Hal Dawson's life in a quiet English village is disrupted when swart-elves, creatures from another world, attempt to kill him. Rescuing Hal, his old friend Gangrel tells him that the swart-elves are allies of Muspell, the fire-giant, who plots to destroy the world of the gods. Gangrel sends Hal in search of the dwarf who will forge the foretold Runeblade - Muspell's bane.Hal Dawson's life in a quiet English village is shattered when swart-elves from another world attempt to kill him. Rescuing Hal, his old friend Gangrel tells him that the swart-elves are allies of Muspell, the fire-giant, who plots to destroy the world of the gods. Gangrel sends Hal on a quest through the Nine Worlds of Norse myth in search of the dwarf who will forge the foretold Runeblade - Muspell's bane.Forger of the Runeblade is the first book in the Runeblade Saga.

Five deliciously dark stories.A man seeks revenge.Another aspires to rule the world.A Dark Warrior appears on Earth.Just where did that little demon dolly come from?A young girl prays for death, becoming more than she bargained for.Our lives are determined by relationships, some fleeting, some lifelong. But most are in between. Some relationships are made good, some go bad. We are often left wondering how and why some things changed. The searching, the learning, the discovery sometimes of yourself, if you really look. Through this we can experience the extremes of emotion which can make the middle ground so hard to find. But unless we have been to the dark valleys, we will never learn that we can soar in the sun above the highest mountains like an eagle.

Meet James Griffin, an average teenager of average build with an average height coupled with an average intelligence residing with an average family in an average house. Average is everything James knows and is used to and is constantly wishing to escape from. Finally when his life takes a swerving turn to danger and adventure, being average seems far more appealing.Bullying was something James Griffin had sadly become accustomed to, it was a daily occurrence either at school or at home. From nasty insults to bruising punches James had endured it all. Too ashamed to ask for help, he begged the universe for a way out and it answered. Hamlet, the secluded English village in the countryside where James resides, unknowingly played host to other worldly beings for whom a looming battle is fast approaching. When a heartbreaking tragedy sets in motion a chain of events that lead James away from his old life he is forced to find the courage to take control and embrace war, love and destiny.

Tamlyn is 19 and in love. Though of royal blood she is not a princess. She decides to escape, for that night only, from her uncle's castle,and gallop to go and meet her beloved, the Prince - across the deep, dark forest. She longs for him and his touch.However she gets the surprise of her life and when she tries to return home, Tamlyn discovers she is not alone on the woods...Tamlyn is 19 and in love. Though of royal blood she is not a princess. She decides to escape, for that night only, from her uncle's castle,and gallop to go and meet her beloved, the Prince - across the deep, dark forest. She longs for him and his touch.However she gets the surprise of her life and when she tries to return home, Tamlyn discovers she is not alone on the woods... *"She arrived after two hours of ferocious galloping. The horse was exhausted. There was no moon, luckily, and the gods were aiding her. Few sentinels were present. The castle was smaller than her family’s however that did not matter to her. The Prince was to be her husband. The Prince and no one else. She slid through the secret underground passage. He told her once, when he himself, months ago, sneaked away to meet her in the middle of the night, swearing everlasting love and desire. Their bodies met for the first and only time and Tamlyn wished she had become with child - even if it could mean her death."

This is the fourth in a series of short stories based in the same world as the book series A Life in After World. Instead of telling the life story of one character, these stories tell the story of one day in the life of a person in After World.SoGlog Southfield of Southfield is virtual royalty. He could swim before he could walk. Born on a flotilla of barges in the gulf, SoGlog is a trader with a purpose. He is on a mission to secure some technology for his people. He is very serious but tends to be soft at heart.This is the short story that inspired the NaNoWriMo book of the title: A Life In After World: SoGlog Southfield.

Ben Cane has outlived the world, and so he waits for his ailing grandchild to deliver his execution in the center of that room surrounded by glass walls. Every bone in his body throbs with arthritis. His guts burn after so many rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. And mercy is the last thing Ben desires at the end of the world.Mallory Cane resists the urge to cry as the projectors knit glory all around her. She knows that all of the worlds the vision chamber shows her have long gone extinct. None of the laughing hyenas remain. No more elephants shrill. The eagles no longer soar. Not a single domesticated dog or cat remain to nuzzle with Mallory when her illness brings suffering. She understands that the vision chamber offers only illusion and heartbreak, and yet her father forces her to look upon the color that glowed before the world was wasted. He tells Mallory that she must be made strong, and that she must remember all that has been lost. He tells Mallory that she must prepare herself to punish that generation that did nothing as the world faded to gray.

Elantris was built on magic and it thrived. But then the magic began to fade and Elantris began to rot. And now its shattered citizens face domination by a powerful Imperium motivated by dogged religious views. Can a young Princess unite the people of Elantris, rediscover the lost magic and lead a rebellion against the imperial zealots? Brandon Sanderson's debut fantasy showed his skill as a storyteller and an imaginer of baroque magical systems to be fully developed from the start. **From Publishers Weekly Starred Review. Sanderson's outstanding fantasy debut, refreshingly complete unto itself and free of the usual genre clichés, offers something for everyone: mystery, magic, romance, political wrangling, religious conflict, fights for equality, sharp writing and wonderful, robust characters. The godlike inhabitants of Elantris, once the capital of the land of Arelon, have degenerated into powerless, tortured souls, unable to die, after the city's magic inexplicably broke 10 years earlier. When the same curse strikes Prince Raoden of Arelon and he's imprisoned in Elantris, he refuses to surrender to his grim fate and instead strives to create a society out of the fallen and to unlock the secret that will restore the city's glory. Meanwhile, Princess Sarene of Kae (Arelon's new capital), who was betrothed to Raoden sight unseen, believes her intended has died. Officially declared his widow, she must use her political savvy and wit to protect Kae from malevolent forces without and within the city, chiefly Hrathen, a leader of the creepy Shu-Dereth faith, who aims to either convert Kae or destroy it within three months. The intrigue and excitement grow steadily in this smoothly written, perfectly balanced narrative; by the end readers won't want to put it down. As the blurb from Orson Scott Card suggests, Sanderson is a writer to watch. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. From Booklist Until 10 years ago, Elantris was the capital of Arelon, inhabited by ordinary humans transformed into magic-using demigods by the Shaod. But the magic failed, Elantris started to rot, and its inhabitants turned into powerless wrecks. Princess Sarene of Teod arrives in Kae, the new capital, close enough to Elantris to constantly remind of faded glory, prepared for a marriage to ally Teod and Arelon against the religious imperialists of Fjordell. But, she is told, her fiance, Prince Raoden, is dead. She and a recently arrived high priest of Fjordell, Hrathen, clash. Sarene tries to retain the freedom of Teod and Arelon, Hrathen tries to incite the populace to convert so that Fjordell can take over. Neither suspects the truth about Raoden. Taken by the Shaod, he struggles to unite the crippled Elantrians and discover why the magic failed. The unrest comes to a head as governments topple, the Elantrians' secrets are revealed, and Fjordell's forces arrive. A surprisingly satisfying, single-volume epic fantasy that invokes a complex, vibrant world. Regina Schroeder Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Vampires have never been so hot... Million-bestselling author Bella Forrest returns with an all-new paranormal romance series! One last adventure. That's all Riley wants before heading off to college and parting ways with her two best friends. Spending their last summer together on a Texas farm in the middle of nowhere isn't quite as exciting as they'd planned... That is, until they stumble upon secrets no human should know. Men who appear and disappear. A giant wing hidden in the creek. Screams in the dead of night. Every oddity seems connected to their strange--and alarmingly attractive--new neighbors, led by the stormy-eyed Navan. For reasons she can't explain, Riley feels drawn to him and the story of his past. But Navan has a monstrous side, one that grants him incredible powers that are not of this world...and ashen skin that feels like fire to the touch. When events take a dangerous twist, Riley is determined to protect her friends at all costs, but as she unravels each thread of the mystery, she finds herself entangled in a supernatural conquest that is far bigger than Texas... and even Earth itself. **A mystery. A romance. And a journey that could change the fate of the human race. Prepare for a unique spin on the lore you love - and an adventure that is as thrilling as it is unexpected. **

In AN OATH OF BROTHERS, Thorgrin and his brothers emerge from the land of the dead, more driven than ever to find Guwayne, and set sail across a hostile sea, leading them to places beyond their wildest dreams. As they come ever-closer to finding Guwayne, they also encounter obstacles unlike ever before, obstacles which will test them to their very limits, which will call on all their training and force them to stand together as one, as brothers. Darius stands up to the Empire, boldly amassing an army as he frees one slave village after the next. Facing off against fortified cities, against an army a thousand times his size, he summons all of his instincts and courage, determined to survive, determined to win, to strive for freedom at any cost, even at the cost of his life. Gwendolyn, with no other choice, leads her people into the Great Waste, deeper into the Empire than anyone has ever journeyed, on a quest to find the legendary Second Ring the last hope for the survival of her people, and the last hope for Darius. Yet along the way she will encounter horrific monsters, worse landscapes, and an insurrection from amidst her own people that even she may not be able to stop. Erec and Alistair sail for the Empire to save their people, and along the way stop at hidden islands, determined to raise an army even if it means dealing with mercenaries of questionable repute. Godfrey finds himself deep inside the city of Volusia and deep in trouble as his plan goes from bad to worse. Imprisoned, set to be executed, finally, even he can see no way out. Volusia forges a pact with the darkest of sorcerers, and driven to even greater heights, she continues her ascent, conquering all who stand in her way. More powerful than ever, she will take her war all the way to the steps of the Empire Capital until she is up against the entire Empire army, an army that dwarfs even her own, setting the stage for an epic battle. Will Thorgrin find Guwayne? Will Gwendolyn and her people survive? Will Godfrey escape? Will Erec and Alistair reach the Empire? Will Volusia become the next Empress? Will Darius lead his people to victory?

With the challenge complete and the corrupt Alpha of Coldspring defeated Fane is now free to complete the mate bond with Jacque and perform the Blood Rites. Although the challenge is done, the affects are far reaching. Once it is known that Vasile, one of the strongest Alphas in the world is in America, specifically Coldspring, TX, there is one Alpha who cannot over look the significance of this. An Alpha who happens to share Jacque's DNA, but is this the one she needs to fear? With her mom driving and her two best friends, Jen and Sally in tow, Jacque sets off for her happily ever after. She will soon realize a plan has been put in motion that will change her course and possibly tear her from Fane's grasp forever. It will take a wolf pack, her mother's love, her two best friend's unrelenting determination, her own will to survive and the undying love of her mate to bring her home. The question remains, if she fights, if she endures, who will she be, what will be left once she is back in her mates arms?

Cooper Blake has everything going for him—until he wakes from a car accident with his football career in ruins and a mysterious, attractive girl by his side. Cooper doesn’t know how Samantha got there or why he can see her; all he knows is that she’s a ghost, and the shadows that surround her seem intent on destroying her. No one from Cooper’s old life would understand what he can barely grasp himself. . . . But Delilah, the captain of the cheerleading squad, has secrets of her own, like her ability to see beyond the physical world, and her tangled history with Brent, a loner from a neighboring school who can hear strangers’ most intimate thoughts. Delilah and Brent know that Cooper is in more trouble than he realizes, and that Samantha may not be as innocent as she has led Cooper to believe. But the only way to figure out where Samantha came from will put them all in more danger than they ever dreamed possible. From the Hardcover edition.

The first novella in the Elemental Legacy series: SHADOWS AND GOLD Failing grades. Misleading wind vampires. And a fortune in forgotten gold. Traveling to the most remote region of China certainly wasn’t what Ben Vecchio had in mind for his summer vacation, but when Tenzin suggested a quick trip, he could hardly turn down a chance to keep her out of trouble and practice the Mandarin he still struggled with in class. Of course, Tenzin might not have been clear about everything travel entailed. Driving a truck full of rotting vegetables and twenty million in gold from Kashgar to Shanghai was only the start. If Ben can keep the treasure away from grasping immortals, the reward will be more than worth the effort. But when has travel with a five-thousand-year-old wind vampire ever been simple? “What’s on the agenda for tonight?” “I thought we’d go into Shanghai. Eat some fish. See the lights.” “Okay.” “Then maybe lure a traitor into the open before he steals my gold.” Ben paused, thought, then gave her a nod. “Sure, sounds like fun.” At least he was practicing his Chinese. Right? SHADOWS AND GOLD is a prequel novella in the Elemental Legacy series.

Cormac has been moving from one Shiftertown to the next in search of a mate. Now he's in southern Nevada, where a beautiful, unmated bear Shifter greets him...with a shotgun in her hands. Nell is a hot-tempered mother of two cubs, and she doesn't take kindly to new Shifters showing up in town without her consent - even one with a sexy smile and brilliant blue eyes. But when her sons are endangered and she desperately needs help protecting them, Cormac proves he's worthy of her trust as well as her desire. The print version of this story can be found in the anthology Unbound , which was released on March 5, 2013.

The Viking King Authun leads his men on a raid against an Anglo-Saxon village. Men and women are killed indiscriminately but Authun demands that no child be touched. He is acting on prophecy. A prophecy that tells him that the Saxons have stolen a child from the Gods. If Authun, in turn, takes the child and raises him as an heir, the child will lead his people to glory. But Authun discovers not one child, but twin baby boys. Ensuring that his faithful warriors, witness to what has happened, die during the raid Authun takes the children and their mother home, back to the witches who live on the troll wall. And he places his destiny in their hands. And so begins a stunning multi-volume fantasy epic that will take a werewolf from his beginnings as the heir to a brutal viking king, down through the ages. It is a journey that will see him hunt for his lost love through centuries and lives, and see the endless battle between the wolf, Odin and Loki - the eternal trickster - spill over into countless bloody conflicts from our history, and over into our lives. This is the myth of the werewolf as it has never been told before and marks the beginning of an extraordinary new fantasy series from Gollancz. A superbly written fantasy epic that spans hundreds of years of our history to bring Norse legends and the myth of the werewolf to blood-curdling life.

Will Scarlet, right-hand man to Darkyn leader Robin of Locksley, has been charged with an impossible task: He must regain control of his lord-s stronghold, which has been invaded by vicious Darkyn renegades, without harming any captives or attracting the attention of the Brethren, the Kyn-s mortal enemies. Things only get worse when Will learns that Reese Carmichael, the mortal woman he loves, is one of the hostages. - Reese was sent by her father, a former Brethren inquisitor, to infiltrate Rosethorn, retrieve an ancient vial containing the cause of a medieval plague, and prevent Armageddon from being accidentally unleashed upon the mortal world. Seducing and falling in love with Will Scarlet was never part of the plan, but Reese has no choice other than to use him and the siege of Rosethorn to complete her mission. If she does, she knows he will never forgive her-but if she doesn-t, millions of innocent lives will be lost. - As Kyn allies Jayr, Byrne, and Lucan arrive to provide Will with reinforcements, Reese-s true identity and motives are revealed. - Torn between love and loyalty, Will and Reese uncover one last secret from the past that may help them win the final battle-if it doesn-t destroy them first.