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).
|
White as Frost by Anthea Sharp Two sisters. One enchanted forest. And a hidden destiny that could doom them both⌠Swept away to the castle beside the Darkwood, Rose Valrois finds herself in a world full of secrets and forbidden magic. There she meets her new stepsister, the enigmatic Princess Neeve, who will either become her best friend - or her worst enemy. When Rose follows her stepsister into the enchanted shadows beneath the trees, she is beset by dangerous creatures and rescued by Thorne, the Dark Elf guardian of the forest, who binds her to the Darkwood and forbids her to speak of its mysteries. Yet despite the danger surrounding her, Rose continues to risk everything in her quest for answers, until the day she steals into the depths of the forest and discovers the most perilous secret of all... |
|
The Shadow and the Sun by Monica Enderle Pierce When a worldâs fate rests on her sword, will a loyal soldier obey her king or follow her heart? Militess Halina is an accomplished leader, a fearsome soldier, and the unapologetically tough bastard daughter of Ursinumâs king. When sheâs ordered to gain the allegiance of Shadow Mage Gethen â a notoriously dangerous necromancer whose brother is an enemy king â she assumes the negotiations will be simple: Either heâll pledge his loyalty or sheâll remove his head. But the Shadow Mage isnât what she expected, nor is his situation. Intriguing and powerful, Gethenâs the only man preventing the return of an ancient menace that threatens their world. And though he hates to admit it, his sorcery is failing and he needs her help. Suddenly Ursinumâs dispute with Gethenâs brother seems petty, and Halina must decide whoâs best served by her sword: her king or every man, woman, and child in the four kingdoms and beyond. Magic, adventure, love, and suspense abound in the first novel of Monica Enderle Pierceâs Militess & Mage series. Epic fantasy thatâs perfect for fans of sword and sorcery fiction with a touch of enemies-to-lovers romance. |
|
Trapped Between Infinite Possible Realities Hig is a disabled kid with a loving mom, a baby sister, a distant father, and a doting uncle, Charlie. On a trip to a county fair, the family encounters a mysterious âMirror of Wishesâ booth that leads to radical, unexplained life changes, including Higâs uncleâs abrupt disappearance and his motherâs untimely death. One of the changes is Higâs miraculous cureâhis congenital spina bifida is gone and he no longer needs a wheelchair. As Hig grows up, he continuously frets about what really happened but is too scared to actually look for answers to the mystery. Years later, Hig takes his girlfriend Klaire to another county fair. They encounter the same booth and its proprietor, Mistress Kismet. A bizarre chain of events ensues, including Uncle Charlieâs return as a very different person. They discover that Mistress Kismetâs booth is a portal that has been altering peopleâs realities and fates for many decades. When Higâs younger sister disappears, Hig, Klaire, the woman who raised him after his mother died, and a friend chase the girl to a music festival where the visitors are being promised a transformational experience with visions of possible alternate realities. During a performance, Hig and his companions are all physically thrown into one of the possible parallel universes. Itâs a very different place where Kismet is a religion, The Beatles released a Black Album, and Hig is again bound to a wheelchair. Yet in this version of reality, Higâs mother lives. As their time in a new reality lingers on, they risk becoming stuck there, unable to turn back, overwhelmed by cascading consequences of changing reality. Hig is desperate to return his own timestream or find a new one where they can all be togetherâbefore itâs too late. But can any place Hig ends up ever feel like home? Does love span multiple timestreams? Does the portal offer a permanent answer to the question âWhat if I could have the life of my choosing?â Or is it a nightmare of neverending change? |
|
The Conjuring of Zoth Averex by K.R.R. Lockhaven Kept hidden by the United States government for decades, the Site is a place where magic is real. But that doesn't mean that everything happening there is sparkly. Soul-sucking policies and layers of stifling bureaucracy threaten to take all the fun out of magic. Harris, a newbie Conjurer, starts his first day of work at the Site bursting with excitement: he's been brought on for an extremely big project happening the very next day. In a triumph over its habitual inefficiency, the Site manages to carry out its plan and conjure an actual dragon to be used by the military. The dragon (Zoth-Avarex, the self-proclaimed greatest dragon in the multiverse) immediately eats the person next to him, snatches a "princess" from the ranks of the Conjuring Department, and flies away to the Space Needle. There he manipulates the media, outwits the Site's bumbling management, demands sixty-three billion dollars' worth of treasure (because Smaug was said to have had sixty-two billion in his hoard), threatens to destroy the city--and installs a couple of food trucks. While this book skewers the same fantasy genre it gleefully inhabits, it also pokes fun at corporate culture, today's obsession with wealth and celebrity, and our denial that life is anything more than meets the eye. Hapless Harris, believing in magic all along, learns to apply what he's picked up between the pages of fantasy literature. |
|
Avalon, Lyonesse, Hy-Brasil. So many legends of mythical lands... What if the legends speak true? A group of daring seafarers have made a voyage of discovery to TĂŹr-Ăšr, the New Land, bountiful, verdant and empty. Just ripe for the taking. That is until they encounter the earthbound, a race possessed of some characteristics that the colonists find profoundly unsettling. Off the coast of this new land, on the fortress island of Tèarmann, a young woman, FĂŹrinn, awaits her arranged marriage to Amrhan, a charming and fascinating nobleman, newly arrived from the distant homeland. As the only child of Bròn, the leader of the settlers, and Serin, an earthbound woman, FĂŹrinn is unsure of her place in the world. When she discovers some disturbing truths about her husband-to-be, FĂŹrinn is compelled to flee Tèarmann seeking refuge with her motherâs people. This is the personal story of a defiant young woman forced to make crucial choices, but it is also a powerful evocation of the natural world in all its aspects, both the joyful and the terrible. |
|
The Season of the Plough by Luke R. J. Maynard Book I of the Travalaith Saga The Prophecy was wrong... There is no Chosen One. Coming of age under the weight of an epic destiny wasnât easy. All Aewyn ever wanted for herself was a home and a family. But to the farmers of Widowvale, she was always destined for greatness. After all, she was a fae-blooded foundling of mysterious birth. Her story was the stuff of fairy-tales. And the villagers, all refugees from a looming civil war, were in desperate need of something to believe in. But prophecies can be misread, and the men who call themselves wise are often mistaken. When a primordial darkness stirs in the deep wood, and Aewynâs dubious old mentor is sentenced to hang for treason, the supposed Chosen One must live or die by a choice of her own: Will she forsake her home and her new family for the dubious destiny she's been promisedâor sacrifice it all for one chance to save them? â â â â â âThe attention to detail here is almost staggeringâŚthis promises to be a top-quality series.ââAmazon Reviewer â â â â â âI am astounded such a fantastic book came from a first-time author. This book was amazingly written.ââGoodreads Reviewer |
|
Demonheart: Raging Elementals by J.J. Egosi Michael works as the servant to a wealthy jewelry estate until one nightâŚhe slaughters both owners and all their guards. He left not only his old life behind with no memory of what heâs done, but an heiress harboring a forbidden love. Where will he go as a wanted man? He encounters a woman from the opposing kingdom. An assassin with a penchant for slaying high paying bountiesâŚand falling in love. To make matter worse, an ancient witch has come to throw her hat into the battlefield. Not for love, but for war. Has Michael stumbled into a greater mess? What will happen if the witch gets her way? And who is this master she speaks of known as the demon king? Demonheart: Raging Elementals is the first in the Demonheart series. Readers will find a journey of self discovery, forbidden love, rivalries of light and darkness, and a powerful witch seeking to bring it all to an end. |
|
We all have nightmares, but not all of us have to live them. Johnathon Clarke did. His bullies beat him. They humiliated him. They stole his life. So at the age of 17 he took it away with a bullet from a gun. In Hell John finds himself working out his existence in the mailroom, until he's given the promotion he died forâhe becomes the forger of nightmares, the giver of bad dreams. With his new position, John makes his assignments feel the fear heâs felt his entire existence. He does this until heâs assigned a young girl named Danielle. Danielleâs not much younger than John was, and the circumstances surrounding why sheâs been assigned are troubling. Theyâre troubling because he disagrees. Now John must decide between continuing this life of torture and scares, or using this dark gift for something else, something that could help this girl who needs him. |
|
King of the Hollow Dark by Cat Hellisen Georgina Skyler Carey is not a necromancer. She's the daughter of one. And now she's dead. George has grown up hidden away, trying to live a normal life after her mother was executed for a ghost uprising which killed millions. Every year, the Anti-Necromantic Unit drags her in for testing, while the Empress of Life watches. And every year; nothing. Until she turns twenty, and the wards which were hiding her and binding her are finally erased, and Georgina discovers that she's still not a necromancer, just the immortal body designed to host the soul of an aeons-old goddess. Ousted from her meatsuit and trapped in the afterlife, George is determined to get her body back. It's not going to be that simple. George discovers that the afterlife is nothing like she could have imagined and the only people who might be able to help her have bigger issues to deal with. She's trapped in an afterworld that is slowly being consumed by the Hollow Dark which waits at the end of all things. There's a lot more at stake than one life - the entire realms of life and death will fall to the endless nothing of the Hollow Dark if the King of Death isn't returned to hold his throne. The worlds are crumbling all around her, and George is going to lose more than just her body if she doesn't find the King, and with him, the truth about her creation. |
|
I Am King: Book One by Damien Shillingford Ten year old Beaumont never meant to get anyone killed. But when Rancine, the man who murdered his mother and father, sent assassins to capture him and deprive him of his right to his fatherâs stolen crown, the weight of his destiny came crashing down on him and his loved ones. After the assassination of the King and Queen of the Middle Islandâs, young Prince Beaumont was taken from the island nation and hidden away in the secluded mountain village of Mount Hope in the newly discovered realm of Hattan, waiting for the day he was a man and could reclaim his stolen crown from his families killer. But the arrival of a warrior named Nisila and her mysterious raven Shadowcry, changed all his plans and at ten years of age Beau must brave the wilderness with his cousin Julius as they flee for their lives. With the help of Nisila, Shadowcry, Julius and a foul mouthed, ill-tempered sellsword named Gavin, Beau must brave harsh winter storms, mythical creatures, forsaken ghouls, black magic, determined assassins and a powerful demon in hopes of making it back to the safety of his homeland in the Middle Islands. This is a character driven story, about survival, trust, friendship and overcoming adversity. Readers who enjoyed such fantasy works like J.R.R. Tolkienâs Lord of the Rings, George R.R. Martinâs A Song of Ice and Fire series (Game of Thrones) and Poul Andersonâs The Broken Sword will enjoy the nostalgic, classic fantasy vibe of I Am King. With lead characters of color and a pinch of influence from West Indian folklore, readers can expect a classic fantasy tale with diverse representation and plenty of the elements that make classic fantasy memorable and exciting. With no sexual content or strong adult language, this is the perfect gift for young readers of fantasy/action adventure. |
|
Game of Thrones meets Arabian Nights in this blood-soaked fantasy epic inspired by the crusades, featuring Lovecraftian gods, mischievous djinns, and astral magic! They took his daughter, so Micah comes to take their kingdom. Fifty thousand gun-toting paladins march behind him, all baptized in angel blood, thirsty to burn unbelievers. Only the janissaries can stand against them. Their living legend, Kevah, once beheaded a magus amid a hail of ice daggers. But ever since his wife disappeared, he spends his days in a haze of hashish and poetry. To save the kingdom, Kevah must conquer his grief and become the legend he once was. But Micah writes his own legend in blood, and his righteous conquest will stop at nothing. When the gods choose sides, a legend will be etched upon the stars. |
|
This Merry Hell by Edward Hargreaves This comedy adventure tells of a man who finds himself unexpectedly lifeless and arguing with his killer. Rather suddenly locked in a barren underworld, confused and confronted by his new surroundings, Jason goes in search of answers. Without the constraints of society, or a body, he finds himself freshly motivated. Their living hell has given him a confidence stolen in life and drives a need to learn why he was condemned. Regardless of all the adventure, sin and consequence, Jason forever upholds his sense of humor and a lighthearted approach to death, torment and the afterlife. In a space beyond time, where every soul is forced to face themselves and their blunt existence, craving purpose, love and companionship, Jason and his guide explore their very own empty otherworld seeking some escape from their inevitable journey. In this dark realm Jason gathers a motley crew to explore, to live and to meet fate head-on. Throughout their grand tour of the sights and sounds of the netherworld, Jasonâs dialogue driven approach to the souls around him finds psychopaths and saints alike. Ultimately, the trek through this hell sees friend and foe flock in a search for meaning, power and the devil himself. This Merry Hell is a book with some hellarious consequences and its own literal plot hole. It is fun, frivolous and philosophic in equal measure! |
|
The Great MacGuffin by Rachel Ford A fully immersive virtual reality system. A beta testing opportunity thatâs the stuff of dreams â or a nightmare that may never end. Jack Owens has logged tens of thousands of hours on Marshfield Studio games. So heâs not surprised when the company hires him to be one of their first beta testers for the newly developed Dagger of Doom series. Jack doesnât think twice when the techs strap him into a VR apparatus and transfer his consciousness to the new world. Heâs got a return switch. He can come back any time. Except, he canât. A bug in the software has trapped him. And the only way out is to finish the game. Step one? Find the great MacGuffin. Step two? Get the h*ll out of here. |
|
Unstoppable Shadow by Alex Mead Friendless orphan from the slums of Talon, Scab is no ordinary boy. So everyone keeps telling him. Heâs pretty sure âthe Slowâ doesnât happen to anyone else, but he darenât ask, in fear of the next beating. Taken from the city, Scab finds himself closer than ever to having a bed of his own, but it comes at a price. A painful one. Veteran assassin, Silas is ready for a normal life with a family. Something the Shadows would never allow. Not helping matters, the strange, grey-eyed boy from the slums gives him glimpses of how life might be with a son. Offering Scab the opportunity to follow the same violent path as his own, Silas finds himself bound tighter to the Shadows. With his future entwined with the boyâs, heâs beginning to wonder if death may be the only way out. |
|
From the Darkness Comes by Joy Demers Revenge is not for the faint of heart. Cadda ni Caridos is a revenant who desires nothing more than finding the man who made her that way â the same man who killed her father and captured her mother. The glowing eyes, night vision, incredible strength and speed that came out of resurrection might seem like a boon, but when she canât control her abilities and starts bringing death to others, she realizes itâs a curse. Cadda must dodge the authorities while searching for her fatherâs murderer, a man who turns out to be a powerful duke, and the only person to know the fate of her mother. Always one step away from the king and his elite order of bodyguards, Lord Kenric Dorsile is near impossible to get close to, especially for a lowly foreigner like Cadda. While scheming a way to do just that, Cadda is finally caught by the authorities. Being conscripted into the army as punishment and sent to the far edge of the kingdom to defend against barbarians â the enemy of her enemy â proves to be a mammoth of a challenge. Cadda must find a way to return to the capital, even if that way includes personally fanning the flames of war. Otherwise, she risks losing her mother forever and forfeiting the right to avenge her father and herself. |
|
In a world of arrogant nobles and their punishing laws, Georgina will be hanged if anyone discovers she is a spy. But when the wicked prince proposes marriage, Georgina must accept. Refusing would expose the secrets she has delivered to a hidden resistance and forfeit her life. With her wedding day looming ever closer, salvation comes from an unlikely source. Pirate Captain Cinder is a terror on the open sea, striking fear into hearts wherever she sails. Now she has a new target. The vulnerable Princess Georgina should be an easy mark in Cinderâs kidnapping plot. But the legend of Captain Cinder is more intertwined with Georginaâs own history than either of them expect. Treacherous storms. A mysterious pirate king. The princeâs unrelenting pursuit. Georgina and Cinder can only escape by following the uncharted course of their hearts. But just as a future together is within their grasp, Cinderâs past threatens to drag them both to the deep. |
|
The Clarity of Cold Steel by Kevin Wright The kid disappeared two days ago. Missing. Abducted. Murdered. What have you... Just another in an endless line of indigent kids wrung from the dregs of the Machine City. And itâs my job to find him. Me. Avinash Shakteel, detective extraordinaire. Probably you ainât heard of me. Not if you run the straight and narrow and ply the right side of the tracks. Cause me? I ply the other. Two days missing⌠Two long days in the Machine City, last bastion of mankind in all its fallen glory. Where the sum total of lifeâs cheaper than in part. I hope I find the kid. By God, I do. But if I canât find all of him, I pray I find none. Join Detective Shakteel in this gritty steampunk thriller sure to set your blood to boil. |
|
Theyâre surrounded by immense magical powers. How can they survive when they only have wits and desperation as weapons? Betharad, Sarnd and Jessa are doing their best to step out from the shadow cast by their hero parents. But they are thrown into a desperate battle for survival by the return of the sorcerer their parents died to defeat. The siblings search for clues in their parentsâ tragic battle, only to uncover shocking secrets behind the official story. Reeling from the discovery and lacking magical powers of their own, as their enemy meddles with chaotic forces, death seems inevitable. Can three ordinary people outwit a fiend whose ruthless ambitions could send their world to its doom? The Hungry Fire is the gripping first book in the Serpentstone epic fantasy series. If you like underdog champions, earth-shattering magic, and high-stakes action, then youâll love A.M. Obstâs riveting tale. |
|
Shi, shi, fourth and death. Fourth sister and twin to death. Brother born silent. Blamed for her twin brotherâs death, Shisei, the outcast fourth of seven sisters, apprentices herself to a mask maker; but when the local Kazoku accuses the youngest sister of killing his son, Shisei must lead her sisters in a deception that will either save the youngest or condemn them all. Fourth Sister is a Japanese fairy tale retelling with sparse poetry and gold-mended brokenness. A Studio Ghibli type story which invokes reflection. Little Women x Spirited Away |
|
To Dream and Die as a Taniwha Girl by Benedict Patrick There is a price to pay for becoming a story. Kaimana has defied the gods and won the freedom to spend the rest of her days travelling the collection of tropical islands she calls home. But the people of the islands have taken notice of her. They have started to tell her story; for many children, one of their favourite fireside tales is now that of the Taniwha Girl, the brave woman who befriends monsters. Some islanders even pray to her. The gods are displeased, but they are not the only ones paying attention to Kaimanaâs rise to fame. On the borders of the island ring, an ancient demon - an old enemy of the Crescent Atoll - spreads its influence, and a spider-faced figure shadows Kaimanaâs movements. To secure her own safety, and that of her island home, Kaimana has to make a choice: turn her back on the people of the Crescent Atoll and continue enjoying the life she has won for herself, or give up all she holds dear to live up to the legend of the Taniwha Girl. To Dream and Die As A Taniwha Girl is a standalone novel from Benedict Patrick's Yarnworld, and features a return to the tropical islands of the Crescent Atoll. |
|
SairĹ's Claw by Virginia McClain An action-adventure fantasy romp featuring sword lesbians, sea battles, and a grumpy wolf spirit. Torako has done many things to protect the valley that she calls home, but sheâs never looted a corpse before. So when the katana she steals off the still-cooling body of a bandit turns out to be possessed by a grumpy wolf kami, she can only assume itâs because sheâs somehow angered the spirits. An impression thatâs only reinforced when she returns home to find her wife abducted and her daughter in hiding. But angry spirits or no, Torako isn't about to let bandits run off with the love of her life, even if it means taking their 3 year old on a rescue mission. In all Kaiyo's years as Captain of the Wind Serpent she has never once questioned her admiralâs orders. So when she receives the command to abduct a civilian scribe with the help of fifteen felons, she registers her objections, but does as she is bid. Yet, as the mission unfolds, Kaiyo finds herself questioning everything from her loyalties to her convictions. As Torako and Kaiyoâs fates cross like dueling blades, their persistence is matched only by their fury, until they uncover a series of truths they may never be ready to accept. |
|
Wrath - Dinosaur Dungeon Book 1 by Alex Raizman When dungeon delvers and dinosaurs clash, who can survive? Newborn Dungeon Cores must choose what entity they help contain, and that choice determines what monsters they are able to summon. After being executed for crimes forgotten in death, Tira is given the chance to make that choice. Tira chose Acekorah, the Primeval Terror, a being so dangerous few cores will risk trying to contain it. The danger wasnât important. Tira remembers dying. If containing Acekorah means Tira will face greater danger, thatâs a risk worth taking, because the Primeval Terror walked the world long before the races of Man roamed the earth, and Cores bound to him are able to summon beings from beyond the veil of time. Now, forged in the fires of Tira's wrath, the dinosaurs will walk the world anew. |
|
The Lightning Knight by Sean P. Valiente Magic isnât real. Not anymore and not like it used to be. Or so I thought⌠16-year-old Oliver Quartermain doesnât believe in magic anymore. But who cares? He has it all: he comes from a rich and noble family and doesnât have a care in the world. But how quickly that can all change. In the space of a few moments, Oliverâs life is turned upside down when he is tasked with protecting and saving the very magic he never believed in. But thatâs not even the half of it. The only way to save magic is by training a young boy named Po Pondarion, who is destined to save the world. Not only does Oliver have to train the young and totally clueless Po, but he also has to battle an evil secret organization bent on destroying them, all while deciphering the secrets of a Magical Codex. Oliver enlists the help of his unlikely best friends, Roc and Yokel, as well as the Knight Angels, secretive vigilantes heâs only recently met, to help him train Po and save the world. That should be simple, right? Will this merry band of misfits be able to train the young Po in time for him to learn the secrets of magic and save its very existence forever? The Lightning Knight is a gripping epic fantasy that will have you on the edge of your seat, eagerly flipping to the next page. Let yourself become emersed in this rich and magical world and join Oliver and Po on the adventure of a lifetime. |
|
Immersive World full of unique magic systems In a divided land where rival factions struggle to gain control using the unique talents of their respective realms, Rakamai and people of Kala curb their use of magic, because to do otherwise steals years from their lives. But when a new alliance turns into a bloody betrayal and threatens open war, Rakamai vows to get revenge and secure the future of his people. To do so, he'll need to fully embrace the magic of his people and bring his own considerable powers to bear. After all, a short future is better than no future at all. Perfect for fans of Sanderson like worlds and heavy magic systems. |
|
Echoes of a Storm by Alan Scott Writing Style: Dialogue and Character driven Book Type: Dark Fantasy Themes: Parenthood, relationships, forbidden love, loss, power and prejudice Target audience: Open minded people who enjoy a more mature and grittier storyline in their fantasy books Welcome dear reader to a story of betrayal, heroes, monsters, and dark deeds. Welcome to Echoes of a Storm. Echoes of a Storm is the first instalment in the Storm Series and sets the scene and tone for this powerful bittersweet trilogy. This dark, gritty, fantasy novel explores many themes such as, relationships, forbidden love, loss, power, prejudice and ultimately, the monster which lurks inside us all. Follow the life of a young princess named Kathleen, from the age of 6 through to her marriage at the age of 18. As you delve further into her story, secrets will be revealed, battles will be fought, lives will be brutally cut short or changed forever, and the deviant and the Werewolf will make themselves known. Are you ready to enter the world of Talocants and discover the stories and secrets it holds? |
|
Doomsayer Prince, Part One by Rune S. Nielsen WHAT THEY FORESEE WILL SHATTER THIS AGE In his vision, colossal artifacts stride across his homeland, destroying everything in their path. In a desperate attempt to save his home, Mage Prince Phytiax heads to the wild north in search of allies. On his journey, his magical powers become damaged at the worst possible time, and his destined allies need to be saved before they can help him: Pino, the weakest Mage of all time and wielder of a mysterious artifact sword; Emilai, a kidnapped noble womanâturned Witch to fight her captors; and Cordin, an old Light Master wanted for murder, but dead-set on getting his life back. With the brutal and mysterious force invading and destabilizing the kingdoms around them, will his potential allies help or hinder him? And even if they save their homelands, the price might be worse than they ever imagined. |
|
The Pirate's Scourge by Chris A. Jackson Nothing is more dangerous than a warrior enslaved. Upon the lawless Blood Sea, mariners survive by wits, cunning, and skill. Pirate captain Kevril Longbright is a survivor. With his own ship, a faithful crew, and an ambitious partner handing him fat merchant prizes, he is truly the scourge of the sea, free and beholden to none. Or is he? Accepting jobs from Jhavika Keshmir is far easier than scouring the sea for his own targets. But when Kevril captures a mystical truthsayer, Preel, he learns that the truth can be both a blessing and a curse. Preel reveals the foul enchantment behind Jhavikaâs uncanny ability to convince others to do her bidding. Far from being his own master, Kevril is a slave to Jhavikaâs every command. Enraged by her lies and manipulations, the pirate captain embarks upon a perilous quest for freedom. But enslavement can take many forms, and Kevril finds himself increasingly drawn to Preel and her mysterious talent. Who knew the truth could be so damning, so freeing, and so seductive⌠|
|
War God Rising by Tim Marquitz Monty Python meets Gladiator! Sand is destined for greatness. Or so a pair of two-bit criminals would have him believe. After rescuing him from certain doom, Bess and Kaede embark on a scheme to game the War God Tournament. Itâd be easier if Sand wasnât an alcohol-soaked twit with a disturbing interest in mutton. Pitted against monsters, magic swords, and murderers galore, they soon realize winning the tourney is the least of their worries. |
|
A Bad Rune at Angels Deep by Anthony Lowe "I'm not a god. I'm just mean like one." Runes: a form of deployable magick that caused untold devastation during the war. With the stroke of a pen, entire cities were demolished, entire armies decimatedâand now one such rune may have come south to Ariasun County. Acting on scant clues left behind by the vicious lynching of a smuggler, Evaline Cartwright and Trivan Esterhazy head north to track the runeâs passage through the county. All in the hope of destroying the runeâor its possessorâbefore it can be used for catastrophic ends. A Bad Rune at Angels Deep is the next entry in The Shattered Frontier series, which features a Tolkien-esque fantasy world that has advanced into an age of steam, gunslingers and gold rushes. Follow Evaline and Trivan in their adventures across one of the most hostile counties in the land, replete with scoundrels of all shapes, sizes, and magickal ability. |
|
Gleeman's Tales by Matthew Travagline Gnochi Gleeman is not like other entertainers. Because of his expansive knowledge of pre-apocalyptic Earth, the stories he tells are valued well beyond the flashes of an illuminator, or the spheres of a juggler. Gnochi spent the first decade of his career telling stories while traveling between taverns, inns, and any hole-in-the-wall which would feed him. Cleo, a young teen from across the ocean, flees from her chaperone into the woods of an unknown land. During her first months journeying through eastern Lyrinth, she discovers something life-changing about herself. With that discovery comes the knowledge that her life is in grave danger. Despite a love for the open road and a thrill for telling new audiences about the lost age, Gnochi chooses to retire and focus on curating his familyâs hidden library of first-age texts. But the fates would not grant Gnochi the boon of a peaceful retirement. Not long after settling down, he learns that his sister and niece have been kidnapped, and in order to free them, he must assassinate the landâs ruling monarch. On the path to murder, Gnochi runs into Cleo and the unlikely duo seek safe passage to Lyrinthâs capital among the dilapidated tents of a traveling menagerie. All the while, people across the world are beginning to prepare for the once-in-a-decade winteryear. These winteryears, one of the echoes of the first age still present in the current world, have been ravaging the Earth since it awoke from its eternal winter and recovered from its near destruction thousands of years ago. Will proper preparations be taken before the Earth is blanketed in its yearlong snow? |
|
Jewels of Smoky Quartz by Anat Eliraz A world ruled by force and magic. A game which could have a fatal ending. She is just an ordinary woman - an emergency room nurse who practices martial arts in her free time. Teleported into a harsh, strange world and sold into slavery to the fighters' ring of Tur'an, she must use her wit and skills to survive. On the brink of death, she wakes up in a strange room - only to meet one of her captors. Now, he acts as her protector. Together they leave the city, but their journey will confront them with their own fears and deepest secrets. And through it all, she finds solace in an old tune. Not knowing yet how it will impact her life - and the lives of everyone else. |
|
EXODUS 2022 by Kenneth G. Bennett Eco, sci-fi, thriller EXODUS 2022: "Bennett, after a neat Dean Koontzâstyle curtain-raiser, keeps raising the stakes⌠Deft storytelling and a riptide of action propel this cataclysmic narrative." --KIRKUS REVIEWS IS HE LOSING HIS MIND-- OR HIS WORLD? Joe Stanton is in agony. Out of his mind over the death of his young daughter. Unable to contain his grief, Joe loses control in public, screaming his daughterâs name and causing a huge scene at a hotel on San Juan Island in Washington State. Thing is, Joe Stanton doesnât have a daughter. Never did. And when the authorities arrive they blame the 28-year-oldâs outburst on drugs. What they donât yet know is that others up and down the Pacific coastâfrom the Bering Sea to the Puget Soundâare suffering identical, always fatal mental breakdowns. With the help of his girlfriend, Joe struggles to unravel the meaning of the hallucination destroying his mind. As the couple begins to perceive its significanceâand Joeâs role in a looming global calamityâthey must also outwit a billionaire weapons contractor bent on exploiting Joeâs newfound understanding of the cosmos, and outlast the time bomb ticking in Joeâs brain. |
|
Seven Ways to Kill a King by Melissa Wright She was born a princess. They made her an assassin. One was an accident. Two a coincidence. By three, they would know. It would be harder, but I would avenge my mother's death. These kings would pay that price. Seven cities make up the Storm Queen's Realm, each of their self-crowned, murderous kings are one of Princess Myrina's marks. The treasonous curs may have banded together to share a stolen throne, but soon they will fall. They thought her dead, killed in the massacre. They thought their rule secure, but Myrina of Stormskeep has awoken. With the help of her loyal bloodsworn, the shadow princess will have her revenge. |
|
Overworld, The Dragon Mage Saga by Rohan M. Vider A magic apocalypse. Refugees from Earth. A new world. Elves, orcs, and dragons! Portals from Overworld have appeared on Earth, and beings intent on conscripting humanity into the mysterious Trials have invaded. Earth is doomed. Humanity has been exiled. Can Jamie save mankind? Jamie Sinclair, a young man with unique gifts, must find a way for his family and friends to survive Earth's destruction and build a new home in Overworld. The Trials is not a game. Will Jamie survive its challenges? Join Jamie as he struggles through the brutal Trials while wrestling with his new magics and Overworld's game-like dynamics. A fantasy post-apocalyptic survival story of one man's journey to save humanity. |
|
Red Sky Blues by Matthew Davis Evil books. Ancient powers. Zombie pigs? Thomas Grey, occult scholar and reclusive mage, is having a terrible day. Down on his luck and facing a looming electrical bill, he is hired by the supernatural overlord of his hometown to track down a magical book of colossal cosmic evil: The Libro Nihil. The hunt leads Thomas on an adventure across the sleepy cow town of Hanford steeped with mystery, magic, and an absurd amount of mayhem. Aided by his crotchety, spell-slinging mentor as well as his friend and sometimes bodyguard, Thomas finds himself embroiled in a bizarre and terrifying conspiracy to awaken a sleeping evil that promises to push his magical prowess and threshold for pain to their limits. It looks like a bad, bad day to have gotten out of bed. But a guyâs got to get paid. Red Sky Blues is the first book in the new urban weird series Grey Days. It also includes a collection of short stories, and interior art by comic artist Will Kirkby. |
|
The Sword in the Street by C.M. Caplan Trial by battle is a holy rite on Hillside. Hired blades bleed their foes in savage duels, settling everything from petty grievances to the corporate laws that keep their citizens in line. Embroiled in these cutthroat political games is John Chronicle, an impoverished swordsman with no better prospects, seeking the duel that will free him from the Dregs. Meanwhile, Johnâs boyfriend Edwin, an autistic university student, befriends a fellow scholar who claims to study the arcane art of thaumaturgy. When she offers to teach Edwin this subtle magic, he hopes that he can use it to bolster Johnâs skill with a blade. But thaumaturgy is a dangerous magic, and the forces that drive it have other plans. The couple soon find themselves entangled in the web of intrigue surrounding the swordsmen and their sponsors, and theyâre forced to question how bloody theyâre willing to get to escape poverty â and they donât come away with the same answer. |
|
The Cutlass Swoon: A New World Romance by Andrew Marc Rowe Strange Lovers In Dangerous Times, Or Dangerous Lovers In Strange Times? Only Time Will Tell... David Holloway is an Ensign on a British galleon with a secret: heâs had enough of the legitimate way of doing things. His master plan? To break bad and join up with a pirate crew. Slicing and dicing and blasting his way into the graces of a cursed Captain Starling, Davidâs hidden double life in a European mysticism club comes crashing into full view of his crew right around the time he meets the love of his life, the enigmatic Heather Mercado. Before the pair can enjoy their newfound company, betrayal leaves them high and dry, desperate for a crew and a ship and⌠pretty much everything piratey. Everything, that is, except for a magical cutlass made of pure ruby. When he's not flapping silvern tongue at prospective crew or tangling the regular kind with Heather, Davidâs skill as a magician emerges. He might have already mastered combat and the mystical arts, but his ability as a leader and a lover will be tested beyond the bounds of reason. As the lines between the real world and Davidâs spiritual realm blur and disappear, angels and demons and voodoo spirits take centre stage. Can David come to terms with his own past in time to put an end to Captain Starlingâs reign of terror? And is it even his job? Maybe heâll find out⌠as long as he brings enough hot chocolate. The Cutlass Swoon: A New World Romance is the first book in the spiritual action romance The Davy Jones Trilogy. As Priya Khajuria, author of Bollywood P.I. California Dreaming, said about the book, 'get ready for a giant, rollicking, hugely entertaining story that crosses fable with adventure, pirating with fantasy, philosophy with bantering, and the pure songs of the heart alongside raunchy, gut-bursting hilarity.' Get your copy of The Cutlass Swoon to sail your way to a world of love, luck, and adventure today! |
|
As I Was on my Way to Strawberry Fair by Raymond St. Elmo Two strangers aide one other on a dark country road; and vow to meet again at the local Renaissance Fair. To do so they must learn to see beyond their own masks. And united, to win past a host of fairy glamours, crazed role-players, angry jugglers, sinister bikers and the secret of the ancient charter of Strawberry Fair itself. I will find you at Strawberry Fair, I will win you a lion, a tiger, a bear. I will buy you ices, electronic devices And give you a kiss for finding me there. A romance in masks. |
|
Lake Merrin, Journal of an Adventurer by Samuel Colbran Journey to this new land filled with magic and technology. The first of five, set in an Industrial Fantasy world. He is a face in the crowd; a nobody, but with every story, there is a beginning. Travel with this ordinary half-human as he works to find a roof over his head, to put food on the table and stumbles on something beyond his reckoning. This is his journey; this is his path. His Journal. A Journal of an Adventurer. Should he stand up to become a "hero"? ...Will it matter? |
|
The Mazes of Magic by Jack Massa The Lord of the Abyss is rising in Egypt. Can a reckless young Greek find the power to stop him? Imprisoned in a slave yard, tormented by spells of madness, Korax the Greek struggles to regain his memory. Purchased by the High Priest Harnouphis, he is given an Egyptian name, transported to a temple on the Nile, put into service as a translator. But Harnouphis also has another plan: to tap the Greek's extraordinary talent as a seer to advance his own dark ambitions. As his wits return, Korax forges a plan of his own: to learn enough of the mystic arts to escape Egypt and return to his home island of Rhodes. But before he can act, he must perform a service for the Goddess Isis. Korax may be gifted, but can he summon the power to overcome both his master and his master's god? A novel of myth, magic, and adventure, set in the Age of the Seven Wonders of the World. If you like stories of heroes, gods, and magic, then you will love the Conjurer of Rhodes series. Book 1 - The Mazes of Magic Book 2 - The Lights of Alexandria Book 3 - The Treasure of the Sun God |
|
A World Broken by Carol A. Park They say that long ago, the world was unbroken. That there was no warânor poverty, nor disease, nor famine. That the gods themselves walked among mortalsâchoosing some to be their instruments of peace and justice among the races. They even say that there was no winter. Then, it all fell apart. The five races of Erets have lived in one accord since the inception of the world. But now, the seeds of hostility are growing due to a dispute over an innocuous plant, and three people find themselves entangled in affairs they would have once found unbelievable. An advocateâtrained to promote mutual understanding between the racesâmust confront the unimaginable prospect that peace is out of reach. A priestâone who refuses to bend the knee to the gods he servesâfinds that the only vow to those gods he has made might be harder to keep than he expects. And a seekerâa gentle warrior sent to uncover the truth behind an unthinkable murderâstumbles into a labyrinth of lies that could shatter the world. These three must save the world that they know. But are they already too late? |
|
Duplicity of Power by S. Lynn Helton An improbable partnership of noble and rogue, an unlikely quest â key to the fate of the Six Realms, power struggles and the machinations of gods, and a legendary artifact of Power... Not always a Shadower, Namid is now one of the leaders of this select group, this guild of rogues in the decrepit city of Rhadanthus. Here she has found a refuge from darker times. Rescuing a stranger is not usually part of her nightly haul. Her decision to help the wounded man sparks a series of events that upends her hard-won haven and sends her fleeing for her life. Anotherâs quest snags Namid and casts her across the Six Realms of the Monarch and beyond, entangling her and others in power struggles, the machinations of gods, and the dangers of a past thought left behind. What at first seemed a fool's errand to restore a legendary artifact of Power becomes a gambit for the fate of the Six Realms. And Namid doesn't even believe in fate! |
|
Blood Indigo by Talulah J. Sullivan A centuries-long stalemate endures over possession of a sentient world. In one corner, a dwindling cabal of shamans holds onto a desperate defense; in the other, a colony of aliens try to control a bio-engineering experiment run amok. In the middle stands a youth who has been genetically altered to âShapeâ the elemental powers. Yet if Tokela claims his power, it will make of him an outcast, a catalyst--and a weapon. The stalemate is about to break... |
|
Alyssia Gale is a daydreamer. A liar. An attention seeker. Everyone she's ever known has found a label to stick on her, but one thing's for sure: she can't be telling the truth. The flashes she sees of the dark and difficult lives of four other people, living in a world that's not her own ⌠they can't be real. Alyssia understands that as well as anyone, even if she does keep catching herself thinking of the people she sees as friends. Then she's pulled into that other world by blood and dark magic, and realises that everyone she's ever known was wrong. To start with, her focus is on surviving until she can find a way home. Yet it doesn't take long for her to figure out that where before she was merely a spectator, now she can change things. And with one of her friends being forced into an abusive marriage, and another trapped in the cruellest of prisons, there's plenty that needs changing. She just needs to survive long enough to do it. What she doesn't know is that something connects her to these four people. Something she never could have imagined. And it's not long before she isn't just fighting to find her place between the worlds â she's fighting to protect her closest friends from a narrative that wants them dead. |
|
Now that Tiffany Noboru is dead, being forced to become a fresh recruit in the gargoyle ghost hunter corps is the least of her worries. Soon she is meeting bizarre new people, discovering her magical abilities, and learning the landscape of a strange and captivating world where gargoyles protect the living by hunting ghosts. When her own killer, a maniacal ghost named Bones, comes after her again, Tiffany must find a way to defeat him in order to save the gargoyle world. |
|
Burn Red Skies by Kerstin Espinosa Rosero When the Summoner's army blazes through her village, Dove is forced into hiding. Torn from everything she knows, she begins training in the elements with only one goal in mind: to find her brother. She just needs to get past the Summoner's army-but how can she slay a dragon that is already dead? "Burn Red Skies" is an epic fantasy with fire and flame, swords and martial arts, and strong female protagonists and antagonists. The story is told from different sides of an upcoming elemental war. The atrocities are enough to bring out the hero in the villain-and the villain in the hero. |
|
A Season of Ravens by J R Snyder Confronting werewolves, exploring haunted forests, calming angry spirits, and befriending ancient vampires. These are just a few of the tasks that Asher Norwood and his raven partner Aethon find themselves doing on any given day. Asher is a sin eater, a guild of mages that exists to combat dark magic wherever it rears its ugly head. Invoking the forces of nature to protect a society that looks down on him, Asher will stop at nothing to defeat the monsters that plague his world. Follow Asher on his journey to enchanted forests, remote mountains, monster-laden seas, and fantastic cities. A Season of Ravens is a collection of eight stories that combine to make the first novel of the Sin Eater Tales series. |
|
The Scars of Gaia by R P Lauer In the war torn world of Gaia, only two nations have survived the years of conflict. One covets power and strength, while the other covets science and knowledge. Both believe that they alone follow the true path of God. James, a poverty-stricken merchant in the nation of strength, struggles to provide for himself and his mother. In his travels, his life will become intertwined with Claire; a scientist on the wrong path from the rival nation of knowledge. They meet on a day like any other, but events will transpire which alter the course of fate. Together they will discover answers for their own lives, while also uncovering deeper secrets within the world around them. Can the two of them help bring compassion to a world of arrogance, oppression and brutality? As they begin to unravel the thread of truth and myth, they will be forced to ask: Can compassion heal The Scars Of Gaia? |
|
An immortal witch of Camelot. A looming magical crisis. A destiny sheâs willing to reject. All Nimue wants is a peaceful life, but her past wonât leave her alone. And when her friend Iseult brings news that her old rival Morgawse has been abducted, an impending catastrophe lands on her doorstep. And worse, the wizard responsible is Nimueâs ex, Nostradamus. Dragged into another adventure, Nimue confronts her former flame as he wages a desperate quest, only to be thrust deeper into an escalating crisis. As Nimue struggles to unravel what is happening, she discovers dark secrets that threaten the heart of magical energy. Now itâs her fate to rescue magic for every witch and wizard, including her friends. Trouble is, she wants no part of being magicâs saviour. Will Nimue step up as a champion? Or will she let the magical world die? Past Legends: The Camelot Immortals Book One, is a contemporary Arthurian fantasy inspired by the tales we all know and love. If you like strong snarky heroines, wizards and witches, and copious amounts of alcohol, then youâll love the adventures of Nimue and her friends. Warning: This book contains offensive language. |