eBooks Just Published &#187; Fantasy

Destiny’s Forge

theresammoore — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:00:38 +0000

Destiny’s Forge Book 1 in the SF/vampire series Children of The Dragon by Theresa M. Moore, published by Antellus. Honor and duty, espionage and revenge, space adventure and vampire romance in the 23rd century. A stranger from another planet finds her fate changed by destiny in her quest to track down a war criminal from her world.

Based on a series of short stories created by the author from 1988 – 1995, the first book is a full novel of adventures of the series heroine against the backdrop of high adventure and space opera inspired by many of the TV series and films of the last century. “I was influenced by such classics as Star Trek and Battlestar Galactica, and films like Forbidden Planet, The Day the Earth Stood Still, and The Time Machine,” she said. “I wanted to craft an original adventure from elements and themes familiar to readers, of good vs. evil, and came up with something which almost exceeded my expectations.”

The Children of The Dragon series is a chronicle of the Xosan, living vampires from the planet Antellus who were once human but were transformed by a dragon’s blood. They are stories of science fiction, fact and fantasy, myth and history, tragedy and triumph; linked together by the theme of the vampire as hero.

$7.99 to $9.99

340 pages

Destiny's Forge

Mark Gladding — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:00:38 +0000

$7.99 to $9.99

340 pages

The Dark Light of November

The Dark Light of November

MJCaraway — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 15:00:26 +0000

A clairvoyant teen who failed to save a drowning girl is called upon to protect his town from the evil that pulled her under.

When Jimmie Knight was ten years old, he foresaw other people’s suffering. He hesitated to act on a vision, and a girl drowned, leaving him devastated by guilt. Now, after seven years of dormancy, this local high school rock-star’s gift re-awakens, showing him a vision of the town’s children tortured by an evil force which lays beneath the surface of the pond where the girl died. Overwhelmed by his visions, Jimmie begins to alienate himself from his friends in a desperate attempt at redemption.

Ember Grace, the most popular girl in high school, is also Jimmie’s crush, and she struggles to hold together her own failing friendships as she tries to understand her own unique gifts. Cast from her circle by vindictive friends, she finds herself drawn to Jimmie, his music, and his visions. When strange and evil events plague the town, Jimmie realizes that time is running out and all will be lost if he repeats his failure to act.

You’ve taken these perfectly normal feelings and you’ve thrown them into a dark fantasy – finally a book with something truly dark but delicious in it. What I like the most is the way you’ve drawn me into the atmosphere, you managed to leave that heavy emptiness in my stomach as I approached the moment of drowning.

- Julia Siboney

Find more than 100 comments by fellow writers on HarperCollins Authonomy

$7.99

184 pages

The Dark Light of November

Bastard’s Grace

winterbourne — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:00:08 +0000

Heart of a hero. Mind of an absolute…

An implacable virus spreads across the kingdom of Aspermonde, transforming women into beautiful creatures called Mosaics and stealing their minds, souls, and voices. Mosaics are alien, eerie – and collectable.

Lieutenant Simon Cant collects Mosaics for the king. He is war-scarred and unpredictable, held steady only by his loyal sergeant, Hal.

Their latest acquisition, Augusta, is proving difficult: she hasn’t yet lost her mind and willpower to the virus.

Maybe it’s a miracle…and maybe it’s just a sackful of trouble for Simon.

All he wants is to get back to Skysend and hand Augusta – and the problem she represents – over to his king. Meanwhile, rebels want to rescue her, a covetous merchant wants to collect her, her sister wants to castrate Simon, and Augusta herself has designs of her own…

Bastard’s Grace by Wendy Palmer. Available at a discount directly from Winterbourne Publishing, or find it at Smashwords or your favourite online ebook retailer.

US$7.95

436 pages

Bastard's Grace

Mark Gladding — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 20:00:08 +0000

Heart of a hero. Mind of an absolute…

Lieutenant Simon Cant collects Mosaics for the king. He is war-scarred and unpredictable, held steady only by his loyal sergeant, Hal.

Their latest acquisition, Augusta, is proving difficult: she hasn’t yet lost her mind and willpower to the virus.

Maybe it’s a miracle…and maybe it’s just a sackful of trouble for Simon.

Bastard’s Grace by Wendy Palmer. Available at a discount directly from Winterbourne Publishing, or find it at Smashwords or your favourite online ebook retailer.

US$7.95

436 pages

Is This Heaven?

M T McGuire — Sat, 10 Apr 2010 03:00:01 +0000

Michaela Stevens has just died but, she wonders, can a gay lady get to heaven and if so, should it be like this? The heavenly choir isn’t the way she imagined and the allocation of instruments to the heavenly host is… well… is that right? Mmm… very possibly no. And, thinking about it, is there really a place in heaven for that many baked beans? Not for Micheala.

Is This Heaven? is a short story of about 4,500 words… there’s no adult content but a little light swearing so I’d rate it at a PG. Writing style: British humour written in British English.

This is my toe in the water, my first venture into e-publishing. I’d be intrigued to know what you think so feel free to comment here… I intend to publish more e-shorts, probably one quarterly, and I may also publish an e-novel.

If you enjoy Is This Heaven? and would like to be kept up to date about any future writing I publish on-line, please leave me your e-mail address and I will add you to my mailing list – don’t worry, it’s very sporadic. Alternatively, you can find me online at these places:

Author Website

Is This Heaven?

Free

10 pages

Storytellers

Sharlow — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 15:00:23 +0000

Thousands of years ago, the great Sage Montok Waynew signed the Book Accords, in which it was declared that all books must edify and instruct for the good of all mankind. Created in the hope to end the tyranny that had come into existence in their time, it was widely received and ratified by all living Sages as a good thing in the wake of the last great Story wars. So it went, that those books that were not found desirable were burned or destroyed, to protect all future generations.

Gailen, Alena and Targ find this peace is about to end. In a world where Sages can summon stories to life to do their bidding, these three apprentices must find where they belong, when the laws of the past seem to no longer exist.

Who doesn’t love a good story? Sharlow’s Story Tellers is an intriguing book of fiction and fantasy. Story Tellers is brought to life by the excellent prose, engaging characters, magical plot, and overall fine writing.

Perhaps one of the best fantasy novels I have viewed in quite some time, we hear the story of three heroes, magical creations through the use of stories, and self-discovery. A highly recommended, delightful read of its genre. – L. Anne Carrington and The Book Shelf

Storytellers

$0.99

168 pages

Storytellers

The Last King’s Amulet

Chris Northern — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:00:48 +0000

My name is Sumto, and I am a gambling, lazy, good-for-nothing drunk who has to join the army and fight in a war I am frankly too corpulent to cope with. Still, that’s got to be as bad as things get, Am I right?

The Last King’s Amulet

$2.00

200 pages

The Last King's Amulet

Mark Gladding — Sat, 23 Jan 2010 15:00:48 +0000

The Last King’s Amulet

$2.00

200 pages

Blood Moon; Tales of da Yoopernatural, Vol. 1

Brownbird’s Luck

akwbooks — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:00:54 +0000

In a misty land, long ago, and far away, lived a lovely girl-child of fourteen. Her lineage was as mysterious as the mountain range that loomed over the valley where she lived. Her father grew flax, and her grandmother, “The Dark Weaver”, wove the linen into beautiful tapestries, some with strange powers. This was their only means of a living. Deila tended the animals on the small farm and helped “Gran” with the weaving.

One night everything changed when a foal was born to the dray horse and by morning was taken from them by a mysterious, evil creature.

Brownbird’s Luck

$2.45

143 pages

Brownbird's Luck

Mark Gladding — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 15:00:54 +0000

One night everything changed when a foal was born to the dray horse and by morning was taken from them by a mysterious, evil creature.

Brownbird’s Luck

$2.45

143 pages

Hard Lessons

BooksForABuck — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 15:00:25 +0000

Ashes of Memory It was a punch in the gut seeing Simeon Carr pacing down the hillock into Carford Dingle. The shock broke Philip's stride and he stubbed his toe, nearly sprawling through the heather. He caught his balance at the last second and his running shoes pounded onto the stone path of the old trod, which ran through the moors here. Following the slowest first year into the gully, Philip saw four other sixth formers waiting, standing by the school boundary stone. Philip frowned. He'd read the literature, dug up by the new Headteacher, but this didn't look at all like the ritual described there. And Simeon's presence suggested this ceremony was based on the sort of thing that had got Philip's mother killed. He wanted to stop, to turn back, to ignore this whole thing, but as a prefect at Carford House, he was forced to keep an eye out for the firsties on this cross-country run, making sure none of them got lost up on the moors. Simeon was actively hiding his presence. Philip could tell when his gaze slid away. Like a bulldog, he shook his mind clear from the external influence. He'd seen that before the day his mother died. Why hadn't they stopped her? Why had she been so stupid? Then there was the traitor's voice that whispered, because she didn't care. It didn't help Philip to know that the Church only pulled Simeon out of retirement for cases it thought were nothing. The man had been on that other hillside five years ago. Granted, Simeon had tried to stop the events--Philip hoped he was in better practice this time. A grouse erupted from a stand of bracken, startled by Simeon's passage, and flew into the darkening sky. That was all Philip needed--wet and complaining first years. At least the moors needed the rain, it had been weeks since even drizzle had fallen, let alone this promised drenching. The first year stood laughing at the four sixth formers led by Head Boy, Alec. According to the pamphlet, each first year was to run the boundaries of the school and give a good wallop on a drum set at the boundary markers. Tradition said that Beating the Bounds would drive off evil spirits. So what was with the pine branch Alec held? What was with the three drummers? Alec laughing in the library--a place he rarely entered--gathered with his friends over old ledgers. Philip's unease at seeing Simeon turned to terror. Alec lifted his pine branch high, while the other three beat their drums. 'No!' He yelled his certainty into the wind that suddenly clawed down the gully. 'You mustn't do that! You need to stop!' The wind pushed his words back into his mouth and tried to thrust him out of the gully. He fought back. Alec saw his struggle, and laughed--a high gloating note carried on the wind, which combed fingers through the summer--dry grass and whistled through the upraised pine branch. It was last year's drop; Philip ducked the brown needles flying like darts towards his eyes. He expected Alec to use the branch to give the first year a good thrashing. Listening to his half-brother cramming for the exams to follow Simeon into that branch of the Church, Philip had reluctantly absorbed old traditions. One of the original forms of Beating the Bounds had walked boys around their village boundaries and hitting them on the head at each marker stone. He knew of darker forms. Instead, Alec held the branch high. 'No!' Philip shouted, but the wind caught the words and whisked them away once more. Deep inside him, Philip knew that Alec was wrong, though he couldn't say how he knew. He tried to take another step into the gully. Defeated, he cupped his hands to his mouth. 'Alec! That's the wrong way! Stop!' Alec flung his head back, staring in ecstasy at the louring sky. Even over the wind beating at his ears, Philip heard Alec's words. 'Let there be blood on the boundary stone!' The first year stopped laughing. Incredulously, he started to turn away from Alec who towered over him with the branch. 'Aaa-lec!' shouted Philip. 'Sim-e-on! Stop them!' Slowly, Simeon turned to look up the hill. Philip saw the lightning spike start to the sky to meet the fork darting down. 'No!' he shrieked. If only he knew how to push the lightning away! No! He would never learn that! Oh-so-slowly, Simeon raised his hiking stick--his mouth moving at stop-motion speed. The wind pressed against Philip's downward momentum, driving him back up the hill. Step by step he fought the wind with all his physical strength--and that wasn't enough. Inch by inch the spike advanced. Weighted down with millstones, Philip lifted his arms, trying to cover his head, trying to turn away. Down in the gully, Simeon leaned into a slow-motion sprint towards the boys. For the first time Alec saw the older man. He lowered the branch--as if he were using a wand to cast a spell. And the spike touched the sky. Lightning arcing down to strike his mother as the spell lurched out of her control. Her screams of pain, screams of terror from the other cult folk, filled Philip's ears. Light exploded in the gully. The wind stalled. Philip landed face first in the heather, buried under the sound of the thunderbolt. Heat ran over his back, scalding his neck. He pushed his head up and squinted into the gully. The fire dried his eyes just looking. He thought he could see bodies lying on the ground. He'd heard of people stunned by lightning but surviving it. He had to get them out of there. Scrambling to his feet, he tried to take a step forward but the heat from the fire pushed him back. He raised an arm to shield his face and tried again. And Philip saw his mother reaching out burning arms to him, screaming in agony. Horrified, he turned away instead of trying to help her. In the fire he saw a burning face; it looked like his mother. Horrified, he turned away. Screams sounded outside his head. Hair blazing, Alec stalked out of the gully, carrying a now burning pine wand. His eyes burnt from within. 'There's Philip!' said Alec. 'Get him!' He lowered the burning pine until it pointed straight at Philip's chest. Behind Alec, three burning figures stumbled out of the fire; their mouths open, screaming in pain. Staring, Philip remembered his half-brother saying that the only way fire could control a human was to burn them, destroying them utterly. Where their feet planted, the bone-dry heather burst into flowers of flame. Burning arms raised and lowered, banging on the blazing drums. Philip edged away, then turned and scrambled back up the last part of the hillock, using hands as well as feet. Screaming in pain, the burning drummers chased him. Philip charged onto the open moor, heather lashed at his shins as his legs sprinted for the horizon. He cast a look over his shoulder while his feet kept pounding. Behind him, three figures of fire spread out, carrying their deathly life with them. The widening fire began to play with thermals. It blew a wind straight towards Philip, driving the flames through the parched moorland. 'Philip!' shouted Alec. 'Come back here!' Philip hoped the fire would be reported. Right now, however, he needed to run, hopeless though that seemed. The hot wind breathed on the back of his neck. He didn't think he could outrun this building wildfire. They're following me aren't they? Another glance back showed him the burning drummers herding the flames in his direction. Could he lead them round in a circle, so that the fire went onto already burned ground? His legs fell into the regular stride he used for long distance running--a very different one from the panicked sprint. He took a slight turn, but not enough that the fire creatures could cut him off. Overhead, the clouds darkened further as smoke from the fire lifted and merged with them. Why wasn't it raining? Lightning flashed over the sky, but the promised rain refused to drop. A check told him the fire creatures still followed. The main fire spawned little dancing devils. Ahead was a fence--and a gate. Beside it stood a collection of fire brooms, but Philip knew the fire was too big to beat out. As he vaulted the fence, a siren howled through the smoke. Relief. Someone had reported the blaze. Running burned in his leg muscles--he was fit, but the ground was uneven. Fear of twisting an ankle in a rabbit hole concealed by heather added to his terror. If that happened then he was a goner. He didn't want to burn. His mother had burnt when she lost control of the ritual using Philip's half-brother. She only had you to marry your Dad, said the traitor's voice. To know your half-brother was properly brought up. Bringing him up to save the world, by magic. All Philip wanted to save was his own skin. Another slight turn, another glance--the fire and the creatures still gave chase. Then his feet pounded on the trod. It went in the direction he wanted; he hoped it was a continuation of the path he had tripped over earlier. Running on the stone surface was easier--the path was open, not covered by vegetation. He could watch for uneven slabs. Behind him, the fire was gaining ground. Suddenly Philip realized the limitation of his plan. He staggered to a stop. Behind him the fire raged, but not enough time had elapsed for the older fire to die away. All around the trod, little fire devils sparked. The main fire bore down on him, singing its triumph. Not a hundred meters away, he could see unburned ground and a road wide enough to be a firebreak. All he had to do was run through the fire ahead of him. His mother screamed in agony as she burnt. He took a step forwards. The fire reached hot little fingers for the uncovered flesh of his face and hands. He turned his mouth and nose away. The winds driving the fire had come full circle. A huge, flaming tornado was forming--and he was at the center. He was going to burn. The flames leapt and clawed at the only way through. Why wasn't it raining? Then Alec walked down the trod, his hair and arms blazing. 'Someone has to die today, Philip. And the man in the shadows stole away our chosen sacrifice.' Philip backed away. 'It won't be me.' 'Blood must fall on the boundary stones.' 'The fire engines are here. They'll get the fire under control.' 'You put all your trust in technology, but what of the old powers, Philip?' Alec stepped forward. Philip took another pace back; as the fire advanced on him, he could feel the heat from the old burn. 'There are no old powers.' He coughed as smoke wafted his way. The spell out of control, his mother screaming as she burnt. It should be raining. Particles from the smoke should be accreting the water droplets. Seeing Philip's upward glance Alec said, 'We can stop the rain. The heat from the fire vortex evaporates any falling water. Stand still, please Philip.' Alec took another step forward. Philip's running shoes were melting to the stone trod. 'Alec, stop this! Let the rain fall,' pleaded Philip. Please let it rain, so I don't have to burn. 'I will only live as long as there is fire, you know,' said Alec. Philip swallowed but his throat was dry from the run and the heat. 'Yes, I know.' 'Philip!' Another voice shouted. 'Come through!' Philip risked looking behind. Simeon stood at the other end of the fiery corridor. On either side of the trod the fires burned, with heat enough to boil water, baking the pathway. The Church people hadn't saved his mother. 'Philip!' shouted Simeon, over the crackling flames. 'I'm holding them off as best I can. Run through!' It was only 100 meters. He could do 100 meters in seconds. His mother had screamed as she had burnt. 'Philip!' shouted Simeon. 'I can't hold it back much longer!' He stood with his hands lifted over his head, palms out--the image of Moses parting the Red Sea. They might not have saved his mother, but they had saved his half-brother from the altar. Alec surged forwards and grabbed for Philip. Philip dodged. I'm not going to burn. 'Stop him! He has to die,' shouted Alec. 'We must keep the flames alive.' Philip leapt through the fire, kicking off his melting running shoes. His bare feet pounded on the overheated stone of the trod. Ahead, he could see fire fighters whacking at the burning embers, as others unreeled their hose from the flame-red fire engine. He fixed his eyes on the dark, tarmac road. And Philip ran. Alec had gone silent. Philip didn't dare look behind. The heated path wanted to burn his feet. He had to ignore the pain. Why wouldn't it rain? And Philip ran. He saw the flame devil spawn off. Twisting and swirling through the air, it was driven towards Simeon. A fire fighter knocked him out of the way. Another rushed to beat at the dehydrated heather. No longer bound, the sea of flame rushed back to engulf the clear path on which Philip ran. He heard the screaming. And the beating of drums. His foot caught on an upraised slab and he sprawled onto the overheated stone. His hands blistered and he could feel his tracksuit bottoms starting to smolder. A burning drummer leaned towards him. Hands dropping charcoal drumsticks, held together only by force of habit. 'Philip!' Alec's voice was a scream now. 'You've got to die. Please, stop the pain.' 'Release the clouds!' Philip said. Four pairs of burning arms reached for him. But something held them back. He saw another face in the fire. 'Mother!' he whispered. 'Call the rain, Philip!' The crackle of the fire added the remembered impatience to her voice. Why wouldn't it rain? Despite Alec's boasts even this heat couldn't evaporate all that water, it should melt the ice crystals sooner. This was science not magic--if he'd had any saliva left he would have spat the word. No! Not magic, which meant that it should be raining. Mother's hold on the burning boys was slipping. Philip looked up. The long hose was just sprouting water. 'It will be too late,' whispered Mother. 'Call the rain or you will burn.' 'But you'll die if I put out the fire!' The fire tutted, just like Mother. 'I'm already dead.' The smoke crawled into his lungs and he coughed. And coughed harder. Simeon shouted, 'Philip! Run!' Burning arms reached out to embrace him. It should be raining! 'RAIN!' screamed Philip. The air filled with sound: rocks slamming into rocks in an avalanche, the din of demolishing a tower block. It drowned out his impassioned plea. And then it rained. The sky dropped the full load of water that Alec had been holding off--all at once. A lake of water landed on their heads. Alec screamed in agony. The burning drummers were silenced as the water washed away their remaining ash. Philip turned his hands over to feel the cool water on his blistered palms. Threatened with drowning now, he pushed up against the heavy load on his head and shoulders. He managed to get his feet on the ground and staggered upright. Water hissed off the overheated pavement. All around, the burning heather swam as the parched ground failed to absorb the sudden deluge. It wasn't magic--he didn't do that mystic stuff. He'd been hallucinating from dehydration. There. That was the scientific reason for seeing his mother in fire. He stumbled onto the unburning ground. Simeon reached him as the first impact of water eased. He swung Philip up and carried him to the waiting ambulance.

Blood Moon; Tales of da Yoopernatural, Vol. 1

PD Allen — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 09:19:37 +0000

Connie Hillman must come to grips with what happened in the remote Huron Mountains, where she survived an encounter with ghosts, giants and cannibalistic Weendigo.

Connie reflects on horrific events in the ancient Huron Mountains, located in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Her former lover (and PhD advisor) Phil Waverly stumbles upon an ancient ceremonial site, which he believes will prove his theory of a Pre-Columbian Bronze Age civilization in the Great Lakes region. Can Connie stop Phil from opening a portal between worlds?

This volume also includes The Buck of Mulligan Plains. Henry Kincaid is hunting the biggest buck he has ever seen. A renowned outdoorsman, Henry always sought to be at one with the northern wilderness. Yet he never dreamed of attaining his goal in quite this manner. Meanwhile his lover, Lilith Gordon, fears she will lose him forever.

Future volumes in this series will involve ghosts, ghost ships, succubi, enchanted fish, sea monsters, pirates, mermaids, haunted forests and haunted mines, Manitou, fairies, daemons, the Eater of Souls, and much more.

This book captures your interest in the beginning with Connie Hillman’s grandfather telling about an unusual character appearing to help him.
It builds from that to the strange happenings in the mountains.
Very entertaining.

– Betty L. Pfeiffer, Amazon.com

$0.99

96 pages

Blood Moon; Tales of da Yoopernatural, Vol. 1

Not Ordinarily Borrowable

Not Ordinarily Borrowable

marnanel — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:00:37 +0000

Maria is occupied with trying to earn her doctorate, and she’s far too busy for adventures. But when the library books she needs are unexpectedly borrowed (by a dragon) she finds herself on a quest to find the books, the dragon, a sword, courage, and the greatest cake recipe in the world… not to mention the last chapter of her thesis

“a lovely, delightful little romp for anyone who loves books and fantasy and dragons and higher education and plucky heroines.”
— Carmen Machado

Author website

$1.99

106 pages

Not Ordinarily Borrowable

Eaglethorpe Buxton and the Sorceress

MrAllison — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 15:00:58 +0000

Allow me to introduce myself. I am Eaglethorpe Buxton, famed world traveler and story-teller. Of course you have heard of me, for my tales of the great heroes and their adventures have been repeated far and wide across the land.

Eaglethorpe Buxton, famed adventurer and story-teller is back, this time to put on a play about a sorceress. When the sorceress, subject of his play arrives with fire in her eyes, Eaglethorpe must pretend to be his good friend Ellwood. Will he pull off this charade and survive? And what happens when the real Ellwood shows up? One can never tell, especially when Eaglethorpe tells the story.

Praise for Eaglethorpe Buxton and the Elven Princess:

Haven’t read it. Won’t read it. End of Story. And I don’t think anyone else should read it.
- Dextius Winterborn, Story-teller’s Guild.

People aren’t really reading that? Are they?.
- Sir Roderick Bairn, Adventurer

You can’t believe a damn word that boy says. He was born to hang, I tell ya.
- Margram Buxton, Father

What is it exactly? Is it some kind of story book? No. No, I don’t want any.
-Queen Elleena I of Aerithraine

Join Eaglethorpe Buxton as he adventures across a magical world to in his quest for self-aggrandizement.

Eaglethorpe Buxton and the Sorceress is a short book by Wesley Allison, author of His Robot Girlfriend, and Princess of Amathar. Available now as a free ebook.

Eaglethorpe Buxton and the Sorceress

Free

117 pages