The Janus Cycle
The Janus Cycle can best be described as gritty and surreal urban fantasy.
Janus is a nightclub. But it’s not merely a location, it’s virtually a character in its own right. On the surface it appears to be a subcultural hub where the strange and disillusioned, who feel alienated and oppressed by society, can escape to be free from convention. Underneath that façade is a surreal space in time where the very foundations of reality can be twisted and distorted. But the special, unique, vibe of Janus is hijacked by a bandwagon of people who choose to conform to alternative lifestyles simply because it has become fashionable to be ‘different’ and this causes many of its original occupants to feel lost and disenchanted.
The story unfolds through the eyes of eight narrators, each with their own perspective and their own personal journey. A story in which the nightclub itself goes on a journey. But throughout, one strange girl briefly appears and reappears, warning the narrators that their individual journeys are going to collide in a cataclysmic event. Is she just another one of the nightclub’s denizens, a cynical mischief-maker out to create havoc or a time-traveller trying to prevent an impending disaster?
“Dark, sexy, touching and unexpectedly funny”
Joanne Hall
“urban fantasy/magical realism pieces which dial down the novums and instead focus on the human condition[…] in Tej Turner we have a writer looking at modern society and using a little fantasy and magic to make us see it in a different light“
Allen Stroud
“an intriguing and insightful speculative fiction novel that is in equal parts literary fiction, speculative fiction and surrealism“
RisingShadow
Reviews for The Janus Cycle
“full five stars for its mesmerizing story and bold contents. It was a pleasure to read this novel”
Risingshadow
“I really loved this book and can highly recommend it to fantasy lovers”
Our Book Reviews Online
“Definitely recommended.“
Humanity’s Darker Side
“truly magical”
Allen Stroud
“I truly enjoyed this enticing and intriguing little collection”
S Naomi Scott
“a hugely impressive debut”
Runalong The Shelves
Available on all digital formats including Kobo, Apple iBook, Google Play, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon Kindle (UK, US, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Spain, France, India, Italy, Netherlands, Japan, Mexico),
Paperback Version
Also can be ordered from local bookstores.
Dinnusos Rises
Set in the same urban landscape as Tej’s debut novel The Janus Cycle, and featuring some of the same characters along with new voices, Dinnusos Rises is both a sequel and standalone novel.
The vibe has soured somewhat after a violent clash in the Janus nightclub a few months ago, and since then Neal has opened a new establishment called ‘Dinnusos’.
Located on a derelict and forgotten side of town, it is not the sort of place you stumble upon by accident, but over time it enchants people, and soon becomes a nucleus for urban bohemians and a refuge for the city’s lost souls. Rumour has it that it was once a grand hotel, many years ago, but no one is quite sure. Whilst mingling in the bar downstairs you might find yourself in the company of poets, dreamers, outsiders, and all manner of misfits and rebels. And if you’re daring enough to explore its ghostly halls, there’s a whole labyrinth of rooms on the upper floors to get lost in…
Now it seems that not just Neal’s clientele, but the entire population of the city, begin to go crazy when beings, once thought mythological, enter the mortal realm to stir chaos as they sow the seeds of militancy.
Eight characters. Most of them friends, some of them strangers. Each with their own story to tell. All of them destined to cross paths in a surreal sequence of events which will change them forever.
“Turner’s prose is strong, but his greatest strength as a writer is in blending real world issues with fantastical elements. His character’s are vivid, original and interesting. His understanding of the issues facing young people in contemporary society is insinctive and sensitive.”
Allen Stroud
“vibrant and intriguingly gritty, Dinnusos Rises is one of the most fascinating novels of the year […] Its sophisticatedly complex story and colourful characters will mesmerise readers”
RisingShadow
Reviews for Dinnusos Rises
“Excellent and thought-provoking speculative fiction – highly recommended!”
Risingshadow
“well-edited, well written, has fleshed out characters, and presents current issues in a package filled with action and adventure.“
Humanity’s Darker Side
“Turner manages to breathe new life into a variation of a Pied Piper narrative”
Allen Stroud
“I marvel at how neatly Turner’s plotting comes together.”
Runalong The Shelves
Available on all digital formats including Kobo, Apple iBook, GooglePlay, Barnes & Noble, and Amazon Kindle (UK, US, Canada, Australia, Brazil, Germany, Spain, France, India, Italy, Netherlands, Japan, Mexico)
Paperback Version
Also can be ordered from local bookstores.
Tej Turner 