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The Ghosts of Tieros Kol
An ancient landscape, dotted with standing stones that sing for those who listen, metallic shards on the wind that glitter while they cut, and under the surface threads a blue mineral, tierosite—radiant, strange, and haunting.
King Cedri has gone mad, the palace is in turmoil, and Princess Brena hasn’t heard from her older sisters in ages. She suspects a man named Dene Eame is at the center of all her troubles—an antiquarian with an unhealthy obsession with the standing stones—but she needs real proof of his involvement.
Nikolai Lev, thief-for-hire, had a simple job to do: fake some mining contracts, steal some data, wipe all traces . . . but when his client attempts to kill him after the job is done, it makes it harder to pay the bills. To top it all off, a princess finds Lev while he’s too injured to run. What luck—now he has to keep himself out of jail, too.
As Brena questions Lev while he recovers, she finds the evidence she needs—but why would Dene hire Lev, and what does he want with the royal family? Brena and Lev must work together to answer Dene's riddles—and what they uncover might risk the future, and the past, of Tieros Kol.
King Cedri has gone mad, the palace is in turmoil, and Princess Brena hasn’t heard from her older sisters in ages. She suspects a man named Dene Eame is at the center of all her troubles—an antiquarian with an unhealthy obsession with the standing stones—but she needs real proof of his involvement.
Nikolai Lev, thief-for-hire, had a simple job to do: fake some mining contracts, steal some data, wipe all traces . . . but when his client attempts to kill him after the job is done, it makes it harder to pay the bills. To top it all off, a princess finds Lev while he’s too injured to run. What luck—now he has to keep himself out of jail, too.
As Brena questions Lev while he recovers, she finds the evidence she needs—but why would Dene hire Lev, and what does he want with the royal family? Brena and Lev must work together to answer Dene's riddles—and what they uncover might risk the future, and the past, of Tieros Kol.
355 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 4, 2025
3 people are currently reading
16 people want to read
About the author
Lisa Kuznak
5 books27 followersLisa Kuznak is an author of fantasy, science fiction, and literary works from Thunder Bay, Canada. Alongside her published novels, she also posts her short stories and poetry on her Substack, Mechanical Pulp.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
February 25, 2025
I found things about this story that I enjoyed, and other things that just didn’t resonate with me.
The primary setting is the planet Tieros Kol. It was a planet that was settled in the initial push into space by humans, then contact was lost. Thousands of years later, after the original civilization has perished, humankind rediscovered the planet. The culture of the planet has become intertwined with the planet itself. That aspect of the story was interesting to me. The villain’s scheme to possibly revive some of the technology of the previous civilization hovers over much of the story. The action sequences were exciting.
The parts that did not connect with me were primarily the romance between the princess of Tieros Kol and the male protagonist. It introduced characters vital to the story, but did not necessarily add enough depth to the story to have as much time devoted to it as there was. The friendship that developed between the protagonist and the head of the royal guard did offer an entertaining side story.
While I didn’t mind spending the time to read this, in my opinion, this might have been targeted more at female readers.
I received an advanced copy through BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The primary setting is the planet Tieros Kol. It was a planet that was settled in the initial push into space by humans, then contact was lost. Thousands of years later, after the original civilization has perished, humankind rediscovered the planet. The culture of the planet has become intertwined with the planet itself. That aspect of the story was interesting to me. The villain’s scheme to possibly revive some of the technology of the previous civilization hovers over much of the story. The action sequences were exciting.
The parts that did not connect with me were primarily the romance between the princess of Tieros Kol and the male protagonist. It introduced characters vital to the story, but did not necessarily add enough depth to the story to have as much time devoted to it as there was. The friendship that developed between the protagonist and the head of the royal guard did offer an entertaining side story.
While I didn’t mind spending the time to read this, in my opinion, this might have been targeted more at female readers.
I received an advanced copy through BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 4, 2025
What starts off as a "simple" data heist for roguish thief, Nikolai Lev, turns into a twisted plot of betrayal and mayhem on the planet of Tieros Kol. And Tieros Kol is not just any planet, it's a supposed "backwater" of superstition and "singing" rocks. The rub is, despite being human, Lev actually grew up there and speaks the language and knows the culture. When he's left for dead on the planet by his client, he encounters the beautiful Princess Brena, daughter of mad King Cedri. Thus begins an swords and planet adventure of epic proportion, one that leads to tragedy, bravery, found love, found family, and the ghosts...
This is Lisa Kuznak's third novel, the second I have had the privilege to beta read (for an honest review). Lisa's world-building skills are second to none, creating a society and culture on Tieros Kol that is deeply rich and deeply heartbreaking. This is a page-turner in the classic sense, driving the reader to get to the heart of the dark mystery that hides on the planet and within the souls of the characters.
This is Lisa Kuznak's third novel, the second I have had the privilege to beta read (for an honest review). Lisa's world-building skills are second to none, creating a society and culture on Tieros Kol that is deeply rich and deeply heartbreaking. This is a page-turner in the classic sense, driving the reader to get to the heart of the dark mystery that hides on the planet and within the souls of the characters.
February 22, 2025
The Ghosts of Tieros Kol
One of my greatest delights is being asked to read an ARC by someone I follow on Substack. When Liza Kuznak asked me to read “The Ghosts of Tieros Kol,” I was interested and said, “Yes, I’ll read it.” After porting the e-book to my Kindle, I sat down to read this Science Fiction/romance story.
The book starts off with a hacker stealing information from a database and running like hell. Unknown to the buyer, he’s made a copy of the database, and once he’s been paid, the buyer tries to shoot him down. Lev, the hacker, goes down in a flaming wreck and just happens to crash land near the holy sites where Princess/Priestess Brenna is visiting.
The romance and the wild rollercoaster ride begin here. The buyer turns out to be Dene, an academic, researching crystals, who has been given a title and is trying to marry into the royal Family. He can either choose Brenna or her sister, Meer.
Just when you think it couldn’t get better, it does. I could tell you more, but you should really read it for yourself. It’s got it all. Heroic Men, classically strong female characters, an evil genius, a twisting plot that you can get lost in, and an ending that leaves you confused.
My rating is 4.6/5.
If you like science fiction and romance, you’ll enjoy this book.
I know I did.
One of my greatest delights is being asked to read an ARC by someone I follow on Substack. When Liza Kuznak asked me to read “The Ghosts of Tieros Kol,” I was interested and said, “Yes, I’ll read it.” After porting the e-book to my Kindle, I sat down to read this Science Fiction/romance story.
The book starts off with a hacker stealing information from a database and running like hell. Unknown to the buyer, he’s made a copy of the database, and once he’s been paid, the buyer tries to shoot him down. Lev, the hacker, goes down in a flaming wreck and just happens to crash land near the holy sites where Princess/Priestess Brenna is visiting.
The romance and the wild rollercoaster ride begin here. The buyer turns out to be Dene, an academic, researching crystals, who has been given a title and is trying to marry into the royal Family. He can either choose Brenna or her sister, Meer.
Just when you think it couldn’t get better, it does. I could tell you more, but you should really read it for yourself. It’s got it all. Heroic Men, classically strong female characters, an evil genius, a twisting plot that you can get lost in, and an ending that leaves you confused.
My rating is 4.6/5.
If you like science fiction and romance, you’ll enjoy this book.
I know I did.
May 13, 2025
Lisa Kuznak’s Ghosts of Tieros Kol is a science fiction adventure novel written in a dashing pulp style. We are plunged into a faced-paced narrative with battles in space, and on the planet surface, a torrid affair between a beautiful princess and a hardbitten smuggler, palace intrigue, love and loyalty, friendship and betrayal on the exotic world of Tieros Kol. GTK reminded me of a rougher edged Barsoomian tale, or the covers of Planet Stories magazine, with sword-wielding adventures fighting desperate battles beneath moons and constellation not of our Earthly skies. Recommended.
March 10, 2025
Immersed in the story immediately! The writer captures and maintains your attention with descriptive phrasing and character dialogue that flows with perfect economy of words.
This is a story that you want to read all the way through in one sitting.
Go ahead, skip work, make some more coffee and read all day.
You’ll be glad you did.
This is a story that you want to read all the way through in one sitting.
Go ahead, skip work, make some more coffee and read all day.
You’ll be glad you did.
March 4, 2025
Space fantasy is always a fun genre.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
March 23, 2025
Check out the full, in-depth review on my Substack: The Word Dump!
The Ghosts of Tieros Kol has a bit of everything for the readers out there. In Kuznak’s signature pulpy style, it includes elements of classic science fiction, modern fantasy, romance and light erotica, mystery and noir, adventure and spacefaring, political drama, and even surprising themes of environmentalism mixed in.
The breathtaking titular alien planet transports the reader fully into the world and keeps you there. While the overarching mystery behind the motives of the coup against the Tierosan royal family drives the plot forward (diving into the history and religious traditions of the world to explore to do so), what really cements the novel together is the whirlwind love story between the leading pair; the noble scoundrel Lev and the Princess / priestess Brena. In a tightly-woven plot that is clean in its execution, you'll find that GTK is equal parts exciting, clever, sexy, steamy, tragic, funny, and bittersweet, with the thrills coming at warp speed in a pleasant haze of cigarette smoke.
Oh, and don't neglect to read the epigraphs! That's where A LOT of the worldbuilding and history hides!
The Ghosts of Tieros Kol is one of those novels that I am going to be recommending for years to come, as it is too fun not to.
I received an advance review copy for free from Booksirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
The Ghosts of Tieros Kol has a bit of everything for the readers out there. In Kuznak’s signature pulpy style, it includes elements of classic science fiction, modern fantasy, romance and light erotica, mystery and noir, adventure and spacefaring, political drama, and even surprising themes of environmentalism mixed in.
The breathtaking titular alien planet transports the reader fully into the world and keeps you there. While the overarching mystery behind the motives of the coup against the Tierosan royal family drives the plot forward (diving into the history and religious traditions of the world to explore to do so), what really cements the novel together is the whirlwind love story between the leading pair; the noble scoundrel Lev and the Princess / priestess Brena. In a tightly-woven plot that is clean in its execution, you'll find that GTK is equal parts exciting, clever, sexy, steamy, tragic, funny, and bittersweet, with the thrills coming at warp speed in a pleasant haze of cigarette smoke.
Oh, and don't neglect to read the epigraphs! That's where A LOT of the worldbuilding and history hides!
The Ghosts of Tieros Kol is one of those novels that I am going to be recommending for years to come, as it is too fun not to.
I received an advance review copy for free from Booksirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews