The Court Of Mortals

The Court of Mortals is book 3 of the Stariel Quartet, a romantic gaslamp fantasy series about fae and a magical estate that chooses its own lord.

The first book in a gaslamp fantasy romance series.

The fae are real, and Hetta Valstar is trying her best to marry one. If Hetta and Wyn ever manage to marry, it will be the first union between Faerie and Mortal since the Iron Law was revoked. The mortal Queen has given them her blessing-sort of. Now, Wyn needs permission from the fae High King. There's an intensely personal reason why they need to tie the knot as soon as possible, and time is not on their side. The clock is ticking. Except in Wyn's home court, which is trapped under magical stasis. To break the spell will mean venturing into the deepest realms of Faerie, where even fae princes-and definitely human lords-fear to tread. Unfortunately, the fae problems aren't limited to Faerie. Public tension is rising, and the reveal of Wyn's true identity makes him and Hetta the centre of the storm. On top of this, Stariel's magic is going haywire, and Hetta is struggling with her intensifying powers-and she might not be the only one affected. The High King might be the only one who can help, since he's responsible for the fae returning to the Mortal Realm in the first place. If only they knew where he was.

Well-bred women should not be seen kissing their butlers. Even when the butler in question is secretly a fae prince. Wyn knows falling for Hetta Valstar is a bad idea. She's not only human but the new magically bonded ruler of Stariel Estate. If their relationship gets out, it'll cause a scandal that could ruin their attempts to sort out the estate's crumbling finances. Of course, it doesn't help that Stariel has decided it doesn't like him. But more than jealous sentient estates and Hetta's good name are at stake. Wyn's past is coming back to bite him. Ten years ago, he broke an oath and shattered the power of his home court, and the fae have been hunting him ever since. Now they've found his hiding place, they won't rest until he's dead or the debt is repaid--and they don't play nicely.

"Zade Holder has always been a free-spirited young woman, from a long dynasty of tarot-card readers, fortunetellers, and practitioners of magick. Growing up in a small town and never quite fitting in, Zade is determined to forge her own path. She leaves her home in Tennessee to break free from her overprotective mother Dela, the local resident spellcaster and fortuneteller. Zade travels to Las Vegas and uses supernatural powers to become part of a premiere magic show led by the infamous magician Charles Spellman. Zade fits right in with his troupe of artists and misfits. After all, when everyone is slightly eccentric, appearing 'normal' is much less important. Behind the scenes of this multimillion-dollar production, Zade finds herself caught in a love triangle with Mac, the show's good-looking but rough-around-the-edges technical director and Jackson, the tall, dark, handsome and charming bandleader. Zade's secrets and the struggle to choose between Mac or Jackson creates reckless tension during the grand finale of the show. Using Chaos magick, which is known for being unpredictable, she tests her abilities as a spellcaster farther than she's ever tried and finds herself at death's door. Her fate is left in the hands of a mortal who does not believe in a world of real magick, a fortuneteller who knew one day Zade would put herself in danger and a dagger with mystical powers"--Amazon.com

“THE SORCERER’S RING has all the ingredients for an instant success: plots, counterplots, mystery, valiant knights, and blossoming relationships replete with broken hearts, deception and betrayal. It will keep you entertained for hours, and will satisfy all ages. Recommended for the permanent library of all fantasy readers.” —Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (regarding A Quest of Heroes) “[An] entertaining epic fantasy.” —Kirkus Reviews (regarding A Quest of Heroes) “The beginnings of something remarkable are there.” —San Francisco Book Review (regarding A Quest of Heroes) A DREAM OF MORTALS is Book #15 in the Bestselling series THE SORCERER'S RING, which begins with A QUEST OF HEROES (book #1)—a free download! In A DREAM OF MORTALS, Thorgrin and his brothers struggle to break free from the grips of the pirates, and to continue their search for Guwayne at sea. As they encounter unexpected friends and foes, magic and weaponry, dragons and men, it will change the very course of their destiny. Will they finally find Guwayne? Darius and his few friends survive the massacre of their people—but only to find that they are captives, thrown into the Empire Arena. Shackled together, facing unimaginable opponents, their only hope for survival is to stand and fight together, as brothers. Gwendolyn wakes from her slumber to discover that she and the others have survived their trek across the Great Waste—and even more shocking, that they have come to a land beyond their wildest imagination. As they are brought into a new royal court, the secrets Gwendolyn learns about her ancestors and her own people will change her destiny forever. Erec and Alistair, still captive at sea, struggle to break free from the grips of the Empire fleet in a bold and daring nighttime escape. When odds seem at their worst, they receive an unexpected surprise that might just give them a second chance for victory—and another chance to continue their attack on the heart of the Empire. Godfrey and his crew, imprisoned once again, set to be executed, have one last chance to try to escape. After being betrayed, they want more than escape this time—they want vengeance. Volusia is surrounded on all sides as she strives to take and hold the Empire capital—and she will have to summon a more powerful magic than she’s ever known if she is to prove herself a Goddess, and become Supreme Ruler of the Empire. Once again, the fate of the Empire hangs in the balance. With its sophisticated world-building and characterization, A DREAM OF MORTALS is an epic tale of friends and lovers, of rivals and suitors, of knights and dragons, of intrigues and political machinations, of coming of age, of broken hearts, of deception, ambition and betrayal. It is a tale of honor and courage, of fate and destiny, of sorcery. It is a fantasy that brings us into a world we will never forget, and which will appeal to all ages and genders. Book #16 in the series--A JOUST OF KNIGHTS--is now also available! “A spirited fantasy ….Only the beginning of what promises to be an epic young adult series.” —Midwest Book Review (regarding A Quest of Heroes) “A quick and easy read…you have to read what happens next and you don’t want to put it down.” —FantasyOnline.net (regarding A Quest of Heroes) “Action-packed …. Rice's writing is solid and the premise intriguing.” —Publishers Weekly (regarding A Quest of Heroes)