fantasy – sword & sorcery

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Summary: Fabren Lacalian never foresaw consequences like this. Teaming with his master for a vengeful prank, the half-human magician forged a false prophecy to embarrass the wizards who belittled them. But after his teacher is murdered by a sinister pretender claiming to be the heir they foretold, the terrified apprentice flees for his life as the sole custodian of the truth. Riddled with guilt and hunted by assassins, Fabren finds an unlikely ally in an archivist who believes wholeheartedly in the escalating lie. And with only his meager keyhole magic to protect them from the vile usurper’s minions, the sham seer may be the author of everyone’s destruction. Can Fabren end the madness before the realm falls to its doom? The Keyhole Wizard is the thrilling first book in The Doorway to Magic high fantasy series. If you like underdog heroes, dire stakes, and unique systems of sorcery, then you’ll love Susan and John Ruff’s dive into destiny.

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Summary: The time has come. The Dark Mage, Lord Morgorth, and Aishe of the Ravena Tribe, are to become bondmates. Morgorth is equal parts nervous and excited. He wants to unite with Aishe in the sacred dialen ceremony, to proclaim their devotion to the world, to show everyone that Aishe is his equal and deserving of respect. After all they’ve survived together, why shouldn’t they make the cosmic promise before friends and family? But duty must often come before pleasure. When Morgorth’s estranged mentor, Master Ulezander, comes to him with a time-sensitive mission involving a major stone of power, Morgorth has little choice but to acquiesce. Aishe knows his mate struggles with the revelation of his true destiny, after a lifetime of defining himself as the future Destroyer of Karishian. All he can do is reassure Morgorth that being the Savior is a far better fate for both of them. But as Morgorth and Aishe leap through worlds and dimensions in pursuit of a stone of power, more pieces to the puzzle of Morgorth’s destiny are revealed. And they form an image of sacrifice and tragedy. The dark cloud of an ancient enemy looms ever closer, and the path to becoming the Savior might prove more monstrous than that of the Destroyer.

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Summary: Is the challenge to blame for its revelation? With Ruben still missing and no sign of their enemy’s force, Donovan races to uncover the mysteries of blood magic while training the next generation in New Seeking. Away from the familiar halls of the Order, he learns from Annette to develop the skills to lie and secret his true self amongst the nobility and whatever spies may skulk in their midst. Donovan encounters changed relationships, rediscovered and more complex than he ever wished, and he longs for Whitman’s good humor, which is in short supply. Whitman himself struggles to unearth and connect his own threads of insight through heartbreak and daunting challenge as he digs through layers and centuries of deception, historical propaganda, and indoctrination. Throughout all, Ruben drowns in fear and danger, managing breaths of revelation and enlightenment that threaten to unravel everything he once understood to be true. Taught and taunted by the Smiling Man, whose knowledge appears to stretch for generations, he is determined to be of use to his friends when they come for him. Will they make it before his resolve trickles away?

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Summary: I’ve confronted the half-blood mercenary who has what I need to find Jael, wherever she may be. Neither of us will leave until we reach a bargain which yields what we most desire. The Dragonchild has brought me into a city he knows to its foundations, where I am at a disadvantage. My devout Deathwalker may be content to wait for the coming war between Manalar and the Ma’ab, secure in his value to a newly revealed influence in the conflict, but my position seems neither secure nor desirable to anyone but me. I must dig deeper into the motives of all involved, including my own, to convince the Guild's leaders to lend me their vast knowledge and far reach within strangely familiar plots. I have to succeed for Jael’s sake, for she is my only sister left. In The Guild’s Design, outcasts from the Deepearth dare to reveal resolute hopes waiting within quiet hearts. This time and opportunity must not pass them by, lest the promise of war rend their chances for a future beyond the next conflict. Sister Seekers is dark epic fantasy for adults with an ever-broadening scope. The saga genre-hops a bit so things never get stale. Found Family is a core theme throughout. Perfect for fans of entwined plots, challenging themes, immersive worldbuilding, and elements of erotic horror. Sexuality and inner conflict play into character growth with nuanced intrigue, intense action, and fantastical magic.

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Summary: In a Dying Earth of wizards and walled cities, a boy climbs out of poverty when he becomes an assistant to a moneylender’s debt collector, then enters a career as henchman to a young, ambitious thaumaturge.  But Baldemar’s career as a wizard’s minion goes sideways after a powerful entity left over from the creation of the cosmos finds him useful for its own ends. Now he must tread a perilous path peopled by dukes and demons, spellslingers and secret agents, assassins and academics, plus a pair of vengeful wizards who want their stolen treasures returned. His course will lead him through the Underworld and Overworld, and along shadowy paths in the tenebrous realm known as the Glooms, to a final confrontation that will test Baldemar’s hard-won knowledge to the utmost.

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Summary: For three years, Jeth and Kodie and their soldiers have guarded a hostile mountain pass against the invading Dathians in a war that has waged for decades. Jeth has the blood of giants running through his veins, and it has caused bigotry and death to dog his steps his entire life. After a childhood tragedy shatters his world, it takes the courage and loyalty of his best friend, Kodie, to protect him from himself. Jeth knows he’s a danger to everyone around him and joins the army to control and focus the black rage inherited from his bestial bloodline. Kodie follows his friend into the army, determined to stay close to the one he loves most. He has never revealed his deeper feelings for Jeth, and is ignorant of Jeth’s own feelings. Their bond is too precious for either of them to risk rejection. Yet they might have to take the chance when Kodie’s life is threatened, and their enemy forges an alliance with a giant clan. Jeth must call upon his darker heritage to brave the hostile environment to make an alliance of his own—with a giant clan that knows more about him than he does himself.

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Summary: Jadiera lives a simple life as a courier between the islands of the kingdom she calls home. Hauling small wares isn't exciting--but it keeps a ship under her feet. Until the day she is mistaken for someone so dangerous, people only speak of her in hushed tones. And a bunch of mythological faeries fly into her life. Having a calm and steady life becomes nothing but a wish for Jadiera as she and her new faery companions fight off pirates and evil gnomes. Life will never be the same. This is a standalone novella that ties into The Lost Ancients extended series. It can be read without having read the other The Lost Ancients books.

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Summary: More enemies, more tricks, more explosions! Once again, Taryn has her hands full—but sometimes her hands have talons… Relic hunter Taryn St. Giles spent years with her head down in the dirt, unearthing the secrets of ancient artifacts. Now she is the one being hunted for the secrets of her own past. And if she’s not clever, strong, and very, very lucky, she’ll be the next relic buried. Monsters, magic, and mayhem have haunted her through secret caverns, forgotten elven cities, and some really mediocre taverns. With her beloved Alric and dear friends kidnapped, she’s heading to the southern continent with her remaining stalwart companions where more mayhem awaits—along with stranger monsters and a deadly magic that twists her very flesh and bones. Old mysteries almost destroyed her world once—and Taryn was right there. As long-lost deities and hidden realms return with lethal consequences, she has another chance to discover her destiny and reclaim her power. But if she fails, more than her friends will be lost forever. Join the continuing adventures from the extended Lost Ancients series!

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Summary: An act of desperation by young magician Brandon accidentally snatches Scott Hathaway from our world. Struggling to adapt to his new life, Scott becomes ensnared in dark local politics. He realizes he can use the knowledge he brought from his world to save his new friends, but at what cost? The first in a series. A story about an engineer who gets accidentally transported to a medieval type world where magic is real. But all is not as it seems!

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Summary: Does the need for knowledge balance its burden? Donovan would prefer to die in his bed, but circumstances might force him to do otherwise. When Donovan is tasked with Retrieving a young child thought to be a magus — the most powerful magic user in any generation — he is thrown headfirst into a world of intrigue and deception where any move he makes could be the one that shifts his people into a position of bloodshed and failure. There is a war brewing, centuries old. The Hunters, blood mages and child-snatchers fight the born mages, people of the Order, the school of magic and scholarly pursuit. Donovan must learn who and what to trust and how to endure suffering as he finds more and more about the nature of this endless war and what he can do to stop it.

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Summary: Two people find themselves in a quandary: Aderri, a powerful dragon shifter with some light defensive magic, and Ellys, a half-elven swordswoman for hire, one of the best across the six nations. When Aderri gets news that she must come home for the naming ceremony of a new hatchling, she's forced to hire Ellys and her telepathic steed, Roccotári, to see her safely there. Of course, things are never as simple as they seem. Not only do they have to traverse the land between two kingdoms on the brink of war, but Aderri's Clan expects her to return with a romantic interest. So, for the added promise of triple Ellys's normal fee, the half-elf agrees to pretend to be Aderri's suitor. Ellys and Aderri have to convince a Clan full of magical mixed-shifters for a week that creatures of differing elements can burn with the flames of love, without actually lying. A situation made even more difficult by a matchmaking mare, steamy baths, and an innkeeper with mischief on the mind. Caught between the weight of the past and expectations of the future, they must find their true destiny within the heat of fire.

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Summary: Strange magics plucked Jenna from Earth to a new world and a new body. But now darker forces threaten the new life she’s come to love. She risked everything to defend her kingdom and friends, struggling to channel chaotic Power to defeat a demonspawn king. They won that fight, but the war was only beginning. Now, one by one, the neighboring kingdoms are falling silent, under attack from monsters that shouldn’t exist and from within their own people. The cuari who protect and guide this world have suddenly vanished, and the chaotic plane—the source of all magic—is failing. Jenna is in the body of a Guardian, channeling the voice of a long-lost god, and tasked with averting the coming apocalypse, but this time, magic and destiny might not save the day. Separated from Prince Corin—Storm, who she might love if she had a free moment—and seeking a missing magic book, she’ll be hunted by deadly enemies and haunted by visions of what will happen if she fails while her friends are pushed the limits of their bravery and hope. If she can’t figure out how to end the attacks, free the cuari, and save the chaotic plane, this world will fall—and so will all the others.

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Summary: INK (NOUN) Five definitions to inspire writers around the world and an unlimited number of possible stories to tell: 1) A colored fluid used for writing 2) The action of signing a deal 3) A black liquid ejected by squid 4) Publicity in the written media 5) A slang word for tattoos Ink features 300-word speculative flash fiction stories from across the rainbow spectrum, from the minds of the writers of Queer Sci Fi.

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Summary: An Element to surpass all others. The one with the power to wield it. Can he overcome his fears in time to save the world from imminent doom? The Pattern Juggler has inherited a formidable power. It can create, and just as easily destroy. He has the lore book of his father, but key parts of it remain impenetrable. On the day of the new Water Wizard’s inauguration ceremony, an injured stranger interrupts proceedings. He babbles an incoherent story about impending doom. Can it be true? How does the young man know what is to come? And if the Elementals can confirm his story, will the Juggler be able to confront his darkest fear? Can he unlock the last mysteries of his lore and overcome the deadliest challenge of all? Juggler is the final volume in John Beresford’s Science Fiction / Fantasy crossover trilogy The Berikatanyan Chronicles, where colonists from Earth join forces with the indigenous population to battle with nameless terrors from the Void.

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Summary: A princess on the run. A captain on the hunt for treasure. When their paths cross, will they be each other's salvation? Keola is a mermaid – and bound for marriage to a foreign human prince. Unable to face a life cut off from the ocean with a man she despises, she chooses freedom at a terrible cost. Posing as a human wavesinger to remain hidden from her pursuers, she finds work on the ship of the dashing captain Anaar Kahlani.Anaar is searching for a mythical treasure and believes that Keola is the key to finding it. Amidst the hunt for fame and fortune, Anaar begins to fall for the mysterious wavesinger. Confronted with a secret and a dangerous revelation, she must decide what price she is willing to pay for untold riches – and for love. When Keola’s past catches up with her, can they survive the oncoming storm together, or will the trials ahead demand more of them than they are willing to sacrifice?

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Summary: I escape into a twisted wilderness with a stolen relic protecting me from madness. Behind me is the mysterious stalker from across the plains. He’s caught up to us. My sisters are out there somewhere out, and my unborn is here with me. Struggling to tell guardians from beguilers on a warped battlefield, I worry for all our fates. Somehow, I must bear the terrifying risk of bargaining with Surfacers in ways which ensure enslavement back home. No Red Sister can give up her mission when compelled by her Queen to see it through. Surrounded by allies and enemies alike seeking to influence the only free Davrin Elf on the Surface, I must relearn my limits when confronted by those who have none. The true scope of Etaski's saga arises in The Mark of Gold. Tangible peril meets cryptic visions, forcing a driven few to redefine what it takes to break the shackles of compulsion and forge them as bonds of loyalty. Sister Seekers is dark epic fantasy for adults with an ever-broadening scope. The saga genre-hops a bit so things never get stale. Found Family is a core theme throughout. Perfect for fans of entwined plots, challenging themes, immersive worldbuilding, and elements of erotic horror. Sexuality and inner conflict play into character growth with nuanced intrigue, intense action, and fantastical magic.

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Summary: The mayhem returns! New adventures beyond The Lost Ancients original six book series- Taryn, her drunken faeries, and most of her friends, survived the fight for the relics left behind by the missing people known as the Ancients. Now a new adventure awaits as they find there are deeper and older dangers loose in the world. Taryn just wants to have a normal life, hopefully with the love of her life and her crazed drunken faeries. Sadly, hoping doesn’t always make it so. There are dangers moving up from the south, a kingdom far removed from Beccia and all Taryn knows. Hidden messages, killer jewelry, and possessed weapons are all invading her dreams of normalcy. Too many people know who she really is. And they know how to use her as a weapon. Taryn and her friends have to figure out the clues as friends start vanishing. And the faeries really had nothing to do with it. Really. If you miss the mayhem of the faeries—come back around for another ride! While this is a new series-- it is STRONGLY recommended that you have read The Lost Ancients series first. LOTS of spoilers!

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Summary: I am the dark foreigner among pale-skinned mercenaries, crossing exposed grasslands. My only ally is a sinister scholar hiding scars from past rituals. He alone knows I carry a child. Each day assaults my senses and leads me farther away from home. Inevitably, my mission will lead out of isolation to the first Human settlement in my path. With few watching my back and more tempted to exploit it, I wade into an unforgiving test of my training and vigilance, determined not to be pulled down. Twisted portents and pious zealotry expose danger in every direction, while new, threatening dreams of distant sands muddle my Queen's past with my present. As all close in around me, I must find a way to serve the Valsharess and slip free of man-made chains which would enslave me. In Black Witch, Death Mage, far-reaching threads and mystical visions constrict to bind those within it, pulling the tales of present and past closer than they've been in thousands of years. Sister Seekers is dark epic fantasy for adults with an ever-broadening scope. The saga genre-hops a bit so things never get stale. Found Family is a core theme throughout. Perfect for fans of entwined plots, challenging themes, immersive worldbuilding, and elements of erotic horror. Sexuality and inner conflict play into character growth with nuanced intrigue, intense action, and fantastical magic.

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Summary: In the final book of The Stranger Trilogy, Amarta reaches the city-state of Seuan, where the Heart—a man famous for his predictions—awaits her. As Amarta struggles to understand this extraordinary land full of threats and treasures, she resolves to protect those who cannot protect themselves, even if that means from herself. Step by step, Amarta unwraps secrets within secrets, coming to understand the cost of getting what she wants. Innel at last gains a chance at redemption for all he has done, but can he pay the price? The Seer and The Lord Commander's paths come together again, but their paths have changed them both, and they meet as strangers. Landfall—the third and final book of The Stranger Trilogy—brings Amarta’s and Innel’s journeys to a satisfying conclusion that will leave you breathless with wonder and wanting to start the journey all over again. Be sure to pick up the first two books in The Stranger Trilogy: Unmoored and Maelstrom.

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Summary: The hunted becomes the hunter as Amarta, The Seer, sets out across the land to find others like herself and to understand her own power. On the way to the most famous predictor of all—the Heart of Seuan—Amarta walks the greatest wonder of the world: The Island Road, a living land mass that forms unpredictably, producing tremendous wealth for a lucky few. As she travels, Amarta learns to wield her power in ways that she did not foresee, at a cost that she could not imagine. Innel, the former Lord Commander, is sold into anonymous slavery. On his way to certain death, he is [instead] given to a wealthy Perripin merchant. Does the merchant know who he was before? Though they walk separate paths, Amarta and Innel's questions are one and the same: Who am I now? Maelstrom—the second book of The Stranger Trilogy—continues Amarta’s and Innel’s journeys through fantastic lands and powerful magic. Be sure to start with the first book in the trilogy, Unmoored, and to continue with the stunning conclusion in Landfall.