Rob J. Hayes's Blog, page 12
April 29, 2019
Self Published Fantasy Releases – May
May is just around the corner and (along with my Birthday) there’s a bunch of new self published fantasy books releasing. As always, this is not a comprehensive list, but only includes all the books I have heard about so far.
If you have a fantasy novel you are self publishing in May, let me know either in the comments, or by emailing me, and I shall add it to the page. There are but 3 requirements:
1) It must be a self published fantasy novel.
2) It must have a Goodreads page.
3) It must have a cover.
On to the list… and this month I get to cheekily start with one of my own. 
Review Blog – The Traitor God (Age of Tyranny #1) by Cameron Johnston
The Traitor God is the story of Edrin Walker, a surly deviant of a magician who has spent the last ten years running away from a past he can’t quite remember. He’s fairly certain, however, that it has something to do with his murdering of a god. But when his best friend is killed and enemies from abroad start to invade, Edrin returns back to his home city in an attempt to unravel the plot and his past both.
I’ll start by saying I listened to this one and it was narrated by Paul Woodson who did a fantastic job of it. His sarcastic flair really helped bring Edrin Walker to life in all his sour, aresholic glory (yes, I just made up a new word for it).
We ride along in Edrin’s head for this one, and he’s a fairly typical anti-hero for the most part. He’s the type of man who claims he’s only there to gain vengeance for his friend, and only cares about those he calls friends… but when the threat becomes bigger than him, he’s the first one to throw himself into the fray. He’s a complex character and best of all, he barely even understands why himself. At Edrin’s core is a mystery, a hole in his mind. He’s fairly certain he killed a god, and he knows there were consequences for that that he’s dealing with even 10 years after the fact, but he has no idea how or why he did it. It’s a compelling mystery with an answer that is 50% drip fed to the reader, and then 50% slammed into the reader’s mind like a magical command.
There’s action galore, witty banter, juvenile banter, heart felt reunions, and horrifying monsters. It’s a bit of a thrill ride really and rarely lets up on the pace once it gets going.
A hearty 4 stars from me, and I’ll definitely be picking up book 2 when it releases.
April 17, 2019
Review Blog – The Hod King (Books of Babel #3) by Josiah Bancroft
I always find it difficult to review the third book in a trilogy. The review inevitably turns into a review of the series instead. Well, The Hod King is even tougher in many ways because it’s not the end. The series is a quadrilogy. As such, I’ve been sitting on the review for a few days, trying to figure out what I’m going to say about it. Here goes.
The Hod King picks up where The Arm of the Sphinx left off. Senlin is closer to his wife than ever, knowing now where she is and who she is with, and the story starts with him in the same ringdom. But he isn’t there to see his wife, he’s on a mission from the Sphinx.
It’s a book of 3 parts, but takes place over the course of about a week. Part 1 is Senlin’s tale, then part 2 is Voleta and Iren’s part in events, and part 3 is Edith’s (and Byron’s) salvo. It’s an interesting way of telling the story, and leads to a few gut churning cliff hangers… and it also leads to, in my mind, the books only real flaw. But I won’t talk about that yet.
The Books of Babel series has always been, at its heart, a series about Thomas Senlin and his transformation at the hands of the tower and its weight. By this point, Senlin has been through the wringer and has taken on many guises and done what no unassuming headmaster should have been capable of. But he has also changed irrevocably. Gone is the wonder and awe of book 1. Senlin no longer see’s the ringdoms as quaint and spectacular. He sees beneath the surface, and rarely likes what he sees, and the narrative follows that trend. As such, The Hod King has a cynical feel to it, because Senlin has a cynical feel about the tower. It works, and serves to make each of the Books of Babel unique. Despite that cynicism, The Hod King is still packed with joy and wit and humour, and rarely a page goes by without some wonderful line that will have you smiling.
So I mentioned a flaw, and there really only was one for me. In part 3, the pacing grinds to a halt for a number of chapters. It’s not that there isn’t anything happening, or there isn’t some VERY important information being thrown our way. It’s just that we go back in time (for the second time), and just after being hit with a giant cliff hanger. It was frustrating and made the book feel like it completely lost its pacing for a good few chapters.
And with that flaw dragged out into the open… I’m still giving the book 5 stars because I just bloody well loved it.
If book 4 can deliver on half the things book 3 has set up, it will be a cracking finale, and I cannot wait to read it.
March 25, 2019
Self Published Fantasy Releases – April 2019
April is almost upon us already and there’s a bunch of traditionally published books coming out that are bound to be top reads… But what about self published books? Well, I’m continuing my blog series of listing up coming self published fantasy releases. As always, this is not a comprehensive list, but only includes all the books I have heard about so far.
If you have a fantasy novel you are self publishing in April, let me know either in the comments, or by emailing me, and I shall add it to the page. There are but 3 requirements:
1) It must be a self published fantasy novel.
2) It must have a Goodreads page.
3) It must have a cover.
27th March – Thorn of the Night Blossoms by J.C. Kang
Half-elf Jie and Lilian appear to be mere courtesans of the Floating World, but they are sisters in a clan of assassins and spies which serves the Emperor. When Lilian’s abusive patron makes the work intolerable, Jie sets out on her own mission-to get Lilian reassigned.
Problem is, Lilian lacks adequate stealth and combat skills, and her patron, admired by all, holds the key to the empire’s stability.
The courtesans have always warred with wits and poetry, but with killers moving within the Floating World and traitors plotting a rebellion, Jie must decide her own loyalty– to the Emperor or her best friend.
29th March – White Light Red Fire by Robert Reid
On the island of Andore, Oien, an old alchemist, knows how to harness the hidden power of a red stone called othium to create weapons of terrible destruction. In the Second Age the stone had fuelled brutal conquest, energised the industrialisation of the world and powered great craft to ravage the planets. Now in the Third Age Oien returns to fulfil his ambition – world domination. He forges an alliance with the tyrant King Dewar to conquer the peaceful land of Bala in order to mine its othium, the first stage in his deadly plan. Only the brave dare resist the might of the Dewar’s forces, and only a power for good, gifted to one man, can hold back the red fire.White Light, Red Fire is a tale of a strong aggressor looking to conquer a smaller nation.
30th March – Catalyst Moon: Storm by Lauren L. Garcia
The mage Kali has uncovered the secret of the thralls: the unseen foes possessing the Aredian people. But Kali must pay a high price for this discovery – her own humanity. Her sentinel lover, Stonewall, is desperate to flee Whitewater City with Kali, but his commanding officer has other plans for him. Meanwhile, a grieving Eris plans to free the final few mages trapped in the Whitewater City bastion, but first she must gather her allies and fortify her spirit to face the coming storm.
1st April – The Jalakh Bow (The Weapons Takers Saga #3) by Jamie Edmundson
The weapon takers have bought themselves some time to complete their quest. But when their enemies return, they will find that they have become more ruthless and more terrifying than ever.
In the steppe lands of the far north, Soren must seek out the bow of the Jalakh tribes. In Kalinth, Belwynn must face a mysterious evil disguised as a friend. And in the high mountains of his Krykker homeland, Rabigar must learn a bitter lesson: nowhere is safe.
1st April – Blood Relic (Paranormal Peacekeepers #3) by Lucretia Stanhope
When a string of dead witches points to the illegal practice of making relics that eternally drip with magic blood, Alice is called to go deep into the vampire underground. The mission plants her as the lead on a military targeting squad, serving a branch of the PPK she despises. To reject the task means the blood of witches on her hands. To succeed means her and Amarok will never be simple ambassadors again – if they ever were.
With her and Amarok one step closer to serving the military division of the PPK, she finds comfort in her new, albeit temporary, partnership with the vampire Matthias. While balancing their own evolving relationship, Matthias prepares her for what she will see in the blood dens.
Once she steps into the seedy world where ruthless vampires pay to play with magic blood it is quickly clear that everyone underestimated the vampires’ cravings. Can the power she keeps hidden from her keepers save her life without changing it into a life of service not worth living?
2nd April – Merkabah Rider: The Mensch With No Name by Edward M. Erdelac
A Hasidic gunslinger tracks the renegade teacher who betrayed his mystic Jewish order of astral travelers to the Great Old Ones across the demon haunted American Southwest of 1880.
In the acclaimed second volume, four sequential novellas continue the weird career of THE MERKABAH RIDER:
In THE INFERNAL NAPOLEON, The Rider and a young traveling strongman rally a group of cowboys in a showdown with a gang of half-demon outlaws in a remote desert town.
In THE DAMNED DINGUS, The Rider is robbed of his mystic Volcanic pistol and teams up with the infamous Doc Holliday to track down the thief, but must contend with a strange, invisible menace.
In THE OUTLAW GODS, a group of Apache recruits The Rider to combat a two hundred year old menace plaguing their tribe, and bring him face to face with the mind bending horror of The Great Old Ones.
Finally, at the edge of death, The Rider descends into Hell itself to confront the Adversary Lucifer and learn the full scope of his master Adon’s betrayal. But can there be any return from THE PANDAEMONIUM RIDE?
2nd April – Wardens of Issalia (Box Set) by Jeffrey L. Kohanek
Everson is an awkward, disabled teen who dreams of a better tomorrow. Blessed with a brilliant mind, he melds magic and science in ways never before seen. His greatest discovery could liberate him and change the world… or, it could destroy everything.
Quinn is Everson’s overprotective sister. Although average in every way, Quinn’s fiery spirit and relentless determination fuel her desire to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Trained as an espion, she finds herself alone and in the heart of an enemy stronghold. If only she knew whom she could trust.
Brandt, the second son of a king, is a prankster who lacks a sense of purpose. When he joins the wardens, he is forged into something more, leveraging his fearless nature and his skill with magic. Will his courage be enough when the fate of thousands hangs in the balance?
Cassie is Brandt’s twin sister and his coconspirator until things go too far. She joins the wardens and discovers magic abilities unlike anyone has ever seen. What new ability will she discover next?
Puri is the premier archer among her people. She joins the wardens to train as a ranger but soon finds herself on missions rife with danger. How many will die if she fails?
Curan, the son of a renowned warrior, joins the wardens with dreams of making his father proud. Blessed with strength and quickness, he trains to fight while augmented by magic, able to slay enemy soldiers as if they were children. Can he overcome the ghosts of those who die by his sword?
2nd April – Uncanny Collateral (Valkyrie Collection #1) by Brian McClellan
Alek Fitz is a reaper, a collection agent who works for the supernatural elements of the world, tracking down debtors and solving problems for clients as diverse as the Lords of Hell, vampires, Haitian loa, and goblins. He’s even worked for the Tooth Fairy on occasion. Based out of Cleveland, Ohio, Alek is the best in the game. As a literal slave to his job, he doesn’t have a choice.
When Death comes looking for someone to track down a thief, Alek is flung into a mess of vengeful undead, supernatural bureaucracy, and a fledgling imp war. As the consequences of failure become dire, he has few leads, and the clock is ticking. Only with the help of his friend Maggie—an ancient djinn with a complex past—can he hope to recover the stolen property, save the world, and just maybe wring a favor out of the Great Constant himself.
It’s a hell of a job, but somebody’s got to do it . . .
5th April – Djin Tamer: Rivals (Bronze League #2) by Derek Alan Siddoway
Let the rivalries begin.
If Jackson Hunt ever wants to become a champion monster tamer, he’s got a long road ahead of him. And he’s not the only one with dreams of glory
As a new season of the Djinn Battle League fast approaches, Jackson prepares to enter training camp — a grueling series of tests to discover talented new tamers. The rules are simple: if you’re not the best, you go home.
For a young man who lives to battle, going home isn’t an option. There’s only one problem — Jackson isn’t so sure he deserves to be there in the first place. With competition heating up, Jackson’s bond with his Djinn will be tested to their limits. But no matter how much he trains, if his new monsters won’t work together, he won’t stand a chance.
The fighting will be intense. The rivalries, fierce. At the end of the road, the chance of a lifetime awaits. Against friends and foes both old and new, can Jackson prove he’s worthy of a shot at the big leagues?
8th April – From Legend (The Reeve #1) by Ian Lewis
Sober, serious, and driven, Logan Hale is the highest peace officer in Beldenridge, and he knows his city better than anyone: the labyrinthine streets, the vaulted architecture, and all the dark corners where tales of mutations and a vicious enemy still linger like hushed secrets. Logan is quick to dismiss these accounts as part of a storied past with which he’d rather not contend, but when a suicide investigation leads him to believe there’s something more sinister at hand, he questions whether that near-forgotten lore isn’t the stuff of legend after all.
9th April – The City Screams by Phil Williams
Tova’s getting her hearing back. She’s going to wish she wasn’t.
Alone in Tokyo for experimental ear surgery, Tova Nokes is finally shaking up her life. But when she starts to hear things she shouldn’t, all she wants is to make it home alive.
There’s a voice saying it’s where she comes from that makes her special.
If she can only survive violent stalkers, and the terrible screams, she might figure out why…
9th April – Kingshold AUDIOBOOK (The Wildfire Cycle #1) by D.P. Woolliscroft
Mareth is a bard, a serial under achiever, a professional drunk, and general disappointment to his father. Despite this, Mareth has one thing going for him. He can smell opportunity. The King is dead and an election for the new Lord Protector has been called. If he plays his cards right, if he can sing a story that will put the right person in that chair, his future fame and drinking money is all but assured. But, alas, it turns out Mareth has a conscience after all.
Neenahwi is the daughter to Jyuth, the ancient wizard who founded the Kingdom of Edland and she is not happy. It’s not just that her father was the one who killed the King, or that he didn’t tell her about his plans. She’s not happy because her father is leaving, slinking off into retirement and now she has to clean up his mess.
Alana is a servant at the palace and the unfortunate soul to draw the short straw to attend to Jyuth. Alana knows that intelligence and curiosity aren’t valued in someone of her station, but sometimes she can’t help herself and so finds herself drawn into the Wizard’s schemes, and worst of all, coming up with her own plans.
Chance brings this unlikely band together to battle through civil unrest, assassinations, political machinations, pirates and monsters, all for a common cause that they know, deep down, has no chance of succeeding – bringing hope to the people of Kingshold.
12th April – The Keeper Chronicles (Box Set) by J.A. Andrews
Do some choices change us too much for us to ever change back?
There was a time when Alaric was a Keeper, one of the men entrusted with counseling the queen, protecting the people’s histories and ancient stories, and working magic in defense of the land. But in a desperate attempt to save his dying wife, he has sacrificed it all— abandoning his duties, betraying his deepest beliefs and falling ever deeper into darkness. So far, he has done nothing but fail, and his wife’s time is growing short.
Now, haunted by his past, Alaric has found one last chance at a cure, hidden in a magical Wellstone buried a century ago. With the help of a handful of quirky companions, the stone—and the cure—are finally within his grasp. But he’s not the only one searching for the Wellstone.
His quest grows more perilous as he discovers that his companions are harboring dangerous secrets their own. It becomes almost impossible when he unearths rumors of a gathering shadow threatening the land—whispering of the return of a dark lord, thought to be defeated. To face this enemy, and have any chance of saving his wife, Alaric needs to be the Keeper he used to be, not the broken man he has become.
Can he put the failures and pain of his past behind him to stand against the approaching threat? Or, in the face of all the growing shadows, will it be the darkness within himself that destroys everything?
15th April – 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.
15th April – The Angel of the Grave by Richard Writhen
BECOME THE FIRE
An intelligent little girl encounters a talented witch at the local fair and finds out that it’s all in the family.
Interconnected by dreams, two young orphans embark on the long path to find a bloody revenge.
A wealthy lady travels hundreds of miles to become a baroness, but when she consults a diviner, she finds out that she may be in way over her head.
16th April – Ascension of Death (Heirs of Destiny #5) by Andy Peloquin
Surrounded and trapped, no help in sight. The end of their mission…or the path to destiny?
Shalandra has fallen. Monsters of legend have risen from their graves to claim the City of the Dead.
Kodyn and Evren have only one hope of stopping the evil Iron Warlord: break into the holiest, most secure stronghold in the city and steal ancient relics imbued with world-shattering magics.
Issa joins the ranks of Shalandra’s elite warriors in a desperate clash against the nightmare hordes flooding the streets and slaughtering every man, woman, and child.
Aisha will face her greatest challenge yet, harnessing her mystical abilities to not only turn the tide of battle, but stop the prophesied Final Destruction.
In the epic struggle to save their city, these young heroes will give their all to win the impossible battle—one that could decide the fate of the world!
19th April – Daxton (5th Compass #1) by E.L. Drayton
Daxton’s life was ideal. He spent his time blissfully hunting and roaming in the backwoods with his best friend Barton, and his beloved dog, Fang.
But on his eighteenth birthday, his parents reveal a startling fact: they aren’t his birth parents, he was abandoned on their doorstep as a baby left
with nothing but a note, a sword, and a compass.
Daxton hurls himself towards his fate on a search for answers, accompanied by Barton and a witch who knows far more than she’s telling. Meanwhile,
a king is waging war against the most hated female pirate in Stonehaven – the swashbuckling Silverblade, and Daxton is about to be swept right into
the very center of it.
21st April – Jack Bloodfist: Freelancer by James Jakins
Jack Bloodfist is an orc that has been known to fix things. Now he’s working for anyone willing to sign a check.
When he’s not handling security for a werewolf pack’s monthly meeting he’s helping a dwarf find a stolen magic spear.
But sometimes a thief isn’t really a thief. Sometimes they’re a preacher’s wife who also happens to be a powerful necromancer with even more powerful friends: Rogue demons, extra-planar monsters, and the obligatory zombies.
From small Southern towns, to an elf king’s court, to the rooftops of New York City, Jack’s gonna have to call in every favor he has if he wants to make it out the other end in one piece.
23rd April – Fate’s Star by Elizabeth Vaughan
Five years before the events in Warprize and Destiny’s Star…
Her family dead, her home destroyed, all she has left are her wits and her songs…
When the flames of civil war rage across the Kingdom of Palins, Warna of Farentell has no choice but to flee to the neighboring Barony of Tassinic. The daughter of a wealthy merchant, raised to run a noble house in the hope of a good marriage, she watches her future burn with the rest of her homeland.
Elven Lord of a human Barony, betrayed and attacked by those he thought to trust…
Verice of Tassinic has suffered the wounds of war, knowing loss and betrayal at the hands of those he trusted most. He buries himself in work and duty, behind emotional walls as high as those of his castle, rather than risk more pain. While dealing with a kingdom in political and economic turmoil, he “rescues” Warna only to discover that the helpless human woman is anything but. Before he knows it, she is deep within the defenses of his heart, forcing him to confront his grief, his distrust, and the scars of his past…and maybe even steal his heart in the process.
30th April – Fireweaver (Sunweaver #2) by Ryan W. Mueller
Deril, Rella, Kadin, and Faina worked together to stop Halarik’s return. But that was only the beginning. Now, more than ever, they must find a way to unite Sunweavers and Fireweavers. Firelord Atarin seeks another way to bring Halarik back. But even he doesn’t know the truth about the world.
There was a war between the gods, but it wasn’t the war everyone has learned about. To keep the dying sun alive, Deril and the others must navigate a web of lies and deceit and brave the Realm of Shade, a home to terrible monsters and powerful gods that Deril and the others didn’t even know about.
If they fail in their mission, the sun may never return to its former glory.
Self Published Fantasy Releases – April
April is almost upon us already and there’s a bunch of traditionally published books coming out that are bound to be top reads… But what about self published books? Well, I’m continuing my blog series of listing up coming self published fantasy releases. As always, this is not a comprehensive list, but only includes all the books I have heard about so far.
If you have a fantasy novel you are self publishing in April, let me know either in the comments, or by emailing me, and I shall add it to the page. There are but 3 requirements:
1) It must be a self published fantasy novel.
2) It must have a Goodreads page.
3) It must have a cover.
1st April – The Jalakh Bow (The Weapons Takers Saga #3) by Jamie Edmundson
The weapon takers have bought themselves some time to complete their quest. But when their enemies return, they will find that they have become more ruthless and more terrifying than ever.
In the steppe lands of the far north, Soren must seek out the bow of the Jalakh tribes. In Kalinth, Belwynn must face a mysterious evil disguised as a friend. And in the high mountains of his Krykker homeland, Rabigar must learn a bitter lesson: nowhere is safe.
1st April – Blood Relic (Paranormal Peacekeepers #3) by Lucretia Stanhope
When a string of dead witches points to the illegal practice of making relics that eternally drip with magic blood, Alice is called to go deep into the vampire underground. The mission plants her as the lead on a military targeting squad, serving a branch of the PPK she despises. To reject the task means the blood of witches on her hands. To succeed means her and Amarok will never be simple ambassadors again – if they ever were.
With her and Amarok one step closer to serving the military division of the PPK, she finds comfort in her new, albeit temporary, partnership with the vampire Matthias. While balancing their own evolving relationship, Matthias prepares her for what she will see in the blood dens.
Once she steps into the seedy world where ruthless vampires pay to play with magic blood it is quickly clear that everyone underestimated the vampires’ cravings. Can the power she keeps hidden from her keepers save her life without changing it into a life of service not worth living?
2nd April – Merkabah Rider: The Mensch With No Name by Edward M. Erdelac
A Hasidic gunslinger tracks the renegade teacher who betrayed his mystic Jewish order of astral travelers to the Great Old Ones across the demon haunted American Southwest of 1880.
In the acclaimed second volume, four sequential novellas continue the weird career of THE MERKABAH RIDER:
In THE INFERNAL NAPOLEON, The Rider and a young traveling strongman rally a group of cowboys in a showdown with a gang of half-demon outlaws in a remote desert town.
In THE DAMNED DINGUS, The Rider is robbed of his mystic Volcanic pistol and teams up with the infamous Doc Holliday to track down the thief, but must contend with a strange, invisible menace.
In THE OUTLAW GODS, a group of Apache recruits The Rider to combat a two hundred year old menace plaguing their tribe, and bring him face to face with the mind bending horror of The Great Old Ones.
Finally, at the edge of death, The Rider descends into Hell itself to confront the Adversary Lucifer and learn the full scope of his master Adon’s betrayal. But can there be any return from THE PANDAEMONIUM RIDE?
2nd April – Wardens of Issalia Boxed Set by Jeffrey L. Kohanek
Everson is an awkward, disabled teen who dreams of a better tomorrow. Blessed with a brilliant mind, he melds magic and science in ways never before seen. His greatest discovery could liberate him and change the world… or, it could destroy everything.
Quinn is Everson’s overprotective sister. Although average in every way, Quinn’s fiery spirit and relentless determination fuel her desire to protect those who cannot protect themselves. Trained as an espion, she finds herself alone and in the heart of an enemy stronghold. If only she knew whom she could trust.
Brandt, the second son of a king, is a prankster who lacks a sense of purpose. When he joins the wardens, he is forged into something more, leveraging his fearless nature and his skill with magic. Will his courage be enough when the fate of thousands hangs in the balance?
Cassie is Brandt’s twin sister and his coconspirator until things go too far. She joins the wardens and discovers magic abilities unlike anyone has ever seen. What new ability will she discover next?
Puri is the premier archer among her people. She joins the wardens to train as a ranger but soon finds herself on missions rife with danger. How many will die if she fails?
Curan, the son of a renowned warrior, joins the wardens with dreams of making his father proud. Blessed with strength and quickness, he trains to fight while augmented by magic, able to slay enemy soldiers as if they were children. Can he overcome the ghosts of those who die by his sword?
2nd April – Uncanny Collateral (Valkyrie Collection #1) by Brian McClellan
Alek Fitz is a reaper, a collection agent who works for the supernatural elements of the world, tracking down debtors and solving problems for clients as diverse as the Lords of Hell, vampires, Haitian loa, and goblins. He’s even worked for the Tooth Fairy on occasion. Based out of Cleveland, Ohio, Alek is the best in the game. As a literal slave to his job, he doesn’t have a choice.
When Death comes looking for someone to track down a thief, Alek is flung into a mess of vengeful undead, supernatural bureaucracy, and a fledgling imp war. As the consequences of failure become dire, he has few leads, and the clock is ticking. Only with the help of his friend Maggie—an ancient djinn with a complex past—can he hope to recover the stolen property, save the world, and just maybe wring a favor out of the Great Constant himself.
It’s a hell of a job, but somebody’s got to do it . . .
5th April – Djin Tamer: Rivals (Bronze League #2) by Derek Alan Siddoway
Let the rivalries begin.
If Jackson Hunt ever wants to become a champion monster tamer, he’s got a long road ahead of him. And he’s not the only one with dreams of glory
As a new season of the Djinn Battle League fast approaches, Jackson prepares to enter training camp — a grueling series of tests to discover talented new tamers. The rules are simple: if you’re not the best, you go home.
For a young man who lives to battle, going home isn’t an option. There’s only one problem — Jackson isn’t so sure he deserves to be there in the first place. With competition heating up, Jackson’s bond with his Djinn will be tested to their limits. But no matter how much he trains, if his new monsters won’t work together, he won’t stand a chance.
The fighting will be intense. The rivalries, fierce. At the end of the road, the chance of a lifetime awaits. Against friends and foes both old and new, can Jackson prove he’s worthy of a shot at the big leagues?
8th April – From Legend (The Reeve #1) by Ian Lewis
Sober, serious, and driven, Logan Hale is the highest peace officer in Beldenridge, and he knows his city better than anyone: the labyrinthine streets, the vaulted architecture, and all the dark corners where tales of mutations and a vicious enemy still linger like hushed secrets. Logan is quick to dismiss these accounts as part of a storied past with which he’d rather not contend, but when a suicide investigation leads him to believe there’s something more sinister at hand, he questions whether that near-forgotten lore isn’t the stuff of legend after all.
9th April – The City Screams by Phil Williams
Tova’s getting her hearing back. She’s going to wish she wasn’t.
Alone in Tokyo for experimental ear surgery, Tova Nokes is finally shaking up her life. But when she starts to hear things she shouldn’t, all she wants is to make it home alive.
There’s a voice saying it’s where she comes from that makes her special.
If she can only survive violent stalkers, and the terrible screams, she might figure out why…
15th April – 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.
15th April – The Angel of the Grave by Richard Writhen
BECOME THE FIRE
An intelligent little girl encounters a talented witch at the local fair and finds out that it’s all in the family.
Interconnected by dreams, two young orphans embark on the long path to find a bloody revenge.
A wealthy lady travels hundreds of miles to become a baroness, but when she consults a diviner, she finds out that she may be in way over her head.
16th April – Ascension of Death (Heirs of Destiny #5) by Andy Peloquin
Surrounded and trapped, no help in sight. The end of their mission…or the path to destiny?
Shalandra has fallen. Monsters of legend have risen from their graves to claim the City of the Dead.
Kodyn and Evren have only one hope of stopping the evil Iron Warlord: break into the holiest, most secure stronghold in the city and steal ancient relics imbued with world-shattering magics.
Issa joins the ranks of Shalandra’s elite warriors in a desperate clash against the nightmare hordes flooding the streets and slaughtering every man, woman, and child.
Aisha will face her greatest challenge yet, harnessing her mystical abilities to not only turn the tide of battle, but stop the prophesied Final Destruction.
In the epic struggle to save their city, these young heroes will give their all to win the impossible battle—one that could decide the fate of the world!
19th April – Daxton (5th Compass #1) by E.L. Drayton
Daxton’s life was ideal. He spent his time blissfully hunting and roaming in the backwoods with his best friend Barton, and his beloved dog, Fang.
But on his eighteenth birthday, his parents reveal a startling fact: they aren’t his birth parents, he was abandoned on their doorstep as a baby left
with nothing but a note, a sword, and a compass.
Daxton hurls himself towards his fate on a search for answers, accompanied by Barton and a witch who knows far more than she’s telling. Meanwhile,
a king is waging war against the most hated female pirate in Stonehaven – the swashbuckling Silverblade, and Daxton is about to be swept right into
the very center of it.
21st April – Jack Bloodfist: Freelancer by James Jakins
Jack Bloodfist is an orc that has been known to fix things. Now he’s working for anyone willing to sign a check.
When he’s not handling security for a werewolf pack’s monthly meeting he’s helping a dwarf find a stolen magic spear.
But sometimes a thief isn’t really a thief. Sometimes they’re a preacher’s wife who also happens to be a powerful necromancer with even more powerful friends: Rogue demons, extra-planar monsters, and the obligatory zombies.
From small Southern towns, to an elf king’s court, to the rooftops of New York City, Jack’s gonna have to call in every favor he has if he wants to make it out the other end in one piece.
23rd April – Fate’s Star by Elizabeth Vaughan
Five years before the events in Warprize and Destiny’s Star…
Her family dead, her home destroyed, all she has left are her wits and her songs…
When the flames of civil war rage across the Kingdom of Palins, Warna of Farentell has no choice but to flee to the neighboring Barony of Tassinic. The daughter of a wealthy merchant, raised to run a noble house in the hope of a good marriage, she watches her future burn with the rest of her homeland.
Elven Lord of a human Barony, betrayed and attacked by those he thought to trust…
Verice of Tassinic has suffered the wounds of war, knowing loss and betrayal at the hands of those he trusted most. He buries himself in work and duty, behind emotional walls as high as those of his castle, rather than risk more pain. While dealing with a kingdom in political and economic turmoil, he “rescues” Warna only to discover that the helpless human woman is anything but. Before he knows it, she is deep within the defenses of his heart, forcing him to confront his grief, his distrust, and the scars of his past…and maybe even steal his heart in the process.
30th April – Fireweaver (Sunweaver #2) by Ryan W. Mueller
Deril, Rella, Kadin, and Faina worked together to stop Halarik’s return. But that was only the beginning. Now, more than ever, they must find a way to unite Sunweavers and Fireweavers. Firelord Atarin seeks another way to bring Halarik back. But even he doesn’t know the truth about the world.
There was a war between the gods, but it wasn’t the war everyone has learned about. To keep the dying sun alive, Deril and the others must navigate a web of lies and deceit and brave the Realm of Shade, a home to terrible monsters and powerful gods that Deril and the others didn’t even know about.
If they fail in their mission, the sun may never return to its former glory.
March 11, 2019
Review Blog – Priest of Bones by Peter McLean
Priest of Bones is the story of Tomas Piety, a gangster conscripted and sent to war, only to return years later to find all his businesses have been taken over by other gangsters. But it’s more than that, a lot more. It’s the story of soldiers returning from a war they never wanted to fight, only to bring that war back with them, even long after the white flag was waved. It’s a story about soldiers having lived through the hell of a war zone, and finding that they never really leave it, that it follows them back home.
It’s told entirely in first person through the viewpoint of Tomas Piety, and we get a really good insight into his character, what makes him tick and what he both feels, and refuses to feel. He’s a complex character and brilliantly drawn. But we also get insight into some of the other characters as well, and its done in a very fluid way, usually with stories shared over a bottle of brandy. The characters felt real, they felt alive, and they felt haggard, pulled thin by the rigors and horrors of war.
As the story expands, the plot reveals itself a little more and Tomas soon finds himself drawn into turf wars, political intrigue, violence, and magic. But overall is that feeling that he has brought the war home with him, and his only way to deal with that fact, is to inflict it upon the city he loves, even as he’s trying to stop it from ever happening again.
The narrator, David Morley Hale, really helped bring the character of Tomas Piety to life with a quietly sinister tone that made me believe in the violence and compassion the character was capable of.
I give Priest of Bones 5 stars. It’s something special. And the sequel, Priest of Lies is out in just a few months so I’ll be chomping at the bit for that one.
February 25, 2019
Self Published Fantasy Releases – March 2019
It’s that time again. Time I list all the self published fantasy books coming out in March. And by all, I of course mean all the ones I’ve heard about. One day I will achieve omnipotence, but it is not today. A lot of folk have asked me to include Amazon links as well as Goodreads, so I’m gonna give it a go this time. As always, it is far from a comprehensive list, but instead contains all the titles I have found/heard about so far. If you have a fantasy novel you are self publishing in March, let me know either in the comments, or by emailing me, and I shall add it to the page. There are but 3 requirements:
1) It must be a self published fantasy novel.
2) It must have a Goodreads page.
3) It must have a cover.
On to the list!
March 1st – Underlord (Cradle #6) by Will Wight
A tournament approaches.
All around the world, great clans and sects prepare their disciples to fight against one another in a competition of young Underlords. Even the Blackflame Empire is drawn in, but their youth are not strong enough to compete.
Yet.
1st March – Lostlander (Coilhunter Chronicles #4) by Dean F. Wilson
Welcome to nowhere.
Nox, the Coilhunter, wakes up in unfamiliar territory, victim of a deranged man who claims he’s from another world, and who’s building an army of slaves to help him get back there.
The eccentric bounty hunter must face off the wild of the desert and the wild in men, all the while trying to piece together what happened from his fractured memory.
Some go to the Lostlands to find themselves, but the Coilhunter is on the hunt for the true Lostlander: the Man with the Silver Mane. Folk say those Magi are lost without their magic, but Nox has long found his own kind of mojo in his gadgets and his guns.
1st March – Spellbound (Tales of Naimonet #1) by Thalia Blake
Naimonet: Eleven islands far to the southeast. Eleven Kingdoms filled with magic, romance, and adventure!
Two princesses in search of a future of their own choosing. A vision of a sapphire crown with waves crashing against dark rocky cliffs has brought Merione and her sister Ezabelle to the faraway island of Mulrane in search of a destiny that is worth living.
Destiny comes at a price. When Ezabelle becomes Queen of Mulrane, can Merione rely on the bond of sisterhood to save her from uncertainty, and her sister’s wrath? Cursed by the disgraced mage of Mulrane, Merione must choose between her sister and a prophecy that will put a new king on the throne.
6th March – It’s a Living by various authors
The realm of fantasy is filled with legends of dashing heroes and epic quests. But behind every hero stand hundreds of average denizens that just want to get on with their lives. These are their stories.
This anthology is filled with 14 brilliant and hilarious stories that follow the lives of everyday citizens who just want to do their jobs and live their lives.
Dive in to the mediocrity today and prepare to laugh until you can’t breathe.
March 7th – Tides of Mana by Matt Larkin
She controls the seas.
Her sister controls the flames.
Together, they rule as god-queens over their island nation. No mortal army can stand against their power.
But what happens when civil war erupts between these goddesses?
Namaka turns the fury of the sea on her sister, wreaking untold devastation on the land and under the sea, earning the ire of the mer kingdoms.
Their answer: turn Namaka into one of them. Possessed by a mermaid spirit, she is drawn into battles in their alien world.
How will she survive a war not only with her sister, but with a rival mer nation?
11th March – The Lightning Conjurer: The Enlightening by Rachel Rener
After narrowly escaping Savannah and her Asterian thugs, Aspen has finally unearthed a clue to her forgotten past: a small brass key and a handwritten note that says Start here. With nothing but her resolve – and Aiden’s silver lighter – Aspen sets forth on a solo cross-country journey. But things begin to unravel quickly on the open road, and Aspen soon realizes that her biggest challenge on this trip won’t be making it to California in one piece, but keeping her growing powers in check… a feat that’s proving harder and harder to manage.
Meanwhile, Aiden, on his own mission to find his sister, has gone radio silent. Though an old ‘friend’ from Aspen’s past warns her not to go after him, she knows she has no choice. But their impromptu reunion has some unintended complications: ghosts from Aspen’s past come back to haunt her, painful secrets that Aiden has been harboring come to light, and deep-rooted family conflicts threaten to tear their bond apart.
Still, there’s a faint light at the end of the tunnel: Aspen now knows for certain that her mother is alive and being held prisoner. She and her friends just have to get there in time – and pray Savannah doesn’t catch them first.
14th March – Breaking Chaos (The Chasing Graves Trilogy #3) by Ben Galley
The endgame has begun.
The battle for the emperor’s throne grows ever fiercer. The City of Countless Souls cowers behind locked doors as the whims of the downtrodden and the powerful bring the great game of Araxes to its chaotic conclusion.
With the soulblade at his hip and magic in his soul, Caltro’s freedom is almost within reach. But as Temsa reign of murder clashes with Widow Horix’s plans, the locksmith’s fate becomes all the more entwined with the needs of dead gods, the Cult, and vengeful royals. Caltro realises his struggle is not just for his redemption, but for that of the entirety of the Far Reaches.
While the Core Districts descend into chaos, debts left unpaid in the desert haunt Nilith’s long-awaited arrival in the city. A new foe is hunting her through the streets, an enemy with enough power to rival even that of the Cloudpiercer.
And yet all their struggles pale in comparison to the dark omen that is spreading through the Arctian Empire:
The River Nyx is drying up.
14th March – The Lich’s Heart by Watson Davis
A rebellion rising. A land under siege. Can a conflicted priestess defeat an ancient, ruthless magic?
Hanno’s husband is dead. Filled with pain, the priestess and healer questions her faith in the almighty Eternal Council. When she unknowingly aids a wounded rebel, she’s forced to choose between returning to her old life or taking up arms against the rulers she used to worship…
Deep within the heart of the rebel ranks, Hanno witnesses the Council cut down the lives of her new and dwindling allies. But the healer knows a secret. And if she’s able reach the enemy’s hidden, vulnerable weakness, then the rebels may just have a chance to avoid obliteration.
Can Hanno guide her people to freedom, or will vicious rulers make her pay dearly for her betrayal?
16th March – Stolen (Mason Gray #2) by William C. Markham
Private Investigator, Mason Gray, has a reputation for solving impossible cases. But when an ancient artifact inexplicably vanishes from the Field Museum, that reputation will be put to the test. To solve this case, he must delve deeper into Chicago’s supernatural world and call on his newly discovered abilities—unless they kill him in the process—to track down a thief who’s never been caught.
But things are never as they appear in The White City, and every answer he uncovers leads to new questions. And new enemies. If Gray fails to recover the artifact, it will start a war that will destroy the city he loves. To save it, he is forced to make an impossible choice: make a deal with the Devil or become one himself.
19th March – Secrets of Blood (Heirs of Destiny #4) by Andy Peloquin
To weather the storm of chaos and death, young heroes must dare to challenge the impossible.
Civil war rages in the City of the Dead. The lowest castes have taken up arms in revolt. Blood runs thick on the golden streets of Shalandra.
Amidst the uproar, Evren hunts down the leaderless, scattered brutes of the Ybrazhe Syndicate to put an end to their depredations and dispel the riots. Issa and her elite warriors battle rampaging mobs in a desperate fight to restore order.
Kodyn and Aisha pursue killers that could lead them to not only the villains orchestrating the turmoil, but the monstrous foes lurking in the deep, dark places hidden beneath the city.
Yet facing enemies far beyond their abilities to defeat alone, will they triumph against evil and put a stop to the chaos before all of Shalandra is destroyed?
19th March – A Sea of Broken Glass (The Lady & The Darkness #1) by Sonya M. Black
After enduring weeks of torture and being convicted of witchery, Ris escapes, only to discover the Darkness and the Lady are hunting her. They need the magic that sings within her.
Creator of all, the imprisoned Lady needs Ris, her last vessel, to find the Heart of Creation. The Darkness seeks to corrupt the vessel and retain his hold on the Lady, and with it, the world.
Ris finds help from a pair of Paladins of Light who aid her in cleansing the evil taint from the lands. As her power grows, so do her questions. How can she restore balance to the world and free the Lady? Should the Lady be trusted or is she as much at fault for the evil in the world as the Darkness? With powerful demons War, Ruin, and Plague at her heels, Ris struggles to stay alive as she tries to unravel the secrets hidden within her before it’s too late.
Secrets that may cost Ris her soul even if she does succeed.
21st March – The Shadow of Fallen Gods (Wounds in the Sky #2) by V.R. Cardoso
If not even death can stop a god, what can?
Aric may have found a new home and a new family in the desert, but once more, the emperor rears his ugly head. This time his Paladins are coming to seize not only the Guild, but Aric himself. Meanwhile, in the north, as Cassia flees the imperial hounds close on her heels, Fadan seeks the support of a rebellion fragmented by politics and personal interests.
However, it is not just the wars of men that threaten the world of Arkhemia. Eliran, on a mission to assassinate Head-Archon Astoreth, discovers that the Circle is in possession of an ancient artifact created by the gods themselves.
Winds of war are rising, and in the coming chaos, the Circle’s sinister plans can only blossom. Can they be stopped? Is it already too late?
26th March – Tavern (Dargath Chronicles #1) by Deston J. Munden
Xelnath of the Gnarled Root—a tavern owner, information broker, healer, and guildmaster of the Blackwind Company—has found a place, far better than the forest from which he came in the magical metropolis and city-state of Lladad in the Magiian Empire.
When a simple act of kindness draws the ire of a troubled assassin, his love-stricken Archmage father and an army of magically constructed golems, Xel must scheme with vipers of the high court, mingle with royalty at the castle, blackmail drug dealers in the slums, and fight assassins and mercenaries in the streets.
He needs to lean on the support of his motley crew of a dark elf assassin, a dragon pirate, a high elf royal, and a talking dog artificer to keep him from his own inner demons and doubts.
26th March – Corin Hayes Omnibus by G.R. Matthews
At the bottom of the ocean, a former special forces pilot of the most advanced diving suit ever developed possesses skills that are still much in demand. However, at bottom of a beer glass there is only a blessed oblivion to drive the memories away. The face of a murdered daughter, the corpses of friends, and the last glimpse of a happy life as the light slowly dims. Corin Hayes has nothing left, nothing to live for, and no one to share his misery. Nothing, that is, except a stubborn streak wider than the ocean and sarcasm sharper than a scalpel.
But all good things must come to an end and in the sacred solitude of his favourite drinking hole that a beautiful woman presents him with an offer he’d be a fool to turn down.
Perhaps a job, the chance to earn real money, the opportunity to be useful once more might redeem his life and self-respect. However, in the world beneath the waves there is no such thing as an easy life and Hayes is about to discover that some jobs can be real killers.
This omnibus edition collects books 1 to 3 of the Corin Hayes series in one volume.
28th March – We Lie With Death (The Reborn Empire #2) by Devin Madson
Into Kisia’s conquered north, a Levanti empire is born.
Loyal to the new emperor, Dishiva e’Jaroven must tread the line between building a new life and clinging to the old. Only Gideon can lead them, but when he allies himself with a man returned from the dead it will challenge all she thinks she knows and everything she wants to believe.
Now empress of nothing, Miko is more determined than ever to fight for her people, yet with her hunt for allies increasingly desperate, she may learn too late that power lies not in names but in people.
Rah refused to bow to the Levanti emperor, but now abandoned by the Second Swords he must choose whether to fight for his people, or his soul. Will honour be his salvation, or lead to his destruction?
Sold to the Witchdoctor, Cassandra’s only chance of freedom is in his hands, but when her fate becomes inextricably linked to Empress Hana, her true nature could condemn them both.
There is no calm after the storm.
Self Published Fantasy Releases – March
It’s that time again. Time I list all the self published fantasy books coming out in March. And by all, I of course mean all the ones I’ve heard about. One day I will achieve omnipotence, but it is not today. A lot of folk have asked me to include Amazon links as well as Goodreads, so I’m gonna give it a go this time. As always, it is far from a comprehensive list, but instead contains all the titles I have found/heard about so far. If you have a fantasy novel you are self publishing in March, let me know either in the comments, or by emailing me, and I shall add it to the page. There are but 3 requirements:
1) It must be a self published fantasy novel.
2) It must have a Goodreads page.
3) It must have a cover.
On to the list!
March 1st – Underlord (Cradle #6) by Will Wight
A tournament approaches.
All around the world, great clans and sects prepare their disciples to fight against one another in a competition of young Underlords. Even the Blackflame Empire is drawn in, but their youth are not strong enough to compete.
Yet.
1st March – Lostlander (Coilhunter Chronicles #4) by Dean F. Wilson
Welcome to nowhere.
Nox, the Coilhunter, wakes up in unfamiliar territory, victim of a deranged man who claims he’s from another world, and who’s building an army of slaves to help him get back there.
The eccentric bounty hunter must face off the wild of the desert and the wild in men, all the while trying to piece together what happened from his fractured memory.
Some go to the Lostlands to find themselves, but the Coilhunter is on the hunt for the true Lostlander: the Man with the Silver Mane. Folk say those Magi are lost without their magic, but Nox has long found his own kind of mojo in his gadgets and his guns.
6th March – It’s a Living by various authors
The realm of fantasy is filled with legends of dashing heroes and epic quests. But behind every hero stand hundreds of average denizens that just want to get on with their lives. These are their stories.
This anthology is filled with 14 brilliant and hilarious stories that follow the lives of everyday citizens who just want to do their jobs and live their lives.
Dive in to the mediocrity today and prepare to laugh until you can’t breathe.
March 7th – Tides of Mana by Matt Larkin
She controls the seas.
Her sister controls the flames.
Together, they rule as god-queens over their island nation. No mortal army can stand against their power.
But what happens when civil war erupts between these goddesses?
Namaka turns the fury of the sea on her sister, wreaking untold devastation on the land and under the sea, earning the ire of the mer kingdoms.
Their answer: turn Namaka into one of them. Possessed by a mermaid spirit, she is drawn into battles in their alien world.
How will she survive a war not only with her sister, but with a rival mer nation?
14th March – Breaking Chaos (The Chasing Graves Trilogy #3) by Ben Galley
The endgame has begun.
The battle for the emperor’s throne grows ever fiercer. The City of Countless Souls cowers behind locked doors as the whims of the downtrodden and the powerful bring the great game of Araxes to its chaotic conclusion.
With the soulblade at his hip and magic in his soul, Caltro’s freedom is almost within reach. But as Temsa reign of murder clashes with Widow Horix’s plans, the locksmith’s fate becomes all the more entwined with the needs of dead gods, the Cult, and vengeful royals. Caltro realises his struggle is not just for his redemption, but for that of the entirety of the Far Reaches.
While the Core Districts descend into chaos, debts left unpaid in the desert haunt Nilith’s long-awaited arrival in the city. A new foe is hunting her through the streets, an enemy with enough power to rival even that of the Cloudpiercer.
And yet all their struggles pale in comparison to the dark omen that is spreading through the Arctian Empire:
The River Nyx is drying up.
16th March – Stolen (Mason Gray #2) by William C. Markham
Private Investigator, Mason Gray, has a reputation for solving impossible cases. But when an ancient artifact inexplicably vanishes from the Field Museum, that reputation will be put to the test. To solve this case, he must delve deeper into Chicago’s supernatural world and call on his newly discovered abilities—unless they kill him in the process—to track down a thief who’s never been caught.
But things are never as they appear in The White City, and every answer he uncovers leads to new questions. And new enemies. If Gray fails to recover the artifact, it will start a war that will destroy the city he loves. To save it, he is forced to make an impossible choice: make a deal with the Devil or become one himself.
19th March – Secrets of Blood (Heirs of Destiny #4) by Andy Peloquin
To weather the storm of chaos and death, young heroes must dare to challenge the impossible.
Civil war rages in the City of the Dead. The lowest castes have taken up arms in revolt. Blood runs thick on the golden streets of Shalandra.
Amidst the uproar, Evren hunts down the leaderless, scattered brutes of the Ybrazhe Syndicate to put an end to their depredations and dispel the riots. Issa and her elite warriors battle rampaging mobs in a desperate fight to restore order.
Kodyn and Aisha pursue killers that could lead them to not only the villains orchestrating the turmoil, but the monstrous foes lurking in the deep, dark places hidden beneath the city.
Yet facing enemies far beyond their abilities to defeat alone, will they triumph against evil and put a stop to the chaos before all of Shalandra is destroyed?
19th March – A Sea of Broken Glass (The Lady & The Darkness #1) by Sonya M. Black
After enduring weeks of torture and being convicted of witchery, Ris escapes, only to discover the Darkness and the Lady are hunting her. They need the magic that sings within her.
Creator of all, the imprisoned Lady needs Ris, her last vessel, to find the Heart of Creation. The Darkness seeks to corrupt the vessel and retain his hold on the Lady, and with it, the world.
Ris finds help from a pair of Paladins of Light who aid her in cleansing the evil taint from the lands. As her power grows, so do her questions. How can she restore balance to the world and free the Lady? Should the Lady be trusted or is she as much at fault for the evil in the world as the Darkness? With powerful demons War, Ruin, and Plague at her heels, Ris struggles to stay alive as she tries to unravel the secrets hidden within her before it’s too late.
Secrets that may cost Ris her soul even if she does succeed.
26th March – Tavern (Dargath Chronicles #1) by Deston J. Munden
Xelnath of the Gnarled Root—a tavern owner, information broker, healer, and guildmaster of the Blackwind Company—has found a place, far better than the forest from which he came in the magical metropolis and city-state of Lladad in the Magiian Empire.
When a simple act of kindness draws the ire of a troubled assassin, his love-stricken Archmage father and an army of magically constructed golems, Xel must scheme with vipers of the high court, mingle with royalty at the castle, blackmail drug dealers in the slums, and fight assassins and mercenaries in the streets.
He needs to lean on the support of his motley crew of a dark elf assassin, a dragon pirate, a high elf royal, and a talking dog artificer to keep him from his own inner demons and doubts.
26th March – Corin Hayes Omnibus by G.R. Matthews
At the bottom of the ocean, a former special forces pilot of the most advanced diving suit ever developed possesses skills that are still much in demand. However, at bottom of a beer glass there is only a blessed oblivion to drive the memories away. The face of a murdered daughter, the corpses of friends, and the last glimpse of a happy life as the light slowly dims. Corin Hayes has nothing left, nothing to live for, and no one to share his misery. Nothing, that is, except a stubborn streak wider than the ocean and sarcasm sharper than a scalpel.
But all good things must come to an end and in the sacred solitude of his favourite drinking hole that a beautiful woman presents him with an offer he’d be a fool to turn down.
Perhaps a job, the chance to earn real money, the opportunity to be useful once more might redeem his life and self-respect. However, in the world beneath the waves there is no such thing as an easy life and Hayes is about to discover that some jobs can be real killers.
This omnibus edition collects books 1 to 3 of the Corin Hayes series in one volume.
28th March – We Lie With Death (The Reborn Empire #2) by Devin Madson
Into Kisia’s conquered north, a Levanti empire is born.
Loyal to the new emperor, Dishiva e’Jaroven must tread the line between building a new life and clinging to the old. Only Gideon can lead them, but when he allies himself with a man returned from the dead it will challenge all she thinks she knows and everything she wants to believe.
Now empress of nothing, Miko is more determined than ever to fight for her people, yet with her hunt for allies increasingly desperate, she may learn too late that power lies not in names but in people.
Rah refused to bow to the Levanti emperor, but now abandoned by the Second Swords he must choose whether to fight for his people, or his soul. Will honour be his salvation, or lead to his destruction?
Sold to the Witchdoctor, Cassandra’s only chance of freedom is in his hands, but when her fate becomes inextricably linked to Empress Hana, her true nature could condemn them both.
There is no calm after the storm.
February 19, 2019
Review Blog – Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames
Kings of the Wyld is fantastic, imaginative, and unique. One of the most impressive debuts I’ve read in a LONG time.
So the premise of KotW is that it is set in a Dungeons & Dragons style world with humans and monsters living side by side and not really getting along too well. Oh, and adventuring parties are treated like rock bands. Quests are called gigs, going on an adventure is referred to as touring, and all the bands have epic names such as the band in question, Saga.
It’s a unique take on the sword and sorcery genre and it works damned well. The story starts with Saga long since broken up, and washed up front man, Golden Gabe, looking to get the band back together to go and rescue his daughter, Rose, from the biggest, baddest monster horde the world has ever seen. We follow along in the head of Slowhand Clay Cooper, a man who really just wants to go back home to his own wife and child.
So the books is fantastic and no mistake, it roars along at a pace. We start off with Gabe getting the band back together, and then move on from there. More and more of the world and its denizens are revealed over time and it all leads up to a blistering finale.
I enjoyed the hells out of KotW, and every time I put the book down, I wanted to pick it back up again. BUT, I never had any trouble putting it down in the first place.
Quick tangent here. There is a difference between comedy and humour. This is a personal preference, but I love humour in books, humour that is set within the world and a part of it. I hate comedy in books, jokes told from the narrator’s perspective just fall flat and only serve to drag me out of the narrative.
Why the tangent, because as much as I loved KotW, there was too much comedy in it for me. There were times when a line, while witty and quite brilliant, just detached me from the world and made it easy to put the book down and do something else.
That being said, one other thing the book had was heart, and when that was on show it gave me goosebumps. The times when a character bore their soul to another, or spoke with passion instead of comedy made me love this book.
I’ve struggled with a rating on this one, but I’m gonna go with 4 stars. Just a bit too much comedy for my liking, but still an amazing book and one I definitely recommend every give a go.
February 8, 2019
An Apology Regarding the Never Die Paperback
It’s come to my attention that the paperbacks of Never Die have a number of typos and grammatical errors in them. The truth is… I fucked up. I uploaded the wrong file to IngramSpark, so the copy of the manuscript that was sent to print was pre-final proofing.
I’m sorry to everyone who has already purchased a paperback copy.
I have today made the necessary steps to rectify this mistake and all copies printed after this date will be (mostly) error free. I have no doubt a couple of little bastard typos will still have made it through, but hopefully all the major ones have now been corrected.
Part of the problem with being self published is that I do it all, and have nobody checking my work. There are times when foolish mistakes are made, and I unfortunately have no one to blame but myself.
I can’t replace all the books that have already gone out, I’m just too small fry to be able to front that cost. So as my small way of saying sorry, if you have purchased a copy of the Never Die paperback, I will send you a free ebook from my catalogue. Any book you like.
All you have to do is take a picture of your paperback copy of Never Die, post it online on either Twitter or Facebook or Instagram (I don’t check that one as often as I should), tag me, and let me know which of my other books you would like a copy of. Bonus laughs if you find one of the typos and take a picture of it!
My Facebook page is : https://www.facebook.com/TheHeresyWithin/
My Twitter name is : @RoboftheHayes
My Instagram name is : robjhayes2013
Alternatively, feel free to email me the picture at robjhayes1@gmail.com
Again, I’m very sorry for the mistake. This one is entirely on me.
