The Black Conspiracy is the second of a pair of books by Bangor author, Ken Magee. It's a funny, contemporary fantasy which answers the question "What happens when ancient magic meets the Internet".

Ken has always loved fantasy novels, particularly the work of Terry Pratchett and Robert Rankin. He says "I was always going to write in the humorous fantasy genre, and twenty years experience of working in the IT industry, was bound to influence the storyline." 

Here's the book's blurb...

Ancient magic has infected the Internet… is this the end for civilisation?

Ancient magic has transported Tung, a young thief, and Madrick, a has-been wizard, across a millennium. Now the magic has infected the Internet and civilisation simply can’t handle the consequences.

To make matters even worse, evil wizards have followed Tung and Madrick through time. They’re determined to hunt down and destroy the pair, and with them, our modern way of life. Saving the world has just got a whole lot harder.

Do you want to laugh while the world comes to an end? The Black Conspiracy is the spellbinding, stand-alone sequel to Dark Tidings.

The Black Conspiracy is available from Amazon and has already had some great reviews:

"This wonderful book takes the story forward from Ken Magee's debut novel Dark Tidings. It's a fantasy but with a difference - ancient magic meets big banking and the internet.

This is a hugely funny book. Ken Magee's sense of humour shines out through the story and leaves the reader with some beautifully memorable phrases. It's not often that I've encountered the Universe as a character. She's a corker, if a little unpredictable after a tipple! Utterly brilliant!" Ignite - Amazon top 500 reviewer. 

If you would like some more information about the books or the author, you can email ken.magee@gametheworld.com or Tweet at https://twitter.com/KenMageeAuthor or have a look at Ken's blog.

Dark Tidings by Ken Magee

Dark Tidings is the first of a pair of books by Bangor author, Ken Magee. It's a funny, contemporary fantasy which asks the question "What happens when ancient magic meets the Internet".

Ken started this book many years ago, but it wasn't until 2011 that he got the chance to write full time and finish his début novel. He describes the delay in getting the book finished as 'life getting in the way'.

Ken has always loved fantasy novels, particularly the work of Terry Pratchett and Robert Rankin. He says "I was always going to write in the humorous fantasy genre, and twenty years experience of working in the IT industry, was bound to influence the storyline." Here's the book's blurb...


What happens when ancient magic meets the internet? One thing is certain, modern life will never be the same again.

A thousand years ago, a young thief, Tung, and a disgraced wizard, Madrick, are thrust together in an executioner’s dungeon. In the darkness, Madrick reveals an incredible secret about a legendary spell. The great spell helps them escape their prison cell... and eventually their century.

Catapulted into the present day, their lives collide with Michael, a computer hacker who plans to destroy the world’s largest bank. But sinister people are tracking their every move and they will stop at nothing to steal their spell.

Dark Tidings is available from Amazon and has already had some great reviews:

"Imagine the worlds of Terry Pratchett and Dan Brown coming together- Dark Tidings provides a witty and clever read that will appeal to all readers."

 "This is a super book! It's intelligent, extremely funny and very relevant to what's going on in the world today."

If you would like some more information about the books or the author, you can email ken.magee@gametheworld.com or Tweet @Ken MageeAuthor or have a look at Ken's blog.

Still Dreaming and WAKE

Still Dreaming: Poetry and Short Stories, the first book by Northern Irish author, Ellie Rose McKee, was first released in May 2012 and then re-released as a second edition earlier this month, on September 17^th. WAKE, which is the sequel, is due for release in just a few days – on September 28^th.

While Still Dreaming included some experimental and less common literary styles and dealt with some hard hitting issues, WAKE goes further. WAKE is darker, more personal and much longer too. It includes a Haiku with an advanced structure, a Limerick, a Sonnet, a Monologue and a Soliloquy alongside ‘typical’ poems and short stories.

The covers for both books come from photographs taken by the author herself. The first being of Groomsport bay, part of County Down’s Ards Peninsula and the second being of Northern Ireland north coast – near the Giant’s Causeway.

Ellie really enjoys photography and even produced a paperback containing all her own ‘shots’ over the summer entitled Overlooked Awe.

All three of the aforementioned books were self published, but Ellie is hoping to go down the traditional publishing route with her novel – Rising from Ashes. In the meantime, however, she has plans to release a second photobook in February 2013.

When not writing or taking photos, Ellie enjoys travelling, making YouTube videos and getting involved with Children’s and Youth Work. You can find out more about her by visiting her website, Facebook Fan Page or Twitter Profile. 

Dusk Chorus by Colin Dardis

Taken from Gerry McCullough's review on Amazon.co.uk

I've read a lot of Colin Dardis's poetry, both in magazines and in his first book Left of Soul; and he never ceases to delight. This new collection (which includes a few from Left of Soul such as Sleep Becomes Her and The Night Birds) has so many strikingly beautiful lines and images that I could spend the whole of this review in quoting them.

In Shimmer, for example, there is 'Each star a celebration / suspended in the sky/ by the memory of your grace';and in Take the Sun, 'And if she danced/ there would be sunsets/ where the evening paused in splendour.' 'The eye of the moon is upon me / and the trumpets echo now.' Colin Dardis in many ways reminds me of Tennyson or even Jon Stallworthy, both poets with an eye for beauty and the ability to convey it; and particularly successful in their love poetry. But Dardis, here, is writing not just about love but also about a particular subject, the cycle of day and night and how we deal with this never ending movement of our lives. Sunshine Bed and Home for the Stars are marvellously evocative examples of this.

Awake to This focuses on dawn, which we so regularly miss '...in order to witness / the slow fracture of dawn / trickle down the black mountainside.' A Shift of Seasons is another love poem. 'Come light your fire around me / let's set up camp in each other / and settle down for the rest of our hours/ together, peacefully.' A fine example of a pun used to convey a double meaning full of beauty, in the manner of the Metaphysical poets. 'I have seen your star in my sky / and it has guided me home.' Then there's the effective image in Sunset at Bridge, 'The Lagan shining like a debutante's necklace / lovingly wrapped round the city's neck.' And Teasing the Sleeper, '...each one sewn into the air / with God's promise / of another day.'

If you like good poetry, then you really shouldn't miss out on this very good book.

Link to download pdf version:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/​colin-dardis/dusk-chorus/​ebook/product-20086465.html

Kindle for UK users:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/​Dusk-Chorus-ebook/dp/​B00810GSF2/​ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336​565411&sr=8-1

Kindle for US users:
http://www.amazon.com/​Dusk-Chorus-ebook/dp/​B00810GSF2/​ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1336​565450&sr=8-1