Adventure? Check. Magic? Check. Sarcasm? You bet. After years of running down dead-end clues, the rogue Never has nearly given up his quest for answers; his blood is cursed and his true name a mystery, yet no library, no healer and none who claim to know dark magics have ever been able to help. Until he steals a map to the mysterious Amber Isle, which might just hold the answers he needs. But Never isn't the only one who wants the map - an old enemy, Commander Harstas, also seeks it and Harstas craves revenge for the deaths of his men. Forced to flee through a war zone, Never soon stumbles across a group of treasure-hunters hoping to discover the wonders of the Amber Isle for themselves. But the deeper they venture into the Isle, the more deadly it grows. Trapped between the greed of the treasure hunters, cunning traps in the Isle itself, the threat of Harstas' fury and his own desperation to finally uncover answers, Never must find a way to unlock the Isle's ancient secrets and escape - or perish without ever learning the truth.
The enormous corpse of the Sea Beast has breached the walls and an invasion from across the sea is threatening. Cut off from the mysterious golden egg and bereft of the hope of ever seeing his family again, Ain remains in prison, at the mercy of the new king who obviously wants something from him. Meanwhile, Flir and Luik struggle to contain the illness spreading from the Beast, as Notch and Sofia begin their desperate search for her father. Charged with hunting down Vinezi, Flir and Luik find themselves thwarted at every turn while Notch and Sofia discover twisted magic is at work in the Bloodwood where the strange Sap-Born may prove to be the worst threat they have encountered yet.
Life is unfair, even when you meet a powerful Goddess. While searching an old temple, Kilek and his friends stumble across the Goddess Avendria who transforms them into heroes – all grown up, with weapons, magic, and skills. But when she gives Kilek nothing at all – nothing except the impossible task of saving the lands – he must fight bitter doubts. And bitter odds. For a dark prince is massing his armies on the border and chaotic agents of the other Gods have appeared. Worst of all, a horde of insects has been set loose in the world, desperate to devour all that stands in its path. Only the long-lost dragons can turn the tide but Kilek must find them before it’s too late. And somehow, he has to do it all without divine intervention.
Ashley Capes' communication and exploration of the outer and inner worlds we inhabit is generous and inclusive, favouring sincerity over artifice and meaning over wordplay. Whether taking simple delight in the journey of a snail or grappling with the darker complexities of the human condition, the poetry is ultimately nourishing for its attentiveness." - Jane Williams.
When ESL teacher Riko finds an old journal buried in the forests beneath Mt Fuji, a malevolent, untraceable force begins to threaten her at every turn. But is it all in her head? The more she studies the journal for answers, the more questions she uncovers. Worse, no-one takes her fears seriously and her best lead appears to be a belligerent old man, whose only care in the world is raking leaves deep in the forest. With her grip on reality shaken and friendships strained to breaking point, Riko must discover the truth about the journal in order to put ghosts of the past to rest before she loses everything. A mysterious ghost-story full of suspense!
Conclusion to the Bone Mask Cycle! Notch finally holds the answers he sought, along with an unsuspecting Sacrifice... but drawing all the pieces together will prove a greater challenge – especially when it becomes clear that the Fura Leones does not approve of such desperate measures. In Renovar, Flir must find a way to salvage the bones of the frozen Sea God but Chelona has other plans for the mighty corpse, and trapped within her now is Seto, whose frustration can only build as he watches over but cannot warn his friends. Equally troubling is the floating city of Ilesinya, which now hovers dangerously near Anaskar, seemingly poised to strike. Lord Danillo is drawing together his allies in a final gambit to defeat Chelona and her unstable creation, Zasemu, but none know her true plan... and when it becomes clear, all lands will face a threat like no other.
When a royal conspiracy topples the noble House Falco, Sofia must take up the burden of her father's mantle and assume guardianship of his Greatmask. Yet the sentient bone mask, powerful enough to Compel those around her, will not speak, and Sofia, the first female Protector in a hundred years, is left defenceless. Hunted by the king, she is driven from the palace and must fight for survival, alone in the cold streets of Anaskar. There, she crosses paths with Notch, a bitter mercenary with problems of his own. Accused of murder, Notch is trying to clear his name while hunted by the city's robed assassins, the very people who are now searching for Sofia. To take back their city and cast down the tyrant on the throne, Sofia and Notch must face the blades of Anaskar's assassins, the rage of a mighty sea beast, and the mysterious Lupo, a man with a Greatmask of his own, who has masterminded vicious terrorist attacks on the city that spurned him. Their struggle threatens to tear the city – and the kingdom - into shreds.
Deep in the Australian forests, something dark is stirring. When wildlife ranger Lisa Thomas finds a pile of animal entrails on her doorstep she immediately suspects her abusive ex, but the sudden spate of deaths that follow seem beyond even Ben's vindictiveness. Worse, her father's health is deteriorating fast and when the harassment and deaths continue, it only fuels her feelings of powerlessness. To add confusion to growing fear, Lisa must also investigate reports of a giant white kangaroo, reports that suggest the creature is no mere hoax. Yet the mysterious kangaroo is impossible to track down and the more Lisa searches the more she's sure an even greater threat lurks in the wilderness...
From Book 1, City of Masks: When a royal conspiracy topples the noble House Falco, Sofia must take up the burden of her father's mantle and assume guardianship of his Greatmask. Yet the sentient bone mask, powerful enough to Compel those around her, will not speak, and Sofia, the first female Protector in a hundred years, is left defenceless. Hunted by the king, she is driven from the palace and must fight for survival, alone in the cold streets of Anaskar. There, she crosses paths with Notch, a bitter mercenary with problems of his own. Accused of murder, Notch is trying to clear his name while hunted by the city's robed assassins, the very people who are now searching for Sofia. To take back their city and cast down the tyrant on the throne, Sofia and Notch must face the blades of Anaskar's assassins, the rage of a mighty sea beast, and the mysterious Lupo, a man with a Greatmask of his own, who has masterminded vicious terrorist attacks on the city that spurned him. Their struggle threatens to tear the city – and the kingdom - into shreds. Books 1-3 of the Bone Mask Cycle available in one set!
At last, Notch escapes the city of vipers and starts his quest to find Qu-Sitka, the only mage able to restore Sofia. Yet Casselli and the Prince have other plans for Notch and the mysterious bracers he bears, sending along an Inquisitor to watch his every move. And before he knows it, the power of the bracers begins to change him... Across the sea, Flir finds herself prisoner and servant to the White Witch, where she must protect her friends and keep the witch from finding the bones of the last sea god – yet it is easier said than done. And even for a dilar, Flir knows she is overmatched. Back in Anaskar, Seto is locked in his own struggle with not only a royal imposter sent to replace him but also his own conscience, while Ain finds himself stranded on an island with little clue as to where the Stones of Shali can be found... or if they will even allow him to save the Cloud.
A dark sorceress sinks her talons into the land… War-hero Notch has abandoned his king and city to wage a war against his own guilt. With the giant Alosus at his side, Notch must search the Land of the Sun for ancient magic to bring a loved one back from the dead. But when he arrives in the city of vipers, Notch quickly finds himself entangled in a web of conspiracy and hidden motives as ruthless Houses vie for the soon to be vacant throne. Far across the glittering sea, Notch’s home of Anaskar is still reeling after repelling a mighty invasion. King Oseto is forced to scatter his heroes across the world in a desperate quest for the last sea beast and its bones. With them, he will be able to forge new Greatmasks to protect his people and the fragile state of peace between nations. Yet evil stirs in every corner of the lands. Reports of new, foul creatures and old foes alike are growing; and worse, the King fears that through his own weakness, he himself has unleashed the architect behind it all.
Only one thing stands between Never and answers – his brother. Driven toward the enemy-occupied Imperial City, Never’s doubts grow. Even with new knowledge about his powers, can he truly keep his friends safe in a warzone? Or, like too many times before, will he end up responsible for the deaths of those he should have protected? Never faces a bitter choice between finally winning the answers he has searched for all his life and stopping his brother once and for all. Worse, he knows that if he hesitates, Snow’s sinister vision for the world will come to pass.
Rejoin Never in this short story as he fights to take back Tsolde's inn from the clutches of a greedy nobleman. After returning from Kiymako, Never discovers that Tsolde's inn, the Young Stag, is now owned by Lord Taginus - a wastrel and a cad. Yet the man hides a troubling secret, and when Never stumbles upon it he quickly finds a far darker adversary than he first imagined.
Reed is about to snap - and this time, nothing is going to stand in his way when it comes to getting answers for Elise, not even a supposedly long-vanished Sumerian God. Or so Reed thinks. But summer in the city isn't going to be like the others. The city itself isn't quite the same either, and even if you're lucky (or cursed) enough to count the children of Gods among your friends, nothing is ever simple...
Never's quest for a name is becoming more deadly... Armed with disturbing news about Snow, his unpredictable brother, Never picks up a cold trail on the rivers of Hanik. There he must face both new dangers and demons from his past, all the while doing his best to avoid becoming entangled in a brewing civil war.
Things aren’t exactly getting easier for Reed Lavender. Old obligations and new cases are piling up but in the aftermath of Feronia’s defeat, answers are still too thin on the ground. But one clue – his father’s knucklebone – might just lead to something big. To learn the truth about his parents’ disappearance, Reed will have to take the fight to whoever is behind the growing turmoil in his city. And if the rising number of Spirit-Worms, needy Gods, vindictive lawmen and only somewhat-helpful cousins don’t stop Reed, then his sense of duty might do what the others cannot. Because Reed now finds himself caught between two goals – solving the murder of Elise or chasing down whoever stole the Goddess’ hand, an unfathomable thief who might hold answers about his parents…
At Snow's urging, Never climbs into the Folhan Mountains to search for the Altar of Stars, which he must reach by the new moon. Yet he cannot shake off his doubts; will the answers he seeks even reside with the altar? Or is Snow manipulating him once more? Never soon finds that the mountains harbour their own threats, from avalanches and enemy troops to ancient creatures deep within abandoned mines and worse - pursuit from a vengeance-obsessed King.
Never's quest for a name continues... Poisoned and furious, Never must add a desperate quest for a cure to his existing search for truth. His path takes him deep into the White Wood where he faces vengeful spirits, giant leeches and Commander Harstas himself, whose lust for revenge is an ever-present threat.
A nameless rogue. A priceless treasure map. An abundance of bad choices. The rogue Never wants two things—his blood curse lifted and to know his true name. He’s hunted down every relic and clue only to end up empty-handed. Until he hears of a treasure map to a sunken city full of potential answers. Getting his hands on the map might prove to be Never’s most dangerous heist yet. When the city is invaded in the middle of his caper, Never trades stealth for brute force to save the map before it burns along with the city. But his violence has consequences. As he makes an enemy of the invading commander, can Never survive long enough to secure the map as well as his getaway, or will he go down in flames? Never: Prequel to The Amber Isle is the thrilling prequel novella to the epic fantasy series The Book of Never. If you love charming rogues, daring heists, and epic quests, steal a glance at Never: Prequel to The Amber Isle!
The Burnished King has escaped his tomb. In the demi-god's wake, a stone-plague creeps across the lands and Never must stop the ancient decay before it swallows everyone he cares for. Despite his determination, there is no cure and no guarantee that even his Amouni blood will be enough. Never's search for the means to fight back leads him to the Amber Isle once more, where the island continues to hold its secrets close. But it is there that Never encounters the beautiful and mysterious Rikeva, a Quisoan Weaver on her own quest, and realises that together, there might be a way to stop the plague after all...
Darkness is gathering deep within the land of Vadiya as the Red Seed Cult perform twisted experiments on human flesh. Never has already tangled with the foul creatures and knows no-one else can stop them... but if he charges into enemy territory now, he will have to face old flame Sacha, who has promised to kill him should they meet again. Yet when he learns that she has been captured by the creatures he sets out with unlikely allies on a quest to uncover the truth behind the cult and hopefully save – and then survive – Sacha.
Stepping Over Seasons artfully depicts the finer details of life, encapsulating change within people and places as the seasons unfurl. In 'Overlook', Capes argues that it's much easier for great poets to romanticise the world's most classic cities by poetically and playfully ridiculing his own not-so-romantic Australian hometown. Asserting that, in this digital age, everything can be recorded in some way, the poem 'Late Night' claims there is no longer a need for people to appreciate things "in the moment." The poem 'Leaking' describes the love seeping out of two people with the momentum of a leaking tap.
Escape isn’t the hardest challenge for a slave – it’s staying free afterwards. Siblings Thomas and Mia find themselves fleeing across a desolate land, hounded by the monstrous sand-hog, a steam-powered war machine bent on recapturing them at all costs. Thomas fears the worst. He knows the tyrannical King Williams seeks Mia and her mysterious powers of foresight, but it seems even her gift cannot save the day when the sand-hog corners them. It isn’t until they cross paths with a group of rebels and stumble across rumours of a lost airship that Thomas begins to wonder if there isn’t hope of escape after all... A steampunk adventure set in a slowly dying land where magic clashes with steam and alchemy.
Led by the bitter veteran, Notch, a small team of mercenaries stumble across a foreign noble while attempting to foil a silk-smuggling operation. Instigated by their corrupt king, the crime could be enough to start a war, should the truth be exposed - leaving Notch and his companions scrambling to find way to protect the king they no longer believe in... Prequel to City of Masks (Bone Mask Cycle 1)
Rejoin Never as he searches for his father's legacy and the sister he hadn't known existed. In The Phoenix of Kiymako Never must navigate a secretive new culture ruled by warrior monks. Distrusted and hunted for his blood, he must forge new alliances while following the dark trail his father has left. If Never can survive, it will lead to both his long lost sister and - finally - the truth about his mysterious name. Never's 6th epic fantasy adventure
Thomas, Mia and Ethan have finally discovered the long-lost rebellion airship Clara - only to learn that it cannot grant them their freedom, since none know how to fly the mighty ship. A desperate search for a pilot follows but disaster strikes when Thomas falls into the clutches of their old tormentor, Lady Elisabeth; master of the Sand-Hog and lieutenant to the King. Yet Elisabeth has her own plans for Thomas and they do not involve simply handing him over to her liege. Mia and Ethan find themselves torn between chasing Thomas and following clues to the Clara's pilot but hounding Mia every step of the way is her own doubts and fears, her confusion over her feelings for Ethan and worse, dark dreams that hide an even greater threat than King Williams could ever pose. A steampunk adventure set in a slowly dying land where magic clashes with steam and alchemy.
Still separated, Thomas and Mia are each closing in on final secrets to unlock the Clara, the mighty airship that can win them their freedom at last. And while their hopes are pinned on the mysterious Alita’s Shell, none know what lies behind the ancient doors. Nor are Thomas and Mia the only ones who seek the airship. Elisabeth continues to conceal her true motives and more, new players are about to make themselves known in the race to uncover the past. Not to be beaten, King Williams sends his forces deep into the Inland Federation too, desperate to steal the secrets himself – and have his revenge.
The Exiles Trilogy is a multi-pov epic fantasy series with a connected story that follows four main characters on their struggles after being exiled from their homes, their loved ones and even their nations too.
The Exiles Trilogy is a multi-pov epic fantasy series with a connected story that follows four main characters on their struggles after being exiled from their homes, their loved ones and even their nations too.
Aimed chiefly at newcomers, this is a practical guide to understanding and composing haiku. If you’ve long been curious about haiku then this introduction will answer your questions about syllable counts, cutting-words (kireji), season-words (kigo) and so much more, including differences between approaches in the English and Japanese languages. Using verse from masters and contemporary poets, the Haiku How-To will take you through key concepts and important contextual issues. The guide also features concise explanations and examples of compositional techniques, and offers easy-to-use templates which will allow you to grow accustomed to the form, structure and goals of haiku. Writer Ashley Capes is a poet, novelist and teacher from Australia. He has been writing and publishing for the last twenty years and teaching during the last decade or so. He is also the author of seven poetry collections, three of which focus on haiku, senryu and haibun.
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