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Ebonreach: The Fort Terminus Files
Memories bleed. Secrets kill.
The ink on Roland Halloway’s P.I. license is barely dry when blue crystals and murdered bodies collide with his own fractured war memories. The perpetual twilight city of Ebonreach, where memory rain falls and magitech shields fail, conceals darker secrets than even a whiskey-numb veteran can fathom.
He’s not on the case alone, though. With the alluring wood elf Amoretta wielding forbidden memory magic and a seductive succubus nightclub singer pulling deadly strings, Roland races through neon-soaked back alleys and shadowy underground tunnels in search of answers. Malicious tech, corrupt officials, and prophetic sketches forecasting his own death won’t put a stop to this investigation—but the truth about what he did during the war just might.
In this gritty noir fantasy thriller, the drinks are stronger than the ogres, and the past is more painful than any bullet.
Welcome to Ebonreach, where forgetting is the kindest mercy.
The ink on Roland Halloway’s P.I. license is barely dry when blue crystals and murdered bodies collide with his own fractured war memories. The perpetual twilight city of Ebonreach, where memory rain falls and magitech shields fail, conceals darker secrets than even a whiskey-numb veteran can fathom.
He’s not on the case alone, though. With the alluring wood elf Amoretta wielding forbidden memory magic and a seductive succubus nightclub singer pulling deadly strings, Roland races through neon-soaked back alleys and shadowy underground tunnels in search of answers. Malicious tech, corrupt officials, and prophetic sketches forecasting his own death won’t put a stop to this investigation—but the truth about what he did during the war just might.
In this gritty noir fantasy thriller, the drinks are stronger than the ogres, and the past is more painful than any bullet.
Welcome to Ebonreach, where forgetting is the kindest mercy.
713 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 18, 2025
47 people are currently reading
31 people want to read
About the author
Peter North
36 books15 followersOgre by day, hero by night...
Peter North has been writing "serious" SF&F adventures for many years, under another name. But there's only so long a guy can be serious before he starts to go a bit mad.
This is where Peter comes to play.
Inspired by Sword & Sorcery of old and HaremLit of new, Peter North's books are a place where men (and open-minded women) can come to experience the intersection of Fantasy and fantasies.
Peter North has been writing "serious" SF&F adventures for many years, under another name. But there's only so long a guy can be serious before he starts to go a bit mad.
This is where Peter comes to play.
Inspired by Sword & Sorcery of old and HaremLit of new, Peter North's books are a place where men (and open-minded women) can come to experience the intersection of Fantasy and fantasies.
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 9, 2026
honestly it's hard to explain how I feel about this boo. it's very very okay. the characters are fine, the setting is passable, the plot works( I guess?) but it just didn't really draw me in. the ending also felt pretty abrupt after the rest feeling kinda slower and drawn out. idk it was an okay book. 2.5/5
October 5, 2025
This book was really good, and while I'm not sure there will be a sequel that would make it haremlit, it certainly feels like it could go there if there is another book.
The MC is a newly minted private investigator that is a somewhat functioning alcoholic. He's on his way to meet up with a succubus that he sees as a kind of FWB, when a police golem intercepts him and tells him he's to investigate a murder. And thus begins a long and satisfying tale into what is happening to the city of Ebonreach, and the memories of those who live there.
The MC is a decent character, though he fights with himself a lot. He's a former soldier that served in a war that isn't well defined until the end of the book. Nobody knows why they fought or who they fought, heck they don't remember even when the war ended or how long it lasted. But the MC manages to hang on to his sanity, such as it is.
The harem, as it were, is two women. The aforementioned succubus and an elf. The succubus has known him for years, while the elf is someone he just met. Both have found themselves focused on the MC for their own reasons, and their behavior is drastically different, but interesting. Any future books should be fun with the two of them now having the time to team up on the MC.
If there is another book, I'm very much interested in where it could go, since so much was wrapped up in this book.
The MC is a newly minted private investigator that is a somewhat functioning alcoholic. He's on his way to meet up with a succubus that he sees as a kind of FWB, when a police golem intercepts him and tells him he's to investigate a murder. And thus begins a long and satisfying tale into what is happening to the city of Ebonreach, and the memories of those who live there.
The MC is a decent character, though he fights with himself a lot. He's a former soldier that served in a war that isn't well defined until the end of the book. Nobody knows why they fought or who they fought, heck they don't remember even when the war ended or how long it lasted. But the MC manages to hang on to his sanity, such as it is.
The harem, as it were, is two women. The aforementioned succubus and an elf. The succubus has known him for years, while the elf is someone he just met. Both have found themselves focused on the MC for their own reasons, and their behavior is drastically different, but interesting. Any future books should be fun with the two of them now having the time to team up on the MC.
If there is another book, I'm very much interested in where it could go, since so much was wrapped up in this book.
October 7, 2025
This could have been a great book, except...
This is a darker, almost grimdark, version of Glen Cook's Garrett, PI (Tunfaire) series. Just like the classic, the main character is a new PI who drinks and knows the little players in the lower reaches of society in a magic/fantasy city. Both are also human veterans of the recent magic tech war.
That is the departure point, as well. In this book the main character is a dark drunk, drinking to cope. the city is not just apathetic, it actively oppresses. The veterans are treated poorly, even by the veterans affairs department that is supposed to assist them and instead is looted by the powerful (like the transport system, city services, the police...). And he, and all the vets, can't recall many details of the war. Not even who won.
The MC new PI is intercepted on his way to drink by a police golem on dispatch from the city council, and assigned the case of a recent low level fence's murder. To save money, the city now contracts out criminal investigations to PIs when the victims are the dregs.
As the book unfolds he uncovers the expected web of corruption and ill dealings, but also, slowly, the mystery of his, and his fellow veterans', pasts.
However, the slow nature of the unfolding, mixed with the self destructive behavior, does get a little annoying. Maybe more than a little repetitive.
This is a darker, almost grimdark, version of Glen Cook's Garrett, PI (Tunfaire) series. Just like the classic, the main character is a new PI who drinks and knows the little players in the lower reaches of society in a magic/fantasy city. Both are also human veterans of the recent magic tech war.
That is the departure point, as well. In this book the main character is a dark drunk, drinking to cope. the city is not just apathetic, it actively oppresses. The veterans are treated poorly, even by the veterans affairs department that is supposed to assist them and instead is looted by the powerful (like the transport system, city services, the police...). And he, and all the vets, can't recall many details of the war. Not even who won.
The MC new PI is intercepted on his way to drink by a police golem on dispatch from the city council, and assigned the case of a recent low level fence's murder. To save money, the city now contracts out criminal investigations to PIs when the victims are the dregs.
As the book unfolds he uncovers the expected web of corruption and ill dealings, but also, slowly, the mystery of his, and his fellow veterans', pasts.
However, the slow nature of the unfolding, mixed with the self destructive behavior, does get a little annoying. Maybe more than a little repetitive.
September 24, 2025
Fantastic Noir Story
Disclaimer, I was a beta reader for this book.
I described this during the beta read as Cyberpunk 2077 using magic instead of cybernetics and set in the 50s, with the atmosphere provided by those opening jazz riffs from Halo ODST, complete with the rainy weather. The world built by this story is so vivid with a grizzled war veteran that can't remember what happened but knows it was bad, the rundown office in the seedy part of town, even the local food vendor offering delicious sustenance while our hero tries to figure out what has happened to his first PI case.
The supporting cast in this story is a group of complex and interesting characters, from the old battle buddies dealing with things in their own ways, the young girl that is older than he is, the club owner with the unclear relationship, the mystery of the memory rain, and being able to feel the grit and grime in this beautifully crafted world. This will definitely be my next audiobook with who did the narration and what I have heard from others about it.
Get this today, you will look up after starting to find yourself done, the sun will be set and it will be raining while you wonder when the next case will be and what will happen in the future of this grounded magical world.
Disclaimer, I was a beta reader for this book.
I described this during the beta read as Cyberpunk 2077 using magic instead of cybernetics and set in the 50s, with the atmosphere provided by those opening jazz riffs from Halo ODST, complete with the rainy weather. The world built by this story is so vivid with a grizzled war veteran that can't remember what happened but knows it was bad, the rundown office in the seedy part of town, even the local food vendor offering delicious sustenance while our hero tries to figure out what has happened to his first PI case.
The supporting cast in this story is a group of complex and interesting characters, from the old battle buddies dealing with things in their own ways, the young girl that is older than he is, the club owner with the unclear relationship, the mystery of the memory rain, and being able to feel the grit and grime in this beautifully crafted world. This will definitely be my next audiobook with who did the narration and what I have heard from others about it.
Get this today, you will look up after starting to find yourself done, the sun will be set and it will be raining while you wonder when the next case will be and what will happen in the future of this grounded magical world.
September 23, 2025
Holy Cow, what a book!
Whether you are new to the genre or just new to these authors, then this book will still blow your socks off. But it you know what you’re in for and have read anything by these two authors, then you will love this book. It’s one of their best. It’s beautifully written with charming and lovable characters. I can’t wait for the next one!
Whether you are new to the genre or just new to these authors, then this book will still blow your socks off. But it you know what you’re in for and have read anything by these two authors, then you will love this book. It’s one of their best. It’s beautifully written with charming and lovable characters. I can’t wait for the next one!
October 26, 2025
A great story!!!
A wonderfully written, deeply disturbing fantasy adventure! I definitely knew this would be such a great story but how well these two authors wrote about the darkness that some crave surprised me . I'd still really enjoy reading this as a series.
A wonderfully written, deeply disturbing fantasy adventure! I definitely knew this would be such a great story but how well these two authors wrote about the darkness that some crave surprised me . I'd still really enjoy reading this as a series.
January 25, 2026
Really good detective urban fantasy, gets pretty dark at times. Chemistry is great, characters have texture. There is an actual plot. Not a fan of these series the author hold hostage for sales figures, if you have a good idea, finish it. People will find it eventually.
September 25, 2025
Excellent story
The authors did an awesome job with the world building and the overall story. It has the right level of grit for the setting and the romance fits well.
The authors did an awesome job with the world building and the overall story. It has the right level of grit for the setting and the romance fits well.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews