When his infant son is kidnapped by a mage guild in a kingdom where everything runs on magic, Lord Edmund seeks assistance from Rosalind Featherstone, known as the Gutter Mage, who is feared by even the most magically adept.
J.S. Kelley weaves epic fantasy and hardboiled noir in this fast-paced, twisting tale of magic, mystery, and a whole lot of unruly behavior. In a kingdom where magic fuels everything from street lamps to horseless carriages, the mage guilds of Penador wield power equal to the king himself. So when Lord Edmund’s infant son is kidnapped by the ruthless Alath Guild, he turns to the one person who’s feared by even the most magically adept: Rosalind Featherstone, a.k.a. the Gutter Mage. But as Roz delves into the circumstances behind the child’s disappearance, she uncovers an old enemy from her traumatic past and a long-brewing plot that could lead to the death of countless innocents, as well as the complete collapse of Penadorian society itself!
A young, orphaned shapeshifter in a world that fears magic must risk everything if she hopes to save her only friend in Elayne Audrey Becker's Forestborn, first in a new fantasy series with a timeless feel. TO BE BORN OF THE FOREST IS A GIFT AND A CURSE. Rora is a shifter, as magical as all those born in the wilderness—and as feared. She uses her abilities to spy for the king, traveling under different guises and listening for signs of trouble. When a magical illness surfaces across the kingdom, Rora uncovers a devastating truth: Finley, the young prince and her best friend, has caught it, too. His only hope is stardust, the rarest of magical elements, found deep in the wilderness where Rora grew up—and to which she swore never to return. But for her only friend, Rora will face her past and brave the dark, magical wood, journeying with her brother and the obstinate, older prince who insists on coming. Together, they must survive sentient forests and creatures unknown, battling an ever-changing landscape while escaping human pursuers who want them dead. With illness gripping the kingdom and war on the horizon, Finley’s is not the only life that hangs in the balance. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Taking an in depth look at Wizards within the d20 system, this 128 page sourcebook is dedicated to players interested in running any Wizard-based character. A wealth of new skills, feats, spells and prestige classes are included, but The Quintessential Wizard sets itself apart by introducing many new character options that any Wizard may attempt. Full rules are included enabling every Wizard to research in arcane libraries, construct magical towers or carve out an inter-dimensional home, set up mighty guilds and lay waste to enemies with awesome magicks. The Quintessential Wizard is a must for every player wishing to exploit the full capabilities of his character.
An outcast becomes a hero in this saga of wild magic and fierce loyalty on the untamed frontier. Dreamer Blaise Hawthorne, now settled in his chosen home, faces new challenges that threaten his dream of a peaceful life. As he confronts the lies of his past and seeks reconciliation with his mother, a band of magical desperadoes captures her. Joined by old friends, Blaise's journey across the frontier is fraught with danger and discovery. Meanwhile, Jefferson, his partner, grapples with his secret magic while navigating the treacherous political waters of his ambassadorship. Their paths intertwine in a desperate fight for freedom and the future of their burgeoning homeland. Persuader Vixen, an outlaw with a life built on lies, stands at the forefront of a looming conflict. As a hostile nation threatens her home, Vixen's only hope lies in a perilous mission into enemy territory. Blaise, battling his inner demons, joins her, only to face a powerful adversary and a betrayal that endangers their very mission. The fate of the land they love hangs in the balance, with Vixen, Blaise, and their allies forming the last line of defense against a catastrophic outcome. Featuring LGBTQ+ representation, compelling characters, and a narrative rich with emotion and adventure, Tales of the Outlaw Mages Volume 2 is an unforgettable journey where the most formidable magic is found in the strength of the human spirit and the courage to change the world.
***AN INSTANT BESTSELLER!*** Best Books of 2021 · NPR ALA/The Reading List Best Horror 2021 Pick Longlisted for the Bram Stoker Awards for Superior Achievement in a Novel, 2021 From the Bram Stoker-nominated author of The Luminous Dead comes a gothic fantasy horror—The Death of Jane Lawrence. "A jewel box of a Gothic novel." —New York Times Book Review “Delicious.... By the time the book reached that point of no return, I was so invested that I would have followed Jane into the very depths of hell.” —NPR.org “Intense and amazing! It’s like Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell meets Mexican Gothic meets Crimson Peak.” —BookRiot Practical, unassuming Jane Shoringfield has done the calculations, and decided that the most secure path forward is this: a husband, in a marriage of convenience, who will allow her to remain independent and occupied with meaningful work. Her first choice, the dashing but reclusive doctor Augustine Lawrence, agrees to her proposal with only one condition: that she must never visit Lindridge Hall, his crumbling family manor outside of town. Yet on their wedding night, an accident strands her at his door in a pitch-black rainstorm, and she finds him changed. Gone is the bold, courageous surgeon, and in his place is a terrified, paranoid man—one who cannot tell reality from nightmare, and fears Jane is an apparition, come to haunt him. By morning, Augustine is himself again, but Jane knows something is deeply wrong at Lindridge Hall, and with the man she has so hastily bound her safety to. Set in a dark-mirror version of post-war England, Caitlin Starling crafts a new kind of gothic horror from the bones of the beloved canon. This Crimson Peak-inspired story assembles, then upends, every expectation set in place by Shirley Jackson and Rebecca, and will leave readers shaken, desperate to begin again as soon as they are finished.
The first Tinker Tale popped out over fifteen years ago and they just keep a-coming. Die Schwarzwitwe (Black Widow) starts this collection, introducing Tinker and a couple of ongoing characters: Magic John-a gutter mage, and Red the Ted-a psychic bruiser of advancing years. It also introduces the theme of magic as Tinker begins his reluctant evolution into a magician with an exorcism. This one is for Vincent fans. Other characters follow. In Hard Iain a warrior Pict ancestor vectors into Tinker via a miscegenated motorcycle, precipitating a fiery immolation. Death, in the unlikely form of a young girl, thumbs a lift from Tinker in Free Ride and him to introduces Anarch, the irascible personification of Freedom. Problems with law and order follow, plus a gifting that effectively ensures a hands-off with Death. Iain resurfaces in Pictoglyph to tell the tale of his heroic demise, set Tinker a heavy task, and leave his mark. In Death in the Dam a cute little Reaper comes to claim an old friend from Tinkers misspent youth whos run out of road. Away with the fairies at Underhills annual market, Buyer Beware finds Tinker buying a pup, amongst other things, and rescuing a maiden from goblins. Bonzo, the pup, shows his stuff in Boodgie Woodgie when Tinker takes him busking and the Law butts in. The next tale, Alfie, has Tinker acting as advocate for an old sinner while a demon prosecutes and Death sits in judgement. Lastly, in Time Passages, a trip to the past discovers Tinker confronting his younger self and Jean, the ill-fated love of his life. A choice to make and a life at stake. Sadder, wiser hopefully, Tinker faces the future--perhaps in Tinker Tales Two? Regular readers of Back Street Heroes magazine may have seen some of these stories before, some of the characters may even seem vaguely familiar. Actually, there is a fair bit of reality in the mix, fact frequently being no stranger to fiction. Resemblance to anyone living, dead, or ethereal is but coincidental. Anyone offended by Tinker, or any other character, should remember theyre the stuff of which dreams are made, and who can claim to control a dream? Literate biker fiction may seem oxymoronic, some may be surprised they can actually read. Tinker Tales attempts, not only to entertain, but to counter the negative reputation motorcycling and magic has acquired. If the author succeeds in that, it is enough.
“Tinker Tales Unmentionable’ is a collection of previously unpublished short stories celebrating magic and motorcycles. Tinker is the son of an absentee Irish gypsy dad and a Scottish mother, raised poor and turned out on the streets after her death in his early teens. Blood will out, and he becomes a trader in iron ponies, only to become enmeshed in magic. Somehow he survives a sorcerer’s apprenticeship to Magic John, a notorious gutter-mage (detailed in previous collections: ‘Tinker Tales’ and ‘Tinker Tales Untold’) yet trouble and temptation lurk around every corner. Here Tinker falls for a witch, hazards a dysfunctional future, encounters crop circles, and generally has to ride for his life. Ride along with him a few miles, and remember the magic.
'Tinker Tales Untold' is a collection of previously unpublished stories celebrating magic and motorcycles. Tinker is the son of an absentee Irish gypsy dad and a Scottish mum, raised poor and hitting the streets after her death in his early teens. Becoming a trader in old iron ponies, he falls in with Magic John and survives a sorcerer's apprenticeship to that gutter mage (as described in the previous collection, 'Tinker Tales'). Now he frequents a pub in Faerhame, tangles with ghosts, demi-gods, and demons... life isn't easy for a biker dabbling in magic.
Scottish by birth, anarchist by persuasion, odd bikes and obscure comics by collection. Retired from thirty years of front line child protection, he lives between Scotland and British Columbia with his wife, three adult sons, and a blessing of grandchildren. Allan has penned reportage, articles, and fiction since the early eighties for a variety of motorcycle publications: Canadian Biker, Back Street Heroes (UK), Biker and Renegade (US). Pocahontas and Ubermensch have their real life counterparts in his stable, and the most recent build is a ‘31/’48 Chout (Chief/Scout) bobber. As for the magic...? Well, that’s really up to you. “Tinker Tales Untenable’ is a collection of previously unpublished short stories celebrating magic and motorcycles. Tinker is the son of an absentee Irish gypsy dad and a Scottish mother, raised poor and turned out on the streets after her death in his early teens. Blood will out, and he becomes a trader in iron ponies, only to become enmeshed in magic. Somehow he survives a sorcerer’s apprenticeship to Magic John, a notorious gutter-mage, as detailed in previous collections: ‘Tinker Tales’ (voted Fiction of the Year by motorcyclefiction.com) and ‘Tinker Tales Untold’ (Book of the Month, motorcyclefiction.com) yet trouble and temptation lurk around every corner. Here Tinker is reacquainted with (dead) members of his old outlaw club, acquires an illuminated tattoo, and runs into the Soviet version of Wonder Woman—amoungst other trials and tribulations. Hop on the pillion, hold tight, and enjoy the ride through, Britain, Canada, and America—not to mention Fairyland and beyond. Illustrated by: Louise Limb