99 CENT BOOK FIND: The Birr Elixir by Jo Sparkes

Available for JUST 99 CENTS is The Birr Elixir (The Legend of the Gamesmen)  by Jo Sparkes (Click for UK, Australia, Canada or India download)  Why not grab a copy NOW?

BOOK DESCRIPTION

When a young apprentice makes a mysterious elixir from a recipe in an old book, she's suddenly the talisman for a daring Gamesman - and the weapon in the conspiracy against a prince.

∞-----∞

Marra never heard of Birr Elixir. But when Drail sees the potion in her dead mistress's book, she agrees to make it. Even lacking the right ingredient.

And after drinking it, Drail and his men defeat a Skullan team - something no one has ever done before. Marra is offered a place as his traveling potions mistress. Full of doubts of her own ability, she takes the chance to escape her slave-like existence.

Then her potions woke a man who was not supposed to wake.

Now every day draws more attention from the True Masters. And their motives – and morals – are not for the faint of heart.

If they discover the truth …

"The Birr Elixir keeps readers hooked.  … proves to be an outstanding author with this light-hearted fantasy tale. She makes creating a believable, likeable world look easy … for a fun story with an imaginative world and an exciting sport, look no further than Jo Sparkes’ book The Birr Elixir. "

-  Andrew Keyser, Portland Book Review May 8, 2013

99 CENT BOOK FIND: Home Again by Kathleen Shoop

Available for JUST 99 CENTS is Home Again (The Endless Love Series Book 1)  by Kathleen Shoop (Click for UK, Australia, Canada  or India purchase).  Why not grab a copy before it goes back to full price?

BOOK DESCRIPTION
BOOK 2 **RETURN TO LOVE** IS NOW ALSO AVAILABLE!

HOME AGAIN is a novella set in 1969 on the shores of the Albemarle Sound. April Harrington has fond memories of summers at her family home, Bliss. After her fairytale wedding disintegrates, it becomes her refuge—the one place where she can attempt to pull the unraveling threads of her life back together. Unbeknownst to April, the stately house has been neglected in recent years. The once-sturdy roof is leaking in a few dozen places, and the wharf is rotting. Nothing is the same as she remembers. Nothing except for Hale, a Viet Nam pilot who is haunted by a dreadful secret, and who is also her brother’s best friend, a brother killed in the conflict that is tearing the country apart.

In Hale’s presence, April finds familiarity and solace. They share grief for a lost loved one, and from the comfort of Hale’s arms, passion blooms. Yet, April’s future is unresolved. Her wealthy, arrogant almost-bridegroom wants her back and the ghosts of Viet Nam are whispering to Hale. Can they find new love in an old treasured home, the kind of affection and trust that lasts forever?

NEW RELEASE: The Archon's Assassin by D.P. Prior

We are happy to announce as a NEW RELEASE: The Archon's Assassin (Shader Book 4) by D.P. Prior (Click for UK , Australia, Canada or India purchase).  Why not grab a copy today?

BOOK DESCRIPTION

One by one, the guilds of New Jerusalem fall to Shadrak the Unseen and his accomplice, the poisoner Albert. But as the battle for supremacy comes to a head, Shadrak is given a new order by the mysterious Archon: kill his closest living friend, the Nameless Dwarf.

The philosopher Aristodeus persuades the Archon to stay his hand, proposing instead three quests that will free Nameless from the curse of the black axe that led him to slaughter his own people.

But the plan has perils of its own: a visit to the fire giant’s lair at the heart of a volcano; a daring raid on the Liche Lord’s castle in darkest Verusia; and a confrontation with the son of the Demiurgos in the depths of the Abyss.

Even with the incomparable partnership of Shadrak and Nameless, the quests seem doomed to failure, and so Aristodeus tries once more to entice Deacon Shader back to the fight.

But Shader is a changed man, more given to drink than the sword, and if he should discover the secret Rhiannon and Aristodeus have kept from him these past four years, the quests are sure to come to a crashing halt before they even get off the ground.

Friendship, scheming, and the worst horrors imaginable combine to test the companions to the limits, and despair dark enough to corrode even the most unwavering faith awaits those not destined to return.

BARGAIN BOOK: A Land To Call Her Own by Julie Pollitt

We are happy to announce as a BARGAIN BOOK: A Land To Call Her Own: A Novel by Julie Pollitt (Click for UK , Australia, Canada or India purchase).  Why not grab a copy today?

BOOK DESCRIPTION
Tess Porter set out across the country to start a new life with her estranged father on the dangerous Colorado Territory frontier. When she arrives in Denver City to a tragedy, she struggles to keep her dream alive.

Ian Bidwell spent most of his life ransacking the dreams of others, until he met Christ. He severs ties from his overbearing uncle, a man desperate for Tess’s land, and offers to help her on her ranch.

As the two work together to run the ranch, Tess questions his loyalties. Will Tess learn the power of trust and allow Ian back in to her heart? Will Ian learn forgiveness in this sweeping love story set in the American west?

99 CENT BOOK FIND: Shadow Dragon by Marc Secchia

Available for JUST 99 CENTS is Shadow Dragon (Shapeshifter Dragons Book 2) by Marc Secchia (Click for UK, Australia, Canada or India purchase).  Why not grab a copy before it goes back to full price?

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Chameleon Shapeshifters, uncontrollable storm powers, and the rise of Sylakia’s Dragon-elite. The battle against evil scales new heights, but the price of victory grows ever dearer.

Once, a Shadow Dragon ravaged the Island-World. Insatiable. Unstoppable. A Dragon-killer. Now the Shadow Dragon has reappeared, on a collision course with Aranya and King Beran’s campaign to liberate the Islands from the scourge of Sylakian tyranny. He is dark, beautiful and deadly, a predator of untold power.

Meantime, Thoralian weaves his web of guile and betrayal right in the hearts of Aranya’s friends and allies. He will bring them to an encounter only he can win.

Incredible aerial battles. An Ancient Dragon bent on enslaving Aranya. The treacherous secrets of Dragon magic. This is the fight for which destiny has shaped a heroine of rare courage–Aranya, Princess of Immadia. Criminal. Shapeshifter Dragon. A woman who will confront evil at any cost. Spite her at your peril.

NEW RELEASE: The Epherium Chronicles: Echoes by T.D. Wilson

We are happy to announce as a NEW RELEASE and BARGAIN BOOK: The Epherium Chronicles: Echoes by T.D. Wilson (Click for UK , Australia, Canada or India purchase).  Why not grab a copy today? 

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Book three of The Epherium Chronicles

The battle for Cygni colony may be over, but for Captain James Hood and the crew of the EDF Armstrong, the battle for humanity's future has just begun. Hood's defense of the remote outpost against the Cilik'ti aliens was magnificent, but without the timely help of an unlikely ally—a splinter tribe of humanity's bitter enemies—the colony would have been lost and the Armstrong destroyed.

An uneasy peace has prevailed ever since. But as the humans prepare for a crucial meeting, a desperately needed Earth supply convoy is attacked under mysterious circumstances, with the lead escort cruiser's captain disappearing even more mysteriously.

The fate of all of Earth's new colonies hangs in the balance, and Hood is charged with protecting them against growing threats from all sides. When rebellion and unrest challenge the very leadership of the Earth Defense Forces, Hood may need to go it alone…and make the ultimate sacrifice.

72,000 words

BOOK OF THE DAY: Against The Unweaving (Shader) by D.P. Prior

Against The Unweaving: Shader: First Trilogy

by D.P. Prior

(Click for UK, Australia, Canada or India purchase:

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Plague strikes the city of Sarum, and the dead rise from their graves. 

The liche, Dr. Cadman, has discovered a long-hidden artifact and perverted its power for his own selfish ends. 

But an ancient evil from beyond the stars is drawn by its use and turns hungry eyes upon the Earth. 

These are the times of Unweaving, the times Deacon Shader has been prepared for since the day he was born. 

A man of prayer, deeply troubled by a contradictory faith, he is also the deadliest warrior of his generation. 

As events spiral out of control, and Creation itself hangs by a thread, the paradox at the heart of Shader’s life may just be the last desperate hope of all the worlds.

Contains:

Book 1: Sword of the Archon
Book 2: Best Laid Plans
Book 3: The Unweaving

AUTHOR BIO

Who the Shog is D.P. Prior?

I was born in the South East of England in the late sixties, just in time to get a good sniff at the Summer of Love.

I spent most of my childhood immersed in fantasy and SF novels as well as Marvel comics. I also had an unhealthy obsession with D&D and was, for a long time, a member of the rather dodgy wargaming society at the Archery recreation ground.

After studying theatre at Lewes I did a season as Father Christmas, worked as a lighting and sound technician, and then trained for three years to be a Mental Health Nurse. I started in one of the Victorian asylums but ended up at the University of Sussex.

Once qualifying, I was immediately off to Aberystwyth to study for a BA in Drama. I also studied Classics and Medieval History and ended up specializing in Acting and Intercultural Theatre.

I gained twenty years of varied experience in mental health, working in acute services, crisis resolution, management of violence and aggression, and eating disorders. This was interspersed with a five month postulancy with the Carmelite Order in Melbourne and further studies at the University of Notre Dame in Western Australia.

On my second sojourn in Australia, following the birth of my son, Theo, I began work on my first completed novel, The Resurrection of Deacon Shader. This went through many iterations and ended up forming the raw material for Cadman’s Gambit, book one of the Shader series. It was at this time that I took to wearing a poncho and Panama hat whilst chopping firewood. It seemed to help with the writing at the time, but now I have my doubts.

I founded and moderated the Mysticism Unbound discussion group to help explore some of the themes for my postgraduate research into Antonin Artaud and the Theatre of Cruelty. Although the group eventually closed, it has subsequently been resurrected twice and is currently flourishing on Facebook.

Following my return from Australia I trained to become a Personal trainer and set up my own gym (Fitness Instruction for Strength and Health). I specialized in resistance training and worked exclusively with private clients until I sold the gym.

I began to edit professionally in 2009 during a trip to Chicago and this developed into a flourishing business (Homunculus Editing Services).

Since 2011 I have been a full-time author and editor.

I am married to Paula and have two children, Theo and Cordelia.

My chief influences as a writer are: David Gemmell, R.E. Howard, Lin Carter, L. Sprague de Camp, Stephen Donaldson, Joe Abercrombie, and Mary Doria Russell.

You can find me at http://dpprior.blogspot.co.uk

REVIEWS

Cadman's Gambit is an epic tale which follows the exploits of a hero (Deacon Shader) and a villain (Dr. Cadman). Both characters are significant point of view characters, and share the P.O.V. about equally. As I started reading, I struggled to grasp the terminology that was employed. The world(s) in which the story takes place are rich and lovingly detailed, but at times it felt like I was starting a series at Book Two rather than Book One. And I am simply not very good at tracking a lot of new terminology, so I found myself taken out of the story quite frequently in the beginning of this book, as I tried to figure out what the characters were referring to. I'm very glad I stuck with this book though, because the payoff was considerable in the second half. The story is extremely deep and imaginative. I was slightly disappointed by the mysterious ending, but it does serve as a powerful hook to draw the reader forward into the sequels to find out what is going to happen.
I was going to give this book four stars because of the issues I had with it; but, in the end, it's an example of the type of deep, complex, but fast-paced fantasy that I crave. Because of this, I simply can't bring myself to give it less than five stars. If you can handle the terminology, Cadman's Gambit is a fully immersive read that I highly recommend. 

Deep, rewarding fantasy read with a bit of a learning curve,March 31, 2012

By 

B Throwsnaill (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Sword of the Archon (SHADER) (Kindle Edition)

Cadman's Gambit is an epic tale which follows the exploits of a hero (Deacon Shader) and a villain (Dr. Cadman). Both characters are significant point of view characters, and share the P.O.V. about equally. As I started reading, I struggled to grasp the terminology that was employed. The world(s) in which the story takes place are rich and lovingly detailed, but at times it felt like I was starting a series at Book Two rather than Book One. And I am simply not very good at tracking a lot of new terminology, so I found myself taken out of the story quite frequently in the beginning of this book, as I tried to figure out what the characters were referring to. I'm very glad I stuck with this book though, because the payoff was considerable in the second half. The story is extremely deep and imaginative. I was slightly disappointed by the mysterious ending, but it does serve as a powerful hook to draw the reader forward into the sequels to find out what is going to happen.

I was going to give this book four stars because of the issues I had with it; but, in the end, it's an example of the type of deep, complex, but fast-paced fantasy that I crave. Because of this, I simply can't bring myself to give it less than five stars. If you can handle the terminology, Cadman's Gambit is a fully immersive read that I highly recommend. 

5.0 out of 5 stars Best start to a series. Ever., September 25, 2011

By 

JOA "Journal of Always Reviews" (Hartford, CT) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Sword of the Archon (SHADER) (Kindle Edition)

Rating: 5 out of 5

Oh, how much I love the melding of genres. To mix and match different aspects of specific literary tropes and use them to tell a truly original and captivating tale can be a wonderful thing to experience, when executed correctly. It then becomes nothing but a story, allowing the reader to concentrate on the strength of the tale being told rather than if they followed all the requisite "rules" ascribed to said genre - ala, in the case of fantasy, the use of magic, mystical beasts, and world-building.

This all brings us to Cadman's Gambit: Shader Book I by D.P. Prior, a novel that now holds a place in my heart as the most perfect introductory novel to a series I've ever read, surpassing the previous champion, The Gunslinger.

In truth, there are quite a few similarities between Prior's book and the seminal work of King. We follow a gruff, old, and cranky warrior (Roland and Shader), travel along a path in search of an object of untold power (the Rose and the statue of Eingana), and there are remnants of an advanced, ancient civilization lurking beneath the surface of both worlds.

This is where the comparison ends, however. While The Dark Tower chronicles the journey of a single man and his quest for absolution, in Shader we're presented with a much larger, more universal plight - the elevation of man into a place of honor within the universe. It's a rather lofty goal that Prior has saddled himself with, and one he's amazingly able to pull off.

In Cadman's Gambit we're introduced, in different flashbacks and wild, swashbuckling tales, to the main character, Deacon Shader. But in almost every way, Shader is overshadowed by the complexity, originality, and turmoil of the world he exists in. This is a version of Earth that has gone far beyond us - 900 years since the end of "civilization as we know it", pretty much - and there are mystical, as well as scientific, wonders drifting about. There are individuals who have lived for centuries, galactic warlords on the quest for universal domination, and many questions pertaining to the nature of existence, including time, itself. Religion is widely discussed, and even ridiculed, in fact becoming the one uniting and divisive cog in the machine, echoing that fact that though society as we know it has moved on, humans remain humans, whether they ascribe to a Christian derivative, a pagan understanding, immerse themselves in Platonic doctrine, or a combination of all three.

But more than anything else, Cadman's Gambit is the story of man's quest for immortality. Every major character either desires it - in spirituality or actuality - or already has tasted a hint of it. It is one of the saddest theological plotlines I've come across, and each key player is, in their own way, selfish to a fault. In an existence where death is all around them, in the form of plague or warfare or strange, bio-engineered beasts, rather than trying to survive, they attempt to cheat death.

Which is why Deacon Shader, the warrior monk (and how great of a contradiction is that?), means so much to the story. He is flawed, cranky, violent, and stubborn, a man set in his ways who wants to change but can't. Because of this, he reflects each and every person I've ever known...though he's way cooler, and stronger, than the average man. Let's just call him an "ideal human," which is a fantastic description because of how imperfect he is. Prior has definitely created a conundrum of a story here, and he couldn't have chosen a better figurehead to anchor it.

The mystery in the tale abounds. What's up with the hidden, underground tunnels? What's a "technocracy?" Why do so many people, when exposed to the deity-like entities (or are they?) that save the world from itself, end up living pretty much forever? He also has the courage to introduce magic, only to pull back and suggest, in a brilliant piece of storytelling, that there's no such thing as magic at all. Just like the rest of the story, it's a grand negation, and one that can make a reader's head spin...in a good way, of course.

There is more than theory and world-building at work here. There is actual emotion and real, honest-to-goodness human relationships. Shader's love for the girl he can't have, his understudy's obsession with the same, a dwarf named Shadrach's fixation on the woman who would be his mother, the religious elite's love of Ain, their godhead, or Dr. Cadman's (the main antagonist) love of, well, himself. I don't want to spoil anything here, but let's just say Cadman is a near-flawless villain. You'll love him.)

The fight scenes in this book are extremely well executed, even if they may be few and far between. Just like everything else at work here, this is a contradiction, for the action acts as a break in the dialogue and philosophic musings instead of the other way around, which is usually the case. Also, there are little Easter eggs thrown in for those of us who still exist in the 21st century, as some of the "immortal" characters reflect upon events and locales from their past, letting we the readers know that, yes, this strange land was once not only very much like ours, but was ours.

Oh, and I'd be remiss to say that, for the first time ever, the map at the beginning of the book was not only well-made, but necessary to the plot! Go figure. I've always been one to never look at them, thinking them superfluous. Not here, my friends. No, if it weren't for that map, I would've been lost.

In fact, I can say in all honesty that the only thing I think might hold this novel back is the fact it's almost too smart for its own good. The language is dense, the plot sometimes convoluted. You really have to read each and every word, to take in each minute detail presented, to truly understand what you're reading. I think there may be some folks who may not appreciate it, though there's nothing wrong with that.

I, on the other hand, loved it. Cadman's Gambit is a work of pure intellect, taking the best facets of fantasy, science fiction, and philosophy, and mixing it all together into a genus all its own. It's surprisingly humorous at times, and the Kantian undertones of consciousness as it relates to time and space resounded with me greatly. I couldn't put it down, though I took my time with it, wanting to bathe myself in every word, every turn of a phrase.

Yup, that's right. My Year's Best list just had a new book jump to the top. D.P. Prior's book is that good. He has a lot to say, and one hell of a story to tell. In my opinion, you should take him up on that journey. Now.

Plot - 10
Characters - 10
Voice - 10
Execution - 10
Personal Enjoyment - 10

SELECTED OTHER WORKS

The Nameless Dwarf

Thanatos Rising (The Memoirs of Harry Chesterton)

99 CENT BOOK FIND: The Last Train by Howard Turk

Available for JUST 99 CENTS is The Last Train (The Shanghai Series Book 1)  by Howard Turk (Click for UK, Australia, Canada  or India download).  Why not grab a copy now?

BOOK DESCRIPTION
Omsk, November, 1919. The peak of the Russian Civil War, and the start of the coldest winter Siberian has seen in fifty years.

Three American railroad men, working on the Trans-Siberian Railway, are savagely murdered. Jake Greenburg, working for the US Army, is sent to investigate.

His efforts are thwarted by the Civil War between the Reds and the anti-communist Whites. Amid the chaos of the war, Jake, like hundreds of thousands of Russians, is forced to flee Omsk.

He gathers the few remaining Americans and a mixed bag of Russian and Chinese refugees at the rail yard and pulls together a train for their escape. Along with the refugees, he must also take the Czar’s treasure, and, he is sure, the murderer he has been seeking.

As the train makes its way slowly Eastward, through the frigid, snow-covered Russian landscape, the murders continue and Jake fights to stay alive, protect his charges, and discover who is doing the killing, and why.

99 CENT BOOK FIND: Betrayal of Magic by Brian Dockins

Available for JUST 99 CENTS is Betrayal of Magic (DOMA: Department of Magic Book 1)  by Brian Dockins (Click for UK, Australia, Canada or India purchase).  Why not download this  before it goes back to full price?

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Our world seems normal, one governed by logic, science, and natural laws.

But we don't realize that magic exists in many forms all around us.

The US Government does however, and they will go to any lengths to hide all evidence of magic's existence to protect the citizens from the sinister forces that lurk in the dark periphery of our vision.
___________________________________________________________________________

Cadan Johnson lived a seemingly ordinary life. He was on the soccer and cross country teams and had a loving family. But one thing about the Johnsons made them very unordinary- they could perform magic.

When a mysterious spell on his school counselor backfires, Cadan is faced with the realization that everything he thought he knew about his family has been a lie. He leaves his home to search out the identities of his real parents, but before he can discover the truth, he is tracked down by another group of magic-wielders, this time sent by the government.

The top-secret Department of Magic was set up in the 1930s when the U.S. government became aware of the existence of mages and fantastical creatures. For the last eighty years, the agency has been commissioned with searching out and detaining these magical beings, and making sure everyone else believes they are no more than myth.

Now a detainee within the Department, Cadan quickly realizes the truth - that not everything in this world is quite as it seems. The Femme Fatales, a world famous all-female pop group is actually a troupe of fairies. And Tyler Knox, the teen heartthrob, is secretly an elf who has had to alter his ears before appearing in movies.

Now a rookie agent, Cadan begins to train with his new team of misfit operatives, among them one boy with four arms who is afraid of the dark, another with black wings, and an elf with anger management issues. The group fights constantly, their training sessions are disasters, and to top it off, the leader of the team hates him. But when one of the leaders initiates a plan to destroy the Department, the only thing that stands in his way is Cadan and his ragtag band. With the fate of the Department at stake, will they be able to stop the rogue agent and his forces?


The DOMA book series includes:
Book 1: Betrayal of Magic
Book 2: Shrouded Island
Book 3: Rise of the Witch
Book 4: Magic of Heroes
Book 5: Hounds of the Himalayas
Book 6: Second Exodus
Book 7: Hidden Relics
Book 8: Torch of Life (Forthcoming Spring 2013

The companion short stories in the DOMA Origins series include:
Winged Demon: Natalie & Darius
Circus Freak: Bryce
Brujeria: Rafe
Deviant Behavior: Jude & Madison
Secrets in Stone: Gabe

FREE BOOK FIND: Critical Dawn by Darren Wearmouth and Collin F. Barnes

FREE to download TODAY is Critical Dawn by Darren Wearmouth and Collin F. Barnes  (Click here for UK, Australia, Canada and India download).  Why not grab a copy before it goes back to full price? 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Some mysteries should stay buried.
Archaeologists Pippa Quinn and Charlie Jackson find advanced technology in undisturbed 16th Century graves. A portent, the discovery precedes thousands of giant sinkholes opening up across the globe as extreme weather threatens the population. Charlie suspects the two are related.

A centuries old plan unfolds.
Pippa, Charlie, and the rest of humanity will have to fight for survival, sacrificing the life they’ve known to protect Earth from an ancient and previously dormant enemy. Even that might not be enough as this new enemy exacts a plan that will change the course of humankind forever.

Critical Dawn is an apocalyptic ride to the very edge of human existence. Factions will battle for control of the Earth—if they can avoid the threat of extinction.