Split Paths (Fall of Emros 2) by Thomas J Devens

Paths split, sometimes to merge once more. Sometimes only to stray ever further. Friends and comrades are made, lost, and sometimes, against all odds, found again. None can predict the turns one’s life may take. None can predict the losses to come. One can only hope. A killer seeks his path to freedom. A path away from the blood that has haunted his life. A young warrior, journeys to a new world in search of glory, only to find himself forgotten. A sellsword searches for an easy job. The mercenaries of the Stone and Shield have suffered great losses, their numbers decimated, many comrades lost. The bulk of the surviving mercenaries return to their home in Frostmoor on the edge of the Norwaldian Wilderness. Eager to begin a period of rest while they winter in. Others survive, scattered across the world. Whether arriving on the distant western shores, far from the reaches of the Emrosian Empire, or in the capital of the troubled kingdom of Talres. For some of the surviving mercenaries, there will be anything but a time of rest.

Tales of Salvation and Damnation by Alan Scott

Writing Style: Dialogue and Character driven Book Type: Dark Fantasy You may like, if you enjoy the following authors: by Anne Bishop, David Gemmell, and Joe Abercrombie ‘Tales of Salvation and Damnation’ is the seventh book in dark fantasy series “The Storm Series”, and is a book of short stories set within the land of Talocants For me, one of the strengths of ‘The Storm Series’ is that it constantly changes and evolves, and the stories within “Tales of Salvation and Damnation” continue that fine tradition. As always, I’ve tried to make the stories full accessible for new readers, whilst giving long term readers answers to some of their questions.

Stories for a Storm Filled Night by Alan Scott

Writing Style: Dialogue and Character driven Book Type: Dark Fantasy You may like, if you enjoy the following authors: by Anne Bishop, David Gemmell, and Joe Abercrombie ‘Stories for a Storm Filled Night’, is the first book of short stories sent within the dark fantasy trilogy the ‘Storm Series’. It’s a standalone book, hence will be perfect for new readers to the saga. It will transport them to the land of Talocants, where they will discover, werewolves, heroes, and villains. For readers who have already read books 1 and 2 of the trilogy, it will answer a few questions they might have – What actually happened during the Chestnut murders? How did the Brethren of the Night Start? There are a total of eight short stories, all of which add additional background to characters and events within the trilogy.

A Dark and Hungry Storm by Alan Scott

Writing Style: Dialogue and Character driven Book Type: Dark Fantasy You may like, if you enjoy the following authors: by Anne Bishop, David Gemmell, and Joe Abercrombie If you have enjoyed the previous two books then, the final novel in the series will provide the ending you are looking for. Jack Rothgal desperately attempts to fulfil his destiny and become the Ultimate Spirit Warrior and regain the Twin Kingdoms for his little sister. Deep within her Palace in the city of Deep Lake Queen Rebecca Rothgal works tirelessly to protect the Twin Kingdoms against all threats; including her big brother.

scions of a storm by Alan Scott

Writing Style: Dialogue and Character driven Book Type: Dark Fantasy Themes(s): relationships, forbidden love, loss, power, prejudice and ultimately, the monster which lurks inside us all. Target audience: The open-minded reader who enjoys a more mature and gritty storylines in their fantasy books Scions of the Storm’ is the second instalment in the ‘Storm Series’ trilogy and covers the next sixteen years of this epic tale. It continues the tales of Kathleen and Jane, and their now separate journeys. Kathleen has survived her trials and is now Queen of the Twin Kingdoms. She is happily married to Karl Rothgal and has two children by him – Jack, the eldest, and Rebecca, their younger daughter. For the first time in the series, hints are revealed about the two deadly, but hidden, forces that are using the Twin Kingdoms as a pawn in their eons old game of domination. War is coming to the Twin Kingdoms, but can Kathleen and Jane work out who to trust and who the actual enemy are before it is too late?

Of Blood and Briar (Briar Soul #1) by Kaitlyn Rouhier

"Every soul has a price." After Calder’s village is brutally attacked, he seeks revenge against those responsible. Taken as a prisoner, he waits for an opportune moment to strike, and his bloody vengeance catches the eye of Amari, an assassin from a distant land. Invoking an ancient rite, she claims Calder as her apprentice, sparing his life but tethering him to an uncertain fate. Taken across the sea to the dying lands of Vermund, Calder is thrust into a world plagued by ancient beings and dark magic. It is there he finds himself caught in a conflict between the old ways in the North, and the growing threat building in the South, a struggle that could cost him everything, even his very soul.

Keeper of the Fallen by Alyssa Lauseng

"The spirits have placed a very important task in your hands." A massacre. An escape. Sonika could have been a warrior and a leader if she hadn't been ripped from her homeland as a child. As the last of the Okami, she will never stop fighting for her right to live. Stalking the shadows is the only world Kulako knows. Heart filled with hatred, death by his blade is inevitable, but who he is beneath that darkness longs for something else. When a twist of fate forces their lives to collide, their choices may be enough to hold back the merciless coils of the Giahatio. But not even the will of the Gods can stop the will of the Emperor.

Vile & Blessed by A. H. Serrano

A Cursed Existence. A Hidden Land. An Insidious Spirit. There has never been an Anmerilian born without ability. Never, until River Kennry. River has no place in a world where worth is measured by the power of one’s ability. He is an anomaly and an outcast, afflicted by an ailment no one can see or explain. Caught in the unrelenting hold of his government, he falls further into the pit of hopelessness as he wrestles with the mysteries of his past.After a fated meeting with a cryptic stranger, River realizes the only way to uncover his past is to return to the Institute—the very place that scarred and violated him. And if he goes back, it could mean forfeiting his life.But could everyone be wrong about him? Though he remains untouched by power, there is something inside him. Something alive and entangled with secrets that could upset the balance of everything his generation has ever known to be true.Welcome to a world where the secrets are as big as continents, the monsters hide in plain sight, and there is always something sinister at play. Vile & Blessed, the first book in The Vile & Blessed trilogy, is perfect for readers who love their dark fantasy with a touch of horror, plenty of mystery, and realistically imperfect characters they can grow with.

Rogue Element by Silas Keplar

Like most kobolds, Yynnc has learned his lot in life. He'll find peace where he can while being very much aware of how fragile his existence can be in a world filled with creatures and beings more powerful than he. He's happy enough to embrace the life of a Fisherman bringing food in for his warren and live in peace as long as he can. Fate, it would seem, had different plans. A group of raiders invades his home territory and kicks off a series of events that will change his life forever. He is a survivor; it is the driving motivation behind all kobolds. When his life is threatened, Yynnc reaches beyond what he ever thought he was capable of doing. On his world, the information and details of his entire life are at his fingertips. He will need to learn all he can about himself. Then, he will have to learn far more than what his local Shamans taught him about what is possible so he can carve a path for himself in the world. Yet, while the wider world might be interesting and filled with glorious promise and pleasures the likes of which he has never known, there are far, far too many dangers waiting to grind a careless kobold into the dust. But those forces didn't count on the strength behind his convictions. He must survive. It's in his blood.

A Thief's Debt by Dani Morrison

Haunted by her past, Halaema Arocele joins The Nameless for gold and a chance to carve out her own path away from the dominion’s ever tightening grasp. A half-Aelven mage, she’s found freedom in the human realm. The rebels pay well and don’t ask questions. But, when a mission goes awry, she is captured by Caeas Gorayayn a disgraced brother of the elite warriors of the Aelven Dominion: The Iron Hand. A blood debt binds her to him and what starts as a quest for retribution evolves into more as the cruel machine of war tears its way across the human realm. Old loyalties are tested, new ones are formed, and a thief’s debt may bring her a greater reward than she ever imagined.

Norylska Groans by Michael R Fletcher & Clayton W. Snyder

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Norylska Groans... with the weight of her crimes. In a city where winter reigns amid the fires of industry and war, soot and snow conspire to conceal centuries of death and deception. Norylska Groans... and the weight of a leaden sky threatens to crush her people. Katyusha Leonova, desperate to restore her family name, takes a job with Norylska's brutal police force. To support his family, Genndy Antonov finds bloody work with a local crime syndicate. Norylska Groans... with the weight of her dead. As bodies fall, the two discover a foul truth hidden beneath layers of deception and violence: Come the thaw, what was buried will be revealed.

Shadows of Ivory by T L Greylock and Bryce O'Connor

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I burned cities and drowned mountains. I pulled stars from the night sky and scorched the world with their flames. I am the Fisher King, and the grave does not bind me. An academic with a taste for adventure, Eska de Caraval has means and influence, wit and charm... and a knack for acquiring artifacts that may not be hers to claim. But when Eska comes into possession of a strange disc of rune-carved bronze, she finds herself abruptly hunted by all manner of adversaries: an assassin in the shadows, a monster in the deep, a bitter rival burning with vengeance. From sword and fang and flame Eska must defend herself, struggling all the while to unravel the mysteries of a dangerous artifact. An artifact so powerful, a dead tyrant will rise again to wield it.

Lethal Red Riding Hood by Leonard & Ann Marie Wilson

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Bloody Scarlet, the skull collector of the Crimson Forest, is just a cautionary tale to keep children from wandering in and getting lost — isn’t she? Well something’s out there. In a world dominated by a cruel Inquisition that sees demons and witches everywhere it turns, Keely just wants to make a dishonest living convincing the obscenely wealthy to part with their excess riches through guile and trickery. When the Inquisition shows up to destroy her life anyway, Keely goes on the offensive rather than scurry back into the shadows. To set it up for a fall she lures the Inquisition into an invented race to find a heretical book of prophecy that may never have existed. When Keely builds her lies on existing rumors, though, and points the hunt in the direction of the Crimson forest, a new player introduces herself to the high stakes con game as a deadly wild card. Whether or not the woman in red is the real Bloody Scarlet, the closer Keely gets to the dark, twisted heart of the forest the more quickly things spiral out of control.

Sword of the Scarred by Jeffrey Hall

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The price of becoming a legend is more than most are willing to pay. Requiem Balestone is the last of the Scarred, a group of warriors with tremendous power that when wielded leaves cruel wounds upon their skin. After a lifetime of battling monsters, he’s gathered enough scars to become a ruined version of his former self. But before he can lay down his blade, one last mission calls him to battle. A mission that pulls him into the middle of a civil war that threatens to destroy the world. And as both sides close in around him, and a mysterious evil begins to stalk the land, Requiem must decide if he’s willing to sacrifice the rest of himself to become the savior of the realm, or walk away from it for good.

To the North by Evan L. Grove

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Emily Lee wants nothing more than to live her life in peace, safe in the comfort of home with her father. But when he falls prey to dark magic, trapping him and countless others in a foreign land, she is forced to take action. Compelled only by the desire to save him, Emily travels to the northern nation of Odelia in search of a means to free her father from his terrible curse. Lehksi Olent works as a private investigator, helping those uncover the truth that is often shrouded by a world of magic and mystery. Together with her brother, Marty, she now travels the Odelian countryside in pursuit of the growing unrest taking place within the heart of a country torn asunder by unseen forces. When their paths converge, Emily and Lehksi’s lives will be forever changed. Two paths, one future. Be it for the good of all, or for a singular desire, the fate of Odelia lies within their choices. And should they prove lacking, the world of Oul might never be the same. To the North is the first novel in The Awakener Duology, an urban fantasy that explores what it means to discover the dark truths of an unforgiving land. It takes place in an alternate reality set in a pre-digital world, one that is governed by magic and corporate influence. Two young women must navigate numerous challenges in order to protect what is important to them, but in doing so they will make discoveries that may drive a wedge between them.

Hooded by A. A. Woods

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Hated. Hunted. Hooded. In a land of myths and monsters, 17-year-old Carlette is a slave. Her power of enhabitation, the ability to control animals, makes her useful to the island’s colonial rulers. Convinced she’s on the right side, she spends her life doing their bidding, awaiting the day she gets to leave it all behind and fulfill her purpose in their war across the sea. But when an escaped spy forces her to leave the safety of the road, Carlette is plunged into the wilderness with a handsome enemy by her side, rebels at her back, and only her wits to guide her. Among the giant trees of the magical forest, Carlette will begin to realize her world is much more complicated than she’s been led to believe. Will she learn to see through the lies she was raised on? Will she have the courage to choose heart over duty? And will she do it fast enough to save everyone she loves? For fans of Princess Mononoke and Six of Crows, this dark fantasy is Little Red Riding Hood as you’ve never seen it before.

Old Cold Cannibal by Todd Maternowski

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1849. Two men —professional con artists on the run— cross the dangerous deserts and plains of Texas and New Mexico, on a quest to find and slay a Dragon that has laid waste to the countryside.

The Dividing: The Adamic Trilogy Book 1 by Devin Downing

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Adamic is the language of the Gods. When spoken, it has the power to create worlds, to raise the dead, to make man as God. Fortunately, no one has spoken it in thousands of years. The only remnants are the written spells. The people of Cavernum depend on these spells. They’re etched into the city walls, fending off the feeders—deadly creatures with a thirst for human blood. They kill and consume any caught beyond the walls. Yet for the lower class, Cavernum isn’t much safer. Children starve, and illness runs rampant. In an effort to maintain order, all children turning 18 are subject to The Dividing—a city-wide competition for the highest paying guilds. Those who aren’t accepted are sent to the fields, condemned to a life of slave-labor. Princess Roselyn Malik has trained her entire life for The Dividing. She’s guaranteed a spot in the royal orchestra, but equalist rebels threaten her throne. To secure her crown, Rose must acquire the power and prestige associated with the guard. Only guardsmen have access to the amulets—powerful weapons that grant dominion over the elements. Meanwhile, in Colorado, Matt will do anything to help his terminally-ill adoptive mother. For now, that means poaching to pay the bills. Until one day, Matt is attacked by a feeder and plunged into the world of Cavernum. There too, Matt is drawn to the guard, in search of a magic strong enough to save his mother. But danger lurks beyond the walls, and Cavernum won’t be safe for long.

The Lantern-Lit City by Vista McDowall

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Ultimate evil is simple to denounce...unless that evil lives in you. Cara is a monster. Inside her dwells a creature akin to the undead prowlers that roam the kingdom. When a mysterious man kidnaps her lady, Cara ties her identity to the quest to free her. If she succeeds in the rescue, it will prove that she's not evil. But danger lurks along the way to the fabled city Riverfen. Cara’s inner beast is a benefit and a curse, saving her life and endangering her in turn. As she gives into it more and more, Cara fears what such a bonding will produce. As Cara battles her inner self, Princess Gwen hides her forbidden sorcery from the world. After being forced to flee her home by an anti-magic Inquisition, Gwen finally has the chance to pursue her enchantments. But her spellcasting provokes the very man whom Cara pursues. Each woman’s power could free her...or doom the lantern-lit city. This epic fantasy by Vista McDowall is for those who love courtly intrigue balanced by violence, complex magic systems, a lush new world, and diverse characters.

Red in Tooth and Claw by Ryan Howse

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A brutal wilderness. Hungry, plague-ridden animals. A winter so cold it snaps wood. Chemosh, a scout imprisoned by the enemy, agrees to lead the way through this wilderness for his freedom. But both his knowledge and his resilience are put to the test, not just by the wilderness, but by the chaotic, violent man he guides. A man he must rely on if they are to survive.

Downfall by G.A. Everett

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A kingdom attacked. A princess on the run. A battle for survival. In Deepwater, Princess Tempest believes her impending marriage to be the worst of her troubles; but when an attack is made on the king, starting a battle for control between the nations of Nyazere, she must flee the only home she has ever known and form new alliances if she is to survive. But beyond the walls of her city lies a dangerous road, where blades and coin matter more than legacy and titles. Downfall is the first book in the Queen of the Unworthy series, featuring an engaging sword and sorcery fantasy world, filled with battles, backstabbing and morally ambiguous characters aplenty. If you like fast-paced adventure and thrilling fantasy, then you’ll love the first book in G.A. Everett’s page-turning series. Pick up Downfall to discover this thrilling new series today!

Dreams of the Dying by Nicolas Lietzau

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If your mind is the enemy, where do you run? #1 Bestseller in German Literature (07/2020, 10/2020, 12/2020) Years after a harrowing war experience, ex-mercenary Jespar Dal'Varek has taken to drifting. It's a lonely existence, but barring the occasional bout of melancholia, he has found the closest thing to peace a man like him deserves. Life is "all right." Or so he believes. Hoping to turn the page, Jespar accepts a mysterious invitation into the beautiful but dangerous archipelago of Kilay-and everything changes. Plagued by boiling social tensions and terrorism, the tropical empire is edging ever closer to civil war. Kilay's merchant king is the only person able to prevent this catastrophe, but he has fallen into a preternatural coma-and it's Jespar's task to figure out what or who caused it. As the investigation takes him across the archipelago and into the king's nightmares, unexpected events not only tie Jespar's own life to the mystery but also unearth inner demons he believed to be exorcised long ago. Battling old trauma while fighting for his life, his sanity, and the fate of Kilay, the line between dream and reality blurs until only one question remains: If your mind is the enemy, where do you run? Described as "Inception in a Polynesian fantasy setting," Dreams of the Dying is a slow-burning, haunting blend of fantasy, mystery, and psychological horror, that explores mental illness, morality, and the dark corners of our minds. CW: Profanity, Violence, Sex, Death, Suicide, Rape, Substance Abuse

Burning Promise by Thiago d'Evecque

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"Those who seek the Abyss are doomed to find it." Alicia is a country girl with a simple life. Her only dreams are to spend her life besides her fiancé and work the fields. Dreams that are shattered when mercenaries attack her village and leave a trail of smoke, ashes, and blood. Something awakes inside Alicia. A thirst for vengeance dominates her and demands to be quenched with death. In a path paved by hatred, Alicia will face saurians — massive lizards and birds that plague the North — advanced golems, corrupt soldiers, and a conspiracy involving angels, necromancers, and the blood magic forbidden in the kingdom. But her greatest struggle will be to keep her own humanity as she dives into the Abyss.

Bloodlines by K.R. Gangi

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Welcome to Navaleth, a young kingdom built on a graveyard of secrets, ruled by a monarchy descended from the gods, and run by a society recovering from a bloody, ruthless war against an ancient enemy. Now meet Quiver, whose internal struggles pull him further away from his people's traditions, drawing him closer to becoming an outsider. And Sarah, a bright, beautiful young woman, travels the world for her father's business until her world takes a turn for the worse. Then there is Trevor, who has never left his home of Robins-Port, a trading village that shuns him for things beyond his control. Francis, second only to the king, herald of the church, is a charismatic visionary who has a knack for uncovering ancient secrets. And finally, Alric, a war veteran, who struggles to find a peaceful future, unable to escape his violent past. Witness the beginning of the end as an ancient prophecy begins to unwind, directing our characters toward a dark future that they will inevitably share … until the very end.

Lamp of Light by Alex H. Singh

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Only the light will prove her Innocence... Pierre Lachance, King of Tibethia, has been murdered and all eyes are on his wife Esther Anna, who knows who the real culprit is. Before she can speak the truth, however, she is ordered to be executed by the King’s daughter Noelle, the fairest woman in all the kingdoms. Now Esther Anna is on the run, and on her trail is a wendigo named Damian who has been resurrected from the depths of the black abyss by Noelle to stop Esther at any cost. Esther Anna finds help along the way in form of a fairy Prince named Phillip, who tells her of an artifact that can prove her innocence called “The Lamp of Light,” but it is rumored to be on an island protected by a horrifying sea creature. With time running out and Damien on her trail, will she be able to get to the Lamp of Light to prove who the real murderer is?

The Vanguards of Scion by Michael E. Thom

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Power corrupts absolutely. The Vanguards of Scion is a dark epic fantasy story about five characters who are given great powers by dark beings from another dimension. We follow the five as they move through the East Realm and soon discover their powers have unimaginably horrid costs and the stakes keep stacking against them as the world they once knew begins to change forever because of their own mistakes. THE MOST POWERFUL MAGE IN THE UNIVERSE CREATES SCION, A POCKET DIMENSION FOR HARVESTING THE MOST POWERFUL MAGIC IN THE UNIVERSE, BUT IT IS DYING. THE KING OF SCION SETS HIS SIGHTS ON A NEW WORLD TO RESIDE, BUT HE MUST FIND FOLLOWERS TO WEAKEN ITS KINGDOMS FOR HIS INVASION A failed knight, a petite foul-mouthed assassin, an outcast witch, an alchemist who seeks validation & a huntress desperate to save her dying sister. All are met with a proposition to change their lives forever but at what cost? The five begin on separate paths across the world but their fates collide as some are visited by the King of Scion and given unworldly powers in exchange for servitude as vanguards to usher in his invasion. Some soon discover that great power is not worth the price of the bloodshed it bestows, but others embrace it straight into villainy.

Mask of Guilt by JMD Reid

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We all wear masks. Some do so to hide from their own guilt. Lady Foonauri's life of indulgence and chasing wealth has left the young noblewoman empty inside. She wears a mask of happiness while she is consumed by guilt for the two men she loved... And destroyed. One man sees her as more than a beautiful ornament. He sees a woman who can change the world. He offers her a new mask to wear and the chance to do something meaningful with her life: Steal a dangerous artifact before it falls into the wrong hands. Can she shed her mask of guilt and find purpose in her life? Will the life as a thief bring her peace? Or is she entering a world that will swallow her whole?

Bound and Broken (Melas Book 1) by V.A. Lewis

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Killed and born again to a fantasy world, Melas finds herself as the daughter of a dangerous criminal. Her mother is a spellcaster, her magic banned throughout the continents of Soli and Vitae. They will be hunted by the Church, shunned by their peers, having to fight both people and monsters to survive. When faced with inquisitors, slavers, terrorists, and more, Melas will have no choice but to overcome them to seize her own destiny, or fail and run from it all. Thus begins the tragedy of a girl from Earth, murdered unfairly and cast into an even more unfair world. For while cursed into this terrible fate, one small blessing will aid her throughout her story, and it's the wish granted to her before her rebirth: Make me the most powerful spellcaster in the entire world.

Stone & Shield (Fall of Emros 1) by Thomas J Devens

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A new vain Emperor sits on the throne. Dreaming of glory and conquest. A stirring in the west as power shifts. And a band of mercenaries known as the Stone & Shield make way to return to the imperial capital. A great gritty grimdark adventure. For thirty years Diirg has done the bloody work and the years have taken their toll. But when in the trade of death, one’s past is never far behind. It’s a long journey to Emros City, and enemies new and old stalk the trails.

Heavenward by Olga Gibbs

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When angels initiate a war, humans on Apkallu die. Deprived of human worshipping, angels resort to burning human souls to sustain themselves, when the ancient Qal of an assassinated archangel wakes up on Earth inside a human, disturbing the precarious peace. Holding the key to all three realms, the allegiance of this archangel will mean eternal dominance in a game on a global scale. Thrown into a battle of courts, tangled in a web of intrigues and palatial games, naïve Ariel is surrounded by powerful factions, chasing their own agendas. There's no one she can trust; everyone stands to gain something from her death. In the "CELESTIAL CREATURES" series you will find immersive world-building, Sumerian language and religion, new and re-imagined Christian mythology, new blood-thirsty creatures, plenty of sword fighting, the final grand battle and high-octane adventure throughout.

Ghosts of the Nightmare Gods by Rebecca Mickley

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All Skye Worthington wanted was a job; a way to make ends meet, keep the lights on, and her stomach fed. The fates had other plans. A wrong turn, and a sputtering engine herald her entrance to an ancient truth… Little does she know it, but hidden within her mundane world lurks a world of light, magic and nightmare. An ancient evil begins to awake, and she may be one of the few that can stop it. But first… a few changes are in order.

Kings and Daemons by Marcus Lee

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‘What the gods give with one hand, they take away with the other, for if you are gifted, you shall also be cursed.’ ----- In the Ember Kingdom, a dying land riven by famine and disease, Daleth the evil Witch-King plots his conquest of the neighbouring Freestates. Gifted with eternal youth, his vampiric power is responsible for the decay that afflicts his realm, and now other kingdoms must fall to quench his never-ending thirst for life. However, on the cusp of the invasion, Maya, a peasant huntress, is arrested, Daleth’s soldiers kill an old farmer’s wife, and a young outcast is reluctantly enlisted into the Witch-King’s army. Three seemingly innocuous events that nonetheless have the potential to alter the destiny of generations to come. For Maya is gifted with the ability to heal and can influence the hearts and minds of men if she but finds the strength to do so. The young recruit carries a gift of reading thoughts and has no love for the king he serves. As for the vengeful farmer … he’s an ancient warrior gifted in reaping souls who now seeks to fulfil a long-forgotten oath against unbeatable odds. The world will soon be soaked by the blood of war, but with these three individuals’ lives inescapably entwined, the faint light of hope begins to shine. Alliances will have to be forged, enemies convinced to become friends, and a flicker of love given a chance to become a flame for there to be a chance to fight the encroaching darkness of the Witch-King's evil. ----- The Gifted and the Cursed. A dark fantasy trilogy set in a dystopian land, with heroes that are at times more demonic than the evil they face. The bloody battles, quests for revenge and fights for survival are artfully balanced with a light romance, tales of redemption, and the breath-taking beauty of Maya’s gift.

We Men of Ash and Shadows by HL Tinsley

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‘We Men of Ash and Shadow’ is the first book in the Vanguard Series and follows the journey of protagonist, John Vanguard, through the dark and corrupt city of D’Orsee. A Grimdark gas lamp novel, ‘We Men of Ash and Shadow’ explores themes of redemption, loyalty, and betrayal against the backdrop of a world where survival often means compromising your values. Amidst the gas lamp shadows former soldier-turned-mercenary John Vanguard hunts criminals at the behest of his corrupt employer, Captain Felix Sanquain. Shamed by his deserter past and seeking to make amends for his many misdeeds, a chance encounter with Tarryn Leersac – a skilled young would-be-assassin fallen from the graces of high society – leads Vanguard to become an unlikely mentor. Charged with hunting down the killer of two guards left washed up on the banks of the canal, the further Vanguard delves into the underbelly of the city the more he finds himself entangled in a web of secrets and lies. A prominent aristocrat is missing. Crime lords, con men and harlots run amok and the city teeters on the brink of another revolution. With his already precarious reputation hanging by a thread, Vanguard must piece together how and why the last war came to pass, find a way to earn redemption for his mistakes and come to terms with the past in a city where few survive, and even fewer can be trusted.

Saint Dorian and the Witch by Michael Raship

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The rumors borne across the empire by pilgrims are full of wild talk about Dorian, a boy with a flute reputed to have come from somewhere beyond the world in order to combat great evil. His followers are already calling him Saint Dorian. When word of the boy with the flute spreads as far as the remote mountain monastery where the young monk Bartholomew serves in the honored position of librarian, he astonishes his fellow monks by placing his faith in vague, contradictory rumors and declaring himself a follower of Dorian. Before the winter snows cut off the monastery from the rest of the empire, he makes a clandestine departure from the only home he has ever known in order to devote himself to the child saint. Even while others around him continue to deny that Dorian is a saint, Bartholomew can sense the boy with the flute guiding his journey, summoning him to play his destined role in a vast pattern that will give a purpose to the puzzling events of his past life and of his journey: His ill-fated childhood act of charity towards the wandering heretical storyteller Valentine The warning spoken to him by one of the greatest men in the empire, the legendary hero and subtly brilliant monk Father Zero His bargain with a wild witch girl named Ruth, who agrees to keep him safe on his journey in exchange for obscure facts of natural science and philosophy that only a librarian could know The powerful new spells that Ruth is creating based on this knowledge, spells that Bartholomew believes will be of service in combating the great evil against which Dorian is said to be waging a righteous war Yet when he and Ruth arrive at their journey’s end, and Bartholomew is about to fulfill his destined role in Dorian’s plans, it suddenly seems to him that his proper place is not among Dorian’s followers but on the other side, as an ally to the child saint’s enemies and a rebel against heaven.

A Game for Gods by Keith Deininger

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A war is brewing, the Godgame has begun... "An epic fantasy tale set in a wondrous world of corruption and war and hope and longing and dreams. No review you will read will ever do this story justice. Just buy it, read it and thank me later." ~ Nev Murray, Confessions of a Reviewer Some say the world of Meridian is in its last age of existence. The Flood is coming, an event that will wipe the planet clean of corruption. But for humanity, there are more immediate troubles. A war is brewing between the decadent and industrial City of Talos and the rural territory of Nova. When twelve-year-old Ash Alexander is recruited by the Novan militia, his life—and the life of each member of his family—is thrown into chaos, into a war far deadlier than anyone could have predicted. While Ash’s sanity is tested against the horrors of war; a woman seeks to uncover the mysteries of the School of the Unseen in her lifelong quest to travel the world; a man will do anything to cure his wife of a horrible sickness; and the chief adviser to the ruler of Talos will align himself with grotesque and otherworldly beings in order to achieve his ambitions. The Godgame has begun.

Path of Darkness by C.M. Lackner

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The decree of the Gods is clear: All sorcerers must die. As a priestess in training, Aelith knows that the only way to be a sorceress is to pray to the God of Sin. Yet when she discovers she is a sorceress without having done such a thing, she must confront the fact that everything she has learnt is a lie. Forced to flee her home, Aelith encounters a mysterious cabal of sorcerers who proffer a tantalising offer to her: Join them and learn to control the powers bestowed upon her. The alternative is forever living on the run, always under threat of being hunted down and killed. However, their protection bears a heavy cost – murder, treachery and deception. Forced to choose between the cabal’s shelter and a dangerous life, forever alone, Aelith is forced to choose between atrocity and survival.

Heir to the Darkmage by Lisa Cassidy

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Ambition drives her. Danger thrills her. But magic always has a price. Twenty years have passed since the Darkmage was destroyed and the war between mages ended. For Lira Astor, the single living heir to the Darkmage, escaping her name is impossible. People still fear what is long dead, and they see in her the rise of another dangerous mage with deadly ambition. Desperate to claw her way free of her grandfather’s shadow, to make her own name amongst the world of mages, Lira is willing to do whatever it takes. Even if that means joining the secretive rebel group looking to restore his vision. Survival is a lesson Lira learned early and often, yet when she is abducted and held prisoner in a deadly game of cat and mouse, she finds herself facing a nemesis she may be no match for. Forced to band together with unlikely allies who challenge everything she believes about what it means to be a mage, she will have to rely on every bit of ruthlessness she possesses. Because the war may only just be beginning… …and Lira Astor intends to come out on top.

Blood Spells by Alicia Ellis

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After her parents' deaths, she turns to illegal blood magic to hunt a killer. But is it worth her freedom—or her life? Was it suicide? Two months after finding her stepmother’s corpse, Maddy is still unconvinced. Magic users like her stepmother don’t spill their blood without purpose. Blood magic is illegal for minors. But both of Maddy’s birth parents are long dead, and the truth is all she has left. She starts her investigation with a few familiar spells—finding lost objects, summoning dead people. Soon, she draws the attention of a man with an unexplained connection to her stepmother—a man with power so big and so lethal that it shouldn’t exist. But who’s going to believe a grief-stricken kid when she claims impossible magic killed her stepmother? Maddy must decide what the truth is worth. Her friends? Her freedom? Or even her own life? If you like dark young adult books full of dramatic twists, you'll love this thrilling, standalone urban fantasy about a lost girl who may find a reason to live.

Out of the Dust by Joe Coates

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here are few things more dangerous or more destructive than a bad man who thinks that he is doing a good thing... The Aska Isles are burning. An unseasonable drought is slowly killing the land; crushing it in a patient and merciless fist of rising fire and dust. On the prosperous Northern Isle, King Taavi Fulbright, senile and raving, edges closer to death while his Viceroy, the flint-hearted Corbin Cadmael, continues with his plans for subjugating the South and bringing the contemptible, stinking peasants that farm it under his yolk. On the beautiful and brutal highlands of the Southern Isle, an outfit of desperadoes, bandits and cattle-thieves, led by the infamous Shaw siblings, is in the midst of murdering a team of the Crown's cattle drovers and nicking their stock. It's a final payday before the head of their crew, Viggo Shaw, leaves the road-life for good and settles down to fatherhood. Viggo cares little for the fate of the many, being concerned only with the lives of those closest to him; his sister and brother, Ylva and Destin, his lifelong love, Erika, and their unborn child. That is until the delightfully psychotic Cormac Latrell comes strolling back into their lives after a decade-long absence. Latrell is a monster and, like all good monsters, is a monster of Viggo's own creation. Once a polite and conscientious young nobleman, Latrell is the bastard son of Viceroy Cadmael and has been twisted by a love unrequited, the scorn of those he wished only to help, and the revulsion of a father who only ever saw him as a disappointment. Latrell is hunting Erika's sister, Fenella, who is rumoured to be endowed with powers long believed to be lost to legend. They are the powers of the Empathy, an elemental magic that could bring the Aska Isles back from the brink of the fire –– or cast it into the flames. Now, Viggo and his band find themselves inexorably drawn into a choking world of revisited childhood sins that have sown the seeds from which fiends grow, soul-ripping jealousies, false prophesies, and blood-soaked feuds that promise little in the way of relief for any of them. Viggo Shaw must face a trifecta of hard questions and an even tougher choice; is the saving of his world, the keeping of a final promise and the defeating of a monster he helped mould worth becoming a monster himself for? Or should he just do what he aches to do, and surrender to death? Or perhaps, Viggo might learn on his journey that the human heart is a torment and a masterpiece.

Carrion by Alyson Tait

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The Rook legacy: duty at all Costs. Regina’s family are the last living members after a long line of magical families. Their heritage is a promise to the world; they can be trusted to keep magic from corrupting power hungry witches — In doing so they keep an unearthly evil from crushing humanity. When Regina Rook's mother dies a sudden, violent death, the living coven members come from around the world to attend the funeral, and begin breathing down her neck as next in line to lead. Trying to find a balance between her own goals as a witch and her family's demands, all the while keeping her recent nightmares hidden where she becomes the very thing they fighting. But when those things become intertwined, can she do anything but watch as the world around her crumbles to ancient horrors?

Orphan's Rite by M. Warren Askins

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No matter how strong or invulnerable you believe yourself to be, this forest has ways of proving you wrong. The Lord Commander of the Royal Court has grown bored, but her curiosity is piqued when she hears of a savage killer loose in her city. An orphan ripped from her village finds herself suddenly connected to a vicious string of murders, but all she wants to do is return home so she can bury her mother. Oh, and there’s a werewolf knight. ORPHAN’S RITE is a companion novel set in the DEAD MEN ARE DYING universe. In a world where humans born with a celestial mark are instilled with powerful, game-changing abilities. And those without… survive as best they can.

The Crystal Spear by Rob Donovan

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The Crystal Spear is a weapon so powerful that legends tell of how any warrior that carried it could single-handedly demolish entire armies. It was a story sung by bards across Merindel but nobody truly believed it…until now. When Klayton is told by a mysterious stranger that the Crystal Spear is real and given instructions how to infiltrate the palace at Erisea to find it, he cannot resist the challenge. Naïve? Sure! Foolish? Completely. But Klayton could not have possibly known that his discovery would have deadly consequences and reveal an inexplicable bond to the weapon even the myths are unclear about. Prince Horan had given up trying to impress his father. He has been considered a failure and a disappointment from the moment he could walk. But when the King and Queen are on a diplomatic visit to a neighbouring island and Erisea comes under attack, Horan sees an opportunity to alter the perception of his father by saving the city, without a thought of the long-term consequences of his actions. Finally, there is the Black Shade. The most notorious pirate of the four Isles. The mere mention of his name causes men and women to anxiously glance over their shoulders. The Black Shade has heard rumours that the Crystal Spear is very real and has set his sights on obtaining it. Merindel is about to discover that not all legends are myths, but sometimes it is better if they were.

Bad Dreams by Kenneth Buff

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We all have nightmares, but not all of us have to live them. Johnathon Clarke did. His bullies beat him. They humiliated him. They stole his life. So at the age of 17 he took it away with a bullet from a gun. In Hell John finds himself working out his existence in the mailroom, until he's given the promotion he died for—he becomes the forger of nightmares, the giver of bad dreams. With his new position, John makes his assignments feel the fear he’s felt his entire existence. He does this until he’s assigned a young girl named Danielle. Danielle’s not much younger than John was, and the circumstances surrounding why she’s been assigned are troubling. They’re troubling because he disagrees. Now John must decide between continuing this life of torture and scares, or using this dark gift for something else, something that could help this girl who needs him.

King of the Hollow Dark by Cat Hellisen

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Georgina Skyler Carey is not a necromancer. She's the daughter of one. And now she's dead. George has grown up hidden away, trying to live a normal life after her mother was executed for a ghost uprising which killed millions. Every year, the Anti-Necromantic Unit drags her in for testing, while the Empress of Life watches. And every year; nothing. Until she turns twenty, and the wards which were hiding her and binding her are finally erased, and Georgina discovers that she's still not a necromancer, just the immortal body designed to host the soul of an aeons-old goddess. Ousted from her meatsuit and trapped in the afterlife, George is determined to get her body back. It's not going to be that simple. George discovers that the afterlife is nothing like she could have imagined and the only people who might be able to help her have bigger issues to deal with. She's trapped in an afterworld that is slowly being consumed by the Hollow Dark which waits at the end of all things. There's a lot more at stake than one life - the entire realms of life and death will fall to the endless nothing of the Hollow Dark if the King of Death isn't returned to hold his throne. The worlds are crumbling all around her, and George is going to lose more than just her body if she doesn't find the King, and with him, the truth about her creation.

From the Darkness Comes by Joy Demers

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Revenge is not for the faint of heart. Cadda ni Caridos is a revenant who desires nothing more than finding the man who made her that way – the same man who killed her father and captured her mother. The glowing eyes, night vision, incredible strength and speed that came out of resurrection might seem like a boon, but when she can’t control her abilities and starts bringing death to others, she realizes it’s a curse. Cadda must dodge the authorities while searching for her father’s murderer, a man who turns out to be a powerful duke, and the only person to know the fate of her mother. Always one step away from the king and his elite order of bodyguards, Lord Kenric Dorsile is near impossible to get close to, especially for a lowly foreigner like Cadda. While scheming a way to do just that, Cadda is finally caught by the authorities. Being conscripted into the army as punishment and sent to the far edge of the kingdom to defend against barbarians – the enemy of her enemy – proves to be a mammoth of a challenge. Cadda must find a way to return to the capital, even if that way includes personally fanning the flames of war. Otherwise, she risks losing her mother forever and forfeiting the right to avenge her father and herself.

Echoes of a Storm by Alan Scott

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Writing Style: Dialogue and Character driven Book Type: Dark Fantasy Themes: Parenthood, relationships, forbidden love, loss, power and prejudice Target audience: Open minded people who enjoy a more mature and grittier storyline in their fantasy books Welcome dear reader to a story of betrayal, heroes, monsters, and dark deeds. Welcome to Echoes of a Storm. Echoes of a Storm is the first instalment in the Storm Series and sets the scene and tone for this powerful bittersweet trilogy. This dark, gritty, fantasy novel explores many themes such as, relationships, forbidden love, loss, power, prejudice and ultimately, the monster which lurks inside us all. Follow the life of a young princess named Kathleen, from the age of 6 through to her marriage at the age of 18. As you delve further into her story, secrets will be revealed, battles will be fought, lives will be brutally cut short or changed forever, and the deviant and the Werewolf will make themselves known. Are you ready to enter the world of Talocants and discover the stories and secrets it holds?

War God Rising by Tim Marquitz

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Monty Python meets Gladiator! Sand is destined for greatness. Or so a pair of two-bit criminals would have him believe. After rescuing him from certain doom, Bess and Kaede embark on a scheme to game the War God Tournament. It’d be easier if Sand wasn’t an alcohol-soaked twit with a disturbing interest in mutton. Pitted against monsters, magic swords, and murderers galore, they soon realize winning the tourney is the least of their worries.

A Season of Ravens by J R Snyder

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Confronting werewolves, exploring haunted forests, calming angry spirits, and befriending ancient vampires. These are just a few of the tasks that Asher Norwood and his raven partner Aethon find themselves doing on any given day. Asher is a sin eater, a guild of mages that exists to combat dark magic wherever it rears its ugly head. Invoking the forces of nature to protect a society that looks down on him, Asher will stop at nothing to defeat the monsters that plague his world. Follow Asher on his journey to enchanted forests, remote mountains, monster-laden seas, and fantastic cities. A Season of Ravens is a collection of eight stories that combine to make the first novel of the Sin Eater Tales series.

Dark Apprentice by Val Neil

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A psychopathic wizard. An immortal mage. An epic battle of wills. Nikolai doesn’t want much out of life: sex, immortality, and the power to disembowel anyone who crosses him. But with dark magic forbidden, his only option is Medea–a mage so deadly even the Enforcers give her a wide berth. Despite dire warnings that her apprentices don’t survive, Nikolai won’t stop until she agrees to train him. After all, he’s a killer himself. Barbaric and brutal, the training is a far cry from what Nikolai expects. When a mysterious illness strikes Nikolai down, he suspects he’s found the secret to Medea’s longevity. He resolves to find out what happened to her previous apprentices. If he can locate the source of her power, he can turn it against her. Medea swore off training dark wizards–none of them take the craft seriously and the ungrateful bastards always try to kill her. This one definitely seems the backstabbing type, but magic is dying out and she hasn’t felt such magical strength in centuries. If she can control the boy, show him that magic is more than curses and necromancy, he might obtain the power he desires. If not, well . . . What’s one more dead apprentice? If you enjoy dark fantasy with quirky, morally grey characters and humorous banter (but no romance), this is the book for you!

Hall of Bones by Tim Hardie

SPFBO7 SPFBO Finalist

In the remote land of Laskar the seven ruling clans have vied with each other for power for over a century. The son of the Reavesburg Clan Chief, Rothgar, has been groomed all his life for a role supporting his elder brother, Jorik, in leading their kingdom when their father’s time finally comes to an end. However, the rulers of their greatest rivals, the Vorund Clan, are in the grip of something older and far darker. They have been conquered by evil, a remnant from the time when the gods warred with one another and the world of Amuran collapsed into the Fallen Age. Everything is about to change … The first book in The Brotherhood of the Eagle series, Hall of Bones begins a tale of epic fantasy, magic and intrigue.