Category: Fantasy

Down These Mean Streets

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Down These Mean Streets
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NEW FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION STORIES WITH A HARDBOILED NOIR TWIST—FOCUSING ON THE MEAN STREETS OF THE CITY

“Down these mean streets a man must go who is not himself mean, who is neither tarnished nor afraid.” —Raymond Chandler

Humans have always been fascinated by darkness. Especially the darkness of a city at night, when the black sky is made ever more inky by the pools of illumination dropped under streetlights. We harken to the sound of streetcars in the distance. We are drawn to the garish flash of club signs and marquees. We love the danger of shadowed alleyways, of wealth and poverty living side by side.

We love the city. It’s a part of us.

Whether the mean streets be in an alternate past charmed with dark magic or the dirty alleyways of futuristic crowded space stations, the city—and its darkened streets—will always fascinate us. Here then, an anthology of all new stories of science fiction and fantasy with a hardboiled noir twist that acknowledge that the city is a living, breathing entity…and it isn’t always on our side.

Stories by: Laurell K. Hamilton, Larry Correia, Kacey Ezell, Mike Massa, Steve Diamond, Robert E. Hampson, Chris Kennedy, Marisa Wolf, Griffin Barber, Robert Buettner, Hinkley Correia, Casey Moores, Patrick M. Tracy, and Dan Willis.

The False Prince (Fall Of A King Book 1)

The False Prince (Fall Of A King Book 1)
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An epic journey of deceit, betrayal, magic and a treasonous love sets sail as Meath, a young apprentice to the formidable wizard, Ursa, escapes certain death while a freshly united Kingdom is held captive by a false Prince. In hope of relaying the truth of the usurper who now threatens the throne, Meath embarks on a dangerous journey with the true heiress, Nicolette, in an attempt to reach her Uncle before they too are entangled in the lie that has wound itself deep into the lands. Amidst the soldiers dispatched to return the princess and capture Meath and his friends, they must avoid the barbarian clans who have begun a savage war on the Kingdom of Draco; evading what seems like fate has become a perilous game they may not be able to win…

BleakWarrior

BleakWarrior
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What is the purpose of your existence?

For eons, the ancient and powerful Meta-Warriors have betrayed, despoiled, and slain each other in a relentless pursuit of total mutual destruction.

When BleakWarrior suddenly grows tired of the senseless killings, he begins a new mission to discover the truth of his condition.

Of who and what he is. Why he exists….

Descend into a world of dark metaphysics, ultra-violence, senseless mayhem, and transgressive sex with a simultaneously brutal and brilliant fantasy novel unlike any other.

“Transgressive and hard-edged” – Jeff VanderMeer, Nebula award winning author of the Southern Reach trilogy

“Flabbergasting Black Metal New Weird” – Edward Morris, author of the Blackguard series

The Claw of Craving: Book One of Lost Carcosa

The Claw of Craving: Book One of Lost Carcosa
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“Lovecraftian and Barker-esque… stunning truly.” – Steve Stred, Splatterpunk Award Nominated Author
of Mastodon and The Stranger

What is Carcosa?

For Alan Chambers, a jobless loner, it’s the answer to his problems. Or so he thinks…

Rejected by family and friends, and soon-to-be homeless, Alan makes his last desperate bid to discover the truth of this miserable reality by journeying to an occult brothel where it’s said the worthy might obtain passage to this fabled land of Carcosa.

Proving one’s worth is more dangerous than Alan could have imagined.

Prepare for an erotic and horrifying journey into the universe of the Yellow King…

The Claw of Craving is the first in the Books of Lost Carcosa series, an epic fantasy-horror that reimagines the astonishing mythos of Robert W. Chambers. Combining Clive Barker’s eroticism and fantasy with Stephen King’s pulse-pounding narrative, The Claw of Craving will please fans of Imajica, Weaveworld, The Dark Tower, H. P. Lovecraft, Eric LaRocca, and Alistair Rennie.

Praise for Joseph Sale’s other series

“What we have here is a totally original concept, a writer who is doing something new, a writer who has
been forged in the flames like the One Ring.” -Ross Jeffery, Bram Stoker Award Nominated author of
Juniper and Only The Stains Remain

“Dark, cerebral, and genre-bending.” -Brian Fatah Steele, author of Hungry Rain and Violation Hive

DARK HILARITY (The Illuminad)

DARK HILARITY (The Illuminad)
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Two girls’ friendship will be put to the ultimate test in a dark fantasy world…

When they were ’90s kids, Tara and Nicola were obsessed with metal band Valentine Killshot, whose epic concept albums about the dark fantasy land of Dae’eshta took the world by storm. The girls’ obsession ends, however, when a chance meeting with the band leads to a horrific tragedy and the inexplicable disappearance of the band’s charismatic lead singer—Jed Maine.

Seven years on, now estranged, both women are still scarred by what happened. As Tara and Nicola try to come to terms with the catastrophe that changed their lives growing up, both begin to realise the impossible truth: Dae’eshta is not simply a made-up publicity stunt, but real. And this is where Jed Maine has fled…

Intent on vengeance, the girls must step once more into Jed Maine’s world, walk through the pale forests of Wolftown, discover the horrors and secrets of the undercity of Dae’under, and make a daring voyage across a tempestuous ocean to the mystical shores of the Laughing God’s home, all to confront the man who took everything from them…

Dark Hilarity is the The Never-Ending Story meets Stephen King’s The Talisman, a fantasy that explores addiction, depression, and the healing power of friendship.

Praise for Dark Hilarity

“As impressive as Clive Barker in his prime” – Brian Barr, author of Serpent King

Skaven Wars: The Black Plague Trilogy (Warhammer Chronicles)

Skaven Wars: The Black Plague Trilogy (Warhammer Chronicles)
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A Warhammer Chronicles omnibus

Sigmar’s Empire is fractured, its people starving – and now, a deadly plague sweeps across the lands. But this is only the prelude to the disasters to come, for the skaven are rising, and would claim the Empire for their own…

READ IT BECAUSE
A pivotal period in the history of the world-that-was is explored, a time that saw great darkness and horror – but also gave birth to one of the Empire’s greatest heroes, and forged hope for a better future.

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One thousand years have passed since Sigmar united the tribes of man and gave birth to an Empire. Now, the Emperor Boris Goldgather claims ascendancy and it is a bitter reign. Under his corrupt rule, the Empire is already at risk of annihilation when a deadly plague sweeps across the lands, decimating entire populations. In its wake, a second mortal threat seizes their advantage: the skaven. Whilst the Emperor escapes to safety, his people struggle to defend their cities with diminished forces. Only one man dares brave the wilds and lead an assault upon the mutant ratmen. Graf Gunthar and his army battle to liberate towns and villages of their verminous infestation. But as glorious victories herald the promise of a new leader for the Empire – for Graf, the trials have only just begun.

This omnibus contains three novels and four short stories.

Doomsday Recon

Doomsday Recon
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U.S. Cav Trooper Nephi Bennett’s Humvee went from Panama to hell in the blink of an eye. Now, he needs to find his way back home—if he can live that long.

The year is 1989. America has just invaded Noriega’s Panama. And Specialist Bennett’s platoon of Cav Scouts are in country… with, frankly, not a whole lot to do.

Until a freak rainstorm somehow transports the entire platoon—Humvees, weapons, and all—to another world. A world controlled by a wicked Aztec god.  The Land of the Black Sun.

In a heartbeat, the Scouts find themselves fighting for their lives against savage beasts, witches, zombies, subhuman tribes seeking sacrifices… and even themselves. Fuel runs low, ammo grows scarce, and their only allies are a tribe of all-female warriors and a single fledgling sorceress with a decidedly mean streak.

But the fun has only just begun. Things in the Land of the Black Sun are about to become far more dangerous than Specialist Bennett could have ever imagined. For an ancient evil awaits…

…and Bennett and his fellow Cav troopers will meet it with blood and steel.

Embark on the adventure of a lifetime with Associated Press bestselling author Jason Anspach and Ryan Williamson in this brand-new military fantasy series. If you’re a fan of modern warriors and weapons laying the hate on the armies of ancient evil, this is just the story you’ve been waiting for.

Heart of Veridon (The Burn Cycle)

Heart of Veridon (The Burn Cycle)
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First in the Burn Cycle from “an original, enthralling voice in the steampunk subgenre, and in the Speculative Fiction umbrella at large” (The Book Smugglers).

Captain-turned-criminal Jacob Burn is the unlikely survivor of two zeppelin crashes. The first destroyed his career as a pilot, disgracing his nobleman father and ending his life of privilege. But the second threatens to destroy Burn’s whole world—Veridon, an ancient terraced city reborn through The Church of the Algorithm’s recent advances in mechanics, technology, and cog-work.

Moments before the Glory of Day wrecked, a former underworld associate of Burn’s handed him an unusual and complicated cog for safekeeping. But the artifact-cog quickly draws Burn unwanted attention—too much of it, from too many of Veridon’s most powerful factions, casting doubt on even his closest allies.

A far more dangerous and unpredictable enemy has also joined the manhunt, carving a bloody trail across the city, while Burn’s frantic search for answers only leads to more questions. At the heart of it all, the mysterious cog, which hides a secret potent enough to shake Veridon to its very core, and recast Burn’s entire existence.

“From the first chapter Akers keeps the octane on high and never lets off the gas . . . Heart of Veridon had me enrapt with the pulp style story and characters until the last page.” —The Mad Hatter’s Bookshelf & Book Review

“An enjoyable novel, absorbing reading with plenty of color and action . . . The setting is the real star . . . A very promising debut.” —Fantasy Magazine

Witchy Eye (Witchy War Series Book 1)

Witchy Eye (Witchy War Series Book 1)
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Now with a new chapter!

A STUNNING BAEN BOOKS DEBUT. A brilliant Americana flintlock fantasy novel set in a world of Appalachian magic that works.

Sarah Calhoun is the fifteen-year-old daughter of the Elector Andrew Calhoun, one of Appalachee’s military heroes and one of the electors who gets to decide who will next ascend as the Emperor of the New World. None of that matters to Sarah. She has a natural talent for hexing and one bad eye, and all she wants is to be left alone—especially by outsiders.

But Sarah’s world gets turned on its head at the Nashville Tobacco Fair when a Yankee wizard-priest tries to kidnap her. Sarah fights back with the aid of a mysterious monk named Thalanes, who is one of the not-quite-human Firstborn, the Moundbuilders of the Ohio. It is Thalanes who reveals to Sarah a secret heritage she never dreamed could be hers.

Now on a desperate quest with Thalanes to claim this heritage, she is hunted by the Emperor’s bodyguard of elite dragoons, as well as by darker things—shapeshifting Mockers and undead Lazars, and behind them a power more sinister still. If Sarah cannot claim her heritage, it may mean the end to her, her family—and to the world where she is just beginning to find her place.

At the publisher’s request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management).

Praise for Witchy Eye and D.J. Butler:

“… you can’t stop yourself from taking another bite…and another…and another….I didn’t want to stop reading…. Kudos!” R.A. Salvatore, New York Times Bestselling Author

“ Excellent book. I am impressed by the creativity and the depth of the world building. Dave Butler is a great storyteller.” – Larry Correia

“WITCHY EYE is an intricate and imaginative alternate history with a cast of characters and quirky situations that would make a Dickens novel proud.” —Kevin J. Anderson, New York Times bestselling author of Eternity’s Mind

“David’s a pro storyteller, and you’re in for a great ride.”—Larry Dixon

Dungeon Samurai Vol.1: Kamikaze (An Anti-LitRPG Dungeon Crawl)

Dungeon Samurai Vol.1: Kamikaze (An Anti-LitRPG Dungeon Crawl)
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Yamada Yuuki is an ordinary college student with an extraordinary hobby: the classical martial art of Kukishin-ryu.

Until one fateful day when a demon rips through the fabric of space-time, abducts everyone in his dojo, and transports them to another world.

To return home, Yamada and his friends must join forces with other displaced humans to conquer the dungeon that runs through the heart of the world. Standing in their way are endless hordes of bloodthirsty monsters and countless traps. Armed only with steel, faith and guts, they must battle their way through the winding catacombs to confront the demon waiting at the bottom floor.

Yamada was once a student. Now he must become a samurai.