It turns out that monsters are real. All the things from myth, legend, and B-movies are out there, waiting in the shadows. Officially secret, some of them are evil, and some are just hungry. On the other side are the people who kill monsters for a living. Monster Hunter International is the premier eradication company in the business. And now Owen is their newest recruit. It’s actually a pretty sweet gig, except for one little problem. An ancient entity known as the Cursed One has returned to settle a centuries old vendetta. Should the Cursed One succeed, it means the end of the world, and MHI is the only thing standing in his way. With the clock ticking towards Armageddon, Owen finds himself trapped between legions of undead minions, belligerent federal agents, a cryptic ghost who has taken up residence inside his head, and the cursed family of the woman he loves. Monster Hunter VendettaAccountant turned professional monster hunter Owen Zastava Pitt managed to stop the nefarious Old One’s invasion plans last year, but as a result made an enemy out of one of the most powerful beings in the universe. Now an evil death cult known as the Church of the Temporary Mortal Condition wants to capture Owen in order to gain the favor of the great Old Ones.The Condition is led by a fanatical necromancer known as the Shadow Man. The government wants to capture the Shadow Man and has assigned the enigmatic Agent Franks to be Owen’s full time bodyguard -- which is a polite way of saying that Owen is monster bait.  Fortunately, this bait is armed and very dangerous.Monster Hunter AlphaEarl Harbinger may be the leader of Monster Hunter International, but he’s also got a secret. Nearly a century ago, Earl was cursed to be werewolf. When Earl receives word that one of his oldest foes, a legendarily vicious werewolf that worked for the KGB, has mysteriously appeared in the remote woods of Michigan, he decides to take care of some unfinished business. But another force is working to bring about the creation of a whole new species of werewolf. When darkness falls, the final hunt begins, and the only thing standing in their way is a handful of locals, a lot of firepower, and Earl Harbinger’s stubborn refusal to roll over and play dead.

    He knows too much about the town’s many unspoken secrets, and he himself holds the greatest secret of them all. Bearing the power to grant any unfulfilled dream, he is irresistible. As dark clouds and sandstorms envelop the town, it becomes apparent that Paradise is being isolated for a reason. But why? Saint He belongs to the X Group. They call him Saint. Invasive techniques have stripped him of his identity and made him someone new . . . but who is he really? From the deep woods of Hungary to the streets of New York, one man’s search for truth leads him into a world of government cover-ups, political intrigue, and ultimate betrayal. Sinner This is the story of Marsuvees Black, a force of raw evil who speaks with wicked persuasion that is far more destructive than swords or guns. It’s also the story of two unsuspecting survivors of a research project gone bad—who may be the most powerful people on earth. And finally, it’s the story of one who comes out of the desert to lead those willing to stand for truth. The epic conclusion to what began in a small town called Paradise.

    She finds herself involved with intrigues that stretch her abilities after a chance run in with a spy. There is a terrible danger she and her friends and family will lose the only home she has ever known in orbit and be forced to live on the slum ball below. It's more than a almost teen can deal with. Fortunately she has a lot of smart friends and allies. It's a good thing because things get very rough and dicey.

    Then shaman Joanne Walker climbed into the back seat of his cab, and since then, Gary has trifled with gods, met mystics, slain zombies and ridden with the Wild Hunt. But now he must leave Joanne’s side to face a battle only he can win. Because as their long battle against a dark magic-user races toward its climax, it becomes clear that it was not illness that took Annie’s life, but their enemy’s long and deadly touch. Though lovers be lost, love shall not, and death shall have NO DOMINION. A Walker Papers Collection.

    Now her New York Times bestselling steampunk series comes to a smashing conclusion in our exclusive hardcover omnibus, The Parasol Protectorate Volume 2.Heartless: A mad ghost is menacing Queen Victoria, and as the soulless Lady Alexia investigates, she and her trusty parasol are led deep into her were husband’s past. Top that off with a suffragette sister (shocking!), Madame Lefoux’s latest invention (incredible!), and a plague of zombie porcupines (bloody hell!), and Alexia barely has time to remember she’s eight months pregnant! Can she learn who’s trying to kill the queen before time runs out?Timeless: Alexia has settled into domestic bliss, but, alas, a summons has arrived that cannot be ignored. With husband, child, and Ivy Tunstell’s acting troupe in tow, Alexia boards a steamer to Egypt. But the Land of the Nile may hold more mysteries than the indomitable Lady Maccon can handle. What does Alexandria’s vampire Queen really want from her? Why is the God-Breaker Plague suddenly expanding? And how has Ivy become the most popular actress in the British Empire?

    A half-resurrected cleanup man for Death's sprawling bureaucracy faces a phantom pachyderm, doll-collecting sorceresses and his own ghoulish bosses. Gordo, the old Cubano that watches over the graveyards and sleeping children of Brooklyn, stirs and lights another Malaguena. Down the midnight streets of New York, a whole invisible universe churns to life in Daniel Jose Older's debut collection of ghost noir.

    Everything's about to change when a mysterious stranger offers his help.CHOSEN--Emma will do anything to protect her precognitive son Jake, even accept help from Will, a stranger with a dark past. But Will's been hired to deliver Emma to a powerful group. Even though the job screams trouble, nothing prepares Will for Jake's declaration: Will is The Chosen One, prophesied protector of Emma.HUNTED--As the trail to find Jake grows cold, Will realizes that Emma is displaying supernatural abilities of her own. When they search her past, they find few answers until Raphael shows up and offers information. But it comes at a price Emma is unwilling to pay. SACRIFICE--Raphael insists that he is the only one who can help Emma save her son, but he's dangerous. Emma begins to wonder if there's someone else who can help her: WaterREDEMPTION (The Chosen #4) released October 10, 2012Denise Grover Swank lives in Lee's Summit, Missouri. She writes urban fantasies without vampires and werewolves. She also writes romantic comedy mysteries set in the south. She has six children, three dogs, and an overactive imagination. She can be found dancing in her kitchen with her children, reading or writing her next book. You will rarely find her cleaning.You can find out more about Denise and her other books at denisegroverswank.com or email her at denisegroverswank@gmail.com

    And the time is now. The Blue Plague came roaring out of the Congo and into the United States–and it can’t be stopped. The Infected become violently insane and impossibly strong. They’re not zombies – that would be too easy. They’re something much worse. The Infected are violent and unstoppable, but they can think. They can heal from most wounds. And worst of all–they can reproduce. Bruce, Debbie, Mike and Nancy have been preparing for the worst for years. There’s nothing to do but bug out–and they know exactly where to go. In the struggle to reach the sanctuary of their farm, they confront thousands of The Infected–but they also make invaluable new friends along the way. And they kick the hell out of the Infected and the equally dangerous marauders who are willing to murder anyone in their way. Join Bruce, Mike, and their newfound friends as they battle their way across Infected Louisiana, doing what needs to be done to reach the sanctuary of their farm. Blue Plague: The Fall is a survivalist adventure filled with courage and betrayal, tragedy and hope.

    But By Night, He's The Ultimate In Super Heroics -- Spider-Man!

    P. Lovecraft" includes all the 102 short stories, novels, Juvenilia, Collaborations and Ghost writings of H. P Lovecraft. If it has been written by H. P. Lovecraft, it is in this book - search no more!You can even find stories of H. P. Lovecraft that are not available online like "four o'clock" and "Bothon". This will be your H. P Lovecraft Bible.The stories are listed according to the writing year rather than the publication year. This will help in reading the stories in the order they were written.An active Table of Contents is available in this book and there is a link to the Table of Contents at the start of each story to make navigation easier for you.Included in this book:Short Stories and Novels:The Tomb (1917)Dagon (1917)A Reminiscence of Dr. Samuel Johnson (1917)Polaris (1918)Beyond the Wall of Sleep (1919)Memory (1919)Old Bugs (1919)The Transition of Juan Romero (1919)The White Ship (1919)The Doom That Came to Sarnath (1919)The Statement of Randolph Carter (1919)The Street (1919)The Terrible Old Man (1920)The Cats of Ulthar (1920)The Tree (1920)Celephaïs (1920)From Beyond (1920)The Temple (1920)Nyarlathotep (1920)The Picture in the House (1920)Facts Concerning the Late Arthur Jermyn and His Family (1920)The Nameless City (1921)The Quest of Iranon (1921)The Moon-Bog (1921)Ex Oblivione (1921)The Other Gods (1921)The Outsider (1921)The Music of Erich Zann (1921)Sweet Ermengarde (1921)Hypnos (1922)What the Moon Brings (1922)Azathoth (1922)Herbert West—Reanimator (1922)The Hound (1922)The Lurking Fear (1922)The Rats in the Walls (1923)The Unnamable (1923)The Festival (1923)The Shunned House (1924)The Horror at Red Hook (1925)He (1925)In the Vault (1925)Cool Air (1926)The Call of Cthulhu (1926)Pickman’s Model (1926)The Strange High House in the Mist (1926)The Silver Key (1926)The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath (1927)The Case of Charles Dexter Ward (1927)The Colour Out of Space (1927)The Descendant (1927)The Very Old Folk (1927)The History of the Necronomicon (1927)The Dunwich Horror (1928)Ibid (1928)The Whisperer in Darkness (1930)At the Mountains of Madness (1931)The Shadow Over Innsmouth (1931)The Dreams in the Witch House (1932)The Thing on the Doorstep (1933)The Book (1933)The Evil Clergyman (1933)The Shadow out of Time (1934)The Haunter of the Dark (1935)Juvenilia:The Little Glass Bottle (1898)The Mystery of the Grave-Yard (1898)The Secret Cave (1898)The Mysterious Ship (1902)The Beast in the Cave (1904)The Alchemist (1908)Collaborations and Ghost Writings:The Green Meadow (1918)Poetry and the Gods (1920)The Crawling Chaos (1920)Four O’clock (1922)The Horror at Martin’s Beach (1922)Under the Pyramids (1924)Two Black Bottles (1926)The Last Test (1927)The Thing in the Moonlight (1927)The Curse of Yig (1928)The Electric Executioner (1929)The Mound (1929)Medusa’s Coil (1930)The Trap (1931)Winged Death (1932)The Man of Stone (1932)Through the Gates of the Silver Key (1932)The Horror in the Museum (1932)Out of the Aeons (1933)The Hoard of the Wizard-Beast (1933)The Horror in the Burying-Ground (1933)The Slaying of the Monster (1933)The Tree on the Hill (1934)The Battle that Ended the Century (1934)“Till A’ the Seas” (1935)The Challenge from Beyond (1935)The Diary of Alonzo Typer (1935)The Disinterment (1935)The Night Ocean (1936)In the Walls of Eryx (1936)Collapsing Cosmoses (1938)Bothon (1946)

    The Nephilim: The genetic offspring of the Watchers and human women. They are huge, organized, violent, and very hungry.Enoch: A wise sage and holy man who is called by God to pronounce judgment on the fallen angels and their giant progeny, the Nephilim.Methuselah: Son of Enoch. He has a passionate lust for life and earthy experience that puts him at odds with his otherworldly father.Edna: Young wife of Methuselah. Bred in the palace to be married to a god, she is rescued by Methuselah and taught how to read, write, and fight without losing her feminine wiles.Uriel: The guardian angel of the line of the Chosen Seed. He is smaller than the other archangels, so he makes up for it with his sharp intelligence, acerbic wit, and master swordplay.Ohyah: A Nephilim who receives dreams from God and wants to repent and join Enoch’s band to redeem himself.Lamech: Son of Methuselah. The line of the Chosen Seed, who discovers that the Cursed One is hunting him for revenge against God.“Enoch walked with God, and he was not, for God took him.” That’s all the primeval history of Genesis tells us about this enigmatic holy man of the primordial generation. The ancient Book of Enoch tells us that he pronounced judgment on the fallen Watchers and their giant progeny, the Nephilim of Genesis chapter 6. But what if that holy calling meant that Enoch was a giant killer? This second novel in the saga Chronicles of the Nephilim is a prequel to Noah Primeval that tells the story of the Fall of the Watchers from heaven and the rise of the Nephilim generations before the Flood. Follow the epic journey of Enoch the giant killer with his small band of family warriors who seek outlaw giants for bounty, but stumble upon a conspiracy of the Watchers that is so evil, it will change the universe forever if God does not stop them. You’ll meet some of the beloved characters from Noah Primeval when they were much younger, like Methuselah and Uriel, as well as the origin stories of the lead Watchers, Semjaza and Azazel who became the gods Anu and Inanna.An appendix provides some of the fascinating Biblical and ancient Near Eastern research behind the mythopoeia in the novel. Chronicles of the Nephilim is written in the mythic genre of The Lord of the Rings and Narnia, blending fantasy and mythopoeia with history to retell the Biblical narrative with a fresh perspective, while staying true to the original spirit of the story.

    Malcolm Metcalf's sadistic legacy. Madhouse.Torture chamber. As the town of Blackstone plans its demolition, a dark stranger is determined to keep the evils of the past alive. Can writer Oliver Metcalf prevent the curse of his father's asylum before it consumes him?"

    In Elena's case, Fairy Godmother. Sadly, Tradition says Fairy Godmother's can't take lovers, so Elena mus deal with princes who try to rise above their place. And there's one in particular who's making a proper ass of himself.....ONE GOOD KNIGHT The virgin sacrifice for a fierce maruading dragon, Princess Andromeda intends to break Tradition and defeat the beast on her own - but it doesn't turn out quite that way. Enter Sir George, a most unexpected and unusual Knight...with whom she'll forge a different path for the story to take.FORTUNE'S FOOL A daughter of the Sea King, Katya is spying on a strangely quiet kingdom when a more urgent mission comes up. An evil Jinn is abducting maidens, and when Katya is taken, too, she finds herself in over her head. Now the only things she can count on - besides her native wit and courage - are a Fortunate Fool and an origami bird!

    Here, readers will learn the truth about the Elven Queen Vielissiar Faricarnon, who was the first to face the Endarkened in battle and the first to bond with a dragon. She worked some of the greatest magics her world has ever known, and paid the greatest Price. Crown of Vengeance is an exciting fantasy adventure that will appeal to fans of Mercedes Lackey's Valdemar series. No previous knowledge of Lackey and Mallory's collaborations is necessary to enjoy this fast-paced, action-packed novel, but returning readers will be excited to discover this amazing story.

    and you survived?When it happens to Gwen Farris, she knows what to do without a doubt. Find the would be killers and stop them, before they can do it again. Stabbing a girl in the heart can be taken a little personally after all.The only problem is that she finds herself in a different world, one of industrial magic and steampunk style, a place both more polite, and unimaginably harsh, than the one she left behind.Thanks to her new friend, Constabulary Detective Bethany Westmorland, Gwen just might be able to make it in this strange place she'd never even dreamed could exist.But it will take everything she can bring to play, and more, before it's done.

    Dr. Elyse Morgan’s mission: find the cure to the HTN4 virus. The compensation, courtesy of the United Nations: a lab stocked with hi-tech goodies, limitless resources and enough chocolate to make her rear look like a cellulite farm. Bonus: she gets to live. Rescued (kidnapped) and secreted (imprisoned) on an undersea warship, Elyse adjusts to her assumed identity as a cadet with the finesse of a toeless ballerina. Her sulfuric temper and blatant insubordination capture the unwanted attention of the ship’s captain, the gorgeous, infuriating, engaged Nicoli Marek. Elyse would rather perform her own autopsy than become the other woman, but Nicoli—who’s as full of himself as he is of secrets—regards his impending marriage as a mere political transaction. And Elyse as fair game. As Elyse’s suspicions about the UN’s true agenda mount along with her attraction to the relentless, chronically shirtless captain, she must choose between the murky path to everything she’s ever wanted, or the squeaky-clean path of self-sacrifice—which could mean taking the secrets of the virus with her to the grave. Warning: Features a strong, chocolate-loving heroine who takes no prisoners on the way to saving the world from an epidemic and winning a captain’s heart.

    Trouble is brewing in Karibu and Gogo Maya and her leopard are about to make matters worse. Their risky ‘switching’ trick has jettisoned them right out of the secret realm, sucking a teenager from the ordinary world into the mess they left behind them.Ethan Flynn is pretty useless in the African bush but at least he knows how to do CPR . . . and that’s when he finds out you shouldn’t do it on a witch. The one he just rescued from drowning says she switched places with his cousin and now Ethan has sucked up all her magical powers, leaving her too weak to switch back again. It must be true. Joe has vanished into thin air, Ethan’s feeling all unhinged, and the old woman’s leopard is communicating its thoughts straight into his head. . . . alarming thoughts about teaming up with fearsome characters and traveling into dark places; disturbing thoughts about Joe in terrible danger unless Ethan learns to use the magic in time to rescue him.That’s if Ethan himself can survive . . .

    On the brink of total victory, the black horde mysteriously vanished, leaving terrified survivors . . . and rumors. As the centuries passed, the holocaust faded into legend, and finally myth. But death is stalking heroes once more, and the ultimate army has already been unleashed.The only hope lies in destroying the source—before all life is extinguished. Fate has chosen Elseerian for the impossible feat, but as he embarks on the harrowing journey the invasion must be delayed. With time as their only weapon against extinction, the elves issue a desperate call . . . for every race to ally. Facing annihilation, many will realize that survival lies in unity, courage sleeps in ordinary citizens, and average people can turn the tide of war.But even if the world can gather in the name of survival, the best they can last is Seven Days . . .The Second Draeken War is a combined edition of Elseerian, The Gathering, and Seven Days, and marks the first trilogy in The Chronicles of Lumineia.

    Readers will be thrilled to discover the events leading up to John Chen and Emma Donahoe′s story in this wonderful prequel.Shown through Queenie Chan′s stunning illustrations and comics, the story follows the stone spirit Gold′s entertaining adventures throughout history. His escapades include seducing a dragon princess, attempting to steal one of the Tiger′s wives, making bets with demons, and working for the Blue Dragon of the East.Eventually, as a result of his crimes against Heaven and his constant philandering, Gold is ordered to join the household of Xuan Wu, the Dark Lord of the Northern Heavens. Xuan Wu is also known as John Chen, a Hong Kong businessman.The story then follows Gold and Jade -- the dragon princess - in contemporary Hong Kong. The two small shen must help guard John Chen′s beloved human wife and baby daughter from demon attack. John Chen is vulnerable to attack while living on Earth, but his family are in the most danger of all...SMALL SHEN is a unique piece of work for fans of Kylie Chan to treasure, but also a fantastic introduction to this gripping series.

    When two of Pajan's great clans covertly agree to a marriage between their heirs to form a powerful alliance, Okko the ronin and his group of demon hunters are recruited to insure the security of the ceremony in the long-awaited fourth volume of the series that blends the fantasy and samurai genres.

    All they see is an awkward boy in a baseball cap and baggy pants. Sam’s not thrilled with the idea of hiding her identity, but it’s all part of her older brother’s plan to keep Sam safe from male attention and hidden from the law. Fifteen-year-old Jacob will stop at nothing to protect his sister, including concealing the death of the one person who should have protected them in the first place—their mother.Sam and Jacob try to outrun their past by stealing the family car and traveling from West Virginia to Arizona, but the adult world proves mighty difficult to navigate, especially for two kids on their own. Trusting adults has never been an option; no adult has ever given them a good reason. But when Sam meets “Jesus”—who smells an awful lot like a horse—in the park, life takes a different turn. He saved her once, and may be willing to save Sam and her brother again, if only they admit what took place that fateful day in West Virginia. The problem? Sam doesn’t remember, and Jacob isn’t talking.

    These are the stories that were published immediately after the release of Attack of the Clones, featuring Jedi heroes Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker, Mace Windu, and Quinlan Vos, now collected in this 400-page value package! The Clone Wars explode across the galaxy! From the stormy seas of Kamino to the rocky hills of Devaron, the battle lines have been drawn, and the Jedi Knights who were once protectors of the peace must become generals, leading the clone armies of the Republic to war!

    The love of his life thinks he's a geek ... that is if she notices him at all. Pretty normal, and pretty boring, really.But this normal life is about to change forever. On a school science trip to watch the test firing of a new particle accelerator, Arn is caught up in an accident that propels him into an extraordinary new world.In this new land, Arn is the last human alive. It is populated with mysterious and bloodthirsty creatures, some of whom want him dead, while others see him as their only hope for survival.Can Arn survive in a hostile world and save his new friends? Or has he arrived in time to witness the fall of a mighty empire?An epic tale of love, betrayal and war in a world both familiar and terrifying.

    Then, during the destruction of the Cataclysm that followed the wars, the Dragonsouls disappeared. Most wizards thought them destroyed forever, and a great peace settled over the land, each of the five races finding its place, decimated and hidden as it may be.But the winds of Chaos blow eternal, and peace can never last. Secrets thought hidden are oft discovered. Though magic only remains in the hands of a few, and the Paladins of Balance are vanishing, some may still stand against the coming storm. Those who will rise have yet to prove themselves, and who stokes the tempest is yet to be known.“A Balance Broken” is the first tale of The Dragonsoul Saga, a story to span an epic horizon, yet enter the hidden recesses of the human heart, even if that heart is not so human. An epic fantasy mixing a classic take on the genre with a decisively new twist.Discover more at www.dragonsoulsaga.com

    Everything's about to change when a mysterious stranger offers his help. CHOSEN--Emma will do anything to protect her precognitive son Jake, even accept help from Will, a stranger with a dark past. But Will's been hired to deliver Emma to a powerful group. Even though the job screams trouble, nothing prepares Will for Jake's declaration: Will is The Chosen One, prophesied protector of Emma. “Emergence”—(prequel) When Emma’s two-year-old son starts “seeing things” before they happen, having her son kicked out of day care pales in comparison to the suspicious strangers showing up at her door step. “Homecoming”—(prequel) Will comes back from Iraq with an dishonorable discharge and struggles with both the guilt of what he’s done and his family’s disownment. HUNTED--As the trail to find Jake grows cold, Will realizes that Emma is displaying supernatural abilities of her own. When they search her past, they find few answers until Raphael shows up and offers information. But it comes at a price Emma is unwilling to pay. “Middle Ground”—(prequel) Will and his best friend James come home from Iraq for Will’s sister’s wedding, and Will tries to find footing when the ground beneath him shakes. SACRIFICE--Raphael insists that he is the only one who can help Emma save her son, but he's dangerous. Emma begins to wonder if there's someone else who can help her: Water REDEMPTION-- The epic conclusion to the series.

    These men, women, and non humans are determined to restore the Federation despite the corrupt politicians standing in their way. They have to pick up the pieces Fleet Admiral Irons has left behind and soldier on without him in the hope that he'll return someday. Jethro is one of those people, a new marine recruit. He's a Neo Panther, a member of the Anvil cat clan, and although he's young, he's a professional assassin and ready and eager to prove himself. Perhaps too eager. To what lengths will he go to fight for what's right? Will his first taste of true combat be his last? But first will he survive Boot camp and the infamous F platoon's Neo drill sergeant?This is the beginning of his story.

    The only defense against the Alliance's creeping totalitarianism is the New Resistance, a polyglot team of rebels that includes Rick Rickenharp, a retro-rocker whose artistic and political sensibilities intertwine, and John Swenson, a mole who has infiltrated the Alliance. As the fight continues and years progress, so does the technology and brutality of the Alliance... but ordinary people like the damaged visionary Smoke, Claire Rimpler on FirStep, and Dance Torrence and his fellow urban warriors on Earth are bound together by the truth and a single purpose: to keep the darkness from becoming humankind's Total Eclipse - or die trying John Shirley was cyberpunk's patient zero, first locus of the virus, certifiably virulent."-William Gibson. An omnibus of all three novels-revised by the author-of the prophetic, still frighteningly relevant cyberpunk masterpieces: Eclipse, Eclipse Penumbra, and Eclipse Corona. With an introduction by Richard Kadrey and biographical note by Bruce Sterling.

    She refuses his help but when Hilt discovers that the prophet was the one that told her to climb to the mountain's peak, he realizes that it is his duty to accompany her.What dangers lie in their way? What reasons did the prophet have for bringing them together? Will all their plans be derailed by Hilt's Pride?Hilt's Pride is a 130 page novella.The events in Hilt’s Pride take place just after Hilt leaves Justan at the Training School part way through Bowl of Souls: Book One. This is a stand alone story and can be read apart from or along with the rest of the series. This story contains no spoilers to the rest of the series, but contains a lot of information that enhances the backgrounds of several characters including revealing previously untold information about Jhonate's past and the history of her people.The Bowl of Souls series:Book One: Eye of the MoonratHilt's PrideBook Two: Messenger of the Dark ProphetBook Three: Hunt of the BandhamBook Four: The War of Stardeon (Upcoming 2013)Book Five: Mother of the Moonrat (Upcoming)

    Mostly, he just wants to settle down to a normal life.      However, he quickly discovers his Manhattan apartment has unique features, including a living gargoyle named Greystone and four Guardians who have sworn to protect New York from evil. And soon Eric discovers that unscrupulous researchers have created a drug that unlocks magical powers in humans—a drug that is 100 percent fatal over time. And now something evil from Underhill has other plans and seeks to use the temporary human powers to dominate World Above.     Spirits White as Lightning: Eric Banyon has more to worry about than passing his courses at Julliard. The evil elf lord Aerune, whose love was killed by mortal men, is determined to destroy the human race. Eric's only hope of stopping Aerune is to trap him inside a magical maze, from which there is no escaping. Stopping Aerune once before was difficult. This time, the quest seems nothing less than impossible.

    Can you spot the Doctor, Rory, Amy, and the TARDIS in Ancient Rome, Victorian London, and the far future? With loads to find, these incredibly detailed images will keep you searching for hours!

    Grieving widow, Helen Morrow and her husband’s cousin, the wounded and reclusive Paul, are haunted not only by the horrors of the trenches but ghosts from another time and another conflict. The desperate voice of a young woman reaches out to them from the pages of a coded diary and Paul and Helen are bound together in their search for answers, not only to the old mystery but also the circumstances surrounding the death of Helen’s husband at Passchandaele in 1917. As the two stories become entwined, Paul and Helen will not find peace or happiness until the mysteries are solved.**This is a revised edition and includes a never before published Epilogue**

    Outranks, who are considered a danger to society, are forced to attend the Monster Show, a brutal sacrificing ritual that is broadcasted worldwide on live TV, where rebellious teens are labelled Bad Kidz or Monsters and get to fight for their lives in deadly games.To prove that you're still alive you have to scream I Am Alive every six hours. Lower your voice, and you're dead.Decca doesn't need Leo's company. She has a secret of her own. While they both can't stand each other, she will find out why she doesn't fit into any rank.Nothing will stand in her way as she has to make choices concerning love, life, staying alive, growing up, and finding out who she really is.

    A free novelette from the Elfome universe that takes place during Elfhome #3.

    Teens ranked less than Five are called Monsters and are considered a danger to society. They are forced to attend the Monster Show- a brutal, sacrificial ritual that is broadcast worldwide on live TV. IF you can survive the Monster Show, you become a Ten. That's a big IF- no one has ever become a Ten.In this Episode:Why was Decca Sedated, and Who is Leo, really? Will she survive? And is Woo alive? Who is Xitler and what are his plans with Faya? And Will Decca win? Will she kill Carnivore or will she lose like Woo?

    A heroic young woman seeks her origins as she comes of age on worlds of peril and alien mystery.  Forerunner On ancient port world planet Kuxortal, young Simsa grows up among garbage pickers who live upon the ancient ruins of a fallen galactic civilization–the Forerunners. But Simsa has always been different. Her skin is iridescent blue-black and she shares a telepathic bond with an alien pet, a bat-like zorsal, like no other. When Simsa’s mentor dies, she must scrape a poor existence from an unyielding planet. But then Thom, a star ranger, arrives from the heavens, and he leads Simsa on a path to the discovery of her origins that takes both through danger to the ultimate revelation. The truth may lie below in the ancient high tech Forerunner ruins where Simsa was first discovered as a infant, but these cavernous mazes are far from quiet and dead–and what Simsa discovers there will change her life, and perhaps galactic civilization itself, forever. Forerunner: The Second Venture Simsa has escaped the criminal guilds of Kuxortal only to find herself held prisoner by starfaring humans intent on discovering the secrets of the Forerunners contained within her. With the aid of her pet zorsal, Simsa escapes her captors and crash lands on a sandy world full of danger and mystery–another world touched by ancient Forerunner civilization. Now Simsa must escape death at alien hands while battling the spirit within her that seeks to possess her very being and transform her into something utterly inhuman. But though the ancient Forerunners may have been technologically advanced beyond comprehension, they have never reckoned with the courage and gritty determination of one young woman determined to keep her freedom and write her own destiny among the stars. About Andre Norton: “The Grand Dame of Science Fiction…”–Time“One of the all-time masters.”–Peter Straub“Andre Norton is a superb storyteller whose skill draws the reader completely into a fantastic other world…”–Chicago Tribune“Norton's renowned story-telling magic is present in abundance . . .”–Future Retrospective

    When Maria witnesses her best friend from her teenage years breaking into a house in a gated community where she’s working, she has no problem pretending to the police she didn’t see a thing. But as Luz Chaidez comes back into Maria’s life, Maria can’t help remembering the magic Luz left to look for all those years ago. Magic she may have found. Maria is curiously drawn to one of Luz’s green-hooded gang of robbers, a handsome redheaded boy who calls himself Jack Green. Soon enough, she’s venturing into the dangerous territory of robbing from the rich to give to the poor…In this deft, 22,000 word novella, acclaimed fantasist Charles de Lint brings one of the world’s most beloved tales into the modern day, transporting Robin Hood from the green wood to the barrio. Jack recasts an epic story of love and friendship, with justice at its center, in a way that readers won’t soon forget.Jack in the Green features a full-color dust jacket, and five interior b&w vignettes by longtime de Lint collaborator, Charles Vess.

    Now, in a land long-divided by war, two kings chase different dreams for their people. The Black Falcon seeks compromise, independence, and loyalty to tradition. The White Falcon longs for reunification of the Brother Realms, no matter the cost. An attack by assassins shatters a fragile peace, and caught up in the maelstrom are twin brothers: Kieryn: awkward, absentminded, bookish. When voices in his head begin to whisper of murder, Kieryn fears he’s going mad. He soon discovers, however, that he is a vessel for powers that have lain dormant in his family for generations. While his family marches to war, Kieryn must turn his back on those he loves and muster the courage to enter a forbidden world. Crossing beyond the Veil, he encounters the Elarion, the Goddess’s proud, enigmatic First Children. Among them, Kieryn is a spark that awakens ancient memory and smoldering hatred. Yet only the Elarion can help him uncover his family’s past and his hidden gift, though his efforts may cost him his sanity and his soul. Kelyn: a charming knight-in-training and his father’s ideal. Yearning to follow in his father’s footsteps, Kelyn is put to the test when war breaks between the Brother Realms. He soon finds himself an invader on foreign soil, where his preternatural foresight in battle earns him the king’s favor and a reputation as the Swiftblade. But a knight’s vows are easier spoken than kept. As the armies of the Falcon Kings meet blade to blade, lines blur between courage and madness, honor and self-delusion. In this war-torn realm where bard song seals a man’s reputation for all time, Kelyn must choose between personal glory and the lives of his countrymen. Can he become the knight his father hopes he can be, or will his actions threaten his family’s honor and the lives of thousands?

    A boy with a terrible secret. When the truth is revealed, Lauren's world comes crashing down.For once, seventeen year old lauren's life is going right. She's attending the college of her dreams, has what appears to be the perfect boyfriend, and is surrounded by her childhood friends. But her boyfriend, Tristan, grows more possessive by the day, and his temper is getting harder to keep in check. When lauren realizes Tristan is using her for her power, she has to make a choice: Tristan or her world.

    Trapped inside a body he can't control, Conor's mind is as active and alert as that of any teenage boy. On the outside, however, he's about as interactive as a lump of wood.Then he meets Annalee. She claims to be a Sidhe Princess, some kind of fairy royalty, apparently. She offers to take him into the magical realm, where her people wield the power to help him. But is she just some child-snatching lunatic psychopath, or can she be trusted? On the other hand, what's he got to lose? He soon discovers that Tir na Nog is not the benign, dreamy land of legend. Nor are its inhabitants, the Sidhe, the benevolent fairy folk of Irish mythology. To accept their help has a cost, but for someone who doesn't value his life, death is a risk worth taking. With the blood of Lugh, God of Lightning, tingling in his veins, the boy in the wheelchair must dig deep, if he is to unlock the inherited powers dormant within him. Only he can defy disgraced Sidhe-King, Bres, who seeks to avenge himself on his brethren, and subject all mankind to his tyranny. In the race to recover the legendary lost talismans of power, the Four Treasures of Eirean, before Bres gets his hands on them and becomes invincible, Conor begins to wonder just whose side Annalee is on, as her chequered past comes to light. There are other obstacles, too; Ruairi, the Chieftain's son, and worse, his own crippling self-doubt. Not that anything's going to stop him. For the first time in his life, Conor finds he is not restricted by his physical limitations. Still, it's not going to be easy. Nothing worth fighting for ever is. Book One of the Tir na Nog Trilogy begins an epic fantasy adventure which takes us back in time to the shadowy past of Ireland's long lost legend, where fairy kings and Gods walked amongst mortals, and where feats of magic, swordsmanship, and courage were customary.Here amongst the ancient stones of Newgrange and Tara, Conor discovers that anyone, even the most unlikely of us, can still be a hero."A sophisticated fairy tale of epic proportions that will appeal to children and adults alike." Jay Howard"It's Narnia meets Percy Jackson." Jason Parent"I found myself wanting to learn more about Irish folklore, and someday visit Ireland.” Laura Libricz

    This omnibus contains the first three novels of David Brin's classic science fiction series.

    He learns he and his parents are part of a secret society known as the Guardians, real-life superheroes sworn to protect the world 's most important people. As the newest Guardian in the family, Lincoln is sent to the Atlas Academy to learn how to control his new powers. Between making new friends, battling bullies and mythical creatures, and trying to survive the academy 's combat training program, Lincoln discovers someone is plotting against the Guardians and whoever it is, they re getting help from the inside. It 's up to Lincoln and his friends to unmask the traitor, but before they can, an army of rogue Guardians attacks the academy.Not all Guardians are good, and Lincoln is about to find out just how bad they can be.EDITORIAL REVIEWS: Atlas Academy is a place for fans of Harry Potter and X-Men, delivering action and exciting superpowers. - Tyler Whitesides, author of JanitorsDefenders is an adventurous tromp through superhero school that will keep you turning pages to the very end. Fasten your seat belt. This is one bus ride you won t want to miss. - David G. Woolley, author of The Promised Land series

    Zaius! A not-to-be-missed stand-alone graphic novel.

    Without cable, cell phones, or computers, she is headed for total isolation and six tedious weeks of boredom. Until the storm. A freak lightning accident has Kate waking up in 1960. But she is not herself. She's the aunt she never met but has eerily resembled her entire life. Thrust into living a dirt-poor, rural farm existence, Kate struggles to make sense of her situation - a boyfriend with a dark side, a "townie" who steals her heart, and the knowledge that 1960 is the very summer her aunt drowns in the local river. But was the drowning an accident or a suicide... or something much worse?

    Her family tries to kill her, but Celaise chooses to live, even if it means dressing herself in forbidden magics and leaving humanity behind.Now is her last chance to regain what she has lost. Celaise rescues Jerani, a warrior adorned with a sunburst of scars from a tribal ritual. Jerani fights to defend his family and their sacred cows from crystal-eyed monsters roaming the savanna. He learns to rely on Celaise's magic, she on his strength.Jerani thinks her divine, a volcano goddess. Celaise dares not confide in him. Engulfing the throngs of beasts in the inferno of her dress will loose her magic's hunger. Then the greatest threat to Jerani and everyone else she has come to care for will be herself.Available on Amazon.com.

    Having that elephant talk to her was really weird, and, as a rule, Zoe doesn't do weird. Except the thing is, when Zoe goes along on her mom's business trip to India, things get very weird, very quickly. Soon after she arrives, Zoe finds herself tagging alongside a kid named Zak, lost in a crazy city, with no money and no way home.And those are the least of Zoe's troubles. Because if she's to believe the scary-looking snake charmer guy sitting in the corner, she and Zak have been chosen -- chosen to protect some kind of mythical animal called the Ghost Leopard from who knows what.Now, the further they get into the mountains, the more crazily impossible things get. Carpets fly and statues talk and if either Zoe or Zak want to make it back to their parents, or the sixth grade, or anything even close to normal, they're going to have to make some new friends, learn some new tricks, and listen, really listen to that talking elephant. Because if they don't, the world will never be the same again.Join Zoe and Zak as they journey high into the Himalayas to a place few have been and even fewer have returned to tell about it.Live life beyond the edge.

    Teens ranked less than Five are called Monsters and are considered a danger to society. They are forced to attend the Monster Show- a brutal, sacrificial ritual that is broadcast worldwide on live TV. IF you can survive the Monster Show, you become a Ten. That's a big IF- no one has ever become a Ten.In this Episode:Will Decca, Leo, and the rest survive the Breathing Dome? Is Woo Alive? What does the Summit have in store for the Monsters? And what is the Wheel of Fortune? Who will Decca have to kill in order to save the others?

    None of them remembers coming here. And as they soon learn, “here” is like no place they’ve ever seen. Cars resemble antiques from the 1950s. There are no cell phones, no PCs. Even the spelling of words is slightly off.A compulsive liar, constantly telling fantastic stories to garner attention and approval, Mitchell can only wish this were just one more of his tall tales. But it isn’t. It’s all too real. Together, as they confront unexpected and life-threatening dangers, Mitchell and his friends must overcome their bickering and insecurities to learn what happened, where they are, and how to get back home.The answers can be found only in the mysterious little girl with the blue, hypnotic eyes. The one they had each dreamed of three nights in a row before arriving here. She is their only hope. And, as they eventually discover, they are her only hope.And time is running out.

    "The click of the camera before you die. A demon's unthinkable task. A childhood game gone horribly wrong. The nagging feeling that someone is watching your every move. A lover, a betrayer. Breakdown. Vengeance. Misplaced trust. Malice. Surprise. How many times will you soothe yourself in the dark hoping for the light? Welcome to a world hidden behind the blinds of reality. This anthology is not for the faint-hearted. The tales inside are guaranteed to rob you of sleep at night and bring you the nightmares you fear. Now, open your eyes and see..."

    Graldon, King of the Dragons, granted the human king with a gift that would help him defeat his enemies. Graldon also promised King Llian that the dragons would come to the humans’ aid should Aom-igh ever be in such danger again. Years passed, and Aom-igh remained safe and isolated from its enemies. The dragons slowly disappeared and faded into legend and myth, and people forgot magic had ever existed. When her kingdom is threatened by the Dark Country once again, the headstrong Princess Kamarie sets off on a quest to find the man who may be able to save them all: the former King’s Warrior. Traveling with her are two companions: her eccentric maid, and a squire who resents his charge to travel with and protect the princess. However, finding the legendary hero proves to be the least of their worries. Together the companions encounter more than they ever bargained for. A beautiful gatekeeper, a sword fashioned by dragons, enemies who pursue them relentlessly and hound them at every turn, and an underground world full of mythical creatures are just the beginning of their adventures. As they search for the answers to mystifying riddles and seek a way to save everything they hold dear the comrades will learn a little about courage, a lot about truth, and more about themselves than they ever imagined. But if they can succeed in their quest, they may join worlds together.

    What he wasn't expecting was for his life to change forever when he found himself in a land where he was unique; a world where humans had never existed, but where greed, intrigue and betrayal were as common as ever.An epic parallel world story exploring the intricacies of an inhuman civilization, and what that exploration can do to the explorer.

    In Cross the Stars a retired mercenary captain takes a Ulysses-like star voyage home where he must fight to regain his lover and his heritage. In Voyage, a young man comes of age as a galactic warrior in an epic “Jason and the Argonauts”-like journey to recover a powerful alien artifact.Two incandescent novels of journey and battle across the stars set in David Drake’s best-selling Hammer’s Slammers universe together for the first time in one mega-volume. In Cross the Stars, Captain Don Slade has resigned from active duty with the Slammers and headed home for what he hopes will be peaceful  retirement with his son and the woman he loves. But Slade’s road to his homeworld lies through a jungle of planets in the wildest and toughest quadrant of the galaxy. Slade has going for him the loyalty of a contingent of Slammers who have sworn to see him home. Most of all, he still possesses the wits and wily tactical ability that made him a legend among the Slammers in the first place. He’s going to need all of it, for even if he makes it through all dangers, he’ll discover Tethys is not exactly ready to welcome him home with open arms. The journey home is an Odyssey of epic proportions and Don Slade is just the Ulysses to undertake it. In Voyage, Ned Slade has a heck of a name to live up to:  that of his uncle Captain Don “Mad Dog” Slade of the legendary mercenary brigade, Hammer’s Slammers. But Ned’s life takes a turn to adventure when he crews for Lissea Doorman, a trade-ship captain who is sent by her conniving guild masters on what is supposed to be a suicide run. The crew of the good ship Swift is after an ancient alien artifact that could revolutionize star travel. The journey is long, and along the way Ned must first survive in a hard-knock universe full of forces—some very large and very-much armed-to-the-hilt—that would like nothing more than to blow him and the crew of the Swift to smithereens. And if he manages to pull through and, more importantly, if he manages to grow up and come of age as a man in the process, he may yet become the warrior and leader of warriors that is his inheritance. Jason and the Argonauts meets gritty science fiction adventure in what many argue is one of best-seller David Drake’s greatest and most compelling works.

    It might not be the safest place in the world, but when you're Retic it's the only place left.

    Quiet, peaceful, prosperous. Surely the ideal place to raise a family? For the Montgomery family, the death of their baby daughter is a mystery that medicine should be able to answer, but can't. For the Corliss family, the disappearance of their teenage son will bring many eyes to Eastbury, and spark a quite different type of mystery. What has happened to these children? Eastbury happened.

    The steam-powered metal men tore down half of Sprocketville before they were stopped. John anticipated a visit from the sheriff, not a robber with a gun who stole his heirloom crystal and then shot him in the chest for good measure. In a day filled with the unexpected, the biggest surprise of all was surviving to be interrogated, and then deputized, by legendary lawman, Wild Bill Hickok.Now John must accompany Wild Bill and track down his stolen crystal before his would-be murderer can use it to create the most powerful and deadly weapon ever known.

    To those with a keener eye it's obvious that she's a step apart—a step above. She has an easy grace, a natural beauty, and a serenity of the soul that isn't at all common in modern America. Ella is different and purposefully so, she just doesn't realize it. Nor does she realize that she is in fact a pawn in a deadly, magical game where lives and hidden kingdoms hang in the balance and the question on everyone's lips is not who is she, but what is she?To be precise, she is bait.

    The first book in the Heartfire Series, Hidden Jewel is the story of Ailill~ The beautiful, fiery Princess of the Realm. The ultimate prodigal child, the tiny Highland warrior has mastered each task set for her since birth, has been molded into the ideal future Queen of the Fae. Destined to rule the Fae as well as their mortal counterparts, all of whom share the same ancient Celtic bloodlines, Ailill must overcome a great many obstacles along the way. Tiernan, the firstborn Prince of Alba, has captured her heart but Ailill soon learns that she is destined for much more, that she must cross over the mystical barriers of time and that her heart Must be divided to save her Tribe.

    That's why they're known as the Misfit Menagerie. The four oddball animals live on Mr. Mumford's farm, where they play games and do tricks for neighborhood children. It's an idyllic existence--until a cruel circus owner named Claude Magnificence comes to town, and life as they know it ends. The Menagerie is snatched away to a traveling circus, where Claude and his buffoonish sidekicks force them to perform death-defying tricks. At the circus, Smalls and his friends only have slop to eat. They live in filthy, cramped cages. And they're bullied by a rough band of trained animals called the Lifers. It's worse than awful--it's despicable! But then young Bertie Magnificence comes along, and he and Smalls form the kind of friendship that inspires hope. They decide that something needs to change...and fast. With the help of an acrobat named Susan, Smalls and Bertie set in motion a heroic plan. Can a lonely boy and a misfit bear hoodwink cruel Claude and save an entire circus of captive animals?

    She's dealt with lions, tigers and bears in the most remote areas of Earth. This time, she's on Elfhome, a parallel world of elves and magic. This time, she's been hired to stop a wyvern the size of a 747. This time, she's in way over her head. Two hundred miles from the nearest human, deep in virgin forest full of magical animals, with only the elf warrior Stormsong as her native guide, Kate races to keep the crew building the new railroad from becoming a literal movable feast.

    He keeps his city safe. And his silver hollow-points and back-from-the-dead abilities take out any kind of unnatural threat. But between this bad-ass bounty hunter and rescuing the most helpless of victims stands the one evil he can't defeat. . . For Deacon Chalk, loyalty is worth dying for. And now that something has taken were-spider Charlotte's un-hatched children and one of his closest friends, he'll tear up the human and supernatural underworlds to find them. But with his allies stripped away by an invincible Yakuza hit man and time running out, Deacon must face down the most ancient of demonic entities. And his last hope means surrendering to the inner darkness waiting hungrily to consume him . . . Praise for Blood and Bullets"Deacon Chalk kicks monster ass!" --Faith Hunter, author of Raven Cursed"James R. Tuck's debut novel delivers a fast-paced, action-filled story that kicks off his new series with a bang. If Dirty Harry and Anita Blake had a love child, he would be Deacon Chalk." --Jenna Maclaine, author of Bound by Sin26,700 Words.

    It has but one purpose: to lure Aincor to his doom.The ebook is availabe at

     Fifty years in the future, in the sleek modern city of Bangalore, a scientist working on revolutionary bioengineering techniques has been discovered inside his own locked home, his body converted into a neat toroidal package of meat. It's up to Police Sub-Inspector Ferron to unearth the victim's complicated past and solve the crime, despite the best efforts of the mastermind behind the murder, aliens beaming signals from the Andromeda Galaxy, her overbearing mother, and an adorable parrot-cat who is the only witness.

    Never tell them of our existence. And never kill one of our own. For time immemorial, these laws were adhered to……except when they were not. Delve into the secret history of the Old Races and discover the truth behind Saint George and the dragons, the origins of the mysterious selkie race, and the djinn betrayals that shape the world of the Negotiator Trilogy.These stories and more are revealed in this collection of five Old Races short stories!

    The story was nominated for multiple awards and is now recognized as one of its author’s signature accomplishments.Over the years, Shepard has revisited this world in a number of brilliant, independent narratives that have illuminated the Dragon’s story from a variety of perspectives. This loosely connected series reached a dramatic crossroads in the astonishing novella, “The Taborin Scale”. The Dragon Griaule now gathers all of these hard to find stories into a single generous volume. The capstone of the book—and a particular treat for Shepard fans—is “The Skull,” a new 40,000 word novel that advances the story in unexpected ways, connecting the ongoing saga of an ancient and fabulous beast with the political realities of Central America in the 21st century. Augmented by a group of engaging, highly informative story notes, The Dragon Griaule is an indispensable volume, the work of a master stylist with a powerful—and always unpredictable—imagination.

    But she’s just been plucked from her family’s farm and dropped into a military camp where no girl has ever served as a soldier before. Expected to fulfill the training required of all seventeen year old males her age, Fiona is forced to rely on her format, a group of twelve teammates. With one imposing leader, an alien, some troublemakers, and a handful of misfits for mates, can she find her place? A teen science fiction and romance, Fledge is the first novel in the Fiona Frost Trilogy.

    It's an exciting adventure featuring Emmy's parents and the origins of the second dragon egg that appears in The Dragon in the Sea (Dragon Keepers #5).Praise for The Dragon in the Sock Drawer:"Funny and wonderfully written--a tall-tale adventure sure to grab young readers."--Mary Pope Osborne"This novel, with its unique and modern twists, is a great addition to the dragon genre for younger readers."--School Library Journal

     This is a short story set in the world of the series Erdemen Honor. It is a prequel/introduction to an upcoming novel and takes place several generations after The King's Sword. It is 6166 words.

    A sociopath kills a young boy, a quiet teen, and then an entire family before turning his attention upon Pavel Trusnik, an elderly shut-in from across the street. Loneliness can drive a normal man to madness, and Pavel Trusnik is not a normal man. After committing a crime that leaves him shunned and isolated, Pavel has only the fading memories of his tragically flawed life, and his one great love. When the violent sociopath sets his murderous desires upon Pavel, only an ancient order that knows Pavel's secrets can intervene. But for the isolated old man, the vicious intruder is the only company he has had in decades...

    Nick Reynolds with US Cyber Command soon learns that former KGB agent Nikolai Chervanko, who has long dreamt of rebuilding his beloved Soviet Union, could be behind the massacre, with something even bigger planned. Lacking evidence linking Chervanko, however, outrage over the attack soon forces the United States to declare war on China. With no means to stop another destructive cyber attack and prevent a nuclear conflict, Nick finds help from an unlikely source from Area 51. Will Nick be able to avert a global holocaust? Find out in Cyber Space!

    For years they have lived invisibly alongside ordinary city-dwellers, with their own allegiances, their dreams and deaths, loves and wars. Bur the Narrows are closing, and nobody knows why.Andy Sumner lives a perfectly conventional life, but a chance encounter with a wounded and pursued Bex leads him into a world where the very laws of space and time are malleable.What secrets were inscribed in the energy meridians of his own flesh by the dark figure that now hunts them both?The search for answers takes Andy and Bex far beyond the spheres of reality that either of them have know to a confrontation with evil, upon which hangs the fate of an infinity of possible worlds.

    Can fairy legend prove stronger than parents, prejudice and the inevitable parting that must come with summer’s end?

    From her bus driver, who is about to lose his job, to the principal who fears a revolt by his teaching staff, Jesse is the object of their anger and frustration.Ashton is crumbling away. The bad economy is crushing the small town and the new town manager, Jesse's father, is making her life hell by cutting jobs left and right. He's untouchable in his high offices, but she isn't. She has to walk amongst the friends and family of those who are out of work because of him and she must bear the brunt of their rage. However there is something worse than being hated and friendless in a new school: the killer living next door. Ashton is home to its very own un-convicted serial killer. Flaunting the police, the killer roams the forests in search of his next victim, looking for that 'special someone'. This year that someone is Jesse Clarke.Stalked by a ferocious murderer and set against an entire town, Jesse's life becomes a torturous hell that only grows worse when she falls for the one boy who can't possibly love her without killing her.

    Her family is one of the Lost; time travelers who have no power over their journeys. Hopelessly old fashioned and yet more modern than most girls, Sonnet speaks several languages and takes care of her motley crew back home by working in a coffee shop and playing guitar. Over time, the Lost leave behind those they love and pick up new characters along the way. In twenty-first century America, Sonnet meets Emme, a Lost young woman with a questionable line of work, Luke, a mysterious photographer, and Israel, a young doctor . But no one can take the place of Sonnet's sister, Rose, who was left behind as a baby in the fifteenth century. The ghost of her beckons from each time and place; but what's real and what isn't? Is Rose Gray trying to contact her before it's too late?A ghost story with a sci-fi, Gothic romance twist, Shadows Gray will keep you up at night, wondering: is the redemptive power of love enough to change history?

    Now she has to take over her father’s seat on a secret supernatural council, lead troops into battle against the ferocious Goblin Lord, and try not to get herself killed in the process.To make matters worse, Lisa thinks she may be falling in love with the socialite werewolf who was supposed to protect her.Whoever said growing up was easy, clearly didn’t have to save the world every other week.

    Neoptolemus has claimed the daughter of the now-deceased King Priam of Troy as his love prize. After she rejects his advances, he angrily contrives a story that dooms the ill-fated Polyxena. She knows what she must do to survive, but unfortunately, she cannot change her destiny.Polyxena is mortified that Neoptolemus has fallen in love with her, for this means she must die at the commemoration rites for his father. As Polyxena prepares for the inevitable, she reflects over the past year, relating her thoughts to Aphrodite, the goddess she believes is responsible for orchestrating the events that have beleaguered her. As she tries to make sense of it all, Polyxena converses with all the well-known personages associated with the Trojan myth-Achilles, Agamemnon, Cassandra, Helen, and many others-while seeking solace in the hope that her existence has not been futile.In this moving story of forbidden love, a young woman unwittingly becomes intertwined in the romantic legacy surrounding Troy, embarking on a journey of self-discovery that leads her to a surprising conclusion about the life she has lived.

    When Angels Cry: Bound in a symbiosis to the entities of the Starfire crystal, Shartrael Padina is one of four Keepers protecting their power. When the Shirukan, elite soldiers of the Shirat Empire, attack, her mate is killed protecting her escape through a portal to Earth. There she must stay to protect her unborn child and the Starfire, but she hasn't escaped the Shirukan. A Turn of Curses: Nineteen year old Selina has a life many would love-praised, served, and spoiled. The only problem is she didn't choose that life, because it comes with a heavy price. She will soon die, like all Healers, when the mark of Y'dom completes its pattern around her neck, and hers is nearly complete. She has one chance for adventure, one that could save her life. At The Water's Edge: After falling overboard from her tour boat during a squall, Sara Adams wakes up on a deserted island in the Bermuda Triangle. However, the island isn't as deserted as she first thinks. A handsome stranger brings her food that couldn't possibly grow there; but he always disappears at night and when it rains. Ancient forces and her fear of the ocean stand in the way of satisfying her heart.

    "Just give me one story to follow!" you screamed. Well...your request was heard. This book strips away all those other pesky tales and gives you 18 chapters of The Geeks!Kevin, Mike, Darrin, and Cary thought that a zombie apocalypse would be the coolest thing ever. They were wrong.Follow four self-admitted zombie geeks as the unthinkable happens and proves to be more of a nightmare than any of them could imagine.This is a compilation of the first three books in the DEAD series: Dead: The Ugly Beginning, Dead: Revelations, and Dead: Fortunes & Failures. Each special edition also contains close to 10,000 words of additional material requested by YOU...the readers! This special edition allows you to sink into a DEAD world with your favorite people and not be "distracted" by those long absences as other stories intrude and get in the way. A special edition has been released for all three of the story lines that exist in the DEAD books--DEAD: Vignettes, DEAD: Steve's Story are also expanded editions of the stories from the first three books in the series.Book 1: DEAD: The Ugly BeginningBook 2: DEAD: RevelationsBook 3: DEAD: Fortunes & FailuresBook 4: DEAD: WinterBook 5: DEAD: Siege & SurvivalBook 6: DEAD: ConfrontationBook 7: DEAD: RebornBook 8: DEAD: Darkness Before DawnBook 9: DEAD: Spring (Summer 2014)Book 10 DEAD: Reclamation (Winter 2014)

    Ancient rivals are scattered, friendships are broken, and the dragons, djinn, selkies, vampires and gargoyles are beginning to step out of the shadows and into the light.But the new world may not be what they expect. Dragonlord Janx faces more than he bargained for when human magic interferes with his own. Half-vampire Ursula Hopkins is only starting to understand what she may have unleashed by awakening her brethren, and Margrit Knight herself still has debts to pay after the death of a djinn…Watch the aftermath unfold in these five new stories of the Old Races!

    He’s not a real Prince at all. Still, he isn’t about to pass up a chance to meet Cadence, who it’s rumored can please beyond imagination in bed.Cadence turns out to be more than Dominic bargained for, both in and out of the bedroom. When he realizes Ethan, one of the Royal Gardeners, has worshipped her from afar for years, he invites the servant to join them in the Princess’s bedchamber.But what happens when Dominic’s true identity is revealed, and the King and Queen find out their daughter has bedded a servant?Be Warned: menage sex (MFM), anal sex, spanking.

    It’s sent to a US lab where it emits an Alien Retrograde Infectious Amnesia virus. No one is immune and forget everything from now back at the rate of a year per week. Society breaks down as people forget where they live, how to do their jobs, etc. Small groups realizing what is happening isolate themselves. The crew on the ISS find a second case and bring it to an isolated group in North Wales.***ARIA won the P&E Readers' Poll for best science fiction of 2012.***

    His father is a werewolf, and his mother is a weretiger. As he reaches puberty, he eagerly awaits his First Shift and finding out just what is his animal form. What powerful animal will complete him? Much to his disappointment, after going through the agony of his First Shift, Rafe discovers that he is not a wolf, tiger, or bear. He is not even a coyote or raptor, forms considered perhaps less prestigious in the tribe, but still acceptable. No, Rafe is a wererat, the only wererat in anyone’s memory. Events work out to drive Rafe away from the tribe, to live out in the world at large. When he finally comes back for a visit, the tribe comes under attack from a group dedicated to eradicate all shifters from the face of the earth. The question is whether there is anything Rafe can do to help his tribe survive. Does he have value in a tribe of powerful shifters, or is exile the proper place for a genetic regression such as him?

    She made her escape after being sold into slavery, and found herself the hero of a mounting revolution as well as the guardian of a Quetzalcoatl who accompanies her into battle. Ursa Kane is a story of adventure and bravery, but it's more. As Danielle Kane's quest continues, she questions societal conventions, class systems, and the meaning of freedom.

    But when a star ship arrives carrying Johnny’s original species, humans–humans who seek to exploit the People for their own ends–Johnny is forced to choose between loyalty to the creatures he considers his family, and the need to reconnect with his long lost heritage.Breed to Come:  On a distant future Earth, humans have polluted the planet and departed, leaving their pets behind to inherit a blasted world.  But from that devastated past, a new breed of intelligence arises: the catlike People.  Now humans return and the People are in no mood to deal once again with the “demons” who abandoned them to fate so long ago.

    In A Legacy of Stars, Danielle Ackley-McPhail delves into those same depths as humanity ventures out into the complexity of space.New worlds...dangers...marvels... Unearthly landscapes and beings that transcend alien. The conflicts of man versus, well... everything, including man. The bittersweet triumph of survival out among the stars.Explore the harsh realities and boundless possibilities of mankind let loose on the greater universe. Pirates and gypsies, elite armed forces and scientific pioneers, all faced with the horror, wonder, and unexpected challenges that life in space has to offer. Pitch battles, political intrigues, military conquest, wondrous discoveries... glimpse what it is to be human, or not, in the technological age, beyond the bounds of humanity's cradle.

    Except for the Midwestern ma-and-pa diner that somehow keeps winning the coveted fifth star over his own top-notch restaurants. The stubborn owner refuses to sell and beats him year after year. Infuriated, Yiorgos accepts the man’s risky bet, never knowing the secret to Remy’s success. Until it’s too late. When he slips on the ring he won along with the diner, Yiorgos activates a curse that spreads decay through his body like a cancer. Only someone of Remy’s blood can stop his zombie transformation, but the man died soon after losing his restaurant. Luckily, he did have one lone daughter. The plump, frumpy kitchen witch ought to be easy pickings for a playboy like Yiorgos Michelopoulos. But one taste of her Death By Chocolate cake might just be the death of him. Devastated by the loss of her father, the family signet ring and their restaurant, Claire Remy’s only hope for supporting her mother is to earn a teaching spot at the Wizard Council’s Academy. Without the family signet ring, she must retain her virginity or lose her power entirely. Which makes the gorgeous Greek a very dangerous man.

    Her handling of relations with the Quurzod lead to a battle that causes the Ivoire’s anacapa drive to malfunction, stranding the ship in foldspace. Mae can’t remember what she did wrong on the mission: all she knows is that she’s one of the few survivors. If she doesn’t recall it, she won’t be able to prevent another disaster when the Ivoire escapes foldspace. If the Ivoire escapes foldspace. Because what no one talks about—and everyone fears—is that the Ivoire is becalmed…forever.One of the untold stories in Kristine Kathryn Rusch’s award-winning “Diving” universe, “Becalmed” stands alone—yet answers questions long-time readers might have about the history of the Fleet.“Becalmed” by Kristine Kathryn Rusch was first published in Asimov’s SF Magazine, April/May, 2011.

    Her past is a mystery, and her future is even more uncertain. She can’t recall why she had been taken from her parents and so she’s left with nothing but an empty hole where her childhood should have been. When she awakens from her nightmares, she’s left with terrible, violent images, as well as a boy whose face is oddly familiar, yet can’t be placed. Scared and alone, Chantal begins to confide in an imaginary friend – a shadow in the shape of a man who stands in the corner of her room. She is comforted when she believes he listens to her. On her eighteenth birthday, Chantal is forced to leave her foster home. She moves to New York City, but the start of her new life doesn’t begin as smoothly as she’d hoped. In this environment, she faces a whole new set of challenges. One night at a subway station, Chantal meets a young boy who runs away from her, and she’s compelled to follow him down into the tunnels. But this Rabbit Hole reveals a world where reality is a nightmare. Her dreams are clues to her future, and her life becomes twisted and dangerous when she learns that things that go bump in the night are not just in fairy tales and childhood stories.Note: This is an alternate cover edition for ASIN B007ZXKDOS.

    The USS Encinitas, the first attack submarine crewed by both men and women, stalks the Crescent Moon, a renegade Iranian sub armed with nuclear-tipped missiles. But another predator hides aboard the American sub, a murderer who has already left a trail of dead women behind on shore. While the crew of the Encinitas plays a deadly game of hide-and-seek with the Crescent Moon, NCIS agent Linus Schag must discover the killer’s identity before his – or her – blood lust leads to the submarine’s total destruction.

    A new adult paranormal romance.Roses & Thorns, a Rose Trilogy short story, take us through Rose and Christian's whirlwind romance as they build the relationship that will see them through the difficult times that lie ahead.

    You never know what a wizard will do, so it’s best to be prudent. Concocting a nasty poppet might get you hunted by a wolf. Turning spring to winter will certainly get you turned into a grasshopper and fed to a frog. But whatever you do, don’t ever shapeshift into a cat and eat a wizard’s crow.Strange and full of shadows, woods are a staple of every good tale. Trees hide things, wondrous, tricky things best to avoid. Witches like forests, where they wait for wily lovers and knit spells with ash needles. And if you're lucky, you’ll find an ancient tree that knows many wicked things indeed.It’s a good bet that if you encounter a god, you’ll be changed in some way. But once, in the dawn of a forest grove, it was the other way around. It’s also generally wise not to awaken a sleeping god, especially a warrior the world has forgotten. And of course, falling in love with a god is, well, daft for a start.Some of these stories inspired my novels, others were inspired by them, and some take place in the same worlds. This collection also includes Raven of the West, a novella that takes place in the world featured in the Chronicles of Ealiron.Many of these stories were originally published in fantasy/scifi magazines; the first edition ebook of Wizards, Woods and Gods was published by Wild Child Publishing, 2012; and Raven of the West was published as Water Dark by Wild Child Publishing, 2013.

    His mission is to investigate weapons to help humanity turn the tide against their ancient nemesis…the Cenknife. Vicious aliens, the Cenknife seek to conquer the universe and enslave humanity.When Turtan discovers just such a weapon, a beautiful, seductive woman stands in his way. He must use all his skills, abilities, and courage to meet the crisis and save untold billions of lives.

    Cenerentola. Cendrillon. Ashenputtle. Chernuska. Cinderella. These are just a few of the names of one of the best known and most beloved fairy tale characters in the world. The tale is known in countless variations throughout Europe and Asia as well as Africa and the Americas. The tales share the familiar story of a persecuted heroine who finally triumphs over oppressed circumstances through her virtue and the assistance of a magical helper. Whatever name she is given, the character has inspired countless generations and remains a vibrant part of modern popular culture. A discussion of the Cinderella Cycle is provided in the introduction, explaining how seemingly unrelated tales are considered part of the Cinderella family. A brief history of Cinderella scholarship is also included, detailing why the tale was once considered the key to understanding how stories were disseminated around the world. Building upon Marian Roalfe Cox's seminal work with Cinderella over 120 years ago, this collection offers more than 150 full length Cinderella tales and over 200 summaries of other variants from around the world. Some of the tales are new translations, a few appearing for the first time in English. Many of the stories are clearly related to each other, but with some the relationship is less obvious. Whether you are a student of folklore or an armchair enthusiast, this anthology offers a diverse array of tales with a unifying theme that both entertains and educates, all gathered for the first time in one impressive collection.

    But one well-placed bomb devastates her plans and leaves her on the run and in a fight for her life and her heart. Caught between wild allure and primal need, Cassie is torn by the desire to submit to both of them.Two enemies on a mission.The sexy Fae lord Helcyon wants to protect her, but his pleasure leaves her quaking at the loss of control. The dangerous Wizard Jacob wants to save her, but his war with the Fae frightens her even as he captivates her with passion.With her enemies closing in, Jacob and Helcyon must challenge everything they’ve ever known to work together or risk losing her.

    The people who find her give her the name Samantha Young. Samantha is then introduced to a town full of children like her with no memory of their lives before arriving on the island. Samantha soon sets her mind to finding out who she is and where she came from.

    Infamous outlaw Mad Dog McCall, stuck in the city jail, must fight for his life to escape. The lonely, intelligent, and snarky Karen must make horrific sacrifices to survive the night against the growing army of the dead.Together they set upon a journey of biblical proportions, fighting against the living and the infected, hoping against hope to find a safe haven in the middle of Hell.The Old West can't fathom the zombie hoard that is about to consume it.

    J. F. Lewis has arrived on the urban fantasy scene and he’s taking no prisoners in Welcome to the Void, SFBC’s exclusive 2-in-1 omnibus! Sure, he has vampires, werewolves, demons and other paranormal creatures you’ve come across in other stories, but they come from the wrong side of the tracks, they are not faithful to their partners, they kill indiscriminately...and they’re exactly the kind of monsters they should be; no sparkling vampires here, that’s for sure!Welcome to Void City, where we first meet Eric in Staked: Strip club owner by night, vampire by, er, also night. He just turned his hot human girlfriend into a vamp—but now he’s got the hots for her younger sister. He has no memory of how he became a vampire in the first place. And when he kills a werewolf in self-defense, the whole pack comes howling for blood....In ReVamped, Eric is in a bad way following the explosive conclusion of his battle with the big bad wolves. A little magic helps him rise up from the wreckage—but it also forces him to confront one of Void City’s most powerful demons (literally), as well as the demons of his own past (figuratively)....With sick humor, depraved characters, graphic violence and questionable morals on display throughout, there’s just so much wrong with this series—but that’s exactly why it’s so much fun to read! You will have to finish just one more chapter, perhaps one more hour, just keep on going and enjoy the read.

    Her father, ex-dragon jockey Wynn Westerfield, will forever hold a grudge against wizards. Because it was a wizard who caused his career-ending accident, Minna struggles to hide her incredible magical powers from him...and from the world.Evan Valentine has attended a prestigious magical academy on scholarship, although he's managed to conceal that fact from everyone. He's on the fast track to success with his apprenticeship to wizard Thaddeus Bartholomew, and Evan's carefully constructed life doesn't include a certain beautiful girl whose powers rival his own.Although Minna and Evan don't realize it yet, their destinies have been intertwined for years. When a threat arises, Minna and Evan must travel to another reality to retrieve a dangerous magical artifact. Can Minna and Evan learn to work together, despite their mutual mistrust? Or will their explosive romantic attraction lead to disaster?

    A noted psychologist and lifelong religious skeptic is scolded by tiny statues of the Virgin Mary. Remedios, a recent college graduate, explores the Afro-Puerto Rican spirituality of her grandparents and discovers a history book that is writing itself. Dissident geologist Pilar Quiñones is shut out of a shelter during a bio-chemical attack and winds up in a forest presided over by a joyful Devil. In the story cycle “The Wives,” we hear from the exiled ex-wife of a 20th-century revolutionary-turned-dictator, the abandoned wife of an 18th-century pirate, the restless wife of a 10th-century priest, and the deposed, indignant wife of God himself. Veering between the realistic and the fabulist, these tales might best be described as whimsical-realist or magic-absurdist.

    Those innocent might escape by a hair’s breath, if they’re lucky. Then again, they might not.Just Shadows is a collection of disquieting stories; some horror, others suspense, ranging from classic haunted houses to murder to the apocalypse, and everything in between. Root for the victim or villain, its up to you. Justice is blind, and sometimes the sword falls where you’d least expect.The shadows are waiting for you. Dare you step into the darkness and be judged?

    Matchless prose to fire your imagination! Offering 13 wonderous works of fiction from Joanne Anderton, Adam Browne, Sue Bursztynski, Brenda Cooper, Katherine Cummings, Thoraiya Dyer, Kathleen Jennings, Dave Luckett, Ian McHugh, Sean McMullen, Ripley Patton, Rob Porteous and Anna Tambour.

    For peace of mind and to escape the crime and decay caused by these programs many have fled to more expensive neighborhoods or into the suburbs where they assume rents or mortgages that strain the limits of their budgets. Such is the plight of the American Middle. We are hardworking, self-reliant and prepared to stand our ground-on our own two feet! We are not part of the extreme political left or right. We are simply straight up Americans, the backbone of this nation and the majority of the voting population. We still fly the flag and we know to cross our hearts when the National Anthem is played. We do not have time to ponder international affairs or other matters that don't affect our daily lives. It's all that we can do to keep up with the domestic problems that are constantly created by those in Washington D.C. The current tax system is a mess; it should not take the use of accountants and attorneys to pay Uncle Sam his due. Only our spending should be taxed, not our earnings and savings. The less we spend, the less we pay and only necessities such as groceries should be exempt. Herman Cain's 9-9-9 plan sounds pretty good to most of us-it's simplistic and fair to all... ...Governing America is a nightmare and more than any one person or body of 535 can understand let alone us. Therefore we try to send only the best to represent us. We depend on you to ensure that the taxes collected through our sweat and blood is used in a proper and judicious manner. Yet you spend it so liberally. In the most trying financial period in almost a century, it is the voice of everyday Americans-not elected officials, not corporate CEOs, not powerful lobbying groups-that can change the current system. For Andrew Miles and many citizens like him, the time to raise that voice for change is now. Tired of profligate spending, sick of watching handouts benefit the few while the many suffer, and angry over the gross mismanagement occurring in our government, Americans are making themselves heard in a way that hasn't been seen since the Vietnam War protests of the 1960s. And just like that era, the terrible effects of poor decision-making need to be laid bare and made clear. A grassroots examination of the societal effects from a criminal justice perspective that offers a street-level view of the problems created by an out-of-control government and an overwhelmingly liberal judiciary, Andrew Miles' analysis is a patriotic call to arms to reclaim our country's greatness and forego the free-and often counterproductive-ride too often offered in too many sectors. A police officer for the past seventeen years, his blunt, factual view is based on thousands of hours working on America's streets. Focusing on the human impact as well as the fiscal, Miles provides a new side of the debate concerning entitlement programs. With concern and compassion he explores the relationship between poverty and incarceration in the American criminal justice system, how it leads to imprisonment rather than rehabilitation, and the consequences and economic effect it has on the rest of the country. It is, in effect, a mirror of the bailouts of corporate giants, merely creating a system of handouts wherein the cycle repeats and the burden is placed squarely on those who form the backbone of America: the middle class. A healthy dose of reality and hope, Miles' no-nonsense polemic is a cold shock to an American system desperately in need of it. Covering a well-rounded series of topics that address the current state of the prison and government aid cycles thoroughly and thoughtfully, he takes his analysis to the crucial final step of providing possible solutions. An empowering exploration that is sure to change the way you look at our country, Good Morning Uncle Sam is a clarion call for reform and return to the greatness upon which America was fou