************************************************************************************** An outcast rogue must break a curse put on his fate, or die on his nineteenth birthday. To survive, he'll need the sword of a maiden, the aid of an immortal, and the power of forbidden magic that could cost him the only girl he ever loved. ************************************************************************************ *** THE JACK OF SOULS won a Silver IPPY this year! *** THE JACK OF SOULS won 1st place in the PNWA Competition in Fantasy! * *** THE JACK OF SOULS won 1st place in the Southwest Writers competition! * *** A "Featured Book" on Wattpad! * *** Now a "Staff Pick" on Kickstarter! * *** Available on Amazon in paper, hardback, and ebook ! * *** My contract with Kindle Select won't allow me to post more than 3 chapters here, but... *** Sign up for my newsletter on stephenmerlino.com for alerts when it's free on Amazon! * MY INSPIRATION I wrote this out of pure love of trickster rogues; I love the wit over brawn motif -- Odysseus over Achilles, Raven over Eagle -- so I like to play with it in my stories. In JOS I set the rogue and con-artist Harric against a foil of warriors in a land threatened by magic and civil war. Whenever possible I turn familiar tropes on their heads: instead of a handsome young Lancelot, I cast a broken-down ex-champion addicted to pain-killing herbs; instead of a dashing Squire Brian, the old knight reluctantly takes an ambitious young woman as squire. Similarly, I re-imagine the standard medieval milieu by infusing aspects of two of my favorite historical periods, Elizabethan England, and The American Frontier. Both eras boast a kind of nationalistic arrogance that borders on hubris, and a magnificent spirit of resourcefulness and re-invention that is fun to play with. SERIES The Jack of Souls is first in a series. I am posting parts of the sequel here now (The Knave of Souls), to help me refine the story.

The Awakening changed the face of reality itself. A cataclysm of dimensional proportions, the event unleashed all manner of demonic beasts upon the world of man and left humanity's scattered survivors trapped in an endless battle for survival. That's a battle Council Academy all-star Seth Wright learned the hard way, barely surviving his first encounter with demonic entities. Now aware of the peril mankind faces, he's desperate to learn what he must to defeat them - but the only person willing to help him is veteran demon hunter Astral Daamon, and only so she can pursue her own investigation into corruption within the walls of the Council Academy. But what they uncover together is far more terrifying than mere conspiracy - challenging everything Seth thought he knew about fighting demons. Beneath the foundations of the academy itself, an ancient and malevolent evil is stirring from its slumber - and unless Seth is willing to sacrifice what he believes could protect humanity from annihilation, this demon will rise and devour everyone he cares about. Seth is being forced to weigh the lives of his classmates against the fate of humanity. When the moment comes, will he make the right decision?

Sam is the most promising swordsman among this year’s crop of Paladin trainees...and knows it. Brash, cocky, and unbeatable with a sword (well, almost), Sam is the kingdom of Thule’s best hope against the violence wrought by demons. The only problem is that Sam is really Lady Samantha, daughter of the seventeenth Duke of Haywood, and if her father has his way, she’ll be marrying a Paladin, not becoming one. But Sam has never held much interest in playing damsel-in-distress, and so she rescues herself from a lifetime of boredom and matrimonial drudgery. Pity that Tristan Lyons, the Paladin assigned to train her, is none other than the hero of her childhood. He hasn’t recognized her as Lady Samantha--yet-- but if he does, he’ll take away her sword and send her packing. Sam is not the only trainee hiding secrets: Braeden is a half-demon with a dark past that might be unforgivable. Sam, Braeden and Tristan set out for the western coast, charged with rooting out an infestation of demons that has made the West unlivable. As they travel, they uncover a deep-seated corruption of power that threatens to derail everything they stand for. Rebellion stirs, led by a rival faction of warriors who tempt Sam to join them with an irresistible offer. A war between men is coming, and Sam must pick a side. Will saving the kingdom cost her life -- or just her heart? Reminiscent of Mulan, but with a medieval fantasy twist, Paladin is a tale of adventure, action, and romance.

Do you have what it takes to fight the dragons, the mages, the monsters? Stay up to date with our ongoing writing contests and competitions here! *Please note, the following contest and its rules are the creation of a team of Ambassadors and is in no way affiliated with Wattpad or its staff. Judging of said contest is entirely run by its creators and is not the responsibility of Wattpad or its staff.*

When Reagan, Princess of Nephri, is murdered, she ends of being resurrected. Now, with a power hungry leader taking her place and demons watching her every move, she must make a decision. Win her throne back or risk dying again. ••• Reagan Andilet never anticipated being murdered for her throne, nor being in a deal with the devil. She was quickly starting to get used to her life of pain and endless torment when, suddenly, the unthinkable happened. She was resurrected. Now her kingdom is reigned by a power thirsty leader, one that will stop at nothing to keep magic to herself. Armed with a necromancer and her lover, they embark on a mission to win Reagan's throne back. Throughout the mission, Reagan and her peers will learn one thing. The Underworld does not like being stolen from. -Stunning graphic created by _Navier_170-

-In which one gets to witness the adventures and misdemeanors of an assassin, thief, necromancer, undead princess and her love- All these short stories will be based off of the prompts for the official Write to Rank contest, hosted by @action. WINNER of Round 3 WINNER of Round 4 (Please note that the following entries may feature strong language, violence, and wlw relationships. If this makes you uncomfortable, this isn't for you.)

Welcome to the discovery awards! A place for all writers, big and small to come and win prizes and join in a fun friendly competition! Whether your book has one chapter or eighty chapters, you are welcome to join! Now all you wonderful writers, all you have to do is read on and join the discovery awards! Accepting participants until June 1st or until all spots are full. Open (✨) Judging () Closed ()

When Alam promises a dying priest that he will return a sealed box to it's true owner he unwittingly puts himself in the center of world shaking events beyond his abilities. Within days he, and everyone he loves, are under threat. An unstoppable hunter, beasts of the night, and sorcerers able to tear the very fabric of reality begin to converge on the box. Alam must decide. Should he give up the box? Should he fulfill his promise to find its rightful owner? Or can he somehow open it himself and discover why it is the center of so much destruction? Engraved - the Hunted Warrior is a fantasy novel set in a Central Asian inspired land of long winters and warring clans. It is full of adventure, action, and more than a hint of romance. Copyright © 2017 | All rights reserved.

Night marches on the Everburning City. The life-killing mist enshrouding the world, the Gloam, clings to the walls. Golems, towering monsters of stone, shake the earth as they march. And the dead rise again, puppeteered by some distant, titanic power. For Corporal Valen Redgrave, on the watch at the outermost walls of the City, the night marks the end of the military life he has known. The idyllic simpering of the watch has ended, and Valen finds himself the pillar upon which his companions' courage rests. For Gwendolyn Aranhall, stewarding a work rehabilitation camp for youth guilty of petty crimes, the night heralds the dismantling of everything she has known. As the Gloam claims the world around her, and she becomes the last thing standing between children and monsters, she finds in herself a heart unbroken by her fear. And that resilience will see darker responsibilities laid upon her. For Crafter Olivia Polden, the fire she commands and the red coat she wears represents the single greatest power in the City. Weirder of a power that could doom the City as surely as the foes marching upon it, she will stand first among those sent to halt the invasion. And only then, begin to learn how to live with despair. There is no night in the Everburning City. There can never be. (Cover courtesy of Mahana258)

There is no night in the Everburning City. There can never be. ***** For four hundred years the Everburning City has withstood the advance of the life-strangling fog known as the Gloam. Its walls have held back five invasions, but on the eve of the sixth, the city's inhabitants know things have changed. Golems are coming out of the mist, and the bodies of the dead are rising at the Gloam's bidding. The city's last and most desperate line of defence comes in the form of the Crafters, individuals who can channel the power of fire, though they risk their sanity each time they do. The brightest of these valiant heroes are Tabitha a'Loria and her apprentice Gerald Reath. Risking their lives, they mount their airships, determined to save the last bastion of humanity - the Everburning City. [[word count: 100,000-150,000 words]]