A seductive beauty he can never have, yet can't resist. . . Cadeon Woede will stop at nothing to atone for the one wrong that will haunt him forever. But once he secures the key to his redemption, the halfling Holly Ashwin, Cade finds that the woman he thought he could use for his own ends and then forget haunts him as much as his past. A tormented warrior she should fear, but can't deny. . . Raised as a human, Holly never knew that some frightening legends are real until she encounters a brutal demon who inexplicably guards her like a treasure. Thrust into a sensual new world of myth and power, with him as her protector, she begins to crave the demon's wicked touch. Surrender to dark desires. . . Yet just when he earns Holly's trust, will Cade be forced to betray the only woman who can sate his wildest needs -- and claim his heart?

Step into Shadow Falls, a camp for teens with supernatural powers. Here friendship thrives, love takes you by surprise, and our hearts possess the greatest magic of all.Kylie Galen wants the truth so badly she can taste it. The truth about who her real family is, the truth about which boy she\'s meant to be with―and the truth about what her emerging powers mean. But she\'s about to discover that some secrets can change your life forever…and not always for the better.Just when she and Lucas are finally getting close, she learns that his pack has forbidden them from being together. Was it a mistake to pick him over Derek? And it\'s not just romance troubling Kylie. An amnesia-stricken ghost is haunting her, delivering the frightful warning, someone lives and someone dies. As Kylie races to unravel the mystery and protect those she loves, she finally unlocks the truth about her supernatural identity, which is far different―and more astonishing―than she ever imagined.

When her sister Patty died, Jenna blamed herself. When Jenna died, she blamed herself for that, too. Unfortunately Jenna died too soon. Living or dead, every soul is promised a certain amount of time, and when Jenna passed she found a heavy debt of time in her record. Unwilling to simply steal that time from the living, Jenna earns every day she leeches with volunteer work at a suicide prevention hotline. But something has come for the ghosts of New York, something beyond reason, beyond death, beyond hope; something that can bind ghosts to mirrors and make them do its bidding. Only Jenna stands in its way.

The pursuit begins....Darren Shan, the Vampire Prince, leaves Vampire Mountain on a life or death mission. As part of an elite force, Darren searches the world for the Vampaneze Lord. But the road ahead is long and dangerous-and lined with the bodies of the damned.

A fascinating new novella in Brandon Sanderson's Cosmere, the universe shared by his Mistborn series and the #1 New York Times bestselling Stormlight Archive. Sixth of the Dusk, set in a never-before-seen world, showcases a society on the brink of technological change. On the deadly island of Patji, where birds grant people magical talents and predators can sense the thoughts of their prey, a solitary trapper discovers that the island is not the only thing out to kill him. When he begins to see his own corpse at every turn, does this spell danger for his entire culture? A note from the publisher: For a detailed behind-the-scenes look at the creation of this novella, including brainstorming and workshopping session transcripts, the first draft, line-by-line edits, and an essay by Brandon, please see Shadows Beneath: The Writing Excuses Anthology. **

The rustic oceanfront village of Bella Vista seems like something from an Italian postcard---until young women start diappearing, only to be found horribly mutilated. The polic fear a sexual serial killer is at work, somthing to e hushed up to keep the tourists calm. But the fear in the eyes of the locals says it all: the murders are starting again. . . . For American Stephanie Cahill, Bella Vista is a new beginning--a chance to put her painful past behind her. Yet, from the moment the first body is discovered at teh site of an archeological dig, Stephanie feels as if she's being watched, followed, studied. . . hunted. Archeologist Grant Peterson ssenses something odd about this dig, something that has him locking his door at night. And now, the echoes of a burial site's ancient legend can be found in the chilling signature of a killer on the loose. The powerful attraction between Stephanie and Grant is a complication neither can afford as they are pulled into a desperate race against time to keep Stephanie from joining the ranks of the missing . For nothing in Bella Vista is what it seems. No one can be trusted. And those closest to Stephanie may prove the most dangerous of all. . . .

A young woman is sent on a fatal mission. Was it right to choose death over life ...?The December, 2014 issue edited by Christopher T Garry features 160 pages of never before seen stories from ten new authors, creating narratives that are variously dark, cynical, inspiring, violent and longing. Black Denim Lit is a monthly journal of fiction available on the web and eReaders.“Cataclysm” by Madeline Popelka (The death of a cat brings about the end of the world); “The Things We Hide” by Clarissa N G (Yuen deals with a haunting while mourning); “Return To Waypoint 5” by Josh Roseman (Kage seeks dangerous answers about family and connections at an old space port); “Bit by Bit” by Cheryl McAlister (An unlikely pairing highlights the need for connection); “The Patchwork Girl” by Zack Miller (A post-pandemic world doesn't change needs of a girl missing a family); “Searching” by Lisa Shapter (Three men decide the fate of a lost corpsman); “Establishment” by Ken Poyner (The local watering hole isn't just for the bone and protein crowd); “The Degenerate” by Joe Christopher (A young working man finds an unlikely reason to change direction); “Maybe This’ll Be the One That Finally Gets Me” by Ben Spies (A veteran recounts his experience in the gulf coast disaster); “Gathering Gold” by Julie Reeser (Mae deals with loss of her mother and transition to a new life)This draws from fantasy, crime, science fiction and straight drama for our selections. Such genre variety is brought together under the common thread of rich characterization. In all the stories this month, these are human beings at odds. Whether facing a gun, an alien, the choice to live or to die or the vastness of space, each of these players respond from a very deep place of truth. And regardless of which genre can be applied, the authors have surprises in store.

Despite his father's desire that the imperial heir maintain a formal distance from servants, Peter finds himself drawn in friendship to the younger boy who serves as his slave. But a shocking revelation on the eve of the New Year forces Peter to confront his own motives for keeping the slave close by. And that in turn will help him understand the deeper meaning of the gift-giving festival."He could not leave this room without his father's permission. And he could not imagine going to his father and saying, 'Please let me go gather moss so that my slave can have a proper New Year for once.'"What can you give a slave who, by law, can own nothing? That is the question faced by Peter, the teenage heir to the throne of an empire. Despite his father's desire that the imperial heir maintain a formal distance from servants, Peter finds himself drawn in friendship to the younger boy who serves as his slave.But a shocking revelation on the eve of the New Year forces Peter to confront his own motives for keeping the slave close by. And that in turn will help him understand the deeper meaning of the gift-giving festival.This holiday novelette of romantic friendship and a young man's quest for true manhood can be read on its own or as part of The Three Lands, a fantasy series on friendship, romantic friendship, romance, and betrayal in times of war and peace. The series is inspired by conflicts between nations during the Roman Empire and the Dark Ages. The Three Lands is part of The Great Peninsula, a cycle of fantasy series (Young Spies and The Three Lands) about an epic battle between cultures, set at a time when a centuries-old civilization is in danger of being destroyed.ExcerptPeter looked down once more at the pathetic little object in his hand that purported to be the Balance of Judgment. Judgment weighing vengeance and mercy."We've forgotten about the Heart of Mercy," he said suddenly."I know how to make that too," Andrew replied, inspecting the tip of the clay sword in his hand."You're a wonder," Peter said, setting the lopsided Balance aside and rolling over onto his stomach. They were in his chamber, of course, which meant that the only places to sit were some stiff-backed chairs, the bed, and the floor. Andrew seemed to prefer the floor, though Peter had invited him onto the bed each day since the younger boy became his slave. Peter supposed this was due to some Koretian custom; he resolved inwardly to ask Andrew about that. After all, Peter's ostensible reason for having Andrew as his slave was to familiarize himself with his empire's southern dominion of Koretia. Peter's father – who was legally Andrew's owner – had said that mastering Andrew would help Peter learn how to rule his subjects."How did you learn to make crafts?" he asked Andrew."From a friend."Peter waited, but no further details emerged. Finally Peter said, "Was he a craftsman?""He was a boy. But he lived with the priests, and they trained him at artisan work, in case he should need such work when he grew up and—" Andrew shut his lips tightly. He bowed his head, as though concentrating all his thoughts on the clay he was flattening with his fingers.Peter felt then that he deserved the beating Andrew had received. A friend. A boy whom Andrew had known in the Koretian capital. Probably the boy had been enslaved during the final battle there, if not killed outright. And Andrew had been forced to speak of him.To Peter, Chara To Be, son of the ruler who had conquered Andrew's native land.

A man of deadly impulses, Layle Smith binds himself strictly by the royal prison's code of conduct. His efforts to maintain this delicate balance are altered, though, by the introduction into his life of Elsdon Taylor, a vulnerable prisoner who is coming to terms with his own darkness.In the Queendom of Yclau lies an underground royal prison that embraces the worst of the past and the best of the future. The Eternal Dungeon is old-fashioned in its equipment and ahead of its time in its treatment of prisoners, seeking to put their best welfare above all else. Torture is part of the process of assisting the prisoners.The High Seeker, Layle Smith, embodies this contradictory institution: a man of deadly impulses, the head torturer binds himself strictly by the dungeon's code of conduct. His efforts to maintain this delicate balance are altered, though, by the introduction into his life of Elsdon Taylor, a vulnerable prisoner who is coming to terms with his own darkness.A winner of the 2011 Rainbow Awards, this 2016 edition of the omnibus on love and adventure is 460,000 words long, containing the first four volumes in the Eternal Dungeon series, as well as the prequel novella "The Unanswered Question."The Eternal Dungeon is a speculative fiction series set in a nineteenth-century prison where the psychologists wield whips. The series is part of Turn-of-the-Century Toughs, a cycle of alternate history series (Young Toughs, Waterman, Life Prison, Commando, Michael's House, The Eternal Dungeon, and Dark Light) about adults and youths on the margins of society, and the people who love them. Set in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the novels and stories take place in an alternative version of America that was settled by inhabitants of the Old World in ancient times. As a result, the New World retains certain classical and medieval customs.Review"It takes really hard subject matter, and a character that in most books would be the major villain, and makes you love every single word. . . . If you want oh my god world building, read this." —LGBT Fantasy Fans and Writers.Excerpt"If you should grow bored, you might want to peruse this. You'll need to know the contents."Elsdon took the book from him and looked down at the title stamped in gold upon the cover. "Yes," he said slowly, "I'm eager to read this anyway. Mr. Sobel made your Code sound interesting. I'll do my best to finish this before I have to leave here." He looked up as he stopped speaking, and his voice caught.Standing beside him was a man with a face. His eyes were the color of summer leaves, and his coloring was a pale yellow-brown. He looked to be fairly young, in his thirties. He had high cheekbones that gave him a somewhat foreign appearance, but otherwise he had quite an ordinary look to him. Elsdon might have passed him on the street without taking notice.His expression held a stiff formality that reminded Elsdon of a voice that had become familiar to him.Suddenly the stiffness in the mouth relaxed into what might have been the beginning of a smile, if it had not been so faint. "We do have faces, Mr. Taylor," the High Seeker said. "I know that children are commonly put to bed with scare-tales about faceless Seekers.""I'm sorry." Elsdon swallowed. "I didn't mean to stare. I just didn't realize that Seekers were allowed to raise their hoods around prisoners.""We're not allowed to lift our face-cloths when we're in public," Mr. Smith replied. "It's part of our uniform, which we must wear at all times; it helps to keep our relations with the other dungeon inhabitants on a professional level. However, when we're in private with friends or neighbors, we are permitted to show our faces."Elsdon couldn't speak for a minute; he stared down at his shoes. Finally he looked up and said diffidently, "I'm glad you think of me in that way, as a neighbor. I – I'm starting to think of the Eternal Dungeon like that. As a place to live, not just a place to be imprisoned."The High Seeker made no reply. . . .

A cold-hearted murderer. A vicious abuser. A young man hiding a shameful secret. A bewildered immigrant. A pure-minded spy. All of these men have found their appointed places at Mercy Prison, where it is easy to tell who your enemies are. But a new visitor to Mercy is about to challenge decades-old customs. Now these men's worst enemies may be hiding behind masks...and so may their closest allies."'You have committed a vile and savage act, one that any other nation would punish with death. Our punishment, on the other hand, will only be to give you what you want. You have sought to live in a world without boundaries of civilization, and such a world shall henceforth be your dwelling place.'"A cold-hearted murderer. A vicious abuser. A young man hiding a shameful secret. A bewildered immigrant. A pure-minded spy.All of these men have found their appointed places at Mercy Life Prison, where it is easy to tell who your enemies are. But a new visitor to Mercy is about to challenge decades-old customs. Now these men's worst enemies may be hiding behind masks . . . and so may their closest allies.A runner-up in the Rainbow Awards 2014, the book bundle "Mercy's Prisoner" can be read on its own or as the first volume in the Life Prison series. Friendship, desire between men, and the costs of corruption and integrity are examined in this multicultural speculative fiction series, which is inspired by prison life at the end of the nineteenth century.VOLUME CONTENTS"Life Prison." In the unmerciful world of Mercy Prison, there is no rule but unending pain. For Merrick, the arrival of his new guard provides hope that he may break beyond the boundaries of his life prison. But appearances can be deceptive, and Merrick does not yet recognize the danger this guard poses to his future."Men and Lads." Two guards. Two prisoners. A multitude of problems."Milord." He was the model prisoner, respectful to his guards and loyal to his fellow prisoners. What no one knew was that he held the key to destruction."Isolation." Being locked in a prison cell can cause a man to re-examine his priorities. Especially when the door never opens."Curious." His job is to guard the prisoners. But against what?"Mercy's Prisoner: Epilogue.""Mercy's Prisoner: Historical Note."REVIEW"Liveprison. Der Name sagt alles. Sehr düster." - Mllesatine: Empfehlungen.PREVIEWHis face came full into the light as he stepped forward. Wearing the uniform of a Compassion guard, he looked even more like his father: he had the same thin lips and the same straight eyebrows. But the eyes were empty of all coldness – indeed, of all expression of any sort – and there was no smile on his lips, cruel or otherwise."My name is Thomas," he said. "I'm your new guard."I noted the use of his given name rather than his paternal name, and with the instinct of a veteran fighter I dropped and made my attack accordingly. "Ah, yes," I said. "The son of Compassion's Keeper. I can expect great deeds from you, I'm sure."His lips grew even thinner, but that was all; it seemed that he was well used to this mode of attack. He said, as though I had not spoken, "My job is to provide service to you during your stay at this prison, and to make your stay as comfortable as is possible under your circumstances. If you have any needs, I hope you will let me know of them."I stared at him open-mouthed for a moment, and then I gave a hoot of laughter that resounded through the entire level. The early-morning conversations across the fire-pit paused briefly, and Sedgewick, who was passing my cell, glanced in with narrowed eyes before continuing on."Let me – let me understand you correctly," I said, struggling to gain control of myself. "You'll give me any service I want?""Any service that is in accordance with the rules of your stay.""But the only rule is that I should not be permitted escape, either through death or any other means. So you'll give me anything else?""If it's within reason, yes.""Anything at all?""Tell me what you want, and I'll be able to give you a firm answer." His patience, I saw with delight, was wearing down."Fine," I said, leaning back and pulling off the blanket to reveal my body underneath. I had given up wearing clothes at bedtime several guards before. "I want you to come over here and service me on your knees."

The undead of Rome race to unravel an ancient mystery--and only one woman can stop them... As Rome prepares for its Carnivale, the new leader of the city\'s vampire hunters--Lady Victoria Gardella Grantworth de Lacy--must prove herself as never before. For, in order to gain access to the secrets of a legendary alchemist, Rome\'s vampires have allied themselves with creatures as evil and bloodthirsty as they are. Reluctantly, Victoria must turn to the enigmatic Sebastian Vioget for help--just as Max Pesaro arrives to help his fellow slayers, no matter what the cost. Desire puts Victoria at the mercy of Sebastian, while loyalty binds her to Max...but can she trust either man? Especially when a seductive vampire begins luring her into the shadows... Praise for the Gardella Vampire Hunters "Gleason is really on a roll!" --Publishers Weekly "Gleason keeps upping the ante with each novel, weaving the characters around her readers with each engaging conversation and narrative, every stage set of all the appropriate gothic gloom and melting beauty. --Book Fetish “Buffy the Vampire Slayer meets Jane Austen.” —The Book Standard

After years of abuse in a loveless relationship, Leo Grayson secretly packs up his life and heads west to Varcross, Oregon. But there’s one problem: Varcross doesn’t exist—well, not in Oregon.



Strange lights over the highway send Leo careening into an impossible realm with no way to escape. While struggling to cope with being the only human in a cursed and derelict town, he finds love and companionship with the very monsters who may one day lose control and spread their affliction to him.



To make matters worse, Leo’s arrival catches the attention of an ancient being who plans to use the human to destroy the wards keeping him and the rest of Varcross locked away.



As time runs out for Leo and his new friends, he must either abandon those who sacrificed to keep him safe, or face down a powerful and desperate malevolence he cannot possibly win against alone.

In the second pulse-pounding thriller in the series, Detective Gabriel McRay is once again forced to face his inner demons.  From the enclaves of the super rich to the kinky underbelly of Los Angeles, women are turning up dead and Gabriel is determined to hunt down the killer.  His one and only witness to this string of sexual murders is the beautiful Tara Samuels.  Blinded by his own sympathy and desire for Tara, Gabriel is soon embroiled in the world of her dark fantasy, and McRay must find the sadistic killer before he loses his career, his sanity and his life.

After a near death experience in Afghanistan, Andy Chavez, a United States Marine, is informed of his wife's deportation into a drug infested area of Mexico. Disregarding a warning from the American government, Andy decides to cross the border alone. What he will face next will change his life forever.This book contains six of the eighteen fairy tales from Andrew Lang's Blue Fairy Book (1889). The stories have been rewritten sentence by sentence to make them accessible to 21st century American children. The 6 stories include Toads and Diamonds, Beauty and the Beast, Snow-white and Rose-red, Why the Sea is Salty, Felicia and the Pot of Carnations, Hansel and Grettel.The great beauty of Andrew Lang’s Blue Fairy Book, originally published in 1889, is that it brought together many different fairy tale traditions. There are stories written by Charles Perrault and Mme d’Aulnoy, collected by the Grimm brothers and Asbjornsen and Moe, and translated from the Arabian Nights. It is a very rich collection of fairy tales.However, the stories are written in a language that is outdated and in places inaccessible to modern American children (and even their parents). To remedy this problem, I have thoroughly edited half of the stories contained in Lang`s book, keeping the stories as intact as possible, while revising every sentence so the stories can once again be read with pleasure by children.

NYT Bestselling Author Carrie Ann Ryan continues her magical paranormal series where a town keeps its secrets, but an aging curse might just be their downfall. The Christopher curse is one of legend—so old that every new generation knows they will be touched by it. With every spell muttered, every magical pull needed to save her town, Laurel Christopher knows she's one step closer to burning to ash and leaving those she loves behind. She'll fight with all she has to protect her people—and the man she loves—but she might not have enough strength remaining to save herself. Jaxton Dark lost his best friend to the necromancer attacking Ravenwood but refuses to lose his mate to a curse that could take them both. He's well aware of the loss calling them, but before he can stand up for those he loves, a betrayal cuts him to the core. Sacrifice was always an inevitability when it comes to the curse that threatens their fate. Yet it's only when the...

Like most secret agents, Toivo Valonen is not what he seems. An angelic embodiment of hope living on earth in the guise of a human, he has acted throughout history as a source of wartime inspiration and comfort. In the year 1960, he embarks on an undercover mission in the communist state of Kalevia, allied with a rebellion against the government - and pursued by rival agent Demyan Chernyshev, a dark angel in the employ of the KGB. But as Toivo’s mission is complicated by his explosive past with Demyan, the two of them discover that a young human couple may be the key to the Kalevian conflict. The otherworldly spies begin a dangerous game, only to end up in a conspiracy that could bring the entire country to its knees. Written by new author Emily Compton and illustrated by beloved artist Onorobo, Sparkler Monthly is proud to present this alternate history series of espionage, legends, and star-crossed lovers. Please note: Dusk in Kalavia is recommended for readers aged 16+ due to some violence, crude language, and sexual content.

Laylah Le Croix has everything and nothing. After an attempted kidnapping, she is rescued by Donil. Angry at her life, she makes a defiant choice that plunges her into the heart of a conspiracy.Seventeen-year-old Laylah Le Croix has a rich father, mansion, and servants. Yet she is lonely and neglected. Her father would rather work than speak to her. At the academy she is bullied and mistreated. When Weres attempt to kidnap Laylah, she is saved by the mysterious Donil Silentshadow. Donil rouses feelings in Laylah that make her question her life and her father’s animosity toward her handsome rescuer. Confused by these emotions, she seeks answers from those closest to her and is rebuffed. She must make a choice. Obey her father’s edicts or follow her heart to learn the truth about her past.

Maia Tamarin proved her skill as a tailor when she wove the dresses of the sun, the moon, and the stars, but it will take more than a beautiful gown to hide the darkness rising up within her. . . . The stakes are higher than ever in this breathtaking sequel to Spin the Dawn, perfect for fans of Six of Crows.Maia Tamarin's journey to sew the dresses of the sun, the moon, and the stars has taken a grievous toll. She returns to a kingdom on the brink of war. Edan, the boy she loves, is gone—perhaps forever—and no sooner does she set foot in the Autumn Palace than she is forced to don the dress of the sun and assume the place of the emperor's bride-to-be to keep the peace. When the emperor's rivals learn of her deception, there is hell to pay, but the war raging around Maia is nothing compared to the battle within. Ever since she was touched by the demon Bandur, she has been changing . . . glancing in the...

The Roman Empire stood on the verge of conquering the stars, if Pullo could torture an innocent girl for the secrets of FTL travel. But when he fell in love with her beauty and courage , what then? Could he betray his Empire for a girl who was less than human?

After finishing University, Michael Brown, enrols on a course to teach English in Japan, determined to avoid all adulthood responsibilities.Upon his arrival in Tokyo, Michael meets Johnny, who is casual in both truth and morals. Michael is then abruptly whisked away to teach for a year in the Japanese countryside. During this time, he stumbles upon a centuries-old mystery sparking a determination to try to unravel it during his upcoming summer break.Returning to Tokyo, Michael meets the beautiful and mysterious Chihiro before reuniting with Johnny. Persuading them to join his adventure, the trio embarks on a journey across Japan through famous cities and remote locations. They are soon faced with ruthless adversaries and natural perils in a foreign land and culture. Events begin to unfold that reveal a traitor among them, Michael only has his wits to survive with time rapidly running out...

<p><strong>Jack wasn't always a vampire, and Angela wasn't always a werewolf—delve into the events that brought them together.</strong><br></p><p><strong>Angela:</strong> I thought my best friend Willa was crazy when she wanted us to flirt with the leader of a motorcycle gang but somehow, the three of us fell in love...at least that's what I thought. Then I realized the horrific truth about Gray's gang—everyone in it was a werewolf. Monsters were real. And suddenly, Willa and I were expendable, unless we became monsters, too.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br></p><p><strong>Jack</strong>: I wasn't expecting to see my high school crush at a strip club—but once I saw Thea spinning around a pole, I knew I'd gamble everything I owned for a night with her. Too bad in order to save her, I would have to make a deal with a vampire: become a monster, or watch Thea...

Elsdon Taylor, a prisoner accused of committing a terrible murder. Layle Smith, a torturer with a terrible past. Their meeting appears certain to bring out the worst in both men. Yet neither man is quite what he appears. As the prisoner and his torturer begin to be drawn toward each other, the ripple effects of their meeting will have a powerful impact on other inhabitants of the Eternal Dungeon."'This prisoner deserves special treatment.' The hooded man looked over at the young man again."Elsdon Taylor, a prisoner accused of committing a terrible murder. Layle Smith, a torturer with a terrible past. Their meeting in the Eternal Dungeon appears certain to bring out the worst in both men.Yet neither man is quite what he appears. As the prisoner and his torturer begin to be drawn toward each other, the ripple effects of their meeting will have a powerful impact on other inhabitants of the Eternal Dungeon: Layle's faithful guard, struggling to contain his doubts. A younger guard determined to take any shortcuts necessary to ensure that his life follows the path he has already chosen. An old love from Layle's past, still sorrowing. And most of all, a prisoner who has not yet arrived at the Eternal Dungeon, but whose fate will depend on how Layle handles Elsdon Taylor . . . and on how Elsdon handles Layle Smith.A winner of the 2011 Rainbow Awards (within the "Eternal Dungeon" omnibus), this tale of love and adventure can be read on its own or as the first volume in The Eternal Dungeon, a speculative fiction series set in a nineteenth-century prison where the psychologists wield whips.The Eternal Dungeon series is part of Turn-of-the-Century Toughs, a cycle of alternate history series (Waterman, Life Prison, Commando, Michael's House, The Eternal Dungeon, and Dark Light) about adults and youths on the margins of society, and the people who love them. Set in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the novels and stories take place in an alternative version of America that was settled by inhabitants of the Old World in ancient times. As a result, the New World retains certain classical and medieval customs.

Rome is crumbling. The child-emperor, Heliogabalus, diverts the Roman populace with parties, circuses, and celebrations, while his mother and grandmother jockey for power behind the scenes. The government is riddled with scandal and no business is conducted without bribes which grow ever larger. Religions joust for prominence, with factions of Christians seeking to overthrow the ancient Roman pantheon. Courtesans, once honored for their skills and protected by special guards, have become targets of opprobrium. The vampire Ragoczy Germanius Sanct\' Franciscus, already subject to extra taxes and regulations because he is a foreigner, falls under the maleficent eye of Telemachus Batsho, a minor functionary who dreams of power and wealth. When Franciscus thwarts his attempts to extort ever-increasing sums from a young Roman of good birth, Batsho swears revenge. Franciscus finds his activities closely monitored and is accused of treason and conspiracy. His friends, threatened with similar scrutiny, abandon him to Batsho\'s mercies or urge him to leave the Eternal City.But Franciscus has many ties to Rome. He has taken under his protection a beautiful courtesan who was brutally beaten by the very men who should have been protecting her. She has been the vampire\'s sustenance for many months. Franciscus is also held in the city by the plight of the family Laelius. The Domina\'s health is failing despite the vampire\'s great medical skills; her son has converted to Christianity and rails against his mother\'s beliefs; her daughter Ignatia, who has sacrified her own life to care for her mother, realizes that when her mother dies, her fate will rest in the hands of her increasingly fanatical brother. Determined to claim pleasure for herself, Ignatia invites Franciscus\'s attentions, inflaming him with the power of her untapped sexuality. Unfortunately, they are not unobserved, and their simple yet powerful act of love sparks a conflagration that destroys Ignatia\'s family and nearly brings about the vampire\'s True Death.

The prisoner knew that the Eternal Dungeon was a place where suspected criminals were broken by torture, and he was prepared to hold out against any methods used against him - except the method he could not anticipate. . . . A winner of the 2011 Rainbow Awards, this suspenseful novella is the introductory story for the alternate history series The Eternal Dungeon."'Do you have any questions?' the Seeker asked. 'About the routine of the dungeon? The times you will be fed? The questions you will be asked? The instruments of torture I use?'"The prisoner knew that the Eternal Dungeon was a place where suspected criminals were broken by torture, and he was prepared to hold out against any methods used against him – except the method he could not anticipate.Arrested on the charge of committing a particularly horrendous murder, Elsdon Taylor arrives at the Eternal Dungeon in fear of the harsh methods used by the torturers, called Seekers, to draw confessions from their prisoners.But his Seeker's methods are for more devious than Elsdon had expected. Now Elsdon is faced with a choice that will shape his future . . . as well as the future of his Seeker.A winner of the 2011 Rainbow Awards (within the "Eternal Dungeon" omnibus), this suspenseful novella (short novel) can be read on its own or as the introductory story for The Eternal Dungeon, an alternate history series set in a nineteenth-century prison where the psychologists wield whips.The Eternal Dungeon series is part of Turn-of-the-Century Toughs, a cycle of diverse alternate history series (The Eternal Dungeon, Dungeon Guards, Michael's House, Life Prison, Commando, Waterman, Young Toughs, and Dark Light) about adults and youths on the margins of society, and the people who love them. Set in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the novels and stories take place in an alternative version of America that was settled by inhabitants of the Old World in ancient times. As a result, the New World retains certain classical and medieval customs.

Fire must be free…Elijah Seton steps into the world in pursuit of a ghost ship and those who murdered his father. He thought he knew his enemy, and he would do anything to see them fall. But he was wrong. Elijah's world is turned upside down when he finds a rare woman that his heart demands should fly free.Beatrice Hamilton lives with wealth and ease in her gilded cage. Until a new mill worker rattles her bars and gives her a glimpse of the freedom beyond. As the two work together, centuries of hate and anger are revealed that keep them apart.Can they set aside old feuds to forge a new future?

When serial killers run rampant across Europe it's up to Blackbird, the Krewe of Hunters' international operatives, to stop them.When darkness falls, there's nowhere to hide.Four bodies have been discovered along Europe's riverbanks, placed with care—and completely drained of blood. Pinpricks on their throats indicate a slender murder weapon, but DNA found in the wounds suggests something far more sinister. Tasked with investigating, the FBI recruits Agents Della Hamilton and Mason Carter to Blackbird, an international offshoot of the Krewe of Hunters. If you want to catch a vampire killer, you need agents who can speak with the dead. The pair travel to Norway, where the shadowy forests of Lillehammer reveal a gruesome scene. The killer is thirsty for more victims, and the bloodless trail soon leads Della and Mason to a group that believes drinking blood is the key to immortality. To catch the culprit of such an intimate crime, the agents...

"When your whole world is shaken from all the risks we have taken, dance with me. Dance with me into the colors of dusk." ~ Ben Harper. I've served my country, a man, and a cause. I've given my whole being while at the same time finding its true meaning. There was no way for me to know that the day I met the men who were to become my best friends they would introduce me to the love of my life. Fiery, red hair and hypnotizing, emerald eyes caught my attention. Creamy soft skin, a stark contrast to mine, seduced my body. Strength, devotion, and determination stole my heart. I am Reid Murray and I'll kill without regret to once again dance in the dusk with my wife. This war has only begun. I won't rest until it's done. From New York Times bestselling author comes a brand-new dark romance, DUSK, set in the dangerous world of Sparrow Webs. You do not need to read Web of Sin, Tangled Web, or Web of Desire to get...

Torn between affection toward his traditional-minded father and worship of his peace-loving, heretical priest, Adrian finds himself caught between two incompatible visions of his duty to the gods when a blood feud breaks out in his village. Then the Jackal God sends Adrian a message that will disrupt his world and send him fleeing to a new and perilous life."Sometimes I feel that he is as mysterious as the gods, and that he is hiding something of vital importance from me. Something that would transform my life."Few events are more thrilling in a young man's life than a blood feud between two villages. Or so Adrian thought.Torn between affection toward his traditional-minded father and worship of his peace-loving, heretical priest, Adrian finds himself caught between two incompatible visions of his duty to the gods. Then the Jackal God sends Adrian a message that will disrupt his world and send him fleeing to a new and perilous life.This novel on a young man's encounters with soldiers and spies can be read on its own or as part of The Three Lands, a diverse fantasy series on friendship, romantic friendship, romance, and betrayal in times of war and peace. The series is inspired by conflicts between nations during the Roman Empire and the Dark Ages.

Only in the Darkness can You see the Light Six months after traveling the trail to Washington Territory, the town of Larksong hasn't become the utopia the Lark Family imagined. Instead, it's falling apart, much like recently-widowed Coraline Shay's life. Due to a degenerative eye disease, her vision is quickly failing. Once she goes completely blind, rather than helping to build Larksong, she'll become a burden on her already disgruntled sister. To protect them both, Coraline swallows her guilt and devises a plan to trap an honorable man into marriage. Luckily, her chosen target doesn't believe in divorce. Jamison Lark always felt called to be a priest, until family obligation drove him west to Washington. He uses his unique Gift as a physician to help the people of Larksong, but his contributions never feel like enough. He can't shake guilt over his failures, especially the death of his friend Oliver on the trail. When Oliver's...

A witch seeking justice. A woman seeking herself. With magic and courage, they must try to save what is precious, before it is too late.Moss is exhausted and just wants to have some fun. But the spirits of the city whisper in his ears, hinting at terrible danger. When an old hookup moves to town with a big secret in tow, he wonders if he's strong enough to face the threat to Portland, and find the love that he deserves. As Shaggy grapples with her pain, and fights her attraction to Moss, she can't deny that to become the person she wants to be, she's going to have to risk…With the help of the coven, Moss must fight the forces that threaten his city. To stop this poisonous evil, he must learn that some things can't be faced alone.  And Shaggy? She must step off into a chasm and fly…By Dusk is the seventh spellbinding book in The Witches of Portland series of paranormal urban fantasy novels. If you like fast-paced plots,...

When he and other students at his boarding school become the latest participants in an ongoing battle between the oystermen of their Bay, Carr finds that his position of power may bring danger, not only to himself, but also to a schoolfellow he is drawn toward."Carr turned his head toward the water in time to see an Oyster Navy schooner dash round Bentley Point, hot in pursuit of the skipjacks. The cannon on the schooner's bow boomed."Born into a society with a strictly ranked system of masters and servants, Carr has sought to tread his way delicately between the clashing values of the parents who raised him and the uncle whose household Carr will one day live in. Yet when he and other students at his boarding school become the latest participants in an ongoing battle between the oystermen of their Bay, Carr finds that his position of power may bring danger, not only to himself, but also to a schoolfellow he is drawn toward.This novel can be read on its own or as the first novel in Waterman, a historical fantasy series and retrofuture series inspired by the Chesapeake Bay oyster wars, boarding school rivalries in the 1910s, and 1960s visions of things to come. VOLUME CONTENTS"The Abolitionist." When a foul-mouthed, seditious foreigner turns up at your door, what are the benefits of letting him in?"The True Master." In a society where the rank of master or slave defines every aspect of a person's being, what do you do when you're a master and you envy your slaves?"Unmarked." "Fair play" is the motto of the Third House at Narrows School, but that motto takes on a different meaning when a lonely member of the Third House is secretly wooed by a young man from a rival House.

From New York Times columnist and bestselling author Frank Bruni comes a wise and moving memoir about aging, affliction, and optimism after partially losing his eyesight.One morning in late 2017, New York Times columnist Frank Bruni woke up with strangely blurred vision. He wondered at first if some goo or gunk had worked its way into his right eye. But this was no fleeting annoyance, no fixable inconvenience. Overnight, a rare stroke had cut off blood to one of his optic nerves, rendering him functionally blind in that eye—forever. And he soon learned from doctors that the same disorder could ravage his left eye, too. He could lose his sight altogether. In The Beauty of Dusk, Bruni hauntingly recounts his adjustment to this daunting reality, a medical and spiritual odyssey that involved not only reappraising his own priorities but also reaching out to, and gathering wisdom from, longtime friends and new acquaintances who had...

How can a meek wallflower help a returning war hero whose dreams are plunged into darkness?Mary Bloomfield has no illusions. Her chances for matrimony have long since passed her by. Still, her circumstances are pleasant enough, especially now that she has found purpose in assisting her father with his medical practice in England's beautiful Lake District. Even without love, it's a peaceful life.That is until Adam Edgerton returns to the sleepy district. This decorated war hero did not arrive home to acclaim and rest, but to a new battle against the repercussions of an insidious disease. Mary's caring nature cannot stand to see someone suffer—but how can she help this man see any brightness in his future when he's plunged into melancholic darkness, his dreams laid waste by his condition?Adam wants no charity, but he's also no coward. If this gentle woman can work hard, how can he do less? Together they struggle to find a way forward for him. Frustration and...

The sweeping, dramatic finale of Swati Teerdhala's South India-inspired fantasy trilogy rounds out the epic, romantic tale of an assassin and a soldier fighting to save their country and their people. Perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir and Victoria Aveyard. A queen at last. An empty palace. A kingdom to save. Esha is reeling from Kunal's betrayal, but she has a kingdom to rule from behind a thin smokescreen—pretending to be Princess Reha while she sends her most trusted soldiers to collect Reha and Kunal by any means necessary. Traitors, after all, must be punished. But the Yavar are attacking from every front—tracking down Kunal and Reha in the remote mountains, kidnapping Harun—in search of legendary artifacts that will give them the power to break the precarious janma bond and release the destructive magic back into the lands. Now that the race is on to find the missing artifacts,...

The world cannot fear what it does not know; a fact that has allowed the people of Dusk to exist in relative peace for centuries. Hidden behind a shroud of mystery on the distant continent of Xulrathia, the southern Kingdom is home to the most devout followers of Ayrelon's god and goddess of death; who take their church quite literally. Few know the true nature of Dusk's citizens, and fewer know the true nature of Queen Mordessa, the demonic creature who rules them. The only threat the immortal residents of Dusk might fear lies to the north, hiding within a veil of secrecy, deep within the Talaani Empire. Their ancient war long abandoned for reasons they cannot remember, Dusk's Undead and Unliving residents live in relative peace, completely unaware of what their Queen has done to hold the terrible, scaled empire at bay. Fate's memory is less forgiving. Relentless be the drive of a Kingdom made from bone.Vengeance be their fear,...

Flower of the Duskiv, 341 pp. 8vo. Original lavender cloth, trade binding in the style of Margaret Armstrong but without printed initials on front panel. "The pines, darkly purple, towered against the sunset. Behind the hills, the splendid tapestry glowed and flamed, sending far messages of light to the grey East, where lay the sea, crooning itself to sleep. Bare boughs dripped rain upon the sodden earth, where the dead leaves had so long been hidden by the snow. The thousand sounds and scents of Spring at last had waked the world. The man who stood near the edge of the cliff, quite alone, and carefully feeling the ground before him with his cane, had chosen to face the valley and dream of the glory that, perchance, trailed down in living light from some vast loom of God's. His massive head was thrown back, as though he listened, with a secret sense, for music denied to those who see."

In the western reaches of the Great Shangazi Desert, the long-distance horse race known as Annam’s Traverse is about to begin. All is thrown in doubt, however, when Sukru the Reaping King arrives unannounced from Sharakhai and puts forth a champion of his own.For a young woman named Leorah, the more important matter is the fabled amethyst ring offered up as a prize. She knows of the ring, and becomes obsessed with winning the race. This horrifies her twin sister, Devorah, who knows more of the ring’s secrets than Leorah, and is desperate to hide them from the Reaping King.As the race unfolds, and King Sukru’s champion comes closer and closer to winning the prize, Devorah stumbles upon a secret that puts not only the ring’s future in doubt, but her sister’s as well.

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This dark epic fantasy follows the heirs of four noble houses—each gifted with a divine power—as they form a tenuous alliance to keep their kingdom from descending into a realm-shattering war.The Four Realms—Life, Death, Light, and Darkness—all converge on the city of dusk. For each realm there is a god, and for each god there is an heir.But the gods have withdrawn their favor from the once vibrant and thriving city. And without it, all the realms are dying.Unwilling to stand by and watch the destruction, the four heirs—Risha, a necromancer struggling to keep the peace; Angelica, an elementalist with her eyes set on the throne; Taesia, a shadow-wielding rogue with rebellion in her heart; and Nik, a soldier who struggles to see the light—will sacrifice everything to save the city.But their defiance will cost them dearly.

The House of Crimson & Clover comes to a stunning conclusion in the twelfth volume, House of Dusk, House of Dawn. In the end is their beginning. This is the end. This is the beginning. The stage is set. The players, ready. A midnight dynasty, cursed to fall. An empire of shadows, determined to rise once more. Here they are, at the end of everything. One wrong move spells irreversible defeat. But, ah, what if they win? The House of Crimson and Clover Series This is the recommended reading order for the series. Volume I: The Storm and the Darkness Volume II: Shattered Volume III: The Illusions of Eventide Volume IV: Bound Volume V: Midnight Dynasty Volume VI: Asunder Volume VII: Empire of Shadows Volume VIII: Myths of Midwinter Volume IX: The Hinterland Veil Volume X: The Secrets Amongst the Cypress...

A compelling novel about friendship, identity and love. One winter evening, Elias, a young artist, watches a woman move into his apartment building. After closing her door, however, she is not seen again. A misdirected letter finally gives Elias the opportunity to make contact. But inside her dark apartment, Elisabeth refuses to respond to his knock. Her only company is the Woman in Green, an unbidden vision from her childhood dreams. Elias, meanwhile, is not to be deterred and draws his friend Otto, an elderly widower, into his attempts to entice Elisabeth into the world. As spring segues into summer, their lives become intertwined and their past stories are revealed.

Bat is in trouble. Again. The only way out of the trap this time is to take a leap into the future, into a world of wonders that his mind can scarcely grasp. But trouble awaits Bat at the border to his refuge. How he handles that trouble will determine his own future . . . and the future of what he is leaving behind.

Even though secrets lie off the coast of Rock Harbor, the truth will set Annie Pederson free—if it doesn't kill her first. Return to the beloved town of Rock Harbor in the first installment of a new series by bestselling suspense author Colleen Coble.Nine-year-old Annie Pederson's life changed the night her sister was kidnapped. The two had been outside playing on a dock, and Annie never forgave herself for her role in her sister's disappearance. Twenty-four years later and now a law enforcement ranger, Annie is still searching for answers as she grieves a new loss: the death of her husband and parents in a boating accident.But Annie and her eight-year-old daughter, Kylie, aren't the only people in the town of Rock Harbor whose lives have been marred by tragedy. While managing the property around the Tremolo Resort and Marina she inherited, Annie discovers a dead body floating in the cold Superior surf and begins to work with the sheriff's...

A citadel crowned in ice. An ancient message that contains a warning. The clash of ancient powers. Nahum thinks he's accompanying Olivia on a simple retrieval for The Orphic Guild, but finds something far more sinister. Relics connected to the Fallen. Relics that can send people mad and incite violence. But he hasn't the time or resources to deal with them now. The Nephilim are spread thin. JD needs an artefact to unlock the Emerald Tablet, and a team are sent to Egypt to steal it. Behind everything lurks the threat of Black Cronos. The hunt for the mysterious Comte de St Germain's base continues, and their research takes Barak and Estelle to the Pyrenees, and a remote citadel on a snowy mountain top. With the Nephilim tied up with their various pursuits, Harlan, Jackson, and Olivia are vulnerable. They think they're prepared—until they're attacked and Jackson is kidnapped. As events connect, the threat...

Sylvie has always known she deserves more. Out in the permanent twilight of the Dusklands, her guardians called her power to create illusions a curse. But Sylvie knows it gives her a place in Coeur d'Or, the palais of the Amber Empress and her highborn legacies. So Sylvie sets off toward the Amber City, a glittering jewel under a sun that never sets, to take what is hers.But her hope for a better life is quickly dimmed. The empress invites her in only as part of a wicked wager among her powerful courtiers. Sylvie must assume a new name, Mirage, and begin to navigate secretive social circles and deadly games of intrigue in order to claim her spot. Soon it becomes apparent that nothing is as it appears and no one, including her cruel yet captivating sponsor, Sunder, will answer her questions. As Mirage strives to seize what should be her rightful place, she'll have to consider whether it is worth the price she must pay.An extraordinary, vividly rendered YA debut. Sylvie has always known she deserves more. Out in the permanent twilight of the Dusklands, her guardians called her power to create illusions a curse. But Sylvie knows it gives her a place in Coeur d'Or, the palais of the Amber Empress and her highborn legacies. So Sylvie sets off toward the Amber City, a glittering jewel under a sun that never sets, to take what is hers. But her hope for a better life is quickly dimmed. The empress invites her in only as part of a wicked wager among her powerful courtiers. Sylvie must assume a new name, Mirage, and begin to navigate secretive social circles and deadly games of intrigue in order to claim her spot. Soon it becomes apparent that nothing is as it appears and no one, including her cruel yet captivating sponsor, Sunder, will answer her questions. As Mirage strives to assume what should be her rightful place, she'll have to consider whether it is worth the price she must pay.

Dunbar, working on a ranch in the Niobrara country in Wyoming, connects the death of a hardscrabble homesteader with the death of an old horse trader some fifteen years earlier. As Dunbar goes to work on a corral project in town and then on fall roundup, more murders take place—a wandering drunk who has picked up gossip in an alehouse, and then the proprietor of the alehouse. People who know too much are being silenced. An old woman named Verona tells of an ancient crime on Old Woman Creek, where a sheepherder was killed and his partner escaped. In a final scene at the new shipping pens, Dunbar brings forth the witnesses, and a showdown erupts, with Dunbar bringing justice to the Niobrara country.