Epic Fantasy Short

What if Hercules wasn’t the hero we all thought he was? His daughter Lyssa knows just how cruel he can be. But she has left that life behind, and now, her battered smugglers ship, the Alastor, flies under everyone’s radar - just how she likes it. The gods have a different plan for her, though.

“Sitting in his high chair, glaring down at me through crystal clear spectacles, the Angel of the Lord frowned. “You’re a bloody mess, John Brittle…” As Captain of the Guard, John Brittle was often regarded with respect. He was stationed at the most secluded Crossing in the Kingdom, Barron’s Pass. It was a difficult position to keep, the looming presence of the “Failsafe” often driving apprentices to the brink of insanity, but the Captain always managed to keep a level head. He led by honor, showing his men right from wrong. But as a mysterious rider appeared on the horizon,...

Fantasy fans rejoice! Seven years after writer and editor Robert Silverberg made publishing history with Legends, the acclaimed anthology of original short novels by some of the greatest writers in fantasy fiction, the long-awaited second volume is here.

War is coming to the Immortal Realm, and I must be the wall against the light. Seraphina will stop at nothing to claim both Thrones. Through magic older than the Fae, she’s become the strongest Queen in the history of the Immortal Realm. Stronger even than me. Sebastian is at my side, but what can he do when I’m made powerless against her? The fate of worlds lies on my shoulders, and I will do what I must to protect the ones who cannot protect themselves. Regardless of the cost.

In The Book of Swords, acclaimed editor and best-selling author Gardner Dozois presents an all-new anthology of original epic tales by a stellar cast of award-winning modern masters - many of them set in their authors' best-loved worlds. Join today's finest tellers of fantastic tales, including George R. R. Martin, K. J. Parker, Robin Hobb, Scott Lynch, Ken Liu, C. J. Cherryh, Daniel Abraham, Lavie Tidhar, Ellen Kushner, and more on action-packed journeys into the outer realms of dark enchantment and intrepid derring-do.

Such a long life of killing has left plenty of dangerous enemies in its wake. An ancient witch coven, a jealous assassin, and even a demon lord all have old scores to settle. With one last contract to fulfill, Yrlissa hopes to be free from her past and her guild forever so she can disappear with her husband and young daughter. But the past doesn't forget so easily, and neither will a betrayed guild of magical assassins. Yrlissa's only concern is to keep her new family safe, but with enemies closing in on all sides, will they become a distraction she cannot afford?

There are worse things waiting... Young maiden Perina escapes from a cruel dungeon and makes her way to King Gathelaus and reveals that he must defeat a mysterious foe that has become a tyrant ruling over a far-flung fiefdom. What strange powers does the tyrant hold to seem invulnerable and inhumane? How can he be defeated? How can Gathelaus beat an unbeatable foe? Blades of the Boneless is a sword and sorcery adventure mixed with a hint of body horror. Live the adventure in this exciting fantasy novella.

"A Song For Sadye" offers new insights into the life of the bard, Sadye, who plays an important role in the second half of the DemonWars Saga. "The Education of Brother Thaddius" picks up the DemonWars story immediately following Immortalis, the last book of DemonWars, and opens to door for the next saga in the world of Corona.

Bradley receives a second chance on a steampunk planet where the wondrous sights captivate, the gizmos fascinate, and it is all possible with steam. Attempting the wilds, Bradley experiences a dash of heart-pumping adventure that unlocks new opportunities and brings unwanted problems. With proper application, a bit of wit, and a dash of luck, he might achieve greatness.

This bundle includes Children of Amarid, The Outlanders, and Eagle-Sage.

Here is Old Man's War author John Scalzi's sendup of the heroic fantasy genre, now a finalist for the Hugo Award for Best Short Story.

In Crater, family isn't born into—it's fought for. Jerrik has survived Crater’s underbelly by climbing fast and cutting deep. As a thief among the Bucks, he’s carved out a life in the shadows, scaling towers with his rat tail and stealing from the lords who think the city belongs to them. But when the guild is shattered and his crew locked in the Birdcage—the city’s sky-high prison—Jerrik faces a truth he’s never said aloud: the Bucks are his family. And he’ll burn Crater down to save them. As the city above crumbles from a spark lit by a certain Breaker Boy, Jerrik launches...

Brennan, Hart and Corin were the three Cheysuli sons of Niall, ruler of Homana, and the next link in the generations-old prophecy of the Firstborn. Now the time had come for all three to take the paths for which they were fated: Brennan, heir to the throne of Homana, would face the menance of unknown assassins and trecherous Ihlini magic.

Orochi, the king of the dragons, has ordered his brothers and sisters to destroy humanity. It falls to a young hero to assemble a team and stop the dragons' rampage. It falls to the Century Blade. This is a short story set in the world of the award-winning Mortal Techniques. It is designed to be listened to as a stand-alone story, completely independent from the full-length novels set in the same world.

A strange story that cannot be confirmed, yet it is whispered among the elves of Silvanesti, gossiped about by the kender of Krynn, and told here for the first time by Caramon, the enigmatic mage's surviving twin. A wondrous new novella journeying into secrets of the heart and rumors about the past that have bearing on the future of Krynn.

Journey to the world of the Queen’s Thief in this beautifully illustrated collection, featuring bestselling and award-winning author Megan Whalen Turner’s charismatic and incorrigible thief, Eugenides. Discover and rediscover friends old and new, and explore the inspiration behind Megan Whalen Turner’s rich and original world. A stunning and collectible volume to return to again and again.

The old woman had lived alone in the mountains above the village for untold years, never being approached nor approaching anyone. Now that little world has encroached upon her in the form of a girl seeking refuge from a horrible future. Yet the villagers will not stand idly by while one of their own seeks to retreat from them and their ways. They will deal with the “witch” who has been watching them from afar for so many years. The outcome can only be horror. From the author of The Kobalos Trilogy and The Horrors of Bond Trilogy.

N. K. Jemisin is one of the most powerful and acclaimed speculative fiction authors of our time. In the first collection of her evocative short fiction, Jemisin equally challenges and delights listeners with thought-provoking narratives of destruction, rebirth, and redemption.

In this Episode Lock and Lucas enter the prestigious Waystar Academy. Between studying, dueling, and endless assignments they will find their greatest challenge. People. Really good stuff… ★★★★★ “Pros: characters and the relationships between them are great, pace is great, story is great (thanks for not flashing stats every two minutes!) Cons: books are short but published often (so sort of balances out but at these lengths it would be best to publish even faster), some typos… not a problem for me but some people are fanatical about it. I just highlight the errors as I go. I...

The Union army may be full of bastards, but there's only one who thinks he can save the day singlehanded when the Gurkish come calling: the incomparable Colonel Sand dan Glokta. Curnden Craw and his dozen are out to recover a mysterious item from beyond the Crinna. Only one small problem: no one seems to know what the item is. Shevedieh, the self-styled best thief in Styria, lurches from disaster to catastrophe alongside her best friend and greatest enemy, Javre, Lioness of Hoskopp.