adventure

Success In the Press: The Devil Pulls the Strings by JW Zarek

2025 Shelley Book Awards Hall of Fame for Paranormal Fiction ★ 2021 Chanticleer Best Book Grand Prize Winner ★ First Place Ozma Award ★ First Place Cygnus Award

2025 Shelley Book Awards Hall of Fame for Paranormal Fiction ★ 2021 Chanticleer Best Book Grand Prize Winner ★ First Place Ozma Award ★ First Place Cygnus Award ★

“A remarkable paranormal tale that delivers plenty of plot developments, curious characters, and otherworldly things.”
— Kirkus Reviews

From the Author: Boone Daniels has problems—crippling panic attacks, a childhood haunted by a wendigo, and the guilt of nearly killing his best friend in a joust. When he fills in at a New York gig, a meeting turns deadly: a body drops from a balcony, bullets fly, and Boone barely escapes with his life. In the chaos, he uncovers a plot to summon the Devil through a cursed Paganini piece—one that could trap Baba Yaga and destroy modern-day NYC. Now, pursued by steampunk vampires and guided by a Romani immortal, Boone must race through time to stop the melody and earn his redemption. All he ever wanted was to keep a promise to a friend—the same friend he almost killed last Sunday. Can a small-town Missouri musician outplay the supernatural and save NYC's soul?

Bragging Rights:

  • 2025 Shelley Book Awards Hall of Fame for Paranormal Fiction

  • 2021 Chanticleer Best Book Grand Prize Winner

  • First Place Ozma Award

  • First Place Cygnus Award

Adapted script:

  • Best American Script at 2024 Berlin Film Festival

  • Best TV Pilot Episode Script at 2024 London Film Festival.

Our Take: Fast-paced and richly imagined, The Devil Pulls the Strings blends history, myth, and music into a high-stakes urban fantasy with real emotional weight. As Boone Daniels stumbles into a world of cursed compositions and supernatural power struggles, his personal demons run as deep as the forces he’s up against. This is a story about guilt, redemption, and the threads of folklore that still tug at the modern world—perfect for readers drawn to layered mythologies and unconventional heroes.

From a Reader: “The author created an excellent worldbuilding […] you have a bit of everything: there is mythology, folklore, magic, immortal creatures, action, adventure, secret societies, time travel and many mysteries . So I never got bored. For me, this whole combination of elements was very original and epic!”

Amazon | Goodreads | Author Site

Success In the Press: The Felserpent Chronicles by Katie Keridan

2023 National Indie Excellence Award Finalist in YA Fiction ★ 2022 Foreword INDIES Finalist in Young Adult Fiction ★ 2022 Best Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Young Adult ★ 2022 American Book Fest Best Book Awards YA Fiction Finalist ★ 2023 Reader Views Literary Awards Bronze Award Winner in Young Adult

2023 National Indie Excellence Award Finalist in YA Fiction ★ 2022 Foreword INDIES Finalist in Young Adult Fiction ★ 2022 Best Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Young Adult ★ 2022 American Book Fest Best Book Awards YA Fiction Finalist ★ 2023 Reader Views Literary Awards Bronze Award Winner in Young Adult ★

“𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐛𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐦𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲,” 𝐈 𝐬𝐚𝐢𝐝. “𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐩𝐞𝐛𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲, 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐥𝐥 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫.”

From the Author:

Kyra Valorian is the most gifted Astral healer the golden-blooded realm of Aeles has seen in ages. When tragedy strikes, Kyra discovers a life-altering truth: she’s a Recovrancer, able to reach into the realm of the dead and bring back those who’ve died before their time. But recovrancy is outlawed, and desperate for answers, Kyra forms an unlikely alliance with Sebastian Sayre—a silver-blooded Pyromancer and feared Daeval assassin chasing a legendary sword lost to his people. As the two navigate forbidden magic, fractured history, and the dangerous tension between their realms, their fates begin to entwine in ways neither expected. What starts as a tactical partnership soon becomes something far more powerful.

This epic fantasy trilogy blends enemies-to-allies tension, slow-burn romance, magical warfare, and a sweeping sense of destiny across all three books. With high stakes and emotional payoff, it’s a perfect fit for readers who love a strong magical system and a romance that grows in the shadow of war.

Our Take:

This award-winning trilogy blends forbidden magic, richly imagined realms, and a high-stakes magical conflict that deepens with every book. The pacing balances action with atmosphere, offering immersive lore, vivid elemental magic, and a central mystery that gradually unravels across the series. With themes of legacy, power, and the cost of rewriting fate, it’s a satisfying read for fans of romantasy and fantasy politics alike—especially those looking for a completed series with strong payoff and a cohesive, sweeping arc.

From A Reader:

Magical worlds, love that endures throughout time and space, dragons, spells, animal familiars, and the fate of worlds hanging in the balance. This is a truly delightful addition to the fantasy genre. I’m eager for this series to continue so I can find out what happens next.”

Bragging Rights:

★ 2023 National Indie Excellence Award Finalist in YA Fiction

★ 2022 Foreword INDIES Finalist in Young Adult Fiction

★ 2022 Best Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Young Adult

★ 2022 American Book Fest Best Book Awards YA Fiction Finalist

★ 2023 Reader Views Literary Awards Bronze Award Winner in Young Adult

Additionally, all three novels received excellent write-ups from Kirkus Reviews, and Blood Divided was selected to be featured in their July 2023 issue. Less than 25% of indie authors are featured! Here are some of our favorite quotes from each Kirkus review:

Reign Returned: “…excellently crafted…A fine questing adventure and a promising start to a series.”

Blood Divided: “…sharply etched characters, a chilling portrayal of social prejudice, and powerful, emotionally fraught prose.”

Realm United: “A fantasy novel full of romance, politics, and the quest for identity, sure to appeal to young adults.”

Get your copy today at the links below!

Amazon | Goodreads | Author Site