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Of Bravery and Bluster (Book 2 - Worlds Afire) by Scott Kelemen Book 2 of Worlds Afire After years of intense training in the star system of Havoc, five cadets are nearing graduation from the Academy which trains officers for the Alliance Navy, the force responsible for protecting humanity in a region of space far from Earth. Having survived every test the Academy has to offer, including a deadly encounter with rogue cadets that was never planned, the cadets must now embark on a new series of challenges that will have them face to face with aliens, meet high powered politicians, and tested for bravery under deadly stress. Yet as difficult as those trials might be, there are worse dangers stalking them in the dark. The agents who manipulated the rogue cadets seek a reckoning for their disrupted plans, and an old enemy is about to resurface who is not nearly as dead as everyone thinks. The Academy wants to test the mettle of these cadets. But what they are about to experience will go far beyond anything their instructors ever intended. |
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The Bitter End (Book 1 - Keys to the World) by Scott Kelemen Book 1: Keys to the World Mia d'Rein and her brother Kai lived simple, pastoral lives. In the span of one night, both terror and love swoop in and rip them away from their sleepy existence. Caught up in events a thousand years in the making, they will join the race for legendary artefacts that have the power to reshape humanity forever. Evil forces will try and seize those artefacts, forcing the siblings and their friends to embrace a dangerous reality; that they must rise beyond the tragedy and curiosity that tore them from their homes and become something more. |
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Protostar: An Automatic Apocalypse by Jesse Pohlman Lahira Ocean is the Captain of the Messenger, a cutting-edge Cruiser defending Humanity and its allies against an alien race called The Orphans. After a hectic battle at the planet Gagarin, Lahira awakens from a two-week long coma to find two strangers carefully awaiting her recovery. The first is clearly from the upper echelons of Earth's government who calls himself Herodotus Fork; the second is distantly familiar to Lahira as a woman named Amber, an ambassador from the Automatons, a 'species' of alien who are fully artificial intelligences. Neither are happy to be sitting over her hospital bed. Lahira is suspected of being involved in an unprecedented attack on an Automaton: During the Battle of Gagarin, Lahira's ship emitted a strange signal which seemed to corrupt the mind of an elder Automaton, and Amber has been assigned to levy judgment about what happened. Unfortunately for her, the chaos of the ensuing melee led to the Human receiving serious injuries: She was mentally connected to a computer system which shorted out. These injuries - along with others lurking deeper under the surface of her thoughts - have induced retrograde amnesia, meaning she cannot fully explain the events leading to her role in the brawl. |
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Strong Fort Spathi by Heather C. Wright Sinikka is returning home after a late meeting, but never makes it. Her best friend, Jordan, discovers sheâs missing. Before Jordan and his werewolf pack can begin looking for her, he finds himself host to Andrew Farkas. Andrew hopes to gain the support of Jordanâs pack in his bid to become the leader of all the American packs. When Andrewâs ward, Tyler, disappears as well, the entire situation becomes even more complicated. Will Jordan and Andrew be able to find Sinikka and Tyler? Will they be in time? |
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Eldritch Sparks: Shadows of Otherside Book 2 by Whitney Hill The deal that secured Arden Finch a measure of freedom came with strings, and now everybody wants to pull them. Arden has carved out a place for herself in Othersideâat a price. Pressure mounts as she juggles her day job as a private investigator with her new obligations, fraying relationships, and growing elemental powers. If that wasn't enough, a lich has appeared in the Triangle, sowing violence and raising zombies. Everyone wants Arden to get rid of itâ , including the gods. But the lich offers something Arden has always wanted: enough power to stand alone. All she has to do is put herself first for once...and betray everyone she cares about. Urban fantasy and paranormal fans of Kim Harrison, Faith Hunter, Seanan McGuire, and the early Anita Blake series will find a kick-ass heroine in Arden. Praise for Eldritch Sparks: Shadows of Otherside Book 2 "A compelling book of Otherside that goes from strength to strength." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review) |
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A Discovery of BDSM by Koriana Brackson Have you⊠have you ever⊠experimented with BDSM? Of all the things Kenzieâs best friend and lover could have asked her, she didnât expect that question. Yet, three years into their friendship, itâs exactly what Felicity wanted to know. A twenty-three year old Kenzie learns of Dominance and submission for the first time, and it intrigues her as much as it intrigued Felicity. Authors Note: The events of A Discovery of BDSM are set twenty-one years prior to the first book of the Bijou Basin series - Natural Exposure. Though Kenzie and Felicity, the main characters of this short story, are still best friends and occasional playmates, they are not still in a relationship with each other in Natural Exposure. Felicity is shown plenty through the first three books of the series and is quite impatiently, rudely, and effusively clamoring for her own story to be told. |
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Negative Exposure by Koriana Brackson Once in a while, when a story comes to a close, itâs not The End, but instead, a new beginning. Kenzie and Jarrett Holliday are happy with their life. They have great friends, successful businesses, and reside in a town they adore. As decades long best friends, their love canât be measured by words; its pure, deep, and unwavering, weathering any storm that crosses their path. What more could they ask for? They didnât know anything was missing from their lives until she breezed through the door like a breath of fresh air. Ripley Owens wasn't looking for anything more than a fresh start when she moved to the quaint, progressive town of Bijou Basin. She never dreamed that she would start a new relationship and certainly not that she'd be dating a married couple! This wasnât what the trio expected, but it was what they all needed. Sometimes there is no such thing as a third wheel, instead it's the triangle that provides a greater balance. Authors Note: This erotic romance features adult themes and language. Themes include: graphic sex, BDSM, Polyamory & LGBTQ+ Characters. It is set directly after the events of Natural Exposure. While it could be read on it's own, it's not meant to be, the events of book 1 directly affect this one. |
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Natural Exposure by Koriana Brackson Itâs business as usual for Kenzie in her boudoir studio. Every day, fascinating people of all genders stroll through and Kenzie has the privilege of making them shine. Sheâs photographed the gamut: sultry brides-to-be seeking a naughty gift for their spouse, the confidant trans person showing the world their true self, and triads locked in passion, each moment of their tender lovemaking on display. Kenzieâs been a part of it all, but never has a client captivated her so completely, until she steps through the door. Ripley never recuperated from the relationship that irrevocably changed her. Desperate to forget the past, she moves to the progressive town of Bijou Basin, pursuing a fresh start. While acquainting herself with her new life, she notices an advertisement for an erotic nude photographer. On a whim, she books a session, hoping the experience will help her reclaim her identity. Sparks fly for both women, but Ripley discovers thereâs more to Kenzie than meets the eye. Can Ripley accept Kenzie as she is and does she want to date someone so complicated? Can Kenzie prove sheâs worth it? Authors Note: This slow burn erotic romance features adult themes and language. Themes include: graphic sex, BDSM, Polyamory & LGBTQ+ Characters. |
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Of Daring and Devilry (Book 4 - Worlds Afire) by Scott Kelemen Book 4 of the Worlds Afire Series: For those who survived the conflict at New Liberty, the galaxy has been forever changed. Nothing had prepared them for the realities of open conflict, and most found themselves unready. Even those who displayed courage cannot ignore that the battle unveiled how centuries of peace have eroded the Navy's fighting edge. Johanna Summer and her friends try to put the pain they suffered behind them and look toward the future. Their careers are still new, and they still have much to prove. But sweeping change is not kind. It does not wait for people to be ready. Events have been put into motion that cannot be stopped. War is coming. Once again, all these young officers can do is try and survive lest they be pulled under by the violent currents swirling around them. |
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Jacob Michaels Is... The Omnibus Edition by Chase Connor Jacob Michaels...er, Robert Wagner...is tired. Hollywood has been kind. But it's also left him skinny, exhausted, unsure of who he is, whom he wants to be, and without love. A decade ago, he ran away from home to pursue fame. Unlike many before him, he actually succeeded. Now he's back in his hometown of Point Worth, Ohio, trying to make amends with his grandmother, trying to regain his health, trying to not be recognized, and trying to figure out who he really is. Maybe he'll find love along the way? However, people and things are not quite as he remembers. Then again, his memory isnât exactly reliable⊠Jacob Michaels Is⊠The Omnibus Edition contains all six books in the JMI saga, plus CARNAVAL, A Point Worth LGBTQ+ Paranormal Romance Story. From Jacobâs (er, Robâs) return to Point Worth from Hollywood to the thrilling ending with a twist, this series will keep you on the edge of your seat and guessing at what will happen next. Jacob Michaels Is⊠The Omnibus Edition includes: Jacob Michaels Is Tired Jacob Michaels Is Not Crazy Jacob Michaels Is Not Jacob Michaels Jacob Michaels Is Not Here Jacob Michaels Is Trouble CARNAVAL Jacob Michaels Is Dead |
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A Straight Line by Chase Connor & J.D. Wade Forty years ago, Harry and Vic opened the first-ever gay bar in their rural town. Facing discrimination, prejudice, and sometimes even violence, they managed to keep the bar open in the face of adversity. A Straight Line was a place where a queer person could be themselves, find community, acceptance, and frequently, the love of their life. Everyone who became a regular at A Straight Line quickly fell in love with the owners, often referring to them as âUncle Harryâ and âUncle Vic.â As the world changed around them and their bar, Harry and Vic saw their rural town expand, become more accepting, and eventually embrace A Straight Line as a part of the communityâjust as iconic as the town hall or courthouse. The two men found themselves heroes of the community, beloved and respected for helping to usher out widespread homophobia and herald a new era of acceptance in their town. If you asked any queer person in town about A Straight Line, theyâd probably tell you that it saved their life. Now, times have changed. Harry and Vic have decided itâs time to retire and to pass the bar on to new owners. But they wonât go out without one last hurrah. Invitations have been sent out to every queer person whoâs alive and attended A Straight Lineâs openingâand any queer person who has passed through its doors since and ended up on its mailing list. Harry and Vic are welcoming them all to home for one last evening of music, dancing, food, drinks, and the sharing of life-long memories. One attendee at Uncle Harryâs and Uncle Vicâs party is their twenty-something nephew, Russ, who has recently moved in with them. Heâs not sure he believes in finding true love, nor does he understand what it means to create an LGBTQ+ family. However, once the elder gays share their wisdom, and he notices a dark-haired stranger at the party, maybe Russ will change his mind? Maybe all he needs is a little queer magic? |
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It all began like something out of porn. The gay eighteen-year-old nerd who works at the grocery store after school is being bullied by the "straight" eighteen-year-old jock who also works at the grocery store. They're from different worlds and, under normal circumstances, probably never would have met. But an app notification on the jock's phone sets off an epic...love story? "Bully" is the story of two eighteen-year-old guys, one a nerd, one a jock, who have their first sexual encounter in an alleyway behind the grocery store they both work at after school. Perfect porn scenario. What happens after is everything porn is not built on - first love, rejection, coming out, secrets, sharing of the deepest desires, dreams, and aspirations. Finding the strength to be who you really are and loving the person you really are, finding acceptance for who you are, and leaning on your person through one of the messiest times in life. It's about losing your first true love, graduating high school, finishing college, starting your adult life, and reconnecting. It's about having the faith that you are enough...but hoping that you will find your person again. Bully is the story of two boys and this mess we call life. And lots of sex. |
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Fractured Magic by Emeric Rowene To Leandros Nochdvor, Egil was the greatest hero the world had ever seen. It had nothing to do with the manâs accomplishments, the past he overcame, or even the lives he saved. It was simply this: Egil taught Leandros how to live, and then he taught Leandros how to love. And then Leandros lost him. Years later, when Leandrosâ uncle the king is abducted by a strange woman wielding stranger magic, Leandros asks himself what Egil would do and gathers dangerous allies to rescue his king. On the journey, they encounter forgotten magic, old gods, and the dead returned to life. But as Leandrosâ allies add innocents to the mounting list of casualties, he begins to question who the true villains are. The foe they face at the end confirms his fears: itâs Egil, back from the dead. Against such a powerful enemy, how could Leandros win? Against the man he once loved, why would he want to? And if this noble hero stands in his way, which of them is right? |
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Christmas Rekindled by Sadira Stone Bartender River Lundqvist has a damn good reason for hating Christmas. Bangers Tavern is the perfect place to lay low over the holidaysâuntil Charlie walks in. His first encounter with the saucy server nine years ago was utter humiliation. Her reappearance stirs up powerful desires and hopes for a new start. But the timing is all wrong. Back in Tacoma to care for her estranged dad over the holidays, freelance web designer Charlie Khoury braces herself for the suckiest Christmas ever. A temporary job at Bangers Tavern gives her a chance to escape Dadâs criticism and blow off some steam. But why does the hunky bartender seem to hate her? A pretend girlfriend is just what River needs to keep his family off his backâuntil a kiss under the mistletoe flares hot enough to melt the North Pole. When greedy developers threaten Bangers Tavern, River and Charlie must team up to save it. Their sizzling chemistry feels like the real thingâbut everyone knows rebound relationships donât last. Come to Bangers Tavern for an enemies-to-lovers tale of reconciliation, found family, holiday cocktails, and the steamiest Christmas miracle ever. |
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Of Courage and Chaos (Book 3 - Worlds Afire) by Scott Kelemen Book 3 of the "Worlds Afire" Series Having survived the final trials of the Academy, Johanna and her friends begin their careers amidst the stars as Midshipmen in the Alliance Navy fleet. As they take their first steps, hidden forces continue their work to de-stabilize the very Alliance so many have fought to protect. Their plans will empower a madman, whose murderous attempt to usurp power will incite war for the first time in centuries. The Alliance Navy is summoned to stop him, and those ships will carry Johanna and the others right into the heart of the storm. |
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Thicker Than Blood (The Journey Missions Book 3) by Holly Ash Lieutenant Commander Crystal Wolf's hatred of politics has never been a secret through her spotless military career. So why is she being sent to Earth to speak at a military hearing on behalf of The Lands and Waters of Neophia Organization? When Crystal's team is tasked with convincing the US military to continue the officer exchange program that first brought Lieutenant Desiree Flint and Ensign Justin Anderson to Neophia to serve on Journeyâs first tour, the stakes are already high: if they fail their mission, Flint and Anderson wonât be able to return for the second tour. And to make matters worse, they arrive on Earth to find relations between the two planets are far worse than anyone let on. Things escalate when a terrorist group attacks a string of hospitals, demanding the US government acknowledge Neophiaâs superiority. Divided from their team in the wake of a retaliatory order that detains anyone with Neophian blood, Flint and Anderson, the only two pure humans, must find a way to complete their mission--and get the rest of their team home in one piece. |
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Models and Citizens by Andrew Sweet In the year 2185, models (or clones) do the jobs that others wonât. Failure to work is punishable by death. Ordell Bentley flees from the violence of the Human Pride Movement and discovers the death of his lover. Ordell chooses to escape rather than return to his life of forced-labor. Harper, his loverâs daughter, hides him from bounty hunters in her family home. Haunted by an unseen stalker, Ordell relies on Harper to help plan his refuge trip to Canada. The reward for Ordellâs capture steadily ticks upward⊠Can Ordell make it to freedom? Will his unlikely friendship with Harper prove to be his undoing? |
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Entanglement: A Dystopian Sci-Fi Thriller by Alina Leonova Cay thinks he may be going insane. His partner isnât herself. He can only surmise that sheâs been replaced, which is impossible. And yet⊠In a desperate attempt to discover the truth, Cay gives up his identity and flees home. Cutting out the implant that connects him to society is an unforgivable crime, but it may be the only way to find the people who can help him. His path leads him to the underworld where he meets Vietra. She wants to run from her past but canât leave it behind. Together, they get a chance to discover why the world has set out to destroy them. Will the answers they find save them, or bring their downfall? Readers call Entanglement mind-bending, exciting, and unpredictable. This cyber-punk thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final page. |
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Children of the Dead City by Noor Al-Shanti King Sharr of the Kingdom of Shining Waters was not a particularly brave man. When he heard that the Mad Sorcerer was creeping up the mountainside he fled the fortress city, practically handing it over to the Mad Sorcerer, and made his abode in Dalaiabeth: the Kingâs City. His palace lay behind high walls on one side of the great lake and Dalaiabeth lay almost defenseless on the other. Even behind the high walls of his palace the King worried. Most of all, he was afraid for his young daughter, the Lady Shila. It was the palace blacksmith that offered the King salvation from his fears. âWhy not adopt an orphan boy from the city?â he asked. âHe will grow up with the Lady Shila, learn to love her as a sister, and he will protect her when the matters of the Kingdom take you away from her.â So the King sent three trusted men to bring him a suitable boy from the city orphanage. But it was more than three men that knocked on little Dargothâs door the next day. His mother tried to protect him, but she was no match for the unit of trained soldiers that took her little boy, Dargoth from her, claiming that he was wanted to fight in the war. As Dargoth and his mother struggle to reunite, the Mad Sorcererâs relentless attacks throw their Kingdom into chaos and despair, and they find themselves up against forces and intrigues far beyond what they could have imagined. Immerse yourself in this epic story now! |
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The Sword of Kaigen (Theonite) by M.L. Wang A mother struggling to repress her violent past, A son struggling to grasp his violent future, A father blind to the danger that threatens them all. When the winds of war reach their peninsula, will the Matsuda family have the strength to defend their empire? Or will they tear each other apart before the true enemies even reach their shores? High on a mountainside at the edge of the Kaigenese Empire live the most powerful warriors in the world, superhumans capable of raising the sea and wielding blades of ice. For hundreds of years, the fighters of the Kusanagi Peninsula have held the Empireâs enemies at bay, earning their frozen spit of land the name âThe Sword of Kaigen.â Born into Kusanagiâs legendary Matsuda family, fourteen-year-old Mamoru has always known his purpose: to master his familyâs fighting techniques and defend his homeland. But when an outsider arrives and pulls back the curtain on Kaigenâs alleged age of peace, Mamoru realizes that he might not have much time to become the fighter he was bred to be. Worse, the empire he was bred to defend may stand on a foundation of lies. Misaki told herself that she left the passions of her youth behind when she married into the Matsuda house. Determined to be a good housewife and mother, she hid away her sword, along with everything from her days as a fighter in a faraway country. But with her growing son asking questions about the outside world, the threat of an impending invasion looming across the sea, and her frigid husband grating on her nerves, Misaki finds the fighter in her clawing its way back to the surface. SPFBO Winner 2019 |
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Spark City (Spark City Cycle #1) by Robert J. Power Erroh has a plan. A simple plan. Itâll never work. Young warrior, Erroh, is destined for a life of duty and tradition. By birth-right, the mysterious trials of The Cull await him. A chance to win the greatest prize Spark City can offer. However, heâd rather spend his days drinking, gambling and travelling the roads as a free man. But war is on the horizon and although he doesnât know it yet, Erroh is standing in the way of the first wave. Across great distances and against many brutal obstacles, he will be forced to call upon the warrior within to hunt down those who disturb the peace of a world he once rejected. And he wonât be alone. Spark Cityâs slow burn love story, epic sword fights and dark humour have won a devoted readership and earned comparisons to fantasy masters Joe Abercrombie, David Gemmell and Anthony Ryan. |
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Fortune's Fool (Eterean Empire #1) by Angela Boord A secret affair. A disfiguring punishment. A burning need for revenge. Kyrra dâAliente has a bad reputation and an arm made of metal. Cast out of the safe and luxurious world of silk to which she was born, played as a pawn in a game of feuding Houses, Kyrra navigates a dangerous world of mercenaries, spies, and smugglers while disguising herself as a man. War destroyed her family and the man she loved. Vengeance is within her grasp. But is she willing to pay its price? Second Place Winner in Mark Lawrence's SPFBO 5 ! One of Fantasy Book Review's Best Books of 2019! 2019 Stabby Nominee |
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Kalanon's Rising (Agents of Kalanon #1) by Darian Smith Solve the murder. Stop the war. Save the world. Sir Brannon Kesh spent years building a new life as a physician, leaving the name Bloodhawk and the war that spawned it behind. But when the King's cousin is murdered, duty calls him back. The crime scene suggests dark magic and the evidence points to the ambassador of Nilar, an alluring woman with secrets of her own, who sees Bloodhawk as little more than a war criminal. As bodies pile up and political ramifications escalate, Brannon must join forces with a vain mage, a socially awkward priest, and a corpse animating shaman to solve the murders and prevent another war. But who can he trust when the phases of a bigger plan take shape? The Risen are the greatest danger Brannon has ever faced. If he and his team cannot stop the killer then all of Kalanon - and the world - will descend into darkness. SPFBO 5 FINALIST - Winner of the SpecFicNZ Novel Competition - Sir Julius Award Winning Author |
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A Sea of Broken Glass (The Lady & The Darkness #1) by onya M. Black Secrets have a price. After enduring weeks of torture and being convicted of witchery, Ris escapes, only to discover the Darkness and the Lady are hunting her. They need the magic that sings within her. Creator of all, the imprisoned Lady needs Ris, her last vessel, to find the Heart of Creation. The Darkness seeks to corrupt the vessel and retain his hold on the Lady, and with it, the world. Ris finds help from a pair of Paladins of Light who aid her in cleansing the evil taint from the lands. As her power grows, so do her questions. How can she restore balance to the world and free the Lady? Should the Lady be trusted or is she as much at fault for the evil in the world as the Darkness? With powerful demons War, Ruin, and Plague at her heels, Ris struggles to stay alive as she tries to unravel the secrets hidden within her before it's too late. Secrets that may cost Ris her soul even if she does succeed. |
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Never Die (Mortal Techniques #1) by Rob J. Hayes Samurai, shinigami, vengeful spirits, and an impossible quest. Itami Cho has earned the name Whispering Blade. She is a Shintei warrior, sworn to the path of oaths and honour. But keeping her oaths has always been more difficult than taking them. When Flaming Fist and his bandits attack the city of Kaishi, Itami swears one last oath: she will protect the city and its people at any cost. Ein has spent his life dreaming of being a hero, and now the God of Death has given him a chance. The Reaper has set him an impossible quest: an eight-year-old boy sent to stop an immortal Emperor. Never Die is a stand alone set in the world of Mortal Techniques. Itâs a wuxia adventure filled with samurai, shinigami, heroes, and vengeful spirits. |
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Beggar's Rebellion (Resonant Saga #1) by Levi Jacobs The Councilate controls everything except the truth. I have nothing save my discoveryâbut with this shall I destroy an empire. Tai Kulga lost the rebellion and his best friend on the same day, stripping him of his will to live even as a strange power flooded his bones. When the friend returns as a spirit guide, it feels like a second chanceâbut his friend is not who he was, and the Councilate is not done oppressing his people. When trouble with lawkeepers lands Taiâs surviving friends in a prison camp, he must go underground to find the last of the rebels and convince them to break his friends free. Along the way he meets Ellumia Aygla, runaway Councilate daughter posing as an accountant to escape her family and the avarice of the capital. Curious about the link between spirit guides and magic, her insights earn her a place among the rebels, and along with Taiâs power help turn the tide against the colonialists. But as the rebels begin to repeat the Councilateâs mistakes, Tai and Ellumia must confront their own pasts and prejudices, before the brewing war turns them into the monsters they fight. |
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The Gods of Men (The Gods of Men #1) by Barbara Kloss Top 10 Finalist in Mark Lawrence's SPFBO 2018 Sable hated the gods. She hated what men did in their name. Magic is forbidden throughout the Five Provinces; those born with it are hunted and killed. Sable doesnât know her music holds power over soulsânot until, at age nine, she plays her flute before the desert court and accidentally stops her baby sisterâs heart, killing her. Horrified by what sheâs done and fearing for her life, she flees north, out of Provincial jurisdiction and into the frigid land of exiles and thieves, known as The Wilds. There, Sable lives in hiding, burdened by guilt, and survives as a healer. But now, ten years later, someoneâor somethingâis hunting her. On the run again, Sableâs best chance for survival is Jos, a lethal man from the Five Provinces, who claims to need her skills as a healer to save his dying father, and she needs the large sum of money heâs offered. Thereâs something about him Sable doesnât trust, but she doesnât have many options. A spirit of the dead is hunting her, summoned by a mysterious necromancer, and itâs getting closer. Sable soon discovers sheâs just the start of the necromancerâs plan to take over the Five Provinces, and sheâs the only one with the power to stop it. But harnessing her forbidden power means revealing it to the world, and the dangerous Provincial, Jos, sheâs beginning to fall for. Fans of Brandon Sanderson, Naomi Novik, and Victoria Schwab will love this dark and epic fantasy adventure. |
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Out of Nowhere (The Immortal Vagabond Healer #1) by Patrick LeClerc An urban fantasy, pacy, funny and compelling to the last page⊠Healer Sean Danet is immortalâa fact he has cloaked for centuries, behind army lines and now a paramedicâs uniform. Having forgotten most of his distant past, he has finally found peaceâand love. But there are some things you cannot escape, however much distance you put behind you. When Sean heals the wrong man, he uncovers a lethal enemy who holds all the cards. And this time he canât run. Itâs time to stand and fight, for himself, for his friends, for the woman he loves. Itâs time, finally, for Sean to face his pastâand choose a future. A story of love, of battleâand of facing your true self when thereâs nowhere left to hide. |
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Sworn to the Night (The Wisdom's Grave Trilogy #1) by Craig Schaefer Marie Reinhart is an NYPD detective on the trail of a serial killer. When she sleeps, though, she dreams of other lives; she dreams of being a knight, in strange wars and strange worlds. On the other side of the city, Nessa Roth is a college professor trapped in a loveless marriage, an unwilling prop in a political dynasty. She's also a fledgling witch, weaving poppets and tiny spells behind closed doors. When Marie's case draws her into Nessa's path, sparks fly. What comes next is more than a furtive whirlwind affair; it's the first pebbles of an avalanche. Nessa and Marie are the victims of a curse that has pursued them across countless lifetimes; a doom designed to trap them in a twisted living fairy tale, with their romance fated to end in misery and death. They aren't going out without a fight. As they race to uncover the truth, forces are in motion across the country. In Las Vegas, a professional thief is sent on a deadly heist. In a Detroit back alley, witches gather under the guidance of a mysterious woman in red. Just outside New York, an abandoned zoo becomes the hunting-ground for servants of a savage and alien king. The occult underground is taking sides and forming lines of battle. Time is running out, and Nessa and Marie have one chance to save themselves, break the curse, and demand justice. This time, they're writing their own ending. |
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Aching God (Iconoclasts #1) by Mike Shel SPFBO Finalist Indie Recs Indie âCloser, mortal. You are here, finally, to feed the Aching GodâŠâ The days of adventure are passed for Auric Manteo. Retired to the countryside with his scars and riches, he no longer delves into forbidden ruins seeking dark wisdom and treasure. That is, until old nightmares begin plaguing his sleep, heralding an urgent summons back to that old life. To save his only daughter, Auric must return to the place of his greatest trauma: the haunted Barrowlands. With only a few inexperienced companions and an old soldier, he must confront the dangers of the ancient and wicked Djao civilization. Auric has survived fell beasts, insidious traps, and deadly hazards before. But can he contend with the malice of a bloodthirsty living god? First book in the Iconoclasts trilogy, Aching God is the debut novel of RPG adventure designer Mike Shel. He is working on book 2, Sin Eater. The first two chapters of Sin Eater are included at the end of Aching God. |
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We Ride the Storm (The Reborn Empire #1) by Devin Madson War built the Kisian Empire and war will tear it down. And as an empire falls, three warriors rise. Caught in a foreign war, Captain Rah eâTorin and his exiled warriors will have to fight or die. Their honour code is all they have left until orders from within stress them to breaking point, and the very bonds that hold them together will be ripped apart. Cassandra wants the voice in her head to go away. Willing to do anything for peace, the ageing whore takes an assassination contract that promises answers, only the true price may be everyone and everything she knows. A prisoner in her own castle, Princess Miko doesnât dream of freedom but of the power to fight for her empire. As the daughter of a traitor the path to redemption could as easily tear it, and her family, asunder. As an empire dies they will have to ride the storm or drown in its blood. |
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Symphony of the Wind (The Raincatcher's Ballad #1) by Steven McKinnon A bounty hunter with a death wish. A girl with fearsome powers. A kingdom on the brink of destruction. Serena dreams of leaving her harsh desert home behind in her very own airship. But when an assassinâs knife meant for Serena kills her friend instead, the rebellious orphan ventures into the corrupt heart of Dalthea to discover who put a price on her head. With each new turn, she edges closer to uncovering the awful truth⊠And the mystical powers brewing deep within her. After his fiancĂ©eâs death, soldier-turned-bounty hunter Tyson Gallows is eager to sacrifice his life in the line of duty. When a foreign enemy assassinates a high-ranking official, he vows to bring them to justice. On the hunt for a killer, Gallows exposes a sinister plot that proves his fiancĂ©eâs death was no accident. Driven by revenge, Serena and Gallows must join forces to take down the conspiracy before the kingdom falls to ruin. Symphony of the Wind is the first book in a gritty epic fantasy trilogy. If you like hardened heroes, steampunk airships, and dark magic and monsters, then youâll love Steven McKinnonâs visceral adventure. |
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Orconomics (The Dark Profit Saga #1) by J. Zachary Pike Brimming with swords, sorcery, and wit, Orconomics: A Satire introduces Arth, a world much like our own but with more magic and fewer vowels. For the licensed wizards and warriors of Arth, slaying and looting the forces of evil is just a job. The Heroes' Guild has turned adventuring into a career, selling the rights to monstersâ hoards of treasure as investment opportunities. Corporations spend immense sums sponsoring heroes to undertake quests, betting theyâll reap the profits in plunder funds when the loot is divvied up. Questing was all business for famous Dwarven berserker Gorm Ingerson, until a botched expedition wiped out his party, disgraced his name, and reduced him to a thieving vagabond. Twenty years later, a chance encounter sees Gorm forcibly recruited by a priest of a mad goddess to undertake a quest that has a reputation for getting heroes killed. But thereâs more to Gormâs new job than an insane prophecy; powerful corporations and governments have shown an unusual interest in the job. Gorm might be able to turn a bad deal into a golden opportunity and win back the fame and fortune he lost so long ago. Promising fun, fantasy, and financial calamity, Orconomics: A Satire is the first book in The Dark Profit Saga, an economically epic trilogy. Winner of the 4th Self Published Fantasy Blog Off -- (SPFBO 2018) |
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Where Loyalties Lie (Best Laid Plans #1) by Rob J. Hayes SPFBO Finalist Indie Recs Indie SPFBO Winner Everybody knows Captain Drake Morass is only out for himself. As the fires of a dying city burn on a distant shore, Drake sees an opportunity to unite the other pirate Captains under his flag and claim a crown for himself. If he is to succeed, he will need allies and the Oracle named Keelin Stillwater, the best swordsman in the isles, as his right hand. With enemy ships sailing his waters and setting fire to his cities, and the sinister Tanner Black threatening to steal the throne before Drake even has a chance to sit upon it, Drake Morass must somehow convince the other Captains that his best interests are also theirs. Where Loyalties Lie is the first book in the Best Laid Plans duology and is set in the same world as The Ties That Bind trilogy, continuing Captain Drake Morass' story where the trilogy left off. WINNER SPFBO3 |
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The Crimson Queen (The Raveling #1) by Alec Hutson SPFBO Finalist Indie Recs Indie 2016 Ink and Insights Competition - Judges' Favorite 2017 Reader's Favorite Award for Epic Fantasy 2nd place in the 2017 SPFBO Long ago the world fell into twilight, when the great empires of old consumed each other in sorcerous cataclysms. In the south the Star Towers fell, swallowed by the sea, while the black glaciers descended upon the northern holdfasts, entombing the cities of Min-Ceruth in ice and sorcery. Then from the ancient empire of Menekar the paladins of Ama came, putting every surviving sorcerer to the sword and cleansing their taint from the land for the radiant glory of their lord. The pulse of magic slowed, fading like the heartbeat of a dying man. But after a thousand years it has begun to quicken again. In a small fishing village a boy with strange powers comes of age... A young queen rises in the west, fanning the long-smoldering embers of magic into a blaze once more... Something of great importance is stolen - or freed - from the mysterious Empire of Swords and Flowers... And the immortals who survived the ancient cataclysms bestir themselves, casting about for why the world is suddenly changing... |
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Devil's Night Dawning (Broken Stone Chronicle #1) by Damien Black As a kingdom teeters on the brink of war, two witch hunters fight to stop a warlock before he unleashes an ancient evil⊠For centuries, the Argolian Order has protected the mortal vale from the dark forces of the Other Side. Now the barrier between worlds is breaking down, and two monks must survive a civil war before they can stop the wizard responsible. When Adelko is assigned to legendary exorcist and witch hunter Horskram, he expects an adventurous life. Death by adventure isnât what he had in mind â but it seems the only outcome when they learn of a sorcerous theft that threatens the world. The thief wants to silence them â permanently. And so Horskram and Adelko flee from one danger to another as the Jarl of Thule leads a rebel army against the King of Northalde, plunging the realm into conflict. And on the Other Side, demonkind reawakens⊠The Broken Stone Chronicle is a riveting tale of war, quest, magic and horror for fans of medieval fantasy, sword and sorcery, dark fantasy and epic fantasy. Buy a copy now! Selected for the final in the 2017 SPFBO book competition |
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The Way Into Chaos (The Great Way #1) by Harry Connolly The Great Way is an epic fantasy trilogy about a supernatural invasion that destroys an empire. The city of Peradain is the heart of an empire built with steel, spears, and a monopoly on magic⊠until, in a single day, it falls, overthrown by a swarm of supernatural creatures of incredible power and ferocity. Neither soldier nor spell caster can stand against them. The empire's armies are crushed, its people scattered, its king and queen killed. Freed for the first time in generations, city-states scramble to seize neighboring territories and capture imperial spell casters. But as the creatures spread across the land, these formerly conquered peoples discover they are not prepared to face the enemy that destroyed an empire. Can the last Peradaini prince, pursued by the beasts that killed his parents, cross battle-torn lands to retrieve a spell that mightâjust mightâturn the battle against this new enemy? |
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Chaos Trims My Beard by Brett Herman A Fantasy Noir Edwayn Sattler is a half-dwarf with a beard and a dead end job. One night when serving drinks to the city's rich and famous, a fiery playboy loses control of his magic and goes on a burning rampage. After some ill-advised heroics aided by the magic that lives in Edwayn's beard, he finds himself unemployed and socially exiled. With no other job or friends to fall back to, he signs on with an inscrutable ratman sporting a badge and a fetching hat, and together they dive beard and whiskers first into a magical murder conspiracy that threatens to consume the city. Armed with sub-par wits, a dry sense of humor, and a handful of magical tricks, Edwayn encounters conflagrating cops, smooth-talking trolls, shadowy corporate enforcers, and an air-headed vixen with a fatalistic streak. When his easy-going life spirals into a thrilling, darkly hilarious tale of intrigue and deception, Edwayn will find out just how close this newfound chaos will trim his beard. |
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Pilgrimage to Skara by Jonathan Pembroke Finalist in the 2017 Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off contest! It has been nearly two decades since Pell Wendt abandoned the power and prestige of Collum. Ruled by the semi-divine Ajudicar, the city had been his home all his life, but no longer. Spurned by the woman he loved, the former pathfinder, adventurer and criminal walked away from his life of escorting promising youngsters to the shrines of power, and retreated to his farm in the Sogras, to live a life of bitter and brooding rejection. Now, House Kettiburg has reached out with a an offer he can't refuse: a pilgrimage to Skara, a mythical and dangerous shrine far out in the barbarous Outlands, for the supplicant Keilie - the daughter of the very woman who rejected him. Trapped by the love his heart cannot deny, Wendt agrees to the pilgrimage and finds himself embroiled in intrigue and betrayal, with far-reaching implications for himself, Keilie, and the tattered remains of the human race. |
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The Grey Bastards (The Lot Lands #1) by Jonathan French LIVE IN THE SADDLE. DIE ON THE HOG. Such is the creed of the half-orcs dwelling in the Lot Lands. Sworn to hardened brotherhoods known as hoofs, these former slaves patrol their unforgiving country astride massive swine bred for war. They are all that stand between the decadent heart of noble Hispartha and marauding bands of full-blood orcs. Jackal rides with the Grey Bastards, one of eight hoofs that have survived the harsh embrace of the Lots. Young, cunning and ambitious, he schemes to unseat the increasingly tyrannical founder of the Bastards, a plague-ridden warlord called the Claymaster. Supporting Jackalâs dangerous bid for leadership are Oats, a hulking mongrel with more orc than human blood, and Fetching, the only female rider in all the hoofs. When the troubling appearance of a foreign sorcerer comes upon the heels of a faceless betrayal, Jackalâs plans are thrown into turmoil. He finds himself saddled with a captive elf girl whose very presence begins to unravel his alliances. With the anarchic blood rite of the Betrayer Moon close at hand, Jackal must decide where his loyalties truly lie, and carve out his place in a world that rewards only the vicious. SPFBO 2016 Winner |
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The Path of Flames (Chronicles of the Black Gate #1) by Phil Tucker SPFBO Finalist Indie Recs Indie A war fueled by the dark powers of forbidden sorcery is about to engulf the Ascendant Empire. Agerastian heretics, armed with black fire and fueled by bitter hatred, seek to sever the ancient portals that unite the empire - and in so doing destroy it. Asho--a squire with a reviled past--sees his liege, the Lady Kyferin, and her meager forces banished to an infamous ruin. Beset by tragedy and betrayal, demons and an approaching army, the fate of the Kyferins hangs by the slenderest of threads. Asho realizes that their sole hope of survival may lie hidden within the depths of his scarred soul--a secret that could reverse their fortunes and reveal the truth behind the war that wracks their empire. Unpredictable, fast paced, and packed with unforgettable characters, The Path of Flames is the first installment in a gripping new epic fantasy series. r/Fantasy 2016 Stabby Award Finalist 2016 #SPFBO Finalist |
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Paternus: Rise of Gods (Paternus Trilogy #1) by Dyrk Ashton SPFBO Finalist Indie Recs Indie Described as American Gods meets The Avengers and Supernatural meets The Lord of the Rings, Paternus combines myths from around the world in a modern story of action and intrigue that is âurban fantasy on the surface, but so much more at its core!â Even myths have legends. And not all legends are myth. When a local hospital is attacked by strange and frightening men, Fiona Patterson and Zeke Prisco save a catatonic old man named Peterâand find themselves running for their lives with creatures beyond imagination hounding their every step. With nowhere else to turn, they seek out Fiâs enigmatic Uncle Edgar. But the more their questions are answered, the more they discover that nothing is what it seems--not Peter, not Edgar, perhaps not even themselves. The gods and monsters, heroes and villains of loreâtheyâre real. And now theyâve come out of hiding to hunt their own. In order to survive, Fi and Zeke must join up with powerful allies against an ancient evil thatâs been known by many names and feared by all. The final battle of the worldâs oldest war has begun. Paternus: Rise of Gods, is Dyrk Ashtonâs critically acclaimed debut novel and the first book in The Paternus Trilogy. It has been compared to works by Neil Gaiman, Scott Hawkins, Roger Zelazny, China MiĂ©ville, Joss Whedon, and Kevin Hearne. |
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Fionn: Defence of RĂĄth BlĂĄdhma (Fionn mac Cumhaill #1) by Brian O'Sullivan The Fionn mac Cumhaill Series - Book 1: Defence of RĂĄth BlĂĄdhma: Ireland: 192 A.D. A time of strife and treachery. Political ambition and inter-tribal conflict has set the country on edge, testing the strength of long-established alliances. Following the massacre of their enemies at the battle of Cnucha, Clann Morna are hungry for power. Elsewhere, a mysterious war party roams the forests of the âGreat Wildâ and a ruthless magician is intent on murder. In the secluded valley of Glenn Ceoch, disgraced druid Bodhmhall and the woman warrior Liath Luachra, have successfully avoided the bloodshed for many years. Now, the arrival of a pregnant refugee threatens the peace they have created together. Run or fight, the odds are overwhelming. And death stalks on every side. Based on the ancient Irish mythology and Fenian Cycle texts, the Fionn mac Cumhaill Series by Irish author Brian OâSullivan is a gritty and authentic retelling of the birth and early adventures of Irish mythology Irelandâs greatest hero, Fionn mac Cumhaill. Gripping, insightful and utterly action-packed, this is Irish mythology/ fiction as youâve never read it before. This classic Irish fantasy and historical adventure was a 2016 SPFBO Competition finalist and Irish bestseller. The book also includes the following extra content: * a glossary with explanations on ancient Irish cultural concepts * historical notes on the Fenian Cycle * a pronunciation guide and links to an online audio pronunciation guide |
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Larcout (Fire Born, Blood Blessed #1) by K.A. Krantz Blood-beings can be chattel or char. Fire seethes through the veins of every Morsam, demanding domination and destruction. Combat is a hobby. Slaughtering the inferior blood-beings is entertainment. Life is a repetitious cycle in the prison fashioned by the gods. But mix-race abomination Vadrigyn os Harlo suspects the key to freedom lies with safeguarding the blood-beings; until her blood-born mother uses foreign magic to turn the Morsam against Vadrigyn. Betrayed, bound, and broken, Vadrigyn struggles against the dying of her essential fire. Yet the ebbing flames unleash the dormant magic of her mixed heritage⊠The magic to destroy free will. Seized by the gods and dumped in the desert nation of Larcout to stop history from repeating, Vadrigyn discovers her motherâs legacy of treason and slaughter still festers. To survive the intrigues of the royal court, the roiling undercurrents of civil war, and the gods themselves, Vadrigyn must unravel the conspiracy behind her motherâs banishment. But manipulating free will unleashes a torrent of consequences. If she fails the gods, she will return to the Morsam prison, stripped of all magic and all hope. If she succeeds, she can rule a nation. Kasthu. Roborgu. Inarchma. Live. Learn. Burn. |
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Assassin's Charge (Echoes of Imara) by Claire Frank A cold-hearted assassin. A boy with a price on his head. Rhisia Sen is one of the Empireâs highest paid assassins. Living a life of luxury, she chooses her contracts carefully, working to amass enough wealth so she can leave her bloody trade. She is offered a new contract on the outskirts of civilization, and almost refusesâuntil she sees the purse. It could be the last job she ever has to take. But when she reaches the destination, she discovers her mark is a child. The contract, and her reputation, demand she kill the boyâif she can banish his innocent face from her mind. But another assassin has been sent to kill her, and a notorious bounty hunter is on her trail. She doesnât know why the boy is a target, or why her former employer wants her dead. Saving the child could be her only chance at survival. |
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The Music Box Girl by K.A. Stewart FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC, FOR THE MUSIC OF LOVE Steam and steel are king, nowhere more so than Detroit, the gleaming gem of the worldâs industrial crown. A beacon of innovation and culture, it is the birthplace of the mechanical automatons, and the home of the famed Detroit Opera House. It is where people come with their dreams, their plans, and their secrets. A young man with the voice of an angel and dreams of stardom. A globe-trotting heiress with a passion for adventure and memories of a lost childhood love. A mysterious woman with a soul made of pure music and a secret worth killing for. Beneath the glitter and sparkle, something sinister lurks at the opera, and three lives will collide with tragic consequences. |
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The Moonlight War by S.K.S. Perry Three caravans have vanished traversing the Cowcheanne Way. The legendary Tahsis platoon, warriors thought by most to be invincible, are dispatched to investigate and are never heard from again. Rumours of native uprisings and bandit armies grow wilder and more widespread every day, while the more devout whisper about the return of the Horde, a mythic foe from ages past. The truce between the warring Kael-tii and Ashai nations is put to the test when a new caravan is outfitted and they are forced to travel The Way together. As an ancient evil is unleashed upon them, a group of heroes, friend and foe alike, must band together for survival. When the true nature of their mission slowly comes to light, the growing distrust between the Kael-tii and Ashai camps threatens to tear the caravan apart. Can they set aside their differences in time to combat the menace that imperils them all, or are they doomed to join the ranks of lost souls claimed by the cursed Cowcheanne Way? |
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Outpost (The Fylking #1) by F.T. McKinstry In a war-torn realm occupied by a race of immortal warlords called the Fylking, trouble can reach cosmic proportions. Using the realm as a backwater outpost from which to fight an ancient war, the Fylking guard an interdimensional portal called the Gate. The Fylkingâs enemies, who think nothing of annihilating a world to gain even a small advantage, are bent on destroying it. After two centuries of peace, the realm is at war. A Gate warden with a tormented past discovers a warlock gathering an army that cannot die. A Kingâs Ranger is snared in a trap that pits him against the Fylking's enemies. And a knitter discovers an inborn power revered by the gods themselves. Caught in a maelstrom of murder, treachery, sorcery and war, they must rally to protect the Gate against a plot that will violate the balance of cosmos, destroy the Fylking and leave the world in ruins. The god they serve is as fickle as a crowâand known to demand a steep price for an answered prayer. Includes a map and a glossary. |
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The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble's Braids (Amra Thetys #1) by Michael McClung *Winner of the 2015 Self Published Fantasy Blog-Off, Hosted by Mark Lawrence* Amra Thetys lives by two simple rulesâtake care of business, and never let it get personal. Thieves don't last long in Lucernis otherwise. But when a fellow rogue and good friend is butchered on the street in a deal gone wrong, she turns her back on burglary and goes after something more precious than treasure: Revenge. Revenge, however, might be hard to come by. A nightmare assortment of enemies, including an immortal assassin and a mad sorcerer, believe Amra is in possession of The Blade That Whispers Hateâthe legendary, powerful artifact her friend was murdered forâand they'll do anything to take it from her. Trouble is, Amra hasn't got the least clue where the Blade might be. She needs to find the Blade, and soon, or she'll be joining her colleague in a cold grave instead of avenging his death. Time is running out for the small, scarred thief. |
