Urban Magick & Folklore Series by C. Gockel

Fairy tales often have grisly endings …Fairy tales don’t always go by the book either. Cherie, the Charming Princess, rescued Jack, her sleeping prince, but she didn’t receive her happily ever after. Jack is distant, the city is in turmoil, and Cherie’s made new friends, but new enemies, too.And all the while, the Evil Queen is watching, scheming, and waiting for her chance to strike.

Once upon a time, in our ordinary world, there was a grandmother.She died.She was reborn as a Vampire in a world of Magick.The grandmother de-aged. Her ailments healed, her body became strong, and her wrinkles faded.Her wisdom, however, did not diminish. She knew monsters need monstrous names so they never forget the monsters they are.She named herself Grendel, after the medieval haunter of borderlands and drinker of warriors’ blood, slain by the hero Beowulf.The name seems appropriate... moreOnce upon a time, in our ordinary world, there was a grandmother.She died.She was reborn as a Vampire in a world of Magick.The grandmother de-aged. Her ailments healed, her body became strong, and her wrinkles faded.Her wisdom, however, did not diminish. She knew monsters need monstrous names so they never forget the monsters they are.She named herself Grendel, after the medieval haunter of borderlands and drinker of warriors’ blood, slain by the hero Beowulf.The name seems appropriate. Grendel the Grandmother haunts the borderlands and drinks the blood of (mostly) evil warriors.But in a Magickal world, names don’t just have meanings, they are prophecies.And a new hero is rising. He has been molded since birth to fight evil, and been given the tools and skills to vanquish the most insidious evil of all: Vampires.His name is Beowulf, and he’s coming for Grendel. less

Once upon a time Beowulf defeated the bloodthirsty Vampire Grendel in the worst possible way … he captured her heart.Grendel has mixed feelings about this. Beowulf is as brave and self-sacrificing as he is arrogant and stubborn. She fears his idealism will be his undoing, and maybe hers as well.After freeing enslaved Ember miners, Beowulf and Grendel are escorting the former captives on a desperate dash to safety, traveling deeper into Beowulf’s homeland, where Vampires are staked on sight... moreOnce upon a time Beowulf defeated the bloodthirsty Vampire Grendel in the worst possible way … he captured her heart.Grendel has mixed feelings about this. Beowulf is as brave and self-sacrificing as he is arrogant and stubborn. She fears his idealism will be his undoing, and maybe hers as well.After freeing enslaved Ember miners, Beowulf and Grendel are escorting the former captives on a desperate dash to safety, traveling deeper into Beowulf’s homeland, where Vampires are staked on sight. Unknown to Grendel or even Beowulf, greater dangers than slave traders or Vampire hunters wait for them. Dangers neither of then can begin to imagine.A new human king is rising, with dreams of empire. A Fae King sees a great game afoot and won’t be denied a play. Meanwhile, the trickster God Coyote has motives of his own.Grendel and Beowulf will have choices to make. Choices larger than the life and unlife of a Vampire hunter and a Vampire … Choices that will affect mortals and gods, living and dead. less

Grendel never believed love could conquer all. She’d better be wrong.Beowulf’s brother, the Dragon King, has found an unstoppable weapon, and that weapon is Beowulf. With Beowulf’s Magick, the Dragon King is creating an army capable of destroying all in its path... moreGrendel never believed love could conquer all. She’d better be wrong.Beowulf’s brother, the Dragon King, has found an unstoppable weapon, and that weapon is Beowulf. With Beowulf’s Magick, the Dragon King is creating an army capable of destroying all in its path.Can Grendel convince herself love is a force strong enough to break down the most powerful walls … the ones inside?Can she convince Beowulf she is not the enemy, or will Beowulf follow the path of his namesake, and let pride and a thirst for vengeance destroy Grendel’s homeland and himself?Grendel's faith and Beowulf's choice will decide the fate of monsters and empires, humans and non-humans, the living, and the dead. less