Fantasy weapons engineers, counterfeit sorcerers, and the last knight of Atlantis feature in this week’s collection of fantasy new releases.
Cirsova Magazine of Thrilling Adventure and Daring Suspense Issue #3 / Spring 2020 – edited by P. Alexander
The newest issue of Cirsova includes:
“Alpdruck!” by Michael Reyes – Clock has been dispatched to the private hell of a powerful demon–and only a being of true evil on its own path towards redemption can aid him in this deadly fight!
“The Golden Pearl” by Jim Breyfogle – After a harrowing experience in their search for Burning Fish, Kat and Mangos are determined to never be poisoned again—could a Golden Pearl be the answer?!
“Slave Girls for Sacrifice” by D. M. Ritzlin – A powerful sorceress with a bestial lover requires a blood sacrifice to complete her vile rites… Will Avok’s brawn and bag of tricks be enough to stop the witch?!
“Return of the Dark Brotherhood” by Adrian Cole – Aruul Voruum nears completion of his witchfinder training… but the remnants of Daras Vorta’s cult have worked their tendrils into the heart of Mars’ government!
…and more!
The End of All Things (The Counterfeit Sorcerer #5) – Robert Kroese
A hooded man, his face marred by a mysterious black brand, walks the Plain of Savlos. Some say he has the power to summon demons. Others say he is the only one who can vanquish them. His name is Konrad, and he has a secret….
One by one, the powers that threaten the land of Orszag have fallen. Only the demon Arnyek remains. Immortal, uncaring and unstoppable, Arnyek waits far below the ruined city of Nagyvaros for the day he is free to destroy the world.
Desperate to stop him, Konrad the Sorcerer plunges into forbidden magic and turns against those closest to him. But Konrad must learn a difficult lesson: no matter what path he takes, he cannot stop the End of All Things.
Giants of Pangaea (Lost on the Last Continent #2) – John C. Wright
Colonel Preston Lost didn’t think of himself as reckless. He believed in preparation, proper equipment, and patience in stalking the prey. But, in reality, he was not a cautious man. Having followed a spaceship into the black storm clouds above the Bermuda Triangle, he flew through a time portal to the end of days, and crash-landed on Pangaea Ultima with few supplies and no way of returning home.
Lost is a man of many talents, though, and anything should be possible for him. Having found himself in a world at war, he decides to embark on a journey to set things right. Little things like uniting the races of Man and freeing the slaves should be easy for a man of many talents, right?
But the prophecies say he is also a man of importance, and the rulers of the land are willing to do anything to get their hands on him. Having made inroads on race relations—getting a Third Man to talk to a Seventh—he just needs to find the love of his life, the Atlantean Cynisca, and free the slaves from the races of Man that don’t want to give them up.
Can Lost stay out of the clutches of the Watchers long enough to accomplish his goals, or, this time, is it possible his talents won’t be enough?
The Last Archon (Heroes Unleashed #5) – Richard W. Watts and Thomas Plutarch
The man who thought he would live forever is running out of time.
For three thousand years, Deckard Riss has been alone. Ever since his home sunk into the sea with Atlantis, he has been the last of his people. The final Atlantean knight, the last Archon.
Then fate forced an apprentice on him, and now the pair of them police the streets of Atlanta, magicians in hiding as superheroes.
Now there are whispers of Atlantis on the wind, another sorcerer at work. This unknown dark wizard sacrifices superpowered teenagers in grisly ritual suicides. And Deckard’s magic, once so easily accessed, starts slipping beyond his grasp.
If he doesn’t have his powers, he can’t stop the rending of reality to allow monsters into our world. If he doesn’t have his powers, he is nothing.
Deckard only has to hold on for another year. Just one more year, to train his apprentice to take his place, and stop the end of the world. And he’s not sure he can do it.
Will his apprentice step up to save the world, or will he drive the boy away with his secrets?
Renegade Swords – edited by D. M. Ritzlin
If you constantly crave tales of swashbuckling heroics and fiendish wizardry, Renegade Swords is for you! Eight fantastic tales have been selected for this anthology, each of them obscure or overlooked in some way. You don’t have to explore darksome crypts to discover incredible ancient treasures—you can find them in Renegade Swords!
Stories included:
“The House of Arabu” by Robert E. Howard
“Necromancy in Naat” (unabridged version) by Clark Ashton Smith
“The Woman of the Wood” (previously unpublished version) by A. Merritt
“The Slaughter of the Gods” by Manly Wade Wellman
“People of the Dragon” by Lin Carter
“The Pillars of Hell” by Lin Carter
“The Rune-Sword of Jotunheim” by Glenn Rahman and Richard L. Tierney
“Princess of Chaos” by Bryce Walton
Uranus (Planetary Anthology #3) – edited by Christopher Wilson
These are the stories of Uranus. Stories of new beginnings and creation. Stories of the mysterious seventh planet in our s
olar system and of the God of the sky that it was named after:
The Rising of Michael Reid, by Constantine Nakos – Michael Reid wasted his life. Now he has been given the chance to make amends. Every day he wakes up in the grave where he was buried and sets off for wherever Providence guides him.
Weather Witch of the West, by Ben Wheeler – Uranus is controlled by the Weather Witches. From their floating sky-palaces, they manipulate the weather, change the seasons and hold the lives and deaths of the countless inhabitants of the gas giants in their calculations.
Cold Heart of Ouranos, by J.D. Cowan – Underneath Ouranos lies a hidden evil forgotten by those who live in the frozen wastes and the heated city. Mysteries from the past have revealed themselves once more.
Room to Breathe, by Marina Fontaine – Home. Family. Friends. Daniel knows those words used to mean something special. But not anymore. Not for him.
…and more!
Viridian Gate Online: Insurrection (VGO: The Alchemic Weaponeer #3) – N. H. Paxton
There’s never enough time to really enjoy life, not when you’re Russian Weapons Engineer Vlad Nardoir.
Vlad has done a number of impressive things in his short time in Eldgard. He’s helped capture an Imperial fortress, defeated a corrupted demigod, and created a Crafter’s guild where all are welcome.
But Vlad’s greatest challenge is yet to come.
With a timer counting down until the Vault of Souls changes locations, leaving him completely without a lead for its resting place, Vlad will need to battle against time, a powerful hidden evil, and his own internal darkness to destroy the vault in time.
Can Vlad overcome the mighty challenges awaiting him, or will he run out of time, and be lost in his quest?
Forced Perspectives – Tim Powers
A BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF HAUNTED LOS ANGELES
Why did Cecil B. DeMille really bury the Pharaoh’s Palace set after he filmed The Ten Commandments in 1923?
Fugitives Sebastian Vickery and Ingrid Castine find themselves plunged into the supernatural secrets of Los Angeles—from Satanic indie movies of the ‘60s, to the unqiet La Brea Tar Pits at midnight, to the haunted Sunken City off the coast of San Pedro . . . pursued by a Silicon Valley guru who is determined to incorporate their souls into the creation of a new and predatory World God.
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