A SECRET ORDER OF SORCERERS RULES THE WORLD. ONE MAN HAS VOWED TO
DESTROY THEM.
THE SORCERERS WHO RULE THE WORLD ARE GOING DOWN!
If people who can work magic are so powerful, why don't they rule the
world? Well, as it happens, they do. One man wants to change that.
The Apkallu are masters of magic. They rule the world from the shadows,
using mind control and deadly monsters to eliminate any threat to their
power. Sam Arquero lost his family to a demon sent by an Apkallu. He
knew that nobody would believe the truth, but now an old man offers Sam
the chance to find out who is responsible and bring down the Apkallu
forever.
Under a new identity, Sam must learn the secrets of magic, infiltrate
the Apkallu, and walk a razor's edge of daring as he attempts to destroy
the Apkallu leaders and avoid the supernatural detectives on his trail.
But Sam's greatest challenge perhaps lies within--to avoid becoming like
the hated Apkallu himself!
About The Initiate:
Cambias' energetic prose and grim take of the idea of a secret wizard
community should please most urban fantasy readers.--Booklist
Praise for Arkad's World:
"Far-flung adventure . . . Cambias offers up an entertaining
coming-of-age novel filled with action and surprises. His aliens are
suitably non-human in mannerisms, attitudes, and objectives, and his
worldbuilding suggests a vast universe ready for further exploration.
Readers . . . will find this hits the spot."--Publishers Weekly
". . . a classic quest story, a well-paced series of encounters with
different folk along the way, building momentum toward a final
confrontation with Arkad's past. . . [with] a delicious twist to the
end."--ALA Booklist
"Cambias has achieved a feat of world-building: an expansive, believable
setting with fascinating aliens, compelling mysteries, and a rich sense
of history."--Bookpage
"Drop a teenage boy into a distant planet chock full of colorful
aliens--with troubles all their own. Stir, flavor, apply heat. A tour de
force in the field, and great, quick fun."--Gregory Benford
Praise for the work of James L. Cambias:
"Beautifully written, with a story that captures the imagination the way
SF should."--Booklist, starred review
"An engaging nail-biter that is exciting, fun and a satisfying read."
--The Qwillery
''An impressive debut by a gifted writer.''--Publishers Weekly,
starred review
''An exceptionally thoughtful, searching and intriguing
debut.''--Kirkus, starred review
"James Cambias will be one of the century's major names in hard science
fiction.''--Robert J. Sawyer, Hugo Award-winning author of Red Planet
Blues
"Fast-paced, pure quill hard science fiction. . . . Cambias delivers
adroit plot pivots that keep the suspense coming.''--Gregory Benford,
Nebula Award-winning author of Timescape
