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| Torrent is now available, plus lots more in this week's Medieval Musings |
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It feels like summer this week, so much so that I find myself retreating into the air-conditioned house. The dogs are doing their part to bring the temperature down by lying outside and absorbing the heat.
Daisy warms up quickly and then comes inside to radiate everything she’s collected while Tilly remains out there, guarding the fence against possible intrusion by the rabbit or groundhog living under the deck next door. She’ll eventually come inside, but not until she’s convinced we’re all safe.
Now that the summer’s almost here, we find ourselves hoping for rain to turn our grass green once more, as it’s starting to look a little brown. Ah, well, I suppose we can’t have everything!
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The Frozen Flame Boxset hits #2 in Amazon store
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When we watch movies set in the pre-gunpowder era, we think of massed armies wielding swords and axes. However, the humble spear was more common due to the lower cost of manufacturing.
Evidence found in Germany places the spear used in hunting for at least 400,000 years, and recent discoveries in South Africa suggest older, closer to 500,000 years ago. These discoveries would indicate stone-tipped spears, but there is reason to believe simpler wood-only spears with fire-hardened tips may have been used previously.
Of course, this is nothing new. Anyone who’s watched a movie involving cavemen has seen spears in use, but it took the Ancient Greeks to perfect its use with their phalanxes.
So does that mean Neanderthals could form such formations? We might never know.
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| Start The Frozen Flame for FREE |
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To celebrate the release of Torrent, the seventh book in the series, The Frozen Flame Publishers Pack is FREE!
But only for a limited time, so grab it today and discover a land infused with magic, mystery, and adventure in this spellbinding tale.
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It looks like magic depends totally on the story! Congrats to Michelle for winning last week's eBook Giveaway.
Answer the question below to be entered into the eBook giveaway.
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| Have you ever dreamed of writing a book? |
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| I think you know my answer to this one - but it did take me forty years to write my first one |
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| Thank you |
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| You are now entered to win a free ebook of your choice |
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How do Orcs Fight in Eiddenwerthe?
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Orcs are physically about the same height as Humans but with broader shoulders and, thus, greater strength. After the great war in which they were scattered to the far ends of the Continent, warfare for them became rare. In later years, however, they allied themselves with others, notably the Old Kingdom, then Merceria some five hundred years later, and finally, with the newly reborn realm of Therengia.
Initially, the Orcs operated as skirmishers, using their hunting skills to harass an enemy, usually using the woods to hide their positions. During the Mercerian civil war, the marshal of the army took it upon himself to equip them with long spears and teach them to maintain a disciplined formation. This tactic worked so well that it was later adopted by Humans as well.
Perhaps the last significant change came about due to a new weapon—the Orcish Warbow. Designed by a Human, it takes advantage of the Orc’s superior strength to propel an arrow a greater distance than their contemporaries. Though employed in limited numbers, it has proved a vital tool to the armies of Merceria and Therengia.
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New Release
Torrent: The Frozen Flame Book Seven
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A kingdom in turmoil, a family seeking revenge!
Carlingen is a beacon of hope, promising fame and fortune but delivering neither.
Athgar and Natalia, hoping to make their stay in the city short, arrive to find a nation on the brink of chaos. The king's court is rife with treachery and deceit, while the streets are infested with resentment and turmoil. Into this mix comes word the family is plotting to re-establish their dominance over the Continent.
Seeking to leverage Carlingen's instability, Ostrova demands land and is willing to do anything to acquire it.
The spectre of war looms large, threatening to cut off Athgar and Natalia from the very home they seek to return to in Torrent, the seventh installment of Paul J Bennett's series, The Frozen Flame.
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Work In Progress Update
(Spoiler alert for Guardian of the Crown)
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Enemy of the Crown currently sits at 15,000 words. This is a little lower than I expected at this point in time, but it occurred to me that I needed a new map of the Continent to show the journey of Beverly, Aubrey, and Aldwin. I accomplished this by importing my current map of Hadenfeld into Inkarnate, then traced its northern border and building from there.
Why Hadenfeld, you ask? When the trio stepped through the stone portal, they ended up at the stone arch north of Verfeld Keep. However, their adventures won’t take them into Ludwig’s land, but north, across the border into yet another kingdom.
You’ll have to wait until the book is finished to discover why.
~~~~~
Who wants more Torrent tidbits?
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“Now, that,” said Belgast, “is a building to be proud of.”
Athgar stared up at the Temple of Saint Mathew. “It must have cost a fortune.”
“Aye, but it was well spent. Look at those arches; only a Dwarf would think of something as grandiose as that.”
“There are Human architects, you know.”
Belgast sighed. “Yes. I suppose you’re right, but it seems to me whoever planned this place must have seen the king’s chamber in Kragen-Tor. Those pillars in front are almost identical to the Pillars of Truth.”
“Which are?”
“When the king interrogates a prisoner, they’re lashed between the two pillars. It is said when held there, one is compelled to speak the truth.” He looked at Athgar and smiled. “Mind you, it’s all nonsense.”
“I’m surprised to hear you say that.”
“Haglarith once told me the story was invented to lend an air of mystique to the place. Faith in those pillars is so ingrained in the minds of Dwarves that they believe it.”
“Thus making the statement true?”
“Precisely. I suppose we should call it a clever ruse, but you can’t admit that to anybody.”
“No,” said Athgar, “of course not.”
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Torrent is here!!!
Give one of these authors a try when you're done!
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Unholy evil lurks in the shadow of a magical kingdom.
When a baron and his family turn up butchered in their sleep, a beleaguered king commands Rellen of Corsia, Seventh Guardian of Pelinon, to solve the mystery and bring the killer to justice.
Was it sedition? Political assassination? Or is it the gruesome machinations of a blood-hungry demon goddess and her cult?
Every riddle Rellen solves exposes two more, and his investigation uncovers something far more sinister. Ancient artifacts, secret organizations, and hidden mysteries sink him deeper and deeper into an ages-old conspiracy.
Rellen desperately chases one clue after another, and to his growing horror, he discovers the baron’s murder was only the latest piece of a far-reaching legacy of deceit spanning millennia. Once exposed, the terrible truth may consume Rellen’s soul and leave the whole of Pelinon in ruin.
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Discovering Your Neighbor follows the story of Captain Baldwin and his team, who embark on a mission to explore the planet Neighbor, but soon realize that their journey is not as straightforward as they thought.
As they navigate the unknown, Captain Baldwin must make a difficult decision between following orders and going forward with the mission, or standing up for what he believes in.
The book delves into themes of morality, sacrifice, and self-discovery as Captain Baldwin faces challenges that will change the course of his life forever.
Meet new characters, uncover hidden secrets, and discover the truth behind the true purpose of the expedition. The story is rich and complex, with a thrilling narrative that will keep you guessing until the very end.
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Deceiving the vampire who saved her could get her killed, but it’s a risk she’s willing to take.
After a devastating tragedy takes away her sister, Rae struggles to find purpose until she discovers supernatural beings are real. Hunted by vampires, Rae must fight for survival while uncovering secrets that make her own struggles feel insignificant. With a chance that her sister might be among the undead, Rae’s discovery takes on new meaning.
Rae’s life takes a dangerous turn as vampires aren’t the only supernaturals roaming this forest. And when she falls in love with a wolf shifter, she faces a forbidden romance that could destroy them both.
To return to her old life, Rae must comply with Ari, the vampire who saved her, and allow him to wipe away any memory of the supernatural realm, including her love for the wolf shifter. With her knowledge as her only weapon, Rae must decide if it’s worth risking everything to keep her memories and fight for her heart.
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Quen wasn't born to save the world. She was created to destroy it.
Quen Santu works for her father tanning hides, waiting for her tides to turn. Everyone she grew up with has already committed to a herdclan. But Quen was born cursed with a second, shadow soul. Sensing the oddity within, animals run from her—an untenable trait in a herding culture. On the cusp of her twentieth year, Quen is at risk of becoming pesha—no one.
Then, a dragon kills her father. The murder turns Quen’s life upside down and dashes her hope for an honorable life. As her anger grows, so does her untapped power. Fueled by a quest for vengeance, she joins a vigilante group of rogues hunting the beast. But her journey soon reveals a terrible truth: beyond the safety of her desert village, she has caught the attention of dangerous eyes. And now, she has become the hunted.
At the end of her journey, Quen’s fate will be sealed. Can Quen overcome her curse and unite her warring souls? Or will her shadow soul consume her—and everyone she loves?
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A young half-elf hermit with forgotten magic.
An army officer with ambitions as grand as his moustache.
Decades after it began, war still rages between humans and elves. For some, war is a proving ground, a chance to win glory and prestige.
For others, they must avoid the horrors of war at all costs.
The Elixir of Power could make guns and cannons—and elves—a thing of the past.
All Slee wants is to remain hidden from the world, but the fighting is never far. With the mass-produced gears of war devouring the land, how could a reclusive half-elf like her ever hope to find peace?
All Fentor wants is … everything. To make a name for himself. To be remembered. To win. With the Elixir of Power in his hands, victory is at last within reach.
When these two meet, their worlds begin to change—in the most unexpected of ways.
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Even in the depths of winter's darkness, a beacon of hope burns bright.
This is a companion short story to the Wyldling Dream series. It takes place fourteen winters before the events of Wyldling Snare.
Fourteen winters ago, a nehmwight battle-horde attacked the garrison town of Nervashi, leaving no survivors behind. When the Warmaster falls and the barrier shielding the town collapses, Healer Alienna is confronted with a terrible choice: stay to succor her doomed patients, or flee with her remaining children.
But how can anyone escape with battle-beasts hot on their trail?
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Alos – a world torn between the thriving, magic-free lands of the North and the untamed, mystical realms of the South. Under the vigilant guidance of Sartum, the Unsundered, the North flourishes, protected from the dark corruption of magic by the Anchors – an ancient order with the power to absorb and eradicate malevolent forces.
The South stands in stark contrast – a wild, untamed land teeming with magic and peril. Amidst the chaos, non-human races such as the Trinil, Gorom, enigmatic Leuh, and a myriad of other rare and mysterious beings, establish pockets of stability.
Enter Layten Grayread – a young dreamer with aspirations of becoming a Scholar, graduating from the prestigious House of Knowledge, and dedicating his life to safeguarding the free lands of the North against the threats of magic and its monstrous creatures. When Layten's dreams finally become a reality, his life takes a thrilling turn – but destiny has other plans in store.
A chance discovery leads Layten, alongside his friends Hopwell and Wix, to a hidden, forbidden library filled with heretical tomes and journals. Unwittingly, the trio embarks on a perilous and unparalleled journey, challenging everything they once believed.
Layten had always yearned to be a Scholar – but as he soon learns, the pursuit of knowledge comes at a heavy cost.
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Losing something precious to him, Atticus discovers it in a most unlikely place, the Museum of Natural History.
However, past foes are also interested in the journal and the secrets it will unfold. His only obstacle to getting the journal back is Grace Decker, curator and unimaginably desirable. He merely has to get her help without falling in love with her - a task which proves harder than he ever imagined.
Grace Decker has finally landed her dream job - museum curator for the Museum of Natural History. Everything in her life has led to this moment. But on day one of her first day on the job, a strange woman offers to buy one of the museum pieces. An absurd request leads her down a rabbit hole into a world she had no clue existed - a world of curses, gods, and fantasy. A handsome and mysterious stranger is also after the journal, but he claims to be the journal's owner. Can she trust him and the story he shares? But more importantly, can she trust him with her heart and the desire he stirs in her?
Is the real treasure the passion and desire they find so hard to deny in each other?
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Here are some great stories just for you!
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Extra Book Deals & Giveaways
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| "Every review I receive inspires me to write more!" |
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Paul J Bennett,
Author of Epic Fantasy.
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