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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHow Many Ways Can We Say Fun?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Maresca is the author of four interconnected series (yes, four series), all set in the world of Maradaine. His first novel, The Thorn of Dentonhill<\/a>, is a charming read. It was nominated for the Compton Crook Award<\/a> for best debut novel. Publishers’ Weekly described The Thorn of Dentonhill<\/em> as “vigilante justice meets magical mayhem<\/a>.” One of our favorite reviews described it as combining \u201cthe caped avenger of Batman, the teenage-superhero angst of Spiderman, the street-gang bravado of West Side Story, and … the magic of Harry Potter<\/a>.\u201d It stars Veranix Calbert, a full-time magic student at the University of Maradaine and part-time costumed vigilante battling an evil crime boss. This book is a super fun ride, and you should go find it if you have not already read it! After you pick it up, you can follow Veranix through more adventures in The Imposters of Aventil<\/a> and The Alchemy of Chaos<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We were equally delighted by A Murder of Mages<\/a>, which kicked off a new series focusing on two brilliant but unusual members of Maradaine’s crime-fighting Constabulary. Satrine Rainey is a former street rat and ex-spy. Inspector Minox Welling is a brilliant detective and untrained mage, unfortunately known as \u201cthe jinx\u201d because misfortunes seem to befall anyone around him. Nobody in the Constabulary wants to work with them, so they end working together. Their crime-fighting adventures continue in An Import of Intrigue<\/a> and A Parliament of Bodies<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Who doesn’t love a well-done caper story? Maresca kicked off the Streets of Maradaine series with The Holver Alley Crew<\/a>. The B&N SciFi & Fantasy Blog called it “an irresistible low-fantasy caper<\/a>” and “a glorious riot of high adventure and low cunning, fast, furious, and most of all, fun<\/em>.” Their one complaint was that “it\u2019s nearly impossible to find a good place to stop reading it.” This series stars the Rynax brothers, a group of accomplished thieves who were planning to give up crime and then go back for one last job. Maresca is great at the witty, fast-paced banter that make a good caper story so much fun. The crew is back at it in The Fenmere Job<\/a> and finally Lady Henterman’s Wardrobe<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Maresca’s Maradaine Elite series delivers fast-paced high fantasy with plenty of turmoil and political intrigue. In The Way of the Shield<\/a>, young hero Dayne Heldin, a member of a glorious but perhaps fading order of noble warriors, is forced to choose between his ideals and his political future. The story of Dayne and fellow warrior Jerinne Fendall continues in The Shield of the People<\/a> and People of the City<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Maresca has a new book coming this fall — A Constabulary of One<\/a>! This one will start a new series. It will feature Corrie Welling, a young law enforcement officer we met in the Constabulary series. It’s great to see she’ll be getting to star in her own story. After being abducted and shipped out of Maradaine, she escapes but has to find her way in a new city on the other side of the world. She doesn\u2019t speak the language, doesn\u2019t know the culture, and is forbidden from leaving the city until she pays off a colossal debt. It may take her years to settle her accounts and get home. <\/p>\n\n\n\n We are also proud to note that Marshall Ryan Maresca’s first pro-level genre sale , the story “Jump the Black,” appeared in Rayguns Over Texas<\/a>, an anthology sponsored by the same organization that brings you ArmadilloCon! While Maresca really shines as a fantasy writer and a novelist, this story is a fun one. See his comments from back in 2013 about how the story was written<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Marshall Ryan Maresca is one of the people behind the excellent podcast World Building for Masochists<\/a>! WFM was a finalist for the 2021 Best Fancast Hugo Award. Tune in and find out why! It’s described as “a podcast by three fantasy authors who love to overcomplicate their writing lives and want to help you do the same.” Truthfully, you do not need to be either a writer or a masochist to enjoy the podcast a great deal. It’s a warm, entertaining ongoing conversation that gets a spectacular array of guests. Don’t miss it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i1.wp.com\/armadillocon.org\/d43\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Maresca-books-1.png?resize=580%2C435&ssl=1\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\nMurder Mysteries & Magic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Ocean’s 11 with Magic!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nReady for Political Intrigue?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
New! Preorder Time! <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nHugo-Finalist Podcast!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n