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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Aetheric InFusion (Magical Fusion #3) – Johnathan Brooks

Exposed as a “Fusion prodigy” to the Mages of Copperleaf Academy and the Martials of Fort Pinevalley, Larek struggles with the attention and expectations this label brings. Not only does he need protection against those who may wish him harm, but he also has to contend with the needs of his Professors and the Dean of Copperleaf Academy, who wish to use his abilities to help teach others about his discoveries and to outfit the local Scission Interception Corps with his powerful creations.

It’s not because of selfish reasons that they desire the SIC to be better equipped, though, but one of necessity. Changes in Scission and monster behavior throughout the Kingdom has thrown all of their previous defensive strategies into turmoil, and more and more member of the SIC have to venture out from behind the safety of the city’s walls to hunt down and kill the threatening monsters roaming across the landscape.

If that wasn’t bad enough, word of Larek’s abilities – and potential origin – have begun to spread, leading to rumors that, if they were to reach the wrong ears, could result in devastation. The powerful Fusionist must now juggle the expectations of his Professors with keeping his presence at the Academy a secret, or else his entire world might come crashing down.

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Echoes in the Deep (Peacemaker Wars #2) – J. N. Chaney and Terry Maggert

With Veteran pay comes veteran problems. And the Guild, more often than not, is the issue.

He’s become an effective enforcer of the law, but unfortunately, crime is growing a lot more complicated. Someone is slaving artificial beings to ships, running contraband across the stars in a fatal practice that marries murder, theft, and kidnapping. Even as Mark’s crew grows, he discovers these crimes aren’t just horrific—they’re common.

And he means to stop it.

Deep in the black between stars, Mark finds an ancient and bizarre place, filled with the galaxy’s discarded junk. And in the middle of that cold, distant void lies a massive ship—one that holds secrets that will rock the halls of power in known space—and turn crime into profit.

Diving headlong into new cases, Mark will find that the elite criminals aren’t scared of a farm boy from Iowa. That professional killers are lurking in the shadows.

But he’s no longer alone.

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Implacable Resolve (The Last Hunter #12) – J. N. Chaney and Terry Mixon

In war, even the simplest things are hard.

Admiral Jack Romanoff and his people have begun the liberation of Vesuvius from the xenophobic Novarites, but even something that straightforward is difficult. The enemy outnumbers them, and removing the threat won’t be easy. Worse, they are killing humans in job lots, so time is of the essence.

When retreat isn’t an option, you must advance.

Jack wants to spare as many Novarite civilians as he can, but the killing must end. With them on a planet and him in space, that limits his options, but he will compel their surrender by any means necessary. It will be a delicate dance, but he won’t stop until they admit defeat or die.

In the face of overwhelming odds, never let your resolve waver.

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Orphan of the Shadowy Moons (Wild Stars #6) – Michael Tierney

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A Trek Through Time (Jake’s Magical Market #2) – J. R. Mathews

The last time we saw our intrepid hero, Jake had barely managed to escape being trapped on a dead version of his own world. Using a combination of his new powers, he threw himself backward through time, back to when the god that trapped him first rose to power. There, Jake snatched divinity from the hands of the ascending god, consuming it for himself without any regard for the consequences of his actions.

In a surprise twist, such a poorly thought-out plan came with some serious downsides!

Now Jake has a big target painted on his back. The jealous gods of this world are hungry for divine power and not afraid to kill another god to get it. Stuck in the past, Jake must learn to navigate a world full of desperate gods, wild monsters, bizarre powers, and weird “cultivating” mortals who claim they can become just as powerful as the gods themselves—as long as they get to sit around contemplating the mysteries of the universe for a few hundred years first.

Join Jake on his next grand adventure as he learns what it means to be a newly ascended divinity, how to survive in such a strange new world, and how he might just have an unexpected edge on everyone and everything that’s out to get him—by learning how to craft his own magical cards!

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The Primal Hunter #8 – Zogarth

Out of nowhere, Jake gets his alchemy training interrupted as he is forced back to the first universe to deal with a sudden emergency. Earth has been invaded by another Chosen with plans that do not include a fair fight, assisted by natives unsatisfied with the status quo.

The feeble political balance on Earth is shattered as factions take advantage of the sudden turmoil to exercise the wills of their gods. War breaks out, and every force finds themselves implicated one way or another.

On his way to face the enemy Chosen, Jake explores parts of Earth he has never seen before, makes new allies, gets to know more of the Malefic Viper’s most treasured secrets through incredibly invasive visions of the past, improves his abilities, and gets plenty of those sweet, sweet levels.

But before all that… it’s time to dispense justice upon the most evil beings in all of existence: Mushroom Men

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Revolution (The Sol Saga #1) – James Fox

War is good for business… And business is about to boom.

General Keith Brennan would rather face an army with his trusty rifle than attend another state dinner, but when the President of the solar system is assassinated on Mars, Brennan is the obvious choice to investigate. If he comes up with the wrong answer, though, his career will be over.

However, duty is never so simple. When the investigation uncovers a trail of corruption and a conspiracy on a system-wide scale, Brennan’s career is the least of his worries.

With Earth and Mars on the brink of a shooting war and forces behind the scenes determined to push them over the edge, only Marine General Keith Brennan can stop the slaughter before it’s too late. Unless, of course, it already is…

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Rune Seeker #2 – J. M. Clarke and C. J. Thompson

Hiral must grow before a sky-island plummets.

Fallen Reach is in danger, and only Hiral and his surviving teammates can save it.

Gathering their strength after the loss of their friends, the Builder and Growers race across a hostile landscape to save their homes and obtain the power they need to battle their nigh-unstoppable enemies.

The companions must survive dungeons gone wild, the hunger of the dead, and the wrath of an ancient power that was once the hope of an entire people.

Still, Hiral will not be deterred, and is ready to cut a path of destruction through his enemies and achieve the loftiest goal of all…

…to become overpowered.

And probably explode.