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The Top Speculative Fiction Books and Series – An Extremely Subjective List By Lynne Cantwell

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It all started when I saw one too many iterations of the BBC’s top 100 books on Facebook. These lists are always heavily weighted with hoary old tomes written by dead white guys. Plus the BBC always leans on British authors (as well they should, since they’re based in London, but still). But my biggest issue with these lists is that they never include enough speculative fiction entries. I’m defining speculative fiction as science fiction, fantasy, horror, and any combination, including all subgenres, thereof.

Anyway, I saw that list and I snapped. I have a lot of well-read friends who read speculative fiction all the time. And I was certain that if I asked around, I could come up with a list of 100 speculative fiction novels – and not only that, but our list would be a whole lot more interesting and fun than anything the BBC could put together.

So I took nominations and posted the list on Facebook. That drew more nominations, so I added them and posted it again – which drew more nominations. We ended up with 147 entries for our list of top 100 speculative fiction novels. (That reminded me of the marketing hook for Douglas Adams’s So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish: “the fourth book in the trilogy!” That trilogy was The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, which of course is on our list.)

The list actually includes way more than 147 books, because I insisted on each series being one listing or else we’d have gotten to 100 too fast. (For example, if you count each of the 41 Discworld novels separately, you’re nearly halfway to 100 already.)

Of course, when I posted my final-final list on my blog, I received even more nominations from my friends. But I’m sticking with this iteration for now. Happy reading!

Top 147 Speculative Fiction Novels, in no particular order (according to Lynne & Friends) [Read more…] about The Top Speculative Fiction Books and Series – An Extremely Subjective List By Lynne Cantwell

Featured Book: Karolina Dalca, Dark Eyes by M. R. Noble

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Blindsided by an attack that destroys her home and blamed for murder, Karolina Dalca, a half-vampire, escapes, only to plunge into the magical societies from which she was sheltered.

Betrayed by those around her, she abandons her dreams of becoming an investigator and flees, trusting only herself. Her police internship would never prove more useful. Hoofing it through the wilderness, she makes it to her university dorm, disheveled but delightfully deflowered.

Enter a full vampire: one wielding dark magic and a ride out of Canada. A fugitive from the law, Karo complies with his demands to escape, unsure whether his requests are bewitched. She vows to clear her name and avenge her mother’s death, but Karo’s family secrets aren’t so easily left behind.

“This book grabs you by the throat and does not let go! A fast paced, enthralling journey through a hidden underworld of vampires, werewolves, and other beings of the night. I Highly recommend you acquire this book and hole up somewhere safe for the ride.” —Stuart Rutherford, actor from WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS

“Fans of Kim Harrison will be drawn into the imagery of Noble’s first book of the Dark Eyes series. In between bouts of fighting and the intensity of paranormal, dark fantasy, there are moments of comedy that make this series opener a real page-turner.” —Booklist.

Buy Karolina Dalca, Dark Eyes Here

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Featured Book: The Order of the Dark Rose by P. H. Solomon

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An arch-mage can handle almost anything. Unless he’s cursed, lost his job and facing an unknown enemy.

The Gallantean Empire relies increasingly upon magical technology which cleans sewers, runs trams and much more. Within the capital city of Cal Rindon, magic is pervasive, but not necessarily used without criminal activity. The bustling metropolis boasts constant innovations mixed with growing pains. Amid the good lurks the bad with unrest and growing crime.

Arch-mage Manny Mandeheim fell under a curse, watched his fiancé die, and then lost his job as a spy. So what’s an arch-mage to do? Start his own magical investigation service while he works to clear his good name and maybe avenge his lost love. With his very un-magical partner, Wish Ackford, Manny discovers the menace of a much larger conspiracy than he expected looming behind his curse. The limitations from the hex leave him at a distinct disadvantage as he and Wish investigate.

Assassins lurk at every corner or in every tram car. The threat of an unknown mastermind with murky intentions lingers just out of sight. A questionable source offers the hint of a secret order hounding Manny’s footsteps. A murder leads to wrenching discoveries.

Nothing an arch-mage can’t handle…

Unless the curse limits how much magic he can use or kills him outright.

A mixture of gaslamp fantasy and Sherlock Holmes-like cases, The Order of the Dark Rose is a sleuth private detective mystery set in an alternate fantasy world where magic is both commonplace and dangerous. Mysteries abound in this original, new fantasy from P. H. Solomon, author of the award-winning, best-selling epic fantasy series, The Bow of Hart Saga.

Can Manny survive long enough to break his curse? Or will the arch-mage’s hidden foe escape him?

Buy The Order of the Dark Rose Here

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Featured Book: War of the Staffs by Steve Stephenson

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War of the Staffs is a fantasy trilogy set on a world called Muiria, where a goddess named Adois brings a vampire wizard named Taza through the void. Then Taza convinces the Illanni, dark elves, to take on the cloak of vampirism.
Meanwhile, Prince Tarquin is born to fulfill a prophecy to confront Taza’s plans. However, he cannot succeed without the help of Morganna, a dark elf and championed by the wizard Celedant. He begins his search for the Staff of Adaman – the only object capable of defeating Taza.
War of the Staffs is the search for two pieces of the ancient staff Adaman to counter Taza’s will. The darkness is rising with Taza’s eyes fixed on the land and people of Muiria. Using the black power of the Staff of Adois and an army of dark elves, he will begin a reign of terror to the world of Muiria.

Buy War of the Staffs Here

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The Chronicle Gate vol. 1 by N. Lang

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What if you ended up on a planet. . .and had no idea how you got there? On a planet called Ethereal live creatures known as the Elouse. A couple of kids discover a human child and take him in. While their dad, Jasper, tries to find the planet “Earth” (which doesn’t exist in their galaxy) their mom, Ellen, and her girls, Taylinn, and Avigale are left to welcome and care for, Sinya, who has no recollection how he got there in the first place. Sinya tries to fit in his surroundings and make friends but some are too afraid, including Taylinn and Avigale. Taylinn finds out her dad is going away in a secret spaceship, but she overhears that the mission is really “to save his family from him?” Could he mean Sinya? Sinya starts seeing Mer-Dragons, a made-up tale told to him by Avigale and Taylinn but this Mer-Dragon talks to a being known as “Malic,” one that means danger for Jasper and the family. But no one will believe him. When Taylinn finally sees the truth of the danger for herself, she tries to alert her friends, but just like Sinya, no one will believe her, including her mother. Now in order for Sinya to get back home, these unlikely pair must team up to save Jasper, and his family from the coming danger of Mer-Dragons!

Targeted Age Group:: 8-12

What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
I first had the idea when a friend of mine bought me “Inkheart” by Cornelia Funk then after that series I began reading other middle grade fantasy books like “Fablehaven” by Brandon Mull “The Chronicle of Narnia” by C.S. Lewis and became hooked. Other fantasy books inspired me too like “Magic Kingdom of Landover” series by Terry Brooks, “Gatemage” by Orson Scott Card and “Books of Umber” by P.W. Catanese. I started working on this trilogy in 2006 after I wrote my urban fantasy novel “The Lost Angels.”

Tales of Silver Downs: Books 1 – 3 by Kylie Quillinan

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A family secret. A fey curse. A jealous feud between brothers.

When the seventh son of a seventh son is a bard, he can bring his words to life. Only nobody remembers how the magic works. This collection contains all three full-length Tales of Silver Downs books in one edition: Muse, Fey and Druid.

Muse: A bard who doesn’t believe in the power of his words accidently brings his imaginary muse to life. Now he has to deal with the consequences.

Fey: A woman determined to save her husband from his bard brother’s magic ventures into the fey realm. But the fey despise mortals and intend to stop her from reclaiming her husband.

Druid: A brother and sister torn apart by the fey are unexpectedly reunited. They have the power to banish the fey forever, but can they put aside their differences long enough to do it?

For readers who like their fantasy dark. This series has lush pre Roman Britain backdrops with a fairytale feeling, a fantasy quest and characters who fight their destiny.

Buy Tales of Silver Downs: Books 1 – 3 by Kylie Quillinan Here

Child of Light by Terry Brooks

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The electrifying first novel of an all-new fantasy series from the legendary author behind the Shannara saga, about a human girl struggling to find her place in a magical world she’s never known

“Enticing . . . Brooks’s fans will be thrilled to have a new series to savor.”—Publishers Weekly

At nineteen, Auris Afton Grieg has led an . . . unusual life. Since the age of fifteen, she has been trapped in a sinister prison. Why? She does not know. She has no memories of her past beyond the vaguest of impressions. All she knows is that she is about to age out of the children’s prison, and rumors say that the adult version is far, far worse. So she and some friends stage a desperate escape into the surrounding wastelands. And it is here that Auris’s journey of discovery begins, for she is rescued by an unusual stranger who claims to be Fae—a member of a magical race that Auris had thought to be no more than legend. Odder still, he seems to think that she is one as well, although the two look nothing alike. But strangest of all, when he brings her to his wondrous homeland, she begins to suspect that he is right. Yet how could a woman who looks entirely human be a magical being herself?

Told with a fresh, energetic voice, this fantasy puzzle box is perfect for fans of Terry Brooks and new readers alike, as one young woman slowly unlocks truths about herself and her world—and, in doing so, begins to heal both.

Buy Child of Light by Terry Brooks Here

Lore Olympus: Volume One by Rachel Smythe

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Scandalous gossip, wild parties, and forbidden love—witness what the gods do after dark in this stylish and contemporary reimagining of one of the best-known stories in Greek mythology from creator Rachel Smythe.

“What Scott Pilgrim did for Canadian slackers, Lore Olympus does for the Greek pantheon, while being so beautiful that you know Aphrodite is just staring daggers in its direction.”—Kieron Gillen, co-creator of The Wicked + The Divine

Persephone, young goddess of spring, is new to Olympus. Her mother, Demeter, has raised her in the mortal realm, but after Persephone promises to train as a sacred virgin, she’s allowed to live in the fast-moving, glamorous world of the gods. When her roommate, Artemis, takes her to a party, her entire life changes: she ends up meeting Hades and feels an immediate spark with the charming yet misunderstood ruler of the Underworld. Now Persephone must navigate the confusing politics and relationships that rule Olympus, while also figuring out her own place—and her own power.

This full-color edition of Smythe’s original Eisner-nominated webcomic Lore Olympus features a brand-new, exclusive short story, and brings Greek mythology into the modern age in a sharply perceptive and romantic graphic novel.

This volume collects episodes 1–25 of the #1 WEBTOON comic Lore Olympus.

Buy Lore Olympus: Volume One by Rachel Smythe Here

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

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#1 NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Two starcrossed magicians engage in a deadly game of cunning in the spellbinding New York Times bestseller that captured the world’s imagination.

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway: a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them both, this is a game in which only one can be left standing. Despite the high stakes, Celia and Marco soon tumble headfirst into love, setting off a domino effect of dangerous consequences, and leaving the lives of everyone, from the performers to the patrons, hanging in the balance.

Buy The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern Here

Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo

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Lee Mandelo’s debut Summer Sons is a sweltering, queer Southern Gothic that crosses Appalachian street racing with academic intrigue, all haunted by a hungry ghost.

Andrew and Eddie did everything together, best friends bonded more deeply than brothers, until Eddie left Andrew behind to start his graduate program at Vanderbilt. Six months later, only days before Andrew was to join him in Nashville, Eddie dies of an apparent suicide. He leaves Andrew a horrible inheritance: a roommate he doesn’t know, friends he never asked for, and a gruesome phantom that hungers for him.

As Andrew searches for the truth of Eddie’s death, he uncovers the lies and secrets left behind by the person he trusted most, discovering a family history soaked in blood and death. Whirling between the backstabbing academic world where Eddie spent his days and the circle of hot boys, fast cars, and hard drugs that ruled Eddie’s nights, the walls Andrew has built against the world begin to crumble.

And there is something awful lurking, waiting for those walls to fall.

At the Publisher’s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Buy Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo Here

Divine Fate: The Complete Series (Davina Universe Collections Book 1) by Alicia Rades

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USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR Alicia Rades writes a thrilling young adult paranormal series where teens train in secret and angels wage war against dark demons. This complete series bundle includes all three books in the Divine Fate Trilogy.

Ryn Tyler’s life changed the day she killed a demon.

Now she’s been thrown headfirst into a magical school for angels, with the power to become their savior in the war against demons. She trains in secret with her bad boy mentor, Marek, who’s hiding a troubled past.

Only Ryn has the ability to end the war and save the people she loves.

But Ryn’s fate doesn’t just concern her new home. If she fails, humanity will fall… and the very world will be at stake.

Thousands of copies sold! Join the battle of angels versus demons in this fast-paced, action-packed adventure for young adult paranormal and urban fantasy fans. Featuring a unique twist on angels, this page-turning teen supernatural adventure is packed with mystery, excitement, and romance.

Buy Divine Fate: The Complete Series (Davina Universe Collections Book 1) by Alicia Rades Here

Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao

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Pacific Rim meets The Handmaid’s Tale in this blend of Chinese history and mecha science fiction for YA readers.

The boys of Huaxia dream of pairing up with girls to pilot Chrysalises, giant transforming robots that can battle the mecha aliens that lurk beyond the Great Wall. It doesn’t matter that the girls often die from the mental strain.

When 18-year-old Zetian offers herself up as a concubine-pilot, it’s to assassinate the ace male pilot responsible for her sister’s death. But she gets her vengeance in a way nobody expected—she kills him through the psychic link between pilots and emerges from the cockpit unscathed. She is labeled an Iron Widow, a much-feared and much-silenced kind of female pilot who can sacrifice boys to power up Chrysalises instead.

To tame her unnerving yet invaluable mental strength, she is paired up with Li Shimin, the strongest and most controversial male pilot in Huaxia. But now that Zetian has had a taste of power, she will not cower so easily. She will miss no opportunity to leverage their combined might and infamy to survive attempt after attempt on her life, until she can figure out exactly why the pilot system works in its misogynist way—and stop more girls from being sacrificed.

Buy Iron Widow by Xiran Jay Zhao Here

The Fourth Talisman Boxed Set: Nocturne, Solis, Monstrum, Nemesis and Inferno by Kat Ross

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Nocturne, a wilderness of eternal night.
Solis, a wasteland of endless day.

It’s been a thousand years since the Avas Vatras tried to burn the world to ashes. A thousand years since they were imprisoned in the arid death zone called the Kiln. But revenge is a dish best served cold—even, apparently, by the children of fire. As war brews again, a young woman named Nazafareen must learn to control her own volatile power to stop the creatures whose mad king sundered the realm into light and dark.

Buy The Fourth Talisman Boxed Set: Nocturne, Solis, Monstrum, Nemesis and Inferno by Kat Ross Here

Royal Factions Box Set Books #1-3 by W. J. May

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Book 1 – The Price for Peace

How do you keep fighting when you’ve already been claimed?

When sixteen-year-old Elise is ripped from her home and taken to the royal palace as a permanent ‘guest’, she thinks her life is over.

Little does she know it has only just begun…

After befriending a group of other captives, including the headstrong Will, Elise finds herself swept away to a world she never knew existed—polished, sculpted, and refined until she can hardly recognize her own reflection. She should be happy to have escaped the poverty of her former life. But she knows a dark truth.

The palace is a dream on the surface, but a nightmare underneath.

With a dwindling population, the royals have imprisoned the teenagers to marry and breed. Only seven days remain of freedom before they will be selected by a courtier and forever claimed.

Danger lurks around every corner. The only chance of escape is death.

But when the day of the claiming finally arrives…the world will never be the same.

Book 2 – The Cost for Surviving

Is it really living when you spend your life in a cage…

The wait is over, the dust has settled, and the captives have finally been claimed. Elise thought the deadly game was finished, but the more time she spends in the palace, the more she begins to fear the real game has only just begun.

In the aftermath of the ceremony, each of the friends try to adjust to their new life. But some are having more trouble than others. Will’s perpetual defiance lands him in trouble with the queen herself, while Elise is playing a dangerous balancing act, trying to understand the affections of the prince. The man can be sweet, but also psychotic. At times, he seems to truly care—but with a snap of his fingers, she’d be sentenced to death.

Danger is brewing. In the royal court, nothing is as it seems. They are told repeatedly to content themselves with the life for which they’ve been chosen. But how can you live with monsters without becoming a monster yourself? Is it really a life, or just going through the motions?

The more time they spend in the palace, the longer the days drag on, the more a single word keeps rising in each of their minds…escape.

Book 3 – The Punishment for Deception

How can you move on with the future without surrendering the past?

When an escape attempt goes desperately awry, Elise and Will find themselves at the mercy of the very people who have imprisoned them all this time. Tensions sharpen, punishments are severe, and they soon discover what terrible things are required if they wish to survive.

But such wild spirits were never meant to be tamed.

While appearing to submit, the future princess still dreams of freedom. And as the day of her wedding approaches, those dreams begin to turn into something more.

With so many eyes upon her, can she maintain the illusion? Is the crown prince really such a monster, or is there more to him than meets the eye?

Time is running out. All that’s left are choices.

But will she have the strength to decide?

Buy Royal Factions Box Set Books #1-3 by W. J. May Here

Blade of Glass (The Splintered Land Book 1) by Richard Parry

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Sorcerers are a blight. Knight Adept Geneve must end them.

A wizard rumored to hold the Tome of Lost Souls is on the run. This powerful grimoire can destroy Geneve’s order in an instant. She must capture him–and the Tome.

Geneve finds truth on her path. Monsters brutalize the world, and her leaders are complicit. She runs from them into the blasted plaguelands. Geneve damns herself through her choice of companions: a Feybrind who keeps his own counsel, a renegade illusionist, and one of the vile Vhemin.

Her quest to uncover the Tome’s secret remains. If she succeeds, she will let down those she serves. If she fails, not even the gods can stop the end of all things. Her armor has never felt so heavy.

Read this gripping dark fantasy adventure today!

Buy Blade of Glass (The Splintered Land Book 1) by Richard Parry Here

Mordew (Mordew Trilogy Book 1) by Alex Pheby

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Alex Pheby’s Mordew launches an astonishingly inventive epic fantasy trilogy.

God is dead, his corpse hidden in the catacombs beneath Mordew.

In the slums of the sea-battered city, a young boy called Nathan Treeves lives with his parents, eking out a meagre existence by picking treasures from the Living Mud and the half-formed, short-lived creatures it spawns. Until one day his desperate mother sells him to the mysterious Master of Mordew.

The Master derives his magical power from feeding on the corpse of God. But Nathan, despite his fear and lowly station, has his own strength—and it is greater than the Master has ever known. Great enough to destroy everything the Master has built. If only Nathan can discover how to use it.

So it is that the Master begins to scheme against him—and Nathan has to fight his way through the betrayals, secrets, and vendettas of the city where God was murdered, and darkness reigns.

At the Publisher’s request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Buy Mordew (Mordew Trilogy Book 1) by Alex Pheby Here

Sins of the Fathers: The Complete Trilogy by Matthew P. Gilbert

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To stop the end of the world, they must defy a god.

Three epic books. 1,000+ pages full of dark magic, war, unforgettable characters, and political intrigue.
***Launching at a special low price for a limited time***

Long ago, powerful sorcerers stole the power of a god. Only the courage and sacrifice of great heroes stopped them from conquering the known world.

They thought it was over. But the god who was robbed so long ago remained. He swore that long after the heroes were dead, when his power returned, he would have his vengeance on all of humanity.

Now, the time of his prophecy is at hand. A band of elite desert warriors crosses the sea, hoping faith and courage will be enough to turn aside the coming apocalypse. Their leader, Prelate Yazid Valerian, seeks the mythical city of sorcerers.

There, he believes, he will find allies and answers. But the city has been hidden for centuries for a reason. And he never expects that he and his men may spark the very doom they seek to prevent…

Buy this Special Edition Box Set to experience a sweeping Epic Fantasy Series with a grimdark twist, perfect for fans of Steven Erikson’s Malazan Book of the Fallen, Game of Thrones, and Joe Abercombie’s First Law Series.

Included in the Sins of the Father Trilogy:
Book 1: Dead God’s Due (2019 Voice Arts Award Nominee)
Book 2: Mad God’s Muse
Book 3: War God’s Will

Buy Sins of the Fathers: The Complete Trilogy by Matthew P. Gilbert Here

Make Me No Grave: A Weird West Novel by Hayley Stone

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Marshal Apostle Richardson faces off against bloodthirsty outlaws, flesh witches, ruthless vigilantes, and more in this gritty, magical re-imagining of the Old West.

Almena Guillory, better known as the Grizzly Queen of the West, has done plenty to warrant the noose, but US Marshal Apostle Richardson enforces the law, he doesn’t decide it. When a posse tries to lynch Almena ahead of her trial, Apostle refuses their form of expedited justice – and receives a bullet for his trouble. Almena spares him through the use of dangerous flesh magic but escapes soon after saving him.

Weeks later, Apostle fears the outlaw queen has returned to her old ways when she’s spotted terrorizing Kansas with a new gang in tow. When cornered, however, Almena makes a convincing case for her innocence and proposes a plan to take the real bandits down. Working with a known killer opens Apostle up to all sorts of trouble, not the least being his own growing attraction toward the roguish woman. Turning Almena away from vengeance may be out of the question, but if he doesn’t try, she’ll wind up right where the law wants her: at the end of a rope.

And if Apostle isn’t careful, he’ll end up joining her.

If you like Red Dead Redemption and Lila Bowen’s Wake of Vultures, you’ll love this gun-blazing weird western.

Buy Make Me No Grave: A Weird West Novel by Hayley Stone Here

Featured Book: Hexed in Texas: A Humorous Fantasy by Kathy Burford

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A Russian witch steps through her magic mirror. The heir of a voodoo queen makes more conventional travel plans. But why are they headed for Texas?

Once upon a time (a year ago, if you’re a stickler for details), chaotic magic leaking from Alamo excavations triggered an improbable event, drawing the attention of two unlikely rivals in search of a rare prize.

The Russian witch Baba Yaga has been living in her chicken-legged hut in the forest since–even she can’t remember how long.

M. C. Laveau, the CEO of Laveau Pharmaceuticals, merchandizes products that exploit the magic of her grandmother Marie (yes, that Marie).

Book 1 of the Baba Yaga Chronicles, described by reviewers as “full of humor and surprises,” “unexpected and satisfying,” “a delightful magical romp,” and “the perfect read.” Available for free on Kindle Unlimited.

If you like light-hearted fantasy with offbeat humor, clever plot twists, and quirky characters, read the Baba Yaga Chronicles!

Buy Hexed in Texas: A Humorous Fantasy Here

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Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton

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From the bestselling author of Jurassic Park, Timeline, and Sphere comes an epic tale of unspeakable horror.

It is 922 A.D. The refined Arab courtier Ibn Fadlan is accompanying a party of Viking warriors back to their home. He is appalled by their customs—the gratuitous sexuality of their women, their disregard for cleanliness, and their cold-blooded sacrifices. As they enter the frozen, forbidden landscape of the North—where the day’s length does not equal the night’s, where after sunset the sky burns in streaks of color—Fadlan soon discovers that he has been unwillingly enlisted to combat the terrors in the night that come to slaughter the Vikings, the monsters of the mist that devour human flesh. But just how he will do it, Fadlan has no idea.

Buy Eaters of the Dead by Michael Crichton Here

Upon Dragon’s Breath Trilogy: The Complete Series by Ava Richardson

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Upon Dragon’s Breath Trilogy.

Dragons of Wild
In a time of darkness, unlikely heroes will rise. The once-peaceful kingdom of Torvald has been ravaged by evil magic, forcing Riders to forget their dragons and their noble beasts to flee to the wilds. Now, anyone who dares to speak of dragons is deemed insane and put to death. Into this dark and twisted land, Saffron was born sixteen years ago. Blessed with the gift of dragon affinity, she has been forced into a life of exile, secretly dreaming of a normal life and the family she lost. Scholarly and reclusive, Bower is the son of a noble house on the brink of destruction. His mission is to fulfill a mysterious prophecy and save his kingdom from the rule of the evil King Enric, but all he wants is to be left alone. When he meets Saffron, Bower gains a powerful ally—but her magic is too wild to control. Their friendship might just have the power to change the course of history, but when the Dark Mage King Enric makes Saffron a tempting offer, their alliance will be shaken to the core.

Dragons of Kings
The battle for Torvald begins. As the young heir of a noble house fallen into decay, Bower has reluctantly shouldered the mantle he was born with—that of Torvald’s rightful king. It is his destiny to throw off the shackles of King Enric and lead his people to freedom, or so he’s been told.  With the help of the wild and untamed Dragon Rider Saffron, he hopes to unite his downtrodden people. It will take an uneasy alliance with a rogue band of Dragon Riders and their charismatic leader, Ryland, to challenge the Dark Mage king, but distrust threatens to tear apart the force that he’s risked everything to build.  Now, on the eve of battle, Bower will have to fulfill a mystical prophecy and become the leader he was born to be, or risk his future kingdom falling apart. Surrounded on all sides by deadly foes, he must face not only the evil king, but his deep doubts about himself. 

Dragons of Dark
Saffron’s resolve will be tested as the fate of a kingdom hangs in the balance. Young Dragon Rider Saffron and her faithful comrade, the rightful king Bower, have survived their first battle, but the war for Torvald is far from over. She warns the scholarly prince they must take action and adapt for the sake of their people, while their enemy—and her relative—King Enric waits in the wings. The powerful mage knows orphaned Saffron wishes for a family above all, and his offer to make her his heir may be too tempting to refuse. As both dragons and Riders struggle to return to the ways of old, from before the land fell into darkness, the evil king undermines their every move with spies and sabotage. Bower knows their efforts are doomed without a final assault against the palace, but Saffron has doubts. Risking everything in a single attack isn’t what concerns her—it’s what victory may mean.  She knows she must overcome her Maddox nature to save her people. Toppling the ruthless Enric means an end to one deadly threat, but will she be able to resist the temptation to use her wild magic to seize power for herself? 

Buy Upon Dragon’s Breath Trilogy: The Complete Series by Ava Richardson Here

Folk Tales from The Garden by Donald Smith

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The garden is an oasis, a pocket of nature in our busy modern lives, full of plants, animals, insects – and a fair bit of magic.

Folk Tales from the Garden follows the seasons through a year of stories, garden lore and legends. Explore the changing face of nature just outside your front door, from the tale of the Creator painting her birds and the merits of kissing an old toad, to pixies sleeping in the tulips, and an unusually large turnip.

Buy Folk Tales from The Garden by Donald Smith Here

The Anthology of Scottish Folk Tales by Donald Smith

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This enchanting collection of stories gathers together legends from across Scotland in one special volume. Drawn from The History Press’ popular Folk Tales series, herein lies a treasure trove of tales from a wealth of talented storytellers. From the Spaeman’s peculiar advice and a laird who is transformed into a frog, to a fugitive hiding in a dark cave and the stoor worm battling with Assipattle, this book celebrates the distinct character of Scotland’s different customs, beliefs, and dialects, and is a treat for all who enjoy a well-told story.

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The Buried Goddess Saga: The Complete Series: (An Epic Fantasy Boxed Set: Books 1-6) by Rhett C. Bruno, Jaime Castle

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Get the Buried Goddess Saga Boxset, featuring all six action-packed books in the bestselling series. Over 3,000 pages of adventure, magic, war, and a diverse cast of characters you won’t soon forget.

★★★★★ “Compelling characters, spectacular world-building, jaw-dropping twists.”– Fantasy-Faction Reviewer

As the shadows of evil spread across Pantego, heroes rise from unexpected places to join the fight against the Buried Goddess. If they fail, the world will fall with them.

A rotten thief who believes himself to be far more important than he really is.

An orphaned blood mage barely able to control the magic coursing through her veins.

A disgraced knight dispatched on a suicide quest by his mad queen.

The daughter of a famous warlord, out to prove she too deserves to lead armies.

They’re not the heroes the world envisioned, but they’re the only ones who can stop the Buried Goddess as she seeks to return and exact her vengeance on the people of Pantego.

Buy this Special Edition Omnibus to experience a Saga with something for every fan of Epic Fantasy, from the Forgotten Realms to Game of Thrones. It’s perfect for fans of Michael J. Sullivan, Kel Kade, and Will Wight.

Books Included in the Set:
Book 1: Web of Eyes (IPPY Award Winner)
Book 2: Winds of War
Book 3: Will of Fire
Book 4: Way of Gods
Book 5: War of Men
Book 6: Word of Truth

Buy The Buried Goddess Saga: The Complete Series: (An Epic Fantasy Boxed Set: Books 1-6) by Rhett C. Bruno, Jaime Castle Here

Frey (The Frey Saga Book 1) by Melissa Wright

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Nothing is as it seems.

Frey’s life is a lie. She doesn’t remember being bound from magic. She didn’t intend to discover this dangerous secret, to get entangled in Council business. But she did.

And now she’s on the run.

With the aid of a stranger, she discovers a world beyond the elves who bound her. But it’s a world of shadows and dark magic, a world she’s been warned not to trust. The farther she strays, the more she finds a forgotten past. As she fights to reclaim her true identity, Council trackers hunt her down.

If they find her, she will burn.

The stranger offers her a way out, but it’s a path of no return. How do you know who to believe when you don’t even know who you are?

Buy Frey (The Frey Saga Book 1) by Melissa Wright Here