While all his contemporaries were embracing the various resources supplied by their tribes, he had to leave at the first light of dawn each day and search for the medicinal herbs necessary to cultivate himself. That was, until one day, when the most dangerous and calamitous event the human lands could experience unfolded all around him. Stuck in the middle of a catastrophe, powerless and knowing that no help would ever come and no rescue was possible, he struggled to stay alive. It was then that he found a copper lamp, one that changed his life forever…

    

    Four mini-subs are sunk or captured. The fate of the fifth sub, I-16, is unknown.Late at night, nearly three quarters of a century later: Marine biologist Jack Ferrell sails into a mysterious fog off of Kauai’s Na Pali coast.Dense fog banks don’t form in Hawaii . . . or so he thought. They certainly don’t glow in the dark.Concealed within the mist is the sloop Julie Ann floundering in a rogue remnant of drift net. A young woman’s scream pierces the damp air, and he rushes to her rescue.The next morning, Jack dives to check the damage done to the reef by the net and discovers a sunken WWII Japanese mini-sub and the answer to a Pearl Harbor enigma: the fate of I-16. But in a depression in the coral, lies a greater mystery: a human skull the size of a grapefruit.Through a colleague, he learns the skull is from an extinct species of child-sized human being that lived 12,000 years ago on the remote Indonesian island of Flores. But this skull is no 12,000-year-old fossil.In search of answers, Jack, the woman from the Julie Ann, two close friends, and a select team of scientists plunge into a subterranean world deep within the rugged mountains of the mystical Na Pali coast. And what should have been a routine scientific excursion becomes a deadly encounter with the unknown and a race against time when the expedition battles the elements, personal fears, and even one of their own to unearth the key to the origin of the skull and the surprising truth behind one of Hawaii’s famous legends: The Menehune. This is a new release of a previously published edition.

    In desperation, his master arranged for him to study at Heart's Eye University, a former school of magic that has become a university, a place where magicians and mundanes can work to combine their talents and forge the future together.But all is not well at Heart's Eye. The magical and mundane apprentices resent and fear each other, the teaching staff is unsure how to shape the university and, outside, powerful forces are gathering to snuff out the future before it can take shape. As Adam starts his new apprenticeship, and stumbles across a secret that could reshape the world, he finds himself drawn into a deadly plot that could destroy the university ..... And leave Lady Emily's legacy in flaming ruins.

    A mage cop on his first assignment learns the world isn't as black and white as hopedA jump mage and a starship with matching needs turn out to be a magnet for troubleDigging in 1940s New York City awakens a monster--and brings in the elite of the FaeThe protected heir of an interstellar dictatorship is called to a battle no one expected him to fightAn explosive collection of four novellas from science fiction and fantasy author Glynn Stewart, spanning his ONSET, Starship's Mage, Changeling Blood and Exile universes, including two brand new urban fantasy novellas.  Includes:ONSET: Murder by MagicStarship's Mage: Episode 1Fae, Flames and FedorasAshen Stars

    It was also prophesied that this night would witness the return of Emperor Kellanved, and there are those prepared to do anything to prevent this from happening…Ian C. Esslemont co-created the world of Malaz with his friend Steven Erikson, and Esslemont’s Novels of the Malazan Empire are set in the same world as Erikson’s Malazan Book of the Fallen.Other Tor books by Ian C. EsslemontPath to Ascendancy Dancer’s Lament Deadhouse Landing Other books in the world of Malaz by Steven Erikson Malazan Book of the Fallen Gardens of the Moon Deadhouse Gates Memories of Ice House of Chains Midnight Tides The Bonehunters Reaper’s Gale Toll the Hounds Dust of Dreams The Crippled God The Kharkanas Trilogy Forge of Darkness Fall of Light Walk in Shadow* At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

    With the help of her mother, Akira flees her tyrannical father. However, her escape does not go as she planned and Akira finds herself among a group of warriors led by a dashing young leader who encourages her to fulfill her destiny on her own terms. This warrior will test Akira's will and spirit and force her to reconsider her opinions towards men. But Akira's father will stop at nothing to bring her back.

    Betrayed. Now a new ruler must rise from the ashes. Mykah had been the Empire’s greatest general before it had rotted to corruption. Now he builds his own empire in order to crush the greatest nation in the world. At his side is the stunning woman who leads the horned barbarians from the north, known as the oni.The Empire’s armies are limitless. They have dragons, vampires, scores of mages, space-bending foxes, and more patriotic knights than one can imagine. Their industrial network can outfit an army in days.Sometimes, winning requires a lot more than just a good army and tactics.Mykah is up against the clock as the Empire rushes to crush his rebellion. He needs to find an edge over his opponent. His old allies turn on him even as he gathers new ones: elite sorceresses, energetic berserkers, and the horned beauty that leads the oni.Establishing a new empire is hard. Mykah needs to do it before his past catches up to him and grinds him into the dust. Note: The Empire Reforged Series is an empire building fantasy series with harem / polyamorous elements, beast-girls, adult scenes and plenty of violence. Enjoy, or don’t read.

     Charming and impossible to resist, shape-shifting dragon Tony Lancaster was determined to seduce Lilly and get her into bed for one night of passionate fun. Something that she would find impossible to turn down. However, Lilly had no idea that one night with a dragon was going to be a night that would change her life forever... This is a paranormal pregnancy romance filled with adventure, danger and hot sensual scenes between the hero and the heroine. Perfect for those who love paranormal romances aimed at adults! Scroll Up & Start Reading This Now!

     Xavier Drake is already an adult when he first travels to Civitas with his grandparents, Aaron and Keira Drake, to track down the source of some disturbing rumors. A chance encounter with Evelyn Talbot, sent to the city to live with an aging uncle, presents Xavier with an unexpected opportunity to discover more about the whispers spreading through the city, but the threat is more ominous than either Aaron or Xavier could have anticipated. The resulting events will reverberate through the entire clan, leaving none untouched, least of all Xavier.

    

    Hephaestus Books represents a new publishing paradigm, allowing disparate content sources to be curated into cohesive, relevant, and informative books. To date, this content has been curated from Wikipedia articles and images under Creative Commons licensing, although as Hephaestus Books continues to increase in scope and dimension, more licensed and public domain content is being added. We believe books such as this represent a new and exciting lexicon in the sharing of human knowledge. This particular book is a collaboration focused on Enid Blyton series.

     Moss Forest Orchid: What happens when a feisty adventuress, a lord looking to make his own way in the world, and a handsome sea captain set out to find Kalae’s rarest and most valuable flower? Trouble—and lots of it. Greybrow Serpent: The captain of the Greybrow Serpent is the last man Lucia’s willing to trust. But he’s the only one who can save her. Wildwood Larkwing: “Till death do us part” might come sooner than Lucia imagined. Lily of the Desert: Avery swore he would return, but one question haunts Lucia's every waking moment: Can anyone truly trust the word of a pirate?

    

    Before his victory, Lachlan was killed by his trusted friend, Allarun. Now, Allarun is still in power but haunted by dreams of Lachlan’s death curse: that Lachlan would return to avenge his death. Allarun’s decision is to destroy the very people Lachlan tried to unite. Only two men have the power to stop the slaughter. Romarin, the last of a line of kings, and a half-blood mercenary named Shadowhelm. One may be destined to be Lachlan, but can they unlock the secret to Lachlan’s power before Allarun kills them?