Showing results by narrator "John Pirhalla" in All Categories

After being vaporized in the line of duty, Francis is transported to a new world full of gods and magic. Too bad Hades is trying to kill him for declining a job offer and System holds a grudge for what happened during character creation. His new patron deity seems nice, but who knows if they can be trusted?

Death is the one, true constant in the Shift. This is something Troias has learned in his journey to become Baron of Wisconsin, and most of that death has come from his hands. He's battled monsters spawned from legends and nightmares and slaughtered powerful guardians of energy-rich Vortices. Now, though, he faces a new sort of enemy: his fellow man.

Xavier Collins was sitting in class when the System integrated Earth into the Greater Universe, where countless vast kingdoms, empires, and collectives battle for domination. He didn't know what choosing to be a Champion would entail. He just liked the sound of it. But when he's teleported to the aptly-named Tower of Champions, he must face challenges against those who have known about the System since birth.

Ancient gates are opening, threatening the home that Sam and his family have built, as well as the very foundation of Aster Fall itself. The Dimensional Convergence begins as Grand Flaws appear in every direction for hundreds of miles, tearing apart the Western Reaches as demonic horrors trapped by the First War pour forth. They were locked in time by the power of the World Seal, but now that barrier is crumbling.

The Zha'-Rath can control the minds of sentient beings, can turn them into spies, drones and zombies, and nothing can stop them. Except Varnell. Gib's people are immune to the mind control and can deprogram its victims with just their voices. But the Varnell are exiles, treated like the con artists and criminals they've become, not likely to volunteer for a dangerous mission to save all the worlds who've oppressed them for centuries.

The final moments of the journey in Ancient Greece sets the stage for a revolution ready to explode faster than a poorly brewed potion. The Old Guild and Asguardian Remnants are itching for a comeback tour. Led by Odin's feathered spies, Huginn and Muninn, they’re all set to hunt Artorian down—this time for good. They're betting their last shiny coin on vengeance, aiming to turn Artorian's dream of a New World into a nightmare—permanently.

I never asked to be Blade Mage. My fellow wizards weren’t exactly thrilled about my selection, either. Unfortunately, those weird old druids have a strict no returns policy. So I left, and for the past few years, I’ve managed to hide from my responsibilities and former life. But I always knew one day the Cabal would come looking for its precious sword. And so they have, but only because a heinous crime has occurred....

Recovering ancient relics for the Italian mob can be deadly. When Harry Fox narrowly outwits a thieving artifacts dealer to escape with his life, he quickly discovers he came away with more than he bargained for. The stone tablet with a strange tale etched on it tells of lost knowledge from the cradle of civilization--the ancient Persian Empire.

Harald's strike against Lord Gorkin shattered the city's fragile balance. Now, branded a murderer and bearer of the most coveted Artifact in Flutic, he and his companions are hunted by the Houses' deadliest Silver-ranked killers. Forced to flee into the depths, the Throne Hunters descend through shadow and madness.

Charlie and the others hadn’t set out to free the galaxy, but fate had other plans...and so did the ancient AI robot, Lenny, who brought them together. And brought them to Sanctuary. Now, a whole planet of Copperell refugees looks to Charlie for leadership, and his first task as their commander is to find weapons to arm the AI-guided zoo ships that are their only military fleet. And only the Anguilar have the weapons they need.

“John Pirhalla narrates with deft understanding of each character and of how to balance the story's humor and tension.” — Booklist Part alien invasion story, part buddy comedy, and part workplace satire, After The Fall by Edward Ashton, author of Mickey7 (inspiration for the film Mickey...

Never trust a stranger… But late at night and trapped in the middle of nowhere during a terrible snowstorm, Tibby and Walker have no choice. With roads shutting down and cell towers out, running into each other and deciding to travel together could either be their saving grace or worst mistake. When they’re forced to take an unexpected detour and seek refuge in a roadside motel, the storm quickly becomes the least of their worries. 

Jace Hawthorne paid the price for defending humanity. Now he lives in the shadows of a galaxy occupied by hostile aliens. Branded a criminal for daring to fight ruthless alien invaders, Marine veteran Jace Hawthorne now scrapes by as a Shadow. He is forced to smuggle contraband past Enforcer patrols for the local Shadowport Guild. Every illegal run funds his mother’s medicine, every day a careful dance around their oppressive alien overlords. But when a routine job explodes into catastrophe, Jace realizes he’s stumbled into something far deadlier than black market goods.

A dark reflection of evil has been unleashed.... Dylan Reynolds seems like an average, lonely teenager. Forced to move to a strange city where he doesn’t know anyone, Dylan rebels against his parents and runs away from home. But a chance encounter unlocks something hidden away in the troubled youth’s mind - a suppressed memory of a twin brother. And a sinister secret lurks in their shared past.... This special edition includes the entire terrifying Ghost Mirror trilogy, plus two additional short story collections.

Axel Font, once the champion metal sorcerer of the underground arena, wants nothing more than to live a quiet life as an airship engineer. But with the constables coming knocking on his door and claiming he's under investigation for the murder of a member of the Senate, privatized paramilitary start trying to shoot him, and someone starts making appearances as his old masked identity, he's not likely to get the chance.

Artorian welcomes home old friends, glad for their company. Having finally returned Cal to the seat of his sanctuary, he must cast aside other whims and assume the mantle of Administrator, continuing the diplomacy that came with the creation of Accords. Regardless of agreements, some diplomacy must always be spoken with fists. To prepare for the second coming of Eternium, Cal’s space must stand firm, resolute, and without danger...even if Artorian must contend with a city of tears to attain that result.

Charlie has accepted a commission in the US Army and the duty to build Earth's defenses before the Anguilar return for a larger attack to conquer his homeworld once and for all. But Giblet has other ideas. Obsessed with revenge against the Anguilar General Zan-Tar for the death of the woman he loved, Gib steals a starfighter and sets off on a suicide mission for the heart of the Anguilar Empire. Charlie is forced to make a decision: do his duty to his home and his people...or race to save his friend on the road of vengeance.

The empire defeated the Swarm at the Battle of Iris, but it came at a great cost. To win, Hazard King needed to reveal he was Crown Prince Henry and take command of the Imperial Fleet as War Leader. Now their enemy is suing for peace, something many in the empire don't want to give. There are even officers in his own fleet that wish to restart the war and eradicate the Swarm. Hazard and his mother, Empress Elizabeth, face not only issues in the Isis System but across the empire.

Two thousand years ago the Celtic Queen Boudica waged war against the Roman army. She nearly won, though history cannot explain why. When Harry Fox uncovers lost documents from Aristotle and Emperor Nero, he learns Queen Boudica used an unearthly weapon to nearly topple Nero's army. And this weapon may still exist.

Sleepwalk’s hero, Will Bear, is a man with so many aliases that he simply thinks of himself as the Barely Blur. At 50 years old, he’s been living off the grid for over half his life. He’s never had a real job, never paid taxes, never been in a committed relationship.