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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Foiled Ambitions (Four Horsemen: The Phoenix Initiative #11) – John M. Olsen

What do you do with technology that could ignite a second guild war?

After being saddled with a money-pit spaceship needing a long list of repairs, Jonathan Smith has bills to pay to keep the Sub Rosa Infiltration Company afloat, and when the perfect reconnaissance and retrieval contract falls into his lap, he snaps it up.

But when he finds out what he’s supposed to snatch, it becomes obvious that there’s more in play than what their employer let on, and a second guild war could result from the research being conducted on the small planetoid. And even worse, with so much on the line, their employer has authorized a second team to perform a “scorched earth” strike on the facility with Jonathan’s team still potentially in it.

How hard can it be to sneak into a research facility on an isolated planetoid, confiscate some illegal equipment, and make a quick getaway?

Jonathan is about to find out.

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The Guild’s Bard (The Queen’s Blade #2) – D. K. Holmberg

A guardian reborn faces a destiny he cannot evade. The Queen’s Blade saga continues.

Zaren Joha, once a formidable soldier, now chases the arcane mysteries of Busal City. No longer just a warrior; his path has shifted. The relative calm is a welcome change, but it’s a fragile peace.

In a world where his combat skills are secondary, he chases the hidden and often dangerous magic that pulsates within the city. The discovery of a strange—and powerful—powder leads him toward a discovery that forces him to reconsider everything he’s known.

He must navigate a realm where power shifts like the waves in the harbor, and where his journey to protect the queen thrusts him into the heart of a conspiracy that threatens the realm.

Zaren must rise as the Queen’s Blade and embrace a destiny that intertwines his very essence with magic. 

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Imperial Marine (Star Dragon #1) – James David Victor

Immortality can be nice. Of course, having your consciousness downloaded into a robot and being forced to serve the galactic emperor as an Imperial Marine isn’t exactly life in paradise.

Keel Hennity was one of the greatest gladiators in the universe, the victor of countless glorious battles. He was assigned to guard the most dangerous creatures on his home planet. Then he died, and his life truly began.

When Keel’s consciousness was downloaded into the robotic body of an Imperial Marine, he was tasked with protecting the emperor and controlling the incredibly dangerous creature that ended his first life. Can Keel unlock the secrets of Star Dragons and protect the galaxy from a dragon-human war that could end life as we know it?

Imperial Marine is the first book in the Star Dragon series. If you like incredible stories that are part space opera, part military sci-fi adventure, and full of non-stop action, be sure to check out the Star Dragon series today. Oh, and don’t forget about the space dragons.

Download Imperial Marine and see why you really don’t want space dragons flying around your home planet.

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Red Company: Invasion – B. V. Larson

An alien ship invades the Solar System for the first time in recorded history. The Earth Cruiser Agamemnon is destroyed in combat, and the search for answers begins.

The veteran crew of Borag gets the assignment, and the race is on. Sgt. Starn of Red Company must visit the disaster site, perform a search and rescue mission, and return to Mars alive.

What kind of technology could destroy an Earth warship so easily? Why is a single life-pod found floating, transponder pinging away—with no one aboard? Most important of all, what is the prowling alien super-ship going to do next?

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Rise of the Automated Empire: Stolen Dreams – Dennis M. Myers

At first, Octavian Monarch seemed the spitting image of his deceased father. But when he tries to consolidate all the corporations under his leadership, his brutal opening moves trigger outright war. His tactics border on the insane, but his power is unchallenged by the automated minions he controls.

Darren Garfield must navigate his new position as head of Red Dragon, keeping Monarch at arm’s length while not appearing to support Allied and his former colleagues.

Ted Becker tries to keep his team safe, but Debra Sheffield has other ideas. As they plunge into the most difficult battle of their lives, Ted has to wonder, who is really in command?

Worried about the whereabouts of her boyfriend, Captain Patricia Kipputh of the Pang Yu will have to choose between sacrificing her crew and accomplishing her mission.

And when mild-mannered Misa Kobato decides to retire, the universe decides otherwise. Thrust into wartime leadership, Misa will decide the fate of all humanity.

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Shield of Storms (The Shield War #1) – Jonathan Moeller

As two bitter foes prepare for battle, neither sees the dark power pulling their strings.

Ridmark Arban is the Shield Knight, defender of the realm of Andomhaim.

The kingdom of Andomhaim has defeated one invasion of the deadly Heptarchy and its spider-priestesses, but so long as the legions of the Heptarchy hold the Isle of Kordain, Ridmark knows another war is coming.

And the Exarch of the Isle wants another war, hoping to conquer Andomhaim for the glory of the Heptarchy.

But neither the Shield Knight nor the Exarch realizes that the true lord of the Isle of Kordain desires this war to begin.

For the war will be the instrument to achieve his dark designs…

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Jim Breyfogle’s A Bad Case of Dead – a Kickstarter campaign by P. Alexander

Edward has caught a bad case of Dead! 

While hurrying to his clerking job in London, Edward is attacked by a strange creature in an alleyway. Feeling ill, Edward consults his apothecary neighbor who informs him he’s been infected with zumbiism, and is now among the Dead!

There is still hope, however! Sent on his way with a potent elixir that will stave off the effects of Dead, Edward must seek out the aid of a Necromancer in the Narrow World, a hidden realm of forgotten magic beyond the sea. But the next ship leaves in only an hour!

Edward is unable to say farewell to his beloved Becca before setting off on the adventure of a lifetime! For her sake, he will find a cure for Dead… Or die trying, if he were not dead already!

Even if he reaches the Narrow World, there’s no guarantee he’ll be able to find a necromancer or convince him to cure his zumbiism. Edward must rely on his wits and determination to triumph over the challenges the Narrow World throws forth, including fickle merfolk, deadly sea monsters, religious zealots, and a plucky guide who is as ready to put him out of his misery as help him!

A Bad Case of Dead is an enchanting fairytale adventure, filled with action, magic, strange creatures, deadly perils, and romance!