books


Hardback and eBook available April 2015 where all fine books are sold.

       Draken vae Khellian, bastard cousin of the Monoean King, had risen far from his ignominious origins, becoming both a Bowrank Commander and a member of the Crown's Black Guard. But when cursed black magic took his wife and his honor away, he fought past his own despair and grief, and carved out a new life in Akrasia. His bloody, unlikely path, chronicled in "Exile: The First Book of the Seven Eyes," led him to a new love, and a throne. 
        Draken has seen too much blood . . . the blood of friends and of enemies alike. Peace is what he wants. Now he must leave his wife and newborn child in an attempt to forge an uneasy peace between the Monoean King and the kingdom of Akrasia. The long bloody shadow of Akrasia's violent past hangs over his efforts like a shroud. But there are other forces at work. Peace is not something everybody wants . . . not even in the seemingly straightforward kingdom of Draken's birth. 
        Factions both known and unknown to Draken vie to undermine his efforts and throw the kingdom into civil war. Forces from his days in the Black Guard prove to be the most enigmatic, and a bloody tide threatens to engulf Draken's every step.


Broadway Book Mall 
The Book Bar             
Tattered Cover               
Amazon                           
Powells  
Boulder Bookstore 




Trade Paperback available July 1, 2014. Available where all fine books are sold.                     Draken vae Khellian, bastard cousin of the Monoean King, had risen far from his ignominious origins, becoming both a Bowrank Commander and a member of the Crown’s Black Guard. But when he is falsely condemned for the grisly murder of his beloved wife, he is banished from the kingdom and cast upon the distant shore of Akrasia, at the arse-end of the world.

Compared to civilized Monoea, Akrasia is a forbidding land of Moonlings, magic, and restless spirits. It is also a realm on the brink of a bloody revolution, as a sinister conspiracy plots against Akrasia’s embattled young queen–and malevolent banes possess the bodies of the living.
Consumed by grief and branded a murderer, Draken lives only to clear his name and avenge his wife’s murder. But the fates may have bigger plans for him. Alone in a strange land, he soon finds himself sharing the bed of an enigmatic necromancer and a half-breed servant girl, while pressed into the service of a foreign queen whose life and land may well depend on the divided loyalties of an exiled warrior.       
The Book Bar             
Tattered Cover               
Amazon                           
Powells  
Baens DRM free eBook
Audible

What I really liked about it, though, and what gives it that four-star rating at the end of the day, is the central relationship between what I thought of as its main characters – Draken and Osias, the necromancer mentioned in that blurb. Under the top crust of battle and rebellion and conspiracy to murder the young queen, there’s that relationship, which grows not so much in leaps and bounds as in much more interesting fits and starts, throughout the book. Draken is distrustful of magic at first, and Osias wields one of the most dangerous types there is (regardless of which fantasy world you’re reading). Confession: I love me a good dose of necromancy on occasion, and Osias makes very interesting use of his…
Over the Effing Rainbow

Necromantic magic, deadly political intrigue, and a reluctant hero torn between his duty to a foreign queen and his desire for revenge... Betsy Dornbusch's EXILE kept me reading into the wee hours of the night, breathless to find out how Draken's story would end. Courtney Schafer, author The Shattered Sigil series

Betsy Dornbusch's Exile is a non-stop adventure with a fascinating world and some terrific magic.  Carol Berg, author of Novels of the Collegia Magica, Lighthouse Duet, Books of the Rai-kirah, Bridge of D'Arnath, and Song of the Beast
             
EXILE does an excellent job of fashioning a kingdom on the brink of implosion, as political, military, and personal factors place increasing pressure on the fragile peace that is already undermined by double agents and malignant magic. It also provides a unique conglomeration of magic, which is practiced mostly either by the enigmatic Moonlings or a race known as the Mance, who are in turns alluring and disturbing in their methods and manners. Josh Vogt examiner.com

From the first line ("Cut her throat.  His own wife."), readers of Betsy Dornbusch's Exile know they are in for a dramatic and exciting tale.... Any reader who joins her for the ride will be glad they did. Lesley Smith

Draken is an interesting character, and the secondary characters are equally interesting. The plot moves along nicely, and the story is engaging. I enjoyed the setting and found the author’s world building commendable. Lori Reads

...it's a good, exciting and entertaining fantasy novel for adults, because it's something a bit different. I think that readers who get caught up in this novel's world will be thrilled to read what happens to Draken, because the story is a nice combination of familiar elements and a touch of originality and freshness. It's an excellent summer read.  Rising Shadow


It may not have been perfect, but it was still quite good, and I'd be interesting in continuing with Draken's story if given half a chance. (And not just because I have a slightly unhealthy obsession with Osias. Seriously, he's probably the most fascinating character in the whole book!) Bibliotropic




*

This book goes out of print January 1, 2015.

Trade Paperback and eBook









Archive of Fire is rich in plot and double-dealing characters. Denver Post


It is gripping, compelling, gritty urban fantasy with immaculate character development and a complicated, constantly evolving plot.
GraveTells Reviews


Archive of Fire is Supernatural on steroids. 
Aaron Michael Ritchey


Twins Aidan and Kaelin didn’t realize until they got to university that most guys don’t learn five ways to kill a man by the age of fourteen. Still, since their estranged father descends from the demon Asmodai, it's probably worth knowing how to defend themselves. But as years pass and threat never materializes, the twins suppose their mom is just paranoid - until she disappears. Their father tells them Asmodai has taken possession of their mother in order to infiltrate Sentinel, a treacherous coalition of demidemon rebels determined to protect humankind from the demon legions. The twins form a grudging alliance with Sentinel to rescue her, but when Asmodai murders their father to incite war, Sentinel starts to implode and Aidan and Kaelin must battle an enemy who wears their mother’s face.

More Praise for ARCHIVE OF FIRE

A story rich with intrigue, treachery, and vengeance. Urban fantasy should always be this dark and juicy.
Mario Acevedo, author of WEREWOLF SMACKDOWN

Dornbusch tells a deliciously taut tale of fragile alliances and backstabbing. What did you expect from a cast full of demons?
Warren Hammond, author of KOP KILLER

Archive of Fire is a great debut novel from a talented writer. Dornbusch has crafted a superb thriller blending the best elements of paranormal and fantasy into a story that will appeal to readers of all genres. I loved it.
Jeanne Stein, author of the ANNA STRONG CHRONICLES


From the first line to the very last, I was engaged in the action, dialogue, and hunky main characters. I had not intended to read the novel in one sitting, but once I started it, the story filled my entire Saturday, leaving me breathless and wanting to read more when the final lines were written.  Donna Hole, writer and reviewer


It’s an action packed read that keeps you guessing, never truly sure who the good guys are. Betsy does an amazing job of making us believe in and care about her characters, even as we watch from the sidelines, waiting for the next twisted reveal. Bree Ervin, Writer and Publicist 

*




For Kindle

For Nook