Demented, greedy, and perverse-Invictus will stop at nothing, not even an unspeakable act of sorcery, to merge his sister's power with his.

Jim Melvin's acclaimed adult fantasy series, the Death Wizard Chronicles, takes a dark turn into the tormented world of Laylah, a captive sorceress who is subjected to her brother's cruel control. For more than seventy years, the most powerful sorcerer in the world has held his own sister prisoner in a magical tower-forcing her to be his “queen.” Even the immense power Laylah draws from moonlight does not give her the strength to free herself . . . until she forms an unlikely alliance with two of the sorcerer's most trusted soldiers as well as an ancient demon with diabolical motives.

Laylah's dramatic escape leads her to the one man who might be able to save her-Torg, the Death-Knower wizard. Drawn together by supernatural passion, the pair attempts to outrun Invictus' minions and reach the safety of the White City.

Jim Melvin was an award-winning journalist at the St. Petersburg Times for twenty-five years. As a reporter, he specialized in science, nature, health and fitness, and he wrote about everything from childhood drowning to erupting volcanoes. Jim is the author of "The Death Wizard Chronicles," a six-book epic fantasy for adult audiences. Book 1 of the series, titled "Forged in Death," debuted Aug. 20, 2012 via Bell Bridge Books and has attained best-seller status several times on Amazon. It can be purchased electronically, in trade paperback and as an audio book. Books 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 ("Chained by Fear," "Shadowed by Demons," "Torn by War," "Blinded by Power" and "Healed by Hope") also are available, completing the series. Three short stories related to Jim's fantasy series ("Torg's First Death," "The Black Fortress" and "Rise of the Sun God") can be downloaded for free. "The Black Fortress" also is available in audio. For more information, please visit www.jim-melvin.com.

In addition to being a novelist, Jim is communications director for Clemson University's College of Science. He is the editor and lead writer for the new book titled "Eclipse Over Clemson: The day Tigertown will never forget." The book chronicles one of the most extraordinary days in Clemson University’s storied history. It contains chapters from scientists, naturalists, psychologists, media relations experts, and even novelists. It also includes a poem – written specifically for this book – by renowned Southern author Ron Rash. And you’ll find more than 100 full-color images of the eclipse and the crowd taken by a team of talented photographers.