Lena Austin is here to tell us about Silver Spider, a paranormal murder mystery romance - fantasy and LGBTQ+.
Read on for details...
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A Paranormal Murder Mystery Romance
Fantasy / Romance / LGBTQ+
Date Published: June 5, 2026
Publisher: Changeling Press
The secretive Duke of Aberystwyth has invited Madge Majesty to a murder
mystery party, but he's the first victim!
Madge is a harpy, mystery writer, and amateur sleuth with a nose for murder.
At her side is her faithful chauffeur, Hayden, who is a telekinetic ex-thief
-- and a confirmed bachelor.
Now it's up to Madge to solve the whodunit. Her suspects are a motley
assortment of inverts and very nervous heterosexuals, all of whom have more
than just their sexual foibles to hide. Is it the cross-dressing vampire, the
packless werewolf, the voyeuristic doctor, the gargoyle majordomo, or the
promiscuous man who seems bent on getting everyone into his bed, including
Hayden?
Madge Majesty looked up from her study of the papers spread on her lap
and across the seat of her beloved 1912 Rolls Royce Silver Ghost Limousine.
"Yes, Hayden?"
"Madame, Dunraven Castle is but perhaps half an hour away. You requested
a warning." Hayden had lasted years longer than any of her other drivers, so
he knew he was liked, but wasn't fool enough to take advantage of that
knowledge. Harpies were not creatures to take lightly.
"Hmm. So I did." She gathered up her papers and stuffed them into her
leather case. Wearily, she pulled on the gloves she'd laid to the side and put
on the ridiculously large hat with an immense array of feathers decorating it.
"There. I'm properly adorned." She huffed out an unladylike breath, as much as
her corset would allow. "I'd give a great deal to be back in Greece where the
fashions were sensible."
Hayden quirked a smile at her. "But not warm, Madame. Wales in winter is
considerably chillier." As if to emphasize his point, the wind rattled the
Rolls with no respect for the craftsmanship that went into it.
"I'm very sorry I agreed to be the Duke's hostess for this mystery
party. Why didn't I refuse and stay in our lovely townhouse in London, where I
could enjoy a party or write as I pleased?" Madge rubbed her chin
thoughtfully. "Ah, well, what's done is done. We'll make the best of the
weekend and be toasting our toes in front of the home fires soon enough."
"I've never been to a mystery party, Madame. How does one throw a party
for a mystery?"
"Very simple. It's all in this box." Madge patted the locked strongbox
beside her. "There are clue cards and the basic plot for me to follow. This
one is perfect for a winter game, called The Santa Clause. Who wouldn't love
to murder a solicitor or two now and again?" She shrugged. "I certainly would,
upon occasion."
Hayden retreated into silence and returned his attention to maneuvering
her precious new car through the few treacherous roads that Wales bothered to
have at all. The ex-thief was not fond of anyone who had anything to do with
the law. He was officially rehabilitated, but a mere ten years of service as
her driver didn't negate a lifetime of running from authority. An extremely
careful and quiet man by nature, he was -- in Madge's opinion -- the perfect
companion, much better than a twittering peahen of a lady's maid.
The car lurched and slid to one side on a patch of icy mud, throwing
Madge against the door. She bore it in stoic silence. Hayden wouldn't
understand how much they needed the money provided by this weekend of enforced
merriment. Everyone was writing books in this day and age, and she wouldn't
say the money she earned was paltry, but it certainly didn't allow for a
lavish lifestyle. In fact, if the truth were known, Hayden was the only
employee she could afford. Thus, while on their jaunts -- often paid by those
who wished for a bit of fame and glamour to rub off on them -- Hayden served
as chef, chauffeur, lady's maid, and man of all work.
Since it suited her to be knowledgeable about subjects many men hadn't
even the stomach for, Madge pulled out of her case one of the few books where
the great Sigmund Freud appeared to change his mind on the subject of anxiety
and inhibitions. Madge grinned to herself. She did love humor, especially when
humans meant to be serious. "Of course we all have inhibitions, moronic little
man."
Her mumble caught Hayden's attention. "Why do you bother with that
mumbo-jumbo, Madame? He thinks everything has to do with sexual congress!"
"Hmm, yes, well, he does have certain prejudices, doesn't he? I'm not
aberrant because I enjoy sex, and I seriously doubt the way your mother
changed your nappies has anything to do with your homosexuality. Do be
forgiving, dear. He's hopelessly addicted to cocaine, and trapped in a
repressed society."
Sadly, everything she said was true. "You'd know more about repressed
societies than I, Madame. I'm only a poor human, after all." Hayden gave her
one of his infamous Mona Lisa smiles -- a smile that showed no teeth but
implied much more than mischief while keeping well into propriety. Bless him,
he never stepped a toe out of line publicly, unless called upon to do so.
Madge, on the other hand, had no compunctions about showing her fangs,
even when she covered her retractable dagger-like talons with silk gloves. The
pointed ears peeking out of dark curls and her Grecian looks marked her as a
foreigner in a land notable for its snobbery, but Madge saw no need to bother
hiding herself. Well, all right, she hid the wings. Blasted things got in the
way if she didn't, but that was for her convenience and not propriety. She was
what she was -- an expatriate harpy who told a good story and occasionally
found cause to use her bloodthirsty nature to solve a mystery.
The irony was, no one ever thought to accuse her of the murders because
harpies weren't known for subtlety when it came to killing. Madge acknowledged
the legend with twisted lips, and didn't bother to remind anyone that she was
free and no longer the slave of the Furies.
Framed by snow clouds the color of a pigeon's breast, Dunraven Castle
hove up from the surrounding hills like a fairytale. Beautifully situated and
scrupulously maintained by a trust none of the Duke's wastrel ancestors could
touch, it was a welcoming sight in the gathering gloom of dusk. Thanks to the
road conditions, if you dared call the deeply rutted mud tracks by the same
noble word the Romans used for their craftsmanship, they were hours late.
They'd missed tea in their haste to make up time, and now her stomach rumbled
audibly. "Have we time for a biscuit, Hayden?"
"Was that your stomach, Madame? Surely I thought we were about to have a
storm." Hayden pretended to study the sky very seriously. At the same time,
his hand reached back imploringly. "I'd love a bikky, thank you. No doubt I've
missed the servant's dinner, and I've no mind to make do with a bit of cold
chicken and some bread until morning."
Chuckling wickedly because he knew she always insisted he sit with her
at table, forestalling any foolish matchmaking attempts, Madge handed him a
large shortbread biscuit from her hamper, and they munched companionably.
Finally, the car traversed the bridge atop the dry moat and passed through the
portcullis into the courtyard of Dunraven.
"Just do me one small favor, Madame?" Hayden did not move from the seat
to open her door.
"So serious! Very well, what is it?" She thought she knew, but made him
ask.
"Let's try not to let this weekend become a real murder mystery?" His
hands gripped the steering wheel tightly, and she imagined under the proper
driving gloves of his profession, his knuckles were white. Poor thing, he
really had suffered at the last mysterious weekend, and had ended up
incarcerated for three days until Madge had proven to everyone's satisfaction
that another had committed the deed. For poor Hayden, it had been a truly
miserable occasion.
Madge patted his shoulder. "Buck up, Hayden. I'm planning nothing more
than a game all weekend. After all, what could happen in the Duke's presence?"
About the Author
Someone cursed Lena Austin with "may you have a life so full you'll have many
tales to tell your grandchildren." Lena's a "fallen" society wench with a
checkered past. She's been a licensed minister, hairdresser, Realtor, radio
DJ, exotic dancer, telephone service tech, live-steel medievalist swordswoman,
BDSM Mistress, and investment property manager. Not necessarily in that order.
She never finished that degree in marine archaeology, but did learn to scuba
-- she's got a lifetime of "Research material!"
Hey, why waste these stories on kids who won't listen anyway? Writing them
down is a nice way to spend her retirement. What? You expected an ex-BDSM
Mistress to take up crocheting or something?
Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress
Kelly O’Hearn is here to tell us about Arcanum: Secrets of the Madonna, Arcanum #3, fantasy romance.
There's also a great giveaway.
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Arcanum: Secrets of the Madonna
Kelly O’Hearn
(Arcanum, #3)
Publication date: June 9th 2026
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Sometimes happily ever after takes more than one two three lifetimes.
The anticipated third book in the Arcanum series, the only book series channeled through the tarot.
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Sarah Fuller has it all—a fragrance empire, a terrace overlooking Central Park, the perfect life. Until a frightening episode shatters everything she thought she knew. Now her husband’s iPhone location is mysteriously off, and the charming widower Harry is impossible to forget.
Haunted by the tarot’s tales of past lives and ancient secrets, Sarah is drawn to Rome—to galleries where Renaissance masterpieces seem to know her name, to shadows of the Inquisition where forbidden love once bloomed, to a truth hidden within the Vatican’s darkest corners.
Who is the woman in those paintings, gazing out across centuries? And why does Sarah recognize herself in her eyes?
From the elite Hamptons to the pyramids of ancient Egypt, from medieval French castles to the dangerous splendor of a newly built Vatican, one woman must unravel the mystery of her soul—before history repeats its most devastating mistake.
This is the story of Arcanum.
In a world where love transcends time, some vows are meant to be broken.
“Sensual, spiritually charged, and utterly unputdownable.”
Marisa Halstead
Founder and CEO of Seeded Sound
Advance Praise for Book Three in the Arcanum Series:
“Sarah’s journey reminds us that love does not vanish-it endures, waiting patiently for the moment we are ready to receive it again. This story left me with a deep sense of peace, wonder, and the quiet certainty that what is meant for us will always find its way home.”
Max held Sarah at arm’s length, nose wrinkled, examining her as if she were Chinese takeout possibly left in the fridge too long.
She wrestled free and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Well…you look fabulous as always. Are those real glasses or just for effect? They’re…also fabulous.” She slid into a chair.
“They’re genuine tortoise shell. Vintage. Not cheap,” he said. “They’re for reading, but Lord, I’m going to have to take them off for this lunch. I don’t want to be able to see you this well. You need an Instagram filter or something.” He sat down, still eyeing her critically.
“Well, take them off then,” she said. “We certainly know the menu by heart. And I know, I’ve let myself go a little, missed a few waxing appointments and such. If this is what my eyebrows look like, you can only imagine the state of my—”
“Darling, we’re eating,” Max said. “Poor Carl, that’s all I can say. I bet he still looks polished as always.”
“Handsome as ever,” Sarah said, shaking her head. “Shall we order, seeing as I need to put on five pounds immediately?”
“And get to a salon this afternoon!” he said. “Nails, hair, Botox, the whole thing. You are the CEO of a luxury brand, for god’s sake. Thank goodness it’s summer and nearly everyone is out of town.” He waved over Charlie, their favorite waiter.
“The usual?” Charlie said.
“Yes, please, and stat! Sarah looks like she hasn’t eaten in weeks, doesn’t she, Charlie?”
“You two, always bickering like an old married couple,” Charlie said as he walked away, shaking his head.
Max turned to Sarah. “Now. Tell me about my godchild. How is she feeling?”
“Max, it’s incredible. Alex was in the ICU not six weeks ago, and she’s been fully cleared to go to sleepaway camp. The doctor told us that kids recover from her condition quickly, but if you’d asked me in the hospital whether she would make it to camp this year…I didn’t even know if she would make it home by now. It’s as if it never happened.”
“Sarah, that’s such great news,” Max said. “I called Alex the other day and all she could talk about was having gotten excused from the last two weeks of school. She was thrilled! Especially since having a sick twin sister didn’t get her brother the same dispensation.”
Sarah laughed. “Yes, Sam’s hoping for a dire illness, possibly in September.” She covered her face with her hands. “Actually, you know what, it’s too soon to joke about it.”
“Maybe this will help,” Max said as he filled her glass with red wine. They clinked glasses. “To health,” he said.
“To health.” They both took a sip.
“So let me get this straight,” Max said. “Alex has been back to normal for weeks. Carl has not a hair out of place. The camp bags are nearly packed. And you’re still a mess?”
Sarah covered her eyes again. “I knowwww. I just got so close to losing everything. It really rattled me, Max. Stuart and Sofia have basically been running the company for the past several weeks—and honestly everything is going fine. Gallica’s a hit, we had another great harvest of roses in France, my Arcanum core fragrances are doing well. Do you ever feel like your time has come and gone?”
“Sarah, you’re forty-one, even if you do look eighty right now.” Max patted her arm, then topped off her glass. “You’ve got a whole lotta living left to do. What happened to the Sarah who believed in past lives? The Sarah who slayed at that gorgeous launch party for Gallica? Who caught the eye of ‘Manhattan’s Hottest Bachelor’? He was obsessed with you.”
“Was obsessed?” Sarah said, blushing slightly. “I told you what happened in France? Our little tête-à-tête in the ancient forest?”
“And how you insisted that he go through with his engagement to Simone? Yes, you told me.” Max took a copy of the New York Post out of his tote and put his glasses back on. “Sweetie, he took your advice and ran with it. All the way to Harry Winston.”
Author Bio:
When Kelly O’Hearn first stepped off the train in the city of Florence, Italy, as a 20-year-old, she had the overwhelming instinct that she had been there before. In a place famous for its maze of medieval streets, O’Hearn navigated the city as if she had lived there for a lifetime. Born in New York City, O’Hearn first put her intuitive skills to work as a professional wine taster, instructor, and sommelier in the elite institutions of New York, Portugal, and Aspen. After raising her two children and enduring a personal health crisis, in 2012, she was drawn to begin reading the tarot cards, an ancient practice which does not presume to “predict the future” but offers a collection of stories, perspectives, and self-reflections that can guide one to become one’s most authentic self. O’Hearn is in high demand for her readings, with clients on every continent but Antartica. While most people were baking sourdough or riding their Pelotons during the Covid pandemic, O’Hearn used the tarot cards to channel her own past lives. Weeks of readings, all captured on video, yielded six storylines of herself as several powerful women over the millennia and around the globe: the same one soul, over time, persevering against all odds in the quest for happiness and the love of a soul mate. This time-bending saga inspired O’Hearn to conceive of a series of novels titled Arcanum. Book One: In the Temple Shadows is available now. Book Two: Whispers in the Forest will be released Spring of 2025.
Christy Healy is here to tell us about Undying, fantasy romance.
There's also a great giveaway.
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Undying
Christy Healy
Publication date: June 9th 2026
Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Rory Ó Conchúir has always known that she was destined for war. Her deadly gifts, the unwanted inheritance of her ancestor, the Mórrígan, can only be wielded as a weapon of destruction and doom. For years, she would not allow herself to be used as such, instead choosing to live far across the sea, refusing to regret what she has left behind in order to do so…until the fateful day that she learns of the price she has paid for her peace.
Niall Ó Flannagáin, the young king of Connacht, was never meant for war — that has always been his half-sister, Rory’s, role. But now he finds himself threatened with a foreign invasion and the ruination of the realm, without her aid. In desperation, he turns to a powerful enemy as an ally, his only hope to unite the provinces against the foreign armies gathering even now to destroy the land he has sworn to protect.
Locke MacMurchada, the son of the most hated traitor in all of Éire, owes a debt that he knows he can never pay. But when the opportunity to propose a political marriage with the murderous Rory Ó Conchúir arises, he seizes the chance to protect what is left of both his people, as well as the legacy which his father ripped to shreds…so long as she doesn’t kill him first.
When the fateful day of doom at last arrives, the fates of all three royals – the cursed princess, the young king, and the traitor prince – become inextricably woven together, forcing them to face new threats and old enemies, hoping to forge a stronger Éire from the ashes of the old.
Christy Healy has been a book nerd ever since she was a little girl hiding under the covers with a flashlight and a dog-eared copy of Anne of Green Gables. She started writing soon after, and the obsession only grew. Now Christy weaves stories of her own into the myths and tales of the Celtic, Indo-European, and Greco-Roman worlds that she has loved for so long. When not lost in her fantasy worlds, she lives in North Carolina with her children, her dog, and her husband.
La Kayshal is here to tell us about The Flames of Soulflare, Hell's Fire Dragon series #2, fantasy, New Adult, paranormal, romance.
There's also a great giveaway.
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The Flames of Soulflare
La Kayshal
(Hell’s Fire Dragon Series, #2)
Publication date: May 27th 2026
Genres: Fantasy, New Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Fourth Wing meets From Blood and Ash in this Dark Paranormal Romantasy where dragons fear prophecy—and love may be the final weapon.
Everin Haydon was stolen, tortured, and reshaped into the dreaded Hell’s Fire Dragon, bound as a weapon for a Dragon Council that calls itself righteous.
Across the realms, Lord Tynan, the Demon of Darkness and Chaos, has ascended. His arrival heralds the Three Days of Darkness, and he will burn heaven and earth to reclaim what fate bound to him—his power, his vengeance.
But one question if the demon has risen, where is the god meant to stop him?
As the dragon world waits for divine intervention, Everin must decide whether she will remain a weapon—or become the fate of the realms.
Dark themes including captivity and experimentation
Emotional conflict and intense character struggles
Violence and battle scenes
High-stakes situations involving power and survival
This book is best suited for readers who enjoy emotionally intense, character-driven romantasy.
Read Before You Decide
Before committing, please read the prologue.
This will give you a clear sense of the tone, pacing, and writing style.
Prologue:
Present Day
The moon hung quietly above Helldreth Fort, its pale glow spilling through the tall windows and brushing the chamber with soft silver. A cool breeze drifted in and stirred the white curtains, their edges sweeping lightly across Everin’s skin. She pulled her silk gown closer, grateful for the warmth of the room. It felt comforting, far more so than the terrible, dark place she had left behind.
Her steps carried her to the mirror in the corner. The reflection staring back looked thinner, as if her body had been carved down to something she hardly recognized.
The neckline of her nightie dipped too low to her liking, drawing her eye to the faint scars across her chest. The lamp light traced their uneven lines, pale and unsettling.
She touched them gently. Everin barely remembered how or when she got the scars.
She pulled the outer robe around her until it covered more of her chest. At least the scars were low enough to stay hidden unless she wore something too revealing.
A sound of footsteps behind her made her turn.
Tariel Fenwick, her first love, stood at the doorway.
Everin froze for a moment. He looked different—stronger, more defined, more man than the boy she remembered. His dark hair rested just above his shoulders with two thin braids at the sides of his head, framing a face sharpened by a faint stubble. His amber eyes, once so warm, now carried a deeper, shadowed intensity.
His shirt hung open across his chest, revealing sculpted muscle that rose with each slow breath, and a leather gauntlet, more like an open finger glove, hugged his left hand like a seamless extension of his skin.
Her gaze lingered longer than she meant it to. He saw that. A slow, knowing smirk touched his lips.
She straightened quickly. “We need to talk, Tariel.”
“Yes,” he replied, approaching her, “but not now.”
“There is a lot I want to understand,” she said quietly. “So much I don’t remember.”
“Later.” He reached her, lowering his voice. “I’ve long waited for this moment with you.”
He stepped closer.
She stepped back.
“You waited for me?” she whispered, searching his face.
“I did,” he said. “More than you know.”
He brushed a fingertip along her arm. She stiffened but felt a flicker of the old pull toward him, a warm memory trying to surface. Her eyes drifted briefly to his lips, those that she had kissed in the past, before she forced herself to look away.
His smirk deepened. “Are we shy now, Everin?” he murmured, amusement warm in his voice.
“It has been a while,” she managed. “Things are not the same.”
“We are,” he said, touching her jaw. “You still feel this.”
She backed away again, but he followed, closing in until she had no space left. Her leg hit the edge of the bed. She lost her balance and stumbled, falling backward onto the soft covers. Instantly, she pressed her elbow into the mattress as she tried to push herself upright and pull her short nightie into place, but she barely had a second.
By the time she braced herself, Tariel was already on the bed. One knee pressed into the mattress, and in a swift movement, he trapped her between his legs. His body loomed over hers, leaving her nowhere to go. His hand slid behind her back and pulled her closer. The other moved to her neck, his fingers settling at her pulse, firm enough to hold her from looking away.
His control was precise and deliberate.
“Tariel—” She sucked in a breath, fear slipping into her voice. “What are you doing?”
His lips hovered above hers, so close she could taste the hint of warmth in each breath he released.
“You belong to me,” he whispered, his voice shifting, deepening, curling around her like smoke. His eyes burned brighter, molten gold spilling across the darkness of his gaze. “You always have.”
Everin’s heart thrashed in her chest. Something ancient stared back at her through his eyes—something demanding, something claiming.
She tried to pull away. “You’re frightening me.”
He leaned closer, lips brushing the edge of her jaw. “You love me,” he whispered.
“You always have. And you will give yourself to me again.”
His mouth dragged slowly toward hers, teasing, commanding, his breath warm against her parted lips.
“I want you,” he said, low and certain. “I want all of you.”
“No.” Everin gasped, turning her head away as panic surged. “Stop. You’re not—”
His fingers tightened at her neck.
He didn’t stop. The Tariel she loved would have.
“I am yours,” he murmured.
She squeezed her eyes shut. Then her voice broke in a whisper—
“You’re not him. You’re not Tariel.”
The room fell silent. And everything inside her knew she was right.
Author Bio:
La Kayshal is an Australian writer of romance, YA, and children's fantasy novels. She lives with her husband, daughter, and a playful Malshi puppy in the coastal plains of the Sunny State.
Her debut novel, The Lost Crown, is an adventure romance set in the exotic landscapes of India. She also created the much-loved Sylph Series, a whimsical children’s collection that introduces readers to the amazing world of Sylphs, with each book carrying a gentle moral lesson.
A lifelong fan of wizards, magic, dragons, swords, and elementals, she poured all these passions into her YA fantasy Ariston Baker in the Weird Picture Book, a fast-paced journey filled with realms, riddles, action, and adventure.
Her latest project is the Hell’s Fire Dragon series. Book 1, The Flames of Darkness, is a YA Romantasy full of dragons, and Book 2 is set to be released soon.
C. Beskow and E.P.W. Tell are here to tell us about Part one: Birds of Ásgarðr - the old Norse saga - fantasy, Norse mythology.
Read on for details...
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Part one: Birds of Ásgarðr
Fantasy / Norse Mythology
Date Published: November 13, 2025
A child of man treads the path of Hel. The sun blackens, stars fall into
the sea, and as fire licks the life-giving tree, the heavens themselves shall
cleave.
Following an ominous prophecy from the world tree herself, rivalling species
come together to form a treaty. In order to stop an outbreak of war, they
agree to a mutual hostage exchange, sending their most promising children to
grow up amongst potential enemies.
An insecure þórr is brought to live amongst the rough giants of
Jǫtunheimr, granting Ásgarðr the cunning Loki in his stead, whilst
a proud elven empress sends her uncontrollable heir to be hidden away amongst
the Vanir gods in exchange for the arguably more valuable twins Freyr and
Freyja.
Meanwhile in Miðgarðr, where humanity resides far away from the lives
of gods, a young girl's nightly hunting trip is interrupted by the arrival of
a mysterious divine child.
In an intricate tale where numerous life-strings collide in an interwoven
search for family, identity, and purpose, can the smallest of mortal actions
alter the destiny of even the greatest of gods?
After a decade long deep-dive into ancient mythology, Viktor Rydberg wrote one
of our world's earliest fantasy epics in 1887. Reimagined today by C. Beskow
and E.P.W. Tell, his tales of the Old Norse World come to life once more.
About the Author
Born in Southern Sweden, not far from where his debut novel Birds of
Ásgarðr begins, E.P.W. Tell developed a keen interest in history.
His article "The Curmsun Disc: Harald Bluetooth's Golden Bull?" then sparked a
fascination for Norse Mythology, leading him into Viktor Rydberg's extensive
research on the subject. Thereafter, the Old Norse Saga began taking shape.
Recognising the need for a strong literary partner, Weman Tell initiated a
collaboration with C. Beskow, who turned out to be the ideal co-author for the
ambitious project. After five years of working together, Birds of
Ásgarðr emerged as the first of four books in the Old Norse Saga
series.
Weman Tell's professional career is just as notable. He holds a Master's in
Economics and a Bachelor of Laws. For ten years, he worked as Chief Financial
Officer at Svenska Bio (Swedish Cinema chain) for the legendary manager Peter
Fornstam, with whom he continues to maintain a close relation. He's also fond
of sports, serving as Strength & Conditioning coach for Swedish fencing
and acting as General Secretary of the Swedish Multisport Federation.
His varied experiences, combined with his deep passion for history and Norse
Mythology, has shaped the foundation of the Old Norse Saga, granting Birds of
Ásgarðr a distinctive new voice in historical fantasy literature.
Growing up in the company of books, C. Beskow spent a large chunk of her
childhood roaming the forests in search of adventures, huddling up each night
with a bedtime story. As she reached adulthood alongside an ever-growing
collection of cluttered notebooks, she decided to turn her extensive
imagination into a career worth pursuing.
Fascinated by the visual aspect of storytelling, Beskow was initially drawn to
film and television, and hence began her writing journey on the island of
Gotland, learning how to write for the screen. In 2016, she started her own
company, working on everything from translations and transcriptions to
tv-pilots and ghostwrites.
When first approached by E.P.W. Tell, ancient mythology was but a fascinating
childhood interest, but as the Old Norse Saga called for a deep dive into the
subject, Beskow found herself falling in love with its wild world and intense
characters. What more, the extensive research led to some rather intriguing
ties to her own family history as C. Beskow does not only have ties to the
renowned children's book author Elsa Beskow and the once equally popular
author Elisabeth Beskow.
Janet Morris is here to tell us about The Carnelian Throne, The Silistra Quartet, dystopian epic scifi fantasy romances.
There's also a great giveaway.
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Estri was a daughter of light;
Chayin, a son of darkness;
Sereth, the son of all flesh.
Are they the three foretold who will make the truth of
prophecy?
The Carnelian Throne
The Silistra Quartet Book 4
by Janet Morris
Genre: Dystopian Epic SciFi Fantasy Romance
***** "Engrossing characters in a marvelous
adventure." -- C. Brown, Locus Magazine
***** "The amazing and exotic adventures of the most beautiful courtesan
in tomorrow's universe." -- Frederik Pohl
***** "The best single example of prostitution used in fantasy is in Janet
Morris' Silistra series: High Couch of Silistra (originally entitled Returning
Creation), The Golden Sword, Wind from the Abyss, and The Carnelian
Throne." -- Anne K. Kaler, "The Picara: From Hera to Fantasy
Heroine."
"[...] today I thought I'd look at one of the most successful fantasy
debuts of all time, a series that became a huge international hit with its
first release, launching the career of one of the most prolific fantasy writers
of the late 20th Century: Janet Morris' The Silistra Quartet.
"The Silistra Quartet began with Janet's first novel,
High Couch of Silistra [...] from Bantam Books in 1977 [, ] the far-future tale
of the colony planet of Silistra, still recovering from an ancient war that
left the planet scarred and much of the population infertile. With a
dangerously low birth-rate, it's not long before the human colonists of
Silistra develop a new social order, with a hierarchy based on fertility and
sexual prowess.
-- John O'Neill in Black Gate Adventures in Fantasy Literature
Estri was a god, and the daughter of light.
Chayin was a god, and the son of darkness.
Sereth was hase-enor, the son of all flesh.
Lovers and friends, could they be the prophesied three
who would wield the Sword of Severance, Se’Keroth,
and bring light out of dark?
“One from the east, born of ease and destined,
“One from north of south, divine, exempt of question;
the third from out the west,
Astride a tide of death,” quoted Chayin. He was not
smiling. It is a long epic. All has been foreseen. We
all know that tale’s end.”
— Estri Hadrath diet Estrazi, in “Wind from the Abyss.”
“Gate!”
he bellowed over the storm, his dripping lips at my ear. The deluge had made us
sparing of words. Under leathers soaked to thrice their weight, I shivered in
spasms. Arms clutched to my sides, I stared into the rain. The driven sheets
slashed me for my audacity. Lightning flared, illuminating the riverbank white.
A moment later, the bright noise cracked through my head. The hillock trembled.
Over
the gate danced the lightning. Its crackling fingers quested down thick-crossed
slabs of iron, seared flesh. Emblazoned as they tumbled were those six-legged
amphibians, their streamered tails lashing, scaled, fangful heads thrown back
in dismay. I saw their afterimage: beryl and cinnabar, aglow upon the storm.
Then their charred remains splashed into oblivion, spun away on the fast
current.
“Down!”
One man shouted, the other shoved me, and as I staggered to kneel in the
sedges, the god that washed this land shook it, grumbling. I crouched on my
hands and knees on the bucking sod, between them. Little protection could they
offer up against shaking earth and searing sky, not even for themselves,
without divorcing themselves from the reality they had come here to explore.
And that they would not do.
Wind from the Abyss is the third volume in Janet Morris'
classic Silistra Quartet, continuing one woman's quest for self-realization in
a distant tomorrow.
Aristocrat. Outcast. Picara. Slave. Ruler .... She is
descended from the masters of the universe. To hold her he challenges the gods
themselves.
Praise for Janet Morris' Silistra Quartet:
"The amazing and erotic adventures of the most
beautiful courtesan in tomorrow's universe." -- Fred Pohl
"Engrossing characters in a marvelous adventure."
-- Charles N. Brown, Locus Magazine.
"The best single example of prostitution used in
fantasy is Janet Morris' Silistra series." -- Anne K. Kahler, The
Picara: From Hera to Fantasy Heroine.
This Perseid Press Author's Cut Edition is revised and
expanded by the author and presented in a format designed to enhance your
reading experience with larger, easy-to-read print, more generous margins, and
covers designed for these premium editions.
Wind from the Abyss starts with this . . .
"Since, at the beginning of this tale, I did not
recollect myself nor retain even the slightest glimmer of such understanding as
would have led me to an awareness of the significance of the various
occurrences that transpired at the Lake of Horns, I am adding this preface,
though it was no part of my initial conception, that the meaningfulness of the
events described by "Khys' Estri" (as I have come to think of the
shadow-self I was while the dharen held my skills and memory in abeyance) not
be withheld from you as they were from me. I knew myself not: I was Estri
because the girl Carth supposedly found wandering in the forest stripped of
comprehension and identity chose that name. There, perhaps, lies the greatest
irony of all, that I named myself anew after Estri Hadrath diet Estrazi, who in
reality I had once been. And perhaps it is not irony at all, but an expression
of Khys' humor, an implicit dissertation by him who structured my experiences,
my very thoughts, for nearly two years, until his audacity drove him to bring
together once more Sereth crill Tyris, past-Slayer, then the outlawed Ebvrasea,
then arrar to the dharen himself; Chayin rendi Inekte, cahndor of Nemar,
co-cahndor of the Taken Lands, chosen son of Tar-Kesa, and at that time Khys'
puppet-vassal; and myself, former Well-Keepress, tiask of Nemar, and lastly
becoming the chaldless outlaw who had come to judgment and endured ongoing
retribution at the dharen's hands. To test his hesting, his power over owkahen,
the time-coming-to-be, did Khys put us together, all three, in his Day-Keeper's
city -- and from that moment onward, the Weathers of Life became fixed:
siphoned into a singular future; sealed tight as a dead god in his mausoleum,
whose every move brought him closer to the sum total, obliteration. So did the
dharen Khys bespeak it, himself. . ."
“Morris, so good
at giving us characters we can identify with, characters we can love and hate,
strikes at the very heart of the human condition and the duality of humanity —
both good and evil. Her prose is lean and spot-on, every word carefully chosen to
enhance the milieu of her imaginary world and advance the plot, giving us
access to the thoughts, emotions and machinations of the people whose stories
she is presenting to us. Once again, she gives us a “thinking man’s” science
fiction/fantasy that explores the nature of power and sexuality, and how they
can be used, misused and abused. This is a brilliant, mature and very adult
novel that will not only leave you thinking about your own place in the
universe, but questioning the very nature of existence.” – Goodreads reviewer
Dystopia. Biology shapes reality. The further adventures of
the most beautiful courtesan in the galaxies of tomorrow.
She had the power to create planets. The sixty carved bones
of the Yris-tera foretold her ancient fate. Her heritage of power took her
beyond time and space and stole from her the one man she loved.
Enslaved on the planet Silistra, tomorrow's most beautiful
courtesan unleashes the powers of the gods.
What readers
are saying:
“Pure excellence…. A heroic quest of the highest
calibre.” - Goodreads
“This is a book which makes one’s blood sing and one’s
mind ponder. I loved the first in the series and enjoyed this as much, perhaps
more. The ending leaves the reader desperate to know what happens to Estri next
– courtesan, slave, warrior, lover, rebel. What is next for our heroine?” –
Goodreads
“Call it what you like: science fiction, space opera,
sword and planet or erotic fantasy . . . The Golden Sword is all these things,
and so much more. A highly intelligent and sensual novel filled with ideas and
revelations, this is a gripping story that explores human sexuality and the
role it plays in politics. Although the memorable characters are bisexual, toss
away all your preconceived notions, for there is a humanity, a strength of will
and determination, a realism and depth of emotion to these characters that will
have you thinking twice about all you know and all you think you know. This is
a book for mature and discerning readers who like some meat on the bones of the
books they read. Janet Morris led the way for all the science fiction authors, both
male and female, who came after. “ – Joe Bonadonna, Goodreads
One woman's mythic search for self-realization in a distant tomorrow...
Her sensuality was at the core of her world, her quest beyond the civilized
stars.
Aristocrat. Outcast. Picara. Slave. Ruler.
"Engrossing characters in a marvelous adventure." - Charles N. Brown,
Locus Magazine
"The amazing and erotic adventures of the most beautiful courtesan in
tomorrow's universe" - Frederik Pohl
"The best single example of prostitution used in fantasy is Janet Morris'
Silistra series... Estri's character is most like that of Ishtar who describes
herself as "'a prostitute compassionate am I'" because she
"symbolizes the creative submission to the demands of instinct, to the
chaos of nature ...the free woman, as opposed to the domesticated woman".
Linking Estri with these lunar and water symbols is not difficult because of
the moon's eternal virginity (the strength of integrity) links with her changeability
(the prostitute's switching of lovers). [...]
Morris strengthens the moon imagery by having Estri as a
well-keepress because wells, fountains, and the moon as the orb which controls
water have long been associated with fertility, [...] In a sense, she is like
the moon because she is apparently eternal, never waxing or waning except in
her pursuit of the quest; she is the prototypical wanderer like the moon and
Ishtar. She is the eternal night symbol of the moon in opposition to the
Day-Keepers [...]
At her majority (her
three hundredth birthday), she is given a silver-cubed hologram letter from her
mother, containing a videotape of her conception by the savage bronzed
barbarian god from another world. [...] If Estri's mother then acts as a bawd,
willing her lineage as Well-Keepress to her daughter, then Estri's
great-grandmother Astria as foundress of the Well becomes a further mother-bawd
figure when she offers her prophetic advice in her letter: "Guard Astria
for you may lose it, and more. Beware of one who is not as he seems. Stray not
in the port city of Baniev ...look well about you, for your father's daughter's
brother seeks you". Having no brother that she knows of does not stay
Estri from undertaking the heroic quest of finding her father."
- Anne K. Kaler, The
Picara: From Hera to Fantasy Heroine
Best selling author Janet Morris began writing in 1976 and
published more than 30 novels, many co-authored with her husband Chris Morris
or others. She contributed short fiction to the shared universe fantasy series
Thieves World, in which she created the Sacred Band of Stepsons, a mythical
unit of ancient fighters modeled on the Sacred Band of Thebes. She created,
orchestrated, and edited the Bangsian fantasy series Heroes in Hell, writing
stories for the series as well as co-writing the related novel, The Little
Helliad, with Chris Morris. She wrote the bestselling Silistra Quartet in the
1970s, including High Couch of Silistra, The Golden Sword, Wind from the Abyss,
and The Carnelian Throne. This quartet had more than four million copies in
Bantam print alone, and was translated into German, French, Italian, Russian
and other languages. In the 1980s, Baen Books released a second edition of this
landmark series. The third edition is the Author's Cut edition, newly revised
by the author for Perseid Press. Most of her fiction work has been in the
fantasy and science fiction genres, although she has also written historical
and other novels. Morris has written, contributed to, or edited several
book-length works of non-fiction, as well as papers and articles on nonlethal
weapons, developmental military technology and other defense and national
security topics.
Janet said: 'People often ask what book to read first. I
recommend "I, the Sun" if you like ancient history; "The Sacred
Band," a novel, if you like heroic fantasy; "Lawyers in Hell" if
you like historical fantasy set in hell; "Outpassage" if you like
hard science fiction; "High Couch of Silistra" if you like far-future
dystopian or philosophical novels. I am most enthusiastic about the definitive
Perseid Press Author's Cut editions, which I revised and expanded.'
