Jester

August 16, 2022

Jester

JESTER

by Brielle D. Porter

GENRE: YA Fantasy with Romance

What happens in Oasis, stays in Oasis.

Lisette’s father killed the King. His execution leaves Lisette alone, disgraced, and without the magic he intended to pass on to her. In Oasis, that’s a problem. Glutted with enchanted performers, Oasis is a sin city where courtiers pay in gold to drink, gamble, and above all, be entertained. To survive on its competitive streets, Lisette peddles paltry illusions in place of magic.

Desperate to prove herself, Lisette enters into a deadly competition to be chosen as the highest-ranked magician in the world, the Queen’s Jester. But her rival, the irritatingly handsome Luc, possesses the one thing Lisette does not―real magic. Lisette will do anything to win, but when evidence implicating the Queen in her husband’s murder surfaces, Lisette must choose between redeeming her family name, or seizing the fame she’s hungered for her entire life.

EXCERPT

I turn, groaning inwardly, as a short, sweaty man makes his way across the shining floors. Even in a hurry, he keeps his head high, as if to bely the fact that he physically can’t look down on anyone, not even me.

“Hello, Bale,” I say, resigned, when he finally reaches the desk. He daubs at his high forehead with an intricately embroidered handkerchief.

Even Bale’s sweat is worth more than I am.

“Elizabeth, darling,” he begins, once he’s caught his breath, “this girl has a lifetime ban from the Shipwreck.”

“Come on, Bale,” I break in, as Elizabeth’s gaze darts in my direction in shock.

“I can’t believe you made it past the valets,” he mutters, wiping his brow again. “What’s the story this time, Mirage? Traveling royalty? A lady-in-waiting sent early to prepare the queen’s rooms?”

“She said she was the wife of Mr. Ellington, sir,” Elizabeth says, twin points of red on her cheeks. I curtsy.

“Ah, of course,” Bale says, shaking his head. “Get out of my hotel.”

“Please, Bale,” I say, hating the pleading tone that’s crept into my voice. I’d really prefer to do this the easy way tonight. “I’ll give you all the dust I make tomorrow.”

It’s a lie and we both know it.

“Shoo,” he repeats, stubborn. Out of the corner of my eye, I see one of the guards glide in. To anyone else, he’s just a very big, well-dressed man. But I see the copper stains on one cuff, the one that he self-consciously folds into his suit sleeve. Bale is clearly not going to change his mind, so I make my way to the doors, shame curdling in my stomach.

I’m so focused on the floor, I almost run headfirst into another patron.

“Watch it!” I cry.

“Begging your pardon, madam,” the patron says, smirking, and that’s when I realize I know him. Tall, lithe frame cloaked all in red. Luc.

About the Author:

Brielle D. Porter decided to become a writer after a well-meaning elementary school teacher told her she had a gift for it. Stolen moments under the covers reading anything from Harry Potter to William Goldman solidified the desire to tell stories herself one day. Jester is her debut novel.

Brielle lives with her husband and three sons on a lavender farm in Northern Idaho. When she’s not writing, she can be found running and beekeeping. Only ask her about her hobbies if you have plenty of time to spare.

Author Website: https://brielledporter.com/

Goodreads Author: https://www.goodreads.com/briellums

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/courtshipofthemonsters/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/briellums

JESTER Buy Links:

Direct from publisher (CamCat): https://camcatbooks.com/Books/J/Jester

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Ip4smU

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/jester-brielle-d-porter/1140546918

IndieBound: https://www.indiebound.org/book/9780744305586

BookShop: https://bookshop.org/books/jester-9780744305586/9780744305586

GIVEAWAY

The author will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner.