The Chosen (The Stone Dance of the Chameleon, Book 1)

First in a new fantasy series, The Stone Dance of the Chameleon, this fresh, exciting novel follows the adventures of young Carnelian as he discovers his own powers and learns the harsh ways of the world. A first novel. 40,000 first printing.

LGBTQ+ Books

Pinto, Ricardo

Literature & Fiction

Tor Books

At the heart of The Three Lands, there is a paradise, filled with beauty and wonders of all kinds. A lush and vibrant place, it stands in sharp contrast to the baseness and squalor of the world outside the walls of Osrakum. But this beauty comes at a cost. The Masters who rule the world are driven by sadistic dreams and mythic charms. They use their vast powers to leech the resources of the world unto themselves, to create an artificial haven where they play out twisted games of power amid a decadent splendor. Within the inner circle of power lies a glittering court where the royal houses plot vile atrocities, and madness and bestiality hold sway. The Masters are nothing less than gods in this realm and their plans (or whims) can bring either perfect pleasure... or death. Young Carnelian has spent his entire life in exile with his father, a nobleman who rejected the evil ways of his people and fled to the ends of the known world. But forces conspired to change all that, and Carnelian returned to his homeland. He is a sheep among wolves, and it has taken every ounce of his strength to resist the temptations of power that threaten to seduce his very soul. What Carnelian could never have imagined was that he would fall in love with none other than Osidian, one of the twin Gods, ruler of his world--or that forces far darker than he thought possible would use him as a weapon. When the young lovers are kidnapped by the Empress Ykoriana and forced from the safety of the empire, it appears that their lives are forfeit. But Carnelian and Osidian fall into the hands of barbarians from the southern plain they call the Undersky. These raiders manage to elude the legions of the Masters, and after enduring terrible hardships, they succeed in bringing their prizes home to their tribe. Carnelian comes to realize that the world is much more bizarre than he could ever imagine, that love can sometimes blind you to things that may destroy you, that the simple things the heart can teach you will prove to be the most true.... And that he holds in his hands the potential to save or doom all of his world. The Standing Dead is the powerful sequel to Ricardo Pinto's first novel The Chosen, and it continues this unique fantasy series about power, eros, and madness...and the depths a man will go to for love. It is the second volume in The Stone Dance of the Chameleon series, and he is currently at work on the third. Ricardo Pinto resides in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The Standing Dead: Book Two of the Stone Dance of the Chameleon

At the heart of the Three Lands, there is an earthly paradise hidden within the volcanic crater of Osrakum. Here thesociety of the Masters has evolved, men who rule with savage cruelty, beings who control the universe and whose plans(or whims) can bring either perfect pleasure or death. Young Carnelian has spent almost his entire life alone with his father, who years ago rejected the savage cruelty of theMasters and entered into exile far away from the center of the World. But now a ship has come flying through the winter gales to shatter his quiet world. Three masters disembark, and as theyremove their masks of gold, Carnelian is awed by the light that seems to radiate from their skin. In formal conclave theybeg Carnelian's father to return with them to Osrakum to oversee the election of a new God Emperor. And so Carnelian and his father will return home. Carnelian will leave all that he has ever known and loved, and along hisperilous journey to the fabled lands of his parentage, he will be forced to learn bitter lessons in bloodshed and intrigue, theintricate weaving of power...and what perverse forms that power takes. Carnelian will see much of this new world...and find both love and treachery. And he will set in motion the concluding events in a story four thousand years old. The Chosen is a vibrant and lush first novel that launches an outstanding talent for the new millenniumJacket art by Mark Harrison Jacket design by Martha E. Sedgwick

The Chosen

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Fantasy

TOR Book

Chosen: Stone Dance of Chamel

Transworld Publishers Limited

Amidst the massacre he helped bring about, Carnelian is now desperate to find a way to avoid more carnage. His spurned lover Osidian—seeking revenge and determined to win back his stolen throne—has deliberately stoked the wrath of the Masters who rule the world from its center, Osrakum. Osidian's actions threaten to overturn the repressive order of the Commonwealth, and Carnelian soon learns that he and those he loves are inextricably enmeshed in the terrible power game of the Masters. If he is to survive, he has no choice but to stand with Osidian in defiance of the invincible power of the Masters. In his struggle, Carnelian will unleash apocalyptic forces that will bring his world to a reckoning none could have foreseen, though it has been simmering for 4,000 years.

The Third God (The Stone Dance of the Chameleon)

BANTAM PRESS

Escaping the clutches of the Empress Ykoriana, Carnelian and Osidian find themselves captives of a barbarian tribe from the southern plain. While Carnelian succumbs to the seasonal rhythm of tribal life, Osidian's lust for revenge deepens.

The Standing Dead (The Stone Dance of the Chameleon)

Bantam Books (Transworld Publishers a division of the Random House Group)

First Edition. UK Printing. A fine copy in a fine dust jacket. DJ art by Jim Burns. Book One of The Stone Dance of the Chameleon Trilogy.

The Chosen: The Stone Dance of the Chameleon

TOR.

Escaping the clutches of the Empress Ykoriana, Carnelian and Osidian find themselves captives of a barbarian tribe from the southern plain. While Carnelian succumbs to the seasonal rhythm of tribal life, Osidian's lust for revenge deepens.

The Standing Dead

Bantam]

Amidst the massacre he helped bring about, Carnelian is now desperate to find a way to avoid more carnage. His spurned lover Osidian—seeking revenge and determined to win back his stolen throne—has deliberately stoked the wrath of the Masters who rule the world from its center, Osrakum. Osidian's actions threaten to overturn the repressive order of the Commonwealth, and Carnelian soon learns that he and those he loves are inextricably enmeshed in the terrible power game of the Masters. If he is to survive, he has no choice but to stand with Osidian in defiance of the invincible power of the Masters. In his struggle, Carnelian will unleash apocalyptic forces that will bring his world to a reckoning none could have foreseen, though it has been simmering for 4,000 years.

Transworld Publishers

Young Carnelian has spent his entire life alone with his father, who years ago rejected the savage cruelty of the Masters of Osrakum and was sent into exile. But now a ship has come flying through the winter gales to shatter his quiet world. Three Masters disembark, and as they remove their masks of gold, Carnelian is awed by the light that seems to radiate from their skin. In formal conclave they beg Carnelian's father to return with them to Osrakum to oversee the election of a new God Emperor. And so Carnelian begins to fulfill his destiny. Along his perilous journey to the Osrakum, he is forced to learn bitter lessons in bloodshed, power, intrigue, love, and treachery--and sets in motion the concluding events in a story four thousand years old.

Contemporary

TOR Fantasy

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Books by Pinto, Ricardo

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Pinto, Ricardo. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

The Chosen (The Stone Dance of the Chameleon, Book 1)

The Standing Dead: Book Two of the Stone Dance of the Chameleon

The Chosen

Chosen: Stone Dance of Chamel

The Third God (The Stone Dance of the Chameleon)

The Standing Dead (The Stone Dance of the Chameleon)

The Chosen: The Stone Dance of the Chameleon

The Standing Dead

The Third God (The Stone Dance of the Chameleon)

The Chosen (The Stone Dance of the Chameleon, Book 1)