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Of Another World
by Edward KendrickA storm at sea leaves shifters Tony and his brother Daniel castaways on an unknown island. They soon discover they much farther from home than they imagined when they meet Brion, the elven mayor of the town of Rerenlion. They also learn all the island's shifters have been magically imprisoned in Stronghold for crimes against the populace. Brion tells them the only way they can return to their own world is with the help of King Cerdic, and gives them a letter of introduction, as well as one for safe passage to the capital.The safe passage serves them well when they cross paths with elves who hate or distrust them for what they are. When they eventually meet the king, Tony and Cerdic are drawn to each despite the fact that Tony refuses to believe the island's shifters are guilty of the crimes that landed them in Stronghold. He offers to prove they were framed by having Cerdic send him to Stronghold as a spy from another world.Will Tony be able to prove his theory and survive in the process? Will the shifter and the elf act on their mutual attraction in spite of their differences?
Of Another World Box Set
by Edward KendrickThree interconnected fantasy tales of danger and romance by best-selling MM author Edward Kendrick. Contains the stories:Of Another World: Castaways Tony and Daniel learn they are far from home from elf Brion who says only King Cerdic can send them back. Tony and Cerdic are drawn to each even though Tony refuses to believe the island's shifters are guilty of the crimes that sent them to Stronghold. He offers to prove it by going there undercover. Will Tony survive so he and Cerdic can act on their feelings? Only time will tell.Of the New World: Tony and Cerdic wed, and life settles down until a new problem arises. Bandits are robbing wealthy lords. Tony and mage Leofric come up with a plan to stop them, with Cerdic's consent; despite the fact they think Tony may be the true target. In the process, Tony learns why Leofric has given up on love. Can Tony change that? It depends on whether they survive their confrontation with the bandits.Of a Harsh Winter: Qildor, a shunned crossbreed, is resigned to his lonely existence. Then a harsh winter sends him to warn the King that something is very wrong. Mage Pilore believes him and what he learns as they look for the cause leads him to believe an evil wizard is responsible. As they seek him, Pilore and Qildor form a bond, but will they get the chance to take it beyond that when they locate the wizard?
Of Beast and Beauty
by Stacey JayIn the beginning was the darkness, and in the darkness was a girl, and in the girl was a secret... In the domed city of Yuan, the blind Princess Isra, a Smooth Skin, is raised to be a human sacrifice whose death will ensure her city's vitality. In the desert outside Yuan, Gem, a mutant beast, fights to save his people, the Monstrous, from starvation. Neither dreams that together, they could return balance to both their worlds. Isra wants to help the city's Banished people, second-class citizens despised for possessing Monstrous traits. But after she enlists the aid of her prisoner, Gem, who has been captured while trying to steal Yuan's enchanted roses, she begins to care for him, and to question everything she has been brought up to believe. As secrets are revealed and Isra's sight, which vanished during her childhood, returned, Isra will have to choose between duty to her people and the beast she has come to love.From the Hardcover edition.
Of Beast and Burden
by Kelsey KicklighterFor fans of SARAH J. MAAS, ELISE KOVA, and HOLLY BLACK comes an exciting new fantasy-romance based on Celtic lore. A fae girl with a human heart. A Seelie Queen with a penchant for stealing mortals. And an Unseelie King who must surrender his throne. On the coast of Georgia rests a small town where faeries still take changelings. Faye lost her mother to the Folk but has spent her whole life longing for a glimpse behind the veil. When Faye finally finds her way in, she also discovers why the dark and alluring world of the Folk has always called to her: she's half faerie, and heiress to the Dark Court's throne. When the rival court steals her best friend, Faye must claim the crown to save her. That means learning how to use her glamour so she can face three deadly trials and ensuring she doesn’t fall for the dark. brooding king she's meant to replace...or the nymph-turned-knight teaching her to fight.
Of Blood and Blessings
by L. ShannonRunning from assassins, the last thing Grant needs is another complication in his life. But he hadn't counted on Amelia. She's lost her family and her wealth and is having a difficult time dealing with the new realities of her life. Grant wants to help and protect her, but his growing desire for her body and her blood has him wondering who will protect her from him?What is it about Amelia that drives Grant wild? As a Synn demon from royal blood, he should be able to control his desires. Yet, resisting her isn't an option. He craves her blood, her body, and something more. As Grant deals with former friends turned assassins and the sudden disappearance of his demonic mother, he tries to protect Amelia from the harsh realities of her life as well as his own dangerous desires.Will his power and wealth be enough to keep her safe? Can Amelia accept him for the demon he truly is?
Of Blood and Bone (Chronicles of The One)
by Nora Roberts'A match for end-of-the-world classics like Stephen King's The Stand' - New York Times Review of Books 'Breathtaking' - Heat Thirteen years ago, a catastrophic pandemic known as The Doom killed billions. For those left behind, it is a chance to build a new world. But The Doom was no ordinary virus. In some survivors, it awoke strange powers - to heal, to harm, even to predict the future. Fallon Swift has no memories of the old world - but she is destined to shape this new one. Growing up with her three brothers on a quiet farm, she has been protected from danger by her mother and stepfather. Now she must leave them, and learn to fight. Because Fallon is not only a powerful 'Uncanny' - she also has a pivotal role to play in the bloody battles ahead. A war between good and evil is brewing, and Fallon - young, tough, headstrong - must be ready. A sequel to the number one bestselling Year One, this breathtaking novel of love, war, family and magic is a gripping and deeply satisfying continuation of an extraordinary new trilogy.
Of Blood and Bone: Chronicles of The One, Book 2 (Chronicles of The One #2)
by Nora RobertsNora Roberts, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the epic Year One returns with Of Blood and Bone, a new tale of terror and magick in a brand new world.They look like an everyday family living an ordinary life. But beyond the edges of this peaceful farm, unimaginable forces of light and dark have been unleashed.Fallon Swift, approaching her thirteenth birthday, barely knows the world that existed before—the city where her parents lived, now in ruins and reclaimed by nature since the Doom sickened and killed billions. Traveling anywhere is a danger, as vicious gangs of Raiders and fanatics called Purity Warriors search for their next victim. Those like Fallon, in possession of gifts, are hunted—and the time is coming when her true nature, her identity as The One, can no longer be hidden.In a mysterious shelter in the forest, her training is about to begin under the guidance of Mallick, whose skills have been honed over centuries. She will learn the old ways of healing; study and spar; encounter faeries and elves and shifters; and find powers within herself she never imagined. And when the time is right, she will take up the sword, and fight. For until she grows into the woman she was born to be, the world outside will never be whole again.
Of Blood and Honey
by Stina LeichtLiam never knew who his father was. The town of Derry had always assumed that he was the bastard of a protestant -- his mother never spoke of him, and Liam assumed he was dead. But when the war between the fallen and the fey began to heat up, Liam and his family are pulled into a conflict that they didn't know existed. A centuries old conflict between supernatural forces seems to mirror the political divisions in 1970's era Ireland, and Liam is thrown headlong into both conflicts! Only the direct intervention of Liam's real father, and a secret catholic order dedicated to fighting "The Fallen" can save Liam... from the mundane and supernatural forces around him, and from the darkness that lurks within him.
Of Blood and Magic (Of Light and Darkness #2)
by Shayne Leighton"I’m at a loss of words, in the best way possible. This series is amazing and a must read! I can’t wait for the third one, I need answers!" - Verified Reviewer "Of Blood and Magic maintains all the whimsical marvel of its predecessor, yet brings to the fore a darker, more sinister tone that weaves metaphor, history, and folklore to transgress the boundaries of the fantasy genre. Shayne Leighton's growth as a writer is evident as she effortlessly immerses her reader in stunning gothic imagery from historic Prague and abandons some of the youthful mirth that marked her earlier work." - A. J. Vrana, Bestselling Author of The Hollow Gods Months after their brutal victory over the villainous Aiden and his hierarchy of Vampire-hunting Wizards, Charlotte and Valek have returned from Prague to their home in the Bohemian Occult City. This time, however, they are accompanied by their new band of magical misfits. By daylight, all seems peaceful since they've toppled the Regime, and the coven of rogue yet lovable monsters has finally found freedom. But Charlotte soon discovers that, much like her adopted Vampire family, she has developed a strange addiction of her own, and it's steadily destroying her from the inside out. Valek defies all odds, trying to save his love, but to no avail. With danger lurking around every corner, the couple begins to realize that their happily-ever-after might not end so happily after all. Will they conquer Charlotte's strange new disease...or will she drown in her own blood? Prepare for another epic quest amidst the monsters that hide in plain sight in this highly-anticipated sequel in the Of Light and Darkness series.
Of Bone and Thunder: A Novel
by Chris EvansA land of thick jungle and mist-swirled mountains. An enemy moving unseen beneath the lush canopy. The growing threat of thaumics--a magic wielded by few that threatens to destabilize all. The youth of a kingdom sent to fight in a faraway hell while back home, discord and disillusionment reign...Fantasy author Chris Evans masterfully pushes the boundaries of the genre in his brilliant, groundbreaking new epic, a unique and penetrating vision channeling the cultural upheaval, racial animus, and wholesale destruction of the Vietnam War. Here, in the distant nation of Luitox, which is wracked by rebellion, thaumic users copilot mammoth armored dragons alongside fliers who do not trust their strange methods. Warriors trained in crossbow, stealth, and catapult are plunged into sudden chaotic battles with the mysterious Forest Collective, an elusive enemy with a powerful magic of its own. And the Kingdom's most downtrodden citizens, only recently granted equality, fight for the dignity they were supposed to have won at home while questioning who the real enemy is. Of Bone and Thunder is the story of Thaum Jawn Rathim, whose idealized view of the war clashes with its harsh realities and his realization that victory may cost him everything...of conscripted soldier Carny, awash in a hallucinogenic haze of fear and anger...of Breeze, the red-haired graduate from the Royal Academy of Thaumology, certain she can transform the very nature of warfare--if only she can win the trust of the man holding her fate in his hands...and of Ugen Listowk, a veteran crossbowman who finds solace in the darkest shadows of the jungle and whose greatest fear is failing the men he leads into battle.Plunging deep into the heart of a moral and mortal darkness, these reluctant soldiers struggle for survival and for meaning amid a blazing drama of blood and magic. They will duel a ghostly enemy, fight to understand their roles in a sprawling maelstrom, and ultimately wage the war their way--not for glory or the Kingdom, but for one another.
Of Cages and Crowns (The\culled Crown Ser. #1)
by Brianna Joy CrumpFire at her fingertips. Watch the world burn.When Monroe Benson was born with the power to summon fire from her fingertips, her family knew she had to stay hidden. But when Queen Viera calls for the Culling, an age-old tradition in Erydia where ten goddess-touched girls battle to the death in order to claim the crown, Monroe can no longer hide. She’s whisked away from her home, from her mother, from everything she’s ever known to fight alongside the other girls—each with their own power—for a throne she does not want.Duty is his destiny. There’s no way out.As the son of the queen and the next king, Cohen can’t question tradition. Not even when he’s being mysteriously poisoned. Not even when his sister goes missing and no one seems to care. The Culling makes choices for him—who will become his wife, who will rule by his side. And when rebellion rises, what little control Cohen has over his future is threatened.Together they’ll stand. Together they’ll fall.But Monroe sees a different Cohen than the rest of the world. She sees him as more than just the crown, more than just the next cruel ruler in a long line of cruel leaders. In turn, he sees her as more than just her powers. More than just a goddess-touched girl destined to lose her life. When a betrayal threatens both their relationship and the monarchy, Monroe and Cohen face a choice that will change their lives . . . forever.
Of Charms, Ghosts and Grievances: A Dragons and Blades Story (Dragons and Blades)
by Aliette De BodardFrom the author of the critically acclaimed Dominion of the Fallen trilogy comes a sparkling new romantic adventure full of kissing, sarcasm and stabbing.It was supposed to be a holiday, with nothing more challenging than babysitting, navigating familial politics and arguing about the proper way to brew tea.But when dragon prince Thuan and his ruthless husband Asmodeus find a corpse in a ruined shrine and a hungry ghost who is the only witness to the crime, their holiday goes from restful to high-pressure. Someone is trying to silence the ghost and everyone involved. Asmodeus wants revenge for the murder; Thuan would like everyone, including Asmodeus, to stay alive.Chased by bloodthirsty paper charms and struggling to protect their family, Thuan and Asmodeus are going to need all the allies they can—and, as the cracks in their relationship widen, they’ll have to face the scariest challenge of all: how to bring together their two vastly different ideas of their future…A heartwarming standalone book set in a world of dark intrigue.A Note on ChronologySpinning off from the Dominion of the Fallen series, which features political intrigue in Gothic devastated Paris, this book stands alone, but chronologically follows The House of Sundering Flames. It’s High Gothic meets C-drama in a Vietnamese inspired world–perfect for fans of Mo Xiang Tong Xiu’s Heaven Official’s Blessing, KJ Charles, and Roshani Chokshi’s The Gilded Wolves.Advance praise:“A darkly delicious romp full of ghosts, murder, dragons, and romance, with a couple that just keeps getting better and better as they push each other to new limits.” — Stephanie Burgis, author of Snowspelled and Scales and Sensibility“Beautifully described, deeply caring, and satisfyingly murderous, it’s an immersive delight.” — KJ Charles, author of the Will Darling Adventures
Of Civilized, Saved and Savages: Coronam Book II (Coronam)
by Johnny Worthen'A clever and exciting collision of space opera, high adventure, and devious politics. Insightful and highly entertaining!' – Jonathan Maberry, New York Times, on the Coronam seriesReeling from the defeat of the armada and Enskaran counter-attacks, Hyrax searches for new revenue to rebuild. Its interests on Maaraw are threatened by revolution, while its mines on Silangan are shut down with native uprising. The occupied worlds bleed money and new unrest. There is but one place left to conquer: Tirgwenin, Jareth&’s world, wild and unclaimed.Enskari&’s colony led by Alpin Morgan and his separatist sect of Bucklers is destroyed, the governor returned home to beg for relief and rescue. But Enskari is a different place, the war and a terrible religious purge have decimated his contacts and heightened class tension. The queen&’s lover Sir Ethan Sommerled, savior of the planet, Morgan&’s one-time patron, is at the center of the controversy. His path is precarious, his power tempered by politics of court. Morgan must find other allies if he is to return to savage Tirgwenin.But there is a third planet obsessed with Jareth&’s World. On Temple the prophet knows the secret, sees the threat, and rallies the Saved to defend civilization in a holy and bloody crusade.
Of Claws and Fangs: Stories from the World of Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood (Jane Yellowrock)
by Faith HunterNew York Times bestselling author Faith Hunter presents a stunning collection of stories from the world of shape-shifting vampire hunter Jane Yellowrock and beyond. Collected together for the first time, this volume contains shorter works featuring heroines Jane Yellowrock and Nell Ingram, as well as a host of other characters from the Jane Yellowrock and Soulwood series. Faith Hunter is &“an expert at creating worlds filled with intriguing supernatural elements and exciting scenarios&”* and her skills are on full display in this collection. From a vampire-filled Halloween evening in New Orleans to the searing tale of how a certain were-leopard first got his spots, this collection has something for everyone, and each story is sure to put the super in supernatural. With eighteen stories in all, Of Claws and Fangs will enrich and entertain—it&’s a must-have for Faith Hunter&’s readers and all lovers of fantasy.*RT Book Reviews
Of Consuming Fire: Middle of the Garden, Book 3
by Micah PersellHe must destroy his Temptation, before she destroys him.After millennia of faithfully guarding his post in the Garden of Eden, the cherubim Jayden flees. He leaves everything - including his sword - behind, disobeying orders for the first time in his existence, and all because he can sense her: his Temptation. She’s close, and Jayden can’t allow himself to be weak: to fall the way his brothers have for centuries whenever they encounter their very human, very beautiful Temptations. But he has a job to finish. He must regain the integrity the Trees have lost through being tested by vile humans, and it will require blood. And if seeking out the humans he must kill brings Jayden into contact with the one woman who could destroy everything he is, he may never be able to resist her.A victim of rape, Grace Tucker, Ph.D. knows she can and must keep all men at a distance at any cost. She’s spent years perfecting her arsenal of man-deflecting weapons; her weight and acerbic wit are just two of her most effective munitions. Grace pours herself into her work, constantly seeking to fill the void of self-worth left empty by her attackers’ horrifying actions. And her latest job - translating a dead language engraved into an ancient sword - could be just the thing to finally launch her career and make Grace feel alive for the first time in years.Neither Jayden nor Grace is prepared for what happens when they meet. A terrible accident places Grace at death’s door, and Jayden allows the unthinkable to take place out of guilt: he lets his intended victims heal her with the fruit from the Tree of Eternal Life. Grace immediately Impulse-pairs with him, an outcome he should have expected as she is the one woman on the earth who can bring him down.Sensuality Level: Sensual
Of Curses and Kisses: A St. Rosetta’s Academy Novel (St Rosetta's Academy)
by Sandhya MenonFor Princess Jaya Rao, nothing is more important than family. That's why when she finds out she'll be attending the same elite boarding school as Grey Emerson, a member of the rival royal family behind a humiliating scandal involving her little sister, she schemes to get revenge on the young nobleman in order to even the score between their families. The plan? Make him fall in love with her and then break his heart the way his family has broken hers.Grey Emerson doesn't connect with people easily. Due to a curse placed on his family by the Raos that his superstitious father unquestioningly, annoyingly believes in, Grey grew up internalising that he was doomed from the day he was born. Sequestered away at St. Rosetta's Academy, he's lived a quiet existence in relative solitude. That is, until Jaya Rao bursts into his life. Jaya is exuberant and elegant and unlike anyone Grey has ever met before, but he can't help feeling that she's hiding something behind her beautiful smile and charmingly awkward attempts at flirting. Despite his better instincts, though, he starts to fall for her. Jaya's plan isn't totally going according to plan. For one, Grey is aggravatingly handsome. And for two, she's realising there's maybe more to him than his name and his family imply.The stars are crossed for Jaya and Grey. But can they still find their fairy-tale ending?
Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and The People Who
by David M. EwaltUpdated with new chapters and an introduction for the 50th Anniversary of Dungeons & Dragons, the fascinating and authoritative history of Dungeons & Dragons that &“tracks D&D&’s turbulent rise, fall, and survival, from its heyday in the 1980s…to the 21st century&” (The Wall Street Journal), by award-winning journalist David M. Ewalt.Even if you&’ve never played Dungeons & Dragons, you probably know someone who has: the game has had a profound influence on our culture, and 2014 marks the intriguing role-playing phenomenon&’s 40th anniversary. Released decades before the Internet and social media, Dungeons & Dragons inspired one of the original nerd subcultures and is still revered by more than 30 million fans. Now, the authoritative history and magic of the game are revealed by an award-winning journalist and lifelong D&D player. In Of Dice and Men, David Ewalt describes the development of Dungeons & Dragons from the game&’s origins on the battlefields of ancient Europe through the hysteria that linked it to satanic rituals and teen suicides to its apotheosis as father of the modern video-game industry. As he chronicles the surprising history of the game&’s origins (a history largely unknown even to hardcore players) and examines D&D&’s lasting impact, Ewalt weaves laser-sharp subculture analysis with his own present-day gaming experiences, &“writing about the world of fantasy role-playing junkies with intelligence, dexterity, and even wisdom&” (Ken Jennings). An enticing blend of history, journalism, narrative, and memoir, Of Dice and Men sheds light on America&’s most popular form of collaborative entertainment.
Of Dragons, Feasts and Murders: A Dominion of the Fallen Story (Dominion of the Fallen)
by Aliette De BodardFrom the author of the critically acclaimed Dominion of the Fallen trilogy comes a tale of dragons, and Fallen angels—and also kissing, sarcasm and stabbing.Lunar New Year should be a time for familial reunions, ancestor worship, and consumption of an unhealthy amount of candied fruit.But when dragon prince Thuan brings home his brooding and ruthless husband Asmodeus for the New Year, they find not interminable family gatherings, but a corpse outside their quarters. Asmodeus is thrilled by the murder investigation; Thuan, who gets dragged into the political plotting he’d sworn off when he left, is less enthusiastic.It’ll take all of Asmodeus’s skill with knives, and all of Thuan’s diplomacy, to navigate this one—as well as the troubled waters of their own relationship….A sparkling standalone book set in a world of dark intrigue.A Note on ChronologySpinning off from the Dominion of the Fallen series, which features political intrigue in Gothic devastated Paris, this book stands alone, but chronologically follows The House of Sundering Flames. It’s High Gothic meets C-drama in a Vietnamese inspired world—perfect for fans of The Untamed, KJ Charles, and Roshani Chokshi’s The Gilded Wolves.
Of Earth Foretold
by Kenneth BulmerThe Prophets of Earth slept crated in their thousands. They filled the ship's bomb-bays, lying quietly waiting in their machine-gleaming metal sheaths. Each one was destined to cover a world.Each individual one lay there, quiescent in its capsule, awaiting the master command that would send it, after the one before and preceding the next in line in strict mathematical order, out over a new and unknown world to plunge down to its destined consummation.
Of Earth Foretold
by Kenneth BulmerThe Prophets of Earth slept crated in their thousands. They filled the ship's bomb-bays, lying quietly waiting in their machine-gleaming metal sheaths. Each one was destined to cover a world. Each individual one lay there, quiescent in its capsule, awaiting the master command that would send it, after the one before and preceding the next in line in strict mathematical order, out over a new and unknown world to plunge down to its destined consummation.
Of Earthly Delights
by Goldy Moldavsky"An obsessive love story that’s as lush and twisty as a hedge maze — and as iridescent as a pond sparkling in the moonlight." — E. Lockhart, author of We Were Liars and Genuine FraudHere is a contemporary YA gothic romance about a dark family secret, a lush, mysterious garden, and a love that never dies, from New York Times bestselling author Goldy Moldavsky.Aspiring artist Rose Pauly is not happy moving from her home in New York City right before her senior year of high school. But on her first miserable day in Connecticut, she meets Hart Hargrove. The two share an immediate, undeniable connection.Hart introduces Rose to his slice of paradise–the immense private garden nestled behind the Hargrove family mansion. There, the two spend a fever dream of a summer together. But as their bond blossoms into love, Rose can't shake the feeling that all is not as it seems.When Rose uncovers the truth about the garden, she's forced to question how genuine her love story truly is. But Hart can't bear to lose Rose, and he will stop at nothing to save their relationship.Posing haunting questions about beauty and desire, this is an atmospheric and darkly romantic tale that will enthrall readers.
Of Eternal Life
by Micah PersellIn the hidden basement lab of a military research facility in Needles, California, Eli Johnson jerks to consciousness. He is strapped to a stretcher and remembers nothing until he hears a voice he knows only as "The Tormentor." That's when it all comes back: he has been a prisoner in this lab for eight years. And he's about to die.Abilene Miller, a newly minted doctor desperate to prove herself, snaps up the opportunity to work at a military hospital, but the reality of Needles proves to be vastly different from the pitch of the two recruiters. She spends her days running labs and wishing for things to be different.When Abilene stumbles across Eli's body in a supply close, she definitely gets different. She's shocked when the dead man jerks back to life in her arms and infuriated when he kidnaps her. He thinks she's part of a conspiracy; she thinks he's insane.Only together can they find out the truth--and brave the risks they run in loving each other.Sensuality Level: SensualMicah Persell holds a bachelor's degree in English and a double master's degree in literature and English pedagogy. She is an avid reader of all types of literature, but has a soft spot for romance. She currently teaches high school language arts classes.
Of Fire and Night
by Kevin J. AndersonAfter many years of hardship and bravery, the human race faces its greatest challenge. The sweeping war between titanic races -- a conflict that has obliterated planets, extinguished entire stars, exterminated whole races -- is reaching its end game. Allies become betrayers, strangers become fast friends, and enemies clash in a struggle that will rock the galaxy. For years, the alien Klikiss robots have pretended to be humanity's friends, but their seeming "help" has allowed them to plant an insidious Trojan Horse throughout the Earth Defence Forces, and the sudden rebellion of Earth's own companies leaves millions dead and the Terran Hanseatic League defenceless. In a desperate attempt to save his own race, the Ildiran Mage-Imperator Jora'h is forced into a devil's bargain with the evil hydrogues, which will require him to ambush and destroy what remains of the human race. But the gypsy Roamer clans and the green priests of the towering worldforest -- scattered stepchildren of humanity -- have found innovative ways to fight, as well as strange allies of incomprehensible power. As the climactic battle is engaged, the Ildiran Solar Navy, the Earth Defence Forces, the Roamers, green priests, Klikiss robots, and hydrogue warglobes collide in a fury that will destroy many and change the landscape of the Spiral Arm forever.
Of Fire and Night: The Saga of Seven Suns, Book 5 (The Saga of Seven Suns #5)
by Kevin J. AndersonAfter many years of hardship and bravery, the human race faces its greatest challenge. The sweeping war between titanic races -- a conflict that has obliterated planets, extinguished entire stars, exterminated whole races -- is reaching its end game. Allies become betrayers, strangers become fast friends, and enemies clash in a struggle that will rock the galaxy. For years, the alien Klikiss robots have pretended to be humanity's friends, but their seeming "help" has allowed them to plant an insidious Trojan Horse throughout the Earth Defence Forces, and the sudden rebellion of Earth's own companies leaves millions dead and the Terran Hanseatic League defenceless. In a desperate attempt to save his own race, the Ildiran Mage-Imperator Jora'h is forced into a devil's bargain with the evil hydrogues, which will require him to ambush and destroy what remains of the human race. But the gypsy Roamer clans and the green priests of the towering worldforest -- scattered stepchildren of humanity -- have found innovative ways to fight, as well as strange allies of incomprehensible power. As the climactic battle is engaged, the Ildiran Solar Navy, the Earth Defence Forces, the Roamers, green priests, Klikiss robots, and hydrogue warglobes collide in a fury that will destroy many and change the landscape of the Spiral Arm forever.
Of Fire and Night
by Kevin J. AndersonAfter many years of hardship and bravery, the human race faces its greatest challenge. The sweeping war between titanic races -- a conflict that has obliterated planets, extinguished entire stars, exterminated whole races -- is reaching its end game. Allies become betrayers, strangers become fast friends, and enemies clash in a struggle that will rock the galaxy. For years, the alien Klikiss robots have pretended to be humanity's friends, but their seeming "help" has allowed them to plant an insidious Trojan Horse throughout the Earth Defence Forces, and the sudden rebellion of Earth's own companies leaves millions dead and the Terran Hanseatic League defenceless. In a desperate attempt to save his own race, the Ildiran Mage-Imperator Jora'h is forced into a devil's bargain with the evil hydrogues, which will require him to ambush and destroy what remains of the human race. But the gypsy Roamer clans and the green priests of the towering worldforest -- scattered stepchildren of humanity -- have found innovative ways to fight, as well as strange allies of incomprehensible power. As the climactic battle is engaged, the Ildiran Solar Navy, the Earth Defence Forces, the Roamers, green priests, Klikiss robots, and hydrogue warglobes collide in a fury that will destroy many and change the landscape of the Spiral Arm forever.