The Cunning Man: Volume 1
Published on 19. October 2020
Book
Paperback/Softback
416 pages
978-1-9821-2495-3 (ISBN)
Description
It's the depths of the Depression, and a
mining town in Utah is shut down. Something has awakened underground, and now a
monster roams the tunnels. While contentious owners squabble, poor worker
families go hungry. Along comes Hiram Woolley. Hiram is a man with mystical
abilities derived from the commonsense application of Scots-Irish folk wisdom
and German braucher magic. He possesses an arcane Bloodstone that allows him to
see a lie the moment it is
spoken.
Behind the played-out farms
and failed businesses are demons, curses, sorcerers, and unatoned wrongs. Bags
of groceries and carpentry won't be enough to save the day this
time.This job will take a man who has known sorrow. A man who has
known war. A man of wisdom. A man of
magic.
THE JOB WILL TAKE A CUNNING
MAN.
About The Cunning
Man:
"An attempt at charity
during the Great Depression turns into a protracted fight against supernatural
forces in this admirable paranormal mystery. . . . the richly imagined magic
system and glimpses of Mormon culture create a fully realized world. Historical
fantasy fans will delight in the zigzagging plot of this
mystery."-Publishers
Weekly
"An amazing tale that grabs
you by the throat and won't let go! Butler & Ritchey are a literary
force to be reckoned with! Hit that download button and grab your copy
now! The Cunning Man will never let you go!"-Sherrilyn
Kenyon, #1 New York Times Best-Selling
Author
". . . a brisk and engaging
narrative...folk and religious based magic . . . for fans of urban or historical
fantasy . . . a satisfying
read."-Booklist
Praise
for D.J. Butler:
"Butler
follows Witchy Eye with a satisfying second tale of a
magic-filled early America. . . . Deep and old magic influences both places and
characters, and the story is tightly focused on the determined Sarah . . . Fans
of epic and alternate historical fantasy will savor this tale of witchery and
intrigue."-Publishers
Weekly
"For readers who love
history-based fantasy, steampunk, or urban fantasy . . . this series
that gives the genre a new
twist."-Booklist
".
. . you can't stop yourself from taking another bite . . . and another . .
. and another. . . . I didn't want to stop reading. . .
. Kudos!"-R.A.
Salvatore
"Excellent book. I am
impressed by the creativity and the depth of the world building. Dave Butler is
a great storyteller."-Larry
Correia
"Witchy
Eye is an intricate and imaginative alternate history with a cast of
characters and quirky situations that would make a Dickens novel proud."
-Kevin J.
Anderson
"Butler's
fantasy is by turns sardonic and lighthearted; ghoulish shadows claw into the
most remote areas and heroism bursts out of the most unlikely people. Sarah is
the epitome of the downtrodden hero who refuses to give up until she gets what
she needs, and her story will appeal to fantasy readers of all
stripes."-Publishers
Weekly
"David's a pro storyteller,
and you're in for a great ride."-Larry
Dixon
". . . a fascinating,
grittily-flavored world of living legends. Hurry up and write the next one,
Dave."-Cat Rambo
"This is
enchanting! I'd love to see more."-Mercedes
Lackey
"Goblin
Market meets Magical Musketpunk . . . A great ride that also manages to
cover some serious cultural terrain." -Charles E.
Gannon
"Witchy
Eye is a brilliant blend of historical acumen and imagination, a
tour-de-force that is at once full of surprises and ultimately heart-warming.
This is your chance to discover one of the finest new stars writing
today!"-David Farland
"A
gritty, engrossing mash-up of history, fantasy, and magic. Desperate characters
careen from plot twist to plot twist until few are left
standing."-Mario
Acevedo
"Captivating characters.
Superb world-building. Awesome magic. Butler fuses fantasy and history
effortlessly, creating a fascinating new American epic. Not to be
missed!"-Christopher
Husberg
"[A] unique
alternative-history that is heavily influenced by urban and traditional fantasy
and steeped in the folklore of the Appalachians. . . . Fans of urban fantasy
looking to take a chance on something with a twist on a historical setting may
find this novel worth their
time."-Booklist
Praise
for Aaron Michael Ritchey:
". . .
richly drawn, beautifully complex characters . .
."-Kirkus on Long Live the Suicide
King
mining town in Utah is shut down. Something has awakened underground, and now a
monster roams the tunnels. While contentious owners squabble, poor worker
families go hungry. Along comes Hiram Woolley. Hiram is a man with mystical
abilities derived from the commonsense application of Scots-Irish folk wisdom
and German braucher magic. He possesses an arcane Bloodstone that allows him to
see a lie the moment it is
spoken.
Behind the played-out farms
and failed businesses are demons, curses, sorcerers, and unatoned wrongs. Bags
of groceries and carpentry won't be enough to save the day this
time.This job will take a man who has known sorrow. A man who has
known war. A man of wisdom. A man of
magic.
THE JOB WILL TAKE A CUNNING
MAN.
About The Cunning
Man:
"An attempt at charity
during the Great Depression turns into a protracted fight against supernatural
forces in this admirable paranormal mystery. . . . the richly imagined magic
system and glimpses of Mormon culture create a fully realized world. Historical
fantasy fans will delight in the zigzagging plot of this
mystery."-Publishers
Weekly
"An amazing tale that grabs
you by the throat and won't let go! Butler & Ritchey are a literary
force to be reckoned with! Hit that download button and grab your copy
now! The Cunning Man will never let you go!"-Sherrilyn
Kenyon, #1 New York Times Best-Selling
Author
". . . a brisk and engaging
narrative...folk and religious based magic . . . for fans of urban or historical
fantasy . . . a satisfying
read."-Booklist
Praise
for D.J. Butler:
"Butler
follows Witchy Eye with a satisfying second tale of a
magic-filled early America. . . . Deep and old magic influences both places and
characters, and the story is tightly focused on the determined Sarah . . . Fans
of epic and alternate historical fantasy will savor this tale of witchery and
intrigue."-Publishers
Weekly
"For readers who love
history-based fantasy, steampunk, or urban fantasy . . . this series
that gives the genre a new
twist."-Booklist
".
. . you can't stop yourself from taking another bite . . . and another . .
. and another. . . . I didn't want to stop reading. . .
. Kudos!"-R.A.
Salvatore
"Excellent book. I am
impressed by the creativity and the depth of the world building. Dave Butler is
a great storyteller."-Larry
Correia
"Witchy
Eye is an intricate and imaginative alternate history with a cast of
characters and quirky situations that would make a Dickens novel proud."
-Kevin J.
Anderson
"Butler's
fantasy is by turns sardonic and lighthearted; ghoulish shadows claw into the
most remote areas and heroism bursts out of the most unlikely people. Sarah is
the epitome of the downtrodden hero who refuses to give up until she gets what
she needs, and her story will appeal to fantasy readers of all
stripes."-Publishers
Weekly
"David's a pro storyteller,
and you're in for a great ride."-Larry
Dixon
". . . a fascinating,
grittily-flavored world of living legends. Hurry up and write the next one,
Dave."-Cat Rambo
"This is
enchanting! I'd love to see more."-Mercedes
Lackey
"Goblin
Market meets Magical Musketpunk . . . A great ride that also manages to
cover some serious cultural terrain." -Charles E.
Gannon
"Witchy
Eye is a brilliant blend of historical acumen and imagination, a
tour-de-force that is at once full of surprises and ultimately heart-warming.
This is your chance to discover one of the finest new stars writing
today!"-David Farland
"A
gritty, engrossing mash-up of history, fantasy, and magic. Desperate characters
careen from plot twist to plot twist until few are left
standing."-Mario
Acevedo
"Captivating characters.
Superb world-building. Awesome magic. Butler fuses fantasy and history
effortlessly, creating a fascinating new American epic. Not to be
missed!"-Christopher
Husberg
"[A] unique
alternative-history that is heavily influenced by urban and traditional fantasy
and steeped in the folklore of the Appalachians. . . . Fans of urban fantasy
looking to take a chance on something with a twist on a historical setting may
find this novel worth their
time."-Booklist
Praise
for Aaron Michael Ritchey:
". . .
richly drawn, beautifully complex characters . .
."-Kirkus on Long Live the Suicide
King
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Riverdale
United States
Product notice
Paperback (mass)
Dimensions
Height: 168 mm
Width: 104 mm
Thickness: 30 mm
Weight
204 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-9821-2495-3 (9781982124953)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
D.J. ("Dave") Butler grew up in swamps, deserts, and mountains. After messing around for years with the practice of law, he finally got serious and turned to his lifelong passion of storytelling. He now writes adventure stories for readers of all ages, plays guitar, and spends as much time as he can with his family. He is the author of City of the Saints, Rock Band Fights Evil, Space Eldritch, and Crecheling from Wordfire Press, and from Baen: Witchy Eye, Witchy Winter, Witchy Kingdom, and Serpent Daughter; The Cunning Man and The Jupiter Knife with coauthor Aaron Michael Ritchey; In the Palace of Shadow and Joy as well as Between Princesses and Other Jobs; Abbott in Darkness; and with M.A. Rothman, Time Trials.
Aaron Michael Ritchey is the author of a bunch of novels and his short fiction has appeared in various anthologies and online magazines. In 2019, Armageddon Girls (The Juniper Wars Book 1) was a Dragon Award Finalist. He's spoken at writing conferences and sci-fi/fantasy conventions across the US, including the Pikes Peak Writers Conference, the RMFW Gold Conference, and the Colorado Teen Lit Conference. He lives in Colorado with his wife and two ancient goddesses posing as his daughters. For more about him, his books, and how to overcome artistic angst, visit www.aaronmritchey.com. He's on Facebook as Aaron Michael Ritchey.
Aaron Michael Ritchey is the author of a bunch of novels and his short fiction has appeared in various anthologies and online magazines. In 2019, Armageddon Girls (The Juniper Wars Book 1) was a Dragon Award Finalist. He's spoken at writing conferences and sci-fi/fantasy conventions across the US, including the Pikes Peak Writers Conference, the RMFW Gold Conference, and the Colorado Teen Lit Conference. He lives in Colorado with his wife and two ancient goddesses posing as his daughters. For more about him, his books, and how to overcome artistic angst, visit www.aaronmritchey.com. He's on Facebook as Aaron Michael Ritchey.