The ruling Asharites of Al-Rassan have come from the desert sands, but over centuries, seduced by the sensuous pleasures of their new land, their stern piety has eroded. The Asharite empire has splintered into decadent city-states led by warring petty kings. King Almalik of Cartada is on the ascendancy, aided always by his friend and advisor, the notorious Ammar ibn Khairan — poet, diplomat, soldier — until a summer afternoon of savage brutality changes their relationship forever. Meanwhile, in the north, the conquered Jaddites' most celebrated — and feared — military leader, Rodrigo Belmonte, driven into exile, leads his mercenary company south. In the dangerous lands of Al-Rassan, these two men from different worlds meet and serve — for a time — the same master. Sharing their interwoven fate — and increasingly torn by her feelings — is Jehane, the accomplished court physician, whose own skills play an increasing role as Al-Rassan is swept to the brink of holy war, and beyond. Hauntingly evocative of medieval Spain, The Lions of Al-Rassan is both a brilliant adventure and a deeply compelling story of love, divided loyalties, and what happens to men and women when hardening beliefs begin to remake — or destroy — a world.

There's a new rumor in town. Someone has discovered an item that proves life on other planets exists. And they've been hiding it on a base called Zone 91. The Most Secret Place On Earth. Cassie, the other Animorphs, and Ax already know about life on other planets. Too well. They also realize the Yeerks will try to access Zone 91 to find out if what's there will threaten their mission. So the Animorphs decide to pay Zone 91 and the Yeerks a little visit. But what they discover is not at all what they expect.

If ever a chill entered her soul, or the hope suddenly drained from her heart, she knew a bogle was to blame. Birdie McAdam, a ten-year-old orphan, is tougher than she looks. She's proud of her job as apprentice to Alfred the Bogler, a man who catches monsters for a living. Birdie lures the bogles out of their lairs with her sweet songs, and Alfred kills them before they kill her. On the mean streets of Victorian England, hunting bogles is actually less dangerous work than mudlarking for scraps along the vile river Thames. (See glossary!) Or so it seems—until the orphans of London start to disappear . . .

In the college town of Morganville, vampires and humans coexist in (relatively) bloodless harmony. Then comes Bishop, the master vampire who threatens to abolish all order, revive the forces of the evil dead, and let chaos rule. But Bishop isn't the only threat. Violent black cyclone clouds hover, promising a storm of devastating proportions as student Claire Danvers and her friends prepare to defend Morganville against elements both natural and unnatural.

Trust her old friends or her new love? Karadel could never escape being a shapeshifter. Despite her safe comfortable life as a rural vet with close shifter and human friends, she wants to be normal, working on a drug for shifters to be human. Then she meets a man who touches her heart, and her best friend is forced to shift publicly with deadly consequences.

Reno’s a tough Enforcer for Lycan Link who finds himself drawn to Brandi but duty rules his life. Brandi, just on the edge of starting her career as a Disaster Control officer, falls for Reno at first sight, but are they really meant to be? Is it love or lust and does it really even matter? Enforcers and DCs don't get along...unless fate forces them to. Bonded precedes The Mating.

Created by Dev Logan, Omnitopia is the most popular and successful massive multiplayer online game ever. But now as Dev is about to roll out a major new expansion to Omnitopia, there are people preparing to play a different game-one that is meant to strike at the heart of Omnitopia and bring the entire system crashing down.

When Karen closes her eyes, the visions come. Through time and space, she sees a place where stolen children sleep. And if Karen denies a young policeman's request for help, the children may never go home again. Lois Duncan presents a ticking clock mystery with thrills at every turn. This edition features updated text and an exclusive Q&A with author Lois Duncan!

Sophie always dreamed of becoming a witch and joining the Coven to protect and serve Raioume, so much so that she taught herself to read, even though mundanes are forbidden to learn how to do so. When it turns out that she has no magic and cannot become a witch, Sophie must learn to find her own place in the world.William Lay of Arkansas, to important to stay on the farm, has given himself the nickname of "The Arkansas Kid". He will attempt to live up to the name and reputation he created. He rides into a north Texas town and picks an old west, stand in the street and shoot it out with the sheriff.

While combing through the personal effects of famed blogger Caitlin Fulmer, her curator Abigail discovers a long-lost diary of secrets. Will Caitlin’s Book of Shadows reveal whether or not she was a witch--or if evil truly stalked her family?While combing through the personal effects of famed blogger Caitlin Fulmer, her curator Abigail discovers a long-lost diary of secrets. Will Caitlin’s Book of Shadows reveal whether or not she was a witch--or if evil truly stalked her family? Perhaps the answer lies between the lines of her story, one of lessons, struggles, and the hopes she carried like a warrior's shield. **This is a side (or supplemental, if you will) story in the Antique Magic series, a companion to The Artist's Inheritance (Antique Magic, Book One).Don't miss the other books in the series:The Artist's Inheritance (book 1)Caitlin's Book of Shadows (book 2)Drawing Down the Shades (book 3)Mourning Dove Locket (book 4)

Lore of the Underlings continues. In this episode: The three strangers -- John Cap, Morio, and their mysterious young woman friend -- find themselves locked away in a curious crooked chamber, a place with foreboding in the air and the smell of something evil. What hellish fate awaits them here as "guests" of Fyryx and his Guard? Only time (and space) will tell...Welcome back to Lore of the Underlings, a trail of tales to the end of things, and maybe a bit beyond.The lore continues. In this episode: The three strangers -- John Cap, Morio, and their mysterious young woman friend -- find themselves locked away in a curious crooked chamber, a place with foreboding in the air and the smell of something evil. What hellish fate awaits them here as "guests" of Fyryx and his Guard? Only time (and space) will tell.Within this odd prison a nighttime of wandering tales and wondering follows, at least until an unknowing Morio lets open an even darker realm...Lore of the Underlings is an epic poetry series from John Klobucher's lands of Lore. It's a bittersweet saga of gold and shadow told in classic style -- with old-world words but new-world wit. Fun for fans of puns and lyrical tongues!

With steam driven gadgets such as mechanical goggles, hoverboards, and an orchestra of automatons. Steampunk Fairy Tales is a charming and unique collection of works for current lovers of the genre, and those just diving in.A toyshop owner builds a set of magic clockwork dolls that delight a factory town. A three-inch tall samurai faces a giant iron ogre with only a sewing needle and a coin. A scientist seeks an antidote to his formula gone wrong, with the help of his partner’s beautiful daughter.All of these stories and more are included in Steampunk Fairy Tales. Written by authors from three different continents, every enchanting tale combines the futuristic Victorian concept of steam and fashion with memorable stories, from the recognizable “Jack and the Beanstalk”, to other popular and unfamiliar works from Germany, France, Italy and Japan. With steam driven gadgets such as mechanical goggles, hoverboards, and an orchestra of automatons. Steampunk Fairy Tales is a charming and unique collection of works for current lovers of the genre, and those just diving in.

Darweena must choose to fight for the Forest Folk in an epic battle against the beasts. Will she choose love over her home? A short story of 3700 words.Captain Pigtail McQueue is not your average everyday pirate. Actually, he was the ship's cook until a hurricane blew the other captain overboard. Captain by default, he manages to save the the great pirate ship, The Flummery, despite the desertion of most of the crew. As the winds die down he discovers the ship has been blown slightly off course. Okay, it was blown off course, big time!The ship and what's left of the crew find themselves stranded in West Texas. With the help of a wagon master and his daughter they seek out the Wind Hag in hopes she will send them back to the Gulf. When she refuses, Pigtail does the only thing a pirate in his position can do - he seeks revenge on the Wind Hag. That means becoming land pirates and going after the Wind Hag's power sources. The crew must overcome obstacles, booby traps and legions of creatures loyal to the Wind Hag in order to gain control over the power sources. This endeavor leads to some seriously humorous situations and exciting twists and turns. Join the crew as they try to outwit the all powerful Wind Hag.

Paul and Timothy hijack and space ship for a top secret space mission for honoring Jesus.The need to hijack a space ship can be limited to two types of people: the crazies and the desperates. The difference between the two is not their actions, but their motives. A crazy may seek the thrill of almost dying or perhaps consider this sort of theft normal. A desperate, on the other hand, has thought it through. He’s reasoned it over and decided his best course of action is to steal an abandoned Kliper IV spacecraft from the Egyptian Space Agency. Paul was desperate. Timothy was both.

Mikael uses his contacts to gain passage for the Efljos and his companions to the streets of Incarnate. But their reunion is marred by terrible news from the Orphan's allies on Taiiruz.This is the fifteenth chapter of 'To Walk the Path', the final part of my cyber-fantasy 'The Star Plague Journals'.