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Introducing the book that grabbed my brain and wouldn't let go...

Welcome, sentient races one and all, to the centennial season of the greatest collaboration between mortals and gods! The most thrilling, most deadly, most watched spectacle ever put on in any realm…Mana Runners!

The infinite dungeon below Whitepeak, famous City of Wizards, has reset itself once again, bringing new traps, new monsters, and new, never-before-seen challenges to this historic event. All of your favorite champions from Season Ninety-Nine are back and ready to face what is sure to be the most difficult season of Mana Runners ever attempted. From the lowest Copper Tier to the Platinums who shine at the top, every Runner is ready to lay down their lives defending you from the monsters that lurk beneath the mountain.

All of their sacrifices shall be recorded in the pages of history, but only those blessed with unique powers from the gods can reach the deepest floors. It’s the event that brings sentient races from all over the world together! The spectacle no one can afford to miss! And you can watch it all live thanks to Whitepeak College of Wizardry’s revolutionary sendernet: the only Sending spell network that broadcasts the can’t-be-missed action of Mana Runners straight into your home!

(The Mana Runners Centennial Season is produced by the Whitepeak Dungeon Committee and the Coalition of Rightfully Aligned Gods. Remember, the gods are always listening, so be sure to pray for your favorite Mana Runner to earn them blessings as they battle the unthinkable dangers of the Endless Dungeon!)

Death Has Joined the Party is a LitRPG novel based on the 5e SRD 5.1 - a public rules set for the world's most popular tabletop roleplaying game. Set in a world where magic has advanced to the information age and where levels are a thing you can list on your resume. It features an underdog protagonist shoved into the brutal world of celebrity dungeon crawling with the fate of the Prime Material Plane resting on his shoulders.

Perfect for fans of Dungeons & Dragons, Terry Pratchett, and Dungeon Crawler Carl. If you like TTRPG humor and hilarious, action-packed Fantasy that isn’t afraid to throw someone into a mimic, this is the LitRPG novel for you!

Coming out May 1 in ebook, KU, and Audible audiobook!

We've Torn Down Heaven and saved the DFZ from multiple apocalypses. It's time to kick back with an old fashioned Eli Monpress-style Fantasy again... with a d20 twist!

I promised you something totally new after Bex was finished, and I think I've definitely delivered. Behold MANA RUNNERS! The insane gamer-humor tale that set up shop inside my brain and refused to leave until I made it a novel.

And what a novel it became! DEATH HAS JOINED THE PARTY might just be the funniest thing I've ever written. What started as a discussion at our D&D table about how a classic TTRPG Fantasy world would advance into the information age with televised dungeon runs and mass-produced magical items grew into one of the most fun stories I have ever had the pleasure to write.

Even better, I got my DMing husband, Travis Bach, to help me with all the mechanics, because this book has mechanics. It's also got stats, tables, and all the other fun, satisfying numbers that make LitRPGs so engrossing. And, of course, it's got the lovable characters, witty dialogue, and deep world building you can always expect from a Rachel Aaron novel.

If you've been interested in giving the LitRPG/Progression Fantasy genre a try, this is the book for you. If you're already a LitRPG fan and are ready to read a fun new take on all your favorite tropes, this is the book for you. If you've never heard of LitRPG and just want a hilarious story full of grumpy liches, sweetheart mimics, and a fascinating modern take on a magical Fantasy world, this is the book for you. If Eli Monpress was your favorite Rachel Aaron series and you're ready to go back to the good old days of funny fantasy, epic swordfights, and charming rogues, this is 1000% the book for you.

I know it's not my usual genre, but I had an absolute blast writing this book, and I really hope you'll give it a look. Or a listen! Because it's coming out in audio as well, and so far the recording is A.MAZ.ING. This whole process has been amazing, and I absolutely positivity cannot wait for you to read/listen to it!

Thank you for checking out this post and for being my reader/listener! You folks are why I do all of this. I hope you'll give DEATH HAS JOINED THE PARTY a try!

May the dice be ever in your favor, and we'll see you in the dungeon,

Rachel Aaron, Author

Travis Bach, DM

PS:

Since Mana Runners is so different from my other novels and it's based around a playable game, meaning we intend to post stat blocks and character sheets so you can run your own 5e adventures in the Mana Runners world, I'm creating a mailing list just for Mana Runners! If you want to get updates on the story, art sneak peaks, and information about upcoming gaming resources, click here for the the Mana Runners promo page and sign up for the new list to get all the awesome new stuff!

I hope to see you there!

- R

Five thousand years of war and rebirth have all come down to this.

"Each instalment in the Tear Down Heaven series has steadily increased in stakes and scope, but Hell Hath No Fury really takes this story to a whole new level of EPIC. I mean, buckle up baby, we are going to Hell!" - Before We Go Blog review



The Queen of Wrath may go down, but she’s never out. At least, that’s how it’s been for the last five thousand years. With the loss of her horns, hand, sword, name, and witch, Bex is closer to defeat than she’s ever been before, but the Blade of Ishtar has never been a quitter. She’s determined to come back from her ashes, which means it’s time to do something crazy, something she’s never attempted in any of her previous lives.



She’s going to hell. Literally.



If the only way to get back what she lost is for Bex and crew to personally storm the Eternal King's prison, that’s what they’re going to do, because while the Hells were designed to contain demons, they’re completely unprepared for the fire of revolution Bex is bringing with her, especially since the demons aren’t fighting alone. Adrian is also deep in Heaven’s backstage, and like any good witch, he hasn’t been an idle prisoner. It’s time to show Gilgamesh that winning the battle isn’t the same as winning the war, and that hell hath no fury like a queen--or a witch--scorned.

I hope y'all are ready for a hell of a ride!



HELL HATH NO FURY is the fourth and penultimate installment of the epic Tear Down Heaven series. It's also the book where I finally got to do a lot of the fun scenes and secret reveals I've been sitting on since this series first came into my head. I'm super proud of the way this story has unfolded, and I cannot wait for you to read/listen to it! 



And speaking of listening, my mailing list subscribers got an awesome treat just for them. My narrator sent me a hilarious blooper reel for the audio version of HELL HATH NO FURY, and I instantly knew I had to share it. If you want to hear the awesome for yourself, go check your email for my announcement or sign up for my mailing list if you're not already subscribed! It's free and I never spam or give out your information. I just use it to let you know when new books come out and to give away fun extras like this!



It goes without saying that this sound clip contains mild spoilers since this is the audio narration for a book you haven't gotten the chance to read yet, so if you care about that, you should probably put off listening to the bloopers until after you've finished the story. Whenever you get a chance, though, I highly suggest you give it a listen. It's short, free, super funny, and available only to my awesome mailing list subscribers, so make sure to sign up if you're not in the club already! 



The fifth and final book in the Tear Down Heaven series is already written and edited, which means it'll be out as soon as I can get the cover art and audio together. Thank you all again for coming with me on this journey. I couldn't write these stories without you. 



Thanks again, and I hope you love the hell out of HELL HATH NO FURY!



Yours always,

Rachel Aaron



HELL HATH NO FURY is the fourth book in the Tear Down Heaven series. If you have no idea what that is, here's a link to the first book to get you started! It's a super fun mix of Urban and Epic Fantasy and I hope you'll give it a try. Thanks for being on my list!



The 4th Bex book comes out October 3rd!

Introducing HELL HATH NO FURY

The Queen of Wrath may go down, but she’s never out. 

At least, that’s how it’s been for the last five thousand years. With the loss of her horns, hand, sword, name, and witch, Bex is closer to defeat than she’s ever been before, but the Blade of Ishtar has never been a quitter. She’s determined to come back from her ashes, which means it’s time to do something crazy, something she’s never attempted in any of her previous lives.



She’s going to hell. Literally.



If the only way to get back what she lost is for Bex and crew to personally storm the Eternal King's prison, that’s what they’re going to do, because while the Hells were designed to contain demons, they’re completely unprepared for the fire of revolution Bex is bringing with her, especially since the demons aren’t fighting alone. Adrian is also deep in Heaven’s backstage, and like any good witch, he hasn’t been an idle prisoner. It’s time to show Gilgamesh that winning the battle isn’t the same as winning the war, and that hell hath no fury like a queen--or a witch--scorned.

The wait's almost over! HELL HATH NO FURY comes out in ebook, Kindle Unlimited, print and audio on October 3. I am so sooooo excited for y'all to read this book. It's the first battle in big fight I've been building up to for a while. All the forces in the divine war are on the move--the Blackwood, Bex, Adrian, and of course Gilgamesh himself. Everything the other novels have been building toward comes together in this fourth-of-five books for what's going to be a 2-book finale nonstop rollercoaster of epicness. The fifth and final book is already written and will be following this one up very closely. We're on a rocket to the end, folks!



I had such a blast writing this novel and I just know you're going to love reading it. It's got fights, romance, touching reunions, overly competent magical cats, just all the good stuff crammed into one extra-long package. The audio is being recorded right now, so I really hope you'll grab a copy and come along with me for the ride of an after-lifetime this October! 



I know 3 months is a long time to wait, so if you're looking for more reads in the meantime, I hope you'll try one of my other finished series if you haven't already! I write all sorts of things, including romantic action SciFi as Rachel Bach, which I know a lot of people miss. If you liked Bex, you'll love Devi. Give her story a try if you haven't already, I promise you won't be disappointed!



As always, thanks so so much for being my readers and listeners! I'll be back with confetti when the book launches. Until then, have a great summer, and I'll see you in the Hells! (Yes, I have been waiting all series to use that line 😄)



Yours sincerely, your humble author,

Rachel Aaron

www.rachelaaron.net

Happy book birthday to HELL TO PAY!

All victories are fleeting and the enemy is never idle...



It’s been one month since Bex’s rebel crew took over the Seattle Anchor and things have been suspiciously good. They’re emancipating slaves by the busload, earning money from their thriving Free Market, and basically living the Gilgamesh-free life of their dreams. It’s what Bex always wanted for her people, so why does she feel so uneasy?

It could be because she’s working twenty-hour days desperately trying to free her wrath demons. Or because Gilgamesh has sealed off all the Anchors still under his control, creating a worldwide shortage of the magical quintessence their new fortress needs to stay afloat.



Everywhere Bex looks, timers are ticking down on the safe haven she’s built for her demons, but the biggest threat is the one she doesn’t see, because Heaven hasn’t been idle. The man who killed the gods knows how to handle a rebellion. The closer the demons get to victory, the tighter the invisible noose becomes, and when the Queen of Wrath crosses the final line, there will be Hell to Pay.

Woo! HELL TO PAY is out today!



I know it's been a hot minute since book 2, but we're rolling again and all the crew is in on fire! Literally, in Bex's case. :D 



This book is out in ebook and KU on Amazon just like all the others, but it's also available in wide Audio (ie, shops other than Audible, though it's available there as well!) and print in all bookstores, including the indie stores! Paperback is already available with hardbacks hopefully coming by the end of this month. There was a problem with the printer, but it should be sorted soon, so do not despair, hardback fans! This absolutely gorgeous book will soon be in your hands!



On to the story! HELL TO PAY is the middle book of a five book series, but book 4 is written and should be coming out this summer with book 5 not far behind, so you won't have to wait long for the epic conclusion (and trust me, it's going to be EPIC).



Thank you so much for being my readers/listeners! Your support means the world to me, and I really hope you enjoy HELL TO PAY.



Thank you all again, and I'll see you in the next book!



Your humble writer,

Rachel Aaron

It’s been one month since Bex’s rebel crew took over the Seattle Anchor, and things have been suspiciously good. They’re emancipating slaves by the busload, earning money from their thriving Free Market, and basically living the Gilgamesh-free life of their dreams. It’s what Bex always wanted for her people, so why does she feel so uneasy?

It could be because she’s working twenty-hour days desperately trying to free her wrath demons. Or because Gilgamesh has sealed off all the Anchors still under his control, creating a worldwide shortage of the magical quintessence their new fortress needs to stay afloat. 

Everywhere Bex looks, timers are ticking down on the safe haven she’s built for her demons, but the biggest threat is the one she doesn’t see, because Heaven hasn’t been idle. The man who killed the gods knows how to handle a rebellion. The closer the demons get to victory, the tighter the invisible noose becomes, and when the Queen of Wrath crosses the final line, there will be Hell to Pay.

"Rachel Aaron is absolutely on fire in Hell of a Witch, the dark yet diabolically fun second instalment in the demon-infested and wonderfully witchy Tear Down Heaven series. It’s got more action, more intrigue, more (gardening) magic, more tension, more emotional gut punches, more banter, and more deliciously slow-burn romance; this is how you write one hell of a sequel." - Before We Go Blog

One month ago, Bex, the demon Queen of Wrath, and Adrian, witch of the Blackwood, pulled off the upset victory of the century. Now, they find themselves facing the question all unexpected champions must answer: what next? They’ve declared war on Heaven, but how do you actually bring down a divinely powerful tyrant when your army’s still in the single digits and your magical fortress is an illegally modified Winnebago?

It seems like a hopeless situation. As always, though, Adrian Blackwood has a plan, and this time, he’s going big. He’s got an idea to take down the Seattle Anchor, the giant magical fortress that houses the Anchor Market and every other bit of critical infrastructure that connects Heaven to Earth.

How the Anchors work is a closely guarded secret, and getting to the good stuff will require going deep into the heart of Gilgamesh’s power. There’s a reason even the Queen of Wrath has never attacked one directly, but now that Adrian’s on her team, Bex thinks they can do it. She’s finally got the power she needs to actually move the needle on this war, and she’s going to hit that Anchor with all the fire she’s got.

But the enemies of Heaven aren’t the only ones making plans. After the fiery return of his most persistent annoyance, Gilgamesh has ordered his princes to take care of the demon queen problem personally. It’s time to roll out the big guns and show these rebels what divine wrath really means, starting with the Hell of a Witch who made it all possible.

Available today in ebook, KU, print, and audio!

No Victor lasts forever.

Victor thought he won when he became the Hero. He thought he won when he took over the DFZ. He thought he’d made himself untouchable.

He’s wrong.

Lola isn’t the sad little monster she used to be. She has a plan, she has allies, she has more magic than she ever dreamed possible. Killing one blood mage should be easy with an entire fairy kingdom at her fingertips, but Victor didn't make himself a god by playing fair, and his bag of tricks is far from empty. Taking him down will require everything Lola and her friends can bring, but if there’s one thing Lola’s always been, it’s determined. No matter the cost, no matter what it takes, she will see this through.

To the bloody end.

No Victor lasts forever.

Victor thought he won when he became the Hero. He thought he won when he took over the DFZ. He thought he’d made himself untouchable.

He’s wrong.

Lola isn’t the sad little monster she used to be. She has a plan, she has allies, she has more magic than she ever dreamed possible. Killing one blood mage should be easy with a fairy kingdom at her fingertips, but Victor didn't make himself a god by playing fair, and his bag of tricks is far from empty. Taking him down will take everything Lola and her friends can bring, but if there’s one thing Lola’s always been, it’s determined. No matter the cost, no matter what it takes, she will see this through.

To the bloody end.

 Just an update to post this really fun interview I did with Tales After Tolkien! Check it out!

 Today's the day!

When Mary Good Crow came out of the crystal into the arms of her sister, the last thing she wanted was another fight. But war is coming to the Great Plains. With crystal on their side, the Lakota are poised to annihilate the town of Medicine Rocks, forcing Mary to choose between the friends she’s finally found and the family she’s always longed for.

When Rel Reiner accepted her father’s dark bargain to save Josie and the others, the last thing she expected was to survive. But there’s more to the Reiner’s magic than ghosts and bones. Magic Rel will have to embrace if she ever wants to walk in her own skin again.

When Josie Price left the crystal mines one step ahead of death, the last thing she intended to do was quit. But the wolves in town are circling, and with the crystal going crazy and the cavalry riding to war, just finding a way to protect her people might cost her everything she came to Montana to build.

Three women divided by a war none of them wants. But Josie, Mary, and Rel have always been strongest together, and with the world’s magical future on the line, “together” might be the only way anyone survives.

Get your copy now in ebook, audio, print, or KU!

I can’t tell you how excited I am for y'all to read this book! I'm sooo proud of this ending and this series as a whole. If you haven't tried out THE LAST STAND OF MARY GOOD CROW yet, I hope you'll give it a go! This series has been such a wild ride, and I really hope you enjoy it!

This is the first launch for what I hope is going to be a very busy 2023. I’ve got a new DFZ series I’ll be announcing soon along with other fun stuff, so if you're not already subscribed to my New Release Newsletter, I hope you'll come over and say hi! Subscribers always get first dibs on the good stuff, I never share your info, and I only send out emails when I have a new book. No risk, just awesome, so I hope you'll join in!  

Thank you so much for all your support over the years. Enjoy THE BATTLE OF MEDICINE ROCKS, and I’ll see you soon with a new story!

Yours with a hat tip,

Rachel Aaron

 It's time! 

Hungry darkness, haunted guns, tunnels that move like snakes--the crystal mines of Medicine Rocks, Montana are a place only the bravest and greediest dare. Discovered in 1866, the miraculous rock known as crystal quickly rose to become the most expensive substance on the planet, driving thousands to break the treaties and invade the sacred buffalo lands of the Sioux for a chance at the wealth beneath. But mining crystal risks more than an arrow in the chest. The beautiful rock has a voice of its own. A voice that twists minds and calls unnatural powers.

A voice that turns men into monsters.

Mary Good Crow hears it. Half white, half Lakota, rejected by both, she’s forged a new life guiding would-be miners through the treacherous caves. To her ears, the crystal sings a beautiful song, one the men she guides would gladly burn her as a witch for hearing. So, when an heiress from Boston arrives with a proposition that could change her life, Mary agrees to push deeper into the caves than she’s ever dared.

But there are secrets buried in the Deep Caves that even Mary doesn’t know. The farther she goes, the closer she gets to the voice that’s been calling her all this time. A voice that could change the bloody story of the West, or destroy it all.

"Possibly the best alternate historical fantasy that you will read."- Fantasy Book Critic

Get your copy now!

It's finally here! The first book in my new series is out today in ebook, print, and Kindle Unlimited! HOORAY! 

We're recording the audio version right now, so hopefully that will be available quickly as well. I'll send an email as soon as I have a date, so make sure you're subscribed to my New Release Mailing List to get all the info on, well, new releases! (And nothing else. Trust me, I hate spam as much as you!)

Thank you all so much for being my readers, and I hope you love Mary's story!

Yours always,

Rachel Aaron

 It’s been a while, but I’m back with an new novel in an new world! Get ready for…

Deadwood meets Lord of the Rings in this Epic Fantasy of the West!

Hungry darkness, haunted guns, tunnels that move like snakes--the crystal mines of Medicine Rocks, Montana are a place only the bravest and greediest dare. Discovered in 1866, the miraculous rock known as crystal quickly rose to become the most expensive substance on the planet, driving thousands to break the treaties and invade the sacred buffalo lands of the Sioux for a chance at the wealth beneath. But mining crystal risks more than an arrow in the chest. The beautiful rock has a voice of its own. A voice that twists minds and calls unnatural powers.

A voice that turns men into monsters.

Mary Good Crow hears it. Half white, half Lakota, rejected by both, she’s forged a new life guiding would-be miners through the treacherous caves. To her ears, the crystal sings a beautiful song, one the men she guides would gladly burn her as a witch for hearing. So, when an heiress from Boston arrives with a proposition that could change her life, Mary agrees to push deeper into the caves than she’s ever dared.

But there are secrets buried in the Deep Caves that even Mary doesn’t know. The farther she goes, the closer she gets to the voice that’s been calling her all this time. A voice that could change the bloody story of the West, or destroy it all.

Coming to eBook and Kindle Unlimited on JUNE 1, 2022! Print and Audio release coming soon! 

Preorder your copy now!

Hello everyone!

I know it’s been a while since we left Opal in the DFZ. Like everyone else on the planet, I got kicked down pretty hard by the pandemic. But sometimes being forced to step away from your work means space gets made for something different, and wow, is this different.

THE LAST STAND OF MARY GOOD CROW is a story I’ve been wanting to tell for a long time. We’re talking crazy magic, giant battles, haunted guns, messed up family situations, sky-high stakes, and (of course) a giant cast of fun, hot-mess characters all set against the epic backdrop of the Great Sioux War, which ends veeeeery differently than the real one. (Don’t worry, Custer still dies.)

I realize historical Western feels like a pretty big jump from Urban Fantasy, but this is a Rachel Aaron book through and through. If you liked my other series, I heartily encourage you to give this one a try. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

You can read a sample right now over on my website. The eBook and Kindle versions will be out on June 1, 2022 with print very soon after. For those who prefer audio books, we’re recording right now, so it won’t be too long of a wait. I’ll send another email to let you know as soon as the audio version is available.

Thank you as always for being my readers/listeners! Y’all are the ones I write for, and I just can’t wait for you to start THE LAST STAND OF MARY GOOD CROW!

Yours always,

Rachel Aaron

They say family always sticks together, but when you’re your dad’s only lifeline and the whole world—humans, dragons, and gods—wants you dead, “family bonding” takes on a whole new meaning.

My name is Opal Yong-ae, and I’m in way over my head. I thought getting rid of my dad’s bad luck curse would put things back to normal. Instead, I’m stuck playing caretaker to the Great Dragon of Korea. That wouldn’t be so bad if he wasn’t such a jerk, or if every dragon on the planet wasn’t out to kill him, or if he were my only problem.

Turns out, things can always get worse in the DFZ. When a rival spirit attacks my god/boss to turn the famously safety-optional city into a literal death arena with Nik as his bloody champion, I’m thrust onto the front lines and way out of my comfort zone. When gods fight, mortals don’t usually survive, but I’m not alone this time. Even proud old dragons can learn new tricks, and with everything I love falling to pieces, the father I’ve always run from might just be the only force in the universe stubborn enough to pull us back together.

They say family always sticks together, but when you’re your dad’s only lifeline and the whole world—humans, dragons, and gods—wants you dead, “family bonding” takes on a whole new meaning. 

My name is Opal Yong-ae, and I’m in way over my head. I thought getting rid of my dad’s bad luck curse would put things back to normal. Instead, I’m stuck playing caretaker to the Great Dragon of Korea. That wouldn’t be so bad if he wasn’t such a jerk, or if every dragon on the planet wasn’t out to kill him, or if he was my only problem.  

Turns out, things can always get worse in the DFZ. When a rival spirit attacks my god/boss with the aim of turning the famously safety-optional city into a literal death arena with Nik as his bloody champion, I’m thrust onto the front lines and way out of my comfort zone. When gods fight, mortals don’t usually survive, but I’m not alone this time. Even proud old dragons can learn new tricks, and with everything I love falling to pieces, the father I’ve always run from might just be the only force in the universe stubborn enough to pull us back together.

Leylia’s secret could unite them all or lead them to an eternity of undeath.

After the loss of Bastion, everyone who’s not a zombie has holed up in FFO’s sole remaining safe haven: the lowbie town of Windy Lake. But the undead armies never rest, and it’s only a matter of time before the Once King’s forces come to crush what’s left of life in this world.

But Tina, James, and the rest of the players are facing a crisis of their own. After so long in this world, their human bodies are dying on the other side. If they don’t find a way home soon, they may have nothing to go back to.

With time running out in two worlds, Tina and James face a horrible choice: do they spend their final days looking for a way to get back to their old bodies, or join the NPCs to fight for their new ones. But just when things look impossible, James learns a secret that might change everything. Only one catch: to pull it off, they’re going to have to fight one raid boss no one, not even Tina, has ever beaten.

The Once King.