In a time of dragons, jarls and kings, immortal tales are told of bravery and valour… And on the Isle of Vrania, where seafaring and raiding are a way of life, no songs are sung more than those of the blades, deeds and shield-brothers of the great and gallant Karik – forefather of a family which brought prosperity and honour, before their name fell to curse and condemnation. Now, years later, their ancestors relive their gallant feats: a brave young suitor, willing to risk all to slay a formidable dragon and win his bride; an eager raider, who dreams of plunder in the prosperous west; a hot-headed shipbuilder willing to do battle with a king… A trilogy of stories, interconnected by the glory and bravery of those who bear the famous and infamous blades of Karik…

Enjoy 4 thrilling short stories that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Summoning Destiny Death is written in the stars. Ava Valentine knew the séance would get her into trouble. She just never expected the trouble to be so tall or look good in a suit. The Inquisitor for the Witch Council, Dominic Rizel, has some questions about Ava's magic that she doesn't want answered. Someone else doesn’t want those questions answered either, and they intend to make sure Ava stays quiet. Permanently. Love and Honor When a series of murders spark tensions between two rival werewolf packs, Lovisa finds accusing fingers pointed at her. Can she find the true culprit before an all-out war ignites? Burn The Thrill of a Lifetime. That's what Jake promised Lacey when he convinced her to explore the haunted asylum. As they travel deeper inside something stalks the decaying halls with them. Some ghosts should remain forgotten. Flower of Hell A poisonous beauty threatens the City of Lights. Gabriella devoted her eternity to carrying out her vengeance against demons. As she pursues her latest prey she stumbles across another hunter. To Gabby, Dimitri is an unneeded distraction, but he attracts her as no other man has for centuries. Can Gabby protect both of them from the demon stalking the Paris streets? If you love strong heroines and the supernatural, grab you copy of MIDNIGHT MAGIC today!

Blood Brute ’s two prequel short stories, On the Edge of Salt and Finding Home , tell the tale of the coven’s life at their home, Owl Court, before the events of Blood Brute Book One - Rise of One . On the Edge of Salt covers the early onslaught of the zombie apocalypse, when firebombs are first used to take out whole cities that are brute–infested. With a hidden home and smallholding shielded from the world, Rise is confident that his coven is safe behind the red brick walls of Owl Court. But as the night sky burns, a stranger with a terrible secret approaches his walls…

Henri left his career and fled to the frontier to protect his son. Out here he thought his greatest worry would be keeping the old forge hot enough to make piles of nails and horseshoes for the locals. He was wrong. Goliath knight Mia does not belong. She's a loner who's never questioned where the power of her weapons came from or where her orders lead her. All of that is about to change. When the armies of Baron Halett and the Holy Ganex Empire clash, Henri's greatest fears will be realized when his boy is infected by nineteen twisted souls. A mysterious figure offers a solution but only if Henri does exactly as instructed, should this person be trusted? Henri has no choice but to set out with Mia on a desperate quest through a world at war to save the child before he is consumed...

His quiet life on the family farm disrupted by a surprise attack, Mirickar is ready to kill. His target: An ancient enemy race that others deny can be found in the kingdom. Mirickar knows better. The kurakvin murdered his parents and he couldn't even give them a decent burial. But farm life did not prepare Mirickar for combat. Sraikura, the neighbor girl, also survived the kurakvin raid. She just wants to run and hide. Mirickar delays his mission of vengeance to seek a hiding place for her in the nearby forest. She has other ideas and begs him to stay with her, insisting that a mysterious magical power in the forest will protect them both. Protection isn't what he wants. Protection won't rain vengeance on his parents' killers. Before they can agree on a plan, a tragic accident takes Sraikura away from him. Despondent and questioning all of his decisions and actions, Mirickar sets out to die in battle with his enemy. By chance he meets an old warrior, a man who might teach Mirickar to fight. To be successful in his hunt. But the old warrior thinks it's folly, and he presses Mirickar with troubling questions. Can he really find any kurakvin to fight? If so, will he prevail? And to what end? But Mirickar will not be deterred. There are kurakvin in the land. Kurakvin he intends to kill. This novella is set in the same world as the Chronicles of Madarre novels.That series begins with The Ambitions of Kreltahk , now available for purchase on Amazon.com and also available for free borrowing via Kindle Unlimited.

Piper and Lessa are an up and coming musical duo, with problems. Piper hears constant, unseen music, that weaves its way into what he plays, affecting his audience, manipulating their emotions. To make matters worse, Lessa seems to have soured on both their musical and personal relationships; her displeasure and his ensuing anguish stoke the emotional magic raging inside him. Playing at a prestigious tavern, everything comes to a head. The magic, set to sizzling by Lessa’s anger and Piper’s fear, serves up a gig that no one in the audience will ever forget. And unfortunately, it all smells like heresy, and there happens to be a priest there, watching. Can it get worse? Oh yes…. The Eternal Muse: Passion and Fear, is a prequel short story to the trilogy.

In the tradition of Robert E. Howard, three friends cast on the shores of a distant island discover that not all the minions of capricious gods are human.

"I'd always loved fire, not in the habit of setting it, but being close to it, lighting bonfires in the summer and hearth fires in the winter. I'd never met wild fire, never seen it up close and the idea terrified me, the destruction. But in that there is rebirth, recreation." A woman encounters the natural world as she's never known before, a twist of fantasy and reality, coming to understand that love can bring us all together. This short story brings personifications of nature to life and magic to the mundane.

When the Mad Sage V'Sal marches a horde of greyskins, undead, beasts, and worst of all, cobra chickens, on the elven citadel of Adaven, King Arazorwyn is caught unprepared. With the aid of the lizardfolk, the wulfen, the dwarves and the dragonriders though, Arazorwyn might just have a chance. What is V'Sal after? What prize does she think awaits her in the citadel? And if she gets it, what will she do with it?

Tens of thousands of Goblins, intent on razing the land and slaughtering whole towns as they cross the kingdom. Only one thing stands in their way. A Squire, a scout team, and an outnumbered army as they attempt to Hold The Line.

Hawk’s Hollow, Colorado. 1894. Four young women with very different lives and very different dreams, except for one thing: they were chosen to be the Riders of the Apocalypse. Penelope is on a quest to reconnect with the tribe that represents half her blood. Willow wants to win the cross-country horse race, even if it means pretending to be a man. Felicity longs to escape from the cage society has created around her. And Dynah is bound and determined to be Rodeo Queen if it kills her. But when strange things begin happening to each of the young women, their personal agendas are derailed by a much bigger purpose. By the time they realize what their new powers mean and that the four of them have been chosen for a dark destiny, the apocalypse is nigh. Good Omens meets Westworld with a feminist twist. This fantasy Western by bestselling author A.A. Chamberlynn will also appeal to fans of Wynonna Earp . Chock-full of kickass women, cowboys, angels, and demons, this supernatural thriller and historical fantasy will take you on a wild ride. Saddle up!

Jake is just an ordinary guard in training living in the Republic, a safe haven built for those who do not possess the supernatural abilities known as Sol. His days are a boring mix of training, desk work, and the occasional rebel attack to throw things off balance. In a monotonous world where he's never put on real missions, it seems his dream of becoming a fully realized guard is never going to come true. That is until a horde of pale monsters appear at the west gate. Thrust into a quest to find the origins of the mysterious beings, alongside the least efficient team possible, Jake must tackle challenges far beyond his capabilities. Sword-wielding mercenaries, sharp-toothed demons, crony kings, and black beasts stand between him and his ultimate goal: to protect the nation and people who supported him since he was orphaned. Will the Sol-less boy have what it takes to fend off his dastardly foes? Or will he suffer the same fate as his dearly departed parents?

Is the strange new warship they were fighting still out there? Will it come back for them? Commander Johnson faces a desperate race to get her destroyer back into action and save her crew. "If you liked Alien, you'll love Independence." "This is an incredible work ... suspense, mystery and intrigue." "Loved every word of it." "There's more action and intrigue packed into this story than there is in many full length novels." "Shaw's world is engaging and clearly has depth, even from this brief encounter." 'Independence' is a short story (6000 words) in the Two Democracies: Revolution series.

Bernard Gèroux thought getting the job of Royal Bounty Hunter was going to be easy. Bernard’s job as a bounty hunter consists mostly of waiting around and exchanging sarcastic comments with his partner until the bad guys show up. He believes this is the path to the coveted position of a Royal Bounty Hunter. But when a monster composed of countless red tentacles attacks the palace, Bernard’s future and present are under threat, as he and his friend run for their lives. Unsure of what is reality and what—dreams, Bernard will have to decide whether he’ll join his partner’s fight against the monster, or abandon his friend to ensure his family’s survival.

A young girl, Natasha, born to a family of four goes into a coma for a couple of days after getting drowned in water whilst swimming with her brother and two cousins. While in coma, Natasha in her subconscious state, sees herself being driven in a train alongside some other people into an unknown land which looks a century farther from hers. The dream seems to be longer than the actual amount of days she spent while in coma. She is healed by someone with magical powers in her dreams. Natasha is discharged a week later after she regained consciousness. Returning back home, young Natasha begins to discover strange things about herself. As time goes on, she coincidentally comes in contact with those she saw while in coma. Her strange behavior births concerns from family and friends, but with time, Natasha adjusts to her new normal. She discovers her magical powers. Who has healed Natasha with magical powers in her dreams? How does Natasha discover her magical powers? When can Natasha use her magical powers? While in coma, Natasha in her subconscious, sees herself being driven in a train alongside some other people into an unknown land which looks a century farther from hers. The dream seems to be longer than the actual amount of days she spent while in coma. Natasha is healed by magical powers in her dreams. Natasha is discharged a week later after she regained consciousness. Returning back home, young Natasha begins to discover strange things about herself. As time goes on, she coincidentally comes in contact with those she saw while in coma. Her strange behavior births concerns from family and friends, but with time, Natasha adjusts to her new normal. She discovers her magical powers. Who has healed Natasha with magical powers in her dreams? When does Natasha discover her magical powers? How does Natasha use her magical powers? ================ * Excited to read more of Anabel's books ? Click here to see ALL of Anabel’s books Anabel’s books’ genres are mainly into mystery, suspense, action & adventure, thrillers, fantasy, science fiction & crime thrillers. View ALL & GET Ebooks and boxsets of Anabel Bright Get Anabel’s BEST SELLING series boxsets …. Suspense, Action & adventure, Crime Thriller Series Boxset Series: Boxset Series: Best Crime Thriller Series Boxset (Complete Collection, 5 books) Boxset Series: Crime In Metro City Series 1 Boxset- The Blake Run (Complete Series, 5 books) Boxset Series: Crime In Metro City Series 2 Boxset- Volglor’s Throne (Complete Series, 5 books) Boxset Series: Crime In Metro City Series 3 Boxset- War In The Temple (Complete Series, 10 books) Boxset Series: Taken Crime Thriller Series 1 Boxset (Complete Series, 10 books) NEW RELEASES: Taken Crime Thriller Series 2 (10 books series) Taken Crime Thriller Series 2 (10 books series): Book 1 "Courtney's Crazy" https://storyoriginapp.com/universalbooklinks/f32452ac-a830-11eb-b380-17a0d5655433 And more.... Mystery, Fantasy & Sci-Fi Thriller Series Boxset Series: Boxset Series: Guardians Series 1 Boxset- Guardians Thriller Series (Complete Series, 5 books) Boxset Series: Guardians Series 2 Boxset- Guardians Feat Series (Complete Series, 5 books) Boxset Series: Planet Kenursh Series Boxset (Complete Series, 5 books) Boxset Series: The Chase Series Boxset (Complete Series, 5 books) Boxset Series: Guardians Series 3 Boxset- Kingdom Enchanted (Complete Series, 10 books) NEW RELEASES: Totem Bearers Series (10 books series) Totem Bearers Series (10 Books series): Book 1 "Chosen" And more... ============================ * Join Anabel’s newsletters to stay updated with new releases, access to exclusive bonus content and much more! Click here to see all of Anabel’s books Click here to join Anabel’s Reader Group on Facebook here

The Guardians Protect Us She's offered the promise of everything she's ever wanted. But is it worth the cost? Izzy Runar longs to be part of the Order of the Guardians. But, as the daughter of a Core worker, her chances are slim to none. A forbidden vision of the future, however, tells her more may be at stake than her own aspirations. Izzy journeys to the Core, the Sphere’s life source, determined to either prove her dream false, or warn someone of its implications. Instead she’s forced to choose between receiving everything she’s ever wanted or saving her father and uncovering the truth. Can Izzy determine what’s true and what’s not, before it’s too late? Visions of the Guardians, is a young adult dystopian short story that takes place eight years before the Lies of the Guardians series, and will leave you wanting more. Download the free short story today!

"Snuff Fairies" is a short story set on the pseudo-medieval world of Venari. Venari is a place where just about everything wants to eat you. Helmund started his first job in the Falconwald Silversnuff Mill about a month ago where he does little else but sweep the floors. One day, the mill's owner, Mr. Merryweather, gives Helmund a new job to do. At first, the job seems mundane, but it soon becomes clear it's a front for something far more deadly. As he embarks on his first nightshift, Helmund realises just how much he has been kept in the dark.

Eighteen-year-old Becca is a regular kid. At least on the outside. Everything is fine until she dials 9-1-1 after waking up from a terrifying vision of the future. The cops come banging at her door at midnight, but she can't open or leave the house. There's a man in her room with a strange blade, staring at her with his red eyes.

As the first female heir to the throne of Rahm, Ria is surrounded by skeptics. Her dazzling wit and easy confidence hide the truth: she really doesn’t know what she’s doing. But she’d better learn fast because her father’s volatile behavior is getting worse. When the king gets embroiled in a power struggle with Merek, captain of the Wall Guard, Ria sees an opportunity. She proposes a tour of the damaged wall, giving her an excuse to prove herself by acting in her father’s stead. But Merek doesn’t have time for Ria’s schemes. A criminal network has infiltrated a critical border city, and he resents being pulled from his post. Abandoning his investigation could lead to disaster. Stubborn wills collide as Ria and Merek wrestle in a shifting balance of power. Only by learning to trust each other can they merge their strong personalities into a dynamic partnership. Will it be enough to save Ria when the threat to Rahm turns dangerously personal? Enjoy this free download of Burden of Power, Book #1 in the gripping Wallkeeper trilogy. With rich layers of action, combat, political intrigue, and romantic suspense, you'll be drawn into a world where characters come alive and keep you wondering about them long after you’ve read the last page. Immerse yourself in the world of Wallkeeper today!

Bartholomew Roberts is retiring, leaving his son in command of the Queen Anne’s Revenge. It is his first command, and it may be his last. The Alliance will do everything in their power to ensure that he fails. Failure in the Alliance is not tolerated. If Doc Roberts is lucky, they will hang him. If not, he will be sent to a reeducation center, mind-wiped, and a control collar will be placed around his neck, then he will be paraded in the streets of Avalon’s capital city, as an example of what happens to people who fail in their missions. He can’t afford to fail!

This short story follows Ada, an innocent seventeen-year-old girl who receives terrible news: her father has lost his job and the farm’s soil is polluted, next to nothing grows. With no income, her family is sure to starve. Ada meets a fairy who has sent her a message from her master: he wants to offer Ada a way to save her family. Who is this master? Why does he want to help Ada’s family? More importantly, what does he want in return? Follow Ada’s story in a magical world filled with fairies, spells, and Germanic mythology as she travels into the Hearth Tree to find a way to save her family from starvation.

Graves are being robbed, and it looks like it's for the Gravetide ritual, a spell so powerful that if invoked correctly, will give the caster absolute power over the five elements of magick. She is from a long line of Gate Guardians and the last time the Gravetide ritual spell was cast, her ancestor died to prevent the spell from manifesting. Unfortunately, the secret to the counter spell died with him. The worst part is, it looks like an archdemon is casting this. She has six days, six hours, and six minutes to find the castor or the world of magick and men will cease to be the same. Forever.

He wanted peace. He found a life-changing adventure… Tristan Blake’s time in the army left him scarred and broken. Now that he’s home from war, the atheist bishop’s son wants nothing more than the peace and quiet of the New Zealand coast. When a Maori priest named Rau offers him a lift, neither of them expect a ride that could change their lives forever. On a beach up north, a mysterious man scores Rau a colossal snapper with no bait. As Joshua joins the atheist and the priest on their journey to the heart of the nation, Tristan is surprised by his provocative friendship. As word of the jean-sporting guru spreads, the prime minister and Tristan’s father take notice… Tristan is left with a choice: follow a man who demands love that could transform his life, or thwart Joshua’s influence by doing the unthinkable… A New Kind of Zeal is a spiritual and psychological suspense novel for people of all walks of life. If you enjoy compelling characters, a new take on ancient teachings, and stories with a New Zealand flair, then you’ll love Michelle Warren’s book of faith under fire. Download A New Kind of Zeal to explore a whole new world today.

In summary, this is a fast-moving and exciting futuristic novel with dramatic human-alien conflict, fully fleshed-out characters, solid and innovative techno-thriller elements, and a fresh, thought-provoking concept. For fans of this exhilarating genre, "War Torrent" will be a blast. Excellent! - The Columbia Review In The Outworlds: War Torrent , unlikely heroes are on a collision course with destiny amidst a desperate fight against radical evil... Early in the twenty-fourth century, human pioneers on the fringe of Earth's interstellar colonial frontier make a profound discovery: The first evidence of intelligent alien life. Although the explorers judge the ancient alien species of space-faring reptilians, known as Angorgals, to be extinct, they also find evidence the Angorgals had reached Earth many centuries ago and were far more than mere visitors... When a surprise Sekkalan attack in the distant Sceytera System against Mokisia destroys a fragile peace between these two Angorgal subsects, a teenaged soldier-priest in training, Zy K'olt, will struggle with doubt, fear, and acceptance of his mysterious spiritual gifts in a quest to confront the evil Sekkalan threat. At the same time, the invasion shatters Major Krajenar Attazahal's reputation as a successful Mokisiaan intelligence officer, driving her down a desperate path of redemption to the very edge of survival in order to defend her home. Under siege, the Mokisiaans soon learn their alienated brethren have launched both a sinister and technologically superior offensive, one that threatens to inflict more than just military defeat upon them. The Sekkalan war is the start of a new interstellar crusade orchestrated by evil ethereal entities - the Ruuksauro - whose intent is radical genetic purification of the galaxy, and Earth's Stone Age humans are their next target.

Thrown out of the orphanage for stealing, Oskar has been struggling to perfect her skills in the art of surviving the streets, all while disguising the fact that she is masquerading as a boy. But the dangers of the game she is playing escalate when a dark mage and an assassin appear on her rooftop haunts. Which side of a battle between the king and the princess should she choose? Or has the choice already been made for her? This novelette provides a back story for one of your favorite characters from The Crafter Chronicles . It is a great standalone read as an introduction to the world of Matthew B. Berg, or as a companion piece to his trilogy begun with The Crafter's Son . (And it doesn't spoil any major plot lines of the story, if you haven't yet begun the series!) Framed around the days leading up to Oskar's arrival at Ridderzaal Castle, this story is roughly 14,000 words. (About 1/6th the length of the first book.) And, unlike the slower unfolding of The Crafter's Son , this book gets right into the action!

A nameless young boy feels trapped in his life... ...powerless at the hands of his abusive, alcoholic parents. All that is about to change when he discovers a strange book in their possession. As he soon learns of its power, a journey down a dark, dangerous path begins. One that will change his life forever.

But when it comes time to pay for her services, Mayor Archer Bertrand has a change of heart. After all, the old races are legally non-people and can’t sign contracts. That was just his first mistake. This short story is set in the old races-inhabited world of Magorian & Jones, written by Taylen Carver. It is not commercially released, but provided free to readers and fans of the series. 1.0: The Memory of Water 1.1: Rainmaker 2.0: The Triumph of Felix 3.0: The Shield of Agrona 4.0: The Rivers Ran Red 5.0: The Divine and Deadly …and more to come. Short Urban Fantasy ____ Praise for Taylen Carver’s urban fantasy: Plenty of exciting twists and turns. Feel the tingling of danger, the aha's of escaping death, and the excitement of magic I loved this and will continue on with the series. A very satisfying first book for a new series blends the paranormal and the thriller/suspense you expect in a who done it crime story ___ Canadian author Taylen Carver writes edgy urban fantasy, doesn’t pull punches, and would rather be writing unless otherwise notified. When not writing, Taylen can usually be found inside speculative fiction of other authors. Favourites include Jim Butcher, Charlaine Harris, Kevin Hearne, Laurell K. Hamilton, and Emma Bull.

The exclusive behind-the-scenes report from the King of Hell, detailing what happened during the spell that "successfully" turned Nick Barnes into a demon. Demon Curse, the prequel to the Demon Cat Chronicles is available now! If you like a band of misfits, sympathetic antiheroes, and a dash of humor, you'll love Marie Flynn's urban fantasy series. The angels and demons in this series are not religious. Grab your copy now and strap in for a thrilling ride...

Nadia and her cat Orains, piloted the Lilly Princess around the world in search of sunken magical treasure. She's got a lead on the sunken wreck of the Astrea and her magical cargo. A magical storm conjured by the Samurai, a group of mages with designs of their own on the treasure, pushes them off course. What could have scuttled the entire mission turns fortuitous when they discover the mystical treasure of Neptune's Cat. And once Orains puts on one of the collars, things may never be the same again.