Fates Defiant was one of my favorite reads last year, so I was so excited when it won the Realm Makers award for the fantasy category! I got to meet the co-authors C.M. Banschbach (pictured top) and Brigitte Cromey (pictured bottom).

“The story follows Bastian, a disgraced soldier, and Cyrus, the reigning arena champion. Gladiator opponents – turned allies, turned brothers.”
– C.M. Banschbach

An unexpected alliance forms when two gladiators come face to face, but in order to survive long enough to see freedom, they’ll have to fight… to the death.

4.5 stars! Read my book review here!

“This is Magician’s Apprentice. It stars Jericho Carver and Aurik Spellsmith. Jericho is the common sense son of a carpenter and is also a magician’s apprentice. Aurik is the son of the magician who was away studying in the city. They are competing to see who gets the shop when the magician retires… and havoc ensues!”
– H.L. Burke

An estranged son. An adopted heir. A magical attack that forces them to work together.

“There is a fierce rivalry between two brothers who are born just seconds apart from each other. One of them is rather evil-hearted and his name is Morlan Stormgarden. He and his brother Aravel have never gotten along. Morlan always insists there’s a better way to rule the entire kingdom. Well, Aravel ends up being king. That doesn’t sit well with his younger brother…”
– Wayne Thomas Batson

From the bestselling author of The Door Within Trilogy comes an epic tale of two powerful kings whose rivalry threatens to tear the world of Myriad apart.

“This one is about an outcast soldier who finds an unlikely friendship in a slave he kind of accidentally acquires and the two of them have a lot of unresolved issues they get to work out together. They turn out to be the best of friends. Bromance for the win!”
– Laura VanArendonk Baugh

A bastard, mage, and monster must set aside prejudices and rivalries to find an end to centuries of conflict, before they die as traitors.

“Two of the protagonists are Voldigar, a famous chanter of the Order, and Lanathor, a famous teller of the Order. Lanathor is steeped in tradition, following the code. Whereas Voldigar, old as he is, has seen many things – he loves the code as well, but he’s willing to break it to do what he thinks is right. Which brings them to loggerheads at times, but they are fast friends and learn to forgive one another throughout.”
– Ezra Ferguson

A devout order of warrior monks had rid the world of demonic power. But when their oath-sworn prince rises to the throne, his folly threatens to undo everything.

“We have Captain Marik who is a pirate and Grayden who is a young man trying to get to the air military academy. Marik hijacks the airship he’s on, so obviously they don’t like each other at first, but eventually they do have to work together.”
– Jenelle Leanne Schmidt

A rogue airship captain. An ambitious youth. A clash of powers beyond their imagination.

“Kaid (an impulsive adventure seeker) and Brazen (the reluctant, overthinking tagalong), share a bond only twins can understand. When they learn the truth about their father’s death, however, their responses are so wildly opposite, they wonder if they’ll ever share that bond again.”
– Brett Hibbler

Monstrous beasts lay waste to the world of Voiyanna, and their only hope lies in a group of divided ambassadors sent to petition an ancient—and supposedly long-dead—hero.

“We have Comran and Etran who are half brothers, very embittered, who gradually become allies, who gradually become the brothers they’ve wanted their entire life.”
– C.M. Banschbach

A man born for war. A bastard raised in contempt. Only together can they defend their tribe from slaughter.