The next Mary Good Crow book comes out Feb 1!

Return to the magical West for The Battle of Medicine Rocks!

When Mary Good Crow came out of the crystal into the arms of her sister, the last thing she wanted was another fight. But war is coming to the Great Plains. With crystal on their side, the Lakota are poised to annihilate the town of Medicine Rocks, forcing Mary to choose between the friends she’s found and the family she’s always longed for. When Rel Reiner accepted her father’s dark bargain to save Josie and the others, the last thing she expected was to survive. But there’s more to the Reiner family’s magic than ghosts and bones. Magic Rel will have to embrace if she ever wants to walk in her own skin again. When Josie Price left the crystal mines one step ahead of death, the last thing she intended was to quit. But the wolves in town are circling, and with the crystal going crazy and the cavalry riding to war, just finding a way to keep going might cost her everything she came to Montana to build. Three women divided by a war none of them wants. But Josie, Mary, and Rel have always been strongest together, and with the entire world’s magical future on the line, “together” might be the only way anyone survives.   The second book in The Crystal Calamity, coming out February 1!

Preorder Now!

What's better for the new year than a new book? How about several new books? I've been writing like crazy and should have a lot of new titles coming for you all this year, but this first one is a doozy. THE BATTLE OF MEDICINE ROCKS is the sequel to THE LAST STAND OF MARY GOOD CROW and has (I think) the best ending I've ever written. I'm super proud of how it came out and cannot wait for y'all to read it on February 1!  Even better, we've finally managed to line up all formats to release simultaneously! Whether you prefer ebook, print, or audio book, they all release on the same day. It's everything, everywhere, all at once, and really pretty to boot! Seriously, the print version is gorgeous. Whatever format you fancy, I really, really hope you enjoy this new entry in the Crystal Calamity. I know Western fiction isn't everyone's thing, but if you haven't given book 1 a try yet, I hope you'll give me a shot. And for those of you already in the know, I can't wait for you to read what comes next. It's gonna be a blast!  Thank you as always for being my readers and listeners, and I hope you enjoy THE BATTLE OF MEDICINE ROCKS! Yours with a respectful hat tip, Rachel Aaron

 

The Last Stand of Mary Good Crow is now out in Audio!

 

"Brimming with imagination, wonderful characters and captivating magic. "

- Novel Notions

The long awaited day is finally here! The fantastic audio book of my newest novel, THE LAST STAND OF MARY GOOD CROW, officially goes on sale today!

If you already own the ebook, you can pick up the audio edition for super cheap! Who said audio books had to be expensive? I get paid the same either way, so there's no reason not to get yourself a deal!

I think Naomi Rose-Mock did a fantastic job with all the characters. I really hope you'll give it a try. Thank you as always for being my readers (and listeners!), and I hope you'll enjoy the audio edition of The Last Stand of Mary Good Crow!

Yours always,
Rachel

FINALLY! A new novel! Introducing THE LAST STAND OF MARY GOOD CROW

 It’s been a while, but I’m back with an new novel in an new world! Get ready for…

Deadwood meets Lord of the Rings in this Epic Fantasy of the West!

Hungry darkness, haunted guns, tunnels that move like snakes--the crystal mines of Medicine Rocks, Montana are a place only the bravest and greediest dare. Discovered in 1866, the miraculous rock known as crystal quickly rose to become the most expensive substance on the planet, driving thousands to break the treaties and invade the sacred buffalo lands of the Sioux for a chance at the wealth beneath. But mining crystal risks more than an arrow in the chest. The beautiful rock has a voice of its own. A voice that twists minds and calls unnatural powers.

A voice that turns men into monsters.

Mary Good Crow hears it. Half white, half Lakota, rejected by both, she’s forged a new life guiding would-be miners through the treacherous caves. To her ears, the crystal sings a beautiful song, one the men she guides would gladly burn her as a witch for hearing. So, when an heiress from Boston arrives with a proposition that could change her life, Mary agrees to push deeper into the caves than she’s ever dared.

But there are secrets buried in the Deep Caves that even Mary doesn’t know. The farther she goes, the closer she gets to the voice that’s been calling her all this time. A voice that could change the bloody story of the West, or destroy it all.

Coming to eBook and Kindle Unlimited on JUNE 1, 2022! Print and Audio release coming soon! 

Preorder your copy now!

Hello everyone!

I know it’s been a while since we left Opal in the DFZ. Like everyone else on the planet, I got kicked down pretty hard by the pandemic. But sometimes being forced to step away from your work means space gets made for something different, and wow, is this different.

THE LAST STAND OF MARY GOOD CROW is a story I’ve been wanting to tell for a long time. We’re talking crazy magic, giant battles, haunted guns, messed up family situations, sky-high stakes, and (of course) a giant cast of fun, hot-mess characters all set against the epic backdrop of the Great Sioux War, which ends veeeeery differently than the real one. (Don’t worry, Custer still dies.)

I realize historical Western feels like a pretty big jump from Urban Fantasy, but this is a Rachel Aaron book through and through. If you liked my other series, I heartily encourage you to give this one a try. I promise you won’t be disappointed!

You can read a sample right now over on my website. The eBook and Kindle versions will be out on June 1, 2022 with print very soon after. For those who prefer audio books, we’re recording right now, so it won’t be too long of a wait. I’ll send another email to let you know as soon as the audio version is available.

Thank you as always for being my readers/listeners! Y’all are the ones I write for, and I just can’t wait for you to start THE LAST STAND OF MARY GOOD CROW!

Yours always,

Rachel Aaron

NIGHT SHIFT DRAGONS comes out today in ebook and audio!

They say family always sticks together, but when you’re your dad’s only lifeline and the whole world—humans, dragons, and gods—wants you dead, “family bonding” takes on a whole new meaning.

My name is Opal Yong-ae, and I’m in way over my head. I thought getting rid of my dad’s bad luck curse would put things back to normal. Instead, I’m stuck playing caretaker to the Great Dragon of Korea. That wouldn’t be so bad if he wasn’t such a jerk, or if every dragon on the planet wasn’t out to kill him, or if he were my only problem.

Turns out, things can always get worse in the DFZ. When a rival spirit attacks my god/boss to turn the famously safety-optional city into a literal death arena with Nik as his bloody champion, I’m thrust onto the front lines and way out of my comfort zone. When gods fight, mortals don’t usually survive, but I’m not alone this time. Even proud old dragons can learn new tricks, and with everything I love falling to pieces, the father I’ve always run from might just be the only force in the universe stubborn enough to pull us back together.

Get your copy now!

And thus Opal's journey comes to its grand conclusion! The final book in the DFZ trilogy, NIGHT SHIFT DRAGONS, is out today in audio and ebook! Some of you have already gotten your copies and binged, and I can't thank you enough!

I hope you all love this story as much as I loved writing it. Opal has been one of the most fun characters ever to write, even if she did leave me craving pancakes. Thank you for going on this journey with me! You are the best readers a writer could have!

For those wondering what's next, I'm working on a brand new series in a brand new world! You'll all get the details as soon as I'm sure the project will actually fly, but please know this is NOT my last book in the DFZ. I've already got a great idea for another book, so don't worry. We're not done with the dragons yet!

Again, thank you so so much for being my fans. Your enthusiasm and enjoyment is why I do this. Enjoy the book, and I'll be back soon with more!

Yours always,

Rachel Aaron

Mother of Dragons Bethesda's Unpaid Intern

NIGHT SHIFT DRAGONS is the third book in the DFZ series. If you're new, start from the beginning with MINIMUM WAGE MAGIC! I promise you won't be sorry!

Something a little different

Hey everyone!

This post is a little different from my usual. First up, NIGHT SHIFT DRAGONS is still coming out May 5 in audio and ebook, so hooray! But I'm not actually here to talk about my books today. I'm here to talk about yours.

In addition to being wonderful people with amazing taste in fiction, I know a lot of you are also writers/creative types. Or maybe you just like reading books! Whatever your passion, the last few months have probably been really, really hard on you. I know they've been suck for me, and I'm lucky enough to have a job that keeps me at home all the time anyway.

Staying creative and productive is always hard, but never so much as in times like this. That's why I've teamed up with a bunch of other writers for CONQUERING THE WRITING BLUES, a free online writing conference about staying productive and inspired even when the world is falling apart. There are 25 interviews with a new one emailed out every day starting tomorrow plus a ton of free writing books and other goodies.

Just to be clear: this is a totally free project. I make no money off sign-ups. I just feel very passionate about this topic and wanted to do something to help combat the despair I see in my writing communities. To this end, I've also written a free essay on my website on the same topic called Shining On When the World Is Dark that you can read right now, no extra anything required.

Soap box! I am on you!

Anyway, if you're feeling down and in need of some inspiration, or if you just want to hear a bunch of really cool writers and publishing industry people talking shop, give CONQUERING THE WRITING BLUES a try. My interview goes up this Sunday, and you can see all the other writers on the main site. I just hope you have as much fun listening I had doing the interview, because creativity and writing are my favorite topics ever. Seriously, do not get me started I will talk FOREVER.

Thank you so much as always for being my readers. You folks are the ones who keep me going more than any others when times get tough, and I appreciate you more than words can say. Thank you SO MUCH and see you May 5 for Opal's final book!

Yours,
Rachel Aaron

NIGHT SHIFT DRAGONS, the final DFZ book, comes out May 5!

They say family always sticks together, but when you’re your dad’s only lifeline and the whole world—humans, dragons, and gods—wants you dead, “family bonding” takes on a whole new meaning. 

My name is Opal Yong-ae, and I’m in way over my head. I thought getting rid of my dad’s bad luck curse would put things back to normal. Instead, I’m stuck playing caretaker to the Great Dragon of Korea. That wouldn’t be so bad if he wasn’t such a jerk, or if every dragon on the planet wasn’t out to kill him, or if he was my only problem.  

Turns out, things can always get worse in the DFZ. When a rival spirit attacks my god/boss with the aim of turning the famously safety-optional city into a literal death arena with Nik as his bloody champion, I’m thrust onto the front lines and way out of my comfort zone. When gods fight, mortals don’t usually survive, but I’m not alone this time. Even proud old dragons can learn new tricks, and with everything I love falling to pieces, the father I’ve always run from might just be the only force in the universe stubborn enough to pull us back together.

NIGHT SHIFT DRAGONS comes out in 

Audio, Ebook, and KU on May 5! 

Preorder your copy now! 

I know it's been a hard few months for everyone and I'm sorry this took so long, but the wait is finally over. NIGHT SHIFT DRAGONS, the grand conclusion to the DFZ trilogy, comes out in audio, ebook, and KU on May 5!

Yes, that's Yong on the cover. Yes, they look like a K-Drama. Yes, Opal has a crickety crazy scheme. Yes, there's food. Also ambitious spirits, Heartstriker cameos, Nik's past finally revealed, and tons more! I crammed in pretty much everything you could want from a DFZ book, and it's all coming your way in less than a month!

And for those of you who prefer to listen to your books, the audio is releasing the same day as the ebook! And for you peeps who like paper books, I've got good news for you too! Print editions for MINIMUM WAGE MAGIC and PART-TIME GODS are done at last and will ALSO be launching on May 5!

*happy dancing*

Thank you all so much for going on this roller coaster of a series with me. I am so darn happy with how this book came out, and I hope the conclusion of Opal's story will bring you as much joy as it's brought me. Thanks you so much as always for reading and listening and being your awesome selves. I hope you'll add this last book to your lists, and I can't wait for you to read the story!

Thank you as always, and stay healthy!

Rachel Aaron

Introverted Cave Dweller Social Distancing Champion

NIGHT SHIFT DRAGONS is the third book in the DFZ trilogy. If you're new, start from the beginning with MINIMUM WAGE MAGIC! I promise you won't be sorry!

The epic ending to an epic adventure! THE ONCE KING comes out today!

Leylia’s secret could unite them all or lead them to an eternity of undeath.

After the loss of Bastion, everyone who’s not a zombie has holed up in FFO’s sole remaining safe haven: the lowbie town of Windy Lake. But the undead armies never rest, and it’s only a matter of time before the Once King’s forces come to crush what’s left of life in this world.

But Tina, James, and the rest of the players are facing a crisis of their own. After so long in this world, their human bodies are dying on the other side. If they don’t find a way home soon, they may have nothing to go back to.

With time running out in two worlds, Tina and James face a horrible choice: do they spend their final days looking for a way to get back to their old bodies, or join the NPCs to fight for their new ones. But just when things look impossible, James learns a secret that might change everything. Only one catch: to pull it off, they’re going to have to fight one raid boss no one, not even Tina, has ever beaten.

The Once King.

 Get your copy now in ebook, Kindle Unlimited, or Audible audio!

All adventures have to end sometime, but wow, have we got an ending for you! The final book in the Forever Fantasy Online trilogy, THE ONCE KING, is out today in ebook and Audible audio edition! HOORAY!

What is SB hiding? What did Leylia tell James? Can the Once King even be beaten? Just how OP are Stonekin anyway?!?! I hope you're ready to find out, because we are at max DPS, baby! (Details per second.)

Terrible jokes aside, it's been a hell of a ride! Travis and I can't say how proud and happy we are to finally give you the book we wrote this whole series to reach. THE ONCE KING is my personal favorite of the trilogy, and I really hope it will be yours too! Thank you so so much for reading and listening, and we both hope you love the story!

(And if you haven't read the FFO series yet, now's a great day to start! Pick up the first novel in ebook, audio, or on KU and see what all the hype is about! Even if you're not a gamer, I promise you won't be disappointed!)

Thank you for being the best fans ever, and I'll see you soon for the final DFZ book, coming early next year! Keep reading!

Yours always,
Rachel Aaron and Travis Bach

Hoarders of Epic Loot

THE ONCE KING is the third book in the FFO trilogy. If you're new, start from the beginning with FOREVER FANTASY ONLINE for some GamerLit that's actually lit!

Surprise! The sequel to MINIMUM WAGE MAGIC is out today!

What is this? A new DFZ novel?!

Ta daaaa!

No, this isn't a cover reveal or a pre-order announcement. The second DFZ novel, PART-TIME GODS, is legit out. Right now. Today. 

Check the blurb:

Life in the magical mess of the Detroit Free Zone is never easy. When you’re laboring under the curse of a certain prideful, overbearing dragon, it can be down right impossible.

My name is Opal Yong-ae, and I’m a Cleaner. At least, I used to be. Thanks to the supernatural bad luck that turns everything I do against me, these days I’m more of a walking disaster. Getting rid of this curse is the only way to get my life back. Unfortunately, dragon magic is every bit as sneaky and deadly the monsters behind it, and just as hard to beat.

But I’ve never been one to take her doom at face value. Cornered doesn’t mean defeated, and in an awakened city that rules herself, dragons are no longer the biggest powers around.

Get your copy now in ebook and Kindle Unlimited! 

So why the surprise drop? Well, if you follow me on Twitter, you already know that our entire family just up and moved from Georgia to Colorado! It was a super happy adventure, but, as with all good adventures, the rest of my life kind of fell apart during the move, including the launch schedule for this book. 

-_-

But I wasn't going to let a small thing like my entire life being in boxes keep a sequel from you guys! PART-TIME GODS was ready to go, so I said screw it, we'll do it live! Just think of this as my own, much smaller, much less organized version of a Beyonce Lemonade drop. Happy summer of books, everyone!

EDIT: AUDIO BOOK UPDATE!!

Wow, you guys love audio books! The outcry for an audio release date has been fierce, and I don't blame you a bit! I just heard back from Audible that the production schedule for DFZ 2 was actually delayed due to schedule conflicts with my narrator, Emily, and I was never informed. 

Oh well, mistakes happen, but the good news is that I've confirmed the audio edition will come out on July 2, 2019! That's less than a month away!! Not what I wanted, obviously, but it's not too bad.

In the meanwhile, the book is out in KU and ebook right now! I hope you love this surprise trip into the DFZ as much as I loved writing it, which was a LOT. It's a super fun sequel, and I can't wait for you to read it!! 

As ever thank you SO MUCH for being part of my crazy dragon world. I couldn't do any of this without you! Thank you for your patience, and I hope you enjoy PART-TIME GODS!

Yours with many books,
Rachel Aaron

High Priestess of Detroit DFZ Clean-up Crew

PART-TIME GODS is the second book in the DFZ series, which is set in the same universe as my Heartstrikers books. If you're new, start from the beginning with NICE DRAGONS FINISH LAST or MINIMUM WAGE MAGIC. I promise you won't be sorry!

LAST BASTION is out today!

Today's the day!

The sequel to our gamer novel FOREVER FANTASY ONLINE is here! LAST BASTION comes out TODAY in ebook and audio!

Bastion was supposed to mean safety. It was supposed to mean a break from fighting for their lives and a chance to talk to someone who might actually know what’s going on. Access to their gold and some beer would have been nice, too. 

They got none of those things. When Tina and James arrive in the capital, they find a city on fire in more ways than one. Players and non-players hunt each other in the streets, while the king who controls the city’s all-powerful artifact cowers from the chaos in his castle. Desperate to warn somebody about the Once King’s coming invasion, James wants to try to talk to the king anyway, while Tina just wants to meet the royal portal keepers who might be able to send them home.

It shouldn’t be hard to get an army of the world’s best-geared players through one city, but when they discover that the captain of the Royal Knights has been massacring low-level players in revenge disguised as justice, James and Tina will have to decide what is more important: the lives of their fellow gamers, or the stability of this world’s last great city. Both choices deserve a champion, but with the Once King’s armies closing in, taking the wrong side may doom everyone to an eternity as slaves to the Ghostfire. 

Get your copy now! Only $4.99 or free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers!

It's almost summer, and you know what that means! Rachel and Travis release books!!

We've got a whole lot of awesome coming for y'all in 2019, and to kick it off, today's the day the long awaited (and just long in general) sequel to our first gamer novel FOREVER FANTASY ONLINE is finally released to the world! LAST BASTION is out right now in both ebook and audio format!

As always, print editions are lagging a little behind. We're in the process of moving both our print production company and our actual house, so things are chaos, but I promise you print is coming for both FFO and my DFZ series. And speaking of the DFZ, the sequel to MINIMUM WAGE MAGIC should be out this summer as well! It's a summer of books!!

My New Release mailing list is always the first to know when the release date goes up, so if you're not already a subscriber, sign up now and be cool! It's free, I only mail you when a book is coming out, and you get a list exclusive Heartstrikers short story. It's win all around!

Anyway, we really hope you love LAST BASTION! And for those of you who haven't given our gamer novels a try, I hope you'll change your mind. It's basically a Fantasy epic with modern characters and a whole lot of action and drama. Also, both books are available for free to Kindle Unlimited subscribers, so I hope you'll give book 1 a go. I promise you wont' be disappointed!

As always, thank you so so much for being our readers! You folks are the ones who make the magic possible, and we can't thank you enough. Travis and I hope you enjoy LAST BASTION, and I really can't wait to announce the next DFZ book!

Thank you again, and we'll see you soon!

Yours always,
Rachel Aaron and Travis Bach

Spawn Camping Loot Hoarders Opportunistic Treasure Enthusiasts

LAST BASTION is the second book in the FFO series. If you're new, start from the beginning with FOREVER FANTASY ONLINE! I promise you won't be sorry!

MINIMUM WAGE MAGIC is out in audio!

Finally! It's here!

Audio boooooook!

Narrated by Emily Woo Zeller The DFZ, the metropolis formerly known as Detroit, is the world's most magical city with a population of nine million and zero public safety laws. That's a lot of mages, cybernetically enhanced chrome heads, and mythical beasties who die, get into debt, and otherwise fail to pay their rent. When they can't pay their bills, their stuff gets sold to the highest bidder to cover the tab. That's when they call me. My name is Opal Yong-ae, and I'm a Cleaner: a freelance mage with an art history degree who's employed by the DFZ to sort through the mountains of magical junk people leave behind. It's not a pretty job, or a safe one - there's a reason I wear bite-proof gloves - but when you're deep in debt in a lawless city where gods are real, dragons are traffic hazards, and buildings move around on their own, you don't get to be picky about where your money comes from. You just have to make it work, even when the only thing of value in your latest repossessed apartment is the dead body of the mage who used to live there.

It was a long wait, but Audible has finally released the audio version of MINIMUM WAGE MAGIC and it is awesome! You can get it on Amazon or direct from Audible.com! To all my audio fans, thank you for your patience, and for my Vikas Adams diehards, don't fear: Vikas knows Emily and texted me to let me know how excited he was that she was my narrator! I was really picky about who got to read because Vikas was so perfect, but I think Emily did a great job. Give it a listen and I think you'll agree! Thank you as always for reading and listening! If you haven't already, I hope you'll come back to the DFZ and give MINIMUM WAGE MAGIC a try! Yours always, Rachel Aaron Queen of the Terrible Fictional Parents Dragon Family Drama Enthusiast MINIMUM WAGE MAGIC is the first in a new series set in the same universe as my Heartstrikers books, but you don’t need to read those stories to enjoy this one. The book was written to stand by itself, but if you would like to start from the official beginning, check out NICE DRAGONS FINISH LAST. I promise you won't be sorry!

MINIMUM WAGE MAGIC is out today!

It's finally time! MINIMUM WAGE MAGIC is out in the world!

"A catchy title, a plucky protagonist and a maximum effort by the author, honestly readers can't ask for more in the urban fantasy genre."

- Fantasy Book Critic 

The DFZ, the metropolis formerly known as Detroit, is the world's most magical city with a population of nine million and zero public safety laws. That's a lot of mages, cybernetically enhanced chrome heads, and mythical beasties who die, get into debt, and otherwise fail to pay their rent. When they can't pay their bills, their stuff gets sold to the highest bidder to cover the tab. 

That's when they call me. My name is Opal Yong-ae, and I'm a Cleaner: a freelance mage with an art history degree who's employed by the DFZ to sort through the mountains of magical junk people leave behind. It's not a pretty job, or a safe one--there's a reason I wear bite-proof gloves--but when you're deep in debt in a city where gods are real, dragons are traffic hazards, and buildings move around on their own, you don't get to be picky about where your money comes from. You just have to make it work, even when the only thing of value in your latest repossessed apartment is the dead body of the mage who used to live there.

Get your copy now!

I very much hope you'll grab yourself a copy or try it out for free on Kindle Unlimited. Thank you so much to everyone who preordered! I hope you're already enjoying the story!

For those of you who prefer to listen or hold the book in your hands, the audio and print editions are on their way. I'll be sure to let you all know as soon as they're available. And for those of you who are nervous about starting a new series, I'm writing book 2 right now. It should be out early next year, so don't worry. I'm not going to leave you stranded.

That's it! Thank you so much as always for being my readers and subscribing to my list. You are the literal best and I love you all to pieces. I hope you enjoy Opal's story!

Yours with many ♥s,
Rachel

New book! New book! Introducing MINIMUM WAGE MAGIC!

The book I've been teasing for a year is finally done. For the first time ever, I have written two series in the same world!!

GASP!

If you're familiar with my other books, you'll know this is a big thing for me. I generally never go back to a world once a series is over. But even though Julius's story is done, there was so much more I wanted to do with the world of the DFZ. Enter MINIMUM WAGE MAGIC!

Making a living is hard. In a lawless city where gods are real, dragons are traffic hazards, and buildings move around on their own, it can feel downright impossible.

Good thing freelance mage Opal Yong-ae has never let little things like impossibility stop her. She’s found a way to put her overpriced magical art history degree to use as a Cleaner: a contract municipal employee who empties out abandoned apartments and resells the unusual treasures she finds inside for a profit. It’s not a pretty job, or a safe one--there’s a reason she wears bite-proof gloves--but when you’re neck-deep in debt to a very magical, very nasty individual, you can’t be picky about where the money comes from.

But even Opal’s low standards are put to the test when the only thing of value in her latest apartment is the body of the previous tenant. Dealing with the dead isn’t technically part of her job, but this mage died hiding a secret that could be worth a lot of money, and Opal’s the only one who knows. With debts she can’t pay due at the end of the week, this could be the big break she’s been waiting for, but in a city of runaway magic where getting in over your head generally means losing it, the cost of chasing this opportunity might be more than Opal can survive.

If you follow me on Twitter, you might remember my struggle to name a certain book.

Help me, internet! I'm having a horrible time picking the title for my new book. Knowing nothing else other than it's urban fantasy, which title sounds the coolest?

— Rachel Aaron/Bach (@Rachel_Aaron) October 16, 2018

Well, it was this one, and I think the results speak for themselves. Thank you all so much for your input! I would have really screwed this up if not for y'all!

MINIMUM WAGE MAGIC is the first book in a new, stand alone series set in the DFZ twenty years after the events of LAST DRAGON STANDING. It's an all story with an all new cast, plus some cameos from characters we already know and love ;).

But while we are back in the world of the DFZ, you don't have to have read any of the Heartstriker books to read this one. There's no spoilers, no required knowledge. We're just having fun in a ridiculously dangerous and bizarre magical city with new mages, new magical critters, new problems, and--of course--new dragons!

If you liked my Heartstrikers books, you're going to love MINIMUM WAGE MAGIC! It's up for preorder now with an official release date of November 9. There will also be an audio book coming soon, but Audible hasn't told me who's narrating it yet. I'll let you know as soon as I find out!

In the meanwhile, I hope you'll pre-order the ebook. It's just $4.99, as always, and I hope that you love it.

Thank you as always for being my readers! You guys make all of this possible.

Yours with many <3s p="">Rachel Aaron

Nice Dragons Finish Last $0.99 sale!

Hey everyone!

If you live in America (or anywhere that pays attention to American politics), you know the news cycle has been SUPER stressful and upsetting lately. I know I've been pissed off every minute of every day, so I thought why not inject some more positivity into the world? We need some nice dragons, dammit! So here you go:

This week only, both NICE DRAGONS FINISH LAST and ONE GOOD DRAGON DESERVES ANOTHER are on sale for $0.99 each!

That's right, for $2 you can give yourself (or foist on a friend) the gift of dragons! I think we all need a place where decency wins and bad guys get eaten right now, so if you've been waiting for an excuse to try my Heartstrikers series, this is it! Come give Julius a shot, I promise you won't be disappointed!

<3 p="">Rachel  

FOREVER FANTASY ONLINE comes out today!

A thrilling new novel for fans of SWORD ART ONLINE and WORLD OF WARCRAFT! 

In the real world, twenty-one-year-old library sciences student Tina Anderson is invisible and under-appreciated, but in the VR-game Forever Fantasy Online she's Roxxy—the respected leader and main tank of a top-tier raiding guild. Her brother, James Anderson, has a similar problem. IRL he’s a college drop-out struggling under debt, but in FFO he's famous—an explorer known all over the world for doing every quest and collecting the rarest items. 

Both Tina and James need the game more than they’re willing to admit, but their escape turns into a trap when FFO becomes real. Suddenly, wounds aren’t virtual, the stupid monsters have turned cunning, and death might be forever. Separated across a much larger and more deadly world, their skill at FFO is the only thing keeping them alive. But as the harshness of their new reality sets in, Tina and James soon realize that being the best in the game is no longer good enough.

Get your copy in ebook now or in audio on June 5!

Print edition coming soon!

Wow, busy month! It feels like I've been sending emails/posting blogs/updating social media nonstop recently, but we're at the climax now because FFO comes out today!! 

(If you're wondering what it's all about, you can find the first two chapters here. I hope you'll give it a try!)

This launch is not Amazon exclusive! You can buy the book at all major ebook retailers or request it from your local library! The audio edition comes out next Tuesday from Audible, but you can go ahead and preorder your copy here.

We straightened out all our print issues with Heartstrikers 5, so print editions will be up soon. Thank you as always for being our readers, and we hope you enjoy FOREVER FANTASY ONLINE!

Yours always,

Rachel Aaron and Travis Bach
LAUNCH DAY PARTY TIME!

Finally! LAST DRAGON STANDING is available in print! Also, first look at sample chapters of my new novel!

I know, I know, it took forever, but paperback editions of the fifth and final Heartstrikers novel, LAST DRAGON STANDING, are now available on Amazon.com!

Now you can get your very own physical copy of Bob! (fire not included)

I am so so sorry about the delay. Trust me, I was as frustrated as you were about how long this took, but we had some problems with the printer and I wasn't about to ship you sub-standard books! Now, though, the wait is over, and your bookshelf can finally be complete with a full set of delightful (and terrifying) dragons! Enjoy!

Bonus! Read a sample of my newest novel, FOREVER FANTASY ONLINE!

A thrilling new novel for fans of SWORD ART ONLINE and WORLD OF WARCRAFT! 

In the real world, twenty-one-year-old library sciences student Tina Anderson is invisible and under-appreciated, but in the VR-game Forever Fantasy Online she's Roxxy—the respected leader and main tank of a top-tier raiding guild. Her brother, James Anderson, has a similar problem. IRL he’s a college drop-out struggling under debt, but in FFO he's famous—an explorer known all over the world for doing every quest and collecting the rarest items. 

Both Tina and James need the game more than they’re willing to admit, but their escape turns into a trap when FFO becomes real. Suddenly, wounds aren’t virtual, the stupid monsters have turned cunning, and death might be forever. Separated across a much larger and more deadly world, their skill at FFO is the only thing keeping them alive. But as the harshness of their new reality sets in, Tina and James soon realize that being the best in the game is no longer good enough.

Read the first chapters!

FOREVER FANTASY ONLINE comes out June 1, 2018! Pre-order your copy now!

And that's that! Thank you all so so much for reading, and I really hope you enjoy all the new stuff we've got coming out!

Yours always,
Rachel

Secret novel drop! FOREVER FANTASY ONLINE comes out June 1!

What! Rachel has a new novel? Since when?!

Since right now! Introducing...

A thrilling new series for fans of Sword Art Online and World of Warcraft! 

In the real world, twenty-one-year-old library sciences student Tina Anderson is invisible and under-appreciated, but in the VR-game Forever Fantasy Online she's Roxxy—the respected leader and main tank of a top-tier raiding guild. Her brother, James Anderson, has a similar problem. IRL he’s a college drop-out struggling under debt, but in FFO he's famous—an explorer known all over the world for doing every quest and collecting the rarest items. 

Both Tina and James need the game more than they’re willing to admit, but their escape turns into a trap when FFO becomes real. Suddenly, wounds aren’t virtual, the stupid monsters have turned cunning, and death might be forever. Separated across a much larger and more deadly world, their skill at FFO is the only thing keeping them alive. But as the harshness of their new reality sets in, Tina and James soon realize that being the best in the game is no longer good enough.

Coming in ebook on June 1 and in audio in June 5, but you can preorder both RIGHT NOW!

If you follow my Twitter, you know I'm a giant anime fan and MMO nerd, so really, this novel was only a matter of time. But what you might not know is that my husband, Travis Bach, has been helping me with my novels since the very beginning. None of my books would exist without his help. Hell, he invented Julius! We've always been creative partners. Now, we've taken that process one step further and actually written the book together, and it is amazing.

Good collaborations are a special sort of alchemy. Done right, you can end up with something that's greater than either of you could have managed alone, and that's what I think we've got here. I've never been more excited about a project. This book is our love letter to the online games we've played obsessively for over a decade. We wanted to show the strength, ingenuity, drama, and occasional hilarity of the MMO culture without painting over its flaws. If you're a gamer, if you liked Devi, if you liked Julius, you are going to love this book. 

Forever Fantasy Online is the first in a trilogy. The second book is already written and being edited right now, so you won't have to wait long for more (and trust me, you're going to want more!). For my audio fans, you're in luck! The audio book comes out on June 5th from Audible.com and is available for preorder as well! 

*/dance*

Better still, for the first time ever, the book will be available on all platforms! That's right, no more Amazon exclusivity. You asked, and we're finally delivering. The links are still propagating, but by its launch date, FFO will be available on all the major ebook retailers, including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Apple iBookstore, Waterstones, and in public libraries via Overdrive!

We'll have the full list on rachelaaron.net as links become available, but you should be able to get the book pretty much anywhere, and that's always a good thing! 

Can you tell I'm super excited about this project? Because I am SUPER EXCITED. Travis and I have been working on this book for over a year now, and I can not wait for you to read it! If you've liked my other novels, I really hope you'll give it a try. It's a bit different, but I feel in a good way. That will be up to you to decide, though. You are all the reason that I (and now Travis as well) write, and we both hope you love this new series as much as we do.

Thank you as always for reading, and we hope you enjoy Forever Fantasy Online!

Rachel Aaron and Travis Bach

Level 60 70 80 90 100 110 Shaman / Druid

FOREVER FANTASY ONLINE is the first book in the FFO trilogy. If you're new, to my work, I recommend you start with NICE DRAGONS FINISH LAST. I promise you won't be sorry!

It's here! The fifth and final Heartstrikers book comes out March 1!

Oh yes, it's time!!

Great Seer of the Heartstrikers and President of the New Mexico Pigeon Fanciers Association

Dear Reader, 

There is no way to write a blurb for this final book without spoiling all of the others. Suffice it to say, mysteries resolve, dragons war, pigeons abound, and Julius must risk himself in ways he never dreamed possible as Bob’s grand plan finally comes to fruition.  

But the Great Seer of the Heartstrikers isn’t the only one whose schemes are nearing completion. The Nameless End is coming, and even the machinations of the world’s most brilliant dragon seer might not be enough to stop it. As everything comes crashing down, it’s up Julius to prove what he’s always known: that seers can be wrong, and Nice Dragons don’t always finish last.

Pre-order Your Copy Now!

And so we have come to the end. The fifth and final Heartstrikers novel, LAST DRAGON STANDING, comes out on March 1, 2018!

This is Bob's book through and through. All of his machinations are finally coming due, and as always, poor Julius is the one stuck in the middle. But our little Nice Dragon surprised me a lot in this book, and I really think you're going to enjoy it! There's dragon drama, seer drama, end-of-the-world drama, it's epic! I can't wait for you to read it!

I also hope you LOVE the cover! As subscribers to my mailing list, you guys are the very first people to see it, and I could not be more excited. I think Bob looks amazing, and his pigeon is quite lovely as well. Bob is quite delighted she finally got on a cover!

Thank you again to all of you for sticking with me all the way to the end. Julius couldn't have made it without you! I hope you love the end of his story, and thank you as always for being my readers.

Yours,

Rachel Aaron

Nameless End Regular Old End

LAST DRAGON STANDING is the fifth and final book in the Heartstrikers series. If you're new, start from the beginning with NICE DRAGONS FINISH LAST. I promise you won't be sorry!

Print editions are here!

The moment your bookshelf has been longing for has finally arrived! After much trial and error (and many messed up books) print editions of A DRAGON OF A DIFFERENT COLOR and 2K TO 10K are now available!

Yay!

Both books are trade paper back size printed on good quality paper, and for my book collecting Heartstrikers fans, #4 should line up with all the others for that classy series-on-a-shelf effect. Oh yeah, we're stylish.

I know this took much longer than expected. Thank you all so much for your patience and for being my fans. I hope you enjoy the print editions of A DRAGON OF A DIFFERENT COLOR and 2K TO 10K! Make sure to take the time and breathe in that new book smell!!

I'd like to promise the next one will be on time, but the whole "making a physical object" bit has been the hardest part of self publishing for me so far. Damn, you, physics! I'm going to be looking into ways to make better books faster for the future, but in the meanwhile, I hope you enjoy these.

Thanks again! 

Yours,

Rachel

A DRAGON OF A DIFFERENT COLOR is out now!

It's time! It's finally time! 

Heartstrikers book 4, A DRAGON OF A DIFFERENT COLOR launches today!! The ebook is now up on Amazon and available to read for free on Kindle Unlimited! Hooray!

BOOM BABY!

For those of you who love the audio edition, Vikas Adams is recording it right now and it should be available in September. To be notified when it drops (and get a lot of other awesome stuff before anyone else), sign up for my New Release Mailing List! 

We're also working on the print edition right now and that should be up soon as well, so you can have dragons in whatever style you want!!

As always, thank you all so much for subscribing and reading! You're the reason these books exist, and I cannot thank you enough for being my fans.

Happy reading, and I hope you love A DRAGON OF A DIFFERENT COLOR!

Yours always,

Rachel

Heartstrikers 4 sample chapters!

The wait has been long and brutal, but...are you ready to read a sample of A DRAGON OF A DIFFERENT COLOR?

The book has been up on Amazon for about three weeks now, and the preorders are blowing me out of the water. You guys are amazing!!! 

To fan the flames of anticipation even higher, we've put up a sample from Chapter 1 on the website for all of you to read! 

Of course, those of you are on my mailing list already know this, because I just sent you an exclusive link to an even bigger chunk of the book. Twice as big at least, because you're awesome like that :D!

So if you're on my mailing list, make sure to check your inboxes! And if you're not on my mailing list, why not? That's where all the good stuff is! It's free and I promise never to spam you or give your information to anyone else. I only send emails when I have books coming out or when I'm giving you exclusive content, like this sample and the Heartstrikers short story Mother of the Year, so if you're not signed up already, do it! If you like my books at all, it's basically a funnel of awesome stuff.

Okay, okay, enough promo. I really hope you enjoy the sample chapters! Thank you as always for being my readers, and be sure to preorder your copy of A DRAGON OF A DIFFERENT COLOR so it can magically appear on your Kindle at midnight!

Yours always,

Rachel