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In Dark Service
by Stephen HuntCarter has been kidnapped. Enslaved. But he's determined to fight to the end.Jacob is a pacifist. His family destroyed. He's about to choose the path of violence to reclaim his son.Their world has changed for ever. Between them, they're going to avenge it.Jacob Carnehan has settled down. He's living a comfortable, quiet life, obeying the law and minding his own business while raising his son Carter ... on those occasions when he isn't having to bail him out of one scrape or another. His days of adventure are - thankfully - long behind him.Carter Carnehan is going out of his mind with boredom. He's bored by his humdrum life, frustrated that his father won't live a little, and longs for the bright lights and excitement of anywhere-but-here. He's longing for an opportunity to escape, and test himself against whatever the world has to offer.Carter is going to get his opportunity. He's caught up in a village fight, kidnapped by slavers and, before he knows it, is swept to another land. A lowly slave, surrounded by technology he doesn't understand, his wish has come true: it's him vs. the world. He can try to escape, he can try to lead his fellow slaves, or he can accept the inevitable and try to make the most of the short, brutal existence remaining to him.... unless Jacob gets to him first and, no matter the odds, he intends to. No one kidnaps his son and gets away with it - and if it come to it, he'll force Kings to help him on his way, he'll fight, steal, blackmail and betray his friends in the name of bringing Carter home.Wars will be started. Empires will fall. And the Carnehan family will be reunited, one way or another ...
In Dark Service
by Stephen HuntCarter has been kidnapped. Enslaved. But he's determined to fight to the end. Jacob is a pacifist. His family destroyed. He's about to choose the path of violence to reclaim his son. Their world has changed for ever. Between them, they're going to avenge it. Jacob Carnehan has settled down. He's living a comfortable, quiet life, obeying the law and minding his own business while raising his son Carter ... on those occasions when he isn't having to bail him out of one scrape or another. His days of adventure are - thankfully - long behind him. Carter Carnehan is going out of his mind with boredom. He's bored by his humdrum life, frustrated that his father won't live a little, and longs for the bright lights and excitement of anywhere-but-here. He's longing for an opportunity to escape, and test himself against whatever the world has to offer. Carter is going to get his opportunity. He's caught up in a village fight, kidnapped by slavers and, before he knows it, is swept to another land. A lowly slave, surrounded by technology he doesn't understand, his wish has come true: it's him vs. the world. He can try to escape, he can try to lead his fellow slaves, or he can accept the inevitable and try to make the most of the short, brutal existence remaining to him. ... unless Jacob gets to him first and, no matter the odds, he intends to. No one kidnaps his son and gets away with it - and if it come to it, he'll force Kings to help him on his way, he'll fight, steal, blackmail and betray his friends in the name of bringing Carter home. Wars will be started. Empires will fall. And the Carnehan family will be reunited, one way or another ...
In Darkling Wood
by Emma CarrollFor fans of The Girl Who Drank the Moon, The Secret Garden, and Tuck Everlasting, In Darkling Wood is a spine-tingling novel with a forthright, modern heroine and more than a hint of mystery and magic. When Alice is suddenly bundled off to her estranged grandmother’s Nell’s house, there’s nothing good about it, except the beautiful Darkling Wood at the end of the garden—but Nell wants to have it cut down. Alice feels at home there, at peace. She even finds a friend, a girl named Flo. But Flo doesn’t go to the local school, and no one in town has heard of her. When Flo shows Alice the surprising secrets of Darkling Wood, Alice starts to wonder: what is real? And can she find out in time to save the wood from destruction? ★ "A haunting and poignant exploration of family, loss, and redemption."—Booklist, Starred Review★ "A tale brimming with emotion and atmosphere....[In Darkling Wood] is absorbing and well written. Hand this to readers who enjoy fantasy, fairy tales, and magical realism."—School Library Journal, Starred Review"Magic and mystery adds appeal to this already compelling family drama...and Carroll manages to wrap all of the threads into a wholly satisfying ending."—Bulletin"Beautifully drawn, and the pragmatic prose and completely modern language (except for the letters) ground the story. The fairies aren't covered in pixie dust here. Carroll is becoming well-known in her native England; this book should win her American fans."-Kirkus Reviews
In Darkness Reborn
by MorganAlexis Morgan continues her red-hot paranormal series with a mysterious warrior and his forbidden love for a woman who's allegiance lies with his sworn enemy. . . . Once a warrior for the Others, Barak q'Young is caught between two worlds -- exiled from his homeland, and a pariah among his enemies, the Paladins. While hunting a betrayer who's selling the precious blue gems that light the Others' world, Barak must aid geologist Lacey Sebastian in her research for the Paladins. Barak is instantly drawn to the fiery, beautiful woman, but Lacey initially despises the enemy intruder. Soon she sees beyond his violent past, though, finding the dark warrior intriguing -- and extremely sexy. Though neither can resist the passion that blazes between them, Barak is torn between loyalties, hiding a secret gift that could prove useful to Lacey's research, at the sacrifice of his own people. But when Lacey is kidnapped and held hostage, Barak realizes he will do anything to save her . . . even risk his own life.
In Darkness Transformed (The Paladin Strike Team #1)
by Alexis MorganThe USA TODAY bestselling author of the Paladin series returns with this sexy, original title featuring a man discovering the paranormal world of the paladins.Dying hurts…but not as much as living. Eli is lucky to survive the helicopter crash that killed the rest of the passengers. But when he notices his wounds healing before his eyes, it seems like his survival may have come from more than luck. Safara knows what Eli does not—Eli is a paladin, a mortal enemy of someone like Safara, someone from Kalithia. Still, after Eli saves Safara&’s life, and Safara introduces Eli to a whole new world, they just can&’t seem to treat each as enemies.
In Darkness, Shadows Breathe (Fiction Without Frontiers)
by Catherine Cavendish"[...] if there is a crown of queen of gothic horror, [Catherine Cavendish] should be wearing it." — Modern HorrorsYou&’re next…Carol and Nessa are strangers but not for much longer.In a luxury apartment and in the walls of a modern hospital, the evil that was done continues to thrive. They are in the hands of an entity that knows no boundaries and crosses dimensions - bending and twisting time itself - and where danger waits in every shadow. The battle is on for their bodies and souls and the line between reality and nightmare is hard to define.Through it all, the words of Lydia Warren Carmody haunt them. But who was she? And why have Carol and Nessa been chosen?The answer lies deep in the darkness… FLAME TREE PRESS is the new fiction imprint of Flame Tree Publishing. Launched in 2018 the list brings together brilliant new authors and the more established; the award winners, and exciting, original voices.
In Death Ground (Starfire, Book #3)
by David Weber Steve WhiteFive thousand years later, in the time of the Fourth Interstellar War, the advice still makes sense. The Bugs have a superior drive technology, overwhelming numbers, and a strategy that's mind-numbingly alien. For the humans and their enemies-turned-allies, the catlike Orions, choosing their strategy was as easy as One-Tzu-Three:
In Deep (Gateway Essentials #95)
by Damon KnightTake a step forward and fall suddenly into a creeping blob of protoplasm, then discover that your three companions have fallen with you and your bodies have been digested by the 'thing'.Watch a man searching on a beach, and feel your blood run cold when he tells you what he is searching for.A doorway that will take you anywhere, except back to earth.
In Deeper Waters
by F.T. Lukens&“A frothy confection of sea-foam, young love, and derring-do.&” —NPR From the New York Times bestselling author of So This Is Ever After, a young prince must rely on a mysterious stranger to save him when he is kidnapped during his coming-of-age tour in this swoony adventure that is The Gentleman&’s Guide to Vice and Virtue meets Pirates of the Caribbean.Prince Tal has long awaited his coming-of-age tour. After spending most of his life cloistered behind palace walls as he learns to keep his forbidden magic secret, he can finally see his family&’s kingdom for the first time. His first taste of adventure comes just two days into the journey, when their crew discovers a mysterious prisoner on a burning derelict vessel. Tasked with watching over the prisoner, Tal is surprised to feel an intense connection with the roguish Athlen. So when Athlen leaps overboard and disappears, Tal feels responsible and heartbroken, knowing Athlen could not have survived in the open ocean. That is, until Tal runs into Athlen days later on dry land, very much alive, and as charming—and secretive—as ever. But before they can pursue anything further, Tal is kidnapped by pirates and held ransom in a plot to reveal his rumored powers and instigate a war. Tal must escape if he hopes to save his family and the kingdom. And Athlen might just be his only hope…
In Defence of Fantasy: A Study of the Genre in English and American Literature since 1945 (Routledge Library Editions: Modern Fiction)
by Ann SwinfenThe modern fantasy novel might hardly seem to need a defence, but its position in contemporary literature in the 1980s was still rather ambivalent. Many post-war writers had produced highly successful fantasy novels, some phenomenal publishing successes had occurred in the field, and an increasing number of universities throughout the English-speaking world now included the literary criticism of fantasy as part of their English Literature courses. None the less some critics and academics condemned the whole genre with a passion that seemed less than objectively critical. In this book, originally published in 1984, Dr Ann Swinfen presents a wide-ranging and comprehensive view of fantasy: what it is, what it tries to achieve, what fundamental differences distinguish it from mainstream realist fiction. She concentrates on the three decades from 1945, when a new generation of writers found that Tolkein had made fantasy ‘respectable’. Her approach is thematic, rather than by individual author, and she brings out the profound moral purpose that underlies much modern fantasy, in a wide range of works, both British and American, such as Russell Hoban’s The Mouse and His Child, C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia and Ursula Le Guin’s Earthsea Trilogy.
In Dreams Begin
by Skyler WhiteRead Skyler White's blogs and other content on the Penguin Community. In a Victorian Ireland of magic, poetry, and rebellion, Ida Jameson, an amateur occultist, reaches out for power-but captures Laura Armstrong, a modern-day graphic artist, instead. When Ida channels Laura into the body of celebrated beauty and Irish freedom-fighter Maud Gonne, Laura falls in love with the young poet W. B. Yeats. Their love affair entwines with Irish history and weaves through Yeats' poetry- until Ida discovers something she wants more than magic in the subterranean spaces between Laura's time and her own. With Laura's Irish past threatening her orderly present, she and Yeats must find a way to make their love last over time, in changing bodies...or lose each other forever.
In Enemy Hands
by Ks AugustinThe Republic had taken everything from Moon-her research partner, her privacy, her illusions. They thought they had her under control. They were wrong.Sirin, Moon's new research partner, is a chemically enhanced math genius whose memory is erased every two days. He's also a charming, fascinating man who is attracted to her anew after each memory loss cycle.Escape from the regime that treats them like tools is impossible. There are too many walls around them, too many eyes watching. But when you've got nothing left to lose, running becomes the only option.89,000 words
In Enemy Hands
by M. A. ChurchTwo very different civilizations--one bathed in bright sunlight and the other veiled in shadow. Bad decisions, declining resources, and a king on the brink of madness force Prince Varo Kutchif, third son of the royal family and a starship captain, to attempt the impossible: barter for Black Phospolrock, an energy source the mysterious Helkan Kingdom has in abundance. Varo opens a line of communication with Adlar, an intriguing Helkan who seems to reciprocate Varo's interest. He hopes so, because if negotiations collapse, Varo has orders to attack. The Helkans preside over a planet shrouded in perpetual darkness. Several species have tried to exploit its natural resources through trade with them, but all have failed. Adlar Mondur is the older brother to the Helkan ruler. An assassin of the highest order, he'll do anything to protect his king and his people--including tracking down the Yesri prince who crash-lands on their planet, leaving an ugly scar across its untouched beauty. Thus begins a journey where two men from disparate civilizations grow from enemies to lovers.
In Enemy Hands (Honor Harrington #7)
by David WeberHonor Harrington's career has its ups and its downs. She's survived ship-to-ship battles, assassins, political vendettas, and duels. She's been shot at, shot down, and just plain shot, had starships blown out from under her, and made personal enemies who will stop at nothing to ruin her, and somehow she's survived it all. But this time she's really in trouble. The People's Republic of Haven has finally found an admiral who can win battles, and Honor's orders take her straight into an ambush. Outnumbered, outgunned, and unable to run, she has just two options: see the people under her command die in a hopeless, futile battle... or surrender them-and herself-to the Peeps. There can be only one choice, and at least the People's Navy promises to treat their prisoners honorably. But the Navy is overruled by the political authorities, and Honor finds herself bound for a prison planet aptly named "Hell"... and her scheduled execution. Put into solitary confinement, separated from her officers and her treecat Nimitz, and subjected to systematic humiliation by her gaolers, Honor's future has become both bleak and short. Yet bad as things look, they're about to get worse ...for the Peeps. At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). A lifetime military history buff, David Weber has carried his interest in history into his fiction. In the New York Times best selling Honor Harrington series, the spirit of both C.S. Forester's Horatio Hornblower and history's Admiral Nelson are evident. With over five million copies of his books in print, David Weber is the fastest rising star in the Science Fiction universe. His Honor Harrington series boasts over 3 million copies in print, and Weber has had over thirteen of his titles on The New York Times Best Seller List. War of Honor, book 10 in the series appeared on over twelve Best Seller lists, including The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, and USA TODAY. While he is best known for his spirited, modern-minded space operas, he has also developed a fantasy series, of which two books have been published: Oath of Swords and The War God's Own. David's solo work also includes three novels of the "Dahak" series, and the stand alone novels: Path of the Fury and The Excalibur Alternative. Weber's first published novels grew out of his work as a war game designer for the Task Force game Starfire. With collaborator Steve White, Weber has written four novels set in that universe: Insurrection, Crusade, In Death Ground, and The Shiva Option. Recent bestsellers in planetary adventures also include the teamwork of John Ringo in the best selling Empire of Man series where the titles March Upcountry, March to the Sea, March to the Stars and We Few have made appearances on The New York Times List. Weber's proliferation continues with author Eric Flint, where they joined forces in the Best Selling "Ring of Fire" alternate history series, for 1634: The Baltic War, coming in May. A popular guest at science fiction conventions, Weber makes his home in South Carolina with his wife Sharon, three children and a passel of dogs.
In Every Generation (Buffy: The Next Generation)
by Kendare BlakeA brand-new reimagining of the Buffy universe, this YA series by New York Times bestselling author Kendare Blake (Three Dark Crowns) features the next generation of Scoobies and Slayers who must defeat a powerful new evil.Return to Sunnydale in a brand-new series by New York Times best-selling author Kendare Blake, set in the world of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Frankie Rosenberg wasn't yet alive when her mom, Willow, her aunt Buffy, and the original Scooby Gang destroyed the Hellmouth and saved the world from the First Evil. These days, life in New Sunnydale is blissfully quiet. Frankie is just trying to survive her sophomore year at the rebuilt high school and use her budding magical powers to make the world a better place.But that world is suddenly plunged into danger when the slayer community is the target of a deadly attack, leaving the future of the line uncertain. Then Frankie discovers she's sort of freakishly strong. Oh, and there's something Willow never told her about her true identity.Cue the opening credits.Quicker than she can carve a stake, Frankie discovers there's more to saving the world than witty one-liners and stupid hot demons. now everyone looks to her for answers, but speaking up has never been her strong suit. And it's hard to be taken seriously when your mom is such a powerful witch she almost ended the world once, while your greatest magic trick is recycling.Despite the many challenges standing in her way, Frankie must assemble her own bumbling Scooby Gang, get dressed up in Buffy's (vintage '90s) clothes, and become a new slayer for a new generation—before whatever came for the rest of the slayers comes for her next.&“A worthy successor to the Slayer stories.&” –Booklist Starred Review
In Every Life
by Rea FreyWhat happens when a husband&’s dying wish is for his wife to find a new love . . . before he&’s even gone?Harper is living a life she never expected. After a failed attempt at making it as an artist in New York while falling for and losing her first love, her dreams crumbled in the span of a week. A decade later, Harper is happily living a simpler life as an art teacher in Chattanooga with her beloved new husband, Ben.When Ben is diagnosed with late-stage cancer, their whole world shifts. Despite the bad news, Ben comes up with one final wish for his wife: he wants Harper to find a new partner before he dies. When the New York Times sends a journalist to do a feature story about Ben&’s life, Harper comes face to face with Liam Hale, the man she fell madly in love with all those years ago and never saw again.Suddenly, Harper is faced with all of those old what-ifs:What if Harper had ended up with Liam instead of Ben?What if she&’d pursued life as an artist instead of teaching?What if it had all turned out differently?After making a wish, Harper wakes up to find herself in a parallel universe . . . where her what-ifs become a reality.Is the grass really greener, or is she standing right where she should be—no matter the cost?Contemporary women&’s fictionStand-alone novelBook length: 93,000 wordsIncludes discussion questions for book clubs
In Evil Times: Imperials 2
by Melinda SnodgrassScholarship student Thracius “Tracy” Belmanor and Princess Mercedes de Arango have graduated from the High Ground and become officers in the Orden de la Estrella. Stung by Mercedes’ choice of Beauregard “Boho” Cullen as her consort, Tracy is glad that they are posted on battleships light years apart, but soon finds that without her protection he is nothing but a target. Meanwhile, Mercedes’ posting has its own challenges, not least her unfaithful husband.Both young officers find themselves part of forced “assimilations” of settlers on Hidden Worlds, which lead them to doubt the intentions of the Solar League. And when Tracy witnesses an horrific event that threatens the fragile human and alien peace, Mercedes must decide where her loyalties truly lie...
In Fine Form
by EressëIn the face of tradition and prejudice, Yandro has fought his way to a high position in the government, but can he continue to fight his growing attraction for the ambassador he serves? Especially since Ambassador Jareth Hadrana is determined to overcome his resistance and take their relationship from professional to personal. In Fine Form takes you back to the kingdom of Ylandre, a world of intrigue and deceit where an affair with an enigmatic diplomat may not be worth the risk.Guile is an asset in foreign relations, but an affliction when it comes to affairs of the heart.A bastard of unknown parentage, Yandro Vaidon was born saddled with a huge disadvantage. The nigh rigid class structure of the dual-gendered realm of Ylandre relegated him to the bottom rungs of the social ladder and promised a dim future. Worse, the endeavor to win respectability was arduous--most claimed it was impossible. But by dint of hard work, perseverance, and instances of plain good luck, Yandro rises higher than even he had hoped. However, he quickly learns there are hurdles to overcome even at these heights. Not least is his inconvenient attraction to a colleague deemed way beyond his reach.Scion of House Essendri, the reigning dynasty of Ylandre, Jareth Hadrana is gifted with more than his fair share of beauty and wit. The kingdom's preeminent ambassador, he has surpassed what is usually expected of a fief-lord's second son. But while his high birth and family wealth opened doors for him, Jareth's success stemmed from his own efforts to make something of himself other than the idle fop or swaggering rakehell that was the lot of many younger sons.A coincidence of interest drew Jareth and Yandro to the same profession, but a king's intervention throws them together in an association that soon turns into mutual desire. However, prejudices have largely kept the aristocratic True Bloods and lower-caste Half Bloods on opposite sides of the social and romantic divide. In addition, reticence born of distrust and a secret like no other hamper their attempts to span the chasm between them. It will take more than their shared passion to convince them to lower their protective walls and risk their hearts in full.Content Notes: Hot, Anal Play, Anal Intercourse, GLBT, M/M, Fantasy
In Five Years: The most heartbreaking novel you'll read this year!
by Rebecca SerlePerfect for fans of Me Before You and One Day, this heart-breaking story of love, loss and life will have you questioning everything you thought you knew about destiny . . .Where do you see yourself in five years?Type-A Manhattan lawyer Dannie Kohan has been in possession of her meticulously crafted answer since she understood the question. On the day that she nails the most important job interview of her career and gets engaged to the perfect man, she's well on her way to fulfilling her life goals. That night Dannie falls asleep only to wake up in a different apartment with a different ring on her finger, and in the company of a very different man. The TV is on in the background, and she can just make out the date. It's the same night - December 15th - but 2025, five years in the future. It was just a dream, she tells herself when she wakes, but it felt so real . . . Determined to ignore the odd experience, she files it away in the back of her mind. That is, until four and a half years later, when Dannie turns down a street and there, standing on the corner, is the man from her dream . . .In Five Years is a love story, brimming with joy and heartbreak. But it is definitely not the love story you're expecting.'What a clever, beautiful, special book. The writing is stunning, the concept is so original - it just has everything going for it. I loved every page!' Beth O'Leary, author of Sunday Times bestseller The Flatshare'I loved In Five Years. A beautiful, intelligent story about friendships and love' Clare Mackintosh, Sunday Times bestselling author of After the End'I read it in one late night. Very, very clever. And lovely. The end is EXACTLY what it should be' Anstey Harris, author of Richard & Judy Book Club pick The Truths and Triumphs of Grace Atherton'In Five Years is as clever as it is moving, the rare read-in-one-sitting novel you won't forget' Chloe Benjamin, author of The Immortalists'Clever, compelling and always surprising. A wonderfully unique read' Heidi Swain, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Christmas Wish List'Smart, clever and achingly beautiful. Not many love stories surprise me, but this one did. I really loved it' Dani Atkins, bestselling author of Fractured and A Million Dreams(P) 2020 Simon & Schuster Audio
In Five Years: a story of love and heartbreak with a twist
by Rebecca Serle'SMART, EMOTIONAL, INTRIGUING AND COMPELLING - I LOVED IT!' JILL MANSELLDannie Kohan has held true to her meticulously crafted 5-year plan since she understood the concept. On the day that she nails the most important interview of her career and gets engaged to the perfect man, she's well on her way to fulfilling her life goals.But that night Dannie falls asleep and dreams of a night five years in the future where she's engaged to another man. It was just a dream, she tells herself when she wakes, but it felt so real.Determined to ignore the odd experience, she files it away in the back of her mind. That is, until five years later, when Dannie turns down a street and there, standing on the corner, is the man from her dream . . .Perfect for fans of Me Before You and One Day, this heart-breaking story of love, loss and life will have you questioning everything you thought you knew about destiny.-------------------------------------'What a clever, beautiful, special book. The writing is stunning, the concept is so original - it just has everything going for it. I loved every page!' Beth O'Leary, author The Flatshare and The Switch'Such a touching, soulful experience' Goodreads reader'In Five Years is a stunningly beautiful, brilliant and insightful love story' Goodreads reader'Heartbreaking and poignant' Glamour'I loved In Five Years. A beautiful, intelligent story about friendships and love' Clare Mackintosh, author of After the End'Full of twists and turns, this is a heart-breaking yet uplifting story about love and friendship' Heat magazine *****IF YOU LOVED IN FIVE YEARS, REBECCA'S NEXT HEARTBREAKER EXPIRATION DATES IS AVAILABLE NOW!*New York Times bestseller, March 2020
In For Keeps: A Holiday Fling Romance (Tropical Heat #2)
by Taryn BelleKiki’s sexy one-night stand with rock god Dev Stone has become a red-hot affair with a lot of potential…until she discovers a secret that threatens to ruin everything.Kiki Becker moved to Moretta—a beautiful island and popular celebrity haunt—to escape a painful divorce. But after a scorching one-night stand with rock star Dev Stone almost becomes a sex scandal, she realizes she needs to face real life again. When Dev offers her a job as his tour assistant, Kiki leaps at the chance to go to Australia and find the mother who abandoned her decades ago.Dev can’t stop thinking about his electrifying night with Kiki, so he’s thrilled when she accepts. Their chemistry is irresistible, and the pair soon embark on a sexy no-strings affair—the perfect distraction from his tiresome celebrity life and all its trappings.Kiki realizes she’s falling for Dev and cautiously confides in him about her past, bringing the couple closer together. But Dev has his own dark secret and it could push Kiki away forever. Will he trust her with it…or walk away and break her heart before she can break his?The Tropical Heat series:In Too DeepIn For KeepsIntoxicatedStep into stories of provocative romance with Harlequin DARE, where sexual fantasies come true. Let your inhibitions run wild. Four new Harlequin DARE titles are available each month, wherever ebooks are sold!
In Fury Born
by David WeberIn the far future, Alicia DeVries is a soldier in the elite Imperial Cadre. When her entire family is massacred by pirates, her response is truly ferocious.
In Good Hands
by Kathy LyonsAmber Smithson just had mind-blowing sex with a totally hot stranger. In an elevator! Ditching her high-powered medical career to become a homeopathic doctor sure didn't prep her for this kind of hands-on therapy.Corporate lawyer Roger Martell leads a high-pressure lifestyle that's given him money and power...and, unfortunately, high blood pressure. His solution? Ask the deliciously soothing doc to help him out with a few alternative treatments...and plenty more steam-up-the-yoga-studio sex!The results leave them both healthy and very, very happy.Still, a few nights of great sex won't bring down Roger's blood pressure indefinitely. Amber's in his bed now, but that doesn't mean she'll stay there.Unless, of course, Roger can talk Amber into making those house calls a permanent thing....
In Great Waters
by Kit WhitfieldIn a tense, divided court, a young princess watches her mother struggle to hold the throne. On a remote coastal estate, a scholar finds a child washed up on the shore. Anne. Henry. A Christian princess of the royal blood. A pagan bastard, groomed all his hidden, lonely life to make a grab for the crown. In this work of stunning imagination, Kit Whitfield has written a fictional history at once familiar and alien. Since the ninth century, when the deepsmen invaded Venice, an uneasy alliance has held between the people of the land and the sea. That alliance was brokered by the warrior queen, Angelica, half landsman, half deepsman, the mother of the royal houses of Europe. Now, centuries later, no navy can cross the seas without allies in the ocean - and without deepsmen guarding its shores, no nation can withstand invasion. The hybrid kings keep the treaty between both sides, protecting their people from the threat of war. The royal blood is the key to peace, and ferociously protected. The penalties for any landsman who tries to breed with a deepsman are severe; the fate of any 'bastard' child, born of such an illegitimate union, is terrible. But the royal house of England is staggering, collapsing under the weight of centuries of inbreeding. Anne prays for guidance, a way into the future without hatred or bloodshed. Henry holds with fierce certainty that only the strong survive. But if either of them is to outlive the coming conflict, they may need more than faith alone
In Heaven's Shadow
by S. A. BolichLilith Stark knows from experience that dead doesn't necessarily mean gone. Gettysburg took Joab's life, but her husband struck a bargain with Heaven to come home instead. She’s not about to turn away whatever the Yankees have left to her of their all-too-brief marriage. But when she inadvertently lets slip to the neighbors that not only has Joab come home, but one of the neighbor boys as well, she ignites a town already rubbed raw by the endless sorrows of civil war. Lilith, hoping to salvage the situation, only puts her foot in it deeper when she offers the good people of Browns Corners, Virginia, the benefits of her strange and perhaps saintly father's magic elixir. With the neighbors fighting over the elixir, the Reverend Fisk convinced she's the lying daughter of a shiftless devil, and the bereaved mother of the ghost living in Lilith's barn turning the whole town against her, Lilith's happy penchant for creating unexpected rainbows curdles to a despairing gathering of black creepers instead. A private little war between Lilith and the Reverend leads to a very public confrontation in which Lilith will either get the town to accept her--magic, ghosts, and all--or find herself locked away as a madwoman, deprived of everything that makes her life worthwhile.