GOD OF VENGEANCE: free series cycle
starter for Chronicles of the Great Peninsula
He has pledged himself to the god of death. He doesn't realize what that
means.
As Adrian delves into the mystery of his young tutor Fenton, he is
drawn into a feud between his family's village and a rival village
where Adrian has friends and relatives. Now that Adrian has reached
the age of sixteen, he is old enough to take part in the feud.
When the feud turns deadly, Adrian must choose between the ideals of
his tutor and the orders of his father. The choice seems simple at
first. But Adrian does not yet realize that the god to whom Adrian has
pledged his service has his own plans. . . .
THE THREE LANDS: a Chronicles of the Great
Peninsula series
He vowed himself to his god. Now the god is growing impatient . . .
The Three Lands is a historical speculative fiction series on
friendship, romance, and betrayal in times of war and peace. The
series is inspired by conflicts between nations during the final years
of the Roman Empire.
Table of contents to the Three Lands
titles below.
Few events are more thrilling in a young man's life than a blood feud
between two villages. Or so Adrian thought.
Torn between affection toward his traditional-minded father and
worship of his peace-loving, heretical priest, Adrian finds himself
caught between two incompatible visions of his duty to the gods. Then
the Jackal God sends Adrian a message that will disrupt his world and
send him fleeing to a new and perilous life.
Novel and side stories (183,000 words):
Novel
1 | God of Vengeance. He has pledged himself to the god of
death. He doesn't realize what that means.
2 | The Sword. There comes a time when you learn that your
best is not enough.
3 | God of Mercy. Soldiers have rules of their own. These
soldiers have higher rules.
4 | The Bird. Learning the customs of a new place can be
hard. Particularly when your guide goes astray.
5 | God of Judgment. High danger means a gamble for high
stakes.
6 | The Final Balance. Even the gods cannot foresee all
consequences of a kept promise.
Side stories
Wildfire. He was a loyal servant of the
god. But even loyal servants have their limits.
Famine or Feast. He knows that
friendship is a fundamental custom of all mankind. Or so he thinks,
until his closest friend discovers a mysterious journal.
Season of Dangerous Peace.
His village is dead, his baron broken beyond mending. Now, as the year
reaches the season of peace, the baron's heir must decide whether to
keep his family hidden, safe from the blood feud that is ravaging
their kingdom, or to enter danger in quest of a higher goal.
Death Mask
For eighteen years, he has survived in an army unit where few
soldiers live more than two or three years. Now he finds himself in
circumstances where his life is a living hell. Will the soldier who
defied death find that life is too great a challenge?
Soldiers, spies, slaves, rebels, assassins, gods, and men who set out
to break him . . . The Lieutenant of the Border Mountain Patrol will
learn that his greatest test is himself.
Novel and side stories (169,000 words):
Novel only (147,000 words):
Novel
1 | Acknowledgment Whistle. "When I was nine years old, my
father told me that a man's life is determined by fate, and that any
attempt to escape that fate can only result in a twisted spirit."
2 | Probable Danger Whistle. "I knew, of course, that the
chances of our meeting again were next to nothing, but stranger events
had happened in my life, strengthening my belief in fate."
3 | Immediate Danger Whistle. "I reflected that this was one
fate I had not expected."
4 | End of Hunt Whistles: Alive, Dead, and Lost. "'Somehow
our fates must be bound together.'"
Side story
Hidden Blade. His father is a dull
farmer. His mother is a dull farmer's wife. He seems destined for
similarly dull life. But then a stranger appears in their village, and
suddenly the talk is of soldiers and spies and secrets and gods. Will
he be able to break free of his father's legacy and make a bold dash
to a life of his own?
Blood Vow
He has taken a blood vow to the Jackal God to bring freedom to his
land by killing Koretia's greatest enemy. But what will he do when the
enemy becomes his friend?
Thrust into exile and pain, young Andrew has no choice but to accept
the friendship of the very person he had vowed to kill. When he
returns with his friend to his homeland fifteen years later, though,
he finds himself in a land of conflicting loyalties . . . where a
vengeful god awaits him.
Novel and side stories (171,000 words):
Novel only (121,000 words):
Novel
1 | The Gods' Land. "I had come to tell him, in the cheerful
manner boys have, that our world was about to be destroyed."
2 | Land of the Chara. "'If I were to take him, in three
months you would find him thinking and acting like a civilized
Emorian. If you know how to discipline a slave, as I do, such
transformations are accomplished with ease.'"
3 | The Look of the Chara. "'You have not been raped or
killed or enslaved, or watched as your city was destroyed on the
orders of the Chara.'"
4 | Land of the Jackal. "'I hope that you do not allow this
visit to confuse your carefully acquired Emorian sensibilities as to
the proper definition of loyalty.'"
5 | The Eyes of the Jackal. "'The only way in which to bring
peace is to find this Koretian rebel-leader and kill him.'"
6 | The God's Land. "'If you cannot serve me, then you must
be my captive.'"
Side stories
The Fire Before. The god's fire is
fierce, but not as fierce as the god's wrath if you turn away.
The Night the Moon Turned Pink.
"Everyone knew that the Moon was the women's goddess, but nobody
thought about what that meant."
Re-creation: gift for a slave. What
can you give a slave who, by law, can own nothing?
Free-man's Blade. Free-men are
the backbone of Emor: the men who run and protect the empire. But when
a young servant finds himself unexpectedly vaulted into manhood, he
must decide how he will use his power, and who will pay the price of
his decision.
Law of Vengeance
For over twenty years, Lord Carle has told the heir to the Emorian
throne that vengeance is only the other side of mercy, and that
disobedience and treachery should never be forgiven. Finally it seems
that his message has been received. Which makes it all the more
unfortunate that Carle should have chosen this moment to break the
law.
As war threatens and the foundations of his life crumble, his only
hope for rescue lies with a man who has every reason to hate Carle.
¶ Honor: Honorable Mention, One Perfect Score
category, in the Rainbow
Awards
2012.
Novel and side stories (158,000 words):
Novel only (152,000 words):
Novel
1 | Introduction of Terms. "For many years, I have wished to
make a memoir of my life to pass on to future generations of Emorians
who desire to learn what it means to have complete dedication to the
Chara and his law. This is not to be the memoir I intended, but I find
the time passing slowly here in the Chara's dungeon . . ."
2 | Description. "One does not immediately accuse an
ambassador of crimes. I let my sword-hand fall, but I kept the sword
at my side . . ."
3 | Justification. "'You may leave your sword with me. The
Chara prefers that those who are summoned to his judgment arrive
unarmed.'"
4 | Cases. "Three months after the Koretian Ambassador came
to the palace, I was bidden to the Chara's quarters and arrived there
to find the Chara pacing back and forth against the hearth, his eyes
cold with rage."
5 | Sentences. "It was a darkness I could not escape from, a
darkness that ate all sound and light, a darkness that filled my lungs
and heart so that I could not breathe and I could not feel pain or any
other sensation. I knew that I had brought this darkness down upon
myself . . ."
6 | Sacrifice. "What I could give him now was small in
comparison to what he had given me."
Side stories
Guise. Daxis is the land of bards and of
truths too painful to be faced. When a man in the guise of a Koretian
trader visits Daxis for his own purposes, he is confronted with
memories of a battle from the past, as well as a challenge for his
future.
Breached Boundaries
The boundaries of rank declare that Serva can be a princess or she
can be a slave. But for the baseborn daughter of the King of Daxis,
life is not that simple.
Forced to be a tool in a battle waged by her land's unstable King and
his dangerously devious heir, Serva cannot even find refuge among her
fellow slaves. Instead, she secretly explores the hidden portions of
the palace. In this way, she meets an imprisoned spy who is scheduled
for execution.
But when a simmering war bubbles to the surface, Serva must choose
where her loyalties lie. She must also solve the mystery of the spy's
past, and of her own future.
Novel and side stories (306,000 words):
Novel only (246,000 words):
Novel
1 | Adversaries. "Lying on my stomach in the passage, I held
my breath. Knowing the man who spoke, I had no doubts as to what he
was suggesting."
2 | Challenge. "What kept me back was the knowledge that the
Song Spirit had sent my father her command, and in some manner my
father was about to disobey it."
3 | Stakes. "It hammered through the air like a battering
ram, it gathered energy like a fist about to strike, and then it
swooped past me in the form of grey-uniformed soldiers."
4 | Battle. "'The Prince wants you,' declared the
sublieutenant."
5 | Settlement. "In silent agreement, we turned and fled
through the first open door."
6 | Surrender. "'For a woman who spends most of her time
listening to other people talk,' he said, 'you have a special talent
for always saying the right thing.'"
Side stories
The Strong Twin.
Spontaneous choices can have long consequences, if you're a slave.
Wild-Berry Wine. "They say that
Koretian wild-berry wine is an acquired taste."
In the Spirit. Prince Richard has a
high office in the army, a ruler who trusts him, and a loyal
subordinate. He also has a murderer who is likely to kill him one of
these days. Amidst the many uncertainties of his life, can Richard
count on love, or will that become yet another treachery?
Law-Lover. Being the Army and
Palace Records of Carle son of Verne.
Three in One. "The longer we remained
'married,' the harder it became for me to think of him as simply a
friend."
Empty
Dagger Hand
Dolan is a quiet young man who spends his days working as a scribe.
So why does he have a dagger hidden within his clothing?
When Dolan's hidden life turns to disaster, he must make his way
through a warring world of many enemies and few allies. Figuring out
which men are his allies will take time, and not much time is left.
As an empire crumbles and civilization is threatened, Dolan must use
all his wits to survive, for only he can bring to safety the greatest
treasure in the Three Lands.
Serializing novel and side stories (100,000 words):
Novel
1 | The End. Suddenly, everything
is different.
2 | Sea of Storms. A new
life may be a short life, without protection.
3 | Landfall. An unknown
shore presents unknown problems.
4 | Snowfall. Can a young
man of peace find a role within an army?
¶ Currently serializing.
5 | Intent. The greatest mystery in the Great
Peninsula is this: Who is the notorious Lieutenant of the Home
Division Patrol?
¶ Upcoming. To receive notice of
new releases, subscribe to my blog
or newsletter. To receive all my new
releases for a monthly fee, subscribe to one of my subscription
services. See also the progress
report on upcoming fiction in this series.
Side stories
Ambitious. A tatter-clothed
lad on the battle-practice ground delivers a dilemma to a subcaptain
on the rise.
Unwanted. When a young man
seeks to change his life from the horrible pattern he appears destined
to follow, he discovers that a god-man sees more than mortal men do.
The New Guard. An interview
for honorable work goes awry for Fyfe when danger descends upon the
Land of Koretia. Now Koretia faces its worst crisis in decades. Amidst
the mayhem, who is likely to care about the struggles of a despised
ditch-digger?
Alms. When a reformed lawbreaker
impulsively sets out to help an old colleague, he sees danger ahead
for his spirit. He does not yet realize that his very spirit lies in
peril, depending on the choice he is about to make.
Bard of Pain. In the battle-weary
lands of the Great Peninsula, only one fate is worse than being taken
prisoner by the Lieutenant: being taken prisoner if you are
the Lieutenant.
¶ Temporarily removed due to major spoilers
to Empty Dagger Hand. To receive
notice of new releases, subscribe to my blog
or newsletter. To receive all my new
releases for a monthly fee, subscribe to one of my subscription
services. See also the progress
report on upcoming fiction in this series.
The Night Watch. They are the elite
unit of the Northern Army, and their power is growing. But what they
need is more than power: they need wisdom.
¶ Upcoming. To
receive notice of new releases, subscribe to my blog
or newsletter. To receive all my new
releases for a monthly fee, subscribe to one of my subscription
services. See also the progress
report on upcoming fiction in this series.
Mystery. Three days ago he faced death
by fire. Now he faces a bigger challenge.
¶ Temporarily removed due to major spoilers
to an upcoming novel. To
receive notice of new releases, subscribe to my blog
or newsletter. To receive all my new
releases for a monthly fee, subscribe to one of my subscription
services. See also the progress
report on upcoming fiction in this series.
CROSSING WORLDS: a Chronicles of the
Great Peninsula series
Sometimes people travel to new places. Sometimes they don't plan to.
Crossing Worlds is a historical speculative fiction series
about what happens when different worlds cross in their timelines.
The series is part of the Chronicles
of the Great Peninsula cycle.
Table of contents to the Crossing
Worlds titles below.
A
Visitor's Guide to the Three Lands
Are you considering visiting the Great Peninsula? Are you in need of
a guide? This guidebook by the internationally famous Ambassador of
the God's Land will introduce you to the charming quirks (and deadly
dangers) of the Three Lands of the Great Peninsula.
Novel
1 | Deadly Introductions.
How to introduce yourself to inhabitants of the Great Peninsula,
without being killed.
2 | Tempestuous Tours.
A whirlwind tour of the sites in the Three Lands that are most steeped
in history, culture, and the occasional pickpocket.
¶ Currently serializing at
my blog and newsletter. To receive the latest chapters, subscribe to the blog, its feeds,
or the newsletter.
Side story
The Visitor. When a journey
goes askew, a traveller must orient himself to his new circumstances.
Unfortunately, someone wants to help him.
THE THOUSAND NATIONS: a Chronicles of
the Great Peninsula series
In a shattered world of warriors and barbarisms, only the deepest
ties of friendship and romance can protect them. That, and a god they
may not be able to trust.
The Thousand Nations is a historical speculative fiction
series about what happens after the fall of a civilization. The series
is inspired by conflicts between nations during the Dark Ages.
The series is part of the Chronicles
of the Great Peninsula cycle.
Table of contents to the Thousand
Nations titles below.
Search for the Jackal
(Volume 1 of The Thousand Nations)
When a young man named Dolan flees from the north, he finds danger on
all sides. The Northern Army wants him back. The Empire of Emor wants
him dead. His native homeland of Koretia may not want him at all. And
his only protection is a man with motives that are mysterious and
possibly deadly.
To remain alive, Dolan must forge alliances, cement friendships,
break and heal a killer, and seek a lost god. Most of all, he must
decide what his goal is and how high a price he is willing to pay to
achieve that goal.
¶ Upcoming. To receive notice of new
releases, subscribe to my blog or
newsletter. To receive all my new
releases for a monthly fee, subscribe to one of my subscription
services. See also the progress
report on upcoming fiction in this series.
