by CM Raymond
The group nodded in assent. Each of them knew it was the truth. They had underestimated the Chancellor and his cunning, and, in the end, it bit them in the ass.
“What now?” Gregory asked. “We’ve lost a battle—a big ass battle. Adrien’s alive and worse, he has that freaking war machine in the air.” He looked around the table. “Not to mention the Guard is bigger than it’s ever been. Parker may have taken out one contingent, but that’s a drop in the bucket compared to his real forces. There’s nothing that’s going to stop him. Maybe we should make for the Heights. Regroup. Hide out.”
“No,” Hannah growled, still facing out the window. “You’re wrong. Zeke’s plan was a good one. We followed it, and it damned near worked. Hell, we did more damage and took more ground than I ever expected we would.” She paused and the silence commanded the room. “We can stop him, we just need a new plan.”
Karl snorted. “Aye, Lass. We and what bloody army?”
Hannah smiled and pointed out the window. “That bloody army.”
Everyone rose from their seats and rushed to the window to see what she was pointing at. A line of people—hundreds of them—streamed out of the woods toward the tower. Factory workers and people of the Boulevard walked side-by-side with men and women from the market. Dozens of finely dressed nobles were mixed in among the crowd.
A chill ran down Hannah’s spine as she watched Julianne at the head of the line leading them toward their new home.
“Ah, I almost forgot,” Karl said as he reached into his belt and drew a silver knife. “If we’re goin’ to war, yer gonna need this.” He handed her the blade.
“My knife! How’d you find it?” she asked.
“Craziest damned thing,” he said. “I was leading a bunch of half-starved prisoners out of the factory through that burning hanger, when my old knife came flying out of the sky, covered in blood. Almost took my damned ear off!”
Hannah took the blade, then hugged the rearick. Karl snorted and hugged her back.
Her smile only grew as she looked up at Ezekiel. “We did it your way, Zeke, and it worked. This was no defeat. We have liberated the people, and the city is with us. Just look at them! With their support, there’s nothing we can’t do. But convincing them, that was only the first stage. Your rebellion worked, now we do it my way.”
Parker gave her a crooked grin. “What’s that, my lady?”
She turned and looked at her team.
“We take the fight to Adrien, with all of the force and fervor of true Arcadians. Our rebellion is over; it’s time for the revolution to begin!”
Arcadians
(Artwork by Eric Quigley)
Author Notes - Lee Barbant
Written 04/19/17
“Ahhh!!!! What’s going to happen next!” Lee screamed, staring at a blank Word Doc titled Rise of Magic Book 04.
Just kidding.
I’ve got the next twenty books safely locked away in my old noggin. The question is, how do I get them out without doing damage to my old noggin...
Actually, I should be freaking out right now—my mind bouncing in a million different directions. But I’m strangely quite-calm.
My semester is wrapping up, which means I have a ton of grading to do. Plus, I promised my wife I would finish remodeling the kitchen on the old house we just bought. No easy task, considering Gregory is way better at physical magic than I am with a hammer. Oh yeah, and I have a baby on the way (the doctor gleefully informed me today that Baby Barbant could come at any time now. I promptly called him a bastard and stormed out of the office—at least that’s what I imagined doing. My wife informs me that I just nodded my head and stammered like an idiot).
Chris had assured me that babies were a piece of cake—and that I’d probably increase my writing productivity becoming a father. Thankfully, a bunch of you let me know on Amazon Reviews that Chris is a pathological liar. I’ve since taken some necessary precautions.
On top of all that life stuff, I’m now working on the fourth book in Hannah’s saga. But here’s the thing… I’ve never written a fourth book before. The previous two series I did with Chris came to a stop with book three (a temporary stop… we’ll get back to Jack Carson and the Steel City Heroes one of these days).
There’s just something about finishing a trilogy that sucks the wind out of you. Or at least me. With those other books, I desperately needed a break after book three. I needed to recharge, get some fresh ideas.
But for some reason, I’m not having that problem at all with Hannah. Book 4 is screaming to be written. It’s actually mostly outlined already, like all the work that Hannah needs to do couldn’t wait another minute to get on the page.
The whole ROM storyline has been like that for me. Sometimes, getting ideas for what to do next can be like pulling teeth. But when it comes to Hannah, our biggest problem so far has been too many ideas. (Fun Fact: the Rebellion ending that you just read was meant to happen way back in book 1. But Michael looked at all the things we wanted to include to take us from point A—Hannah doing accidental magic to heal her brother, to point B—Adrien blowing up the Boulevard, and promptly told us we were idiots. Which is why we have three books instead of one.)
It’s a testament to how much fun we’re having with these characters.
I think that’s one of the reason why I’m so calm right now. I’ve found a certain peace that comes when you’re doing something you love.
And maybe I’m learning a little something from Hannah. Hannah is unlike me in every way, shape, and form. And yet, I feel that I’m increasingly drawn in by her confidence and willingness to roll with the punches. It’s like she’s staring into a storm and daring it to blink. It’s an attitude I’m trying to adopt in my writing, my remodeling, my teaching, and yes… my parenting.
Speaking of staring into the storm… the response we’ve gotten from you all regarding the Rise of Magic has been so overwhelming, that we decided that one series was not nearly enough. A group of five talented authors are teaming up with Michael, Chris, and I to explore other characters and corners of Irth, to push magic to new heights, and ultimately, tell some kickass stories. Get ready for more books written in the Age of Magic!
Their books are going to start rolling out next month. You’re gonna love them. And I guarantee that they’re gonna love you.
As they’re writing their stories, they are absolutely paying attention to what you write on Amazon and what you’ve been saying on the Age of Magic Facebook page. So let us and them know what you’re thinking, and I’m sure they will listen. And the Age of Magic will be all the better for it.
All right, time to fix that damned sink. Then it’s back to the books. I’m ready to see how the Revolution ends.
For the Boulevard!
Lee
PS - I’ve got nothing to include in the postscript. Aren’t you proud of me???
Author Notes - Chris Raymond
Written 04/19/17
Friends,
Man, what a finish! When we were pulling toward the final chapters of Rebellion, I was writing with a ball of anxiety stuck in my throat. We wanted a gloriously triumphant ending, but we also knew where the story was leading us.
Adrien is a bad guy with a badass flying machine! Something has to be blasted off the face of Irth…
Lee was convinced it was the Boulevard.
I wondered if it could be a non-descript oak tree in the middle of the forest.
Strange?
It gets stranger.
Here’s my issue with writing stories:
Before I wrote fantasy, I wrote superhero books (you might like ‘em).
Before I wrote superhero books, I wrote a little middle grade series (which will one day reemerge).
But before that, I wrote philosophy.
Not self-help books, but philosophy proper… At least in the form of a dissertation to finish my PhD.
Here’s the kicker: Without getting too into the weeds, my work was focused on the role of
places in our lives. That is, I argued that the places in which we live tie us to reality, anchor our memories, and shape our emotional being.
There’s a lot more, but I’ll spare you the academic mumbo-jumbo.
These days, when people talk about writing fun, fast, pop fiction, they say that the most important things are character and plot. And when they do, my philosopher brain yells, “AND PLACE!”
My books are not just about people and their events, they are also, quintessentially, about places—no matter how much I try to pull back on the reins, setting has a very important role for me as a writer.
As we start Revolution, book 4 of the Rise of Magic series, Irth is coming alive. I have fallen in love with the Heights and Arcadia, I’m curious about the Frozen North, and, to be honest, I’m a little scared of the Madlands… but most of all, I’m damned sad about the devastation of the Boulevard. She was a character in our stories from page one!
But if I know one thing, I know this… Hannah and her friends are on the move to take back Arcadia. And I have a feeling that the Boulevard will be rebuilt.
We’ll just have to keep on writing to find out.
Cheers,
Chris
Author Notes - Michael Anderle
Written 04/19/17
Michael’s Notes.
“Gott Verdammt these guys!” Screamed the author (mentally, wouldn’t want to upset the neighbors) as his eyes watered while reading/editing one of the scenes in this book. I won’t say which scene because it might not have affected you the same as me and then where would I be?
Having to explain why a scene made me tear up, and not you. That would suck.
Right now, Restriction and Reawakening are still top #1,000 best-selling books on Amazon, and I have nothing to explain the Rise of Magic’s success. Because, if there was one series that causes a bifurcation for Kurtherian Gambit fans, it is this one.
The challenge, for some readers, is the magic isn’t scientific enough, and that is OK. I believe (when all of this is finally pulled together) the explanation is solid if a bit imaginative.
But, when has science fiction ever allowed the known truth to get in the way of a good story? Hell, except for HARD science fiction (shudder…that gives me the shivers to think I’d have to write the hard stuff) we are constantly trying to find the next unreality that fires the imagination of a reader now, so when they have the ability to look into it, maybe THEY discover the truth behind the fiction.
At least that is my story, and I’m sticking to it.
I’ve mentioned it before, and I’ll say it again. Working with Chris and Lee was every bit a wonderful experience as I had hoped it would be. Further, to see Lee come out of his shell a little more (you can’t shut Chris up in public, Lee … maybe a little easier) has been a pleasure.
Perhaps it isn’t that Lee is as restrained as I think, it’s just that Chris is so bombastic, Lee seems like a delicate flower by comparison?
I’m not sure.
Either way, I dig these two guys. I’ve liked them ever since I started listening to their podcast, and I continue to enjoy working with them as The Rise of Magic, and I look forward to the next story, and the next and the one(s) after that.
Ad Aeternitatem guys, your stories are fantastic and the same to you, the readers. Without your support and sharing, we couldn’t do what we do as well.
Michael
P.S. - THANK YOU for not only reading this whole book, but staying to the end and reading these author notes, as well!
Also by CM Raymond and LE Barbant:
Steel City Heroes Saga
The Catalyst
https://www.amazon.com/Catalyst-Steel-City-Heroes-Book-ebook/dp/B01EQRDRTI/
The Crucible
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FX5RO5U/
The Casting
https://www.amazon.com/Casting-Steel-City-Heroes-Book-ebook/dp/B01I60N3AO/
Jack Carson Stories
The Devil’s Due
https://www.amazon.com/Devils-Jack-Carson-Story-Book-ebook/dp/B01MRR24I2/
The Devil’s Wager
https://www.amazon.com/Devils-Wager-Jack-Carson-Story-ebook/dp/B01MZJ0JIU/
The Devil You Know (Coming April 2017)
Don’t miss a single release by Barbant and Raymond. Sign up for news and giveaways:
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Website:
www.smokeandsteel.com
Michael Anderle
Kurtherian Gambit Series Titles Include:
First Arc
Death Becomes Her (01) - Queen Bitch (02) - Love Lost (03) - Bite This (04)
Never Forsaken (05) - Under My Heel (06) Kneel Or Die (07)
Second Arc
We Will Build (08) - It’s Hell To Choose (09) - Release The Dogs of War (10)
Sued For Peace (11) - We Have Contact (12) - My Ride is a Bitch (13)
Don’t Cross This Line (14)
Third Arc (Due 2017)
Never Submit (15) - Never Surrender (16) - Forever Defend (17)
Might Makes Right (18) - Ahead Full (19) - Capture Death (20)
Life Goes On (21)
**New Series**
The Second Dark Ages
The Dark Messiah (01)
The Boris Chronicles
* With Paul C. Middleton *
Evacuation
Retaliation
Revelation
Restitution 2017
Reclaiming Honor
* With JUSTIN SLOAN *
Justice Is Calling (01)
Claimed By Honor (02)
Judgement Has Fallen (03)
Angel of Reckoning (04)
The Etheric Academy
* With TS PAUL *
ALPHA CLASS (01)
ALPHA CLASS (02)
ALPHA CLASS (03) Coming soon
Terry Henry “TH” Walton Chronicles
* With CRAIG MARTELLE *
Nomad Found (01)
Nomad Redeemed (02)
Nomad Unleashed (03)
Nomad Supreme (04)
Nomad’s Fury (05)
Nomad’s Justice (06)
Trials and Tribulations
* With Natalie Grey *
Risk Be Damned (01)
Damned to Hell (02) coming soon
Hell’s Worst Nightmare (03) coming soon
SHORT STORIES
Frank Kurns Stories of the Unknownworld 01 (7.5)
You Don’t Mess with John’s Cousin
Frank Kurns Stories of the Unknownworld 02 (9.5)
Bitch’s Night Out
Frank Kurns Stories of the Unknownworld 02 (13.25)
With Natalie Grey
Bellatrix
AudioBooks
Available at Audible.com and iTunes
The Kurtherian Gambit
Death Becomes Her - Available Now