SPFBO10 SPFBO Participants
Books entered in the competition of SPFBO beginning May 2024.
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It's hard being a good witch when your clients want bad magic. I'm a witch. Not a powerful witch, mind, but as Grandma liked to say, itâs all in the kindness, not the power. Grandma is gone now, but her dream of having a witch shop lives with me. So, when the opportunity to run my own shop presents itself, I move across the country to take it, no questions asked. But maybe I should have. The sexy local bounty hunter shifter thinks Iâm up to no good, my clients keep asking me to use forbidden dark magic, and someoneâs trying to sabotage my shop. Probably the same someone who reported me to the Witch Council and left a dead body in my bathtub. Hah! Jokeâs on them. As Grandma also used to say, itâs nothing a positive attitude, excellent cleaning supplies, and the complete annihilation of whoever has in it for me canât fix. Paraphrasing. Join Hope in her quest to save her shop in the Urban Fantasy world of Good Bad Magic, featuring witches, shifters, demons, one sexy bounty hunter, and all kinds of magical creatures. Full of humor, banter, plenty of heart, and a slow-burn romance. Perfect for fans of K.M. Shea, Annabel Chase, and Annette Marie. |
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Haelend's Ballad by Ian V. Conrey "Some call me Murderer, others call me Lord. I've been called Savior and Enslaver. But no one has ever called me Child." A young man signs his own death warrant when he joins an already failing militia. A teenage girl is haunted by her childhood abuse and begins to crave the very things she hates. A childless mother finds herself on the run as a convicted murderer. Yet they are all unaware that their own fates are tied to a young orphan who has drowned and come back to life in a foreign land where he will be the death of everyone he meets. HĂŚlend's Ballad is a grimdark fantasy/steampunk tale about what happens when men and women from two colliding cultures realize they may not be on the right side. Heroes are villains. The persecuted are oppressors. And when rumors begin to spread that the world is dying, the darkness of their own hearts betrays them. |
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The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage by Hiyodori After years of city life, Tiller is finally ready to revisit the magical forest where she grew up. But the forest has turned deadly, and Tiller has no magic of her own. To survive, sheâll need a bodyguard. Tiller finds only one mage willing to escort her. A woman named Carnelian: a soldier with a pretty face and a dodgy reputation. Carnelian loves parties, drinking, flirting, big spending, and taking risks that others would find downright unthinkable. Sheâll happily lead Tiller to the heart of the Devouring Forest. But she won't do it for free. The two of them live in a country where magic-users like Carnelian labor under lifelong legal restrictions. The fastest ticket to greater liberty: getting married. Which is why Carnelianâknown far and wide as the mage who no one would wedâdemands Tillerâs hand in marriage as her payment. Cautious, reserved Tiller never lets strangers invade her personal space. She's horrified by the prospect of marrying a mischievous gambler. But she still needs Carnelianâs magic to overcome the wild monsters blocking the path back to her childhood home. And the deeper they go in the forest, the greater the danger. Tiller will have to learn very quickly how to deal with the darker side of her would-be wife. The Forest at the Heart of Her Mage is a slow-burn f/f romance with two polar-opposite heroinesâboth hiding enormous secretsâreluctantly engaged to be married for the sake of convenience. This novel takes place in the same contemporary fantasy world as The First and Last Demon and the Clem & Wist series, but can be read and enjoyed as a standalone story. |
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Two worlds on the brink of annihilation, an unlikely hero must rise to save everything he holds dear... Isekaied into the terrifying world of Elrydisan, Qing Baker must quickly adapt and survive, armed only with his wits, a mysterious quest, and a growing set of powers from a system he barely understands. He becomes the last hope for Shadowgrove, a village beset by evil. Qing must level up his skills, conquer his fears, and make heart-wrenching choices to unravel the secrets of this new world and prevent a cataclysm. But Qing is not alone in this fight. Joined in his adventures by a grizzled veteran and a fiery young warrior, he'll forge unbreakable bonds with brave allies and discover wells of courage he never knew he had. Yet even as he battles external threats, Qing must also grapple with his own inner demons and the heavy weight of leadership he never asked for. Can an unlikely hero like Qing rise to become a beacon of hope in a land shrouded by darkness? Or will both Elrydisan and Earth fall to ruin? Packed with intense action, emotional depth, and shocking twists, Qing's Quest is a riveting LitRPG portal fantasy perfect for fans of He Who Fights with Monsters and The Way of the Shaman. You'll be on the edge of your seat as Qing faces down undead armies, demons, grapples with agonising moral dilemmas, and discovers his true magical power. An action-packed blend of LitRPG and Portal Isekai, with strong character growth and development. |
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Visions of Snapdragon by Jana Sun Jack has always known she was a gifted psychic, her magic guiding her through life's mysteries enough to own a shop specializing in psychic readings. But when she discovers her magic stems from one of the ancient goddesses known as the Seer, her visions start to include her own life-possibly ending. Diego's punishment for shattering the links between Earth and the magical realm of Obius finally catches up to him, making his fractured heart run out of the magic to keep him alive even faster. Drawn to Jack's magnetic aura, Diego believes that only she can help him recover the fragments of his shattered heart and-maybe-restore the severed connection between the realms. As Jack and Diego join forces, a forbidden love ignites, but it's a tale Diego knows the ending to. Her visions are getting stronger though, and Jack can't shake the feeling that's a greater threat that comes along with Diego's desire to heal his heart. As the stakes rise, Jack's learning what it means to be a Priestess as her growing feelings for Diego intensify, testing the very bounds of her magic. In this enthralling urban fantasy, Jack and Diego's quest intertwines fate, love, and destiny. Can they mend the broken pieces of Diego's heart before it's too late? Or will Jack's dark visions come to fruition? Prepare to be enchanted by an unforgettable tale of magic, sacrifice, and romance as Jack and Diego's destinies collide, forever altering the fate of both realms. |
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To Dance With Dragons by Jaq D Hawkins A young girl, Namah, flees her home and an unwanted marriage. Desperation takes her to the riverside, the site where as a toddler she was patted kindly by the goblin who had befriended Count Anton. But another memory of that day unsettles her as she pushes the small boat into the current. A memory of bubbles in the river, and of blood. There's something in the water still. Driven by a premonition that she belongs with the people across the river, she soon meets the children of Magicians...and of goblins. Yet there are greater challenges to face. In the midst of conflict between species, between generations, and between the ever combative northern and southern humans, a new enemy arises from over the sea. Foreign humans come to invade, expecting an easy conquest of the rich lands that Count Anton has so wisely kept productive of food supplies. The goblins see the danger of this invasion to their own uneasy peace with the familiar local humans, but they disagree among themselves as to whether they will best serve their kind by helping the surface dwellers, or by leaving all humans to kill each other once and for all. |
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Princess of the Broken by Jasmine K Swinburne Princess Raylin has spent the best part of fourteen years isolated and alone, locked inside a tower, told it was for her own goodâher own protection. Darkness writhes inside her, an endless battle against the light powers of her kingdom. A child born with the never wavering magic of the sun and the moonâthe first in 300 years. There are those that would hunt her for her gifts, destroy her without hesitation. But that is the last thing on her mind when she flees her stone prison. Thievery has become second nature, but after being caught inside the palace gates, Raylin is given a choice, a chance at a new path. Thereâs just one catch, she must live among the royals of Sorrelle and play the part of another princess entirely. When her protector uncovers her secret escape, she gives Raylin a new taskâfind her long-lost heirloom; a pendant made of the blackest obsidian. With that, Raylin can do what she has always longed forâgo home, and reunite with her family at last. Deception is a dangerous game, and around her, secrets and lies burn to ash. No one can be trusted, not even herself. As her powers come to blows, Raylin finds herself wrapped in the hateful fist of revenge. |
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Here There Be Monsters by Josh Wright 800 years ago, Witches from another dimension tried to take over the world. 300 years ago, the paranormal beings they left in their wake came out of the shadows to join human society. Now, a knight cursed with immortality, a mummy with eldritch powers, and a werewolf police captain are on the trail of a serial killer hunting paranormals. The reasons why will lead them deep into a world of corruption where religion mingles with politics, humanity's xenophobia is on full display, and the monsters aren't necessarily the ones with claws and fangs. |
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City in the Dragon's Eye by Jordan Loyal Short Red Dragons. Black Comedy. White-Knuckled Adventure. Viktorâs magic is turning him into a dragon. And itâs not pretty. To save his friends who've bumbled into a deadly ambush, Viktor draws too deeply on the power of the Dragon Well, and now a magical tumor has begun to change him...one scale at a time. Viktor sets off on an irreverent quest for a cure that will lead him to a remote sanitarium. Here, he will uncover a mad doctorâs strange experiments, a stubborn dwarf with stinky feet, and rumors of an ancient mirror that may hold the key to Viktorâs very survival. As a mustache-twiddling secret society of dragon fanatics closes in, Viktor must choose between the power his transformation offers, and the hope of finding a cure. To the fabled Tyrantâs Tomb, Viktor races the mysterious Thule Society, where deadly traps and cryptic puzzles protect a treasure of unspeakable power. With every heartbeat the tumorâs corruption spreads. Can a court dandy and a disgraced scholar help Viktor find his cure? Or is it too late to save the city from a mad doctorâs dark designs? |
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As the freshest conscript aboard the walking fortress of Revance, Ryza forges a name for himself in battle. The enemy are the smelters, bandits that trade in reanimated corpses. But for Ryza, the bloodshed represents a path of redemption for an upbringing heâs just escaped. His prowess with a rifle draws the interest of the Locusts, a clandestine faction within Revanceâs ranks. It turns out that not all aboard the fortress seek to stamp out the plague of molten flux, the mysterious liquid metal that fills the bodies of the dead and makes them walk again. Some seek to profit. The reanimated corpses âknown as automindsâ are used to control enormous contraptions of magnetically enchanted metal, forming the backbone of The Droughtlandâs factories. The only thing stopping the smelters from expanding their illicit industry is Revance. The Locusts make Ryza an offer. Either help overthrow Revance to do the smelterâs bidding or reveal his fatherâs legacy as the very thing Ryza now fights against. The former is unthinkable. The latter means death. Ryza resolves to infiltrate them and expose the mutiny, plunging him back into the murky underworld of the smelters, testing his convictions, and even leading him to the ancient origins of molten flux itself. |
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The Saga of Bjorn Unfrid by John Simons The omens are not good. Ancient forces are at play⌠âŚand ancient forces are known to be assholes. Bjorn knows this because heâs not like other people. He sees the past and future, ghosts and gods. Sometimes he talks to them. But he never expected or wanted to get dragged into the business of the spirit world. He already has his own problems, like how to start a conversation with the woman he followed all the way to Texas so he could stay close to her. Heâs pretty sure that wouldnât go over as a great opening line. Unfortunately, the spirit world and the physical world are tied together and Bjorn is tangled up in all of it. Itâs a lot to handle all at once in your freshman year of college, and UH is not the college experience he was expecting. But when things turn dark and the lives of his loved ones are at stake, itâs the place where he must awaken to his destiny whether he wants to or not. |
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Dimensional Traveler by John Champaign Stephen Crawford is trying to finish his PhD dissertation when he's transported to a magical land he's previously only experienced through gaming. With a strange new capability that causes him to capture (and remove from existence) places, things, and people, he's trying to make sense of his situation and make his way back to Earth. |
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The Black Crown by John A. Douglas It is the dying days of the Age of Adventures and the Orc Wars have ended. The Crown Pantheon, authoritarian rulers of Allspire, slaughtered the marauding Orcs by the tens of thousands and returned peace to the continent of Evergrad. But among the many half-orc bastards left in the wake of the war, one was Prince Ragoth Brightsorn, son of the notorious Warlord Thorgoth and Seranna, Queen of Namaria, the sole human-ruled kingdom. After seventeen years of isolation, Ragoth is cruelly forced out of his life of luxurious comfort and into exile on the eve of his royal Crowning before he can receive his gilded mark, the magic sigil that proves his royal birth. Unable to prove who he is or return home, he embarks on a quest to reach his fatherâs tribe, the Sunderfang, in the lawless wilds of Dreadmour. But his venture is not taken alone. He earns the company of Cortland Lowhelm, a pugilistic human farmboy hellbent on finding a legend to fill, and Denith, a compassionate, if helpless, elvish goodwill worker. To ensure safe passage, they acquire the services of ValâMora, a world-weary veteran adventurer down on her luck. Together, they cross the kingdoms of the Crown Pantheon with nefarious forces seemingly at every step. The Black Crown is a coming-of-age epic fantasy packed to the brim with action & adventure, political intrigue, found family, vengeful dragons, dark abominations, and, most of allâŚ.ORCS! |
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Secrets of the Sorcerers by Joan Marie Verba A vengeful plan. An impossible impasse. When confronted by the magnitude of past deeds, will she be caught in a spellbound standstill? High Sorcerer Marlys has earned the respect of her colleagues. Twelve years after freezing her ruthless predecessor in time to protect her region, the powerful leader has worked hard to bring about peace and tranquility. But while presiding over a beautiful double wedding, a rival enchantress traps Marlysâs friends with an identical spell in malicious payback. Denying the intruderâs demand to free Marlysâs predecessor after more than a decade bespelled, Marlys and her companion sorcerers frantically search for a way to crack their adversaryâs magic. And with each side refusing to compromise and driven by distrust, they face a mountainous taskâto find the legendary Library of Sorcery, which they hope contains the knowledge to restore their friends. With their opponent also on the passage to the Library, can Marlys and her companions reach their destination first to end the magical deadlock? Secrets of the Sorcerers is the refreshing first book in a quest fantasy series. If you like strong characters, gentle humor, and action-filled adventure, then youâll love Joan Marie Verbaâs enthralling story. Join the sorcerers on their quest. Buy Secrets of the Sorcerers to break the spell today! |
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Crimson Spellscape by Jina S. Bazzar In the town of Gold Fields, evil wears a friendly mask, blood doesnât always run red, and fire doesnât always burn. Eight-year-old Innah McLeod witnessed a nightmare that shattered her innocence and left her with supernatural abilities. For years, she uses these gifts in service of law enforcement, spying on the dregs of the supernatural community. But when her partner and mentor falls in the line of duty, Innahâs only wish is to retreat to the country and the solace of beautiful sunsets. Now, Captain Bradshaw wants her back. If she accepts this one assignment, he will release her from her contract. Unable to refuse, Innah finds herself undercover in the town where she lost more than she ever knew. She knows the drillsâgo in, identify the members, get out. But Gold Fields is home to a dangerous cult, one that brings the past knocking on her door and awakens old nightmares. Once, Innah McLeod faced unspeakable horrors. In the town of Gold Fields, she will step into that darkness anew, where the line between savior and sacrifice hangs by a thread. |
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Splintered Magic by Jilleen Dolbeare Brigid Donovan is down on her luck. Her husband dumped her for the biggest stereotype around, his secretary, and her family mansion is a decaying wreck. All she wants is to get it restored, enjoy the peace and quiet of living in eight hundred acres of primordial forest, and rebuild her life. Fate seems to be against her. First, her cat starts to speak to her. And what does he say? He's not what he seems to beâseriously? Like a talking cat is normal. He does tell her that she's the great-granddaughter of a fae lord, and very powerful. Only, that doesn't seem right. Where's her magic? Why didn't her family tell her? Things aren't as picture perfect as they seem in her hometown of Kilchis, Oregon. In fact, they haven't been for a long time. For one thing, her restoration team is a pack of werewolves, and her new bestie is a witch. What's going on? Brigid has to find out fast or she could lose it allâher mind, her magic, and her life. |
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Evil's Unlikely Assassin by Jenn Windrow "Evil's Unlikely Assassin is a promising urban fantasy debut that features all that's great about the genre--action, attitude, and ass-kicking." -Jaye Wells, USA Today bestselling author of The Sabina Kane and Prospero's War seriesVampire Alexis Black is on a mission - to rejoin the human race.Coerced into signing an ironclad contract by an Angel-with-attitude, Alexis must hunt down and assassinate at least one vampire, werewolf, or creepy crawly every night for fifty years to become human again. Too bad the contract didnât mention the badass vampire who now rides shotgun in her brain, insatiable bloodlust, or her new I-hate-everything-with-fangs sidekick. If she can fulfill her end of the bargain, her humanity is restored, if not she will be destroyed.But when a revenge-seeking bloodsucker threatens her city, Alexis must risk everything to ensure thereâs a humanity to return to. Since her vampire nature is her greatest weapon to defeat the monsters that threaten her friends and future, Alexis must choose to accept her inner beast or watch those she loves die. |
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In a town hidden by illusions and protected by centuries of spells, it's up to unmagical Cate Corey to reveal the truth.â¨â¨The Gate that hides Cate Coreyâs magical hometown from the rest of the world is about to close. Permanently. Descended from gifted witches with no power of her own, Cate thought sheâd left home and magic behind. These days, sheâs a stressed college student and an underpaid barista. Itâs a blessedly normal life. But when her father goes missing, she realizes his disappearance is linked to a crisis that threatens to destroy the community and reveal their magic to the world. And Cateâs missing Gift might be the only clue. Now she must choose between family and freedom. Because she has to go home if she wants answers, but going back now might mean giving up the unmagical life she loves... For good. Fans of Practical Magic and Veronica Mars will love this new novel about surviving the cozy apocalypse, making your own magic, and finding your familyâ literally. |
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Cthoma's Fated by Jeffery A. Smith Every twenty years the red comet Cthoma lights up the night sky. Every twenty years, the emperor Shaucrim Vlaide must fear for his life. Throug Slagger was meant to be the chosen one. Born under the comet, he was fated to defeat the emperor and end Shaucrimâs reign of terror before it began. Leaving his family when he was ten years old, he trained with an ancient order of monks and embarked on a quest to find ten powerful Ixafore rings, set on fulfilling the prophecy. He failed. For nineteen years, Throug has been trying to forget his failure at the bottom of a flagon. With one year remaining before the return of Cthoma, he is offered a chance at redemption. Thrust upon a journey the length of the empire and beyond, can he find the tenth ring, recover what has been taken from him, and face Shaucrim Vlaide under the red light of the comet, or is it already too late? |
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The Burning Fire Rises by Jeff Walker A paranormal thriller with elements of science fiction and supernatural fantasy! Welcome to the mysterious world of Professor Darkk and Miss Shadow.â¨â¨FBI Special Agent John Mathers is investigating a strange crime scene in a forest near Flint, Michigan. A large crater has been discovered with the charred remains of a group of people. It appears to be a case of spontaneous combustion. That's when he encounters Professor Darkk and Miss Shadow, a couple with supernatural powers, who are also investigating the strange event. Who are they? Why are they interested in aiding him in unraveling this unexplainable enigma? John Mathers is suddenly pulled into inexplicable events and must confront terrifying creatures that seem to come straight from nightmares and from an unseen realm that overlaps with our world. Navigating a never-ending labyrinth of unfamiliar dangers and peculiarities, he is guided by Professor Darkk and Miss Shadow. Can he trust them? Are they equally evil and lethal as the one he's attempting to locate for all those who were burned? Do they have secrets of their own? The adventure starts as Special Agent Mathers joins with this mysterious pair, a teacher and his gorgeous student, as they explore the dark and deadly world that's trying to break into our reality.â¨â¨This is Part One of their epic first full novel! |
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A Bastard's Birthright by JE Payne Deep in the Marduk jungle, an ancient artefact is recovered. Unlike anything discovered before, it launches the powers of the world into a brutal contest. Fleets set sail, mages plot, and assassins strike from the shadows, all seeking to control the most powerful artefact ever created. Whoever succeeds will have the power to either control the world or destroy it. And then thereâs Calris and Jasmine. Calris Telruson, Royal Calandorian Marine and bastard, is living his best life. Sailing the high seas, fighting and drinking to his heartâs content with his best friend and his squad, he canât imagine it getting any better than this. Jasmine Fastra, apprentice mage with ambitions of fame and fortune, is finally on track for her dreams to come true. Her experiments are making headway, and her long sought Adeptâs robes are within reach, provided she can keep her temper somewhat in check. Their lives take a sharp turn when theyâre thrown into the struggle over the artefact. Caught between the most dangerous forces in the world, they must fight with everything they have. Fists. Flames. The ever reliable headbutt. They must protect the artefact. If only anyone knew what the damn thing actually did... |
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Shadow of the Soul Blade by Jay Roland If youâre looking for an Epic Dark Adventure filled with magic and mystery, embark on a thrilling journey through the perilous world of Ashana. Join Bastian, a feral warrior, Xander, a gifted mage, Kumori, a stealthy rogue, and Reinhardt, a master swordsman, as they overcome personal differences and cunning foes in their quest to save themselves, and Ashana herself. Accompany these unlikely heroes, as they engage in epic duels and wield awe inspiring magic in the face of overwhelming odds. Order your copy today, to unravel the mystery of the Soul Blade, and uncover the true source of evil threatening this majestic world. |
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Dragon Princess by Jason P. Crawford To the commonfolk of Aetheria, the monarchy are the stuff of legends, descendants of the Uniter. To the lesser nobles, they stand as bastions of courage and political skill, deftly balancing the concerns of the people and the country. High Princess Amalia strives to live up to both expectations, forging herself into a Queen that her nation will one day be proud of. A hard task for any young woman, but for one blinded at birth, nearly impossible. Approaching her seventeenth year, and finding her worth under scrutiny from all corners, Amalia learns a devastating truth â dragons, the fabled foes of her ancestors, have returned. To defend her people and her kingdom, every last one must be destroyedâŚbut her convictions are shaken when she discovers that they are not the unthinking beasts of her nationâs collective nightmares, but intelligent creatures much like herself. Amalia must uncover the secrets hidden in the shadows if she is to avert a war that could end in the deaths of everyone she holds dear. But some truths may be better left buried⌠|
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The Gatekeeper of Pericael by Hayley Reese Chow In Pericael, no one goes out after dark... Twelve-year-old Porter would much rather spend his weekends playing soccer than channeling spirits in the parallel universe of Pericael. Unfortunately for him, Porter's family has guarded the gate between Earth and monster-filled Pericael for generations, so he's not getting out of Gatekeeper lessons anytime soon. But, some after-school activities are more dangerous than others. When a soul thief threatens the gate, Porter reluctantly comes to its defense... and gets thrown deep into Pericael's dangerous jungle wilderness. With the help of two fierce native girls, Porter must learn to embrace the creepy spirits and find his way back to the gate. But the soul thief is racing for the gate too, and if he gets there first, Porter won't have a home to go back to. |
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After Silence by Natalie Northwood Pity is he who rules the world. Inevitable is she who burns it. Norandia, a human-inhabited land abandoned by its slaughtered deities, is on the brink of war with the rest of continental Halivaara. But it isnât just humans who call Halivaara home. Here dwell eight other territories, seven nonhuman species called Dwellers, and six reigning kingdoms. Today, they know no peace; historically, they never have. Cerys Odessa is a mage hiding in Norandia, where Dwellers are burned at the stake for daring to cross the border; if they find her, they will kill her. But when Vanadey, one of Norandiaâs extinct deities, suddenly resurfaces to burn towns in an act of revenge, Cerys realizes that maybe her hidden magic can help stop the brewing war that Vanadey started a millennium ago. But Cerys canât rise against her on her own. With the aid of an outlawed shapeshifter, Cerys must cross enemy lines to seek alliances with the last living dragon, a mage queen who enslaves men, and the king of the werewolves if she hopes to stop Vanadey before war consumes Norandia and everyone she loves. After Silence is a dark, gritty tale of forced heroism in a land of murderous deities and brewing war, where every character has only those they love to loseâand love is everything. |
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Messengers of Ilbeor by T.J. Klapprodt Messengers connect six races of the verdant and beautiful land of Ilbeor, and newly trained messenger Alanda feels the promise of her adult life as she steps into the world to find her fortune. Faithful dog Alis at her side, Alanda traverses the mountainous wilderness only to be punished by storm and sun before becoming the first elf-friend in generations. When she meets charming messenger Tostig and feels the spark of a connection unlike any sheâs ever known, she believes her life has truly begun. After being greeted by tragedy and a brother changed by primal magics she does not understand, Alanda must travel the icy wastes with an unlikely companion to discover the answers to her brotherâs prophetic gifts and her own heritage. With only a mysterious artifact to guide her way, she knows only one thing: her entire destiny is about to change. In Tostigâs attempt to race to her side, he is waylaid by the mysterious Sashu toward his own changed future as powerful magician and a hand of the gods themselves. As Alanda and Tostig uncover who they were fated to be, they learn the appearance of peace in Ilbeor is only given by the lack of outright warâŚand when they each come to the attention of vengeful elven mage Altoneir, they stand to find out just how much they have to lose. |
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Beyond the Burning Sea by T.B. Schmid & R.Wade Hodges It has been over two hundred and fifty years since the sky fell and the Young Gods died.On the mainland of Niyah, the city states of Gundlaan strive to form a united nation. On the fringe of their western frontier, there are whispers of a sinister force gathering. The Laegis Templars, the mortal remains of the Young Gods' army, are dispatched to deal with the problem. But in the vast and untamed Deckoran Wilds, Death itself is never far away...Meanwhile, the SKS Peregrine, pride of the Sea Kings fleet, has done the impossible: she has traveled beyond the Burning Sea, long thought to be the southern edge of the world of Ruine. Now, all that remains of her crew struggle to find their way back, led by a young man bearing a book filled with dark secrets, who must decide whether to reveal the terrifying truth that pursues them... |
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Legacy's Price by T. L. Rolston When Lady Elizabeth "Liz" Bryne suddenly manifests ancient magic during a duel, she finds herself at the center of an ancient mystery that puts her at odds everyone around her. Complicating matters, her grandfather, the King, has gone missing on a diplomatic mission and everyone seems to believe that she is somehow responsible. In order to clear her name, Liz will have to save the King herself. Failure means the end of Segen as she knows it. But when her journey forces her to confront the truth behind the incident that stole her memories, will she be strong enough to complete her mission? |
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The Call of the Valkyries by T J Mayhew A god powerless against his fate. A girl determined to make her own destiny. A prophecy that binds them together... Freydis dreams of being a shieldmaiden but her parents have other ideas. When she learns of her their plan to marry her off to a local fishermanâs son, Freydisâ need to break free from her life intensifies. With Olaf the Redâs arrival, she sees her chance of escape and, with the help of her friends, begins to put her plan into motion. Leaving her home, and family, behind, Freydis embarks on the most dangerous adventure of her life. But life on the whale road is nothing like Freydis expected and sheâs soon asking herself: how will she survive her first raid if she canât even survive her first voyage? With forces beyond her control, or understanding, conspiring against her, how long will she be able to resist the call of the Valkyries? The Call of the Valkyries is the first in a historical fantasy adventure series, featuring some of the greatest Norse myths and legends. Download your copy and discover a new adventure today! |
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Tall & Dark by Suzannah Rowntree Ghosts, griftersâŚand a missing heir in 1890s Europe. Itâs easier to conduct a sĂŠance when the dead arenât trying to contact you. As Molly Dark knows all too well, the problem with being able to see ghosts is that they never tell you what you wish to know. For instance, how a proper young lady like Miss Dark is supposed to support an impoverished family after her father has died a ruined man. Or how she is going to impersonate a missing princess long enough to steal a fortune out from under the collective noses of a whole family of royal monsters. Or exactly why the charming imposter claims to be none other than Grand Duke Vasily Nikolaevich, when he certainly isnât a princeâŚor a vampire. Alas, the dead normally have something far more unsettling to impart⌠Return to the BĂŞte Epoque, an 1890s Europe ruled by monsters, in Miss Darkâs Apparitions! Leverage meets The Parasol Protectorate in this whimsical historical fantasy caper. Join Miss Dark in the spooky mansions of 1890s Europe - read Tall & Dark today! |
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Stranded on a sentient moon with nothing but their enhanced intuition and the help of a bygone deity, the survivors of a post-human race set out to investigate the sudden disappearance of their enemies. What they find might plunge the universe into oblivion. Galaxies away, after a narrow escape from Niflheim, the god of the dead and the goddess of writing forge an alliance with a Nephilim to uncover the fate of the all-but-forgotten goddess of memory when they receive a distress call from the god of reckoning. OubliĂŠ takes us on a weird journey of self-discovery and deception, where memory and truth are at odds with each other and the fate of both gods and mortals hangs in the thin balance between trust and faith. |
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Order of the Shadow Dragon by Steven McKinnon Magic is the enemy. When he discovers all is not what it seems, can a young knight survive long enough to protect the world from the forces of darkness? Adrian Navarro burns for revenge. The lone member of a defunct military sect, the nineteen-year-old canât shake the horrific nightmare of witnessing his fatherâs murder by shadowy fiends. So when a cataclysm devastates a neighbouring kingdom and his superiors blame a powerful sorceress, he gladly agrees to assassinate her to settle the score. Striking out across another realmâs border, the relentless soldier tracks the evil wielder of the dark arts. But after heâs ambushed by magic-users and captured, heâs shocked to discover his crusade for vengeance could be built on a stunning lie - and now the fate of the world is at stake. As heâs confronted by soul shattering truths, can Adrian overcome his greatest fear and save the world? Order of the Shadow Dragon is the action-packed first book in the Legacy of Light & Shadow epic fantasy series. If you like heroes who grow, fast-paced thrills, and humour along with the danger, then youâll love Steven McKinnonâs high-stakes adventure. |
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The Treachery of Ravens by Steven D Nickell A daring robbery. Magic out of control. One last chance to do the right thing. All Meryl Gaspard ever wanted was to fly, but a life lived on her terms means turning her back on her mother and the Liberty Belle salon. So, she lives a secret double life: dutiful daughter by day, professional thief by night. Meanwhile, for a nameless young acolyte, living like a prisoner on an isolated island, using her magic to heal the sick would give meaning to all the suffering her powers have caused her. And, on the dark streets of Pelz, Inspector Michel Aubergon hunts an elusive thief while the greed and corruption around him tears at the fabric of his ideals, seeking to consume his very soul. Soon, a skyship will arrive in Pelz carrying an object of untold value, and Meryl must steal it. But her friend, the mysterious cleric possessing forbidden magic, is under threat, and the police inspector charged with apprehending her is closing in. Meryl must stay a step ahead and pull off a high-stakes burglary, but she canât do it alone. She needs allies, and those allies might come from some very unexpected places. For fans of fantasy and steampunk, experience a tale of swashbuckling action and adventure set in a world where coal and steam are ascendent over alchemy and magic, and giant skyships rule the air. |
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Beyond Misty Mountain by Stephen Howard Something is afoot in Seven Cities. A beast, long thought extinct, is stirring. While King Edirp dreams of a world on fire, his adviser, Med Tet, dreams of a world in chains. The fragile peace of Seven Cities could soon shatter for good. Unless three unlikely thieves, a tea-obsessed wizard and a stubborn young girl can stand in the way. Seven Cities is in safe hands, right? |
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The Youngling by Stephen Harrington Magic, mystery, and destinies entwine as two worlds collide. In the world of The Midgarden, Synesthesia is the only Youngling. Orphaned as a child, her solace lies in the companionship of her loyal dog, Bron, and the tales within her cherished books. But an unexpected twist of fate alters her path forever when her uncle insists on her enrolment at the prestigious Academy. On her treacherous journey, fate intervenes in the form of the enigmatic Griffinkat, a mysterious creature with the uncanny ability to delve into her thoughts, unravelling secrets she never knew existed. Within Synesthesia lies a power shrouded in the mists of time, a force that defies comprehension and beckons her to unlock its hidden potential. In parallel narratives, Seth awakens in a foreign realm, his body battered and carrion birds circling ominously above. His rescue by a mysterious figure, sets in motion a mesmerizing saga that crosses the borders of worlds, unveiling mysteries and interconnected destinies. Meanwhile, Brother Octavion, overseeing his monastery, catches sight of a blaze in the valley below. Investigating the aftermath, they discover the scorched remnants of a traveling show, the lone survivors being a peculiar girl shielding a dying boy. Villagers brand them as demons from hell, but their true identities remain shrouded in mystery. In this mesmerizing novel, worlds collide, destinies intertwine, and secrets unfurl as the lives of Synesthesia, Seth, and Octavian converge in a captivating tale of magic, mystery, and destiny that transcends generations. |
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The Humane Society for Creatures & Cryptids by Stephanie Gillis The Lambros family has never fit in with the town of Pandora, even from the very beginning. Since their ancestors immigrated from Greece with magical creatures in tow, the townsfolk have never trusted them and that hasn't changed in the centuries since. Now, Melpomene, Calliope, and Thalia struggle to live their every day lives. When new girl, Asha Singh moves to town, everything changes. Thalia, once determined to escape Pandora upon graduation, finds herself growing closer to the heiress of the new resort in town and puts her plans on hold as their relationship develops. All the while, a man has entered the grounds, sent by their mother to help prepare for the newest creature en route to the house. His intentions come into question as he tries to befriend the distrustful Calliope, whose own abilities with the animals seem something out of a fairytale. With their mother missing, Melpomene struggles to keep the house together amidst the changes in the town, the newcomers to their lives, and the impending threat of their secret life being exposed to the community and the world. As the three sisters deal with their own personal problems, the divide between them grows wide when they need to band together the most or else it may end with one of them in the hands of their greatest enemy. |
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The Stars Would Curse Us by Stephanie Combs & Valerie Rivers The Iris were sent to us from the stars, but their rule is controlling and oppressive. Every season, we send our brothers and sisters to the marriage drafts . . . but the selected never return. Aella My world falls apart when my best friend and I are drafted to compete for the hand of Esterraâs most eligible bachelor, the devastatingly handsome Iris prince. As an elemental fae, it should be the greatest honor, but the competition is filled with violence. I question my true purpose as we fight to survive in games rigged against us. Arianwen Life should be simpleâgo on my rite and return to marry a man Iâve never metâbut when a handsome stranger falls from the sky, everything is turned upside down. Secrets and lies unravel, leading me to question everything as I find myself pulled into a rebellion. My heart longs for a better world, but am I willing to forsake duty in pursuit of it? We both face choices: LOVE or DUTY LOYALTY or ADVENTURE FIGHT or SURRENDER Is fate truly written in the stars, or have they abandoned us? |
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Knights of the Alliance by Stefanie Chu Nineteen-year-old Mirari fears her magical powers more than anything else in the world. They are the reason she ran away and concealed her identity. But when her childhood best friend, Gaven, is framed and sentenced to death, Mirari must strike a deal with the only man who can save him â Lord Fangbane. Fangbane strongly believes that all it will take to end centuries of passive disdain is to establish a nonpartisan selection of fighters whose mission is to enforce unified peace. His efforts lead to the recruitment of elite fighters known as the Knights. Meanwhile, Mirari and Gaven only desire to live their lives in peace, far away from the chaos of the world. Fate, however, has other plans for them as they are forced to reunite and thrust into the midst of Fangbane's quest. As they gather a motley crew of misfits to join their cause, bonds form, and secrets are revealed. The Knights must come together not only to protect the Alliance but also the lives of their new friends. Trust, friendship, and revenge collide in this epic tale of magic, loyalty, and bravery as our heroes fight for their survival and the greater good. Will they rise up as legends or fall as pawns in a dangerous game? Step into a world where pulse-pounding action, uproarious humor, and gripping political intrigue collide. Immerse in this heroic tale today! A New Adult Speculative Adventure dubbed "RARE" and "DAZZLING." Fans love this original story that intertwines George R. R. Martinâs enthralling world-building with the epic elements of Avatar: The Last Airbender. |
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Copper Cold Steel by Sori Aryl After the facial-scarred Lucia's father died, she became Marquess Lucian to inherit the Borderland of Winterstride along with his debt. When her step-sisters are chosen for the Princess Tests, she becomes a guard for another Lady to make ends meet. The Duke of Coppersteel looks at her a little too closely with his prejudice of Borderlanders after he scarred Lucian's face during a duel. Can she keep her identity a secret while helping her sister's win the hearts of the Golden Princes? Also under Kindle Vella under the same name. 96k words CW: Sexual assault, sacrifice, harassment |
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A visionary, genre-bending coming-of-age novel about a group of friends with one thing in common: theyâre shape-shifting monsters. If that wasnât bad enough, they must also navigate the angst of high school, first love, and heartbreak. Matthew Stroud wants nothing more than to live a normal life, but thatâs easier said than done with cat ears on his head and a cat tail attached to his lower back. Only two people know heâs a cat boy: one is his best friend and fellow monster boy, Mark Koenigsegg, and the other is Markâs human mother, Ashley Koenigsegg. Shortly after starting high school, Matthew develops a crush on Emily Thompson, a human who worms her way into his tiny friend group. She quickly senses somethingâs wrong with her new friends, from their secretive behavior to their animallike appearances, especially when they befriend another boy, John Woodcock, who seems oddly unbothered by everything weird about them. As her suspicions deepen, Matthew must do everything in his power to keep Emily off of his scent, even as he continues to fall for her, because everything will fall apart if she learns the truth. |
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The Wind Walker by Simon Shugar Embark on a thrilling coming-of-age fantasy adventure with daring sky-pirates and a desperate quest for freedom! In the treacherous city of Crater, young Zephyr dreams of escaping his fate as a Breaker Boy, a child labourer in the mines. Desperate for freedom, he turns to the thieves' guild, hoping to earn enough coin to buy his way out. But in a city rife with corruption, Zephyr's path to independence is far from easy.â¨â¨Captain Bacchus and his eccentric crew of sky-pirates are on a high-stakes mission to recover a stolen treasure â a legacy that holds the fate of a kingdom. Enticed by the promise of a reward fifty times their usual rate, they must infiltrate the city of Crater, a daunting task with countless obstacles.â¨â¨As their paths collide, Zephyr and Captain Bacchus find themselves at a crossroads. Can they forge an alliance and overcome the challenges before them, or will Zephyr's dreams of freedom be forever crushed? Get ready for a nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat fantasy trilogy that kicks off with a bang! Don't miss outâgrab your copy now! |
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I was just a child. A wizard came to my town. He came to find me. In a fiery blast I lost my home, my friends, my family. The entire town was obliterated. I grew up a fugitive, surviving on the charity of others. As I hid, my powers grew. The nightmares grew as well. Something was welling up from within me. Something that could not be contained. As an adult I took my place among the wizards. I ruled my country as a figurehead, a puppet of those with greater power or experience. I wasn't to be trusted, or even talked to, for five long years. The other wizards decided my fate. I was to be imprisoned, watched, guarded by the very wizard responsible for the death of my parents. I had to lose everything, even my sense of self, before I found out who I was, and who my real enemies are. |
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Undine's Blessing by Tessa Hastjarjanto A dutiful daughter, a mystical archipelago, and a hidden power waiting to command the tides... Marella spends her days caring for her sick mother and selling her father's fish. Bound by duty and love, she dreams little of adventure. But when her mother must travel to the city for treatment, her father takes her out to sea, despite her fear of water. A storm steers them to Emberrain, home to a tribe of magical nymphs and a place of secrets, where Marella discovers a startling truth: her father is a frequent visitor to these mysterious islands. Soon she learns that Emberrain isn't the only secret he had kept from her. Marella has the power to control water and communicate with aquatic animals. Overwhelmed by the magical but dangerous islands, and the secrets of her father, Marella must learn to harness her powers to save herself and her new aquatic friend before they are separated from their parents forever. Undine's Blessing is a journey of wonder, where fears are faced and mysteries unravel, and a young girl learns that true adventure begins when you dare to embrace who you truly are. |
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The Enchanter's Counsel by Thalib Razi All compasses point to Fridheim, a holy city at the north pole of a spinning, coin-shaped planet called Quatrain. A hundred years after the millennium-long âOld Warâ between the coinâs faces over its sacred and gemstone-rich rim, the cityâs âNew Peaceâ is threatened by earthquakes, extremists, and tensions between its goblin, elf, and dwarf inhabitants. The son of immigrants who run a cafĂŠ in Fridehimâs goblin quarter, Mizan al-Wasati has just graduated with a degree in gemstone enchanting and is determined to prove to himself (and his overbearing parents) that heâs worthy of a job in that prestigious, modern field of magic. But his journey home in search of work and love ends up putting him in the middle of his hometownâs postcolonial politics, a religious feud between mystic traditionalists and violent literalists, an awkward reencounter with his childhood crush â and a strange magical disaster that suddenly falls upon him and his friends to fix. The debut fantasy novel of Sri Lankan American Muslim writer and singer-songwriter Thalib Razi, The Enchanterâs Counsel turns the tropes of the high fantasy genre on their heads (or tails, if you will) and explores a world where East and West literally cannot see eye to eye, where the epics of good versus evil are just biased accounts from a forgotten era, and where people rely on convenient magical devices instead of the power in their bones. Nothing like our world, of course⌠Turn the pages to find out more! |
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In the haunting aftermath of the Fae Wars, Jess is more than just prey, and Garret soon discovers hunting her might be his biggest challenge yet. All my life, it felt like shadows chased me. Every time we'd find a semblance of peace, my mother's terrified eyes would signal it was time to flee again. For twenty-eight years, the reasons were shrouded in mystery. When the truth finally revealed itself, it was nothing like the stories my childhood imagination had crafted. Garret was sure I'd be just another notch in his beltâa target acquired, delivered, and paid for. A simple job in a life of complexities. But fate is rarely straightforward. Before he could claim his prize, others got to me first. Suddenly, he wasn't just battling for a paycheck; he was battling for our lives. And me? I was caught between the man sent to capture me and the enigmatic pull that drew me closer to him. â¨Enter the world of The Wolvesâ Challenge, where the legacies of the Fae Wars shape destinies. An extension of the Call of the Elements Series, this tale is charged with tension, passion, and the age-old dance of enemies-turned-lovers. Beware: Expect heart-pounding chases, raw emotion, and situations meant for mature audiences.â¨â¨Journey back to where it all began with Call of the Elements Book 1: Magisters Bane. Unravel the mysteries and rekindle your bond with your favorite characters in the enthralling world of the Call of the Elements Saga. Don't miss out! |
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Smile and be a Villain by Yves Donlon Something is rotten in the state of Denmark⌠and that 'something' is magic. HELSINGĂR, 1536. Ophelia is a disgraced handmaid to the queen, the cast-off lover of Prince Hamlet. She is also a witch, and a good one at that. And she can see that Denmark is rotting from the inside out, afflicted by dark magic. WITTENBERG, 1536. Hamlet is a useless son, a failed heir. He is the prince of a nation about to fight a war they won't win. He doesn't know about magic, but if he did he would use it to destroy their enemiesâno matter the consequences. â¨As Hamlet and Ophelia find themselves increasingly torn apart, they must decide: how much are they willing to sacrifice in order to save Denmark? And, by the end of it all, will they be beyond saving? |
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Legend of Elberkhan by Yuxiao Chen Thousands of years after dark magic was subdued, unknown danger threatens the seemingly peaceful Hilldown Plain... Aary, a youth of seventeen, is a captive and servant to the King of Elberkhan, a cruel, merciless monarch with a mysterious past. Living under constant mental and physical abuse, Aary's only consolations are his secret haven, a treehouse deep in the forest, and his friends, Rudi and Lyna. He would risk everything for them, but no one he cares about can truly be safe, when the king's biggest enjoyment is Aary's suffering... A number of short music leitmotifs, illustrations, and nested sub-stories completes the transmedia storyline. A live performance of the theme music Kingdom of Elberkhan composed and conducted by the author, performed by the Sydney University Wind Orchestra, can be watched online: https://youtu.be/9I41lpn_9sw |
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Avenel was once a fabled assassin known as the Blade of Elyria. Ever tight-lipped about her past, she retired from a life of death to wander the world alone. Deena is a sheltered teenage girl unaware of her extraordinary heritage. Raised alone by her mother, she has never been far from home. Their paths cross in Deenaâs secluded village, when tragedy obliterates Deenaâs home and leaves her orphaned. The two begin a journey across the continent, bound together by Avenelâs promise to keep Deena safe. They encounter allies, both new and old: a biological father, a bastard prince and his friends, estranged family, and a physician who claims to be a member of a long-dead race. Each has regrets and painful memories of their own, memories that Deena soon discovers she can relive through dreams. When a prophesied sign of the end of the world appears, their journey becomes about more than just the fate of a single girl, and the secrets between them may be enough to save the world â or end it. |
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City of Rain by William Lejeune An ancient mystery. A sorceress in hiding. And the wizards who hunt her. Daughter of a minor house and fledgling mage, Summer Fontenay yearns for a life beyond her cloistered world. But when her dying master entrusts her with a mysterious parchment, she must use all that she has learned to survive. For there are those in the imperial court who would kill to obtain it and the secrets that it holds. Suspected of murder and pursued by the emperorâs wizards, Summer must deliver the parchment to the distant city of Torrick. But the city is a place of both splendour and peril, its labyrinthine canals and alleyways a mirror of the ever-shifting factions and loyalties that Summer must navigate in order to reach her goal and restore her name. The first in a series of novels, CITY OF RAIN is epic fantasy at its finest, set in a world of honour and treachery, swords and sorcery, plots, counterplots and the deadliest of intrigues; where the Great Houses jostle for power beneath the Nephrite Throne and where the parchmentâs secrets threaten to change the very course of the empire itself. |