|
Chaos Trims My Beard by Brett Herman A Fantasy Noir Edwayn Sattler is a half-dwarf with a beard and a dead end job. One night when serving drinks to the city's rich and famous, a fiery playboy loses control of his magic and goes on a burning rampage. After some ill-advised heroics aided by the magic that lives in Edwayn's beard, he finds himself unemployed and socially exiled. With no other job or friends to fall back to, he signs on with an inscrutable ratman sporting a badge and a fetching hat, and together they dive beard and whiskers first into a magical murder conspiracy that threatens to consume the city. Armed with sub-par wits, a dry sense of humor, and a handful of magical tricks, Edwayn encounters conflagrating cops, smooth-talking trolls, shadowy corporate enforcers, and an air-headed vixen with a fatalistic streak. When his easy-going life spirals into a thrilling, darkly hilarious tale of intrigue and deception, Edwayn will find out just how close this newfound chaos will trim his beard. |
|
Tiger Lily (Tiger Lily #1) by K. Bird Lincoln Lily isn't supposed to hunt game in the Daimyo's woods. She's just the cook's daughter. It isn't her place to talk to nobility. And she definitely isn't supposed to sing the forbidden old, Jindo religion songs. But Lily was born in the year of the Tiger, and can't ever be like other village girls. In the woods snaring rabbits one day, she finds instead the Daimyo's son, Ashikaga, wounded, in the gooseberry brush. When the Pretender Emperor's men arrive to kill Ashikaga, Lily, desperate, sings a forbidden Jindo song. The song wakes a powerful spirit â as well as Ashikaga's interest. The prickly lord has hidden secrets of his own and a burning desire to prove himself to his father. He will stop at nothing to defeat his father's greatest enemy. All Lily wants to do is take care of her sisters. But the Pretender-Emperor's forces are drawing near, and now the Daimyo's son knows she communes with Jindo gods. She wants to trust Ashikaga when he swears he will not tell her secret, but he is a noble â and Lily only a peasant. Lily's heart is leading her down a dangerous path. She may have to defy her father, Ashikaga, and even the spirits themselves in order to defeat the Pretender-Emperor's magic and keep safe all that she loves. |
|
Pilgrimage to Skara by Jonathan Pembroke Finalist in the 2017 Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off contest! It has been nearly two decades since Pell Wendt abandoned the power and prestige of Collum. Ruled by the semi-divine Ajudicar, the city had been his home all his life, but no longer. Spurned by the woman he loved, the former pathfinder, adventurer and criminal walked away from his life of escorting promising youngsters to the shrines of power, and retreated to his farm in the Sogras, to live a life of bitter and brooding rejection. Now, House Kettiburg has reached out with a an offer he can't refuse: a pilgrimage to Skara, a mythical and dangerous shrine far out in the barbarous Outlands, for the supplicant Keilie - the daughter of the very woman who rejected him. Trapped by the love his heart cannot deny, Wendt agrees to the pilgrimage and finds himself embroiled in intrigue and betrayal, with far-reaching implications for himself, Keilie, and the tattered remains of the human race. |
|
The Grey Bastards (The Lot Lands #1) by Jonathan French LIVE IN THE SADDLE. DIE ON THE HOG. Such is the creed of the half-orcs dwelling in the Lot Lands. Sworn to hardened brotherhoods known as hoofs, these former slaves patrol their unforgiving country astride massive swine bred for war. They are all that stand between the decadent heart of noble Hispartha and marauding bands of full-blood orcs. Jackal rides with the Grey Bastards, one of eight hoofs that have survived the harsh embrace of the Lots. Young, cunning and ambitious, he schemes to unseat the increasingly tyrannical founder of the Bastards, a plague-ridden warlord called the Claymaster. Supporting Jackalâs dangerous bid for leadership are Oats, a hulking mongrel with more orc than human blood, and Fetching, the only female rider in all the hoofs. When the troubling appearance of a foreign sorcerer comes upon the heels of a faceless betrayal, Jackalâs plans are thrown into turmoil. He finds himself saddled with a captive elf girl whose very presence begins to unravel his alliances. With the anarchic blood rite of the Betrayer Moon close at hand, Jackal must decide where his loyalties truly lie, and carve out his place in a world that rewards only the vicious. SPFBO 2016 Winner |
|
The Path of Flames (Chronicles of the Black Gate #1) by Phil Tucker SPFBO Finalist Indie Recs Indie A war fueled by the dark powers of forbidden sorcery is about to engulf the Ascendant Empire. Agerastian heretics, armed with black fire and fueled by bitter hatred, seek to sever the ancient portals that unite the empire - and in so doing destroy it. Asho--a squire with a reviled past--sees his liege, the Lady Kyferin, and her meager forces banished to an infamous ruin. Beset by tragedy and betrayal, demons and an approaching army, the fate of the Kyferins hangs by the slenderest of threads. Asho realizes that their sole hope of survival may lie hidden within the depths of his scarred soul--a secret that could reverse their fortunes and reveal the truth behind the war that wracks their empire. Unpredictable, fast paced, and packed with unforgettable characters, The Path of Flames is the first installment in a gripping new epic fantasy series. r/Fantasy 2016 Stabby Award Finalist 2016 #SPFBO Finalist |
|
Paternus: Rise of Gods (Paternus Trilogy #1) by Dyrk Ashton SPFBO Finalist Indie Recs Indie Described as American Gods meets The Avengers and Supernatural meets The Lord of the Rings, Paternus combines myths from around the world in a modern story of action and intrigue that is âurban fantasy on the surface, but so much more at its core!â Even myths have legends. And not all legends are myth. When a local hospital is attacked by strange and frightening men, Fiona Patterson and Zeke Prisco save a catatonic old man named Peterâand find themselves running for their lives with creatures beyond imagination hounding their every step. With nowhere else to turn, they seek out Fiâs enigmatic Uncle Edgar. But the more their questions are answered, the more they discover that nothing is what it seems--not Peter, not Edgar, perhaps not even themselves. The gods and monsters, heroes and villains of loreâtheyâre real. And now theyâve come out of hiding to hunt their own. In order to survive, Fi and Zeke must join up with powerful allies against an ancient evil thatâs been known by many names and feared by all. The final battle of the worldâs oldest war has begun. Paternus: Rise of Gods, is Dyrk Ashtonâs critically acclaimed debut novel and the first book in The Paternus Trilogy. It has been compared to works by Neil Gaiman, Scott Hawkins, Roger Zelazny, China MiĂ©ville, Joss Whedon, and Kevin Hearne. |
|
Fionn: Defence of RĂĄth BlĂĄdhma (Fionn mac Cumhaill #1) by Brian O'Sullivan The Fionn mac Cumhaill Series - Book 1: Defence of RĂĄth BlĂĄdhma: Ireland: 192 A.D. A time of strife and treachery. Political ambition and inter-tribal conflict has set the country on edge, testing the strength of long-established alliances. Following the massacre of their enemies at the battle of Cnucha, Clann Morna are hungry for power. Elsewhere, a mysterious war party roams the forests of the âGreat Wildâ and a ruthless magician is intent on murder. In the secluded valley of Glenn Ceoch, disgraced druid Bodhmhall and the woman warrior Liath Luachra, have successfully avoided the bloodshed for many years. Now, the arrival of a pregnant refugee threatens the peace they have created together. Run or fight, the odds are overwhelming. And death stalks on every side. Based on the ancient Irish mythology and Fenian Cycle texts, the Fionn mac Cumhaill Series by Irish author Brian OâSullivan is a gritty and authentic retelling of the birth and early adventures of Irish mythology Irelandâs greatest hero, Fionn mac Cumhaill. Gripping, insightful and utterly action-packed, this is Irish mythology/ fiction as youâve never read it before. This classic Irish fantasy and historical adventure was a 2016 SPFBO Competition finalist and Irish bestseller. The book also includes the following extra content: * a glossary with explanations on ancient Irish cultural concepts * historical notes on the Fenian Cycle * a pronunciation guide and links to an online audio pronunciation guide |
|
Larcout (Fire Born, Blood Blessed #1) by K.A. Krantz Blood-beings can be chattel or char. Fire seethes through the veins of every Morsam, demanding domination and destruction. Combat is a hobby. Slaughtering the inferior blood-beings is entertainment. Life is a repetitious cycle in the prison fashioned by the gods. But mix-race abomination Vadrigyn os Harlo suspects the key to freedom lies with safeguarding the blood-beings; until her blood-born mother uses foreign magic to turn the Morsam against Vadrigyn. Betrayed, bound, and broken, Vadrigyn struggles against the dying of her essential fire. Yet the ebbing flames unleash the dormant magic of her mixed heritage⊠The magic to destroy free will. Seized by the gods and dumped in the desert nation of Larcout to stop history from repeating, Vadrigyn discovers her motherâs legacy of treason and slaughter still festers. To survive the intrigues of the royal court, the roiling undercurrents of civil war, and the gods themselves, Vadrigyn must unravel the conspiracy behind her motherâs banishment. But manipulating free will unleashes a torrent of consequences. If she fails the gods, she will return to the Morsam prison, stripped of all magic and all hope. If she succeeds, she can rule a nation. Kasthu. Roborgu. Inarchma. Live. Learn. Burn. |
|
Assassin's Charge (Echoes of Imara) by Claire Frank A cold-hearted assassin. A boy with a price on his head. Rhisia Sen is one of the Empireâs highest paid assassins. Living a life of luxury, she chooses her contracts carefully, working to amass enough wealth so she can leave her bloody trade. She is offered a new contract on the outskirts of civilization, and almost refusesâuntil she sees the purse. It could be the last job she ever has to take. But when she reaches the destination, she discovers her mark is a child. The contract, and her reputation, demand she kill the boyâif she can banish his innocent face from her mind. But another assassin has been sent to kill her, and a notorious bounty hunter is on her trail. She doesnât know why the boy is a target, or why her former employer wants her dead. Saving the child could be her only chance at survival. |
|
The Music Box Girl by K.A. Stewart FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC, FOR THE MUSIC OF LOVE Steam and steel are king, nowhere more so than Detroit, the gleaming gem of the worldâs industrial crown. A beacon of innovation and culture, it is the birthplace of the mechanical automatons, and the home of the famed Detroit Opera House. It is where people come with their dreams, their plans, and their secrets. A young man with the voice of an angel and dreams of stardom. A globe-trotting heiress with a passion for adventure and memories of a lost childhood love. A mysterious woman with a soul made of pure music and a secret worth killing for. Beneath the glitter and sparkle, something sinister lurks at the opera, and three lives will collide with tragic consequences. |
|
The Moonlight War by S.K.S. Perry Three caravans have vanished traversing the Cowcheanne Way. The legendary Tahsis platoon, warriors thought by most to be invincible, are dispatched to investigate and are never heard from again. Rumours of native uprisings and bandit armies grow wilder and more widespread every day, while the more devout whisper about the return of the Horde, a mythic foe from ages past. The truce between the warring Kael-tii and Ashai nations is put to the test when a new caravan is outfitted and they are forced to travel The Way together. As an ancient evil is unleashed upon them, a group of heroes, friend and foe alike, must band together for survival. When the true nature of their mission slowly comes to light, the growing distrust between the Kael-tii and Ashai camps threatens to tear the caravan apart. Can they set aside their differences in time to combat the menace that imperils them all, or are they doomed to join the ranks of lost souls claimed by the cursed Cowcheanne Way? |
|
Outpost (The Fylking #1) by F.T. McKinstry In a war-torn realm occupied by a race of immortal warlords called the Fylking, trouble can reach cosmic proportions. Using the realm as a backwater outpost from which to fight an ancient war, the Fylking guard an interdimensional portal called the Gate. The Fylkingâs enemies, who think nothing of annihilating a world to gain even a small advantage, are bent on destroying it. After two centuries of peace, the realm is at war. A Gate warden with a tormented past discovers a warlock gathering an army that cannot die. A Kingâs Ranger is snared in a trap that pits him against the Fylking's enemies. And a knitter discovers an inborn power revered by the gods themselves. Caught in a maelstrom of murder, treachery, sorcery and war, they must rally to protect the Gate against a plot that will violate the balance of cosmos, destroy the Fylking and leave the world in ruins. The god they serve is as fickle as a crowâand known to demand a steep price for an answered prayer. Includes a map and a glossary. |
|
The Shadow Soul (A Dance of Dragons #1) by Kaitlyn Davis When Jinji's home is destroyed, she is left with nowhere to run and no one to run to â until she meets Rhen, a prince chasing rumors that foreign enemies have landed on his shores. Masquerading as a boy, Jinji joins Rhen with vengeance in her heart. But traveling together doesn't mean trusting one another, and both are keeping a deep secret â magic. Jinji can weave the elements to create master illusions and Rhen can pull burning flames into his flesh. But while they struggle to hide the truth, a shadow lurks in the night. An ancient evil has reawakened, and unbeknownst to them, these two unlikely companions hold the key to its defeat. Because their meeting was not coincidence â it was fate. And their story has played out before, in a long forgotten time, an age of myth that is about to be reborn... From bestselling author Kaitlyn Davis comes a fantasy adventure perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Kristin Cashore, and Tamora Pierce! Told in alternating male and female perspectives. |
|
The Thief Who Pulled on Trouble's Braids (Amra Thetys #1) by Michael McClung *Winner of the 2015 Self Published Fantasy Blog-Off, Hosted by Mark Lawrence* Amra Thetys lives by two simple rulesâtake care of business, and never let it get personal. Thieves don't last long in Lucernis otherwise. But when a fellow rogue and good friend is butchered on the street in a deal gone wrong, she turns her back on burglary and goes after something more precious than treasure: Revenge. Revenge, however, might be hard to come by. A nightmare assortment of enemies, including an immortal assassin and a mad sorcerer, believe Amra is in possession of The Blade That Whispers Hateâthe legendary, powerful artifact her friend was murdered forâand they'll do anything to take it from her. Trouble is, Amra hasn't got the least clue where the Blade might be. She needs to find the Blade, and soon, or she'll be joining her colleague in a cold grave instead of avenging his death. Time is running out for the small, scarred thief. |
|
Bloodrush (The Scarlet Star Trilogy #1) by Ben Galley SPFBO Finalist Indie Recs Indie SFFOasis When Prime Lord Hark is found in a pool of his own blood, his only son Merion Hark finds his world turned upside down and inside out. The Prime Lordâs last will and testament forces Merion west across the Iron Ocean, to the very brink of the Endless Land and all civilisation. To a place they call Wyoming. In the dusty frontier town of Fell Falls, there is no silverware, no servants, no plush velvet nor towering spires. Only dust, danger and the railway. Merion has only one ally to help him escape the torturous heat and unravel the mystery of his father's murder: a faerie warrior named Rhin, and a twelve inch-tall outcast of the fae realm. Revenge and redemption are never easy. There are dark forces at work in Fell Falls, and not just the railwraiths, brigands or the savages. Secrets lurk in Merionâs bloodline. Secrets that will redefine the young Hark, and open up a whole world of magic buried by empire and industry. âââ WINNER OF THE LIBRARY JOURNAL'S INDIE EBOOK AWARDS 2016 BLOGGERS' FAVOURITE OF #SPFBO 2015 ABOUT BLOODRUSH The first book in the Scarlet Star Trilogy, Bloodrush is a coming-of-age and weird western fantasy set in an alternate 1867. It is a time when steam and clockwork seek to push the boundaries of the known world, even if it means trampling an ancient one. An action-packed mix of western and dark fantasy, Bloodrush is perfect for readers of Neil Gaiman, Jim Butcher, Lila Bowen and Stephen Kingâs Dark Tower. |
|
The Weight of a Crown by Tavish Kaeden THE WEIGHT OF A CROWN Thousands dream of it; still more die for it. Yet, how many can truly bear it? After centuries of bitter conflict the realm of Esmoria is at last united under the banner of a single king. On the surface the realm appears to be enjoying its first taste of peace, but lingering resentment and the untimely death of the new ruler threaten to return Esmoria to political chaos. Meanwhile, in the farthest reaches of the frozen north, a dethroned monarch's plot for revenge awakens a long-forgotten evil. As darkness and treachery descend upon the realm, a young escapee from a forced labor camp, a disenfranchised soldier, and an epileptic engraver's apprentice find themselves at the heart of the troubles. |
|
City of Burning Shadows (Apocrypha: The Dying World #1) by Barbara J. Webb Joshua âAshâ Drake is a man in hiding. Hiding from the past, from the horror of his life as a priest after the gods disappeared. Hiding from his emotions, denying the nightmares that haunt his sleep and the anger that fuels his days. Most of all, hiding from the truthâthat no matter how much he keeps his head down, no matter how he clings to the echoes of everyday life, his cityâhis worldâis dying. When a new technology offers salvation to his desperate city, Ash must reach out to people he left behind and step back into the world that almost killed him. But coming out of hiding now could be the worst mistake Ash has ever made. Because there are monsters in the darkness, feeding the chaos, watching the city burn. And once those monsters know his name, Ash will never be able to hide again. |
|
Sins of a Sovereignty (Amernia Fallen #1) by Simon (Plague Jack) Watts From their prisons, the old gods watch, and wait. Calcifer, the arrogant and obtuse sorcerer turned monster hunter, wants nothing more than to bleed his country of its gold, and return to his lover. When she is assaulted and her mind is left in tatters, Calcifer seeks vengeance by any means necessary. Sir Clark Pendragon has murdered more men than he cares to remember. Tired and battle scarred, the old knight just wants to live out his last days in peace. When he is needed to stop an assassination, Pendragon is ripped from his retirement and sent north to save his country one final time. Shrike, keeper of Amernia's secrets, spends his days combing through letters in search of blackmail. Cunning, and with a mind sharper than a blade, Shrike's luck is slowly running out, as sinister shadows conspire against him. War is coming to Amernia, and the Blood Queen stands at the heart of the chaos. A wave of hatred ripples across her country, and she maintains order with fire and fear. The rift between rich and poor, human and nonhuman, divides the kingdom more everyday, as a spectral rider streaks across the sky, heralding the death of kings. The fates of Calcifer, Pendragon, Shrike, and the Blood Queen are hopelessly intertwined, and new alliances will be forged and broken as war threatens to tear Amernia asunder. 2015 SPFBO Finalist |
|
What Remains of Heroes (A Requiem for Heroes #1) by David Benem Lannick deVeers used to be somebody. A hero, even. Then, he ran afoul of the kingdomâs most powerful general and the cost he paid was nearly too much to bear. In the years that followed, his grief turned him into a shadow of his former self, and he spent his days drowning his regrets in tankards of ale. But now an unexpected encounter casts Lannick upon an unlikely path to revenge. If he can just find the strength to overcome the many mistakes of his past, he can seize the chance to become a hero once more. And with an ancient enemy lurking at the kingdomâs doorstep, heâd better⊠|
|
Shattered Sands by W.G. Saraband For years, Tamazi felt she was nothing like the other slave-girls. It was not until her master disappeared, the Great Vizier of the desert kingdom of Rilmaaqah, that a power older than the sands themselves took hold of her; a power that could finally free her, or enslave her forever. Rilmaaqah is in chaos. The fires of rebellion spread, and the winds of change threaten the Mageocracy, as the common people rise with the courage to claim their share. But the sands hide many things, and it falls to an unlikely group of people to put a stop to death, before she sings her lullaby to the living. |
|
Under a Colder Sun (Khale the Wanderer #1) by Greg James A Grimdark Fantasy Adventure set in a world of Darkness and Chaos! Khale the Wanderer: dark warrior of legend, a reaver with a demonâs soul. King Alosse: ruler of Colm, willing to risk everything to save his city and its people. Princess Milanda: an innocent, kept pure since birth, unknowing of her fate. Neprokhodymh: the cursed city of sorcerers where Khale must make a choice that will scar him for life, or fall into darkness forever. INCLUDES BONUS SHORT STORIES: 'Timestone' and 'Each Dawn, I Die'. 2015 SPFBO Finalist! |
|
Priest (Ratcatchers) by Matthew Colville A Fantasy Novel. After years spent in the inn he bought and never opened, Heden is drawn out, and sent into a dark forest to investigate the death of a knight. Nothing is what it seems. Why was Heden chosen for this mission? Who killed the knight and why? Why won't anyone talk to him? As the Green Order awaits Heden's final judgement, he finds his morality, perspective, and sense of self are each challenged and then destroyed. Perhaps nothing, even right and wrong, can survive in the haunted wood. |
|
A Soul for Trouble (Soulbearer #1) by Crista McHugh When youâre a witch named Trouble, chaos follows. Arden Lesstymine (known to everyone as Trouble) likes attention as much as the next girl, but this is getting ridiculous. When an insane stranger is murdered at the inn where she works, Trouble becomes the next Soulbearer for the disembodied god of chaos, Loku. Yes, it comes with the ability to channel the godâs limitless power, but at the cost of her sanity â literally. Now she has a sexy but cynical knight claiming to be her protector, a prince trying to seduce her to his cause (and his bed), and a snarky chaos god who offers a play-by-play commentary on it all, whether she wants to hear it or not. To make matters worse, a necromancer wants to capture the soul of Loku for his own dark purposes, and the only way he can get it is by killing her first. |
|
The Woeful Wager (The Race to the Blackened Nevers #1) by Douglas Bain The race is on! The gods careen toward the Blackened Nevers. Pray you don't get in their way! An army of criminals runs to reclaim its honor. An old knight wakes to find a child pointing to the finish line. A prison guard is cursed to return to the start. And the last two members of the Rowlach tribe run to ask their god why the race was more important than his creations. Meanwhile, deep inside their mountain, a brother and sister run to prevent the awakening of a leviathan. Will it rise to destroy creation, or is it just their god's cynical attempt to increase his odds of winning? âThe Woeful Wagerâ is the first book in the new dark fantasy series âThe Race to the Blackened Neversâ. It won the Gold Medal in the 2019 SPR Book Awards, and was a finalist in the Fantasy (Adult Fiction) category of the 22nd Annual Foreword INDIES Book of the Year Awards, the 2020 Feathered Quill Book Awards (Science Fiction/Fantasy), the 14th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards (Fantasy), and the 2020 Readers' Favorite Awards (Fiction - Fantasy â General). Come join the race of the gods! |
|
Witch's Sorrow (Alice Skye #1) by Taylor Aston White An amateur witch. A dark past. A fierce deceit. Paladin Agent Alice Skye didnât think much of the contract forced upon her by Rexley Wild, Alpha of one of the largest packs in Europe. He hired her for one job. Find the missing wolf. Unfortunately for Alice, she might already be too late. She's in way over her head, an inexperienced witch who has to use all her instincts to help the secretive and detached Alpha find his missing pack mate. But it isnât long before she realises somethingâs not quite right. It's not simply a missing person, it was something a lot closer to home, something that reignites nightmares that make her question her own, horrific past. Alice is in a race against time that forces her to face against vampires, daemons and anything that gets in the way, for she only has one thing to do, find the wolf before he turns up like the others. Dead. |
|
Wings of Fate (Kingdoms of Faerie #1) by Skye Horn Death chose her for her blood. Fate chose her for her heart. One step through a rift sends Thea Gilbert from a world without magic into a land of Faerie where she discovers she is a lost princess. In this hidden land, Thea is expected to stop her villainous father who sits on her throne from releasing the Goddess of Death. While darkness spreads across the Kingdoms of Faerie, Thea is trained by the handsome Fae, Kieran, to master the magic coursing through her veins and prepare for war. As her volatile powers grow stronger, so do her feelings for Kieran. But love between a princess and soldier is forbidden, and in the frantic midst of chaos and war, Thea surrenders to a reckless and deadly decision that could alter everyoneâs fate. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas and Cassandra Clare, WINGS OF FATE is the enchanting first tale in the magical young adult fantasy series, Kingdoms of Faerie. The series explores a world of magic, myth, and legend through the lens of a powerful female heroine. |
|
A Wind from the Wilderness (Watchers of Outremer #1) by Suzannah Rowntree Hunted by demons. Lost in time. Welcome to the First Crusade. Syria, 636: As heretic invaders circle Jerusalem, young Lukas Bessarion vows to defend his people. Instead, disaster strikes. His family is ripped apart. His allies are slaughtered. And Lukas is hurled across the centuries to a future where his worst nightmares have come true... Constantinople, 1097: Ayla may be a heretic beggar, but she knows one thing for sure: nine months from now, she will die. Before then, she must avenge her father's murder--or risk losing her soul. Desperate to find their way home, Lukas and Ayla join the seven armies marching east to liberate Jerusalem. If Lukas succeeds in his quest, he'll undo the invasion and change the course of history. But only if he survives the war. Only if his enemies from the past don't catch him. And only as long as Ayla never finds out who he really is. A Wind from the Wilderness is Book 1 in the new Watchers of Outremer series. If you love stories full of dark magic, bloody warfare, and star-crossed love, then you'll be spellbound by this sweeping historical fantasy! |
|
Wielder's Prize (Wielder's Prize #1) by Elle Cardy Snatched from the only home sheâs ever known aboard the Wielderâs Prize, Jasmine is forced to work as a crew member of a different ship. To survive, Jasmine must dodge her captor who has a personal vendetta against her, outsmart a fearsome magic wielder who has taken a dangerous interest in her, and get back to her ship. Somehow. Just when she thinks things couldnât get worse, she learns she too is a wielderâan untrained wielder who is a threat to everyone on board if she canât control her magic. And sheâs not the only out-of-control wielder on the high seas. The secret of that wielder could shatter everything Jasmine thought she knew. Time and hope is running out. At any cost, she must get back to her ship and discover the truth behind all the secrets before everything is lost. |
|
Whalemoon (Wyrmwind Tales Book #1) by Dustin Porta Phehl never wanted to be pike keeper, but at least the job would be easy. Or so she thought. For as long as anyone can remember the islanders of Brodthrop Atoll have lived in peace. The dragon winds keep pirates away and the dance of the whalepike calms the seas. When the ceremony goes wrong a strange girl washes up on Whalegrave Beach. Phehl is duty bound to help those in need. But there's a problem: the girl is a sharkling, tricksters of legend with smiles of dagger-sharp teeth. And she's not the only visitor. The winds blow and the seas churn. Ships appear on the horizon. Some want to trade, others, to plunder. All have eyes for the Whalepike. When the sharkling is captured, Phehl has to make a terrible choice: trust superstition and let the monster be taken, or risk everything to bring her back. Save her new friend, or save her people? Either way she will have to be honest. About the secrets she's keeping, the lies that she has told, and lies of keepers who came before her. Whalemoon is the first book in the Wyrmwind Tales This whimsical high fantasy is set on a world of islands, with a fable-based magic system that weaves tales of sea-gnome knights, genies in seashells, and a crown fit for an octopus king. These folk tales, and sailing chantees aren't just for the reader, they can shift the winds of fate. But can they teach Phehl what it means to be a brave and compassionate hero? A nautical tale for noblebright readers and fans of Earthsea and Narnia, Whalemoon puts a new twist on old-fashioned high fantasy. This novel is a treasure trove of lore and limerick to put on your shelf to read again and again. Welcome to the world of Tableau Mer! |
|
In this heroic gaslamp fantasy, superhuman abilities bring an adventurous new dimension to 1820 London, where an outlaw speedster and a master of illusion do battle to decide who will own the city. Think being a superhero is hard? Try being the first one. Willâs life is a proper muddleâand all because he was âaccidentallyâ inflicted with the ability to run faster and leap higher than any human ever. One minute heâs a blacksmithâs apprentice trying to save his master from debtorâs prison. The next heâs accused of murder and hunted as a black-hearted highwayman. A vengeful politician with dark secrets and powers even more magical than Willâs has duped all of London into blaming Will for the chilling imprisonments of the cityâs poor. The harder Will tries to use his abilities to fight crime, the deeper he is entangled in a dark underworld belonging to some of Georgian Englandâs most colorful characters. Only Will stands a chance of stopping this powerful madman bent on âreformingâ London by any means necessary. Unfortunately, Will is beginning to realize becoming a legend might mean sacrificing everything that matters. Read this adrenaline-fueled historical superhero adventure today! |
|
Warbringer (Descendants of the Fall #1) by Aaron Hodges Centuries ago, the world fell. From the ashes rose a terrible new speciesâthe Tangata. Now they wage war against the kingdoms of man. And humanity is losing. Recruited straight from his academy, twenty-year-old Lukys hopes the frontier will make a soldier out of him. But Tangata are massing in the south, and the allied armies are desperate. They will do anything to halt the enemy advanceâincluding sending untrained men and women into battle. Determined to survive, Lukys seeks aid from the only man who seems to care: Romaine, the last warrior of an extinct kingdom. Meanwhile, the Queenâs Archivist leads an expedition deep beneath the earth. She seeks to uncover the secrets of the Gods. Their magic has been lost to the ages, yet artefacts remain, objects of power that could turn the tide of the war. But salvation is not the only thing waiting beneath the surface. Something else slumbers in the darkness. Something old. Something evil. |
|
War of the God Queen by David Hambling Thrown back through time⊠Jessica has only her wits. Will she find a way to survive long enough to get back home? She was fresh out of architecture school and ready to take the world by storm. She wasnât prepared for what came next. An alien encounter that sent her falling through a portal into another world Jessicaâs plight looks hopeless -- she doesn't understand the language, the bronze-age culture, or even how to defend herself. Sheâs not a Connecticut Yankee and this is definitely not King Arthurâs court. The locals are unimpressed. Whatâs her next move? Her only goal is to get back home, but Jessica has landed in the middle of something sinister: in the ancient near east, circa 1000 B.C., a war rages. Can she stop an alien invasion through time? Sheâll need help, but who can she count on? Youâll love this brilliant take on portal fiction, with twists and turns that are different than what youâve grown to expect. |
|
The Wall: A Post-Brexit Dystopian Fantasy by Margaret Mason The only road to escape ends at The Wall. In a desolate post-Brexit England, nothing is as it seems. There is no chance, for those who remain in England encased behind The Wall, to live a long and healthy life in the smog drenched, almost abandoned cities. None. Apart from one. Walking North, alone, through a desolate and deserted landscape, on old, cracked roads, long since abandoned, Harra has only two items to guide her. A sheet of paper with a list of instructions to direct her steps to The Wall and an ancient Casio watch to ensure her timely arrival. Yet neither of those can guarantee success, not when the ever-vigilant Border Drones must be avoided to chance the final crossing. And with every step she takes, the Establishment lies begins to unravel, revealing to Harra just how far the Government has gone to ensure its âtruthsâ are not only never questioned, but that they also come to pass. Harra has a future to gain, and a past to unravel. The Wall both beckons and repels, but there is no other means of escape. |
|
The Void Revealed (Origo Essentia #1) by Stephen J. Ethier The first book of the Origo Essentia Series, a Sci-Fi Fantasy adventure with a female protagonist. Sitting atop the Spire, Windhold is governed by the theocratical Brotherhood and the secular leadership of the Sentinel. Below them lies the Void, a barren land filled with the Red Death that arrived with the blistering winds of the Fury. The corruption in Windhold has left everyone at the mercy of a madman. The only hope is Elise, groomed to be the Aspirant and replace the Sentinel for a peaceful new world. But when she ventures into the Void, she discovers that Windhold may not be everything it seems. |
|
A Voice That Thunders (Voice That Thunders #1) by Cully Mack Immortals conquering as gods. A Shadow creeping closer... Can an apprentice healer be the key to ignite a war? Mirah looks for the best in everybody. But her naivetĂ© is shattered when her clan is slaughtered, and sheâs dragged into captivity. Vulnerable and scared, she has no choice but to accept her kidnappersâ offer to join their sect of lethal female fighters. Desperate to find stability in her chaotic new life, Mirah throws herself into training as a water mage and warrior. But as she discovers her unprecedented elemental control, her instructor warns that revealing her power will put her in mortal danger. With the fate of humanity at risk, will Mirahâs growing abilities spell her salvation⊠or destruction? A Voice That Thunders is the first book in the action-packed Voice that Thunders epic fantasy series. If you like strong women, intricate world-building, and stories of enduring friendship, then youâll adore Cully Mackâs riveting saga. |
|
Vestige Rise of the Pureblood (Vestige Saga, #1) by Antonio Roberts Fangs, scales and a tail never looked good on anyone. Another home gone. Another parent dead. And now Sinopa's on the run for her life and must prove her innocence alone in a strange place. But appearances are deceiving, and the police are the least of her worries. Because with every step she takes, someone else is watching. Something unnatural is after her...maybe even lurking beneath her skin. And the deeper Sinopa investigates, the higher the stakes rise. More sorcerers disappear. Tensions escalate, and with every day, her humanity crumbles. As an ancient evil resurfaces, how much will she risk saving those she loves? |
|
The Usurper (Brutal Saga #0.5) by James Alderdice When a tyrant wears the crown, a hero must become an Usurper... The Fates weave a tapestry of life and death for young Gathelaus the Sellsword. Now an unexpected opportunity presents itself for the famed mercenary, he has but to claim the blood red crown⊠But once you wear the crown, how long can you hold it until that power is turned against you? Follow Gathelaus on a journey through a life of magic, action and intrigue; battling gods and monsters across a mystic realm ⊠The Usurper is an action-packed heroic adventure in the vein of classic pulp fiction and heroic fantasy. If you like Conan the Barbarian, The Witcher and Logen Ninefingers along with vengeful sorcery, savage duels, larger-than-life characters, and witty humor, then youâll love James Alderdiceâs barbaric tale. |
|
Until All Curses Are Lifted (Heart Of Fire #1) by Tim Frankovich The laws are enforced by magic. If you break the law, youâre cursed. But the rich and powerful twisted the laws to allow for⊠exceptions. Marshal has been cursed since birth for his unknown fatherâs crimes. When he discovers heâs also heir to immense magical power, he must flee for his life. His half-brother wants the power for himself and has hired an assassin to pursue Marshal and his mother. No one has ever escaped from a curse, but itâs the only way for Marshal to be truly safe. Seri wants to become the most powerful mage in history. But the magic that holds the world together is failing and no one knows why. While the ground itself shakes, someone begins murdering mages. In danger from all directions, Seri must learn how to use her unique abilities before everything falls apart. Neither of them know they are being watched from another realm⊠|
|
Unbinding the Stone (The Flame in the Bowl #1) by Marc Vun Kannon All Tarkas wanted was to live the life he'd made for himself, get married, have children, as generations of his fathers had done before him since the beginning of time. The Gods had other plans, and Tarkas couldn't say no, even had they bothered to ask him. Between one footstep and the next they alter his life irrevocably, and he finds himself plunged headlong into a new world and life, full of magic, mayhem, monsters, and mystery. For a new prophecy has pitted the forces of Nature against themselves, and the Gods are helpless. But when even the Gods' gifts have thorns, their need exacts a price that only a Hero would ever dare to pay. Only a Hero can act, and Tarkas has been chosen to do the things that must be done, with the fate of two Realms in the balance. |
|
Trial of Thorns (Wicked Fae #1) by Stacey Trombley In a ruthless competition of blood and magic, attraction to the enemy may be the biggest weakness of all. I am Caelynn of the Shadow Court, banished to the human realm for killing a fae prince in my youth. But when I learn my homeland is in peril, I strike a bargain. The Trial of Thorns will decide a champion to save the realm from a terrible plague, and secure the winner fame and fortune. I could care less about the money or notoriety--I'm playing for freedom. If I win, I will earn a full pardon. And I intend to win. But I donât account for Reveln being one of my opponents. We've got...history. And ten years later, he's even hotter than I remember. Oh, right, he also hates me. Only one of us can win, and Rev will do everything in his power to make sure I donât make it out of the trials alive. Because ten years ago, I killed his brother. And Reveln never forgets. TRIAL OF THORNS is the first book in the WICKED FAE series, featuring kick-ass women, fated mates, and a slow burn, enemies to lovers romance. Readers of Holly Black's Cruel Prince, Sarah J Maas' A Court of Thorns and Roses and Audrey Grey's Evermore Academy will love this book! |
|
Towers of Dawn (Exmortus #1) by Todd Maternowski The holy men of Exmortus Abbey have unearthed a terrible evil. To save their floundering faith, they dug up an artifact of immense power -and unleashed the demon avatar of long-dead gods. Ash Xavier, a brilliant young knight-in-training, survives the avatar's brutal onslaught on the Abbey only to see his entire world crumble around him. With no weapons, no horse, no map and no chance, he must use his wits alone to take the artifact across hundreds of miles of hostile terrain to safety in the fabled city of Helios -provided he can survive that long. |
|
Tosho is Dead (The Power Thief, #1) by Opal Edgar "I died. Nothing is as it should be on the other side... Come with me to Purgatory." All his life, Tosho, a 16 year old apprentice mason in post WW2 Germany, did everything to be the exact opposite of his Nazi father. He thought he had a lifetime ahead to build a better world. He was wrong. When he is brutally murdered, heaven is nowhere to be found. Horrified, Tosho discovers he does not have a soul, making him an abomination. Instead his body is haunted by a feisty spirit who angered a violent rebellious group in his past: the Power Thieves. They remember, and they will not be stopped before erasing both Tosho and his spirit from the afterlife. Tosho is chased, attacked and cursed. He would have endured it if his new friends hadnât been threatened too. Tosho owes them, for they were all victims of people like his father. He is ready to sacrifice everything to right the wrongs that have been done, even learn to fight, destroy his body and forget his dream of a better world to be in. |
|
TO SURVIVE, FIRST YOU MUST BETRAY In Stassia, loyalty to the Party means survival. And Axel Geist â rogue, self-styled ladiesâ man and accidental political prisoner â is determined to survive. Even if it means selling his soul to the Old God Bassarus, Lord of Deceit and Duke of Hell. When Bassarus orders Axel to volunteer for Stassiaâs warrior elite, the black-uniformed Timberwolves, he joins a labyrinthine security state. A traitor, deep inside the regime. A world of play or be played, kill or be killed⊠Stassiaâs destiny turns on Axelâs treachery and lies. Timberwolf â a dark fantasy of espionage, love, war and betrayal set in a world similar to, but entirely different from, our own. |
|
Thorfinn and the Witch's Curse (The Forerunner Saga #1) by Jay Veloso Batista Ghostly Curses in Viking England! Danelaw life is good! Practicing martial skills, grumbling over chores, listening to scary stories and shadowing his brothers everywhere, Finn is a normal boy of ten in the Viking Kingdoms of ninth century England. A bit timid, his father plots his apprenticeship while the family prepares a grand wedding. Off to the North, his uncle sails home after years of exile. And unbeknownst to all, the ghost of an ancient mage sits sentinel over his clan freehold. But when a witchâs curse comes alive, a mishap turns young Finn into a vardoger, haunted by his own forerunner ghost. Suddenly thrust into a new realm beyond Midgard, Finn struggles to be a boy by day and a ghost at night. His own clan fears him, he overhears murder plots, he learns the truth of giants and the hidden folk, and the witch still hunts revenge⊠Will Finn find the courage to defeat his enemies, save his uncle, and accept his new ghostly existence? |
|
This Cursed Flame (This Curse #1) by Selina J. Eckert Sometimes we put ourselves in the bottle⊠Once upon a time, Janan was human. Now, sheâs genieâa human-turned-djinnâand on the run with a new found family from the evil djinn who turned her. She may be filled with the magic of the djinn, but she fits nowhere, a misfit in two worlds. And now he has found her, threatening to rip away everyone she loves all over again. Laurelin dreams of being the next great chemistâif she can only get into the right program. But it seems like everything she touches fails until she finds a crystal bottle and that draws her into a world she never could have even dreamed: the lush, deadly, and wartorn world of the djinn. Now, Janan must learn the magic she has long feared, along with her true nature, and Laurelin must find her place in a world where humans are at the bottom of the food chain. For the evil djinnâs plans for domination are bigger than anyone could have imagined, and it may just be up to them to stop his waves of death and dark magic before it sweeps them all away. This Cursed Flame is the wished-for first YA contemporary fantasy novel in the This Curse series. If you like imaginative fantasy, unlikely companions, and fast-paced action, then you'll love this enchanting book. |
|
Ăroreh (The Ealdspell Cycle #1) by Jesikah Sundin She wants to choose her happily ever after. He wants to remake his once upon a time. Only magic can re-spin their tales. Princess Ăroreh Rosen was faerie blessed before her birth. To promote the New Dawn Era, the Queen coded her daughter with every feminine perfection. Beauty. Gentleness. Obedience. Musicality. Kindness. Grace. Good cheer. Hunger and lung sickness plague the Kingdom of Ealdspell. But Ăroreh is plugged into The Dream, a program created by a sect of faeries to control the realms through illusions of beauty and contentment. All Ăroreh has ever known is blissful servitude to a cursed system, and she believes her realm is prospering. Until a different faerie sect decides to wake her sleeping mind and set her true magic free. Meanwhile, FĂ©lip Batten MacKinley holds a dangerous secret. One made more threatening by the frostbite scar across his cheek. Heâs spit on, beaten, and demonized by a community that values a pretty face over all else. With no easy future in sight, he accepts that heâll die a burden to his foster parents, his true history erased. But a tempting offer from the faerieâs Fate Maker leads FĂ©lip to cross paths with the hauntingly beautiful Ărorehâa young woman who represents all he loathes. Yet only she has the power to awaken a new Dream. Ăroreh is a gritty spin on the romantic tale of Sleeping Beauty and blends faerie magic and pagan ritual with high technology. For fans of Sarah J. Maas, Holly Black, fairy tales, and young adult dystopian fantasy. NAME PRONOUNCED like Aurora. EBOOK featured in the The Kingdom of Thorns & Dreams anthology (A limited edition of Sleeping Beauty retellings) |
|
Telluria (Telluria, #1) by Jodi Trask The earth was on the brink of a futuristic utopia when a new and deadly disease threatened to wipe out humanity. Telluria slowly dissolved its victims into one of the four primordial elements of water, fire, earth or wind. Terra was a child when her parents caught Telluria. The corporation New Atlantis developed a cure and distributed it for free just in time, saving her parents and the world from extinction. The world was just beginning to rebuild when Terra caught Telluria herself. She planned to simply go get the cure, but when her best friend Grey is killed by New Atlantis officials for trying to warn her against it, Terra is on the run for her life and the truth. |
|
A Tale of Infidels by Erik A. Otto A WORLD RIFE WITH RELIGIOUS PREJUDICE Where cryptic prophesies of gravity-defying events and stories of mythical beasts are regular undercurrents to daily life. POLITICAL TENSIONS ARE MOUNTING War has sprung, troops are mobilizing, and the omens are clear. AND NOW, INFIDELS ARE EMERGING Sinners and traitors are being cast out. These are despicable liars. They are twisted, half-wit heathens. They are deceitful scum⊠âŠand theyâre the only ones that could save millions of lives. |
|
The Swordsman's Lament (The Royal Champion Book 1) by G.M. White When a prince is murdered, a legendary swordsman stands accused. The King wants blood . . . and loyalty counts for nothing. Belasko thought he was beyond intrigues and machinations. But when the grief-stricken King demands vengeance, Belasko discovers he is expendable. His options are clear... find the real killer or satisfy the royal bloodlust. With the forces of the palace mobilised against him he is thrust into the cityâs bleak underbelly and must fight to discover the truth. With betrayal around every corner he must form unlikely alliances. Can the veteran warrior survive long enough to protect his friends and prove his innocence? Join Belasko on a fast-paced fantasy adventure as he hunts the real killer, from courtly intrigue to the depths of the cityâs criminal underworld, and learns the true meaning of The Swordsmanâs Lament. |
|
The Sword of Wisimir by Allen Stroud Opportunistic thief, Jack Von Drey thinks his luck is in when he steals the Governor's taxes from the back of a treasury wagon. But it turns out, this is a game with higher stakes than he bargained for. City Minister, Urin Braymes makes one bad decision. Unfortunately for him, it opens him up to being blackmailed for the rest of his life. Magister Leel's scheme to recapture his position of power seems to be right on track. But, when he makes a bargain, he finds he has unleashed magic that even a wizard cannot control. And Jarno Herren? Well he just wants to find out the truth. The Sword of Wisimir is a fantasy tale of crime, intrigue, life and death. Where ideals are cheap and, in the end, everyone finds out what they'd sacrifice to survive... |