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About J. F. Penn
British author J.F.(Jo Frances) Penn has traveled the world in her study of religion and psychology. She brings these obsessions as well as a love for thrillers and an interest in the supernatural to her writing. She has a podcast and blog about her travels at www.BooksAndTravel.page
Her fast-paced ARKANE thrillers weave together historical artifacts, global locations, and a hint of the supernatural. Described by readers as "Dan Brown meets Lara Croft."
Stone of Fire #1
Crypt of Bone #2
Ark of Blood #3
One Day in Budapest #4
Day of the Vikings #5
Gates of Hell #6
One Day in New York #7
Destroyer of Worlds #8
End of Days #9
Valley of Dry Bones #10
The Brooke and Daniel Psychological Thrillers feature British detective Jamie Brooke alongside museum researcher Blake Daniel, as they solve dark crimes around London.
Desecration #1
Delirium #2
Deviance #3
The Mapwalker fantasy adventure trilogy features Sienna Farren and the Mapwalker team as they travel off the edge of the map.
Map of Shadows #1
Map of Plagues #2
Map of the Impossible #3
More books:
A Thousand Fiendish Angels: 3 short stories linked by a book of human skin, inspired by Dante's Inferno
Risen Gods, a New Zealand dark fantasy
The Dark Queen, an archaeological short story
Find more about J.F.Penn as well as articles and research notes, plus a free book, at www.JFPenn.com
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Blog postIn this episode, we escape to the mountains of the Tibetan Highlands, which lie at the intersection of the Sichuan and Yunan provinces in China, in search of Shangri-La.
Shivaji Das talks about the stunning natural beauty in this remote place, and we also discuss the cultural clashes in the region and the people he met along the way. We talk about complicated histories, and how our view of a place is shaped by who we are and our perspective on the world — and also how others see us. <1 week ago Read more -
Blog postWhat does it mean to be a secular pilgrim — when you’re not a Christian, but you love churches, history, beauty, and religious symbolism? In this episode, Howard Kramer talks about some of the most beautiful places to visit in terms of architecture, as well as natural locations, and how sometimes, the most emotionally resonant […]
The post History, Faith, And Beauty. The Complete American Pilgrim With Howard Kramer appeared first on Books And Travel.
3 weeks ago Read more -
Blog postHow can you see your own country with the eyes of an outsider? How can you follow your curiosity and discover new things about a place you already know?
In this interview, Roz Morris talks about finding fragments and tiny miracles while exploring England and how we can experience our own land from a new perspective, increasingly important while we can’t travel in the way we used to.
Roz Morris is the author of Not Quite Lost: Travels Without A Sense of Direction, literary nove1 month ago Read more -
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Blog postAn island nation off the coast of Africa, Madagascar has an incredible diversity of unusual landscapes and wildlife, of which lemurs are the most famous but by no means the only ones! 90% of its flora and fauna are endemic, found nowhere else in the world.
While there are some resorts, much of Madagascar is remote and escapes the influence of modern life with unique religious and cultural practices, as John Gimlette talks about in this interview.
John Gimlette is a multi-awar2 months ago Read more -
Blog postAs part of my preparation for my six-day pilgrimage on The Pilgrims’ Way from Southwark Cathedral, London to Canterbury Cathedral, I wrote down this list of questions and things to consider. I printed it out and stuck it in the front of my journal. Although I didn’t answer every question, every day, it helped to frame the journey as an inner quest as well as an outer pilgrimage.
I recommend The Art of Pilgrimage: The Seeker’s Guide to Making Travel Sacred by Phil Cousineau as a way to2 months ago Read more -
Blog postThe Pilgrims’ Way has two possible starting points: Southwark Cathedral in London or Winchester Cathedral. The two paths cross at Otford. I chose to walk from London as this is the route of Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, as well as the way Becket himself traveled between the two cities.
This is the day by day, more practical experience of the journey. You can read/listen to my lessons learned from the way here.
Preparation and resources I walk regularly so I was well-trained for2 months ago Read more -
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Blog post“Man’s real home is not a house, but the Road, and that life itself is a journey to be walked on foot.” Bruce Chatwin
In late October 2020, I walked the Pilgrims’ Way from Southwark Cathedral in London to Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, 182 km/113 miles on foot, alone, carrying my own gear… during a global pandemic.
A Roman road 2000 years ago, the route became popular for pilgrims after the martyrdom of St Thomas a Becket on 29 December 1170 at the hands of four knights of Kin2 months ago Read more -
Blog postThe Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of Christ at Canterbury is the seat of the Archbishop, the leader of the Church of England, and is part of a World Heritage Area. It’s one of the most important churches in the United Kingdom for its historic and spiritual significance and is a must-visit if you enjoy ecclesiastical architecture.
You can find detailed information about the cathedral and visiting options at www.canterbury-cathedral.org. In this article, I include pictures from my3 months ago Read more -
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Blog postFrom the ice of the glaciers to the black church near the lava fields and on to the steaming hot pools of the blue lagoon, Iceland is a country of stark natural beauty and interesting folklore.
In this interview, Michael Ridpath talks about the hidden people, the trolls, and the ghosts in the mist, as well as the landscape as a character, and why he keeps returning to the country for inspiration.
Michael Ridpath is a British author of crime and thriller novels. His Magnus cri3 months ago Read more -
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The post Fjords, Vikings And The Northern Lights. Norway With David Nikel appeared first on Books And Travel.
3 months ago Read more -
Blog postIn this video, I explain how I get my story ideas from travel — from how I decide to go to a place, and where I go when I get there, as well as how some of my thrillers have evolved from different trips.
You can watch the video below or here on YouTube.
Hello from Bath in the Southwest of England. I'm Jo Frances Penn and I write thrillers as J.F.Penn. In this video, I'm going to talk about the number one question that I get asked and all authors get asked which is, “Where do y9 months ago Read more -
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Blog postIn many ways, San Francisco is a high-tech city, with Silicon Valley just down the road, Twitter on Market Street and Ubers on every corner.
But it also has a rich religious history and some unusual places to visit if you want to venture further than the Golden Gate Bridge.
Here are some of the places that I found interesting when I visited on a book research trip for my thriller, Valley of Dry Bones.
(1) San Francisco Columbarium The city banned burial and cremation i2 years ago Read more -
Blog postI first learned to scuba dive on the West Coast of Australia and have spent a lot of time diving off the coast of New Zealand. The picture below is from the Poor Knights Islands. Living in England now means I don't dive much – it's just too cold around the coast here, but watching Blue Planet II recently definitely gave me the itch to get back underwater!
Diving is a fantastic way to reach the world’s strange underwater places, some of which I've featured in my thrillers.
For3 years ago Read more -
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Blog postMy fascination with maps and cartography led me to research and write Map of Shadows, which features the Mapwalkers, who can travel through maps into the Borderlands, a world adjoining our own made from places we push off our maps, and creatures and people we write out of history.
When Sienna and the Mapwalker team need to travel over into the Borderlands to follow in the footsteps of the lost expedition before them, they travel through the Hereford Mappa Mundi.
Here's an exce3 years ago Read more -
Blog postI've been living in Bath for several years now, and although on the surface, it seems like a genteel little place, there is a darker side to the city – if you know where to look.
Bath straddles the River Avon in Wiltshire in the South West of England. Made famous by Jane Austen costume dramas, the city became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
But beneath the charming streets, Roman baths, and Georgian grandeur, lies a weird city. A strange Bath, a place haunted by Druids w3 years ago Read more -
Blog postSpain is one of my favorite places, somewhere I return to over and over again. I particularly love the Sagrada Familia and the beachside tapas of Barcelona, the mountains of the Sierra Nevada, the chilled vibe of Malaga, and the cultural heritage of Granada and Cordoba.
But Spain has a darker side.
Bloody religious statues and relics fill the Catholic churches, resonant with the history of the Inquisition and the reign of Ferdinand and Isabella, who forced the Jews to convert,3 years ago Read more -
Blog postWhen you book a trip to a new city, thoughts turn to popular attractions or places you might like to see. For most people, anatomical museums don’t usually rank high on the list.
But for a writer, medical museums prove fertile ground in which to find new ideas or story seeds.
If you write crime thrillers, they’re also an excellent way to ensure you’re getting the details right!
As an avid fan of such places myself, I’ve collected together 12 of the world’s best anatomi3 years ago Read more -
Blog postVenice is naturally a strange place to visit. Rising out of the Adriatic Sea, the city comprises 118 islands, connected by over 400 bridges and walkways. Getting lost is all part of the fun though you're never lost for long. The Doge's Palace and St Mark's Campanile are obvious tourist attractions, along with the famous […]
The post 10 Beautiful And Unusual Places To Visit In Venice first appeared on Thriller And Dark Fantasy Author J.F.Penn.4 years ago Read more -
Blog postIndia is the birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism, as well as having a deep cultural history with Christianity, Judaism and Islam. It is a country of ancient faith, with a rich mythology that mingles with marvellous architecture and incredible food! I've been to India twice now – on a cultural tour of the […]
The post 13 Of The Most Mysterious Places In India first appeared on Thriller And Dark Fantasy Author J.F.Penn.4 years ago Read more -
Blog postI was recently interviewed on Meet The Thriller Author with Alan Petersen about the ideas behind my thrillers and my writing process.
Click here to listen to the show, or subscribe on iTunes.
Transcript of interview with J.F. Penn Alan: Hey everybody, this is Alan Petersen with Meet the Thriller Author. And in this episode of the podcast we're gonna be meeting with J.F. Penn who is a a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Thriller Author. So we're really excited to have he4 years ago Read more
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3 fast-paced thrillers packed with ancient artifacts, relics of power and adventure at the edge of the supernatural
** From New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author J.F.Penn **
With over 500 pages of action adventure and conspiracy thrills, these individual books have 320+ five star reviews on Amazon.
MEET MORGAN SIERRA.
Ex-Israeli military psychologist, specialist in religious cults at Oxford University, Krav Maga expert … and now recruited to work for ARKANE, a secret British government agency investigating supernatural mysteries around the world.
˃˃˃ STONE OF FIRE #1
INDIA. When a nun is burned alive on the sacred ghats of Varanasi and the stone she carried is stolen, an international hunt is triggered for the relics of the early church.
Morgan Sierra is forced into the search when her sister and niece are held hostage. She’s helped by Jake Timber from the mysterious ARKANE. Morgan must risk her own life to save her family, but will she ultimately be betrayed?
From ancient Christian sites in Spain, Italy and Israel to the far reaches of Iran and Tunisia, Morgan and Jake must track down the stones through the myths of the early church before the fires of evil are summoned again.
˃˃˃ CRYPT OF BONE #2
The prophecy in Revelation declares that a quarter of the world must die …
ISRAEL. A man jumps to his death from the top of the Western Wall, his body smashed on the ancient stones. Another disembowels himself under the scrawled figure of the Pale Horse of the Apocalypse.
As she investigates the deaths, Morgan Sierra becomes embroiled in an international conspiracy that will use technology to carry an ancient curse to mankind. Working with ARKANE agent Jake Timber, they hunt down the Devil's Bible, pursued all the way by the evil forces of Thanatos.
From the catacombs of Paris to the skeletal ossuaries of Sicily and the Czech Republic, Morgan and Jake must find the Devil's Bible and stop the curse being released into the world before one in four are destroyed in the coming holocaust. Because in just seven days, the final curse will be spoken and the prophecy will be fulfilled.
˃˃˃ ARK OF BLOOD #3
EGYPT. The curator of the Museum of Antiquities is ritually murdered by a group wearing the masks of Ancient Egyptian deities.
USA. In Washington DC, a decapitated head is placed on a replica Ark of the Covenant with a chilling message that warns of a terrifying escalation of violence in the Middle East.
Morgan Sierra must race against time to find the real Ark, while her nemesis, the vicious mercenary Natasha, is in the hunt and out for bloody revenge. Morgan travels across Egypt, Jordan and back to London, following a trail of clues that takes her into the mists of history - and mortal danger.
˃˃˃ If you love supernatural thrillers, check out a sample or buy now.
A power kept secret for 2000 years.
A nun is burned alive on the sacred ghats of Varanasi, India. The ancient stone she carries is stolen, triggering an international hunt for the relics of the early church.
Forged in the fire and blood of martyrs, the Pentecost stones have been handed down through generations of Keepers who kept their power and locations secret.
Until now.
The Keepers are being murdered, the stones stolen by those who would use them for evil in a world transformed by religious fundamentalism.
Oxford University psychologist Morgan Sierra is forced into the search when her sister and niece are held hostage, aided by Jake Timber from the mysterious ARKANE, a British agency investigating the supernatural. Morgan must risk her life to save her family, but will she ultimately be betrayed?
From ancient Christian sites in Spain, Italy, and Israel to the far reaches of Iran and Tunisia, Morgan and Jake must track down the stones through the myths of the early church in a race against time before a new Pentecost is summoned — this time powered by the fires of evil.
The first in the ARKANE series, Stone of Fire is a fast-paced, action-packed thriller that explores the edges of faith against a backdrop of early Christian history and archaeology.
The ARKANE action adventure series in order. The books can also be read as stand-alone stories.
- Stone of Fire #1
- Crypt of Bone #2
- Ark of Blood #3
- One Day In Budapest #4
- Day of the Vikings #5
- Gates of Hell #6
- One Day in New York #7
- Destroyer of Worlds #8
- End of Days #9
- Valley of Dry Bones #10
A quarter of the world must die.
A victim of Jerusalem Syndrome jumps to his death from the top of the Western Wall, his body smashed on the ancient stones of Jerusalem. Another disembowels himself under the scrawled figure of the Pale Horse of the Apocalypse with the chilling words, ‘God told me to do it.’
Morgan Sierra travels to Israel to investigate the deaths and becomes embroiled in an international conspiracy to release an ancient curse.
As those she loves are threatened, Morgan joins agent Jake Timber at ARKANE, a secret government agency investigating the supernatural. Together they must follow the clues to the Devil’s Bible, pursued all the way by the evil forces of Thanatos.
From the catacombs of Paris to the ossuaries of Sicily and the Czech Republic, Morgan and Jake must find and destroy the Devil’s Bible … or in just seven days, the final curse will be spoken and the prophecy of Revelation fulfilled.
The ARKANE action adventure series in order. The books can also be read as stand-alone stories.
- Stone of Fire #1
- Crypt of Bone #2
- Ark of Blood #3
- One Day In Budapest #4
- Day of the Vikings #5
- Gates of Hell #6
- One Day in New York #7
- Destroyer of Worlds #8
- End of Days #9
- Valley of Dry Bones #10
A map of skin etched in blood.
A world under threat from the Borderlands.
A young woman who must risk the shadows to save her family.
When her Grandfather is murdered under mysterious circumstances, Sienna Farren inherits his map shop in the ancient city of Bath, England. Once there, she discovers that her family is bound up with the Ministry of Maps, a mysterious agency who maintain the borders between this world and the Uncharted.
With the help of Mila Wendell, a traveler on the canals, Sienna discovers her own magical ability and a terrifying place of blood that awaits in the world beyond.
But when she discovers a truth about her past and the Borderlands begin to push through the defenses, Sienna must join the team of Mapwalkers on their mission to find the Map of Shadows – whatever the cost.
In a place written out of history, a world off the edge of the map, Sienna must risk everything to find her father … and her true path as a Mapwalker.
The Mapwalker Fantasy Adventure trilogy:
- Map of Shadows #1
- Map of Plagues #2
- Map of the Impossible #3
A desperate race to find the Ark of the Covenant — and save the world from a devastating Holy War.
The curator of the Museum of Antiquities in Cairo is ritually slaughtered by a group wearing masks of Ancient Egyptian deities.
A decapitated head is found on the replica Ark of the Covenant in Washington DC with a warning of escalating violence in the Middle East.
ARKANE agents, Morgan Sierra and Jake Timber, must race against time to find the real Ark pursued by a vicious mercenary team bent on bloody revenge. As they follow a trail of clues and retrace the steps of the Biblical Exodus across Ethiopia, Egypt and Jordan, Morgan and Jake must enter the mists of history and the realms of mortal danger...
ARK OF BLOOD is an action-packed, pulse-pounding thriller filled with adventure and excitement. It also questions the nature of religion...and the beliefs that lie at the very heart of humankind.
The ARKANE action adventure series in order. The books can also be read as stand-alone stories.
- Stone of Fire #1
- Crypt of Bone #2
- Ark of Blood #3
- One Day In Budapest #4
- Day of the Vikings #5
- Gates of Hell #6
- One Day in New York #7
- Destroyer of Worlds #8
- End of Days #9
- Valley of Dry Bones #10
An ancient manuscript that leads to the Garden of Eden. A seed that can restore the world to nature… but only by destroying humanity in its wake.
When a fragment of an ancient manuscript is stolen from a Jewish library in Amsterdam, ARKANE agents Morgan Sierra and Jake Timber discover a conspiracy that stretches back to the days of the Portuguese Empire, and a hidden Order of monks who have protected Eden for generations.
Meanwhile, a radical ecological group seeks the powerful Seed at the heart of the Garden intending to restore the world to its natural state with no thought of the consequences for humankind.
From Lisbon to Macau, the Caribbean and on to Brazil, Morgan and Jake must hunt for the fragments of the manuscript and find their way to the Garden of Eden before those who wish to turn its secret into blood.
The ARKANE action-adventure thriller series in order. The books can also be read as stand-alone stories.
- Stone of Fire #1
- Crypt of Bone #2
- Ark of Blood #3
- One Day In Budapest #4
- Day of the Vikings #5
- Gates of Hell #6
- One Day in New York #7
- Destroyer of Worlds #8
- End of Days #9
- Valley of Dry Bones #10
- Tree of Life #11
An ancient manuscript that leads to the Gates of Hell.
When the last of the Remnant is murdered at the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, ARKANE agent Morgan Sierra is drawn into the hunt for a supernatural Key linked to the murder of her father. She's joined by agent Jake Timber, who must face his own fears as they decipher clues left behind by Kabbalist scholars.
From ancient sites in Spain to Israel and the Czech Republic, Morgan and Jake must follow the trail to the Key, while evading Adam Kadmon, a man consumed with a lust for dark power.
As the planets align, Morgan and Jake race against time to find the Key and destroy it before the Devourers and the Polluted of God emerge from the Gates of Hell to ravage the earth.
The ARKANE action adventure series in order. The books can also be read as stand-alone stories.
- Stone of Fire #1
- Crypt of Bone #2
- Ark of Blood #3
- One Day In Budapest #4
- Day of the Vikings #5
- Gates of Hell #6
- One Day in New York #7
- Destroyer of Worlds #8
- End of Days #9
- Valley of Dry Bones #10
A relic, stolen from the heart of an ancient city. An echo of nationalist violence not seen since the dark days of the Second World War.
** From New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author J.F.Penn **
Budapest, Hungary. When a priest is murdered at the Basilica of St Stephen and the Holy Right relic is stolen, the ultra-nationalist Eröszak party calls for retribution and anti-Semitic violence erupts in the city.
Dr Morgan Sierra, psychologist and ARKANE agent, finds herself trapped inside the synagogue with Zoltan Fischer, a Hungarian Jewish security advisor. As the terrorism escalates, Morgan and Zoltan must race against time to find the Holy Right and expose the conspiracy, before blood is spilled again on the streets of Budapest.
One Day In Budapest is a chilling view of a possible future as Eastern Europe embraces right-wing nationalism. A conspiracy thriller, where religion and politics intersect.
One Day In Budapest features Dr Morgan Sierra from the ARKANE thrillers, but is a stand-alone novella and can be read separately from the ARKANE series.
The bestselling ARKANE series of books in order:Stone of Fire #1 - previously published as Pentecost
Crypt of Bone #2 - previously published as Prophecy
Ark of Blood #3 - previously published as Exodus
One Day In Budapest #4
Day of the Vikings #5
Gates of Hell #6
One Day in New York #7
˃˃˃ Other books by J.F.Penn
Desecration, London Psychic #1
Delirium, London Psychic #2
A Thousand Fiendish Angels - Short stories inspired by Dante's Inferno.
If you love an action-packed conspiracy thriller, download a sample or buy ONE DAY IN BUDAPEST now.
A love across borders.
A desperate choice that could break their worlds apart forever.
When a fragment of a deadly map is recovered from a medieval plague pit in London, the Mapwalker team must cross over into the Borderlands once more.
In a race against time, they must find the remaining pieces of the map in a journey across long-lost cities before the Shadow Cartographers wield it against Earthside in a devastating attack.
Can Sienna resist the call of the Shadow as she struggles to save her home?
Will Finn take a risk on love across borders or leave the Earthsiders to their fate?
Map of Plagues is book 2 of the Mapwalker fantasy adventure trilogy.
The Mapwalker Fantasy trilogy:
- Map of Shadows #1
- Map of Plagues #2
- Map of the Impossible #3
OTHER BOOKS BY J.F.PENN
>>> Dark fantasy stand-alone stories
Risen Gods
A Thousand Fiendish Angels
American Demon Hunters: Sacrifice
>>> ARKANE Action Adventure Thrillers
Stone of Fire #1
Crypt of Bone #2
Ark of Blood #3
One Day in Budapest #4
Day of the Vikings #5
Gates of Hell #6
One Day in New York #7
Destroyer of Worlds #8
End of Days #9
Valley of Dry Bones #10
New York City is built upon a dark secret.
When a woman is crucified on a burning cross in downtown Manhattan, it marks the beginning of a dangerous crusade. The Confessors seek the powerful relic of a dark angel and they will stop at nothing to get it.
ARKANE agent Jake Timber is in New York to investigate the eleventh century Cloisters Cross alongside Naomi Locasto, a linguist, when they become entangled in the mystery.
Can Jake and Naomi solve the clues and find the relic of the angel before the Confessors destroy the city?
The ARKANE action adventure series in order. The books can also be read as stand-alone stories.
- Stone of Fire #1
- Crypt of Bone #2
- Ark of Blood #3
- One Day In Budapest #4
- Day of the Vikings #5
- Gates of Hell #6
- One Day in New York #7
- Destroyer of Worlds #8
- End of Days #9
- Valley of Dry Bones #10
A journey through the realm of the dead.
A threat that will change the world.
A choice that might save everything—or end it all.
As natural disasters sweep Earthside, a mutant army rises in the Borderlands, driven by the dark force behind the Shadow Cartographers.
Sienna and the Mapwalker team must use the Map of the Impossible to journey through the realm of the dead and face the nightmare at its heart.
But when one of their number is taken and the team begins to break apart, each Mapwalker must face their greatest challenge.
Can the Mapwalker team reach the Tower of the Winds before the Shadow claims Earthside?
Will Sienna choose Finn — or turn away from the Borderlands forever?
Map of the Impossible is book 3 of the Mapwalker fantasy adventure trilogy.
The Mapwalker Fantasy Adventure trilogy:
- Map of Shadows #1
- Map of Plagues #2
- Map of the Impossible #3
An ancient prophecy. An occult secret. The power to raise the dead.
When a long-hidden tomb and a body covered in Voodoo symbols are found in New Orleans, ARKANE agent Jake Timber discovers a mystery that stretches back to the Spanish Empire and the bloody dungeons of the Inquisition.
But he is not the only one who seeks the Hand of Ezekiel. A shadowy billionaire, backed by those who seek immortality at any price, will stop at nothing to find the relics that can turn bones to living flesh.
When disaster strikes in the heart of the Louisiana bayou, Jake calls on ARKANE agent Morgan Sierra to help him once more as they race against time across the outposts of the Spanish Empire.
From Madrid and Toledo to the Philippines, Peru, and on to New Orleans and San Francisco, can Morgan and Jake find the relics and stop the resurrection of the dead?
A page-turning archaeological thriller with elements of the supernatural and occult, Valley of Dry Bones blends religious mystery with Indiana Jones-style action adventure.
The ARKANE action adventure series in order. The books can also be read as stand-alone stories.
- Stone of Fire #1
- Crypt of Bone #2
- Ark of Blood #3
- One Day In Budapest #4
- Day of the Vikings #5
- Gates of Hell #6
- One Day in New York #7
- Destroyer of Worlds #8
- End of Days #9
- Valley of Dry Bones #10
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