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Arcanaby Jessica Leake
Adult Historical Fantasy
Hardcover, 288 pages
November 18th 2014 by Talos
Amid the sumptuous backdrop of the London Season in 1905, headstrong Katherine Sinclair must join the ranks of debutantes vying for suitors. Unfortunately for Katherine, she cannot imagine anything more loathsome – or dangerous. Through her late mother’s enchanted journal, Katherine receives warning to keep hidden her otherworldly ability to perform Arcana, a magic fueled by the power of the sun. The machinations of the fashionably elite are a constant threat, but worse still are those who covet Katherine’s Arcana, seeking the power of her birthright. They could be hiding behind the façade of every suitor, even the darkly handsome Earl of Thornewood. With so much danger and suspicion, can she give her heart to the one who captivates her, or is he just another after her power?
Or, would you like a special personalized/autographed copy of Arcana? You can purchase one from Fiction Addiction HERE.
Guest Post!
Debuting in the Edwardian Era
One of the central events in Arcana is Katherine's debut into high society. During the Edwardian Era, this meant being summoned to the Court of King Edward and Queen Alexandra. This was basically an acknowledgment of a lady as a member of society, and once she made her debut, she was then
Parliament was in session: February-July). But what it really meant was that a young lady was now eligible for marriage--a fact Katherine resents. And just as the wedding dress makes the bride, the debutante's gown is equally iconic. There were rules, of course. The dress had to be of white silk satin or velvet, with a train no longer than 3 yards from the shoulder, a low bodice (usually trimmed in flowers), and off-the-shoulder sleeves. The debutantes also wore white feather plumes in their hair with a white veil. White gloves were worn to the elbow, and though bouquets weren't required to be carried, most di
d.Once the court photographers snapped photos of the debutante, she made her way into the corridor where one of the lords-in-waiting (just as in the photo above shows--I just love that picture) helped
She would then process down the long Throne Room until she stood before the king and queen, and from there, she would curtsy so low it was almost a kneel. Once she curtsied to the king and queen, she would curtsy to any of the other members of the royal family as she made her way out of the room. The official in attendance replaced her train upon her arm once she reached the threshold of the doorway, and her debut was complete.
As Katherine says: "So much angst for so short an event."
After
About Jessica Leake
I’m a stay-at-home mom of three beautiful children (two toddlers and a newborn, in fact, so I think you can begin to see why my blog may be a bit neglected) and author of Arcana: A Novel (Skyhorse/Talos, November 4, 2014), my debut historical fantasy with a heavy dose of romance. I have a particular obsession with blending different genres, but almost everything I write has an element of fantasy and romance. I’ve been in love with historical England ever since my first literary crush: Mr. Darcy (I can’t even count the number of times I watched Pride & Prejudice–the A&E version, of course!!) I’m represented by the fabulous Brianne Johnson of Writers House, and I live in Greenville, SC.
Before I was a writer, I worked as a psychotherapist. I spent several years working at a psychiatric hospital in Birmingham, AL, but after my husband graduated as a pharmacist, we moved back to Greenville. I claim Greenville as my hometown now since I spent most of my childhood here, and I’m a proud alumna of St. Joseph’s Catholic School and Winthrop University.
Before I was a writer, I worked as a psychotherapist. I spent several years working at a psychiatric hospital in Birmingham, AL, but after my husband graduated as a pharmacist, we moved back to Greenville. I claim Greenville as my hometown now since I spent most of my childhood here, and I’m a proud alumna of St. Joseph’s Catholic School and Winthrop University.
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This cover is just gorgeous and I loved the guest post, thanks for sharing it!
ReplyDeleteLove the cover, and think I would like to meet future love at one
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing! I thought this was a great post and I love all the pictures too!!
ReplyDelete