Balthazar's Bane

Book excerpt: A bungled murder. A ridiculous quest. And a hero with extremely dodgy credentials. New Year's Eve 1889. Count Balthazar Jozsef Habsburg‎-Koháry tries to lead a simple life. Oh, he enjoys a few hobbies. Collecting ancient Egyptian artifacts. Hunting necromancers with a wire garrote. Impersonating dead Hungarian nobility. Seducing an endless string of women who never suspect the price of the count’s attentions. But considering what Balthazar used to be like, these pursuits are harmless. And surely he deserves a reward for assassinating the elusive necromancer John Mortlake in the middle of Cairo’s teeming bazaar. What could be better than a holiday cruise up the Nile with his secretary Lucas Devereaux? Unfortunately for Balthazar, he just killed the wrong necromancer – one with a vengeful daughter and huge debts to some very shady jinn. To survive, he and Lucas must find a legendary sword and liberate a desert kingdom of magical misfits. For centuries, the people of Al Miraj have sought a valiant champion willing to face the wrath of the arch demon Fulad-zereh! What they get is Balthazar. But the gods always did like a good joke. Praise for Balthazar's Bane “Balthazar is a likable antihero whose questionable choices lead to questionable paths. His charm, however, is irresistible. A delightful adventure story with plenty of action and intrigue!” –I Smell Sheep “Think Prince of Persia meets Casablanca and then add in enough magic, snark and flat-out humor to make it one big jaunt through ancient ruins and a hidden world masked and dependent on magic." –Fiction Flock “Fast-paced and high stakes. Balthazar’s Bane is perfect for fans of the Jackaby series and of the Netflix show Penny Dreadful, and fairytale reimaginings with a dark feel.” –Book Briefs “From the Cairo bazaar to Al Miraj and beyond, I was transported to a wondrous ‘Arabian Nights' environment with hints of ancient Greek mythology scattered around too. I’m now a committed Gaslamp Gothic fan!” –Literary Flits “The characters are always entertaining, the surroundings are lavish and sumptuous, and the pacing is excellent. Balthazar's Bane ticks all the boxes for a delightful Victorian-era fantasy.” –Cats Luv Coffee