Sixteen-year-old Neryn is alone in the land of Alban, where the oppressive king has ordered anyone with magical strengths captured and brought before him. Eager to hide her own canny skill--a uniquely powerful ability to communicate with the fairy-like Good Folk--Neryn sets out for the legendary Shadowfell, a home and training ground for a secret rebel group determined to overthrow the evil King Keldec. During her dangerous journey, she receives aid from the Good Folk, who tell her she must pass a series of tests in order to recognize her full potential. She also finds help from a handsome young man, Flint, who rescues her from certain death--but whose motives in doing so remain unclear. Neryn struggles to trust her only allies. They both hint that she alone may be the key to Alban's release from Keldec's rule. Homeless, unsure of who to trust, and trapped in an empire determined to crush her, Neryn must make it to Shadowfell not only to save herself, but to save Alban.ReviewStarred Review, Publishers Weekly, August 6, 2012:“For those that wish that Tolkien had explored the character of Aragorn more deeply, Marillier provides the next best thing.” About the AuthorJULIET MARILLIER is the author of several highly popular fantasy novels for adults, including the Sevenwaters Trilogy and the Bridei Chronicles. She is also the author of the teen novels Wildwood Dancing and Cybele's Secret.

The final volume in the epic Riftwar Cycle. The dragons are calling... Civil war is tearing apart the Kingdom of the Isles, for the throne lies empty and rivals are converging. Having spirited his beloved Princess Stephane safely out of Roldem, Hal -now Duke of Crydee- must turn his attention to the defence of the ancient realm so that a king can be anointed by the Congress of Lords, rather than by right of might. But the greatest threat may well lie out of the hands of men. Somewhere in the Grey Towers Mountains something not of this world is emerging. It will require that alliances be made between mortal enemies if disaster is to be averted. Elves and men must stand together, ancient heroes must rise again, dragons must fly and Pug, Magnus and the other magic-users of Midkemia must be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice if the whole world is to be saved.

There have been ghosts on the London Underground, sad, harmless spectres whose presence does little more than give a frisson to travelling and boost tourism. But now there's a rash of sightings on the Metropolitan Line and these ghosts are frightening, aggressive and seem to be looking for something. Enter PC Peter Grant junior member of the Metropolitan Police's Special Assessment unit a.k.a. The Folly a.k.a. the only police officers whose official duties include ghost hunting. Together with Jaget Kumar, his counterpart at the British Transport Police, he must brave the terrifying the crush of London's rush hour to find the source of the ghosts. Joined by Peter's wannabe wizard cousin, a preschool river god and Toby the ghost hunting dog their investigation takes a darker tone as they realise that a real person's life might just be on the line. And time is running out to save them. With this new novella, bestselling author Ben Aaronovitch has crafted yet another wickedly funny and surprisingly affecting chapter in his beloved Rivers of London series.

Inventive, outlandish, and tender fairy tales from a bestselling author The fantastic has always been at the edges of Heather O'Neill's work. In her bestselling novels Lullabies for Little Criminals and The Girl Who Was Saturday Night, she transformed the shabbiest streets of Montreal with her beautiful, freewheeling metaphors. She described the smallest of things—a stray cat or a second-hand coat—with an intensity that made them otherworldly. In Daydreams of Angels, O'Neill's first collection of short stories, she gives free reign to her imaginative gifts. In "The Ugly Ducklings," generations of Nureyev clones live out their lives in a grand Soviet experiment. In "Dear Piglet," a teenaged cult follower writes a letter to explain the motivation behind her crime. And in another tale, a grandmother reveals where babies come from: the beach, where young mothers-to-be hunt for infants in the surf. Each of these beguiling stories twists the beloved narratives of childhood—fairy tales, storybooks, Bible stories—to uncover the deepest truths of family life.

A new chapter in the New York Times bestselling Morganville Vampires saga. Vampire musician Michael Glass has attracted the attention of a big- time producer who wants to cut a demo and play some gigs-which means Michael will have to enter the human world. For this, he's been assigned escorts that include both a dangerous immortal as well as Michael's all-too-human friends. And with that mix of personalities, this is going to be a road trip from hell.

When the land of theBots and Humans collide there will be a big bang, war ensues for the ownership of the Bots land by a King name Alfred and a powerful wizard by the name of Whisker. Whisker will capture the king's only son Prince Harry,who will inherit his thron and his wars,whisker will use Prince Harry as ransome to get king Alfred to stop the war aganist the landThe TWO opening novels from New York Times bestseller Maggie Shayne’s TWO most popular series! The Oklahoma All-Girl Brands, Book 1: THE BRANDS WHO CAME FOR CHRISTMAS:When good girl Maya Brand, eldest of five and the pillar of the family, has a moment of weakness and a one night stand with a drifter, she finds herself pregnant with a naked ring finger. Most Big Falls, Oklahomans think it must be a case of immaculate conception. But the drifter returns and trouble follows. So do an early labor, a freak storm, and a Christmas you will never forget.The Texas Brands, Book 1: THE LITTLEST COWBOYUpright and Honest Sheriff Garrett Brand is furious with the younger brothers he’s raised when he finds a baby on the doorstep one hot Texas morning…until he sees the note with his own name on it. A motherless baby boy, a soft hearted rancher, an overprotective family, and a woman in deadly trouble spell heartwarming emotion, spine tingling passion, and breathless romance.The Brand Family…A Miracle in Every Story!

Orphans of the Celestial Sea is a Steampunk serial chronicling the adventures of Tom Cain and his misfit crew as they try to unravel the mysteries surrounding their airship Hecate and the plague of psychosis-inducing Mist which is slowly destroying human civilization.In rescuing three young women from psychotic Draggers, Tom Cain lost two crewmates, his berth on the airship Myrmidon and he very nearly lost his life, but that’s just the beginning of his problems. The four teens recover the abandoned airship Hecate, and flee in her, only to find a stranger named Ishara is stowed away.Orphans of the Celestial Sea is a Steampunk serial chronicling the adventures of Tom Cain and his misfit crew as they try to unravel the mysteries surrounding their airship Hecate and the plague of psychosis-inducing Mist which is slowly destroying human civilization.This is a free download, all I ask in return is that you come back here and give a review when you've read it.

Wander Dust is the breathtaking fantasy that will catapult you through a story of time, adventure, and love.Ever since her sixteenth birthday, strange things keep happening to Seraphina Parrish. Unexplainable premonitions catapult her to faraway cities. A street gang wants to kill her, and a beautiful, mysterious boy stalks her.But when Sera moves to Chicago, and her aunt reveals their family connection to a centuries old, secret society, she’s immediately thrust into an unbelievable fantasy world, leading her on a quest to unravel the mysteries that plague her. In the end, their meanings crash into an epic struggle of loyalty and betrayal, and she’ll be forced to choose between the boy who has stolen her heart and the thing she desires most.Wander Dust is the breathtaking fantasy that will catapult you through a story of time, adventure, and love.

Leyla has been looking forward to this momentous day for 15 long years. Will it live up to expectations? Or will it end with terror and tears?This is a short story of 1,880 words. It is part two in the 'Origins' series of stories which connect with one another in unexpected ways.A short science-fiction horror story. What is the purpose of The Pods, spherical metallic machines that slowly fall from the Northern skies one night. And what happens when two young brothers take one home, and begin to examine and dismantle it? What is the terrible secret of The Pods.Updated 11/12; Easier to read on your e-device.

The first werewolf and antagonist in Shana O'Quinn's Secret Ones series is back in a series of tales from her early years. When unexpected enemies destroy her home and those she loves, she makes a devil's bargain with spirits she doesn't fully understand to exact revenge. A part of the Ages of Telamon series, and compliments the Secret Ones books.The first werewolf and antagonist in Shana O'Quinn's Secret Ones series is back in a series of tales from her early years. The quintessential female demon began life just like any other human being of her time. Born 65,000 years ago, she grows up in a beautiful yet brutal prehistoric world, part of a simple tribe isolated from the rest of the world. When unexpected enemies destroy her home and those she loves, she makes a devil's bargain with spirits she doesn't fully understand to exact revenge. Her journeys and trials change her, setting her on the course that many centuries later finds her the Wolf Mother and enemy of the Sidhe. A part of the Ages of Telamon series, and compliments the Secret Ones books. This is for those who are interested in the complicated character of Lilith and her backstory.

Huh, some sleepover – my two best friends dead, and their spirits moving in with me, into my body.Sure, the Rye Man made it look like an accident, but I know they were murdered.See, the Rye Man’s like the Slender Man, only real.Whaddya know, he’d also hoped to kill me – so now I’m just unfinished business.Fionn, a member of a peaceful race, is visiting a planet full of deep underwater beasts. With his message of peace and prosperity, he hopes to convince the savage beings to change their ways and accept a new evolved type of thinking. Yet, is his way truly better? The creatures do not all agree. Their leader Daco does, but their culture is one of brutality and strength. Ringor sees passivity as weakness, and weakness in a leader means a new leader must arise. The clash of peace and survival instincts is a deadly one, and many will die before Fionn is able to understand just exactly what his interference means.

Vyder Ironstone is an assassin with a troubled past. At the order of his king, Vyder must undertake his most dangerous mission yet. A mission from which he may never return.Vyder Ironstone is an assassin with a troubled past. At the order of his king, Vyder must undertake his most dangerous mission yet. A mission from which he may never return.If he is successful, it might just be enough to alleviate war tearing the kingdom apart.The prospect of failure is not worth considering.

All is not well at the monastery.A mysterious spoon shortage...A missing toad...And, worst of all, an epic poem.What is the world coming to?And has it been there before?In the desert land of Turuna, every child possesses powerful magic, and only an ancient treaty prevents the clans from recruiting them as soldiers. Now, rumors swirl that an artifact has appeared that grants childlike magic to an adult, and some clans will stop at nothing to seize its power.In the tiny Ahjea clan, Butu has had no time to listen to rumors. His childhood sweetheart has caught the eye of the most powerful man in Turuna. Even worse, his magic has suddenly become unreliable, failing him at the most embarrassing moments. The only good news he's had all day is he's being allowed to join his clan's army despite his youth.When his squad of young recruits is sent on a mission they can't complete without magic, Butu begins to grow suspicious. It soon becomes clear that if he doesn't figure out the truth and find the artifact first, an all-powerful tyrant will rise up and conquer Turuna.86,000 words

When Brandy Silver picks up her friend from a party, she doesn't expect to be forcibly drugged—or pursued by a demonic wraith. What she saw makes Brandy a target for a dangerous magical underworld. In a daze after a wraith-hunt gone terribly wrong, Brandy Silver faces one final attempt to silence her—life leeches.When Brandy Silver picks up her friend from a party, she doesn't expect to be forcibly drugged—or pursued by a demonic wraith. Now she's witness to a bliss den that the police pointedly ignore and, worse, the drug can be deadly.What she saw makes Brandy a target for a dangerous magical underworld and at the heart of a mystery no one else wants revealed. In a daze after a wraith-hunt gone terribly wrong, Brandy Silver faces one final attempt to silence her—life leeches. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Hex-Breaker is the ninth episode of Season 1 of the Blissed series. There are plans for 10 seasons, with about 10 episodes per season, each episode about 10,000 words long. To catch every episode, please sign up for my newsletter.Hope you enjoy Hex-Breaker.Nicolette

This short, stand-alone tale is also the precursor to the first novel in the Sandar Saga - Topaz.It tells how scheming, and yet enterprising, business men implant five different civilisations on a small planet somewhere in the Milky Way. How were they able to afford such an undertaking and what were the civilisations chosen?All Her Teeth Were IdeasBy Rebecca LooseAll Her Teeth Were Ideas is a modern adaptation of three of Edgar Allan Poe’s short stories. The collection consists of Berenice, The Black Cat and The Tell-tale Heart. This book has been published as part of a university project for the Creative Writing department at De Montfort University, Leicester.