Tom Lloyd

Tom Lloyd could have never imagined that in the two decades after he ran his last hometown paper route, he would run a w… Tom Lloyd could have never imagined that in the two decades after he ran his last hometown paper route, he would run a wilderness river in the Ozarks in an old wooden canoe, race through his home town with his hot rod's throttle stuck wide open, hitchhike from Boston to LA during winter, earn his Ph.D. in biochemical pharmacology from Harvard, start a heritage apple tree company, and become an 'Established Investigator' of the American Heart Association. In the second half of his 25 evocative short stories, Lloyd tells, with a grin, how seven of his comedic misadventures turned into near-death experiences. He describes finding himself in criminal court for rolling a stop sign, nearly setting his house on fire while making whiskey, and rescuing logs destined to become firewood and using this lumber to build wooden boats and furniture.This collection of short personal stories are one guy's description of the America he grew up in during the second half of the twentieth century. It was a time before we were numbed by screens and when everyday face-to-face contact was a steadying gyroscope. Lloyd's vivid descriptions give insight into the lives of Boy Scout camp counselors, oilfield roughnecks, boutique winemakers, mountain men loggers, and a spectrum of colorful characters who he thanks for their kindness and humanity. read more

Lynx is a mercenary with a sense of honour; a dying breed in the Riven Kingdom. Failed by the nation he served and weary… Lynx is a mercenary with a sense of honour; a dying breed in the Riven Kingdom. Failed by the nation he served and weary of the skirmishes that plague the continent's principalities, he walks the land in search of purpose. He wants for little so bodyguard work keeps his belly full and his mage-gun loaded. It might never bring a man fame or wealth, but he's not forced to rely on others or kill without cause. Little could compel Lynx to join a mercenary company, but he won't turn his back on a kidnapped girl. At least the job seems simple enough; the mercenaries less stupid and vicious than most he's met over the years. So long as there are no surprises or hidden agendas along the way, it should work out fine. ***** Praise for Stranger of Tempest 'The most satisfying thing I've read in a long time. Exceeded expectations that weren't even that low and scratched all my itches. Felt like i needed a cigarette afterwards - it was that good.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'Stranger of Tempest drew me in from the beginning, it has such a brilliant opening! One of the best I've read! It was at that moment that I knew I was going to enjoy this book, it cracked me up and intrigued me.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'Stranger of Tempest is a fast paced, fun read with memorable characters that you want to know more about! It's a brilliant blend of humour, action, magic, adventure, and more. I can't wait for the next book! I'm so excited to see where this is all going to go!' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ 'A great rip-roaring take, in the style of Dungeons and Dragons. The characters are real and some are likable while others downright despicable. Loved it.' Goodreads reviewer, ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ read more

The final reckoning has come: the future of the Land will be decided now and written in the blood of men. After his pyrr… The final reckoning has come: the future of the Land will be decided now and written in the blood of men. After his pyrrhic victory at Moorview, King Emin learns the truth about the child Ruhen - but he is powerless to act. Instead, he must mourn his dead friends while his enemy promises the beleaguered peoples of the Land a new age of peace. The past year has taken a grave toll: the remaining Menin troops seek revenge upon Emin, daemons freely walk the Land, and Ruhen's power is increasing daily. And yet, a glimmer of hope remains. There is one final, desperate chance for victory: a weapon so terrible only a dead man could wield it, and only a madman would try. But if they do not grasp this opportunity, King Emin and his allies will be obliterated as Ruhen's millennia-old plans are about to bear terrible fruit. If his power continues unchecked, Ruhen will achieve total dominion - and not just over mankind, but over the Gods themselves. read more

The time for heroes has come, but all the Riven Kingdom has is bastards. With war between the Militant Orders looming, t… The time for heroes has come, but all the Riven Kingdom has is bastards. With war between the Militant Orders looming, the entire continent may soon be on fire. The very nature of magic has changed and the horrors of the deepest black are rising, but an even greater danger threatens to eclipse it all. Turning the tide of history may require a gamble only a bunch of drunken lunatics are willing to take. The old ways need breaking and that's one thing the Cards are good at. Just be careful what you wish for. read more

After the shattering events of THE STORMCALLER, the eyes of the Land are on the minor city of Scree, which could soon be… After the shattering events of THE STORMCALLER, the eyes of the Land are on the minor city of Scree, which could soon be obliterated as the new Lord of the Farlan plots his revenge against Scree's rulers. Suffering under an unnatural summer drought and surrounded by volatile mercenary armies that may be its only salvation, the city is a strange sanctuary for a fugitive abbot to flee to, but he is only the first of many to be drawn there. Kings and princes, lords and monsters; all walk the sun-scorched streets while the evenings witness the performance of cruel and subversive plays that work their way into the hearts of the audience. Elite soldiers clash after dark and the city begins to tear itself apart as the sanity of its citizens crumbles, yet even chaos can be scripted. There is a malevolent will at work in Scree and one that has a lesson for the entire Land; nations can be manipulated, prophecies perverted, and Gods denied. Nothing lies beyond the reach of a shadow, and no matter how great a man's power, there some things he cannot be protected from. read more

Some men can never outrun their ghosts. Enchei thought he'd found a home at last - a life of quiet obscurity far removed… Some men can never outrun their ghosts. Enchei thought he'd found a home at last - a life of quiet obscurity far removed from the horror of his military days. After a decade in the Imperial City his mistakes have been few, but one has now returned to haunt him. As Narin's pregnant lover comes to term, life has never been so perilous. There couldn't be a worse time for a nightmare to be unleashed on the Imperial City, but luck's rarely been on Narin's side. Once, Enchei swore he'd take his own life rather than let his past catch up with him, but now it's not just his own in the balance. Demons, rogue mages and vengeful noblemen haunt the city - and a man's ghosts are always watching and waiting... read more

There is a new Saviour in the Land - but the people may come to regret the 'peace' he offers ... Lord Isak is dead, his… There is a new Saviour in the Land - but the people may come to regret the 'peace' he offers ... Lord Isak is dead, his armies and entire tribe in disarray. It falls to King Emin to continue the war alone, and the Menin are only too happy to meet his challenge. In Byora, Ruhen is developing his 'Saviour' persona. The Harlequins start preaching in his name and many of the pilgrims who flock to him are recruited to be 'Children', disciples who spread Ruhen's message. All over the Land people are starting to see Ruhen as the answer to their troubles. A showdown is coming: battle lines are finally drawn and the atrocities quickly mount. The spectre of the Great War looms, but in this age the Gods cannot and will not come to King Emin's aid. With the peoples of the Land turning against Emin and his few remaining allies, their only chance for survival lies in the hands of a dead man. read more

Tom Lloyd kicks off a spectacular new fantasy series, perfect for fans of George R. R. Martin, Joe Abercrombie and, of c… Tom Lloyd kicks off a spectacular new fantasy series, perfect for fans of George R. R. Martin, Joe Abercrombie and, of course, Tom Lloyd! In a quiet corner of the Imperial City, Investigator Narin discovers the result of his first potentially lethal mistake. Minutes later he makes a second. After an unremarkable career Narin finally has the chance of promotion to the hallowed ranks of the Lawbringers - guardians of the Emperor's laws and bastions for justice in a world of brutal expediency. Joining that honoured body would be the culmination of a lifelong dream, but it couldn't possibly have come at a worse time. A chance encounter drags Narin into a plot of gods and monsters, spies and assassins, accompanied by a grief-stricken young woman, an old man haunted by the ghosts of his past and an assassin with no past. On the cusp of an industrial age that threatens the warrior caste's rule, the Empire of a Hundred Houses awaits civil war between noble factions. Centuries of conquest has made the empire a brittle and bloated monster; constrained by tradition and crying out for change. To save his own life and those of untold thousands Narin must understand the key to it all - Moon's Artifice, the poison that could destroy an empire. read more

A collection of short stories set in the world of the Twilight Reign series Eleven stories that add further colour and s… A collection of short stories set in the world of the Twilight Reign series Eleven stories that add further colour and shape to the epic story of the Twilight Reign series - this is an essential volume for Tom Lloyd's many fans. The history of the Land may remember the slaughter at Moorview or the horror of Scree's fall, but there were other casualties of the secret war against Azaer - more tales surrounding those bloody years that went unrecorded. In the shadow of memorials to the glorious dead, these ghosts lie quiet and forgotten by all but a few. A companion collection to the Twilight Reign quintet, these eleven stories shine a rather different light on the Land. Look past the armies and politics of the Seven Tribes and you will find smaller moments that shaped the course of history in their own way. But even forgotten secrets can kill. Even shadows can have claws. read more

There's a new Card in the Mercenary Deck - one Lynx isn't sure if he's happy to see or not. The assassin Toil now wears… There's a new Card in the Mercenary Deck - one Lynx isn't sure if he's happy to see or not. The assassin Toil now wears the Princess of Blood on her jacket and even Lynx would admit she's a woman cloaked in chaos and bloodshed. Their new mission is to escort a dignitary to the pious and ancient city of Jarrazir - beneath which lies a fabled labyrinth. Having barely survived their last underground adventure the mercenaries aren't keen for another, but Toil has other plans. Under threat of siege and horrors rising from the labyrinth, even the Mercenary Deck may have to accept that Jarrazir's prohibition laws aren't their biggest problem. read more

Lynx and the rest of the Cards are heading south. There's money in their pockets, beer in their hands and a simple job a… Lynx and the rest of the Cards are heading south. There's money in their pockets, beer in their hands and a simple job ahead - sun, sea and not getting shot at much. Throw in the prospect of a bar fight and it's almost a holiday. But the volatile Mage Islands are a powder-keg, one just waiting for a spark. A bloody-handed exile perhaps, or the agent of a foreign power preparing for war. Maybe even a bunch of trigger-happy drunks who've upset the balance of magic across the Riven Kingdom. Or all three together, that'd definitely work... read more

Author's preferred edition. In a land ruled by prophecy and the whims of Gods, a young man finds himself at the heart of… Author's preferred edition. In a land ruled by prophecy and the whims of Gods, a young man finds himself at the heart of a war he barely understands, wielding powers he may never be able to control Isak is a white-eye, feared and despised in equal measure. Trapped in a life of poverty, hated and abused by his father, Isak dreams of escape, but when his chance comes, it isn't to a place in the army as he'd expected. Instead, the Gods have marked him out as heir-elect to the brooding Lord Bahl, the Lord of the Fahlan. Lord Bahl is also a white-eye, a genetic rarity that produces men stronger, more savage and more charismatic than their normal counterparts. Their magnetic charm and brute strength both inspires and oppresses others. Now is the time for revenge, and the forging of empires. With mounting envy and malice, the men who would themselves be kings watch Isak, chosen by Gods as flawed as the humans who serve them, as he is shaped and moulded to fulfil the prophecies that are encircling him like scavenger birds. The various factions jostle for the upper hand, and that means violence, but the Gods have been silent too long and that violence is about to spill over and paint the world the colour of spilled blood and guts and pain and anguish ... read more

For Isak, the time for heartless decisions and ruthless action has come if he is to save the Land from its oppressors ..… For Isak, the time for heartless decisions and ruthless action has come if he is to save the Land from its oppressors ... Scree has been wiped from the face of the Land in a brutal demonstration of intent. While those responsible scatter to work on the next step in their plan, the stakes are raised - all the way to the heavens - as the Gods themselves enter the fray. Returning home to a nation divided by fanaticism, Lord Isak is haunted both by the consequences of his actions in Scree and by visions of his own impending death. As the full extent of Azaer's schemes become clearer, he realises prophecy and zealotry must play their part in his battle-plans if there is to be any chance of surviving the coming years. As a white-eye, Isak has had to embrace the darker parts of his own soul, but now the savage religious fervour sweeping his nation must also be accepted and turned to purpose, in the name of survival. With the battle lines vague and allegiances uncertain, the time for heartless decisions and ruthless action has come. Two figures oppose Isak and his allies: the greatest warrior in history, who dreams of empire and Godhood, and a newborn baby whose dreams have no limit. read more

"Some men can never outrun their ghosts. Enchei once swore to take his own life rather than have his secrets exposed. Na… "Some men can never outrun their ghosts. Enchei once swore to take his own life rather than have his secrets exposed. Narin once swore to preserve the laws and traditions of the Empire. Both will falter as a nightmare is unleashed upon their city. As demons, rogue mages and vengeful noblemen haunt the streets, Narin's love Kine lives under a death sentence. The past is catching up with all of them and soon they will be caught in the jaws of a terrifyingly dangerous game. One that will lead to untold deaths should they fail. And a man's ghosts are always watching and waiting."--Back cover. read more

The perfect introduction to one of the best contemporary fantasy authors, Tom Lloyd In a land ruled by prophecy and the… The perfect introduction to one of the best contemporary fantasy authors, Tom Lloyd In a land ruled by prophecy and the whims of Gods, a young man finds himself at the heart of a war he barely understands, wielding powers he may never be able to control. Isak is a white-eye, born bigger, more charismatic and more powerful than normal men ... but with that power comes an unpredictable temper and an inner rage. Feared and despised by those around him, he dreams of a place in the army and a change to live his own life, but the Gods have other plans for the intemperate teenager. Over five books we follow Isak's life and the fallout from the choices he has been forced to make - choices that may well lead to his death. This sampler contains almost the first half of STORMCALLER, the first book in the sequence, as well as three related short stories and a lengthy extract from Tom Lloyd's new series, MOON'S ARTIFICE. read more

Romeo and Juliet - one of the most famous tales ever told. But what if their violent delights had not ended in tragedy?… Romeo and Juliet - one of the most famous tales ever told. But what if their violent delights had not ended in tragedy? What then for the star-crossed lovers, doomed to burn so bright and brief? When Romeo Montague fails to kill himself at his wife's side, he and Juliet instead go into exile - far from the rage of their families. Twenty years later they return with their grown children to a city still beset by the unending feud between Montagues and Capulets. Their survival has cost Verona dearly and danger stalks them still, but does their love finally hold the key to ending the city's woes? read more