Destiny's Boot

The Barsian Job #1

by F.J. Mitchell

When Live, laugh, larceny becomes Death, doom, destiny.

Embarking on a salvage mission into the heart of the most treacherous mountain range in the Barsian Empire, the pirates aboard the sky ship Warrior know things are going to get wild. However, no-one suspects this contract is anything other than lucrative.

But, with a perfectly placed punt, Destiny’s Boot launches the Warrior like a particularly oblivious seagull into the path of a whirling propeller. A cascade of horror awaits them. Undead wyverns, fanatical mages, and an ancient entity so powerful it has been locked away for centuries. In order to survive, the Warrior’s crew will have to multitask. Can they lick Risk in the eyeball while stealing Danger’s wristwatch and treating Chaos to a makeover?

402 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 3, 2024

About the author

FJ began her life in Hampshire but has lived on a farm with her family in the wild west of Wales for over twenty years.

Having merrily wasted her history degree from the moment she received it, FJ decided to keep on doing so by writing about magical flying ships, sharks with jet packs, weaponised gazpacho, and swashbuckling sky pirates with incredibly good hair.

She blames her time raising animals and children for combining what was an already lively sense of the ridiculous with the desire to live in a fantasy world; and the result is The Barsian Job, a six-book series for anyone who ever wanted to break the fourth wall and demand to speak to the manager.

FJ guarantees that her books are more exciting than chasing sheep around a field, funnier than watching a beloved child faceplant in the mud and warmer than losing your welly in the muck heap. Trust her, she’s an expert.

Reviews

[Simon Gosden · Rating 4 out of 5]

A flying pirate ship, a crew of reprobates, orcs and cage fighting nuns on a suicide mission facing undead wyverns, and an ancient enemy.

This novel has the lot and to be fair, with a certain wry, dark humour, it works very well.

It is Part One of a series and I will be looking out for the next one.

[Ben Berwick · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can I say about Destiny's Boot? Is it a mad-cap dash from one end of the story to the other? Yes. Do the characters dictate the story, quite possibly even to author? I think it's a strong possibility. Is the adventure utterly insane, with elaborate and thrilling set-pieces to keep you engaged and turning the page? You bet.

Featuring a colourful cast and crew, Destiny's Boot reminds me of Guardians of the Galaxy, if the the movies were allowed to shed their 12A/PG-13 label and go for it. There's that same gung-ho spirit, that willingness to put everything on the line for one another, and a casual acceptance of anyone and everyone for who they are, regardless of species, sex, or creed. I've got some characters in one of my stories that would have a riot with some of these character - quite literally!

This is a rip-roaring, fun adventure, punctuated by moments of real heart. Brilliant stuff.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the moment I picked this up I was gripped. The scene opens as an intriguing setup for an mystical magical adventure and there was something going on, on every page. The seemingly rag tag crew are brought to life on the page and as the pace of the story picks up their skills and history come into play as they get sucked deeper and deeper into the mystery. There are some stand out moments from my favourite character Sparkz - whose dark humour kept me amused, but his clinical approach to the tasks at hand contrast wildly with the more spontaneous approach of Captain Kennedy and Arke making for some great action sequences. I enjoyed Destiny's Boot enormously, especially with a few plot twists you really don't see coming until they smack you in the face. I can't wait to read the next set of adventures for the crew of the Warrior

[Sarah Jane Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book and the Characters in it. I don't normally read fantasy books. But this was amazing kept me captivated. Looking forward to more books by F.J. Mitchell.
If your reading this you are obviously thinking of buying it. I would definitely advise it. Amazing

[Lu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! Everything just flows - the plot is exciting with a real sense of danger, the characters are vividly brought to life and the world is well built and believable. Please hurry up with Book 2, I need to know what happens next.