A.R.'s BOOKS
The Scholar, the Sphinx and the Shades of Nyx
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One reckless decision can change a life.
David Sandoval is a sixteen-year-old genius, more content with studying than being with family or friends. When he is abducted by a traveling caravan owned by a living Grecian sphinx, he is taken on an adventure through the Curtain, the gateway between our world and the worlds of the "unseen," where many creatures of myth and legend reside.
After discovering that he has unwittingly proposed to the sphinx, David attempts to escape back through the Curtain to the human world, only to be sent to Kyoto, Japan, where he learns a dark secret: a Shade, an extension of the shadowy Night Goddess Nyx, is slowly draining the sphinx of her most precious talents.
David might be the only human on earth with the knowledge to save her, and he must also save his new friends from a ruthless adversary known as the Teumessian.
Can one normal boy truly undo the inflictions of a goddess, and rescue both the seen and unseen worlds from her dark intentions?
The Scholar, the Sphinx and the Fang of Fenrir
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David thought his days of fighting monsters were over.
After two years of peace with his wife in Paris, a new danger has emerged. The world-devouring creature Fenrir has broken free of his prison, intent on finding Acacia and taking back what she possesses.
That isn’t the only evil afoot…
Rumors abound that an old adversary has returned, and madness itself seeks to claim David. Yet those enemies are nothing compared the new incarnation of Nyx, who will stop at nothing to use Fenrir’s abilities to destroy the world.
With time running out, David must band together with old friends and new allies to save both the human world and the world of myth and legend.
The Scholar, the Sphinx and the Threads of Fate​
The fight to save the world is just beginning.
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Waking on the outskirts of Le Havre, David has no memory of his past or who he's left behind. Nyx has erased his existence, but there is hope: face the mysterious Moirai, the weavers of the Curtain, and have a new fate woven.
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With old enemies on his trail and no one in the human world able to see or hear him, he must traverse the places and people of the past to regain his memories before everything falls under Nyx's shadow.
The Secrets of the Moonstone Heir
Book One of The Scale Seekers
Desert Rain is an heir to one of the Salamandrian Sages, the Moon Dragoness, who with the other Sages formed the land of Luuva Gros centuries ago during the Great Manifestation. She refuses to use the magical powers she inherited, and is fearful to interact with the outside world- that is, save her friend Ayu, a Wretched who has lost his memories and has slowly been recovering in Desert Rain’s care.
When Desert Rain suddenly stumbles upon Ayu’s lost memories and returns them to him, the Wretched’s true nature awakens: he is a Distortionist with an insatiable drive to not only destroy the clan that betrayed him, but transform all of Luuva Gros into his twisted vision. With the help of a lizard disguised as human, a Quetzalin bird girl, and the mighty Swordmaster, Desert Rain begins a quest unlike any she’s ever faced that could change Luuva Gros and everyone in it forever.
The Legend of the Lightscale
Book Two of The Scale Seekers
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The Hero is dead. The Council is captured. All hope is shattered.
But Desert Rain and her companions press on.
With Katawa in control of the Hijn Council and transforming innocent people into his twisted army of Distorted, Desert Rain turns to the Ahshi Elves in hope of some magical assistance. However, all is not safe in the forestlands...goblin bounty hunters, a mysterious drifter, and a devious Trickster are making things complicated. The ill fate of the Swordmaster hangs heavy on Desert Rain's heart, but when the lost sword Silverheart finds its way into her hands, she discovers there may be more to the fallen hero than she realized...and maybe more to herself than she ever thought possible.
Women of the Woods
Includes A.R. Cook's short story "Necromancing Over Coffee"
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Only the brave enter the woods—those who aren’t afraid of witches, shapeshifters, curses, and darkness. In this delightfully eerie anthology, only the fearless survive.
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These spooky, fantastic, and gothic tales will remind you that bedtime stories—those read in the dark—are for adults too. Women of the Woods promises to keep you up at night while introducing you to more than a dozen talented authors. From dark fantasy to folk horror, Women of the Woods has a mix of frightening stories reminiscent of those by Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Washington Irving but with a modern touch.
Enter the woods… if you dare.
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Chronicles of Mirstone (The World of Mirstone Book 1)
Features two new short stories by A.R. Cook
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Six talented authors lend their voices to a tale of destruction, mistrust and ... hope.
Two hundred years ago, the dwarven clans and the elvish houses of Mirstone were at peace. The king of the dwarves, in a selfish and greedy move, used his wizards to expand their mountain empire, raising new peaks from the forest floors of their elven neighbors. War and hatred ensue.
The tales within offer a glimpse into the minds of the elves and dwarves who live in the aftermath. Come, journey into the world of Mirstone.
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Magic of Mirstone (The World of Mirstone Book 2)
Includes A.R. Cook's story "The Dark Lord and the God Machine"
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Everyone needs a little magic.
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For some, that means seeking out a machine that can make you a god. For others, it’s about saving a floating isle from crashing into the sea.
And then there are those who desire magic for darker purposes, like revenge.
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Seven authors bring you seven unique stories about magic and magical items in a fantastic world of imagination.
Welcome back to Mirstone.
Quests of Mirstone (The World of Mirstone Book 3)
Includes A.R. Cook's story "The Hunt for the Wandering Mystic"
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The call of adventure awaits those bold enough to answer…
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Return to Mirstone and join these heroes as they embark on epic quests, searching for lost treasures and unlocking the secrets of forgotten lands.
From the depths of dark forests to the highest peaks of mountains, these tales will transport you to a magical world filled with heroes, villains, and mythical creatures.
Get ready to be swept away by adventures that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.
Stingy Jack and the Seven Spirits of Halloween
Stingy Jack, a soul not allowed into either Heaven or Hell, has wandered the earth for 300 years, with only an ember demon inside a turnip-carved lantern to keep him company. But on this All Hallows' Eve, he may have figured out a way to end his punishment. He'll need to seek out seven spirits from all across Ireland, and collect seven special items from them. Not all ghosts are friendly, and this might be the last All Hallows' Eve that Jack ever sees. Based on the Irish legend, this novella continues the tale of Stingy Jack and the origin of Halloween traditions.
NOT INTENDED FOR YOUNG READERS.
Willow Weep No More
Includes A.R. Cook's short story "The Lady in the Moon and Her Lantern"
Fairy tales once served both as social commentary and morality lessons, often seasoned with magic spells, mythical creatures, enchanted objects, and best of all, they allowed even the lowliest people to believe there is reason to hope and dream. Willow, Weep No More is a collection of traditionally-inspired fairy tales that capture the magic and charm of these stories, whilst seeking to explore the depths of human strength, wisdom and beauty. Not suitable for under 12's.
Shadows of the Oak
Includes A.R. Cook's short story "The Man Who Called Death's Wind"
Classic fairy tales are filled with brave princes and plucky heroes who triumph over evil, but what of those whom they challenge, and those whose cunning is rooted in ruthlessness? In Tenebris Books' second fairy tale collection, following Willow, Weep No More, we explore the psyche of the anti-hero and follow those whose motives are less than pure. Some succeed, others fail; some learn, while others are content to reap wealth rather than seek redemption. We invite you to join us as we wander through the shadows and learn why not every fairy tale ends with happily ever after. Not suitable for under 12's.
The Kress Project
includes A.R. Cook's short story "The Saintly Stew"
This small, gilt-edged book includes works by winners of the Georgia Museum of Art's Kress Project, part of a two-year initiative by the museum to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of its Kress Study Collection, a small but important group of Italian Renaissance and Baroque paintings. Artists of all types were invited to respond to the paintings, and a panel of three judges--visual artist Didi Dunphy, English professor Jed Rasula, and Kate Pierson, founding member of The B-52s--chose the winning entries. The volume includes 62 black-and-white or color photos and a companion DVD.