
Intrepid seafarers seeking glory and gold need look no further than the vast and untamed island chain known as the Shackles. Throughout these isles, undead cyclopes guard eons-old treasure vaults, lycanthropic pirates maraud the waterways, and cannibalistic natives sacrifice trespassers to their otherworldly god-queen. On the treacherous seas surrounding the Shackles, a bold sailor may even rise to become one of the realm’s infamous Free Captains, second only to the bloodthirsty Hurricane King himself—though the rapacious pirates who raid the archipelago’s ports ensure that only the cunning and swift survive for long. Isles of the Shackles provides a comprehensive overview of the verdant islands that make up this region, complete with buried treasure, dastardly corsairs, and ominous ruins of a fallen empire. Inside this 64-page book, you will find:
- An expansive overview of the six civilized regions of the Shackles, from the mainland’s sprawling seaside metropolis of Port Peril to the sahuagin-plagued shores of Shark Island, complete with details on histories, notable rulers and personalities, and gazetteers of each region’s varied locales.
- Detailed entries on more than 20 of the Shackles’ most dangerous and mysterious islands and islets, each with numerous plot hooks, helpful or treacherous NPCs, and unique locations for brave adventurers to discover and explore. Stat blocks for each island, detailing the region’s notable settlements and denizens, as well as possible plunder and resources, such as hidden harbors and shipwrecks.
- A huge bestiary of new monsters and villains that roam the islands of the Shackles and the high seas around them, including the three-headed lusca, undead pirates and ghost captains, and the degenerate kuru cannibals of the Blood Queen. Stat blocks for a wide range of seafaring NPCs, from humble deckhands and smugglers to pirate captains and shipboard sorcerers. Cover art by Dan Scott
Author

Mike was born in Detroit and raised in Dearborn, Michigan, oldest of three boys, the son of a firefighter and homemaker. He has practiced as a psychotherapist for over 25 years. He lives in Westfield, Indiana with his wife Tracy, son Leo, and dog Neko. Mike began freelancing for Paizo Publishing’s Pathfinder Roleplaying Game in 2010. He released his first novel, Aching God, in 2018. Its sequel, Sin Eater, followed in 2019. Idols Fall, released in 2021, is his third novel and completes the Iconoclasts trilogy. He is at work on his next novel, set in the same world, more than 200 years after the events of Iconoclasts. It is tentatively entitled West of the World and slated for a 2023 release. Indie authors depend on word of mouth. If you enjoyed this novel and its predecessors, make the howling hellscapes that are Twitter, Reddit, and Facebook a force for good and chat them up. And as always—always—make sure to post ratings and/or reviews at Amazon, Goodreads, r/Fantasy, Audible, or on that SFF review blog you keep telling everyone you’re going to start. Peace, love, and kindness to all.