One of the most renowned figures in science fiction, C.J. Cherryh has been enthralling audiences for nearly thirty years with rich and complex novels. Now at the peak of her career, this three-time Hugo Award winner launches her most ambitious work in decades, Hammerfall, part of a far-ranging series, The Gene Wars, set in an entirely new universe scarred by the most vicious of future weaponry, nanotechnology. In this brilliant novel -- possibly Cherryh's masterwork -- the fate of billions has come down to a confrontation between two profoundly alien cultures on a single desert planet. "The mad shall be searched out and given to the Ila's messengers. No man shall conceal madness in his wife, or his son, or his daughter, or his father. Every one must be delivered up." -- The Book of the Ila's Au'it Marak has suffered the madness his entire life. He is a prince and warrior, strong and shrewd and expert in the ways of the desert covering his planet. In the service of his father, he has dedicated his life to overthrowing the Ila, the mysterious eternal dictator of his world. For years he has successfully hidden the visions that plague him -- voices pulling him eastward, calling Marak, Marak, Marak, amid mind-twisting visions of a silver tower. But when his secret is discovered, Marak is betrayed by his own father and forced to march in an endless caravan with the rest of his world's madmen to the Ila's city of Oburan. Instead of death, Marak finds in Oburan his destiny, and the promise of life -- if he can survive what is surely a suicidal mission. The Ila wants him to discover the source of the voices and visions that afflict the mad. Despite the danger sof the hostile desert, tensions within the caravan, and his own excruciating doubts, Marak miraculously reaches his goal -- only to be given another, even more impossible mission by the strange people in the towers. According to these beings who look like him yet act differently than anyone he has ever known, Marak has a slim chance to save his world's people from the wrath of Ila's enemies. But to do so, he must convince them all -- warring tribes, villagers, priests, young and old, as well as the Ila herself -- to follow him on an epic trek across the burning desert before the hammer of the Ila's foes falls from the heavens above. Written with deceptive simplicity and lyricism, this riveting, fast-paced epic of war, love, and survival in a brave new world marks a major achievement from the masterful C.J. Cherryh.

Jane Yellowrock is a shapeshifting skinwalker you don’t want to cross—especially if you’re one of the undead… For a vampire killer like Jane, having Leo Pellisier as a boss took some getting used to. But now, someone is out to take his place as Master Vampire of the city of New Orleans, and is not afraid to go through Jane to do it. After an attack that’s tantamount to a war declaration, Leo knows his rival is both powerful and vicious, but Leo’s not about to run scared. After all, he has Jane. But then, a plague strikes, one that takes down vampires and makes their masters easy prey. Now, to uncover the identity of the vamp who wants Leo’s territory, and to find the cause of the vamp-plague, Jane will have to go to extremes…and maybe even to war.

Before Snow White fled...she fell. SNOW FALLS is a brief window in to the events that led to Snow White's legendary escape from the huntsman.Before Snow White fled...she fell. A mirror is unveiled, a young woman is corrupted. A great king falls prey to a mysterious illness and war sweeps through the land. These are the events that set the stage for EVERMORE: THE RYLAKIAN HEIR.

~2nd Edition Released January 31, 2012~ *2ND EDITION* This is an extended version complete with added scenes and contains a sneak preview of book 2, Shadow of the Blood Moon.Genevieve Labreck, is a teenage girl who moves to her aunt's home in Alaska just before the death of her mom. Soon after her arrival, Genevieve learns the things she was raised to believe only existed in fairytales are, in fact, a big part of her history. When it all gets to be too much, she seeks refuge in the arms of her new boyfriend, William, only to find out he's not who she thought he was either.This is a Young Adult paranormal/fantasy romance with mild language and mild sexual situations recommended for readers in grade 9 and up

The Naked Heat Anthology by Jess C Scott is a collection of incubus and succubus stories. Naked Heat: Walkthrough is a freebie mini compilation. In this promotional eBook, Jess talks about the themes and inspirations behind her incubus/succubus themed project. GENRE: Education (Reference / Commentary) * * * LENGTH: 5,500 Words * * * By author/artist/non-conformist, Jess C ScottSummary: The Naked Heat Anthology by Jess C Scott is a collection of incubus and succubus stories.Naked Heat: Walkthrough is a freebie mini compilation.In this promotional eBook, Jess talks about the themes and inspirations behind her incubus/succubus themed project.Genre: Education (Reference / Commentary)Length: 5,500 WordsP.S. Jess's brand of paranormal fiction tends to be quite complex/spiritual, since there's lots of ground to cover! The focus is on the story, not romantic/erotic fluff.* * *Table of Contents:I. IntroductionII. Excerpts + Commentaries on:1. The Devilin Fey (Incubus)2. SVEN (Incubus)3. Tongue-Tied (Succubus)4. Kylie (Succubus)5. Tempt (Guest Post)III. Naked Heat Anthology* * *Reviews:"Dear Jess, I just wanted to say how much I've enjoyed your writing: your writing reflects something genuine, something real, about our generation that few writers have had the talent or the courage to uncover. Thank you." -- Reader/Customer Email, 2010"[The Devilin Fey] was erotic without being pornographic, emotional without being sappy, spiritual without being preachy…just enjoyable reading. Kudos to Jess C Scott." -- Paul G. / Amazon review (unsolicited), July 2010"Just read Real Love Versus Romance...loved the ideas & compilation of ideas...great!! :) i agreed with many of the points of how romance has been commercialized for effect instead of portraying the actual depth of true romance...i roll my eyes at what is considered "love stories" nowadays...even being a guy (haha), i can appreciate a story that portrays real love & shows depth in what romance is (means)..." -- P.H. / Chesapeake, OH, April 2012* * *Excerpt [Introduction]:. . .Incubi and succubi are fascinating paranormal beings. For those of you unfamiliar with the terms, here's a quick definition: * Incubus: An evil spirit supposed to descend upon and have sexual intercourse with women as they sleep.* Succubus: A female demon fabled to have sexual intercourse with sleeping men.All of us experience love, sex, and romance to some degree or other, with the relationships we're involved in throughout the course of our lives. There are certain elements which tend to feature in stories in the occult and folklore/mythology genre. There are usually some kind of rituals involved, and perhaps some sorcery in which a person can engage the "demons" in the story (which brings to mind TV shows like Charmed). I might explore those situations in future, though I left them out in this initial collection of incubus and succubus stories. I wanted to ground the stories in a contemporary and realistic setting. I find it captivating when I wake up some mornings feeling a sense of 'hauntedness', like as if I couldn't tell for sure whether the strangers in my dreams at night were people and events that had really occurred in real life. . .* * *Author Bio:Jess is an author/artist/non-conformist who’s dedicated to writing original stories that are both meaningful and entertaining.Most of Jess’s work is fueled by an intense drive to inspire others to favor social/spiritual values over shallow values. Visit her website for free samples and more!

A young man living in the walled city of Rittenhouse undertakes a dangerous journey into the wasteland of the fallen American metropolis outside to secure life-saving medicine for an impoverished boy.Centuries after most of humanity died out, a new civilization is slowly constructed upon the remnants of the old.Emery, a young man living in the walled city of Rittenhouse, has taken it upon himself to rescue "mutts," as the citizens of Rittenhouse call the impoverished masses outside. When Timothy, a boy afflicted with a fatal illness, seeks Emery's help, the two embark on a deadly errand to secure the medicine Timothy needs. This mission takes them from the safety of Rittenhouse into the wasteland outside it, where ancient superstitions are reborn and humanity struggles to survive amidst the ruins of a fallen American metropolis.

Young Thorik Dain's journey to discover who destroyed the Grand Council, leads him on an unexpected quest. Struggling to find the truth, Thorik confronts an entirely new world with overwhelming magic, altered beasts, battle-risen undead, and deceivers amongst his closest allies. The land's destiny is in Thorik's hands, while his confidence and conviction to his beliefs will define his own fate.The Dovenar Kingdom’s ancient walls still stand firm after 650 years against the attacks by the Altered Creatures. However, a civil war has left the kingdom without leadership. Now the provinces are struggling to fend for themselves against local dangers, while Ambrosius reaches out to all species in order to unify them against a much greater growing threat. Gathering leaders from across the lands into a hidden location for a secret Grand Council meeting to determine a course of action, the mighty Ambrosius is betrayed by one among them. Escaping just in time, he is severely injured as all of the other members in the council are killed. As the lone survivor, he enlists a local hunter, Thorik Dain, to help find the traitor and prevent future attacks. Unfortunately, word has spread that it was Ambrosius who murdered the council for his own desires of power. Finding evidence that validate the rumors, it is up to Thorik to determine who to trust, who to follow, and who to stop from reaching the next point of destruction.

Kira can see right away that there's something strange about her new school, but what do a book of fairy tales, a ridiculous prophecy, and a secret portal have to do with her? Find out as you follow Kira through her first day of high school in the short story that launches the new "Tales from Seelie High" collection.Kira can see right away that there's something strange about her new school, but what do a book of fairy tales, a ridiculous prophecy, and a secret portal have to do with her? She'll find out on her first day of high school. "Tales from Seelie High" is a collection of young adult fantasy short stories that follows Kira and her friends as they explore the unusual, and possibly magical, heritage of their town. This edition also includes a short prologue and bonus character interview that were originally published on the author's website.

In a small coastal village, a young man sees a strange older man before the unthinkable happens to his community and his life is forever changed.In the small coastal village of Sanshan, a young man - Renny - sees a strange older man, with what appears to be glowing hands, loitering near the village temples. Soon, the unthinkable happens to his community while his father takes him away on an important trip and Renny's life is forever changed.

Robert, a social outcast all of his life, suddenly receives the powers of Bubby. In a flash, his life is completely turned around. In other words, the ladies dig him! When the world is threatened by an evil force, will the inexperienced Bubby be able to summon the strength to save it, and make it back in time for his many dates?Book 1 of 5 in the Bubby Anthology.Robert, a social outcast all of his life, suddenly receives the powers of Bubby. In a flash, his life is completely turned around. In other words, the ladies dig him! When the world is threatened by an evil force, will the inexperienced Bubby be able to summon the strength to save it, and make it back in time for his many dates?ReviewOur introduction to the hero named Bubby is a funny, albeit short, one. Originally written in 1995, by then high school student, B. P. Draper, the jokes have aged well. While the characters are not as well-developed as I would have liked, I still empathize with the title character's desire to fit in. If I had to describe Bubby I in a sentence, I would say it is like a train wreck that you can't look away from because it is a hilarious, hilarious train wreck. Overall, Bubby I is an enjoyable satire of the superhero world. --Braden Erp

Akira is a vampire, an energy vampire. He can control and manipulate energy with his mind. Chapter one delves into Akira's future, his abilities, powers, and he fights against a vampire who can summon demons. Chapter two introduces Akira before he became a vampire; it is the beginning of Akira's story, his life, his love, his village, and his family. Enjoy the start of an epic adventure!!Chp: 1&2Set in the distant future, Donors, is a short story of a world where every citizen is expected to pay any price for the state.

From the bestselling author of the Charlie Parker mysteries—"the finest crime series currently in existence" (The Independent)—comes a new anthology of chilling short fiction. A decade after Nocturnes first terrified and delighted readers, John Connolly, bestselling author of thirteen acclaimed thrillers featuring private investigator Charlie Parker, gives us a second volume of tales of the supernatural. From stories of the monstrous for dark winter nights to fables of fantastic libraries and haunted books, from a tender account of love after death to a frank, personal, and revealing account of the author's affection for myths of ghosts and demons, this is a collection that will surprise, delight—and terrify. Night Music: Nocturnes 2 also contains two novellas: the multi-award-winning The Caxton Private Lending Library & Book Depository and The Fractured Atlas. Night Music: Nocturnes 2 is a masterly collection to be read with the lights on—menace has never been so seductive.

R is recovering from death. He’s learning how to breathe, how to speak, how to be human, one clumsy step at a time. He doesn’t remember his old life and he doesn’t want to. He’s building a new one with Julie. But his old life remembers him. The plague has another host far more dangerous than the Dead. It’s coming to return the world to the good old days of stability and control and the strong eating the weak, and stopping it will require a frightening journey into the surreal wastelands of America—and the shadowy basement of R’s mind.

Five friends, exploring ancient ruins in Greece, find an enormous rock mountain that is not in any of their maps. Imbued with an adventurous spirit they decide to explore it and find a door built into the mountain. The door is slightly ajar. They step through it and find themselves in another world, one which is both beautiful and deadly, for she dwells in it - the Medusa.Cavers: A Vampire Tale (Cavers#1)Looking forward to her fifteenth birthday and a new school, Allie Carter finds that all is not as it seems. Curiosity leads to the discovery of vampires at her school, in her classrooms, and in her town. More curious is the fact that her new best friend, Sara Johnson, is in league with them or a vampire herself. As she seeks to prove her friends role, Allie is drawn into an unforgiving world of power and death. Instead of running for her life, she joins a secret society dedicated to helping the vampires remain hidden. Allie becomes a caretaker to the adorable five-year-old Lila and must teach her to blend into human society, but if she fails, the young child will be killed.To navigate the vampire world and educate the children, Allie (and girls like her) receives injections: she runs faster, leaps higher, hears and sees better with increased strength and agility. These girls are one-step away from becoming vampires themselves, influencing their children, fighting in their wars, and becoming the hallmark for integrity and dedication as they help to shape the future of the vampire world. Will Allie have so much fun that she forgets the danger or to educate and protect young Lila or will she rise to the challenge before her? And what of the parents she loves? Will turning her back on them be worth risking all when the vampire princess wants to kill her for pure pleasure? Only time will tell.