I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the VALOR WINGS by Sam Subity Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!
About The Book:
Author: Sam Subity
Pub. Date: September 17, 2024
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Pages: 288
Find it: Goodreads, https://books2read.com/VALOR-WINGS
A thrilling WWII adventure that reimagines the evacuation of Dunkirk… with dragons!
May 10, 1940
Everyone in Iris’s small English village avoids the dragon in the woods. Everyone, that is, except for Iris. She knows Galahad would never hurt her–she’s been caring for the dragon since he lost his mother when he was a baby. When Galahad is accused of stealing military rations, Iris strikes a bargain that will spare Galahad’s life… but send him off to the war brewing in Europe. Soon after, she receives news that her brother is among the troops trapped in France by the advancing German troops. Refusing to give up hope, Iris devises a desperate plan that will either save both her brother and her best friend–or end in disaster.
Meanwhile in Belgium, Max’s school day is abruptly interrupted by some terrifying news: The Germans have invaded his country. He and his grandmother are forced to flee for their lives west toward France where they hope to find safety. But when they are separated after a German attack, Max must continue the treacherous journey on his own.
Across hundreds of miles, the stories of Iris and Max steadily converge toward an explosive conclusion that will change them both forever. Along the way, they each must find the inner strength and resolve–the valor–to do the impossible. Author Sam Subity blends history and fantasy to tell a story like no other–an exhilarating adventure about the power of friendship, hope, and courage.
EXCERPT
CHAPTER ONE
IRIS
England, May 1940
Each day Iris woke before dawn to milk the cows, feed the chick ens, and leave breakfast for the dragon. A half dozen fresh eggs— or sometimes a couple more if she thought they wouldn’t be missed— placed on a tree stump near the edge of the forest. Iris liked to save this task for last so that she could lie in the tall grass and watch. Because oh, what a thrill it was to watch!
The dark wood bordering her family’s farm would fall silent as if the whole world had frozen in hushed anticipation. Even the fog that silently crept in each night from the sea appeared to cease curling lazily through the trees.
Today was no different. Iris held her breath, not wanting to break the spell.
Everything watching. Waiting.
Something stirred in the grass nearby. As Iris turned toward the noise, a huge form loomed out of the grass and barreled into her from the other direction. Iris tumbled over and found her shoulders pinned to the ground. A pair of large golden eyes stared down at her.
The eyes of a dragon.
Iris exploded in a fit of laughter. “Galahad! Get off me, you big brute!”
The dragon snorted puffs of smoke in a harrumph of protest. Iris wrinkled her nose and waved her hand in front of her face. “Ugh, what in the world did you eat for breakfast?” The dragon made a small rumble in the back of his throat. “Fine. You’re a glorious creature of unmatched beauty and odor,” she deadpanned. “Now get off me.”
Satisfied, Galahad shifted his horse- sized bulk. Iris got to her feet and brushed herself off. The dragon curled his body around hers and gently nudged her toward the stump, gesturing with his snout at the eggs.
“Oh,” Iris said, “you want me to eat them?” She lifted her nose snootily in the air. “Well, sir, ladies prefer our eggs cooked.” Galahad spat a small fireball. The eggs instantly burst into flame. “Galahad!” she chided playfully, and hurried to put out the flames. Shaking her head, she stared down skeptically at the charred lumps. “A little too well done for my taste, I’m afraid.” Then, becoming more serious, she stepped toward the dragon. “What would you think about another flying lesson today?” Galahad started to turn his head away, but Iris gently reached out and guided his snout back so that their eyes met. “You can do it. I’m sure of it. You’re only . . . a little afraid. I know. I am too.” She suspected that Galahad’s fear largely stemmed from being orphaned at an early age and having no older dragons to teach him dragonish things. His body already bore a few bumps and bruises from his previous unsuccessful attempts at flight.
But Iris refused to give up. As Galahad had grown older, she’d observed him watching other creatures with wistful interest. Ducks flocking together. A herd of sheep grazing in quietcommunity. She sensed that he longed to be among his own kind. Which was why she continued to gently persist in their lessons. She realized she was a poor substitute for another dragon to teach him. But that was just the problem. There were no other dragons. For centuries, a herd of dragons had lived in the forest near her village. However, conflicts with humans had forced them to gradually depart for the wilds somewhere far to the north. By the time Iris had been born nearly fourteen years ago, all the dragons were gone. All except for Galahad. Iris believed that teaching him to fly was the key to his followingthe dragons one day and reuniting with his herd.
The creaking of an approaching wagon pulled her out of her thoughts.
“Galahad, quickly!” she said. By the time she turned around, the dragon had already disappeared into the forest with barely a rustle of leaves.
“Ah, there you are!”
Iris’s shoulders relaxed. It was only her older brother, Jamie. He and her father were probably the only ones who didn’t think she was crazy for befriending a dragon. Most everyone in their village had enthusiastically bid good riddance to the dragon herd. As well as blaming dragons for the occasional goat or sheep that went missing, dragons were widely considered to harbor disease, and worse, foul magic.
Iris had her doubts about the former, but she knew the latter to be utter nonsense.
The rising sun framed her brother’s strong form as he approached in a rickety hay wagon pulled by their mare, Juniper. The horse neighed warily as they drew near, scenting the dragon.
“Easy, girl,” Iris said, running a hand along the horse’s neck. “Been playing with your dragon again?” Jamie asked. He looked her over closely as if expecting to find her missing a limb. “He’s not my dragon,” Iris protested. “Galahad belongs to no one but himself. And besides, he’s perfectly harmless.” “Well, in case it’s escaped your attention, your once- little hatchling is now a beast as big as a horse. With sharp claws as long as a man’s fingers. Oh, and he breathes fire. So forgive me for—” “Your extreme pigheadedness?” Iris knew her brother adored her, but even so she felt it to be her sisterly obligation to point out his lack of reason where her safety was concerned.
Jamie cocked an eyebrow at her. “If you’re done pouting, Dad’s asked me to go down to the village to pick up a few things. Thought you might want to join me.”
Iris’s face lit up. “Oh, can I?” She scrambled onto the wagon, letting her feet dangle off the back. The village was one of her favorite places, with all its little shops and wonderful smells. It all held precious memories of her mother and the hours Iris had spent exploring its delights with her. It was almost as if her mother’s gentle spirit still wandered those cobbled streets.
Soon they were winding down a lane lined with trees blooming in the late spring. After a long gray winter, the whole world seemed to burst with hope in greens and pinks. So it felt strangely out of place when a regiment of British soldiers marched by in their plain brown uniforms.
Her heart squeezed with worry when she noticed Jamie’s head turn to watch the troops. “Remember, you promised me you’d stay to help with the farm,” she reminded him.
“I remember,” he said, nodding slowly. “It’s only, I can’t help but feel that I have a duty to help our country too.” Something in her brother’s voice made Iris’s heart pinch, but her thoughts were soon interrupted by the clack of their wagon’s wheels on the cobblestoned lanes as they entered the village. The tightly clustered shops and buildings with their shaggy thatched roofs always reminded her of squat old men sitting shoulder to shoulder. Eventually, they neared the central square and came to a stop. Iris hopped down from her perch and turned in a slow circle, trying to decide where to go first.
She felt her brother’s hand on her shoulder. “Try not to cause too much trouble this time?”
“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Oh, so you’re already forgetting what everyone called the Great Pig Parade last spring?”
“Those pigs were being treated unfairly.”
“It’s a butcher’s shop. That’s . . . kind of the way it works.” He turned and strode toward the feed store on the corner, calling over his shoulder. “Maybe try avoiding the butcher’s this time? And meet me back here in an hour?”
Iris nodded, then quickly crossed the street, already enraptured by the smells wafting toward her from the bakery. She stared into the window at the rows of warm bread and sweet rolls. The shelves weren’t even half-full. It was a sight that had become all too familiar with the war rationing.
She continued down the street, ignoring the “dragon girl” a few villagers muttered under their breath as she passed. At last Iris arrived at her favorite store: Pickwick’s Fine Books. When she stepped inside, the store’s owner, Mrs. Pickwick, turned from where she was shelving a book and smiled.
“Hello there, Miss Iris!” she said cheerfully.
“Hello, Mrs. Pickwick!” Iris replied, relieved to find a friendly face at last. She paused and breathed in the aroma of old books. The small store was stuffed practically floor to ceiling with them. Her skin tingled with excitement as she thought of the adventures waiting within their pages.
“I just happened to receive a new shipment this morning,” said the bookseller, pointing to the box she had been in the process of shelving. “You’re welcome to take a look if you like.”
“Oh, if you don’t mind?” Iris said, crossing toward the box. “Not at all. In fact, I imagine the water is nearly ready for my tea. Would you like some?”
“Yes, thank you,” Iris mumbled, already lost in studying the spines. She caught the word Dragons on one and quickly slipped it out of the pile. Opening it, she saw that it was a children’s book. Page after page was filled with illustrations of dragons soaring through the air, carrying riders on amazing quests far away. Maybe, she thought, if I showed Galahad some pictures of dragons flying—
Suddenly, a loud clanging noise broke the morning quiet. Iris jerked her head up in surprise. She recognized the sound. It was the church bell by the village square. But it shouldn’t be ringing at this time.
Something was wrong.
Racing out the bookstore’s front door, she could clearly hear another noise mingling with the gonging bell: a dragon’s scream. A flame of fear ignited in Iris’s chest.
Galahad was in trouble.
About Sam Subity:
Sam Subity loves writing stories that explore the magic and wonder of being a kid and is thrilled to share his debut novel with readers everywhere — both the young in age and the young at heart. When he’s not writing, you might find him running the trails of Northern California, where the endless, winding miles past fog and ocean inspire stories of adventure and mystery. Or he might be mowing his lawn. Because that’s what adults sometimes have to do. But in either case, he’s very likely imagining himself fighting mythical creatures or at the prow of a Viking dragon ship, feeling the wind and sea spray on his face. His greatest hope is that in reading this book, you too were in some small way transported to another place where for a little while you could exchange the ordinary for the extraordinary.
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Giveaway Details:
1 winner will receive a finished copy of VALOR WINGS, US Only.
Ends October 31st, midnight EST.
http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba21862/?
a Rafflecopter giveawayTour Schedule:
Week One:
| 9/30/2024 | Two Chicks on Books | Excerpt/IG Post |
| 10/1/2024 | Daily Waffle | Excerpt |
| 10/2/2024 | Fire and Ice Reads | Excerpt/IG Post |
| 10/3/2024 | Book Review Virginia Lee Blog | Excerpt/IG Post |
| 10/4/2024 | onemused | IG Post |
Week Two:
| 10/7/2024 | TX Girl Reads | Excerpt/IG Post |
| 10/8/2024 | Sudeshna Loves Reading | Excerpt |
| 10/9/2024 | GryffindorBookishnerd | IG Review |
| 10/10/2024 | @thepagelady | IG Review |
| 10/11/2024 | Ramblings of a Coffee Addicted Writer | Review/IG Post |
| 10/12/2024 | Edith’s Little Free Library | IG Post/TikTok Post |
Week Three:
| 10/13/2024 | @callistoscalling | IG Post |
| 10/14/2024 | @evergirl200 | IG Review |
| 10/15/2024 | @alexandriavwilliams_ | IG Review/TikTok Post |
| 10/16/2024 | celiamcmahonreads | Review/IG Post |
| 10/17/2024 | Country Mamas With Kids | Review/IG Post |
| 10/18/2024 | A Blue Box Full of Books | IG Review/LFL Drop Pic/TikTok Post |
Week Four:
| 10/21/2024 | avainbookland | IG Review |
| 10/22/2024 | Kim’s Book Reviews and Writing Aha’s | Review/IG Post |
| 10/23/2024 | Deal sharing aunt | Review/IG Post |
| 10/24/2024 | Locks, Hooks and Books | Review |
| 10/25/2024 | The Momma Spot | Review |