Fantasy Adventure Short Stories

The last time Matteo tried out for the Rangers, he lost an arm. In a world plagued by monstrous threats, Matteo is granted a second chance to join the elite Rangers—the monster hunters protecting the city atop a giant turtle. With the promise of wielding a powerful magical artifact, he vows to excel in boot camp and make this opportunity count. Yet, as he endures the grueling trials of the Ranger training, a dark revelation surfaces: their ranks are thinning at an alarming rate.

The vampire Orpheus can’t wait to check out Coco Lau’s gallery, especially since the main attraction is his irreplaceable artifact, one she stole right out from under his nose. This thief prefers to think of herself as an art liberator—a great art liberator. But her last heist backfired, and the results are devastating… with a devastatingly handsome Orpheus on her trail. Vexxed by his inability to influence her and entranced by her raw sensuality, Orpheus vows to crack Coco’s secrets. Threatening to expose her thievery and forgeries. The indomitable Coco calls his bluff, unwilling...

The storm unearthed the dragons—Anna vowed to set them free. But with her ex leading the war against them, she must choose: the man she loves… or the creatures she was born to protect. In the aftermath of the Great Typhoon of 2030, the United States is unrecognizable—ravaged by chaos and fire-breathing fury. When ancient dragon eggs from the Pacific Ocean wash ashore with the storm, no one could have predicted what came next: the dragons awaken and unleash destruction on a scale the world has never known. The only protection? Salt and subzero temperatures. As dragon meat becomes a ...

A gripping historical romance with time-travel, espionage, and an irresistible love story, perfect for readers who crave strong heroines, adventure, and passion that defies time. Time-traveling agent Jed must protect the Liege World Expo from sabotage, yet his ruthless intergalactic foes, the Tresians, are determined to spread despair, corrupt the press, and trigger a catastrophic flood. Eva, a bold, forward-thinking woman, is eager to shape the future. But when she’s kidnapped, she realizes the danger runs deeper than she imagined. Reunited with Jed, their growing connection is tested as...

I thought I'd left my old life behind me. But then I found myself with a job I couldn't refuse—a counselor at Beldame, a mysterious manor with even more mysterious guests. These guests have problems, which they want me to solve. Professionally, I could deal with humans and their issues—my massive student debt was evidence of that. But these guests aren't human. At least not entirely. One thing's for certain—the boundaries are about to blur at Beldame. And I'll be plucking more than a few forbidden fruits from its garden.

After the alien virus struck humanity in the wake of World War II, a handful of the survivors found they possessed superhuman powers. The Wild Cards shared-world volumes tell their story. Here in book two, we trace these heroes and villains through the tumultuous 1980s, in stories from SF and fantasy giants such as George R. R. Martin, Roger Zelazny, Pat Cadigan, Lewis Shiner, Walter Jon Williams, and others.

This collection includes 'Chosen of Khorne' by Anthony Reynolds, 'Throne of Lies' by Aaron-Dembski Bowden, 'Perfection' by Nick Kyme, 'Ahriman: The First Prince' by John French, 'Repairer of Ruin' by Josh Reynolds, and 'The Embrace of Pain' by Ian St Martin.

Oram's journey from average Joe to hero begins when he's transported into his favorite game. Lucky for him, he still has access to his early backer class, the Phylomancer, a mage class that learns spells and abilities by binding others to him.

A road trip that redefines passion. I thought I had it all—the open road, beautiful company, and endless exploration. Then Ava swept in, a free-spirited artist who turned our road trip into a journey of self-discovery. In her gallery our desires transformed into vivid art. Through a sensual art session we grew closer, returning as a family bound by passion and spontaneity. Ava's bohemian energy contrasted with Claire and Sophia's elegance, creating an exhilarating dynamic. My education in desire had never been so vibrant, and the canvas of our lives was just beginning to take shape.

First published in the pages of Weird Tales in 1934, C. L. Moore's Jirel of Joiry is the first significant female sword-and-sorcery protagonist and one of the most exciting and evocative characters the genre has ever known. Published alongside seminal works by H. P. Lovecraft and Robert E. Howard, the five classic fantasy tales included in this volume easily stand the test of time and often overshadow the storytelling power and emotional impact of stories by Moore's more famous contemporaries.

Garth Nix is renowned for his legendary fantasy works, but To Hold the Bridge showcases his versatility, as the collection offers 19 short stories from every genre of literature, including science fiction, paranormal, realistic fiction, mystery, and adventure. Whether writing about vampires, detectives, ancient spirits, or odd jobs, Garth Nix's ability to pull his readers into new worlds is extraordinary.

In what many refer to as one of the first and greatest science fiction thrillers, a mysterious stranger wanders into an inn, wrapped head-to-toe in bandages. What lies beneath the bandages is something even more mysterious. As Wells tackles issues of identity, deception, and the deterioration of the human mind, listeners will be drawn into the story of the mysterious man, whose own mistakes end up whisking him into a whirlwind of deceit, terror, and even murder. In the end, the question will be asked: when your sense of self and identity vanish, who will you become?

Jed, our time-traveling agent of the Light, and Deborah, an astute upper-class young woman, miraculously meet at some of the most important periods in history! Their different strengths form a cohesive bond that enables extraordinary feats. To support the people on Earth in raising their consciousness to the Light, Jed protects the World Fairs (expos), which are catalysts for change, while Deborah coordinates the expos. She is unaware of a dangerous foe bent on stopping them at all costs.

Sam Wilson has a heavy shield to lift as the new Captain America. Listen to an action-packed anthology about Sam Wilson. Inspired by the Marvel comic book universe, the stories will see Sam prove he is ready to carry the shield as he faces Skrulls, Sabretooth, Kingpin, and other infamous villains.

Such a long life of killing has left plenty of dangerous enemies in its wake. An ancient witch coven, a jealous assassin, and even a demon lord all have old scores to settle. With one last contract to fulfill, Yrlissa hopes to be free from her past and her guild forever so she can disappear with her husband and young daughter. But the past doesn't forget so easily, and neither will a betrayed guild of magical assassins. Yrlissa's only concern is to keep her new family safe, but with enemies closing in on all sides, will they become a distraction she cannot afford?

Let the secret history of the world be told - of the alien virus that struck Earth after World War II and of the handful of the survivors who found they now possessed superhuman powers. Some were called Aces, endowed with powerful mental and physical prowess. The others were Jokers, tormented by bizarre mind or body disfigurements. Some served humanity. Others caused terror. And now, 40 years later, as a gang war between the Shadow Fists and the Mafia rages out of control in the streets of Jokertown.

The weird, wild west - an American frontier populated by gunslingers, rattlesnakes, outlaws, zombies, aliens, time travelers, and steampunk! Twenty-three of science fiction and fantasy's hottest and most popular authors create all-new tales, written exclusively for this anthology. Aliens and monsters, magic and science are introduced to the old west, with explosive results.

David Weber himself here contributes three never-before-published excursions into Honor's world, among them the story of how she first discovered her own inner strength and courage; and a chapter in the history of the telepathic treecats, who form a bond with their chosen human that can only be severed by death.

Gotrek Gurnisson was the greatest monster slayer of the age, who met his doom at the End Times. The heroic duardin stepped forth into the Realm of Chaos to fight the daemons gnawing at the world's ending and satisfy his death oath, leaving behind his companion Felix Jaeger. Now Gotrek has returned, having outlived the old gods and the Old World. Spat from the ruinous depths with his redemption unfulfilled, he emerges into the Mortal Realms, a strange new world where gods walk the earth and dark forces are ascendant. Nothing is as he remembers.

When the Colonial Marines set out after their deadliest prey, the Xenomorphs, it's what Corporal Hicks calls a bug hunt - kill or be killed. Here are fifteen all-new stories of such "close encounters", written by many of today's most extraordinary authors. Set during the events of all four Alien films, sending the Marines to alien worlds, to derelict space settlements, and into the nests of the universe's most dangerous monsters, these adventures are guaranteed to send the blood racing - one way or another.