But with the encouragement of the goddess Persuasion, the magical races soon turned on the humans, pushing the magic-less race to the brink of destruction. In response, the gods chose to abandon the mortal world for Heaven. Before leaving, however, they gave mankind a gift to restore balance—a few select individuals with the power to actively wield magic. Persuasion, for her crimes, was banished to Limbo. Since then, the exiled goddess has made only one attempt to free herself, enthralling the human sorcerer Taida in a scheme that destroyed both a kingdom and the powerful Pankara Stone that the goddess required for escape. The young magic-wielder known as Rhyen Hyldhem, newly graduated from the great Academy in Ikha, knows of the story of Taida—but such events occurred millennia ago. As war brews, however, Rhyen will learn more about his powers…and the identity of the fearsome Dark Rider who has stalked him since childhood. Rhyen is about to discover the past isn’t dead—and that his destiny is intricately tied to Taida’s betrayal of humanity.

    The Roman Republic, or what remains of it, is in turmoil after the assassination of Julius Caesar. Powerful men vie for supremacy in the vacuum created by Caesar's death. Marcus Antonius, Octavius Caesar, and Marcus Lepidus form a ruling junta known as the Triumvirate. They are pitted against the assassins of Caesar, who call themselves the Liberators. Far to the north, on the German frontier, an obscure tribe raids the Roman province of Gaul. Meet Alderic, a towering young man out to prove himself on his first raid with the veteran warriors. A cohort of Roman legionnaires is waiting to ambush the German raiders, who are no match for the highly disciplined and armored legionnaires. It ends devastatingly for the Germans. Most are killed, but a few, including Alderic, survive. He is spared and sold to a gladiatorial school in Rome. Alderic's fate is intertwined with the Roman power struggle. In a series of improbable events, he is forced to flee Rome with the Triumvirate's men in hot pursuit. Running for his life, he heads to northern Italy. Here, he accidentally stumbles into a Roman army encampment, which is eager for new recruits to fill the ranks for the upcoming civil war. Alderic unwittingly enlists in the Fifteenth legion. He is now Artorus, no longer known as Alderic. Soon, he finds himself heading to Greece with his newfound comrades-in-arms to fight for the Triumvirate, the very forces that tried to kill him just months ago. Alderic not only finds an implausible destiny but shapes the future of the Roman Empire.

    His name is Caradoc.In Rome a new Emperor, Claudius, accedes the throne. But he is politically weak, enemies who would take his place circle and plot. If he is to survive Claudius needs a triumph, one that marks him as a leader of men.Claudius’s eye turns to the mysterious isle of Britannia, home of the supernatural Druids and brutal, wild-eyed warriors, reputed to fight naked. The place not even Julius Caesar could conquer.AD43 and a massive invasion force, commanded by Aulus Plautius, lands on a tiny corner of Britannia. Caradoc, King of the country’s most powerful tribe, assembles an army to throw his enemy back over the water and into Gaul. But divisions are rife and there are those who are secretly working with the Romans for their own benefit. The very future of the country is at risk and only one man can safeguard it…Praise for Keith Nixon’s WorkA hugely enjoyable debut novel from Keith Nixon.'Ian Ayris, author of Abide With Me'Moves faster than a speeding bullet. Can't wait for more from Keith Nixon.'Tony Black, author of The Last TigerCool, creative and downright crude, THE FIX will get your heart pumping.'Gerard Brennan, author of FIREPROOF'Sharply observed, fast paced. Hard as a knuckleduster.'Richard Godwin, author of Apostle Rising'A blast from first page to the last, this high-octane debut takes aim at the corporate world and is fast, furious and a lot of fun. If there’s a knack to writing dark comedy, Nixon surely has it.'Nick Quantrill, author of The Late Greats'The Fix is a gritty, multi-layered novel which features a glorious mix of characters - all with that great human quality of being flawed and unique. Nixon's writing is what really makes this stand out. A fast-paced and quite excellent debut novel. 'Luca Veste, author of Dead Gone

    

     Mare Internum. Mesogeios. The Mediterraneus. That sea has been known by many names since the creation of the world. To the people living around its shores, it was the entire world. Myron had no use for the myriad of gods that the people of his village worshiped - and cursed. And it was obvious to himself that those immortals, in turn, had no interest in a young man whose future would be bound by the reed pools and swamps of the Nilos delta. His disinterest was such that he seldom even bothered to bash the ears of whichever deity was supposedly responsibility for the daily misfortunes of an orphan. Then came the evening when the marauders struck... Had he been given even a glimpse of his future from that moment on, he would have dismissed it as the ravings of a drunken myth weaver. In fact, the story might have been similar to the tales that were told on occasion, around the evening fires, by an itinerant bard who entertained the village in return for a bone to gnaw and a jar of bitter beer to quaff. But, sanctioned by the gods or no, his future would take him to the far reaches of the known world. And his rise from the lowest drudge to the command of men was certainly not derived from bending his knee to some vaporous deity, but by innate skill and the ability to take the measure of a man. Indeed, his story was the kind of tale that a bard loved and would cause his listeners sit in total silence to hear. After all, why would a man in reality, who had fought his way to power and riches, would give them up for a mere woman and an uncertain future? Of course, only the gods knew of his unique gift...

    To save his life, he is sent to command a cavalry regiment stationed in ever-restless Judea. He expects only the thankless task of maintaining the Roman peace in a land where he and his soldiers are despised and feared. But this peace is shattered when he and his men discover the massacre of a detachment of Praetorian Guards and the man they were protecting—a member of the Roman Senate and an ally of the emperor Tiberius himself. Plunged straight into a deadly web of murder and intrigue, Valens soon realizes far more is at stake than just his own life and honor.Valens must find those truly responsible. If he fails, he will be forced to destroy the nearest village in savage reprisal. But time is running out fast and there are many—including some under his own command—who are sure the Roman peace can only be maintained by terror and the use of overwhelming force. To save innocent lives, he must first pierce the veil of secrecy surrounding the senator’s strange journey through one of the empire’s most dreary backwaters. What was Decimus Junius Silanus seeking? And why was he killed?Surrounded by strange prophecies, eerie omens, and hidden agendas, Valens races to uncover the truth, to confront a ruthless, powerful enemy, and to meet a destiny that he could never have imagined.

    Includes a "How-To" CD.

     Ben journeys into the unknown as the prospect of war grows between two powerful political factions. This boxset follows Ben's journey into the unknown in search of a powerful weapon. What they find is not what they expect, and Ben and his friends are forced to return home to an even greater threat than they imagined. Does Ben have what it takes to become the hero the world needs? Packed full of action and adventure, Benjamin Ashwood is perfect for fans of Robert Jordan’s Wheel of Time, Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn, or Jeff Wheeler’s Muirwood.

    For the sake of his family, Quintus must leave his village for the Eternal City. If he succeeds, his people will be fed. If he fails, his people will starve. He begins his political career under the most influential men in Rome, but soon discovers that those in the Senate are less inclined to help him than he had hoped. His journey takes him from the corrupt and treacherous Forum to the deadly forests of Gaul, making powerful friends and enemies along the way. But it will take more than allies to succeed. He will have to decide what compromises he is willing to make, and what risks he is willing to take, if he is to secure a future for himself and his people.

    Born in luxury, blessed with beauty and intelligence, Poppaea seemed destined for an easy life. However, behind the opulence and glitter of imperial Rome, a dark side was hidden. Jealousy, treachery, and insanity snuffed out the life of many innocent people. Despite her success, Poppaea was no exception.

    

    When it’s all at risk and you’ve lost hope…don’t call them.You’ve been warned.Meet Robert Bangers & Steven Mash, Paranormal Investigators of the Arcane.When danger terrorizes the city, Bangers & Mash take it upon themselves to investigate, despite everyone advising against it.They won’t let common sense and the threat of a horrific creature capable of ripping them to shreds stop them.There’s no case they can’t make worse, but this time they may have bitten off more than they can chew.Join Bangers & Mash—the newest paranormal investigators to wreak havoc on the city as they take their cases from bad to disastrous!

    But near Portugal the old ship encounters a mysterious phenomenon, and the crew unexpectedly finds itself in the Mediterranean, 1500 years in the past, at a historical moment: It’s the year 378, the beginning of the end of the Western Roman Empire, the start of Völkerwanderung…the crew of the Saarbrücken decides that to survive they must make friends of the Romans. They had been the Kaiser’s men in the 20th century, and now, in the past, another emperor might need their services…

    L. Gardner, includes five novels and one novella: 1929 Elizabeth’s Heart 1930 Drifter Purgatory Cove 1931 1929 When Black Tuesday triggers financial despondency, three young couples in New York City trade their lives of luxury for poverty. From back-breaking jobs to a shabby, rundown apartment, the couples’ rocky path leads to more turmoil when a business rival creates one disaster after another. A story set in the past, Gardner’s first novel is more than memorable—1929 is unforgettable. Elizabeth’s Heart Institutionalized in 1929 for having prophetic visions, Simon Sinclair narrates from inside the Massachusetts Asylum. There he meets Elizabeth, a young woman with a shadow personality and a traumatic past. As their lives become entwined, their attachment for each other grows. Their actions set off a chain reaction that directly touches the lives of the characters from 1929. 1930 A memorial service for Aryl Sullivan isn’t enough closure for the 1929 characters. Claire, now a pregnant widow, is too devastated to cope, Caleb drowns his sorrow in a bottle of whiskey, and Jonathan awaits the birth of his child. Maura is put to work to see them past the worst of it, facing setbacks of her own. As the gears of life slowly start to move again, new friends are made and old enemies return. Claire finds refuge through a common bond with widower Gordon, finally allowing her to move on and accept her new life. Until she’s met with a shocking surprise. Drifter Richard Sloan, a Massachusetts missing person’s detective, is losing his touch. After six months, he hasn’t found anyone alive and becomes desperate to redeem his reputation. Aryl Sullivan, who suffered amnesia in a boating accident, finds himself caught up in a series of events that land him in London. While in the hands of Gina, a secretive and controlling woman, Aryl is forever changed as he does what he has to in order to survive. Purgatory Cove Elizabeth William’s mind is full of fissures and hairline fractures held together by the love of fellow patient, Simon Sinclair. But when the staff at the Massachusetts Asylum informs her that her soul mate, Simon, has died, she instantly shatters. Retreating within the depths of her mind, she must confront the fractured personality that’s tried to control her for years. But Elizabeth discovers that she’s outnumbered and must live in the shadows of her own personal purgatory until she finds the strength to change her fate. 1931 The saga of the 1929 Series continues as Aryl’s battle with opiates forces Jonathan and Caleb to take drastic measures in an effort to save him. Claire clings desperately to the hope that the man she fell in love with—and lost—will reemerge from the depths of his addiction. Ava confronts a dark secret from her past that sends her spiraling deeper into her postpartum depression. Instead of reaching out to Jonathan, she withdraws. While Arianna is expecting their third child, Caleb finds himself ensnared in Marvin’s tangled web of deceit and blackmail. He struggles to keep his family safe as he maneuvers his way out of the nightmare. Will they have the tenacity to overcome their obstacles? Or will this forever destroy their friendships as they know it? Get all six novels in one digital boxed set.

    Everyone has secrets, and The Husband's Secret explores three typical Australian couples who experience revelations but never learn other key secrets. Your secret might be that you came up with clever questions and insights for your book club meeting by using Expert Book Reviews to help you interpret the plot and suggest literary devices, like the book's consistent use of the fall of the Berlin Wall as a metaphor. The story unfolds with consummate skill as each of three women discover heartbreaking betrayal. Cecilia finds an envelope hidden in the attic with the legend that it should only be opened after husband John-Paul's death. Meanwhile, Tess discovers that her husband and best friend have fallen in love. Rachel, who lost her teen-aged daughter in an unsolved murder case, frets that her remaining son and his wife are moving away to New York for two years with her grandson, a child that Rachel adores. AN INSTANT BOOK CLUB PARTY! The stage is set for suspense as readers ponder whether Cecilia will open the letter that her husband surely never expected her to read while he lived. Tess faces the complete devastation of losing her husband, business partner and friend. If you liked Liane Moriarty's What Alice Forgot or The Hypnotist's Love Story, you'll love The Husband's Secret. This Book Review & Story Analysis conveniently lays out the hidden gems: plot points you might miss, symbols that only become obvious on a second or third read-through, and themes that affect your understanding of the story. Table of Contents • Book Review • Section about author Liane Moriarty and how her sister inspired her to write • Character Reference List • Chapter-by-Chapter Plot Summary & Story Analysis • Major Themes & Symbols • Analysis of Key Characters • Book Club Discussion Questions & Responses It's like discussing the novel with your friends or going to a book club meeting. But you don't need to drive anywhere! Packaged together in a fun and entertaining format, the entire discussion is delivered instantly to your device. If you haven't read The Husband's Secret yet, we'll let you know what to expect with savvy analysis and an honest review. If you're already reading the novel, then we'll be your tour guide through every chapter, heightening your enjoyment at every moment of intrigue, suspense, and humor. Regardless, this is your map when you're deep in the intricate sub-plots and fascinating imagery of Liane Moriarty's novel. You'll see the book in a whole new way.