It was an age of adventure. An age of sorcery. An age of unrelenting horror. Sword and sorcery and pulp horror go hand-in-hand. Sinister enchanters working foul magic. Hideous beasts lurking in shadowy dungeons. Blasphemous elder gods uncoiling from forgotten and forbidden temples SWORDS IN THE SHADOWS features twenty-one stories with a bloody stake driven into the heart of both the horror and fantasy camps. Herein, you will find fantasy worlds, brave warriors, fabulous creatures, wondrous...

From the international bestselling author of the Broken Empire trilogy comes the second book of the Red Queen’s War...After harrowing adventure and near death, Prince Jalan Kendeth and the Viking Snorri ver Snagason find themselves in possession of Loki’s key, an artefact capable of opening any door and sought by the most dangerous beings in the Broken Empire—including the Dead King.Jal wants only to return home to his wine, women, and song, but Snorri has ...

Can the vow of a warrior king win a heart and save a kingdom?Feared by enemies and allies alike, Naxaris reputed to be utterly merciless, without a human heart or soul. As he captures the throne of Kenta, a letter summons him to Ashwall Castle in the land of his birth, a place he left behind years ago to wage war and take his place in the world. Ashwall is caught in the grip of famine, and Prince Adonias, his childhood friend, desperately needs his help. When Naxar arrives...

The mute elven archer known only as Killer. Azyrin, a half Winter-orc shaman and his human swordswoman bride, Makha. Drake, the charming, swashbuckling rogue. The fireball-slinging pixie-goblin, Rahiel, and her mini-unicorn, Bill. These are the Gryphonpike Companions.Arriving in Ramsport, Killer and her companions find a city under siege by a swarm of dragons. Banding together with other adventurers from their Guild, they set off to find the source of the swarm.But as they ...

The sun has returned to the Land of Night and Liall has claimed a throne he never wanted, but many still oppose the presence of his beloved Scarlet at court. While the powerful barons clamor for a royal heir to secure the succession, rumors fly of Liall's marriage to a baron's daughter, driving a painful wedge between the lovers.But the proposed marriage of Lady Ressilka isn't the only reason Scarlet has grown distant. His magic is changing, mutating into a dangerous power he does ...

The mute elven archer known only as Killer. Azyrin, a half Winter-orc shaman and his human swordswoman bride, Makha. Drake, the charming, swashbuckling rogue. The fireball-slinging pixie-goblin, Rahiel, and her mini-unicorn, Bill. These are the Gryphonpike Companions.Taking on their most dangerous quest yet, Killer fears she won’t survive to break her curse. Tasked with finding the source behind a magical winter without end far to the north on the isolated island of Imaldor, Killer...

Dark magic stirs in an unknown land.The Guardian's duty is to defend mankind from all the powers of dark magic.When she senses an evil power awakening in a strange land, the Guardian must travel there to fight it.But the realm of Norvangenheim is a harsh and dangerous place, and it might kill the Guardian before she can even find the dark power...

This collection of Icelandic fairy tales and legends comes from the days of the Vikings. These stories of trolls, magic, Hidden People, and creatures from the sea were passed down from generation to generation, told on cold winter nights in front of the fire before being written down a hundred years ago. The stories are brought together here and updated, so now you can read about trolls that wandered throughout Iceland, the race of Hidden People with strong magic powers and the four powerf...

Their meeting changes the world. Not necessarily for the better.In a mystical world, where shifters and mermaids are real, an unexpected meeting can change the course of history.Teaq takes his role as general very seriously. The Black Isles need defending against their mortal enemy: King Weiland and his brutal Merfolk army.But when he meets Liliwen, whose desire for adventure has led her all the way into enemy waters, his resolve wanes. His duty dic...

Three stories of power, innocence, and magic.Kinzel the Foolish: Meet Kinzel, 'prentice to Mad Siljan the herb lady. Not quite the village fool. Not quite. And does it take a fool, or a wise child, to bargain with a unicorn?Kinzel the Innocent: Against his master's -- and his own! -- expectation, Kinzel has won a wizard's staff, and, having done so, he can no longer stay in his master's house. So, he sets to see the world, finding it as won...

The Red Mother is a fantasy novella by Hugo Award-winning author Elizabeth Bear.Auga, a wandering sorcerer, follows his brother's fate-thread into the village of Ormsfjoll, where he expects to deliver good news and continue his travels. What he doesn't anticipate is that to meet his brother he must first contend with the truth at the heart of the volcano that wreaks havoc on Ormsfjoll.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Dig...

Scarlet and Liall set out with the king's army on a perilous journey to the frozen heart of Rshan. As Scarlet's fabled magic begins to change, Liall places their entwined fates into the hands of those who covet magic above all else, but will they save Scarlet or enslave him?