However, he still has a chance to win back his throne. The next man or woman to hatch a dragon automatically becomes the ruler. Each member of the royal family is gifted with a dragon egg, but it is the work of a lifetime to hatch it.The first time Corvus touches his dragon egg, he receives an odd notification: He has found a soulbound item and is tasked with an epic quest to hatch it... but only if he can walk the winding path of the dragon mage.Armed with notifications, skill increases, and levels only he can see, Corvus is determined to hatch his dragon.

    Bjarki Bloodhand and Tor Hildarsdottir are journeying south into Saxony. Their destination is the Irminsul, the One Tree that links the Nine Worlds of the Middle-Realm. In this most holy place, they hope to learn how to summon their animal spirits so they can enter the ranks of the legendary berserkir: the elite frenzied fighters of the North.One Christian kingKarolus, newly crowned King of the Franks, has a thorn in his side: the warlike Saxon tribes on his northern borders who shun the teachings of the Church, blasphemously continuing to worship their pagan gods.An epic battle for the soul of the NorthThe West’s greatest warlord vows to stamp out his neighbours’ superstitions and bring the light of the True Faith to the Northmen – at the point of a sword. It will fall to Bjarki, Tor and the men and women of Saxony to resist him in a struggle for the fate of all Europe.

    A dashing dragon rider in the right place at the wrong time. And an unlikely pirate captain with nothing left to lose.Being a dragon rider is not in Anakisha’s plans. And Anakisha’s stubborn. She’s not giving up her dreams anytime soon.When Anakisha’s brother is murdered by a gang, she joins the Night Wings, a team of local vigilantes, and takes to the streets to avenge him. With a soft spot for defending underdogs, she’s found her niche.The Night Wing’s leader is the dreamy golden-haired son of the village arbitrator — a fine catch. If she can impress his father, she can marry him and improve her family’s fortune. But the underbelly of Fieldhaven is rife with politics and deceit. Although Anakisha is good with a bow and a dagger, she’s not always the best judge of character…And her plans do not include a dragon.But then, the King’s Rider appears on his sleek onyx dragon.And a bloodthirsty pirate captain rises to power, spreading terror on the Naobian Sea.Leaving Anakisha torn between her dream and her duty…

    Unrelenting assassins. Conspiracies abound.Two queens.One rules by fear, her citizens laboring to fund the lavish lifestyle of the wizard class. The other believes in justice and compassion, earning her the love of her subjects...and the enmity of her wizard peers.Both will die.In one wizardom, a secret rebellion brews. A hero to the people rises, fueled by a mysterious sorcerer's blood magic. But at what cost?Conspiracies and assassins lurk in every shadow, threatening the throne of another nation. The scheming wizard behind it will stop at nothing to claim the crown. Yet, even he is a pawn.What force is behind it all? What is their endgame? Read God King Rising and discover for yourself.From Jeffrey L. Kohanek, author of the bestselling Fate of Wizardoms saga comes a new series in the same world. Download God King Rising and embark on an adventure rife with intrigue, schemes, and stunning revelations.

    Jam-packed with stories of magical quests and talking animals, golden chests that turn into palaces and encounters with terrifying Water Spirits, there’s no end to the adventure in these books! Utkin’s striking art style takes inspiration from classic mid-century Disney animation, drawing readers in for a colorful journey even if they have no familiarty with Russian mythology.Story Locale: RussiaSeries Overview: This series uses Russian folklore to tell contemporary fantasy adventure stories featuring lush, vibrant illustrations.

    Howard's legendary barbarian's days are numbered in an allnew saga, and Conan's destiny is forever changed!Conan the Barbarian (2019) 1-12

    Skye has only ever known pain and solitude since waking up with neither memories or magic. Hunted for being a Ruler in a time when they are scarce, she has survived in the wilds near the Rim, always on the run from the rest of her kind. Only starvation could draw her close to a village, but when a chance encounter and a bit of bad luck launch her into the arms of a man whose soul is bonded to hers, hiding who she is may no longer be possible.Ilyas is a hunted man. Wanted for killing the last High Queen of Vine, he is plagued by his past of wholesale slaughter. He never wanted another Queen, and certainly not a half-feral, distrustful girl who gave up on the Fae a long time ago. Unfortunately, Soulbonds are not so easily walked away from, no matter how hard they both may want to, especially when trapped together in a cave with a pack of Feral Fae right outside.With long-held enmities breaking out between the besieged villagers and all their lives on the line, Ilyas and Skye must learn to work together and trust each other if they want to survive.

    Danger thrills her. But magic always has a price.Twenty years have passed since the Darkmage was destroyed and the war between mages ended. For Lira Astor, the single living heir to the Darkmage, escaping her name is impossible. People still fear what is long dead, and they see in her the rise of another dangerous mage with deadly ambition. Desperate to claw her way free of her grandfather’s shadow, to make her own name amongst the world of mages, Lira is willing to do whatever it takes. Even if that means joining the secretive rebel group looking to restore his vision.Survival is a lesson Lira learned early and often, yet when she is abducted and held prisoner in a deadly game of cat and mouse, she finds herself facing a nemesis she may be no match for. Forced to band together with unlikely allies who challenge everything she believes about what it means to be a mage, she will have to rely on every bit of ruthlessness she possesses.Because the war may only just be beginning……and Lira Astor intends to come out on top.

    Appendix N also explores and contextualizes the ambitious lyrical excursions that helped set the adventurous tone and dank, dungeon-crawling atmospheres of fantasy roleplay as we know it today.Including tales by Poul Anderson, Frank Brunner, Ramsey Campbell, Lin Carter, Lord Dunsany, Robert E. Howard, Tanith Lee, Fritz Leiber, H. P. Lovecraft, David Madison, Michael Moorcock, C. L. Moore, Fred Saberhagen, Clark Ashton Smith, Margaret St. Clair, Jack Vance, Manly Wade Wellman.

    

    Excoriated Hearts. Terror and Horror Sublime. The twin princesses Oda and Honey are as different as night and day. Oda is a child of the dark, obsessed with cruelty and death. Honey is as sweet as her name, filled with goodwill and compassion. It is therefore a remarkably revolting twist of fate when the royal astrologer orders Oda to be married to the mild-mannered King Armand, while Honey is betrothed to King Barbus of Gutgirt, the most brutal man in the world, who tears peasants apart with his bare hands and keeps his murdered brides' bodies on display in his own bloody chamber. As the twins strive to wrest back their lives from the cruel hand of fate, they embark on a journey of self discovery that will twist them in unimaginable ways - and perhaps bare the secrets of their innermost selves. At the centre of their struggles, shining balefully over all, is the Crimson Crown of Gutgirt, a relic of terrible mystery and demonic power, whose secrets hold the key to salvation - and everlasting doom. The Crimson Crown is a Punk AF fantasy story set in the Aeon of Chaos. It contains graphic sex, violence, and disturbing material, and is not intended for the squeamish or the easily offended.

     Yet soon, she rises from her sorrow; for it is the only way to silence the voices in her head. Dark souls exist in this world, this she learns firsthand. Those that are responsible for much of her grief.It soon becomes her life's mission to seek out these crones, these monster’s that prey on the innocent. Her only salvation is to be a glimmer of hope to those in need. She’s a dark angel who sings her song in the moonlight!"

    From dark fantasy to sword-and-sorcery, heroic fantasy to weird history, here is a magic bagful of mystic trips and fantastic adventures. Avenging warriors defy the grip of death, wizards wander between the worlds, and savage hordes storm the gates of elder cities. Weird sorcery twists the fabric of reality, strange creatures run wild, and swords ring like thunder in the storm of battle. Eleven unforgettable excursions into the boundless realms of weird fantasy.

    These stories are the real thing, crammed with sword-swinging action, dark sorceries, dread, and ferocious monsters—and they hurtle forward at a headlong pace.The fourth issue of Tales From the Magician’s Skull continues the great material that we put in place with the previous issues. This issue contains 8 new stories by some amazing talent!Here are the stories in the fourth issue:Guardian of the Broken Gem by John C. HockingBenhus wondered what he could expect if they took him alive. Torture and interrogation, probably. They’d pry the fact that he worked for the King from him and that would seal his death warrant. He squeezed the hilt of the white dagger and wondered how many of them he could kill before they took him down.On Death Seed Island by Adrian ColeThe cloud writhed gently, as if shifting in a breeze, though the air in the grove was very still. In a moment it had formed itself into a distinctive shape and the men drew back in alarm. It was a human figure, hunched, its face a blur, save for the eyes and mouth.Masks of Silence by James EngeThe glass cages were full of… things. Not people, but parts of people. They were moving—they were alive: meaty throbbing hearts, shiny pulsating strips of liver, fingers crawling like inchworms, feet flopping like fish. “There is a part of hell that’s supposed to be like this,” Deor remarked.Cage of Honor by James StoddardWithout hesitation, he sent his knife whistling through the air, striking the witch full in the throat. Ignoring her, he caught the woman in his arms, and she was everything to him all at once, everything he ever wanted.The Witch’s Hound by C. L. WernerIn a burst of supernatural speed, the dog-ape lunged at Oba. It drove its hairy body beneath the sweep of his sword and drove its shoulder into his midriff in a maneuver that was more tackle than pounce. The samurai was knocked back, sent sprawling on the ground.The Dead Queen’s Triumph by Ryan Harvey“You—don’t yet believe—that I am your queen.” The tongue moved freer as the abomination became used to speaking. “For long, I forgot that I was as well. But I am royal blood still. See?” One of the manipulated arms placed its hand over a flap on the chest cylinder. Fingers gripped the sides and pulled it open.Thieves of the Fallen World by Tom DoyleWe’d taken these unearthly glowing gems and blades of cold flame from beings who (at best) weren’t quite human. These trophies were still puissant for ill, and a captured battle lance twitched at me like a living bug impaled on a pin. You shouldn’t be keeping such things, sire.Apedamak’s Army by Milton DavisGarang had made a mistake. He crouched as he walked backwards to the hut, hoping the beasts did not see him. He was halfway to the hut when the last beast spotted him and changed directions, shrieking at him as it attacked.Appendix: Game Statistics by Terry OlsonIn each issue, we present an appendix of game statistics for the various creatures, spells, and items described in each issue. All of these stats are for the Dungeon Crawl Classics Role-Playing Game system.

    Issue #6 features cover art by Doug Kovacs of Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser as we launch our new series of stories set in Fritz Leiber’s Lankhmar! Licensed by Leiber’s estate, these new stories and novellas faithfully expand upon the legendary tales of Lankhmar’s most famous duo.STORIESCalicask’s Woman by John HockingA TALE OF THE KING’S BLADE • “I can’t hold them back for long,” gasped the apprentice. His face had gone pallid and sweat dripped from his chin. “Stand by the opening and try to take them one at a time. Perhaps we can… where are you going?!” The Feathered Shroud by Howard Andrew JonesA TALE OF HANUVAR • The water behind the soldier erupted, and Hanuvar lunged past him to jam the pitchfork at a shovel-shaped reptilian head. The tines bit deep, and the dark water reddened.Guilty Creatures by Nathan LongA TALE OF FAFHRD AND THE GRAY MOUSER • In the circle, Mouser stared cross-eyed at the tip of Kalphin’s blade, knowing death was coming to him at last.Shadows of a Forgotten Queen by Greg MeleI’ve seen a maiden’s veins opened as she is led through the fields, watering the new crops with her life’s blood in honor of Majawl, Our Lady of Maize, and lit my own father’s funeral pyre. But what manner of man owned books made of human flesh?Cold in Blood by James EngeA STORY OF MORLOCK AMBROSIUS • She moved with a lithe, muscular dancer’s grace as she walked around him to enter the room. Her hair was a waterfall of starless night. Her eyes were the stars, shining with tears. Morlock had seen a more beautiful woman, but not recently.Isle of Fog by Violette MalanDhulyn judged from the way his mouth moved now that he was screaming. That was easy to fix, she thought, as she brought her sword up and sent the head bouncing and rolling across the tiled floor.ARTICLESA Profile of Fritz Leiber by Michael CurtisLeiber replied, “I feel more certain than ever [that this field] should be called the sword-and-sorcery story.” And thus a sub-genre, while not quite newly born, received a name for the first time…The Monster Pit by Terry OlsonEnter the monster pit! Down here in the pit, we provide tabletop RPG fans with playable DCC RPG game statistics for the creatures in this issue of Tales From The Magician’s Skull.The Skull Speaks by The Skull Himself

    

    

    Howard is no longer penning Conan tales doesn't mean you have to go without your fix of axe wielding barbarians, lusty wenches and evil wizards! Literary Rebel is proud to bring you a whole new crop of monthly fantasy fiction by talented new authors. In this first issue: savages kidnap virgins for sacrifice, a slave escapes his bonds only to fall victim to royal machinations, treasure seekers find more than they bargained for, and a sword wielding maiden does battle with a serpent lord."The first issue does not disappoint!""Hack and slash goodness.""Harkens back to the days of the pulp masters..."Fans of Robert E. Howard, Lin Carter, Clark Ashton Smith, and Karl Edward Wagner will love this new fantasy fiction adventure magazine.

    

    This is sword and sorcery at its finest! There is never a dull moment in the pages of Savage Realms. If you yearn for the days of Robert E. Howard, Clark Ashton Smith, and L. Sprague de Camp, look no further. The latest issue of Savage Realms features another installment of Redgar and Natali along with a tale by the talented Victor H. Rodriguez and new comer Chad Wilson."Fantastic Sword and Sorcery Action!""I hope for a long future for this fun monthly magazine.""If you need your fix of larger than life, sword wielding hero’s and damsels in distress, look no further!"Fans of Robert E. Howard, Lin Carter, Clark Ashton Smith, and Karl Edward Wagner will love this new fantasy fiction adventure magazine.

    WollheimThroughout her forty-year career, Tanith Lee proved herself adept at numerous genres, including high fantasy, horror, science fiction, and combinations thereof. One of her specialties was the variety of heroic fantasy known as sword-and-sorcery. Novels such as The Birthgrave, Night’s Master, and The Storm Lord are highly regarded by both fans and critics, but she has a wealth of short stories to her credit as well. Sixteen of Tanith’s tales of swords and sorcery appear in this collection. When you read them, you will discover why she deserves such exalted titles as “Princess Royal of Heroic Fantasy” and The Empress of Dreams.Stories included:“Odds Against the Gods”“Sleeping Tiger”“The Demoness”“The Sombrus Tower”“Winter White”“In the Balance”“Northern Chess”“Southern Lights”“Mirage and Magia”“The Three Brides of Hamid-Dar”“The Pain of Glass”“These Beasts”“Two Lions, a Witch, and the War-Robe”“A Tower of Arkrondurl”“The Woman in Scarlet”“Evillo the Uncunning”

    Hired by the wealthy Lady Sil of Tidon to assist in this enterprise, Thorem cannot convince Hanlin to join him on another campaign. Following the earlier battles, Hanlin had gone to live with the kirangee, learned some of their ways, married a kirangia woman—and has no interest in making war against them again.But Hanlin’s and Thorem’s destinies will nevertheless become entangled once more as both are drawn back to the frontier that saw their earlier glories—and failures.David C. Smith, recognized for a career spent writing sword-and-sorcery and weird fiction, here offers an insightful, often brutal modern novel that vividly brings to life the ferocious wills and dark hearts of the skilled mercenaries and the redoubtable kirangee. The People will raise the sorcery of their ancestors to defend their land at all costs, but Lady Sil will not be deterred, for as Thorem tells his old friend, “As mothers breed sons, the sons breed war.”

    

    Roberts.From the desolate deserts of a war-torn empire to the shadow-haunted forests of the northern clans, join the legendary Lord of Wolves as he pits his strength, his courage and his cold, hard steel against a legion of fearsome foes, ultimately facing the malefic avatars of the Elder Darkness at the ersatz heart of the Hollow Earth!All hail Caylen-Tor…Mercenary, corsair, warlord, king!

    They are usually for hire, though some simply seek justice for its own sake. They wield swords, axes and other weapons forged from cold steel and honed to a deadly edge that will inevitably bear the stain of their enemies, some earthly and others beyond mortal ken.And above all, they loathe sorcery.BLOOD ON THE BLADE chronicles the adventures of these savage yet noble warriors as they stand against conjurers and spellcasters who practice dark magic in their pursuit of power, their lust for fortune, and their demonic desire to watch the world burn. And when it all unfolds, you have a front-row seat for the mayhem and carnage.Herein you will find stories by ten luminaries of fantasy fiction: Cliff Biggers, Adrian Cole, Anne Marie Lutz, Paul R. McNamee, James A. Moore, D.M. Ritzlin, Charles R. Rutledge, Frank Schildiner, Steven L. Shrewsbury, and James R. Tuck. Each of these scribes reaches back to long-ago times and distant lands to weave visceral tales of epic adventure.Join them on their quest to bring you the very best in sword and sorcery.Edited by Jim Beard and John C. BrueningCover illustration and design by Mark WheatleyInterior design and formatting by Maggie Ryel

    StoryHack is a short fiction magazine heavily inspired by the great pulps of yesteryear.Eyes as Blue as Metalby Dominika LeinAfter discovering a human upon a worn-torn planet, an alien commander is betrayed by an ambitious underling.That Summer's Evening Long Agoby Misha BurnettHow do you catch a criminal who uses magic to erase the memory of the item he stole?Titan Upby David J. WestCan a modern man rise to the challenge when a muse mystically summons him to mythic Greece to rescue her from a titan?Song for Melienopeby Alexandru ConstantinOswin the Magnificent and a bawdy monk find refuge from a terrible snowstorm in a mysterious lodge. However, all is not as it seems and a frozen death may have been preferable to what awaits them on this dark night.The Berserker's Sonby Michael DeCarolisThe city of Bero is hit by a surprise attack, leaving renowned berserker Furth to choose between defending the city or fighting his way back to his wife and son.Golden Echoesby JD CowanAn agent goes undercover on a hidden planet to thwart a mad cult leader who is about to unleash a device that splits open the universe itself.Third Time Luckyby Mike AdamsonSpring, 1941: the RAF is stretched tight on the Channel Front, and Johnny Carstairs finds himself battling a mysterious German pilot who seems to have a score to settle.Scylla's Lairby Caroline FurlongMuriel gave her voice to marry her true love and gain a human soul. But has it cost her more than she can pay?The Tombs of Osiris Primeby Jason J. McCuistonThe search for a missing archeologist on a long-dead planet leads the Last Star Warden into conflict with an ancient galactic threat, and may uncover the origins of the human race.An Uncommon Day at the Lakeby David SkinnerA selfish diversion to the Martian desert attracts some outlaw trouble -- and leads to a revelation in the hills!

    

    Honed by the arrow. Forged by flames.Leiyn came dead into the world. Saved at birth by her mother's sacrifice, the act awakens in her an ancient power. After a tragic childhood, Leiyn drifts to society's fringes to become a ranger, a protector of the Titan Wilds. But just when she finally finds a home, disaster strikes the rangers' lodge. Now, she must embrace her every weapon—including her wicked magic—to claim her revenge in a hunt that will ignite a revolution...Ranger’s Rebellion is the serialized first book in the sword and sorcery series Ranger of the Titan Wilds. Perfect for fans of The Witcher, The Lord of the Rings, and The Wheel of Time!

    A collection of short Sword & Sorcery tales penned by emerging authors.

    Edda Gretasdottir is a raider, a fell-handed shield-maiden, feared along every coast. Hers is a life woven in battle scars.But she never wanted to walk the warrior's path. All she wanted was freedom, to earn enough gold to buy her family their own remote farm, and to escape their oppressive chieftain. Now, she has enough plunder so that she can finally hang up her shield and live in peace.That peace is stolen from Edda, however, when raiders burn her home, destroy all that she loves, and toss her, wounded and bleeding, into the ravenous ocean.But the fates are cruel and this is not the end for Edda: she rises from the bloody surf as a Windborn, a cursed warrior whose supernatural gifts are a poor exchange for everything she has lost.Fuelled by rage and armed with strange new powers Edda will hunt for whoever sent the raiders, for whoever is responsible for taking everything from her. She will show them the sharp edge of her axe... or die trying.Windborn is a dark, character-driven Norse fantasy packed with emotion, deadly foes, and vicious battles.

    A star faring nomad finds glory and despair among the timeless sands of a dying world... An exiled prince and an assassin plunder the sanctum of the most powerful necromancer in Uhremon... Unspeakable horrors await an outlaw swordsman in a city of death... Seven thrilling journeys into the dark heart of fantasy and adventure!

    W. Thomas is back with four new novellas of Swords & Sorcery. "Gladiator King" by David A. Hardy stars Cingetorix from the gladiator's arena to the sacred groves of the King of Nemi. "Through Dungeons Deep" by Jack Mackenzie sees the return of Sirtago and Poet as they become champions and hunt a wizard. But all is not what it seems. Best of all, Poet tells the tale this time. "The Daughter of Lilith" continues Michael Ehart's fantastic Ninshi series. In the days of Mesopotamia, Ninshi is haunted by deeds past and monsters present. "The Work We Have In Hand" is set in the same world as G. W. Thomas' Dragontongue. Follow the wizard Emerrant and his unwilling servant, Aberdin Vol, as they try to figure out where all the wizards and witches in Stormcock have gone.

    In welcoming their soldiers home, they allow a foe inside the city gates more powerful than any they could imagine, an evil dark enough to end history itself, greeted with cheers and open arms.Aust is a young man fleeing from his past, hiding in plain sight as a minstrel for a mercenary guild. His knowledge of Majadan’s secret ways has saved his life before, but this time he isn’t on his own. When the powers of Hell are set loose in the streets, Aust becomes a guide for a desperate band of survivors: Eris, a warrior fighting to prove her worth; Vandal, a soldier without a cause or country; Jago, a man-wolf caught in a fight not his own; Moth, a nomad girl who is not entirely human; and Jenin, an elemental priestess from the Wild. When confronted by an enemy that cannot be defeated, they will each be forced to choose between their honor and their lives. The world they know has drowned in blood and fire. The battle for the city of Majadan has begun.