SPFBO7 Self-published Fantasy Blog-Off Entries 2021
Entries into Mark Lawrence's Self-published Fantasy Blog-off in 2021 (the 7th year of the contest).
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The Kept King by Ryan D. Meier Autumn has come to the kingdom of Harlow’s Hill. Leaves of red, orange, and yellow cast a soft glow over the castle and its small farming villages, lending a tranquility to the quiet lands. Life in the northern hills was peaceful, serene, and trouble-free. But for King Thomas Hawke, it wasn’t that simple. Since childhood, he had been stricken with a mysterious illness; one with no known cause, and no known cure. It repeatedly took a heavy toll on the king’s body; however, nothing was more devastating than the loss of his memory. After each episode, the King has been left to reconstruct the fragments of his life, hoping that one day his memories might return. As the years stretched on, his illness only grew worse - threatening his family line that still required an heir. With help from the Order of Acolytes, Thomas finds himself in a race against time to find a queen. Suitor after suitor come to the castle, and each visit ends the same way – with the King alone in the castle’s keep. That is until a mysterious new woman, Kate, arrives. Join Thomas and Kate as they unravel the mysteries of Harlow’s Hill, changing everything they know about who they were, who they are, and who they will be. |
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While Gods Sleep by L. D. Colter The first time Ty died he was five, the second time he was seven. He's always believed his third death will be the final one. Now he may find out. Greece, 1958. Ty’s childhood is twenty years in his rear-view mirror, along with his near-death experiences and the accompanying visions of terrifying gods. But when he accepts an invitation to gamble on a game of chance, his peaceful reprieve is shattered. Cast now into the underworld to repay his debt, his fate quickly entwines with sleeping gods and the factions that seek to control them. But even the gods and monsters of Erebus tremble at a new enemy; one powerful enough to destroy them all. A fantasy thriller by award-winning author, L. D. Colter. Get ready to dive head-first into an alternate 1950s Greece where conjoined queens rule a nation perched above an underworld filled with demi-gods and monsters, and a mortal man holds the key to the fate of the gods. |
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The Great Drae selected a new apprentice. Xylia’s lost her position. Determined to reclaim it, Xylia volunteers to become an Authenticator. She travels from town to town searching for children who share her unique gift, and in her free time she practices energy summoning, hoping to master a Shimmerlight skill that will impress the Great Drae. But there’s a grim side to Authenticating children. When Xylia asks too many questions, she’s cast out of a village during the Dark Month, a time when monsters roam her world. It should be a death sentence, but Xylia’s talents are changing… Shimmerlight is an exciting YA steampunk fantasy adventure with dashes of social justice, humor, and romance. Perfect for fans of Cinder and Howl’s Moving Castle. |
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The Mortal Blade by Christopher Mitchell A city ruled by Gods, a mortal champion, a misfit girl and a disobedient dragon… Stolen from his home, Corthie Holdfast has arrived in the City of the Eternal Siege as a new Champion. He must fight alongside the Blades, whose lives are dedicated to the defence of the City against the hordes of monstrous Greenhides; or die at the hands of the Gods who rule. Maddie Jackdaw, a young Blade, faces her last chance. Thrown out of every unit defending the City, either she takes on a new role, or she will be sent to the Rats, a company of misfits given the perilous tasks beyond the Great Walls. Her new role, if she takes it, will bring her face to face with her deepest fears, for beneath the walls, in a secret and hidden lair, lies a dragon, imprisoned and waiting… |
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The Look of a King by Tom Dumbrell Two young men. One with a dark past, the other with a bright future. Cyrus is a storyteller frustrated by the mundane trappings of village life, while Prince Augustus struggles to meet high expectations after an upbringing of royal privilege in the bustling capital. As both try to forge their own paths, a royal assassination unexpectedly closes the gap between them. The nation of Easthaven is thrown into war with their oppressive neighbours, and so begins a conflict from which neither can walk away. Will a young prince finally measure up to his destiny? Will a storyteller create a legend of his own? Cyrus and Augustus's lives may seem worlds apart, but perhaps they aren't so different after all... |
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The Broken Heart of Arelium by Alex Robins “A fast-paced epic fantasy thrill-ride filled with action-packed battles, compelling mysteries, and unforeseen betrayals.” Some Things Must Never Be Forgotten. Over 400 years ago, twelve great warriors united the beleaguered armies of men and scoured the war-torn lands of evil, pushing the enemy back into the underground pits and caverns from whence they came. To ensure their legacy, each of the Twelve founded fortress monasteries to impart their unique knowledge of war and politics to a select few, the Knights of the Twelve. But now the last of the Twelve have long since passed from history to legend and the Knights, their numbers dwindling, are harbouring a dark and terrible secret that must be protected at all costs. Merad Reed has spent half his life guarding a great crater known as the Pit, yearning for some escape from the bleak monotony. Then the arrival of Aldarin, one of the few remaining Knights of the Twelve, sets off a chain of cataclysmic events that will change Reed forever. To the north, Jelaïa del Arelium, heiress to the richest of the nine Baronies, must learn to navigate the swirling political currents of her father’s court if she hopes one day to take his place. But the flickering flames of ambition hide the shadow of an even greater threat. And deep within the earth, something is stirring. |
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Eulogy for the Dawn by Jeramy Goble Domaren constructs peace using his tools of war. He is a silencer of rebellions and a butcher of tyrants. To some, he is a champion defender. To others, he is a merciless eradicator. Together with his fellow Godknights, Domaren wields might and magic to carry out the will of the creators. But the creators have suddenly gone silent. As the last living Godknight present during the ancient rebellion known as Wrathlore, Domaren must rise above suspicions of deceit, faltering powers, and a world erupting in chaos if he hopes to learn the fate of the missing creators. |
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Ten Thousand Stiches by Olivia Atwater Regency housemaid Euphemia Reeves has acquired a faerie godfather. Unfortunately, he has no idea what he's doing. Euphemia Reeves has most inconveniently fallen in love with Mr Benedict Ashbrooke. Housemaids do not marry gentlemen, of course... but a faerie named Lord Blackthorn is only too eager to help Effie win Mr Benedict's heart regardless. Effie knows what a terrible idea it is to accept help from one of the Fair Folk—but life as a maid at Hartfield is so awful that she is willing to risk even her immortal soul for a chance at something better. Now, Effie has one hundred days and ten thousand stitches to make Mr Benedict fall in love with her and propose... if Lord Blackthorn doesn't wreck things by accident, that is. For Effie’s greatest obstacle might well be Lord Blackthorn’s overwhelmingly good intentions. The long-awaited sequel to Half a Soul delights and amuses in equal measure. Pick up Ten Thousand Stitches, and dive into another enchanting faerie tale set in Olivia Atwater's charming, magical version of Regency England! |
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Beware Greeks Bearing Gifts by Gareth Lush "Heracles decided to play with fate." 'Beware Greeks Bearing Gifts' tells the story of Heracles Olympus: a gifted warrior with a past that haunts him, fuelling him with a secret thirst for revenge and cursing him with a rage he cannot ever quite control. Heracles feels shackled by his life in his home city, until a chance encounter with his past sends him in search of three fabled items that have the potential to shift the power of the world: for better or for worse. Can Heracles, and his growing band of eclectic followers, find the items before they fall into the hands of the ever looming organisation known only as 'Tartarus'? Beware Greeks Bearing Gifts is the first in a trilogy of novels, part of The Shield & Snake Saga, from new author Gareth Lush. The novel is for anyone with a love of epic fantasy and/or ancient Greek mythology, or just a book to get lost in. What to expect from Greeks Bearing Gifts: · A great many references to the mythological figures and monsters of ancient Greek mythology · A colourful cast of characters and a rich new world to explore · Epic battles and adventure |
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The Lady of Kingdoms by Suzannah Rowntree Magic made her a warrior. Justice will make her a legend. Jerusalem, 1180: A catastrophe destroyed Marta Bessarion's family and whisked her away from everything she once knew. Now, armed with a magic spear and a burning thirst for justice, Marta vows to protect her new home and family, no matter the cost. But trouble is brewing in the glittering palaces of Jerusalem... The young Leper King, Baldwin, is dying. Before he goes, Baldwin must choose a successor...but every choice is a bad one. An innocent child, exploited by stronger men? A crafty cousin who has already tried to snatch the crown? Or his brilliant, passionate sister who is determined to rule - even if it triggers a war? When enemy armies muster on the kingdom's borders, Marta charges into battle. But when Baldwin's choice puts her newfound family at risk, Marta finds herself fighting a new kind of battle - one in which intrigue, deception, and betrayal are the weapons. To save the kingdom, she’ll need more than a magic spear to destroy its enemies. She'll need a saint to save its soul. The Lady of Kingdoms is Book 2 in the acclaimed Watchers of Outremer series (though you don’t have to read Book 1 first). Wonder Woman meets City of Brass in this thrilling historical fantasy featuring lady knights, fierce princesses, and eldritch dragon angels! |
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The Klindrel Invasion by Jason A. Holt The peaceful scholars of the Redwood Valley are invaded by an army of warriors twice their size. Their only defense is a small patrol company. Lieutenant Sabu doesn't know how thirty-six patrollers can stop an army, but he knows he must try. He has help from a reckless bandit and a timid merchant, men of opposite temperament united in their desire for revenge. Dusi is a rookie mind-finder eager to prove that her magic is useful, not evil. She'll do anything to impress Sabu, but what will he do when the horrors of the battlefield resurrect the nightmares from her past? ------------------------------------------------------- The Klindrel Invasion is a fantasy-adventure war memoir set in the world of Edgewhen. You will meet steel-hearted invaders, brave guerrilla fighters, enigmatic nature spirits, and inner demons that may be, literally, demons. Each Edgewhen adventure is a stand-alone novel. If you are ready to draw your battleblade and dive into the fray, start the series right here. |
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Heir to the Darkmage by Lisa Cassidy Ambition drives her. Danger thrills her. But magic always has a price. Twenty years have passed since the Darkmage was destroyed and the war between mages ended. For Lira Astor, the single living heir to the Darkmage, escaping her name is impossible. People still fear what is long dead, and they see in her the rise of another dangerous mage with deadly ambition. Desperate to claw her way free of her grandfather’s shadow, to make her own name amongst the world of mages, Lira is willing to do whatever it takes. Even if that means joining the secretive rebel group looking to restore his vision. Survival is a lesson Lira learned early and often, yet when she is abducted and held prisoner in a deadly game of cat and mouse, she finds herself facing a nemesis she may be no match for. Forced to band together with unlikely allies who challenge everything she believes about what it means to be a mage, she will have to rely on every bit of ruthlessness she possesses. Because the war may only just be beginning… …and Lira Astor intends to come out on top. |
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The Fire in the Glass by Jacquelyn Benson London, 1914. Lily's visions could stop a killer... if she'll trust a reclusive aristocrat with her darkest secret. A monster stalks the gaslit streets of Edwardian London, draining the blood of the city's mediums. Lily Albright knows who's next. Lily is plagued by visions of the future she can never change. When a mysterious fiend threatens someone she loves, she's determined this time will be different. But she can't do it alone. To save a life, Lily must reveal her darkest secrets to someone she has little reason to trust—the reclusive Lord Strangford, a man haunted by his own unusual powers. From the glittering galleries of Bond Street to the rookeries of Southwark, Lily and Strangford plunge into a dark conspiracy that lies at the heart of England's rising eugenics movement. To thwart it, Lily must face a past rife with betrayal—and embrace the power she has spent her entire life trying to escape. This gripping historical fantasy series is perfect for those who love supernatural suspense and slow-burn romance. |
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With his life now divided between myth and reality, Garrick Elliott struggles to learn what it truly means to be human. As a fledgling lycanthrope, Garrick battles his own dark thoughts and the encroaching threat of hunters, as well as the ever-growing willpower of the beast within. Despite those around him accepting what they are, Garrick desperately clings to a hope of one day returning to his life as a normal teenager. His obsession with ridding himself of the wolf may just be the drive he needs to find a cure—or the fatal error which puts him and his pack in danger. As he vies for control of his own mind, Garrick questions if fighting his affliction is worth the sacrifices he must make, or if he is destined to live the rest of his life Cursed. |
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After her parents' deaths, she turns to illegal blood magic to hunt a killer. But is it worth her freedom—or her life? Was it suicide? Two months after finding her stepmother’s corpse, Maddy is still unconvinced. Magic users like her stepmother don’t spill their blood without purpose. Blood magic is illegal for minors. But both of Maddy’s birth parents are long dead, and the truth is all she has left. She starts her investigation with a few familiar spells—finding lost objects, summoning dead people. Soon, she draws the attention of a man with an unexplained connection to her stepmother—a man with power so big and so lethal that it shouldn’t exist. But who’s going to believe a grief-stricken kid when she claims impossible magic killed her stepmother? Maddy must decide what the truth is worth. Her friends? Her freedom? Or even her own life? If you like dark young adult books full of dramatic twists, you'll love this thrilling, standalone urban fantasy about a lost girl who may find a reason to live. |
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War is in the air. In every sense, as the aeronauts of Lauchenland prepare to take their airships aloft against the mighty Beruzil Empire. It’s the chance for Heino Voss to fulfil his life’s ambition and fly an airship into battle. At his side is his aloof navigator, Saskia von Eck. Soon they realise that war is not a game, and that unquestioning loyalty can take them to some dark places. Saskia’s brother Erich finds himself fighting for the other side. As the bloodshed and horror mount, he learns there is no place for honour on the battlefield. As the conflict draws to its grim conclusion, all three realise that the price of victory could be higher than they’re willing to pay. And that, even in wartime, there are fates worse than death… The start of a breathtaking new series, Bitter Sky explores the cost of dreams and the terrible toll war takes on even the most idealistic. |
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The Stars Within by Lena Alison Knight Escape was impossible...until she had nothing to lose. For Kerelle Evandra, her psionic powers have always meant three things: mandatory service to a multigalactic corporation, a luxurious lifestyle as a prized asset, and an electronic collar that will kill her if she steps out of line. As much as Kerelle might resent her gilded cage - and obedience to her corporate masters’ cold directives - everyone knows that escape is impossible. And defiance risks not just her own life, but also the life of the person closest to her: Galhen Ambrel, her lover and fellow bound psionic. But when Galhen’s contract is suddenly sold to a distant oligarch, Kerelle learns that obedience was not the guarantee of safety she once thought - and that escape may not be as inconceivable as she was taught to believe. When a mission brings her into contact with an unexpected ally, she must decide how far she can go, and how much she’s willing to risk for freedom. |
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Most people think the fae are gone. Most people are wrong. Owen Williams wakes after a horrific car accident to find his wife is dead—and somehow turned into a gryphon—and his kids gone after a home invasion turned horribly wrong. Shattered and reeling, he vows to do whatever it takes to find them. When a fae scout appears and promises to reunite him with his kids, he doesn’t hesitate before joining her. But she warns him that if he wants to protect his family, he must follow the fae to their city, the hidden haven of Tearmann. With enemies on the horizon, Owen needs to set aside his fears and take up arms to defend their new home alongside the people he’s always been taught were monsters—or he’ll lose everyone he’s trying to protect. |
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The Bright Lord by Alex Knowles A home, a family. Lies, resentment. To save the future, he must reclaim his past.Ryan Hart thought he had saved them all. He'd served as Lord Commander of the Sarashead guild, faithfully and with honor for thousands of years. His work expanded their empire and brought peace.But peace never lasts. . . .Emperor Duhan has been murdered, ripping Ryan out of his new life as a citizen on Earth. Once again, he must leave those he loves for the greater good.Rebirth is the path, a reset into a new body that he must cultivate and train. The collision of two worlds draws ever closer, and if he can't claim what was once his, all will be lost.The Bright Lord is a thrilling Litrpg, cultivation story that spans multiple worlds, love and friendship. |
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Empire's Daughter by Marian L Thorpe An Emperor's request. A lover's refusal. And a young woman who must choose between them. Lena's world is about to change forever. Harried from north and south by two different enemies, both wanting this last remnant of a greater Empire's land, and with invasion imminent, the military leaders see no choice but to ask the unthinkable: that women learn to fight. In accepting the challenge, Lena is separated from her lover, who chooses banishment rather than break with generations of tradition. Promoted to leadership, drawn into the intrigues of power, Lena must make difficult choices, for herself, for her village, and for her country: a young woman at the heart of both violence and diplomacy, beginning her epic journey to save her land. Eric Hoffer Book Awards Finalist, 2021; Silver Medal, Historical Fantasy Box Set (2019), Coffee Pot Book Club Awards |
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Arleth, a 17 year old slave in a backwater world, has no idea her life is about to be turned upside down.She is too busy trying to avoid the abuse from her owner Bella. But when the legendary king of Oherra comes to Tocarra, Arleth soon finds herself being chased by assassins, sought out by spies and smack dab in the middle of a decades long war. It soon becomes clear to Arleth that powerful forces are at play. Not everyone is who they seem, even those she wants to trust the most. Haunted by an ancient magic, Arleth must decide who she can trust and fast. The wrong choice would cost her the ultimate price - a fate worse than death - to end up as an enchantment. A hollowed out shell of a person; devoid of thought, consciousness and feeling. That's if the birthright she's completely unaware of doesn't kill her first. |
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Greed by Viljami L. Ethan and Gabriel have been fast friends since early childhood. Regrettably, whilst they were but young boys, Gabriel’s parents met their deaths due to not being able to afford a treatment for a curable disease. Life, however, extended an olive branch to the unfortunate soul by the way of offering a loving place in Ethan’s thus-far unbroken family. Yet Gabriel never truly felt at home as the two tight buddies, together, grew up into young adults within the same household. Eventually, death came to visit once more, and this time it took away the middle-aged parents who had not only taken great care of their own child but also given a roof for another, even though they were not obligated to bear the burden of a second child. It has been a few years since that latest sojourn of death, and the independent pair now travels the world in a search of something they do not know of. One day, they come across a legend that tells of untold riches within reach of those who dare to venture into the unknown depths of Mt. Valhalla. Motivated by the idée fixe of an easy life attainable with such a rumoured treasure, the lonesome twosome decides to gather an adventuring brigade. On their arduous journey, they will meet an assorted cast of characters who all have their own personal reasons for joining the ever-growing party. As their odyssey unfolds, Ethan begins to wonder whether vast monetary wealth is the unidentified something that he is subconsciously looking for, or if he has already strayed too far from the right path towards a more fulfilling and happy life. Gabriel, meanwhile, becomes more and more obsessed with the enchanting fantasy of living in a lavish lifestyle with the promised fortune, the enormity of the cost be damned. Still, both of them, as evermore, venture the same path hand in hand. However, what is the harsh reality that awaits them at the end of their chosen road? |
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The Crown of Death by David Schratz One day, eighth-grader Jay Adrastus's ordinary life is turned upside down when he finds his cafeteria worker about to stab him. Jay's narrow escape launches him into a world where myths are real, and dangerous, too. A character from one of these myths is alive, and bitter after the loss of his wife. It is up to Jay and his new-found friends to stop him - or never see their families again. Jay may just learn a few lessons on the trip. Ones that will change the way he views the entire world. |
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Sixteen-year-old Jacob Da Nesta and his older sister Maria live a simple life of anonymity in their peaceful border town. But when a runaway prince from a rival nation appears in their doorway asking for them, their lives are changed forever. Jacob, Maria, and their allies must flee from enemies both foreign and domestic as they journey through the perilous, war-torn land of Valouria. Guided only by visions from the mysterious Elijah, will Jacob and Maria reach salvation, or will their dark secrets catch up with them? |
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The Wayward Wizard by Alesha Escobar I’m the last person a secret government agency wants to call for help. I spend my days selling New Age trinkets to humans and my nights drinking with a street-hustling alchemist. Not exactly the law and order type. But when monsters from our childhood nightmares become flesh and blood, snatching people from the streets, I’m one of the few wizards alive who can uncover who’s behind it. My past threatens to catch up with me, and I’m not sure I can outrun it. After losing my family in a fire and being whisked away by my caretaker to train at the Akashic Academy, my life was further turned upside down when I emerged from my final test to find three dead master wizards. Despite being cleared of all charges, most in my community believe I killed them. They call me the Wayward Wizard. I may be a black sheep among magic-users, but I deliver results. Which is why this secret agency has dragged me out of bed, slapped the bottle of whiskey out of my hand, and placed me with Alanna Reid. She’s their best (and most uptight) agent who’s been ordered to keep an eye on me and make sure I get the job done—or, put a bullet in me. But as good as Alanna is, even she may not be prepared for what’s coming. And if I can’t shut down the mysterious wizard wielding stolen powers, then I have a demigod looking over my shoulder, salivating at the thought of bringing on the Apocalypse as punishment. It’s like the teacher penalizing the entire class for one asshat’s actions, but on a cosmic level. Since I like living, the choice is clear. But something tells me that in unraveling the truth, I’ll also have to face my own monsters, which can be just as deadly. |
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Berserker by Dimitrios Gkirgkiris Alex is a game developer though he'd much rather stream RPG classics or spend time with Louie. That's his adorable corgi. He also hates people. Not in a homicidal way but rather in an extremely-antisocial one. Unless you hurt Louie. In such an instant, Alex is pulled in the Apocosmos, where our whole world is just a blip in a colorful tapestry of million others. A multiverse ruled by a strict system. Where Norse, Greek, and Celtic pantheons clash. Where dwarves craft, dragons hoard, and vampires don't glitter. A world that is as cruel as epic. Alex wants none of that though. He just wants to earn an early retirement somewhere in Spain. There's money to be made in the Apocosmos. Alex will take advantage of the market just like he did in his MMORPG days, in what seems like an error-proof plan. But it's a zero-sum game and some people would do anything to eliminate competition. |
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The Throne of Ice and Ash by J.D.L. Rosell A throne in peril, a tragic betrayal, two heirs struggling to save their land, and a prophesied war threatening to engulf the world… Bjorn, youngest heir to the Mad Jarl of Oakharrow, has always felt more at ease with a quill than a sword. Yet when calamity strikes his family, he must draw a blade and lead a company of warriors into the cold, deadly mountains in pursuit of a mysterious foe. Though he seeks vengeance, an ancient power stirs within him, and the whispers of prophecy beckon him toward an ominous destiny... Aelthena, Bjorn’s sister, was born with the aptitude to lead, and she’s eager to prove it. But her society’s rules for women, and her love for her brother, restrain her efforts to command. As she walks the fine line between ambition and virtue, enemies of both mankind and myth rally against Oakharrow, and even her allies question her right to rule… The Runewar is rising - it begins with the fall of a throne. A harrowing tale of the struggle for power and the dawning heroes who rise above it, The Throne of Ice & Ash is Book 1 of the Norse high fantasy, coming of age series The Runewar Saga. Fans of A Song of Ice and Fire, The Lord of the Rings, and The Wheel of Time won't want to miss this new sweeping epic fantasy! |
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The Museum of All Things Lost & Forgotten by A.R. Henle Dare to Remember! Bea detests snap decisions. Better to take time, examine options, and make informed choices. Order above chaos, always: in life and magic. Her new job in a magical museum suits her to a T. Lead tours through the public displays? Easy peasy. Run mapping sweeps to keep abreast of the ever-changing back rooms? The best kind of adventure. Until she stumbles across an unattended child lost in a long-forgotten forest. Restoring the child to her parent begins an adventure requiring Bea move fast—or risk catastrophe. Enter the spellbinding and richly imaginative world of The Museum of All Things Lost & Forgotten. |
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Graves Robbed, Heirlooms Returned by Ashley Capes At least when you’re Death’s nephew the bad guys literally have no-where to hide, right? Meet Reed Lavender, a mostly-human detective with the uncanny ability to hear the final words of the dead. But on this case he’ll need more than his usual tricks to solve the murder of a teen runaway – he’ll need something that just might be more trouble than it’s worth – the help of his ragtag Reaper-cousins. But the deeper Reed digs the more he realises there’s something far bigger and darker beneath his city, something vast, something that is ripening to rot... |
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Hunters (The Ballad of the Songbird) by Jon Ford Welcome to the new age… In a world where Vampyrii, Werewolves and other creatures of myth and legend now live side by side with the remnants of the Human race, conflicts are inevitable. Gayle Knightley has been fighting all her life. As a Fae/Human hybrid, a quirk of her birth ensured she was destined to be a warrior. A Hunter. One of the best. But now she’s broken and grieving. Her team and her friends brutally taken from her. Gayle will need to overcome her grief and join the fight once again. Her first steps on the path to redemption take her back to London, and the Human Fae Academy where it all began. Where she learnt to be a Hunter. Yet on the eve of a historical global summit, an enigmatic manipulator threatens to shatter the fragile peace. In Werewolf controlled Canada, a girl is abducted by a monster. In Vampire occupied America, a lone Vampyrii forges an alliance with an enemy to try and correct history. How are these things all connected? And more importantly…who hunts the Hunters? Hunters is a story as complex and deep as Game of Thrones or The Expanse, yet set in a modern urban fantasy setting. |
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here are few things more dangerous or more destructive than a bad man who thinks that he is doing a good thing... The Aska Isles are burning. An unseasonable drought is slowly killing the land; crushing it in a patient and merciless fist of rising fire and dust. On the prosperous Northern Isle, King Taavi Fulbright, senile and raving, edges closer to death while his Viceroy, the flint-hearted Corbin Cadmael, continues with his plans for subjugating the South and bringing the contemptible, stinking peasants that farm it under his yolk. On the beautiful and brutal highlands of the Southern Isle, an outfit of desperadoes, bandits and cattle-thieves, led by the infamous Shaw siblings, is in the midst of murdering a team of the Crown's cattle drovers and nicking their stock. It's a final payday before the head of their crew, Viggo Shaw, leaves the road-life for good and settles down to fatherhood. Viggo cares little for the fate of the many, being concerned only with the lives of those closest to him; his sister and brother, Ylva and Destin, his lifelong love, Erika, and their unborn child. That is until the delightfully psychotic Cormac Latrell comes strolling back into their lives after a decade-long absence. Latrell is a monster and, like all good monsters, is a monster of Viggo's own creation. Once a polite and conscientious young nobleman, Latrell is the bastard son of Viceroy Cadmael and has been twisted by a love unrequited, the scorn of those he wished only to help, and the revulsion of a father who only ever saw him as a disappointment. Latrell is hunting Erika's sister, Fenella, who is rumoured to be endowed with powers long believed to be lost to legend. They are the powers of the Empathy, an elemental magic that could bring the Aska Isles back from the brink of the fire –– or cast it into the flames. Now, Viggo and his band find themselves inexorably drawn into a choking world of revisited childhood sins that have sown the seeds from which fiends grow, soul-ripping jealousies, false prophesies, and blood-soaked feuds that promise little in the way of relief for any of them. Viggo Shaw must face a trifecta of hard questions and an even tougher choice; is the saving of his world, the keeping of a final promise and the defeating of a monster he helped mould worth becoming a monster himself for? Or should he just do what he aches to do, and surrender to death? Or perhaps, Viggo might learn on his journey that the human heart is a torment and a masterpiece. |
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DragonBirth by Raina Nightingale In a world where dragons are considered demons and Dragonriders are hunted and killed as witches . . . Silmavalien is a devout young woman from a small mountain village. Her engaged, Noren, is teaching her the bow and her life goals are limited to marrying him – as soon as he completes his Manhood Hunt – and having a family. But then she meets a dragon hatchling and discovers a love she could never have dreamed, but one that rips her entire world apart. The gods she has worshiped, everything she has ever been taught or believed, is a monstrous lie, and she's not sure what to believe now. Can she dare to trust Noren with her new secret, even if he is the only person she's ever heard voice doubts about whether the stories are true? If she, or the hatchling Minth, are discovered, both will be burned alive. How can she survive and care for Minth in a wild hostile world – one that is even stranger than she thought? |
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Blades Falling Softly by Sarah Lin Two families. Two species. One destiny. Anyinn and Canumon are old warriors long past the adventures of youth, but destiny is coming for them all the same. One seeks to protect her ancestral homeland, the other to enter it. As they each become the representative of their nation and species, the conflict will draw their families together in a way they never imagined. Can their friendship survive the tides of history? |
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Stone Magus by Stephanie C. Marks ***THE FIRST NOVEL IN THIS SERIES IS BEST ENJOYED WHEN YOU DON'T READ ANY SPOILERS BEFOREHAND.*** In life, love, and family, there is always strength in numbers. Something is off balance between the Windsong Sisters, and for Opal and Ruby, the terrible might of their powers may just lead them to catastrophe—or clarity. As half-elf mages in the service of the Order of Aiuna, the sisters spend their days collecting and preserving anything that magic touches, and as their mission takes them further back into their past, the darkness that awaits them there threatens to destroy everything they hold dear. Despite the dark smoke rising around them, Opal is finding it hard to ignore the flames flickering between herself and Baerdun. There’s just something about it that makes her feel weak, and not just in the knees. With so much happening around them, it’s becoming much harder to keep her heart her own. After everything they’ve lost—what if they lose themselves as well? Enter a world where shadows exist within and without, and follow Opal, Ruby, and Baerdun down a path that will either bring them together or force them apart. If you like Sarah J. Mass, Grace Draven, and Jennifer Armentrout, then Stone Magus is a novel you won’t be able to put down. ***WARNING: Stone Magus contains adult sexual themes, violence, and other explicit content that could distress some readers. Proceed with caution.*** |
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Face of Glass by Damon L. Wakes In ancient days when the island was new, the three elements--Mountain, Sun and Moon--came to threaten Man. One by one, the hero SutaKe challenged these great figures, and with his cunning conquered them. The island now is ruled by Man alone, and SutaKe's legend lives on through the ages. But when a foreign merchant brings a new element--Steel--to the shores of the island, legends alone are not enough to resist it. A young slave, ParuMe, seizes the chance to claim an ancient power, and with it his freedom. However, this power comes at a terrible price: it threatens everything he had hoped to gain. |
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When your clients are all dead, it takes call center hell to a whole new level. Sarah Mendoza just wants to get through her work week. The calls have been back to back for weeks, pushing her past burnout. But having great coworker friends makes it worth staying, and it’s not like job offers are beating down her door. The last thing she wants is to get a job in a mundane company where she has to hide her magickal abilities. When the calls suddenly stop, she gets suspicious. It’s too good to be true, and management doesn’t seem to care what’s going on. Certain her boss is up to no good, Sarah borrows a pair of goggles that will let her see ghosts, hoping that may give her an idea. But the ghosts aren’t the only things acting odd-Her kinda-sorta new girlfriend falls off the radar, her roommate is hiding something, and the magickal community is braced for a major upheaval. Something is going to explode, and if working at Ghost Line has taught Sarah one thing: You never want to be in the way when magick hits the fan. Please note: books 1, 2, and 3 in this series may be read in any order. They will crossover in book 4. |
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ON THE NIGHT THAT HE WAS BORN, THE DEVIL CAME TO KILL HIM The son of a farmer in Iron Age Britain, Nuadhu finds himself thrust into a destiny he is ill-prepared for. After his king murders his parents, he and his brother are forced to flee into the Roman Empire under the protection of the archangel Anael. Meanwhile, a plague of the undead is sweeping across Europe from the east, raising their slain enemies as new allies. Their goal is not the conquest of one tribe or nation, but the subjugation of all humanity. Can one warrior-in-exile, hungry for vengeance, build a force to repel this existential threat? The riveting new historical fantasy adventure from the author of FROM THE HILL OF MEGIDDO and the ARMAGEDDON'S OFFSPRING series! |
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As Fierce as Steel by Christopher P. Walsh The nation of Illiastra sits in the clutches of the Elite Merchant Party, a group who uses its lands and its peoples to enrich themselves and further their own goals. Openly standing against them is a woman known only as Lady Orangecloak and her faction, the Thieves. With their very lives at stake, the Thieves and their fearless leader fight to end a hundred-year reign of oppression. Inspired by Lady Orangecloak's actions and seeking her own emancipation, Lady Marigold Tullivan, daughter of a ruling lord, steps forward with designs on tearing down the Elite Merchants from within. Will Illiastra survive what is to come? As Fierce as Steel is the inaugural entry in the seven-part Gold & Steel Saga, an industrial-era fantasy epic by Christopher Walsh. The series blends traditional fantasy elements with modern sensibilities, inviting seasoned fans of the genre and contemporary readers alike. The conflicts and struggles of Lady Orangecloak, Marigold Tullivan, mercenary Tryst Reine, Ellarie Dollen of the Thieves and others weave a grand epic adventure of growth and personal discovery that is sure to captivate readers of all preferences. |
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Squire George & The Dragon by Adam Digger Stolz A Reluctant Squire vs. An Invincible Dragon Squire George has no aptitude for (and even less interest in) being a knight, a hero or a dragonslayer. He also has no choice in the matter. It is, after all, the family business. So he shouldn’t be surprised when his father sends him off to chase after rumors of a mighty dragon in a faraway land. He shouldn’t be, but he still is. With an unfunny fool, a cursed wizard and a black-hearted knight for companions, it isn’t long before Squire George comes up against wispy zephyr-fiends, vengeful nar and single-mindedly stupid crorks. He also survives a trufflehump, befriends a bridge troll and meets an old crone to whom he might or might not be related. None of which helps prepare him to kill an unkillable dragon. |
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The Rook legacy: duty at all Costs. Regina’s family are the last living members after a long line of magical families. Their heritage is a promise to the world; they can be trusted to keep magic from corrupting power hungry witches — In doing so they keep an unearthly evil from crushing humanity. When Regina Rook's mother dies a sudden, violent death, the living coven members come from around the world to attend the funeral, and begin breathing down her neck as next in line to lead. Trying to find a balance between her own goals as a witch and her family's demands, all the while keeping her recent nightmares hidden where she becomes the very thing they fighting. But when those things become intertwined, can she do anything but watch as the world around her crumbles to ancient horrors? |
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Small Places by Matthew Samuels Jamie is a lonely, anxious kid when he has a run-in with a witch in a remote Somerset village. He’s almost forgotten about it thirteen years later when unpredictable storms and earthquakes hit England - and that’s the least of his worries. Suffering from anxiety, terrible flatmates and returning to his family home after his mother is diagnosed with cancer, he’s got a lot on his mind. But Melusine, the witch of flesh and blood, lures him back with the offer of cold, hard cash in exchange for his help investigating the source of the freak weather; something’s messing with the earth spirit, Gaia, and Mel means to find out who - or what - it is. As they work together, travelling to the bigoted Seelie Court and the paranoid Unseelie Court, meeting stoned fauns and beer-brewing trolls, Jamie must reconcile his feelings about the witch’s intentions and methods all while handling grief, life admin and one singularly uptight estate agent. |
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Orphan's Rite by M. Warren Askins No matter how strong or invulnerable you believe yourself to be, this forest has ways of proving you wrong. The Lord Commander of the Royal Court has grown bored, but her curiosity is piqued when she hears of a savage killer loose in her city. An orphan ripped from her village finds herself suddenly connected to a vicious string of murders, but all she wants to do is return home so she can bury her mother. Oh, and there’s a werewolf knight. ORPHAN’S RITE is a companion novel set in the DEAD MEN ARE DYING universe. In a world where humans born with a celestial mark are instilled with powerful, game-changing abilities. And those without… survive as best they can. |
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Summer of the Gods by Sascha Kersken Athens, in the summer of 2015. The negotiations concerning the economy crisis are going on as expected: European Commission, International Monetary Fund, and European Central Bank think as much that they're right as the Greek participants are sure that these foreign powers don't really want to help them. The heat is as stale as the debates. This general deadlock is suddenly disrupted by new players whom no one would have counted in: the Ancient Gods are back! But what do they even want? Can people trust them? Are they really the selfless helpers they pretend to be? Are they even working together, or against each other? And what about people's free will? The experiences of seven characters build the panorama of this story that takes a look at how an intervention by powerful and mysterious beings can change the world. A story about power and powerlessness, war und peace, trust and treason, humans and Gods, politics and the economy. |
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Lady Vago's Malediction by A.K.M. Beach In the blackened heart of a cursed forest, a banshee haunts her crumbling castle with lethal screams. Lady Vago is trapped in this place. She cannot fulfill her purpose as a banshee: to warn her loved ones of their deaths and watch over them while they pass. To solve the mystery of her imprisonment, she must sift through the rubble and ruin that surrounds her. By communing with old paintings, broken furniture, and even the stones themselves, she rediscovers who she was in life. Before she was Lady Vago, she was Rovena Stoddard, a sharp-witted horse merchant's daughter that caught the eye of a charming baron. Lord Kalsten Vago's life as a wandering knight was over, but it inspired visions of a better life for his most vulnerable subjects. Rovena was far less afraid of bold change than his staunch and loyal steward, who saw her presence as a threat to Lord Kalsten's success. Love and shared dreams alone wouldn't overcome the controversy of the couple's hasty and unequal union, as well as the trials of governing a fledgling barony—Rovena knew that. What she failed to recognize was the deeper darkness taking root in Vago lands and hearts... Every memory of what Rovena loved is a reminder of what she lost, but she cannot let grief halt her search. Devoted spectres of ash are begging their lady for an end to their torment, and she will not let their agony–or her own–go unanswered anymore. An intensely atmospheric and emotional story of corrupt magic and lost love, Lady Vago's Malediction is a dark fantasy with gothic flair. |
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The Wolf and the She-Bear by Morgan Stang Mercenary Samantha Redwyne has seen too much blood spilled by her sword. She travels to the frigid north to get away from her ghosts, but doesn't find peace for long. The job: help deliver a wagon of wolf skins to a nearby village. The complication: a band of cutthroats on the hunt for a missing wagon with a priceless package hidden within. Pursued by ruthless men who believe her a thief, Samantha finds herself double-crossed, wounded and alone in a deadly forest. Armed with just her wits in a fight for survival, she discovers that some bloody habits are hard to break. But it's the longest night of the year, and man isn't the only thing chasing Samantha. The woods are lovely, dark and deep—the place folktales come from, where monsters dwell—and before the night is over, Samantha will have to confront not only death, but the unknown lurking just beyond the safety and sanity of the civilized world. |
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The Crystal Spear by Rob Donovan The Crystal Spear is a weapon so powerful that legends tell of how any warrior that carried it could single-handedly demolish entire armies. It was a story sung by bards across Merindel but nobody truly believed it…until now. When Klayton is told by a mysterious stranger that the Crystal Spear is real and given instructions how to infiltrate the palace at Erisea to find it, he cannot resist the challenge. Naïve? Sure! Foolish? Completely. But Klayton could not have possibly known that his discovery would have deadly consequences and reveal an inexplicable bond to the weapon even the myths are unclear about. Prince Horan had given up trying to impress his father. He has been considered a failure and a disappointment from the moment he could walk. But when the King and Queen are on a diplomatic visit to a neighbouring island and Erisea comes under attack, Horan sees an opportunity to alter the perception of his father by saving the city, without a thought of the long-term consequences of his actions. Finally, there is the Black Shade. The most notorious pirate of the four Isles. The mere mention of his name causes men and women to anxiously glance over their shoulders. The Black Shade has heard rumours that the Crystal Spear is very real and has set his sights on obtaining it. Merindel is about to discover that not all legends are myths, but sometimes it is better if they were. |
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The Hand of Fire by Roland J. O'Leary The material world has a mystical reflection – the Essence. If you have the power to manipulate the Essence, you can change the world of matter. You can conjure a flame from nothing. You can make your dreams come true. Or create nightmares of your worst imagining. This is the world of The Hand of Fire, the first novel in a new epic fantasy series filled with gripping action, spectacular magic and spellbinding visual writing. The Grand Alliance has failed, its armies destroyed by the monstrous Ulokan horde. But the Ulokans have been defeated in turn by the forces of the sorcerer-lord Skraka Gorn. As ancient evils rise once more and new threats emerge, Gorn proposes a new empire under his leadership. Tamurac, lord of the Halyas, has disappeared with the Grand Alliance. Now his teenage son Danalar must accept responsibility and become the warrior and leader he has trained his whole life to be. Meanwhile, until he comes of age it falls to Charymylle, Lady Halyas, to lead the clan through this time of change - if the wardens and warband will follow a woman. When a survivor returns with suspicions of Gorn's treachery, the Halyas must make a fateful choice. They could choose safety and support Gorn's imperial ambitions. Or dare to resist his expanding empire and face his devastating sorceries in a new kind of war. Their decision leads to an adventure greater and more terrible than the Halyas ever imagined. |
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The second millennium has just rolled over. Armageddon, the destructive Y2K bug and a crazy time-storm is afoot. The ultimate battle between good and evil is about to take place on a distant magical world far away. Rock is one of the eight warriors chosen to fight in the ancient tournament that began eight thousand years ago. He is whisked away from planet Earth to fight on the floating islands that hover high above the magical world of Threa. Rock will be guided to the destination of the ancient tournament by the powerful, mysterious wizard, Grodin. Together, they will face countless dangers. Evil wizards, trolls and magical monsters are but a few of the many perils that lie in the path of these intrepid adventurers. Rock has the unprecedented power of the sword-wand to help him brave the many difficult challenges that lie ahead of him. He also has the services of the magical, black stallion, Thunder. All this comprises a mixture of violence and unbridled, riveting adventure in the first book of the Wizard Warrior Series! |