Maelstrom: An Epic Sword & Sorcery Novel

Paul J Bennett

Dec 2021 · The Frozen Flame - Complete 8-book series Book 5 · Paul J Bennett

About this ebook

Natalia returns to where it all began

Forced to pursue those who threaten their daughter's very existence, Athgar and Natalia must say goodbye to all they know. Barely surviving the journey, they finally arrive in Karslev, where nothing goes according to plan.

For centuries, the family increased their influence over the Petty Kingdoms until their control became absolute. Now, as Marakhova moves to destroy any who resist, the return of a disgraced student jeopardizes everything they've fought to accomplish.

While a hidden key to Natalia's past drives her to do the unthinkable, Athgar struggles just to survive. Their future relies on Natalia deciphering her grandmother's legacy. 

They'll risk everything to break Markhova's hold over the family, but will it be enough?

Dive into a land bursting with action, adventure, and magical battles as Paul J Bennett's The Frozen Flame series continues in Book Five: Maelstrom.

Pre-order your copy today and be amongst the first to discover what the secret key is.

New to the series? Get to know Athgar and Natalia in their origin stories, Into the Fire & The Awakening, then pick up Book One: Ashes to learn how they met!

What readers are saying about Paul J Bennett’s books:

★★★★★ -"Fantastic Fantasy!"

★★★★★ -"Epic Battle Scenes!

★★★★★ -"I’m hooked on this series!"

★★★★★ -"Exciting Sword and Sorcery"

★★★★★ -"Fabulously written, loved it."

★★★★★ -"Outstanding work of fantasy"

★★★★★ -"The most amazing adventure"

★★★★★ -"Another excellent book series!!"

Books by Paul J Bennett

 

Heir to the Crown Series:

Battle at the River - Prequel

Servant of the Crown

Sword of the Crown

Mercerian Tales: Stories of the Past

Heart of the Crown

Shadow of the Crown

Mercerian Tales: The Call of Magic

Fate of the Crown

Burden of the Crown

Mercerian Tales: The Making of a Man

Defender of the Crown

Fury of the Crown

Mercerian Tales: Honour Thy Ancestors

War of the Crown

Triumph of the Crown

Guardian of the Crown

 

The Frozen Flame Series:

The Awakening/Into the Fire - Prequels

Ashes

Embers

Flames

Inferno

Maelstrom

Vortex

 

Power Ascending Series:

Tempered Steel - Prequel

Temple Knight

Warrior Knight

Temple Captain

Warrior Lord

Temple Commander

 

The Chronicles of Cyric:

Into the Maelstrom - Prequel

A Midwinter Murder

The Beast of Brunhausen

A Plague in Zeiderbruch

 

Ratings and reviews

Once again the author has managed to produce an imaginative tale. The whole series is going from strength to strength and I like the way the series is building. Whilst reading the other series, Frozen Flame and Temple Knight I am really intrigued to see whether there will be a final book which will encompass all the characters in a winner takes all edition. The tension is building and the story line with Natalie and Athgar looking to get even for the family’s attacks takes on an unexpected turn. Enemies and allies are not always what they seem, I cannot wait for the next book. Well worth reading

I think this is Paul Bennerr's best writing to date. There's a bit more excitement, politics, and so many things that could go wrong. The ending leaves the reader wanting to find out what happens next, and at long last, we are getting a hint of interaction between this series and another. Well done, Mr. Bennett. Comment

About the author

Paul J Bennett (b. 1961) emigrated from England to Canada in 1967. His father served in the British Royal Navy, and his mother worked for the BBC in London. As a young man, Paul followed in his father’s footsteps, joining the Canadian Armed Forces in 1983. He is married to Carol Bennett and has three daughters who are all creative in their own right.

Paul’s interest in writing started in his teen years when he discovered the roleplaying game, Dungeons & Dragons (D & D). What attracted him to this new hobby was the creativity it required; the need to create realms, worlds and adventures that pulled the gamers into his stories.

In his 30’s, Paul started to dabble in designing his own roleplaying system, using the Peninsular War in Portugal as his backdrop. His regular gaming group were willing victims, er, participants in helping to playtest this new system. A few years later, he added additional settings to his game, including Science Fiction, Post-Apocalyptic, World War II, and the all-important Fantasy Realm where his stories take place.

The beginnings of his first book ‘Servant to the Crown’ originated over five years ago when he began running a new fantasy campaign. For the world that the Kingdom of Merceria is in, he ran his adventures like a TV show, with seasons that each had twelve episodes, and an overarching plot. When the campaign ended, he knew all the characters, what they had to accomplish, what needed to happen to move the plot along, and it was this that inspired him to sit down to write his first novel. 

Paul now has four series based in his fantasy world of Eiddenwerthe, and is looking forward to sharing many more books with his readers over the coming years.