A new addition to the multiple New York Times best-selling Ring of Fire series. New York Times Best Selling Series Eric Flint and David Carrico serve up the latest entry in the best-selling alternate history saga of them all, the Ring of Fire! After carving a place for itself in war-torn 17th century Europe, citizens of the modern town of Grantville, West Virginia take on a murderous conspiracy of operatic proportions in Magdeburg, the capital of the United States of Europe. It is the year 1636. The United States of Europe, the new nation formed by an alliance between the King Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden and the West Virginians hurled back in time by a cosmic accident, is on the verge of civil war. His brain injured in the war with Poland, the USE's emperor Gustavus Adolphus is no longer in command. Enter Swedish chancellor Oxenstierna, a leader of aristocratic reaction against democracy. His goal, to assemble the forces of the hidebound ruling class in Berlin and drown the revolution in a bloodbath. In Magdeburg, the capital of the USE, Mike Stearns' wife Rebecca Abrabanel is organizing popular resistance to Oxenstierna's plot. As part of the resistance, the American musician Marla Linder and her company of down-time musical partners are staging an opera that will celebrate the struggle against oppression. Princess Kristina, the heir to the USE's throne, is now residing in Magdeburg and is giving them her support and encouragement. But another plot is underway--this one right in the heart of the capital itself, and with murder as its method. The only people standing in the way are a crippled boy and the boxing champion who befriended him, and an unlikely pair of policemen. Can the American detective Byron Chieske and his down-timer partner Gotthilf Hoch thwart the killers before they succeed in their goal? About 1636: The Devil's Opera: "Another engaging alternate history from a master of the genre" Booklist ". . . an old-style police-procedural mystery, set in 17th century Germany. . . . the threads . . . spin together . . . to weave an addictively entertaining story. . . . a strong addition to a fun series." Daily News of Galveston County About Eric Flint's Ring of Fire series: "This alternate history series is 'a landmark'" Booklist "[Eric] Flint's 1632 universe seems to be inspiring a whole new crop of gifted alternate historians." Booklist "reads like a technothriller set in the age of the Medicis" Publishers Weekly

The partnership is split. Bulays and Emar undertake a revealing interrogation on the Slave Ship on Space to try and get a lead on the Death Queen of Neptune’s cousin. Ghaavn takes a junior agent with him to ensure Hypatia’s safety—but they disappear. Lady Gerald finds help for Bulays—in the form of hired gun Norawest Smith. A series planetary romance.Bulays and Ghaavn #21The Betwixt is a sci-fi soap opera with a dash of philosophy. It follows a space diner waitress as she sets out to discover her true origin, an adventure that sees her set against the most legendary of foes, takes her to the edges of the galaxy, and finally into the arms of one very handsome but stern Commander Cole....Mini is a diner waitress in a space bar. She has a flouncy skirt, a holopin, and a pretty little apron. She also, apparently, has a mysterious alien past; a past that comes knocking on her door in the form of a tiny red creature called Od. According to Od, Mini is all that stands between the galaxy and an invasion by terrible, soul-sucking creatures from the in-between dimensions. As Mini's galactic experience to-date revolves around serving drinks and picking up after customers, she finds that very unlikely.The only problem is that Od is right. So Mini reaches for the closest thing at hand – which just so happens to be a frying pan – and gives saving the galaxy a go. She isn't alone, however; she's caught the eye of a rather handsome Galactic Military Commander, and he isn't going to take his eyes off her until he knows exactly what's going on.

Ashden and Elanora are drawn into the Timefold by the pulse of an ancient bloodline where they face an enemy created in the depths of the human heart. Separated by an impossible expanse of time,they must find each other, however changed,and unite to save lives even more vulnerable than their own.Ashden Jaybanks,15, is relieved as he hammers the tack into his final rescue notice. It will no doubt lead to ridicule and bruises from Oscar, but what’s new? And if it saves a soul or two, he can quit in good conscience. Yes, it’s time to give up and concentrate on his mother whose mind has all but gone and whose terrors rule her. It’s also time to grow up...in this world. His plans are thwarted when a strangely forgettable red head witnesses his movement through the gateway under the fig. No-one has ever been able to see his comings and goings to the Timefold before. Could she be the same as him? But why can’t he recall ever seeing her before? Alone in her hideout, Elanora, 13, has been watching Ashden; curious as to how the most bullied kid in school can stand so confidently amongst the roots of the spectral fig when everyone else is scared to death of it. Especially her. When he finally reveals that he can see souls in animal replicas and that she has an unsurpassed ability to create such souls, Elanora refuses to let him keep her from her destiny. She must be taken to see the rescued ones and will join his mission to save them. And that may happen...if Ashden can remember her in the morning.

The land languishes under the rule of a cold, hard king. But the king has one weakness, and the hero has discovered it. Will he be victorious?THIS IS A SHORT STORY OF APPROX. 5,000 WORDS.Claire knows only a world where most of humanity lives inside sparsely populated cities protected from the Outside by guarded walls. She is a new Driver whose job is to transport items between these cities. Under the watchful eye of her Protector, Shaun, Claire makes her first run from San Jose to Angel City to bring back medicine needed to save hundreds of lives. However, the trip takes them through the dangerous land of the Outsiders. Using their skills, Claire and Shaun must escape from their armed pursuers in a chase across miles of barren wasteland with no hope of help.

Yes, the world needs another fairytale, just like your grandmother needs a Dwarf Grunge Band. Of course this is not just another fairy tale, it is a completely irreverent celebration of geeks, fairy goth-mothers, small annoying dogs, and yes, princesses. This is a foible, not a fable, thus it has no redeeming value whatsoever. Enjoy!If you are looking for a serious tale with a redeeming moral, find another book. This is a silly (and hopefully entertaining) romp through the land of Faerie, poking fun at everything you love about fairy tales, geek culture, and very possibly things that have very little to do with either, but sadly no one will ever make a big name animated motion picture out of it. I guess that is what your imagination is for.

Written By J.T. Lewis & K.R. JordanThese are the journeys of Miel, the Keeper of the journal.These are the journeys of Miel, the Keeper of the journal.The workings of heaven are shrouded in mystery and myth, leaving us to only theorize as to what awaits us when we pass. There are those among us however, that are special cases.These are good people that have committed a horrendous crime, such as murder.What makes their cases special however, is the fact that by committing these egregious acts, one could argue that they have made the world a better place. A heavenly court of Archangels is forced to consider these special cases, holding in their collective hands the fate of the souls that come before them, but only one among them, Rashnu, recognizes that these souls cannot be judged on just the outward details. Miel, the lowly angel assisting him is tasked with traveling the world to gather the real facts, facts that will hopefully lead to their salvation. The Miel Chronicles is a collaborative effort created by J.T. Lewis to work with other authors on a special project. Yolanda, coauthored with K.R. Jordan is the first of these stories!

It seemed to be a very normal weekend for the students of Central High, until one girl—Alison Hagen—disappears. Carol Davis, Alison's best friend, and others investigate the mystery only to find themselves targets of events beyond their comprehension.With the help of a strange man named Jade and his genetically altered creation named Oliver they face the darkness and only hope to survive...The time is right before the rapture and Crazy Lou talks to a white angel stamped on her bag. Driven to kill, her fate is yet to be decided in a world where insanity may be the merciful thing. A man, a woman and a child find her in the old mill just before she has passed over the brink of complete insanity.***Please rate the story***Thanks

How far would you go for love, or for justice, or for the perfect gearwheel? Niggle grew up a mudlark, hunting for scrap on the polluted river riverbanks of a steampunk city. Having dragged himself out of poverty through mechanical skill, he now finds an opportunity in the steam-powered heart of Mercer Shackleton's factory. Will he choose love or something else?How far would you go for love, or for justice, or for the perfect gearwheel? Thomas Niggle grew up a mudlark, hunting for scrap on the polluted banks of the River Burr. One of the countless poor living in the shadows of Mercer Shackleton’s vast factories, he has dragged himself out of poverty using his mechanical skills. An encounter with Gloria Shackleton, the Mercer’s daughter, offers Niggle the possibility of love, but it also offers something else, deep in the heart of the Mercer’s domain. What hope can the future hold for a boy raised amidst the mud and brass?

Beau knows the town thinks his grandfather Leon is crazy. Leon doesn't help that fact by claiming to be Ponce de Leon while manning the counter of his liquor store, The Fountain. But crazy to outsiders is just life to Beau, who for as long as he can remember has been following his grandfather into the Louisiana swamps and looking for the right place to set their fires.This short contemporary fantasy explores the bond between grandfather and grandson. Beau knows the town thinks his grandfather Leon is crazy. Leon doesn't help that fact by claiming to be Ponce de Leon while manning the counter of his liquor store, The Fountain. But crazy to outsiders is just life to Beau, who for as long as he can remember has been following his grandfather into the Louisiana swamps and looking for the right place to set their fires."At some point in the story, I found myself almost wishing to be burned, which must mean that this story is doing something remarkable." -Matt Williamson, Unstuck Books.EXCERPT - Grandpa Leon was a firebug for as long as Beau could remember. He was not one of those you see on TV, setting fires to abandoned homes and warehouses and accidently torching sleeping homeless. It was nothing like that--or maybe it was, just with a different style.For one, Grandpa was a seasonal firebug. When the spring rains tapered off and the swamps started heating up--bluegill turning circles in their shrinking pools, gator trails drying into mud tracks between the islands--Beau began listening for the antsy snap of that Zippo lid coming out of his grandpa's trouser pocket. It was like the sun's hot eye set something afire in the old man and he'd whisper in his thick Cajun, "Cher, let's you and me go find something to do."

My name is Evalee, and my life is a crazy mess. I’m currently a ghost, my zombie witch, fake sister is hanging out with Max, a demon who’s dead set on capturing me, and I just found out Opal betrayed me. But hey, at least Hunter’s looking for a way to bring me back to life. I just hope if I do return to the land of the living, I can figure out who the heck tried to kill me.

Eight years have passed since the young Princess Bitterblue, and her country, were saved from the vicious King Leck. Now Bitterblue is the queen of Monsea, and her land is at peace. But the influence of her father, a violent psychopath with mind-altering abilities, lives on. Her advisers, who have run the country on her behalf since Leck's death, believe in a forward-thinking plan: to pardon all of those who committed terrible acts during Leck's reign; and to forget every dark event that ever happened. Monsea's past has become shrouded in mystery, and it's only when Bitterblue begins sneaking out of her castle - curious, disguised and alone - to walk the streets of her own city, that she begins to realise the truth. Her kingdom has been under the thirty-five-year long spell of a madman, and now their only chance to move forward is to revisit the past. Whatever that past holds. Two thieves, who have sworn only to steal what has already been stolen, change her life forever. They hold a key to the truth of Leck's reign. And one of them, who possesses an unidentified Grace, may also hold a key to her heart . . .

Having finally reunited, and fought off The Deceiver for now, Mary and Michael race up the Michigan peninsula to meet Astra before police forces catch up with them. But the closer they get, the less Mary is willing to trust a woman who by her own admission will do anything to finish The Deceiver – even if it means killing Michael and Mary to try again in another life. As they face their final battle unsure if they can trust either side, Michael’s loyalties are tested, making him vulnerable just when Mary needs him most.

BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Terry Brooks's The Measure of the Magic. Horrified by the misuse of magic they had witnessed during the First War of the Races, the Druids at Paranor devoted themselves to the study of the old sciences, from the period before the collapse of civilization a thousand years before. Only the Bremen and a few trusted associates still studied the arcane arts. And for his persistence, Bremen found himself outcast, avoided by all but the few free-thinkers among the Druids. But his removal from Paranor was not altogether a terrible thing, for Bremen learned that dark forces were on the move from the Northlands. That seemingly invincible armies of trolls were fast conquering all that lay to their south. That the scouts for the army--and its principal assassins--were Skull Bearers, disfigured and transformed Druids who had fallen prey to the seductions of the magic arts. And that at the heart of the evil tide was an archmage and former Druid named Brona! Using the special skills he had acquired through his own study of Magic, Bremen was able to penetrate the huge camp of the Troll army and learn many of its secrets. And he immediately understood that if the peoples of the Four Lands were to escape eternal subjugation they would need to unite. But, even united, they would need a weapon, something so powerful that the evil magic of Brona, the Warlock Lord, would fail before its might...

Triktapic, the deadly dark elf assassin, has been restored by the Forest Lords to his rightful place as king of the Elven realm. Now, he must face his former comrades as he attempts to stop Lorsan, king of the dark elves, from enslaving the human race. Lorsan has already begun distributing Rapture, the irresistible drink that destroys those who unknowingly become addicted to it. Will Cassie, his Chosen, be able to give Trik the strength he needs to face his dark past? Meanwhile, Cassie’s best friend, Elora, is in a fight for her own life. Elora, her mother, Lisa, and a small band of light elves have traveled deep into the dark elf realm in hopes of rescuing Cassie and Trik. But their mission quickly turns into a battle for their own lives as they are surrounded by Lorsan and his warriors. Though outnumbered ten to one, the humans and elves fight heroically. They fight for a King once lost, but now found. They fight for the human realm that doesn’t yet know it is in need of saving. They fight for love; a love that has already been discovered and a love that is waiting to be revealed. Despite their valiant efforts, the band is captured and held captive by the dark elf king. The peaceful world that Cassie and Elora knew is long gone, shattered by their realization that elves walk secretly among them, and are bent on their destruction. Soon, each of the girls will be forced to choose her own path. Cassie must decide to which world she belongs and Elora must decide if she will fight for a warrior hell bent on keeping her from his side. Two species, human and elf, stand on the precipice of war, united in one goal; shatter the dark elf king’s plan, and unite a divided race under the rule of the one true King.