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The Inside Story of the British Bureau for the Arcane: Book 3 - Circe's Coven
In this third and final fantasy noir story in the series, Arlo Austin has been abducted by a coven of witches. One month on and the lack of a ransom or ultimatum suggests dire alternatives: perhaps Arlo has gone rogue?
The simultaneous attacks by Circe’s Coven cannot be a coincidence either. The Bureau’s political masters want answers, hence the return of Arlo’s son, Tayn Banks, whose natural curiosity has served them well in the past. Even though his relationship with Arlo has broken down, Tayn agrees to investigate the mystery.
Tayn’s detective work places him in mortal danger, made complicated by not knowing who he can trust, not everyone is who they say they are. As Circe’s Coven ramps up their attacks, Tayn discovers a connection between ancient literature and the coven’s ambitions. Witches have been persecuted for millennia, their vengeance led to an attempt to enslave humanity once before - which failed. This time it looks like they could succeed.
The simultaneous attacks by Circe’s Coven cannot be a coincidence either. The Bureau’s political masters want answers, hence the return of Arlo’s son, Tayn Banks, whose natural curiosity has served them well in the past. Even though his relationship with Arlo has broken down, Tayn agrees to investigate the mystery.
Tayn’s detective work places him in mortal danger, made complicated by not knowing who he can trust, not everyone is who they say they are. As Circe’s Coven ramps up their attacks, Tayn discovers a connection between ancient literature and the coven’s ambitions. Witches have been persecuted for millennia, their vengeance led to an attempt to enslave humanity once before - which failed. This time it looks like they could succeed.
209 pages, ebook
Published October 3, 2025
1 person want to read
About the author
Phil Parker
10 books31 followersPhil Parker herds words around the page. Sometimes they cooperate. Usually they don't.
He loves reading speculative fiction of all kinds, blogs and reviews at https://www.philparker-fantasywriter.com
Author of:
* The Chronicles of the Bastard, Robin Goodfellow (a prequel anthology leading into the Knight's Protocol trilogy)
* The Bastard from Fairyland
* The Bastard in the Dark
* Revenge for the Bastard
which form the Knights' Protocol trilogy - re-issued 2021
* The Valkyrie of Vanaheim (2022)
* City of Onyx (2023)
* The Inside Story of the British Bureau for the Arcane - The Dark Elf Dynasty File (2024)
He loves reading speculative fiction of all kinds, blogs and reviews at https://www.philparker-fantasywriter.com
Author of:
* The Chronicles of the Bastard, Robin Goodfellow (a prequel anthology leading into the Knight's Protocol trilogy)
* The Bastard from Fairyland
* The Bastard in the Dark
* Revenge for the Bastard
which form the Knights' Protocol trilogy - re-issued 2021
* The Valkyrie of Vanaheim (2022)
* City of Onyx (2023)
* The Inside Story of the British Bureau for the Arcane - The Dark Elf Dynasty File (2024)
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
October 14, 2025
Arlo and Tayn are back for one final mission and everything hangs in the balance.
The battle lines are drawn. For too long the arcane races have endured the British Bureau for the Arcane and their intervention to maintain a fragile peace. A new, rising evil threatens everything and only one Dark Elf with a grudge can stop it.
To investigate a murder and the mysterious Circe’s Coven, Arlo has gone rogue again. A series of kidnappings and bombings force Tayn to return from his self-imposed exile to begrudgingly search for his estranged father. This initiates a chain of events and a vast conspiracy threatening not just the Bureau but society itself…
This is a stunning conclusion to an action packed series. Like his other works, the author’s knowledge of mythology really packs a punch and creates vivid and lifelike creatures. Excellent pacing with some fantastic characters and unexpected plot twists. Like all of Phil’s works, strongly recommended!
The battle lines are drawn. For too long the arcane races have endured the British Bureau for the Arcane and their intervention to maintain a fragile peace. A new, rising evil threatens everything and only one Dark Elf with a grudge can stop it.
To investigate a murder and the mysterious Circe’s Coven, Arlo has gone rogue again. A series of kidnappings and bombings force Tayn to return from his self-imposed exile to begrudgingly search for his estranged father. This initiates a chain of events and a vast conspiracy threatening not just the Bureau but society itself…
This is a stunning conclusion to an action packed series. Like his other works, the author’s knowledge of mythology really packs a punch and creates vivid and lifelike creatures. Excellent pacing with some fantastic characters and unexpected plot twists. Like all of Phil’s works, strongly recommended!
Displaying 1 of 1 review