AustLit

'Detective Bram Tedeschi would rather punch scumbags' faces than punch buttons on a keyboard. But when two VR gamers turn up electrocuted in their haptic suits, he’s forced to investigate a world he knows nothing about.

'With the help of his tech-savvy partner, Vancy, Bram works to track down a hacker who’s more rumor than real – the mysterious Psyren.

'Can they solve things before they become the next target? Or will their lives become a nightmare, where their biggest fears are used to drive them insane?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

Saint Lucius’ Secondary College. Or as I called it, Lucifer’s. Hell on earth.

'Society’s rich roses enjoyed a first-class education here. Facilities second to none. Teachers trained to bring forth the best.

'Then, there were the thorns - me and Meg. The poor on scholarships. Teased mercilessly as second-class citizens.

'Mostly, we kept our heads down, letting the elite enjoy their 80s Eden of perms and perfume.

'If we stuck to the library and didn’t try to move up the vine, all was tolerable. Just.

'Until the roses started turning up dead, and everyone at school thought that I’d done it.

'Spellraiser is an experimental YA fantasy novelete, threaded with mystery, murder, magic & possession, all accompanied by illustrations from the incredible Sofia Behnke.' (Publication summary)

'Detective Ada Byron is pumped to be assigned her first murder case-until she sees the crime scene. Someone has been killed exactly the same way as her father was seven years earlier. But, impossibly, he died using VR and the programmer responsible is still in prison.

'To see if this is a copycat or something more sinister, Ada must confront her father's killer: the enigmatic Jazlin Switch. What she discovers will change the face of both the real world and the metaverse forever...

'A murder-a-minute cyberpunk thriller to bend minds and defy reality.' (Publication summary)

'"Sitting in the war-rooms at Casa Diablo, my closest allies surrounded me. Could I trust them all?" Finally reunited with his love Charlotte, Michael has taken control of Hell. Yet the insane god Asmodeus still rules Heaven, and the division between realms continues to oppress the lost souls of the afterlife. With the help of his wife and friends, Michael's aim is to create true freedom for all, ending Asmodeus' tyrannous reign. However, the chance of betrayal by someone close within his fold weighs heavily on Michael's mind, as does the burning question that not even the all-knowing Perceptionist can answer: How do you kill the unkillable? Deicide is the stunning conclusion of Tim Hawken's Hellbound trilogy.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'"My torment is that she is trapped while he is free. It is the worst torture imaginable. I care not for myself, or my own wellbeing, only hers. I will free her, but I do not know how. There must be a way." Michael has been banished to Hell by the God, Asmodeus. Charged with reforming the lost souls of Damnation, the new 'Satan' instead chooses to make his own fate. His aim is to save his wife Charlotte from Purgatory and in the process take control of the savage demons around him to build an army against the most powerful enemy imaginable. With the aid of his friend Smithy and using advice from the omnipotent Perceptionist, Michael takes charge of his destiny. But will it be enough?'

Source: Publisher's blurb.

'"You look very confused when I say I'm just trying to help these lost souls make their way to Heaven," he said. "The reason you're confused is that you think I'm speaking metaphorically. Well, my dear friend, take it very literally. You see, I may have introduced myself as Asmodeus, but let me run off a few of my more well known aliases. Now, let's see, we have Mephistopheles, Beelzebub, Bafomet, Iblis, The Fallen One, Lucifer, The Morning Star, Lord of the Dark, The Devil, oh and my favorite; Satan." Face to face with Satan, Michael has awoken in the bowels of Hell with no memory of who he is, or why he has been damned. Hell, however, isn't what he expected. Rather than the fires of torment, he finds a hedonistic city of gambling, sex, murder and revenge. With the Devil as his guide, Michael embarks on a quest of self-discovery and self redemption. But will he get a second chance at salvation? And why is Satan helping him? Hellbound is a contemporary view of Hell, exploring today's idea of sin and religion, through witty dialogue and bursts of descriptive prose. Dark, funny and philosophical.'

Source: Publisher's blurb.