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11 ratings | 4 reviews | avg rating:4.91

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Mike Shel

Goodreads Author

Born

in Dearborn, Michigan, USA, The United States

Website

https://www.mikeshel.com

Twitter

MikeShelAuthor

Genre

Fantasy, Horror

Member Since

December 2017

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NEW BOOK: WEST OF THE WORLD IS AVAILABLE. Purchase here.

Mike was born in Detroit and raised in Dearborn, Michigan, oldest of three boys, the son of a firefighter and homemaker. He has practiced as a psychotherapist for nearly 30 years. He lives in central Indiana with his wife Tracy, son Leo, and dogs Tilly and Bobo. Mike began freelancing for Paizo Publishing’s Pathfinder Roleplaying Game in 2010. He released his first novel, Aching God, in 2018. Its sequel, Sin Eater, followed in 2019. Idols Fall, released in 2021, is his third novel and completes the Iconoclasts trilogy. His latest next novel, set in the same world, more than 200 years after the events of Iconoclasts, WEST OF THE WORLD , is out now. He's working on its sequel, THOU U ...more

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Combine Editions
Mike Shel’s books

Average rating: 4.1 · 9,342 ratings · 1,042 reviews · 37 distinct works • Similar authors

	Aching God (Iconoclasts, #1) 4.16 avg rating — 4,085 ratings — published 2018 — 7 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Sin Eater (Iconoclasts, #2) 4.17 avg rating — 2,274 ratings — published 2019 — 6 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Idols Fall (Iconoclasts, #3) 4.19 avg rating — 1,411 ratings — published 2021 — 5 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Barrowlands (Iconoclasts, #0.5) 3.73 avg rating — 290 ratings — published 2018 — 3 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Pathfinder Module: The Dragon's Demand by Mike Shel (Goodreads Author), Lars Grant-West (Artist), Helge C. Balzer (Interior Artist) 3.90 avg rating — 40 ratings — published 2013 — 2 editions	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Pathfinder Adventure Path #62: Curse of the Lady's Light (Shattered Star, #2) by Mike Shel (Goodreads Author), Levi Miles, Sean K. Reynolds 3.90 avg rating — 31 ratings — published 2012	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Irrisen, Land of Eternal Winter by Mike Shel (Goodreads Author), Daren Bader (Artist), Robert Lazzaretti (Cartographer) 3.97 avg rating — 29 ratings — published 2013	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Isles of the Shackles by Mike Shel (Goodreads Author), Paizo Staff (Editor) 3.85 avg rating — 26 ratings — published 2012	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Pathfinder Adventure Path #88: Valley of the Brain Collectors (Iron Gods, #4) by Mike Shel (Goodreads Author), David Schwartz, Amber E. Scott (Goodreads Author) 3.92 avg rating — 25 ratings — published 2014	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
	Pathfinder Adventure Path #84: Pyramid of the Sky Pharaoh (Mummy's Mask, #6) by Mike Shel (Goodreads Author), Paizo Staff (Editor) 4.13 avg rating — 15 ratings — published 2014	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

More books by Mike Shel…

1 post
Mike Shel's Blog: Sometimes Mike Has Things To Say

Sin Eater Approacheth

Howdy, all!

The sequel to my debut, 2018's Aching God (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...) is scheduled for release in two days: May 20.

Sin Eater (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/4...) spends time in the heads of both Auric and his daughter Agnes, and answers many questions left dangling in AG.

I'm excited for you to read it. A number have already pre-ordered it at Amazon - Enough so that Read more of this blog post »

2 likes · Like • 1 comment • flag

Published on May 18, 2019 13:09

Series by Mike Shel

Iconoclasts (3 books)
by

Mike Shel (Goodreads Author)

4.15 avg rating — 8,063 ratings

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Mike’s Recent Updates

Mike Shel has read West of the World: The Chronicles of Jerebad Madder, Book I by Mike Shel (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Just an alert to followers that the first book of my next series, *WEST OF THE WORLD* , set 200 years after the events of *Iconoclasts* , is available now in print and ebook formats. You can purchase a copy here. If you enjoyed my previous series, ...more
Aug 27, 2026 06:13PM · 8 likes · like · see review
Mike Shel liked Phil Parker's review of West of the World: The Chronicles of Jerebad Madder, Book I: "Introduction Jerebad Madder is a lowly son of aristocratic stock, lowly enough not to qualify for any of the family status and wealth. He sets out west to seek his fortune, as all good men are wont to do, based on books that describe the romance of th" Read more of this review »
Aug 27, 2026 06:10PM · see review
Mike Shel made a comment in the group Goodreads Librarians Group — Book Cover Change topic " Thanks so much! "
Aug 21, 2026 02:16PM
Mike Shel and 7 other people liked James’ RocBottomReviews 🐦‍⬛'s review of West of the World: The Chronicles of Jerebad Madder, Book I: "West of the World is a terrifying, heartbreaking and tense new entry in the weird west genre. We follow the plight of Jerebad Madder, a young man looking to settle in the New World. To say Jerebad has a tough go of it is putting it lightly. He’s one " Read more of this review »
Aug 12, 2026 11:28AM · see review
Mike Shel and 13 other people liked The Speculative Shelf's review of West of the World: The Chronicles of Jerebad Madder, Book I: "Set two hundred years after the conclusion of his phenomenal Iconoclasts Trilogy, West of the World seamlessly expands the boundaries of Shel’s dark and dangerous fantasy world. Jerebad Madder, a gunslinging dirt-witch of no particular renown, tracks" Read more of this review »
Aug 12, 2026 11:28AM · see review
Mike Shel joined the group Goodreads Librarians Group
Aug 10, 2026 10:09AM · like
Mike Shel has read West of the World: The Chronicles of Jerebad Madder, Book I by Mike Shel (Goodreads Author)	Error rating book. Refresh and try again. Rate this book Clear rating 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars
Just an alert to followers that the first book of my next series, *WEST OF THE WORLD* , set 200 years after the events of *Iconoclasts* , is available now in print and ebook formats. You can purchase a copy here. If you enjoyed my previous series, ...more
Jun 17, 2026 05:45PM · 8 likes · like · see review

More of Mike's books…

Quotes by Mike Shel (?)

“We all have our failings, Gnaeus,” answered Auric. “Understanding one’s own is the measure of wisdom.”
― Mike Shel, Aching God

4 likes

“Welcome pain, for it is sent to instruct the wise man.”
― Mike Shel, Aching God

3 likes

“One measure of wisdom is to know, as we are moved around the board, what the game is about.”
― Mike Shel, Sin Eater

3 likes

See all Mike Shel's quotes »

Topics Mentioning This Author

topics	posts	views	last activity
Lost Lore Readalong!: Readalong Schedule	6	78	Feb 01, 2018 04:09PM
2026 Reading Chal...: Catherine builds a book fort 2018 [150 books]	143	361	Sep 21, 2018 04:07PM
Unofficial Gen Co...: List of Authors at Gen Con 2023	5	12	Aug 14, 2023 08:00PM
Hooked on Books : Theme Throwdown: Dobby Vs Smaug (April 2025)	71	41	May 02, 2025 04:30PM
Goodreads Librari...: (Closed) Please add Deluxe Collector's Edition for Aching God by Mike Shel	3	9	May 05, 2025 06:15PM
Goodreads Librari...: (Closed)Please add Deluxe Collector's Edition of Sin Eater	2	11	Sep 03, 2026 08:33AM

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Mike’s Quotes

“All men make mistakes, but a good man yields when he knows his course is wrong, and repairs the evil. The only crime is pride.”
― Sophocles, Antigone

tags: change, character, course, crime, failure, mistakes, pride, yield

1258 likes