My father’s in prison.

Duri: But he’s innocent, right?

Dilia: Of course, but that doesn’t make him right. How would he know from his jail cell who would be here?

Duri turns his head from side to side and sniffs the air.

Duri: Gumbo?

Dilia: Burned whatever it was.

Duri lifts the gunny sack curtain over the open back door and follows Dilia into the abandoned bus. A freshly burned pot of soup sits over a makeshift stove. Dilia leans down to inspect the propane tank.

Dilia: Duri...

Duri: Run!

They dash from the rusted out bus and make for the plane.

Two loud clicks echo over the water. A blinding flash fills the sky and a deafening boom thunders across Imperial Valley. The blast throws them off their feet and slams them into the sand and rocks as the bus explodes into flames.

Duri: You okay?

Dilia: Emotionally? No. Physically - a few scratches.

Duri: We’ve been setup...

~end

Guest post created for rrRoad trip event by Rhett Metz, co-author of Gypsy Knights
© 2011. All rights reserved.

~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~
by Rhett Metz
~-~-~-~-~ guest ~-~-~-~-~

--~ eBook Giveaway courtesy of author ~--
Gypsy Knights
by Two Brothers Metz
Win a copy of this ebook!

Open to all.

Offer ends: July 31, 2011 -->extended to Aug 14

TO DO:
READ about the Metz brothers at Moonlight Gleam's Bookshelf and tell me something your learned about them.

AND, leave your email (if I don't already have it)

~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~

Contest has ended - winner is here

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~===~ rrRoad trip schedule ~===~

In My Mailbox - 7.24.11

Bought:

Captive of My Desires
by Johanna Lindsey
-still in pirate mode

For Review and giveaway:

The Thackery T. Lambshead Cabinet of Curiosities:
Exhibits, Oddities, Images, and Stories from Top Authors and Artists
edited by Ann Vandermeer and Jeff Vandermeer
courtesy of publisher
Thanks Jessica!
stay tuned: giveaway for this in October

Gypsy Knights
by Two Brothers Metz
courtesy of authors
Thanks Lafe and Rhett
stay tuned: giveaway for this ebook will appear during the rrRoad Trip event which starts later today!

Bring It Close
by Helen Hollick
re-released version
courtesy of author
Thanks Helen!
signup to win this book

Free from Netgalley: got mine, get yours!

Water's Edge
by Robert Whitlow
stay tuned: giveaway for this book will appear during August Thrills-n-Chills

~*~
Won from contest:

Russian Roulette
by Mike Faricy
courtesy of author
Thanks Mike!
get yours at A Reelfoot Hoodrat's Thoughts
-hurry, don't know when the offer ends

Surprise Gifts:

Worldweavers
Gift of the Unmage
by Alma Alexander
Thanks to Giada of Dr. Stravagante’s Traveling Book Circus

The Amethyst Road
by Louise Spiegler
Thanks to Giada of Dr. Stravagante’s Traveling Book Circus

~*~
UPCOMING event at vvb32 reads...

Word & Question
created by Shredded Cheddar
August host: vvb32 reads
JOIN in: write poetry with us
-basic details here
-my post on Aug 3 will give specifics

mini-schedule
Event theme tie-in: August Thrills-n-Chills
Aug 3: call for prompts
Aug 6: deadline for prompts
Aug 10-31: post poems

~*~
Bookie Brunch schedule
Now follow me to the third Bookie Brunch meeting for a bit of chit chat at This Miss Loves To Read.

Bookie Brunch Question of the day:
Do you think people only read classics because they are classics or because they are actually enjoyable?

Related topics to consider: Is there a classic that you don't think should be a classic? Why do you think that?

~*~
* get a heads up on free or discounted ebooks from Books on the Knob

* per usual, check out the sidebar for my current giveaways to you

* image from Leafcutter Designs - world's smallest postal service and you can get a letter kit at Chronicle Books

* In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren and inspired by Pop Culture Junkie. A post where we share books acquired via mailbox, library, store, etc.