Fortune's Fools Series by E.M. Swift-Hook

Librarian note: Older cover of B01FKY8EBM.One man's fight against fate shapes the destiny of an entire world.Caer's breath hissed between his teeth. For some reason he had assumed that offworlders would be frail, with weak, puny bodies. From all he had heard they were feeble, using machines they had invented to do the work of their muscles. But this one was strong and his body was built like any ordinary man... moreLibrarian note: Older cover of B01FKY8EBM.One man's fight against fate shapes the destiny of an entire world.Caer's breath hissed between his teeth. For some reason he had assumed that offworlders would be frail, with weak, puny bodies. From all he had heard they were feeble, using machines they had invented to do the work of their muscles. But this one was strong and his body was built like any ordinary man. His flesh carried several old scars and his muscles were clean and compact beneath the skin. The thought struck him that this man would fetch a fortune in the Alfor slave pens. The castellans would be scrambling over each other to purchase something so rare and exotic as a genuine offworlder. “See, he is a fighter, Captain. This and this - they were made by blades,” Zarul said, pointing at the scars. Caer nodded.“Well, if he lives, perhaps we shall find out what kind of fighter he is, this man from the stars.”Temsevar is an insignificant Periphery world on the very fringes of galactic civilisation. Settled long before the rise of faster-than-light technologies and left isolated for hundreds of years, its population have degenerated into the barbarism of a medieval culture. This primitive world has nothing the wealthy planets of the Coalition could want, until it becomes unwitting host to one of their most dangerous enemies - Avilon Revid.From the moment he wakes up in the caravan of the merchant-princess Alexa the Fair, Avilon has to fight simply to survive in a world where he is seen as alien and dangerous. It is a battle to obtain his freedom,that pushes his skills and resources to the limit,so he can find a way off-planet before his enemies in the Coalition track him down.But Temsevar has its own brutal conflicts being played out against the backdrop of its harsh and unforgiving climate. The society is dominated by a ruthless Warlord, intent on subduing the entire continent to his will and whose brilliant general - Jariq Zarengor - has earned a reputation for callous bloodshed. And then there is the enigmatic Durban Chola, trading information to whoever pays him for it, while playing his own, highly dangerous, game with fate.The Fated Sky is the first volume in a new series of character driven books, which combine the action and space opera of science-fiction classics with the intrigue and political duplicity of the fantasy and historical genres. If 'Game of Thrones' met 'Star Wars' - this is what their progeny might look like. less

One woman must lead her people in a desperate stand against tyranny.“In eight generations nothing like this has been received by any Harkeran ruler. And yet now it is you, a widow, someone who has no blood-claim to the crown in your own right, who is being called upon to deal with a declaration of war.” Fate has left Jaelya Roussal ruling as Regent of Harkera at the most troubled time in its history... moreOne woman must lead her people in a desperate stand against tyranny.“In eight generations nothing like this has been received by any Harkeran ruler. And yet now it is you, a widow, someone who has no blood-claim to the crown in your own right, who is being called upon to deal with a declaration of war.” Fate has left Jaelya Roussal ruling as Regent of Harkera at the most troubled time in its history. The Warlord Qabal Vyazin has set his sights on seizing the country and making it part of his powerful, barbaric empire, and he would crush the stirrings of the more progressive and compassionate way of life that the nation has embraced. Harkera is also home to a powerful secret which could affect the fate of all the Coalition worlds. Jaelya needs the help of every friend she can find to keep her daughter's kingdom safe. But first she has to decide if she can trust those who offer to help her protect Harkera - or if to do so risks losing everything she cares for to betrayal. Temsevar is an insignificant Periphery world on the very fringes of galactic civilization. Settled long before the rise of faster-than-light technologies and left isolated for hundreds of years, its population has degenerated into the barbarism of a medieval culture. This primitive world has nothing the wealthy planets of the Coalition could want, until it becomes unwitting host to one of their most dangerous enemies - Avilon Revid. But Temsevar has its own struggles, which are being played out against the backdrop of its harsh society and unforgiving climate. Times of Change is the second Volume in the Transgressor Trilogy. It continues the story of the events on Temsevar which began in The Fated Sky and tracks the lives of Avilon Revid, Durban Chola and Jariq Zarengor as they struggle to survive in the dangerous world of Temsevaran high politics and open warfare. less

In the arena a fight can only ever end one way - with blood on the sand. “You are rattling the wrong cage," he said, his tone cold. "I laid those ghosts in my first year of the arena – I was eighteen and I killed the three men I thought of as my best friends in as many moons. You are the one with a problem about it, not me.” The Sabre is the most famous of the gladiatorial fighters in the Arena of Alfor... moreIn the arena a fight can only ever end one way - with blood on the sand. “You are rattling the wrong cage," he said, his tone cold. "I laid those ghosts in my first year of the arena – I was eighteen and I killed the three men I thought of as my best friends in as many moons. You are the one with a problem about it, not me.” The Sabre is the most famous of the gladiatorial fighters in the Arena of Alfor. He knows how to face any opponent on the sand and has defeated them all in the blood-games patronised by the wealthy elite of medieval Temsevar. But the Warlord Qabal Vyazin has decreed the arena is to become a means of political execution and even the Sabre will have to struggle to survive. Temsevar is an insignificant Periphery world on the very fringes of galactic civilisation. Settled long before the rise of faster-than-light technologies and left isolated for hundreds of years, its population has degenerated into the barbarism of a medieval culture. This primitive world has nothing the wealthy planets of the Coalition could want, until it becomes unwitting host to one of their most dangerous enemies - Avilon Revid. But Temsevar has its own struggles, which are being played out against the backdrop of its harsh society and unforgiving climate. As the action on Temsevar moves to the end-game, those caught up in events find themselves polarised and choosing sides, unsure of where the dagger of betrayal may hide. But offworld influences are reaching into the planets affairs and Temsevar itself could fall under threat from the Coalition.Dues of Blood is the third volume in the Transgressor Trilogy, which began with The Fated Sky and Times of Change. It follows events up to the final crisis on Temsevar, as the Warlord Qabal Vyazin seeks to secure his grip over the last pockets of resistance and the true secret of Harkera is finally uncovered. less

“You’ve been gone a long time Jaz, and word is you’ve come back – changed." After five years of brutal convict military service, Jaz just wants to rebuild his shattered life. But the past is hard to escape. The 'City has always been a dangerous place to live: now it's lethal. Not only are the crime lords exploiting its lawless streets, it is also the unwitting test bed for a sinister corporate technology... more“You’ve been gone a long time Jaz, and word is you’ve come back – changed." After five years of brutal convict military service, Jaz just wants to rebuild his shattered life. But the past is hard to escape. The 'City has always been a dangerous place to live: now it's lethal. Not only are the crime lords exploiting its lawless streets, it is also the unwitting test bed for a sinister corporate technology. As Jaz tries to find an old friend who needs him, can a new ally help? Can he even be trusted? 'Trust A Few' is the first book in 'Haruspex', a tense new, sci-fi trilogy from Fortune's Fools. less

Dear Durban, I know I've not been in touch as much as I should but I brought a man to the City called Zathery Ryle. He is paying me to help him kill you. Take care. Best wishes, Charis. When Charis discovers her best friend has taken over a criminal syndicate and her boyfriend has been keeping dangerous secrets from her, things begin to spin apart. She learns the hard way that in the City your own fingers can easily get just as dirty as those you despise.