Category: adults

 

Written as J.S. Kelley, Gutter Mage weaves epic fantasy and hardboiled noir in this fast-paced, twisting tale of magic, mystery, and a whole lot of unruly behavior.

In a kingdom where magic fuels everything from street lamps to horseless carriages, the mage guilds of Penador wield power equal to the king himself. So when Lord Edmund’s infant son is kidnapped by the Alath Guild, he turns to the one person even mages fear: Rosalind Featherstone, aka the Gutter Mage.

But as Roz delves into the circumstances behind the child’s disappearance, she uncovers an old enemy from her traumatic past and a long-brewing plot that could lead to the death of countless innocents and the collapse of Penadorian society.

 

Also in audiobook format, read by Tanis Parenteau!

“Parenteau brings Roz’s bombastic personality to life, especially her heavy doses of cursing and violence, with surprising depth. Characters stand out with varied accents that makes the world of Penador both familiar and unsettling. Parenteau’s performance weaves an introspective tale without losing the color and thrills of the fantasy world.” – AudioFile Magazine

 

 

The Ranger of Marzanna

“THE RANGER OF MARZANNA pits brother against sister in a bewitching, snow-swept world, where political schemes collide with the machinations of a death goddess. A magical tale of power and sacrifice, manipulation and betrayal.”
— Melissa Caruso, author of The Tethered Mage 

When their father is murdered by imperial soldiers, two siblings set out on opposite paths–one will destroy the Empire forever and the other will save it–in this thrilling new epic fantasy from Jon Skovron.

Sonya is training to be a Ranger of Marzanna, an ancient sect of warriors who have protected the land for generations. But the old ways are dying, and the Rangers have all been forced into hiding or killed off by the invading Empire.

When her father is murdered by imperial soldiers, she decides to finally take action. Using her skills as a Ranger she will travel across the bitter cold tundra and gain the allegiance of the only other force strong enough to take down the invaders.

But nothing about her quest will be easy. Because not everyone is on her side. Her brother, Sebastian, is the most powerful sorcerer the world has ever seen. And he’s fighting for the empire.

“In the course of this satisfyingly complex and unpredictable saga, both Sonya and Sebastian mature and face ethical, moral, and emotional choices with consequences that reach across the empire. This solid installment will leave readers eagerly anticipating the next in the series.”
— Publishers Weekly

“Skovron launches his Slavic-influenced Goddess War series with this intricate, well-told fantasy…This is epic fantasy done right.”
— Publisher’s Weekly (starred review)

“An undeniable page-turner that will have readers salivating for the next volume of this projected trilogy.”
— Kirkus

The saga continues…

 

The Queen of Izmoroz

Sonya has freed Izmoroz. Her brother, the imperial wizard Sebastian, and the vicious Commander Vittorio have retreated to Aureum. But for how long?

Galina, a young noblewoman and Sebastian’s former betrothed, understands the precariousness of her war-torn country. Ineffectively ruled by a fledgling oligarchy, hosting a foreign army of undead, and dominated by the whims of a self-proclaimed servant of Death—what chance would they have if Empress Catarina returned with the full might of the imperial army? Plans must be formed, and sacrifices made…

Down in Aureum, Sebastian is stunned to learn that his beloved mentor Vittorio has infuriated the empress and been declared an enemy of the throne. Now without guidance, what will Sebastian do in an unfamiliar land surrounded by strangers coveting his power? Meanwhile, Sonya seeks guidance as well from the elder Rangers who live out in the tundra. But what she learns will shake her faith in the Goddess of Winter to its core.

The Wizard of Eventide

The gorgeous, pulse-pounding Goddess War Trilogy comes to its thrilling conclusion with THE WIZARD OF EVENTIDE!

As Vittorio’s empire enacts its bloody reign, the Uaine now behind him after a stunning betrayal, a reunited Sonya and Sebastian must embark on a journey to distant lands to amend past wrongs—and find unlikely allies along the way.

In far Raiz, Jorge has his hands full enough with the devastation the Empire left behind. But the battle isn’t over, and the sovereignty of his nation will depend on his ability to band together the ancient houses—and recruiting a figure straight out of legend.

Galina, now Queen of Izmoroz, rules her land with an iron fist in a velvet glove. But heavy is the crown, and enemies lie in wait both within and without her dominion. To realize her vision for a free Izmoroz at last, she’ll have to fight with much more than politics.

Hope and Red

In the first book of this fun, action-packed fantasy trilogy, a warrior and a thief must come together to stop the forces that threaten their people.

HOPE, the lone survivor of a village massacred by the emperor’s forces, secretly trains as a warrior and dreams of vengeance.

RED, an orphan adopted by a notorious matriarch of the criminal underworld, learns to be an expert thief and con artist.

Together they will take down an empire.

 

“HOPE AND RED is my favorite book of the year. Full of nonstop, irresistible adventure, it captures that wonderful classic epic fantasy feel, while introducing a fantastic pair of memorable new heroes. I can’t wait for the sequel!”
— Sarah Beth Durst, author of The Queen of Blood

“Skovron’s briskly-paced story doesn’t skimp on the world-building—and thank goodness, because it’s quite a world.”
— B&N SF&F Blog

“Furious where it needs to be, deceptively tender where it can get away with it, adventurous all around; Hope and Red is the childhood hero’s journey through a drug trip. The good kind.”
— Sam Sykes, author of The City Stained Red

 

“A rip-roaring tale of revenge. 9/10”
— Sci-Fi Bulletin

Available as a FREE serialized audiobook on Apple Podcasts, or wherever audiobooks are sold!

The adventure continues!

Another phenomenal read, Skovron’s sequel is riveting, and I would highly recommend this series to everyone!”
— The Bookbag

“tremendously satisfying”
— Publishers Weekly

Bane and Shadow

Red is being trained as a cold-blooded assassin by the biomancers. As he becomes increasingly embroiled in palace politics, he learns that even life among the nobility can be deadly.

While terrorizing imperial ships as the pirate Dire Bane, Hope stumbles onto a biomancer plot of such horrifying scope that it makes even the massacre of her childhood village seem small in comparison.

With the biomancers tightening their grip of fear over the empire, Hope and Red struggle to fill their new roles and responsibilities, but the cost will be greater than any of them realize.

Blood and Tempest

Still reeling from the events at Dawn’s Light, Hope struggles to understand what it means to be a warrior who has vowed to never again take up a sword.

Red is enjoying his new role as imperial spy. Perhaps a bit too much. But his loyalties will be tested when his employer, Lady Hempist, relents and assigns him the one task he’s been begging for all along: recruiting Hope and Brigga Lin to help rid the empire of biomancery once and for all.

Fate brought them together; it will tear their empire apart.

“Step once again into the intriguing world first introduced in Hope and Red. The trilogy continues with murder and mayhem written in a captivating style that is breathtaking. Unique appellations and ingenious descriptions add flair and humor to this continuing saga.” — Romantic Times

 

The Empire of Storms series goes international

Translated into 6 languages, and published in 9 countries!