AustLit

'Alex Caine wishes he had a direction, but it pays to be careful what you wish for. Alex Caine is trying to build a new life and come to terms with his recently acquired magical talents, not to mention his Kin girlfriend, Silhouette. He can't help feeling untethered, but one night the answer seems to present itself when he is approached by a representative of a shadowy organisation. Armour is recruiting and they want Alex on their side. But the ghosts of Bound aren't gone. The relic hunter, Claude Darvill, is trying to get in touch with his father, Robert Hood. Darvill takes over Black Diamond Incorporated and starts hunting. He is determined to find out what happened to Hood and won't let anything stand in his way. And in Britain's north, three amateur occult mages think they have uncovered an ancient magic that will reveal to them great powers. But they have no idea what they're releasing. When all these forces converge, Alex and Silhouette find themselves trapped in a nightmare world from which escape seems impossible. In this sequel to the bestselling Bound, Alex Caine will need all his skills if he has any hope of surviving Obsidian.' (Publication summary)

'The past often catches up with you, but when it's Alex Caine's past the results can be deadly. Alex Caine has been suffering the weight of the world, and some days it's hard to even get out of bed. Alone one night, a band of Fey overwhelm him and steal him away from the mortal realm. Silhouette, desperate to save her lover, calls in Armour, but the organisation seems reluctant to help. Claude Darvill, his fragile alliance with Alex at an end, is still searching for the remains of his father, Robert Hood. In frozen wastes of Iceland, Darvill is driven by a deep-burning grudge and a need for revenge. His efforts are backed by all the considerable resources of Black Diamond Incorporated. Silhouette must overcome her greatest fears and use all her skills to locate Alex. But even if she can find him, that's only the start of their problems. In this third Alex Caine book, sequel to the bestsellers Bound and Obsidian, old enemies and new share a common goal. Alex Caine hates to be the centre of attention, but he and Silhouette need to pull together as the world is threatened once more and only Alex can save it.' (Publication summary)

'I have a clock for a heart…and the man who put it there tried to take it out.

Time Collectors are modern day genies capable of exchanging wishes for time. Elizabeth Wicker lives within a steampunk world riddled with the supernatural. Among the stories of witches, Bacts, and other monsters, Time Collectors remain as the greatest hushed secret among the noble families. They are temptation's greatest tools. A contract with a Time Collector is a guaranteed death sentence, and for some the price isn't worth the prize. But when Elizabeth is struck down by a fatal heart attack, she finds herself trapped beneath a Time Collector's blade. With no time left to offer, she makes a desperate sacrifice for a second chance at life. If there's only one truth, it is a Time Collector will always come back to collect.'

Source : Publisher's Blurb

'Alex Caine, a fighter by trade, is drawn into a world he never knew existed - a world he wishes he'd never found. Alex Caine is a martial artist fighting in illegal cage matches. His powerful secret weapon is an unnatural vision that allows him to see his opponents' moves before they know their intentions themselves. An enigmatic Englishman, Patrick Welby, approaches Alex after a fight and reveals, 'I know your secret.' Welby shows Alex how to unleash a breathtaking realm of magic and power, drawing him into a mind-bending adventure beyond his control. And control is something Alex values above all else... A cursed grimoire binds Alex to Uthentia, a chaotic Fey godling, who leads him towards chaos and murder, an urge Alex finds harder and harder to resist. Befriended by Silhouette, a monstrous Kin beauty, Alex sets out to recover the only things that will free him - the shards of the Darak. But that powerful stone also has the potential to unleash a catastrophe which could mean the end of the world as we know it.' (Publication summary)

'Tales of guardian spirits and divine powers by Seanan McGuire, Ken Liu, Alethea Kontis, Laura Anne Gilman, Scott Edelman and more. Guardian spirits. Divine presences. Demonic powers. Ghosts. The concept of "genius loci" is indeed an ancient one, found in nearly every human mythology. Genius Loci is a huge anthology of 31 all-new fantasy and science fiction stories drawing on the rich tradition of place-as-person. Within its pages, the authors present stories of sentient deserts, beneficent forests, lonely shrubs, and protective planetary spirits, highlighted by the fantastic art of Lisa A. Grabenstetter and Evan M. Jensen, and edited by Jaym Gates.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.