Check out my stop on the blog tour for Veiled Sun (Tomorrow's Edge #2) by Brett Armstrong!
by Brett Armstrong
Genre: YA Sci-fi/Dystopian
Release Date: January 21st 2020
Clean Reads
Summary:
AD 2040: Every day the world slips further into lies. Seventeen-year-old Elliott knows that better than most. Project Alexandria is rewriting history, shaping the world according to sinister goals. To stop it, Elliott must assemble the "Veiled Sun", a secret program written by his grandfather. The only people he can count on are siegers—outlaws who use their coding skills for purposes almost as nefarious as Project Alexandria. Overcoming the schemes and betrayals all around him, he's the world's best hope to save reality, if he doesn't lose hold of it himself.
Book One:
Day Moon (Tomorrow's Edge #1)
Release Date: March 2017
Summary:
In A.D. 2039, a prodigious seventeen year old, Elliott, is assigned to work on a global soft-ware initiative his deceased grandfather helped found. Project Alexandria is intended to provide the entire world secure and equal access to all accumulated human knowledge. All forms of print are destroyed in good faith, to ensure everyone has equal footing, and Elliott knows he must soon part with his final treasure: a book of Shakespeare’s complete works gifted him by his grandfather. Before it is destroyed, Elliott notices something is amiss with the book, or rather Project Alexandria. The two do not match, including an extra sonnet titled “Day Moon”. When Elliott investigates, he uncovers far more than he bargained for. There are sinister forces backing Project Alexandria who have no intention of using it for its public purpose. Elliott soon finds himself on the run from federal authorities and facing betrayals and deceit from those closest to him. Following clues left by his grandfather, with agents close at hand, Elliott desperately hopes to find a way to stop Project Alexandria. All of history past and yet to be depend on it.
About the Author
GIVEAWAY:
Veiled
Sun Excerpt
Sun Excerpt
Shaking his head, Elliott
retrieved the pistol and aimed it at the target. His finger slid over the
trigger and he tensed for the sound and recoil.
retrieved the pistol and aimed it at the target. His finger slid over the
trigger and he tensed for the sound and recoil.
“You’re doing that
wrong.”
wrong.”
Startled, Elliott fired
off his shot. It went wide and struck the cave wall, far-right of target.
Worst, he’d forgotten to cover his ears with the protectors, and a faint
ringing began in each. “Really?” he snapped. “Thanks for the insight.”
off his shot. It went wide and struck the cave wall, far-right of target.
Worst, he’d forgotten to cover his ears with the protectors, and a faint
ringing began in each. “Really?” he snapped. “Thanks for the insight.”
“Anytime.”
Glaring at John, Elliott
donned his ear and eye protections, and turned to face the target. He levelled
his gun again, but he could still feel John’s eyes on him, almost hear John
shaking his head in disapproval. Elliott squeezed the trigger. The shot
impacted closer but still way off target.
donned his ear and eye protections, and turned to face the target. He levelled
his gun again, but he could still feel John’s eyes on him, almost hear John
shaking his head in disapproval. Elliott squeezed the trigger. The shot
impacted closer but still way off target.
Slinging down the gun,
Elliott tore off his ear covers and goggles. “Ugh! Fine, what am I doing
wrong?”
Elliott tore off his ear covers and goggles. “Ugh! Fine, what am I doing
wrong?”
“Are you sure you want
help? I wouldn’t want to impose.”
help? I wouldn’t want to impose.”
Rolling his eyes, Elliott
grumbled, “Just come over here and show me how to shoot straight.”
grumbled, “Just come over here and show me how to shoot straight.”
Rubbing his hands
together, John gave them a clap that thundered off the walls of the cavern
room. “Alright, hand that over,” he instructed.
together, John gave them a clap that thundered off the walls of the cavern
room. “Alright, hand that over,” he instructed.
Elliott complied.
“Now, move over there.”
John pointed to where he had been standing in watch.
John pointed to where he had been standing in watch.
“Okay,” Elliott said,
“but how does watching you shoot actually help me do it better?”
“but how does watching you shoot actually help me do it better?”
“It doesn’t,” John
replied, ejecting the clip from the gun.
replied, ejecting the clip from the gun.
“Hey, you said—”
“I would teach you how to
use a gun. Yeah. The first rule with me is knowing why you want to use it.”
use a gun. Yeah. The first rule with me is knowing why you want to use it.”
Elliott started to reach
for the gun and clip but stopped short. He scowled up at his cousin. The bigger
man had already crossed his arms over his chest and waited with an expectant
look. Elliott might as well be trying to wrest them from a grizzly bear.
for the gun and clip but stopped short. He scowled up at his cousin. The bigger
man had already crossed his arms over his chest and waited with an expectant
look. Elliott might as well be trying to wrest them from a grizzly bear.
“This is ridiculous.”
“Is it?”
“You’re asking me why I want
a gun with federal authorities after me, being twice kidnapped, and having my
own grandfather put me in a trance to manipulate my thoughts? You know I used
to look up to you? I thought you were halfway intelligent.”
a gun with federal authorities after me, being twice kidnapped, and having my
own grandfather put me in a trance to manipulate my thoughts? You know I used
to look up to you? I thought you were halfway intelligent.”
On impulse, he added a
shove to the end of his words.
shove to the end of his words.
John didn’t budge. “You
still do look up to me,” he retorted giving Elliott’s head a playful rub. “And
I always wanted to look after you.”
still do look up to me,” he retorted giving Elliott’s head a playful rub. “And
I always wanted to look after you.”
After the demeaning
noogie, Elliott seethed. “Like when you tried to betray me to the authorities last
year? Or are you going to claim that was all in a simulation too?”
noogie, Elliott seethed. “Like when you tried to betray me to the authorities last
year? Or are you going to claim that was all in a simulation too?”
“No, that was me in all
my jerkish grandeur,” John answered. There was a hollowness about his eyes that
kept Elliott from launching any more attacks.
my jerkish grandeur,” John answered. There was a hollowness about his eyes that
kept Elliott from launching any more attacks.
John continued. “I regret
that, but some part of me was trying to protect you even then. Believe me, I
hate this. All of it. But like you said, we’ve got no choice. This is what
we’ve been given, so we can either keep going the best we can or give up. Which
will it be?”
that, but some part of me was trying to protect you even then. Believe me, I
hate this. All of it. But like you said, we’ve got no choice. This is what
we’ve been given, so we can either keep going the best we can or give up. Which
will it be?”
Almost a minute passed in
silence. Not because Elliott needed the time to decide, but because he was
trying to convince himself this wasn’t some further simulation. When he decided
it probably wasn’t, he answered, “Keep going.”
silence. Not because Elliott needed the time to decide, but because he was
trying to convince himself this wasn’t some further simulation. When he decided
it probably wasn’t, he answered, “Keep going.”
“Good. Then step one, why
do you want to use a gun?”
do you want to use a gun?”
Elliott sighed and threw
up his arms. “I don’t know, John. You seem to have that answer in mind. Why
don’t you tell me?”
up his arms. “I don’t know, John. You seem to have that answer in mind. Why
don’t you tell me?”
“I have some theories.”
“Hypotheses. You have
hypotheses till there is corroboratory empirical evidence.”
hypotheses till there is corroboratory empirical evidence.”
“And judging from that
bit of snippiness, I have some evidence,” John retorted. He gave a slight shrug
of his shoulders. “You know, you’ve always been a little self-centered. I think
that’s your problem.”
bit of snippiness, I have some evidence,” John retorted. He gave a slight shrug
of his shoulders. “You know, you’ve always been a little self-centered. I think
that’s your problem.”
Elliott hadn’t been at
ease before. After John’s words though it was like every cell was suddenly
charged by outrage. “Self-centered? You think I’m upset because I’m spoiled or
something?”
ease before. After John’s words though it was like every cell was suddenly
charged by outrage. “Self-centered? You think I’m upset because I’m spoiled or
something?”
“Not exactly,” John
replied and did a little see-saw motion with a hand. “You’re just more focused
on your own world than the bigger picture.”
replied and did a little see-saw motion with a hand. “You’re just more focused
on your own world than the bigger picture.”
Tremors were beginning in
Elliott’s clenched fists. “Of all the stupid things I’ve ever heard. Last year
weren’t you out to save your own skin? We all could have died because of you!”
Elliott’s clenched fists. “Of all the stupid things I’ve ever heard. Last year
weren’t you out to save your own skin? We all could have died because of you!”
“Hmph, we? You mean you.
It’s all been about you and your program, right?”
It’s all been about you and your program, right?”
Elliott shoved John so
hard and sudden, his cousin almost hit the dirt floor before he caught himself
on a rock wall. “Shut up! Do you think I want any of this? To be used by
everyone? The only person who truly cared was Lara and of course she’s the one
I lost.”
hard and sudden, his cousin almost hit the dirt floor before he caught himself
on a rock wall. “Shut up! Do you think I want any of this? To be used by
everyone? The only person who truly cared was Lara and of course she’s the one
I lost.”
Elliott bit his lip and
held his forearm to his mouth to stifle the anguished scream desperate to rip
free from his chest. “All I want is for this to be over. I’m sorry if after
everything that’s happened, I want something good for myself!”
held his forearm to his mouth to stifle the anguished scream desperate to rip
free from his chest. “All I want is for this to be over. I’m sorry if after
everything that’s happened, I want something good for myself!”
Buy on Amazon!
Veiled
Sun Character Descriptions
Elliott –
Prodigious seventeen-year-old protagonist who discovers Project Alexandria’s
manipulations and feels honor bound to undo its damage. He isn’t very
self-confident, but never backs down regardless.
Lara -
A prodigious eighteen-year-old art student who has stuck by Elliott from the
start. Smart, snarky, and just as willing to fight back as Elliott, she’s
exactly what Elliott needs. Fortunately for him, she seems to feel the same way
about him.
John -
Elliott’s older cousin who worked as a commercial security officer. He got
caught up in the quest against Project Alexandria early on, but wasn’t always
as committed to its downfall. His attempted betrayal put a permanent rift
between him and Lara, which means Elliott is often caught in the cross-fire
between two people he loves.
Kendra –
Co-worker and fellow advanced track university student with Elliott who has
bought in wholly to modern chic. Cruel, calculating, and all too aware of her
own beauty, she has no problems doing whatever it takes to get what she wants.
Unfortunately for Elliott, Project Alexandria’s success is high on that list.
Terrence
– Elliott’s co-worker and former best friend. An advanced track student almost
as self-serving as Kendra, though with more conscience. His betrayal and theft
of the books Elliott needed to assemble the “Veiled Sun” program was the low
point for Elliott’s attempt to overthrow Project Alexandria in Day Moon.
Agent Amar
– NSA agent and former student of Elliott’s grandfather who is assigned to
ensure Project Alexandria never falls. He seems to relish tormenting Elliott,
but beneath the cruelty is a sincerity of belief in the positives Project
Alexandria has seemingly brought to society.
Director Ohlmstadt –
Colleague of Elliott’s grandfather and early pioneer of Deep Fake, now Eastern
US Regional Director of Project Alexandria. Urbane and determined, he’s been
aptly described as, “a void of humanity.”
Kirk and Aryel
– Terrence’s uncle and aunt, who run the sieger organization MetaDonia.
Somewhere between insanity, ambition, and genuine reformists, this couple is
willing to bend and break every rule to see their organization come out on top.
And they’ve got the skills to make a go of it.
Mesina –
An ally among MetaDonia’s hardened ranks. At once kind and thoughtful, but
always with a dozen questions about what her motives and intentions are
swirling around each move she makes.
Chevy –
Former student of Elliott’s grandfather and leader of an underground sieger
group that focuses on working below the radar to meet the needs of clients, for
a price. His world is a deep gray and he doesn’t care much for anyone
questioning his decisions.
Rosalyn
– Family friend and eminent member of an elite group during the Cloud Wars.
Presumed dead but with a huge specter over the events unfolding in Veiled Sun.
Dr. Almundson
– World head of Project Alexandria. Elusive, icy, and unsettling architect of
Project Alexandria’s agenda. A psychologist who seems capable of peering into
men’s minds and tearing them down from the inside out.
Slush –
A feisty and intelligent husky that Lara adopted as her own after finding her
guarding a cave belonging to Elliott’s grandfather.
Grandpa McIntyre
– Creator of the original Project Alexandria and designer of the “Veiled Sun”
program designed to destroy its corrupted form. His guidance continues to lead
Elliott on the path to overcoming Project Alexandria, though he never shies
from leading his grandson through fiery ordeals.
Brett Armstrong has been exploring other worlds as a writer since age nine. Years later, he still writes, but now invites others along on his excursions. He’s shown readers hauntingly sorrowful historical fiction (Destitutio Quod Remissio), scary-real dystopian sci-fi (Day Moon and Veiled Sun), and dark, sweeping epic fantasy (Quest of Fire). Where he heads next is as much a discovery for him as readers. Through dark, despair, light, joy, and everything in between, the end is always meant to leave his fellow literary explorers with wonder and hope.
Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brettarmstrongwv Instagram: https://instagram.com/brettarmstrongauthor
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