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âOh gods, I'm some sort of prophet now? I only wanted a drink...â The Heretic is the story of a man who finds himself in great danger, and can't quite work out how he got there, although it probably has something to do with alcohol. His mouth gets him in trouble, and before he knows what's happening he has to flee not just his hometown but his homeland entirely, with an unexpected companion in tow. This book is his story, the story of a journey and an odd friendship.â¨â¨The Heretic is a work of fantasy, but one with few truly fantastical elements. It is based on real historical cultures, mainly those of Classical-era Europe.â¨â¨The tone is darkly humorous, and has been described by acclaimed author Terri Nixon as âPython meets Pratchettâ. |
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The Hellborn King by Christopher G. Brenning A kingdom at war. A royal family at war with itself. After the massacre of his people, Damien Dreadfire leads a patchwork army of unlikely allies against the Kingdom of Betanthia. The alliance teeters on the edge of a knife, as old rivalries between clans threaten to tear it apart. With the help of his trusted friend, Einarr, and a strange mystic, Damien launches a bold offensive that will decide the future of the free lands. Short on time, and even shorter on men, the fate of a once vibrant culture and its people rests on the outcome of the next battle. Meanwhile, Betanthia's crown prince, Gareth Bethard, faces dangers of his own. With his family coming apart at the seams and a growing conspiracy afoot, he tries desperately to hold everything together. Even as Gareth grapples with inner demons, he must learn to take up his father's mantle as the protector of civilization and defeat Damienâs invading horde. It's only the fate of a thousand-year dynasty resting on his shoulders, after all. |
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It Takes a Queen to Save a Kingdom The last thing Riette expects on a snowy winterâs evening is Meirdreâs royal guard appearing on her doorstep. Their purpose? The king needs a bride, and tradition dictates the position is hers to accept. Desperate to secure her parentsâ future, she agrees to the marriage and is whisked away to Lochfeld Castle, all too aware her childhood friend is there as well, imprisoned as a rebel in the dungeons below. But life at the Meirdrean court isnât anything Riette expected. Not only does King Laurent have secrets, but so does the castle itselfâmysteries she alone can see. The latest in a long line of women chosen to protect Meirdre, she discovers her foremost purpose is to shield the kingdom from both natural disasters and outside forces who would love to see it fall. War is on the horizon . . . but can she call upon her powers to stop it? Between love and treachery, Riette will discover what it truly means to be a crownkeeperâbecause accepting her future as queen of Meirdre might be the one thing that saves her kingdom. For those who prefer standalone novels, Crownkeeper consists of the novellas Treason's Crown, War's Crown, and Queen's Crown. It contains limited new material. |
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Cutthroats and Traitors by Steven Smith Will the Jagged Ghosts stop at nothing to evade capture? Their journey of alcohol induced law breaking may soon come to an end, with naval commander Lieutenant Dainsley being appointed the task of bringing the small pirate crew to justice. Itâs a race against time. If the Jagged Ghosts lose, the noose will await them all. |
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A King's Radiance by L. R. Schulz Three siblings⌠a rebel, a prince, a prisoner The sunâs light shines bright over the land of Zapour, and only a select few can harness its power. But all power comes with a cost, and the world is not kind to those who refuse to pay it. Raiz Glaive, a strong shine wielder, was born into royalty, though even royals have to answer to someone. When the King-Radiant sends one of his precious underlings to the Kingdom of Trost, Raiz quickly learns who holds the true power in the realm. After his sister is taken prisoner simply for having the violet eyes of a mystic, Raiz swears vengeance. But when an unwilling father stands in his way, Raiz promises to take revenge into his own hands. Dazen Glaive remains heir to the throne of Trost, and a sworn defender of the King-Radiant, but he has not forgotten what happened to his sister, and will not forgive their cruelty. Forced to be the centrepiece of her âmasterâsâ twisted human art gallery, Isha remains a prisoner. Though she has not lost hope. Finding friends among fellow captives, she begins to formulate a plan for escape. Though what she discovers has a much more sinister bearing on the fate of all of Zapour. |
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Den of Thieves by S.A. Klopfenstein A world of villains is no place for a hero... Imprisoned for a crime he barely remembers, Gunnar is forced to labor in an underground prison camp. But if he works hard, he earns time in a beta test for the first fully immersive online RPG.â¨â¨Pantheon Online is beyond anything Gunnar has ever experienced, but the game is inextricably linked to his reality as a prisoner. He may not be the best or the brightest criminal, but if he fails to perform... things are not going to go well for him.â¨â¨Gunnar must quickly learn to navigate a cutthroat city of thieves and assassins, garner the favor of a goddess, earn his way into a guild, and try not to be the brunt of all the AI's deprecating jokes. But there's more going on, and the further Gunnar progresses, the more he realizes that he is in for the ride of his life. Or is it... for his life? |
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The Hidden Blade by Marie M. Mullany How far will commitment to his liege take the assassin Louis? The bluronâs wings delivers a stark command of death as the Empire teeters on the edge of a most uncivil war. For the first time in Her long history, a ducal line has failed. The last duke of Etendulat is dead and none of his heirs have undertaken the Trials of Dusang. The wealth of farmlands that lies at the heart of the Blutben peninsula lack a ruler and greedy men circle the bountiful plains. Into this high stakes game, Louis is sent to end the ambitions of Tybalt du Mamel, Baron of Somfaux, who would reach for the Etendulat Sash. With every step, he uncovers more of a treacherous plot that is poised to strike at the heart of the Empire. Forbidden magic shadows him and ultimately he must make a dire decision: Can he take the life of an innocent for the greater good? The Hidden Blade is the first book in an exciting new fantasy series. If you like epic fantasy with strong world building, a plot that stretches from the past to the future, human characters with human flaws and realistic magic, this book is for you! Plunge headlong into the world of Sangwheel Chronicles to learn what happens when the subtle game of politics turns deadly, start reading The Hidden Blade today! |
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Elf born, raised by wolves, and talks to dragons⌠Who is this girl? She wants to find out, too, as she abandons the safe confines of her home to discover the truth for herself. Blessed with a magic unlike any before, she discovers a world at war ruled over by monstrous dragons, where the land has been slowly dying beyond that of her cozy little wolf den. The young elf discovers she is known by many names, and some believe her to be the one of prophecy meant to unite the land of Onis. It is no easy task that has been placed on her shoulders. There is no love between the dragons, the elves, the humans, the dwarves, and the drow, so getting them to listen will be quite a challenge. Luckily, the wolf child has an unprecedented team of cohorts to aid and guide her on her quest, but is she ready for such a challenge? Will the ancient dragonsâ extreme hatred be overcome so that peace can be brought to the land? Or, will the young girl fail in her quest and bring forth an even greater war between the races? Join this young elf on her epic quest for peace and self-discovery as she battles against monsters, forms unbreakable bonds, and faces the reigning ancient dragons of Onis. |
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Fountain Girl by Patricia S. Bowne Paio's brother has come back to the village! But he's come home to die, and to require a promise that will change her life. She has to reveal the magic talent she's hidden, go to the far-away city of Selanto for training, and find his lost child -- before the water they all depend on is lost forever. Paio doesn't realize that the people most determined to stop her are right in front of her. |
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DEATH IS ONLY THE BEGINNING in this epic series starter by debut author, Emerson Laine. In a small village in the south of England, two sisters try to resurrect an ancient evil, but when one sister betrays the other to save the life of an innocent child, everything goes horribly wrong. TWENTY-FIVE YEARS LATER, grieving the loss of her recently deceased mother and desperate to escape her ex-fiancĂŠ, Raewyn Winters relocates to Cranston Myre for some much-needed tranquility, only to discover that having an entire forest on your doorstep is less than idyllic, especially one shrouded in fear and suspicion. Then she meets John, the mysterious and handsome gardener from the Gothic mansion on the hill, who just happens to have the same unusual birthmark as Rae, and suddenly Raeâs quiet life spirals out of control as she is dragged into a dark and sinister world beyond anything she could ever have imagined. |
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The Last Lumenian by S.G. Blaise MOST PRINCESSES NEED SAVING. THIS ONE WILL SAVE YOU. She is a rebel. Lilla is fighting for the refugees's freedom from oppression. The king, her father, lost touch with reality ever since Lilla's mother died. Now everyone else is paying the price. The arrival of Callum, a powerful Teryn general, complicates Lilla's life. His presence leads to conflicted feelings and friction with Arrov, a handsome pilot and fellow rebel. Her life is not what she imagined it to be. Not by far. Meddling gods, love interests and sudden magical abilities have no room in Lilla's world, but that has become her new reality. No matter how hard she pushes them away, it's too late. They all seek to control her anyway. Now the Era War between two ruling archgods forces Lilla to act: accept who she really is magic and all; find true love; fulfill her destiny by defeating the Archgod of Chaos and Destruction before He finds her. |
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The Shadow Courtesan by Willow Woods No mortal will tell of our tragedy... Tenebrae; a world of darkness, trapped in the past and where vampires rule over their mortal slaves. Torn from the safety of her small village, twelve-year-old Reina is a thrust into a life of slavery and eternal darkness. Spending her prime years in servitude to the demons known as vampires, Reina learns to keep her head down and remain unseen. But all that changes when she makes a fatal mistake. A century after seeing her home destroyed and family slaughtered, Reina is forced to return toTenebrae. No longer a slave and raised to the ranks of vampire, the very creature she loathes, Reina is determined to end slavery and destroy Tenebrae. But she has caught the attention of Master Vrykólakas, the man responsible for the death of her family. Suspicious of Reina's return he issues her an impossible ultimatum: become his treasured courtesan or condemn the man who is both her Creator and lover to death. Buy now and join Reina as she battles the demons of her past and fights to forge her own path in life. |
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The Binding Tempest by Steven Rudy A fallen empire, a failed republic, and a frontier of alchemy, magic, and machines... They thought the war was over. That they had given enough, but when an oppressive empire falls, what comes from the ashes, is turmoil and treachery. Ellaria Moonstone, an alchemist, and a hero of the Great War, has spent the last forty years trying to rebuild. As an emissary for the Scholarâs Guild, her lifeâs work is establishing universities throughout the world. But as a former general that led the resistance in overthrowing the Sagean Empire, she has watched as all she fought for has slowly eroded away and with it, her faith in the republic. Now in her mid-fifties her singular focus has been to protect all knowledge for future generations. When the Peace King of the Free Cities goes missing Ellaria uncovers a plot to overthrow the tenuous republic. Convinced that the entity manipulating the fragile government is a Luminary with the powers to control energy, called a Sagean Lord. Ellaria sends for help from old allies and expatriates scattered across the chaotic frontier. Three former war heroes, long past their prime and haunted by their pasts, are all that stand against a dark entity threatening the future. But once reunited, the aging veterans realize trust between old friends is not what it once was. With the currency of souls is in the balance they find that their destinies are entwined with a band of young rogues willing to stand and fight with the heroes they grew up reading about. Together they must stop the return of a dark empire, but the key to protecting the future resides in the mysteries of the past, the lost tomb of the emperorâs and a relic from the time of the unknown ancients, called the Tempest Stone. |
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Captain of the Guard by Ron C. Nieto Oren Trevaine has never shaken the feeling that heâs not good enough, but heâs determined to avoid the same fate for his men. Orenâs first task as Captain of the Guard is to transform his unruly, undisciplined soldiers into a formidable armyâif only they would cooperate. But Oren will need to act fast because the snow is melting with the budding of spring. Soon, the enemy will be able to traverse the main pass through the imposing Sansford Range and his men must be ready to patrol the mountain. When Oren rescues Lady Joan and her traveling party from a band of Mirdoni raiders, his worst fears are realized. The enemy has utilized less accessible routes to infiltrate their territory, and an attack is imminent. Now Oren must not only think like the enemy, but he will need to be one step ahead. With the kingdom relying on him and Lady Joan promising her favor if he returns alive, Oren will need to prove to her and his men that he truly is good enough. Or at the very least, die trying . . . |
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A Matter of Dragons by Meredith Hart Rayne came to Cairncliff to kill a dragon. Not to kiss one. This secret mission is Rayneâs chance to finally prove that, despite her gender and her childhood in the orphanage, she can serve the Valgros Royal Army. When she enters a dusty antiquities shop looking for information about the dragon sheâs been sent to kill, Rayne isnât expecting the gorgeous man behind the counter to take her breath away. And she certainly isnât expecting him to invite her out for wineâŚand more. Doshir moved to the sleepy village of Cairncliff to escape the constant drama of dragon politics, not to mention his cheating ex-girlfriend. When a beautiful woman from the mysterious kingdom of Valgros arrives on his doorstep, Doshir is delighted to be mistaken for a human, and heâs even happier to have the chance to seduce a woman who isnât only interested in him because heâs a dragon. But secrets have a way of coming to light, and one night will tie Rayne and Doshirâs destinies together in ways neither of them can imagine. In a city where dragons take human form and forbidden magic runs wild, betrayal waits for both the dragons and the dragon hunters.â¨â¨A Matter of Dragons is the first book in a new romantic fantasy adventure series. Fans of Miranda Honfleur and Sarah J. Maas will love this story of dangerous adventure, sizzling romance, and secret dragon shifters. |
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Wake of the Phoenix by Chelsea Harper War Hero. Thiefmaster's apprentice. Traitors. Every title comes with a price. Arkaen is a gods-damned saint. He sacrificed his childhood innocence fighting for the beleaguered rebellion in a civil war and relinquished a comfortable life with the man he loves to reclaim his place as high lord from corrupt nobles. Now, a hidden enemy is manipulating his lower lords into talk of rebellion, including the powerful Rogue Baron who is slowly swaying the city into questioning every move Arkaen makes. With the help of his near-omniscient lover's gift of foresight, Arkaen finds a potential ally in Niamsha, a reluctant thief trying to pay for her brotherâs education. But Niamsha owes an insurmountable debt to the mysterious leader of her thieves guild and failing to pay means deathâfor her entire family. When her guild leader demands she join forces with the Rogue Baron himself, she finds herself caught in a political battle beyond her skills. Torn between protecting her family and following her conscience, Niamsha doesn't know who to trust. If Arkaen can win Niamsha's loyalty, he might just prevent a second civil war and the destruction of everything he fought to protect. Or he might get them all killed. |
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A Company of Adventurers by Rune S. Nielsen What happens to legendary adventurers when they retire? Talen is a poor farmhandâŚbut he used to be a famously quick swordsman. Now he has one last job, which could secure his familyâs future: he must retrieve a cursed suit of golden armor from a mountain claimed by genocidal orcs. When Talen fails to return from his adventure, a motley crew of rugged neâer-do-wells must deal with the mysterious person who hired Talen, as well as a family of berserkers. And retrieving the armor will take a grievous toll... Discover the fantasy kingdom of Kjeldale, featuring a world inspired by Norse and Celtic mythology, rich with bittersweet nuances and dry wit. Author Rune S. Nielsen, who previously wrote the acclaimed novel Doomsayer Prince, is back with a fun but layered fantasy novel for every roleplayer whoâs wondered what happens after heroes become legends. |
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Deep in the Australian forests, something dark is stirring. When wildlife ranger Lisa Thomas finds a pile of animal entrails on her doorstep she immediately suspects her abusive ex, but the sudden spate of deaths that follow seem beyond even Ben's vindictiveness. Worse, her father's health is deteriorating fast and when the harassment and deaths continue, it only fuels her feelings of powerlessness. To add confusion to growing fear, Lisa must also investigate reports of a giant white kangaroo, reports that suggest the creature is no mere hoax. Yet the mysterious kangaroo is impossible to track down and the more Lisa searches the more she's sure an even greater threat lurks in the wilderness... |
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The Assassin of Grins and Secrets by K.E.Andrews Once the infamous assassin who killed with a smile, Serein now waits for death in the fighting pits of the Harpy's Chest. When the crown prince of Sarddon, Rameses al-Amirmoez, seeks her out with an offer of freedom if she serves as his guard, she must decide whether to work for those who ravaged her homeland or die. Rameses wants to believe that the war his father started was justified, but he has heard rumors and seen a cruelty in his father that causes him to question everything he's been told. To find answers, he needs Serein. Uriah Stormheir, Captain of the Oyon's city guard, finds himself caught between his duty to the crown and his friendship with Rameses. His distrust for Rameses' new guard runs deep. As Uriah wrestles with guilt from his past, he must work alongside the dangerous assassin whose true motives are hidden underneath her scars and dark grins. In a land of hot sands and dying magic, Serein plays the game of secrets with Uriah and Rameses, knowing one wrong step could end her life. As the shadows of her past catch up with her, she has to choose between pursuing vengeance and protecting a secret only she knows. |
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Blazing Coffins by Jowsey Jones BLAZING COFFINS: A FANTASY FARCE Monster Twins Theda and Wolfie chase around a bizarro America trying to save their parents from a lunatic sorcerer with pharaonic delusions. They face an army of crackpot enemies: a vampire haberdasher and his toothy cohort, bumbling claymen, and a beautiful, insatiable nightmare from the ancient Steppes. Even Santa gets a cameo, and he isnât very nice at all. Thankfully, they have some monsters of their own to help: an old-school Frankencouple and a Green Man with his snippety eco-warrior wife. Plus a trio of cheerful dead people, the worldâs worst paranormal investigator, and a lovelorn bogman in dire need of moisturiser. Jowsey Jones is the newest comedy fantasy voice in town and he brings you a tumbling SFF farce with Blazing Coffins, the first in TheMonster Twins series. Welcome to a fearless frolic that sacrifices anything for a laugh. Get your giggles here with Blazing Coffins. |
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Odriel's Heirs by Hayley Reese Chow The brave, burning with fire, harnessed the Dragon's Rage.... As the Dragon Heir, seventeen-year-old Kaia inherited the power of flame to protect her homeland from a godlike necromancerâs undead army. But after centuries of peace, the necromancer has faded to myth, and the Dragon Heir is feared by the people. Persecuted and cast out, Kaia struggles to embrace and control her seemingly useless gift while confined to her familyâs farm. But when the necromancerâs undead terrorize the land once again, Kaia runs away to join the battle. With the help of her childhood rival, the handsome Shadow Heir, and a snarky, cursed cat, Kaia must figure out how to control both her fire and her confidence in time to save Okarria. If she fails, she will sacrifice her family, her new friends, and the enchanting world she has only just begun to see. And time is running out. |
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Explore a unique, new epic fantasy by A.J. Calvin, featuring species and gods not previously seen in other aspects of the genre. The Moon's Eye is the first installment of The Relics of War series.â¨â¨Chosen for advanced training by the god of war himself, Vardak is considered a paragon amongst his people, the Scorpion Men. Yet his position and training come with a cost: He must serve the whims of the god, with no questions asked. Only days after his training is complete, he is sent far away from his desert homeland in order to act as the protector of the Fire Maidenâs mortal daughter, Janna. Janna has been tasked with the recovery of a magical relic known as The Moonâs Eye, but she has little worldly experience to guide her. The Immortals deem the relicâs recovery imperative, for it alone can combat the rise of the Soullessâthose sworn to the fallen, nameless god of death. The Soulless are ruthless and powerful, and eager to wage war upon the land in order to appease the god they serve. Though Vardak is skilled in battle, he must lead Janna through several perilous areas in order to reach the relic she seeks, pushing his abilities to the limit. Unbeknownst to the pair, the Soulless raise an army and begin their conquest, leaving a path of destruction in their wake. Will they secure The Moonâs Eye before all is lost, or will the relic itself prove to be their undoing? |
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Queen of the Warrior Bees by Jean Gill Epic eco-fantasy. 2020 Kindle Book Awards Finalist. Standalone Bk 1 in an award-winning trilogy. 2020 Royal Dragonfly Award winner. One misfit girl and 50,000 bees against the might of the Citadel. Mielitta, a despised servant of dubious parentage, yearns to be an adult and fit into Citadel society but the all-powerful mages wonât even consider her for the Maturity Test. As they fight amongst themselves, Mielitta overhears their secrets and plans to escape. Bastien and Jannlou, the boys who terrorised her as a child, have grown into their status as Mages and she cannot escape them forever. In desperation, she flees to the forbidden Forest and its dangerous attractions. Her scent angers thousands of bees and, although she survives their attack, she has changed. As a bee-shifter, Mielitta sees the world differently. This bond works both ways and the bees need Mielittaâs help as the rift widens between Forest and Citadel. Can Mielitta find the fulfilment she craves or will the Mages crush every cell of her second nature?â¨Block Nature out and she'll force a way in. |
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9 Levels of Hell by E.C. Static Die to Fight, Fight to Live: Welcome to the Hell Games Yesterday, Clint and his girlfriend died in a car accident. Today, he woke up in Hell with dozens of other humans in a game of life or death devised by Death himself. There are only two rules: 1) If you lose, you dieâpermanently. 2) If you beat all 9 levels, you win back your soul and the soul of the person you died trying to save. If Clint can reach the end of the game, he can save his girlfriend and himselfâif the other players don't kill him first. *** This gamelit immerses you in the experience of the game with custom HUD graphics and a detailed stats appendix in the back of the book that lets you choose your optimum litRPG experience: following every detail of the game stats or discovering the game along with the characters. This is the first in a 9-book litRPG series that had its start as a popular Reddit serial that left readers raving. The new-and-improved Kindle edition features everything that made the original series great: kickass fights, killer stakes, and a fight to the death in the deepest bowels of Hell. |
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Magic he paid for, and she never wanted. Clover has lived as the outcast wife of a shapeshifter for six years, and been miserable every second of it. The magic-hating townspeople harass her and threaten her life, but sheâs accepted her fate. Mostly. When an accident gives Clover the chance to escape her exile, she seizes it, only to discover that itâs left her with a new, more terrifying problemâitâs trapped magic inside her. In a world that despises magic, that would have been enough, but this magic was designed to lure and now Clover is pursued by bloodthirsty animals called wilds. The only person she can rely on for help is Joss, the gunslinging wild hunter who caused the accident that upended Cloverâs life. In a journey across the country, Clover and Joss search for a way to remove the magic while fending off wilds, dealing with Jossâs past coming back to bite him, and trying to survive among people who would kill to erase magic. |
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The Wastes of Keldora by Alex Raizman After one too many failed inventions, Julian has hit rock bottom. Summoned to another world where gods and monsters roam, Julian continues his streak of bad luck. Rather than touching the Godcore directly, he let his smartphone absorb it. Now, he's got to figure out how to make the Godcore and his phone work together to help the people who summoned him survive their upcoming annihilation by the mad God of Chains. He's going to have to innovate his way out of his bad luck. Good thing Julian has a plan - he's going to build a factory in a medieval world. |
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Troupe of Shadows by Jennings Zabrinsky Once the heir to an empire. Now just a shadow. Throne stolen by her traitorous brother. Chased to the edge of the world. Sellane has only a blade, a talent for slaughter, and four elite âblade dancerâ bodyguards to her name. Where once she lived a life full of courtly duels, decadence, and intrigue, she now finds herself trudging through a wild and desolate frontier populated by pioneers and warlords. One day Sellane will reclaim her birthright, but she has more immediate problems. The food has run out, shelter is scarce, and her followers are on the verge of mutiny. She canât even communicate with the strange inhabitants of this alien land: the so-called âhumansâ who wield guns, wear shoes, and seem completely incapable of shifting the color of their skin to disappear into their surroundings. It seems certain that an obscure and meaningless death lies in her near future. But when she captures Copper, a down-on-his-luck human mercenary who happens to speak her language, she seizes a razor-thin opportunity to reverse her fortunes. She has the bladecraft, he claims to have the connections, and the frontier will never have enough mercenaries. Sellane and her band will kill for gold, gather soldiers and power, and begin to build a new empire amongst the wastes. But can her new ally be trusted? Can her old allies? Will her dysfunctional troupe tear itself apart before theyâve earned a single coin? Troupe of Shadows is a dark fantasy novel with a focus on fiery interpersonal conflict and gritty action. It draws inspiration from wild west and classic high fantasy stories in equal measure. |
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The Darkness Calling by Kaleigh McCann There are few things more dangerous or more destructive than a bad man who thinks that he is doing a good thing... The Isles of Jara are burning. An unseasonable drought is slowly killing the land; choking 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 Cullen Fitzgerald, continues with his plans for subjugating the South and crushing the contemptible, stinking peasants that farm it under his heel. Deep in the brutal highlands of the Southern Isle, an outfit of desperadoes, bandits and cattle-thieves, led by the infamous Gray siblings, make a living from waylaying the Crown's cattle drovers and stealing their stock. Vali Gray, head of this crew, is looking forward to completing one last score before he leaves the road-life for good and settles down to fatherhood. Vali 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 Gunnar, his lifelong love, Erika, and their unborn child. That is until the captivatingly psychotic Raibert MacBain comes strolling back into their lives after a decade-long absence. MacBain is a monster and, like all good monsters, is a monster of Vali's own creation. Once a polite and conscientious young nobleman, MacBain is the bastard son of Viceroy Fitzgerald 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. MacBain is hunting for one 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 Isles of Jara back from the brink of the fireââor cast it into the flames. Now, Vali 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. Vali Gray 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? The answering of these questions will take the Grays and their crew of outlaw riders on a bloody journey, a journey that will reveal how the human heart is a torment and a masterpiece. |
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Dust Bound by Clementine Fraser Seventeen years after the Fae destroyed the world, Adelia Lark must face them again. Life in a world destroyed by monstrous Fae isn't an easy one. Adelia wants nothing more than to keep out of trouble and convince Ryder Hendrix, the ruggedly handsome leader of her compound, she doesn't need his protection. But covered in scars that won't let her forget her nightmares of sharp knives and pools of blood, finding happily ever after in a world covered in endlessly falling faerie Dust might not be in the cards. When the Fae steal an orphan teen, Adelia realises she wants something else: to stop the future echoing her past. As the only one immune to the poisonous Dust, she knows she is the teen's best chance. Accompanied by Ryder, who she's secretly loved for years, she ventures through a broken landscape to rescue the child whose fate echoes her own. But the Fae are hunting them, and the only chance of survival lies with Adelia accepting her past and embracing the mysterious powers she never wanted-and in doing so she may lose Ryder forever. This is Book One in a planned series |
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Burning Bright by Melissa McShane In 1812, Elinor Pembroke wakes to find her bedchamber in flamesâand extinguishes them with a thought. At 21, she is old to manifest magical talent, but the evidence is unmistakable: she not only has the ability to start fires, but the far more powerful ability to control and extinguish them. She is an Extraordinary, and the only one in England capable of wielding fire in over one hundred years. As an Extraordinary, she is respected and feared, but to her father, she represents power and prestige for himself. Mr. Pembroke, having spent his life studying magic, is determined to control Elinor and her talent by forcing her to marry where he chooses, a marriage that will produce even more powerful offspring. Trapped between the choices of a loveless marriage or living penniless and dependent on her parents, Elinor takes a third path: she defies tradition and society to join the Royal Navy. Assigned to serve under Captain Miles Ramsay aboard the frigate Athena, she turns her fiery talent on Englandâs enemies, French privateers and vicious pirates preying on English ships in the Caribbean. At first feared by her shipmates, a growing number of victories make her truly part of Athenaâs crew and bring her joy in her fire. But as her power grows and changes in unexpected ways, Elinorâs ability to control it is challenged. She may have the power to destroy her enemies utterlyâbut could it be at the cost of her own life? |
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The Scorpion's Lullaby by Juliet Vane The Scorpion Raiders have three rules: Be ruthless. Be rich. Live like gods. Joellaâs band of thieves lives deep in the jungle. Riding on giant scorpion dragons, they search the beautiful landscape for villages and caravans to rob. When insidious forces interrupt a routine raid, Joella becomes separated from her people. Sheâs alone except for a stolen book of legends and Marc, a pacifist dedicated to preserving the ways of the old goddess. Searching for their tribes, Joella and Marc brave violent beasts, deceitful clans, and the sweltering days and freezing nights of their beloved jungle. They must trust each other to right the wrongs of the past and save themselves, or risk the very landscape they hold so dear. The Scorpionâs Lullaby is a fast-paced, lyrical fantasy filled with creatures and characters who will take your breath away. Get your copy today and be transported into an unforgettable tale in this luminous, unique world. |
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Master of the Flying Broom by Joseph J. Bailey Kensaro Hatanuâs soul was born the day his master handed him his first sword. Except Kensaroâs master did not hand him a sword to walk the path of the otana hanji, the sword saints of legend. His teacher handed Kensaro a broom. A broom to clean the monastery. While the other martial ascetics of Guai Lu practiced their physical and spiritual disciplines, Kensaro swept, mopped, and dusted, imagining he was slaying monsters, saving villagers, and meting out justice. Until the demons came and his broom was called to action. Master of the Flying Broom is a wuxia and xianxia-inspired noblebright martial arts fantasy of roughly 90,000 words. |
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When youâre the one and only Private Eye in Purgatory no case is going to be easy, but when a lost young woman walks through Patrick Judasâ door things take an even more dangerous turn than normal. The City he calls home might be full of the worst people north of Hell, but there have always been rules. Live a good life this time around and your final journey in the great Elevator might take you to a better place, live a bad one and⌠well you get the idea. But now someone is breaking those rules, switching the fates of decent people with the worst scum in the City - and Judas' new client seems to be caught up in the middle of it all. With only his wits, a foul-mouthed cat, and the help of the scariest receptionist in the universe, Judas will have to risk everything to save the City he hates. |
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Sacaran Nights by Rachel Emma Shaw SACARA IS DECAYING. THE DEAD WALK THE STREETS, FUNGI LIGHT THE NIGHT, AND DAGNER MUST FIGHT TO KEEP THE ROT AT BAY. Legacy is everything in Sacara. Those few who inherit live only to keep theirs alive, protecting the ghosts of their ancestors from the corruption seeping into every corner of the city.â¨Dagner longs to leave - to create a legacy for himself and see the world beyond - but he is trapped by an inheritance that was never meant to be his. When a figure from his past returns to claim the legacy Dagner has sworn to protect, he must decide if he will forge his own path, or stay and make the sacrifices needed to save the city of the dead. |
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Raven: Reawakening by Mitchell Hogan A woman transformed by the blood of demons. Deadly beyond belief. Raven was once a member of the Grim Hand, a group of demonically altered assassinsâuntil she staged her own death and began a new life free from brutality and murder. But some secrets refuse to stay buried, and the past is reluctant to loosen its grip on those who hide from it. When faceless assassins strike, Raven must return to a world of intrigue and violence, if only to save herself. Alone, trapped, and fighting a vengeful enemy that easily outmatches even Ravenâs demon-hybrid abilities, she is forced to seek help from the man she once loved. A man with a revelation that will shake Raven to the core and change her world forever. |
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An Altar on the Village Green by Nathan Hall âIf one suffers, I suffer. If one is chained, I am chained.â My faith called me to become a Lance. My compassion drew me into one of the fallen lands. Through my connection with the Chained God, I alone can find and destroy the Horror that stains the land. Death can no longer chain me. But I couldnât have imagined the madness waiting for me in this village. Iâm not sure my faith can withstand the secrets Iâll uncover. Or that my compassion can survive the violence to come. This Horror may swallow me whole. Death can no longer free me. A creature stalks in the dark. Buildings burn. People die. An altar has been built on the village green. |
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Winner of LitNet's international inspiring literary contest! https://litnet.com/en/blogs/post/86343 Aria is a professional mermaid at an aquarium. She wears a fake tail and performs for visitors. All her life, she has been in love with the mythical creatures, but her whole world is turned upside down when they turn out to be more than myths and she gets caught in the middle of feuding cities from deep under the sea. |
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Imagine The Fire by SG Gowland BEFORE THE TIME OF THE WALKERS - DARKNESS THREATENED THE LAND, THE POWER OF MAGIC CHANGED FOREVER AND THE FUTURE OF THE KINGDOM HUNG IN THE BALANCE. In the kingdom of Essealar, a rival power threatens the Kingâs plans to build his empire. As his sanity crumbles, a secret power must be found to help him achieve his aims. He will stop at nothing to accomplish his goal, but everywhere he looks is fire and he cannot see the realm beyond his madness. Daria Ravesh has spent a lifetime in loyal service to the King and is distraught at his decline. When she meets Edris Fane, she knows his unparalleled powers are all her King needs â but will he become her greatest ally or ultimate rival? When Edris Faneâs family is threatened, and his people attacked, he must join the King to fight for the freedom and peace he craves, but by unleashing his anger reveals to him the true power of the darker side of magic â the Guldur â which could destroy him and all he holds dear. Heroes will rise, enemies will fall, but chaos will reign. |
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Blood on the Canvas by David Samuels A kindhearted apprentice falls under the sway of a murderous master. Together, their careers, families, and feuds will shape the fate of kingdoms. Five hundred cherubim is the price of freedom in Kellotho Cay. It's a daunting fee, sure, but fledgling painter SIDNEYA fully intends to free her brothers from serfdom⌠but first she must sharpen her skills under a master of the craft. One doesnât simply wake up and decide to paint a portrait for the Vernal Queen. There are words for that sort of person, and NICOLAF VâTRAMO knows them all. As a personal rule, the misanthrope never takes on apprentices. Not after last time. Besides, he's busy enough fending off rivals from the Honorable Guild of Brushmasters. But when Sidneya is caught stowing away on his homeward voyage, he finds himself in a bit of a pickle. |
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A Song For The Void by Andrew C. Piazza A Mind Imprisoned Is The Greatest Of Hells. 1853. South China Sea. While on patrol between the Opium Wars, the crew of the steam frigate HMS Charger pursues a fleet of pirates that have been terrorizing the waters surrounding Hong Kong. But now the hunters have become the hunted. Something else has come to the South China Sea, something ancient and powerful and malevolent. Now, the crew of the Charger must face their worst nightmares in order to survive the terrible creature they come to know as the Darkstar. A Song For The Void is a haunting, terrifying historical horror novel that will keep you turning the pages and jumping at the shadows. Readers who are interested in a historical adventure mixed with slow burn cosmic horror should take a closer look at A Song For The Void. |
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Dungeon Man Sam and the Orphaned Core by J. W. Benjamin Samuel Tolliver holds a deep and abiding hatred for Dungeons. For years he's been working and scheming to rid them from existence, and now heâs got a plan to do it. But there's a problem; Dungeons form the backbone of national economies and their construction is big business in this world. It doesnât help that Samâs father runs one of the worldâs premier dungeon construction companies, or that Sam works for the family business. And when a series of disastrous events culminate in the death of Sam and everyone he knows, it seemed that all was lost. Until a voice came to him, offering a deal he could not refuse. Now Dungeon Man Sam has returned to life as the guardian for a strange new dungeon core. To save himself and his family, Sam must construct a dungeon like the world has never seen and defend it against all comers, be they monstrous or adventurous. If he succeeds, he'll see his family once more. If he fails, oblivion awaits. And somewhere, beyond his awareness, something ancient and terrible stirs and takes notice. Dungeon Man Sam is a slow-burn character-focused dungeon-building litRPG novel with a unique leveling system and elements of base building and real time strategy. |
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Rise of Tears by Brand J. Alexander The world of Elerea is dying, and Asahn is the only one who can save it. At least thatâs the tale that Old Durn, the tribe storyteller, was weaving this time. It seemed absurd at first, but then everything spun out of control. A strange new religion is hunting the Kahn Shogal, and the secret to why may reside in the clouded history of Asahnâs people. The mighty Highlands warriors have no choice but to flee into the wilderness of their homeland, but it has become a harsh and unforgiving place as the world withers. While the Kahn Shogal face danger on every side, their great chieftain is too consumed by pride and tradition to lead them. Only Asahn, heir to the Kah Hrah, has the authority to confront his father in his missteps. But for a son who always looked up to his father, such betrayal will not come easily. With every step, Asahn will confront new dangers to his people and his world. And with every step, he will drive himself, against all odds, to become the person Old Durn swears he can be, their only salvation. |
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The Pirate's Deal (Romancing Aranthium #2) by Daniela A. Mera, Elayna R. Gallea Everything changes when the Ice Mer King says, âI want you to kill my daughter.â Erik I am the Pirate of Death. I have spent my life on the seas, maintaining my reputation as one of the most fearsome pirates to ever sail the waters in Aranthium. Then, the Ice Mer King makes a deal with me. Kill his daughter, and my life-debt is paid. Fail, and my life is forfeit. Sounds easy, right? If only the princess didnât have such a talent for getting under my skin and consuming my thoughts. Helena My father trades my voice for legs I don't want. A whole month on a human-only crew doesnât sound like my idea of fun. What I want is love, safety and family. Somehow, I find myself tangled up with a dangerous Pirate whose fate lies in my hands. Falling in love with him is exciting, effortless. But I donât want to be owned by anyone. âLittle Mermaid meets Captain Hook, except the voiceless heroine has a knife? Yes please.â This book is a complete, stand-alone story that is part of a larger series. "Romancing Aranthium" books are the perfect books for fans of fantasy romance who love sweet love stories, powerful ladies, danger, political intrigue, and epic journeys. Setting classic stories in an urban setting with vampires, fae, merpeople, angels, and were-shifters makes them all the more enticing. |
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Manipulator's War by Elise Carlson All roads lead to war. Nonbinary Ruarnon is determined to prove their worth as heir to Tarlah's perfect King. But when their parents are abducted, Ruarnon must rule Tarlah in the face of unreliable allies, a brutal expansionist neighbour, and binary male warriors who doubt the lead of a bookish enby youth. Neighbouring King Kyura faces opposition, as peace-loving ruler of warmongering subjects who dream of expanding their empire. Ruarnon is vulnerable in the absence of their allies, but when Kyura rejects calls to conquer Tarlah once and for all, assassins threaten his family and mutiny threatens his reign. Trapped in Ruarnon's world, Linh is desperate to return to her family in Australia, and isn't above using her hostâs belief that she's a figure from local myth to achieve it. But her gateway home lies on the far side of a brewing war, and her only transport is Ruarnonâs absent allies, sailing to Tarlahâs aid. A new breed of creature threatens them all: a plague of monsters sailing towards Kyura and Ruarnonâs lands. Linhâs monster observations could save Kyura and Ruarnonâs people, ending the war between them, and clearing Linhâs homeward path. But the strategyâs price is dear; Linh must risk her life aiding Ruarnon. And to secure peace with Kyuraâs unruly subjects, Ruarnonâs ultimate test as heir risks betrayal and Tarlahâs bloody defeat. |
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The Crypt Lord's Call by Dawson George If Hell is full, where do the sinners go? Theodore Goss is minding his own damn business when humanity's time runs out. Everyone is shunted off to Godguild, a new universe filled with magic, monsters, and stats, where the afterlife is determined by progression. It's not about being good anymore, or even being strong. All that matters is being at the top. Hard though it is, Theo plays along as an Afterlifer, determined to make it to paradise eventually. But when a vicious guild drags him into a skeletal dungeon run, Theo realizes the monsters have it much worse than him. Theo helps the surviving skeletons build a new home. To ensure their continued survival, however, Theo needs to navigate the minefield of unfriendly mobs, monsters of every shape and eldritch size, and of course, Hell itself peeking in at the edges, all while plumbing the secrets Godguild is hiding. It's going to take more than levelling up to make it in this cruel world, and Theo is just the guy to go above and beyond. Survival? Maybe for now. But Theo is coming for Godguild itself. The Crypt Lord's Call is book one of Godguild, a LitRPG series where the protagonist brings intelligent mobs to his side by hook or by crook, all to take the fight to the system. It offers a healthy helping of crafting, base-building, and survival elements. |
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The Alchemyst's Mirror by Liz Delton A missing brother. A secret society. And a mysterious artifact thatâs worth more than gold.Petra and Maisie Everturn just want to run their familyâs tea shop, but when their explorer brother Jiordan goes missing while looking for an alchemycal artifact, none of them are safe.The sisters must enlist the help of another explorer in order to find Jiordan or the artifactâbefore the mysterious alchemyst society finds them first.However, when one of the sisters stumbles into the clutches of the most dangerous alchemyst in the city, the race to unravel the clues becomes desperate. And when they discover the truth about the artifact, their quest to infiltrate the alchemystâs secret society becomes a matter of life and death. |
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The nightmares are back. Years after the deaths of his parents, the dreams that haunted Jax have returned. Heâs about to discover why, by being burned alive, just like they were. When the flames subside, the man left standing isnât the same one who burned. The Numen allows him to see the Whispers. Jax is a Myth, a descendant of a lost bloodline, born to fight the darkness hunting humanity. Guided by others like him, he reaches Mythaven, a magical sanctuary cut into the Colorado mountains. His new friends need his help, but Jax must conquer the demons of his past before he can save the future. Fantasy and reality are two sides of the same page. The lore is real, witches, werewolves, nymphs, and even dragons exist amongst us. Hidden throughout time, theyâve been fighting, dying, for humanity. When myth becomes truth, can Jax make it through his own story? |
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Beneath the Dragoneye Moons: Oathbound Healer by Selkie Myth Elaine is ripped from this world to Pallos, a land of unlimited possibilities made real by a grand System governing classes, skills, and magic. An ideal society? What is this, a fantasy novel? Adventures? Right this way! A Grand quest? Nah. Friends and loot? Heck yes! Humans are the top dog? Nope, dinosaur food. Healing and fighting? Well, everything is trying to eat her. Join Elaine as she travels around Pallos, discovering all the wonders and mysteries of the world, trying to find a place where she belongs, hunting those elusive mangos, all while the ominous Dragoneye Moons watch her every move. |
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Forest of Forgotten Vows by Grace Carlisle There are monsters in the woods. When I come back to my childhood home for the first time in seven years, a tiny man living under the porch stairs greets me like an old friend, and it only gets stranger from there. A hunter who stalks the woods, a monster in the river, and a man draped in shadows who offers me a bargain I canât refuse. They remember me, but my past is in tatters, forcing me to follow the trail my childhood self left me years agoâthe first time I entered the world known as Faerie. Each answer I find pulls me deeper into the web of political machinations of an otherworldly court. But nothing answers the biggest question: âwhy me?â And how can I possibly survive when I canât even trust my own mind? |
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The True and Accurate Log of the Sand Ship Uncertainty by Fowler Brown Reality is an uncertain thing. It shifts and warps without the taming yoke of human agreement to bind it in place, especially near the twisting chaos that is Nightmare. As Keeper of Days for a band of pirates, Teivi Nishiir maintains the log of the sand ship Uncertainty, holding back the worldâs insidious influence by recording the crewâs deeds. She knows the cruelty of the desert. She has sailed into Nightmare and sung her defiance to the corrupting aberrations that make the boldest pirate hunters balk. But even Nightmare is nothing beside a comradeâs betrayal. A deadly secret lurks among the Uncertaintyâs latest plunder, one that pirates and kings alike will kill for. With the Uncertainty thrown into chaos, fleeing friends and dodging fleets, Teiviâs quill wonât be enough to keep her crew from a sandy grave. If she can stay one step ahead, she might have a chance to achieve everything sheâs ever dreamed of. So long as sheâs willing to pay the price in blood. |