RJ Dowland was the biggest name in gaming. He invented the process for players to immerse into computer games, living as an avatar inside the virtual world. But the immersion left a percentage of players addicted to the impulses in their nerve endings, choosing to live inside the created worlds while their bodies wasted away. RJ became one of the addicted. Years passed and he weaned himself off the games, eking out a life as a socially-inept homicide detective with a partner who calls him names, an ex-wife who will not acknowledge him, and the choice of using other addictions to fight off returning inside the computer. But now the FBI has approached RJ because they are investigating a series of murdered gamers who ignored the government regulations and they need his game experience and knowledge to catch the killer. The agents ask him to risk rekindling his addiction and enter the computer world, putting his life in danger to chase an old nemesis from his past when he ruled the gaming world.Now RJ is back inside a computer, trapped in a 1930s film noir world as a private detective searching for the killer while negotiating his way through the roscoes, dames, and twists. Every step he takes toward meeting his former enemy is haunted by one question: Even if he captures the killer, will he be able to pull himself away from a computer-generated world that is more fulfilling and feels more real than his life?If you like your murder mixed with noir detective stories and virtual reality, then this exciting new series is for you!"An exciting science fiction detective story mixing cyberpunk murders with game culture and high-tech addiction."- Jason Sanford, Two-time Nebula Award Finalist

Reset: The Dowland Cases - One

Mystery, Thriller & Suspense

Dougal, Kirk

Mystery

Kirk Dougal

Quest Call: The Dowland Cases - Two

Thrillers & Suspense

Gemini Divided: The Dowland Cases - Three

An ancient evil is waiting to be reborn...One thousand years ago, Emperor Abaddon and his generals swept into the Western Kingdoms and unleashed death and destruction on the people. But ruling the world could not be accomplished until they destroyed the dragonlord and his followers, leaving themselves as the most powerful sagias alive. The dragons and the eastern countries had other plans. Legendary beasts and men banded together in a suicide mission to stop the war, meeting them in a final battle where the emperor and the dragonlord were killed. The five surviving soldiers who fought beside the dragons became the Draig D'Alikar, a group of fighters with the legacy to protect the kingdoms by carrying the bones of the dragonlord as weapons against their enemies.But now, a young woman has been found who could be a powerful enough sagia to help the emperor be reborn. Only her two brothers, one a recently liberated apprentice who has his own secret power, and the other a drunk still trying to forget their father's death, stand in the way of the generals bringing Emperor Abaddon back to life.If only the emperor would remain dead, so all the other sagias could live.Legacy of Bones is the first book in the A Tale of Bone and Steel series, an epic adventure filled with unforgettable characters, gritty action, and the future of the world hanging in the balance. If you like your epic fantasy mixed with a side order of grimdark, then this series is for you.

Legacy of Bones: A Tale of Bone and Steel - One

Science Fiction & Fantasy

Fantasy

Evil's shadow is rising...\nA thousand years of waiting are about to end. Emperor Abaddon's generals believe they have finally discovered the way to resurrect him, using a woman who may be powerful enough in saca to bring life to him again and lead them to victory. But first they need to test Keely Staghorn to see if she can be the prophesied Matra.\nKeely's brothers are trying to rescue her from that fate. Gera and Dax rush to help her escape the generals' clutches before she is locked behind the gates of the Sacara Institute, but that nearly impossible task has suddenly become even more difficult.\nWhile Gera comes to grips with his new responsibilities as one of the legendary Draig D'Alikar, warriors chosen by the dragon bone weapons they wield, he must try to find a way to help his sister as war begins stirring around him.\nDax's path is no easier. He has found Keely and helps her to escape, but demons of his own making are striving to destroy the siblings' hopes, and with them the world's last chance for peace.\nBlack Shadow Rising is the second book in the A Tale of Bone and Steel series, an epic adventure filled with unforgettable characters, gritty action, and the future of the world hanging in the balance.

Black Shadow Rising: A Tale of Bone and Steel - Two

Literature & Fiction

Genre Fiction

War has been unleashed...Blood and destruction have spread over the lands from the Windward Sea to the Luhlaza Ocean. At every step, the dead emperor's forces take cities, dethrone kings and queens, and leave death in their wake.Keely Staghorn has been swept up in the rising war. She took the dragon eye test and passed, proving herself powerful enough to be named the Matra, the mother of the resurrected emperor. Keely feels herself being trapped by the events swirling around her and, despite her abilities, she feels hopeless to escape.Gera and his Draig D'Alikar brothers are the only thing standing between the people and everlasting defeat. But at every turn, they are met by overwhelming forces. Even as Gera embraces his saca, leading his few allies to battle victories, they continue to lose the war. Their slim hopes rest on the power still living in their dragon bone weapons and the prophetic ramblings of a mad man one thousand years earlier.Yet, one question no one appears able to answer is why Emperor Abaddon wanted to destroy the kingdoms in the first place.Wings of the Storm is the third book in the A Tale of Bone and Steel series, an epic fantasy adventure filled with unforgettable characters, gritty action, and the future of the world hanging in the balance.

Wings of the Storm: A Tale of Bone and Steel - Three

When the people need them the most, their mightiest warriors have been torn apart.Gera Staghorn is winning battles, but the war with the dead emperor's army is spinning out of control. He is still growing into his role as a leader but one of his Draig D'Alikar brothers has lost his sword, another has died, and a third is losing his mind. Now their home is under siege with little chance of driving off the enemy.But all hope is not lost. Gera and the other D'Alikars are searching for the meaning to an ancient prophecy that named a savior who could defeat the emperor. With his magic and dragon bone sword, he might be the answer. But the enemy is also looking for their own clues that will pave the way for the emperor's rebirth.Will Gera discover if he is the Joiner of Bones and destroy the enemy before the kingdoms and magic are lost?Joiner of Bones is the exciting fourth book in the A Tale of Bone and Steel epic fantasy series. If you like gritty battles, daring heroes, and potent magic in a grimdark package, then you'll love Kirk Dougal's action-packed adventure.

Joiner of Bones: A Tale of Bone and Steel - Four

Keely Staghorn is trapped in a gilded prison. 
The resurrected emperor’s power expands and threatens to overwhelm her. His armies capture more kingdoms every day, forcing survivors to worship his religion or face torture. Others are marched into caves to become slaves for his allies, never seeing sunlight again. 
The Draig D’Alikar warriors are scattered to the winds, battling the enemy on several fronts. 
Keely’s brother, Gera D’Alikar, having already defeated two of the emperor’s sorcerers, chases a third in a desperate attempt to save their homes. Two other legends fight the emperor’s forces in losing battles while Sanchere D’Alikar searches for the dragons to beg for their help in the war. 
But the D’Alikars are so far away, and the watcher whispers in Keely’s head, pulsing with rage and mounting power. And the voice is growing louder. 
Can she escape before the emperor is reborn? 
DRAGONKILLER is the gripping fifth book in the A Tale of Bone and Steel epic fantasy series. If you like gritty battles, daring heroes, and potent magic in a grimdark package, then you will love Kirk Dougal’s action-packed adventure. 
Praise for A Tale of Bone and Steel series:“A genuinely engaging story. One that I'd recommend to fans of grimdark stories.” - The Fantasy Inn 
“Definitely find this to be a great read…engaging and fun.” Feathered Quill Book Awards Judges’ Comments – Finalist 2021

Dragonkiller: A Tale of Bone and Steel - Five

Gera D’Alikar has failed the western kingdoms. 
The greatest warrior of the legendary D’Alikar caste, he now lives his life in an enemy cage, tortured to within a hair of his death. The kingdoms’ armies continue to fight without him, when they stop bickering with each other, but they lose ground and lives with every battle. 
Emperor Abaddon continues his march forward, playing country against country, king against queen, and defeating all those with the courage to stand up to his forces. With Gera's capture, his dream of finally killing the last of the dragons and taking all their magic for himself is within his grasp. 
Gera is not the only Draig D’Alikar still alive, however. The others search desperately for him, betting their own lives and the fate of the kingdoms on bringing him back into the fight. Even Clark Miller, the young man Gera swore to protect from harm, scours the countryside for clues to where Gera is being kept, joined by a crazy old man who rambles incoherently about signs and dreams. 
But even if the D’Alikars and his friends find Gera alive, will he still have the power to steer war away from the darkness? 
PATH OF SHADOWS is the exciting sixth book in the A Tale of Bone and Steel epic fantasy series. If you like gritty battles, daring heroes, and potent magic in a grimdark package, then you will love Kirk Dougal’s action-packed adventures.\nPraise for A Tale of Bone and Steel series:\n“A genuinely engaging story. One that I'd recommend to fans of grimdark stories.” - The Fantasy Inn\n“Definitely find this to be a great read…engaging and fun.” Feathered Quill Book Awards Judges’ Comments – Finalist 2021

Path of Shadows: A Tale of Bone and Steel - Six

Gera D’Alikar has killed another of the emperor’s favored magic users and escaped the sadistic torture that almost convinced him to surrender his fight against the evil leader’s rebirth. With the help of Lizza Percle and her niece, Chara, the trio desperately tries to find their way back to his D’Alikar brothers and rally the kingdoms in the war. 
Emperor Abaddon and his armies continue to destroy anyone who stands in his way as he prepares for his rebirth. Those kingdoms in the east who have not bent their knee to his rule now fall beneath his swords. He is left with only one more great task before he breathes again for the first time in more than a thousand summers: Kill the ancient dragon who lives in the temple at the heart of the Faramor mountains. When that deed is done, Abaddon and his followers know there will be no one left to stop his arrival. 
But word is already spreading about a new danger, an army of refugees fed up with the war, the D’Alikars, magic users, and dragon worshipers. The merciless horde kills any they believe have been touched by the power, leaving a bloody trail behind them as they head north to a lone city on the frontier where a faithful group of dragon worshipers is rumored to have done the impossible and summoned a dragon for their protection. 
The whispers also reach Gera. But to him, they do not just tell of a dragon, but a story of one of his family in jeopardy. Now he must choose between attempting to save the kingdoms from the emperor or rescuing someone he loves. 
Praise for A Tale of Bone and Steel: 
“A genuinely engaging story. One that I’d recommend to fans of grimdark stories.” 
- The Fantasy Inn

Flight of the Dragonlord: A Tale of Bone and Steel - Seven

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Books by Kirk Dougal