Medieval Ages

Caution: Dragons ahead. Prepare to delve into fiery worlds full of dragons. From hatchlings to ancients. From tame to wild. Many have their own goals, and most want to see the world reduced to ash. To reshape the world in their own reptilian image. Others struggle to survive, but heroes rise among them. Which side will you choose? 18 stories by the following authors: Deborah Brown, Zachary Vincent, Eric Tobiason, Bruno Lombardi, Joel Realubit, Katie Kent, Barend Nieuwstraten III, E.B. Hunter, Dylan Roche, Lucy A. McLaren, Aaron H. Arm, Jennifer Strassel, Natascha Eschweiler, A.E. Lowan, Ash...

The Three Edwards, third in Thomas B. Costain's survey of Britain under the Plantagenets, covers the years between 1272 and 1377 when three Edwards ruled England. Edward I brought England out of the Middle Ages. Edward II had a tragic reign but gave his country Edward III, who ruled gloriously, if violently.

Viking Age Norway’s greatest king Harald Fairhair has unified the northern districts into a kingdom, but as he ages and his body weakens, so does his realm. To keep the kingdom from fracturing, Harald abdicates his high seat to the one son he believes capable enough - and vicious enough - to rule: Erik Bloodaxe. There is one problem. The other sons hate their brother and will not accept his kingship.

Even if she must sell herself in marriage to the highest bidder, Lady Laura Middleton is determined to provide her daughter a home and protector. But when Queen Eleanor presents her cousin with four suitors, among them is one who believes Laura betrayed him 10 years past. Despite her attempts to discourage his pursuit, he is determined to have her for the dowry needed to save his lands.

The year is 1203 and John has succeeded Richard the Lionhearted as England's king. That's when Thomas is captured while trying to deliver a letter from the Pope to the crusaders gathering to once again try to liberate Jerusalem from the Saracens. The gritty realities of the time and the fighting, action, and betrayal are continuous as William takes his archers and galleys to Constantinople in an effort to rescue him.

Sir Elias De Morville is no ordinary man of the sword, possessing both the heart of a warrior and a troubadour. When he sets out to rescue a boy who may be his son, he must, more than ever, prove worthy of the Wulfrith dagger that ranks him among the greatest of knights. And more difficult it becomes when, not only must he protect the enigmatic woman who aids him, but guard against attraction to one forbidden him.

They found me reading futures. Now they say I belong to theirs. Ivy Holt makes a living on the boardwalk selling half-truths and glitter-dusted hope. She reads tarot cards. Spins stories. Survives. But when three horned strangers appear at her table and call her by her real name, everything changes. Gideon is the leader. Tor is the fire. Rex is the calm before the storm. They don’t want a fortune. They want a muse. Now Ivy is trapped in a glass penthouse, bound in velvet and watched from every angle. They see through her lies. Strip her defenses. Train her body to crave the shame they ...

She doesn't know he's a dragon, nor the danger she's in. He doesn't know how much he needs her. As an orphan in a small town at the edge of the vast Black Forest, Hannah is grateful for what little she has. She lives with her grandmother, one of the town’s witches. Despised by the townsfolk, it is unlikely that she will ever find her place in their world, or someone to share her life with. Not only that, but witches have been murdered in recent months and Hannah may be next. Louis is a powerful, shape-shifting dragon. In ages past, he had terrified villages and towns. Now, he has emerged ...

Vitalis of the Saxon resistance wearies of leading men to victory, only to next lead them to death at the hands of the invaders. But when an opportunity arises to shame the Norman who claims England’s throne, he takes it, as well as proof of that shaming. Now more than ever, William the Conqueror is determined to capture the rebel leader.

For years, Lady Susanna de Balliol has borne the blame for betrayal - well-earned, though not as believed by the man she can never forget. Now her nephew must prove his legitimacy or lose his claim to his father's lands. When Susanna is forced to flee with the boy following an attempt on his life, will the one man who knows the truth of her nephew's birth grant them sanctuary within his walls? More, will he aid the woman whom he believes cost him the love of his life?

In the aftermath of a rebellion against William the Conqueror, northern England lies in ruins, its people scattered and starved. Aelfric, a 14-year-old thrall, flees from his master and stumbles upon a cache of stolen laundry. The thief? Aliwyn, a girl around his age, ostracized for being “cursed.” In her care is a lost toddler she has rescued from the clutches of greedy thrall traders.

Who were the Cathars, and why was the Catholic Church so committed to getting rid of them? The Cathars: The History and Legacy of the Gnostic Christian Sect During the Middle Ages examines the origins of the cult, their fascinating belief system, their gradual development over the years, and the events that contributed to their epic downfall.

My rig broke down in the middle of nowhere. Now they say I’m the one getting serviced. Tessa Wren is used to solitude. Long nights. Long miles. A life built around the road and her rig, Betsy. But when a breakdown strands her in the middle of nowhere and a tow leads her to a garage called Minotaur Mechanics, she finds herself at the mercy of three strangers who aren’t quite men. Jett is the leader. Bryce is the shadow. Soren is the mouth with a wicked grin. They offer repairs. Shelter. Terms. But Tessa doesn’t have the money they want. So they name a different price. And it isn’t ...

For years, Lady Vianne Wardieu has navigated the intrigues of the French court, supplying the English king with intelligence and preserving her cover at the ruin of her reputation. Entangled with the King of France’s advisor, danger and sacrifice shadow her every step. When her bid to return to England is thwarted and ensnares an innocent in her schemes, she vows to escape again. But her plans falter when a man from her past appears seeking revenge.

Whispers of the Gate Keeper's return have sprung up everywhere, raging across Tarmerria like a blazing forest fire. Could it be true? Has this mystical figure really returned to the world of men? Some have embraced the idea as a symbol of hope. Others will do whatever it takes to see Eric dead. Lines have been drawn, sides have been taken. There is only one way to discover the truth. Tarmerria must go to war. This book is intended for mature audiences. The Legend of the Gate Keeper Series Reading Order: The Shadow: (A standalone prequel: Book 0) Land of Shadows: (Book 1) Siege of Night: (...

Endelienta, the daughter of King Brychan, is touched by the spirits, along with her beloved brother, Nectan. When her Godfather, King Arthur the War Duke of Prydain, grants her lands in sea-girt Belerion, she accepts them gladly. With her magical White Cow, whose milk sustains her, she dwells in the wilds at one with nature--until the malevolent Lord of Trentinny comes to call... Then Endelienta must reveal her latent powers... Some call her a saint, some think she was an ancient goddess. A mystical, alternative tale of one of Cornwall's mysterious Dark Age Saints. Short story 15,000 words ...

1444. Three princes. Two clashing empires. One deadly game few survive. Vlad Dracula is shattered. After a daring escape sets him free, his kindness gets him recaptured, and he fears he ran out of chances. When his brother Radu saves his head, but the sultan’s mercy throws him back in jail, Vlad vows to get even or die. Can Vlad best Radu and clear his honor in the sultan’s blood? Or will his enemies break his spirit in a fate worse than death? Throne of Blood is the second installment in the Curse of the Dracula Brothers sweeping saga, where dark medieval history meets Romanian ...

Prince Rafe leans over me, holding himself up on one elbow as he gazes at my face. I feel his eyes wandering over every surface from my brow to my eyes, down my nose, to my lips and chin, and then returning to hold my gaze for a second. The small smile at the corner of his mouth makes me think he likes what he sees. His hand is cool when it brushes a loose curl from my cheek, but I don’t jerk away from him. I have no idea what’s going on. I don’t understand why I’m here. I don’t know what will happen tomorrow. It seems like a lot of powerful people want me—dead or alive. And yet...

The parish, the lowest level of hierarchy in the medieval church, was the shared responsibility of the laity and the clergy. Most Christians were baptized, went to confession, were married, and were buried in the parish church or churchyard; in addition, business, legal settlements, sociability, and entertainment brought people to the church, uniting secular and sacred concerns.

The thought of trading her subservient role in her father’s home for that of being the dutiful wife of someone she had never met caused her to shudder with revulsion. No, she thought to herself, what I crave is the opportunity to adventure across the sea, to behold strange and wondrous sights far beyond the city walls of Lubeck. To do that even once would almost be worth submitting herself to a loveless marriage based solely on familial advantage. But not quite, she admitted to herself. For if there was one thing of which Christina Kohl was certain, it was that she wanted her independence...