Applied Leverage (The Origin Key)

A little bit of power can get you into a lot of trouble.

Connor Rourke is one of the little people, supernaturally speaking: a psionic in a world of mages. He's happy being the top-okay, just about the only-supernatural locksmith in the Boston area. He doesn't aspire to adventure or heroism, but he's about to get pulled in whether he likes it or not (spoiler: he doesn't).

When he stumbles across a secret that was never meant to be known, he gets in trouble with forces far beyond him. Mixed up in a conflict between factions he can't match or understand, he'll have to find a way to survive for himself and those he loves. Along the way, Connor will learn secrets hidden for centuries, face and defeat threats to his life, and ultimately tackle an enemy who could annihilate him with a thought.

Applied Leverage is a new urban fantasy novel set in an innovative world full of action and vivid characters. For fans of the genre, this is a must-read. Recipient of a Book Excellence Award from the Chrysalis BREW Project, May 2025.

In addition to being a fantasy author, Aaron Sher is also a software engineer, a martial artist, a pretty decent cook, a very (very) amateur blacksmith and bladesmith, and-when called upon to serve-expert furniture for his cats. Not necessarily in that order. He lives in Pittsburgh, PA in the United States with his wife and a varying but always-extravagant number of cats, fish, plants, and miscellaneous wildlife.