Mennik Thorn Series by Patrick Samphire

It was only supposed to be one little job – a simple curse-breaking for Mennik Thorn to pay back a favour to his oldest friend. But then it all blew up in his face. Now he’s been framed for a murder he didn’t commit... moreIt was only supposed to be one little job – a simple curse-breaking for Mennik Thorn to pay back a favour to his oldest friend. But then it all blew up in his face. Now he’s been framed for a murder he didn’t commit.So how is a second-rate mage, broke, traumatized, and with a habit of annoying the wrong people, supposed to prove his innocence when everyone believes he’s guilty?Mennik has no choice if he wants to get out of this: he is going to have to throw himself into the corrupt world of the city’s high mages, a world he fled years ago. Faced by supernatural beasts, the mage-killing Ash Guard, and a ruthless, unknown adversary, it’s going to take every trick Mennik can summon just to keep him and his friend alive.But a new, dark power is rising in Agatos, and all that stands in its way is one damaged mage…Third place in the Self-Published Fantasy Blog-Off 2020 (SPFBO6)Finalist in the Book Bloggers' Book of the Year Award (BBNYA) 2021Shortlisted for the Booknest Fantasy Award Best Self-published Novel 2020 less

In the city of Agatos, nothing stays buried forever.Only an idiot would ignore his debt to a high mage, and Mennik Thorn is not an idiot, no matter what anyone might say. He’s just been … distracted. But now he’s left it too late, and if he doesn’t obey the high mage’s commands within the day, his best friends’ lives will be forfeit. So it’s hardly the time to take on an impossible case: proving a woman who murdered a stranger in full view is innocent... moreIn the city of Agatos, nothing stays buried forever.Only an idiot would ignore his debt to a high mage, and Mennik Thorn is not an idiot, no matter what anyone might say. He’s just been … distracted. But now he’s left it too late, and if he doesn’t obey the high mage’s commands within the day, his best friends’ lives will be forfeit. So it’s hardly the time to take on an impossible case: proving a woman who murdered a stranger in full view is innocent.Unfortunately, Mennik can’t resist doing the right thing – and now he’s caught in a deadly rivalry between warring high mages, his witnesses are dying, and something ancient has turned its eyes upon him.The fate of the city is once again in the hands of a second-rate mage. Mennik Thorn should have stayed in hiding. less

What do a smuggling gang, a curse that won't go away, and a frequently lost dog have to do with each other? they're all here to disrupt Mennik Thorn's hard-earned peace and quiet.As the sole freelance mage in the city of Agatos, Mennik is used to some odd clients and awful jobs. But this time, one of his clients isn't giving him a choice. Mennik might have forgotten about the smugglers whose operations he disrupted, but they haven't forgotten about him... moreWhat do a smuggling gang, a curse that won't go away, and a frequently lost dog have to do with each other? they're all here to disrupt Mennik Thorn's hard-earned peace and quiet.As the sole freelance mage in the city of Agatos, Mennik is used to some odd clients and awful jobs. But this time, one of his clients isn't giving him a choice. Mennik might have forgotten about the smugglers whose operations he disrupted, but they haven't forgotten about him. Now he is faced with a simple help them smuggle in an unknown, dangerous cargo or flee the city he loves forever.Time is running out for Mennik to find an answer, and things are about to get completely out of control. less

Nik Thorn should know better than to get involved with gods.But when a priest of a hated god asks Nik to save his life, Nik can hardly refuse, particularly when the priest knows exactly how, where, when, and why he is going to be killed. How hard can it be?Of course, that’s not Nik's only problem. When is it ever? A god has been murdered, the city’s high mages are about to go to war, and fury is rising in the streets.Agatos will burn.The final book in the Mennik Thorn series.