Andrew Q. Gordon

Today I get to host Lexi Anders, which is pretty exciting since I have a signed addition of Twin Flames, book one of Sumeria’s Sons. (Hint, if you’ve not read it or the others in the series, you’re missing out.)  So when I was given the chance to host part of her tour I was thrilled.  {Update – yep thrilled and a bit stupid as I forgot to post this on time today SMH – Sorry Lexi.}

Lexi is going to enlighten us with some background on the Sumerian Pantheon and then give you an exclusive excerpt from book five in the series, Dragon’s Eye. Read on, enter the contest, but most of all, buy the books.

Sumerian Pantheon

When Surrounded by Crimson came out, there was a question about which gods were the good guys and which were bad. That was a little hard to split up because the Sumerian gods weren’t categorized as good/bad or angels/demons until much later in history after the patriarchal views were more firmly established in the culture. What I can do is divide out and identify the gods who are villains in the series. Something else to note, the Glossary of Gods in the back of the books has been updated with the release of Dragon’s Eye. There were certain things I couldn’t add without giving away spoilers. ^_^

The first three tiers of the pantheon make up the primordial gods. Then comes the major gods and then the minor. The gods used in Sumeria’s Sons have been placed in bold. One thing to remember is that all the Gods/Goddesses procreated with many others, related and not. Some have primary consorts but that has a looser meaning that what we would think of today.

Tier One: The Creation Gods

Tiamat – Goddess of Salt Water

Abzu – God of Sweet Water

In my world, Tiamat isn’t evil. She was lied to by Kingu which started the Igigi War. Her power has diminished but she’s still a force to be reckoned with.

Tier Two: The Cosmos

Lahamu and Lahmu – meaning parent stars or constellations. Sometimes called the “Muddy Ones” because they represented the silt beds. Together they gave birth to the Mesopotamian Pantheon

Mummu – God of Knowledge, craftsman, life giving force

Nammu – Mother of Anu and Ki and Enki, Goddess of the Sea,

Tier Three – The Celestial Poles

Anshar (Ashur) – Sky Father, Skypivot, Horizon of Heaven, Whole Heaven

Kishar – Earth Mother, Earthpivot, Horizon of Earth, Whole Earth

Ashur is essentially good, he just doesn’t explain his actions.

Tier Four

Anu (An) – Son of Anshar and Kishar, God of the Sky (Heaven), Judge (His attendant and minister of state, the god Ilabrat, bit off his penis and Ilabrat became pregnant and gave birth to three gods.)

Enlil – Son of Anshar and Kishar, God of Breath and Wind

Ninlil – Consort to Enlil, Goddess of Harvest

Uras – Consort of Anu, Goddess of the Earth, Mother of Ninsun

Ninsun – Dau of Anu and Uras, “lady wild cow”, mother of Gilgamesh, tutelary of Gudea and Lagash

Enlil is not one of my favorite Gods, but I don’t paint him in a good or bad light. You decide.

Major Gods:

Ereshkigal – God of Irkalla, Queen of the Underworld

Gugalanna – The Great Bull of Heaven, Consort to Ereshkigal, Sumerian Deity known today as the constellation Taurus.

Enki (Ea) – Son of Anu and Nammu, Twin to Ereshkigal, God of Sweet Water, God of Wisdom

Shamash (Utu) – Son of Ningal and Sin, brother to Ereshkigal, God of the Sun, God of Justice, God of Truth

Ishkur (Adad) – Son of Ningal and Sin, brother to Shamash, God of Storms, Inspector of the Cosmos,

Ki (Ninhursag) – Goddess of the Mountains, Fertility Goddess, Consort of Anu, Consort of Enki

Sin (Nanna/Su’en) – Son of Enlil and Ninlil, God of the Moon

Kingu – “Unskilled Laborer”, Consort of Tiamat, I’ve never come across text that stated what he was God of.

Nergal – Son of Enlil and Ninlil, God of the Noontime Sun, God of the Summer Solstice, God of War and Pestilence, The King of Sunset, Consort to Laz,

Inanna – Goddess of Sacred Sex and Fertility, Consort of Dumuzid, Not originally from Sumer. Later she claims sisterhood with Ereshkigal.

Dumuzid – “The Fisherman”, Consort to Inanna, King of Uruk to rule 36,000 years.

Ngeshtin-ana – Sister to Dumuzid, sacrificed to the underworld with Dumuzid by Inanna, Goddess of the Heavenly Grapevine, Consort of Ningisida God of the Underworld, Dau of Enki and Ki (Ninhursag)

Enkimdu – God of Farming

Lesser Gods:

Marduk – Son of Enki and Damkina, God of Storms, Solar Calf, Later associated with water, vegetation, judgement, and magic, Consort of Sarpanit, rival of Ashur (Assur)

Uttu – Dau of Enki and Ninkurra, Goddess of Time, Weaver of the Web of Life, the Spider.

Ishara – Goddess of the Binding Oath/Promise, Goddess of Love, Goddess of Oath

Damgalnuna (Damkina) – One of Enki’s consorts, Consort to Enlil, Mother of Marduk, Goddess of Vegation, she doesn’t leave Dilmun.

Ninurta – Son of Enlil and Ki (Ninhursag), God of Hunting and War

Nisaba – Dau of Enlil and Ninlil, Goddess of Writing, Learning, and Grain

Pabilsag – Son of Enlil and Ninlil, tutelary God of Isin, Consort of the goddess Ninsun (Nininsinna)

Enbilulu – Son of Enlil and Ninlil, God of Rivers and Canals, deity of irrigation and farming

Nungal – Dau of Ereshkigal, Goddess of the Underworld, Queen of the Ekur, Holder of the Tablet of Life, Consort to Birdu.

Birdu – Consort to Nungal, God of the Underworld

Namtar – Son of Ereshkigal and Enlil, God of Death, Minister and Messenger of Anu, Ereshkigal, and Nergal

Ninazu – Son of Ereshkigal and her consort Gugalanna, generally benevolent, God of the Underworld and Healing, Consort of Ninsutu.

Ningisizida – Ninazu and Ninsutu, God of the Underworld, Lord of the Good Tree, Guardian of Anu’s Celestial Palace.

Ninsutu – Consort to Ninazu, dau of Enki and Uttu, Goddess of Vegetation.

Nabu – Marduk’s son, God of Wisdom

Ningal – Dau of Enki and Ningikuga, Consort to Sin, Goddess of the Reeds

Damu – Dau of Ninsun and Pabilsag, Goddess of Vegetation and Rebirth

Lahar – Both God and Goddess of Cattle, brother to Ashnan Goddess of Grain, both children of Enlil.

Humbaba – The Terrible, Guardian of the Cedar Forest

Uttu is a semi-neutral Goddess in the series although you can guess that she does side with Tristan, even if she can’t ‘help’ him. Ishara was invoked when Tristan accepts Blood Oaths. As for Marduk, I don’t like him. You can find out more during the tour. He has his own blog post. ^_^

A huge thank you for allowing me to be a guest on the blog today! Throughout the blog tour for Dragon’s Eye, I hope you enjoy the behind the scenes look at the gods and mythos, and how they play a part in Sumeria’s Sons. For a visual representation, please visit my Pinterest page. (https://www.pinterest.com/lexiander1/sumeria-sons-inspirations/) During the tour I discuss the Sumerian pantheon, about who and what the Gods/Goddess are, and how I use them. Make sure you stop by the other blogs to get a complete look at the Gods and Goddess the Lycan’s follow.

Also, Less Than Three Press is running a special sale on Sumeria’s Sons from September 23^rd through October 7^th (dates inclusive).

Twin Flames is $0.99.

Amazon:

LT3 Press;

25% off Songs of the Earth

Amazon:

LT3 Press:

25% off Dreams of the Forgotten

Amazon: 

LT3 Press:

25% off Surrounded by Crimson

Amazon:

LT3 Press:

Thank you for stopping by and reading!

Blurb:

In the wake of birth and betrayal, Ushna takes the God Ashur to Tristan in a last desperate bid to save Tristan’s life—and is helpless to do anything but watch as Ashur instead buries him in a grave. Though he has no desire to go on living, having now lost Brian and Tristan, Ushna has no choice. Not only do their children need him, the mysterious Simurgh has come out of hiding and forces him to continue on—for there is much to do and little time to do it, especially with treachery and danger closing in on them from every side.

Dragon’s Eye

Book Five: Sumeria’s Sons

(Series should be read in order.)

Publisher: LT3 Press – 

Cover Artist: London Burden

Release Date: October 7, 2015

Excerpts:

Chapter One

**Ushna**

The God Ashur followed behind me carrying Tristan, whose body was battered and broken. The cry of our newborn pups preceded me. Their birth was supposed to be a wondrous occasion, but through treachery and lies, that was stolen from us. Instead of enjoying the happy moment, I feared Tristan was dying.

There was so much blood. The damage to his body overwhelmed my senses. I was afraid if I didn’t keep my eyes on him, if I turned my back for a second too long, his Flame would slip away. We ran through the cursed caverns that wouldn’t allow me to touch my wolf or feel the song of the earth. Ashur’s harsh commands to hurry spurred me on faster but I had to look behind me, I had to see with my own eyes that Tristan was still with us, still fighting.

The scars… I couldn’t care less but Tristan might. I vowed I would spend the rest of my life showing him how beautiful he was to me—but first we had to get him out into the open.

I glanced back. “Hurry, Ashur.”

The corridor seemed much longer than when we’d come in. Glancing over my shoulder again to ensure Ashur followed closely, my impatience caused a snarl to rumble in my throat. Tristan’s skin was a gray-blue, stark and sickly against Ashur’s rich mahogany tone. With every passing moment, we were losing him.

“Please.” I don’t know if I begged Ashur to go faster or if it was a plea to the Gods to spare Tristan’s life.

When we entered the darkened corridor carved from the bedrock, I heard Tristan sigh. For months, he’d been teaching me how to listen to the Earth and I could practically feel her rush to him. I climbed the stairs, my foot slipping on the wet step in my hurry to get outside.

The open air had never smelled so good, filling my lungs with the scents of life. My wolf stirred, frantic for our mate. I reached to take Tristan from Ashur, but he dodged my grasp, moving off to the side. His low voice had a musical tone as he chanted in a language I didn’t recognize and next to him, a hole formed in the ground.

“What are you doing? You said all we had to do was get him outside!” Why was Ashur not singing the song for healing? I reached again to take Tristan from Ashur’s arms. Tristan was teaching me the complex chant, but Ashur was Tristan’s tutelary. He knew what to ask the Earth for and how. Why was he not begging her to save Tristan’s life? She wouldn’t say no. She’d never say no to Tristan because she adored him.

It took a moment for the haze of my frantic thoughts to subside enough to realize Ashur was talking and then another for me to process the meaning of his words. What did he mean he couldn’t restore Tristan’s health?

With rising alarm, I said, “You’ve been teaching him how to sing to the Earth. Why can’t you do that now?”

Ashur dodged me, laying Tristan in the hole atop the dark loamy soil. Something eased in me seeing Tristan in contact with the ground, although the Earth didn’t rush up to him as I’d expected. She never missed an opportunity to touch him… until now. Instead, I felt power build until my bones ached and the snakes on my chest writhed in discomfort.

Staring down, I searched for the source of the energy, sure that at any moment, whatever it was would show itself. My gaze continued to return to Tristan with his ruined eyed, his torso ravaged and gaping. Never had I seen him so vulnerable, so small, the very sight calling to the caretaker within me.

Tearing my gaze away, I confronted Ashur who was pleading with me. “I teach him the songs but She doesn’t respond to me.”

An ancient sadness shone in Ashur’s visage but I didn’t care. I had trusted him to save Tristan. Never before had I been filled with such useless rage. I didn’t understand what Ashur was saying. Who was he talking about? The Earth? He was the king’s tutelary, so why wouldn’t the Earth answer his call?

Desperation rose up and I barked, “Why the fuck not?”

“Because I took the wrong side in a war, now I’m forever separated from Her.”

What did that have to do with the here and now? What did it matter he’d lost something or someone? My Tristan was dying and all he could do was talk. Ashur’s pleading gaze held mine and I suddenly understood. I glanced back down at Tristan, lying in a bed of fresh dark soil.

A grave.

“No! You cannot mean to do this. He’s not dead!” I jumped into the hole; Tristan’s single eye stared at me with clarity, despite the state of his body. His chest rose and fell with each labored breath. There was still time. I could save him.

With the strength of the God he was, Ashur wound his arms around my waist and easily hauled me away from Tristan.

I went mad.

I fought, screamed and begged. First Brian and now Tristan. How was I to stay behind? I pleaded with Ashur to allow me to go with Tristan. We’d travelled through the Earth together before, we could do it again. I could sing to the Earth and beg for Her help.

It wasn’t too late.

Then Ashur chanted and the soil covered Tristan, taking him from my sight. I roared with fury, thrashing and clawing at Ashur’s hands. I vowed vengeance for this act of betrayal. Silently, Ashur held me as I beat and wailed upon him, trying to free myself from his steely grasp. He whispered continuously, “I am sorry but this had to be done,” in my ear. Tears of grief stained my cheeks and I hated him all the more because it didn’t have to be like this. He had no right to take Tristan from me.

Exclusive Excerpt #1

Only when I was utterly spent and left gasping for breath, my muscles weak and trembling, did Ashur release me. Collapsing onto my hands and knees, I dug my fingers into the loose dirt and sang, my voice hoarse and broken. I bid the earth to come and help Her child in need. Were we not created from Her soil? Did we not rest in Her bosom, waiting for rebirth? Did She not love Tristan above all? I thought She did. Desperately I wanted to believe that Her behavior toward Tristan meant he was special to Her.

 

I raised my voice in song, pushing everything I felt for Tristan into my request. In the end, She rose up to sooth me, but She didn’t reply to my plea. She didn’t bring Tristan back to me.

About the Author:

Lexi has always been an avid reader, and at a young age started reading (secretly) her mother’s romances (the ones she was told not to touch). She was the only teenager she knew of who would be grounded from reading. Later, with a pencil and a note book, she wrote her own stories and shared them with friends because she loved to see their reactions. A Texas transplant, Lexi now kicks her boots up in the Midwest with her Yankee husband and her eighty-pound puppies named after vacuum cleaners.

Where to find Lexi Ander:

Web site: http://www.lexiander.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lexi.ander.9

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/LexiAnder1

Blog: http://lexiander.blogspot.com/

E-mail: lexi.ander.author@gmail.com

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6521302.Lexi_Ander

Tour Dates & Stops:

24-Sep Andrew Q. Gordon, Christy Loves 2 Read

25-Sep Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Bayou Book Junkie

28-Sep Decadent Delights, Hearts on Fire, MM Good Book Reviews

29-Sep Amanda C. Stone, Jessie G. Books, The Novel Approach

30-Sep The Jena Wade

1-Oct   Louise Lyons, Lee Brazil, BFD Book Blog

2-Oct   Love Bytes, Chris McHart, TTC Books and More

5-Oct   Molly Lolly, Wake Up Your Wild Side

6-Oct   Three Books Over The Rainbow, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, GGR Review

7-Oct   Inked Rainbow Reads, Prism Book Alliance, Crystal’s Many Reviewers

Giveaway:

Click theRafflecopter link for a chance to win one of the following Prizes:

1. Prize offered: Prize offered: $20 Amazon Gift card, $20 All Romance Gift card, hard copy of Dragon’s Eye, swag (pens, bookmarks)
2. $20 All Romance Gift card, hard copy of Dragon’s Eye, swag (pens, bookmarks)
3. hard copy of Dragon’s Eye, swag (pens, bookmarks)
4. e-book copy of Dragon’s Eye
5. e-book copy of Dragon’s Eye

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