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Thomas K. Carpenter is an author from St Louis that writes in a variety of genres from alternate history, young adult dystopian, historical fantasy, steampunk, and post-cyberpunk science fiction. He went to the University of Missouri Rolla from where he graduated with a Metallurgical Engineering degree. Carpenter then went back to college in 2006 and got his MBA before he decided to become an author. This was not an out of the blue decision as he has always loved fiction writing and had written a short speculative fiction story as a nine or ten-year-old. His debut novel was “The Digital Sea” that he published in 2010 and then followed it up with two more titles in the “Digital Sea” series. Since then he has become prolific and has more than thirty-five novels in the “Digital Sea,” “Gamers,” “Alexandrian Saga,” “Dashkova Memoirs,” “Hundred Halls,” “Reluctant Assassin,” and the “Hundred Halls: Gamemakers Online.” He has said that the secret to getting so many titles published is that he makes a habit of just sitting down and writing. As for his biggest influences, he cites Lin-Manuel Miranda, George R.R. Martin, Ken Liu, and Stephen King. Carpenter currently lives in St. Louis with his wife and two children. Hen he is not writing the next blockbuster, he can be found playing cards with his wife or soccer with the kids.
Asked about what genre he writes in, he said that he does not like to have a strict definition of his writing though if he were pressed, he would assert that what he writes is speculative fiction. His novels usually combine aspects of thriller and mystery to keep its audiences engaged. For the most part, his novels are underdog stories in which the protagonists have some challenges that make them disadvantaged in some way. Most of the time they are people that have been counted out, who put in the effort and are committed to making the most of their lives. Some of the characters are blind, have autism, are social pariahs or have to live a life of not being themselves given their oppressive societies. They refuse to let the challenges in their lives define them and fight to overcome their challenges using them as a crutch rather than a weakness. While he has been quite successful, in a recent interview he asserted that he does not know what makes one novel a bestseller and another mediocre. However, he has asserted that the common aspect that makes his novels so popular is the fact that they are full of great characters. For instance, Gabby from “Gamers” that he published in 2011 has traits similar to those of Katniss from “The Hunger Games” or Lisbeth Salander from “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo.” The character is a resourceful, driven, intelligent and determined girl that will do anything to protect her family or friends from danger. The character traits of the characters in his novels are what make for great novels that would otherwise be a victim to the myth that they should not be successful given the subject matter.
Thomas K. Carpenter’s “Trials by Magic” is a magical revolutionary series. The leads in the series are Pythia and Aurelia Silverthorne that were orphaned in heartbreaking circumstances. They have taken care of each other over the years and have so far managed to survive and even thrive. They are now preparing for the entrance examinations, which if they pass will grant them entry into the hallowed halls of magic. Set in Invictus the capital city, the story is told from the perspective of Pi and Aurie who try to outdo each other in the quest to become experts in the given field of magical ability. But right from the first day in the hall, they face all manner of challenges starting from the requirement to sign their souls to the city of Fae. Their efforts in class are also being sabotaged by some unknown people. There is also a dark secret about their parents that is a cause for concern as it may make their stay in school more difficult. It is an exciting and well-structured tale with witty characters and a magical system that makes for a beautiful fantasy story.
Carpenter’s “A Web of Lies” is the thrilling story of second-year student Aurelia Silverthorne. She is in the second year of her studies at the magical university of the Hundred Halls. She had high expectations but these have been destroyed when he inadvertently activated a plague that unleashed faez eating thralls. This means she has to spend several weeks getting massacred in the Grand Contest. But none of this seems significant once she learns that the Cabal is searching for powerful magic that will finally give them control over the magic university. If she is unable to stop the cabal then passing her worries will be the last thing she has to worry about. The story comes with a lot of action and sense, unexpected twists and turns and great character. They are intelligent realistic and likable characters set in an intriguing world that make for a delightful read.
Thomas K. Carpenter’s “Alchemy of Souls” is set in the magical university where students are experimenting with different types of magic. Some of the disciplines they are experimenting in include shape-changing, catoptromancy, demonology, lexology, verumancy, and rune spells among many other disciplines. However, while the Hundred Halls university encourages every type of magic, it forbids any soul magic. As she begins her third year at college, some of the students in Aurie’s class are found with their souls stolen with the bodies nothing but empty shells. Something or someone has been stealing the souls intending to use them for some wicked purpose. With that much power, even the most qualified professors could be in danger. Aurie and her sister need to act fast to track down and stop her if they are to save the college. It is a fast-paced narrative of betrayal, magic, power, and family that tells of a conspiracy surrounding the magical abilities of Aurie. It is a tangled web that only gets more complicated when an estranged uncle arrives on the scene wanting to get to know the two sisters better.
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Lt. Eve Dallas is back in the 63rd novel in the excellent In Death series by JD Robb.
In the latest entry, Fury In Death, Eve Dallas investigates the brutal murder of a biotech executive, uncovering suspicious money, corporate secrets, and a killer driven by intense personal rage.
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Featured Series
Are you a Jack Reacher fan? If so, you absolutely have to read the Peter Ash series by author Nick Petrie.
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Are you a fan of psychological thrillers? A big fan of authors such as Gillian Flynn? These are our most recommended authors in the thriller genre, which is my personal favourite genre:
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