Hello and a Happy Monday to all! Today, we are happy to be hosting an exclusive excerpt from The Sisters of the Crescent Empress, the second book in Leena Likitalo’s Waning Moon Duology, a historical fantasy duology based on the lives of the Romanov sisters, coming out from Tor.com in November this year. Chapter 1 Alina It’s too dark outside. The world has been broken since the shadow of a swan brought the news of Mama’s death. There’s no Crescent Empress now, and it’s the time of the month Papa looks aside. My sisters are Daughters of the Moon, just like I am, but I fear they will grow even more worried about me if I mention this aloud. Yet I must say something, anything, for the train is already slowing speed. “Merile . . .” The train rattles as though it, too, were unhappy about approaching Angefort. I cling to the thick, white curtains with both hands and force myself to face the night. Maybe I’m just imagining the wrongness. That used to happen often enough. “Why is it so dark here?” Merile balances on her knees next to me on the divan that yellows more with each day. […]