BĂȘlit: Shipwrecked

The Heroic Legends Series

Author V. Castro
Ebook (EPUB)
On sale Feb 27, 2024 | 40 Pages | 978-1-80336-638-8
Capturing the electric short fiction energy that led Robert E. Howard to be one of the top fantasy writers of the century, with exclusive serialized eBook stories starring Conan, Solomon Kane, and more by many of today’s top writers in fantasy and sword-and-sorcery.

Queen of the Black Coast and captain of the Tigress, Bêlit, and her pirate crew roam the seas in pursuit of treasure and adventure. The crew are utterly devoted to their leader, yet they can do little when a massive storm beaches their ship on unknown shores. She and her first mate Seneka send a trio of teams to search for resources and human habitation, but only two return. When Bêlit and her best swordsmen venture into the jungle, they discover a temple, silent warriors, and a charismatic leader who promises Bêlit a kingdom… 

But at what cost?
Praise for Conan and Robert E. Howard:


Howard’s writing seems so highly charged with energy that it nearly gives off sparks. —Stephen King


In Howard's grim and all too realistic view, the barbarians are always at the gate, and once a culture allows itself to grow soft, decadent or simply neglectful, it will be swept away by the primitive and ruthless. —Michael Dirda, The Washington Post


I read books, and I dreamed of Mars, and the planets in those books, and of the Hyborian Age of Robert E. Howard’s Conan books… —George R. R. Martin, author of A Game of Thrones


Howard wrote pulp adventure stories of every kind, for every market he could find, but his real love was for supernatural adventure and he brought a brash, tough element to the epic fantasy which did as much to change the course of the American school away from precious writing and static imagery as Hammett, Chandler, and the Black Mask pulp writers were to change the course of American detective fiction.—Michael Moorcock, award-winning author of the Elric saga 


Those of us who believed in Conan at the right moment in our lives never stop believing. We might not grow up to become him, but we never grow out of him, either. —Stephen Graham Jones, author of The Only Good Indians


Praise for V. Castro:


“In the age of phony fiction, V. Castro is the voice of authenticity; una voz que lucha por la igualdad. Dark, atmospheric, sexy, and dangerous, her fiction brings readers her unfiltered Latinx essence and a unique pulpy flavor. Her work matters. Read it.”—Gabino Iglesias, author of Coyote Songs


“V. Castro writes like her blood is in the ink. Queen of the Cicadas is the best urban legend story since Candyman, layered and dark and hideously beautiful. It will get way under your skin. If Castro’s not already on your radar, she should be.”—Christopher Golden, NYT bestselling author of Alien: River of Pain


“Writing in breathtaking, atmospheric prose, Castro merges brutal realism and supernatural terror to create a fierce, memorable tale.”—Publishers Weekly starred review


“Castro's novel shifts seamlessly from deliciously gory horror narrative to… a tale of righteous vengeance.”—Kirkus starred review


“Castro’s expert storytelling upends classic horror tropes to make… an exhilarating and frightening literary ride.”—Los Angeles Review of Books


“A deliciously sinister story”—Harper's Bazaar


“A truly original and surprising work of fiction.”—Toronto Star
V. Castro is a Mexican American writer from San Antonio, Texas now residing in the UK. As a full-time mother she dedicates her time to her family and writing Latinx narratives in horror, speculative fiction, and science fiction. Her most recent releases include The Queen of the Cicadas from Flame Tree Press and Goddess of Filth from Creature Publishing. Connect with Violet via Instagram and Twitter @vlatinalondon or www.vcastrostories.com.

About

Capturing the electric short fiction energy that led Robert E. Howard to be one of the top fantasy writers of the century, with exclusive serialized eBook stories starring Conan, Solomon Kane, and more by many of today’s top writers in fantasy and sword-and-sorcery.

Queen of the Black Coast and captain of the Tigress, Bêlit, and her pirate crew roam the seas in pursuit of treasure and adventure. The crew are utterly devoted to their leader, yet they can do little when a massive storm beaches their ship on unknown shores. She and her first mate Seneka send a trio of teams to search for resources and human habitation, but only two return. When Bêlit and her best swordsmen venture into the jungle, they discover a temple, silent warriors, and a charismatic leader who promises Bêlit a kingdom… 

But at what cost?

Reviews

Praise for Conan and Robert E. Howard:


Howard’s writing seems so highly charged with energy that it nearly gives off sparks. —Stephen King


In Howard's grim and all too realistic view, the barbarians are always at the gate, and once a culture allows itself to grow soft, decadent or simply neglectful, it will be swept away by the primitive and ruthless. —Michael Dirda, The Washington Post


I read books, and I dreamed of Mars, and the planets in those books, and of the Hyborian Age of Robert E. Howard’s Conan books… —George R. R. Martin, author of A Game of Thrones


Howard wrote pulp adventure stories of every kind, for every market he could find, but his real love was for supernatural adventure and he brought a brash, tough element to the epic fantasy which did as much to change the course of the American school away from precious writing and static imagery as Hammett, Chandler, and the Black Mask pulp writers were to change the course of American detective fiction.—Michael Moorcock, award-winning author of the Elric saga 


Those of us who believed in Conan at the right moment in our lives never stop believing. We might not grow up to become him, but we never grow out of him, either. —Stephen Graham Jones, author of The Only Good Indians


Praise for V. Castro:


“In the age of phony fiction, V. Castro is the voice of authenticity; una voz que lucha por la igualdad. Dark, atmospheric, sexy, and dangerous, her fiction brings readers her unfiltered Latinx essence and a unique pulpy flavor. Her work matters. Read it.”—Gabino Iglesias, author of Coyote Songs


“V. Castro writes like her blood is in the ink. Queen of the Cicadas is the best urban legend story since Candyman, layered and dark and hideously beautiful. It will get way under your skin. If Castro’s not already on your radar, she should be.”—Christopher Golden, NYT bestselling author of Alien: River of Pain


“Writing in breathtaking, atmospheric prose, Castro merges brutal realism and supernatural terror to create a fierce, memorable tale.”—Publishers Weekly starred review


“Castro's novel shifts seamlessly from deliciously gory horror narrative to… a tale of righteous vengeance.”—Kirkus starred review


“Castro’s expert storytelling upends classic horror tropes to make… an exhilarating and frightening literary ride.”—Los Angeles Review of Books


“A deliciously sinister story”—Harper's Bazaar


“A truly original and surprising work of fiction.”—Toronto Star

Author

V. Castro is a Mexican American writer from San Antonio, Texas now residing in the UK. As a full-time mother she dedicates her time to her family and writing Latinx narratives in horror, speculative fiction, and science fiction. Her most recent releases include The Queen of the Cicadas from Flame Tree Press and Goddess of Filth from Creature Publishing. Connect with Violet via Instagram and Twitter @vlatinalondon or www.vcastrostories.com.