Balthazar's Bane

Balthazar's Bane

Book 6: Gaslamp Gothic

A bungled murder. A ridiculous quest. And a hero with extremely dodgy credentials.

New Year’s Eve 1889. Count Balthazar Jozsef Habsburg‎-Koháry tries to lead a simple life.

Oh, he enjoys a few hobbies.

Collecting ancient Egyptian artifacts. Hunting necromancers with a wire garrote. Impersonating dead Hungarian nobility. Seducing an endless string of women who never suspect the price of the count’s attentions.

But considering what Balthazar used to be like, these pursuits are harmless. And surely he deserves a reward for assassinating the elusive necromancer John Mortlake in the middle of Cairo’s teeming bazaar. What could be better than a holiday cruise up the Nile with his secretary Lucas Devereaux?

Unfortunately for Balthazar, he just killed the wrong necromancer – one with a vengeful daughter and huge debts to some very shady djinn. To survive, he and Lucas must find a legendary sword and liberate a desert kingdom of magical misfits. For centuries, the people of Al Miraj have sought a valiant champion willing to face the wrath of the arch demon Fulad-zereh!

What they get is Balthazar.

But the gods always did like a good joke.


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Balthazar's Bane Inspired Playlist

Deadweight (Beck)
1:51 (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club)
Sex & Candy (Marcy Playground)
So Alive (Love and Rockets)
This is the Day (The The)
Kashmir (Led Zeppelin)
Hell (Squirrel Nut Zippers)
The Underdog (Spoon)
This Is a Call (Foo Fighters)
Backwater (Meat Puppets)
The Angel of the Forever Sleep (Marcy Playground)
My Hero (Foo Fighters)
Just Like Honey (The Jesus and Mary Chain)

Or you can listen here while you read.