The Horns of Ruin
When humanity ascended, there were three gods. Three became two. Then two became one…
Eva Forge is the last of her kind—a Paladin of the dead god Morgan, whose might is slowly waning. Trained for a life of combat in the city of Ash, she remains ever wary of the scions of the other gods, who have their own beliefs and agendas. So when Eva accompanies her lifelong mentor to retrieve a strange young girl of a rival faith, she is both curious and suspicious. And above all, she is ready for a fight.
But nothing could have prepared her for an ambush by armored, machine-driven corpses. When the smoke clears both her mentor and the girl are gone—taken captive or worse. Though ordered to stand down and let the authorities handle the investigation, Eva cannot let such a disgrace go unpunished by the power of Morgan.
Soon, her initial desire for bloody vengeance becomes a quest for answers. Because the more Eva learns in her search for the truth, the less she realizes she truly knows about her city, her destiny, and the gods themselves. And what Eva uncovers will either transform the world or leave it in ruins…
Tim Akers, author of the acclaimed Burn Cycle series, introduces readers to a mystical world where men can become gods, and gods can become murderers…
Reviews
“Hard to put down. From the compelling opening sentence to the last, The Horns of Ruin is much like its protagonist: powerful, relentless and impossible to ignore. Akers seamlessly blends steampunk and fantasy elements in an adroit feat of world-building that is rich in story-bolstering detail but never interferes with the frenetic pace of the action. Fantasy and steampunk readers, particularly any fan who loved Elizabeth Moon’s The Deed of Paksenarrion, should not miss The Horns of Ruin and should keep an eye out for Akers in the future.”The Miami Herald
“Akers (‘Heart of Veridon’) creates a complex steampunk world… Ash is a vibrant city, and the cults of the three brothers have a relationship as ambivalent and complicated as the relationship among any actual siblings.”
“Deals with weighty issues of faith and science while narrating a fast-paced adventure.”Library Journal
“A solidly created world, populated with magic, action and adventure that could easily accommodate far more entries to come […] we haven’t come across such a refreshing take on multiple sci-fi and fantasy forms in a while. Horns of Ruin comes highly recommended.”Sci Fi Now
“A fun and flowing read. I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for something different to the normal fantasy tropes.SF Crow’s Nest
“Unique and clever aspects […] some interesting juxtapositions of science and magic, and an exciting story.”
“[Tim Akers is] worth keeping an eye on.”Interzone (UK)
“An energetic rollercoaster ride in a well accentuated world that needs to be further explored.”
“Establishes itself as a unique fantasy adventure in a world all its own […] should be at the top of your list.”Examiner.com
“A brilliant idea, the kind that makes you smile uncontrollably.”
“Highly enjoyable […] a novel gifted with both a great storyline and very developed, streamlined writing […] this vastly original and captivating read is one I can highly recommend.”LEC Book Reviews
“One of the most exciting new novels I’ve read all year […] This is a truly invigorating read, and for those of you who like your steampunk with a twist, I cannot recommend it highly enough.”Rob Will Review
“Compelling, action-packed storyline […] plenty of room for more stories in this setting. I can’t wait for the sequels.”
“As a fantasy novel, this reminds me of some of the best modern fantasy I’ve read […] In short I highly recommend this book to fans of intricately plotted fantasy with a unique take on magic, religion, and technology.”Steam Ingenious
“The magic-system that Tim Akers employs [is] extremely unique in written fiction […] I found [Tim Akers’s world-building] to be layered, nuanced, compelling, varied and highly enjoyable.”Shadowhawk’s Shade
Awards & Accolades
SciFi Now: 2010 Rising Star Award