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Caste of the Mountain by Nicolin Odel Young Hata Vasara is in the midst of discovering her first love as all hell breaks loose. Her father, Baal Vasara, a Foreman miner in the mountain city of Oitilla, discovered something deep within the earthâan ominous archway of steaming red light. Finding such an unnatural creation in such a place, Baal chooses to cover it up. Unfortunately, his right-hand man, Alvar Kovaa, has other ideas. We find the Vasara family, Baal, Brena, and Hata, in turmoil as the village chieftain accuses the family of lies and notions of thievery. The family is forced to fight for their place in Oitilla or be exiled as treachery follows in their wake. |
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Stone of Shadows by Camilla Vavruch In the slums of Gereon, sixteen-year-old Will struggles to survive and keep food on the table for his siblings. Working each day in the fields, he endures regular torment from privileged bully Tristan Arrington. But when a dragon snatches Will, he discovers a stone that grants him the power of invisibility. Returning to the city, Will uses his new ability and stumbles across a much darker truth about Tristan and his powerful father. Suddenly, the world is no longer black and white. There are people who are much more dangerous than Will ever thought. As a tentative friendship forms amidst a web of secrets, one boyâs life hangs in the balanceâand just how much of himself is Will willing to risk? |
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Birthrights by David A Trotter The old gods are dead. The new ones are silver and steam. A lone warrior must rediscover their identity, all while coping with copious amounts change. Gone from the hills and wilds of the north, Darius must acclimate to city life. He must learn to trust in a city filled with deceit, all while trying to discern the true meaning behind these strange dreams that take him far into other realms. |
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Rilari: Book Four of New Blood by W.D. Kilpack III April 2024 Reader's Favorite, BooksShelf.com Cover Contest ⢠April 2024 Top Choice, BooksShelf.com ⢠November 2023 Editor's Choice, BooksShelf.com The future of Mankind relies on the Guardian of Maarihk. Can he and the Knights of Ril resist forces bent on destroying Mankind's last hope? In the absence of the Guardian of Maarihk, the Usurperâs venom has extended beyond the Gulf of Braag, seeding unrest and hatred for all things Maarihkish. Natharr and the Knights of Ril must overcome malice and the ramifications of Ellis the Elderâs boundless past that even Sight cannot reveal. The Rilari stand alone in a world in turmoil as they discover the tremendous reach of the Usurperâs vizier. Even the endowments of the Daemons of Order are unable to withstand the ravages of fighting to survive on Rilari loyalties. Meanwhile, Nathan and his summoned companion must rely on the teachings of both Natharr and Quiet One to carve out their place in the Maarihk Empire. Skill with a sword is only the beginning of their treacherous path, as fraught with peril as Darshelleâs as she flees the animus of the ancient wood. âRilari [is] an emotional odyssey that will leave you breathless. Buckle up for a story that throws you headfirst into the world of the Rilari, where humanityâs fate rests on the shoulders of a courageous, yet relatable, leader â Natharr, Guardian of Maarihk and Knight-Marshal of the Knights of Ril (a.k.a the Rilari). Kilpack masterfully crafts Natharr as a hero brimming with both strength and vulnerability. Heâs a leader who inspires with his bravery, lightens the mood with his cheeky side, and grapples with his own emotions, particularly with his relationships. Chapter 13, aptly titled âWell Come,â stands out as a prime example of Kilpackâs exceptional writing. The descriptions of the Knights of Ril facing their adversaries are so vivid, youâll feel the chill of cold rain, the steel of battle tactics and the agony of loss alongside them. Dive into the New Blood Saga, and I assure you, you wonât be disappointed. I loved the book!â â Jose F. Nodar, author of Books, Pens & Larceny (South Wales, Australia) "Rilari is a triumph, offering an enthralling adventure filled with courage and the enduring spirit of humanity." â BooksShelf.com "If you are tired of reading the same old books that are lackluster and forgettable, then take a chance with Rilari. I promise you that you will not be disappointed!" â RedHeadedBookLover.com |
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Demon Seed: Book Three of New Blood by W.D. Kilpack III 2024 The BookFest Award Winner ⢠2023 International Firebird Book Award Winner ⢠April 2022 Editor's Choice, BooksShelf.com The future of Mankind relies on the Guardian of Maarihk. Can an ancient force, lost aeons past, overcome fate? Despite growing power of the forces of chaos, there is a glimmer of hope as Natharr realizes that there are also forces of order in play. It is made plain when he and his comrades escape the faceless realm and Natharrâs Sight is released. It reveals just how strongly the world needs the Guardian of Maarihk and the return of the legendary Knights of Ril to the land where Mankind was created. Racing for home unwittingly leads to unearthing an ancient force created by the Olde Gods, believed lost aeons past. Meanwhile, Darshelle and the crown prince struggle to make the most of their lives without Natharrâs protection. Forced to make their own way, the fruit of Quiet Oneâs efforts comes fully to bear, as Nathan and his summoned companion reawaken the animus of the ancient wood. The ramifications are horrible and far-reaching, changing their world forever. "Demon Seed is the third book in the New Blood Saga by W. D. Kilpack III is one hell of a ride and it simply cannot be described in just a few sentences. It just canât! The authorâs forte is his descriptive prowess when presenting a scene. Case in point, the meeting with Drah in the cave. I will not spoil it here for future readers but it is outright scary. Then Natharr acquires a new 'fan,' which requires a diplomatic touch. Add to that the moment when Nathan realises what he has become and how he struggles with all that it means with all of its far-reaching ramifications. The way the book manoeuvres through its many intricate facets left me exhausted but still wanting more! New characters intermingled with old characters. New revelations concerning Nathan were presented in ways that were fascinating, intriguing, and scary, all at the same time! Demon Seed is deep, raw, powerful, and entertaining. It is worth the time of starting with book one, Crown Prince, and relishing every page!" â Jose F. Nodar, author of Books, Pens & Larceny (South Wales, Australia) Demon Seed is "thrilling and fast-paced ... [a] brilliant tale where the stakes are as high as ever ... full of twists that will keep you on edge from beginning to end! Demon Seed is an incredibly suspenseful novel ... a wonderful fantasy tale that will keep you hooked!" â RedHeadedBookLover.com Demon Seed "takes readers on a thrilling journey ... immersing readers in a richly imagined universe where Natharr's internal struggles add depth to his journey. Kilpack's prose is evocative and vivid ... the descriptions of the ancient forces and the consequences of their awakening are haunting and thought-provoking. Demon Seed is a must-read!" â Just Pratibha (India) |
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Order of Light: Book Two of New Blood by W.D. Kilpack III Top Book (Rated #1), Amy's Bookshelf Reviews 2024 ⢠2023 The BookFest Award Winner ⢠2022 International Firebird Book Award Winner ⢠July 2021 Top Pick, BooksShelf.com The future of Mankind relies on the Guardian of Maarihk. Can a mysterious Order help him repair the damage of choosing happiness over duty? Despite the Guardian of Maarihk being condemned as anathema, and his very existence relegated to legend, Natharr resumes his ancient responsibilities as Mankind's protector. He joins with a mysterious Firstborn companion, Ellis the Elder, to journey into the snow reaches of Biraald, where his Sight promises he will find those who secretly adhere to the ways of the Olde Gods. Although Biraaldi bloodlines show their Firstborn heritage more clearly than even in Maarihk itself, the two nations have never enjoyed peace. It has been far worse since the rise of Brandt the Usurper to Maarihk's throne. Natharr and Ellis must navigate the threats not only against the Firstborn, but the Maarihkish, as they seek out the sympathizers he Saw who are brave enough to resist Maarihk's tyranny. Only then can the damage be repaired from when Natharr chose personal happiness with Darshelle and the young crown prince over his weighty responsibilities as Guardian of Maarihk. "The more I read, the more I realize that no other epic fantasy story has procured my full investment like the New Blood Saga! The world-building expands, new characters are introduced and the scope of things to come is greatly built upon with extra heaps of shocks and twists. Kilpack is well on his way to writing one of the greatest epic fantasy tales of all time! The prose is magnificent and captivating with a healthy dose of description and character beats. Fans of Wheel of Time will find everything they love â and more! â but tweaked to perfection. The plot had me at the edge of my seat as these characters that Iâve become so attached to were put through harrowing and very unexpected events. I also love the magic being explored, itâs unique and fits well with the other elements of this world. This is fantastic work!" â Usman, host of Bards and Books YouTube channel (British Columbia, Canada) "I devoured the first book in the New Blood Saga, desperate to see where the tale would lead. Kilpack doesn't disappoint. The themes that resonated in Crown Prince deepen and twist in Order of Light. He has a way of making words just flow vividly on the page. On p. 106, a revelation about Natharr floored me! His journey of self-discovery weaves flawlessly with the Crown Prince's own remarkable growth. The Quiet One and Bu, meticulously detailed in all their wonder, are testament to Kilpack's storytelling prowess. Fans of epic fantasy: Kilpack is your new literary lord. From exhilarating battle sequences to poignant moments of reflection, Order of Light is a masterpiece. If I could, Iâd give it a six!" â Jose F. Nodar, author of Books, Pens & Larceny (South Wales, Australia) |
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The Timespeaker by Brit Stanford 2023 Whitney Award Nominee Desperate to be a hero. Born a demon. Win JorHali can steal minutes and years, spreading death and decay with a touch. He should have turned himself over to the gods for rightful execution years ago, but heâs seen death, and he fears it. Determined to prove himself worthy of the life he clings to, Win struggles to smother his growing power and provide for his family. When his secret is discovered, Win chooses to masquerade as his godâs greatest hero: the glorious Timespeaker. As Chief Executioner for the gods, Win thinks heâs found his true purpose, but a violent rebellion is brewing among his people, and the girl he loves has joined its ranks. He has the power to destroy any enemy, but who is the enemy? His gods arenât what they seem, his people are merciless in their destruction, and Time itself seems to be splintering under Winâs ignorant hand. The world is unraveling and Win has the power to save it, but at what cost? And in the end, what will he be? Hero or villain? |
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Blood's Power: Broken by Midnight Rose A man who is caught in a downward spiral of corruption, and is raised out of it into a hero, who dies to save a people who shall never know of his sacrifice. The strangerâs green eyes opened again. Jewel ventured to speak, realizing that the spell on him, which was already wearing off, if not almost worn off, allowed him that leisure. âWhy did you do this?â he said in a deep voice, letting the stranger hold his eye contact. âI do not think you would understand,â the stranger said softly. He let his eyes fall closed again. âWhat?â Jewel said, his voice still deep. âYou think you are a strong enough mage to fight me? Your spell is nothing, I have lost no strength, and you have lost much.â A sorrowful smile graced the strangerâs parched lips; Jewel had not till now noticed that the manâs lips were stained purple from tiny cracks of dried blood. âI have not only fought you, I have defeated you,â the other mage said, in a grave voice, lifting his chin in weak defiance. âDefeated me?â Jewel asked in mockery, his brows rising. âWhat spell have you put on me that I am defeated?â A story of blood magic, both of deep evil and abomination, and of heroic sacrifice and selfless love. When Jewel is at last broken beyond all hope, when his power is ripped so fully from his hands, that he fears he has lost not only his power, but himself, he discovers at last that he can still be the Jewel he was before he was broken, before corruption stole his life away. For not until he is broken can he be Unbroken. |
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Of Bonds and Daggers by Dakota Monroe Nell Harper tumbles from the world of the humans into the veiled domain of the fae after struggling through her life for so long. As she ventures further into this unfamiliar place, Nell discovers the unsettling truth that her memories have been stolen. Determined to reclaim what's rightfully hers, she embarks on a journey that will test her resilience like never before. Guided by her instincts, and cat, she must unravel the tangled web of deceit and betrayal that led to her memory loss. Yet, as her journey takes her deeper into the heart of the fae world, Nell realizes the truth she seeks may be far more devastating than she could have ever imagined. Among the chaos, Nell finds herself entangled in a complex web of emotions. Love emerges from unexpected corners, intensifying the already dizzying events surrounding her. As her heart navigates the maze of desire and longing, Nell must confront the searing question: can she truly trust those who profess their affections in a place filled with secrets and lies? |
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Falling Light by Crystal L. Kirkham Love comes in many forms: family, friendship, romance. But when those you love are considered forbidden, what do you do? â Samir Amin has dedicated his life in service to the Nergal, an ancient organization that monitors and polices the inter-dimensional beings on our world and the magic that summons them. The only dark mark on his career is his close friendship with Anela Mastersonâa being that was long ago trapped in a human body and forced to live near powerless in our world. â When Anela introduces him to Keeler Lim, another being trapped like her, on the condition he keeps it a secret from the Nergal, he does so reluctantly. Things only become more complicated when Anela is kidnapped by a madman who wants to release her darkness on the world and, unwilling to be forced to stand on the sidelines, Samir asks Keeler to help him find and rescue her. It is a decision that causes Samir to be faced with a choice between love and dutyâand it could cost him his life. |
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The Cranes of Blackwell by J.D. Kellner Bergden and Alyssa Crane are dutiful citizens of the Regime. Bergden, a Regime blackjack and Alyssa, a faithful wife, do what they can to provide for their son, James even when it means sacrificing their very freedom. But when Bergden is accused of treason, the Cranes must flee for their lives to escape the terrible reach of the Regime. During the escape, Bergden and Alyssa become separated. â Now, Bergden and Alyssa will do whatever they must, and against all odds, to unite their family. With the tyrannical Chancellor Kroft hunting them night and day, both must discover their inner strengths to conquer their fears and find each otherâs arms. Little do they realize that a greater threat lurks in the shadows. |
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War of the Pantheons by T.P. Theyson A modern tale of WAR, woven into the fabric of ancient mythology. A rogue deity decides he no longer wishes to live, having grown tired of answering the incessant prayers of his followers. When his decision throws the worlds OF gods and men into chaos, alliances must be made to face the one who calls himself "Savior". If they are to witness the survival of the world, they only have one choice; to break the laws set down by THE ones who came before them and unite the PANTHEONS to destroy this threat before it is too late. As death looms over us all and alliances are made, ancient grudges will boil to the surface. Ones that are older than time itself and soaked in divine blood |
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In Pain and Blood by Aldrea Alien He's unleashed. Unprepared. And thoroughly screwed. Dylan's life in the spellster tower has everything he should want: magical knowledge, safety from the King's Hounds and frequent clandestine affairs with women. All at the cost of his freedom. So when the chance to leave the towerâeven as a leashed weapon for the King's Armyâarises, he seizes it. When his first scouting mission goes awry, Dylan is left alone in a hostile world with the tower a distant beacon of safety. Only the flirtatious Tracker, an elven man whose very presence awakens Dylan's long-repressed desire, can help him return to his old life before the crown discovers his unleashed status. But the risk of being branded a deserter may be the least of his concerns as whispers of an armed presence in the North threatens his home. Dylan must rely on Tracker to protect him even as everything he thought he knew begins to unravel around them. |
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Everyone's a Catgirl! Volume 1 by DoubleBlind The hit web series with over 2 million views comes to life in eBook and Paperback! The last thing Matt Kelmer expected at the gym was sudden death. The second to last thing he expected was an offer of reincarnation by a goddess intensely moved by his "valiant efforts" before his untimely passing. When the option of a world filled with catgirls hits the table, Matt is determined to live out one of his greatest harem fantasies. However, what awaits him in Nyarlea will test the limits of his strength, courage, and patience. The monsters are harder, the Experience scarce, and the girls run circles around him. Join Matt on his adventure of fighting Encroachers and battling Defiled. Every precious Level and Party member will aid his survival in perilous Nyarlea. With emotional twists, steamy nights, and chaotic surprises, Everyone's a Catgirl! will subvert your expectations one genre at a time. |
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Urban Gothic by Stephen Coghlan Burned out and drugged up, Alec LeGuerrier spends his days faking it, barely ekeing out an existence while living in a haze of confusion and medicated mellowness. That is, until he stops a gang of nightmarish oddities from killing a strange young woman with indigo eyes. Dragged into the lands of the dreaming, he must come to terms with his brutal past and his grim imagined future in a land his body knows is real, but his mind refuses to acknowledge. |
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Lantern by Burgundy Athena Pendragon In this dark high fantasy adventure, a grumpy middle-aged mage is asked by an old friend to take on an Impossible Task for her: finding a cure for her son's curse when all else have given up. Aiding Devyn on zir quest to cure Lio of his horrifying curse that he acquired by stealing a lindworm's treasure, is the teenager himself, a family of werewolves, and a mysterious demonic lantern forever bound to zir soul. But as the clock waxes and wanes and Lio's curse worsens, so do the dangers lurking in the shadows for them. And all of them human. |
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Vultures (Shadow Twins Book 1) by Luke Tarzian An enemy slain is not a conflict won... After decades of war the demon Te MirkvahĂl is dead. But its progeny endure, spilling from the Heart of MirkĂşr, sowing death across the land of Ariath. If the people are to finally know peace, the Heart must be destroyed. Theailys An believes he can do just that with The Keepers' Wrath, an infamous power focus wrought in Ariath's yesteryears--but the weapon first must be reforged. War spares no one... Serece never intended to get involved in Ariath's war. But history and demons have a way of pulling strings. When she learns Theailys An, a man whom she abhors, bears striking similarity to the first creator of The Keepers' Wrath, Serece departs her mountain world for Ariath to ascertain the truth. From patience, hope... For millennia BehtrĂŠal has walked the world alone. Rewriting history to resurrect his people is easier said than done. But Ariath holds the key--soon The Keepers' Wrath will be remade. Truth from madness... As paths converge and a shadow falls across Ariath, one thing becomes increasingly and horrifyingly clear--these events have played out many times before. |
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The Tree of Azathoth by C.T. Phipps "The Dreaming City has a million stories." The world has finally reached its final hours with Yog-Sothoth devouring time itself. John Henry Booth is not content to die and seeks out an old enemy to provide him an escape from the dying Earth. This results in him being transported to a strange monster-filled city where millions of humans live in a bizarre hodgepodge of eras. John soon finds out he's been here before, or at least some variant of him has, and he is soon founded by faces long thought dead. And what is his lost son's connection to the mysterious metropolis? The Tree of Azathoth is the third novel of the Cthulhu Armageddon series, a post-apocalypse continuation of H.P. Lovecraft's popular Cthulhu Mythos. |
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Immortal Sins by Maurice D. Winterborn The Chained God, the protector of truth, power and knowledge, has reigned in the North for centuries. Now, dark forces rise in the South, threatening peace and stability of all united in his name. New Gods. Cruel, dominant, wrathful. The last bastion of the people has held strong for more than four years, but the fighting has taken its toll, leaving hope tied together with fragile strings. The Invaders' chaotic beliefs slowly engulf the land and dark forces start to awaken, both outside of the Empire and within. Dimitri Savandiel saw his world crumble when the southern Empire, Vivaria, declared war on his home nation of Haven. For years, the country has known nothing but divide and death as the true King was slain and his deceitful brother took the throne, handing the land to the Invaders. The battle for Haven shall be bloody, indeed. |
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With a Blighted Touch by J. Todd Kingrea In Scarburn County, Tennessee there is a small mountain community called Black Rock, known for its unusual and prevalent blight that affects all vegetation . . . When an unexpected death forces Christopher "Kit" McNeil to return to his small hometown in the Tennessee mountains after eighteen years, he must confront his past and a secret he's kept since he was twelve. A talented guitarist with a history of bad choices and even worse luck, Kit soon reunites with an old friend and learns about recent disappearances and mysterious deaths in the area. They begin to wonder if it's connected to what they witnessed in the woods when they were kids and if a creepy local family is involved. Stranger still, almost half of their high school graduating class has died. When more shredded bodies begin appearing, Kit becomes a suspect. But what he discovers is even more frightening-evil has set its sights on him and his friends and it won't stop until it gets what it needs. Can Kit and his friends band together in time to stop this ancient evil? Or will a new reign of terror that the Cherokee once called Uyaga be unleashed to roam the earth once more? |
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By the Blood of Rowans by Xan van Rooyen The Sheehy witches are the most feared and detested family on the island of Inisliath, and none more so than Rowan. As a deathwalker, Rowan ferries island souls to the Otherworld, experiencing their deaths and carrying their memories like ghosts within him. It's a fated role he accepts even as it inexorably destroys him. When the magic on the island starts to seep away from the other founding families, everyone blames the Sheehysâespecially when islanders start dying. Ash is sick of their father's fists and constantly having to apologize for who they are. Life on Inisliath might be the fresh start Ash and their mum need, and meeting soft-spoken, curly-haired Rowan feels like the ray of sunshine Ash has desperately neededâbut everything goes sideways when Ash's mum becomes lead detective on a series of ritualistic murders allegedly tied to island magic, and Ash's family history. The islanders are convinced Rowan is guilty, but Ash refuses to believe it. When Ash does some investigating of their own, they discover Rowan is far more likely to be the next victim. With time running out to save Rowan, Ash will have to choose between a life free of their father or the boy theyâre starting to love. Meanwhile Rowan will have to decide just how much he's willing to sacrifice to save his family from the darkness about to be unleashed on the island. |
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Touch of Iron (The Living Blade 1) by Timandra Whitecastle A magic sword. A fated quest. When the world is on the brink, one woman dares to defy destiny⌠Is the Living Blade real or just a legend? With it⌠Prince Bashan could win back his kingdom. Master Telen Diaz can free himself of the burden from his past. Owen Smith sees a once-in-a-lifetime chance to gain untold knowledge. ⌠but for Noraya Smith, the Living Blade will bring nothing but suffering and sorrow. "Realistic, character-driven fantasy that manages to both sever limbs and warm the heart." - Kirkus Reviews |
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Bloodwitch (The Living Blade 1.5) by Timandra Whitecastle They say blood is thicker than water. They're wrong. An ancient priesthood recruited Jan from the parlours of Babuk. They said it was because she had talent at waterwielding. They'll live to regret it. Jan survived something she shouldn't have. But she doesn't remember it clearly. Now they pry into her mind, and she cannot stop them. Yet. Jan must learn how to control her own waterwielding gift, to defend herself from those who would reach within her and steal her very name and memories, and she must make a choice ... Who is she, really? Acolyte? Watermage? Bloodwitch Buy Bloodwitch today to enter the action-filled adventure today! |
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The Unwanted Prophet by Carolina Cruz Quincy Sauer is in jail. As far as sheâs concerned, that's where she belongs - until a god of death decides otherwise. Heâs got a plan to undermine his own priests and Quincy is his pawn of choice. Going from criminal to prophet would be a difficult transition under even the best circumstances, but Quincyâs luck is about to turn from bad to worse as corrupt priests, cults, and threats unknown stand between her and the answer to her greatest questions: Has the god of life and death made a terrible mistake? And if he has, who is going to pay the price for it? The Unwanted Prophet is the debut novel of Carolina Cruz. If you enjoy low-magic fantasy, character-driven stories, and diverse fictional worlds, the Unwanted Prophet has something for you to enjoy! |
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Imago: A Dystopian Gothic by Matthew Zakharuk Tresor Institute accepts only the worthy, and Ada CÄlinescu is anything but. Intractable, mannish, a child of convicted terrorists, she can at best hope to be overlooked. Yet somehow the Institute accepts her application for transfer. Her ticket to the polar town of Heilung, home of the Institute, arrives free of charge. Her only chance to forge a brighter future. Except Heilung welcomes Ada with news of a brutal murder. Militiamen stalk the town, keen to fill their arrest quotasâand Ada knows she could make an easy scapegoat. At every turn the bloody conspiracy follows her, from the halls of Tresor to the arms of a stranger she yearns to make hers. What starts as a dalliance risks putting Ada at odds with the Bureau itself. And then expulsion will be the least of her concerns. |
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The Collectorâs Lost Things by Jessica A McMinn Blind Those Who See⌠Rei-Hai Shaw is a Collector, and he is very good. At just thirteen years old, Rei became the youngest recruit ever to join the ranks of the Tower, the shadowy organisation that oversees the fulfilment of Whytâhallenâs darkest requests. Favoured by the masters but distrusted by his peers, Rei comes to learn the price of his accolades when the Tower demands more than the simple procurement of trinkets. They want him to steal lives, too. When his latest missions thrusts him back into the world of his childhood, Rei is painfully reminded of all he left behindâand what he canât bear to lose again. Includes additional short story, The King & His Shadow. |
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From the Ashes by B. S. H. Garcia The civil war ends now. Igtheos and his rebels have fought tirelessly against a would-be dictator and his army for almost two years. The city theyâve holed up in has become a prison, soon to be a tomb if they cannot arrange a means of escape. When the enemy leader offers an armistice thatâs too good to be true, Igtheos reluctantly accepts, thinking it will buy him enough time to smuggle those loyal to him out of the city. But he quickly learns the cost of choosing hope over caution as he finds himself caught in his enemyâs sinister plan, fighting a final unexpected battle. Failure means death, or worse, the loss of his loved ones. And he only has one night to determine everyoneâs fate. From the Ashes is a prequel novelette that takes place over two thousand years prior to the events in Of Thieves and Shadowsâvolume one in the epic fantasy series, The Heart of Quinaria. |
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A Wolf in Thiefâs Clothing by Lily Anne Crow Phrai joins a crew to pull off a dangerous heist. Little do her fellow thieves know that the end of their job is just the beginning of hers. |
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The World-Maker Parable by Luke Tarzian Guilt will always call you back... Rhona is a faithful servant of the country JĂŠmoon and a woman in love. Everything changes when her beloved sets the ravenous Vulture goddess loose upon the land. Forced to execute the woman she loves for committing treason, Rhona discovers a profound correlation between morality and truth. A connection that might save her people or annihilate them all. You are a lie... VarĂŠsh LĂşm-talĂŠ is many things, most of all a genocidal liar. A falsity searching for the Phoenix goddess whom he believes can help him rectify his atrocities. Such an undertaking is an arduous one for a man with missing memories and a conscience set on rending him from inside out. A man whose journey leads to Hang-Dead Forest and a meeting with a Vulture goddess who is not entirely as she seems. |
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Solace of Memory by Allegra Pescatore Midwinter is a time for Remembrance. When the candles are lit, the dead walk among the living. Devotions are renewed, vigils are held, and forgotten souls find their peace. But for Gabriel, who has never believed in the Gods, there is little peace to be had. Gabeâs last year at the Academy of Tirit Mindel promised to be a great one: good friends, a chance at a coveted spot in the College of Science, and work that he loved at the school clinic. All that was changed by the call for volunteer medical students to assist in an outbreak of wasting fever. Working with the dying in the sweltering heat of southern Miriel was hard, but coming back from the front lines of the epidemic might prove even harder. Haunted by what he saw and faced with unexpected personal loss, for Gabe, this Midwinter would be different than all those before it. For the first time in his life, Gabe needs a little faith, and what the Gods wonât provide, his friends and found family might be able to help with. |
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A disgraced warrior seeks an honorable death on the battlefield, but an eldritch god has other plans for her. |
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Seeds of Truer Natures by LS Johnson In 15th-century Florence, two vampires plot against Lorenzo deâ Medici in this prequel novella to the forthcoming Prima Materia series. A year ago Adrian and Magnus walked out of the dungeons of their king, Gabriel, but his renewed favor is tenuous. Now they have an opportunity to make amends for good: to steal a book Gabriel desires from Lorenzo deâ Medici, the most powerful man in Florence, on the condition that they do so without being detected. To secure their prize, they decide to talk their way into Lorenzoâs homeâsave that Adrian and Magnus are not men, but what later centuries will call vampires. Unable to walk in sunlight without burning, fearing discovery by the Florentines, they find themselves relying on an unlikely intercessor: a young monk named Girolamo Savonarola, already famous for his visions. Soon, however, Adrian and Magnus realize that nothing about their task is what they expected, and their success could have catastrophic repercussions. To survive Gabrielâs dark agenda, they will have to confront their shared pastâor risk sacrificing their future. |