Fantasy og science fiction

Pendant l'enfance, des évènements peuvent avoir un fort impact sur votre caractère et même votre personnalité. A Goult, magnifique village de Provence, vit Jarod. Toutes les nuits, ce dernier parle avec la lune.Bien évidemment, le jeune homme sait que personne ne peut communiquer avec l'astre lunaire. Et pourtant, dans ses murmures, celle qu'il considère comme son amie, le force à agir, pour prendre enfin conscience de ce qu'il semble ignorer.

Des vacances de rêve entre copines: balades, baignades, et fusillades Les Hautes-Alpes sont un lieu idéal pour des vacances entre copines: balades en montagne, baignades au lac, soirées barbecues. En tout cas, c'était le plan de départ. Une rencontre impromptue avec une jeune femme poursuivie par des tueurs à gage a tout fait basculer, et maintenant Betty, Razor et Karima doivent faire face à des magouilles de sorciers, des vampires bourgeois, des créatures des enfers et une policière psychopathe. Heureusement, elles ne sont pas des touristes ordinaires, mais font partie de la fine fleur anarcho-punk et sont prêtes à recevoir tout ça à coups de docs coquées.

On August 4, 2151, the world will end. It's been a long time coming: climate disasters brewing conflict, conflict breeding chaos. But on that fateful day, someone will set off the nukes. On August 4, 2151, human civilization on Earth will fall silent.There are survivors, of course--and not just on Earth. There are scientists on the Jovian moons. Miners in the asteroid belt. Thriving colonies on the surface of Mars and above the clouds of Venus. Far more precarious ones on Mercury. When the silence falls across human space, one thing is clear: Earth's space-born children are on their own. No more supplies are coming. No more orders. No more meddling. No more help.Set in the universe of James Bow's new novel, The Sun Runners, Tales from Silence is a gathering of award-winning science fiction, fantasy, and YA authors who explore the worlds the Earth left behind, as well as the Earth itself, as it struggles through its new dark age.Join James Bow, Phoebe Barton, Kate Blair, Cameron Dixon, Mark Richard Francis, Jo Karaplis, Kari Maaren, Fiona Moore, Ira Nayman, Kate Orman, and Jeff Szpirglas as they tell the stories of what happens after the end of the world.

Ashme is a New Mesopotamian--a "Meso." She dreams of being a hero, fighting against the brutal Ostarrichi ruling her country. She is an indigo child, her DNA modified by sentient AI, enabling her to control computer systems at will. With this power, she has something to offer the Meso resistance. Her twin brother, Shen, however, suffers from a neurological disorder and needs someone to care for him. Increasingly, that task falls on her.How can she become the hero her people need when her brother's needs are overwhelming? If she continues caring for Shen while joining the resistance, she risks leading Ostarrichi forces to her home. If she leaves, then looking after Shen will fall to her cousin, who is already overworked caring for his frail grandmother.As her society collapses into violence, Ashme must choose between her fellow Mesos, her family, and her values.

Peace is impossible while the family survivesAs the Northern Alliance threatens the Stormwind's power, the family retaliates, forcing the rulers of the Petty Kingdoms to bend to their will. Hoping to finally end the family's influence, Athgar and Natalia travel to Abelard for a secret meeting, striking a deal for the future of Therengia. With a bold plan to destroy the Volstrum, they must cross Zaran, where the brave vanish and the foolhardy lose their minds. Is there truth in the stories of dangerous beasts, or are they just tales meant to frighten children?Struggling through the wilderness, with danger threatening at every turn, they seek solace in the knowledge that their sacrifice will lead to a future without strife Only when they discover a secret long lost to the annals of history do they see a beacon of hope.The end is coming-a titanic clash of the most powerful mages on the Continent.Witness the ultimate confrontation in Cataclysm, Paul J Bennett's epic conclusion to The Frozen Flame series.New to the series? Get to know Athgar and Natalia in their origin stories, Into the Fire & The Awakening, then pick up Book One: Ashes to learn how they met!

With House Drenar settled in their new home and Kharee's Shield Riders creating safe communities across East Besamie, one task remains: Claim her earrings and heal the goddess, Mischa. But no one has ever conquered Jalar or its magically protected palace. Without a One King, Foss rules the world . . . if he's still alive. If Kharee can breech Jalar, will she find friends or foes waiting for her? Join Kharee and her companions on this final stage of her journey to discover if the young half-elf can do what she was created to do: Heal Mischa and her world. Book 1: First StepsBook 2: Abbey IsleBook 3: Forging AheadBook 4: Each According Their Worth Book5: Into DarknessBook 6: The FallenBook 7: The Birth of PainBook 8: The Great DivideBook 9: Tarna'HalaBook 10: From AshesBook 11: Blood of Darkness

Imagine yourself so broken as a person that death no longer means the final end of life, but rather a merciful reprieve, the final option that appears as the only way out of a lifetime of pain, isolation, and loneliness.And then imagine you fail in your attempt to take that exit.Dr. David Keating, genius geneticist and biochemist has done just that - but upon his return to the conscious world he considers another alternative: Fixing himself through the sciences he has pioneered throughout his life.But in performing his radical self-experimentation, Keating has done far more than just repair his tragic afflictions; he has both cast himself into a netherworld while unlocking what could very well be the next stage of human evolution - THE ASCENDANT.

A mage with deadly magic.A royal thief fading to a curse.A forgotten love that will unravel their world.When Adira's crook of a boss sends her to a Las Vegas casino as one of his goons, her world turns upside down and she's tossed through the gates of a strange, dangerous world of Mage courts and curses.Disoriented and convinced she's in a twisted afterlife, Adira is overtaken and robbed by a band of highwaymen whose seductive leader stirs something in her soul.Soon, royal guards rescue her and believe her to be a powerful blood mage, prophesied to protect the kingdom. But while dining with the mage prince, his drunken stepbrother stumbles in, and Adira recognizes him as the thief who ambushed her in the forest.As their forgotten pasts intertwine, Adira and a thieving prince may be the only ones who can unravel a spreading degeneration of the Mage kingdom, but enemies of old are rising and it will become a battle between spell casters where one wears the crown and the prize for the rest is death.Author Note: This is a standalone fantasy romance that contains a dark romance with slow-burn morally gray soulmates, forced proximity, epic found family, and spice.**Collection Notes: Forgotten Kingdoms is a collection of full-length stand-alone fantasy romance novels with soulmates and a guaranteed happily ever after. With vampires, fae, shifters, and everything in between, each book features a unique heroine and her epic love story that can be read in any order.Authors in this set include: Chandelle LaVaunG.K. DeRosaMegan MonteroJen L. GreyRobin D. Mahle & Elle MadisonLJ AndrewsJessica M. ButlerM. Sinclair

To save a kingdom, she must sacrifice herself...and her heart. When Princess Reva seeks a trade alliance, she doesn't realize her hand in marriage may be required to save her people from starvation. But with more than one suitor fighting for her hand, her plans are thrust into chaos when there's a fatal attack in the cove. Ripped away from negotiations against her will, loyalties are tested as accusations grow more violent. Rumors of a deadly magic pearl--and the constant meddling of a determined sea elf and a dastardly pirate captain--put her into an impossible position. When a monstrous creature attacks her homeland, can this swashbuckling princess solve the mystery of the forbidden Death Pearl before everyone she loves is dragged beneath the sea? Suitors and treachery intertwine in this hilarious romantasy set on the high seas. Loosely inspired by Perseus and Andromeda, this book is sure to enthrall fans of The Princess Bride and Howl's Moving Castle. Pearls of Salt and Sacrifice is book 2 in the Sacrificed Hearts multi-author series, a collection of stand-alone novellas about love, legend, and sacrifice. One-click to unravel the mystery today!

Accused of overdosing her fiancé, Paige Turner must clear her name. But with all the evidence pointing in her direction, proving her innocence may be an impossible feat, especially since she's locked up in a sanitarium. To make matters worse, her dead fiancé doesn't want to move on. He is happy to haunt her until Austin, an orderly at the hospital, takes notice of Paige, and she responds to his attention. Then her fiancé's ghost becomes enraged. And there is nothing simple about dealing with an angry spirit in an insane asylum. When the ghost takes possession of Austin, Paige must figure out a way to free him before her fiancé takes over for good. But banishing a ghost is tricky, especially when her magick skills are rusty. Will her spell save Austin? Or will it just transplant the furious ghost into a different body, one primed for revenge, and doom them both?This trilogy includes the following books: MagickBlack MagickPractical Magick If you have any triggers, or issues with dark situations, group action, coercion, and violence, then Magic Trilogy is not for you. But if you like a little kink in your style and aren't afraid of a dark undertone in your stories, then, by all means, pick up the book... if you dare.

SEASON OF THE DRAGONBooks 1-3Monsters, trust issues, and a near death experience.What else could go wrong?The end of life as we knew it didn't come with a nuclear blast. It didn't come with the deadly impact of a hurdling asteroid. No. It came in a wave of illness that swept the world with fear, and in our quarantined silence, the monsters awoke.Leviathans, serpent kings, and dragons came forth from the bowels of the Earth. The season of the dragon began with fire and fury and ended with a new world order. One in which these giant terrorists held all the power.When Mikhail St. Clare betrays the monsters by saving me from death at their claws, I cannot trust the last remaining dragon shifter. Not when humankinds' survival is at stake, and he had a hand in our near extinction.The only thing we seem to agree on is our desire to annihilate the leviathans and unseat the Serpent King. Our personal futures depend on ridding the earth of these murderous overlords.We thought crossing the leviathan-patrolled city where every corner hides a hideous death was our most lethal hurdle. But building a bomb large enough to wipe out an entire species carries its own insane levels of danger.One wrong move and we could destroy everyone living in New York instead.

Damian Andreas is an ancient vampire tasked with keeping the archangel bloodlines safe. Blinded by his hatred for Lucifer, he snatches Naomi Hawk from the devil to claim her as his own. The moment his teeth sink into her neck, he realizes he has just broken his own vows. When Naomi bites him back, his blood transforms her into an immortal shadow, and puts Damian on a collision path with an angry archangel. This set includes: NIGHT HAWK - Book 1 - When Naomi learns true betrayal, she thirsts for justice... and revenge.MIDNIGHT VOWS (Bonus short story) - Welcome to the wedding of the Millennium.TIGRESS - Book 2 - The shadow vaccine is hell in a syringe with a cure that is far worse than the blood cravings. Will Damian and Naomi survive?TRINITY RISING - Book 3 - Will Damian and Naomi finally beat the devil, or will they trigger Armageddon?LILITH (Bonus Prequel) - Obsession puts Lilith in the grasp of immortality, but can she live with the cost?

A fallen Valkyrie. A Fae-Wraith hybrid.Enemies become allies to survive a god's wrath.Odin's Order to reap an innocent soul from Earth makes me question everything I have ever known as a Valkyrie. Protecting the innocent is our basis for existing, and now I must decide. Do I blindly follow his order? If I don't, I will be just another casualty in Odin and Thor's destruction of the realms. Anyone who challenges their rule dies a very public death, regardless of their origins. And now they have enslaved Earth.Reyfyre, a fae-wraith hybrid, and one of Asgard's enemies, has been hiding in this realm his entire life. When he finds me, he offers asylum as long as I help him kill Odin and Thor.With everything they have done, how can I refuse?When a bounty is placed on my head, we make the decision to leave Reyfyre's mountain sanctuary and head to New York to get lost in the city of millions. But the trek across the Canadian wilderness brings us face to face with hidden refugees, predators, and thieves.There's no other option but to survive.If we die, then there will be no one left to stop the callous gods before they destroy the only realm left.But are we strong enough to take down a god? If you like dark twists on Norse Mythology, you will love the Fallen Valkyrie duet.

The rebels are evading capture so far while hiding on the ice planet. Meanwhile one of the water planets that supplies water for most of the federation is tainted when a large meteor strikes the planet poisoning the water. It is up to a soldier named Ethan and his sister to save the animals on the planet that are dying from the poisoned water and find a new home for them.Arliss and a few others set out on a mission to get clean water for the rebels from a casino that is in Asiatic-Russian territory. And Paula Priest is getting a feel for being a rebel, hunting, cooking, and falling in love with a handsome soldier. And all leading to her getting to Captain her own ship! Alex Harper's plan is coming together with General Potter heading towards his trap at planet Earth but a plague is beginning to spread throughout the entire universe. No planet in the Federation or Asiatic-Russian Alliance has escaped the plague. Will the rebels fall into the same trap as Potter as a fleet of theirs is headed towards Earth as well. Will the doctors find a cure for the plague that is destroying civilization as they know it?

Veronica "Roni" Rider works in her family bookstore when she discovers that her grandma and grandma's two seventy-year-old friends have been saving the universe for decades. But it's hard to defend your world with a bad back and arthritis. They have a solution. They want Roni to take over.Start your adventure with Roni as she starts hers. Tossed into a new reality she never expected, she will take her first steps towards becoming the leader she needs to be. She will journey to other worlds, fight bizarre creatures, and discover what is hidden beneath the family bookstore.Oh, and she'll have to save the universe, too.The Parallel Society Collection: Volume 1 brings you the first three books of the adored seven-books series. Don't miss out!

He thought his tomorrows were finally secure, but nowhere is safe for the last surviving human amidst rival families of starving vampires.In a world left ravaged by the fatal Charon pandemic, Thomas Woodford is the only man still alive, surrounded by starving vampires. Tom believed he had found a home of sorts among the clan of vampire lord Emily. Before he can get too comfortable, an unexpected attack sends him out on the road with vampire allies Ana and Lindsey to uncover the truth behind a troubling rumor. But Emily's ambitious rival lord, Colin, has been scheming to disrupt their alliance, and Tom soon learns that Ana hasn't always been fully honest with him.When a discovery upends everything he thought he knew about his post-Charon existence, can the world's final human find a way to adapt and keep himself alive?Fury is the complete second novel in the tense Charon Chronicles post-apocalyptic horror series. If you like high-stakes action, unexpected twists, and underdog protagonists willing to risk it all, then you'll love J. R. Andrews' suspenseful thriller.

A forbidden love story, set in 1850 Southern Illinois, Edward Marquand knew he was playing with fire, but he just didn't care. The heart wants what the heart wants, and for Eddie, that was Sally, his father's light-skinned slave. Sally and Edward enjoyed a passionate, lustful love affair, but each knew how dangerous their dalliance was... especially his identical twin brother, John the Civil War erupts, leaving a nation divided with Edward and Sally dealing with the complexities of defying Societal norms and for much different reasons. And on the inevitable day they were discovered, both lives changed in an instant. Just how will John, Edward's identical twin, leverage this new knowledge against them? Edward fears that, he cannot count on his brother's discretion, and he shares Sally's fear for her life. Can Edward find a way to keep them both safe, or will he have to take even more drastic steps to protect the woman he loves?

For aeons uncounted, the Tier protected the world of Ahlysim. And then, they did not. Three thousand cycles have enshrouded their deeds in the fog of myth, for there was no explaining the gap where once stood their nation.Until now.Alessandra awakens to find a world bereft of the gentle guidance her people once provided, her near immortal sister now her only anchor to this world.Tasked by their goddess, only Alessandra and Liassa can rebuild their people. Setting forth into a world that is no longer familiar, they discover that an infection unlike any other has spread throughout all of creation. Only the magic of their Tieran Vision allows them to perceive the hand of the Infection lain upon the folk of Ahlysim.Delving into the nation of Vilhena to retrieve a lost friend, they will soon discover just how deep that infection goes. With only the magic of the Vision, their skill, and one tiny bit of luck, they must take the first step on the path to restoring their world as they knew it.

Otherworldly fires threaten the fragile balance of power in the city of spires. Two people hold the key to saving Pravhna from destruction, but neither remembers the truth of their past-or what they mean to one another.When Mina Wildfang finds herself at the bottom of a dark hole, she only remembers one thing: who put her there. Bent on revenge, Mina discovers that someone has murdered the family who imprisoned her-their ancestral estate burned to the ground. Mina's desire for vengeance deepens into a quest for the truth.All Ashbourne Claymore wants is a peaceful life of investigating mysteries with his friends-an outcast chevalier and a fey cat. His uncanny loss of memory makes it easy to ignore the ominous feeling that his past is haunted. But with someone setting fires in the undercity and people going missing, he's given a choice: leave the secure life he's worked so hard to build, or help Mina Wildfang find the truth.As Mina, Ashbourne and their friends hunt down the source of the fires and disappearances, the similarities between their forgotten pasts emerge. Can their burgeoning love survive the inferno coming for them? Or will they succumb to the ghosts of their past and let the city burn?The author of DARK NIGHT GOLDEN DAWN, Allison Carr Waechter, brings you the first book in a suspenseful new gaslamp fantasy romance duology, THE AETHEREALS. With an unforgettable cast of characters and sizzling slow burn romance, THE HOLLOW PLANE explores the value of trust, the price of betrayal-and the unyielding strength of love.

In a Post-Apocalyptic future, a single city remains. An Angel powers a city to keep humanity alive. One day, the angel disappeared and humanity felt abandoned. Years, later God comes to a man, letting him know the angel never left; she was captured.

The death of a Saint. The birth of a monster.Visions of war have haunted the oracle Kira for weeks. Those around her have ignored each warning-even her beloved Saint Hakan-leaving Kira with an impending sense of doom.An enigmatic and charismatic leader of a growing cult, Hakan is on the verge of achieving the impossible. Monsters and men have gathered to discuss uniting the fractured kingdoms surrounding the Golden Citadel. But there is a dangerous faction who believe Hakan has become too powerful.In one night, Kira's world is transformed and the love she thought would last a lifetime is reshaped.Discover the origins of the Saint in this prequel short story to the dark fantasy romance The Dead Saint - book one in the Blood and Rubies series.

After searching for a way home, is the comfort of her past worth giving up the love she sees in her future?After escaping abduction, Adaline's determined to find answers about how she came to this other world and why people want to kill her. Now she and Ëólas find themselves deep in enemy territory, and they must work together to escape in time to save their people. As they uncover more of this world's darker secrets, Adaline and Ëólas are the only ones who can warn their friends of the army marching to destroy their kingdoms' fragile alliance.Adaline also battles her growing attachment to the elf general she once hated. Somewhere along the way, Ëólas becomes the person she trusts most of all, the person who leads her to the doorway home. Only now, Adaline's not so sure she can step through.With lives and a peace treaty at stake, Adaline and Ëólas must overcome their hesitations and prove the extraordinary feats elves and humans can accomplish together. But can they survive the truths they unlock that will rewrite the past and change the future? Featuring a strong female heroine and a ruminating elf, Treachery and Truths is ideal for readers looking for forced proximity, friends to lovers, fae magic, faerie lore, and a hidden destiny. As the second book of The Aerytol Saga, this spicy story blends fantasy, adventure, and romance into a breathtaking read. This series must be read sequentially, and book two begins a guaranteed HEA.

Harnessing the power in her blood could turn the tides of war-if it doesn't destroy her first.It's been fourteen years since Prince Gaeren lost Aeliana, the childhood friend he'd sworn to protect. Haunted by the unfulfilled promise, he searches for a way to bring her home. But with threats against the kingdom from both a rebel faction in the south and Mayvus, a power-hungry priestess in the east, he only has time to follow one last clue across the seas.Kidnapped as a child, Aeliana is desperate to be rid of the chaotic magic in her blood, magic her captors use to ravage the land. When she's found by Gaeren's rebel enemies, she joins their fight to rescue her mother from Mayvus, but her unwieldy power only serves to attract Mayvus' attention. Aeliana must learn to control her magic before they reach her mother, or risk becoming the weapon Mayvus needs to take complete control of the kingdom.Blood of the Stars is the first book in an epic fantasy series full of magic, intrigue, found family, reluctant royalty, & descendants of Stars on the brink of war.

Harnessing the power in her blood could turn the tides of war-if it doesn't destroy her first.It's been fourteen years since Prince Gaeren lost Aeliana, the childhood friend he'd sworn to protect. Haunted by the unfulfilled promise, he searches for a way to bring her home. But with threats against the kingdom from both a rebel faction in the south and Mayvus, a power-hungry priestess in the east, he only has time to follow one last clue across the seas.Kidnapped as a child, Aeliana is desperate to be rid of the chaotic magic in her blood, magic her captors use to ravage the land. When she's found by Gaeren's rebel enemies, she joins their fight to rescue her mother from Mayvus, but her unwieldy power only serves to attract Mayvus' attention. Aeliana must learn to control her magic before they reach her mother, or risk becoming the weapon Mayvus needs to take complete control of the kingdom.Blood of the Stars is the first book in an epic fantasy series full of magic, intrigue, found family, reluctant royalty, & descendants of Stars on the brink of war.

Dr. David Lane, tormented by his wife's tragic end, leads a scientific expedition into the heart of Papua New Guinea in search of a diabetes cure. The team, delving into the unknown jungles, watches glowing orbs, deep into unchartered territory, blink in the distance. The natives call the animals, Pterodactyl-like creatures, death-eaters or Ropen, stalking at night with an appetite for humans and crocodiles. Familial tensions rise when David's son, fiancée, and estranged brother join the expedition, adding a layer of unresolved conflict to the unfolding scientific mystery. As the team pushes deeper into ROPEN ISLAND, reconciling family dynamics becomes a high-stake endeavor when they decide to follow the trail of the creatures out to an island off the coast. The treacherous journey, rife with peril and ancient creatures, takes a dark turn when an injured team member, Billy, tests the limits of their commitment. Will they make it back to civilization? If you like an edge-of-your-seat action-adventure story with a bit of humor and monster hunting, this is the book for you!

The Complete Faeries of Oz SeriesLionThe short story villain prequel Tin (Book 1)Dorothy returns to Oz to find Tin's heart has become stone again. Can she break the fae assassin's curse?Crow (Book 2)Reva wasn't always the Wicked Witch and Crow will do anything to earn her forgiveness.Ozma (Book 3)The true queen of Oz was kidnapped as an infant and forced to toil away on a pumpkin farm with her lover, Jack. Now that she knows her true identity, can she save Oz?Tik-Tok (Book 4)Tik-Tok has sailed the seas for decades to get revenge. Now that North is aboard his pirate ship, he finally has a chance at succeeding.

In a realm full of secrets, she's collecting them all.A choice to make.Tessalyn Ausra's fate has always been out of her hands. Still bonded to the Heir of Endings, she now finds herself with more control than ever before. Everyone wants something from her, and she has to choose a side. But in a realm full of villains, she trusts no one, and she has secrets of her own to keep.A plan to salvage.Control and knowledge have always been Theon St. Orcas's greatest weapons, but both have slipped through his fingers. Given a task by the rulers of the realm, he's racing against the clock to get his plans back on track. But as myths become reality, he finds himself fighting more than time in an effort to keep what's his or lose it all to fury.A fate to alter.Axel St. Orcas has never minded rubbing shoulders with the depraved rather than the elite. It's easier to hide his shame among the corrupt. But with each passing day, he risks triggering a curse and endangering those he cares for most. He'll sacrifice anything to keep them safe, even if that means giving up everything he is. Who will be left standing when Chaos comes to reign?Storm of Secrets and Sorrow is book two of four in The Legacy Series. This is a new adult, dark fantasy romance series with elements that may be triggering to some readers. Please be sure to check the updated content information. Seriously. We know the MMC is a morally gray, walking red flag. Read the content information, then embrace the darkness.

The sheriff, Indy's childhood friend, needs Indy to utilize the gift that haunts her to help him find a murderer in her small hometown. His request, the suspicious deaths of her parents, and the horrifying discovery of children's bones at the city park, force her to return home. Her unique ability is the reason she was driven away. Now, because of the community's need for her powers, she is determined to face her difficult childhood head on. Dark secrets are waiting to be uncovered. Indy must get past her childhood fears and use her abilities to find the killer before more children die. Previously published on Kindle Vella

Back Blurb: She's earned her shield in a quarter the time it usually takes. She's slain the Evil Wizard Henig to save the Realm and extract vengeance for the murder of her parents. She's taken the reins of her far-flung merchant empire - including the Metreedis' Secret and Ancient Mission. And she's managed to navigate a solution to falling in love with both of her Knight-Companions. Karana is surely due a break... But Wind and Wave are no respecters of competence... or are they? Supposedly only those the Goddess really wants to see are allowed to come to the shores of Her Blessed Isle ******** Teaser: "You must ask the Goddess to heal him. That's a fatal wound, Karana. His skull is cracked and blood pools against his brain." "No!" Karana gasped, her strength quite wrung out. Kefen lay unmoving, his head in her lap, the huge purpling bruise standing out from his forehead. "To each their time must come. Perhaps it is simply his time." The words were almost harsh, but the tone somehow carried a compassion that was... beyond human. "No!" Karana cried again. "It can't be!" "And why not?" the strange, silvery woman asked, seeming merely curious. "Because - because-" Words failed the knightess, and she bent her head. "Because?" "Because I don't want him to die," Karana whispered. "We never want those we cherish to die," the silvery woman said calmly. "And yet they all do. Why not this one? Why not now? What is he to you that you would ask the Great Goddess to save him?" Karana shook with tears she could not shed. "He is my Bound Companion." What else could she say after all? It was Ivan's ring on her finger. All Karana had of Kefen was an unsigned contract under review by a coterie of lawyers. And kisses and... more... and a lifetime's worth of promises in eyes that were molten chocolate when they met hers...

The third volume in the New York Times best-selling Cradle series! Lindon has a year left. When his time runs out, he'll have to fight an opponent that no one believes he can beat. Unless he learns the magic of the sacred arts the right way, from scratch, he won't have a chance to win...and even then, the odds are against him. In the course of their training, Lindon and Yerin travel to the Blackflame Empire, where they struggle to master an ancient power. Success means a chance at life, but failure means death. In the sacred arts, only those who risk the most can travel far. SERIES DESCRIPTION The Cradle series is the best-selling example of the Progression Fantasy subgenre, which includes works of fantasy where the primary plot revolves around a character growing more powerful in their use of magic. Cradle is high-stakes, fast-paced, and action-focused, with minimal time dedicated to world-building, and as such the books are lean and focused. The series is often compared to anime, with fans using phrases like "anime in book form" or "fantasy novels meet Dragon Ball Z," emphasizing the story's specialty of loud and colorful super-powered battles.