An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors is Curtis Craddock's delightful and engrossing fantasy debut featuring a genius heroine and her guardian, a royal musketeer, which Brandon Sanderson calls, "A great read!"
Born with a physical disability, no magical talent, and a precocious intellect, Princess Isabelle des Zephyrs has lived her life being underestimated by her family and her kingdom. The only person who appreciates her true self is Jean-Claude, the fatherly musketeer who had guarded her since birth.
All shall change, however, when an unlikely marriage proposal is offered, to the second son of a dying king in an empire collapsing into civil war.
But the last two women betrothed to this prince were murdered, and a sorcerer-assassin is bent on making Isabelle the third. Isabelle and Jean-Claude plunge into a great maze of prophecy, intrigue, and betrayal, where everyone wears masks of glamour and lies. Step by dangerous step, Isabelle must unravel the lies of her enemies and discovers a truth more perilous than any deception.
 “A setting fabulous and strange, heroes to cheer for, villains to detest, a twisty, tricky plot ― I love this novel!” ―Lawrence Watt Evans
“A thrilling adventure full of palace intrigue, mysterious ancient mechanisms, and aerial sailing ships!” ―David D. Levine

An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors: Book One in the Risen Kingdoms (The Risen Kingdoms, 1)

Literature & Fiction

Craddock, Curtis

United States

Tor Books

A Labyrinth of Scions and Sorcery is the masterful second novel in Curtis Craddock's critically-acclaimed high fantasy Risen Kingdoms series, continuing the engrossing tale of courtly intrigue and breathtaking magic, and starring our fiercely intelligent heroine Isabelle des Zephyrs with her loyal musketeer Jean-Claude.
Isabelle des Zephyrs has always been underestimated throughout her life, but after discovering the well of hidden magic within her, unveiling a centuries-long conspiracy, and stopping a war between rival nations, she has gained a newfound respect amongst the cutthroat court. 
All that is quickly taken away when Isabelle is unfairly convicted of breaking the treaty she helped write and has her political rank and status taken away. Now bereft, she nevertheless finds herself drawn into mystery when her faithful musketeer Jean-Claude uncovers a series of gruesome murders by someone calling themselves the Harvest King.
As panic swells, the capital descends into chaos, when the emperor is usurped from the throne by a rival noble. Betrayed by their allies and hunted by assassins, Isabelle and Jean-Claude alone must thwart the coup, but not before it changes l’Empire forever.
“A gripping tale of a woman who refuses to be defined by her physical and magical limitations, thwarting both assassins and all who see her as a pawn. A great read!”―#1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, on An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors
The Risen Kingdom series #1 An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors #2 A Labyrinth of Scions and Sorcery

A Labyrinth of Scions and Sorcery: Book Two in the Risen Kingdoms (The Risen Kingdoms, 2)

About the Author\nCurtis Craddock lives in Sterling, CO where he teaches English to inmates in a state penitentiary. An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors is his first book.\nThe Three Musketeers meets Jules Verne in A Labyrinth of Scions and Sorcery, the masterful second novel in Curtis Craddock's critically-acclaimed high fantasy Risen Kingdoms series, continuing the engrossing tale of courtly intrigue and breathtaking magic.\nIsabelle des Zephyrs has always been underestimated throughout her life, but after discovering the well of hidden magic within her, unveiling a centuries-long conspiracy, and stopping a war between rival nations, she has gained a newfound respect amongst the cutthroat court.\nAll that is quickly taken away when Isabelle is unfairly convicted of breaking the treaty she helped write and has her political rank and status taken away. Now bereft, she nevertheless finds herself drawn into mystery when her faithful musketeer Jean-Claude uncovers a series of gruesome murders by someone calling themselves the Harvest King.\nAs panic swells, the capital descends into chaos, when the emperor is usurped from the throne by a rival noble. Betrayed by their allies and hunted by assassins, Isabelle and Jean-Claude alone must thwart the coup, but not before it changes l’Empire forever.\n“A gripping tale of a woman who refuses to be defined by her physical and magical limitations, thwarting both assassins and all who see her as a pawn. A great read!”―#1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, on An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors\nThe Risen Kingdom series 
#1 An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors 
#2 A Labyrinth of Scions and Sorcery

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Fantasy

The Three Musketeers meets Jules Verne in Curtis Craddock'sThe Last Uncharted Sky, the concluding novel in the critically-acclaimed high fantasy Risen Kingdoms series, an engrossing tale of courtly intrigue and breathtaking magic. Isabelle and Jean-Claude undertake an airship expedition to recover a fabled treasure and claim a hitherto undiscovered craton for l'Empire Celeste. But Isabelle, as a result from a previous attack that tried to subsume her body and soul, suffers from increasingly disturbing and disruptive hallucinations. Disasters are compounded when the ship is sabotaged by an enemy agent, and Jean-Claude is separated from the expedition. In a race against time, Isabelle must figure out how to ward off her ailment before it destroys her and reunite with Jean-Claude to seek the fabled treasure as ancient secrets and a royal conspiracy threaten to undo the entire realm. "A gripping tale of a woman who refuses to be defined by her physical and magical limitations, thwarting both assassins and all who see her as a pawn. A great read!"--#1New York Timesbestselling author Brandon Sanderson, onAn Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors The Risen Kingdoms series #1An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors #2A Labyrinth of Scions and Sorcery #3The Last Uncharted Sky

The Last Uncharted Sky: Book 3 of The Risen Kingdoms (The Risen Kingdoms, 3)

Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

Thrillers & Suspense

About the Author\nCurtis Craddock lives in Sterling, CO where he teaches English to inmates in a state penitentiary. An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors is his first book.\nThe Three Musketeers meets Jules Verne in Curtis Craddock's The Last Uncharted Sky, the concluding novel in the critically-acclaimed high fantasy Risen Kingdoms series, an engrossing tale of courtly intrigue and breathtaking magic.\nIsabelle and Jean-Claude undertake an airship expedition to recover a fabled treasure and claim a hitherto undiscovered craton for l'Empire Celeste. But Isabelle, as a result from a previous attack that tried to subsume her body and soul, suffers from increasingly disturbing and disruptive hallucinations. Disasters are compounded when the ship is sabotaged by an enemy agent, and Jean-Claude is separated from the expedition.\nIn a race against time, Isabelle must figure out how to ward off her ailment before it destroys her and reunite with Jean-Claude to seek the fabled treasure as ancient secrets and a royal conspiracy threaten to undo the entire realm.\n“A gripping tale of a woman who refuses to be defined by her physical and magical limitations, thwarting both assassins and all who see her as a pawn. A great read!”―#1 New York Times bestselling author Brandon Sanderson, on An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors\nThe Risen Kingdoms series 
#1 An Alchemy of Masques and Mirrors 
#2 A Labyrinth of Scions and Sorcery 
#3 The Last Uncharted Sky

Last Uncharted Sky (The Risen Kingdoms, 3)

Tor Trade

We Cryptids

Nicoll, Kiya

Virdi, R.R.

Copen, E.A.

Wylie, Olivia

McDowall, Vista

Hachmeister, L.J.

Calisto, Veronica R.

Hardie, Linda Kay

Cuppatea Publications LLC

Erupting from the depths of a madman's nightmare, a foul tide of twisted magical abominations sweeps across the kingdom of Neffrom, devouring everything in its path, spreading a terrible, soul-corrupting curse like a plague across the land. Hope burns small, its feable flicker sheltered in the hearts of two young nobles, a disinherited lording, Sparrow of Blackaker, and a blind swordsman, Kisha -- together they must stand against a deadly god and the final sacrifice must be the ultimate weapon.

Sparrow's Flight: A Fantasy

Write Way Pub

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