Every week, the Castalia House Blog spotlights some of the many new releases in independent, pulp and web novel-influenced science fiction and fantasy.

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Apprentice to the Gods (The Seventh Shaman #4) – D. T. Read

The Resistance Pact’s attack on the Supremacy’s “ally” world, Jassem, has succeeded in taking the Jax out of the fight—for now—and as the newly appointed commander of the 15th’s 1st Fighter Squadron, Ku makes preparing his pilots for the inevitable next battle his top priority.

With its defensive forces scattered to protect its allies, though, the Resistance Pact’s homeworld of Solienne has been left open to attack, and the Supremacy swoops in to capture it. Solienne’s deployed units—including the 15th on Tobe—are left to fend for themselves.

When Ku is injured in the fierce fighting there, he learns his piloting career with the Soli Aerospace Forces is over, and he’s forced to settle on a career with the Qaletaqa, his people’s revered special operations force. But before he can start there, he has a much more demanding task—he must become Wanikiya, the long-awaited Preserver of His People.

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Dragon Rage (Blood of the Ancients #10) – Dan Michaelson and D. K. Holmberg

The realms have united, but Rob still doesn’t have the power to defeat the Eternal.

Rob has united the realms, and now the essences have begun to mingle. For some, this means increased understanding of different powers within the lands. For others, this means their connection to power has shifted. And not all are pleased.

While planning for another attack from either the Eternal or the Netheral, Rob discovers a threat he cannot overpower. An unusual ally might be key to understanding how to use his new connection to essence, but even that isn’t enough.

When the danger comes from within his realms, Rob must unearth long buried truths, or all the essences will be lost.

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Sevenfold Sword Online: Creation – Jonathan Moeller

The greatest epic fantasy MMORPG in history has a ticking time bomb at its heart.

Noah Carver used to work for Maskell Entertainment, developing the smash hit virtual reality game Sevenfold Sword Online (loosely based on the fantasy novels of Jonathan Moeller).

Then Carver got fired.

Not for incompetence, or for laziness.

But because he discovered the truth.

The game’s runaway success was built on the deadly technology of humanity’s ancient enemy, and Maskell Entertainment doesn’t want anyone to find out.

And unless Carver finds proof, a lot of innocent people are going to die…

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Shadowcroft Academy For Dungeons: Year Three – James Hunter and Aaron Michael Ritchey

Logan’s sophomore year was fine. Destroy an ancient evil. Solve a murder mystery. Tell way too many silverware jokes. No big deal.

His junior year, on the other hand, is shaping up to be the deadliest of them all. Shadowcroft Academy is hosting the Interschool Tournament, and though there is no Goblet, Logan and the Terrible Twelfth are about to find themselves tossed into the Fire.

With epic loot, lucrative sponsorships, and school bragging rights on the line, the tournament is guaranteed to be a bloodbath for all involved. Especially since a mysterious, masked dungeoneer with ties to Earth has set his sights on the tournament participants and is hellbent on wiping them out, no matter the cost.

Good thing the Terrible Twelfth has a bevy of new classes to help them rise to the occasion, including Cruelty Incorporated: The Business of Destruction, Runic Haiku: Utilizing Power Word Syllable Poetry, and the traumatizing Brews, Beers, and Bubbles – Alchemy for Everyone, taught by an oddball professor that no one seems to remember.

In short, it’s just another year at good ol’ Shadowcroft, with even more mushroom action, a crocheting minotaur, a surprising amount of twine, and interdimensional conspiracy theories out the wazoo.

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Savage Headhunters – J. Manfried Weichsel

Chased by cannibals through an Amazonian jungle, an archeologist takes refuge within an old pyramid, only to confront an evil worse than the man-eaters without.

You see, inside the pyramid is a little old lady who collects books. But hers are not standard editions. Each putrid publication in her sickening study is so disgusting that nobody can flip through one without doing a rainbow cough.

The librarian makes a deal with the archeologist: if he can read just one retched record from her bibliotheca of bile, she will help him escape the cannibals. But if he tosses his breakfast, he will become their lunch!

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Flying Sparks: Ultra Light Beams – A Kickstarter by Jon Del Arroz

FLYING SPARKS VOLUME 5: Ultra Light Beams is the fifth 72-page volume to the mega-hit crowdfunded graphic novel series, which has sold more than 3,000 copies! (All five volumes are available as rewards and add ons.)

Meta-Girl and Johnny are having the worst rough patch yet in their relationship after Meta-Girl finds out Johnny’s been delving into deep crime. They don’t have time to think about their love lives because strange lizard creatures are pouring through an interdimensional portal, threatening to destroy our entire existence. If that weren’t bad enough, a major villain has given himself supreme powers to become the strongest enemy our protagonists have ever faced!

Who will make it to the end alive?

This Kickstarter will remain open until 23 February 2023.

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Kamen America Volume 7 – A Kickstarter by Timothy Lim and Mark Pellegrini

“Charlotte ‘Carly’ Sasha Vanders was an aspiring fashionista whose life was changed after being fatefully impacted by cosmic debris! Now a human battery, she uses her supercharged status to rebrand herself as a henshin-heroine. However, she quickly learns that sometimes doing what’s right isn’t always fashionable as she battles the forces of evil as the patriotic paladin known as KAMEN AMERICA!”

Kamen America, Volume 7 takes place in a world divided between light and dark. As the Kamen Corps is split across the United States and the world in a desperate attempt to fend off the Otomotons, the Zenerengers are plotting their next move by targeting specific power stations!

To this end, Cynthia Prestige takes advantage of the situation and enlists the help of Zener Ecto and Zener Psycho to enact the last part of her nefarious plan. But what devastating and revealing repercussions will this have on the Kamen Corps? Find out in this penultimate chapter of the second Kamen America saga!

This Kickstarter will remain open until 6 April 2023.

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Swords & Heroes – a Kickstarter by Lyndon Perry

Be the first to experience Swords & Heroes, an S&S anthology featuring 12 epic tales of heroic adventure, monsters and mayhem, beasts and bravery. Antho is ready to ship!

What can you expect? Tales of undead kings facing off against evil necromancers, cursed warriors reluctantly fulfilling their quests, back-stabbing rogues and unlikely duos battling otherworldly abominations, and so much more.

We’re also excited to feature a brand new Crimson Warrior tale by Adrian Cole, the award winning author of the War on Rome saga published by DMR Books.

This Kickstarter will remain open until 23 February 2023.

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Tales of the Mongoose and Meerkat: The Redemption of Alness – a Kickstarter from Cirsova Publishing

Two years have passed since the fall of Alness. And two years have passed since the brash young sellsword Mangos teamed up with Kat, the mysterious Alnessi rogue. Together, they have made a name for themselves as the Mongoose and Meerkat!

The ravaged northlands still smolder as the warlord Rhygir holds Alness in an iron grip. Rumors swirl that a member of the Alnessi royal family may have survived, but Rhygir is intent on hunting down any resistance that might rally to a rogue prince who escaped the slaughter.

Though Rhygir has been consolidating power in Alness, the Mongoose and Meerkat have been hard at work, gathering resources and making alliances in Alomar and abroad. But can the new allies and old friends overcome the army of Rhygir before it can be bolstered by elite mercenaries?

All of the pieces of the King’s Game are place!

This Kickstarter will remain open until 20 February 2023.