Showing posts with label S.E. Smith. Show all posts
Showing posts with label S.E. Smith. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Tour of the Universe - 24 Hours in Kassis by S.E. Smith

Lords of Kassis series by S.E. Smith

24 Hours in Kassis
Time: 1 day and night
Best Time To Go: April - August

Kassis is the major planet in the galaxy and is home to many fine Kassian warriors. The second the sun comes out, you'll relish your time exploring the crystalline city of Kassis and the nonstop spectacle of crystals, evergreens, and purple water will make you struggle to continue onto the next planet on your Kassian Galaxy tour.

The palace is the starting point for many first time visitors to Kassis particularly since the Ladies have settled. There have been significant changes in Kassian culture since the prophesied warriors arrived. The common areas of the palace are now open to locals and tourists and a very popular place to visit, with many hoping to capture a glimpse of the Ladies of Kassis. Rumor has it that on occasion you can see the three Ladies climbing over the balcony so they can mingle amongst the crowds. If you hear roaring, don't panic, that will just be their husbands discovering that it's hard to keep a good woman down.

The palace, or House of Kassis, is home to the Royal family and consists of four main buildings. It is built on a hill overlooking the city below and the entrance gates to the House of Kassis is a photographers dream. Huge and elaborate, these gates are carved with the history of Kassis. Remember to look up as there are quite a few surprises on the ceilings of the buildings and overhangs.

The South House or Common House is made up of conference rooms, dining rooms, a medical wing, additional guest rooms for dignitaries, and rooms for entertaining guests. The North House is the Lead House and it belongs to Torak, the eldest son of the Leader of Kassis, and his wife, River. The East House belongs to Manota and is known as the Second House of Kassis. Manota and Star reside here. The West House belongs to Jazin and Jo and is known as the Third House of Kassis.

In the center between the houses is a large garden area with fountains and paths leading to each of the three private Houses and the Common House. It is rumored that the three Ladies practice their high wire work on the beams and wire in the garden whilst Ajaska and his grandchildren look on.

Guided tours of the palace run daily and bookings are recommended.

If you like bling with your history, then make sure you head north along the Avenue Narelle to the Statue of Ajaska, Leader of Kassis. This twenty foot high statue is made entirely of crystal and shoots out thousands of sparkles, almost as if it is alive.

Space travel is vital to the economic and cultural health of Kassis and its space port is high up on the must see places in Kassis. Pride of place in the space port is the Galaxy Quest which brought the Earthers to Kassis. The Galaxy Quest is now a museum and you can walk where the Prophesized Warriors first walked. There is even a side tour through the vents for those of an Earth size. This side tour books out very quickly so be sure to book early to avoid disappointment. It is restricted to height and width so check that you are small enough to go on the tour.

Be sure to allow plenty of time to be early for a good seat for the twice daily Prophesized Warriors show on the shuttle bay. This is quite the spectacle with actors re-enacting the great battle cry scene when Lady River claimed Torak and saved the alliance between the Kassians and Tearnats.

The Seeker, which brought the circus to Kassis, is also in the port, although it is under refurbishment at the time this guide went to press.

Afternoons and evenings will see you walking the boardwalk which borders the rippling purple River on one side and thriving markets, shops and restaurants on the other. This bustling area of Kassis is a must visit. The restaurants offer a wide variety of fresh dishes from around the galaxy including Earth. At the markets you will find organic fruit, breads, jams, clothing, and shoes. A must have is the fruity ice drink name Star's Surprise in honor of Lady Star. It packs quite a punch so steady as she goes when you try Star's Surprise lol.

If you are staying longer, then add these locations to your itinerary:
Council's Assembly
Circus campus for Cirque de Magik, the most spectacular Circus to the Stars
Karazdin, the ancient city of knowledge
Geylur Prime II


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If you want to learn more about S.E. Smith and the fascinating Lords of Kassis you can find her:


And definitely check out the Lords of Kassis series:



S.E. Smith is giving away two audio books of Hunter's Claim away to some lucky readers - or listeners.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, April 28, 2014

A Day in the Life of ... Dagger by S.E. Smith


A Day in the Life is a feature we just stared here at Bitten by Romance.  It takes a closer look into a day (or night) of a character and maybe gives us readers a glipse into a side of the character we might not have seen otherwise.  If you're an auther that would like to participate in future A Day in the Life posts, check out the post HERE.

S.E. Smith, author of Hunter's Claim - book one in The Alliance series, visits us today with a short story about Dagger, a friend to the main character, Hunter.
Dagger stared at the female lying weakly on a make-shift pallet on the hard, cold concrete floor of the underground garage. The firelight highlighted her delicate bone structure as she gazed at another female. In the dim light, he could see the bruises marring the pale skin of her right cheek. Fury churned inside him, making his eyes glow with a dark, dangerous light.

He watched as she turned to smother her cough. A sick feeling washed over him as he wondered if this was the female Hunter was searching for. He hoped not. The thought of his friend claiming her made him almost double over as another wave of emotion hit him… jealousy. The primitive need to protect and care for the female gripped him tightly in its grasp as she struggled to sit up.

Dagger glanced at Hunter to see his reaction. He almost fell to his knees in relief when his friend glanced at him with a dark frown and shook his head. He nodded in relief when Hunter raised his hand and held up two fingers before raising a third one.

There were three females. Three! Neither one of the two by the fire were the one Hunter was searching for. Dagger turned his attention back to the two by the fire. His eyes narrowed as he watched the younger girl help his female to sit up.

Mine, he thought in stunned disbelief. My female.

Dagger barely registered the softly spoken words as the two women talked. His eyes were glued to the pale face, trembling hands and fragile form as she moaned and closed her eyes in pain. It took every ounce of discipline he had to remain still. His body shook as he fought to remain in position. He couldn’t compromise the mission. He repeated that over and over as he clenched his fists.

Glazed hazel eyes blinked and a weak smile curved the female named Jordan’s lips as the younger girl held a steaming cup up to her mouth. He didn’t miss the way her hands trembled as she weakly took the nourishment. His body jerked forward in protest as her softly spoken words ripped through him.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be strong again,” Jordan whispered, dark despair making her words echo with sorrow.

She will be, he thought as he stepped into the light. I will make sure that she is.

© SE Smith LLC
Hunter's Claim is a new Science Fiction Romance series that released earlier this year.

Author Links:

Jesse Sampson and her two younger sisters have lived a hard life on the streets of Seattle,
Washington for the past several years.

Four years before, the Earth received its first visitors from space causing mass fear.

Alone in a world gone mad with just her sisters, she has learned to use the darkness and the remains of the city to survive and keep what was left of her family alive. She has seen the savage side of human nature and finds they are not much different from the aliens who conquered Earth.

The Trivators have taken control of Earth to prevent the humans from destroying it in their fear.

A world of warriors, they are sent out by the Alliance of Star Systems to seek out new worlds. Their mission is first contact. They are to establish communications with the leaders of the new worlds they find and bring them into the Alliance.

Any resistance is to be quickly subdued to prevent unnecessary death of the inhabitants of the new worlds they find. Their payment comes from the success of their mission.

Hunter is what he is called. A hunter, one of the elite clans of the Trivators who seek out those who resist. His abilities to track, capture and eliminate those who try to harm any warrior is renowned.

He finds the tables turned when he becomes the one captured by a group of ruthless humans. Hunter is shocked when a strange human female risks her life to help him escape only to disappear into the ruins of the city.

He now has a new mission, finding the female who saved his life. He is determined to find her before she is damaged by others of her kind.

What he finds is a reward beyond comprehension to a Trivator warrior, a family.

Can he convince Jesse that he can give her and her younger sisters a better life on his world? Or will fear keep her from accepting what he has to offer?