A Twist of Fate by Austin Windsor Order is fragile. Fate is volatile. Chaos is inevitable. Bounty hunter Richard Ordowyn thought he would live out his days plagued by fragmented memories. But as he meets a sorceress who lures him into a journey to take down the Empire, the foe waging war against his homeland, his memories begin to piece together as shadowy forces vie to control him. Freedom fighter ElaeĂnn TinaĂd is a terrorist to some. Having spent her life as an outcast for her inability to connect to magic, little did she know that this disconnect would connect her to a creature of legend. Ruthless crime syndicate leader Elton Redwinter thought he would reign over the Free City of Dannos until his death. But when he meets a vampire who warns him of a crisis that only he can prevent, his morals are truly tested as he prepares to fight. For all three, their paths are fraught with danger, deception, and mystery. And their fates are destined to be intertwined. |
The Exile of Zanzibar by Daniel Maidman Claire built a device to fold space and time. It had a flaw...  When the smoke clears, she finds herself halfway across the world, thousands of years in the past, and no device in sight.  In bronze-age Florence, war has lasted for generations. All Claire wants to do is get home, but she'll need help from the locals. She wins an ally in Marcus Diophantus, a pickpocket turned soldier turned general, who hopes to turn into something more than just her champion. Together, they broker peace between Florence and its enemy.  If Marcus is going to help Claire, he'll have to survive. Peace has upset the balance of power in the capital city. The king stands increasingly alone against: the Constantines, a commercial enterprise as much as a clan, who aim to profit from peace as they have from war -- the warrior nobles, descended from the founders of Florence and quick to turn against a weak throne - and Reburrus, the high priest of Florence, convinced Claire answers to hostile foreign gods. As the city comes to a boil, Claire and Marcus - and Marcus's formidable army - will have to decide where their allegiance lies.  Claire becomes a reluctant participant in a savage campaign. While Marcus leads the battles, she tries to gain control of the unimaginably powerful Ctesiphôn - a ghost tower in the heart of Florence, shrouded in magic and myth. |
Strangers in the High City by J.E. Cabrera Dwarf Gladiators. Elven Holy Warriors. Men and women powered by the gods themselves. These are the kinds of characters you will fall in love with in Strangers in the High City. The Lunar Gods have abandoned their children. In their absence the world has grown cold. The Covenant, a nation that was meant to unite Elves, Dwarves and Humankind, is broken. The dwarves are forced to endlessly produce resources to support The Covenantâs unending hunger for expansion. The Covenantâs caste system continues to divide its once proud human citizens. The elves have grown disinterested in the toils of the humans choosing instead to live in their own lands. Itâs all coming to a boiling point where there is no turning back. Follow the strangers that inhabit this land as they fight for a place in it⌠Gareth Stormkin a farm boy in search of adventure. Little does he know it will soon find him at a great price. Auric Redbeard a dwarf that has finally earned his place as a citizen of The Covenant. Ruxson a stable hand on a mad quest for revenge. This tale is for the fantasy lover, the reader looking for characters to fall in love with and worlds to discover. |
A Thing Immortal by Barry K Gregory Someday the mountain man will kill her and then she'll be free. That's what the girl without a name believes. Right up until the day the old gunfighter with eyes the color of wildflowers and skin as white as his long, scraggly hair comes riding up on a painted horse. Riding right past the wards carved into the trees and all the way to the door of the mountain man's shack... An immortal gunslinger, a wolf made of shadows, a manhunter cursed by a ghost, a warrior who flies on stolen wings, and a mysterious girl without a name, battle ancient gods and monsters from the void in an American West that never was. |
The Price of Power by Michael Michel Prince Barodane could not hold back the darkness. Not even in himself. He laid an innocent city in its grave and then died a hero. In his absence, war whispers across the land. Power-hungry highborn dispatch spies and assassins to the shadows as they maneuver for the throne, while an even greater threat rises in the South. Monsters and cultists flock to the banners of a mad prophet determined to control realityâŚand then shatter it. Destiny stalks three to the brink of oblivion. A dead prince that isnât actually dead. Barodane buried his shameful past in a stupor of drugs, drink, and crime, and now, heâd rather watch the world fall apart than wear a crown again. An orphan with heroâs blood who is forced to make a harrowing choice: betray her country or sacrifice her first love. And a powerful seer who has no choice at allâher grandson must die. If any of them fails to pay the price⌠The cost will be the worldâs complete annihilation. "This book feels like a worthy successor to some of the greats of fiction, including Malazan, A Song of Ice and Fire, and Wheel of Time." - Andy Peloquin, Amazon #1 bestseller of the Darkblade series. |
Delusions & Dragons by SC Gowland Romancing the Stone meets Jumanji. Tasha Stone is on the verge of her dream promotion and a better life, but thereâs one thing holding her back: her husband. Gary Stone thinks heâs got it all, including a perfect marriage. Heâs a modern man, a king of video games, scared of nothing, all from the comfort of his sofa. When Gary forgets Tashaâs birthday, two mysterious shopkeepers offer him a lifeline: a magical gem necklace. But when the necklace cracks, an ancient magic transports Tasha and Gary to the mystical world of Pavia and right into the clutches of the evil queen, Cadence Moonfall. Can the two hapless strangers survive the perils of this strange world to find a way home? Can they fight separation, monsters, and romantic adversaries to find a way back to each other? After all, without love there is no magic⌠|
Liath Luachra: The Raiders by Brian O'Sullivan A gripping adventure in Ancient Ireland! As winter draws to a close, a troubled woman warrior's cold seclusion is disrupted by a desperate plea for help. Raising a warband to liberate a comradeâs kidnapped sister however, she quickly discovers this âsimpleâ rescue is far more perilous than she could have imagined. Traversing the wilderness of ancient Ireland, in pursuit of an enigmatic raiding party, she encounters old enemies who seek to undermine her, new allies who cannot be trusted, and harrowing secrets relating to her own past that threaten to undermine her leadership. Confronted by horrors sheâd thought long forgotten, Liath Luachra must revert to the very worst part of herself to survive. But in the wilderness of the âGreat Wildâ, even the best laid schemes rarely go as planned. And the southern forests hide threats far more lethal than raiders. This book includes the complete adventure contained in Liath Luachra: The Seeking and Liath Luachra: The Metal Men. |
If Light Above by Lily Anne Crow The kingdom's only hopes are a wounded soldier, a dead-beat noble, and a killer. Osmund Benwickery, former captain general in the kingâs army, burdened by a useless left arm and a dwindling sense of self-worth, has been hired for the most important job of his life. The young queen is dead, the newborn prince is missing, and the king has narrowly survived assassination. Osmund must solve the treacherous plot before either the infant prince is lost forever or the kingâs assassins return - and succeed. Phrai, a hired blade with a bloody reputation, wants nothing more than to numb the pain of the past. Tamrion Kinto, an idealistic young nobleman with a clever tongue, canât seem to stay out of trouble. When their paths intertwine, Phrai and Tamrion find themselves dragged into dangerous complications that will change the way they view the world, themselves, and each other. Shinowyn Alva, castle seamstress and dressmaker to the late queen, slips among the shadows, watching the deadly game of power unfolding in the capital city. But what secrets does Shinowyn hide behind her peculiar smile and mismatched eyes? Is she simply another pawn, or will she have the nerve to play? The game is conspiracy and the pieces are set. As Fate weaves these four lives together, events unfold that will threaten their kingdom and challenge their very beliefs. Can they put aside their differences and band together long enough to hold back the darkness? If Light Above is the compelling first fantasy novel in Lily Anne Crow's series A War of Whispers. |
Demons & Battleskirts Volume 1 by Belinda Crawford Enter a dark new urban fantasy filled with reincarnated superheroines, inter-dimensional demons and immortal enemies, from the acclaimed author of The Echo. Byrne Davin has lived many lives, from noblewoman to pioneer to slave, all of them filled with blood and death, all ending in pain and betrayal. This life, she would like to live in peace, or if not peace then to at least finish high school, maybe even meet a cute guy, go on a date, kick demon arse and be home in time to do her homework. But she canât always get what she wants, not with an ancient, battle-crazed warrior sharing her soul, or fragmented dreams of an unseen enemy that threatens not just her own existence, but that of her reincarnated sisters. Sisters who doubt Byrneâs every word and hold terrible secrets of their own. A darkness is coming, a bitter cold rising from the depths of the universe on the ravening howl of a bloodthirsty demon horde. And the only thing standing between it and victory are Byrne, her sisters and the lies tearing them apart. Get ready for the first book in a brand new series, as Crawford masterfully weaves another action-packed tale of secrets and suspense, where your friends are your enemies and your enemies are your friends. |
The Yochni's Eye by Abigail Morrison An adventurous young adult fantasy novel about revenge, redemption, and what it truly takes to have peace. Every six hundred years, the yochni blinks, changing one thing about the world based on the wish of the last creature it sees. In ages past, these wishes have created expansive empires, magical abilities, and even new and powerful species. Theyâve also spawned evil overlords, terrifying monsters, and centuries of collective suffering. The past three ages have gone to the bogeysâgiant dog-like creatures with few physical vulnerabilities and incredible strength. Theyâve monopolized the yochniâs wishes to secure their ongoing rule. Sixteen-year-old dwarven champion Mira Goldfist, suffering with the rest of her people under the bogeyâs slave-keeping reign, wants nothing more than to wish them out of existence. That is, until she meets Atlan Qierce, high prince and heir to the bogey empire. Forced into a magical contract to travel with Atlan by Kraven Monteyeaux, a magical arbiter and reluctant medic, as new dangers and champions reveal themselves, Mira will have to confront everything she believes about the bogeysâmost importantly, whether any of them can be good and, if so, whether she can really kill them all. A thoughtful examination of revenge, authority, and the risks required for any higher good, The Yochniâs Eye puts a new twist on the classic rebellion tale, using high adventure, expansive settings, and a deadly race to beg of readers: What does it mean to wish for peace and what must we truly risk to obtain it? |
The Winds of Change by Troy Knowlton After an assassination attempt that could lead to an all-out war, Tyras and Oren, two young Seekers of the Argan Empire, are each given secret missions in an attempt to thwart the coming chaos. Both tasks require the Seekers to venture through the war-torn continent of Tiarna where the young men face mortal danger, horrible monsters, and hostile groups â all challenges Seekers are trained to combat. Luckily, the two Seekers also find guidance, friendship, and romance along the way. However, powerful and mysterious forces are conspiring behind the scenes and both Tyras and Oren will have to overcome a host of obstacles, including their own inner demons, in order to maintain a glimmer of hope for success. With war imminent and the unknown ahead, will the Seekers triumph, or will they be swallowed by the turbulent, relentless Winds of Change? Set in a new, masterfully created high fantasy world, Seekers: The Winds of Change is perfect for fans of An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir and We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faisal. |
Edgar and the Flyboys by Louise Gorday In 1849, soul runner Hamelin Russell arrived in Baltimore to transport Edgar Allan Poeâs soul into the afterlife. A lover of the arts, Hamelin had a change of heart and gave the author a second chance at life in exchange for finishing his magnum opus. One hundred and seventy-two years later, Hamelin returns to find the author hopelessly blocked, his dark muse stolen by the grandson of Pandora, and the manuscript unfinished. Hamelin must find a way to get Poeâs muse back, help him finish his masterpiece, and then transport the author into the afterlife without alerting his supervisors. If itâs found out that Hamelin has created another second chancer, he will face almost certain damnation. Hamelin believes he can get the muse back, but when the soul runner gets shanghaied to hell by a vindictive demon, and the 12th Angelic Corps is dispatched to retrieve him, Hamelinâs damnation seems like it might be inevitable. |
Fated Born by Kristin L Hamblin What happens if you fall in love in a world where love is forbidden? Yesterday, Laida was Ardenisâs friend. Today, sheâs the love of his life. And he canât tell her. Ardenisâs human emotions werenât meant to awaken prematurely. Watchers are supposed to resist the charm of mortalsâ magical kingdoms and court intrigue. The punishment is exileâdenying him the beauty of a mortal life. He canât get caught, and he canât risk awakening Laidaâs emotions. While she remains oblivious, he is in torment, struggling to find his new place in the world alone. But love cannot exist without hate. Yesterday, the council could do no wrong. Today, Ardenis sees corruption among themâsomething he never would have recognized before. Someone is plotting to prevent the first-ever fae from being born. If Ardenis canât uncover the source of the corruption while hiding his human emotions, the realmâs ability to provide souls to the mortal world will be destroyed. Everyone, including Laida, is at risk. Fated Born is the first book in a young adult fantasy series perfect for readers who crave deep friendships, alternate worlds, and slow-burn romance. |
A Wreck of Witches by Nia Quinn Magic and mayhem and ghost dogs, oh my⌠Iâm the plus-size witch who just wants to putter around my magical-plant nursery in peace, but nooo. The universe is conspiring against me, I swear. The newbie witch down the street just went missingâfive minutes before she was gonna give me a ride to our book club. Something magical is stalking through my mundane neighborhood, attacking my neighbors, and Iâve got everybody and their ghost dogs trying to âhelpâ me out. Pssh, like I canât handle things by myself. Oh, and my houseâwith a mischievous mind of its ownâhas decided this is the time to get up to more antics. Just gotta wrangle all this nonsense before the Unawares figure out magicâs real⌠Itâll be easy-peasy, right? __ A quirky urban fantasy starring a ragtag group of misfitsâer, witches, a sentient house, found family, diverse characters, and magical shenanigans. |
Anakisha's Dragon by Eileen Mueller A feisty street fighter avenging her dead brother. A dashing dragon rider in the right place at the wrong time. And an unlikely pirate captain with nothing left to lose. Being a dragon rider is not in Anakishaâs plans. And Anakishaâs stubborn. Sheâs not giving up her dreams anytime soon. When Anakishaâs brother is murdered by a gang, she joins the Night Wings, a team of local vigilantes, and takes to the streets to avenge him. With a soft spot for defending underdogs, sheâs found her niche. The Night Wingâs leader is the dreamy golden-haired son of the village arbitrator â a fine catch. If she can impress his father, she can marry him and improve her familyâs fortune. But the underbelly of Fieldhaven is rife with politics and deceit. Although Anakisha is good with a bow and a dagger, sheâs not always the best judge of character⌠And her plans do not include a dragon. But then, the Kingâs Rider appears on his sleek onyx dragon. And a bloodthirsty pirate captain rises to power, spreading terror on the Naobian Sea. Leaving Anakisha torn between her dream and her duty⌠|
Deathbringer by Blake Carpenter Inga Alenir is a Swordbearer. She is the latest in a long line of women to inherit a magical weapon called Deathbringer. She's also dead, murdered on her wedding day by the ruthless and covetous noblewoman Yenda Avard, who steals the sword after killing Inga and her entire family. And yet, some secrets won't stay buried. Deathbringer has a will and a consciousness of its own, and even has the power to raise Inga from the dead for a short time. It warns her that she has one week to find and retrieve the sword before death reclaims herâpermanently. With each day bringing her doom and final demise ever closer, Inga will have to see just how far she's willing to go to achieve her vengeance. DEATHBRINGER is a compositional mix between the violent, grisly hunt for revenge in the film THE NIGHTINGALE and the tale of Vasher and his talking sword Nightblood in Brandon Sanderson's WARBREAKER. Fans of dark fantasy, of tragic love stories and tales about seeking revenge against long odds will enjoy this debut novel by Blake Carpenter in the world of Agareth where a scorned, young widow fights back against the powerful elites that wronged her, and begins a journey that might turn the entire world against her. |
The Fey of Castle Garden by Naomi P. Cohen New York City, 1859: On Samhain night, a mage pledged to the Wild Hunt is violently murdered. Tensions between the Hunt and Triona, Fey Queen of Central Park, heat up and threaten to boil over into a full-scale conflict. Sofia De Benedetti, mage and musician in Trionaâs court, has her hands full making enough money to support herself and help women who are down on their luck in the rough corners of the city. Now a fey war looms and a mage killer is on the prowl. Everything Sofia has built since immigrating, and her life itself, is at risk. With the help of a cait sidhe and a tempestuous storm fey, Sofia must find the murderer before the streets of the city erupt into a magical battleground. |
Endless Seas: Never Meet Your Idols by John Champaign Captain Joseph Baxtor and his crew on the sailing ship Phoenix cross dimensions through underwater portals on behalf of 'The Pantheon', a collection of cultures each led by their own created god. On their maiden voyage, they are sent to establish diplomatic relations with the El-Fax, a recently discovered, friendly culture. Rather than being the routine voyage expected, everything may not be as it first appears. |
The Spider's Friend by M.C. Burnell Last week, he didnât know he had a family. Now heâs trying to save the world from them. Wrapped around an inland sea, Dhashere is a broad land of fecund coastal woodlands, rocky heights, and arid grasslands called home by more than humans; there are sapient species styled elemental peoples inhabiting its seas, its skies, even underneath its streets. Peacefully, it used to be. Now, the Premier is failing, and that shouldnât be a problem. Rulership is shared with four senates, and he has children to succeed him. But there may be too many. Maru was raised in isolation in a monastery, convinced he was a foundling. Then a glamorous foreign magician appears. He claims to be an emissary of Maruâs father, none other than the Premier, who has sent this trusted intimate to fetch his secret son home to the capital. A more cynical person might wonder if thereâs a catch, and a more cynical person would be correct: Jaalen was hired by a shadowy contingent keen to pit their own candidate against his fatherâs legitimate children. It's not as simple as deciding whether heâs willing to vie for the throne. An army of bovine zealots gathers at the border, ready to invade, and someone is murdering elemental shamans by means as malignant as they are mysterious. Thereâs no question itâs one of Maruâs siblings, but he doesnât know which and now heâs in their custody. Did anyone mention there are ten of them? The only person he trusts is the lying magician who tricked him into getting involved. And if he wants the help of Dhashereâs most infamous witch-for-hire, heâll need to start by saving him. The Spiderâs Friend is a thrilling, twist-filled adventure, a palace intrigue with less palace and more battling-giant-jellyfish. A must-read for anyone interested in novel second worlds, it has mole-people and a city made of waterfalls; one of the narrative characters is an ambulatory plant. Ready to separate the liars from true friends? Plunge into the decaying chaos of the Dhashereen Dominion! |
Rebel Unicorn by Brogan Thomas Her heart is broken, and her wrath is boiling over. Will she atone for her violence or fall to darkness? Tru Dennison is tired of being judged a freak. Sick of monstrous villains wreaking havoc and mayhem on her city, the half-unicorn, half-vampire shifter channels her energy into an undercover role as a black-ops assassin. But when her alluring angel mentor finds her standing over a pile of dead bodies, sheâs horrified that her unrequited crush accuses her of serial murder. Unable to persuade the resolute man of her clearance to make the hits, Tru is thrown before the grand creature council to answer for her actions. But even after her sanctioned kills are verified, her fuming anger fuels her determination to become a force no one dare cross⌠Will Truâs battle to deliver justice destroy her soul? Rebel Unicorn is the action-packed first book in the Rebel of the Otherworld urban fantasy series. If you like underestimated heroes, electrifying twists, and edge-of-your-seat suspense, then youâll love Brogan Thomasâs epic quest for redemption. |
Rise of the Empress by Bogdan TÄbuČcÄ Divided between great wicked minds and cruel beings of unnatural power, the world of Artia has long been under the cycle of war and suffering. A child is born, conceived in an unholy union. A mighty empress to bring the world within her grasp, through mercy and kindness, through sword and fire. But will she be any better than the horrors that came before her? Or will she succumb to the vices of power and rule this world as its new dark master? |
Bastards of Liberty by Matthew Zorich In the heart of the Holy Imperium, a family's lives are shattered. Runt Ashburn, the youngest of three siblings, journeys to seek his father needing answers. His sister Alsyha, now an indentured servant to blacksmiths, plots her escape and revenge. At the same time, the oldest, Ashburn Benjamin, juggles the life of a soldier and the pressure of a father who's the General of an army. Political forces twist around the three siblings. Could one of their deaths lead to a revolution? Bastards of Liberty features a gritty adventure and deep world-building in an alternative America where orcs, elves, and dwarves strive to gain the same rights as their human counterparts as they struggle under the yoke of a newly formed royal government. |
Battle for Neverland: Countdown by A.E. Dinsmoor When Wendyâs urgent letter arrives in Neverland, Peter Pan flies to London in search of his old friend. There, he finds the upstairs nursery window locked and another girl living there: Kate Williams. But Kate has her own problem: in just a few days, her family will lose their home. The only way to save it is to uncover the secret hidden in the old nursery. Desperate to help her family, she joins Peter in Neverland to search for Wendy Darling. A deadly mistake, however, plunges Kate into an epic struggle, and the stakes couldnât be higher. Peter Pan is wounded, Wendy is missing, and a notorious pirate is about to get his revenge. Fixing her mistake could cost her everything, and time is running out. |
And the Wildness by Susan Maxwell "So the actual reason I was calling you is because-get this-I am not going to Prague this summer at all. Surprise! Thanks, Villa. Just ruin my life for me." Villa Grace is in disgrace. Her expulsion from school has ruined the prospect of a family holiday in imperial Prague, where her mother is organising a conference. Two of her three siblings are barely speaking to her, as all four face into a 'holiday' sweltering on Cobwell Farm in the back of beyond of drought-stricken Hibernia. But the power-hungry St. Maur Ker family has breached the border between mortal and sĂdhe for their own gain. Cobwell, on the threshold of myth, is about to become the centre of a battle between older, wilder forces and the technomantic ambitions of one of the empire's great aristo-corporate clans. Caught up in this conflict, the children are forced to face up to the dark underbelly of their parents' corporate environ-ment, and to confront their own conflicting ambitions and loyalties. This books is set in the same 'Hibernia Altera' universe as Maxwell's Good Red Herring, included in the Irish Times Best Books of 2014 for Children and Young Adults. For readers of all ages. |
The Return of Abaddon by Peter Mooren THE RETURN OF ABADDON won FIRST PLACE in three different categories (Fantasy, Magical Realism, and Metaphysical Fantasy) in the Speak Up Talk Radio 2022 FIREBIRD BOOK AWARDS! Wilderâs epic journey began at what almost was the end. Sprawled out on the ground in disbelief and staring at the burning wreckage of the helicopter, he sees his motherâs lifeless eyes staring back at him. As he lies there grief-stricken, something strange happens. Wilder suddenly finds himself somewhere else, lying in a dirt circle surrounded by large stone pillars. No longer on Earth, heâs told of a prophecy that changes everything. Abaddon, an ancient being who came to conquer this world 2,000 years earlier, was defeated and driven back to his home by the mighty phoenixes. But heâs back once again, and Wilder is Hiraethâs only hope. A pair with unique magic will befriend him. A royal guard captain will protect him. Assassins will try to kill him. Wilder departs on a desperate quest to search for allies before Abaddon realizes heâs still alive--and sets out to destroy him and his new world. |
The Last Fang of God by Ryan Kirk When gods refuse to die, it's humans that suffer. Safely hidden deep within the endless fields of his late wife's people, Kalen's only dream is to live the rest of his days in peace. He paid for his dream in blood, but neither his sword nor service are demanded any longer. Chaos erupts when his daughter, Sascha, is called by Kalen's old master. Father and daughter have no choice but to leave the home they've created for the land of Kalen's birth. But the sins of the past cast long shadows. After years of a tenuous peace, gods and humans alike resume their quest for dominance. Kalen and Sascha find themselves in the midst of a struggle that will reshape the boundaries of their world. The warrior who wants nothing but peace will be forced to draw his sword once again. Will it be enough to protect his daughter from the whims of the gods? |
The Gardens of Ash by Sarah Cline The world of Azadia smolders in restless isolation, molten rivers splitting the earth, and curtains of ash dripping from a scarlet sky. The followers of Alrya - an empire that spans many worlds - believe Azadia to be the hell their faith condemns, but to Draden and his family, it is merely home. Once a feared warlord, Draden now wishes only to maintain a fragile peace in his corner of Azadia. But Draden's contentment ends swiftly when a Tear - a passageway between worlds - splits open in his kingdom, and a stranger comes tumbling through with the fury of Alrya licking at his heels. Draden decides to take the young man in, but Vessels - eerie creatures that appear to be women, wreathed in flowering overgrowth and puppeted by an unknown force - pursue Jak into Draden's kingdom, Lucia. The ensuing battle forces Draden to acknowledge that, as much as he hates to admit it, he can't face this threat alone. As a new war breaks forth from an ancient rivalry, Alrya fights to appease a god that has fallen silent, while the rulers of Azadia form an uneasy alliance against the waves of Alryan forces closing in on them from distant worlds. But even as these tentative new allies help Draden resist invasion, the conflict draws out Draden's own struggles with restless memories and the temptations of power. Meanwhile, Jak, now fleeing Alrya's endless war, seeks a new Tear in hopes that it will lead him to a place where he will be left in peace to study the stars. But his budding feelings for Edim and Tlia, companions met in his travels, and the revelation of his fascinating gift for Blood Craft, a forbidden magic of Azadia, complicate Jak's desire to leave the war-wracked world. Together with Sarien, a famous hero who has put her own adventures on hold to help her half-brother defend Lucia, and Epomina, a mercenary seeking the elusive magic of Storm Craft in a world where strength is all that stands between her and a bloody end, Draden and his allies make their stand. The Gardens of Ash is the first entry in an epic of gothic fantasy. |
The Contessa of Mostul Ăbar by L. James Rice Awaking from death was just the beginning of Poleenâs troubles. A good girl from an idyllic country village shouldnât find herself in a dark forest dead. But when her broken neck mysteriously heals, violence erupts, and she stands over her killerâs body wondering if she was such a good girl after all. With her brother killed and her mother taken prisoner by a powerful trade guild, the source of her troubles points to a box of cigars. Exotic and rare, no doubt, but it wasnât worth her life. What secret does it hold that the rich and powerful are willing to kill and die for? More importantly, how can she leverage its worth to rescue her mother? Rumors of war with the Pirate Kings of Boboru swirl the politics of The Monsoon Straits as her pursuit for answers entangles her in a web of smugglers, pirates, sorcerers, secret societies, and her sweet motherâs involvement with them all. She defies death time and again, but she knows her luck will run out. She needs the help and influence of a man Poleen has never met, her father, the Count of Mostul Ăbar. |
Unwanted by Catherine M Walker In a world torn by conflict, it is the unwanted who fight for survival. At nearly 18 years of age, Damien knows his peaceful life in the only village heâs ever known is about to change. Either his burgeoning powers of the veil will kill him, which at least would bring an end to the pain and the mistrust and fear of his friends and neighbours, or the Warlord and his infamous warband, the Unwanted, will track him down. Though the Warlord claims to protect his domain from the persistent raids of the enemy Sylannians, that protection comes at a price. To be taken by the Warlord is to forfeit your soul. Those who join his warband are destined to become cold-blooded killers, and the atrocities they are rumoured to commit make death the preferable option. When the worst happens and the Warlord finally comes to his village, Damien surrenders himself to save his familyâand protect his younger sister, Isabella, whose own powers are already growing⌠On the other side of the vast mountain range the clans of the People have lost the war against the Sylannians. As royal Sylannian Commander Jaclyn plans to return home after their victory, only two clans remain, and they face an impossible choice: stay and risk almost certain annihilation, or flee their homeland and take their chances on the other side of the mountains. But even as the clan leaders seek a way to save their people from genocide, the political wheels in Sylanna are still turning and the ruthless king and his wives have their own plans for his sister Jaclyn, who was never meant to succeed. As Damien makes a new life with the Unwanted, he learns to use his powers and discovers the truth about his new âfamilyâ. But before he can decide where he really belongs, he must come to terms with who and what he really is. |
The First Rule by Steven William Hannah Venalia is going to die. When the newly ordained Priestess of the Mind's Eye returns home to bury her mentor, she meets the seer, Temple. In his dreams of the near future, Temple sees her go to certain death facing a horror from the world below, a choir of the dead whose song enslaves the living. Venalia's failure to protect the village is foretold, the village that has shunned her since childhood - but Venalia is sworn to an oath, bound by the first rule of the Priesthood to stand her ground against even the most hopeless of odds. Beset by corrupt leadership and an ungrateful flock, Venalia must decide what her life is really worth. Perhaps it is better to die for something than to live for nothing. The First Rule is a fantasy novel with elements of mystery, detective, progression and horror. It tells a story about redemption, forgiveness and duty in the face of overwhelming odds. |
Candle Children by Michael Baker A dark flintlock fantasy set in a city haunted by more than just ghosts.â¨â¨Bluejay, the orphaned son of a disgraced knight, has dedicated himself to protecting Rosettaâs poorest from the city's many spirits. Alongside Beth, who knows all the old songs and stories of the city, he can outwit or outrun any spirit. But he has never been hunted by an emperor. When disaster strikes the emperor unleashes death on the city, sending in his fearsome personal guard to massacre those least able to defend themselves. Bluejay must turn to the very spirits that have been haunting him for help. They already have his soul, now they want something else. The spirits have been playing their own game. One where orphans and emperors are both pawns. As the city teeters on the edge of destruction Bluejay discovers that there is more power in the old stories than he ever realised. Enough to overthrow an emperor or doom an entire city. Contains violence and adult language. |
Beneath the Lanterns by C. Litka No good deed goes unpunished. When the son of the ruler of the Empire of Azere, Lefe Sol, is told, to his dismay, that he is to marry the eccentric fourth daughter of the Empress of Jasmyne, his friend, Kel Cam, offers to stand by and help him meet this challenge. Kel, however, soon finds himself entangled in the affairs of two great empires, and discovers, to his own dismay, that no good deed goes unpunished. Beneath the Lanterns is set in an imaginary world of colorful cities, wide steppes, and valleys littered with the ruins of a long lost civilization. Itâs a world with 16 days of daylight under the yellow lantern, and equally long nights lit by the blue lantern. Caught in the intrigues of empires, Kel Cam is forced to flee for his liberty, if not his life, across this wide and wild world. Beneath the Lanterns is a lighthearted novel of adventure and romance.C. Litka writes old-fashioned novels with modern sensibilities, humor, and romance. His lighthearted novels of adventure, mystery, and travel are set in richly imagined worlds and feature a colorful cast of well drawn characters. If you seek to escape, for a few hours, your everyday life, you will not find better company, nor more wonderful worlds to travel and explore, than in the novels of C. Litka. |
Beyond the Filigree Wall by Melissa Wright A dark curse. A deadly secret. The ill-fated girl at the heart of both. Antonetta Ostwind is about to get everything sheâs ever wanted. If all goes to plan, sheâll end the fae, steal back what was stolen, and win the post sheâs always dreamed of in time to dress for supper. Thereâs just one problem. His name is Gideon Alexander. Gideon holds the key to her coveted post. Heâs fantastic with a sword, looks amazing in uniform, and commands even the adoration of his great, beastly dog. Heâs living the life Etta needs. Gideon doesnât believe Etta should have any of it. In fact, heâs planning to make sure she never does. And thatâs a real problem, because if Etta canât take her post as marshal, how can she have her vengeance and save the kingdom from the prince of the fae? Slow-burn with sweet kisses with properly stabby heroines--these regency and fairtyale inspired fantasy standalones are perfect for fans of Enchantment of Ravens and Little Thieves. |
A Dagger in the Winds by Brendan Noble A warrior shrouded in darkness. A witch sworn to revenge. A winter unbounded. WacĹaw is an outcast. Born with a curse he doesnât understand, heâs hidden his power his entire life. But when the goddess of winter unleashes the darkness within him, his only hope for answers is the girl heâs forbidden to see. Otylia is a witch. Thereâs no one she hates more than the winter goddessâexcept her once best friend WacĹaw. But when she receives visions of endless blizzards and WacĹaw fighting by her side, she realizes heâs the key to uncovering the goddessâs plot. Facing monsters and magic at every turn, the pair must journey with friends and rivals alike to confront the cult of winter, but WacĹawâs awakened darkness grows as death consumes the living realm. To contain it, theyâll have to mend their broken relationship and delve into the mysteries of their past. Mysteries that could destroy the winter goddess . . . or themselves. In this first book of an epic fantasy series rooted in Slavic mythology, dive into a new world with menacing magic and beasts, scheming gods, a group of allied misfits, and plenty of secrets to uncover. |
Gods of the Deep by Drew Montgomery For as long as anyone can remember, the Balance has always been kept, the sacrifice given to the Imakut and the Imakut providing their bounty from the sea. The small town of Aliit has long sat on the edge of civilization, but it is only recently that civilization has come to them in the form of whaling ships belonging to a powerful company, seeking the valuable oil that lies within the great creatures. First the sacrifices are rejected. Then, people begin disappearing, taken as they venture out to fish or farm kelp. Calls for help are rejected by the company and government alike. As tensions mount within the town, it becomes clear that the only path to survival is by fighting. With the help of former company soldiers, they begin to prepare to defend their home. But can they withstand the onslaught of the monsters they worship as gods? |
A Spring for Spears by Derek Alan Siddoway & Katie Cross The fate of the Wolf Riders falls on an outcast. Astrid would give anything to be one of the Ulfsarkâfearless warriors who ride giant Amarok wolves. Like her ancestors, she yearns for the soul-deep bond with a wolf. The connection. The union. A chance to prove her worth and honor her mother's legacy. Yet she's never heard the Wolf Song. And with each passing year, it's likely she never will. Astrid refuses to accept her fate. Then an encounter with a nature spirit and a foreign princess dashes her last hope and changes everything. Accused of killing a royal guardsman, Astrid travels to the halls of a mad king to clear her name and stop a war against her people. Though she has no Amarok wolf, Astrid refuses to fail her tribe. Even if she cannot be an Ulfsark. There, she'll discover a regular wolf that opens her heart, friends she never asked for, and a new world far more dangerousâand strangeâthan she ever imagined. Will Astrid save a fragile peace and embrace her destiny? Or will her dreams of the Wolf Song fade in distant lands? Join Astrid and friends on a thrilling new fantasy adventure in A SPRING FOR SPEARS, the first novel in the WOLF SONG SAGA series by bestselling, award-winning authors Katie Cross and Derek Alan Siddoway. |
Casual Business with Fairies by J. W. Judge Not all fairy tales end with happily ever after. In a time when a new breed of fairies is not beholden to the old covenants that have governed the relationship between mankind and fairies for centuries, the Bone Collectors Guild has risen as a force that intends to forever shift the balance of power. Scott Warren finds himself in the middle of a conflict that is generations in the making. Not only did he not know the parties, but until now he didn't even know they existed beyond the lore and children's stories that were told to him and that he has passed on to his daughter. When someone shows up at Warren's law office claiming to be a fairy, he must decide whether the world is as he has always believed it to be. And if not, are the stakes great enough to warrant getting involved and placing himself in the crosshairs of the Bone Collectors Guild? Warren resigns himself to maintaining the status quo until his own daughter's lost teeth turn up missing and the tooth fairies give him a dose of what they have in store for those whose bones they've collected. Regardless of his decision, he is left with the lasting impression that doing business with fairies couldn't be a more treacherous endeavor. Buy now to find out if Scott Warren gets tangled up with factions on the brink of calamity. |
Springtide Harvest by J.D. Mitchell Haskell wants to be a legend, a hero like his grandfather who broke the orcish hordes. Froba just wants to survive. She knows what Haskell doesn't: that the deck is stacked against them, and there are no heroes in the world. After assembling a band of misfits, Haskell must face a labyrinthine dungeon, an exploitative, monster-hunting guild, and his own failings, while Froba must decide where her loyalties lieâwith her naĂŻve mark or corrupt master. If traitors and woodland monsters donât murder them first. |
The Return of the Knights by Gregory Kontaxis The Palace of the Dawn will soon be stormed. The most ruthless man of all time is one step away from assailing on Iovbridge and dethroning Sophie Delamere. The Queen of Knightdorn is now alone, with neither allies nor an army capable of rebuffing the enemy which is approaching her city. Everything appears to be over, until a mysterious young man, Elliot, makes his appearance. Entangled in a web of lies and politics, Elliot will try to draw Walter away from Iovbridge and face him in the stronghold of Wirskworth. He will attempt to rekindle relations and revive the old alliance between the Queen of Knightdorn and Syrella Endor, the Governor of Wirskworth. Elliotâs mission will take every fibre of his will and if he fails, so shall the kingdom. Game Of Thrones meets Greek mythology in this explosive epic fantasy story, packed with war, medieval lore, magic, loyalty and bravery. The first book in the series, The Dance of Light, will take you on an epic journey to a fantasy world of men and mythical creatures which will keep you spellbound till the very end. |
Written in Water by Elizabeth Schechter Aven's world is frustratingly simple. He lives far out at sea for reasons that his parents will never discuss with him, telling him only that life on land isn't safe. Then the discovery of a storm-damaged ship with a single survivor reveals the truth. He is the Waterborn, one of the five chosen by the Mother Goddess to save the world. And the world is far more complicated than he ever dreamed, and far more terrifying. Forced to leave behind the only life he's ever known, Aven must learn quickly how to survive on land, and how to protect his newfound loves from the unknown menace hunting them. Can Aven fulfill his destiny and save the world? Or will this quest cost him everything? |
Infernal Shadow by Tayor Crook As shadows stretch across the land,â¨Her light becomes our hope. Thomaras lives by a strict set of rules: Get paid up front, never use your real name, and never be a hero. Little does he know that his next job will tear his rules, and his life, apart. Ashea is only safe when sheâs on the move. Pursued by nightmares and the consequences of her own growing power, one small mistake traps her in a cell that could be her end. To escape, she is forced to trust a man that canât be trusted. Half Granite Ogre, half Human, Torin travelled south into Haven to live among his motherâs people. Quiet and unassuming despite his size, Torin is about to be thrust into a conflict that threatens Humans and Granite Ogres alike. Watching it all from another plane of existence, a dark entity slowly exerts its power. Influencing. Manipulating. Waiting. |
The Way of Unity by Sarah K. Balstrup The Seven Lands of Velspar put their faith in the Intercessors, a psychic priesthood responsible for the purification of the spirit. Where passion flares, they soothe its intent. Those who cannot be soothed, are cast out, their spirits destroyed by fire. The Intercessors are mystics of the highest order, but Velsparâs ruling Skalens believe their power has grown too great. Surviving the Intercessorâs murder plot against her family, Sybilla Ladain rises to power. The Skalens come together under the banner of her grief, bringing the practice of Intercession to its brutal, bloody end. Yet victory brings Sybilla no peace. In time, she will have to face the people of Velspar, forced to live in a psychically alienated world, and a band of rebels led by an escaped Intercessor set on her annihilation. |
Humanborn by Joanna Maciejewska In the war, the mythborn killed her friends, but now humanborn Kaja needs to work with them to uncover a conspiracy or Dublin's streets will run red with blood once more. Less than a decade ago, the Magiclysm, a tear between Earth and another place, brought magic to Irelandâand worse, it brought back the mythborn. The war that followed left Dublin scarred, and cursed Kaja Modrzewska with chaotic magic that will eventually claim her life. Struggling with wartime nightmares, Kaja seeks normalcy amongst the volatile peace working as an information broker when a series of explosions across Dublin threatens to reignite the war. Both sides are eager to blame the other, so Kaja reluctantly agrees to investigate. But finding the terrorists responsible means working alongside the mythbornâs elite killers, and uncomfortable wartime secrets coming to light. Kaja, who had saved a mythbornâs life during the war, finds out she has a life debt of her own, and as she juggles her allegiances and obligations, sheâll have to decide where her loyalties lie, with her old human allies or the mythborn. |