I want to thank Mike for allowing us here at FanFiAddict to host the cover reveal for his upcoming release, Idols Fall, which is the 3rd and final novel in his Iconoclasts trilogy. The Aching God, Book #1 of the series, was a finalist in the 2018 SPFBO competition. It, along with Book #2, Sin Eater, have received some amazing praise from authors like Nicholas Eames, Will Wight, and a whole host of others like the ones below.
Praise for Iconoclasts
“Great adventure fantasy with excellent world building.” – Django Wexler, author of The Thousand Names
“Well-crafted fantasy for adults…This is the novel that kids who played D&D 20 years ago deserve.” – Alec Hutson, author of The Crimson Queen and The Silver Sorceress
“One of the best dark fantasies I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading, and THE best debut novel I’ve ever come across.” – Bryce O’Connor, author of The Wings of War series
“Bloody brilliant!” – Laura M. Hughes, author of Danse Macabre & co-founder of The Fantasy Hive
“On the face of it this is a classic D&D-styled quest but really it’s so much more. It’s a wise, thoughtful exploration of what such experiences do to people, the prices they pay, how it breaks them down and then leaves them to decide whether they stay broken or somehow stand back up.” – Phil Tucker, author of Chronicles of the Black Gate
*Currently no preorder is set in place*
Synopsis
“AT LONG LAST, EVEN GODS WILL KNOW REGRET…”
Agnes Manteo now bears her father’s sentient Djao sword, along with a terrible revelation—the gods are charlatans, ancient sorcerers who draw their strength from the suffering of humanity. She and her Syraeic companions have but one duty: to track down those pretenders and end their reign of cruelty and lies, no matter the cost. To that end, the magical blade—mighty, single-minded Szaa’da’shaela—won’t allow any wavering of their commitment.
But the empire is in turmoil with the sudden passing of its undying queen. Noble houses clash and threaten civil war, murderous barbarians mass on the frontier in preparation for a bloody invasion, and all feel the aching void left by the clergy, whose temples were devastated by a great fire. Can the kingdom survive should Agnes succeed in tearing away its very foundations?
And if she fails? What might sorcerers with nearly godlike powers do to exact their revenge? Idols Fall is the thrilling conclusion to the compelling Iconoclasts trilogy.
Author Info
Mike Shel (not his real name) was born in Detroit, Michigan in 1964 and grew up in the suburb of Dearborn, the hometown of Henry Ford, genius industrialist and virulent anti-Semite nutjob. Mike has also lived in southern Illinois, Louisville, Kentucky, Atlanta, Georgia, and now Indianapolis, Indiana. After writing two adventures for Dungeon Magazine in the early 90s, he crawled down a deep, dark hole. He emerged 15 years later, Rip Van Winkle-like, looked around for a moment, then crawled back down again. Re-emerging after another 3 years, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes and began freelancing for Paizo Publishing and third-party publishers like Kobold Press and Legendary Games.
Mike is currently hard at work on his dark epic fantasy trilogy entitled ICONOCLASTS. The first and second books, ACHING GOD and SIN EATER, are available now in digital, print, and audiobook format. He is hard at work on the third, IDOLS FALL.
Mike thinks that dress looks nice on you. He wonders why you don’t call more often. He thinks you should put some ointment on that. Mike is from the future and desperately implores you to hoard Hummel figurines, but cryptically declines to explain the reason. He lives there (in the future) with his lovely and talented wife, Tracy. He has 2 lovely and talented stepdaughters, Haylee (22) and Trinity (17), and a son, Leo (4). Would you like to see pictures of Leo? Would you like to watch a brief video of Leo doing something frightfully precocious? A 40-minute video? Would you like to talk to Mike about Leo? He also has a dog named Neko.
Mike has an advanced degree in clinical psychology and has practiced as a psychotherapist for over twenty years, specializing in cognitive therapy for panic and anxiety disorders. He has also worked with clients struggling with addiction, mood disorders, psychosis, and survivors of trauma.
Links
Website: https://www.mikeshel.com/
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3f1Di8N
– While you’re there, make sure to pick up free copies of the anthologies “Heroes Wanted” and “Lost Lore” which Mike was apart of, alongside several other fantastic authors!
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/series/253805-iconoclasts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MikeShelAuthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MIkeShelAuthor/
TBRcon21
Join Graham Austin-King, Brian Naslund, Mike Shackle, Mike Shel, ML Spencer & Phil Williams as they chat about Anti-Heroes, morally grey characters and more during TBRcon21.
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