Instrument of Chaos

by Rebecca Hall

  “When did you get so wise?” Nikola asked with a faint smile.

  “I didn’t,” Mitch grinned. “You were just being stupid. I love you and nothing will change that.”

  “You already said that,” Nikola grinned back at him.

  “And I’m going to keep saying it.” Mitch kissed him again, and again, and they sank back onto the grass together, Nikola safe and smiling in his arms.

  “So about those room arrangements…” Mitch said. Nikola laughed.

  <<<>>>

  Acknowledgements

  This whole book series thing happened a lot faster than I ever thought it would, so it seems only fair that I thank the people who helped transform it from a scrivener project to a real book with pages and things.

  First to Nic and Brittany who listened to me blabble about imaginary people before there was even a first draft, let alone a book, and provided me with all of the encouragement I could ever want.

  To the wonderful team at Elsewhen Press who actually did all of the transformy things (and gave me bookmarks). My editor Peter, proofreader Sofia, and Alison who created my beautiful feathery covers.

  To Christopher Nuttall who provided feedback and encouragement and readers. I will be eternally grateful for the samples he included in his books (if that isn’t how you got here then you should check him out).

  To all of the lovely people I’ve met at conventions over the years (there are far too many of you to name). It’s nice to know that I’m not alone in the word mines and everyone has that one character with a mind of their own and that one scene that just won’t co-operate.

  To my parents, without whom this entire crazy experiment would have been impossible.

  And finally, to you for reading this book (and presumably the first two).

  Thank you.

  Rebecca Hall, November 2017

  Elsewhen Press

  an independent publisher specialising in Speculative Fiction

  Visit the Elsewhen Press website at elsewhen.co.uk for the latest information on our titles, authors and events; to read our blog; find out where to buy our books and ebooks; or to place an order.

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  Symphony of the Cursed trilogy

  Rebecca Hall

  Instrument of Peace

  Raised in the world-leading Academy of magic rather than by his absentee parents, Mitch has come to see it as his home. He’s spent more time with his friends than his family and the opinion of his maths teacher matters far more than that of his parents. His peaceful life is shattered when a devastating earthquake strikes and almost claims his little brother’s life. But this earthquake is no natural phenomenon, it’s a result of the ongoing war between Heaven and Hell. To protect the Academy, one of the teachers makes an ill-advised contract with a fallen angel, unwittingly bringing down The Twisted Curse on staff and students.

  Even as they struggle to rebuild the school, things begin to go wrong. The curse starts small, with truancy, incomplete assignments, and negligent teachers over-reacting to minor transgressions, but it isn’t long before the bad behaviour escalates to vandalism, rioting and attempted murder. As they succumb to the influence of the curse, Mitch’s friends drift away and his girlfriend cheats on him. When the first death comes, Mitch unites with the only other students who, like him, appear to be immune to the curse; together they are determined to find the cause of the problem and stop it.

  ebook, paperback (368pp)

  Instrument of War

  The Angels are coming.

  The Host wants to know what the Academy was trying to hide and why the Fallen agreed to it. They want the Instrument of War, the one thing that can tip the Eternity War in their favour and put an end to the stalemate. Any impact on the Academy staff, students or buildings is just collateral damage.

  Mitch would like to forget that the last year ever happened, but that doesn’t seem likely with Little Red Riding Hood now teaching Teratology. The vampire isn’t quite as terrifying as he first thought, but she’s not the only monster at the Academy. The Fallen are spying on everyone, the new Principal is an angel and there’s an enchanting exchange student with Faerie blood.

  Angry and nervous of the angels surrounding him, Mitch tries to put the pieces together. He knows that Hayley is the Archangel Gabriel. He knows that she can determine the course of the Eternity War. He also knows that the Fallen will do anything to hide Gabriel from the Host – even allowing an innocent girl to be kidnapped.

  ebook, paperback (352pp)

  Instrument of Chaos

  The long hidden heart of the Twisted Curse had been found, concealed in a realm that no angel can enter, where magic runs wild and time is just another direction. The Twisted Curse is the key to ending the Eternity War and it can only be broken by someone willing to traverse the depths of Faerie.

  Unfortunately, Mitch has other things on his mind. For reasons that currently escape him he’s going to university, making regular trips to the Netherworld and hunting down a demon. The Academy might have prepared him for university but Netherworlds and demons were inexplicably left off the curriculum, not to mention curse breaking.

  And then the Angels return, and this time they’re hunting his best friend.

  ebook, paperback (328pp)

  Visit bit.ly/SymphonyCursed

  Bookworm series by Christopher Nuttall

  Bookworm

  Elaine, an inexperienced witch in Golden City, has her life turned upside down when she triggers a magical trap and ends up with all the knowledge in the Great Library stuffed inside her head. Avoiding the Inquisition she tries to understand what has happened to her. But she is a pawn in the dark plans of one who wants the Grand Sorcerer’s power.

  Bookworm won the Gold Award in the Adult Fiction category of the 2013 Wishing Shelf Independent Book Awards

  ebook, paperback (368pp)

  Visit bit.ly/Bookworm-Nuttall

  Bookworm II – The Very Ugly Duckling

  Not every ugly duckling becomes a swan …

  In the wake of the disastrous attack on the Golden City, Lady Light Spinner has become Grand Sorceress and Elaine, the Bookworm, has been settling into her positions as Head Librarian and Privy Councillor. But any hope of vanishing into her books is negated when a new magician of staggering power appears in the city, one whose abilities seem to defy the known laws of magic.

  ebook, paperback (432pp)

  Visit bit.ly/Bookworm2-Nuttall

  Bookworm III – The Best Laid Plans

  Elaine and Johan prepare to leave Golden City, with Daria and Cass, to search for the Witch-King. But Elaine is arrested on the orders of a new Emperor, puppet of the Witch-King. She must escape and destroy him. Privy Councillors and Heads of the Great Houses have bowed to the Emperor. Only Elaine and her friends can prevent an all-out war.

  ebook, paperback (400pp)

  Visit bit.ly/Bookworm3

  Bookworm IV – Full Circle

  Until now the Witch-King had remained hidden as a lich. But Elaine was intent on his destruction. Bonded to the unknowingly powerful Johan, she was the only other magician who understood the deeper layers of magic. As they slowly made their way towards the catacombs in Ida where his lich was hiding, he had to rely on the new Emperor to stop them.

  ebook, paperback (416pp)

  visit bit.ly/Bookworm4

  Available in audiobook from Trantor.

  The Royal Sorceress series

  Christopher Nuttall

  The Royal Sorceress series will certainly appeal to all fans of steampunk, alternative history, and fantasy. As well as the fun of the ‘what-ifs’ delivered by the rewriting of our past, it delights with an Empire empowered by magic – all the better for being one we can recognise.

  The Royal Sorceress

  Book I of the Royal Sorceress series

  1830, in an alternate Britain where the ‘scientific’ principles of magic, disco
vered 60 years previously, allowed the British to prevent American Independence. The ageing Royal Sorcerer, Master Thomas, must find a successor: a Master of all the known magical powers. There’s only 1 candidate, who has displayed such a talent from an early age. A candidate perfect in all ways but one: the Royal College of Sorcerers has never admitted a girl before.

  ebook, paperback (400pp)

  The Great Game

  Book II of the Royal Sorceress series

  After the uprising in London, Lady Gwendolyn Crichton is settling into her new position as Royal Sorceress and fighting the prejudice against her gender and age that seeks to prevent her from fulfilling her responsibilities. But when a senior magician is murdered in a locked room and Gwen is charged with finding the culprit, her inquiries lead her into a web of intrigue that combines international politics, widespread aristocratic blackmail, gambling dens and personal vendettas... and some of her discoveries hit dangerously close to home.

  ebook, paperback (400pp)

  Necropolis

  Book III of the Royal Sorceress series

  War with France is imminent. Lady Gwendolyn should be firmly focussed on preparing the Royal Sorcerers Corps, but her adopted daughter Olivia is kidnapped. When Intelligence establishes that Russian agents took Olivia, an incognito Gwen joins a diplomatic mission to Russia where she discovers that a deranged Tsar’s plans threaten the entire world.

  ebook, paperback (416pp)

  Sons of Liberty

  Book IV of the Royal Sorceress series

  England has been invaded, and Gwen is helping to fight off French magicians. After accidentally dementing an incompetent major, Gwen is sent to New York to train local magicians. She sets off with Irene and Raechel, a naval squadron and a regiment of reinforcements. But even before they reach New York they meet armed opposition.

  ebook, paperback (416pp)

  visit bit.ly/RoyalSorceress

  A Life Less Ordinary

  Christopher Nuttall

  There is magic in the world, hiding in plain sight. If you search for it, you will find it, or it will find you. Welcome to the magical world.

  Dizzy expected nothing from life, until she stumbled from the mundane world into the magical world, an alternate reality where dragons flew through the sky and the Great Powers watched over the world. Forgetting her old life, Dizzy became apprenticed to one of the most powerful magicians in all of reality and a bright future beckoned. But powerful dark forces had their eye on the young and inexperienced magician, intending to use her for the ultimate act of evil – the apocalyptic destruction of all reality. Now, Dizzy must beat them. If she cannot, both the magical and mundane worlds will be consumed in fire.

  ebook, paperback (336pp)

  visit bit.ly/ALLO-Nuttall

  The Mind’s Eye

  Christopher Nuttall

  For centuries, men have been dreaming of telepathy, the power to read and influence the minds of others. Now, all around the world, telepaths are finally starting to appear. Men and women are developing awesome powers with the potential to dramatically change society. Governments are soon starting to become aware of them, even recruiting them, while striving to keep knowledge of their abilities hidden from the general public. Academic researchers too are discovering telepaths and it isn’t long before awareness of their existence starts to spread. But non-telepaths, ordinary people, don’t want to have their minds read or controlled; the telepaths soon find themselves widely regarded with fear and hatred. Inevitably, some of them want to fight back.

  ebook, paperback (352pp)

  visit bit.ly/MindsEye-Nuttall

  Evil Above the Stars series

  Peter R. Ellis

  Peter R. Ellis’ thrilling fantasy series, Evil Above the Stars, appeals to fantasy and science fiction readers of all ages, especially fans of JRR Tolkien and Stephen Donaldson. Were the ideas embodied in alchemy ever right? What realities were the basis of Celtic mythology? Visit bit.ly/EvilAbove

  Volume 1: Seventh Child

  September Weekes discovers a stone that takes her to Gwlad, where she is hailed as the one with the power to defend them against the evil known as the Malevolence. September meets the leader and bearers of metals linked to the seven ‘planets’ that give them special powers to resist the elemental manifestations of the Malevolence. She returns home, but a fortnight later, is drawn back to find that two years have passed and there have been more attacks. She must help defend Gwlad against the Malevolence.

  ebook, paperback (256pp)

  Volume 2: The Power of Seven

  September with the Council of Gwlad must plan the defence of the Land. The time of the next Conjunction will soon be at hand. The planets, the Sun and the Moon will all be together in the sky. At that point the protection of the heavenly bodies will be at its weakest and Gwlad will be more dependent than ever on September. But now it seems that she must defeat Malice, the guiding force behind the Malevolence, if she is to save the Land and all its people. Will she be strong enough; and, if not, to whom can she turn for help?

  ebook, paperback (288pp)

  Volume 3: Unity of Seven

  September is back home and it is still the night of her birthday, despite having spent over three months in Gwlad battling the Malevolence. Back to facing the bullies at school she worries about the people of Gwlad. She must discover a way to return to the universe of Gwlad and the answer seems to lie in her family history. The five Cludydds before September and her mother were her ancestors. The clues take her on a journey in time and space which reveals that while in great danger she is also the key to the survival of all the universes. September must overcome her own fears, accept an extraordinary future and, once again, face the evil above the stars.

  ebook, paperback (256pp)

  And now, September Weekes returns…

  Cold Fire

  September thought she was getting used to transporting, but this time it was different. As far as she could tell, her appearance hadn’t changed, she was still even wearing her school uniform. But in a London of 1680, others saw her as a lady of considerable social standing. She had been brought here to stop something happening that would give the Malevolence an opportunity to enter the universe. But she didn’t know what. Her first stop would be a tavern, to meet Robert Hooke, and then off to see Sir Robert Boyle demonstrate to the Royal Society the results of his investigations of the phosphorus and its cold fire.

  ebook, paperback (264pp)

  Visit bit.ly/Cold-Fire

  Urban fantasy from Tej Turner

  The Janus Cycle

  The Janus Cycle can best be described as gritty, surreal, urban fantasy. The over-arching story revolves around a nightclub called Janus, which is not merely a location but virtually a character in its own right. On the surface it appears to be a subcultural hub where the strange and disillusioned, who feel alienated and oppressed by society, can escape to be free from convention; underneath that façade is a surreal space in time where the very foundations of reality are twisted and distorted. But the special unique vibe of Janus is hijacked by a bandwagon of people who choose to conform to alternative lifestyles simply because it has become fashionable to be ‘different’, and this causes many of its original occupants to feel lost and disenchanted. We see the story of Janus unfold through the eyes of eight narrators, each with their own perspective and their own personal journey. A story in which the nightclub itself goes on a journey. But throughout, one character, a strange girl, briefly appears and reappears warning the narrators that their individual journeys are going to collide in a cataclysmic event. Is she just another one of the nightclub’s denizens, a cynical mischief-maker out to create havoc or a time-traveller trying to prevent an impending disaster?

  ebook, paperback (224pp)

  visit bit.ly/JanusCycle

  Dinnusos Rises

  The vibe has soured somewhat after a violent clash in the Janus nightclub a few months ago, and since then Neal has opened a new establishment called
‘Dinnusos’. Located on a derelict and forgotten side of town, it is not the sort of place you stumble upon by accident, but over time it enchants people, and soon becomes a nucleus for urban bohemians and a refuge for the city’s lost souls. Rumour has it that it was once a grand hotel, many years ago, but no one is quite sure. Whilst mingling in the bar downstairs you might find yourself in the company of poets, dreamers, outsiders, and all manner of misfits and rebels. And if you’re daring enough to explore its ghostly halls, there’s a whole labyrinth of rooms on the upper floors to get lost in…

  Now it seems that not just Neal’s clientele, but the entire population of the city, begin to go crazy when beings, once thought mythological, enter the mortal realm to stir chaos as they sow the seeds of militancy.

  Eight characters. Most of them friends, some of them strangers. Each with their own story to tell. All of them destined to cross paths in a surreal sequence of events which will change them forever.

  ebook, paperback (280pp)

  visit bit.ly/DinnusosRises

  About the Author

  Rebecca started writing when she was supposed to be studying for her exams at Otago University but somehow passed anyway, eventually graduating with a decorative piece of paper. She moved to the UK to pursue a career in publishing and after a couple of mishaps ended up in Edinburgh and sold the Symphony of the Cursed to Elsewhen Press, which is not quite the career she had in mind. The career she did have in mind was along more editorial lines which is why she is now a volunteer at Inspired Quill and a freelance copy-editor for everyone else. She also has a blog which she infrequently remembers to update, where those mysterious things known as short stories can be found.