An extinction-level asteroid is cannonballing toward Earth. In humanity’s final hours, a lucky few earn a one-way ticket to the brand-new, ultra-immersive, fantasy-based VRMMORPG, Viridian Gate Online. Making that leap of faith might mean survival, but it comes with a steep price tag: “Travelers” will forever be stranded as digital avatars inside a fantastical world filled with vicious monsters, all-powerful AIs, and cutthroat players. Let the games begin … Six amazing authors. Six incredible new tales. All set in the best-selling Viridian Gate Online Universe. Side Quests is an anthology for fans, by the fans! Included in Side Quests: “A Gentleman’s Work” by James A. Hunter When an Imperial Inquisitor captures a Thieves Guild Operative, Cutter must undertake a deadly rescue mission while using every grift in the book to stay one step ahead of a Headsman’s Blade. And the prize for this extraordinary quest? Nothing short of the keys to the Rowanheath Thieves Guild. Deception, subterfuge, and heavy drinking—all in a day’s work for a Gentleman … “The Funeral Parlor” by Raymond Johnson A young spiderling is stranded in an alien land, surrounded by hostile creatures. Forced to fight for her life in a bid to find her way home, she must transform into the predator she is destined to become or die alone and forgotten, trapped in a dark world know as the Shadowverse. “The Raiding of Rowanheath” by J.D. Astra The Crimson Alliance has breached the walls of Rowanheath, inciting Aleixo Carrera’s rage. Now Abby and her rag-tag invasion crew must reach the keep’s Command Center before the defending troops mobilize and shut down the takeover, else they’ll lose the battle and the war for Eldgard’s freedom. “The Ballad of Jaro Edgewalker” by N.H. Paxton Jaro is an assassin, and he’s good at it. But when he finds a foe that is insurmountable by normal means and uncovers a plot to destroy everything he loves, Jaro has to balance his morality with his love for his friends and make an incredibly difficult decision. “Buried Alive” by Nicholas Reid Carlos Vega thinks he’s escaping certain death by entering the virtual world of V.G.O., but instead he’s swallowed alive by the deadly Barren Sands. He’ll have to overcome the riddles and horrors of a long-forgotten temple in order to escape, but can he do it before the evil sealed there centuries ago finds him? “A Final Kindness” by D.J. Bodden Alan Campbell was a talker, not a fighter, until someone murdered his girl. He’d almost given up on finding the killers; now he’s got a fresh lead, a trio of mercenaries who outclass him in every way but his wits. He’ll cheat, bluff, and steal to get his revenge, and as one of V.G.O.’s immortal travelers, he’s willing to die trying. Want to keep up with the Viridian Gate Online Universe? Visit Shadow Alley Press and subscribe to our mailing list!

    Offered a scholarship to the prestigious Oberon Academy, December finds herself living in a whole new world. Boundless food, clean clothes, a safe place to sleep, and the potential for true friendship make her new life seem almost too good to be true—but the school has a secret. The Zephyr After a tragic loss, Crispin Jonas took over the role of mentor, pushing December to practice things beyond the standard Oberon Academy lessons on being a good Sylphid. His lessons revolved around her other half—her dark side. Devastated after taking a life, December had a choice to make. She could let her darker half take over and guide her actions, or she could embrace the Sylphid inside her and live on the path of light. But were those her only two choices? The Sylph After surviving another face-off with Queen Sebille and discovering the truth about her past, December Thorne’s life has changed dramatically. With everyone now knowing and accepting what she truly is, and her new relationship with her mentor, her life takes a turn for the better. She finally has what she’s always wanted...or does she? The Queen After so many surprises and truths revealed, December just wants her life to settle down into some sort of normalcy. She has a place at Oberon Academy, an amazing boyfriend, and for the very first time, a real family…but it doesn’t last. When one of her own is taken by the Zephyr queen, December must take action. The time for normalcy is over. It’s time for war.

    And then, very suddenly and without warning, there were three. Even though the fourth person hadn't made any noise at all in several months, the room got very quiet when she was gone. For a long time after that, we sat in silence, in the dark, each of us wondering what this meant for her and for us, and which of us would be the next in the box.NEVER GET IN THE CARFor years, best friends Sarah and Jennifer kept what they called the 'Never List': a list of actions to be avoided, for safety's sake, at all costs. But one night, they failed to follow their own rules.NEVER GO OUT ALONE AFTER DARKSarah has spent ten years trying to forget her ordeal. But now the FBI has news that forces her to confront her worst fears.NEVER TAKE RISKSIf she is to uncover the truth about what really happened to Jennifer, Sarah needs to work with the other women who shared her nightmare. But they won't be happy to hear from her. Because down there in the dark, Sarah wasn't just a victim.NEVER TRUST ANYONE

     When tragedy strikes, a young boy must become a warrior To escape a perilous royal life, Soron and Velaina disappear to the small village of Elderwood, a magicless kingdom, to raise their son in secret. But when their child Nathan begins to show special powers, they realize they are no longer safe. Soon they’ll have to reveal their secrets to Nathan. However, before they can tell Nathan the truth, a cruel and arrogant Duke attacks and kills most of the people in their small village, including Nathan’s parents. Nathan finds himself lost and alone with his heart set on revenge. With the help of his Uncle Verin, he continues the training his father started. But the Duke isn’t finished. He’s returned to kill the survivors, especially Nathan, to hide his crimes from the world. Unable to locate Nathan, the Duke kidnaps Nathan’s best friends to lure Nathan to him. Anger and fear consume Nathan and the strong emotions ignite powerful magic within him. Using his new powers, Nathan is able to hunt down the Duke, but he’s in a race against time. if he can’t catch them soon he’ll lose his chance at revenge and more importantly, he’ll lose the people he loves. Books included:Son of SoronMissing MageSiege of PailtarDark TidingsTreachery in TarnsteadThe Mad King

    His last memory is putting the landing gear down. The NTSB and news media blame him and the deceased first officer Ned Partin for the accident that killed thirty-eight, and burned or severely injured ten. Bill knows from experience flying with Ned that they would have prevented the accident. While recovering from his debilitating injuries, Bill investigates why data that would exonerate him has disappeared. Why hasn’t the NTSB figured out there was something wrong with the rudder? And why does his airline’s management thwart his attempts to prove he shouldn’t be blamed? Those who caused the accident will go to extreme lengths to assure Bill does not uncover their secret agenda.

     While the characters are fictional, the battle was very real and when it was over 70 Americans were killed in action, 420 were wounded and 633 North Vietnamese were confirmed dead. Matthew Kendal, a pastor’s youngest son from a white middle-class California background, enlists in the army and volunteers for service in Vietnam to avenge his brother’s death; a Green Beret sergeant killed in 1968. During training Matthew becomes close friends with John Adams, a tough-skinned Afro-American youth from the poorer neighborhoods right outside our nation’s capital, and Jose Martinez, a street wise Chicano from East Los Angeles. Together they experience the rigors of Airborne training and journey to Vietnam to become Screaming Eagles, of the 101st Airborne. Placed in 2nd Squad, the story follows the actual events surrounding D Company during the intense battle for Hill # 937, which would later be known as the “Battle for Hamburger Hill”.

    The details are exquisite and take one back to beloved books of childhood such as Little House on the Prairie while at the same time providing full grown-up fare for history buffs. Wry humor and insights are deftly woven throughout, making the reader smile precisely because the author is not trying to do anything but authentically tell her story. And a wonderful story it is.” Kate Turpin

    She was a young slave girl. He was an African warrior purchased at a slave auction with the intent he would father a new breed of stronger slave. Despite all odds, a language barrier and the disapproval of her family and friends, the two fight for a life together.

    She spends most of her job traveling from city to city, training staff members on how to use the company system. She’s great at her job, but she’s struggling to find a balance between work and home life. Determined to create a more stable environment, through email she asks her boss to cut down her traveling, but he refuses. She’s never met the man, but already she can’t stand him. It’s at a conference not long after that she ends up in bed with a handsome stranger, only to find out that it was her boss. What happens when you’ve slept with the enemy? Find out in this steamy employee, billionaire boss romance by Alicia Beckton of BWWM Love.

    Unfortunately for him, life isn't always so convenient. Betrayed by the very people who summoned him, he's condemned as the False Hero and forced to flee for his life. Alone in an unfamiliar world and hunted by all of humanity, he takes on the alias of Lutz and uses his gaming knowledge to quickly adapt to the world's strangely game-like mechanics.

    They just can't be. They're supposed to be dumb stories in really old books. So why was Alex seeing them walking around on the streets of London? Alex began to wonder if he was losing his mind. Maybe he was hallucinating? Except, hallucinations couldn’t throw you into cars like you were nothing more than an annoying little bug, could they? Because that was exactly what that angel did to him. It all began to make sense when Andrew, Alex's estranged father, called him one day to tell him that he’d done something terrible. Something that was going to change Alex's life forever. This book is an urban fantasy that adds a twist to the traditional good versus bad narrative regarding angels and demons.

    

    A dying alien brings a dire warning, information, and aid. Will it be enough? The group is informed that the Essence Wave of the Daemon invasion is coming. The friendly aliens have modified the incoming Daemon attack to give mankind a chance by turning it into an augmented reality game system, but their warning may be too late. Along with the warning, the aliens leave a final, inconceivable gift—magical nanotech armor that may just be the key to saving the world.

    This unpredictable and exciting fantasy romance series will have you on the edge of your seat! Alpha Kaden Everyone knows of Alpha Kaden, a man of twisted riddles and cryptic puzzles. His identity is one of them. His touch, another. He is feared throughout all 13 packs for his reputation of stealing young women out of their beds. And tonight he has come to steal Mara to make her a player in his wicked game. Alpha Grayson Lexia has been an unwilling member of the Vengeance Pack since she was kidnapped by Alpha Kaden at the age of thirteen. Previously a member of the Discipline Pack, she now plans an uprising to take down the Alphas and unify the 13 Packs. Alpha Jasper Dark stories of the Devotion pack’s haunting from the terrifying undead Phantom Wolves have circulated for years but Thea had never believed the rumors. That is until she met Jasper; the confident and magical missing Alpha of the pack and newly reincarnated Phantom Wolf. He also happens to be her destined mate.

    As he takes his last breathe his life flashed before his eyes , from an early age he had been like a sponge soaking in all the knowledge around him, science, history, culture, literature, and even military strategy he absorbed it all. But as his life was coming to an end he scorned all his knowledge, what was the point of knowing everything when you weren’t even able to protect yourself or the ones you loved. As the boy closed his eyes for one final time,he laughed at how blinded he had been about the world and people and thought that if there was indeed a next life he would obtain power, power to protect himself and his loved one. And so this marked the end of his life, but for some, the end is only the beginning