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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Adrift (The Lost Warship Book 1) – Daniel Gibbs

There is a time to weep and a time to mourn.

For the CSV Lion of Judah, that time has not yet come.

The war with the League of Sol ended in victory for the Terran Coalition. Major General David Cohen and his crew conclude their three-month goodwill cruise with one final FTL jump. But instead of returning home in a blaze of glory, the wormhole collapses and hurls them more than four million lightyears into the unknown.

Stranding them in a distant galaxy.

With dwindling supplies but buoyed by hope of a miracle, David follows the evidence to a nearby inhabited planet. After a disastrous first contact with the less advanced alien civilization, rival factions threaten the tenuous peace—and reignite a centuries-old genocidal conflict.

Now David and the war-weary Lion must take up arms once again to head off a catastrophic event in hopes of unlocking an ancient technology’s secrets.

Before the chance to return home is lost forever.

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Cursed Cocktails – S. L. Rowland

When life gives you lemons, squeeze them into a stiff drink and stir.

After twenty years defending the frozen north against some of the most dangerous threats in the nine kingdoms, Rhoren “Bloodbane” has finally earned his retirement. While the blood mage’s service to the realm may have ended, burning veins and aching joints remain, and Rhoren soon learns that a warmer climate offers relief from his chronic pain.

And a chance at a fresh start.

In the warm and relaxing atmosphere of Eastborne, the umbral elf finds a new purpose and a sense of belonging. He may have left the frozen north behind, but he brings with him the skills and strength gained from a lifetime of defending the realm. Along with his most prized possession—a book of drink recipes inherited from his father.

Spilled cocktails may not carry the same weight as spilled blood, but opening a tavern brings a unique brand of challenges. With the right friends and a little bit of luck, he might just have a recipe for success.

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Gathering Storm (White Ops #4) – Declan Finn

To fight the enemy in the shadows, Sean will put together a strike team to light up the darkness— with nukes if necessary.

They will get the job done at any cost.

They will be White Ops.

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The Never Ever War (The Lunar Free State #8) – John E. Siers

“War” is a dirty word on Ragnarok. For the past hundred years, the planet’s human inhabitants have been trying to rebuild their civilization after a self-inflicted nuclear holocaust. The event—which they call the “Great Destruction”—was so traumatic they’ve destroyed all the records and refuse to talk about it, other than to swear it will never ever happen again. At least, that’s what they tell the Lunar Free State’s contact team.

Unfortunately, not all the inhabitants agree on what that peaceful society should look like, and their disagreement has reached the level of an armed conflict between two groups, one of which is supported by a covert ops team from the Confederated Nations of Earth. The locals may not be willing to call it a war… but the LFS ends up in the middle of it, just the same.

When a Confed Navy task force arrives to take over the planet, the LFS is forced to respond, taking the war that was never supposed to happen to the interstellar level.

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The Raven Queen (The Storyweaver Saga Book 2) – D. K. Holmberg

The magic of the Raven Queen ensures peace and stability. Some would see that time change.

Lan and Sophie cannot move on from the deadly attack. Both train to be ready for another attack, but all has been quiet.

Sophie continues to train as a sorcerer, though she has not learned from the Raven Queen as she had hoped. Life in the tower is slow, and Sophie longs for excitement.

While on patrol with the young prince, Lan and the Taihg encounter a strange attack. The rest of the Taihg are sent to investigate, but Lan is left behind, where he searches on his own.

Danger lurks closer than any realize. When Lan goes missing, Sophie must find him. What they uncover will change all that they know about the power in the world.

As Sophie struggles to find a way past the patterns the restrict her magic, and Lan searches to understand the powerful connection he now has, they are key to saving the Raven Queen—and all of Reyash—from the dark power that threatens the land.

It might already be too late to stop what a powerful sorcerer set into motion.

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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.