Book cover of The Cost of True Magic by C.L. Werner on top of a view of Arkham.

The Cost of True Magic

An Arkham Horror Novel

The Cost of True Magic

An Arkham Horror Novel

By C L Werner

Renowned magician Dexter Drake teams up with Marie Lambeau and Machine Gun McGlen to fight rival magicians and ruthless gangs with the alluring power of the Necronomicon in this thrilling adventure full of dark magic and horrific monsters set in the Lovecraftian-inspired world of Arkham Horror.

Magician Dexter Drake is back in Arkham, hunting down sources of real magic. When Dexter signs on at the Top Notch Club – run by the ruthless Six Nails Mob – he discovers his act is yesterday’s news, a new magician has his audience dazzled, and Dexter turns to the Necronomicon to recapture his fame.

Meanwhile, Dexter’s fellow performer Marie Lambeau is spying on the club’s mob owners for the O’Bannion Gang’s Michael McGlen, drawing Dexter into an escalating gang war. As the trio trades secrets and spells, they discover Dexter’s rival wields otherworldly powers, but retaliating with eldritch forces only heats up the competition.

As the Necronomicon’s magic summons monsters from other dimensions and gangs riddle Arkham with bullets, Dexter must choose between all-consuming power and his own humanity.

Arkham Horror

Arkham Horror

It is the height of the Roaring Twenties – a fresh enthusiasm for the arts, science, and exploration of the past have opened doors to a wider world, and beyond… And yet, a dark shadow grows in the city of Arkham. Alien entities known as Ancient Ones lurk in the emptiness beyond space and time, writhing at the thresholds between worlds. Eldritch rituals must be stopped and alien creatures destroyed; before the Ancient Ones make our world their ruined dominion. Only a handful of investigators stand against the horrors threatening to tear this world apart. Will they prevail?

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Publication Details

Page Count: 320pp
Cover Art: David Robert Hovey Genre: Fantasy


Paperback edition

US On Sale Date: October 20, 2026
UK On Sale Date: October 20, 2026
Paperback ISBN: 9781839083839
Paperback Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm


Ebook edition

Global Ebook On Sale Date: October 20, 2026
ebook ISBN: 9781839083822

About the Author


C L WERNER is a voracious reader and prolific author from Phoenix, Arizona. His many novels and short stories span the genres of fantasy and horror and he has written for Warhammer Age of Sigmar and Old World, Warhammer 40,000, Warmachine’s Iron Kingdoms, and Mantic’s Kings of War. For Aconyte, he is the author of Marvel Legends of Asgard: Sword of Surtur and Three Swords, as well as the Zombicide: Black Plague trilogy, Age of the Undead and Isle of the Undead.

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Book cover of The Cost of True Magic by C.L. Werner showing magician Dexter Drake casting a spell.

Global Ebook On Sale: October 20, 2026
US Paperback On Sale: October 20, 2026
UK Paperback On Sale: October 20, 2026

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Book cover of The Cost of True Magic by C.L. Werner showing magician Dexter Drake casting a spell.