Hello! Today we have a special excerpt and giveaway for Stephanie Burgis’ Congress of Secrets, the stand-alone follow-up to her adult debut Masks and Shadows. CHAPTER ONE – 1814 “Of course, I could never go back to Vienna,” Michael Steinhüller said. It took a fine art to pitch his voice to wistful melancholy over the sound of three dozen carousing actors in Prague’s tiniest and most crowded tavern. But Michael had chosen this tavern, and this moment, carefully—and the notorious Count Cagliostro himself, the greatest trickster of all time, had taught Michael the art of successful vocal control. “You’ve been to Vienna before, then?” Michael’s drinking com-panion, Peter Riesenbeck, smiled at him from a face flushed with elation and alcohol, looking far too young to be the director of a theatrical troupe. “Did you think it the most beautiful city in the world? The tales I’ve heard—” “I was born there,” Michael said. Honesty, for once. The thought was bittersweet; he let it linger, to lend sincerity to his wistful smile. “And I can tell you, every tale you heard was true. The lilacs in spring—the Stefansdom cathedral by evening light . . .” He sighed. “You miss it, then,” […]