Epic Fantasy Short

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...

Four hundred years ago, master vampire Eliseo Daisani and dragonlord Janx both fell in love with Sarah Hopkins, an extraordinary beauty born in London's slaughterfields. Caught in their ancient and complex bond, Sarah glimpses the world as it might be.

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.

As a young warrior in the elite Kifzo army of his father's tribe, Tobin lives a life consumed by the relentless training demands of his uncle. Despite his best intentions and hard work, he struggles to cope with his father's indifference toward him, and his brother's outright hatred. A chance opportunity may change all of that. Tobin's father gives him, his brother, and three other young Kifzo each a small squad to lead on a key mission. The squad leader who succeeds will be named Warleader and will command the entire tribe's army. Tobin sees this as his best chance to step out of the shadow of his brother and earn the respect and recognition he's always desired.

Contains books three and four of Descendants of the Fall. Age of Gods: Pursued by the inhuman Tangata, Lukys flees on foot through the wilderness. He and his companions make for the ocean, a stolen ship their only hope - but even that may prove fleeting. For should they reach the island of Perfugia, a war is brewing between the kingdoms of humanity. Dreams of Fury: On the distant shores of Perfugia, Lukys and Sophia have finally found sanctuary - and an unexpected power left by their ancestors. But their refuge cannot last.

Epic fantasy, heroic fantasy, Sword & Sorcery, call it what you will, perhaps even edges of a little Grimdark, all and more can be found within the ten stories provided here where heroes face daunting odds, sometimes triumphing and sometimes failing. Barbarians, knights, assassins, each gets their turn, as do men and women from other stripes. All face the dangers of magic and the blade, and sometimes otherworldly beasts. Table of contents Lord of Thunder Scribe: An Assassin’s Tale Black Devil by Moonlight War and Demons Bread and Blades Afraid of the Dark With Reason The Grim Stone ...

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.

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 ...

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 ...

After the extinction asteroid doesn't strike Earth, the dinosaurs keep evolving... but so do the mammals. We mammals have achieved human-like shapes, but now it's cold-blooded, magic-using reptiles against the hot-blooded, hot-tempered descendants of cats.

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.

A mute elven archer known only as Killer. Azyrin, a half Winter-orc shaman and his human swordswoman bride, Makha. Drake, the charming, swashbuckling rogue. The fireball-slinging pixie-goblin, Rahiel, and her mini-unicorn, Bill. These are the Gryphonpike Companions. Arriving in Strongwater Barrow, the Companions find the town riddled with plague and death. Ending the curse and saving the survivors means going into the swamps where monsters lurk and witches wait. Sounds like exactly their kind of day.

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!

When a mysterious and manipulative wizard learns the deadly relic know as the Ravenstone has been uncovered by a self-proclaimed regent known as the Priagent, he hastily assembles a group of mismatched travelers to steal and deliver it to safety. The unlikely company sent to retrieve it consists of Arcturus, an exiled politician with a fondness for wine, Kariayla, a winged slave girl on a quest for redemption, Jinx, an unlucky thief and his imp counterpart, and Hawkwing, the wizard’s personal spy, at the helm.

Quite long after the world we occupy, when man reaches the very heights of decadence and treachery, the first great breaking upends dominance and sends us into the ashes of failed greatness. Fire and stone ground down the vast masses into flickering tribes of roving survivors, the world unfriendly to those solemn few who so tirelessly remain. And yet, as always, humanity survives...

'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...

Jaron and Bren are a pair of roguish adventurers only hoping for one big score. Unfortunately, things never work out that easy. Whether facing packs of hungry goblins, armies of marauding orcs, malevolent cults, or even the mythical Galackin, the odds always seem to be stacked against this intrepid duo. This is a collection of 10 fantasy flash fiction stories, each with a comedic bent. Fans of the Discworld will enjoy the situational humor, while lovers of traditional fantasy will enjoy seeing common fantasy tropes in a different light.

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.

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. ...

Fourteen tales of speculative fiction from the author of The Crimson Queen. Beneath the demon-haunted ruins of Nes Vaneth a priest of the old ways confronts his darkest fears. A young hacker risks everything to rescue the mind of her friend from the clutches of a malicious AI. On a moon of Mars the guardian of humanity awakens to find the solar system in peril. And a dilettante invites a manticore to accompany him to an infamous engagement.