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The Dire Deeds (The Guild of Ornamental Hermits Book 1) Kindle Edition

by A. R. Marsh (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 20 ratings
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Oyster Olson—a shy, private, transgender blues musician living peacefully in an intentional community, Hermitville for short, on Hawai’i Island—always knew he was different. But only the magical Book of Moons, thrust upon him by the community’s founder shortly before her death, can reveal just how different he is! And who his real parents are!

Oyster, burdened by this secret, soon shares the book with his unrequited crush, burlesque artiste Babe Bump (she/her), and their best friend, drag performer Tomma Bedlam (ze/zir). The three of them grow closer (and closer!) as they explore the book’s ever-changing number of pages and learn of its origin as the grimoire of an ancient English mystery school, The Guild of Ornamental Hermits.

The Book of Moons brings love, death, Elves, unsuspected family ties, and cosmic cracks in Time/Space, just as a greedy real-estate developer schemes to convert funky Hermitville into a posh eco-resort. Even worse, relentless interdimensional foes, pouring through cosmic cracks, target Hermitville and all life in the Hawaiian archipelago.

Even with ten dedicated Elven mentors and a crash course in Elven magic, will Oyster, Babe, Tomma, and the other residents of Hermitville be able to transform themselves in time from mere misfits and musicians into magicians powerful enough to join the Elves in halting the impending chaos and destruction? Will they all go down in defeat and the world with them, humans and elves alike?
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  1. Book 1 of 3
    The Guild of Ornamental Hermits
  2. Print length
    381 pages
  3. Language
    English
  4. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  5. Publication date
    August 1, 2022
  6. File size
    3440 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0B55BGY3S
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (August 1, 2022)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 1, 2022
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3440 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 381 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ B0B92KGSHM
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.9 4.9 out of 5 stars 20 ratings

About the author

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A. R. Marsh

A. R. Marsh

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Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

As a fantasy novelist, A.R. Marsh enjoys blending humor, magical realism, urban fantasy, whimsy, satire, absurd situations, and queer and paranormal relationships.

The Dire Deeds, Marsh's first book in the Guild of Ornamental Hermits series, begins a rollicking, sprawling epic serving magic realness and urban fantasy in a quirky tale of queer mid-life magic, set in the lush jungles of rural Hawai’i. It’s a literary “thirst trap” of perilous quests, paranormal romances, outrageous predicaments, and endearing, whimsical characters worthy of your undying admiration and fan fiction.

The second book in the series, The Witching Work, is scheduled for publication in mid-March, 2023. It continues the adventures begun in Hawaiʻi, with the Hermits having to take a crash course in Elven magic to save Hawaiʻi and all humanity from the human and preternatural foes who still oppose them.

Marsh has also published a seasonal short story, A Guild of Ornamental Hermits Solstice.

Non-fiction: As a clinical sexologist and hypnotist, ze also writes about these topics. See the author page for Amy R. Marsh.

Marsh, who goes by the chosen name of Avnas in zir personal life, lives in Oregon with seven cats. Ze enjoys witchery and other consuming special interests. Zir "Hermits of Hermitville"--and the Elves who love them--form an important part of zir "chosen family." Ze hopes you adore these characters as much as ze does.

Visit https://guild-of-ornamental-hermits.com for audible samples, character background, and more. And visit patreon.com/ARMarshWriter for charter membership in The Guild of Ornamental Hermits.

Customer reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars
4.9 out of 5
20 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Sandy Benson, author-My Mother's Keeper: One Family's Journey Through Dementia
5.0 out of 5 stars Caught me by surprise!
Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2022
Verified Purchase
The Dire Deeds is an amazing fantasy and I thoroughly enjoyed it--that's a huge compliment coming from someone who has never been a fantasy fan. The author is a talented writer and understands how to keep the reader engaged. The characters are intelligently conceived and diverse, to say the least. The story is well-constructed and never drags. I loved the Hawaiian backdrop, both the culture and the scenery. The vivid descriptions made me feel as if I was there in person, witnessing some very odd happenings in paradise. Granted, I'm a stodgy old dinosaur, so I consider it to be a good thing when I have an opportunity such as this to travel out of my comfort zone and broaden my horizons. This book exposed me to some unfamiliar terms and concepts, primarily concerning gender, yet it wasn't offensive or 'in your face.' I appreciate that the author doesn't use incessant sex and excessive profanity in lieu of telling a good tale. The book definitely stands on its own merits and needs no props or excuses. It is genuinely a good read. Of course, as good stories do, it left me hanging at the end. I look forward to finding out what happens next in the next book in the series.
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Gwynn O'Gara
5.0 out of 5 stars Add A.M. Marsh to the List of World-Builders
Reviewed in the United States on September 9, 2022
Verified Purchase
I’ve never read a queer-friendly urban fantasy before but I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It’s a smart, inventive and fun. And it’s full of wonders.

The humor, characters and insights into popular and non-mainstream cultures not only held my attention, but richly rewarded it. Sexuality is handled with a light touch and playfulness abounds. The characters, except for the malevolent ones, are likeable and often lovable. Marsh is such a good writer that I found myself reading just to find out zir take on the unfolding action. Danger and evil exist, but as in an English cozy, the mayhem occurs offstage.

Marsh has described the book as a “coming of aging” tale, and the mostly middle-aged and beyond characters are lively, game and caring. They know themselves and enjoy the lives they’ve invented, and they're ready to defend their community. It’s a pleasure being among them, if only for the length of a book. And more books are coming!
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arielle
5.0 out of 5 stars A Magical Journey of Delightful Characters Through a Fantastical World
Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2023
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I am always drawn into stories by the characters who inhabit the pages, and this one reeled me right in! Not only does Amy do a phenomenal job at building a world you don’t want to leave, but also creates such delightfully intriguing characters. The Dire Deeds is socially relevant, fun, fantastical, and is woven together nicely. Marsh is an exceptional story teller, and I look forward to reading more by this author!
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderfully engaging
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2023
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This book grabbed me from the beginning and never let go. The plot was well thought out, the story moved along and the characters were engaging. I'm looking forward to the next one. Note that if non-conforming gender identities bother you this would probably not be your book.
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Afan
4.0 out of 5 stars Recommended
Reviewed in the United States on April 8, 2023
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Fun, compellingly readable fantasy with a large, mostly queer cast of endearing heroes and hissable villains, vividly rooted in its Hawaiian setting. Could have used the services of a professional editor, which it evidently lacked. But I'm eager to read the next in the series.
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Megan Rose
5.0 out of 5 stars A delightful romp
Reviewed in the United States on February 15, 2023
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Filled with whimsical imagination, more than once I found myself wondering, “Where do xey come up with all these ideas?” Dimension-portaling sentient peach pits? A giant amorous salamander? Elves obsessed with Burning Man clown culture? This book runs the gamut of the strange and marvelous. Part love-story, part critical gender theory, I highly recommend getting swept up in the Guild of Ornamental Hermits. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your way into another dimension!
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M.Christian
5.0 out of 5 stars AMAZING BOOK AMAZING AUTHOR HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2022
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Some books are merely written, then there are books that MUST be written because they are just what the world needs, and A. R. Marsh's The Dire Deeds (The Guild of Ornamental Hermits Book 1) is precisely that book but so much more: jam-packed with gloriously spectral, flamboyantly festive rainbow-hued, unabashedly queer characters; penned with unquestionable verve, a thoroughly captivating style, and unquestionable panache; woven into a magical, metaphysical, metaphorical, and meta-fictional epic narrative, this is a book to be loved, written by someone who knows what love is--and how important that is for everyone right now.
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E. Bennett
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow!
Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2022
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Just spent a wonderful week spending time with some wildly colorful, delightfully eccentric, truly fascinating characters… and miss them already. I have never read anything like this. The language is bright and delicious. The characters are unique and, at the same time, very real. Blew me away. A true original. Can’t wait for book two!
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