McKinney has arrived with a debut of her own:A Blade So Black.
But when her handsome mentor is poisoned, shes forced to venture deep into Wonderland to find the antidote.
EW has an exclusive preview of the book, including an excerpt and its official, gorgeous cover.
Credit: Nicole McLaughlin
Ill settle for abso-freaking-incredible, though that comes close.
When comps came in and I was both a mess and too hyped, you couldnt tell me nothing.
Excerpt from A Blade So Black, by L.L.
Imprint
McKinney
Curiouser
Alice couldnt cry.
All she could do was run.
Her boots slapped the vinyl floor.
Light flickered in the red leather.
Someone shouted her name.
A hurricane of rushing blood and her thrashing heart wailed in her ears.
She had to get out.
A feeling like a hammer beating at the inside of her skull made everything fuzzy.
It was like hitting a wall.
Then they both hit the ground.
The smell of bleach and disinfectant coated her throat.
She fought to untangle herself from him.
Dammit, kid, hold on a second!
Moms voice chased her past the lobby and through the sliding doors.
Bright red letters danced in the puddles peppering the concrete.
EMERGENCY
Grady towered over her, casting a shadow across the night.
Warm water misted her skin and hung in the air, a rain that wasnt really committed to falling.
She raced into the street.
A car swerved to avoid her, horn blaring and headlights flashing.
the driver hollered at her back.
Alice had no idea where she was going.
Past parking garages and a couple of shops.
Squat, beige buildings lined the street.
All day, he was fine.
Why did he do this?
Why did he leave me?
Her lungs kicked at her rib cage, strangled by the hollow feeling clawing at her chest.
Her legs pumped until the burn in her stomach rolled to her feet.
When they refused to carry her any farther she dropped to the ground.
Water soaked her gloves.
Dirt stained the white fabric.
Tears and snot ran down her face.
But he was gone.
Poor child, someone nearby whispered, the words dragging across their tongue in a growl.
Panting around hiccups, Alice shook her head, her face in her hands.
Oh, I cant just leave you.
Not when your fear is so .
Alice lifted her head, blinking away tears to search the emptiness around her.
She was in an alley, god knows where.
Her tears made it hard to see.
Snot and the stink of something sour made it hard to breathe.
I can take it away.
The darkness shifted with movement deeper in the alley, coming toward her.
Let me help you.
A dog stepped into what little light reached her.
Huge paws ended with long, wicked claws that clacked against the ground.
Alices eyes widened at the size of it.
Black skin, no fur, rippled as it moved.
Illuminated eyes blinked at her; one pair, then two, and three.
Lips curled in a flash of teeth the size of her fingers.
The trembling in Alices gut rippled through the rest of her.
Teeth snapped shut inches shy of her face.
Drool that smelled like rotten meat splashed across her chest and cheek.
She scrambled backward, trying to call for help, the words choked in a wail.
The roughness of the brick at her back caught her clothes and scraped her skin.
Instead of lunging, the creature collapsed and flailed, ripping at the ground.
The air quivered, steeped in shadows that seemed to recoil as a white boy stepped into view.
He gripped the end of something sticking out of the monsters back.
A sword, Alice realized.
The thunder of her heartbeat against her skull sharpened.
You will all suffer!
Pinned to the ground, the monster thrashed.
Yellow blood slid against the blade, coating the onyx metal, dripping onto the ground beneath it.
I couldnt hear you over the sound of.
The boy pulled the sword free and drove it in again with aslurch.
So did the monster.
Then it fell still.
The glow in its eyes slowly faded.
As the hilt clicked into place, light poured in from the street, saturating the alley.
She hadnt even noticed gone out.
With a weapon strapped to his back.
She didnt realize she was staring until the beasts body jolted with a loud pop, startling her.
Its leathery skin bubbled and folded, shrinking in.
A smell like old milk and mold filled the air.
She gagged, her stomach roiling.
Oh my god.There was really a dead monster.
She was going to be sick.
Blinking, he shifted to the left, then to the right as Alice watched.
He had an accent.
It took a second for Alice to realize he was speaking to her.
She nodded, her eyes darting between him and the dissolving creature.
It was nearly gone.
He tilted his head to the side and took a step forward.
Alice jerked back, fear cold in her limbs.
He lifted both hands and went still.
I just wanna confirm youre okay.
He took another, slower step.
When Alice didnt moveshe wasnt sure she couldhe took a couple more, then knelt in front of her.
She couldnt manage words.
Her thoughts tumbled over themselves as her mind tried to make sense of .
she wasnt even sure.
Talking dog-monsters, some dude with a sword, he killedwhat the hell just happened?
When she tried, sour air stuck in her throat.
His quiet voice managed to fill the alley.
The gray in his eyes shifted, colors catching and dancing like a kaleidoscope in the dark.
Chest heaving, Alice shook her head.
Blond strands from her wig clung to her face.
Her thighs stung where shed crawled across the ground.
The pounding in her head worsened, made it hard to think.
She had to get up.
She had to go.
Dad was waiting to take her to the con.
Tears blurred her vision.
Wh-who She couldnt get the rest of the words out.
She wouldnt break down like this.
Not in front of.
Hiccupping around slow breaths, she fixed the boy with a stare and pushed the question free.
I thought you might pass out on me.
He pressed a hand to his chest, Im Addison Hatta.
He offered her the other.
Bands of silver gleamed on each of his fingers.
Can I help you?
She watched those fingers for a long moment.
This is too much.
She took his hand.
Addison stood, drawing her up as well.
Her legs shook but held, though she braced her free hand against the wall.
Dirty water and God knows what else stained her gloves and her sailor fuku.
Her costume was ruined.
Shed worked so hard on it.
But that didnt matter anymore.
Swallowing thickly, she forced words over the sand in her throat.
He drew out the last syllable, trailing off with a lift of his eyebrows.
Youre welcome, Alice.
A smile stretched his face, and the colors of his pupil shifted again, brighter now.
She pointed, nearly poking him in one.
He rubbed at the back of his head.
That happens when I come to this side … of town.
This sidewhere are you from?
Not anywhere near here.
The burbling body nearby gave a loudcrack.
It was nearly gone, the ground stained black beneath it.
She aimed her finger at that mess.
Shifting to the side a few steps, she eyed Addison and his sword once more.
The same place me?
And where the hell is that?
If he danced around her questions one more time.
You wouldnt believe me if I told you.
Addison chewed at his lower lip, watching the body before looking to Alice.
He pursed his lips, nodding to himself.
But I think I will.
