The story of Bordio is the description of a chess game, as seen from the prospective of the game pieces. It is written so that chess players and non players alike, can enjoy the read. Within the telling of the story, there are chess references, but they are so slight they may, or may not, be noticed by non chess players. The reader can play the game, move for move, as they read the book. White's move is at the beginning of each chapter and Black's move is at the end. The story follows the ...

The Daughter of Odren is a short fantasy story of betrayal and revenge set in the world of Earthsea, in which Weed, the daughter of Lord Garnet, waits for the day she will have her father back.For fourteen years, Weed, as she is called, the daughter of Lord Garnet, has brought offerings to the standing stone. Alone in a shallow valley, she implores the stone not to forget her. To remember who he is and the life he led. To wait until the day he will be avenged.Now t...

Includes a Game of Thrones novella and a Lord John tale from Diana Gabaldon! "Entirely successful. There really is something for everybody in it." — BooklistFrom George R. R. Martin's Introduction to Warriors :"Our contributors make up an all-star lineup of award-winning and bestselling writers, representing a dozen different publishers and as many genres. We asked each of them for the same thing—a story about a warrior. So...

THE ROAD HOMEBahzell Bahnakson of the Horse Stealer hradani never wanted to be a champion of the War God. Unfortunately, Tomandk had insisted. Even more unfortunately, Bahzell's own sense of responsibility hadn't let him say, "No."Which was how he found himself in the Empire of the Axe, where even people who didn't actively hate hradani regarded them with suspicion and fear. Of course, that was only the start of his problems.Next, there was the Order of Tomanak, man...

"Morgan has written a masterpiece, one that is movie-worthy." Reader's Favorite.com."Marilia: strong-willed, erudite and fallible. Cole has delivered a heroine so humbly human I found pleasure in reading fantasy again." Kristiana Reed, author of Between the Trees, Poetry and Prose, Reedsy.com."Marilia is a more sophisticated, more believable version of Mulan. The prose is polished and the world is rich with lush details. Well done!" Karen Azinger, author of the Steel & Silk...

An unholy attack upon his brother-in-law General Arisaydia pitches sorcerer Learned Penric and his Temple demon Desdemona headlong into the snake-pit of Cedonian imperial politics. But they will not travel alone. The mission from his god brings Penric some of his strangest new allies yet, and the return of some of his most valued old ones.This novel-length story takes place two years after the events of “The Physicians of Vilnoc”.The internal chronological order of the Penr...

Shadows from another realm threaten the world with eternal darkness as this "stunning high-fantasy series" continues ( Denver Post).An ancient war between shadowy Immortals persists to this day, thanks to the wizard Mauryl and the Shaping he conjured to face the Shadows of Chaos. Both more and less than human, Tristen is that Shaping. And his victories have won his friend Cefwyn both a kingdom and true love.But the Lines that hold the world in place ...

Long before he became the Shield Knight, Ridmark Arban was a young Swordbearer in the court of the lord of the Northerland.And when savage orcs descend upon the people of the Northerland, Ridmark must fight in their defense, or fall upon the field of battle...

Feef is a smelly, insecure little creature who calls the Toklaat Space Station home. Shadia is a tough, independent itinerant worker who calls no place home—until the day Feef needs help, and offers her something priceless in return.“Durgin has a remarkable gift for inventing unusual characters doing incredible things.”–KliattFirst published in the DAW anthology Space, Inc

A village has fallen on hard times and does not have coin to pay their taxes. They plead for mercy but when General Alcion orders Jonmarc and his men to do the unthinkable, they must make some hard choices. The options weigh heavy on Jonmarc and an old curse seems likely to come true.Soldier. Fight slave. Smuggler. Warrior. Brigand lord. If you’ve met Jonmarc Vahanian in the Chronicles of the Necromancer and Fallen Kings Cycle books, you don’t really know him until you take his jou...

Darweena must choose to fight for the Forest Folk in an epic battle against the beasts. Will she choose love over her home? A short story of 3700 words.

The invasion is over, and the survivors of the shattered Rogandan army have straggled home. The people of Arvenon and the surrounding kingdoms are at peace. Or so they believe.Little do they know that a new stone of power has emerged, controlled by a cruel tyrant bent on destruction. But King Agon of Rogand lusts after much more than conquest. He will settle for nothing less than unending power.No armies are massing at the border. The kingdoms face a threat from within....