But for Aedan, a scruffy young adventurer with veins full of fire and a head full of ideas, this officer is not what he seems. The events that follow propel Aedan on a journey that only the foolhardy or desperate would risk, leading him to the gates of the nation’s royal academy – a whole world of secrets in itself. But this is only the beginning of his discoveries. Something is stirring in the land, something more ominous than the rising threat of hostile nations. Fearful travellers whisper of an ancient power breathing over Thirna, changing it, waking it. In the very heart of these stirrings, Aedan encounters that which defies belief, leaving him speechless with terror – and wonder.

    R. Martin as “a fresh, original, and engrossing tale by a bright new voice in the fantasy genre,” The Lies of Locke Lamora introduced one of the most compelling protagonists in years and established Scott Lynch as a household name. Years later, the Gentleman Bastard series continues to shine with Lynch’s signature blend of swashbuckling adventure, sparkling wit, and seemingly impossible heists. It’s all here in this rollicking eBook bundle, which collects the first three volumes of Lynch’s one-of-a-kind series:  THE LIES OF LOCKE LAMORARED SEAS UNDER RED SKIESTHE REPUBLIC OF THIEVES  An orphan’s life is harsh—and often short—in the mysterious island city of Camorr. But young Locke Lamora dodges death and slavery, becoming a thief under the tutelage of a gifted con artist. As leader of the band of light-fingered brothers known as the Gentleman Bastards, Locke is soon infamous, fooling even the underworld’s most feared ruler. But in the shadows lurks someone still more ambitious and deadly. Faced with a bloody coup that threatens to destroy everyone and everything that holds meaning in his mercenary life, Locke vows to beat the enemy at his own brutal game—or die trying.

    Those who live in this world are faced with two choices: live an ordinary life or become an adventurer and seek the extraordinary. In the underground city of Saekaj Sovar, a tyrant sits up the throne. For too long, he has ruled the fates of the dark elven people without mercy or challenge. Until now. Terian Lepos, J'anda Aimant and Aisling Nightwind are veterans of the guild Sanctuary who find themselves trapped in darkness of Saekaj, with danger and betrayal lurking around every corner. When the three of them find themselves pitted against forces trying to steer the course of Saekaj Sovar, who will end up triumphant? And who will end up dead?

     BEST SERVED COLD: War may be hell but for Monza Murcatto, the Snake of Talins, the most feared and famous mercenary in Duke Orso's employ, it's a damn good way of making money too. Her victories have made her popular - a shade too popular for her employer's taste. Betrayed, thrown down a mountain and left for dead, Murcatto's reward is a broken body and a burning hunger for vengeance. Whatever the cost, seven men must die. THE HEROES: Over three bloody days of battle, the fate of the North will be decided. But with both sides riddled by intrigues, follies, feuds and petty jealousies, it is unlikely to be the noblest hearts, or even the strongest arms that prevail. Three men. One battle. No Heroes. RED COUNTRY: Shy South hoped to bury her bloody past and ride away smiling, but she'll have to sharpen up some bad old ways to get her family back, and she's not a woman to flinch from what needs doing. She sets off in pursuit off her family's killers with only a pair of oxen and her cowardly old stepfather Lamb for company. But it turns out Lamb's buried a bloody past of his own, and out in the lawless Far Country, the past never stays buried.

    With no understanding of his life’s purpose and armed with masterful weapons mysteriously bequeathed to him by a dead king, the young warrior relentlessly pursues his only lead. A single elite warrior escaped during the battle and may have knowledge of who Rezkin is and who is responsible for the slaughter at the young man’s home. Rezkin must travel across Ashai to find the one man who may hold the clues to his very existence. His last orders, spoken on the lips of his dying Master, were to "Kill with conscience" and "Protect and honor your friends." Living in isolation from the outworld under a strict regimen of training and education, the young warrior has no understanding of a conscience or friends. Determined to adhere to his last orders, Rezkin extends his protection to an unlikely assortment of individuals he meets along the way, often leading to humorous and poignant incidents. As if pursuing an elite warrior across a kingdom, figuring out who he is and why everyone he knows is dead, and attempting to find these so-called friends and protect them is not enough, strange things are happening in the kingdom. New dangers begin to arise that threaten not only Rezkin and his friends, but possibly everyone in Ashai.

    Mankind was nearly eradicated by the seemingly unstoppable beasts, until the gods sent the great hero, Ramrowan, to save them. He united the tribes, gave them magic, and drove the demons into the sea. Ever since the land has belonged to man and the oceans have remained an uncrossable hell, leaving the continent of Lok isolated. It was prophesized that someday the demons would return, and only the descendants of Ramrowan would be able to defeat them. They became the first kings, and all men served those who were their only hope for survival.As centuries passed the descendants of the great hero grew in number and power. They became tyrannical and cruel, and their religion nothing but an excuse for greed. Gods and demons became myth and legend, and the people no longer believed. The castes created to serve the Sons of Ramrowan rose up and destroyed their rulers. All religion was banned and replaced by a code of unflinching law. The surviving royalty and their priests were made casteless, condemned to live as untouchables, and the Age of Law began.Ashok Vadal has been chosen by a powerful ancient weapon to be its bearer. He is a Protector, the elite militant order of roving law enforcers. No one is more merciless in rooting out those who secretly practice the old ways. Everything is black or white, good or evil, until he discovers his entire life is a fraud. Ashok isn’t who he thinks he is, and when he finds himself on the wrong side of the law, the consequences lead to rebellion, war—and destruction.At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management)."Bestselling fantasy author Correia (The Grimnoir Chronicles) casts a compelling spell with this India-influenced series opener...Correia skillfully sets in motion this story of plots within plots, revealing complex, sympathetic characters and black-hearted villains with equal detail and insight. Full of action, intrigue, and wry humor, this exciting series launch promises many more thrills to come."— Publishers Weekly Starred Review"Correia is best known for his action-packed urban fantasies (“Monster Hunter Nation” series) so this non-European–set epic fantasy is a pleasant surprise...Fans who like Correia’s fast-moving style will be pleased with the plethora of action scenes, and epic fantasy readers interested in delving into a new universe should be equally satisfied. A solid choice for admirers of Brent Weeks and Brandon Sanderson’s “Mistborn” series."— Library JournalAbout Son of the Black Sword:"This book has everything I like in fantasy: intense action scenes, evil in horrifying array, good struggling against the darkness, and most of all people—gorgeously flawed human beings faced with horrible moral choices that force them to question and change and grow."—Jim Butcher, creator of the New York Times best-selling Dresden Files“I loved the book, it was great, fast paced, with wonderful characters, and also a lot of wonderful scenes that screamed to be painted.”—Larry Elmore, legendary, award-winning artist, and cover artist for Son of the Black Sword.About the Urban Fantasy of Larry Correia:“[A] no-holds-barred all-out page turner that is part science fiction, part horror, and an absolute blast to read.”—Bookreporter.

    The youngest daughter of the Master of the Wood lived in ramshackle Westwood Hall, in the independently-minded Westwood estate of Sevendor. Her determination to capture a baby falcon and train it wasn’t hampered by the fact that Dara had never climbed a mountain, had never been trained in falconry, or even remotely had permission from her father to do it. Dara wanted the falcon . . . and the only thing in her way was the mountain, an angry mother falcon, and her own fears. But the daring climb up Rundeval and actually capturing the fledgling falcon is just the beginning of her troubles. Actually learning falconry and training the willful bird is a responsibility she had barely considered. Worse, there is trouble afoot in the domain: a new lord has come to rule over Sevendor and all of her people, replacing the corrupt old Sir Erantal. While everyone welcomes the change, the new lord is a wizard: a magelord, the first of his kind in four hundred years: Lord Minalan the Spellmonger. And he’s not alone. He’s brought thousands of oddly-dressed Wilderlanders with him, families escaping the wars in the west. . . . and settling in Sevendor. Within weeks of holding his first court as lord of Sevendor, the wizard's magic begins to cause problems. Magelord Minalan turns Sevendor Castle, the entire mountain of Rundeval, and a good portion of the Westwood –including Dara’s home – into enchanted white stone when a spell goes unexpectedly awry one fateful night. As a result, Dara learns that she, too, may become a mage someday. Soon after she discovers that she can see through her falcon’s eyes and share her thoughts, the talents of a beastmaster, opening up a brilliant new world for her. The folk of the valley have enough to eat for the first time in a generation, there are wizards all over Sevendor, and the castle glows with a magic light at night. The fortunes of the Westwood estate rise. But the Magelord finds foes as well as friends in Sevendor. Though prosperity flows from the Magelord’s benevolent rule, the changes are frightening to some who have lost power since the Magelord came. Outside the Westwood, the other natives of the domain are upset by their magical lord and his strange new people, and there are whispers of rebellion. And outside of the domain, the neighboring lords, urged on by sinister forces, conspire to plunge Sevendor into war – with Dara and her family along with it! What can one girl and her falcon do? When the Magelord leaves on business and his enemies close in on her home, Dara discovers she may hold the answer to saving them all! The fate of the entire domain rests with Dara of Westwood, the girl they’ll call the Hawkmaiden!

    And the last and most amazing volume in the legendary Belgariad series: the story of the queen of truth, love, rage and destiny, Polgara the Sorceress.Here is the full epic story of Belgarath, the great sorcerer learned in the Will and the Word on whom the fate of the world depends. Only Belgarath can tell of those near-forgotten times when Gods still walked the land: he is the Ancient One, the Old Wolf, his God Aldur's first and most-favoured disciple. Using powers learned over the centuries Belgarath himself records the story of conflict between two mortally opposed Destinies that split the world asunder.In the story of Polgara, a beautiful woman whose constancy and inner power have been the foundation of all the luck and love that have saved the world, the full truth of The Belgariad is revealed.Hugely entertaining works of great daring, wit, grandeur and excitement which confirm the role of Belgarath the Sorcerer and Polgara the Sorceress as the mightiest fantasy creations of the century.

    Five stories from the Powder Mage Universe, including the never-before-published "Green-Eyed Vipers" Hope's EndThe Girl of Hrusch AvenueGreen-Eyed VipersThe Face in the WindowReturn to Honor

    And never returned. Since then, Dante has become a great sorcerer. A ruler. A destroyer of kings. And he's just learned that his father is living on a forbidden island at the edge of the known world. Where he's dying of a mysterious plague. In the company of his friend, the swordsman Blays, Dante travels to the island. There, his magic can do nothing for his father. As Dante and Blays quest for a cure—beset by strange beasts, angry spirits, and violent coastal raiders known as the Tauren—Dante falls sick, too. To save his father and himself, he'll have to rediscover the island's long-lost magic. But the hunt for its secrets leads Dante on a crash course with the Tauren—and island-wide civil war. And as he's away, an old threat begins to move against his homeland. Set in a USA Today-bestselling world, THE RED SEA is the first in a trilogy of warfare, sorcery, and friendship through the darkest times.

    Forced to combat this dire foe, the Companions of Valdemar may, at last, have to reveal secrets which they have kept hidden for centuries... even from their beloved Heralds.

    Things have gone well enough for the team as they do "jobs" for various nobles throughout Elan. Usually that means stealing something, but when a young heiress asks them to steal her…well, that's a first for the pair. All is not as it seems, but Royce is determined to get the bottom of what's actually going on. After all, he has his professional integrity at stake.Originally released in the Blackguards anthology published by Ragnarok Publications, this is a standalone short story of 10,800 words. No prior knowledge of The Riyria Revelations or The Riyria Chronicles is required to enjoy it to its fullest, making this a perfect introduction for new readers or a chance for existing fans to spend a little more time with old friends.

    Lavishly illustrated and produced, these titles are straight out of the world of Skyrim - and a must for any wandering adventurer.

    A boy and his mother, in the right place at just the wrong time, will set in motion events that will change two worlds forever.The fae were banished, locked away until the tales of them passed into myth and folklore. Now the barriers are ancient, and fading in the faltering grasp of the one man who still knows the truth.But war is coming to Anlan. Bjornmen raiders have abandoned coastal plunder for outright conquest, and their fleets surge across the icy seas. As the people of Anlan struggle to repel them, and the first battles rage, there are rumours of things in the moonlight - whispers of creatures escaped from myth and fable. An older peril has awoken and mankind must set aside their differences or perish. The fate of the world may rest in the hands of two young men, born of opposite sides of the conflict, and with no reason to trust each other.The Riven Wyrde Saga is a dark fantasy epic, where good and evil know no boundary, and the hero you imagine may well become the villain.Download this Special Edition Omnibus edition to experience epic battles, the politics and scheming of two worlds, and a race as alien as they are familiar. "Graham Austin-King puts the bite back into the world of fairy tales." - S.H. Mansouri, Grimdark Magazine. "Austin-King's writing is descriptive and layered, full of mystery and tension..." Sarah Chorn, Bookworm Blues Includes all three novels of the Riven Wyrde SagaFae - The Wild HuntFae - The Realm of TwilightFae - The Sins of the Wyrde

    However, only a fraction of what Jordan imagined ended up on the page, the rest going into his personal files.The Wheel of Time Companion sheds light on some of the most intriguing aspects of the world, including biographies and motivations of many characters that never made it into the books, but helped bring Jordan's world to life.

    Hounded for his mixed blood and denied mastery in his craft, he leaps at the chance to join his father’s people in the Sky City of Newport.There, he learns he is the only heir of an ancient and noble line. His father’s name opens doors and gathers allies, but Erik must still struggle to understand both this strange new culture and his place within it.Fate will deny him a peaceful understanding, though, as the clouds of war gather – and his father’s enemies have laid their eyes upon his City in the Sky.

    Towering tall even amongst the atherian, he is the only of his kind to live free in the "civilized" confines of mankind's varied cultures. He has no need of loyalties, his sole affections pledged to the gold crowns that buy his time and skills. Wed to his blades, Raz's only friends are the Moon and Her Stars and the shadows they bring with the night. But Raz was not born to the mercenary's way, to the butchery and battle of day-by-day survival. Raz, like a sword, was hammered from steel and fire and ashy smoke, forged on the ruins of an old life. And Raz knows who he owes this new path to, this carved way of blood and iron. The Monster of Karth, after all, would never forget who gave him that name. And some debts can't be paid in gold...

    For those who haven't met Royce Melborn and Hadrian Blackwater (otherwise known as Riyria) this sampler will provide a brief introduction to them and the world of Elan. This sampler contains short stories previously published as well as a new excerpt from the upcoming book.The Thieves: A band of thieves sets upon two lonely riders in the middle of the night. They had a larger party. They had the element of surprise. There was no reason to be concerned, but they didn’t realize who they were dealing with. Origin: This was a scene written, and cut, for Nyphron Rising (the first novel in the Rise of Empire omnibus). Eventually, it became the opening of Theft of Swords when Orbit purchased and republished the series as three, two-book volumes.The Viscount: Eleven years before they were framed for the murder of a king, before even assuming the title of Riyria, Royce Melborn and Hadrian Blackwater were practically strangers. Unlikely associates, this cynical thief decides to teach his idealist swordsman partner that no good deed goes unpunished. Will Royce wind up proving his point or be schooled himself? Origin: This was published in the fall of 2011 under the title The Viscount and the Witch. It was written to provide a gift to my fans after my books were removed from the market to make room for Orbit’s versions. It’s also the seed that later became The Riyria Chronicles, and this short now appears as the second chapter of The Rose and the Thorn.The Jester: Stop me if you’ve heard this one. A thief, a candlemaker, an ex-mercenary, and a pig farmer walk into a trap…and what happens is no joke. When Riyria is hired to retrieve a jester’s treasure, Royce and Hadrian must match wits with a dwarf who proves to be anything but a fool. Difficult choices will need to be made, and in the end those who laugh last do so because they are the only ones to survive. Origin: First released in the Unfettered anthology (edited by Shawn Speakman and published by Grim Oak Press), I did something a bit unusual with this short story. Faced with a word count restriction, I wrote what is essentially the climax for what could have been a full-length novel. I throw the reader into the middle of the action and make only brief allusions to what had come before. It’s an interesting experiment and seems to have worked out well based on the high praise it has received.The Death of Dulgath: When the last member of the oldest noble family in Avryn is targeted for assassination, Riyria is hired to foil the plot. Three years have passed since the war-weary mercenary Hadrian and the cynical ex-assassin Royce joined forces to start their thieves-for-hire enterprise. Things have gone well enough until this odd assignment to prevent a murder. Now they must venture into a forgotten corner of southern Avryn—a place whose history predates the First Empire. As usual, challenges abound as they try to anticipate the moves of an unknown assassin before it’s too late. But that’s not their only problem. The Countess of Dulgath has a dark secret she’s determined to keep hidden. Then there’s the little matter of Riyria’s new employer…the Nyphron Church. This sample is an excerpt, not a short story. It’s the opening scene to my new novel, which will be coming out before the end of 2015. It hasn’t yet been copy edited (I’m still writing the novel), so please forgive any minor mistakes you may find. I do think it’s in pretty good shape, but I often find my opinion and my editor’s opinion are two different things.

    I mean me. I do. I’m a vampire hunter who just happens to be a vampire also. Or as I prefer to think of it, an exterminator, making the nighttime safer, one bloodsucker at a time. I get it. I don’t look like the typical vamp. I’m not tall, dark, and handsome. I don’t smolder. People don’t see a killer when they look at me. I like it that way, it lets me hide in plain sight.Boston’s just like any other city that needs cleaning up, and it’s kept me busy enough not to think about what I left behind in San Francisco. Until she walked in.I’d seen a zillion girls like her in my day. Wannabe feeders, going for that slutty goth style they thought vampires wanted. She was perfect. I didn’t have to watch anyone else in the place but her. Whoever took the bait was the one I’d target for the night. Only it turns out this girl doesn’t want saving. This girl’s on a hunt of her own.*** Carter can be read as a standalone, or as book 10.5 of the Forged Bloodlines series. ***

    When one heist goes wrong, Terric abandons his old life and runs for freedom—only to fall prey to a ruthless man named Niccoli.Niccoli is an isen—a creature of magic from the hidden world of Ourea—and he awakens within Terric an unimaginable gift. But this gift comes with a catch. Suddenly in control of newfound power he is forbidden to freely use, Terric realizes too late he simply traded one master for another.In Ourea, a world dominated by the gifted, few isen dare defy their masters. Until now.For announcements and other updates, join the tribe: http://eepurl.com/09OJv

     For ten long years young Dirk Blackthorn has followed his drunken father from one city to another, always having to cheat and steal for his next meal, and never knowing what the future might hold. A magician turned con artist, Dirk’s father Thad has taught him everything he knows. After being driven out of just about every southern city in Agora, they have come to Kell-Torey in search of a new beginning. With winter on its way, and all but a rusty coin spent on his father’s drinking, Dirk must make full use of his skills if they are to survive the harsh northern cold. As Thad descends deeper into his drunken delirium, Dirk becomes determined to make a name for himself in the city’s criminal underworld. Featuring two of Legends of Agora’s most beloved characters, Blackthorn Rising is a fast-paced coming of age tale wrought with sword and sorcery, it is a story of failure and triumph, and a testament to the unrelenting spirit of defiance and adventure within us all. FROM THE EDITOR Blackthorn Rising is a book that sticks with you. Michael Ploof’s stimulating prose and evocative cast of characters are incapable of boring you on any single page. The plot is sharp, charged with dark wit, adventure, intrigue, and emotion. Enjoy Dirk Blackthorn’s bumbling journey to manhood as he rises to become a great thief, and an even greater man. I loved every minute of editing this tale, and I know you’ll love every minute of reading it. --Holly M. Kothe, espressoeditor.com

    Lawhead’s acclaimed Bright Empires series—now available in one volume! Journey through The Skin Map, The Bone House, The Spirit Well, The Shadow Lamp, and The Fatal Tree in this stunning series that blends an epic treasure hunt, ancient history, alternate realities, cutting-edge physics, philosophy, and mystery. It’s a page-turning adventure like no other. “Anything but ordinary . . . dynamic settings are mixed with unpredictable adventures.” —BookPage review of The Skin Map

    The ravenous beasts can only be taken down by teams of elite fighters, led by Sword Bearers wielding ancient weapons. Even with all they can do, the cost of human life has driven the Helveti to the brink of annihilation.As the people contemplate the possibility of ultimate defeat, tragedy strikes again. Artair, one of their greatest Sword Bearers, is taken in the night by new and powerful enemies. Carried to a foreign land, his battle for his life and his homeland reaches new levels of ferocity. With his true enemies revealed, he must fight men, dragons, and worse to gain a chance for his people......a chance to survive.

    A rabble of hard-talking, hog-riding, whore-mongering brawlers they may be, but the Grey Bastards are Jackal's sworn brothers, fighting at his side in a land where there's no room for softness.And once Jackal's in charge--as soon as he can unseat the Bastards' tyrannical, seemingly unkillable founder--there's a few things they'll do different. Better.Or at least, that's the plan. Until the fallout from a deadly showdown makes Jackal start investigating the Lot Lands for himself. Soon, he's wondering if his feelings have blinded him to ugly truths about this world, and the Bastards' place in it.In a quest for answers that takes him from decaying dungeons to the frontlines of an ancient feud, Jackal finds himself battling invading orcs, rampaging centaurs, and grubby human conspiracies alike--along with a host of dark magics so terrifying they'd give even the heartiest Bastard pause.Finally, Jackal must ride to confront a threat that's lain in wait for generations, even as he wonders whether the Bastards can--or should--survive.

    The Kings, Book I: Kings or Pawns is a political intrigue that spirals into an action and adventure series as the final events unfold. 8,994 P.E.—The elven city of Elvorium has become corrupted to the core by politics. With his father dead and the Royal Schism at his back, Prince Hairem ascends the throne as king of the elven world on Sevrigel. Young and bold, Hairem is determined to undo the council’s power, but the brutal murders by an assassin loosed within the city threaten to undermine the king’s ambitions. As corruption and death threaten to tear Elvorium apart from within, the warlord Saebellus threatens the city from without, laying siege to Sevrigel’s eastern capital. With the elven world crumbling around him, Hairem finds himself in a dangerous political balance between peace and all out war.

    His work as an apprentice fuller is boring, and playing in the mill’s machinery isn’t that dangerous. Everything goes fine—at first. All right, he’s lucky the wizard Elkan and his familiar, a donkey named Sar, are there to save his life. Even better, when his furious master fires him, Elkan offers him a job as his assistant. Josiah jumps at the chance. Traveling around Tevenar for a year, meeting all sorts of interesting people, helping the dedicated young wizard and clever donkey serve them with the Mother’s healing magic—what could be more fun? But Josiah soon learns that while matters of life and death may be exciting, they’re seldom fun. Impulsive actions, even when taken with the best of intentions, can have devastating consequences. And some choices have the power to change the future of Tevenar forever.

     Water Rites is the first book in a magical modern-day fantasy trilogy, where there’s more to sea storms and the ocean’s depths than we mere human mortals understand. Where the legends live on, some of them hiding in plain sight, in your town and mine. Between school, swim team, gossipy friends, and cleaning cages at her dad’s veterinary clinic, Lorelei doesn’t have time to worry too much about the odd dreams that haunt her sleep most nights. She considers herself about as normal as a girl can be, in her circumstances. Her mom left when she was six, but Dad did his best to make up for it with small-town stability. Her biggest worries are AP Calculus tests and whether her team will make the state swimming championships. Oh, and the boy who offered study help, with a certain expression in his eyes that said it wasn’t about studying at all. Life is good. Until she finds out what she is. That revelation is thanks to the boy with the hungry eyes. The only one she can trust now. And then there’s the stranger, the shadow who seems to be everywhere Lorelei is. Even in her mind and dreams. Her identity turned upside down, Lorelei must find the will and the way to understand herself, and her world, once again. But the surprises show no sign of slowing yet… The Complete Water Rites Series Is Available Now Water Rites ~ Book 1 Crestfallen ~ Book 2 Castle and Crown ~ Book 3

    Only a few days passed before a new evil surfaced. Now, rumors have begun to circulate of a civil war, one with a demonic taint beneath it that hints at an underworld invasion. It is a situation that demands investigation by one of the world’s greatest demonhunters.Still reeling from her unprecedented resurrection and eight years of fighting, Karian Vanador is called upon to look into the threat. Why was the remote island of Tsalbrin chosen? And who – or what – is truly behind the unrest? Assigned to an unlikely group of young heroes, Kari must learn to rely on more than just her legendary prowess. She will need their strength to battle her internal demons, just as these young heroes need her strength to battle their physical foes.Together, they must unravel an underworld plot before Citaria is plunged into worldwide war…again.Salvation's Dawn is the opening volume of the Eve of Redemption series. If you love epic fantasy in the vein of Terry Brooks, RA Salvatore, Raymond E. Feist, Ursula K Le Guin, and similar authors, you'll love the depth, complexity, and far-reaching worlds of this series.

    Alongside K'nal, his giant Frorian fighting partner, Sol must battle cunning warriors and fantastic beasts to delight the crowd and stay alive. But when an oppressed populace transforms Sol into a revolutionary folk hero, the Empire sends its most ruthless assassin to put an end to the uprising. Sol's only chance is to do what no slave has ever done: escape from the Coliseum and the only home he's ever known.

    In some worlds, perhaps that may well be the case. But in mine, it would be a lie. There is no greater horror than that which comes after death.”On the streets of an ancient city, with creepers wandering at will and a mysterious assassin leaving corpses all over Pandorum, a young Spook with a dark secret will do anything to keep his brothers safe, even from forces that threaten to tear them apart from within. While others are searching for impossible cures from outlawed Spinners, Conrad Ellis III does not believe in fairy tales and miracles. But when he discovers a strange girl with shrouded ties to the Assassin, Eli is forced to leave the streets he loves and travel into the very heart of Pandorum in order to save a member of his family. With his health failing and the danger escalating, there is no escaping the inevitable truth. Today, he may hunt creepers. Tomorrow, he just might be one.

    A band of survivors pulls together in one last attempt to defend their homes and families as the Elementals make a push to wipe them out completely.Stoic Militia Captain Karvir and his ardent brother, Ketyl, lead a skeleton force against the Fiery Horde. Everything--their families, their home, their very world--hangs on their success against impossible odds. Meanwhile across the wilderness, young Brode and his pregnant stepmother flee, hoping to find safety near the sea. As the Elementals pour through the portals, a sacrificial act gives hope for peace, but is it sustainable? Can the human race fight back from the edge of extinction? And could the key to their survival lie in a child?

    In their absence the world has become known by another name, Earth. The humans have flourished with time, unaware that The Last Oracle is destined to unite them. At her touch magic will be unbound, and known again as truth.But an ancient war harbors a deadly secret. Draeken, the Lord of Chaos, had a second apprentice, one who became trapped with the defeated fiends. Fueled by revenge and dark magic he has mastered a power that Draeken himself could not, and the time is fast approaching for it to be unleashed.The Dark is waiting . . .This Boxed Set contains the first three books in the bestselling White Mage Saga; The Last Oracle, The Sword of Elseerian, and Descent Unto Dark. The final two books and the bonus prequel are currently available on Amazon.

    Come with her to find the truth of who she is, and those who will do anything to stop her from making the words of the Olden Scribes a reality. A love story that will leave you breathless and believing in the wonder of Scottish and Irish folklore and fairy tales.Come and experience the beauty, danger, and romance of an epic historical medieval fantasy that whispers of Celtic legend.

    On the run after causing the death of his mentor and wild with untamed magic, he arrives in Cape Carey where his latent talents make him the target of rival gangs. It is there that Carousel, a wire-walker and thief, takes him under her wing to guide him through the intrigues of the criminal underworld. But when Spark's magic cracks the world and releases demons from the hells beneath, two mages of his former order make it their mission to prevent his magic from spiralling out of control. They must find him before he falls into the clutches of those who would exploit his raw talent for their own gain, forcing Spark to confront a power he is not ready to handle. Meanwhile, a wealthy debutante learning magic in secret has her own plans for Spark and Carousel. But the sudden arrival of the mages throws her carefully laid plans into disarray and she unleashes a terrible evil onto the streets of the unsuspecting city—an evil only Spark’s magic can control. Everyone wants a piece of Spark, but all Spark wants is to rid himself of his talents forever.

    Now he must do everything he can to survive.Miles away, word is spreading of a growing evil; a deposed and forgotten Emperor is seeking a weapon to use in his bid to rise once again to power. Ruthless and determined, nothing and no one can stand in his way. Especially not a galley slave like Brann.But heroes can be forged in the most unlikely of ways, and Brann’s journey has only just begun.

    Caught in the crossfire between the gods and their creators, Alea realizes the darkness inside her is the only thing that can end the bloodshed. Across enemy lines, bastard lieutenant Brentemir Barrackborn is horrified by the blood on his hands. He must choose between the gods he worships and newfound family if he has any hope of redemption—or surviving the war.“I expected a hero to save us all. Turns out, I was thinking of the wrong part of the story. In the beginning, we aren't saved. There are only fragments and grief. The pieces must be gathered and flames kindled before I'm reforged. I don't know what shape I will take. Those pieces might become a hero...or a monster.”Smoke and Rain won New Apple Literary's Excellence in Independent Publishing Award in 2015 and became an internationally bestselling fantasy in 2019This series contains scenes of intimacy between queer characters. If this makes you uncomfortable, this is not the series for you.

    They said she was cursed, a dreading and a hissing in the dark. And it was true: everywhere she went, no matter what she did, misfortune seemed to follow in her wake. But that, of course, wasn’t the worst of it.The curse that seemed to follow Caoimhe throughout her life had caused many tragedies. She fled her old life, trying to lose herself in anonymity, but the unholy circumstances of her birth, and the machinations of those who sought to use her existence to further their own schemes followed her still. Can she overcome a long-dead evil and finally be free?

    But as they journey home, an unexpected sight greets them in a valley pass at the crossroads of four great Kingdoms. The ground is black. Death is creeping. And the two weary Wise Ones must discover the source before the taint spreads and all life is devoured by the Void.

    What’s left of the old Renillion Kingdom has crumbled into bickering city states. The uneasy peace is shattered as Swaar raiders invade. Aiden wants nothing to do with their war, but scavenging on the outskirts of the Nine Cities, he uncovers a weapon of myth and power linked to the knightly order of the Mist Falcons. Will Aiden control the elemental magic this weapon awakens in him or will the magic destroy him? And, can Aiden’s newly found power, matched with the Mist Falcons’ muskets and elemental magic rebuff the ferocity of the Swaar advance, especially as the Swaar send out their champion, Ren Tako, Wolf Rider, to claim the concealed might from the ancient texts? "Good vs. Evil...and you want them BOTH to win!" --Amazon Review "...deftly balances action with atmosphere, and character intensity with an always-moving plot." --Amazon Review "...Honestly, this book is tied as my favorite book with Orson Scott Card's, Ender's Game." --Amazon Review "...I can't say enough good things about this book; I didn't want it to end..."--Amazon Review " Mist Falcon is a well told epic fantasy told in the classic fashion with rich characters who live in a deep and complex world. The stakes are high, real, and best growing more dear chapter by chapter." --Amazon Review --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Epic Fantasy Book Categories For MIST FALCON: - Gunpowder Fantasy - Flintlock Fantasy - Coming of Age Fantasy - New Adult & College - Myth & Legend Action Adventure - Fantasy Sword & Sorcery Quest An epic tale of myth & legend ...

    Was the Dragon Court responsible? Or had the Queen been experimenting with forbidden magic?Her grieving son, trained in the dark arts by the goddess Eris herself, swears vengeance. When he and Rhea, a princess of Magan, defy the Dragon Court the consequences are severe. The Dragon Court rescinds their blessing on his royal house, and so he must turn to his mother’s experiments and ancient blood rituals to achieve his aims. In his quest for truth he will become the greatest threat Tiamut has ever known.Inspired by Plato’s account of the fall of Atlantis, the Emerald Tablets of Thoth, Sumerian and Egyptian Mythology.

    But her rebel father has other plans. Gregory D. Little's Unwilling Souls is a pulse-pounding chase through an epic fantasy world of skull cities, demonic conspiracy, and a magical industrial revolution fueled by harvested human souls. Ses is the daughter of a business mogul and a terrorist, each trying their best to kill the other while pretending she doesn't exist. An apprentice jailer of the gods, Ses spends her days learning to forge the tools needed to maintain the gods' prison. When the prison is mysteriously attacked on her sixteenth birthday, Ses is forced to flee after the secret of her parentage is revealed. Suddenly on the wrong side of the law, Ses realizes the very father who abandoned her may be the only one who can protect her. But some secrets are darker than parentage. On her way to find her father, Ses will uncover truths about her family and herself that will shatter her understanding of the world and risk the return of the gods themselves.Editorial Reviews"I think there's a certain sort of creativity and storytelling ability that some people are just born with and Gregory D. Little is one of those people."-- Taylor Hansen @museignitedreads"Anyone that likes suspenseful stories, magic, and fantasy books with rich worlds, will love "Unwilling Souls."-- Melissa Dalton Martinez, THE BOOK BREAK"Unwilling Souls by Gregory D. Little is the epic fantasy book I've been waiting for for years."-- Nerd Girl ★★★★★ Five Stars"I can honestly tell you that this novel has some of the most creative and beautiful worldbuilding that I have read in quite some time."-- The Novel Girl Reads"I found Ses easy to like, there's intrigue and deception and let's not forget walking skeletons, soul driven magic and huge spiders - really, what more could you possibly want?"-- Lynn's Books

    She walks alone, serving no king, emperor, or master. Forged in the fires of tragedy, she has no place she truly calls home. A deadly warrior wielding both blade and axe, Rayden is the bane of the wicked and corrupt. To many others, she is the most loyal and dedicated of friends, an ally who is unyielding in the most dangerous of circumstances. The people of the far southern lands she has just aided claim that she has the heart of a lion. For Rayden, a long journey to the lands of the far northern tribes who adopted her as a child beckons, with an ocean lying in between. Her path will lead her once more into the center of a maelstrom, one involving a rising empire that is said to be making use of the darkest kinds of sorcery to grow its power. Making new friends and discoveries amid tremendous peril, Rayden makes her way to the north. Monstrous beasts, supernatural powers, and the bloody specter of war have been a part of her world for a long time and this journey will be no different. Rayden chooses the battles that she will fight, whether she takes up the cause of one individual or an entire people. Both friends and enemies alike will swiftly learn that the people of the far southern lands spoke truly. Rayden Valkyrie has the heart of a lion. Heart of a Lion is Book One of the Dark Sun Dawn Trilogy.

    The bloodline of the High Kings disappeared and the kingdom faded into dark legend until even stories of the deed lost their power. But now there is an Heir to the North. Cassia hopes to make her reputation as a storyteller by witnessing a hardened soldier and a heroic princeling defeat Malessar and his foul curse. But neither of her companions are exactly as they appear, and the truth lies deep within stories that have been buried for centuries. As Cassia learns secrets both soldier and warlock have kept hidden since the fall of Caenthell, she discovers she can no longer merely bear witness. Cassia must become part of the story; she must choose a side and join the battle. The North will rise again.

     Alila, the first female Knight Defendant in centuries, stands at a cliff, despair filling in her heart. She is haunted by the strain of battle and the guilt of letting Mokom die. Doomed to repeat her mistakes, Alila jumps to her death as she remembers her past and the young man that changed her life. How will Mokom and Alila escape the chains of Love and Duty? How will they break free of the prison of Time that traps them?

    Just as capture seems imminent, Aht rejoins the fight! Despite her injuries, Aht is determined to prove to Köinzell that her devotion can be an asset and not a hindrance in battle, even if it costs her life. Meanwhile, the deeply paranoid Barestar sends an army against the city to kill the hero-killer--at the price of citizens' lives! The knights of the Order of the Seven Lances face a difficult choice: follow the will of the hero Barestar and allow the soldiers to pillage the city, or fight to protect the people alongside Köinzell, the very man they were sent to eliminate!An epic fantasy on the grandest of scales!

    What they stumble upon inside this tiny village will change their lives and those of the villagers forever!A horrific chain of events begins to unravel before them upon Aborinth's arrival, and she is to blame-or is she? Razel, their fierce and feisty witch, vanishes within days of being captured by a sadistic warlock who aims to utilize her powers for his master's gain. Their neighboring wizard Taanis, once thought to be one of their own, has a secret that begins to unravel before his mystical eyes. The remaining children born to their clan Eelios, Meeyuri, Zaria, and Wysper begin to take on new abilities-some even more deadly than the adults! One child's abilities become sentient and aware of their host, whereas another learns that he can shadow walk among the dead. This gripping tale is a feast for the imagination as well as a brewing cauldron of mystery, high adventure, and deadly twists and turns! There is something new lurking behind every tantalizing page!

    With four companions, Marceles must face bandits, monsters, cannibals, and worse as he tries clear his name through valor in the depths of the fallen Nanten Kingdom. A failed state, the Nanten Kingdom fell to a series of coups around one hundred years ago. Marceles has been exiled there as punishment for the murder of a woman by the name of Lystra, a crime so severe that it nearly destroyed his order's relationship with the Old Empire. He reached out to every man who owed him his life in hopes of finding help on his mission. Only four responded. This is their story. Illustrations by Nimit Malavia As Marceles survives each day, he often takes the time to draw what he's seen. The illustrations in his journal are not only beautiful on their own, but offer a unique view into a world that we can only see through Marceles' eyes. Into the Nanten includes over 90 full-color images. The World's First Real Time Fantasy Story Originally told on www.intothenanten.com, Into the Nanten is a story that developed one entry at a time, with a new post nearly every day from September 9, 2014 to March 30, 2015. The second season, Fall of the Arbor King, was successfully funded on Kickstarter on April 9, 2015.

    The Dwarves agree to help recover the Scepter of Maris in order to keep it from the Orcs. Their King sends a capable group of warriors to join him and his companions on their quest, and they set forth with renewed hope.Meanwhile Glendon’s neighboring Kingdom of Rennick is dealing with its own share of troubles. A mentally unstable King is crushing his subjects under the might of his authority, and the people have finally had enough. A former Sergeant has chosen to lead the oppressed in fighting back, and they will do all in their power to end his mad reign.And even as the others struggle, the Orc horde begins its inexorable march to reclaim the Scepter for their own. They will destroy anything in their way, and no man, woman or child is safe from their wrath. Their rallying cry of “glory and honor” will be heard across all lands and destruction will be all that is left in their wake.

    But more than that, Dhulyn and Parno are Partners, a Mercenary bond that can only be broken by death. And though one’s past is supposed to be irrelevant to a Mercenary Brother, who they’d been might make the difference between success and failure in their missions. As far as she knows, Dhulyn is the last of her tribe, the sole survivor of a terrible massacre when she was a young child. Sold into slavery and rescued by a pirate, Dhulyn has learned the hardest lessons life has to teach. What she has not learned is to master her Visions, glimpses of the future. Parno never mentions his past. Yet his manners and speech give him away. Parno has been raised in more civilized lands, and obviously comes from a family of some importance. Why he’s abandoned them or been cast out, neither Dhulyn nor any Mercenary Brother would ask. After saving one of the Marked—those gifted with such powers as the ability to Find, to Mend, to Heal, to See—the two Mercenaries realize that those bent on the Marked’s destruction appear to be under the influence of a priest of the Sleeping God. Soon not even Dhulyn’s Visions can prepare them for the fate that awaits them, as they become tangled in wars against invaders, royal surrenders, and enemy prison camps.

    . . .Like all royals, thirteen-year-old Prince Symon is a living weapon. Literally. His best friend, Lana, is also a blade shifter, his tutor is a bird shifter, and then his only brother is killed by fish shifters. He must embrace animal shifter persecution or somehow change his kingdom.Symon doesn’t have time to decide. Someone is trying to kill him, and his magic blades won’t be enough to save him. If he trusts the wrong people, he could start a war.For generations, blade shifters have ruled commoners and animal shifters without trouble.Until now.

    A dragon rampages through the streets of Baldur’s Gate and the only thing standing between salvation and destruction is two thieves, a wild mage, a ranger and a miniature giant space hamster! Swords for everyone! It wouldn’t be Dungeons & Dragons without a dragon, now would it? Writer Jim Zub (Samurai Jack, Wayward) and artist Max Dunbar (Red Sonja) wrap up their first story arc of action-packed D&D adventure!

    'And neither the knowledge nor the strength to use it even if it were complete.' Fianna is the only child of King Stannard and Queen Fiona, and has always expected to become the next Keeper of the Dragon Throne. She exiles herself from court when her father decides to take a second wife. Recalled to Secondus castle after Stannard's death, she has to contend with the split loyalties among the royal knights. In desperation, she agrees to summon the dragons to support her claim to the throne. Their challenge sends her to meet them in their Sacred Mountains.In the woods of the unicorn herd, the Prancer loses his milk-brother to an attack by a dragon. He travels across the human kingdoms to seek the killer, discovering the complexities of human relationships and the delights of ale along the way.They meet at the Sacred Mountains. And so begins a story of love, friendship--and betrayal

    Using the realm as a backwater outpost from which to fight an ancient war, the Fylking taught human seers to build and ward over an interdimensional portal called the Gate. The Fylking’s enemies, who think nothing of annihilating a world to gain even a small advantage, are bent on destroying it.After two centuries of peace, the realm is at war. Seers are disappearing and their immortal guardians are blind, deceived by their own kind. A Gate warden with a tormented past discovers a warlock using Fylking magic to gather an army of warriors that cannot die. A King’s ranger who defends the wilds of the realm is snared in a political trap that puts him on the wrong side of the Fylking's enemies. And a knitter discovers an inborn power revered by the gods themselves.Forced to find allies in unlikely places, these three mortals are caught in a maelstrom of murder, treachery, sorcery and war, fertile ground for both their personal demons and those of their immortal masters, who cast long shadows indeed. When they uncover the source of the rising darkness, they must rally to protect the Gate against a plot that will violate the balance of cosmos, destroy the Fylking and leave the world in ruins.The god they serve is as fickle as a crow—and known to demand a high price for an answered prayer.Includes a map and a glossary.

    For Luke Callindor, it’s more of a blind stumble. From battling a demonic assassin to facing the family he left behind, this warrior's adventuring career has been one awkward mistake after another. Most days the only things that keep him alive, yet never unharmed, are his trusted friends and his reckless courage. How long can his luck hold out before the gods of Windemere decide to cut his legend short?

    Cronous and Rhea have gathered to their side ten nations, forming their own empire, one great enough to confront their former friends and allies. Yet victory is not assured. The Annunaki have their own plans on how to deal with the upstart King and Queen and they keep their own counsel, leaving those that serve them uncertain of what is to come.With both sides forced to seek out new allies, make alliances with old enemies and confront family on opposing sides of the battlefield, who will go too far? At what point with one side tip the balance in war and unleash devastation upon the entire planet?Drawing upon accounts of devastation and global war from ancient texts (including the Bible) and exploring the concept of ‘passing through fire’ and the Baal rites, Cronous: Fall of Undal is the thrilling conclusion to the Undal Duology.