Epic Magic

For 500 years, the survivors of the Great Wars lived peacefully in a valley sanctuary shielded by powerful magic from the blighted and dangerous outside world. But the enchanted barriers have crumbled, the borders have been breached by predators, and the threat of annihilation looms large once more. Sider Ament, bearer of the last black staff and its profound power, devoted his life to protecting the valley and its inhabitants.

Cradle isn’t over yet. Lindon’s journey may have ended, but there are still more tales to tell. The stories in this collection will show you the world after Cradle, those left behind, and even some legends from long ago. Witness the first Uncrowned King tournament. Visit the Monarchs and their voyages in the lands beyond. Get to know the Abidan in their homes, and meet the people of new worlds as they cross paths with familiar faces. And, of course, check in on some old friends.

Haunted by the past... Hunted in the present... Trapped in the future...Caught in a battle between a dragon, a horde of reptilian aliens, and a spaceship, Thaya and Khy are forced to run for their lives. When she’s contacted by a mysterious elf, Thaya must risk everything to enter the dragon’s lair and take back what was stolen. Battling through dragon-fire and fleeing through the eons of time; from the brutal hands of her own people to the tranquil shores of present-day Florida, Thaya finds no refuge from those who hunt her. Encumbered by an elven relic with the power to start a civil ...

Cleaning dead dragon bowels ain't pretty. Ceph, the city's newest Sanitation Officer, is happy to take any job as long as it keeps him far, far away from the god-like Everborn. Too bad nobody told him that one man's trash can be an Everborn's treasure. Ceph's life turns upside-down when he crosses unlikely paths with an Everborn quest. Soon, the immortal Everborn are in relentless pursuit of Ceph and his new companion, the divine daughter Aeri. The next thing he knows, he's stuck with a fanatic cult that insists burning himself alive is the only way to, well, stay alive. Meanwhile, Aeri ...

Danny Youngblood thought he knew the dangers of monster summoning. But when a mysterious desert civilization, the Sapiens, launches a devastating attack on the Empire, he discovers a threat far greater than anything he's ever faced. As the Sapiens close in on the Imperial City, Danny and his friends must race against time to uncover the secrets behind their advanced weapons and powerful monsters. With the help of the brilliant inventor Isa, they develop new strategies and powerful summons to combat the invading force.

Now that the werewolves have revealed themselves to humans, they can't afford any bad publicity. Infractions that could have been overlooked in the past must now be punished, and the strain of doing his father's dirty work is taking a toll on Charles. Nevertheless, Charles and Anna are sent to Boston when the FBI requests the pack's help on a local serial killer case. They quickly realize that not only the last two victims were werewolves - all of them were.

Wizardwood, a sentient wood. The most precious commodity in the world. Like many legendary wares, it comes only from the Rain River Wilds. But how can one trade with the Rain Wilders, when only a liveship, fashioned from wizardwood, can negotiate the perilous waters of the Rain River? Rare and valuable, a liveship will quicken only when three members, from successive generations, have died on board. The liveship Vivacia is about to undergo her quickening, as Althea Vestrit’s father is carried on deck in his death-throes.

Awakening from a dark defeat, Faythe discovers a greater threat to the life she took back. Staggering truths will challenge her and reveal that some bonds were forged to defy. With the battle lost, the war has just begun, and as an enemy is captured, it soon becomes clear a storm can be tamed but never bottled.

The chronicles of the magical island of Recluce continue as young Dorrin, fascinated by forbidden science, goes into exile in the lands of Chaos, where he unwillingly invents devices of war to save his land from the evil Chaos wizards.

The Herald-Mage, Vanyel, and his Companion, Yfandes, are alone responsible for saving the once-peaceful kingdom of Valdemar from the forces of a master who wields a dark, forbidding magic. And if either Vanyel or Yfandes falters, both Valdemar and its Herald-Mage must pay the ultimate price.

Arden was left in the village by a dying mage, who never returned. With no way out of the village on his own, he had always held onto the hope that one day his magic would awaken and give him access to his spheres. But he’s about to turn eighteen and it’s never come. Instead, he’s settled into his lot as a sarcastic and quick-witted innkeeper. That all changes one night when his old flame, who escaped the village to become a mage’s anchor, returns. Ard’s life is about to go through some dramatic changes, and he’s not ready for them.

Only the unbroken can wield the blade. And Kael is far from whole. Kael was once a knight of legend—heroic, revered, unshakable. Now, he is an exile, haunted by betrayal and bound to a life of shame. When the rebellion against the empire draws him in, Kael discovers the Blade of Eternis—a legendary sword said to unite the fractured kingdoms. But the blade demands more than strength—it demands conviction, something Kael no longer believes he possesses. As the empire's forces close in, Kael is thrust into reluctant leadership, joined by a cunning thief, a fallen warrior-priest, and a ...

Ricky Valian always dreaded the Juvenile Home in the city of Applia. Killing a member of the Council of Notables is enough to sentence him for a stay. The lord’s widow is anxious for revenge and Ricky has to scramble to stay ahead of people out seeking his life. While there are strange things going on at the Home that will put him in peril, he finds a priceless treasure long forgotten at the Home. Can he stay alive long enough to save it?

Hot on the heels of Gardner Dozois's acclaimed anthology The Book of Swords comes this companion volume devoted to magic. How could it be otherwise? For every Frodo, there is a Gandalf... and a Saruman. For every Dorothy, a Glinda... and a Wicked Witch of the West. What would Harry Potter be without Albus Dumbledore... and Severus Snape? Figures of wisdom and power, possessing arcane, often forbidden knowledge, wizards and sorcerers are shaped - or misshaped - by the potent magic they seek to wield.

Years ago, Lindon left his home as a powerless Unsouled. Now, he goes to war with the most powerful beings in the world over the future of Cradle itself. The Weeping Dragon has a grudge to settle, and Lindon intends to take out the Dreadgod with his friends by his side. But rival Monarchs know his plans, and they won’t let things end so easily. If Lindon does win, he will ascend to the heavens. But he may not find a safe haven there either.

Landover was a genuine magic kingdom, with fairy folk and wizardry, just as the advertisement has promised. But after he purchased it, Ben Holiday learned that there were a few details the ad had failed to mention. The kingdom was in ruin. The Barons refused to recognize a king, and the peasants were without hope. A dragon was laying waste the countryside, while an evil witch plotted to destroy everything.

Last time we saw Jake, he was [redacted to avoid spoilers] with [redacted] in order to travel to [redacted]. He had finally learned [redacted] and [redacted]. He was just starting to [redacted]! So join him now on his new adventure as he [redacted! redacted! redacted!]. Ok, no spoilers allowed, but be prepared for a life-changing, world-spanning, time-twisting conclusion to Jake's story!

Once a Protector enforcing the Capitol’s strict laws with an iron fist, Ashok Vadal discovers his entire life is built on lies. The ancient black steel sword chose him not for his bloodline but for his spirit, thrusting him into a destiny fraught with peril and glory. The Capitol is in chaos, teetering on the brink of collapse as the Great Extermination spreads its dark shadow across the land. The casteless, descendants of the once-great kings, are hunted to extinction. Their only hope lies in Ashok Vadal, now a fugitive, and Thera, the prophet of the forgotten gods.

The very day Blaze came into the world, she almost drowned it. A Rain Singer born into one of the most powerful fire-wielding families in the empire, Blaze's birth summoned a devastating storm that left thousands dead. She's been hidden away ever since with a dark secret: the same torrential power that branded her an outcast disappeared that fateful day. And she’s not sure she wants it back. When an unexpected invitation arrives for Blaze and her twin brother, Flint, to compete as future rulers of the empire, she’s suddenly thrust into the limelight again—and into battle.

When dragons invade your dreams asking for help what do you do? Talking about dragons is forbidden. Dreaming of them can get you killed. Luanna’s taken it a step further and is speaking to them in her dreams. Will the royals end her life, or will she find a way to stop them? Luanna has no idea her dreams can get her in so much trouble, but when half her town is burned to the ground, and her family is kidnapped, she vows to save her family and find out the truth. The boundary around town keeps everyone in except the guards, but with them hunting her, she has to find the courage to leave ...