C Gockel Writes

Featured Fantasy: Kingdoms of Sand Books 1 – 3 by Daniel Arenson

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Featured Fantasy: Kingdoms of Sand Books 1 - 3 by Daniel Arenson

FREE as of January 3, 2023
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Game of Thrones meets Spartacus in an epic saga of sand and splendor. This bundle contains the first three novels of Kingdoms of Sand, a fantasy series from a USA Today bestselling author. That’s over 1,000 pages of battles, intrigue, and magic.

Sweeping from snowy forests to cruel deserts, from bazaars of wonder to fields of war, here is a tale of legionaries and lepers, priests and paupers, kings and crows. Here a girl travels across endless dunes, seeking magic; a cruel prince struggles to claim a bloodstained throne; and a young soldier fights to hold back an overwhelming host. As the empire spreads, the fate of one family–and of all civilization–stands upon a knife’s edge, for under the storm of war, even the greatest nations are but kingdoms of sand.

Book Review: Mickey 7 by Edward Ashton

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Mickey7 is the only clone on a deep space colonization mission. He has a very important job–to die, whenever a suicidal mission presents itself. This happens a lot. Fortunately, for Mickey, he’s got his consciousness and body backed up on the colony mainframe. He doesn’t really die. Or does he?

Mickey 7 asks deep questions and explores the attitudes that non-clones might have towards him, but it does it with a light touch. At times Mickey 7 borders on satire, but never crosses so far over the line that you wind up not feeling for it’s main character.

Highly recommended.

Traditionally published and probably available at your public library.

Book Review: The Thief (Queen’s Thief Book One) by Megan Whalen Turner

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Amazon US, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Australia

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I picked up this book on the recommendation of two of my fans (the guilty parties know who they are.) I am now hooked on the series. Mickey7 explores hi-tech immortality, The Thief explores the God given kind in a high fantasy setting inspired by ancient Greece. A wonderful engaging protagonist, a richly drawn fantasy world, humor, and a gentle philosophical undercurrent, I was sucked in. It also delivered a satisfying ending with a twist. The first book has a real ending, but I want more. Fortunately, there are quite a few more books in the series.

Highly recommended.

This is a traditionally published novel (and series) and you may be able to find it at the library. It’s currently available at Scribd in eBook and Audiobook. Also, the used paperback version on Amazon is very affordable (and it has a pretty cover.)

Book Review: The Bastard Brigade by Sam Kean

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Amazon US, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Australia

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The Bastard Brigade by Sam Kean is everything I’ve come to love about Kean revved up a notch. It’s a scientific history through the lens of deep compassion and humanity. It’s blisteringly funny at times, educational, gut wrenching, and hard to put down. It doesn’t tell the story of the American race to get the atomic bomb–though it does give an excellent outline of the characters involved in that–so much as it tells the story of the allies’ struggle to keep the Germans from getting the atom bomb first. You’ll be thinking about the characters: Fermi, Heisenberg, the Curies, Goudschmit long after you finish the book.

Highly recommended.

This is a traditionally published book, and you may be able to find it at your public library.

P.S. This book does some justice to the Norwegian resistance’s struggles at Vemork, but for a deeper, just as thrilling look at those adventures, I cannot recommend The Winter Fortress enough.

Featured Sci-fantasy: The Devil You Know Until You Don’t (The Providence Series Book 1) by Monique Singleton

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Featured Sci-fantasy: The Devil You Know Until You Don't (The Providence Series Book 1) by Monique Singleton

99¢ as of December 28, 2022
Click for current price: Amazon US, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Australia

Apple, Nook, Kobo

Aliens are stealing human souls to reincarnate them as slaves in another dimension
How do I know?
…I’m one of them.

My people have perpetuated this atrocity unchecked for thousands of years.
And you know what the worst is? We’re helped by humans with authority.
People you look up to. And more importantly; people you believe.

You are promised paradise, you get hell.

My narcissistic father is central to this scam.
Well, I’ve had enough.
It must stop.
My friends and I are going to bring him down. Him and all the others.

…If my violent, pain-in-the ass, human partner doesn’t kill me first.

Do you love intrigue, fast-paced action and plot twists? Then you will love this first book in a riveting new series by USAT best selling author Monique Singleton. Get ready for a wild ride that will take you on a breathtaking trip through multiple dimensions.

The Devil You Know was a finalist in the PageTurner Screenplay-book adaptation awards

Featured Fantasy: The Power of Conviction (The Light of Darkness Book 1) by Catrin Russell

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Featured Fantasy: The Power of Conviction (The Light of Darkness Book 1) by Catrin Russell

FREE as of December 28, 2022
Click for current price: Amazon US, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Australia

Darkness creeps across the Midlands. The Priesthood must rise against its terrifying presence.

“A grim and bloody tale of faith, forbidden love and revenge. Will have you at the edge of your seat wishing for more!” – The Magic Book Corner ★★★★★

Trained in the arts of the Light, the priests tread a bloodied path through the scores of demons, seeking to rid the world of their unholy presence. The fight against demonkind grows increasingly perilous, threatening the Priesthood’s very survival.

Priestess Anaya stands resolute in her conviction. Despite the dangers she must endure, her faith in the Goddess and Her divine supremacy remains steadfast. She intends to follow the commands of her High Priest, no matter how gruesome.

Then comes a day when all her beliefs are challenged.

[Read more…]