So what’s it about?
Annie had it all. A smart, beautiful fencing superstar, she adored fantasy books and never lost a swordfight. But when her mom dies in a tragic car accident, all of that changes, and she vows to never touch another blade again.
Now, it’s the week of her 16th birthday—another birthday without her mom. All she wants to do is forget her troubles and explore New York City on a school trip with her three best friends: Eva, Bella, and Pixie.
When sneaky Eva leads the crew into a forbidden bookstore, they find a hidden passageway to ancient artifacts that hold a dark secret from centuries past. A tarnished, old mirror and a mysterious light send Annie on a fearsome journey to an unfamiliar world where good meets evil.
With the captivating young Phoenix as her guide, Annie is forced to trust a supernatural stranger in the battle for her life. But she and this angelic protector have more in common than she knows.… Can she summon the inner strength to fight her demons, redeem both of their past mistakes, and make it back home before it’s too late?
Awe-inspiring and spine-tingling, Annie Sky Shattered in Time is a story about a love powerful enough to reach through the barriers of time and space, and things will never be the same again.
It’s a three-part series. Book 2 is in the works and will be available early or mid-summer.
Five facts about Annie Sky:
- Fantasy books help her escape from reality
- Gave up fencing when her mom died in a tragic car accident
- Finds comfort in baggy clothes
- Hates birthdays along with all the other holidays that involve love, family, and feelings
- Her favorite color is Neptune blue
“Kirkus Review”
“…The broken mirror magically transports Annie to the other side of the universe, to a spiral galaxy called the Black Eye, where she meets a mystical being named Phoenix. Phoenix and his friends, Samyaza and Gabriel, are Sons of Watchers, archangels who once rebelled against the saints and were banished to the underworld. Together, they must help Annie find a way to return home before the slower-moving time on Diadem puts her out of synch with Earth-time by embarking on an Odyssey-like gauntlet of riddles, trials, and combat.The narrative is told from a range of perspectives—mainly those of Annie and Phoenix, but also those of Gabriel, Samyaza, and Eva. Eva’s Earth-bound point of view is dropped fairly quickly, which could either be taken as a loose story thread left unresolved or as a reflection of Annie losing her grip on the world she came from. Annie’s character development in relation to her grief over her mother’s death is particularly strong. This story has a little something for everyone: romance, action, spirituality, and intellectual intrigue.” —Kirkus Review
https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/bettina-szedlak/annie-sky-shattered-in-time/
EXCERPT:
“Well, hey, where’d you come from?”
My gaze drifts toward the voice, and out of the shifting beams of light rises a young man. His eyes are the first thing that catch my attention. They shine like sulfur fire—his irises are pools of neon blue flames around Vantablack pupils. They are simply mesmerizing. The next thing I notice are his enormous wings—they droop from his shoulders, ranging from the purest white at the top to almost transparent at the tip.
Wings?
“Don’t be afraid,” the boy urges. His voice is intense, like crashing waves amid a thunderstorm.
I obediently stand to my feet, shaking. I can’t seem to make a sound, speechless at the sight of the angelic being. He’s wearing a golden breastplate over a beige tunic. Fitted trousers reveal muscular legs clad with tall, heavy-looking boots. A white seashell hangs from a leather cord tied around the boy’s neck, and from his back protrudes what seems to be a sword handle covered in white stones. The craftsmanship is unlike anything I have seen before.
Our eyes collide.
Heartbeats pound.
“I . . . um,” I mumble and clear my throat, but no words leave my lips. I’ve seen angels before in paintings and such, but nothing like what is standing in front of me. He’s tall, handsome, and appears to be about the same age as me. If I’m surely dead, this isn’t too bad of an ending.
PLAYLIST:
- Shinedown—A Symptom of Being Human
- Evanescence—My Immortal
- Creed—One Last Breath
- Keane—Somewhere Only We Know
- SYML—Where’s My Love
- Harrison Storm—Feeling You
- Rachel Platten—Stand By You
- Andy Grammer—Saved My Life
Giveaway:
I’m happy to give away a signed copy of each book (book 2 and 3 when published) in the US or international.
How to enter for a chance to win it?
Just leave a comment below, and by 10pm EST, Sunday October 22nd, 2023, I will randomly select one lucky commenter as the winner.
The winner will be contacted and will have 48hrs to respond confirming their mailing address, so if you are picked, do not delay or you will lose your chance. The signed books will be sent to the winner by the author.
Open to international!!! 😀
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Link to Amazon:
Five facts about the author:
- Born and raised in a small town in Northern Hungary
- I am on pace to visiting all the national parks in the United States
- I’m not a morning person; every day starts with a cup of coffee
- As a first-time author, I chose to self-publish
- I’m obsessed with keeping my house neat and tidy (I have five animals)
- Tiktok/Instagram/Goodreads @bettinaszedlak
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Bettina Szedlak is the author of Annie Sky Shattered in Time. Bettina was born and raised with simple, modest means in Hungary, a small country in the heart of Europe. As a young girl, her only way to experience the world was through books. Now a proud United States citizen, Bettina considers her faith and family to be most important to her.
Outside of work, she spends a majority of her time with family and playing with their goofy Doberman, German Shepherd, and three rambunctious cats.
Her perfect night is Barnes & Noble, hot coffee, and a book.
nice excerpt
This book sounds perfect for an October read! Would love ❤️ a signed copy of this intriguing book. Can’t wait to get started! Thanks for this opportunity!😊
I love my copy so much. Truly a great read! 🥰
Sounds great. Wold love to read. Thanks.
I got my copy in the mail and can’t wait to start reading. Playlist rocks.
Ordered my copy. This is my first try at ya fantasy. I’m excited to see where it goes.
This book sounds great!! I would LOVE to read it
I would love to win a copy the book sounds great
This book sounds amazing. Also, the cover looks great!
Oh my god, this book sounds like a lovely read for sure!
Found your giveaway through Goodreads! I’d love to be given the chance to read it and think you have a wonderful world to be built! Good luck with it no matter what!
I would love a copy, this sounds like a fantastic book!
Would love a signed copy
Sounds good to me!