Addicted to YA discussion

Hey Everyone, I wanted to introduce you to my new novel The Shadow of the Gauntlet It is the first novel in the Scargen series and promises to be an epic SciFi/Fantasy adventure. Here’s a synopsis:

On the eve of his graduation from New Salem High, Thomas Scargen awakens from an all-too-real nightmare depicting his father’s mysterious disappearance. Before the boy can regain his composure and slack back into his familiar world of artifs and hologames, Thomas is torn away from his home and hastily ushered into a secret world of magic. He quickly begins to discover his magical potential and grasp his manifesting abilities, but he lacks perhaps the most important component: control.
Yareli Chula, Spirit Summoner and member of The Council of Mages, has been dispatched to recover the boy and bring him to The Council. There he can find the discipline he needs and the answers he seeks, but getting him there alive will be anything but easy. Yareli is not the only one searching for the Scargen boy.

Along his journey, Thomas will ride atop a teleport dragon, duel a High Demon of the Depths, run with the Lions of Sirati, outfox a spirit ghost, race a vampire, and quote Shakespeare with a whiskey-swilling werewolf—all in the hope of discovering the truth about his father.

This quest will be fraught with darkness and a malevolence far more unyielding than anything Thomas has come across in his fantasy books. Armed with his newly realized powers and his unlikely companions, Thomas Scargen will have to face this pervasive evil without being entirely consumed by The Shadow of the Gauntlet.

You can read an excerpt right here for The Shadow of the Gauntlet I know you’re going to love it, but don’t take my word for it.

What People Are Saying . . .

“The Shadow of the Gauntlet is an action packed, heartwarming, adventure story. Author Casey Caracciolo instantly pulls the reader in and takes them on a journey to meet a most amazing cast of characters. Each of Thomas’s new friends, and there are a lot of them, were expertly crafted. It’s rare to find an author who will take the time to thoroughly develop the supporting casts. I’m so glad that Caracciolo decided to invest the time and energy to do this, because it really brought the book to life. Fans of the Harry Potter and Tiger’s Curse series will really enjoy this book. Between the mythology, future gadgets and new friends you’ll meet while reading The Shadow of the Gauntlet, you’ll probably never want to leave the world that Caracciolo has created.” -Compulsion Reads Endorsed Book

“Have you ever read a book that reminds you of that joy you had watching Saturday morning cartoons where the heroes would always save the day in the coolest ways possible? If your answer is no, I would highly suggest ordering The Shadow of the Gauntlet by Casey Caracciolo (trust me on this, you’re going to be happy once that geeky adventurous feeling flows through your veins again). It’s the first book in what will hopefully become a great Sci-Fi/Fantasy series entitled Scargen. A series that includes robots, vampires, dragons, werewolves, samurais, magicians, technopaths, talking animals, and much much more.”
–Allgeektome.net July 2013 Book of the Month

Some of the Amazon Reader Reviews

“I am very impressed with the way Casey Caracciolo seamlessly pulled together so many elements of geekdom and still managed to make the book accessible to the normies. I have never been more impressed by a new up and coming author. If you like magic, sci-fi, cyber punk, epic anime-esque battles, or just a little bit of one of these, this book is for you. I'm eagerly awaiting anything Scargen.”

“If fantasy and science fiction met when they were each young, hot and single; spent the night together and that night resulted in a love child, that love child would be Casey Caracciolo's The Shadow of the Gauntlet. Richly textured storytelling and thoughtfully developed characters that are both engaging and captivating. Shadow blends the best elements of fantasy and science-fiction writing and creates a unique, hybrid fiction that will appeal to myriad readers. It lays the foundation for what promises to be a thrilling ride for everyone who chooses to get on board.”

“The balancing act for many modern Fantasy/Sci-Fi writers often comes down to - keeping the familiar flavor that makes the genre relevant for its readers, while also establishing ones own unique mythos. The Shadow of the Gauntlet walks this line perfectly, combining elements of magic, science fiction, and even history for what amounts to a very enjoyable read.”

“Caracciolo cleverly weaves historical fact and cultural mythology into his tale in a way that draws the reader in.”


“I haven't read a book like this since Douglas Adams' Hitchhiker's Guide. Basically, don't come into this book with any pre-conceived notions. Dragons aren't just dragons, spirits aren't spirits, and the characters are not what you'd expect. And I l love the book for it. It's new! It's not your the same old stereotypical fantasy trope.”

Some of the Goodreads Reader Reviews

“Every character has layers of good and bad which allow the reader to not only understand the "bad guys" but empathize with them at times. It goes beyond a typical fantasy story, causing the reader to think deeper about morals and what really is good and evil. Caracciolo's imagination is something to marvel at as you travel the world with Thomas and his motley, magical and mythical crew.”

“Hard to believe that a story with dragons, vampires, robots, werewolves (and many more creations of Caracciolo's own mind) could work together, but they sure do. I must admit, this guy knows how to tell a story. It made me laugh, made me sit whiteknuckled on the edge of my seat during bad@*^ mage battle scenes, it pulled on the heartstrings a bit (didn't see that coming) and it takes you out of this world into a killer imaginary world. It's everything a fantasy story should be. Stoked for the next one!”

“Amazing, I didn't expect much of this book, I mean magic and tech, teleporting dragons and robots fighting with spirits, trolls, and mages? It seemed like too much to pull off and still create a good story, but Casey Caracciolo brings it together! This man turned the skeptic into the believer. This is a fantasy epic worthy of any reader's attention.”

For more information, reviews, check out the blog, or see some character drawings check out www.scargen.com

Thanks everyone and I hope you love reading this as much as I loved writing it.