Thank you, Donna, for the invitation to do a guest post. I really appreciate the opportunity to talk about The Kure and to give your readers a little insight into the origin of the book.
I’d like to start with a brief synopsis. The story takes place in 1860’s Kentucky, when John Tyler, a young man in his early twenties, discovers he has contracted a ghastly affliction affecting a most sensitive part of his body. When the village doctor offers the conventional, and potentially disfiguring, treatment as the only cure, John tenaciously convinces the doctor to reveal an alternative remedy—a forbidden ritual contained within an ancient manuscript called
the Kure.
Although initially rejecting the vile and unholy rite, John realizes, too late, that the ritual is more than a faded promise scrawled on a page of crumbling paper. And as cure quickly becomes curse, the unholy text unleashes a dark power that drives him to consider the unthinkable—a depraved and wicked act requiring the corruption of an innocent soul.
Ultimately, John must choose between his desperate need to arrest the plague that is destroying his body, and the virtue of the woman he loves, knowing the wrong decision could cost him his life.
One of my biggest challenges in writing
The Kure was to create an accurate depiction of the difficulties that befall the main characters, John and Sarah, without needless vulgarity or straying into the gratuitous.
John’s deteriorating physical condition and the narrative associated with the ritual performed by Sarah are admittedly graphic. But I also feel—and thankfully, have had it confirmed by the majority of reviews—that the grisly descriptions were essential in conveying the thoughts and actions of the characters. The raw intensity is there because the circumstances demand it. It’s there because the story won’t work without it.
For example, simply describing Sarah’s movements as she performed the heinous ritual mandated by the Kure would have provided the reader with little more than a robotic account of her actions. But revealing her thoughts, her terror, as she forced herself to comply with the shocking and depraved instructions of the profane rite is what keeps the reader turning the pages.
Here’s a brief excerpt:
Pushing through the layers of discharge, Sarah squeezed her eyes to near slits, trying to ignore the mutilated flesh resting in her hand. In spite of her resolve, the puddle of warm blood and pus gathering on her fingers was too much, and she began to gag on a rush of saliva. Afraid swallowing would set off the eruption building in her stomach, she leaned out, emptying her mouth.
She took a deep breath, then another, trying to prevent herself from vomiting. Sensing a trickle of moisture on her chin, she wiped at the warm fluid. Even in the dim light, she could see the smear of blood on the back of her hand. At first, she guessed it was from an absent brush with John’s groin. But as she dabbed at her chin, the renewed color made her realize she had been biting her lower lip, setting it to throb with her own pulse.
She felt herself trying to back away, her muscles straining against invisible bonds that were every bit as strong as the straps that would bind John to the treatment table. Yet she knew if the spells in the old book could really cure John, the release of their power would only come with complete agreement between her mind and body, without hesitation, without protest. She reminded herself that she was not a victim, nor was her predicament the result of naïve ignorance. She had chosen to do this, her conscience having become a quiet and consenting accomplice. She was paying the price willingly, resigning herself to attempt the insanely perverse act because it was
part of the price—to ensure the commitment of the donor was sincere, she reasoned.
Sarah cringed, and then wondered why she hadn’t noticed it before—the stench of rotting flesh and draining pus. She inhaled slowly, trying to avoid the nauseating effects of the tainted air.
Dropping her head, Sarah pressed her cheek against the fevered skin of John’s thigh.
I’m stronger than this. I have to get control of myself.
As the drainage migrated into her mouth, she gagged on the thick, rancid fluid, the coppery taste of blood driving her throat into convulsions.
Brief Synopsis
Forbidden by law and denounced as an abomination by the church, the Kure has been hidden for centuries…
John Tyler has never met Sarah Sheridan. But he knows he must find her, and somehow convince her that she is the key to unlocking the power of an ancient ritual that will rid his body of a rare and ravaging disease.
But as cure quickly becomes curse, John realizes the ritual is more than a faded promise scrawled on a page of crumbling paper, and he discovers, too late, that the unholy text has unleashed a dark power that is driving him to consider the unthinkable.
Ultimately, John must choose between his desperate need to arrest the plague that is destroying his body, and the virtue of the woman he loves, knowing the wrong decision could cost him his life.
Links:
Amazon:
BN:
Goodreads:
Author Bio:
Jaye Frances is the author of the new paranormal romance “The KURE”, the first novel in “The KURE” series. She is also a featured columnist for the NUSA SUN magazine. Born in the Midwest, Jaye Frances grew up surrounded by traditional values and conservative attitudes, which she quickly discarded at an early age. Readily admitting her life’s destination has been the result of an open mind and a curiosity about all things irreverent, she invites visitors to her website with the following caveat: “Be forewarned, my life has not followed the traditional path of homemaker, wife, and mother.” When not consumed by her writing, she enjoys cooking, traveling to all places tropical and “beachy” and taking pictures-lots of pictures-many of which wind up on her Facebook page. She currently lives on the central gulf coast of Florida with her husband, sharing their home with six computers, four cameras, and several hundred pairs of shoes. For more information, visit her website at
www.jayefrances.com
Review:
I have to say this book has the most unique storyline I have read in a very long time. The description was so entailed that I honestly winced as I envisioned the pain and suffering John was going through as he tried to find a Kure to heal the inflicted part of his body.
I tried to picture in my mind which Kure would be better, considering the era this book is set. which is 1865. The more I read the more I wanted to know if he was going to be healed and would he choose the one cure over the other Kure.
What grabbed me the most was John's inner battle within himself between a desperation to be healed and to do right by Sarah.
Also while, the story might seem rushed to some readers, and at first I thought briefly the same thing. But then I had time to think about it and I understood why. He was in a dire situation. There really wasn't anytime to be proper even in this era.
Warning! there are some definitely graphic parts to this book,so if you can't handle it then this book might not be for you. While I did mention I winced and made a few faces while reading this book, I did like it. So if you are looking for something unique and different and don't mind a bit of squeamish descriptive details, then give this book a try. The cliffhanger definitely has me curious to see where this story goes in the next book.
Rating:
Now on to the giveaway, Jaye Frances has generously offered a ebook copy of The Kure to one lucky person. All you have to do is comment and leave your email addy so I can contact if you should win. This giveaway is going to run from Dec 1 to Dec 8th , with the winner being announced on Dec 9th.
