en-US Thu, 15 May 2025 17:51:09 -0700 60 144 41 /images/layout/goodreads_logo_144.jpg 214008671 The Blood that Burns the Winter Snow is a short story set in the world of The Bound and The Broken.

Vars Bryer is a man of The Glade. He loves his wife, feels at peace in his home, and would give the air in his lungs to keep his children safe. But the past has finally found him, and it cares little for the wants and desires of men.]]> Ryan Cahill Shaad 4 4.41
author: Ryan Cahill
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.41
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/05/15
date added: 2025/05/15
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]]> 30613608 DO GODS TRULY EXIST? CAN YOU KNOW THE FUTURE? AND WHAT LIES BEYOND THE VEIL OF DEATH?

Winter blankets the land, and more than hope has died. Barred by the tower of Avempartha, the western army cannot invade the Fhrey homeland. So it must seek a way across the Nidwalden River before the fane obtains the secret of dragons. As time runs out for both humanity and the mystic Suri, the only chance for the living rests with the dead. Having made their fateful choice, can a handful of misfits do the impossible, or are they forever lost to an inescapable grave? As in Virgil's Aeneid, Dante's Divine Comedy, and Milton's Paradise Lost, the most epic tales transcend the world of the living. It's time to see what lies in Elan's Age of Death.

From Michael J. Sullivan, New York Times, USA Today, and Washington Post bestselling author comes the second-to-last installment in the epic fantasy series The Legends of the First Empire. These novels chronicle a pivotal point in Elan's history, when humans rise against the Fhrey, whom they once saw as gods. Set three thousand years before the Riyria tales, Legends is a standalone fantasy series independent of all other Elan stories. But if you have read the other books, Legends will reveal lies and unmask truths about historical figures.]]> 420 Michael J. Sullivan Shaad 5 published-in-2020, fantasy 4.27 2020
author: Michael J. Sullivan
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2020
rating: 5
read at: 2025/05/13
date added: 2025/05/13
shelves: published-in-2020, fantasy
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]]> 32487001
There is no way to write a blurb for this final book without spoiling all of the others. Suffice it to say, mysteries resolve, dragons war, pigeons abound, and Julius must risk himself in ways he never dreamed possible as Bob’s grand plan finally comes to fruition.

But the Great Seer of the Heartstrikers isn’t the only one whose schemes are nearing completion. The Nameless End is coming, and even the machinations of the world’s most brilliant dragon seer might not be enough to stop it. As the world comes crashing down, it’s up Julius to prove what he’s always known: that seers can be wrong, and Nice Dragons don’t always finish last.]]> 311 Rachel Aaron 1952367417 Shaad 5 4.32 2018
author: Rachel Aaron
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2025/05/11
date added: 2025/05/11
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]]> 44011
The war in Troy is looming, and all the kings of the Great Green are gathering, friends and enemies, with their own dark plans of conquest and plunder.

Into this maelstrom of treachery and deceit come three travellers �� Piria, a runaway priestess nursing a terrible secret, Kalliades, a warrior with a legendary sword, and Banokles who will carve his own legend in the battles to come.

Shield of Thunder takes the reader back into the glories and tragedies of Bronze Age Greece, reuniting the characters from Lord of the Silver Bow �� the dread Helikaon and his great love, the fiery Andromache, the mighty Hektor, and the fabled storyteller, Odysseus.


From the Trade Paperback edition.]]> 480 David Gemmell 0593052226 Shaad 5 4.5 4.37 2006
author: David Gemmell
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2006
rating: 5
read at: 2025/05/07
date added: 2025/05/07
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4.5
]]> 38619 Alternate cover edition of ISBN 9780441014897.

Ilona Andrews invites you to experience the first novel in the #1 New York Times bestselling series featuring the intriguing fantasy world of mercenary Kate Daniels��

When the magic is up, rogue mages cast their spells and monsters appear, while guns refuse to fire and cars fail to start. But then technology returns, and the magic recedes as unpredictably as it arose, leaving all kinds of paranormal problems in its wake.

Kate Daniels is a down-on-her-luck mercenary who makes her living cleaning up these magical problems. But when Kate’s guardian is murdered, her quest for justice draws her into a power struggle between two strong factions within Atlanta’s magic circles.

The Masters of the Dead, necromancers who can control vampires, and the Pack, a paramilitary clan of shapechangers, blame each other for a series of bizarre killings—and the death of Kate’s guardian may be part of the same mystery. Pressured by both sides to find the killer, Kate realizes she’s way out of her league—but she wouldn’t have it any other way…]]> 260 Ilona Andrews Shaad 4 4.06 2007
author: Ilona Andrews
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.06
book published: 2007
rating: 4
read at: 2025/05/03
date added: 2025/05/03
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]]> 45554269
So reads the sign outside of The Wandering Inn, a small building run by a young woman named Erin Solstice. She serves pasta with sausage, blue fruit juice, and dead acid flies on request. And she comes from another world. Ours.

It’s a bad day when Erin finds herself transported to a fantastical world and nearly gets eaten by a Dragon. She doesn’t belong in a place where monster attacks are a fact of life, and where Humans are one species among many. But she must adapt to her new life. Or die.

In a dangerous world where magic is real and people can level up and gain classes, Erin Solstice must battle somewhat evil Goblins, deadly Rock Crabs, and hungry [Necromancers]. She is no warrior, no mage. Erin Solstice runs an inn.

She’s an [Innkeeper].]]> 5341 Pirateaba Shaad 0 to-read 4.62
author: Pirateaba
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.62
book published:
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/05/01
shelves: to-read
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]]> 31364790
Turns out, things can get worse. Heartstriker hasn’t begun to pay for its secrets, and the dragons of China are here to collect. When the Golden Emperor demands his surrender, Julius will have to choose between loyalty to the sister who's always watched over him and preserving the clan he gave everything to protect.]]> 512 Rachel Aaron 1974466795 Shaad 5 4.18 2017
author: Rachel Aaron
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2025/05/01
date added: 2025/05/01
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]]> 26116636
To keep his clan together and his skin intact, Julius is going to have to find a way to make his bloodthirsty siblings play fair. But there’s more going on in Heartstriker Mountain than politics. Every family has its secrets, but the skeletons in Bethesda’s closet are dragon sized, and with Algonquin’s war looming over them all, breaking his clan wide open might just be the only hope Julius has of saving it.]]> 517 Rachel Aaron 1952367395 Shaad 5 4.28 2016
author: Rachel Aaron
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2016
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/30
date added: 2025/04/30
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]]> 63349132
Of course, if there were only one thing under Liscor, there would be far less to fear. However, the dungeon continues to be a threat. At the same time, Goblins continue to roam northern Izril, but not all of them are as hostile to people as Tremborag or the Goblin Lord. Will the Unseen Emperor of Riverfarm make that distinction, however?

A reckoning is coming as old faces and new reemerge. And all the while, The Wandering Inn is still serving food and respite and even plays to adventurers and Antinium alike. But something is coming from the dungeons. And it—they—are hungry.]]> 1684 Pirateaba Shaad 5 4.71
author: Pirateaba
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.71
book published:
rating: 5
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date added: 2025/04/29
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]]> 25635416
Refusal to play along with his mother’s plans means death, but there’s more going on than even Bethesda knows, and with Estella back in the game with a vengeance, Heartstriker futures disappearing, and Algonquin’s dragon hunter closing in, the stakes are higher than even a seer can calculate. But when his most powerful family members start dropping like flies, it falls to Julius to defend the clan that never respected him and prove that, sometimes, the world’s worst dragon is the best one to have on your side.]]> 487 Rachel Aaron 1952367387 Shaad 5 4.31 2015
author: Rachel Aaron
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.31
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/28
date added: 2025/04/28
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]]> 60851520 Pirateaba Shaad 5 4.64
author: Pirateaba
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.64
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2024/02/03
date added: 2025/04/28
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]]> 20426102
Now, sealed in human form and banished to the DFZ--a vertical metropolis built on the ruins of Old Detroit--Julius has one month to prove that he can be a ruthless dragon or kiss his true shape goodbye forever. But in a city of modern mages and vengeful spirits where dragons are considered monsters to be exterminated, he’s going to need some serious help to survive this test.

He only hopes humans are more trustworthy than dragons...]]> 287 Rachel Aaron 1952367379 Shaad 4 4.11 2014
author: Rachel Aaron
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.11
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/27
date added: 2025/04/27
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]]> 57189884 Jason wakes up in a mysterious world of magic and monsters.

It’s not easy making the career jump from office-supplies-store middle manager to heroic interdimensional adventurer. At least, Jason tries to be heroic, but it's hard to be good when all your powers are evil.

He’ll face off against cannibals, cultists, wizards, monsters...and that’s just on the first day. He’s going to need courage, he’s going to need wit, and he’s going to need some magic powers of his own. But first, he’s going to need pants.

After cementing itself as one of the best-rated serial novels on Royal Road with an astonishing 13 million views, He Who Fights with Monsters is now available on Kindle.

About the series: Experience an isekai culture clash as a laid-back Australian finds himself in a very serious world. See him gain suspiciously evil powers through a unique progression system combining cultivation and traditional LitRPG elements. Enjoy a weak-to-strong story with a main character who earns his power without overshadowing everyone around him, with plenty of loot, adventurers, gods and magic. Rich characters and world-building offer humor, political intrigue and slice-of-life elements alongside lots of monster fighting and adventure.]]> 680 Shirtaloon Shaad 0 currently-reading 4.42 2021
author: Shirtaloon
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.42
book published: 2021
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/25
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> 178294480 258 Aliyah Umm Raiyaan 1529925789 Shaad 4 4.77
author: Aliyah Umm Raiyaan
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.77
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rating: 4
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date added: 2025/04/21
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]]> 1309025
Boudica means Bringer of Victory (from the early Celtic word “boudeg��). She is the last defender of the Celtic culture in Britain; the only woman openly to lead her warriors into battle and to stand successfully against the might of Imperial Rome -- and triumph.

It is 33 AD and eleven-year-old Breaca (later named Boudica), the red-haired daughter of one of the leaders of the Eceni tribe, is on the cusp between girl and womanhood. She longs to be a Dreamer, a mystical leader who can foretell the future, but having killed the man who has attacked and killed her mother, she has proven herself a warrior. Dreaming the Eagle is also the story of the two men Boudica loves Caradoc, outstanding warrior and inspirational leader; and Bàn, her half-brother, who longs to be a warrior, though he is manifestly a Dreamer, possibly the finest in his tribe’s history. Bàn becomes the Druid whose eventual return to the Celts is Boudica’s salvation.

Dreaming the Eagle is full of brilliantly realised, luminous scenes as the narrative sweeps effortlessly from the epic -- where battle scenes are huge, bloody, and action-packed -- to the intimate. Manda Scott plunges us into the unforgettable world of tribal Britain in the years before the Roman a world of druids and dreamers and the magic of the gods where the natural world is as much a character as any of the people who live within it, a world of warriors who fight for honour as much as victory, a world of passion, courage and spectacular heroism pitched against overwhelming odds.

Dreaming the Eagle stunningly recreates the roots of a story so powerful its impact has lasted through the ages.]]> 465 Manda Scott 0385336705 Shaad 0 currently-reading 4.07 2003
author: Manda Scott
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.07
book published: 2003
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/16
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> 60599934 Maria Dakake Shaad 4 4.07
author: Maria Dakake
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.07
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/15
date added: 2025/04/15
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]]> 28808913 I had a family now, I had people who loved me. It was a feeling I never wanted to give up. I’d treasure it, fight for it if I had to�� and for that, I needed to better myself. More so even than when I had been a king.

Given a second chance at life, Arthur Leywin wishes above all to grow strong enough to protect his family, as the memory of his cold and disconnected past life as King Grey still haunts him. To this end, Arthur adopts the persona of the masked adventurer, Note, and delves into the dungeons under the forbidding Beast Glades. On his adventures, Arthur discovers a strange magical blade that responds to the dragon’s will inside him, befriends a powerful young conjurer whose past is shrouded in mystery, and battles the deadly Elderwood Guardian. Yet all his efforts might prove for naught when Arthur makes an enemy of a talented conjurer from a very powerful family, putting his very future at risk.]]> 260 TurtleMe Shaad 3 3.5 stars 4.38
author: TurtleMe
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.38
book published:
rating: 3
read at: 2025/04/14
date added: 2025/04/14
shelves:
review:
3.5 stars
]]> 29771040 Was I taking this life for granted? Having this amount of power at my age had made me lose some of the sense of rationality I’d had in my former life. No longer a king, no longer tied down by rules and politics, I’d become careless. In this world, my potential was boundless.

Though Arthur Leywin would like nothing more than to pursue his studies at the esteemed Xyrus Academy, where he hopes to push his already potent magical abilities to new plateaus and perhaps discover something more about his reincarnation into this world, he finds the politics of the school’s halls even more challenging to navigate than those of the council chambers he once inhabited as King Grey. Arthur faces inept professors, jealous classmates, and an overeager director while fending off the affection of an old friend and the aggression of an old enemy. Then a routine class trip into a low-level dungeon turns out to be anything but, and Arthur discovers something that will change his life forever.]]> 289 TurtleMe Shaad 0 to-read 4.40
author: TurtleMe
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.40
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rating: 0
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date added: 2025/04/13
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]]> 28705056
Reincarnated into a new world filled with magic and monsters, the king has a second chance to relive his life. Correcting the mistakes of his past will not be his only challenge, however. Underneath the peace and prosperity of the new world is an undercurrent threatening to destroy everything he has worked for, questioning his role and reason for being born again.]]> 247 TurtleMe Shaad 4 4.35
author: TurtleMe
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.35
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/04/12
date added: 2025/04/12
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]]> 42592353
With Age of Myth, Age of Swords, and Age of War, fantasy master Michael J. Sullivan riveted readers with a tale of unlikely heroes locked in a desperate battle to save mankind. After years of warfare, humanity has gained the upper hand and has pushed the Fhrey to the edge of their homeland, but no farther. Now comes the pivotal moment. Persephone’s plan to use the stalemate to seek peace is destroyed by an unexpected betrayal that threatens to hand victory to the Fhrey and leaves a dear friend in peril. Her only hope lies in the legend of a witch, a forgotten song, and a simple garden door.]]> 480 Michael J. Sullivan 194414529X Shaad 5 4.34 2019
author: Michael J. Sullivan
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.34
book published: 2019
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/12
date added: 2025/04/12
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]]> 26863057
Now only a few stand between humankind and annihilation: Raithe, reluctant to embrace his destiny as the God Killer; Suri, a young seer burdened by signs of impending doom; and Persephone, who must overcome personal tragedy to lead her people. The Age of Myth is over. The time of rebellion has begun.]]> 432 Michael J. Sullivan 1101965339 Shaad 4 4.21 2016
author: Michael J. Sullivan
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/13
date added: 2025/04/09
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]]> 257149 Helikaon. Strong, fast, quick of mind, he is a bold warrior, hated by his enemies, feared even by his Trojan allies. For there is a darkness at the heart of the Golden One, a savagery that, once awakened, can be appeased only with blood.

Argurios the Mykene is a peerless fighter, a man of unbending principles and unbreakable will. Like all of the Mykene warriors, he lives to conquer and to kill. Dispatched by King Agamemnon to scout the defenses of the golden city of Troy, he is Helikaon's sworn enemy.

Andromache is a priestess of Thera betrothed against her will to Hektor, prince of Troy. Scornful of tradition, skilled in the arts of war, and passionate in the ways of her order, Andromache vows to love whom she pleases and to live as she desires.

Now fate is about to thrust these three together; and, from the sparks of passionate love and hate, ignite a fire that will engulf the world.

Readers who know the works of David Gemmell expect nothing less than excellence from this author, whose taut prose, driving plots, and full-bodied characters have won him legions of fans the world over. Now, with this first masterly volume in an epic reimagining of the Trojan War, Gemmell has written an ageless drama of brave deeds and fierce battles, of honor and treachery, of love won and lost.

From the Hardcover edition.]]> 483 David Gemmell 0345494571 Shaad 5 4.5 stars 4.32 2005
author: David Gemmell
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.32
book published: 2005
rating: 5
read at: 2025/04/07
date added: 2025/04/07
shelves:
review:
4.5 stars
]]> 18224060 195 Robert Greene Shaad 0 to-read 4.14
author: Robert Greene
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.14
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/04/05
shelves: to-read
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]]> 210093074
With the help of Vedron, his acid-spitting dragon, Rylan sets off to find clues. The trail leads him to the hills known as the Winding, which are said go be haunted by the Dancing Willow. The willow is home to a band of undead children who pray on the unwary or those foolish enough to remain in the Winding for too long.

Rylan digs deeper and discovers the theft is related to the willow. In fact, the theft’s origins can be traced all the way back to Black Aerlath, the terrible day when the willow was made and the children were turned into haunting specters. The children didn’t deserve their fate, and Rylan is desperate to help them, but it seems as though the local constabulary, the willow, even the abbey itself, are all working against him.]]> 124 Bradley P. Beaulieu 193964948X Shaad 0 to-read 4.17
author: Bradley P. Beaulieu
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.17
book published:
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/04/02
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]]> 204664941
Barakah is defined as the attachment of divine benevolence to a thing. Think of Barakah as the spiritual multiplier effect to our physical realm. And it can attach itself to anything—tangible or non-tangible:

If there's Barakah in your time, you could do more with your time.
If there's Barakah in your food, you might eat little but feel very satisfied.
If there's Barakah in your wealth, your income and savings seem to go a long way.

Simply put, Barakah is more with less.

By reading this book, the reader will:
1. Understand the concept of Barakah and its vast implication in life and business.
2. Apply the Barakah Culture Manifesto and framework to their personal and professional life.
3. Develop practical routines and processes to embed Barakah Culture in their daily lives.]]> 450 Mohammed Faris 1800110065 Shaad 5 4.5 stars 4.69 2023
author: Mohammed Faris
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.69
book published: 2023
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/31
date added: 2025/03/31
shelves:
review:
4.5 stars
]]> 61294903
Hadrian Marlowe is newly a knight of the galaxy-spanning Sollan Empire: a hero who they say slew the alien Prince Aranata Otiolo in single combat; a man they say no man or xenobite can kill.

Acting on the Emperor’s orders, Hadrian has come to the desert planet Thagura and driven off the Cielcin invaders, rescuing in the process the Lady Gadar Malyan, Baroness of that entire world.

But not all the fighting is ended. Pockets of inhuman resistance remain on the desert world, and Hadrian the Halfmortal must soon do battle with not only the man-eating alien barbarians, but with something just as terrible: man’s own inhumanity to man.

PRAISE FOR CHRISTOPHER RUOCCHIO:

"Empire of Silence is epic science fiction at its most genuinely epic. Ruocchio has made something fascinating here, and I can't wait to see what he does next." —James S.A. Corey, New York Times-bestselling author of The Expanse novels

"Empire of Silence is a rich tapestry of future history and worldbuilding, a galactic-sized story of a hero, a tyrant, but portrayed as a man. " —Kevin J. Anderson, New York Times-bestselling author of The Dark Between the Stars

"One hell of a writer." —Larry Correia, author of Monster Hunter International

"Although stretched across a vast array of planets, the story line is often more focused on the intimate than on the expanse, giving it a wonderful emotional punch. This wow book is a must for fans of Pierce Brown and Patrick Rothfuss." —Library Journal (starred review)]]> 173 Christopher Ruocchio Shaad 4 4.00
author: Christopher Ruocchio
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.00
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/29
date added: 2025/03/29
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4.25 this was an excellent novella!
]]> 199239732 RETURN TO THE WORLD OF THE SUN EATER IN THIS SPIN-OFF ADVENTURE SET AFTER THE EVENTS OF BOOK FIVE!For thousands of years, the icy planet of Belusha has served the galactic Sollan Empire as its most notorious prison planet. It is here the very worst men in the Empire are locked murderers, traitors, deserters—each condemned to toil on the oil rigs and scrapyards of the planet in bitter cold, preyed upon both by the men of the Martian Guard set to watch over them, and by the Outborn reavers whose fathers escaped the work camps to scratch a living from the icy wilderness.It is a hard world. A desperate world.And it is here that Lorian Aristedes finds alone; friendless; betrayed even by his own failing, mutant flesh. Is it here that Lorian Aristedes has been sentenced to work himself to death for the crime of abetting his master’s escape from Imperial justice.For any other man, it would be the end of his story…but for Lorian Aristedes—once the left hand of the Halfmortal, Hadrian Marlowe himself—it is only the beginning.]]> 332 Christopher Ruocchio Shaad 0 to-read 4.24
author: Christopher Ruocchio
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.24
book published:
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/03/27
shelves: to-read
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]]> 30837531 414 Drew Hayes Shaad 4 4.35 2016
author: Drew Hayes
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2016
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/24
date added: 2025/03/24
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]]> 217673847 I’ldryr viel asatar. I sanvîr viel baralun.

In fire we are forged. In blood we are tempered.

In the Aravell woodland, Calen Bryer grapples with the fallout from the Battle of Aravell. The path forward is littered with choices that will bleed him dry. But he is a Draleid, he is a guardian, and he will always stand when others call.

His sister, Ella, lies fragmented, her mind split between worlds, her fate unknown. But the blood of the wolf is strong.

Hundreds of miles away, in the western villages of Illyanara, Dahlen Virandr leads the defense of Salme and all its inhabitants gathered from across the region. The Uraks are unrelenting, and they know only blood and death. If this is to be his end, he will enter Achyron's Halls as a warrior who would not yield.

Below the mountains of Lodhar, Queen Kira waits in the dark while Hoffnar attempts to sieze control of the Freehold and lead the dwarves towards a new dawn of war.

In Valtara, Dayne Ateres hunts those who betrayed his family, while Alina prepares her army to besiege the legendary Achyron's Keep.

At the edges of the Burnt Lands, Rist Havel is offered a new path forward, one that few have ever trodden, one that could forge him into a mage of no equal.

With the news that Ilkya and Jormun have fallen, along with their soulkin, Eltoar finds himself face-to-face with Salara Ithan �� a remnant of his past life that he had long thought dead.

With the Blood Moon in the sky, Kallinvar and the Knights of Achyron battle tirelessly against the Shadow, doing everything within their power to hold back the darkness.

Gods are waking.
The world is burning.
Ashes and dust are all that will remain.]]> Ryan Cahill Shaad 0 to-read 4.76 2025
author: Ryan Cahill
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.76
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/23
shelves: to-read
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]]> 18052169 Rich in magic and adventure, Michael J. Sullivan’s soaring fantasy novels are masterworks of heroism, love, and sacrifice. Now, in Age of War, the epic battle between humankind and the cruel godlike beings who once ruled them finally ignites in all its fury.

The alliance of humans and renegade Fhrey is fragile—and about to be tested as never before. Persephone keeps the human clans from turning on one another through her iron will and a compassionate heart. The arrogant Fhrey are barely held in check by their leader, Nyphron, who seeks to advance his own nefarious agenda through a loveless marriage that will result in the betrayal of the person Persephone loves most: Raithe, the God Killer.

As the Fhrey overlords marshal their army and sorcerers to crush the rebellion, old loyalties will be challenged while fresh conspiracies will threaten to undo all that Persephone has accomplished. In the darkest hour, when hope is all but lost, new heroes will rise . . . but at what terrible cost?]]> 462 Michael J. Sullivan Shaad 5 4.41 2018
author: Michael J. Sullivan
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.41
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/19
date added: 2025/03/19
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]]> 40769612
As astonishing look at good vs evil, the power and danger of good intentions, and the double edged nature of magic, this is a must-read for fans of Brandon Sanderson, Brent Weeks and The Wheel of Time series.]]> 448 Justin Call 147322294X Shaad 0 to-read 4.20 2025
author: Justin Call
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.20
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/14
shelves: to-read
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]]> 24313624
After discovering just how filled with magic, intrigue, and adventure the parahuman world of being an Undead American can be, Fredrick Frankford Fletcher did exactly what was expected--he became a certified parahuman accountant. Myths and legends, as it turns out, are not so great at taking appropriate deductions and keeping their receipts, and Fred is more than happy to return to a life others view as woefully dull, expanding his accounting business to cater to various monsters and their respective financial needs.

Said monsters are, unfortunately, still spectacular at pulling Fred into trouble, though. And despite merely wanting to stick with simple paperwork, Fred once again finds he is going to have to deal with enchanted weaponry, government agents, possessed houses, and one enigmatic dragon’s interest. In the parahuman world, any business can turn deadly, even one as mundane as accounting.]]> 382 Drew Hayes 1942111177 Shaad 4 4.23 2015
author: Drew Hayes
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.23
book published: 2015
rating: 4
read at: 2025/03/10
date added: 2025/03/10
shelves:
review:

]]> 61190770
Loretta Thurwar and Hamara "Hurricane Staxxx" Stacker are the stars of Chain-Gang All-Stars, the cornerstone of CAPE, or Criminal Action Penal Entertainment, a highly-popular, highly-controversial, profit-raising program in America's increasingly dominant private prison industry. It's the return of the gladiators and prisoners are competing for the ultimate prize: their freedom.

In CAPE, prisoners travel as Links in Chain-Gangs, competing in death-matches for packed arenas with righteous protestors at the gates. Thurwar and Staxxx, both teammates and lovers, are the fan favorites. And if all goes well, Thurwar will be free in just a few matches, a fact she carries as heavily as her lethal hammer. As she prepares to leave her fellow Links, she considers how she might help preserve their humanity, in defiance of these so-called games, but CAPE's corporate owners will stop at nothing to protect their status quo and the obstacles they lay in Thurwar's path have devastating consequences.

Moving from the Links in the field to the protestors to the CAPE employees and beyond, Chain-Gang All-Stars is a kaleidoscopic, excoriating look at the American prison system's unholy alliance of systemic racism, unchecked capitalism, and mass incarceration, and a clear-eyed reckoning with what freedom in this country really means.]]> 367 Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah 0593317335 Shaad 0 to-read 4.13 2023
author: Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.13
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/05
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 58917437
Freed from the clutches of the sinister Cecilia Blakewood, Saska travels south in the company of her giant protector, Sir Ralston, and the crew of the Steel Sister. Making for the city of Aram, she finds her journey hindered by the simmering war, as more of the riddle of her past is unraveled.

Far to the south, tensions boil as the Patriots of Lumara continue to stir violence, slaughtering any northman they can find. Jonik and his allies fight back, as the former Shadowknight discovers the truth of his purpose. A holy duty awaits him. But first, he’ll need an army��

At the twin tombs, north and south, the world begins to tremble. Amron Daecar limps into the white wilderness, in search of his salvation, and a world away Lythian Lindar is drawn into a world of monsters and gods. All is connected. The past and the future. The gifts of the fallen gods.

Through the ages their actions echo. And titans will rise again.]]> 740 T.C. Edge Shaad 5 4.75 stars 4.64
author: T.C. Edge
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.64
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/03/05
date added: 2025/03/05
shelves:
review:
4.75 stars
]]> 228237219
Following the destruction of the capital city of Percepliquis, this question plagued every Imperial citizen, but the choices made by three simple people will change the future forever. One decided she didn’t deserve to die. Another resolved to be the ruler he was meant to be. And the third went in search of a nefarious wizard named, Esrahaddon.

Return to the world of Elan in the last days of the dying Novronian Empire. Come back to the destruction and turmoil of a dying dream but stay because there is one last hope that is trying to crawl . . . out of the ashes.

In this debut novel, a devotee of the New York Times, USA Today, and Washington Post bestselling author Michael J. Sullivan proves why it was wise to trust a complete unknown with his cherished world of Elan. Through this first book in the After the Fall series, you’ll learn the truth about the day Percepliquis fell and witness the birth of a new literary star.]]> 326 Michael J. Sullivan Shaad 0 to-read 4.85
author: Michael J. Sullivan
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.85
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/03/01
shelves: to-read
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]]> 505352 427 David Gemmell 0345432282 Shaad 5 4.5 staars 4.26 2001
author: David Gemmell
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2001
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/26
date added: 2025/02/26
shelves:
review:
4.5 staars
]]> 18952341 640 Ken Liu 1481424270 Shaad 5 3.77 2015
author: Ken Liu
name: Shaad
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2015
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/26
date added: 2025/02/26
shelves:
review:

]]> 37830765
In Ten Arguments For Deleting Your Social Media Accounts Right Now Jaron Lanier draws on his insider's expertise to explain precisely how social media works and why its cruel and dangerous effects are at the heart of its current business model and design. As well as offering ten simple arguments for liberating yourself from its addictive hold, his witty and urgent manifesto outlines a vision for an alternative that provides all the benefits of social media without the harm. nicer person in the process.]]> 146 Jaron Lanier 1847925391 Shaad 4 3.58 2018
author: Jaron Lanier
name: Shaad
average rating: 3.58
book published: 2018
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/23
date added: 2025/02/23
shelves:
review:

]]> 60969058 A thousand years ago the Heart of the World was shattered, its fragments scattered across the lands.

In the chaos that followed, martial orders arose to gather the shards, for it was found that great powers were granted when these pieces were bonded to the flesh of the chosen. These are the Sharded Few, warriors imbued with the divine energies that once coursed through the Heart, driven to absorb enough fragments to claim godhood.

Deryn has known nothing in his life except suffering. Orphaned at the edge of the realms, indentured to a cruel slaver, he has little hope of escaping his circumstances. But elsewhere, ancient powers are stirring, new alliances threaten the peace of the old order, and against all odds, Deryn will find himself a player in a game unlike anything he could have imagined.]]> 656 Alec Hutson 1734257431 Shaad 0 to-read 4.37 2022
author: Alec Hutson
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.37
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/22
shelves: to-read
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]]> 60531420 From #1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson―creator of The Stormlight Archive, the Mistborn Saga, and countless bestselling works of science fiction and fantasy―comes this standalone novel showing a rare glimpse of a future Cosmere universe.

Running. Putting distance between himself and the relentless Night Brigade has been Nomad’s strategy for years. Staying one or two steps ahead of his pursuers by skipping through the Cosmere from one world to the next.

But now, his powers too depleted to escape, Nomad finds himself trapped on Canticle, a planet that will kill anyone who doesn’t keep moving. Fleeing the fires of a sunrise that melts the very stones, he is instantly caught up in the struggle between a heartless tyrant and the brave rebels who defy him.

Failure means a quick death, incinerated by the sun�� or a lifetime as a mindless slave. Tormented by the consequences of his past, Nomad must fight not only for his survival―but also for his very soul.]]> 447 Brandon Sanderson 1938570391 Shaad 4 4.28 2023
author: Brandon Sanderson
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/19
date added: 2025/02/19
shelves:
review:

]]> 57443696 The fourth novel of the galaxy-spanning Sun Eater series merges the best of space opera and epic fantasy, as Hadrian Marlowe continues down a path that can only end in fire.

Hadrian Marlowe is trapped.

For nearly a century, he has been a guest of the Emperor, forced into the role of advisor, a prisoner of his own legend. But the war is changing. Mankind is losing.

The Cielcin are spilling into human space from the fringes, picking their targets with cunning precision. The Great Prince Syriani Dorayaica is uniting their clans, forging them into an army and threat the likes of which mankind has never seen.

And the Empire stands alone.

Now the Emperor has no choice but to give Hadrian Marlowe--once his favorite knight--one more impossible task: journey across the galaxy to the Lothrian Commonwealth and convince them to join the war. But not all is as it seems, and Hadrian's journey will take him far beyond the Empire, beyond the Commonwealth, impossibly deep behind enemy lines.]]> 544 Christopher Ruocchio 1473218357 Shaad 0 currently-reading 4.44 2022
author: Christopher Ruocchio
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.44
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/16
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> 61755703 The Fury of the Gods is the earth-shattering final book in John Gwynne's bestselling Norse-inspired epic fantasy series, packed with myth, magic and bloody vengeance

THE FINAL BATTLE FOR THE FATE OF VIGRIÐ APPROACHES

Varg has overcome the trials of his past and become an accepted member of the Bloodsworn, but now he and his newfound comrades face their biggest challenge yet: slaying a dragon.

Elvar is struggling to consolidate her power in Snakavik, where she faces threats from within and without. As she fights to assert her authority in readiness for the coming conflict, she faces a surely insurmountable task: reining in the ferocity of a wolf god.

As Biorr and his warband make their way north, eager for blood, Gudvarr pursues a mission of his own, hoping to win Lik-Rifa's favour and further his own ambitions.

All paths lead to Snakavik, where the lines are being drawn for the final battle - a titanic clash that will shake the foundations of the world, and bear witness to the true fury of the gods.]]> 528 John Gwynne 0356514293 Shaad 0 currently-reading 4.46 2024
author: John Gwynne
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.46
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/16
shelves: currently-reading
review:

]]> 25430565
A lamb among wolves in a cruel world, Darrow finds friendship, respect, and even love—but also the wrath of powerful rivals. To wage and win the war that will change humankind’s destiny, Darrow must confront the treachery arrayed against him, overcome his all-too-human desire for retribution—and strive not for violent revolt but a hopeful rebirth. Though the road ahead is fraught with danger and deceit, Darrow must choose to follow Eo’s principles of love and justice to free his people.

He must live for more.]]> 444 Pierce Brown 0345539834 Shaad 3 2018, april-2018, fantasy 4.50 2015
author: Pierce Brown
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.50
book published: 2015
rating: 3
read at: 2018/04/01
date added: 2025/02/15
shelves: 2018, april-2018, fantasy
review:

]]> 32469783
In the richest empire the world has ever known, the city of Sorlost has always stood, eternal and unconquered. But in a city of dreams governed by an imposturous Emperor, decadence has become the true ruler, and has blinded its inhabitants to their vulnerability. The empire is on the verge of invasion �� and only one man can see it.

Haunted by dreams of the empire’s demise, Orhan Emmereth has decided to act. On his orders, a company of soldiers cross the desert to reach the city. Once they enter the Palace, they have one mission: kill the Emperor, then all those who remain. Only from ashes can a new empire be built.

The company is a group of good, ordinary soldiers, for whom this is a mission like any other. But the strange boy Marith who walks among them is no ordinary soldier. Marching on Sorlost, Marith thinks he is running away from the past which haunts him. But in the Golden City, his destiny awaits him �� beautiful, bloody, and more terrible than anyone could have foreseen.]]> 470 Anna Smith Spark 0008204063 Shaad 3 2.75 stars 3.42 2017
author: Anna Smith Spark
name: Shaad
average rating: 3.42
book published: 2017
rating: 3
read at: 2025/02/15
date added: 2025/02/15
shelves:
review:
2.75 stars
]]> 52661162
Then a local boy appeals to him for help. His brother is missing, and no one in the village, least of all the police, seems to care. And once again, Cal feels that restless itch.

Something is wrong in this community, and he must find out what, even if it brings trouble to his door.]]> 451 Tana French 073522465X Shaad 0 to-read 3.70 2020
author: Tana French
name: Shaad
average rating: 3.70
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/15
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 32337902
The gods have been proven mortal and new heroes will arise as the battle continues in the sequel to Age of Myth--from the author of the Riyria Revelations and Riyria Chronicles series.

In Age of Myth, fantasy master Michael J. Sullivan launched readers on an epic journey of magic and adventure, heroism and betrayal, love and loss. Now the thrilling saga continues as the human uprising is threatened by powerful enemies from without--and bitter rivalries from within.

Raithe, the God Killer, may have started the rebellion by killing a Fhrey, but long-standing enmities dividing the Rhunes make it all but impossible to unite against the common foe. And even if the clans can join forces, how will they defeat an enemy whose magical prowess renders them indistinguishable from gods?

The answer lies across the sea in a faraway land populated by a reclusive and dour race who feel nothing but disdain for both Fhrey and mankind. With time running out, Persephone leads the gifted young seer Suri, the Fhrey sorceress Arion, and a small band of misfits in a desperate search for aid--a quest that will take them into the darkest depths of Elan. There, an ancient adversary waits, as fearsome as it is deadly.]]> 496 Michael J. Sullivan 1101965363 Shaad 4 4.26 2017
author: Michael J. Sullivan
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.26
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/14
date added: 2025/02/14
shelves:
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]]> 176941314
Classes evolve, roles shift, and in the city of Liscor, change is happening. The Horns of Hammerad are growing as adventurers, rising in the eyes of the city and the surrounding lands. They've survived, and they've leveled, but new levels also bring new problems. Izril is still facing turmoil as nobles fight and squabble while Liscor breathes again and heals, trying to find a new way forward.

The best cure for dark days? Games! And none know it better than the oldest adventurers, who've lived through countless struggles. Niers Astoragon is the greatest [Strategist] of Baleros, a leader in one of the Four Great Companies, and his students vie for his approval. They'll compete to become the best new generation of talented leaders and commanders. Glory, mischief, and competition await!

What they've forgotten is that there are never low stakes with Niers. Compete for fame, compete for fun, but remember, there's no such thing as a bloodless game when you play against the Titan of Baleros.]]> 1526 Pirateaba 196110802X Shaad 4 4.63 2023
author: Pirateaba
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.63
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/11
date added: 2025/02/11
shelves:
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]]> 58867610
Saska has one goal - assassinate Lord Kastor. Posing as a captured servant girl, she infiltrates the Kastor warcamp to face her demons, but before long finds herself hopelessly out of her depth. Enemies close in, old and new…and history has a habit of repeating itself.

Driven by the whispers of a long dead god, Jonik seeks a new purpose as he’s pursued by the order he betrayed. His journey will take him south, across the paths of men and monsters. Some seek to slay him; others to help guide him. And all the while his legend spreads.

With the Warrior King plotting to take full control of the north, sinister forces stir in the south. Some fight to stall war, others seek to incite it, as chaos and calamity threaten to engulf all the world. Kings will fall, champions will rise, secrets and prophesies will be unearthed.

The next great Renewal approaches, they say. But will it be the last?]]> 778 T.C. Edge Shaad 4 4.56
author: T.C. Edge
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.56
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2025/02/10
date added: 2025/02/10
shelves:
review:

]]> 207300419 Hero of the people Ashok Vadal lives! Now, he must face down enemies on all sides if he and the Sons of the Black Sword are to have any hope of destroying the evil Capitol in a new entry in NYT best-selling author Larry Correia’s Saga of the Forgotten Warrior epic fantasy series.

ASHOK VADAL LIVES!

Grand Inquisitor Omand Vokkan’s plans have come to fruition. Lord Protector Devedas has defeated the falled warrior Ashok Vadal in combat and has been crowed Raja in the Capitol. The Great Extermination of the casteless has been largely successful, and the Sons of the Black Sword are in hiding. Following the directions of a demon with whom Vokkan made a pact, Vokkan travels to seek the treasure he most desires: immortality. None stand in his way—or so he things.

But Ashok Vadal is not dead. The shard of the Black Sword embedded in his heart—the sword that called him to weild it—is not done with Vadal yet. Now, wielding another Black Sword, Vadal sets out to rescue the prophetess Thera Vane, find the Sons of the Black Sword, defeat the wicked Capitol—and throw down the Law forever, bringing for the first time, freedom to all the people of Lok.

Much stands in his way, but Ashok Vadal has defeated men, demons, and gods alike.]]> 406 Larry Correia 1982193735 Shaad 0 to-read 4.62
author: Larry Correia
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.62
book published:
rating: 0
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date added: 2025/02/10
shelves: to-read
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]]> 221431712
The answer lies in the Heart of the Mountain��

Ashok Vadal was chosen by a powerful weapon to be its bearer. As a Protector, an elite roving law-enforcer, his path to leader of the Sons of the Black Sword has been anything but straight.

Thera Vane, a child of privilege, has become the reluctant prophet of an illegal and forgotten god—whose prophecies are proving all too correct, if frustratingly unclear about the war between demon and man.

Ashok’s erstwhile sword brother, Lord Protector Devedas, was meant to be a puppet king, but he and his wife, a court scholar, have other plans. And possibly even access to the lore that will let them triumph.

Grand Inquisitor Omand Vokkan is a man of ambition. He’s set in motion all that was necessary to destroy the current order and install Lord Protector Devedas as a tyrant. But Vokkan has a vision beyond control of the continent. He would challenge even the gods. . . .

It seems the time of prophecy and the Age of Law is over: it is time the prophecies will be fulfilled.]]> 385 Larry Correia 1625799993 Shaad 0 to-read 4.81
author: Larry Correia
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.81
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/02/10
shelves: to-read
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]]> 199531891 Listening Length = 20 hours and 46 minutes

With a foreword by Charles Barkley, The Basketball 100 is a celebration of basketball by way of the 100 greatest players to ever grace the court in the history of the NBA.

Over the course of 100 luminous player profiles, the best sports newsroom on the planet paints vivid portraits of the game’s most compelling characters. There’s George Mikan, who was cut from his high school team because he wore glasses, then went on to become the fledgling NBA’s first transcendent star. Gary Payton, called “The Glove�� for his skintight defense, who talked as much trash to his teammates as he did to his opponents on the court. Dennis Rodman, who started playing basketball at age 20, and in a few short years went from working as a janitor at the airport to being one of the strangest superstars that sport has ever known. Allen Iverson, who drew inspiration from hip hop for his inimitable style and swagger, on and off the court. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, who was so dominant in the paint that they changed the rules—and Steph Curry, who was so dominant outside it that he seemed to expand the very boundaries of the court.

The Basketball 100, edited by award-winning reporters David Aldridge and John Hollinger, also answers the game’s toughest, most important questions: How should we weight championship rings, versus statistical profiles, versus the “eye test��? Were the great players of yesteryear, like Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell, propelled by the inferior athleticism of their competition or would they have been transcendent in any era? And of course, who’s the GOAT—MJ or LeBron? Speaking of GOATs, for the book, Hollinger (inventor of the statistical metric PER) has created a new benchmark, GOAT Points.

Wonderfully written, authoritative, and full of joy, The Basketball 100 is a fitting tribute to the greatest sport in the world.

PLEASE NOTE: With the purchase of this title, an accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.]]> 752 David Aldridge 0063329123 Shaad 5 4.5 stars 4.27 2024
author: David Aldridge
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.27
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2025/02/03
date added: 2025/02/03
shelves:
review:
4.5 stars
]]> 56750401 Born in fire. Tempered in blood.

Epheria is a land divided by war and mistrust. The High Lords of the south squabble and fight, only kept in check by the Dragonguard, traitors of a time long past, who serve the empire of the North.

In the remote villages of southern Epheria, still reeling from the tragic loss of his brother, Calen Bryer prepares for The Proving—a test of courage and skill that not all survive.

But when three strangers arrive in the village of Milltown, with a secret they are willing to die for, Calen’s world is ripped from under him and he is thrust headfirst into a war that has been raging for centuries.

There is no prophecy. His coming was not foretold.

He bleeds like any man, and bleed he will. ]]> 541 Ryan Cahill Shaad 4 4.09 2021
author: Ryan Cahill
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.09
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/29
date added: 2025/01/29
shelves:
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]]> 22055276 "Here in the Just City you will become your best selves. You will learn and grow and strive to be excellent."

Created as an experiment by the time-traveling goddess Pallas Athene, the Just City is a planned community, populated by over ten thousand children and a few hundred adult teachers from all eras of history, along with some handy robots from the far human future--all set down together on a Mediterranean island in the distant past.

The student Simmea, born an Egyptian farmer's daughter sometime between 500 and 1000 A.D, is a brilliant child, eager for knowledge, ready to strive to be her best self. The teacher Maia was once Ethel, a young Victorian lady of much learning and few prospects, who prayed to Pallas Athene in an unguarded moment during a trip to Rome--and, in an instant, found herself in the Just City with grey-eyed Athene standing unmistakably before her.

Meanwhile, Apollo--stunned by the realization that there are things mortals understand better than he does--has arranged to live a human life, and has come to the City as one of the children. He knows his true identity, and conceals it from his peers. For this lifetime, he is prone to all the troubles of being human.

Then, a few years in, Sokrates arrives--the same Sokrates recorded by Plato himself--to ask all the troublesome questions you would expect. What happens next is a tale only the brilliant Jo Walton could tell.]]> 368 Jo Walton 0765332663 Shaad 0 to-read 3.77 2015
author: Jo Walton
name: Shaad
average rating: 3.77
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/28
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 51862863 A Declaration of the Rights of Magicians is a genre-defying story of magic, war, and the struggle for freedom in the early modern world.

It is the Age of Enlightenment -- of new and magical political movements, from the necromancer Robespierre calling for revolution in France to the weather mage Toussaint L'Ouverture leading the slaves of Haiti in their fight for freedom, to the bold new Prime Minister William Pitt weighing the legalization of magic amongst commoners in Britain and abolition throughout its colonies overseas.

But amidst all of the upheaval of the early modern world, there is an unknown force inciting all of human civilization into violent conflict. And it will require the combined efforts of revolutionaries, magicians, and abolitionists to unmask this hidden enemy before the whole world falls to darkness and chaos.]]> 531 H.G. Parry 0316459089 Shaad 0 to-read 3.73 2020
author: H.G. Parry
name: Shaad
average rating: 3.73
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 22081680
One fateful night �� different from the night he died, which was more inconvenient than fateful �� Fred reconnects with an old friend at his high school reunion. This rekindled relationship sets off a chain of events thrusting him right into the chaos that is the parahuman world, a world with chipper zombies, truck driver wereponies, maniacal necromancers, ancient dragons, and now one undead accountant trying his best to “survive.�� Because even after it’s over, life can still be a downright bloody mess.]]> 300 Drew Hayes Shaad 4 3.81 2014
author: Drew Hayes
name: Shaad
average rating: 3.81
book published: 2014
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/24
date added: 2025/01/24
shelves:
review:

]]> 196737130 The Dandelions are following Matthew Carver.
He’s not crazy. They really are following him. Matt owes the Queen of all Fae a phone call, and she is tired of waiting. But she's not the only one looking for him. A fallen angel has escaped Hell to settle their dispute with Matt—permanently.

Trapped between the Dandelion Court and the Pit of Darkness, The Hunt must figure out how Matt’s going to survive his next birthday, let alone get his soul back.

"I'm still proud of you." (Andrew's mom)

"Another One?" (Andrew's grandfather)

"Neat." (A different girl at a different party)]]> 419 Andrew Givler Shaad 0 to-read 4.70 2023
author: Andrew Givler
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.70
book published: 2023
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 198634903
But Dan is a salesman behind on his quota and his demonic managers are running out of patience. He forges Matt's signature on the dotted line, stealing his soul and thrusting him into a supernatural world he never knew existed.

Now Matt must figure out how to get his soul back and stop a war before it is too late...]]> 364 Andrew Givler Shaad 0 to-read 4.25 2022
author: Andrew Givler
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.25
book published: 2022
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2025/01/22
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 32617610
It's been thirty years since the apocalypse and fifteen years since the murder of the last human being at the hands of robots. Humankind is extinct. Every man, woman, and child has been liquidated by a global uprising devised by the very machines humans designed and built to serve them. Most of the world is controlled by an OWI--One World Intelligence--the shared consciousness of millions of robots, uploaded into one huge mainframe brain. But not all robots are willing to cede their individuality--their personality--for the sake of a greater, stronger, higher power. These intrepid resisters are outcasts; solo machines wandering among various underground outposts who have formed into an unruly civilization of rogue AIs in the wasteland that was once our world.

One of these resisters is Brittle, a scavenger robot trying to keep a deteriorating mind and body functional in a world that has lost all meaning. Although unable to experience emotions like a human, Brittle is haunted by the terrible crimes the robot population perpetrated on humanity. As Brittle roams the Sea of Rust, a large swath of territory that was once the Midwest, the loner robot slowly comes to terms with horrifyingly raw and vivid memories--and nearly unbearable guilt.

Sea of Rust is both a harsh story of survival and an optimistic adventure. A vividly imagined portrayal of ultimate destruction and desperate tenacity, it boldly imagines a future in which no hope remains, yet where a humanlike AI strives to find purpose among the ruins.]]> 365 C. Robert Cargill 1473212782 Shaad 4 3.97 2017
author: C. Robert Cargill
name: Shaad
average rating: 3.97
book published: 2017
rating: 4
read at: 2025/01/20
date added: 2025/01/20
shelves:
review:

]]> 6334 288 Kazuo Ishiguro 1400078776 Shaad 3 3.5 stars 3.85 2005
author: Kazuo Ishiguro
name: Shaad
average rating: 3.85
book published: 2005
rating: 3
read at: 2025/01/16
date added: 2025/01/16
shelves:
review:
3.5 stars
]]> 58867603
In the war-torn northlands of Tukor, a servant girl with a mysterious past is forced on the run, propelling her on a journey that will change her world forever.

From the Shadowfort, a secret power is unleashed, one that will set into motion a series of events that will bring the world to its knees.

With the world on the verge of chaos and countless lives at stake, a new First Blade must be selected, but obstacles stand in the way. Alliances are broken. Enemies are born. Only the strong will survive.

Follow this epic tale as the battle for power, land, and the divine gifts of the Fallen Gods determine who lives and dies and who possesses ultimate control.]]> 738 T.C. Edge Shaad 5 4.5 stars 4.35
author: T.C. Edge
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.35
book published:
rating: 5
read at: 2025/01/07
date added: 2025/01/07
shelves:
review:
4.5 stars
]]> 51771754 Shay was still angry but shrugged nonchalantly as if to say, it's not that big of a deal. "So, what am I wrong about?"

"You're not going to want to hear this, but I have to tell you anyway." Liam paused before finishing. "You might be working hard, but you're not doing it for the company."

"What the hell does that mean?" Shay wanted to know.

Knowing that his adversary might punch him for what he was about to say, Liam responded. "You're doing it for yourself."

New York Times best-selling author Patrick Lencioni has written a dozen books that focus on how leaders can build teams and lead organizations. In The Motive, he shifts his attention toward helping them understand the importance of why they're leading in the first place.

In what may be his edgiest page-turner to date, Lencioni thrusts his readers into a day-long conversation between rival CEOs. Shay Davis is the CEO of Golden Gate Alarm, who, after just a year in his role, is beginning to worry about his job and is desperate to figure out how to turn things around. With nowhere else to turn, Shay receives some hard-to-swallow advice from the most unlikely and unwanted source--Liam Alcott, CEO of a more successful security company and his most hated opponent.

Lencioni uses unexpected plot twists and crisp dialogue to take us on a journey that culminates in a resolution that is as unexpected as it is enlightening. As he does in his other books, he then provides a straightforward summary of the lessons from the fable, combining a clear explanation of his theory with practical advice to help executives examine their true motivation for leading. In addition to provoking readers to honestly assess themselves, Lencioni presents action steps for changing their approach in five key areas. In doing so, he helps leaders avoid the pitfalls that stifle their organizations and even hurt the people they are meant to serve.]]> 192 Patrick Lencioni 1119600456 Shaad 4 4.21 2020
author: Patrick Lencioni
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2020
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/31
date added: 2024/12/31
shelves:
review:

]]> 36068567 Mage Alex Verus is hanging on by a thread in the ninth urban fantasy novel from the national bestselling author of Burned.

When Mage Alex Verus ends up with a position on the Light Council, no one is happy, least of all him. But Alex is starting to realize that if he wants to protect his friends, he'll need to become a power player himself. His first order of business is to track down dangerous magical items unleashed into the world by Dark Mages.

But when the Council decides they need his help in negotiating with the perpetrators, Alex will have to use all his cunning and magic to strike a deal--and stop the rising tension between the Council, the Dark Mages, and the adept community from turning into a bloodbath.]]> 354 Benedict Jacka 0356507211 Shaad 5 4.22 2018
author: Benedict Jacka
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.22
book published: 2018
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/31
date added: 2024/12/31
shelves:
review:

]]> 76812 302 Lois McMaster Bujold Shaad 4 4.16 1995
author: Lois McMaster Bujold
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.16
book published: 1995
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/30
date added: 2024/12/30
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]]> 68483 346 Lois McMaster Bujold 0671720147 Shaad 4 4.27 1990
author: Lois McMaster Bujold
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.27
book published: 1990
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/29
date added: 2024/12/29
shelves:
review:

]]> 317354 276 Judith Tarr 0812556003 Shaad 0 to-read 3.92 1985
author: Judith Tarr
name: Shaad
average rating: 3.92
book published: 1985
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/29
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 28921 Librarian's note: See alternate cover edition of ISBN 0571225381 here.

In the summer of 1956, Stevens, a long-serving butler at Darlington Hall, decides to take a motoring trip through the West Country. The six-day excursion becomes a journey into the past of Stevens and England, a past that takes in fascism, two world wars, and an unrealised love between the butler and his housekeeper.]]> 258 Kazuo Ishiguro Shaad 5 4.14 1989
author: Kazuo Ishiguro
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.14
book published: 1989
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/28
date added: 2024/12/28
shelves:
review:

]]> 682804 The Killer Angels is unique, sweeping, unforgettable—a dramatic re-creation of the battleground for America's destiny.]]> 345 Michael Shaara 0345348109 Shaad 0 to-read 4.32 1974
author: Michael Shaara
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.32
book published: 1974
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/28
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 210840874 632 Kylee Aagard Shaad 0 to-read 4.50
author: Kylee Aagard
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.50
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/28
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 218206799 632 Kylee Aagard Shaad 0 to-read 0.0
author: Kylee Aagard
name: Shaad
average rating: 0.0
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/28
shelves: to-read
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]]> 208141987 HE PLANNED TO OBLITERATE AN ENTIRE CITY. HE THOUGHT NO ONE COULD STAND IN HIS WAY. BUT HE HADN'T HEARD OF RIYRIA.

When a master-craftsmen dwarf is fired, he threatens retaliation. The rogues-for-hire known as Riyria are commissioned to find and stop him. Traveling to the paradise resort of Tur Del Fur, the two are granted a lavish allowance that, along with the easy job, promises to turn the trip into a vacation. Everything would have been perfect except that the disgruntled employee’s last name is Berling and the target of his wrath is the legendary towers of Drumindor.

It's been more than five years since the last adventure with Royce Melborn (a cynical ex-assassin) and Hadrian Blackwater (an idealistic ex-mercenary), a pair whose bonds of friendship are bound with blood. This is the 20th novel based in the world of Elan, the 5th in the Riyria Chronicle series, and the eleventh starring Royce and Hadrian tale.]]> 528 Michael J. Sullivan 194336351X Shaad 3 3.5 stars 4.35 2024
author: Michael J. Sullivan
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2024
rating: 3
read at: 2024/12/24
date added: 2024/12/24
shelves:
review:
3.5 stars
]]> 57596188
All my life, I have been torn between two legacies: that of my father, whose roots trace back to the right hand of the Emperor. That of my mother's family, who reject the oppressive Empire and embrace the resistance.

I can choose between them - between protecting my family, or protecting my people - or I can search out a better path . . . a magical path, filled with secrets, unbound by Empire or resistance, which could shake my world to its very foundation.

But my search for freedom will entangle me in a war between the gods themselves . . .]]> 367 J.T. Greathouse 1473232902 Shaad 3 3.88 2021
author: J.T. Greathouse
name: Shaad
average rating: 3.88
book published: 2021
rating: 3
read at: 2021/11/17
date added: 2024/12/24
shelves:
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]]> 825508
From the exclusive men's club and brothels that cater to every dark desire of London's upper classes to the dazzling ballrooms and mahogany-paneled suites of the manipulators of the world's wealth, Ken Follett conjures up a stunning array of contrasts. This breathtaking novel portrays a family splintered by lust, bound by a shared legacy... men and women swept toward a perilous climax where greed, fed by the shocking truth of a boy's death, must be stopped, or not just one man's dreams, but those of a nation, will die...]]> 596 Ken Follett 0440217490 Shaad 0 to-read 4.05 1993
author: Ken Follett
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.05
book published: 1993
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/24
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]]> 218689293
Rumors of Rezkin’s survival spawn hope and discord on the Souelian. Unable to put Rezkin to rest, Azeria chases answers. In the criminal underworld she hunts the Raven, willing to extract the truth in blood.

In Lon Lerésh, Yserria and Malcius become entangled in a deadly game. Rezkin’s absence has left the queen vulnerable, and the nobles vie for dominance. Beneath their intrigue and machinations a sinister plot unfolds while an ancient magic hangs in the balance.

With his fledgling empire on the brink of collapse and Caydean reigning unchecked, Rezkin must be more than an emperor. He must become the Shadow Knight.]]> 454 Kel Kade Shaad 4 3.75 4.39 2024
author: Kel Kade
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.39
book published: 2024
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/18
date added: 2024/12/18
shelves:
review:
3.75
]]> 20980667
That is the name granted to me by my human masters.

I am a clakker: a mechanical man, powered by alchemy. Armies of my kind have conquered the world - and made the Brasswork Throne the sole superpower.

I am a faithful servant. I am the ultimate fighting machine. I am endowed with great strength and boundless stamina.

But I am beholden to the wishes of my human masters.

I am a slave. But I shall be free.]]> 440 Ian Tregillis 0316248002 Shaad 0 to-read 3.94 2015
author: Ian Tregillis
name: Shaad
average rating: 3.94
book published: 2015
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/18
shelves: to-read
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]]> 61357947
Teleo is a retired soldier descended from Mages, who were cast out of power generations ago. After years of war and sorrow, he wants nothing more than to live a quiet life on his farm and work his stonemason’s craft.

His wife and daughter had been murdered during a war raid several years earlier and his young son stolen by the enemy side. He spent years unsuccessfully searching for his son and returned home broken-hearted. At the local castle, he comes upon a war orphan stolen by his side from the enemy and rescues him from abuse, adopting him as his foster son.

Teleo is working at the castle when he finds himself in the middle of a coup. This launches a journey to protect his new family, uncover the secrets of the ancient ways, and reclaim the magic of the Mages.

A cast of lovable characters:
Teleo �� A gritty warrior who would do anything for you, unless you cross those he loves, then you will meet his blade.
Dinsmora �� A reclusive herbalist who weaves shadows.
The fosterling �� Orphan who forms a family and softens the toughest of hearts.
The animals �� Characters in their own right who carry burdens and bring glory.

Magic:
Magic was outlawed generations ago but lingers in the blood of the kingdoms. There were good reasons it was outlawed and reasons it must rise again.]]> 784 Palmer Pickering 1732568839 Shaad 5 4.27
author: Palmer Pickering
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.27
book published:
rating: 5
read at:
date added: 2024/12/16
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]]> 217192580 For those who have read The Echoes Saga and need more, the more is here!
Set three years after A Clash of Fates, the first novella in the Verda universe begins here, with Asher and his intrepid dragon, Avandriell.

A new world is beginning to take shape in the aftermath of The Fated War, a world that must be brought together if it is to survive. As the king and queen of Illian, it falls on Vighon and Inara Draqaro to forge this future. As they did during the war, they have allies—old friends—to call upon, heroes all who fought and bled for Verda’s fragile era of peace.

Among those allies are the likes of a ranger and a dragon.

The world’s greatest monster requires the world’s greatest hunters. Between them, Asher and Avandriell possess the skills required to face an ancient beast that has long prevented mutual prosperity between Illian and Erador. If the two realms of man are to secure an everlasting peace, this creature of antiquity, this Leviathan, must finally be vanquished.
]]> 185 Philip C. Quaintrell Shaad 4 4.73
author: Philip C. Quaintrell
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.73
book published:
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/16
date added: 2024/12/16
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]]> 203578847 The long-awaited explosive climax to the first arc of the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive―the iconic epic fantasy masterpiece that has sold more than 10 million copies, from acclaimed bestselling author Brandon Sanderson.

Dalinar Kholin challenged the evil god Odium to a contest of champions with the future of Roshar on the line. The Knights Radiant have only ten days to prepare―and the sudden ascension of the crafty and ruthless Taravangian to take Odium’s place has thrown everything into disarray.

Desperate fighting continues simultaneously worldwide―Adolin in Azimir, Sigzil and Venli at the Shattered Plains, and Jasnah at Thaylen City. The former assassin, Szeth, must cleanse his homeland of Shinovar from the dark influence of the Unmade. He is accompanied by Kaladin, who faces a new battle helping Szeth fight his own demons . . . and who must do the same for the insane Herald of the Almighty, Ishar.

At the same time, Shallan, Renarin, and Rlain work to unravel the mystery behind the Unmade Ba-Ado-Mishram and her involvement in the enslavement of the singer race and in the ancient Knights Radiants killing their spren. And Dalinar and Navani seek an edge against Odium’s champion that can be found only in the Spiritual Realm, where memory and possibility combine in chaos. The fate of the entire Cosmere hangs in the balance.]]> 1344 Brandon Sanderson 1250319188 Shaad 5 4.35 2024
author: Brandon Sanderson
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.35
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/14
date added: 2024/12/14
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]]> 56791389 Alternate cover edition of ASIN B08BKGYQXW


The apocalypse will be televised!

A man. His ex-girlfriend's cat. A sadistic game show unlike anything in the universe: a dungeon crawl where survival depends on killing your prey in the most entertaining way possible.

In a flash, every human-erected construction on Earth—from Buckingham Palace to the tiniest of sheds—collapses in a heap, sinking into the ground.

The buildings and all the people inside have all been atomized and transformed into the dungeon: an 18-level labyrinth filled with traps, monsters, and loot. A dungeon so enormous, it circles the entire globe.

Only a few dare venture inside. But once you're in, you can't get out. And what's worse, each level has a time limit. You have but days to find a staircase to the next level down, or it's game over. In this game, it's not about your strength or your dexterity. It's about your followers, your views. Your clout. It's about building an audience and killing those goblins with style.

You can't just survive here. You gotta survive big.

You gotta fight with vigor, with excitement. You gotta make them stand up and cheer. And if you do have that "it" factor, you may just find yourself with a following. That's the only way to truly survive in this game—with the help of the loot boxes dropped upon you by the generous benefactors watching from across the galaxy.

They call it Dungeon Crawler World. But for Carl, it's anything but a game.]]> 446 Matt Dinniman Shaad 0 to-read 4.48 2020
author: Matt Dinniman
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.48
book published: 2020
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/10
shelves: to-read
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]]> 39664
Suspenseful, mysterious, and heart-wrenching, Stephen King’s extraordinary novella, populated by a cast of unforgettable characters, tells a powerful tale of crushing despair and liberating hope through the eyes of Ellis “Red�� Redding. Red’s a guy who can get you whatever you want here in Maine’s corrupt and hard-edged Shawshank State Penitentiary (for a price, of course), but the one thing he doesn’t count on is an unexpected friendship forged with fellow inmate Andy Dufresne—an inscrutable one-time banker perhaps falsely convicted of brutal, calculated murder who will go on to transform everyone’s lives within these prison walls.

Originally published in the 1982 collection Different Seasons, it was adapted into the 1994 film The Shawshank Redemption starring Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman. Nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, this modern classic has become one of the most beloved films of all time. A mesmerizing work of unjust imprisonment and strangely satisfying revenge, Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption remains one of Stephen King’s most beloved and iconic stories.]]> 181 Stephen King 0896214400 Shaad 5 4.51 1982
author: Stephen King
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.51
book published: 1982
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/06
date added: 2024/12/06
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]]> 155403 507 Stephen King 0451183940 Shaad 0 to-read 4.49
author: Stephen King
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.49
book published:
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/12/05
shelves: to-read
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]]> 43085275
From the shards of kingdoms past, he begins to forge a new empire. But there is a price to pay for power, and the balance has come due.

When Rezkin is confronted by something mysterious and ancient, he is stolen from his intended path and driven toward shocking revelations about his identity. With every whisper of knowledge comes new dangers and one certainty.

Rezkin’s past has finally caught up with him, and the mad king Caydean is playing a darker game than anyone realized.]]> 500 Kel Kade 1952687063 Shaad 4 4.28 2022
author: Kel Kade
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.28
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2024/12/05
date added: 2024/12/05
shelves:
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]]> 49021976 The eagerly awaited sequel to the #1 New York Times bestselling Oathbringer, from epic fantasy author Brandon Sanderson

After forming a coalition of human resistance against the enemy invasion, Dalinar Kholin and his Knights Radiant have spent a year fighting a protracted, brutal war. Neither side has gained an advantage, and the threat of a betrayal by Dalinar's crafty ally Taravangian looms over every strategic move.

Now, as new technological discoveries by Navani Kholin's scholars begin to change the face of the war, the enemy prepares a bold and dangerous operation. The arms race that follows will challenge the very core of the Radiant ideals, and potentially reveal the secrets of the ancient tower that was once the heart of their strength.

At the same time that Kaladin Stormblessed must come to grips with his changing role within the Knights Radiant, his Windrunners face their own problem: As more and more deadly enemy Fused awaken to wage war, no more honorspren are willing to bond with humans to increase the number of Radiants. Adolin and Shallan must lead the coalition’s envoy to the honorspren stronghold of Lasting Integrity and either convince the spren to join the cause against the evil god Odium, or personally face the storm of failure.]]> 1232 Brandon Sanderson 0765326388 Shaad 5 4.58 2020
author: Brandon Sanderson
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.58
book published: 2020
rating: 5
read at: 2024/12/04
date added: 2024/12/04
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]]> 28596619
As comedian Louis C.K. put it, “Everything’s amazing, but nobody’s happy.��
Even for the most fortunate among us, material abundance comes at a very high price. Facebook is a hollow replacement for face time. We produce more food than ever, but hunger and malnutrition are standard in most of the world while the rest of us stuff ourselves quite literally to death. Despair darkens ever more lives as rates of clinical depression and suicide continue their grim climb in the developed world. A third of all American children are obese or seriously overweight, and fifty four million of us are pre-diabetic. Pre-schoolers represent the fastest-growing market for anti-depressants, while the rate of increase of depression among children is over twenty percent, according to a recent Harvard study. Twenty four million American adults are thought to suffer from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder—mostly attributable to the never-ending wars that have become part of modern life for the swelling underclass with few other employment opportunities.

It’s common to wonder how an anthropologist from Mars would view our world or what sage advice an emissary from the future would bring back. But how would a time-traveler from our prehistoric past assess the lives we lead and the future prospects for the path we’re on? Such a visitor from 200 centuries ago would no doubt be impressed by much of what she found here. But once her amazement at iPhones, air travel, and liver transplants subsided, what would she make of our daily lives? Would she ultimately be more impressed by our advances or dismayed by what we’ve lost in our always accelerating rush toward the future?

With faith in the future melting like an overheated glacier even as contentment with the present evaporates, it’s high time for a sober reassessment of the past. Ten thousand years since turning from the ancient path our ancestors trod forever, it’s time for a scientifically-informed, multidisciplinary look at the effects of this fateful divergence. It’s time to ask what may be the most subversive question of all: Are modern humans, even the most fortunate among us, living significantly better lives than our pre-civilized ancestors? Taken as a whole, is civilization a net gain for individual human beings?]]> 400 Christopher Ryan Shaad 3 3.5 stars 4.14 2018
author: Christopher Ryan
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2018
rating: 3
read at: 2024/11/25
date added: 2024/11/25
shelves:
review:
3.5 stars
]]> 215345163
The earth shakes with the consequences of unwary actions, both politically and in small ways. However, joy has to be had where you can find it, regardless if you're a skeleton or a Fraerling or [Innkeeper]. Just beware what's following you from behind. Whether it catches up to you now, or later, when the ground moves, nothing will be the same. What survives a Grand Elephant on the warpath, the machinations of undead, or the Titan's moves? Only time will tell.]]> 1119 Pirateaba 1961108054 Shaad 0 to-read 4.59 2024
author: Pirateaba
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.59
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/25
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 59808603 Humankind discovers intelligent life in an octopus species with its own language and culture, and sets off a high-stakes global competition to dominate the future.

Rumors begin to spread of a species of hyperintelligent, dangerous octopus that may have developed its own language and culture. Marine biologist Dr. Ha Nguyen, who has spent her life researching cephalopod intelligence, will do anything for the chance to study them.

The transnational tech corporation DIANIMA has sealed the remote Con Dao Archipelago, where the octopuses were discovered, off from the world. Dr. Nguyen joins DIANIMA’s team on the islands: a battle-scarred security agent and the world’s first android.

The octopuses hold the key to unprecedented breakthroughs in extrahuman intelligence. The stakes are high: there are vast fortunes to be made by whoever can take advantage of the octopuses�� advancements, and as Dr. Nguyen struggles to communicate with the newly discovered species, forces larger than DIANIMA close in to seize the octopuses for themselves.

But no one has yet asked the octopuses what they think. And what they might do about it.

A near-future thriller about the nature of consciousness, Ray Nayler’s The Mountain in the Sea is a dazzling literary debut and a mind-blowing dive into the treasure and wreckage of humankind’s legacy.]]> 456 Ray Nayler 0374605955 Shaad 4 3.5 stars 3.87 2022
author: Ray Nayler
name: Shaad
average rating: 3.87
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/24
date added: 2024/11/24
shelves:
review:
3.5 stars
]]> 29865319 Mage Alex Verus is caught between a rock and a hard place in the eighth urban fantasy novel from the national bestselling author of Burned.

Right now I wasn’t seeing Richard as the teacher out of my nightmares, he was just another Dark mage, and I looked into the future to see what would happen if I turned that knife on him instead...

Alex Verus is still haunted by his time apprenticed to Richard Drakh. He's been free of him for many years, but now the only way to keep his friends from being harmed is to again work for Richard and his deadly ally. Even worse, he’s forced to bring the Light mage Anne into this servitude as well.

After weeks of being hunted and finally cornered into what he thought was his last stand, Alex never thought his life would be spared—and never anticipated at what price. This time, the diviner can see no way out...]]> 336 Benedict Jacka 1101988533 Shaad 5 4.29 2017
author: Benedict Jacka
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.29
book published: 2017
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/22
date added: 2024/11/22
shelves:
review:

]]> 21845220 1300 Tad Williams 147360334X Shaad 5 4.49 2024
author: Tad Williams
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.49
book published: 2024
rating: 5
read at: 2024/11/20
date added: 2024/11/20
shelves:
review:
This was a brilliant book. This whole series was one hell of a ride!
]]> 123513801
"He ran like the monster he was. And the smoke followed."

GIMLORE is a single mother and war veteran turned crime boss set on protecting her family and her town.

ORBERESIS is a petty thief pretending to be God to protect a terrible secret.

REDNOW is the world's most feared mercenary, but his best days are behind him and there's one job left to do.

In a world of dangerous monsters and devastating smoke magic, the seeds of war are being planted. Allies must be treasured and enemies defeated.

The Smokesmiths is a gritty epic fantasy series with a harsh world of smoke magic, alien creatures and ancient secrets where characters do their best to come out on top. Peace will not last.]]> 588 João F. Silva Shaad 4 4.03 2023
author: João F. Silva
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.03
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/12
date added: 2024/11/12
shelves:
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]]> 109463867
Andrick the Barrelbreaker first led an army at sixteen.

His victories secured the throne of Erland for his brother and shattered the rebellious noble houses in the West. Decades later, a fragile peace still holds.

But when the king’s only son is murdered, Erland is plunged into crisis. The new heir will stop at nothing to secure his claim. The king, maddened by grief, stalks the halls and hidden passages of his keep, growing more unpredictable by the day.

As war and magical disaster loom, Andrick must decide between protecting his family and marching out to serve a brother he barely recognizes.

His children must also choose their destinies.

Training in the practice yard every day, Orsian dreams of fighting beside his father. Now, for the first time, he faces the brutal reality of battle.

And Pherri is haunted by very different dreams—of figures struggling up the mountain, of a voice more chilling than the wind, of blood on the snow. Only she can resist the darkness that waits on the slopes above��

Race through the pages of an epic new series and enter a world of intrigue, battles and destiny that will leave you breathless. The Erland Saga is a classic fantasy adventure, perfect for fans of George R.R. Martin, John Gwynne and Raymond E. Feist.]]> 548 R.S. Moule 1837900531 Shaad 4 4.21 2023
author: R.S. Moule
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.21
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/10
date added: 2024/11/10
shelves:
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]]> 203470664 The Fury of the Gods is the earth-shattering final book in John Gwynne's bestselling Norse-inspired epic fantasy series, packed with myth, magic and bloody vengeance

THE FINAL BATTLE FOR THE FATE OF VIGRIÐ APPROACHES

Varg has overcome the trials of his past and become an accepted member of the Bloodsworn, but now he and his newfound comrades face their biggest challenge yet: slaying a dragon.

Elvar is struggling to consolidate her power in Snakavik, where she faces threats from within and without. As she fights to assert her authority in readiness for the coming conflict, she faces a surely insurmountable task: reining in the ferocity of a wolf god.

As Biorr and his warband make their way north, eager for blood, Gudvarr pursues a mission of his own, hoping to win Lik-Rifa's favour and further his own ambitions.

All paths lead to Snakavik, where the lines are being drawn for the final battle - a titanic clash that will shake the foundations of the world, and bear witness to the true fury of the gods.]]> 576 John Gwynne 0356514277 Shaad 0 to-read 4.52 2024
author: John Gwynne
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.52
book published: 2024
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/04
shelves: to-read
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]]> 52694527 Set in a brand-new, Norse-inspired world, and packed with myth, magic and bloody vengeance, The Shadow of the Gods begins an epic new fantasy saga from bestselling author John Gwynne.

After the gods warred and drove themselves to extinction, the cataclysm of their fall shattered the land of Vigrið.

Now a new world is rising, where power-hungry jarls feud and monsters stalk the woods and mountains. A world where the bones of the dead gods still hold great power for those brave - or desperate - enough to seek them out.

Now, as whispers of war echo across the mountains and fjords, fate follows in the footsteps of three people: a huntress on a dangerous quest, a noblewoman who has rejected privilege in pursuit of battle fame, and a thrall who seeks vengeance among the famed mercenaries known as the Bloodsworn.

All three will shape the fate of the world as it once more falls under the shadow of the gods . . .]]> 480 John Gwynne 0356514188 Shaad 4 3rd read 4.5 stars 4.19 2021
author: John Gwynne
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.19
book published: 2021
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/01
date added: 2024/11/02
shelves:
review:
3rd read 4.5 stars
]]> 57341045
Lik-Rifa, the dragon god of legend, has been freed from her eternal prison. Now she plots a new age of blood and conquest.

As Orka continues the hunt for her missing son, the Bloodsworn sweep south in a desperate race to save one of their own–and Varg takes the first steps on the path of vengeance.

Elvar has sworn to fulfil her blood oath and rescue a prisoner from the clutches of Lik-Rifa and her dragonborn followers, but first she must persuade the Battle-Grim to follow her. Yet even the might of the Bloodsworn and Battle-Grim cannot stand alone against a dragon god.

Their only hope lies within the mad writings of a chained god. A book of forbidden magic with the power to raise the wolf god Ulfrir from the dead…and bring about a battle that will shake the foundations of the earth.]]> 633 John Gwynne 0356514226 Shaad 4 4.51 2022
author: John Gwynne
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.51
book published: 2022
rating: 4
read at: 2024/11/02
date added: 2024/11/02
shelves:
review:

]]> 7778609
Stark has enough trouble juggling a diva devil and a scorching French bombshell without a zombie plague to complicate matters. And just what happens when a human-angel half-breed is bitten by the living dead? His human side begins to die, transforming him into an unstoppable angel of death—a killing machine devoid of emotion or thought, with no regrets or future to worry about. Not a bad way to be when your choices are limited. Now, Stark has to decide . . . if he does finds a cure for the zombie infection, will he take it?]]> 434 Richard Kadrey 0061714313 Shaad 0 to-read 4.08 2010
author: Richard Kadrey
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.08
book published: 2010
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/11/01
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 214229274 From critically acclaimed author Richard Swan, Grave Empire begins the epic tale of an empire on the verge of industrial revolution, where sorcery and arcane practices are outlawed �� and where an ancient prophecy threatens the coming end of days.

Blood once turned the wheels of empire. Now it is money.

A new age of exploration and innovation has dawned, and the Empire of the Wolf stands to take its place as the foremost power in the known world. Glory and riches await.

But dark days are coming. A mysterious plague has broken out in the pagan kingdoms to the north, while in the south, the Empire’s proxy war in the lands of the wolfmen is weeks away from total collapse. 

Worse still is the message brought to the Empress by two heretic monks, who claim to have lost contact with the spirits of the afterlife. The monks believe this is the start of an ancient prophecy heralding the end of days—the Great Silence. 

It falls to Renata Rainer, a low-ranking ambassador to an enigmatic and vicious race of mermen, to seek answers from those who still practice the arcane arts. But with the road south beset by war and the Empire on the brink of supernatural catastrophe, soon there may not be a world left to save... ]]> 529 Richard Swan Shaad 0 to-read 4.14 2025
author: Richard Swan
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.14
book published: 2025
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/30
shelves: to-read
review:

]]> 5776788
Life sucks and then you die. Or, if you’re James Stark, you spend eleven years in Hell as a hitman before finally escaping, only to land back in the hell-on-earth that is Los Angeles.

Now Stark’s back, and ready for revenge. And absolution, and maybe even love. But when his first stop saddles him with an abusive talking head, Stark discovers that the road to absolution and revenge is much longer than you’d expect, and both Heaven and Hell have their own ideas for his future.

Resurrection sucks. Saving the world is worse.

Darkly twisted, irreverent, and completely hilarious, Sandman Slim is the breakthrough novel by an acclaimed author.]]> 388 Richard Kadrey 0061714305 Shaad 4 3.95 2009
author: Richard Kadrey
name: Shaad
average rating: 3.95
book published: 2009
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/28
date added: 2024/10/28
shelves:
review:

]]> 23476097
Now, McDowell’s masterpiece—the serial novel, Blackwater—returns to thrill and terrify a new generation of readers, with all six volumes available for the first time as a single e-book.

Featuring an insightful new introduction by John Langan, Blackwater traces more than fifty years in the lives of the powerful Caskey family of Perdido, Alabama, under the influence of the mysterious and beautiful—but not quite human—Elinor Dammert.

The Flood heralds the arrival of a visitor who will change the Caskey family—and the town—forever��

When the town builds The Levee, it proves a vain attempt to control a horrific power that can never be contained��

The House hides terrible secrets that whisper in closed rooms and scrabble at locked doors��

The War reveals family secrets more deadly and devastating than anything Perdido has ever dreamed in its deepest nightmares��

The Fortune brings happiness and power—but even greater terror��

And finally, the mysterious saga of the Caskey family ends the only way it can—in terrible judgment and fury delivered under the cover of a relentless, earth-shattering Rain.

Will Errickson (Too Much Horror Fiction) writes, “Michael McDowell has written a rich, layered historical novel with many Southern Gothic touches, filled out with memorable characters and satisfying moments of death and shock.”]]> 895 Michael McDowell Shaad 5 4.37 1983
author: Michael McDowell
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.37
book published: 1983
rating: 5
read at: 2024/10/25
date added: 2024/10/25
shelves:
review:

]]> 101160844 In 1958, a small Minnesota town is rocked by the murder of its most powerful citizen, pouring fresh fuel on old grievances in this dazzling standalone novel.

On Memorial Day, as the people of Jewel, Minnesota gather to remember and honor the sacrifice of so many sons in the wars of the past, the half-clothed body of wealthy landowner Jimmy Quinn is found floating in the Alabaster River, dead from a shotgun blast. Investigation of the murder falls to Sheriff Brody Dern, a highly decorated war hero who still carries the physical and emotional scars from his military service. Even before Dern has the results of the autopsy, vicious rumors begin to circulate that the killer must be Noah Bluestone, a Native American WWII veteran who has recently returned to Jewel with a Japanese wife. As suspicions and accusations mount and the town teeters on the edge of more violence, Dern struggles not only to find the truth of Quinn’s murder but also put to rest the demons from his own past.

Caught up in the torrent of anger that sweeps through Jewel are a war widow and her adolescent son, the intrepid publisher of the local newspaper, an aging deputy, and a crusading female lawyer, all of whom struggle with their own tragic histories and harbor secrets that Quinn’s death threatens to expose.

Both a complex, spellbinding mystery and a masterful portrait of midcentury American life, The River We Remember is an unflinching look at the wounds left by the wars we fight abroad and at home, a moving exploration of the ways in which we seek to heal, and a testament to the enduring power of the stories we tell about the places we call home.]]> 432 William Kent Krueger 198217921X Shaad 4 4.18 2023
author: William Kent Krueger
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.18
book published: 2023
rating: 4
read at: 2024/10/24
date added: 2024/10/24
shelves:
review:

]]> 59350587 The New York Times bestselling world of Osten Ard returns in the third Last King of Osten Ard novel, as threats to the kingdom loom...

The High Throne of Erkynland is tottering, its royal family divided and diminished. Queen Miriamele has been caught up in a brutal rebellion in the south and thought to have died in a fiery attack. Her grandson Morgan, heir to the throne, has been captured by one of Utuk’ku’s soldiers in the ruins of an abandoned city. Miriamele’s husband, King Simon, is overwhelmed by grief and hopelessness, unaware that many of these terrible things have been caused by Pasevalles, a murderous traitor inside Simon’s own court at the Hayholt.

Meanwhile, a deadly army of Norns led by the ageless, vengeful Queen Utuk’ku, has swept into Erkynland and thrown down the fortress of Naglimund, slaughtering the inhabitants and digging up the ancient grave of Ruyan the Navigator. Utuk’ku plans to use the Navigator’s fabled armor to call up the spirit of Hakatri, the evil Storm King’s brother.

Even the Sithi, fairy-kin to the Norns, are helpless to stop Utuk’ku’s triumph as her armies simultaneously march on the Hayholt and force their way into the forbidden, ogre-guarded valley of Tanakirú—the Narrowdark—where a secret waits that might bring Simon’s people and their Sithi allies salvation—or doom.]]> 580 Tad Williams 0756410649 Shaad 5 4.46 2022
author: Tad Williams
name: Shaad
average rating: 4.46
book published: 2022
rating: 5
read at: 2024/10/22
date added: 2024/10/22
shelves:
review:

]]> 28694 796 Tad Williams 0756403596 Shaad 0 to-read 3.75 2004
author: Tad Williams
name: Shaad
average rating: 3.75
book published: 2004
rating: 0
read at:
date added: 2024/10/18
shelves: to-read
review:

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