In the blink of an eye the Saxons attack and her brother is killed. Almost as quickly, she is sent away from her home to a neighboring stronghold where she'll be safe from harm. Now Branwen lives as a princess should—surrounded by exquisite things and lavish quarters. But deep down remains the soul of a warrior.Just when Branwen is sure she has been pushed to her limits, a chance encounter with a mystical woman in white forces her to question everything—and everyone—around her. With no time to lose, Branwen must make a choice: continue in the path her parents intended for her . . . or step into the role of true Warrior Princess.

    But her thoughts are interrupted by the clattering of hooves as a galloping horse bursts from the woods, the rider slumped over his mount's neck, impaled by two black-shafted arrows. As the young man lies dying on the road, he tells Karigan that he is a Green Rider, one of the legendary messengers of the king, and that he bears a "life and death" message for King Zachary. He begs Karigan to carry his message, warning her not to read it, and when she reluctantly agrees, he makes her swear on his sword to complete his mission "for love of country." As he bestows upon her the golden winged-horse brooch which is the symbol of his office, he whispers on his dying breath, "Beware the shadow man..." Karigan's promise changes her life forever. Pursued by unknown assassins, following a path only her horse seems to know, and accompanied by the silent specter of the original messenger, she herself becomes a legendary Green Rider. Caught up in a world of deadly danger and complex magic, compelled by forces she cannot understand, Karigan is hounded by dark beings bent on seeing that the message, and its reluctant carrier, never reach their destination.

    He's one of the most feared men alive. Chaos and war have followed him like an angry shadow. The one problem, as the world faces the wrath of forgotten gods, Kan Savasci is nowhere to be found.The annalist, a man trained in the ancient arts of the arkein, has been tasked to uncover the whereabouts of the Kan Savasci at any cost. In order to find the man, one must unmask the depths of his reclusive history.The clock is ticking as Verold descends into darkness.Delve into an award-winning fantasy novel described as "epic," "beautiful," and "reminiscent of Rothfuss' work."

    or kill.Each year, the North American Confederation of Mages assesses every sixteen-year-old novice. Some will be chosen. The rest must undergo a procedure to destroy their magical ability unless they prove themselves in the mysterious and brutal Mages' Exam.Disadvantaged by her parents' low standing, Rocío Lopez has dedicated herself to expanding her considerable talent to earn a place in the Confederation. Their rejection leaves her reeling—and determined to fight to keep her magic.Long ashamed of his mediocre abilities, Finn Lockwood knows the Confederation accepted him only because of his prominent family. Declaring for the Exam instead means a chance to confirm his true worth.Thrown into the testing with little preparation, Rocío and Finn find themselves becoming unlikely allies—and possibly more. But the Exam holds secrets more horrifying than either could have imagined. What are the examiners really testing them for? And as the trials become increasingly vicious, how much are they willing to sacrifice to win?The first in a new series by USA Today bestselling author Megan Crewe, Ruthless Magic combines the magic of Harry Potter with the ferocity of The Hunger Games alongside a poignant romance. Fans of Cassandra Clare and Holly Black, look no further for your next urban fantasy fix.

    Never send a hero to do a monster’s job. Forty years have passed since Jaevid Broadfeather brought peace to Maldobar and Luntharda. But that fragile truce will be tested as darkness gathers on the horizon. The vicious armies of the Tibran Empire have crossed the far seas and are threatening to destroy Maldobar completely. Not even the dragonriders can match the Tibran war machines. And after an attempt to awaken Jaevid from his divine sleep fails, the fate of Maldobar is looking grim. Reigh has never known what it means to be a normal human. Raised amongst the gray elves in the wild jungle of Luntharda, he’s tried everything to fit in. But the dark power within him is bursting at the seams—refusing to be silenced. And while his adoptive father, Kiran, insists this power must be kept secret, Reigh knows he’s running out of time. As Maldobar burns, the world is desperate for a new hero. Destiny has called, and one boy will rise to answer.

    Beginning their relationship when Sonny is just fourteen and Felicity thirty-four, the couple share a poignant history together that ends only upon Felicity's passing — despite four marriages, numerous obstacles, and enough misadventures to challenge the most loyal of lovers.At once heartbreaking and euphoric, their story mirrors the tale that Felicity has passed down to Sonny, a story uncanny in its similarity to their own: when a prehistoric outcast locates her former tribe, she falls in love with a young boy.A masterful novel first published a quarter of a century ago, The Crying Heart Tattoo keeps the impossible within reach, proving once and for all that the struggle for true love is worth everything.

    She's worked hard for her normal life and her job as a violinist in the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra, and the last thing she needs is a reminder of how much power her father still has over her. He's a good enough man, but as the founder of a booming seafood empire--with a sizable fortune to his name--he's a prime target for his less than ethical competitors. And that means Elizabeth is a target, too. She doesn't quite believe her life is in danger until the day of the "accident." But when her father hires a bodyguard for Elizabeth, she still utterly refuses...that is, until she meets the mysterious Layne O'Connell. Sarcastic, charming and secretive, Layne is hired to keep Elizabeth safe. But protecting her heart wasn't in the job description. As Elizabeth's life is threatened again and again, a strange mystery unfolds, and it seems that even her father is keeping secrets from her. And when Layne reveals her true nature, Elizabeth's world is thrown upside down. Because Elizabeth has fallen for the one person she can't be with: the brooding werewolf who was charged with keeping her alive. Part heart-pounding mystery, part epic romance, the novel The Protector, the first book in the Lone Wolf series, will leave you spellbound. It is approximately 62,000 words (several days worth of reading or so).

    To their shock, she and her nearly defeated rescuers are rescued by the beautiful but scathing Xandra, an enslaved elven sorceress who’d been damned for over a millennium. Once they escape, Xandra and the others soon go their separate ways, thinking that their brief meeting would be their last, for they had little in common.Little did Jasmine know that the fickle hand of fate would reunite her with Xandra when darkness shrouded her homeland and all the other holy maidens were captured. Nor did she know that acerbic, destructive sorceress would provide her only source of hope for the future.

    It is said that angels found the land and saw it was good... and the ensuing race that rose from the seed of angels and men live by one simple rule: Love as thou wilt. Phèdre nó Delaunay is a young woman who was born with a scarlet mote in her left eye. Sold into indentured servitude as a child, her bond is purchased by Anafiel Delaunay, a nobleman with very a special mission... and the first one to recognize who and what she is: one pricked by Kushiel's Dart, chosen to forever experience pain and pleasure as one.Phèdre is trained equally in the courtly arts and the talents of the bedchamber, but, above all, the ability to observe, remember, and analyze. Almost as talented a spy as she is courtesan, Phèdre stumbles upon a plot that threatens the very foundations of her homeland. Treachery sets her on her path; love and honor goad her further. And in the doing, it will take her to the edge of despair... and beyond. Hateful friend, loving enemy, beloved assassin; they can all wear the same glittering mask in this world, and Phèdre will get but one chance to save all that she holds dear. Set in a world of cunning poets, deadly courtiers, heroic traitors, and a truly Machiavellian villainess, this is a novel of grandeur, luxuriance, sacrifice, betrayal, and deeply laid conspiracies. Not since Dune has there been an epic on the scale of Kushiel's Dart-a massive tale about the violent death of an old age, and the birth of a new.

    Meet Bay Winchester, Zoe Lake, Poet Parker and Aisling Grimlock. These women know how to find trouble … and make it worse. Most of the time it’s because of their mouths, of course, but sometimes outside influences come into play. Visit Hemlock Cove, a witchy tourist town where real witches are pretending to be fake witches. Take a stop at Covenant College, where the student body is a little less than normal. Hit the road with the Mystic Caravan Circus, a group of monster hunters who do a little bit of entertaining on the side. And, finally, sit down to dinner with a reaping family made up of all men … and one very tenacious woman. This sampler includes four full novels and is available for a limited time, so get it now.

    When the Intergalactic Empire has a tough mission, they send in a wizard scout. When they have an impossible mission, they send in Wizard Scout Trinity Delgado. The planet Cavos is on the verge of civil war. Only an outmanned, outgunned force of Empire peacekeepers prevent an outbreak of bloodshed on a global scale. When the peacekeepers’ commander requests an armored regiment as reinforcements, the Imperial High Command sends him Wizard Scout Trinity instead. With only a fresh out of the university grad student and a half-crazy old pilot as allies, Trinity has to find the source of Cavos’s troubles before the Empire becomes part of a disaster far greater than a mere local civil war. Caught between the peacekeepers’ resentful commander and suspicious local government officials, Trinity and her battle computer, Jennifer, have their work cut out for them. Together they must weave their way through one mystery after another leaving a trail of bloody bodies along the way until they find the answer. That is, if they can remain alive long enough to find it.

    Powerful creatures. Deadly artifacts. Just another year at Callador, School for the Fae. For Imogen, this year at Callador brings harder challenges, higher stakes, fewer truths, and even more lies. Her elders are urging her to choose her future path in the Fae world...but Imogen's distracted by other things. Her mom is acting strange. Her best friend isn't speaking to her. And just as she realizes what she wants from her love life...she learns it's something she can never have. Imogen wants to keep her head down and focus-but her enemies have other plans. The forests surrounding Callador hold more than just exotic plants and beautiful creatures, but a terrible, unleashed sorcery. As Imogen's list of allies shrinks, the threats that hunt her continue to grow. To prevent a deadly disaster, she'll need to navigate ancient ruins, steal an ancient Fae artifact, and risk her own life to overcome its power. In the end, all the answers point to only one villain. But what will Imogen do if that ultimate villain turns out to be herself?

    Which becomes an obvious problem when he finds himself clinging to a ledge above a sleeping dragon. And instead of wielding his family’s great sword with valor and skill, he drops it—onto the dragon.The problem grows immeasurably worse when Tomkin himself falls off the ledge—also onto the dragon.And his problem reaches its peak when Tomkin, after being captured, discovers a maiden locked in a tower. But this is no sweet damsel. Not only does she refuse to be rescued, she refuses to even admit she’s in distress.It’s too bad for the people of Marshwell that Tomkin is the only thing standing - or falling - in the dragon’s way.JA Andrews introduced the world to the magic-wielding, world-saving, story-telling Keepers in A Threat of Shadows. Now you can enjoy one of the Keeper’s most beloved tales: The Story of Tomkin and the Dragon, in this engaging, lighthearted novel.A Keeper's Tale: The Story of Tomkin and the Dragon is a standalone story. The Keepers in The Keeper Chronicles are, among other things, storytellers. This is the retelling of one of their favorite tales. It can be read at any time with respect to The Keeper Chronicles.Pick up your copy today and see why Tomkin's story is so well loved.

    

    It includes additional content removed from the Standard Edition due to its graphic nature. The love scenes in this version are longer, and include more graphic descriptions of sexual acts. All other content is the same. Swords, Sorcery, and…Small-Arms? An American soldier is chosen to defend another realm. Lieutenant David Kennisham was patrolling the mountains of Afghanistan, trying to complete his mission and live long enough to return to the United States, until fate intervened. Now he is a stranger in a strange land, and he is forced to rely on two women that he would have much rather avoided. One is the favored acolyte of the God of Love, and also a raging narcissist. The other is a breathtakingly beautiful, part-dragon, sorceress with anger issues. Hoping to return home, he grudgingly allows the pair to lead him to Eros, God of Love and patron deity of this new realm. Unfortunately, the path to get there is far more exciting, and dangerous, than a society based on ‘love’ should be. In a world of swords and sorcery, will his training and US Army issued weaponry help level the battlefield? Champions Volume One: Awakening is the first book in the Champions Saga by Kenny Michaels. A veteran of the United States Army and Operation Enduring Freedom, Michaels brings an insider’s perspective on combat, and the true cost of victory.