Book Blasts

Book Blast: Magelight by Kacey Ezell

May 6, 2025 by hpholo Leave a Comment

Hey, y’all! 😄 I have lots of cool author friends who write lots of cool books, and occasionally I like to show off those books.

Kacey Ezell‘s been a busy bee as of late, as she’s gone straight from deckbuilding LitRPG last month to reverse harem romantasy this month with Magelight, from Baen Books! If you’re curious to hear about it from the author herself, I interviewed her about it last night:

But if you’d like to go ahead and read it … 😁

READ MAGELIGHT HERE

Magelight

by Kacey Ezell

Published by Baen Books

***

Fleeing her sheltered life, a noblewoman must trust a warrior, a forester, and a thief to unlock her true power and face her destiny.

Embrace Your Power and Forge Your Destiny

All her life, Aelys of Brionne had been weak. As the noble daughter of one of the empire’s most powerful magic-wielding families, it should have been easy for her to live her dream of bonding with a warrior protector and joining the Imperial Battlemage Corps. But when her weakness robs her of her dreams, her best friend, and the man she loves, Aelys makes the only choice she can see: she takes her fate into her own hands and she runs, leaving her safe, protected world behind.

Now she must find a way to work with three dangerous strangers—a warrior, a forester, and a thief—to escape the bandits stalking her, fight through the dangers of the untamed forest, and make her way back home, where her family and her destiny await.

Only . . . her violent protectors might be the key to the power and freedom she’s always craved. Can Aelys find the strength to choose her own destiny and become the sorceress she was born to be? Or lose herself on the path to power?

READ MAGELIGHT HERE

NOTE: As Amazon Associates, we earn a wee little commission on any Amazon purchases made through qualifying links on this page.

Book Blast: Shadow Card Guardian by Kacey Ezell

April 16, 2025 by hpholo Leave a Comment

Hey, y’all! 😄 I have lots of cool author friends who write lots of cool books, and occasionally I like to show off those books.

If you’re a fan of John Stovall‘s LitRPG Deckbuilder Demon Card Enforcer series, you’re in luck, ’cause my pal Kacey Ezell has a new book out in that universe, Shadow Card Guardian! I’ll be interviewing her about it Friday:

But if you’d like to read it before then … 😁

READ SHADOW CARD GUARDIAN HERE

Shadow Card Guardian

The Nyx Cards #1

by Kacey Ezell

***

Dania Ellis has faced warzones and Emergency Room chaos—but nothing prepared her for Drop Night.

Once every ten years, the gods give a deck of cards to a chosen few. These new “deckbearers” are capable of great magical feats, and are the top of every food chain, both metaphorically and literally.

As a combat veteran and ER nurse, Dania knows what it takes to fight for a better life. She’s worked tirelessly to build a future for herself and her orphaned nephew, Jake. But everything changes on Jake’s fourteenth birthday when he receives a Drop Night deck—straight from Nyx, the goddess of night.

The deck grants Jake power, but it also paints a target on his back. Suddenly, he’s a deckbearer hunted by forces that would do anything to possess his special deck of cards. But those hunting him and others like him failed to consider one important thing: Jake may be orphaned, but he’s not alone…

Because Dania will do anything to protect her kid. Survival isn’t just an option—it’s a promise.

Fast-paced, gripping, and full of heart, this story is in the same universe as Demon Card Enforcer, and perfect for fans of All the Skills and Goblin Summoner.

READ SHADOW CARD GUARDIAN HERE

NOTE: As Amazon Associates, we earn a wee little commission on any Amazon purchases made through qualifying links on this page.

Book Blast: 24-Hour Warlock (Chronos Chronicles #3) by Shami Stovall

April 8, 2025 by hpholo Leave a Comment

Hey, y’all! 😄 I have lots of cool author friends who write lots of cool books, and occasionally I like to show off those books.

You may recall Shami Stovall’s Time-Marked Warlock (Chronos Chronicles #1) – a time-loop urban fantasy I frequently describe as “so good it cured my OCD.” (Srsly, any book that can make my time-obsessed self lose track of time is an AMAZING book.)

And, if you don’t, here’s my interview with her about that book:

All that to say, Book 3 is out today and YOU SHOULD TOTALLY CHECK IT OUT:

READ 24-HOUR WARLOCK HERE

24-Hour Warlock

Chronos Chronicles #3

by Shami Stovall

***

The most powerful warlock in the world, Adair Finch, has drawn the ire of a sociopathic wizard.

While building up his PI agency, Finch’s sister-in-law, Jessica, comes to him with a major problem. She cheated the wizard, Maldonado, an infamous demonologist known for his crime dealings, and now he wants Jessica dead.

Determined to help Jessica, as well as a few others around town, all within a single 24-hour period, Finch must make a new pact with a creature that can defeat Maldonado’s infernal magic. Unfortunately, very few creatures can do that, and all of them want something drastic in return.

Luckily, Finch has made some new allies—a werewolf, a YouTube star, a budding witch, a vampire attorney, and even a reluctant duergar. With their help, finding Maldonado and ending his criminal operations doesn’t seem as impossible as before.

READ 24-HOUR WARLOCK HERE

NOTE: As Amazon Associates, we earn a wee little commission on any Amazon purchases made through qualifying links on this page.

Book Blast: Discount Dan (Discount Dan’s Backroom Bargains #1) by James A. Hunter

March 17, 2025 by hpholo Leave a Comment

Hey, y’all! 😄 I have lots of cool author friends who write lots of cool books, and occasionally I like to show off those books.

Now, for this one: A bunch of my friends frequently tag me as the one who got them hooked on Dungeon Crawler Carl, so 1) I am delighted to be your corruptor , but also 2) author buddy of another author buddy James A Hunter has just released a LitRPG with BIG DCC VIBES.

Admittedly, I haven’t read it yet, but c’mon, it’s got a series title like DISCOUNT DAN’S BACKROOM BARGAINS and this googly eyed dog monstrosity on the cover and a mimic toilet LIKE WHY ARE YOU STILL LOOKING AT THIS SCREEN GET IT NOW

READ DISCOUNT DAN HERE!

For real, how can you turn down this face?

Discount Dan: A LitRPG Adventure

Discount Dan’s Backroom Bargains #1

by James A. Hunter

***

Noclip In, No Way Out…

All Dan wants is to find a way home. He’d settle for a beer, a bite to eat, and a place to sleep off his hangover.

But, in an endless, ever-changing dungeon cobbled together from twisted carnivals, abandoned shopping malls, janky laundromats, and condemned insane asylums, getting a bit of shut-eye is harder than it sounds.

Dan has accidentally “Noclipped” into the Backrooms—a bizarro, extra-dimensional Alice-in-Wonderland world, overrun with horrific nightmare creatures known as the Dwellers. No one ever gets out. Hell, forget about leaving, if Dan wants to survive the week, he’s going to need to harness the strange game-like magic of the Backrooms, make some very sketchy allies, and carve out a little safe haven to call his own.

And he’s going to need to do it fast because Dan is being hunted. The Flayed Monarch of the 999th floor has marked him for death and no one walks away from the Skinless Court with their hide intact…

“The book is a f***ing delight. I enjoyed the absolute hell out of it and think it’s an excellent use of pop culture to make something fun and horrific and awesome.”– Eric Ugland, Author of the Good Guys and Bad Guys

“Buckle up, buttercup! James Hunter takes you on a balls-to-the-wall adventure that’s as insane as it is awesome.” – Jez Cajiao, Author of Arise and Rise of Mankind

“Discount Dan is a fun, fast-paced read with awesome game mechanics, surprising humor, and a brutal adventure you won’t want to put down!” – Dakota Krout, Author of Completionist Chronicles, Full Murder Hobo, and The Divine Dungeon

READ DISCOUNT DAN HERE!

NOTE: As Amazon Associates, we earn a wee little commission on any Amazon purchases made through qualifying links on this page.

Book Blast: The Last Dragon Knight (The Dragon and the Crow #1) by Tim Akers

February 25, 2025 by hpholo Leave a Comment

Hey, y’all! 😄 I have lots of cool author friends who write lots of cool books, and occasionally I like to show off those books. That said, my pal Tim Akers has a new epic fantasy thriller out today and IT’S GOT DRAGON WARRIORS IN IT! 🎉

Book Cover for The Last Dragon Knight by Tim Akers

READ THE LAST DRAGON KNIGHT HERE!

You may remember Tim from my fangirling about Knight Watch and Wraithbound, and now he’s back with a story of a former assassin who wants to live a quiet life – but, between a blessing from a Crow, a curse from a Dragon, and a past that just won’t leave him alone, he’ll have to make a last stand to defend his new home.

Tim’s writing is always fun, so go check it out! 😄

The Last Dragon Knight

The Dragon and the Crow #1

by Tim Akers

***

Betrayed by his friends. Driven from the land he swore to protect. Hunted by the legions of Hell. Cursed to carry the Dragon’s fury in his soul. Determined to survive.

Corem Holt was once an assassin, before he was a warrior. Before he was a cataclysm in the shape of a man. Blessed by the Crow and cursed by the Dragon, he fled the destruction of his homeland. It was a destruction for which he was responsible.

To his friends, he is a traitor. To his enemies, he is the last real threat in their endless war. Both will hunt him to the ends of the earth. And so he hides. He tries to live a simple life, to survive, to be happy. But mostly, he tries to forget what he has done.

All that comes undone when his past catches up to him. What starts as a chance encounter with an old enemy rapidly devolves into a battle for life and death, not just for Corem, but for the people he’s come to love while in hiding. To save them, he must make one last stand far from home, far from the throne he was sworn to protect, far from the memories that brand him a traitor. For anyone else, it would be impossible. For Corem, it’s inevitable.

Because he’s not just a hero.

He’s the last Dragon Knight.

READ THE LAST DRAGON KNIGHT HERE!

NOTE: As Amazon Associates, we earn a wee little commission on any Amazon purchases made through qualifying links on this page.

Book Blast: Time-Marked Warlock (The Chronos Chronicles #1) by Shami Stovall

August 17, 2024 by hpholo Leave a Comment

Hey, y’all! 😄 I have lots of cool author friends who write lots of cool books, and occasionally they ask me to blurb those books. That said, it’s blurbin’ time! 🎉

“What spirit do I have to make a pact with to become Finch’s murder mystery assistant? ‘CAUSE I WILL DO IT.”

– H.P. Holo (Author of Monster Punk Horizon and podcaster at Author Q&A)

Seriously, y’all, Shami Stovall‘s Time-Marked Warlock cured my OCD for the duration of its reading, and y’all know how bad my OCD-related focus issues are.

If you’re into urban fantasy murder mysteries with grumpy time-looping PIs and lil’ sunshine almost-witches who just want to help everybody, ya better pre-order the heck out of this thing.

(Also, the audiobook version has JEFF FRICKIN’ HAYS voicing Finch, so get on that, too.)

Time-Marked Warlock

The Chronos Chronicles #1

by Shami Stovall

***

Adair Finch is the most powerful warlock in the world, and one of the best private investigators for hire.

He has dealt with corporate vampires, murderous werewolves, and even fae royalty. Everything was perfect until he lost one case—the case where he also lost his brother.

So Finch retired. From magic. From PI work. From everything.

Bree Blackstone, a twelve-year-old witch, doesn’t know or care about any of that except Finch’s reputation. In the middle of the night, she bangs on Finch’s door. Her mother has been murdered, and now the assassin is after Bree as well.

Reluctantly, Finch agrees to help, only to discover something sinister has been brewing in town while he ignored the world… He’ll need to dust off all his old skills and magic before it’s too late.

“Fans of the Dresden Files and the Iron Druid Chronicles will definitely enjoy Stovall’s creation.” – Jason Cordova, national bestselling author

pre-order Time-marked warlock here!

Book Blast: Mountain of Fire (Black Tide Rising #13) by Jason Cordova

August 15, 2024 by hpholo Leave a Comment

HEY, Y’ALL! Jason Cordova gave us a kickass blurb for Freelancers of Neptune, so he gets ✨ SPECIAL PROMO SPACE ✨ today, and WHOA. CHECK THIS OUT.

1) DAT COVER!

2) It’s his first solo novel from Baen Books!

3) It’s in John Ringo’s Black Tide Rising series!

4) It’s about Catholic schoolgirls kicking zombie ass!

Seriously, if you don’t pre-order this thing, what even are you doing with your life? 😜

Mountain of Fire

Black Tide Rising #13

by Jason Cordova

***

New Entry in the Best-Selling Black Tide Rising Series

FIRE ON THE MOUNTAIN

When the lights went out, humanity died. But from darkness came hope.

The surviving students at St. Dominic’s Preparatory School for Girls have had it rough since the H7D3 virus virtually wiped out human civilization. Between rampaging hordes of zombies and wannabe tinpot dictators, the only thing holding them together is the iron will of the school’s lone surviving nun, Sister Ann. They know how to survive, but rebuilding isn’t only about surviving—it’s about rising up.

As more survivors start to seek asylum at the isolated school, it becomes readily apparent that the school can be the anvil from which humanity is reforged. To achieve this, though, the survivors must rely on one another to rebuild. The flames of life will be fanned, and the sparks from every strike of the hammer will provide light in the darkness.

But it will not be easy.

From atop the mountain of fire, this beacon of hope must spread—or humanity will die quietly in the long, final night.

pre-order Mountain of fire here!

***

Also, the blurb Jason blessed us with:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “𝗥𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗼𝗿𝘀𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲.

So I finally got off my butt and started reading 𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙉𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙚 by Jacob Holo. I’d read his stuff with David Weber and was impressed, so I’ve been really looking forward to diving into his own universe and creation to see what he can do.

𝗛𝗼𝗹𝘆. 𝗦𝗵*𝘁. 𝗧𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗪𝗔𝗦 𝗔𝗪𝗘𝗦𝗢𝗠𝗘!!!

𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘀, 𝗮 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝗮𝗿 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝘀𝗼 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝘂𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁’𝘀 𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗹𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻, 𝗰𝗮𝘁 𝗴𝗶𝗿𝗹𝘀, 𝗰𝘆𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗴𝘀 … 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗮 𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗹𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗙𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗳𝗹𝘆.

So if you haven’t pre-ordered 𝙁𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙉𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙚 yet, get on it while the going is good. 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗳𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗮𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝗮 𝘄𝗼𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀.”

—𝗝𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗼𝘃𝗮, 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗼-𝗮𝘂𝘁𝗵𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝗳 𝙈𝙤𝙣𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙃𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙈𝙚𝙢𝙤𝙞𝙧𝙨: 𝙁𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗮𝗿𝗿𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗮

PRE-ORDER Signed copies of FReelancers of neptune here

Pre-OrDER FREELANCERS OF NEPTUNE ON AMAZON

Book Blast: Forlorn Hope (Blood and Armor #4) by Casey Moores and Melissa Olthoff

August 4, 2024 by hpholo Leave a Comment

Y’ALLLLLL Melissa Olthoff let me use one of our Facebook chats as a blurb, so she gets ✨ SPECIAL PROMO SPACE ✨ today. 🥰

Which is to say, she’s got a new book out with Casey Moores and it’s got POWER ARMOR in it and you should totes check it out.

Forlorn Hope

Blood and Armor #4

by Casey Moores and Melissa Olthoff

***

After Nisti Khan’s return from her No Fail mission in Iran, she is celebrated as a savior of the young Kurdish Republic. However, their country has many enemies, and within weeks, they are on the brink of yet another war. When Syria invades, Nisti finds herself on the front lines of the most critical battle—defending the beating heart of their country, the capital city of Kirkuk.

After a judgement call goes wrong, Nisti finds herself banished from the battlefield and relegated to a staff job. To regain her place on the frontlines, she’ll have to prove herself once again.

A successful deep strike by the Second GOG Division should have ended the war, but the Syrian onslaught continues. As losses mount, Nisti must learn the source and take the battle to the enemy. But can she figure out who the real enemy is before her country falls?

Read Forlorn hope here!

***

BTW, if this sounds familiar, it’s because I interviewed them about it last month! 😃 In case you missed it:

WATCH ON YOUTUBE

WATCH ON FACEBOOK

WATCH ON TWITTER/X

***

Also, the blurb Melissa blessed us with:

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “I am all of 40 pages into the book and I’m FREAKING LOVING THE HECK outta it!”

—Melissa Olthoff, author of Companions in Chains and 2023 Baen Fantasy Adventure Award Finalist

And if you’re curious about those 40 pages, we’ve got links for you 😉 …

PRE-ORDER Signed copies of FReelancers of neptune here

Pre-OrDER FREELANCERS OF NEPTUNE ON AMAZON

The Messenger – Book Bomb

October 18, 2019 by hpholo Leave a Comment

Hey, mecha fans! We know some of you are still reeling from the end of the Seraphim Revival series, and though we’re giving its characters a much-needed rest, we totally understand your need to read more action-packed giant robot goodness.
Luckily for you, one of our #authorbuds, Terry Maggert, teamed up with J.N. Chaney to release a thoroughly kick-butt giant robot space epic! 😀
H.P. just finished barreling through The Messenger, and if you’re a fan of Gundam, Voltron, Mass Effect, or really anything that involves big-a** tech blowing junk up in epic fashion, it’s a fun read!

Dash never asked to be a mech pilot, but fate has other plans.
On the run and out of chances, he guides his ship and crew into the heart of a relic older than the galaxy itself–and finds himself on the edge of an eternal war he never knew existed.
The relic is a mech, lost to history and forgotten by all who remain. Built by an ancient race to be the ultimate weapon, the machine is capable of unspeakable destruction, and its discovery could unhinge the balance of power throughout known space.
Worse still, the A.I. inside the machine speaks of an ancient evil that will soon arrive–a race whose power far exceeds anything humanity has ever witnessed.
Only the Messenger can stand against them, the A.I. tells its new pilot. Only you can do what must be done.

Even better, if you enjoy it, the sequel is already available for Pre-Order (Release Date Sunday, October 20th)! 😀

UPDATE 12.21.19: There are more! 😮

Book Blast: Magelight by Kacey Ezell

Magelight

Fleeing her sheltered life, a noblewoman must trust a warrior, a forester, and a thief to unlock her true power and face her destiny.

Embrace Your Power and Forge Your Destiny

Book Blast: Shadow Card Guardian by Kacey Ezell