Every week, the Castalia House Blog spotlights some of the many new releases in independent, pulp, and web novel-influenced science fiction and fantasy.

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Cirsova Magazine #23 / Summer 2025 – edited by P. Alexander

Tales of thrilling adventure and daring suspense that include:

A young man born in the arena lives only to fight! When a plot to overthrow the Emperor fails, the daughter of one of the traitors is hidden as a slave in his ludus!

Having delivered sacrificial horses to the King of Pergamos, Melkart intercedes on behalf of an insolent youth! Now, he must deliver the underworld offering himself!

While on his way to Rome to petition the Emperor, Raskos meets a strongman who wishes him to help immortalize his feat of lifting a massive boulder over his head!

Tamarick and Fastrick pursue Zoor across Kalidoh! Meanwhile, Zoor seeks to signal his allies in hopes of preparing a massive ambush to destroy the Wild Stars!

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The King’s Agent (The Awakened Realm #1) – D. K. Holmberg

She was trained to break magic. Now she must uncover the power no one ever taught her to wield.

Ellie serves as King Dorian’s secret weapon—a Blade who can shatter even the strongest fabrications. But when her brother vanishes with knowledge that could unravel the kingdom, Ellie uncovers a deeper truth: her ability to destroy magic is only the beginning.

Hunted by a man who shares her forbidden gift and haunted by powers she was taught to fear, Ellie follows a trail that leads to a ruined city pulsing with lost magic and buried lies. There, among ancient fabrications and whispers of fae, she discovers that breaking magic isn’t her greatest threat—it’s what lies beneath it.

Torn between duty to the king and a legacy hidden even from her mentors, Ellie must decide what she’s willing to risk to save her brother—and whether the truth is worth the cost.

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Koschei’s Madness (The Vechnoye Saga #4) – H. Y. Gregor

After she vanquished the Black God, Niki Baird wanted nothing more than to go back to a normal life. Those plans are shattered, though, when women begin going missing again, and all signs point to Koschei the Deathless, an ancient sorcerer who’d masqueraded as Niki’s friend and mentor.

When Crypto Division, a grieving warrior, and a cursed fae come knocking at Niki’s door, they all want the same thing: open the legendary chest of Koschei, shatter the needle inside, free a cursed city, and vanquish Koschei once and for all. Together with Ryan, Eanraig, and an increasingly strange and uncertain host of allies, Niki must track down the three keys and unravel the riddle to open the chest.

Destroying the piece of Koschei’s soul sealed inside is the only way to end his madness, and there will be no stopping him if he reaches it before they do.

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Master of Monster Arts – Aaron Oster

To survive, he must master the skills of monsters.

Craig’s goal is a simple one: complete the World-level quest given to him by Daimon, the mysterious immortal with the power to halt the progress of time. While his world remains in limbo, an instant away from total annihilation, Craig must tackle the challenges set forth by the quest.

With nearly two centuries of experience under his belt, it should be easy. If only he were competing against himself.

Marsh, his most bitter rival, has been sent to this world as well and given the same quest.

In the end, only one can win. Craig’s path forward will be as it always has, through cunning, strength, and the mastery of every aspect of battle and survival.

With Toby, his world Guide at his side, Craig sets out to do what no one in the history of Odayn has accomplished: learn the skills of monsters and use them to his advantage.

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Shadow Relics (The Forgotten Ship #2) – J. N. Chaney and Terry Mixon

Trapped without a way home.

Drake and Yukiko have been dropped on the far side of the galaxy with no way back home. The ancient travel network created by the mysterious Those Who Came Before needed a supernova to power it for the trip out and it doesn’t look like there is likely to be another one anytime soon.

Lost in the shadows.

That isn’t going to stop him from trying to figure it out anyway, and that means he needs to get his hands on information and tech from the departed aliens. Only neither of those is easy to find as collectors have it hoarded away. Luckily, Drake is an expert at relieving people of things like that. Doing that with aliens will be a fresh twist, but it isn’t like he’s got anything else to do.

No lock can keep him out.

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Warhammer Age of Sigmar: Reclaimed Honour – Jacob Peppers

A Cities of Sigmar Short Story

A loyal member of a Freeguild finds himself under the lens after the rest of his regiment falls to Chaos. How can he prove his worth and get back in the good graces of those who mockingly call him “Last”?

READ IT BECAUSE

Get a view into the inner workings of a Freeguild, and find out how the citizens of the Mortal Realms place a stigma on those who fall under suspicion.

THE STORY

Gideon Vell is a disgraced member of a Freeguild – the sole survivor of a regiment whose commander fell to the temptations of Chaos. After he’s demoted to a Wildercorps Hunter outfit, he runs into an Idoneth Deepkin raiding party. Will he regain the trust of his peers, can he reclaim his honour, and will he manage to escape with his life?

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Steelhearts – a Kickstarter campaign from Joseph Chaput

From the imaginations of five contributors to the fantasy fiction community on Substack come tales of wonder, terror, love, and courage, whether in the face of overwhelming odds or fear of the unknown:

A young man bereft of kin and hope braves subterranean horrors and ancient evils in the fae world.

The lords of humanity’s last refuge plunge into battle against an infinite horde of ravenous orcs.

Two brothers stalk winged fiends through the primitive jungle in a hunt for vengeance.

A young woman must choose between her life of protected seclusion and the perils of love and prophecy.

The fate of a treachery-ridden kingdom falls on a young country duke and an old wizard.

Every page of Steelhearts will stir the blood in your veins—and inspire you, too, to take up the swords of valor and truth in the face of evil.

This campaign will be open until Friday, 1 August 2025.

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Silver Buster – a Kickstarter campaign by Jordan Allen

Jeffrey “Jeff” Marshall was having a normal day until an alien bounty hunter arrived in his town seeking a living metal organism called a metatite. As the bounty hunter is about to deliver a killing blow to Jeff, the metatite fuses with him, granting him the power to turn his body to metal.

Teaming up with his new symbiotic buddy, who he names Sleek, the pair synthesise a combat suit and fight as the mighty masked hero, Silver Buster! Using his heavy metal powers, he fights off the alien Kryn Mercenaries led by the nefarious Captain Zaneck as they continue to pursue Sleek for their own ends.

With the seemingly endless alien forces arriving in his hometown of Belmont, Silver Buster knows it’s his duty to knock those goons right back into space and save the day. The only problem is, he still has to go to school!

This campaign will continue until Thursday, 26 June 2025.