Book picks similar to
A Dagger in the Winds by Brendan Noble


fantasy
self-published
no-audiobook
fantasy-read

The Twisted Tree


Rachel Burge - 2018
    It started the day she fell from the tree at her grandma's cabin and became blind in one eye.Determined to understand her strange ability, Martha sets off to visit her grandmother, Mormor - only to discover Mormor is dead, a peculiar boy is in her cabin and a terrifying creature is on the loose.Then the spinning wheel starts creaking, books move around and terror creeps in . . .Set in the remote snows of contemporary Norway, The Twisted Tree is a ghost story that twists and turns - and never takes you quite where you'd expect.

Wolfskin


Juliet Marillier - 2003
    His closest friend, Somerled, a strange and lonely boy, has his own very different ambitions - yet a childhood oath, sworn in blood, binds these two in lifelong loyalty. Meanwhile, far away across the water, on the Light Isles, the king's niece Nessa is beginning to learn the ways of the mysteries - though neither the young priestess nor her people can realize what lies ahead for them." "Eyvind and Somerled seem set to follow very different paths: one becoming a fearless servant of the Warfather, the other a scholarly courtier. Then a voyage of discovery, led by Somerled's brother Ulf, brings the two friends together again in accompanying a group of settlers to some beautiful islands rumoured to lie across the western sea. However, their good spirits are dampened by a tragedy on board, which Eyvind begins to suspect may not have been an accident." Ulf's new settlement begins in harmony with the native islanders, led by King Engus. But one day, on a trip to a holy place of the Folk, a brutal murder occurs and that peace is shattered. It is now that Eyvind begins to feel the restraining ties of his boyhood oath...and to realize what sort of future Somerled had in mind for himself all those years ago.

Oblivion


Andy Blinston - 2020
    Darius awakes confused on a grisly battlefield in the fringes of the Torian Empire. His memories and powers have been stolen, leaving him weakened but still lethal. There are three clues as to who he was: - A fiery panther, bonded and ready to follow him into death - His regal disguise, an outfit worn only by Toria’s so-called gods - And the whispers of a woman that knows far more than she lets on. But one thing soon becomes clear. He made an enemy from myth and legend. If he’s to survive and vanquish this menace, he must unravel the mystery of his past, and he must reclaim the powers that earned him the title he’s forgotten… The Slayer of Gods.

Kissed


Kimberly Loth - 2014
    With uncut hair, denim skirts, and only roses for friends, Naomi seldom questions why her life is different from other kids at school. Until the day her abusive father, who is also the cult’s leader, announces her wedding. Naomi must marry Dwayne Yerdin, a bully who reeks of sweat and manure and is the only one person who scares her worse than her father. Then she meets Kai, the mysterious boy who brings her exotic new roses and stolen midnight kisses. Kisses that bring her a supernatural strength she never knew she had. As the big day approaches, Naomi unearths more secrets of about her father’s cult. She learns she has power of her own and while Kai may have awakened that power, Naomi must find a way to use it to escape Dwayne and her father—without destroying herself.

Warbringer


Aaron Hodges - 2020
    But Tangata are massing in the south, and the allied armies are desperate. They will do anything to halt the enemy advance—including sending untrained men and women into battle. Determined to survive, Lukys seeks aid from the only man who seems to care: Romaine, the last warrior of an extinct kingdom.Meanwhile, the Queen’s Archivist leads an expedition deep beneath the earth. She seeks to uncover the secrets of the Gods. Their magic has been lost to the ages, yet artefacts remain, objects of power that could turn the tide of the war. But salvation is not the only thing waiting beneath the surface. Something else slumbers in the darkness. Something old. Something evil.

Illborn


Daniel T. Jackson - 2021
    He used these to forcibly unite the peoples of Angall, before His ascension to heaven. Over eight hundred years later, in a medieval world which is threatened by war and religious persecution, four young men and women begin to develop supernatural abilities. These forbidden and secret powers will shatter the lives that they have known, and will force each of them to confront the mystery of the ethereal Gate which haunts their dreams. What does the dream mean, and how is it connected to their burgeoning abilities? As they experience conflict, love, lust and betrayal, in lands which are being overtaken by war, they must try to stay ahead of and to survive the sinister forces which are now pursuing them. For they are being hunted…ILLBORN is Daniel T. Jackson's powerful and gritty debut novel, and is the thrilling opening chapter in the epic fantasy story of The Illborn Saga.

Alfheim Academy


S.T. Bende - 2019
    Bende. Aura Nilssen has spent most of her sixteen years in hiding. As crown princess of Alfheim, her life depends on avoiding the assassins who killed her parents and want to destroy her realm. When hunters corner Aura on Midgard (Earth), she’s immediately evacuated and enrolled at Alfheim Academy—a training ground where telepathic teenagers, daily combat lessons, and communication from beyond is the norm. She attends classes that enhance her energetic abilities, labs that fine tune her mental acuity, and workouts with a supernaturally good looking—and suspiciously evasive—training partner. But it’s what she learns outside the classroom that proves most difficult: as Queen of Alfheim, Aura’s grandmother played a heartbreaking role in the death of Aura’s parents . . . and her iron fisted monarchy is pushing the realm to the brink of extinction. If Aura doesn’t take her grandmother’s crown, the home she’s only just begun to love may be lost forever. When an unprecedented attack threatens the very heart of Alfheim, Aura has to decide what she’s willing to sacrifice to protect her new home. Her choice may mean the difference between survival and annihilation—not only for Aura, but for the world she’s always been destined to rule.

The Blood of Whisperers


Devin Madson - 2013
    At his command the last emperor was executed, but vengeance is coming... Endymion is an Empath. He was born with the ability to feel another's emotions and reach inside their hearts for their deepest secrets. Often despised, he lives a nomadic existence, but when he finds himself imprisoned for sorcery and facing death, his past will condemn him. Born Prince Takehiko Otako, the only surviving son of the True Emperor, Endymion is caught in the brewing storm. But as his skill grows beyond his control, has the truth come too late?The fight for the Crimson Throne has begun.

The Whispers of the Fallen


J.D. Netto - 2012
    Netto is a fast-paced, heart pounding, and truly breathtaking read.” Sasha Alsberg, New York Times Bestselling AuthorEver since the dawn of days, rumors about the Diary of Lucifer echoed throughout Elysium. Hidden from all human knowledge, the Diary was kept a secret, locked away in the small village of Agalmath.Isaac and Demetre find themselves in a dangerous journey as they uncover the truth about the Diary and those who guarded it for all these years. However, for Isaac and Demetre, danger lies at every step, hidden in the most unexpected places.Hunted by the Nephilins and the Fallen Stars, they must find others who will join them in the battle against the coming darkness.REVIEWS "I am not normally a fan of this type of book, but I was intrigued and decided to give it a try. I absolutely loved it!"Shannon W. Goodreads Reviewer ★★★★★"This book surprised me in a good way. I didn't expect it to have as much scary moments, but man does Netto know how to write a scene!"Spenser B. Goodreads Reviewer ★★★★★"This. Book. Is. Awesome ! Since last year I haven't found many books which made me say that!"Clemence - Goodreads Reviewer ★★★★★

Never Die


Rob J. Hayes - 2019
    He needs allies, heroes who will fight for him. How else can an eight-year-old boy hope to do the impossible?Whispering Blade, Iron Gut Chen, the Century Blade, and Flaming Fist. These are all names of legend. And the god of death has given Ein a way to bind them to his cause. There is only one catch. In order to serve him, they must first die.Never Die is a stand alone set in the world of Mortal Techniques. It’s a wuxia adventure filled with samurai, shinigami, heroes, and vengeful spirits.

Diviner's Prophecy


Nicolette Andrews - 2013
    A sorcerer took away her past leaving her with little more than her name. When she discovers that the sorcerer took her memories to cover up a plot that threatens her kingdom, she realizes it is up to her to stop him. But she has to break her curse first, and that means finding the sorcerer. He never intended for her to remember, so she must rely on her ability to see into the future to guide her. But it will not be an easy task, the spell weakened her powers and her visions are unclear. The few clues she has, lead her to court where she is plunged into a world of royal intrigue. Though many offer assistance, no help comes without a price. There is no one she can trust, or so she thought. Her visions bring her to Prince Adair. His reputation as a rogue proceeds him and Maea fears he is just like the other courtiers. But he may be the key to revealing the sorcerer’s identity. He offers to aid in her search and asks for nothing in return. Maea doubts his motives but her visions do not lie. She foresees a dire future if the sorcerer and his allies cannot be stopped. As she unravels the mystery surrounding her curse, she finds the plot goes deeper than she could imagine and if she does not hurry, the sorcerer will unleash an ancient evil that will destroy her kingdom.

Wings


Aprilynne Pike - 2009
    They were terrifyingly beautiful—too beautiful for words.Laurel turned to the mirror again, her eyes on the hovering petals that floated beside her head. They looked almost like wings.In this extraordinary tale of magic and intrigue, romance and danger, everything you thought you knew about faeries will be changed forever.

Onyx and Ivory


Mindee Arnett - 2018
    It’s a title Kate Brighton inherited from her father after he tried to assassinate the high king years ago. Now Kate lives as an outcast, clinging to the fringes of society as a member of the Relay, the imperial courier service. Only those most skilled in riding and bow hunting ride for the Relay; and only the fastest survive, for when dark falls, the nightdrakes—deadly flightless dragons—come out to hunt. Fortunately, Kate has a secret edge: she is a wilder, born with magic that allows her to influence the minds of animals. But it’s this magic that she needs to keep hidden, as being a wilder is forbidden, punishable by death or exile. And it’s this magic that leads her to a caravan massacred by nightdrakes in broad daylight—the only survivor her childhood friend, her first love, the boy she swore to forget, the boy who broke her heart.The high king’s second son, Corwin Tormane, never asked to lead. Even as he waits for the uror—the once-in-a-generation ritual to decide which of the king’s children will succeed him—he knows it’s always been his brother who will assume the throne. And that’s fine by him. He’d rather spend his days away from the palace, away from the sight of his father, broken with sickness from the attempt on his life. But the peacekeeping tour Corwin is on has given him too much time to reflect upon the night he saved his father’s life—the night he condemned the would-be killer to death and lost the girl he loved. Which is why he takes it on himself to investigate rumors of unrest in one of the remote city-states, only for his caravan to be attacked—and for him to be saved by Kate.With their paths once more entangled, Kate and Corwin have to put the past behind them. The threat of drakes who attack in the daylight is only the beginning of a darker menace stirring in the kingdom—one whose origins have dire implications for Kate’s father’s attack upon the king and will thrust them into the middle of a brewing civil war in the kingdom of Rime.

Nerves of Steel


Lee Hayton - 2017
    They bent men to their will and molded cities into hotbeds of depravity.Ha! Just kidding. Vampires are weaklings that catch fire if you push them into sunlight. As soon as humans found out they existed, they captured the suckers, enslaved them, and put the pallid creatures to work.So, imagine my surprise when a free vampire strolled into Joe's Bar just before closing. Fair enough if he's ditched his chains but walking around in public? That does not compute. As an escapee cyborg with a bounty on her head, I don't want to dig for trouble. Don’t see, don’t tell is the motto for survival on the empire’s rough streets.If it weren't for my best friend, I'd turn a blind eye. But I owe that thirteen-year-old vampire my freedom and most probably my life. If something is changing for his species, then he deserves to know.Sure, this investigation might open a seething can of bother, but if trouble comes for me, I'm ready. My body is 34% titanium, my skin is silicone polymer, and I’ve got nerves of steel.

Feather


Olivia Wildenstein - 2019
    The only thing quick about it was how rapidly I failed.With only a month left to earn her missing feathers, twenty-year-old Leigh embarks on a trip to Paris to meet her newest project, twenty-five-year-old Jarod Adler, leader of the Parisian Mafia and the worst kind of sinner... a Triple.If Leigh can get Jarod to accomplish a single act of kindness, she stands to win 100 feathers, more than enough to complete her wings and ascend to Elysium, the land of angels.What she doesn’t count on is Jarod's dark charm costing her feathers.She’s dead set on saving him, and he’s dead set on destroying her.Until he realizes destroying her wings is also destroying her heart.A heart he longs to hear beat only for him.Trigger warnings: graphic sexual scenes and a difficult ending. Not recommended for Young Adults.