An ambitious orphan. A ruthless warlord. An impossible destiny.Arya Nameless is a lowly Raider posted to an isolated fort in the most dangerous place in Dunidaen. She has few prospects, and as much as she loves her fellow soldiers, she burns for more—more control, more autonomy, more power.When her bravery during an unexpected attack leads to an offer to join the household of one of Dunidaen’s warlords, Arya finds a home and family she never expected. Yet her quicksilver temper and fierce pride put her place there at constant risk.And as her warlord embroils them all in a dangerous political game to rule Dunidaen, over the border to the west, the Nightstalker lurks. A king who wields powerful magic, the Nightstalker’s fate is inextricably entwined with Arya’s. His relentless pursuit will force Arya into a choice she doesn’t want to make, between loyalty and love, and taking hold of the destiny she was born to fulfill.Which will she choose?

The Rat Tail Inn, a secluded, unremarkable place that few guests remember and even fewer people know about, has just had its first scandal. Amory Kipp, town drunk and general nuisance, has been murdered in his room. Unfortunately for the killer, royal detective Blaise Gideon had chosen to spend the night and assumes control of the case. Before she can even get the investigation started, two of the suspects reveal themselves as pioneers in a new field: archaeology. The married pair of academics is on the hunt for the legendary artifact known as the Mercury Idol, an item considered to be a gift from the gods. The Idol, if deeming an individual worthy, would allegedly grant them the power of a god.The archaeologists believe Amory Kipp was looking for the Idol and was killed for it. Desperate, Blaise makes an agreement with them. If they help her find the killer, she’ll help them find the Idol. Skeptical at first, Blaise soon finds there might be some truth to the stories of the Idol. With mounting evidence of the supernatural, local wildlife going crazy, and seemingly no one being who they claimed, Blaise must solve the case before sunrise when all the guests check out or, worse, before there’s a new god in town.

Poof! Our whole lives can change in an instant.And John Atwater—a skilled engineer and army veteran, who has plenty of battle scars from his time serving in the elite group called The Undesirables—knows this better than anyone. John’s life is all about routine, discipline, and reliability—the tools he uses to cope with his anxiety. But that all changes when his boss sends him on a “routine” business trip to Scotland.While in Scotland, he finds himself thrown into a beautiful yet troubled new world called Mhorelia, a magical place where he encounters mythical and dangerous creatures, must fight for his life in extreme climates, and faces the ultimate test to save Mhorelia from tyranny. On this perilous journey, he must embrace the unknown with courage while also being vulnerable enough to truly connect with others again, through mutual trust and undying loyalty and love.In The Ascent, Christopher Walker, author and wayfarer, poetically weaves the perfect combination of adventure, thrilling action scenes, romance, the magical and mythical, the power of eternal friendship, and the beauty of poetic justice.Adventure awaits. So, welcome to Mhorelia, all you fantasy lovers; come and join John Atwater on this soul-stirring quest. Will he succeed in helping the troubled people in this enchanting new world? Will he learn that, with the help of loyal friends and loved ones, he can step out of the darkness of his past and find the light of a new beginning?

The Epic Irish Mythological Adventure!IRELAND: 1st century A.D. A time of strife and treachery. Political ambition and inter-tribal conflict has set the country on edge, testing the strength of long-established alliances. Meanwhile, mysterious war parties roam the forests and a ruthless 'Tainted One' is intent on murder.In the secluded valley of Glenn Ceoch, a disgraced druid and a woman warrior have successfully avoided the bloodshed for many years. Now, the arrival of a pregnant refugee threatens the peace they've created together. Run or fight, the odds against them are overwhelming.And death stalks on every side.The most authentic Irish adventure series on the market, the Fionn mac Cumhaill Series by author Brian O’Sullivan is a gritty and authentic retelling of the great Irish epic. Gripping, insightful and utterly action-packed, this is Irish mythology/ fiction as you’ve never read it before.A 2016 SPFBO Competition finalist and Irish bestseller, this book also includes the following extra content:* a glossary with explanations on ancient Irish cultural concepts * a pronunciation guide and links to an online audio pronunciation guideWHAT OTHER REVIEWERS SAID:“I loved this book. It's a very mature and culturally rich interpretation, a far cry from some of the Celtic pop literature that is around today.""Well written and captivating, with a fair dollop of grit and wit. Strong characters, great development, excellent story telling. Worth more than the price of a coffee.”"An Ireland of centuries ago, threaded through with myth and magic, but very ‘real’ for all that. Dark and at times violent, it is balanced by affirming friendships and relationships, and a very strong female cast.”“If you’re sick of elves, chivalrous knights and arcane quests like me, this is probably the most exciting and refreshing book you’ll read in a long time. Five stars!”“Powerful female characters are all too rare in literature. The druid Bodhmhall, and her lover the warrior Liath Luachra will inspire current and future generations of women. O'Sullivan keeps a cracking pace in this, the first of his Fionn mac Cumhaill series."

An addictive, wonderfully dark and laugh-out-loud funny urban fantasy novel with loveable, magical characters, sinister beings and strange goings-on!'Brilliant and bananas . . . we loved it' MAGIC RADIO ‘Wonderfully dark, extremely funny’ ADAM KAY, on The Stranger TimesLove can be a truly terrible thing.Marriages are tricky at the best of times, especially when one of you is dead.Vincent Banecroft, the irascible editor of The Stranger Times, has never believed his wife died despite emphatic evidence to the contrary. Now, against all odds, it seems he may actually be proved right; but what lengths will he go to in an attempt to rescue her?With Banecroft distracted, the shock resignation of assistant editor, Hannah Willis, couldn't have come at a worse time. It speaks volumes that her decision to reconcile with her philandering ex-husband is only marginally less surprising than Banecroft and his wife getting back together. In this time of crisis, is her decision to swan off to a fancy new-age retreat run by a celebrity cult really the best thing for anyone?As if that wasn't enough, one of the paper's ex-columnists has disappeared, a particularly impressive trick seeing as he never existed in the first place.Floating statues, hijacked ghosts, homicidal cherubs, irate starlings, Reliant Robins and quite possibly several deeply sinister conspiracies; all-in-all, a typical week for the staff of The Stranger Times.Readers LOVE C. K. McDonnell:‘Brilliant! Absolute genius!! . . . a comic masterpiece’ *****‘This series just keeps getting better and better! This one was even funnier than the last!’ *****‘THESE BOOKS ARE SO FUN TO READ. I JUST CAN’T WAIT FOR THE NEXT ONE!’ *****‘What a truly entertaining read . . . just read the book’ *****‘This series just gets better and better . . . it’s laugh out loud funny’ *****‘Wonderfully strange, magical and heartfelt’ *****

Coffee for Two Book Review: Best of Fantasy Authors of 2019 UTOPiAcon Debut Book Award NomineeAn oath betrayed. A centuries-long curse. Nikka inherits the unimaginable task of unraveling it all.In a world of magic, I was unremarkable, except for my cursed, stuttering tongue. No special powers, no renowned apprenticeship, just the terrible, stammering aftereffects of the Lilac Plague.Until I opened a gift from my mother — a ghostly blue vision.Instead of words of endearment, the vision revealed that I’m now a Guardian. And I’m entrusted with a magical key — one so powerful that those who rule will do anything to find it.The burden of protecting the key now falls to me. In a race against the crown, I must find the treasure and the true heir, the only one who can stop the curse from being fulfilled. Impossible? Almost certainly. One false step spells disaster. But while I’ve learned to be cautious, I’m no fool. Where those before me died trying, I must forge a new path, relying on wits and some unlikely allies.Do you dare face the Lilac Plague? This coming of age, young adult fantasy adventure with mysterious magic, evil emperors, and a thread of romance will leave you amazed and clamoring for the next book.Praise for The Lilac Plague"Young adult high fantasy at its finest. K. J. Dawson gives us a strong heroine who, in a world of magic, learns to lead with intelligence." —Raye Wagner, USA Today Bestselling Author of Magi Rising and The Darkest Drae series"Immersive and captivating, THE LILAC PLAGUE will send you down fantastical paths with twists you don't see coming." —Kay L Moody, author of The Elements of the Crown"This book in one word? INSPIRATION!" — Coffee for Two Book Review"Once you finish this one there is no way you aren't picking up the next!" — Cross Roads Reviews"Adventure, intrigue, and a strong, believable heroine." — Kary English, Hugo and Campbell-nominee