[Free eBook] A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab [Alternate History Fantasy]

A Darker Shade of Magic by V. E. Schwab is the 1st novel in the Shades of Magic series of parallel universe historical fantasy adventure novels, free for a limited time courtesy of publisher Tor Books.

This is their featured eBook Club of the Month selection for June and is apparently being offered to promote the author’s work, for which a new novel in her other fantasy series, Vengeful, will be released in September.

The series takes place in parallel universe versions of London during the reign of George III, some of which can be accessed by rare magicians with the special ability to travel between them. This installment stars one such universe-hopping magician who runs into a thief in our magicless version of London, as they wind up crossing over to another world on their adventures.

Offered through June 15th at 11:59 PM Eastern Time, available DRM-free to Canada & US only directly from the publisher.

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Free for a limited time directly via @ the publisher’s dedicated promo page (DRM-free ePub & Mobi bundle officially available in Canada & US only due to geographic restrictions, requires newsletter signup with valid email address)

You can also follow their upcoming readalong discussions for this book via the dedicated blog tag @ Tor.com.

Description
Kell is one of the last Antari―magicians with a rare, coveted ability to travel between parallel Londons; Red, Grey, White, and, once upon a time, Black.

Kell was raised in Arnes―Red London―and officially serves the Maresh Empire as an ambassador, traveling between the frequent bloody regime changes in White London and the court of George III in the dullest of Londons, the one without any magic left to see. Grey London. Our London.

That’s where Kell runs into Delilah Bard, a cut-purse with lofty aspirations.

She robs him.

Then she saves him from a deadly enemy, and finally forces Kell to spirit her to another world for a proper adventure.

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[Free eBook] The Blue Spong and the Flight from Mediocrity by St. Sukie de la Croix [1920s Chicago LGBT Fantasy Satire]

The Blue Spong and the Flight from Mediocrity by Chicago-resident British expat author St. Sukie de la Croix, an Esteem Award-winning columnist, playwright, and LGBT community historian who has been inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame, is a standalone satirical historical literary fantasy with m/m, f/m, and f/f erotic elements novella, free for a limited time courtesy of LGBT specialty publisher Lethe Press.

The story takes place in the 1920s in Chicago and is a literary fiction coming of age tale with strong magical realism and sex comedy elements, as three sheltered upper-class sisters tracing the origins of a supernatural pet find themselves taking different paths towards self-discovery, as they come into contact with the thriving black, immigrant, and underground LGBT communities and engage in assorted experiences that will broaden their previously narrow lives, as well as discovering secrets about their supposedly staid parents’ own personal activities.

Offered DRM-free worldwide, available at Amazon.

[Free eBook REPEAT] Island of Shadows by Peter Tremayne [Irish Mythological Fantasy]

Island of Shadows by British author Peter Tremayne, perhaps best known as the author of the popular Sister Fidelma historical mystery series, is his standalone mythological historical fantasy novel, free again for a limited time courtesy of publisher Endeavour Press’ Venture imprint.

This was originally published in 1991 by Mandarin. The story is set in ancient Ireland, and loosely based upon a portion of the Ulster Cycle of classic Irish mythology.

This tells a tale about the early life of Scottish warrior woman Scáthach, who was teacher to the Irish hero Cú Chulainn, as she journeys to discover her mysterious past and also obtain revenge, after the adoptive father who raised her from a foundling babe is murdered by distinctively-marked strangers.

Offered worldwide, available at Amazon.

[Free eBook] Prince Ivan by Peter Morwood [Russian Folklore Historical Fantasy]

Prince Ivan by Irish author Peter Morwood is the 1st novel in his Tales of Old Russia trilogy of historical adventure fantasy, free for a limited time courtesy of publisher Endeavour Press’ Venture imprint.

This was originally published in 1990 by Arrow’s Legend imprint. The series is set in a fantasy version of historical Russia sometime during the 13th or 14th centuries, starring the popular folkloric hero Ivan Tsarevich, and draws upon Russian folklore and mythology.

This story begins titular mythical prince’s adventures as he is ready to come of age, when an encroaching magical force leads him to undertake a journey to find his own path, eventually putting him into conflict with the malevolent Koshchey the Undying.

Offered worldwide, available at Amazon.

[Free eBook] Dead Blossoms: The Third Geisha by Richard Monaco [Japan Historical Fantasy with Mystery]

Dead Blossoms: The Third Geisha by Richard Monaco, a two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist for his Parsival saga of Arthurian novels, is his apparently standalone historical fantasy novel with strong mystery elements, free for a limited time courtesy of publisher Endeavour Press’ Venture imprint.

This was originally self-published in 2012 by by the author himself, via Lulu Press. NB: This may have only very mild sfnal elements, since nothing overtly fantastical is mentioned in the blurb or customer reviews, but the publisher has still filed it under several Fantasy categories. YMMV.

The story takes place in 16th century feudal Japan, starring a ronin who also claims to be a ninja, who finds himself being hired by a nobleman to investigate the mysterious disappearance of another’s daughter, undertaking a journey in pursuit of uncovering the terrible truth behind it.

Offered worldwide, available at Amazon.

[Free eBook REPEAT] The Golden Horde by Peter Morwood [Russian Folklore Historical Fantasy]

The Golden Horde by Irish author Peter Morwood is the 3rd novel in his Tales of Old Russia trilogy of historical adventure fantasy drawing upon Russian folklore, free again for a limited time courtesy of publisher Endeavour Press’ Venture imprint.

This was originally published in 1993 by Legend. The series is set in a fantasy version of historical Russia sometime during the 13th or 14th centuries, starring the popular folkloric hero Ivan Tsarevich.

This installment sees the various Princes of the land joining forces against the historical Golden Horde of the nomadic Tatars, hoping to hold off the invaders with ancient dark magic which may prove the doom of them all.

Offered worldwide, available at Amazon.

[Free eBook] Island of Shadows by Peter Tremayne [Irish Mythological Fantasy]

Island of Shadows by British author Peter Tremayne, perhaps best known as the author of the popular Sister Fidelma historical mystery series, is his standalone mythological historical fantasy novel, free for a limited time courtesy of publisher Endeavour Press’ Venture imprint.

This was originally published in 1991 by Mandarin. The story is set in ancient Ireland, and loosely based upon a portion of the Ulster Cycle of classic Irish mythology.

This tells a tale about the early life of Scottish warrior woman Scáthach, who was teacher to the Irish hero Cú Chulainn, as she journeys to discover her mysterious past and also obtain revenge, after the adoptive father who raised her from a foundling babe is murdered by distinctively-marked strangers.

Offered worldwide, available at Amazon.

[Free eBook] Greenwode by J. Tullos Hennig [Historical Folklore Fantasy]

Greenwode by J. Tullos Hennig is 1st novel in her The Wode series of folklore-based historical fantasy with m/m romantic elements, free for a limited time courtesy of LGBT specialty publisher Dreamspinner Press’ DSP Publications imprint.

The series takes places in a reimagined druidic Robin Hood analogue of Merrie Olde England circa the 12th century, where the new Church clashes with the old pagan gods. This story sets up the future adventures of peasant siblings Rob and Marion, who will become champions of the old religion, of whom brother Rob is prophesied to become the sworn enemy of a devout nobleman’s son of the new religion who will battle him for an important avatar of the titular “greenwode”, but who instead tries to circumvent said prophecy by making love, not war, a tactic that may not work nearly as well as he hopes.

Offered in most regions worldwide, available at multiple retailers (some DRM-free), as a promotion for the upcoming release of the 4th novel.

[Free eBook] Broken Stone by Richard Monaco [Arthurian Historical Fantasy]

Broken Stone by Richard Monaco, a two-time finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, is the 2nd novel in his Leitus Sixtus duology of Arthurian-inspired historical adventure fantasy, free for a limited time courtesy of publisher Endeavour Press’ Venture Press imprint.

This was originally published in 1985 by Ace Books. The duology is set in ancient Rome during the days when Britain was part of the Roman Empire and incorporates elements of Arthurian fantasy lore, starring an exiled Roman warrior and a Briton former slave girl with a special destiny. This volume wraps up their adventures, taking them on a further journey into the world of hidden Druidic magic as well as the farther reaches of the Empire, teaming them up with allies and enemies against a greater evil in a final confrontation.

Offered worldwide, available at Amazon.

[Free eBook] Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente [Russian Folktale Historical Fantasy]

Deathless by Catherynne M. Valente, a recipient of the Mythopoeic and James Tiptree, Jr. Award, is her standalone historical mythological fantasy novel, free for a limited time courtesy of publisher Tor Books.

The story is a combination of Russian folklore and history, resetting the traditional fairy tale of Koschei the Deathless into the 20th century Russian Revolution.

Offered through April 16th, available in Canada & the US directly from the publisher as their Free Book of the Month Club selection.