Epic Fantasy Short

Dirt, pain, and grime. That’s life on the streets of East Stanwick. There are two options. Break your back for a fist full of copper. Or take them at knifepoint. For Matlock Sharp, there’s only one chance to escape. Fight through a five-floor maze full of monsters. A life of privilege and class are waiting for him. But he’ll need to overcome more than monsters if he wants to escape the gutter. 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: ...

The dragons had been created by ancient sorcerers deep beneath Firestorm Mountain. The most powerful of these deadly creatures was Gilmreth. After the Worldfire, the dragons escaped from the mountain to prey upon the few living creatures left upon the Earth. Over the centuries, living sources of food became harder to find and the dragons took to preying upon each other. In a small secluded valley, a few humans still struggle to survive. Just when their lives are finally turning for the better, the surviving dragons find them.

Roam with Herakles in search of a safe home for a magical sword, go into exile with a descendant of Merlin, and learn the wisdom of a wolfhound pup to help you wander along newly forged paths into the imagination.

Tales of the Celestial Kingdom collects nine spellbinding stories – two previously published, seven original, including the epilogue to the duology – set in the enchanting world of Sue Lynn Tan’s stunning debut. Filled with magic and mythology, friendship and love, these stories intertwine through the past, present, and future of the two novels, told from the perspectives of multiple characters, including Chang’e, Shuxiao, Liwei, and Wenzhi.

Lyssa is going to the Dead Place, and everyone she killed will be waiting. As the Hidden One’s twisted plan to resurrect the Deep Gods unfolds, the only way to stop him is a secret buried in the land of death. But Lyssa has not given up. If the Deep Gods can return, so can she. Can Lyssa find a way back? Can she delve into hell’s darkest corners and emerge with the lore to stop the Deep Gods’ rise? Or will she become a lost soul, like so many of those she loved in life?

Each night, the world is overrun by bloodthirsty demons. For centuries, humanity survived only by hiding behind defensive wards – magical symbols of power. Now, though, the rediscovery of other, long-forgotten wards has given them the magic they need to fight back.... In Tibbet’s Brook, the fighting wards have brought change, heightening tensions and grudges of a troubled past. Selia Square, the woman they call Barren, has long been the force holding the Brook together. As a terrifying new threat emerges, she must rally the people of the Brook once more.

Everything Aria tried to do in order to save her brother and help those closest to her has made everything worse. She's now alone with Beru, trying to figure out a way to fix what they've done, to undo what they've started. But Aria still can't get over the fact that Beru is a traitor to Onen Suun, the only man who dared to defy Dag'draath. Beru was the reason Onen Suun was forced to sacrifice his life to save the world.

On the shortest night of the year, blue eyes pierce the snowstorm.The elusive gryphons of the frozen taiga are beautiful, mysterious, and nearly extinct. As the days grow short and danger lurks around every corner, their eyes turn a bright blue. This short story collection set in the world of Eyrie follows several famous taiga gryphons during their most trying times.

A.J. Gallant's book of short stories features powerful and emotionally charged narratives, often set against dramatic historical backdrops. One of the stories introduces Enzo, a courageous 11-year-old Jewish boy living in hiding with an Italian family who renamed him from Ephraim to Enzo to protect him during the Nazi occupation. Enzo harbors a fierce hatred for the Germans, particularly after witnessing the brutalities of war. His defiant spirit is on full display when confronted by a German soldier named Claus, who mockingly offers him a role as a messenger. Enzo’s bold and vulgar ...

From James Maxwell, best-selling author of The Evermen Saga, The Shifting Tides, and The Firewall Trilogy, comes a standalone collection of seven twisted tales set in the fantasy world of the Tingaran Empire. In the first story, Seven Words of Power, apprentice enchantress Evora Guinestor is summoned to a mysterious meeting with Master Zoran. Her suspicions are confirmed when she sees her two rival apprentices: it is time for Master Zoran to name his successor. But along with her rivals, Evora is shocked when Master Zoran announces a contest. In three days, the apprentice who demonstrates ...

Bestselling author K.T. Tomb brings you three short tales of epic adventure, including: WOLFGANG (Story #1) The adopted son of a prince must choose between honor and revenge. On the excavation site of an ancient city, marauders murder Wolfgang Anderson’s mother and sister. The young boy vows revenge against the rebel leader. A group of Bedouins take him to their prince so he can be returned to America. But Wolfgang chooses to stay in the Middle East. He grows up as the adopted son of a mighty prince. The danger and challenges of the desert contrast with his opulent palace lifestyle. ...

She gave up everything to keep her daughter safe. But she cannot do it alone. When Elara fled to the wilderness to raise her magically gifted daughter, she thought she had turned her back on the civilized world forever. With famine and pestilence plaguing the land, the most she dares to hope for is a lonely life on her homestead, protecting her daughter from the evil men who want to exploit her gifts. But Elara knows that they cannot hide forever. She also knows that when the evil men find them, she'll need help to protect her daughter from them. So when a grizzled and world-weary veteran ...

An isolated village. Conquered by another world. Haunted by a hidden evil. When a soldier’s grisly murder sparks unrest in the tiny hamlet of Skolja, Brohr’s past marks him as the prime suspect. On the run from the Tyrianite Legion, he uncovers an unthinkable secret about the raging spirit that haunts him, and the pact his grandfather struck long ago.

This is the story of a place that never was: the kingdom of Prester John, the utopia described by an anonymous, 12th-century document which captured the imagination of the medieval world and drove hundreds of lost souls to seek out its secrets, inspiring explorers, missionaries, and kings. But what if it were all true? What if there was such a place, and a poor, broken priest once stumbled past its borders, discovering, not a Christian paradise, but a country where everything is possible....

"Dagon." Howard Phillips Lovecraft (1890-1937) is a novelist famous for his horror stories, fantasy and science fiction. Although he was not famous during his lifetime, his work is now considered a classic of literature. Lovecraft's work has influenced many authors, including Stephen King, who considers him "the greatest craftsman of the classic horror story of the 20th century."

'Obsidian, follow the clues. They'll lead to you the museum cellars. Who knows what dreadful things you'll find down there?' Step into a world of thieves and charlatans as Obsidian, senior Arcane Investigator, takes on his most dangerous case yet. As someone loots and hoards priceless Arcane and religious artifacts, Obsidian is tasked with recovering them and arresting the culprit. But this isn't just any case - a sinister power lurks behind the scenes, corrupting all who come into contact with it. And as Obsidian delves deeper into his investigations, he uncovers a web of deceit that leads...

Alis was a quiet librarian at the campus library of the School of Spells & Magic - that is, until the sword wielding buffoon Cahan had the audacity to battle a dragon in her library! Now she's following him off on some foolhardy adventure. As they try to save the university from the mysterious Formless, she fights an equally important battle - to maintain her self-respect!

Listen to the latest issue of Savage Realms Monthly and fill up on stalwart heroes doing battle with the forces of evil in this epic collection of short sword and sorcery fiction. This month brings you an exciting crop of stories; Robert Price brings us a new Thongor tale, the talented Matthew X. Gomez delivers another swashbuckling adventure, and Richard L. Rubin is here with a new mercenary mission. Don't miss the latest issue of Savage Realms!

The Minivandian is the warrior who values home and hearth. He finds the adventure in day-to-day activities. She is the barbarian queen who revels in every-day battles. These are their tales.

The First Chapter is an anthology that traces the evolution of Michael Maxwell's storytelling, from his earliest short stories to the polished prose of today. Spanning decades of creative growth, this collection showcases a variety of narratives—from flash fiction that captures raw, fleeting moments to The Whistler, an epic fantasy adventure written for his oldest son. In The Whistler, a young man sets off on a daring quest to reach the sea—a feat no one in his small village has ever attempted—making this tale a thrilling journey of discovery, courage, and wonder for young adults. For...