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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Brink of Destruction (Edge of Imperium #3) – Peter Nealen

Things Fall Apart

Both Corvan and Zolah are now aware of the threat posed by the ghost ships—yet whether they will act on that threat remains to be seen, as the two factions plunge toward interstellar war.

Lieutenant Bannon continues to lead his special tasks phalanx, though a reconnaissance mission aimed at the Zolarians quickly leads to new allies and a knowledge of the ghost ships that threatens to upend the entire balance of power in the sector.

First Sergeant Draven prepares his company for an assault on the first defenses around Mytun, only to be similarly drawn into the maneuvers of the ghost ships before the offensive can even start moving.

Two soldiers, enemies in all but mindset, drawn toward a cataclysmic confrontation, deep in the darkness of a distant star system, as all factions, human and alien, stand on the brink of destruction.

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The Eye (The Convergence War #3) – M. R. Forbes

A child found. A target acquired. A galaxy on the verge of salvation.

While Soren’s reunion with Dana is happy, it’s a single pinprick of light in an otherwise grim present. With war raging and the fate of millions at risk, the Wraith reaches what Soren hopes will be their final destination.

The Eye.

The source of their struggles and the reason for the deadly conflict engulfing the galaxy. They’ve come to destroy it and end the war.

It won’t be that easy.

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The Eye of Odin (Harvey Bennett Thrillers #16) – Nick Thacker

Erik thought he was prepared for anything on his first real expedition in the caves of Norway with the legendary Professor Graham Lindgren. But when they stumble upon a hidden passageway covered in ancient runes, he and the team find themselves drawn deep into a long-sealed chamber.

Their excitement quickly turns to dread when an earthquake strikes, trapping them in the heart of the mountain.

Desperate to locate her missing father, Graham’s daughter, Sarah Lindgren, and her partner, Reggie, arrive in Norway, joined by Harvey Bennett—only to find themselves caught in a deadly pursuit with a ruthless organization determined to claim whatever treasure Graham’s team has unearthed.

Racing against time, Sarah and Reggie must navigate treacherous terrain and cryptic riddles while fending off relentless enemies who will stop at nothing to seize the secrets of the Eye of Odin.

With the mountain crumbling around them, the group must unlock the power of the Eye before it’s too late. But as they close in on the truth, they begin to realize that the Eye’s secrets are far more dangerous than they ever imagined.

Will they unlock the Eye’s secrets, or will the mountain become their tomb?

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The Flames of Reckoning (Dragon’s Dawn #5) – D.K. Holmberg and Dan Michaelson

Glyphs hold the key to unlocking the past. The Dragon’s Dawn series continues.

Though Laric’s grandmother has returned, he fears an ancient power has come with her. Searching for the means to help her leads Laric back to his home—where he finds mages targeting dragons, only now to drain away their potential.

Laric must uncover the reason behind this attack to stop the Grand Mage and to save his grandmother.

The key lies in the once potent protections that Laric had a hand in destroying.

If he can’t rebuild them, a greater danger than the Grand Mage will escape—and all the dragon potential Laric has bonded won’t be enough to stop it.

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The Masked Marksman #3: Death Steals the Act – Emile C. Tepperman

Meet Ed Race who made his trade as a vaudeville gun-juggler supreme, known on stage as “The Masked Marksman” and for handling six loaded .45s to the delight of the crowds. But when this line of work became too tedious, Race took advantage of his multi-state P.I. licenses to solve crimes across the country. This collection includes:

• Overture to Doom: Ed Race believed in himself, and in his shrewd judgment of people… So in the case of the pretty girl wearing the caracul coat, he backed his guess with a courtroom tangle and a six-gun showdown!
• Murder on the Programme: Ed Race was willing to let certain people gamble with his money. When a frightened girl tried it and won, he decided to help her push her luck—even when he knew the final payoff would be in hot lead and spilled blood!
• Death at the Matinee: A torn copy of Variety and a little old lady lead Ed Race, ace vaudevillian, along a murderer’s twisted back-trail—to a thundering climax of juggled six-guns, with only death as an audience to his off-stage act.

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The Neck Romancer (Honeymoon from Hell #1) – Declan Finn

They’re going to make it to the Church on time. And God help anyone who gets in their way.

Marco Catalano and Amanda Colt have survived vampires legions, unkillable demons, supernatural assassins and a full on army of darkness. With their allies, they have taken down a paranormal Illuminati called simply “The Council.”

Now they have to deal with their next threat: marriage.

Can Marco and Amanda survive the preparations for their own wedding? And if they manage that, can they fight their way through their honeymoon?

But the biggest question of all: Who invited the zombies to the ceremony?

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Samhain Sorceries – edited by D.M. Ritzlin.

Now, at Samhain, ritual fires of ash and apple-wood, mixed with bull’s bones, burned on the heights and the shore to deter malign spirits, or demons out of Hell as the Christians said.

Just in time for Halloween, DMR Books presents ten haunting tales of swords and sorcery. On Samhain, the dead will rise, dark rituals will be performed, and gateways to the afterworld will open. One of the more notable tales in this anthology is “Night of the Burning Ghost” by Keith Taylor, which features Felimid mac Fal, hero of the classic Bard series. Samhain Sorceries also includes stories by Adrian Cole, Matthew Pungitore, Harry Piper, and more. Edited by D.M. Ritzlin.

Stories included:

“Night of the Burning Ghost” by Keith Taylor
“The Black Cat of Barrowburn” by Rev. Joe Kelly
“The House of the Dark One” by Tim Hanlon
“The Hill of Breaking Bones” by Adrian Cole
“The Tale of Marius the Avenging Imp” by Matthew Pungitore
“The Eye of Balor” by Owen G. Tabard
“The Tomb of Tigernmas” by Ethan Sabatella
“The Hole in the Tree” by John Lawrence Rak, Jr.
“The Raid into Annwyn” by Harry Piper
“The Barrow-King’s Bride” by H.R. Laurence

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Kamen America #10 – a Kickstarter campaign by Timothy Lim and Mark Pellegrini

Charlotte ‘Carly’ Vanders was a fashion designer whose fate was changed the day a cosmic collision transformed her into a supercharged henshin heroine! Shedding her corporate overlords and driven by American grit and determination, she is the patriotic paladin known as KAMEN AMERICA!

The Kamen Corps are in Texas-sized trouble! Finding themselves in a precarious situation, the team must confront Kamen Unity during a tense standoff with a rancher and his land. Zener Ecto and Zener Psycho are on the scene — but what do they want with his patch of land, and how does it fit into Cynthia Prestige‘s greater scheme? Slowly but surely, answers are given as we proudly celebrate our 10th volume in just under 4 years of publication!

Find out why Kamen America, the underdog independent comic that could, has set the gold standard for crowdfunded American comics!

This campaign will be open until 13 November, 2024.