|
Beyond Misty Mountain by Stephen Howard Something is afoot in Seven Cities. A beast, long thought extinct, is stirring. While King Edirp dreams of a world on fire, his adviser, Med Tet, dreams of a world in chains. The fragile peace of Seven Cities could soon shatter for good. Unless three unlikely thieves, a tea-obsessed wizard and a stubborn young girl can stand in the way. Seven Cities is in safe hands, right? |
|
Blood of The Hunted by Marc R. Micciola When things seem their darkest, two heroes decide to rekindle hope by enduring great dangers to their body and soul, all in order to break free of the grip their cruel oppressors have on them. Blood of The Hunted is a tale of a group of rebels made up of mythological races striving to create a world where their people can live equal and free. Weylyn, leader of the rebel group known as The Resistance, his best friend Olwen, and their allies fight for better lives for the Tóråin, but their morale is lower than ever before. Their enemies, which include vile human monarchs, their soldiers, and a masked witch assassin known only as The Dove, continue to tighten their terrible grip on a people they believe are creatures born of a godly evil. After a desperate move to form an alliance with a neighboring nation that has worked towards equality between Tóråin and humans, The Resistance begins to gain traction for the first time. Weylyn, Olwen, and their allies look to spread their rebellion from their country to four others, hoping to weaken them before an all out war is waged to liberate the Tóråin who live there. What follows is a precarious storm full of horrifying violence, impressive resilience, fierce loyalty, and inspiring comradery that will have you jumping back and forth from tears to smiles from chapter to chapter. Blood of The Hunted is a book ripe with emotion, action, diversity, and intensity that strives to show the strength of marginalized communities, as well as the horrors of heavy subjugation and oppression. The story features heartwarming moments as well as gut-wrenching ones. It is a darker tale than most, but it only accentuates the lighter moments throughout the story. At its core, Blood of The Hunted is a story about resilience, family, and the will to see a better world for everyone living in it, no matter where they come from or what they look like. |
|
Seeds of the Fallen by Miriam Yvette Celestials. Light vs. Darkness. Enemies-to-lovers? A secret identity hides the truth, but what happens when it becomes a cage? The irritable and uncommitted Lucan Greystone has to live under an alias, his true self, hidden in a human body. No one can know he's a celestial of the cosmos, as those were the wishes of his mother before she was taken. But when a murder attempt sends Lucan to a small town, he must depend on the Harrow family to trek the long, perilous road back to his friends, all while suffering Elene Harrow's company, the town's heathen who nearly killed him. Elene Harrow wants to undo the wrongs of her past, even if that means fulfilling a Vow of Marriage and leaving her romantic life in the hands of another. Upon meeting Lucan, she finds his existence a danger, yet he's always the one who rescues her, even when he can barely stand her. When Elene discovers one of Rima's children ensnared in darkness, the journey may be more than they bargained for. |
|
The Serpent's Quest by Nerine Dorman & Toby Bennett How long have the stars been the same? Longer than weary eyes may count. Tonight, a wanderer burns on the surface of Khusuâs pool, and soon all other lights will seem pale. How many ages have rolled since the gods have seen a sail from the world beyond? The rising sun shall rob them of their isolation. My time is coming. They called me fool, but none have known my pain. The pattern shifts; neither man nor god may know its final weaving. What some call madness, I call vision. I have seen, and now one comes â haunted, driven before the winds of a fate he dare not face. I have called the Serpent from his prison. A man of war, seeking peace, yet disease and ruin will follow in his wake. What he bears will cast a shadow to drown the distant lights of Tel Aphos and make the gods who dwell there remember fear. All that remains is to find the one to serve me when the general falls. Is that you Hetephes? Are you to be my handmaiden or will you choose your false father? So many others have failed. You are restless in your narrow bed. Do you sense me watching? Do you dream? Should not the God of Visions and Crossroads know? It is selfish not to share. It matters not! The ships are here, the star returns, and no noviceâs dream could encompass what is to come⌠If you want to know that, you must share The Serpentâs Quest. |
|
Child of Vanris by Nikki McCormack At five years old, Kasiel was found with the pointed ends of his ears cut off. Despite that brutal start, heâs lived twelve peaceful years with the man who took him in. Keeping his hair long over his mutilated ears helps him hide the fact that he is Vanrian, a child of the enemy. Everything changes when mercenaries arrive hunting for Kasiel. The last people he expects to come to his rescue are Vanrian soldiers, one of whom claims to be his spirit brother, whatever that means. They plan to take him across the war zone to deliver him to his real father, a man whose name strikes terror in his enemies. With his secret exposed, Kasiel canât return to his old home. This is his chance to find out who he was supposed to be. It means traveling to a foreign land where they have unusual psychic abilities he may share. It also means leaving behind everything heâs ever cared about. If he is to survive, he will need to learn their language and culture and earn his place in their society. Meanwhile, the man who cut Kasielâs ears will do anything to keep him out of his true fatherâs hands, even if it means killing him. |
|
In the world of Edenarth, faerie technology has advanced the realms immeasurably. Crystal ball communications, magic mirror displays, and portaling for fast travels are just some of the things that the Clans of Fey have engineered for human consumptionâat the right price, of course. Politically, countless kingdoms and realms vie for power and prestige. It is a world filled with terrifying dragons, fearsome trolls, clueless humans, eccentric alchemists, syndicates and pirates, mysterious mermaids, faeries and their magic. In the realm of Kelemer, Adella lives a life of peasantry with her parents, always having to hide from a shadowed past no one will name. One night, they are visited by the grandmother Adella never knew she had: Queen Cassandra Everheart, ruler of the ocean kingdom of Adamaris, the neighboring realm to the south. After years of hiding, Adella learns why her family has been hunted as Cassandra apologizes for banishing Adellaâs father for marrying outside of the royal bloodlines. Adamaris has since been bereft of an heir, and with Adella being the rightful crown, she is presented with the choice to leave and attend Royal High, a finishing academy for nobility. Within three yearsâ time, she will be expected to become Queen of Adamaris should she embrace her birthright. Naturally, fifteen year old Adella is stunned, but reluctantly agrees. She is then whisked away and thrust into the opulent castle halls of Royal High to learn alongside other young royals from across the realms. But a strange darkness haunts Adella in the shadows of the palatial school, and through a series of increasingly dire events, Adella finds that not everyone is as they appear in the world of royals. For under the surface of all kingdoms, a terrible and dark force is rising; an ancient breed of Dragon Kin, once thought vanquished by five guardians of light, are fighting to break free from their thousand year exile. Can Adella Everheart understand what her dreams are telling her before it is too late? Or will the darkness consume everything she loves? ~~~~~ With her peasant life stripped away, and a crown thrust upon her, Adella Everheart must face the darkness haunting her at Royal High before it consumes everything she loves. Who would have thought high school could be so easy? |
|
In a world that slumbers under eternal night, the immortal king of the Prism Lands is dying, and with him, the world. Crown Princess Sunsea escapes the castle in hopes of saving her father before his condition is revealed to the ever-hungry for conquest empire. Valk Hawkborn, her sworn knight, chases after her. A Prism Knight, he posses the ability to manipulate overlight, holy powers granted by the moon and stored inside his crystal arm. The fall of the world gives birth to new powers: necromancers, vile puppeteers that play with the deceased bodies of their victims, and they have set their eyes on the biggest prize there is: the body of a king once believed to live forever. The race across the Prism Lands begins - the princess searching for a cure, her betrayed knight chasing after her, and the necromancers building their forces to take control of the kingdom. |
|
Heir of Amber and Fire by Rachanee Lumayno They're only huge, scary, fire breathing creatures. Seriously, is that any reason to be afraid of a dragon? When my father the king announced my upcoming political wedding, it uncovered family secrets I never knew existed and forced me to go on the run. Now I, Princess Jennica of Calia, am not only trying to escape my arranged marriage, but am hoping to figure out the truth of my heritage. Because my dear father may not be what he seems. To learn the mysteries of my past, I'll have to team up with a group of ragtag mercenaries. Including a handsome dragon Seeker whose surliness can't stop me from being drawn to him despite myself. They're taking me to the dragon who once kidnapped my mother, and who hopefully has the answers I seek. Because I'm running out of time to save my kingdom. And in order to save my kingdom, I might have to betray my new friends. Journey to the Gifted Lands, a fantasy world of seven kingdoms, each known for their own unique power or ability. Heir of Amber and Fire is the first book in the Kingdom Legacy series set in this magical world. |
|
A missing giant. A sinister conspiracy. A decision that will change the fate of a jarldom. The bone trade is big business. Black market buyers will offer many silvers for fresh giant bone, to carve into charms or use in dark enchantments. When cloaked men kidnap the giant Njal Frostborn, everyone knows why. He's destined to be murdered and sold in that terrible trade. His best friend, apprentice wizard Idun Wintermoon, is determined to save him from that terrible fate. But to do so, she must defy the head of her order, and face powers far beyond her ability. To survive, she's going to need an ally. Luckily for her, Lissette Forlatt - a down-on-her-luck sellsword - is on the case. Together, they'll brave worse than the elements and rogue mages in their quest to save Njal. What they discover might shake the jarldom to its core. If they live long enough to tell the story. |
|
Legends say when the skies grow dark and scourge starves the land, a star will fall in order to save humanity. Only when the star is sacrificed at the end of their journey will light return. It's a cycleâone humanity refuses to break because stars are plentiful and their sacrifices easier than learning the true nature of the scourge. When Sol finally falls, it's not because of humanity. It's because he's had enough of watching his brethren be sacrificed. He has one goal: end humanity and end the cycle. Unfortunately, he has to pretend he cares before humans get wise. It doesn't matter how soft the princess who catches him isâCelena will be dead by the time his journey ends. Nor how kind his assigned companions areâthe outgoing Mira with her ballads, the brave Nebora with her axe, and the hero Loren with his soft voice and friendly smile. For centuries, humanity has lied and their kindness is a ruse to bring about Sol's own destruction at the end of his tale. He will not be fooled. No one cares about the cries of the stars they've destroyed over and over again and Sol will make sure this time, humanity is the one sacrificed. At least, that's the plan until his traitorous heart begins to care for the humans he sought to eradicate. |
|
Oathbreakers Anonymous by Scott Warren A knockout fantasy from author of The Dragonâs Banker. Pride comes before the fall. And when the great paladin Marluck of Kalash fell, he fell hard. Labeled an Oathbreaker and banished from the Temple of Fate, the once-champion had no idea why his goddess-given powers were stripped and his holy icon shattered. Only that a banished paladin can never return to the fold, and is doomed to eternal longing and misery. Bereft of his powers and cast down from his once-lofty heights, Marluck is rescued by the Oathbreakers Guild where other fallen paladins like himself meet to share their woes of banishment and pine for better days. But when a stranger in the group whispers of four holy sites where other Oathbreakers found favor once more, Marluck is helpless to resist the siren song of renewed succor within the fold of his goddess. Together with three other members of the groupâeach with demons of their ownâMarluck sets out on a do-or-die quest to unravel the mystery of his fall from grace, and discover what it means to be a champion. |
|
The Wind Walker by Simon Shugar Embark on a thrilling coming-of-age fantasy adventure with daring sky-pirates and a desperate quest for freedom! In the treacherous city of Crater, young Zephyr dreams of escaping his fate as a Breaker Boy, a child labourer in the mines. Desperate for freedom, he turns to the thieves' guild, hoping to earn enough coin to buy his way out. But in a city rife with corruption, Zephyr's path to independence is far from easy.â¨â¨Captain Bacchus and his eccentric crew of sky-pirates are on a high-stakes mission to recover a stolen treasure â a legacy that holds the fate of a kingdom. Enticed by the promise of a reward fifty times their usual rate, they must infiltrate the city of Crater, a daunting task with countless obstacles.â¨â¨As their paths collide, Zephyr and Captain Bacchus find themselves at a crossroads. Can they forge an alliance and overcome the challenges before them, or will Zephyr's dreams of freedom be forever crushed? Get ready for a nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat fantasy trilogy that kicks off with a bang! Don't miss outâgrab your copy now! |
|
Copper Cold Steel by Sori Aryl After the facial-scarred Lucia's father died, she became Marquess Lucian to inherit the Borderland of Winterstride along with his debt. When her step-sisters are chosen for the Princess Tests, she becomes a guard for another Lady to make ends meet. The Duke of Coppersteel looks at her a little too closely with his prejudice of Borderlanders after he scarred Lucian's face during a duel. Can she keep her identity a secret while helping her sister's win the hearts of the Golden Princes? Also under Kindle Vella under the same name. 96k words CW: Sexual assault, sacrifice, harassment |
|
Order of the Shadow Dragon by Steven McKinnon Magic is the enemy. When he discovers all is not what it seems, can a young knight survive long enough to protect the world from the forces of darkness? Adrian Navarro burns for revenge. The lone member of a defunct military sect, the nineteen-year-old canât shake the horrific nightmare of witnessing his fatherâs murder by shadowy fiends. So when a cataclysm devastates a neighbouring kingdom and his superiors blame a powerful sorceress, he gladly agrees to assassinate her to settle the score. Striking out across another realmâs border, the relentless soldier tracks the evil wielder of the dark arts. But after heâs ambushed by magic-users and captured, heâs shocked to discover his crusade for vengeance could be built on a stunning lie - and now the fate of the world is at stake. As heâs confronted by soul shattering truths, can Adrian overcome his greatest fear and save the world? Order of the Shadow Dragon is the action-packed first book in the Legacy of Light & Shadow epic fantasy series. If you like heroes who grow, fast-paced thrills, and humour along with the danger, then youâll love Steven McKinnonâs high-stakes adventure. |
|
Beyond the Burning Sea by T.B. Schmid & R.Wade Hodges It has been over two hundred and fifty years since the sky fell and the Young Gods died.On the mainland of Niyah, the city states of Gundlaan strive to form a united nation. On the fringe of their western frontier, there are whispers of a sinister force gathering. The Laegis Templars, the mortal remains of the Young Gods' army, are dispatched to deal with the problem. But in the vast and untamed Deckoran Wilds, Death itself is never far away...Meanwhile, the SKS Peregrine, pride of the Sea Kings fleet, has done the impossible: she has traveled beyond the Burning Sea, long thought to be the southern edge of the world of Ruine. Now, all that remains of her crew struggle to find their way back, led by a young man bearing a book filled with dark secrets, who must decide whether to reveal the terrifying truth that pursues them... |
|
King's Imitation by Erin Grunke Fraud. Lies. Deceit. It was everything that Princess Andrea's life was built on when she finds out she was not the King and Queen's legitimate daughter. A warrior to the bone, she demands to ride across the kingdom and retrieve the real heir, determined to make sure he has what it takes to rule a kingdom. But things go wrong as she and the troop of soldiers sent to protect him get decimated by assassins. Now it's up to Andrea alone to protect Prince Gavin in the journey to the palace. However, he seems just as determined to avoid the throne as she is to get him on it, and the kingdom is no longer the same as when she left it. With a grand cast of characters weaving the story together, King's Imitation is a spell-binding read that will leave you on the edge of your seat, keeping the pages turning until you devour every last word. |
|
Kate thought finding the puzzle box would give her all the answers. But it only holds far more desperate questions. Kate is a Keeperâa storyteller, magic-wielder, and researcherâbut a single mystery has evaded her all her life: What happened on the tragic day when two strangers stole not only the puzzle box that hummed with magic, but so much more? She and her brother Bo have searched for twenty years with no luck. Until Venn, a surly elf, shows up on the hidden doorstep of the Keepersâ Stronghold, with that same aenigma boxâand a message that Bo has disappeared. Kate needs a guide back to Vennâs homeland to search for him, and Venn needs to find him for reasons of her own. Reasons she refuses to explain. Despite their mutual distrust, Kate and Venn form a grudging alliance. Somewhere in the midst of infiltrating dwarven tunnels, discovering the secrets of the aenigma box, and stumbling onto shocking ancient relics, the alliance shifts to friendship. But as the search for Bo grows increasingly dangerous, they uncover a complex plot woven through centuries, devastating not just individuals, but entire empires. And even working together, the inexplicable forces standing against them may be too much. Half treasure hunt and half rescue mission, this epic fantasy adventure is a tale of puzzles, mysteries, and the kinds of friendshipsâboth old and newâthat shape the soul. |
|
Some are called by Destiny. Some stumble into it. Gyver Lightbreather is meant for greatness, and he will achieve it on his own terms. A possessor of light-powered abilities, he dreams of becoming his peopleâs most heroic warrior. Working beyond the Quorum of Lightâs influence, and running from his familyâs fallen past, he will do whatever it takes to stake his place in history. But a desperate boast leads him to startling discoveries and to a path even he may not live up to. Joined by his unassuming sidekick, Hessen Airbreather, Gyver must navigate the perils the Darkness has planned for him⌠and the dangers the Light will illuminate as well. All the while he must respond to the question he was never born to answer: Who is he that breathes dual fires? |
|
Dragon Princess by Jason P. Crawford To the commonfolk of Aetheria, the monarchy are the stuff of legends, descendants of the Uniter. To the lesser nobles, they stand as bastions of courage and political skill, deftly balancing the concerns of the people and the country. High Princess Amalia strives to live up to both expectations, forging herself into a Queen that her nation will one day be proud of. A hard task for any young woman, but for one blinded at birth, nearly impossible. Approaching her seventeenth year, and finding her worth under scrutiny from all corners, Amalia learns a devastating truth â dragons, the fabled foes of her ancestors, have returned. To defend her people and her kingdom, every last one must be destroyedâŚbut her convictions are shaken when she discovers that they are not the unthinking beasts of her nationâs collective nightmares, but intelligent creatures much like herself. Amalia must uncover the secrets hidden in the shadows if she is to avert a war that could end in the deaths of everyone she holds dear. But some truths may be better left buried⌠|
|
Cthoma's Fated by Jeffery A. Smith Every twenty years the red comet Cthoma lights up the night sky. Every twenty years, the emperor Shaucrim Vlaide must fear for his life. Throug Slagger was meant to be the chosen one. Born under the comet, he was fated to defeat the emperor and end Shaucrimâs reign of terror before it began. Leaving his family when he was ten years old, he trained with an ancient order of monks and embarked on a quest to find ten powerful Ixafore rings, set on fulfilling the prophecy. He failed. For nineteen years, Throug has been trying to forget his failure at the bottom of a flagon. With one year remaining before the return of Cthoma, he is offered a chance at redemption. Thrust upon a journey the length of the empire and beyond, can he find the tenth ring, recover what has been taken from him, and face Shaucrim Vlaide under the red light of the comet, or is it already too late? |
|
Secrets of the Sorcerers by Joan Marie Verba A vengeful plan. An impossible impasse. When confronted by the magnitude of past deeds, will she be caught in a spellbound standstill? High Sorcerer Marlys has earned the respect of her colleagues. Twelve years after freezing her ruthless predecessor in time to protect her region, the powerful leader has worked hard to bring about peace and tranquility. But while presiding over a beautiful double wedding, a rival enchantress traps Marlysâs friends with an identical spell in malicious payback. Denying the intruderâs demand to free Marlysâs predecessor after more than a decade bespelled, Marlys and her companion sorcerers frantically search for a way to crack their adversaryâs magic. And with each side refusing to compromise and driven by distrust, they face a mountainous taskâto find the legendary Library of Sorcery, which they hope contains the knowledge to restore their friends. With their opponent also on the passage to the Library, can Marlys and her companions reach their destination first to end the magical deadlock? Secrets of the Sorcerers is the refreshing first book in a quest fantasy series. If you like strong characters, gentle humor, and action-filled adventure, then youâll love Joan Marie Verbaâs enthralling story. Join the sorcerers on their quest. Buy Secrets of the Sorcerers to break the spell today! |
|
The Black Crown by John A. Douglas It is the dying days of the Age of Adventures and the Orc Wars have ended. The Crown Pantheon, authoritarian rulers of Allspire, slaughtered the marauding Orcs by the tens of thousands and returned peace to the continent of Evergrad. But among the many half-orc bastards left in the wake of the war, one was Prince Ragoth Brightsorn, son of the notorious Warlord Thorgoth and Seranna, Queen of Namaria, the sole human-ruled kingdom. After seventeen years of isolation, Ragoth is cruelly forced out of his life of luxurious comfort and into exile on the eve of his royal Crowning before he can receive his gilded mark, the magic sigil that proves his royal birth. Unable to prove who he is or return home, he embarks on a quest to reach his fatherâs tribe, the Sunderfang, in the lawless wilds of Dreadmour. But his venture is not taken alone. He earns the company of Cortland Lowhelm, a pugilistic human farmboy hellbent on finding a legend to fill, and Denith, a compassionate, if helpless, elvish goodwill worker. To ensure safe passage, they acquire the services of ValâMora, a world-weary veteran adventurer down on her luck. Together, they cross the kingdoms of the Crown Pantheon with nefarious forces seemingly at every step. The Black Crown is a coming-of-age epic fantasy packed to the brim with action & adventure, political intrigue, found family, vengeful dragons, dark abominations, and, most of allâŚ.ORCS! |
|
If The Walls Fall by Kay Malady A romance obsessed teen. A fantasy world demanding she save it. Can Grace prove sheâs not their prophesied hero without losing her life or her heart? If you live life like you're in a romance novel, ending up in a fantasy saga would surprise anyone. For serial romantic and reader Grace, she's less surprised and more disbelieving. When she arrives in the Kingdom of Dalner, she assumes it's all a dream. After all, Dalner is a world full of magic and attentive love interests, something no rational seventeen year old could believe is real. Even more improbable are the hints that Grace was brought to save the Kingdom from their northern enemies, magical immortals like the mysterious Woman, who seek to tear down the walls caging them in. But as a non-magical human with no special powers (unless turning every situation into a romantic plot counts), Grace can barely keep herself alive, much less harness the skills needed to save the world. While Grace struggles to prove sheâs not the girl theyâre looking for, outside forces drag her towards a deadly conclusion, one that may cost more than just her new friendships. To escape the evils threatening to destroy the Kingdom and protect her first love, she must confront her own definition of heroism and discover her inner power before it's too late. This book includes some scenes of violence, age appropriate sexual content, an attempted but unsuccessful assault, diversity representation, a fae-like race, a HEA, and no cliffhangers.â¨â¨For fans of the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas, Uprooted by Naomi Novik, and the Folk of the Air series by Holly Black. |
|
Temper the Dark by L Ryan Storms Servant girl Alaris Kahlanik finds out about her family's gift the hard way when she discovers her ability to dreamwalk after being condemned to the Cells. With thoughts of escape, she uses her newfound ability to spy on the emperor and his secret search for something important. Nothing the emperor wants could possibly be good for the people he rules, and so whatever the emperor is looking for, Alaris must find first. Throlani Guardsman Kagan Liis has served the Empire since Emperor Patuk's reign began eight years ago. He can also communicate with a vicious oracle referred to only as the Darkness. When the Darkness tasks Kagan with investigating the Servant girl in the Cells, Kagan takes on a special mission that will require more than his usual interrogation methods of brute strength and intimidation. From vastly different echelons of the same tribal society, Alaris and Kagan are surprised to learn they share one important goal - ensuring the best for the people of their island nation. Alaris discovers what the emperor is looking for - a dragon! But warning a senile dragon against impending danger is no easy task. Together, Alaris and Kagan must save a forgetful dragon and a divided nation...which may mean giving up any hope of saving themselves. |
|
What The Echoes Say by B.C. Rico âHow far would you go to save a friend? Would you start a war? Would you kill a king?â Kel is born into a family of spies in a land torn apart by war. Savage creatures stalk the realm in its aftermath. Kelâs best friend was orphaned by the conflict, and when he goes missing it's up to Kel to bring him home. Ahni, a princess from an island nation, manifests magic and is swept away from the palace to the Academy, a testing ground for channelers run by an ancient order shrouded in secrecy. And at the center of it all, a boy, heir to a fallen empire. The echoes of war have hollowed him out on the inside, and in the emptiness an ancient evil has taken root. Its shadow threatens the world. |
|
Worldbreaker by Becca Lee Gardner The Dark hungers for Ksara. It has plagued her since she was a child. She is desperate to control it. As a Land Mage, she should be able to control it. But the Dark is growing wild. She cannot pass within fifty feet of a noktum without its inky arms lashing out to drag her inside. Even the most commonplace shadows have begun to reach for her. Now her brother lies dying on the deck of her ship. Her only hope of saving him is to sail to Nokte Murosa, a city wedged between two walls of noktum. There, she must strike a deal with the cityâs vengeful leader, avoid a fanatical cult that wants to own her⌠And resist the whispers in her mind. Voices that accompany the shadows. The Dark is alive. It wants her, and once it succeeds⌠It will swallow the entire continent. |
|
Dragon Thief by Blake & Raven Penn Best Book of the Year 2023 - Indies Today Outlawed magic. Thrilling heists. Dragons like you've never seen before. "If I got executed again, my dad was going to kill me." Asher of Steel Rim might be a halfway-decent thief, but he's not exactly the realmâs most popular guy. As an outcast among outcasts, some hate him for his scale-tipped, pointed ears. Others wish him dead because heâs a magi in a land where those born with etherarchy are outlawed. In the wild, desert wastelands of Drakfell, Asher finally finds the opportunity heâs been waiting for: A chance to avenge his motherâs death by taking down the legendary leader of the Mage Hunters herself. The Black Valkyrie. To get his shot, Asher joins a crew of Knights determined to steal a true dragon egg. But Asherâs journey of personal vengeance lands him right in the middle of a war that goes far beyond anything he couldâve imagined. |
|
Defy by C.S Doraga The Eridian Empire is rife with discontent and animosity. Now, Imperial Princess Redrinna has a choice: stay trapped in a life that terrifies her or betray the trust of her parents-the two people she loves more than anything. Sheltered from most of the Empire's turmoil, Redrinna has spent her entire life preparing for her eighteenth birthday-the day she will inherit the throne of a country she has never seen with her own eyes. Her parents believe she is capable of greatness, but she believes she is doomed to fail. Then, her entire world is turned upside down by a betrayal she never thought possible, a betrayal that leaves her nearly dead. With the help of a creature long thought extinct-a dragon-Redrinna uses the situation to run, determined to finally be free. But earning her freedom isn't that simple. Somone knows she survived. To win her freedom for good, she may have to find a strength she's never had in order to fight an evil long forgotten but responsible for the Empire's dark creation and eager to do worse. And if Redrinna can't, then the little she has left-her friend, her homeland, and her freedom-might be lost forever. Defy is the first in a young adult epic fantasy series packed with unforgettable characters, mystery, and adventure. If you like reluctant heroes, dragons, and coming of age stories, then you'll love the first book in C.S. Doraga's Rise of the Empress series. |
|
"Highly recommended for fans of Patrick Rothfuss and Robert Jordan." -BlueInk Review (starred review) A catastrophe a thousand years ago divided the world into isolated Fragments, eventually driving most of humanity back to a premodern lifestyle. Since then, an unexplained blight has been spreading, and strange and monstrous creatures have arisen in its midst. Cor, the son of a whisky distiller, doesn't know about any of this. His peaceful little village has been isolated for hundreds of yearsâuntil he finds a way out, wandering into another Fragment. It's rather less peaceful. But with the help of Brayleighâa spritely redhead teen he soon befriends, who is a bit wiser to the ways of the worldâmaybe our sheltered whisky stillman can survive and, in time, make his way back home. Celeste has not been so sheltered. Her family was murdered by orks at age 8; she left the Academy at 18 to travel with a merchant caravan; and now, she's the orator for the new leader of the People's Commonwealth. Everything she's dreamt of is finally in reach ... so why does it feel farther away than ever? Deliad, the Knight-Lord of Norvesterâthe former kingdom replaced by the Commonwealthâwould like nothing better than to confront those responsible with the edge of his halberd, Celeste included. But, with his small band of former knights stuck hiding in remote hills and half-starving, it's looking increasingly unlikely he'll ever get the chance. Nothing could be further from their minds than the workings of a Warlock a thousand miles away, and his obsessive decade-long pursuit of vengeance. Yet as fragmented as this world is, it's also a small one. Will the hand of vengeance reach them across a thousand miles? ... Or will they, perhaps, reach him first? |
|
Tomb of Heart and Shadow by Cara N. Delaney Their marriage was a simple bargain. Love was not supposed to complicate things. When her reputation-obsessed family issues her an ultimatum â get married or be disinherited â Saria seizes upon what seems like a most convenient solution. She strikes a deal with a stranger â marriage and a child in exchange for freedom and security. That her bride is a sorcerer from the mysterious city of Neeth is not a problem. Or so Saria thinks. Taleysin doesnât expect much from her second marriage. A child and heir to carry on her sworn duty to the city of Neeth, and more importantly, a wife who wonât ask too many questions. The deal with Saria seems to be everything she wants â and nothing more. She will have her heir, and Neeth will remain safe for another generation. But soon enough, their resolve over their practical decision begins to crumble. While Saria grows ever more curious about Neethâs magical secrets, Taleysin finds herself falling for a woman who was supposed to be nothing more than a means to an end. When a mysterious assailant begins to hunt down sorcerers, Saria and Taleysin must find a way to work through this shift in their relationship â to save both their marriage and the city. |
|
The Children of Never by Christian Warren Freed FEAR NO DARKNESS! The War Priests have defended the world against the vile Omegri for generations. Staunch defenders of the Purifying Flame, the lone light capable of preventing the darkness from creeping in, they stand the watch for 100 days each year. It is the Burning Season. A time of strife where their power is sorely tested and there are constant dangers let loose in the world. In the Duchy of Fent the Grey Wanderer has been spotted moving through the mist. Where he goes, bad things follow. Children soon begin to disappear. Whispers of the dead returned to life spread. The Baron is beset by evil and forced to turn to Castle Andrak for aid. Brother Quinlan and his squire are deployed to Fent in the hopes of solving the mystery of the missing children and stopping the evil from spreading. What he discovers stretches him to the edge of sanity, for evil is never satisfied. The Omegri will have this world and all within it should the War Priests fall. The Children of Never is the follow on novel to the L Ron Hubbard Writer's of the Future Contest 4th place winner The Purifying Flame. |
|
The Unspoken Truths of Casemiro by Christopher Clouser Casemiro, a down on his luck wizard with little magical power, travels back to the location of his greatest accomplishment twenty years before, the village of Lillenhold, to recapture his glory, power, and perhaps a little coin. Casemiro, while grappling with his past and identity, finds himself amidst complex relationships involving Prince Arenton, Princess Laural, and various other characters including his brother Quinto and Forrest â a troll-man hybrid with a connection to the wizardâs past. Believing he takes a simple job for a local festival, Casemiro soon gets thrown into a murder investigation, an unexpected and perhaps unwanted (he just canât decide) tryst, a heroic quest involving witches and a dragon, and the involvement of (wait for it)âŚ. medieval professional wrestlers. All this from responding to a harmless job advertisement. But Casemiro wonders if it all could have been prevented if he did one thing: tell the true story of what happened twenty years ago and reveal his unspoken truths. In summary: a tale about overcoming guilt associated with lost love alongside navigating treacherous waters full of deceitful plots hatched by those most unexpected â all set against a backdrop rich in fantasy elements such as magical creatures & epic showdowns between good versus evil forces vying for control over lands steeped in lore & legend. |
|
The House of Starling by Ciara Hartford Hatred divides the elves by the color of flesh and the sharpness of steel. Crossing the border is forbidden. Raemian Starling knows the consequences better than most. As a renowned fighter in the Shay army, sheâs fought the Bleck Larin for years. But when sheâs captured by the enemy, Rae finds the last thing she would have expectedâkindness. Forced to reevaluate friend and foe, she puts her trust in the unlikeliest of places. Gastel, the youngest Bleck Larin prince, has never left his home, has never met a Shay, and is entirely unprepared when the Shayâs prized warrior is not the monster he'd anticipated. A decision to help Rae return home forces Gastel to face the true power he possesses and the reason his father has kept him hidden from the world. But time isnât on anyoneâs side. An unimaginable power threatens their world, one that cannot be defeated with a sword alone. Rae may be the only elf capable of confronting her queen and stopping the war, but sheâll need Gastelâs help to bring balance to elvenkind. Lest their world cease to exist entirely. . . . |
|
The Glorious and Epic Tale of Lady Isovar by Dave Dobson Lady Isovar is a mighty and supremely confident knight errant who tends to leap into adventure with both feet and then track it all over the rug. Chevson, her long-suffering squire and companion, is a former student of stone magic who spends most of his time keeping his mistress from causing enthusiasm-related injury to innocent bystanders. A tragic turn of events has sent them far from home, where they roam the countryside righting wrongs, smiting miscreants, deposing despots, and taunting their foes, often with seriously questionable one-liners. This new life is more than enough for Izzy, but Chevson wants nothing more than to set right what he harmed long ago. Following clues to sites of ancient power, they might just achieve his aim. That is, if they aren't murdered, dismembered, devoured, executed, roasted, or derailed by Izzy's bravado first. The Glorious and Epic Tale of Lady Isovar is an epic fantasy story of adventure, friendship, heroic battles, and vile villains. Content Warning:Â This book includes a lot of medieval-style violence and some gore (so long as it's not a Fourthday). |
|
Moonshadow's Guardian by Dianna Gunn All Riana has ever wanted is freedom. Unfortunately, thatâs the one thing her kind cannot have. Bound by the curse in her demonic blood for millennia, Riana has tried several times to bend the rules and live out her life in the mortal realm. Now her consistent rule breaking has drawn the attention of Loki, God of Mischief, the main tormentor of Rianaâs kind. But instead of punishing her, he offers her the escape she has always desired. All she has to do is save the kingdom of Moonshadow from a mysterious magical plague. Armed only with the inherent power of her own blood and Lokiâs pet dragon, Riana is determined to fight for the right to create her own destiny. However, when her mission forces her to destroy the last remnants of an ancient culture, Riana must ask â what is freedom really worth? Moonshadowâs Guardian is a tale about the meaning of belonging, and the struggle to create a future not defined by your past. |
|
Wings and Wounds by Dr. S.K. Burkman Doc is just an ordinary veterinarian trying to make ends meet â until she stumbles upon an injured dragon and her world is turned upside down. Unable to resist helping an animal in need, she cares for the creature, but quickly realizes she may have bitten off more than she can chew as dragons from far and wide begin seeking out her medical assistance. Soon, Docâs peaceful veterinary clinic becomes a trial by fire as she develops dragon medicine on the fly while trying to keep her unpredictable, occasionally destructive patients a secret. As she navigates unfamiliar anatomy, perilous physiology, and peculiar behavior, Doc must learn to bond with the extraordinary creatures that have chosen to trust her with not only their own lives, but their speciesâ survival. Can the Dragon Doc find a way to balance her normal life with helping her new patients â or will her career and her clinic go down in flames? One thing is for sure: life with dragons is never dull. And in the end, Doc might need the dragons just as much as they need her. |
|
Throne in the Dark by A. K. Caggiano His dark destiny awaits, and nothing will stand in his way. Except her. Dark lord Demon spawn Prophesied realm destroyer With a demon for a father, Damien Maleficus Bloodthorneâs destiny could be nothing but nefarious, and with the completion of his most vicious spell, Damien is on the cusp of fulfilling the evil inevitability all of his dark machinations have led to. And then, her. Bubbly Obnoxious Blonde Harboring secrets of her own, a tiny yet troublesome thief calling herself Amma completely upsets Damienâs malevolent plans when she mistakenly gets chained to his side through magic, forcing him to drag her across the realm. Killing her would fix things, of course, but the nauseatingly sweet Amma proves herself useful on Damien's unholy crusade and then proves herself the source of something even more sinister: feelings. Will Damien be forced to abandon his villainous birthright to help the tender thorn in his side? Or will he manage to overcome the virtue Amma insists on inspiring and instead cut it out at the heart? |
|
The Crippled King by A. Trae McMaken Who can withstand the vengeance of dwarven kings?â¨â¨The life of a dwarven prospector is one of shame, loneliness, and a constant battle for survival. Striking it rich is the only way for Naen to keep his bones from bleaching in the sun without heritage or memory. When riches finally fall into his hands, he encounters a group of indentured servants fleeing from a vengeful master. A dwarf-maid named Jade leads the refugees, but she has her own desires for her future and they donât seem to include Naen. Yet in the face of the brutal wilderness, they need help to survive, and the experienced Naen could give it. When spring comes, should he leave them to their fate and return to the wilds alone, or should he stay with the outlaw dwarves and face the coming onslaught? Mocked as the King of the Cripples, the epithet could become Naenâs true heritage as the ragged refugees prepare their mine to withstand the vengeance of dwarven kings. |
|
Darkness of the Northern Sky by A.E. Engle Can a battle-weary warrior stop a vengeful sorceress from building an empire of evil? Commander Soltari is jaded by battle and returns home to his wife and daughter to lay down his sword for good. When nightmarish hordes suddenly strike his city and murder his family, he promises to find and destroy the sadistic sorceress behind the raid. Blinded by his desire for revenge, he leads an army deep into a frozen wasteland to strike first and stop her next attack. But a supernatural event wipes out his force, leaving him and a handful of soldiers stranded in the barren lands. Driven to madness, Soltari swears to return to his homeland and fulfill the promise he made. Yet, now the sorceress holds his lands captive, preparing for her next deadly attack. Can Soltari rise from the void of his inner abyss to return and save his homeland before the sorceress unleashes another wave of destruction? For fans of classic sword and sorcery comes Darkness of the Northern Sky, a story of one soldierâs journey to reclaim his home, his land, and honor his family. |
|
Woe to the Stargazers by Alex Shipper Heroes strive to end the world. Villains fight to save it. Kelydy just wants to go home. But it's too late. Heâs been sucked into this backwards debate with no way out, forced to choose. Either preserve his spoiled, rotting reality or obliterate it forever. Either side with the selfish, narrow-minded saviors, or join the misguided bringers of doom. Saints clash over holy ground. Cults squabble and scheme in secret. Divine weapons are forged and shattered until the morality of creation itself is brought into question. Why begin if the end is inevitable? Why live, only then to die? Kelydy doesnât know. Kelydy just wants to go home. But he must make a decision. Which side would you choose? Woe to the Stargazers is a standalone tragic fantasy set in a world filled with mythos and mystery. Explore new societies and cultures as they each wrestle with their own inevitable end in unique, gut-wrenching ways. |
|
Them Old Bones by Astor Y Teller Behind a veil of treachery and haunted bones, a dragon curse is about to set the world ablaze... Dragons didnât exist until recently. Neither did traitors, until Miriam Huckerpucker started nosing around in The Vault where she and the other undeads are holed up, when they are not out in the countryside picking up haunted bones, which is what they do for an unliving. For Miriam, who has been in the game for a while, with a refined skill set in magic spelling and swordy gymnastics and mourning classes, the hard part is not bone picking but catching homing pigeons which like all living beings donât fancy the undead at all. When no pigeons arrive from the undead expedition to barbarian lands, where the first known dragonâs bones lay waiting, Miriam suspects a traitor is messing about with the pigeon post. Mustering someone who is literally dying to get a new occupation and also getting an undead dog into the bargain, her investigations unravel a sinister plot far bigger than The Vault. (Content warnings: Adult situations, Adult language, Murder, Death, Suicide, Fear, Dark Humour) |
|
The Mystery of Lancelot Kingdom by AndrĂŠ Alexander The medieval world had survived much, two lifetimes had thrown at it the wrath of the gods, when the air turned to ash, the earth divided and the rivers ran red. On one continent three distinctly different ways of life evolved at three vastly different paces. The Mystery of Lancelot Kingdom is the first novel in a medieval fantasy novel series, set in the world of T.O.K; The Prophecy of the Orphan King. A world where Pagans and Christians clash, supernatural abilities aids human natures thirst for power. A world where prejudice is rife, civil wars and land disputes are ongoing, and many long for the peace that might come upon the return of The One Rightful King prophesied long ago. This chapter of the saga holds its own as a standalone book, that follows Princess Juliet of Jewel kingdom and her pagan stepsister on a treacherous journey, through the ungoverned borderlands, to the neighbouring kingdom of Lancelot. Princess Juliet is set to be wed in a union that will fortify two of the three Kingdoms. A union opposed by the third Kingdom, Clorestica, ruled in tyranny by The Temptress. Their travels take them on a tale of mystery, treachery, and dealings with unsavoury characters. After a series of supernatural occurrences, odd alliances, a strange inscription and not knowing who to trust; they seek the help of the Maester from the Capital City of Colemunster, the reincarnated seer who prophesied the rise of the one orphan king to rule it all. Unknown to the orphans, Morgan had secretly shaped their lives and assured they were âfosteredâ or taken into employ with people of influence: Who knows what the squire to a knight or the cup bearer to a king might learn if they cept an ear to the ground. Deprived of the wisdom and guidance a parent would give, the gods chose to bestow to each orphan a special gift, a supernatural ability to aid them through their struggles. Can they overcome their fears, hone and trust their abilities? Together they may uncover decades of secrets, change their stars and grab hold of destiny. Alone one might gain power and rule it all. |
|
Vengeance Is Our Legacy by M.C. Burnell The difference between justice and revenge may come down to having a friend. The Tabbaqeran Empire is defended by the Scolate, governed by the Illiumate, guided by the Hakam; its people worship and quarrel with a thousand-thousand gods. But there are none more revered than the masters of martial arts who serve as living cages to the Archetypes of War, primal spirits created by Chaos before the dawn of time to destroy the mortal world. A complex class system holds Qanath back from her chosen career, sitting on one of the senates. Her mother, a Senator herself, could change that with ease; itâs a matter of convincing her. Ink drying on her diploma from Magic U, the next step in Qanathâs perfect plan is to get herself apprenticed to Xar anKebbal, the Embodiment of Vengeance. Everyone thinks they know he stopped taking students several years ago, and she isnât prepared to run up against the prickly, hostile foreigner who is secret heir to Xarâs Legacy. When calamity strikes, she follows her new enemy out the door without a strategy. Havec is determined to go home, to find out who had him disappeared six years ago and punish them. Qanath canât stand in his way; he has become Kebbalâs Embodiment and vengeance is his calling. The border between Tabbaqera and his homeland is restive, though, tensions swelling between their peoples. They find rampaging giants, tight-lipped spies, an unnatural winter season that doesnât want to end. Innocents killed in the name of ambition. The cynical, bitter, frightened, angry person Qanath first met wouldnât have been willing to involve himself. That man refused to care about anyone else. Then he got to be friends with a stubborn young woman with a chip on her shoulder and a pocket full of crystals. Come learn more about the power of an unexpected friendship. Pick up this new adult fantasy adventure now. |
|
Empire of Dirt by Philip C. Quaintrell THE ECHOES OF FATE WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN. THE WORDS UTTERED A THOUSAND YEARS AGO WILL COME TO PASS, AND A NEW AGE WILL DAWN⌠War is set to ravage Illian. The elves sail from the east. The savage Darkakin rise from the south. Valanis, the dark elf, is finally free of his prison and eager to see his work finished. Only then will he be free of the gods who still haunt him. A new hope rises in The Red Mountains. There, the last remaining dragons have been discovered. Gideon and GalanĂśr, human and elf, will have to work together if they are to convince Adriel, the last of the Dragorn order, to intervene in the coming war. Devoid of hope and unsure what road to take, Asher and his companions must decide what role they will play as the realm unravels into bloodshed. The only weapon known to rival Valanisâ power is in a place the ranger has avoided for a long time, a place where, until now, neither man nor elf would dare to tread. Civil war has shattered the empire in The Arid Lands as the slaves make their stand against the highborns. But, while revolution brews, a greater threat looms. As a thunderous cacophony of steel and savagery marches through The Undying Mountains, who will stand before this army of death⌠EMPIRE OF DIRT CONTINUES THIS UNMISSABLE EPIC FANTASY SERIES. |
|
Rise of the Ranger by Philip C. Quaintrell THE ECHOES OF FATE, A PROPHECY UTTERED UNTO THE WORLD A THOUSAND YEARS AGO, CANNOT BE DENIED⌠Mankind has lorded over the land of Illian for a thousand years, building on the ruins left by the elves, as if it were their birthright. A thousand years is a long time for an immortal race to see the truth of things, a truth that has remained unsaid for a millennium - elves are superior. They are faster, stronger and connected to the magical realm in a way that man could never grasp. Illian should belong to them. Unaware of the shadow that looms in the east, the six kingdoms of man are fractured, unallied, and clawing at each otherâs gates for more power. This isnât just war set to ravage the land, but a slaughter - the world of man cannot hope to survive. Thrown into the heart of this war is a man known by many names; an Outlander of the wilds, an assassin, a ranger. Asher was born a thousand years ago, to a life he doesnât remember. Forty years of brutal training and killing for money has beaten the earliest years of his life away, leaving his ties to the oldest of evils a mystery to all⌠RISE OF THE RANGER LAUNCHES AN UNMISSABLE EPIC FANTASY SERIES. |
|
A Wolf Before the Storm: Wolves of Stormfall Book 1 by J.W. Golan In an age of magic, in a realm where werewolves stalk the land, a lost girl awakens from a nightmare â and claims a legend as her own. An indentured servant to a den-master of thieves, Callisto has lived by her wits and talents â a lone wolf girl in an empire pledged to extinguish her race. Trained as a lockpick and pickpocket, adept with a dagger, fate has never been her friend. All of this changes when a chance burglary hints at a hidden cache of letters â letters left behind by an Arche-Mage centuries before. Secreted somewhere in the Imperial Library, the documents promise to fetch a fortune from the right buyer. It could be everything she dreamed of. Enough to pay off her debts. Enough to start a new life. Or it could just as easily land her in the dungeons of an empire vowed to her destruction. Amidst fleeting glimpses of a life she longs for but can never have, Callisto must maintain her cover long enough to find the treasured documents â before the shadows of her past overtake her. |
|
Storm's Tempest: Stormfall Chronicles Book 4 by J.W. Golan An army of dark fae on the march; a princess imprisoned in her own manor; and a desperate bid to rally support before the undead overwhelm the living. The armies of Marwel are on the march, seeking to exact retribution over her fae cousins. The Arche-Fae Council, however, remains in disarray, and the fae armies number too few to stem the mounting tide. With war on their heels, Lynette and Baxter are sent as emissaries, in a frantic attempt to convince the kings of the adjoining, human kingdoms to join a war against Marwel's undead armies. But who will listen to their warnings? A peasant girl and a squire on the run from his native land? Elyan, the Fae King lives, but he has not returned to his former vigor. And Elise, the Fae Princess, has been confined to the Royal Estate. Even the mage-turned-swordsman Garth, is nowhere to be found â stalking north on his own quest. The fate of both human and fae worlds may yet come down to a farmerâs son without name or title, and a sorceress afraid to use her own power. For Lynette must battle her own demons. How can she confront the threats ahead - when she refuses to tap into her own magic and abilities? Whom she might hurt, and what might she become, should her own magic overwhelm her again? |
|
Storm's Gate: Stormfall Chronicles Book 3 by J.W. Golan A world descending into war; a fabled healer who might be their last, best hope; and a princess imprisoned in a dragon-guarded keep. Lynette sets out with Baxter and Eirlon in search of a healer: the fabled Medicine Man of Horru. It is a desperate gamble to revive the fae king and avert a larger war. But the route they take will prove perilous. They risk losing everything, even each other, in a world gone mad with the stirrings of war. Armies have gathered on the borders of the Feyfell â lured by legends of fae wealth. With King Elyan poisoned and unconscious, the kingdom is visible, and vulnerable to outside invaders for the first time in centuries. And while the fae nobles debate rules of succession, Princess Elise remains missing. For in a tower a world away, the fae princess is held captive, surrounded by armies and a dragon chained to the will of vengeful sorceress. Drained of her magic, Elise must plot her own escape â while a new breed of assassins hunts the mage-turned-swordsman named Garth. Werewolves prowl the land again, as all alike seek to strike their bargains before the oncoming war. Will it be too much for Lynette to bear? Can she survive the loss of so much she holds dear? And if she does, will she ever be the same? For who among them would dare ascend, to retrieve hope from a dragon-guarded keep. |
|
Storm's Clouds: Stormfall Chronicles Book 2 by J.W. Golan A dragon: the most powerful, destructive and malevolent force known. The last thing Lynette ever wanted to get closer to â and the one thing sheâs been tasked to go find. For the first time in centuries, a dragon has been reported on the edge of the Feyfell. Homes, cities, and forests are all threatened with fiery destruction. The news has plunged the Fae Kingdom into a panic. Desperate to know the truth behind the reports, and unable to discretely dispatch his own fae soldiers to investigate, King Elyan tasks Lynette, Baxter and Eirlon with tracking down the whereabouts and intentions of the fiery beast. But Lynette is still only a second-year student at the Fae Academy. She has come far â but she knows sheâs no Arche-Mage. Baxter is still struggling to prove his worth, hoping Lynette might see him as something more than the boy-squire she first met two years before. And Eirlon â he still hordes secrets Lynette can only suspect. A girl, a boy, and a gnome â on the hunt for a fire-breathing dragon. The threats facing the Fae Kingdom, however, are multiplying. A traitor has set his sights on King Elyan, while the Arche-Fae Council continues to treat the Princess Elise as an outsider â an adopted daughter rather than a noblefae by birth. Hostile armies are gathering on the kingdomâs northern frontier, while the mage-turned-swordsman Garth must balance between rescuing a boy on a quest and averting a larger war. With sightings of dragons, rumors of war, and trained assassins stalking the land, will there even be a Feyfell for Lynette to return to? |
|
Storm's Herald: Stormfall Chronicles Book 1 by J.W. Golan A peasant girl who dreams of becoming a sorceress, a boy who imagines himself a knight â trailed by a ruthless mercenary armed with an ancient sword. All Lynette wanted was to leave her boring village life â to attend the Fae Academy and become a Druid priestess like her teacher before her. Her clumsy attempts at magic are a reminder of how much she has yet to learn. But if they would only accept her, if the Fae Kingdom â closed to human visitors for centuries now â would only just open its doors, she is certain she could become a master of the magical arts. Yet her journey puts her on a collision course with a reawakened evil â offering a kingâs ransom for the recovery of a long-lost relic. Treasure hunters of every variety â werewolves, mercenaries, common thieves and undead alike â are soon locked in pursuit of its promised riches. Together with Baxter, a young squire who fled his own kingdom, and Eirlon, a gnome who trades in rare antiquities, Lynette is drawn unwillingly into the hunt for the elusive relic. Hounded by goblins, ogres â and darker things â Baxter carries his own burdens: secrets that have made him the enemy of the crown. And then there is Garth, the mysterious mercenary who both frightens and intrigues Lynette: the weapons-master armed with an ancient blade â snatched from the hand of a long-vanished fae prince. Willingly or not, Lynette, Baxter and Eirlon must together solve the riddles behind the relic â and stay one step ahead of the ruthless killers that pursue them. |