Book picks similar to
Mirror's Hope (Mirror Worlds, #1) by Justine Alley Dowsett
fantasy
won-from-giveaway
beaver-dreams
arcs-must-read
Eden at the Edge of Midnight
John Kerry - 2012
A paradise that became ravaged by smog that choked out the skies.Now the realm exists in darkness and its people need a champion, a chosen one to save them from the poison that cloaks the land and threatens to smother its inhabitants.That's what they needed. They got sixteen-year-old Sammy Ellis instead. Her only responsibility was to help the "chosen one" open a gateway into the realm. But, not only has she entered the land in their place, she's also locked them out in the process.Sammy finds herself lost in a twilight land of giant mushrooms and pursued by dark forces. Can she find a way home so the true chosen one can return or has the realm been doomed by her actions?
The Carnelian Fox
Kay MacLeod - 2019
At least, they didn’t until we created them.Maiyamon was once merely a game. Now it's a global reality. After dozens of hit monster collecting games raked in billions of credits per year, it was inevitable someone would create real ones. Unfortunately, it wasn’t so obvious how many people would dump them in the wild…Sam Wentworth grew up with nothing. She’s worked tirelessly just to get through college and earn her first monster. Bankrupt and exhausted, she sets her sights on fame and fortune in Maiyamon arenas. Instead, Sam’s caught between battling the rampaging elemental creatures abandoned by their owners and standing up to a toxic group intent on ending the game forever.With her flame fox cub, Finn, at her side, Sam sets out to build a team capable of protecting both innocent people’s lives and the creatures she loves. That’s the easy part.Monsters may fill the world, but it’s humans she fears the most…
Amanda Lester and the Pink Sugar Conspiracy
Paula Berinstein - 2015
Just because she's related to Inspector G. Lestrade, that bumbler who sometimes worked with master sleuth Sherlock Holmes, doesn't mean she should become a detective and give up her dream of becoming a filmmaker. Unfortunately, her plans are in jeopardy. Her latest project with the Stick Dog Filmmakers Club and Production Company isn't coming together, and her control freak tendencies have driven away all her actors. If she doesn't make a winning film soon, her parents will insist that she go into the L.A.P.D. young cadets training program, and her budding career will be over. So when Herb and Lila Lester suddenly send her to a secret English school for the descendants of famous detectives, Amanda resists-until she and her new friends notice drops of blood and weird pink substances in odd places. Are these strange happenings clues to a real mystery or simply part of the elaborate class project the teachers assign every year? The answer comes all too soon. When Amanda's father disappears and the school's cook is found dead with her head in a bag of sugar, the kids are certain that crimes are taking place. Now Amanda must embrace her destiny and uncover the truth. The only snag is that arch-villain Blixus Moriarty, a descendant of Holmes's nemesis Professor James Moriarty, might be involved, and he doesn't like nosy little girls interfering in his business.
Into the Deep
Lauryn April - 2012
After almost drowning, Ivy finds herself with an ability she doesn’t want, an ability to uncover secrets which quickly begins to redefine what she thinks about the people around her as well as herself. Because of this ability, Ivy becomes the one thing that stands between an angry teen and the death of every student on campus. The only problem is she doesn’t know who wants everyone dead. Will she figure out whose secret is that they’re planning to blow up her school, or will she fail to find him in time?Through her search to do the right thing, Ivy discovers that knowing the thoughts and secrets of those around her may just tear her apart.
Murder In Absentia
Assaph Mehr - 2015
His distraught senator father suspects foul play, and knows who to call on.Enter Felix, a professional investigator. In the business of ferreting out dark information for his clients, Felix is neither a traditional detective nor a traditional magician – but something in between. Drawing on his experience of dealing with the shady elements of society and his aborted education in the magical arts, Felix dons his toga and sets out to discover the young man’s killers.Murder in absentia is set in a fantasy world. The city of Egretia borrows elements from a thousand years of ancient Roman culture, from the founding of Rome to the late empire, mixed with a judicious amount of magic. This is a story of a cynical, hardboiled detective dealing with anything from daily life to the old forces roaming the worldThis is a story of Togas, Daggers and Magic - it will appeal to lovers of urban fantasy, detective murder mysteries and ancient Rome.NOTE that this novel is written in British English, which uses different spelling than US English.
Mud
E.J. Wenstrom - 2020
But the savior isn’t human at all.
Trapped by his Maker’s command to protect a mysterious box, Adem is forced to kill anyone who tries to steal it. When a young boy chances upon Adem’s temple, he resists temptation, intriguing the golem. As the boy and his sister convince Adem to leave the refuge of his temple, the group lands in a web of trouble. Now Adem will do whatever necessary to keep his new young charges safe, even if it means risking all to get rid of the box. Their saving grace comes in the form of an angel who offers to set Adem free of the box’s magic by granting his greatest desire—making him human. But first, Adem must bring back the angel’s long-dead human love from the Underworld. In doing so, he will risk breaking the barrier between the realms, a cataclysm that could launch the Third Realm War. To set things right, he may be forced to give up the only thing he’s ever truly wanted…a chance at a soul of his own
West Coast Witch
Justen Hunter - 2013
Then a PI showed up, asking about a missing ex of mine. A corpse and a vampire attack later, I've got a guardian dragging me further in to the world of magic with a gift of magic I never knew I had. Now I'm getting pulled into vampire politics, the arcane drug wars, and trying to get the hang of magic. Saving my own skin, much less anyone else's, is looking like a tall order now...
The Secret Tree
Patrick Bousum - 2013
Beasley, he discovers how sinister the world can be, what true friendship means, and that being a hero in 1959 may cost him his life. Grieving from his father's disappearance and his grandfather's death, Andy is nearly hopeless. The intrigue of the secret, and his friendship with Mr. Beasley, give him a renewed sense of purpose. But when the men who used to run with the local mob discover that Andy knows about the "secret", they come out of the shadows and a hunt for the evil truth begins.Andy finds himself fighting for his life, committed to his promise, and searching for answers in a house haunted by a one-handed witch.
The Dragon's Fury
D.C. Mickelson - 2013
The Relics are lost. A human empire founded more on the spade than the blade has tamed the wild lands where dragons once wielded their fiery lordship. But not all have forgotten the old ways. An ancient evil is stirring, and the Relics of Power are only scattered, not destroyed. None of this troubles Triston Slendrake. He has his own problems. Like his slave-driving bosses, the innkeeper and his sadistic wife. Like his daily diet of cold mush. Like his best friend Alden, who's better than him at everything. Like Kara, who doesn't know he exists. But the sudden arrival of two illustrious strangers on the day of the duel changes everything. Triston soon realizes his dirtbag boss is the least of his worries as he struggles to disentangle himself from a web of greed, bloodshed, and sorcery so foul none have seen the likes of it in over a thousand years. Where do you run, when the long-forgotten power of the undead once again threatens to overwhelm all you hold dear? For Triston, only one thing is clear: running is not an option.
Dämoren
Seth Skorkowsky - 2014
A secret society of monster hunters. A holy revolver forged to eradicate demons. A possessed man with a tragic past. A rising evil bent on destroying them all. MATT HOLLIS is the current wielder of the holy weapon, Dämoren. With it, he stalks and destroys demons. A secret society called the VALDUCANS has taken an interest in Matt’s activities. They see him as a reckless rogue—little more than a ‘cowboy’ corrupted by a monster—and a potential threat to their ancient order. As knights and their sentient weapons begin dying, Matt teams up with other hunters of his kind such as LUIZA, a woman with a conquistador blade; ALLAN, an Englishman with an Egyptian khopesh; MALCOLM, a voodoo priest with a sanctified machete; and TAKAIRA, a naginata-swinging Samurai. As the hunters become the hunted, they must learn to trust one another before a powerful demonic entity thrusts the world into a terrible and ageless darkness.
The Boy Who Dreamt the World
Jethro Punter - 2018
Adam is living a very ordinary life until he becomes aware of the link between the worlds and discovers that, as a Daydreamer, he is one of the very few people who can travel freely between the two and achieve impossible things. You would think that being in control of your dreams would be fun. But when both worlds are threatened by a new and growing danger and when Nightmares not only roam the dream world but also start chasing him even while he is awake, Adam realises that he will need all of his new found powers just to survive the night. With the help of a very unusual band of friends Adam now has to save both worlds, discover more about his past and, if he can, try and avoid yet another detention.The Boy who Dreamt the World is the first book in the Daydreamer Chronicles series.
The Fairy Boy of Calton Hill
Sean-Paul Thomas - 2015
From the moment I began to read about Liam and his world, I was hooked. I loved the tenderness of he and Lucy. G is a remarkable fairy that enters Liam's life and what a unique and amazing adventure they have exploring each other's worlds...' Louise - Goodreads Reviewer.'I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I was a bit apprehensive as to whether a tale involving fairies would be my cup of tea, but the author has met a balance of believability and anticipation to keep that book in front of your eyes to see where the story goes next.' Phil - Goodreads Blogger.Liam, a young teenage boy who recently lost his father, is befriended by G, a different kind of fairy creature from what he has read about in fairy tale books, after she breaks the strict rules of her magical world and intervenes when Liam is beaten up by a gang of school bullies, outside the secret cave and magical entrance into her fantastical world.Immediately G and Liam form a deep bond of friendship which takes them on a whirlwind adventure inside her majestical but troubled land - from the great cliffs of doom and the flesh-eating forest, to the great lake and all the weird and wonderful creatures that dwell there - from fire wolves and rainbow dragons to the more sinister lurking weasel bats.Things take a darker turn when Liam, looking to impress the new girl on the block, Lucy - a young Irish girl recently moved to the city - secretly brings her into the fantastical world, unaware of the tragic and twisted events, that are about to be unleashed upon them.For G's world is no longer the tranquil haven it once was and is now a land ruled by a tyrant Fairy King and his mysterious evil wizard, Zorn. With a cannibal king of dragons under their thumb, along with an army of Wretchids at their disposal - a half goblin/half werewolf, hybrid creature, with one hell of a bite - they have no equal or challengers to the throne of their world......Until Now.
Thread Slivers
Leeland Artra - 2013
He wants freedom. When their worlds crumble, even survival may not be an option.The world is driven by wizards, gods, and an imperial space marine 20,000 years into our future. Fame-hungry female mercenary Ticca is willing to skirt the edges of her warrior's code if it brings her the fame she desires. Her hopes of making a name for herself by spying on assassins are dashed when she's forced to kill the assassin she was hired to watch.Lebuin is a rich journeyman mage who's just discovered his new rank involves actual journeying. He hires Ticca to help him advance to master and return to a life of comfort as quickly as possible. He's willing to spend all he has to make it happen, but the mage and his mercenary get much more than they bargained for.Trapped in the crossfire of a vast power game, Ticca and Lebuin must survive a battle between rulers, guilds, and gods. In a land of magic and technology, they'll need to give everything to keep the world and themselves in one piece.Thread Slivers is the first book in an epic fantasy/speculative sci-fi trilogy set in a distant future. If you like heroic, humorous, and exotic characters in a world that mixes elements of paranormal and hard sci-fi, then you'll love this beautiful, original, and thought-provoking adventure.
Strega
Karen Monahan Fernandes - 2013
She is devastated, but she is not nearly as terrified as she should be.Jay is a Strega. Like her mother and grandmother, she is a descendant of the original Strega of ancient Etruria-gifted women of the woods bestowed with godly power, and the world's first witches. With the truth withheld from her all her life, Jay is blindsided when her power is unbound. Demons are coming for her. They killed the people she loved most to get to her, and they won't rest until she is dead.Forced to embrace her identity if only to survive, Jay uncovers a past life when her ruthless enemy's hatred for her was born, and she rediscovers an eternal love that has burned throughout lifetimes. Fighting for her life, she is drawn back into an ancient battle between the virtuous and the wicked that threatens to destroy her and all of humankind.
The Lazarus Machine
Paul Crilley - 2012
a world where Charles Babbage and Ada Lovelace perfected the Difference engine. Where steam and tesla-powered computers are everywhere. Where automatons powered by human souls venture out into the sprawling London streets. Where the Ministry, a secretive government agency, seeks to control everything in the name of the Queen.It is in this claustrophobic, paranoid city that seventeen-year-old Sebastian Tweed and his conman father struggle to eke out a living.But all is not well...A murderous, masked gang has moved into London, spreading terror through the criminal ranks as they take over the underworld. as the gang carves up more and more of the city, a single name comes to be uttered in fearful whispers.Professor Moriarty.When Tweed’s father is kidnapped by Moriarty, he is forced to team up with information broker Octavia Nightingale to track him down. But he soon realizes that his father’s disappearance is just a tiny piece of a political conspiracy that could destroy the British Empire and plunge the world into a horrific war.
