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Legacy of the Brightwash by Krystle Matar SPFBO7 Indie Recs Indie SPFBO Finalist Follow the law and youâll stay safe. But what if the law is wrong? TashuĂ©âs faith in the law is beginning to crack. Three years ago, he stood by when the Authority condemned Jason to the brutality of the Rift for non-compliance. When TashuĂ©âs son refused to register as tainted, the laws had to be upheld. Heâd never doubted his job as a Regulation Officer before, but three years of watching your son wither away can break down even the strongest convictions. Then a dead girl washed up on the bank of the Brightwash, tattooed and mutilated. Where had she come from? Who would tattoo a child? Was it the same person who killed her? Why was he the only one who cared? Will TashuĂ© be able to stand against everything he thought he believed in to get the answers heâs looking for? |
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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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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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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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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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Bloodrush (The Scarlet Star Trilogy #1) by Ben Galley SPFBO Finalist Indie Recs Indie SFFOasis When Prime Lord Hark is found in a pool of his own blood, his only son Merion Hark finds his world turned upside down and inside out. The Prime Lordâs last will and testament forces Merion west across the Iron Ocean, to the very brink of the Endless Land and all civilisation. To a place they call Wyoming. In the dusty frontier town of Fell Falls, there is no silverware, no servants, no plush velvet nor towering spires. Only dust, danger and the railway. Merion has only one ally to help him escape the torturous heat and unravel the mystery of his father's murder: a faerie warrior named Rhin, and a twelve inch-tall outcast of the fae realm. Revenge and redemption are never easy. There are dark forces at work in Fell Falls, and not just the railwraiths, brigands or the savages. Secrets lurk in Merionâs bloodline. Secrets that will redefine the young Hark, and open up a whole world of magic buried by empire and industry. âââ WINNER OF THE LIBRARY JOURNAL'S INDIE EBOOK AWARDS 2016 BLOGGERS' FAVOURITE OF #SPFBO 2015 ABOUT BLOODRUSH The first book in the Scarlet Star Trilogy, Bloodrush is a coming-of-age and weird western fantasy set in an alternate 1867. It is a time when steam and clockwork seek to push the boundaries of the known world, even if it means trampling an ancient one. An action-packed mix of western and dark fantasy, Bloodrush is perfect for readers of Neil Gaiman, Jim Butcher, Lila Bowen and Stephen Kingâs Dark Tower. |
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In this heroic gaslamp fantasy, superhuman abilities bring an adventurous new dimension to 1820 London, where an outlaw speedster and a master of illusion do battle to decide who will own the city. Think being a superhero is hard? Try being the first one. Willâs life is a proper muddleâand all because he was âaccidentallyâ inflicted with the ability to run faster and leap higher than any human ever. One minute heâs a blacksmithâs apprentice trying to save his master from debtorâs prison. The next heâs accused of murder and hunted as a black-hearted highwayman. A vengeful politician with dark secrets and powers even more magical than Willâs has duped all of London into blaming Will for the chilling imprisonments of the cityâs poor. The harder Will tries to use his abilities to fight crime, the deeper he is entangled in a dark underworld belonging to some of Georgian Englandâs most colorful characters. Only Will stands a chance of stopping this powerful madman bent on âreformingâ London by any means necessary. Unfortunately, Will is beginning to realize becoming a legend might mean sacrificing everything that matters. Read this adrenaline-fueled historical superhero adventure today! |
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Stray Magic (Faerene Apocalypse #1) by Jenny Schwartz When magic crashes through the Rift, Earth devolves into an apocalyptic nightmare. Survival becomes the only game in town, and college girl, Amy Carlton, learns sheâs a more ruthless player than she ever imagined. Magistrate Istvan signed up for the Faerene Migration knowing that the price of Earthâs future would be paid for in hellfire and blood. But the black griffin hadnât anticipated humans accessing magic. Now, a new and impossible bond must be forged between a Faerene invader and a human familiar. But first Istvan and Amy must survive to form the bond. *Note: âFaereneâ refers to the many peoples of another world: the griffins, dragons, unicorns, werewolves, elves and ogres who've crossed to Earth. No prepper or survivalist could have been prepared for their arrival. |
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Star Compass (Victoria Eternal #1) by Anthea Sharp Charles Dickens meets Firefly in this tale of an orphan destined for the stars. Steampunk with a twist! Enter a fantastical world filled with alien spacecraft and Victorian sensibilities, ball gowns and travel to the stars - where a pickpocket with a particular gift yearns for the stars⊠(Note: This novel was part of the Dominion Rising collection) |
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Sorcerer's Quest: Complete Trilogy (Ren's Tale #1-3) by NAK Baldron An orphaned boy, uncontrollable magic, and a quest to save a nation's honor. Complete Quest Trilogy In a nation that shuns magic, a young man unleashes his new abilities against his school bully. Heâs forced to slip out of the country when others find out. Now he must find a master to teach him how to control the magic, before it destroys those around him. Only problem is, he will have to compete against every armature sorcerer in the world to join the only magical university. Will he find help along the way and gain admittance to the university, or will be forever outcast from his home with no hope of redemption? |
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Of Honey and Wildfires (Songs of Sefate #1) by Sarah Chorn SPFBO6 Indie Recs Indie SFFOasis From the moment the first settler dug a well and struck a lode of shine, the world changed. Now, everything revolves around that magical oil. What began as a simple scouting expedition becomes a life-changing ordeal for Arlen Esco. The son of a powerful mogul, Arlen is kidnapped and forced to confront uncomfortable truths his father has kept hidden. In his hands lies a decision that will determine the fate of everyone he lovesâand impact the lives of every person in Shine Territory. The daughter of an infamous saboteur and outlaw, Cassandra has her own dangerous secrets to protect. When the lives of those she loves are threatened, she realizes that she is uniquely placed to change the balance of power in Shine Territory once and for all. Secrets breed more secrets. Somehow, Arlen and Cassandra must find their own truths in the middle of a garden of lies. |
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Oath Sworn (Wolf's Oath #1) by Meg MacDonald One manâs oath. One boyâs sacred duty. One enemy bent on their destruction. Soldier and statesman, Aralt syr Tremayne has finally laid to rest the ghosts of his past. He could no more have prevented the death of the Kavistraâs sons than the death of his own brother. Now, the grave has given one of them up. Araltâs world is thrown into tumult when Lian Kynsei, last of a soul-touched clan and scion of a religious dynasty, returns and Aralt is oath sworn to protect the boyâs interests. But Lian is also a traumatized boy whose secrets rival Araltâs own. And neither of them are telling the truth. Oath Sworn begins the Wolf's Oath trilogy, a gothic gaslamp fantasy filled with unforgettable characters and a richly-drawn world where skyships sail above tidal extremes, and crystal swords are tuned to their ownerâs souls. Follow this riveting adventure as one man is forced to choose between duty and his lust for revenge. |
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Nightfall: A Sci-Fi/Fantasy Dystopian Novel by J.J. Coffelt Death awaits if you're caught outside during Nightfall. Humanity hides from the horrors of Night within the dome of Mecca, paralyzed by fear. Few dare to cross into the world beyond. Venturing out into the underworld, Jericho uncovers an artifact of the Old Ones. Using this technology, Jericho and his clan plot to overthrow the false god of Mecca. Embarking on a thrilling journey across the underworld, they learn many secrets, including some better left undiscovered. Gripping your mind with a sense of wonder, this epic Sci-fi/fantasy adventure will leave you breathless. This story catapults you into a world of dark mystery and chaos. This would be a perfect gift for any YA that enjoyed reading Percy Jackson, The Maze Runner, Dune, or, The Hunger Games. |
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Nether Light by Shaun Paul Stevens Take a journey through a world punished by a dark, imprisoned magic. A world where children are given poison. A world where your talent is decided by the state. A world where reality is breaking down. When refugee Guyen washes up in the land of his enemy, he knows he will fight, but soon finds himself falling down a well of wonder and improbability. Can he survive a system designed to oppress him? Can he tame his anger to unleash his potential? Can he see his enemy for what they truly are? Nether Light is a gritty, heart-wrenching tale of high magic and high stakes, loves lost and friendships gained, set in an oil-lit, 18th century world far, far away. And it's full to the gills with epic fantasy, plotting, scheming, and racy, jaw-dropping, immersive adventure. What more could you ask for? Grab a copy now. For fans of Patrick Rothfuss, Brandon Sanderson, Neil Gaiman, Mark Lawrence, V.E. Schwab, Ed McDonald, Brian McClellan. Please note: This book contains mature themes. |
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Midnight Monster Club (Fallen Rogues #1) by Gerhard Gehrke A grave keeper like Digger has one law to remember: harm a pureblood and lose your life. But after an enigmatic woman named Amalia invades his favorite card club seeking refuge, it starts getting hard to stick to this rule. Between mercenaries in pursuit of a stolen treasure hot on her heels and a snooping city sheriff keen on keeping the peace, Digger finds himself in a tight spot. He will have to trust a band of lowlifes to avoid the gallows, or even worse, a sentence to the catacombs. In a city like Diregloom, everyone hides a secret, and Digger has more than skeletons in his closet. The mystery of Amaliaâs ill-gotten prize threatens to reveal them all.Digger has one advantage. Heâs always known where to hide the bodies. Midnight Monster Club is a dark fantasy novel with action and grim humor. Itâs sure to keep you turning the page!For fans of Carnival Row, The Witcher, and the Thievesâ World series. |
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The Flight of the Darkstar Dragon by Benedict Patrick Impossible world. Impossible dragon. Impossible adventure. Lost with her ship and crew in an unfamiliar land, Minâs first command could be her last. Nothing here behaves the way it should: The magic that powers her skyship has been drained, rendering it immobile. The sky is an endless twilight, lit by the luminous fish that swim in it. Off starboard, thereâs also the country-sized dragon that is looking particularly hungry. It will take all of Minâs training and experience to get her people safely back home, but as the truth about the Darkstar Dimension begins to be revealed, Min will have to prove to her crew - and to herself - that she is still the best person for the job. From the twisted mind that created the âdelightfully weirdâ Yarnsworld series comes a fantasy adventure like no other. Grab it now, to set sail on a journey youâll never forget! |
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The Fall of Erlon (The Falling Empires Saga #1) by Robert H. Fleming As empires burn, heroes must rise. Elisa Lannes was once heiress to the mighty Erlonian Empire. But when her mother abandons the empire and her emperor father is defeated on the battlefield and sent into exile, the world she would rule collapses around her. As enemies converge on the capital, Elisa must join with the last of the empire's loyal soldiers to escape the evil that hunts her and her family. With the help of her father's generals, can Elisa find the strength to fight for her people? Or will a twist in the tide of the empire's last war awaken an evil far greater than the enemy's blade? The Fall of Erlon is the first in the new military fantasy series from author Robert H. Fleming. If you like deep fantasy worlds filled with colorful characters and massive battles, the gods and generals of the Falling Empires Saga is for you. |
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Dragonseer (Secicao Blight #1) by Chris Behrsin Secicao. A powerful drug of immeasurable power and value, but one that is also destroying the planet. Pontopa Wells is an uncompromising entrepreneur with a dragon and a secicao operation in the Southlands. When she is contracted by King Cini, to incorporate her business with that of the conceited Faso Gordoni, she is initially unsure of her one-time rival. Then, a meeting with her much-loved author, Sukina Sako, convinces Pontopa that she is on the wrong side and that secicao is damaging the planet at an alarming rate. She and Faso agree to travel with Sukina to the south, to investigate what can be done. However, King Cini has other ideas and is not about to allow his two best secicao producers to just walk away. He intercepts the group at the island of Fraw, but despite their initial incarceration Sukina surprises them all when she summons grey dragons to help them escape. Now on the other side of a desperate fight for survival, Pontopa discovers that she's a dragonseer, with the ability to communicate telepathically with, and command, legions of dragons. Will her new-found ability and a diverse group of allies, be enough to defeat a king who is slowly but surely beginning to show his true nature? Enter a world of dragons, dragonseers, airships and automatons in this Steampunk-fantasy tale like none other told before. |
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The Demon in the Metal (The Chemical Empires, #1) by Blake Michael Nelson Fifty years ago, the brilliant chemist Guilder Owen unlocked the secrets of the metal aurichalcum...and changed the world forever. The Chemical Revolution led to the invention of rifles, cannons, copperlights, and brassfire bombs; armies were shattered, borders were redrawn, and the king of Eleutrinia, the most powerful nation in the world, was overthrown. In the aftermath of this civil war, Eleutrinia's gloomy capital, Dais EleutrenĂ©, has become a breeding ground for plots and conspiracies. World-weary inspector Drom Overholt, investigating the murder of a wealthy old man, soon finds himself caught up in an especially dangerous one; meanwhile, Guilder's granddaughter Aemilia, eager to become a chemist herself, has just unlocked a secret of her own â one that may have put her life in immediate danger. And far away, at the very edge of the known world, treasure-hunter Luc d'Fensi, hired to guide a group of scholars to a distant, crumbling ruin, begins making his way into the primordial wilderness of the far west. He has no idea what awaits him there: an ancient evil, older than mankind, waiting for an opportunity to arise...and intent on extinguishing the light of the Chemical Revolution forever. |
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Aftan Whispers (Estalia Book 3) by Phil Williams He didn't know how savage the world was - until he met Deni. As the days grow darker in the Estalian Empire, young Tyler stays positive by helping others. But when he meets a girl on the run with enemies in the highest places, Tyler's life gets complicated fast. Deni isn't afraid to kill, and sheâs got a secret that could tear apart the sky. In a mortal chase that takes them from a besieged city across the war-torn countryside, Tyler soon discovers that the Empireâs guardians are their most dangerous foe. Worse still, Deni is faced with a terrible choice: remain hidden and save herself - or expose herself to prevent the oncoming darkness. If you're looking for a visceral ride packed with steampunk machines, stunning action sequences and ambiguous moral choices, youâll love Phil Williamsâ latest post-apocalyptic adventure. |
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Across the Broken Stars by Jed Herne LEON HAS A SECRET. He was once an angel â a winged warrior sworn to protect Paya, a realm where people live on discs that float in space. He failed. Now, Leonâs a broken man, trying to forget the past. He thinks heâs the last angel. But then a young fugitive stumbles onto Leonâs doorstep. Sheâs an angel, too. And she has a riddle leading to a place where angels still live. Or so the stories claim ... Desperate for redemption, Leon begins a perilous quest through myth and folklore. But will Leon and the fugitive find their legendary destination? Or will Leon lose his last chance for salvation? Brutal and gripping, this is a story about a flawed manâs search for forgiveness, set against the backdrop of an incredible world. |
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IRONSHIELD (The Ironshield Saga, #1) by Edward Nile A Pile of Scrap, Held Together by an Ideal. It's been almost thirty years since the budding nation of Arkenia used Kaizer Warsuits, gas-powered mechanical giants, to wrestle independence from a tyrannical empire. Now, Arkenia is pressured into disarmament by that same power, strong-armed into a deal that will strip them of the very weapons that won their sovereignty. The Southern provinces agree to the terms. The Northern Industrialists do not. Led by commander James Edstein, heir to the legacy of the mighty Ironshield Warsuit, the North defies the Southern Appeasers. Intent on keeping their Warsuits, and their nationâs hard-fought independence, from Imperial rule. Senator Samuel Mutton, veteran of the Revolution and a key leader in the South, wants nothing but peace for his nation. No matter how high the cost. As the Civil War ramps up, both men are forced to question their morals, forced to decide what matters most. Victory, or Honor. |
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Shadow Road by A. E. Pennymaker Brenorra Warring's father is going crazy. That's the only conclusion Bren can come to when a fire destroys everything they own, and his only answer is to take a job in the uncivilized Coalition Colonial Region on the other side of the ocean. Then disaster strikes again, and Bren is left with nothing but the clothes on her back, the things in her father's satchel, and the discovery that he was lying about his reasons for leaving. When more of her father's secrets are revealed, it becomes clear that someone powerful is killing innocent people to keep those secrets hidden â and they are hunting for Bren. Now on the run, Bren is pulled into an alliance with two very different men. The first is fighting to bring down the same shadow organization stalking her, no matter the cost. The other is a brilliant but icy war hero who has been branded a wanted man by the enemy. With danger rising on every side, Bren must solve her father's trail of coded messages before the last of his secrets fall into the wrong hands. In the process, she will have to rewrite everything she once knew about her life, and reveal strengths she never thought she had. |
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Where Shadows Lie by Allegra Pescatore The Chosen One Is Dead. Magic Is Going Haywire. Time Is Running Out. When the King of Lirin murders Elenor's brother during a failed coup attempt, she must choose between turning a blind eye to her people's suffering or joining the rebellion and helping bring down the tyrant king. There's only one problem--the king is her father. Helped along the way by a grouchy old doctor, a boisterous group of nobles, and a well-meaning assassin, Elenor is forced to dance between duty and defiance as she tries to save her kingdom. Meanwhile, from the rainy streets of Lirin to the scorching dunes of the Mondaer Desert, the ripples of her actions have inadvertently broken a chain of events five centuries in the making. Ancient forces move in the shadows, calling in debts and striking deals. A monster with a thousand faces fingers his knife, ready to kill, and a pair of fugitives run for their lives. Where Shadows Lie is a non-stop, epic fantasy ride featuring an lgbtq+ and disabled protagonist and filled with court intrigue, sizzling romance, adorable baby dragons, and the battle between oppression and freedom. Dive in and get swept away! |
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Michael McGillicuddy and the Most Amazing Race by Trevor A. Dutcher Puzzling Intrigue. Epic Adventure. Cut-throat competition. When a quiet introvert and gifted tinkerer, Michael McGillicuddy, is invited to participate in the annual race organized by a secret society called the Order of the Blue Cloak, he forces himself to take a chance. Participation in this yearâs race represents a dual opportunity: To honor his fatherâs legacy, and to win a prize sufficient to pay taxes on his motherâs land to avoid foreclosure. The action-packed adventure that follows features a vibrant cast of characters, and includes some of the brightest minds and most unscrupulous characters 1895 Europe has to offer, including a Luxembourgish railroad baron, a middle-eastern mystic, a lone-wolf bounty hunter, a British female spy and a Dutch female alchemist. A devious circus ringmaster, and his equally devious crew, including a strong-man with a mechanical arm and a ruthless female enforcer with a chip on her shoulder and a penchant for poison, provide the main antagonistic forces.Follow the racers over land, sea and air, from Londonâs outskirts all the way to Paris, as they risk life and limb to embark on a scavenger hunt-style race with few, but important, rules. The winner of this yearâs race will be the first to solve all the milestone puzzles and arrive at the finish with a complete and matching set of milestone tokens. Along the way, Michael will encounter intellectual challenges, fantastical creatures, games youâve never heard of, physical peril, sabotage, betrayal, love, heartbreak, and even a touch of magic, all while discovering himself and a newfound taste for adventure. But as a novice among experts, and with the odds so strongly stacked against him, how will Michael survive, let alone compete? |
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Dragon's Price by Daniel Potter Ishe likes to confront her problems with her fistsâtoo bad her current problem is a dragon. Her sister Yaki has always used her looks to get what she wants. But when she is injured, only a deal with the dragon will keep her alive. Together, these two sisters must escape the dragon or be forced into his service against the only home they have ever known. |
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The Reach Between Worlds by Cameron Hayden Posing as a sorcerer was never a smart idea. Now, it may cost Taro his life. Sixteen-year-old Taro lost his right leg years ago, but with a family to support, he doesn't let it slow him down. For years he's worked for a notorious crime lord named Victor Mathan; Mathan deals in stolen magical artifacts, and trusts Taro to finish his work with as few questions as possible. When an absurdly well-paying job comes up, Taro is quick to volunteer. Mathan wants him to break a powerful sorceress out of her magical prison, but her cell is under the control of an ancient military order called the Magisterium. To get to her, Taro must pose as a Magisterium recruit. The courses are grueling, the tests drive students mad, and the magic they teach can be as deadly to the caster as it is to the target. |