Historical Fantasy
Date Published: 02-26-2026
Publisher: Sword and Thistle LLC
In World War 1, it’s not the tanks or soldiers that will determine the victors, it’s the magical tattoo ink.
The Mages who can bear that ink have special weapon and beast tattoos that can come to life.
Jack is an
infamous Mage, called into a covert mission to rescue a missing scientist. If
he can do this, he will ensure the balance of power with the magical ink
distribution is not stolen by other countries who look to gain the upper hand
during the war.
As he searches for the renowned Nikola Tesla, Jack
assembles a team of Mages and soldiers as they scramble against time and
powerful Russian enemies, who also have their own magical tattoos. Their
enemies will use those powers not only to win the war but take over the city
where all magical ink is created and distributed, thus ensuring global
domination.
But Jack has a personal vendetta against one of those
enemies, payback for the death of his father and other loved ones. If Jack can
use his ink magic and overcome the insurmountable odds to succeed, he just
might keep the ink safe, maintain the balance of power, and defeat the men who
have plagued his family for decades.
This action-packed alternate history
novel will keep readers on the edge of their seats! If you love the Pale Rider
Second Chance series by Michael Roberts, you will love his new Ink Magic
series!
Excerpt
The tanks zig-zagged in the dirt, crossing one another’s path as they neared the Russians. Jack had one idea, but he’d need to get closer and time his attack perfectly, especially as Jack was assigned as an adviser, not a combatant. He was not supposed to run into combat, but if he sat in this trench and waited, then he’d die with his Russian comrades.
Combat had come to him.
Nodding his head, he turned to Pavel. “Get five men and follow me,” Jack yelled as he pulled off his coat and rolled up his shirtsleeves to expose a black and silver shield tattoo on his left forearm.
Pavel pointed out five men and waved them over, ordering them to stay behind him and Jack, no matter what. Amid the gunshots and rain of dirt, Jack climbed over the ledge of the trench and extended his left arm in front of his body, saying what he called his power word that activated his shield as he withdrew his German Luger.
In an instant, his tattoo came to life, transforming into a full-sized, silver and black Spartan-style shield that appeared on his arm, and bullets bounced off of it.
A magical shield called forth from the magical ink of his tattoo, the shield looked to be a normal shield but extended a six-foot invisible barrier in front of himself. A thin, almost invisible, light silvery-blue glow coursed around the invisible barrier, showing the outline. Jack crept forward, giving the Russians room and time to climb out of the trench.
Pavel tapped Jack on the back, letting him know that the men were out of the trench and ready to move. Jack rushed forward as bullets bounced off the shield, with Russians running behind him as close as possible, shooting as they ran. Jack’s shield was only solid on the outside and in front of them, so it didn’t stop their bullets from going out, just the German bullets from coming in. Hundreds of bullets sparked against Jack’s shield as they ricocheted off and away.
“Aim for the men behind the tanks!” Jack yelled over his shoulder. “That’s where we’re going.”
About the Author
Michael Roberts is a Police Officer in Southern California. He also served in the United States Marine Corps for seven years. This is his first American Historical fiction book, and he drew on much of his previous military experience to write it.
His most recent series, Ink Magic, was just
accepted by Spiteful Books.
He lives in California with his family of
seven.
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