SPFBO6 Self-published Fantasy Blog-Off Entries 2020
Entries into Mark Lawrence's Self-published Fantasy Blog-off in 2020 (the 6th year of the contest).
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Paradise Clash: Bounty Hunter (Paradise Clash #1) by L.E. Price Jake Camden is an urban hunter. He finds fugitives, the missing, the lost, stalking his prey through the toxic slums and glittering corporate monoliths of a near-future Philadelphia. His new clients want him to find their missing son, Trevor. The problem? They know exactly where his body is, comatose and on life support. His mind is missing. Trevor logged into a virtual-reality role-playing game, the cultural phenomenon called Paradise Clash…and vanished, disappearing from the grid, trapped somewhere inside the simulation. The developers say it’s a one-in-a-trillion glitch. Jake isn’t so sure; he knows an abduction when he sees one. The company wants it hushed up to avoid a media panic. The family just wants their kid back. To crack the case, Jake Camden will have to leave the world he’s used to, trading back-alley dives and acid rain for the bright blue skies of a fantasy paradise. Elves, dragon-hunting cults, airships and sorcery — it’s nothing the hard-nosed detective has ever had to face. He’ll need new tools, new methods, and new allies, including a gregarious dwarven warrior and a shrewd merchant queen, to find Trevor and bring him home alive. But as mysteries mount and people begin to die in the real world, Jake realizes he’s standing on the edge of something bigger than a single abduction. A criminal conspiracy is unfolding, one with global consequences, and he may be the only man standing in its path. |
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The Black Lily (The Arestea Chronicles, #1) by Mandy Burkhead, G.D. Burkhead Courtesan. Spy. Assassin. Across the Kingdom of Arestea, the shadowy league of professional killers known simply as the Guild has long since earned its terrifying reputation. And none of its current members are more infamous than the Black Lily. No one knows who the Lily is, but everyone recognizes the efficiency with which he or she brings down even the most guarded targets. There is no one, it is said, who is safe from this fiend once they have caught the assassin’s attention. Now Lily herself is about to discover if her reputation has been inflated or not, for she has just been assigned the most daunting mission of her career: infiltrate the royal palace and eliminate the entire Arestean line of succession to make room for the Guild’s puppet ruler. It’s a challenging job, but one that will secure her place in the history books should she succeed. But when unplanned circumstances take the king from his country to help secure the front lines in his latest war of expansion, Lily is left trapped in her assumed persona behind the palace walls and forced to stall for time. And when a particularly bad stroke of luck reveals her cover to the king’s brother, Crown Prince Adrian, Lily finds herself ensnared in her own web, forced to use all her skills of subterfuge and manipulation if she is to stay one step ahead of the naïve but righteous young man and finish her mission — or die trying. |
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Song of Shadow (Ballad of Emerald and Iron #1) by Natalya Capello They said she was out of her mind. The dark truth will shake the foundations of the fae realm… Lorelei refuses to believe her wild visions mean she’s insane. But despite her royal sidhe heritage, she’s banished to a remote priory to prevent her causing trouble. So when a priestess of the Elemental Order urges her to join a risky pilgrimage, she flees her prison and sails headlong into danger. Traveling to an ancient land imbued with volatile magic, she chokes back her disbelief after unearthing evil sorcery that shouldn’t exist. And now that Lorelei holds the forbidden secrets, she fears it’s only a matter of time before the powerful Elphyne Empire silences her permanently. If the fae church’s ruthless assassins don’t hunt her down first… Can Lorelei expose the sinister conspiracy before darkness falls forever? Song of Shadow is the captivating first novel in the Ballad of Emerald and Iron epic fantasy series. If you like strong women, potent magic, and non-stop adventure, then you’ll love Natalya Capello’s enthralling tale. |
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Shadows of Creation (Creation Chronicles #1) by Ryan D. Meier An ancient darkness has awoken, A legend come to life. A studious, young apprentice unhappy with her mundane life of learning at one of Turina’s magical temples is forced into a research project with the Order’s most arrogant protégé, throwing both of them into a dangerous quest they could have never anticipated. Two young royals, both heirs to their own Elven kingdoms, reconnect after long years apart in hopes of solving all of their people’s problems, only to find the world isn’t as simple as they thought. A down on his luck mercenary drunkenly stumbles into the fray, battling a conflict inside of himself as dark as the road ahead. Their paths collide in this fast-paced escapade filled with action, peril, and mystery. A story you won’t soon forget. What other secrets hide within the pages of Shadows of Creation? |
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Frey (The Frey Saga #1) by Melissa Wright Unaware she's been bound from using magic, Frey leads a small, miserable life in the village where she's sent after the death of her mother. But a tiny spark starts a fury of changes and she finds herself running from everything she's ever known. Hunted by council for practicing dark magic, she is certain she's been wrongfully accused. She flees, and is forced to rely on strangers for protection. But the farther she strays from home, the more her magic and forgotten memories return and she begins to suspect all is not as it seems. |
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Shrouded Kingdom (The Lost Queen of Althea #1) by Rachel Medhurst Once a human, now a fae princess, destined to be queen. Layanna Fairling has never belonged to her village, and yet, when it’s threatened by a tyrant who wants her dead, she knows she has to protect it. Three mysterious strangers who claim Layanna is a changeling and future ruler of the Seelie Court arrive to aid her. They also claim that the only way of saving her village is by overthrowing the Unseelie tyrant who inherited the throne from his evil father when he slew her real parents, the Fae King and Queen of Althea. The tyrant's greed and violence threaten to tear apart the kingdom she never knew existed, leaving Layanna with a simple choice. Overthrow the handsome and powerful tyrant, or lose everyone and everything she loves. |
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Darkness Forged (Legends of the Ragnarok Era #1) by Matt Larkin Norse mythology retold - Volundarkvida The greatest crafts on Midgard come from the dvergar realm of Nidavellir. Volund, a gifted smith and once apprentice to the dvergar, escaped their dark realm to find solace in the arms of a valkyrie. Nine years of respite. And then she was gone. Volund will do anything to get her back. But his reputation precedes him, and a cruel king knows the weapons Volund forges can win his wars. Imprisoned in the king’s forge, Volund’s only hope to escape is to find his wife. If he can’t, more than the forge’s darkness will overtake him. For even more dark Norse adventure, don't miss the tie-in series Gods of the Ragnarok Era, starting with The Apples of Idunn. |
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Lady, Thy Name Is Trouble by Lori L. MacLaughlin Trouble is Tara Triannon's middle name. As swords for hire, Tara and her sister Laraina thrive on the danger. But a surprise invasion throws them into chaos... and trouble on a whole new level. Pursued by the Butcher, a terrifying assassin more wolf than man, Tara and Laraina must get a prince marked for death and a young, inept sorceress to safety. There's only one problem - eluding the Butcher has never been done. Aided by a secretive soldier of fortune, they flee the relentless hunter. Gifted with magic and cursed by nightmares that are all too real, Tara must stop an army led by a madman and fend off an evil Being caught in a centuries-old trap who seeks to control her magic and escape through her dreams - all while keeping one step ahead of the Butcher. |
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Dames and Demons by G. Campbell Twenty years ago, a pandemic ripped through the world and forever changed society. Where Man once stood, now stand the Women and the Demons. They rule the city through magic and money. Men like Tom and Chris Redfield have nothing. The brothers live under the heel of society and fight over the scraps dropped by the upper classes. Or at least they used to. Things change with the discovery of a Demonic book. The brothers might have a shot at a better life, but they’re not ready for the chaos the book unleashes. Suddenly, the Redfields are thrown into the tangled machinations of the spiteful Sororities and the fastidious lords of Hell. Forced to become players in an intricate game, the brothers will have to use their wits and all the magic they can afford if they hope to survive. Cock your pistols, sharpen your swords, and fill your magic reserve… Not everyone’s going to make it out alive. |
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Thorfinn and the Witch's Curse (The Forerunner Saga #1) by Jay Veloso Batista Ghostly Curses in Viking England! Danelaw life is good! Practicing martial skills, grumbling over chores, listening to scary stories and shadowing his brothers everywhere, Finn is a normal boy of ten in the Viking Kingdoms of ninth century England. A bit timid, his father plots his apprenticeship while the family prepares a grand wedding. Off to the North, his uncle sails home after years of exile. And unbeknownst to all, the ghost of an ancient mage sits sentinel over his clan freehold. But when a witch’s curse comes alive, a mishap turns young Finn into a vardoger, haunted by his own forerunner ghost. Suddenly thrust into a new realm beyond Midgard, Finn struggles to be a boy by day and a ghost at night. His own clan fears him, he overhears murder plots, he learns the truth of giants and the hidden folk, and the witch still hunts revenge… Will Finn find the courage to defeat his enemies, save his uncle, and accept his new ghostly existence? |
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Legends of the Exiles by Jesse Teller The isolated barbarians of Neather have deep ancestry and strict traditions. Four resilient women defy tribal customs as they fight to overcome their own tragedies. Abuse. Addiction. Assault. Grief. What struggles can they endure to defend their hopes and their hearts? Helena seeks a love as bold as she, yet finds the men of her village lacking. Jocelyn fears her strange visions and sacrifices a life with the man she loves for the one her destiny demands. Torn apart by abuse and grief, Ellen is a brilliant woman who must focus her intellect on finding reasons to persevere. Rachel, a brash girl of noble heritage, dares all men to challenge her and longs for one who will. In this set of four interwoven novellas, award-winning author Jesse Teller challenges assumptions and showcases the strength of feminine resolve. |
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The Phoenix Embryo (Seasons of the Phoenix #1) by Jeanne Marcella A dark fantasy for mature readers. Twelve-year-old goddess devotees seek redemption during a seven year exile. Twelve-and-a-half-year-old Acanthus Breese and his yellow-robed peers have survived without an adult presence for seven years. They’ve scavenged. Endured madness, starvation, and murder after the adults imprisoned and abandoned them without a backward glance. They’ve clawed their way to civilization and questionable sanity at the guidance of one of their own. Thirteen-year-old Edward Dasheel is a direct descendant of the goddess Staritti and the red phoenix god, Dasheel. Because of Edward’s love and leadership, Acanthus and the other boys know that despite their regretful crime of harming Staritti and driving her away, hope for redemption remains. Acanthus knows Edward better than anyone; he knows Edward hides dark secrets about their exile, the adults, and specifically about him. So it is terrifying when suddenly the adults return, pushing themselves back into their lives. What do they want after all these years? And why? The Phoenix Embryo is a gritty dark fantasy for mature readers who enjoy mystery, suspense, tragedy, warrior priests and phoenix gods. It is a coming of age story filled with betrayal, grief, and hope. This is book 1 of the Seasons of the Phoenix saga, an LGBTQ fantasy fiction. |
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Kingdom of Aces: Ruby Edition by Steven Smith The Red Kingdom receives disturbing news of a rebellion by the banished savages in the west, the Stormbringer's are on the brink of raiding the capital and the queen must make a stand. That is until her son throws a spanner in the works, by making an enemy of two other realms who are not exactly the queen's biggest fans. The queen of clubs must protect her corrupt kingdom from all sides, the list of candidates for the throne grows in an explosive almighty clash and a war that will surely collapse the Red Kingdom of Curillia. |
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Bull and the Goblin Raid by Matt Heppe Baron Theodus of Sursival arrives at the Green Wyvern Inn to tell the story of his life. He will return each night to regale the villagers there with tales of monsters, treasure, foes, and friends. And when his story is done, he’ll leave his subjects, never to return again. The baron’s friends call him Bull, but not because he’s stubborn. He’s a giant of a man. He’ll answer to Lord Bull if you aren’t sure where you stand with him. Tonight he’ll tell the story of his road to adventure: a goblin raid that leaves Bull, his sister, and his mother as penniless refugees on a perilous journey. Goblins, disease, winter storms, and ruthless bandits all conspire to defeat the trio. Seventeen-year-old Bull, his stalwart sister, and hard-as-nails mother stand side-by-side against everything a cruel world can send against them. But how much can three people take? |
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The Delving (Overthrown - The Chronicles of Denoril #1) by Aaron Bunce It rests deep in the ground, they say, an ancient burial treasure of unimaginable wealth. Riches to humble even the most prosperous men, locked away from time itself. But the Council’s edict was clear – keep the tombs of the ancient dalan closed. Keep the past sealed. But where there is wealth, there is greed, and nothing stays buried forever. Thorben Paulson is an ordinary man, trying to raise his family the honest way. Unfortunately, the Council’s tax collectors demand more and more each thaw, taking in both coin and food. For a branded man like Thorben, his checkered past means the burden is always greater. With hungry mouths to feed and winter on the horizon, Thorben’s desperation grows. A visitor appears unexpectedly in town, a man from his past, carrying a map and a promise – enough coin to feed his family for the foreseeable future, in exchange for a single job. Not just any job, however. Thorben must delve once again, leave the sun behind and enter the underground crypts, the realm of the dead, and find priceless dalan relics. And yet, more lies in wait than things that sparkle and glimmer, and in Denoril, some things never truly die. |
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Dragon Mage by Tameri Etherton To unleash her dragon, she must confront her past. In the seven years since Amaleigh failed to assassinate her best friend, she’s been on the run. Jumping from world to world where she never quite fits in, all she truly wants is to stop running and find a place to call home. Unlocking her cold, dead heart might be a start to unleashing her inner dragon, but that would mean trusting another and there’s only one person she’s ever trusted—the same man she couldn’t kill. Prince Gwilym knows he shouldn’t risk Amaleigh’s life by asking for help, especially since he’s the reason she had to escape Eidyn. They grew up together as best friends, innocent of the knowledge it was Gwilym’s father who murdered her family and left her an orphan to live on the streets. Now his life is in peril and she’s the only person he trusts. Time’s running out for Gwilym and his father. Amaleigh’s future hangs in the balance. Forced to make a desperate choice, she must put aside her hatred for the man who murdered her family and sentenced her to a life of crime and loneliness. Dare she risk everything and return to the one place she tried desperately to forget? To save those she loves, she must become the Dragon Mage the king fears most. |
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Meadowcity (Arcera #1) by Liz Delton The first war in a thousand years has only just begun... Sylvia Thorne is one of the few people brave enough to travel through the empty lands of what remains of once great civilizations. She is a Rider: delivering messages betwen the Four Cities and setting up trade are her business, one that thrives only because she knows how to defend herself in the empty spaces called the wilds. Everything changes when Sylvia returns home to Meadowcity, carrying a message from the Governor of Skycity. She quickly finds out that what she’s been carrying isn’t some trifling correspondence—but a declaration of war from Governor Sorin Greyling. And the message isn't their only cause for concern... Join Sylvia as she embarks on a journey that will decide the fate of Meadow City—and all of those who live in the Four Cities of Arcera. And relive the past to discover what drove Sorin down his path of destruction... |
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Covenant of Blood (The Thayria Cycle #1) by H.R. van Adel On Thayria, the brutal Sarasinian League dominates. Yet beneath its arrogant façade, decades of corruption, neglect and incompetence have left it weakened and vulnerable. Even as its subject peoples yearn for freedom, the League, preoccupied with violent expansion, shows astonishing complacency in the face of impending revolt. Against a backdrop of relentless bloody battles, a provincial governor chooses a path that could change the course of history. A group of military cadets faces an increasingly dire future. And a jaded research assistant sets out to recover an object of immense power and dreadful consequence. In the centre of this gathering storm stands an improbably long-lived and immensely powerful figure whose hatred of the League knows no bounds... A tale of diverse peoples and places, Covenant of Blood is set in a world where innocence is dead, mercy is non-existent, and authority is wielded with an iron fist. |
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The Bear Cavalry: The True (Not!) History of the Icelandic Bears by D.G. Valdron A quirky, inventive alternate history written in the style of a fun, funky, pop culture television documentary, The Bear Cavalry, features host, Robin Prufrock, as he travels the world, telling the story of how the Vikings in Iceland domesticated bears for meat and as draft animals, and how the Scandinavian Bear Cavalry eventually evolved to become the most fearsome fighting unit in the Medieval world, along the way are entertaining detours into biology, evolutionary history, the Viking era, Medieval monarchs behaving badly, and the role of Bears in movies, art and culture in this world. BONUS STORY: The Sharebear Apocalypse, they're cute, they're cuddly, all they want to do is hug you, and they may be the end of civilisation. |
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The Jealousy of Jalice (A Disaster of Dokojin #1) by Jesse Nolan Bailey The Realms have split apart, the Stones of Elation have been hidden, and warnings of dokojin drift among the tribes. The land and its people are corrupted. The Sachem, chief of the Unified Tribes, is to blame. It is this conviction that drives Annilasia and Delilee to risk their lives. Afraid of the aether magic he wields, they enact a subtler scheme: kidnap his wife. In her place, Delilee will pretend to be the chieftess and spy on the Sachem. Unaware of this plot against her husband, Jalice is whisked away by Annilasia. Pleading with her captor proves futile, and she rejects Annilasia’s delusional accusations against the chief. After all, the Sachem has brought peace to the land. Yet a dangerous truth hides in Jalice’s past. As she and Annilasia flee through a forest of insidious threats, they must confront the evil plaguing the tribes and the events that unleashed it. |
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The Obsidian Psalm by Clayton Snyder Betrayed by those he trusted. Resurrected by a man he should loathe. A head full of memories he didn’t make. Rook is forced into a bargain that might kill him if he refuses, and if he accepts, could mean the end of existence. Trapped in a shadow war between necromancers, his choices are dwindling to one: Cut a bloody swathe of revenge across humanity’s last remaining city. |
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In this heroic gaslamp fantasy, superhuman abilities bring an adventurous new dimension to 1820 London, where an outlaw speedster and a master of illusion do battle to decide who will own the city. Think being a superhero is hard? Try being the first one. Will’s life is a proper muddle—and all because he was “accidentally” inflicted with the ability to run faster and leap higher than any human ever. One minute he’s a blacksmith’s apprentice trying to save his master from debtor’s prison. The next he’s accused of murder and hunted as a black-hearted highwayman. A vengeful politician with dark secrets and powers even more magical than Will’s has duped all of London into blaming Will for the chilling imprisonments of the city’s poor. The harder Will tries to use his abilities to fight crime, the deeper he is entangled in a dark underworld belonging to some of Georgian England’s most colorful characters. Only Will stands a chance of stopping this powerful madman bent on “reforming” London by any means necessary. Unfortunately, Will is beginning to realize becoming a legend might mean sacrificing everything that matters. Read this adrenaline-fueled historical superhero adventure today! |
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Sorrowfish (The Call of the Lorica, #1) by Anne C. Miles Sara isn't selfish. She's sorrowfish. BEST FANTASY 2019 INDIES TODAY Sara is having crazy dreams. Gryphon and dragon crazy. The scary part is waking up, safe in her apartment, with scratches and splinters. Is she losing it because of stress? One more unfinished sculpture will fully tank her grades. Goodbye bachelor's degree, hello failure. Her twin sister is in a coma. And on top of everything else, her best friend Peter wants a date. It's enough to make anyone sleepwalk. Choosing to defy the Conclave, Bard-in-training Trystan risks capture and mind control to find a magical lute through a shadow network. Luthier-wizard Dane meets a sinister stranger and barely escapes with his life. Together, they must end an ancient curse, guided by a fae they only know as Sara. |
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Blackbirds Sing by Aiki Flinthart Four-and-twenty extraordinary women; one chance to save a kingdom. What would you sacrifice to save your family, your loved ones, yourself? In September 1486, the reign of King Henry VII of England is again threatened by York loyalists. The only thing standing in the way is a four-hundred-year-old sidhe who just wants to be left alone, and a group of London women with a lot to lose if England is plunged back into war. But, in 1486, women have no power. Only the ability to make difficult choices and sometimes-heartbreaking sacrifices. Become immersed in the fascinating, perilous lives of these women, as told through the medium of 25 interwoven short stories. A prostitute selling her daughter’s virginity to pay her debts; a nun returning to the world after 30 years; laundress whose son is murdered; a lady’s maid hiding her Jewish culture; a blind musician running from a forced marriage; and more. Each story is a piece in the puzzle. Each woman faces her own trials as she plays her small part in the desperate attempt to protect King Henry and his wife, Elizabeth of York. Because if they fail, England will once again be thrust into civil war between the Yorks and Lancasters. And these four-and-twenty women have already sacrificed too much. |
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The Power of Conviction (The Prime #1) by Catrin Russell The Darkness was closing in over the Midlands, with the Priesthood being the only one daring to stand up against its terrifying presence. Trained in the arts of the Light, the priests walked a bloodied path through the scores of demons, seeking to rid the world of their unholy presence. But the fight against demonkind was becoming increasingly perilous, and danger rose to threaten the Priesthood’s very survival. The priestess Anaya stands resolute in her conviction. Despite the dangers she must endure along her dedicated path, her unwavering faith in the Goddess and Her divine supremacy doesn’t falter. She’s set on following the orders of her High Priest, no matter how gruesome. Until one day, when all her beliefs are challenged… A fateful meeting with the elusive demon Samael opens the doors to doubt and Anaya begins to question the very path of the Priesthood and of all those steadfast in the preachings of the Goddess. Were they wrong about demonkind? Was her purpose in life truly for naught? The Prime Series contains subjects and scenes that depict violence, torture, consequences of prolonged sexual abuse, emotional scars and suffering, as well as mature language and steamy scenes. It is therefore intended for a mature audience. |
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Dragon's Reach: An epic fantasy adventure (The Keeper Origins Book 1) by JA Andrews The truth is neither plain, nor simple. Sable, a reluctant thief from the slums, can feel truth when people speak. For years she’s been using that skill to try to break free from the vicious gang boss she's indebted to. Escape comes in the form of an odd set of companions: -a dwarf running from the past, -an actor with a magical, glowing tree -a too-helpful kobold, -a playwright with a knack for getting stories out of people, and -a man and woman with suspicious, magical powers. But Sable’s freedom is short lived. On the edges of civilization, they discover hidden, terrifying lies in the offers of peace from the brutal Kalesh Empire. Now, she must return to the city she fled, and along with her companions, attempt an impossible task—convince everyone, including the powerful Dragon Prioress, of the truth. Except the Kalesh web of lies has ensnared everyone. With her land, her people, and everything she loves hanging in the balance, Sable is the only one standing between freedom, and certain death. |
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A Storm of Silver and Ash (The Oncoming Storm #1) by Marion Blackwood What would you sacrifice to save your friend? Your soul? Your humanity? Your life? The Oncoming Storm is a name whispered in awe throughout the Underworld. She's known as a master thief and a lethal knife-wielder - some even say she has the skills of an assassin. All of it is true. She's also a sarcastic smartmouth with the social graces of a bull. You will find her running across rooftops, sneaking in the shadows, and breaking into houses. That is, if she's not busy getting ambushed and blackmailed into a seemingly impossible mission. Grudgingly caught in a dangerous power struggle, the Oncoming Storm must leave behind the world she knows and maneuver through scheming assassins, calculating elves, and desperate royals. Before her adventure is over, she will have loved, saved, killed, and double-crossed those around her. The only question is, who? The clock is ticking, and before time runs out, the Oncoming Storm must decide who to trust and who to betray… |
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A Brush with Vampires (The Clan-Vampire Clash #1) by Betsy Flak He hunts bloodsuckers. She's got power like he's never seen. To keep their school safe, he'll put his life on the line to protect her. High school sophomore Lila Lee is desperate to fit in at her new boarding school. Surrounded by frenemies, it takes bumping into the gorgeous Gabe to turn her fake smiles into crackling chemistry. But when she sees surprise on the laid-back senior's face, she can't help but wonder what he's hiding. Gabe wants fun and freedom and he refuses to let his vampire hunting duties get in the way. After his chance meeting with Lila sparks intense visions, he realizes the pretty sophomore could be even more powerful than he is. As Gabe keeps the new girl in the dark, he's not the only one who notices Lila's hidden magic. While Lila tries to climb the popularity ladder and Gabe fulfills his duties, something different lurks in the shadows. Something deadly. Something that could take more than Gabe and Lila's powers combined to stop it from drenching the school in blood. A Brush with Vampires is the first book in The Clan-Vampire Clash YA paranormal fantasy series. If you like gutsy heroines, dark villains, and intense high school relationships, then you'll love Betsy Flak’s page-turner. Buy A Brush with Vampires to drive a stake through high school drama today! |
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Architect: Book One of Calamity's Window by RT MULDER “In this room there is power, there is strength, there is cunning and there is skill. You are right to assume the collective abilities of us all. And you are right to fear them.” The First Calamity brought with it not only death, but irreconcilable power. And with that power came the thirst for more. The world of Halja burned at the hands of the magicians of Nuntias in their wars with the ferocious viri forti. It suffered the terrible raids of merciless pirates from La Isla. It watched the mighty kingdom of Mo-Duo forge a sacred treaty with the Church built on betrayal and lies. Then it drowned in the floods of the Second Calamity. Now, the kingdoms remain isolated from one another in fear and self-preservation. At least until Mo-Duo’s emissaries begin to arrive. They speak of an artifact that lay in the heart of the Middle, a region home to ancient horrors and unexplored danger. Only with the collective strength of the kingdoms can they hope to secure it. But rivalries, both old and new, threaten to doom the alliance before it can even begin. In a world where no one is who they say they are and secrets are wielded more lethally than swords, each kingdom must struggle to decipher the true meaning behind their journey into the Middle as well as the intentions of those they travel with and those they leave behind. But, they are not the only ones who call Halja home… Forces gather in the darkness to plunge the world once more into chaos. War is coming. And it will not only be fought in the Middle. |
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Dire (Feathers & Flames Book 1) by John Bailey Even the skies will burn. Euraiya is a lazy gryphon, content to let her traps hunt for her. Roving thieves and bullish curs are her only concerns. But after she fails to save her home from a far greater threat, her world erupts into flames. Broken and half dead, she must claw her way to find a place within a new pride that’s poised to exile her with one wrong move. Forced to prove her worth, her warnings are silenced. But with the leaders distracted and a rogue lord poised to take advantage of any weakness, Euraiya must confront them and herself before it’s too late. Can Euraiya save what’s left of her future before the fires rain down again? Dire is the first novel in a new Creature Fiction Fantasy series that pits gryphons against wyverns in a battle for land and survival. If you enjoyed The Summer King Chronicles or the Gryphon Insurrection series, then this is for you! |
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Auring's Wrath (Leviathan Book 1) by Justin DePaoli The lands of Covecus bleed magic and power, but its storied civilizations have been long forgotten, buried under the inexorable march of a deadly blight. Now, the scourge looms before the last peoples of Covecus, whose hope depends on the rise of a hero. And there's never been one of those. Until now. From the north, a young warrior seeks revenge for his imprisoned parents. He would take up arms against the blight itself to free them. From the south, a huntress desires more than the raw power of sorcery she possesses. She knows the scourge has a weakness, that it's alive. That it can be killed. As secrets are unearthed and godless beasts descend upon the last living civilization, two unlikely heroes will rise. Or a world will fall. |
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Star Compass (Victoria Eternal #1) by Anthea Sharp Charles Dickens meets Firefly in this tale of an orphan destined for the stars. Steampunk with a twist! Enter a fantastical world filled with alien spacecraft and Victorian sensibilities, ball gowns and travel to the stars - where a pickpocket with a particular gift yearns for the stars… (Note: This novel was part of the Dominion Rising collection) |
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The Brightest Shadow by Sarah Lin The arrival of the Hero was worse than anyone could have imagined. To take her place as a full warrior of her tribe, Tani must travel across the vast grasslands of the Chorhan Expanse. But she has her sights set higher than a mere ritual journey: she wants to uncover a solution to the impending war that threatens her people. Her world has never been peaceful, torn between the many cultures that meet on the Chorhan Expanse, but the greatest threat is an expansionist army of monstrous non-humans who call themselves the mansthein. Legends tell of monsters who will attempt to conquer the world, but are the mansthein those monsters? Tani believes that peace may be possible, but there are others on both sides who believe in the legends with zealous devotion. All around her, warriors have their eyes on a glorious victory with no concern for the piles of bodies they'll create on the way. Tani will be joined by a killer pretending to be a healer, a mansthein commander struggling with his orders, a thief who pawned her heart of gold, and a strategist exiled from a foreign land. But none of them are the Hero. It doesn't matter how many shades of gray might exist, some people see only in black and white. And the terrifying truth is that the stories they tell might not be just legends. |
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Until All Curses Are Lifted (Heart Of Fire #1) by Tim Frankovich The laws are enforced by magic. If you break the law, you’re cursed. But the rich and powerful twisted the laws to allow for… exceptions. Marshal has been cursed since birth for his unknown father’s crimes. When he discovers he’s also heir to immense magical power, he must flee for his life. His half-brother wants the power for himself and has hired an assassin to pursue Marshal and his mother. No one has ever escaped from a curse, but it’s the only way for Marshal to be truly safe. Seri wants to become the most powerful mage in history. But the magic that holds the world together is failing and no one knows why. While the ground itself shakes, someone begins murdering mages. In danger from all directions, Seri must learn how to use her unique abilities before everything falls apart. Neither of them know they are being watched from another realm… |
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The Chaos Circus by Renee Dugan All Tessa LaRoche wants is to be the most ordinary person on Barrow Island. After a stint in a mental asylum, she's had quite enough of being anything else, thank you very much. But when a commission at her new reporting job forces her into the path of a not-quite-human murder suspect, Tessa finds that the unordinary is not through with her yet. Spirited away by a devilishly charming Nicolai to the Mirror Lands-- a parallel reality manipulated by the immortal Deathless-- Tessa loses one of the most precious tethers to her sanity. In order to reclaim it, she must risk entering The Chaos Circus: a citywide fair where mortals trade years for prizes in vicious attractions from which the Deathless draw their power. But there's a catch: if Tessa can't defeat the Deathless at their own freakish carnival games, she will lose her mind...and Nicolai will lose his life. Forced to rely on one another despite the secrets that come between them, Tessa and Nicolai embark on a dangerous adventure through the deceptively beautiful life of the Circus, where little is as it seems--even the games, their pasts, and the strange whirlwind of memories that Tessa can no longer recall. |
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The Stone of Knowing (The Stone Cycle #1) by Allan N. Packer Even a small stone creates big ripples In the kingdom of Arvenon, young Thomas Stablehand stumbles upon an unusual stone. Suddenly able to read the thoughts and intents of others, his life sours as he eagerly indulges his curiosity. But dangerous enemies seek the stone. With overwhelming forces attacking the kingdom, Thomas has no one to turn to except his friend Will Prentis, a born leader who has seized his opportunity to command. To thwart the invaders, Will leads a small band on a perilous quest. Fearing exposure, Thomas flees with him, along with Brother Vangellis, a conflicted monk hiding from his past. They can ill afford distractions, least of all a fiery young woman with a sharp tongue. But more may depend on Elbruhe than they can foresee. As Thomas struggles to unravel the enigma of the stone, Will must outwit a relentless adversary whose true purpose remains a mystery. Staying alive is a formidable challenge. Defeating their enemies seems an impossible dream. Note: The Stone of Knowing is not a standalone book--the saga continues and concludes in The Cost of Knowing, book two of The Stone Cycle. |
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The Lost War (Eidyn #1) by Justin Lee Anderson SPFBO6 SPFBO Winner SPFBO Finalist The war is over, but something is rotten in the state of Eidyn. With a ragged peace in place, demons burn farmlands, violent Reivers roam the wilds and plague has spread beyond the Black Meadows. The country is on its knees. In a society that fears and shuns him, Aranok is the first magically-skilled draoidh to be named King’s Envoy. Now, charged with restoring an exiled foreign queen to her throne, he leads a group of strangers across the ravaged country. But at every step, a new mystery complicates their mission. As bodies drop around them, new threats emerge and lies are revealed, can Aranok bring his companions together and uncover the conspiracy that threatens the kingdom? Strap in for this twisted fantasy road trip from award-winning author Justin Lee Anderson. |
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Voice of War (Threadlight Book 1) by Zack Argyle Chrys Valerian is a threadweaver, a high general, and soon-to-be father. But to the people of Alchea, he is the Apogee—the man who won the war. When a stranger's prophecy foretells danger to Chrys' child, he must do everything in his power to protect his family—even if the most dangerous enemy is the voice in his own head. To the west, a sheltered girl seeks to find her place in the world. To the south, a young man's life changes after he dies. Together, they will change the world—whether they intend to or not. |
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Incursion (The Necromancer's Key #1) by Mitchell Hogan An immersive and ambitious new series from the Aurealis Award winning author of A Crucible of Souls. A corrupted power stirs from beyond the grave. A sacred order of knights sworn to protect the world from evil. The Necromancer Queen will rise again. Seventeen years have passed since the Necromancer Queen Talia was overthrown and slain, and her capital city destroyed by the Knights of the Order of Eternal Vigilance. Anskar DeVantte, raised in the sacred disciplines of the Order, is now ready to face the brutal initiation trials to become a consecrated knight-sorcerer. But the further Anskar rises in the ranks the more his faith wavers, and he is beset by harrowing dreams and uncertainty. As troubling powers awaken within him, a schism grows between Anskar and his hallowed Order, and he draws the hungry gaze of the vanquished queen’s fanatical followers. As Anskar pieces together the mysteries of his early life, and begins to understand the malevolent forces gathering in his path, he finds himself with a crucial choice to make: Remain loyal to the Order’s righteous mission, or control the dark powers growing within him. Either way, his destiny is steeped in war. The only question is, which side will he be on? |
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Warbringer (Descendants of the Fall #1) by Aaron Hodges Centuries ago, the world fell. From the ashes rose a terrible new species—the Tangata. Now they wage war against the kingdoms of man. And humanity is losing. Recruited straight from his academy, twenty-year-old Lukys hopes the frontier will make a soldier out of him. But Tangata are massing in the south, and the allied armies are desperate. They will do anything to halt the enemy advance—including sending untrained men and women into battle. Determined to survive, Lukys seeks aid from the only man who seems to care: Romaine, the last warrior of an extinct kingdom. Meanwhile, the Queen’s Archivist leads an expedition deep beneath the earth. She seeks to uncover the secrets of the Gods. Their magic has been lost to the ages, yet artefacts remain, objects of power that could turn the tide of the war. But salvation is not the only thing waiting beneath the surface. Something else slumbers in the darkness. Something old. Something evil. |
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Beyond the Spire of Navarene (Dead Men are Dying Book 1) by M. Warren Askins Curses, Wards, and Endless Hordes prevent the casual adventurer from getting very far. At least, not without employing a Ranger… and their services do not come cheap. A Young Knight undertakes an impossible quest deep into the fabled and perilous Fenrirfang in order to protect his sister from a conspiracy that involves the Church that he has sworn to serve. A seasoned Ranger who believes she has seen everything the wilds have to offer soon discovers that she faces something altogether different with this journey. BEYOND THE SPIRE OF NAVARENE is the first entry in the DEAD MEN ARE DYING saga. Set 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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Calico Thunder Rides Again by T.A. Hernandez Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, welcome to the Most Fantastic Show on Earth... Three years ago, the Ban changed everything, outlawing certain forms of magic and bringing about the rise of powerful crime syndicates. Now, speakeasies in every city sell illegal charms and jinxes, and bootleggers traffic restricted potion ingredients across the country. But even in this changing world, the magic of the circus still acts as a wondrous escape and provides entertainment for all.​ Jake Strickland owns one such circus, inherited after an accident ended his career as a rodeo dragon rider. He also inherited the circus’ financial troubles, but since the show became his, he’s slowly managed to turn it into a profitable business once more. Or at least, that’s what he thought. When a dangerous mobster comes to collect an old debt, Jake resorts to desperate measures to get the money before a strict deadline. With lives and livelihoods at stake, he battles the clock, his responsibilities to the circus, and a longstanding personal grudge that has festered for years. Can he pay back the mob before it’s too late? |
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Meet Jacob Williams. A survivor of the First World War, forever changed by his experience. Now he’s facing down the terrors that conflict unleashed upon an unsuspecting world. Weak spots have always existed between our world and that of the Fae; stone circles help to keep the most dangerous sealed shut. But now Stonehenge is failing… It falls to the members of the Fae Defence Society to repair the ancient monument, protect humanity from the terrors it holds back and prevent another disastrous war. Jacob and his wartime comrade Harry are on the front lines in a supernatural battle which threatens everything. |
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Emma and the Minotaur by Jon Herrera A love letter to innocence, magic, and fantasy. The residents of the City of Saint Martin are disappearing. Those who hear the music of the forest are compelled to follow it and are never seen again. At the same time, creatures of myth and legend are returning to our world. Led by the colossal Minotaur, they hide in the shadows of Glenridge Forest, waiting for a day soon to come. Why are they here? What is the World of Light? Join young Emma Wilkins as she uncovers the truth behind the mystery and learns the identity of the great power behind it all. Like a song in the wind, the tale drifted out into the world. It started its journey in a dark glade deep inside Glenridge Forest. Those who had been there to witness the story carried it with them into the City of Saint Martin. From there, told and retold, the tale transformed and grew wings of its own. Farther and farther, the tale flew, reshaping itself into the form given to it by the voice of the teller. The story morphed and shifted, ever molding itself to the temperament of the land beneath it. The tale reached every corner of the world. To some, it was only a children's bedtime story. But others, in times to come, would find in it solace and truth. |
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Knightmare Arcanist (Frith Chronicles #1) by Shami Stovall Magic. Sailing. A murderer among heroes. Gravedigger Volke Savan wants nothing more than to be like his hero, the legendary magical swashbuckler, Gregory Ruma. First he needs to become an arcanist, someone capable of wielding magic, which requires bonding with a mythical creature. And he’ll take anything—a pegasus, a griffin, a ravenous hydra—maybe even a leviathan, like Ruma. So when Volke stumbles across a knightmare, a creature made of shadow and terror, he has no reservations. But the knightmare knows a terrible secret: Ruma is a murderer out to spread corrupted magic throughout their island nation. He’s already killed a population of phoenixes and he intends to kill even more. In order to protect his home, his adopted sister, and the girl he admires from afar, Volke will need to confront his hero, the Master Arcanist Gregory Ruma. A fast-paced fantasy with magical creatures for those who enjoy the Furies of Calderon (Codex Alera series) by Jim Butcher, Unsouled (Cradle Series) by Will Wight, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians by Rick Riordan. |
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The Child of Silence (The Burning Orbit Book 1) by Joseph O. Doran You've never met a hero like this before. Born severely disabled, Aiata dal'Pelferta has spent her life despised by her own people simply for who she is. Worse still, she is the youngest daughter of the Empress, making her an Imperial embarrassment. Unable to talk, move or let anyone know she is a thinking, feeling person, she spends her days observing - and learning - from those around her. Everything changes when she finally discovers a way to communicate and is plunged into the dangers of the Imperial court. With the magic of Songthrust, Aiata’s people can force others to their will, however they are ill-prepared for a popular revolt within their own borders – a revolt that Aiata is dragged into. Abused by her family and surrounded by danger, Aiata will learn that her intellect – not her magic – is her greatest asset, as she fights to save her home from the ravages of civil war. Yet while all eyes are on the war at home, a far greater threat looms in the dark of the night sky. |
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The Five Furies of Heaven (The Five Furies #1) by Ashley Capes Fighting the insect hordes of a malevolent God isn’t easy when you’re a young man with no special talents. And it’s even harder when a Goddess makes your friends older and stronger – but gives you nothing. While searching an old temple Kilek and his friends stumble across the Goddess Avendria who transforms them into heroes – all grown up, with weapons, magic, and skills. But when she gives Kilek nothing at all – nothing except the impossible task of saving the lands – he must fight bitter doubts. Worse, a dark prince is massing his armies and more, agents of other Gods have been set loose in the world. Only the long-lost dragons can turn the tide but Kilek must find them before it’s too late. And somehow, he has to do it all without divine intervention. |
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Chains of Blood (The Chaos Cycle #1) by M.L. Spencer He thought he was born Rylan Marshall…until he found out he wasn’t. He was born the son of a demon. Does that mean he is destined to follow in his father’s footsteps? Rylan was attacked, his young son murdered, his baby daughter taken. But his assailant left him with two gifts: the gift of magic…and an oath to darkness. Rylan blamed himself, even though he knew it wasn’t his fault. The life he knew was over. And war is coming. A new enemy, stronger and more fearsome than any other, appears out of the night. Will Rylan use his newfound power to make a stand? Will he learn its use in time to make a difference? Or will his oath to darkness guide him to the enemy? If you love grimdark fantasy filled with vivid realism, brutal warfare, and raw emotion, this new adventure is just for you. |
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Chains Carried on Wings (Clydian Chronicles, #1) by Marina Ermakova Saig had always lived on the edge of acceptance. Unlike a proper daughter of the head family, she longed for the freedom of the open woods over the confinement of her home. It was enough to drive away the two people who should, by rights, have been her closest companions. But her perfect, responsible cousin Auris--destined to be the city's headwoman and resentful of Saig's inability to conform--would never be her friend again. And her surly cousin Trei--aware of how his foreign ancestry undermined his own standing in society--would always look at her as a reminder of their shared differences. Until a series of mysterious disappearances forces all three of the cousins onto the same side. Driven to protect their city and prove themselves, they join the effort to hunt down the perpetrators. What they find is a trap designed to bring their society crashing down, and the power to reshape their city's future. There's just one problem--the three of them have always bitterly disagreed on what that future should look like. |
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The Hammer Of The Gods: So You Want To Be A Star (The Druid Trilogy #1) by Andrew Marc Rowe It’s Hammer Time! Pitted against a perverse pantheon of warring deities, Gudleik Sigbjornsson and Rosmerta O’Ceallaigh are two dreamers living worlds apart, hoping to create a better life for themselves by following their dreams. It won’t be easy: Gudleik’s soul is the battleground between two gods of Asgard. And Rosmerta is supposed to do as her parents have done: offer her life to the service of an ancient Celtic fertility god. But the gods are only half of it… the biggest foes the two will face are to be found within their own minds. Can Gudleik overcome the ugly blessing of a trickster god and prevent Ragnarok? Will Rosmerta find the courage to forge a new path? Will there be a whole load of dirty jokes and comments on the human condition? Yes, yes, there will be… to that one, the third question. Also, check dis out: there is a bunch about Merlyn and King Arthur of Camelot, a Goblin King, an ancient fell jellyfish god, encroaching Christian zealots, characters whose proclivities are too crude to mention here, because, well, gotta make the advertising copy pop, you know? An epic fantasy comedy as blue as the cover art, get your copy of The Hammer Of The Gods today! |