Epic Sword Sorcery

In Trio of Sorcery, Mercedes Lackey presents three exciting short urban fantasy novels, including the return of Diana Tregarde and the debut of a brand-new heroine for the twenty-first century.

Philip is a good boy, a really good boy, who accidentally gets sent to hell to become the devil's heir. The devil, Lucifer, is dying and desperately in need of a successor, but there's been a mistake, and Philip is the wrong boy. Lucifer has no other choice than to begin the difficult task of training Philip in the ways of evil. Philip is terrible at being bad, but when he falls in love with the she-devil Satina and experiences the powerful forces of love and jealousy, the task becomes much easier.

Venir didn't choose to be the defender of this unforgiving world full of bloodthirsty, magic-wielding underlings set on world domination. The helm of power and his waraxe called Brool chose him. And there's no turning back. With enemies closing in from all directions, Venir, his thief friend, Melegal, and their companions must battle through an endless cycle of backstabbing royals, bloody skirmishes, and waves of lies and deceit. Or see their home descend into total chaos and devastation.

On a diplomatic mission, Brax and his rider, Carmen the assassin, encounter a ghostly vision of the Nameless Goddess. She's a part leopard, part crocodile deity, who warns them she is coming to conquer their world. Brax, in his usual snarky way, makes fun of her hairy legs and, after she vanishes, dismisses this threat. But things soon get a lot worse... When the duo arrives at the capital of the Akkad empire, they discover the emperor has been horrifically murdered by what looks to be an astral servant of that goddess, and his young nephew ascends to the throne.

After 10 years at war, Jev Dharrow looks forward to hanging up his sword, relaxing with a cool mug of ale, and forgetting that the love of his life married another man while he was gone. But when his ship sails into port, a beautiful woman wearing the garb of an inquisitor from one of the religious orders waits to arrest him. He’s accused of stealing an ancient artifact with the power to start another war. Jev would gladly hand over the artifact to stop more suffering, but he has no idea where it is or even what it looks like. The inquisitor woman definitely has the wrong person.

Magistrate Wen Chang, famed for his investigative powers, and his young physician assistant, Kasimir, set out to recover Stonecutter and return the stolen Sword to its rightful owner, Prince Mark. The Red Temple, Blue Temple and a gang of rebels, each for their own purposes, are intent on possessing the Sword. A mysterious young girl, Natasha, enlisted by Kasimir as a spy, fascinates Kasimir, but can she be trusted? Listeners will need all their powers of ratiocination to unravel this adventure of the Sword of Siege

A QUEST OF HEROES (BOOK #1 IN THE SORCERER’S RING) revolves around the epic coming of age story of one special boy, a 14 year old from a small village on the outskirts of the Kingdom of the Ring. The youngest of four, the least favorite of his father, Thorgrin comes to learn he has mysterious powers he does not understand, that he has a special gift, and a special destiny. An epic tale of friends and lovers, of rivals and suitors, of knights and dragons, of intrigues and political machinations, of coming of age, of broken hearts, of deception, ambition and betrayal.

The war reached a lull. Sol forced a temporary ceasefire after defeating three of the Great Sages under Sun Wukong by himself. Now only seven days are left before the final Battle. A direct clash that will oppose him and his harem to Lupus and Sun Wukong. Failure is not an option. From preparing secret rituals, to learning news techniques and even making pact with previous enemies. He will use everything at his disposal.

Since waking up from a terrible accident on Earth to find herself in the Kingdom of Bergond almost twenty years ago, Alana has faced more than her fair share of challenges. Most recently, she's been commissioned by Emperor Durin to set up a magical portal that will connect the capital city of Ermath to the far northern reaches of his domain in Linden. Only, the journey to Linden is plagued from the outset. It seems someone knows about the mission and will do whatever it takes to prevent its completion.

Tomkin Thornhewn, youngest son of the Duke of Marshwell, has a problem: He’s not heroic. Regardless of his aspirations, the bookish, untrained young man is better suited to recording the deeds of heroes than being one himself. Which becomes an obvious problem when he finds himself clinging to a ledge above a sleeping dragon. And instead of wielding his family’s great sword with valor and skill, he drops it - onto the dragon. The problem grows immeasurably worse when Tomkin himself falls off the ledge - also onto the dragon.

In Underland, hope has nearly been extinguished. All things living and undead exist under the dominion of the Dark Lords, whose power is all but unlimited and whose evil is all but eternal. Sorcerer Valdemar Verney is not one of them. The last of his line, Valdemar has devoted himself to locating his grandfather’s realm, a legendary place called Earth, where there is air and vibrant life. His latest attempt to uncover the way to Earth is thwarted, however, when the cunning Dark Lord Och captures him—not to imprison him, but to nurture Valdemar’s talents for his own ends.

Under Gabriel's leadership and with the help of his unique powers of magical manipulation, the Shadow Foxes were growing to be a powerful and well-regarded guild. So much so that the great mages' school that runs every aspect of life in his new home calls upon them with a new contract, the most dangerous kind. An escort quest.

A plague of murder has overrun Krondor, the glorious center of the kingdom of Midkemia. Prince Arutha--newly returned from battle with the Morehdel chieftain Delekhan and the renegade magician Makala--is concerned about the rash of unexplained assassinations in his capital city. And so he...

For Aeryn, a girl born to the remote, wintry Ice Crown region of Ilirya, the outside world is a fantasy: a series of wonderful stories told by occasional passing travelers. She never imagines anything for her life beyond following in her parents' footsteps. But the discovery that she has the rare gift of magic shatters her isolated world. Aeryn can create and tame fire. It's an intoxicating, raw, and thrilling power, but it also sets her apart. And her gift attracts attention. She is whisked from her home in the wilds to train at Windhall University and master her magic.

Each year, the Nightlords choose a new Emperor to rule Yohuachanca. Delicious food graces his palate. The realm’s most beautiful women fill his vast palace. Four priestesses counsel him in all matters. The life of an emperor is good, luxurious, and short... For at the year’s end, he is sacrificed to the Nightlords under the light of the Scarlet Moon. Iztac is the piss-poor orphan chosen to be this year’s emperor. A sacrifice bound for the altar.

In Swords Against Wizardry, Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser, sent by a witch on a foolhardy journey, return to the icy reaches of the north in search of dubious treasure. There, they are seduced by the glittering attractions of an ice woman, who brings them with her to her shadowy lair.

The saren knight Reza and her alliance of comrades rush headlong into the forces of Umbraz who has been amassing power and armies from the Golden Crown and the Black Steel kingdoms. The final battle draws near—death and chaos now reign supreme in the fury of war. The zealots of Umbraz are determined to snuff out the lives of all those who intend to interfere with their god’s summoning rite.

Now that Drew has become even more powerful by stepping into the Foundation Realm, new challenges await him. He is quietly growing his school and sect, and allowing his students to recruit whoever they want so he can take it easy. Trouble looms as his old mistakes come back to haunt him. The entire planet is about to be sent down a savage and unforgiving path, and it might be his fault. Monsters are popping up everywhere, packs of deadly animals led by terrible mutants. The worst part? They seem to be steered by some higher power, some nefarious being that holds the reins of the planet.

Vlad Taltos is on the run. Again. This time from one of the most powerful forces in his world, the Left Hand, who are intent on ending his very lucrative career. Permanently. He finds a hidey-hole in a theatre where the players are putting on a show that was banned centuries ago...and is trying to be shut down by the House that once literally killed to keep it from being played. Vlad will take on a number of roles to save his own skin. And the skins of those he loves. And along the way, he might find a part that was tailor-made for him. One that he might not want...but was always his destiny.

A reborn beauty is already turning heads at school! The old Hero-King Inglis was thrown far into the future, reborn as a beautiful girl. Now, together with Rafinha, her lifelong friend, and Leone, an aspiring knight the two met on their journey to the capital, Inglis studies the ways of war at the royal knights' academy—where she's turning heads with her battle prowess more than for her looks! School life isn't all about making new friends, though, as she hears rumors of a Rune-Eater that targets knights.