Books Archive - M. C. Lee Books

Unexpected Heroes: The Complete Series

Title: Unexpected Heroes: The Complete Series
Series: Unexpected Heroes
Release Date: 01/24/2023
Genre: YA secondary world fantasy
ISBN13: 978-1-950230-31-0

Four teens unite to save their world.
When their world is threatened by feuding gods, four strangers forge an unlikely alliance. Only the combined talents of a winged acrobat, a mermaid, a shapeshifter, & a fire mage can prevent the destruction of their world. Adventure, romance, & danger await!

Add on Goodreads
Buy the Book: Direct from author, Kobo (affiliate link), Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Other retailers & library distributers

Also in this series:

The Coming of the Fae

Title: The Coming of the Fae
Series: The Return of the Fae #1
Release Date: 09/26/23
Genre: YA contemporary fantasy
ISBN13: 978-1-950230-32-7

What if the fae were real?
The fae are fleeing their dying world, taking a magic-propelled spaceship toward the vision of a blue planet. Gil is excited they have almost reached their new home and the promise of equality for all races. But when an accident injures the king, he must prevent murderous lords from forcing the commoners back into serfdom.
What if they are returning?
Alexandria wants a happy family, but Dad’s PTSD is tearing them apart. No wish on a star can solve this problem, but she continues to watch the night sky. Now a new object in the heavens catches her attention—and Dad’s. NASA says it’s an asteroid; Dad is convinced it’s invading aliens. His paranoia might destroy their family.
But the truth might be even worse...
Contemporary YA fantasy with a dash of sci fi & mythology, from the author of Unexpected Heroes.

Add on Goodreads
Buy the Book: Direct from author, Kobo (affiliate link), Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Other retailers & library distributers

Also in this series:

Spotting the Fae

Title: Spotting the Fae
Series: The Return of the Fae #0.5
Release Date: 07/2023
Genre: YA contemporary fantasy

Zak is considered too young to navigate the spaceship, even though he's the best among the fae.
On Earth, Gaby loves math and helping her astronomer Mama with her data. She doesn't like her picky French grandmother who just moved in with her.
When Mama spots a new asteroid heading toward Earth...
Everything will change.

Also in this series:

The Escape of the Fae

Title: The Escape of the Fae
Series: The Return of the Fae
Release Date: 07/2023
Genre: YA secondary world fantasy

Forty light years from Earth, the seven fae worlds are being destroyed.
Their only hope is a new invention that will let them travel among the stars to reach a distant world seen only in a vision.
But can they assemble a fleet in time to escape?

Also in this series:

The Peril of the Fae

Title: The Peril of the Fae
Series: The Return of the Fae #2
Release Date: 05/21/24
Genre: YA contemporary fantasy
ISBN13: 978-1-950230-36-5

The fae are real…
Gil and his sister escaped their spaceship with two goals: save her from murdering lords, and forge an alliance with Earth before the same lords try to conquer it. The fae have magic, while Earth has tech and greater numbers. But in a battle, which would win?
And they are here…
Alexandria and her family are fleeing her parents' toxic divorce, seeking peace and safety. But when they accidentally make first contact with the refugees, their troubles suddenly become global. If they can’t make a treaty, the fae will attack Earth, and both sides might die.
But Earth doesn’t even believe in the fae…
Contemporary YA fantasy with a dash of sci fi & mythology, from the author of Unexpected Heroes.

Add on Goodreads
Buy the Book: Direct from author, Kobo (affiliate link), Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Other retailers & library distributers

Also in this series:

Wind of Choice

Title: Wind of Choice
Series: Unexpected Heroes #1
Release Date: 23 January, 2019
Genre: YA secondary world fantasy
Pages: 280
ISBN13: 978-1-950230-00-6

Desperate to escape his fate…
…winged Ahjin strikes a bargain with his god.
But is his freedom worth the cost?
All sixteen-year-old Ahjin wants is to be a skydancer, but the god he doesn’t believe in has other plans. Assigned to be a priest, he runs away before his initiation.
But when his god is kidnapped and asks for help, Ahjin sees an opportunity for blackmail. In exchange for his own freedom, he’ll find and rescue the god from the mysterious force that’s somehow powerful enough to restrain the deity.
How hard could it be?
What Ahjin doesn’t know is that all the gods have disappeared. Suddenly, there’s more at stake than his own dreams. Without the gods’ care, the elements will destroy the world.
Aided by the gilled islander, fire mage, and shapeshifting healer he meets on the way, Ahjin races against escalating disasters. But can he save the world from shattering?
Wind of Choice is an enchanted coming-of-age adventure full of twists, turns, humor, unexpected friendships, danger and heroism. Get your copy today.
“Fantasy at its finest. Marty C. Lee combines richly drawn characters, timely humor, & intense danger in an epic adventure that will keep readers captivated.” –Liz McCraine, author of Beyond the Sands

“Fantasy at its finest. Marty C. Lee combines richly drawn characters, timely humor, & intense danger in an epic adventure that will keep readers captivated.” –Liz McCraine, author of Beyond the Sands

Add on Goodreads
Buy the Book: Direct from author, Kobo (affiliate link), Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Other retailers & library distributers, Regular print, Large print, Hardcover

Also in this series:

Seed of War

Title: Seed of War
Series: Unexpected Heroes #2
Release Date: 24 September, 2019
Genre: YA secondary world fantasy
Pages: 280
ISBN13: 978-1-950230-04-4

Lies, suspicion, and a desperate trek.
In a world where no race trusts another, the shapeshifting jaguar Ludik became friends with the strangers who helped him save the world from feuding gods. Now a gilled translator, a fire mage, and the winged messenger of the Gods have come to his home for his long-delayed wedding.
But before Ludik and his beloved can pledge their love, an accidental death threatens their happiness. Bad enough that a Fox trespassed into Cat territory, worse that he picked a fight with a bigger Leopard, but the true disaster is the witness who is running home to report that the Cats murdered his kin.
In a mad race to keep the misguided Dog from starting a civil war, Ludik must follow the trail through hostile territory and turn a fierce Wolf into an ally. If he can’t root out the seeds of war before they sprout, how will he preserve the life of the woman he adores?
Seed of War is the 2nd novel in the Unexpected Heroes series, a secondary world fantasy with shifters, mermaids, and winged people. If you enjoy mystery, danger, and justice, you'll love Seed of War.

If you want an adventure with lots of fun banter and laugh-out-loud situations, or if you want a journey that will make you cry and think deeply about forgiveness, read Seed of War. – M. L. Farb, author of The King’s Trial

Wave of Dreams

Title: Wave of Dreams
Series: Unexpected Heroes #3
Release Date: 29 May, 2020
Genre: YA secondary world fantasy
Pages: 282
ISBN13: 978-1-950230-08-2

A treasure map could change her life or lead to her death.
For a sixteen-year-old mermaid, the best part of becoming an adult is the party. Even though Nia must host it on land for the sake of her gill-less friends, she can flirt with all the cute boys.
But her mom’s gift is unexpected— an old map and the news her long-lost dad disappeared in the Dragon Isles.
With her friends and a charming suitor, Nia follows her missing dad’s trail on an adventure to the supposedly cursed islands. Will she find love and discover her dad’s fate?
Maybe. Unless the curse is real.
Romance and danger swirl with the tide, and undercurrents could sweep her away.

Wave of Dreams is the 3rd novel in the Unexpected Heroes series, a secondary world fantasy with shifters, mermaids, and winged people. If you enjoy adventure, pirates, and sweet romance, you'll love Wave of Dreams.

Marty C. Lee does an amazing job in Wave of Dreams of building a unique fantasy world and pulling you right into it. I was blown away by the detail that went into her writing. The world really comes alive. —Laura M. Drake, author of Unexpected Magic

A thrill to read… plenty of surprises to keep me on the edge of my seat. A real page-turner from start to finish! — R. L. Perez, author of the Timecaster Chronicles

Spark of Intrigue

Title: Spark of Intrigue
Series: Unexpected Heroes #4
Release Date: 4 January, 2021
Genre: YA secondary world fantasy
Pages: 280
ISBN13: 978-1-950230-14-3

Assassins, kidnappers, and conspiracies.
In the last two years, Zefra helped defeat a band of pirates, avert a war, and even rescue the gods. What *can’t the fire mage do?
Get her dream job as a guide and explorer.
Though her deeds are famous, no one believes the legends are about a scrawny, sixteen-year-old girl. With no prospects for work, Zefra is on the edge of starvation.
After someone tries to kidnap her, and assassins and poison menace her friends, they leave to try their luck in another city, safe from threats.
But danger follows them...

Spark of Intrigue is the 4th novel in the Unexpected Heroes series, a secondary world fantasy with shifters, mermaids, and winged people. If you enjoy conspiracies, gods, and shapeshifting spies, you'll love Spark of Intrigue.

Horses, danger, adventure, romance. This is definitely my kind of read.

—Liz McCraine, author of The Kingdom of Aggadorn series

Tales of Kaiatan

Title: Tales of Kaiatan
Series: Unexpected Heroes #5
Release Date: 4 May, 2021
Genre: YA secondary world fantasy
Pages: 342
ISBN13: 978-1-950230-18-1

From the world of Unexpected Heroes, enjoy backstories to the novels, as well as prequels, sequels, and side quests. Some characters you will recognize, and some are new. Some are minor characters who insisted on telling their own story. All are waiting for you to join them in their adventures, escapes, romances, challenges, joys, dangers, friendships, and secrets…
Eighteen stories of pirates and mermaids, shifters and winged people, rewards and revenge, romance and careers, lost family and found friends.

Winds: Prejudice against a new priest might send him home in shame.
Brother: Her brother is doomed to suffer unless she can help him escape.
Negotiations: A trade agreement leads to love, but can it lead to marriage?
Friends: Can their friendship last, or will his arrogant dad force them apart?
Resef’s Hammer: To become an adult, he must survive the desert for a month.
Visitors: His first guests are more of a headache than he expected.
Sayaka: She must find a new role for her clan among the nations.
Trefoil: Desperate for a new home, what will it cost them?
Healing: He must persevere in a foreign school to perfect his healing skills.
Captured: A fishing crew discovers a bigger danger than storms at sea.
Marathon: Can she win a cross-country horse race without her brother?
Pirates: Trapped for months, can the prisoners finally escape?
Together: She's not sure how she feels about her parents getting married.
Scorpions: Monsters provide the fastest way home—but only for the brave.
Lapwing: Can they survive the desert—and drag a wanted criminal with them?
Home: After 25 years of exile, he might finally have a chance to go home.
Wedding: With disaster & diplomacy finally over, today they finally marry.
Patience: A career girl must choose between her dreams and her suitor.
(For a free sneak peek, read Unexpected Tales, which features four of the stories from this collection.)