Fantasy Anthology

The When Swords Fall Silent anthology showcases the imaginations and talents of more than a dozen of the best modern science-fiction and fantasy authors, with each tale centered around one or more characters burdened with a bloody task they will see to completion no matter the cost. Every story takes you for a vicious ride through a world of shadow and death, each as unique in perspective and execution as the contracts carried out within.

This is a collection of the ninth six short stories in the Caverns & Creatures series.

How hard do you have to shake the family tree to find the truth about the past?

Nadine is the only witch of her kind. With unique powerful abilities, she's a prime contender to sit on the witch's council, yet she's anything but welcome. A haunting family curse threatens to force her out of her magical college, and revealing her greatest secret may lead to the destruction of her people. Lucas is the only warlock of his generation destined to ferry the souls of the dead. Accepting his dark gift is as brutal as investigating the coven's mysteries. He's prepared to fight the darkness alone, until he receives a warning beyond the grave from Nadine's mother.

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. To become a master of the fantasy world of Aerda, Oram will need to embrace his role as a Phylomancer. Along the way, he will forge powerful bonds with his companions, a beautiful Elven Ranger, a fierce Priestess of the icy North, and a deadly and seductive Demon Assassin.

Pitting ordinary men and women against a carnivorous, chaotic cosmos, Occultation's eight tales of terror (two never before published) include the Theodore Sturgeon and Shirley Jackson Award-nominated story "The Forest" and Shirley Jackson Award nominee "The Lagerstatte."

The best science fiction scrutinizes our culture and politics, examines the limits of the human condition, and zooms across galaxies at faster-than-light speeds, moving from the very near future to the far-flung worlds of tomorrow in the space of a single sentence. Neil Clarke has selected the short science fiction (and only science fiction) best representing the previous year's writing, showcasing the talent, variety, and awesome "sensawunda" that the genre has to offer.

Curvy Samantha is a dreamer looking for a happily ever after with Prince Charming. Her whole life changes when she finds a magical book that transports her to a tropical island with a hunk who thinks he's a wizard. For years, Suzie’s been running with her children, determined to not be found by her violent ex. Tired of hiding, she decides to settle down in suburbia, where she meets Hunter, a hot neighbor with a sword and secrets. The god of chance has sent Breanna on a quest to free the realm from a powerful spell. There’s just one problem.

31 Brand-New Dark Fantasy Horror Stories. Bloody corridors of ancient rock. A castle surrounded by poisonous thorns. A lost temple of traps and corpses. A subaqueous cave at the bottom of a cursed lake. These are the places where secrets are buried, where ancient evils are summoned, where beasts are imprisoned, where the insane lie in wait. These are tombs of darkness and nightmare, where if you stare into the abyss, the abyss will stare back. Heed the warnings of your elders and return from whence you came. Ahead lie monster lairs.

For the first time - in one Audible-exclusive collection - it's 13 stories of Jane Yellowrock, the shape-shifting skinwalker and vampire hunter for hire whose business card reads, "Have Stakes - Will Travel". Jane carries inside her the soul of her Beast, the mountain lion's soul which merged with hers when she accidently performed black magic as a child. Now, she and her Beast stalk the dark streets of New Orleans, bringing rogue vampires true death.

As you hear about infectious diseases, deadly plants, complicated mazes, and strange elements, you’ll be able to escape to your own world. This anthology - full of entertaining stories - gives you insights into the protagonists’ struggles and victories; their hopes, joys, and fears; and their complex relationship with friends and foes. As these heroes and anti-heroes descent to the depths of hell, the outback of the woods, and the distant lands full of dangers, you’ll imagine what it would be like to live in a magical realm of zombies, dragons, and other deformed creatures.

Meet Jenella, a reluctant, flawed incoming queen. In book one, The Dragon Problem, she experiences freedom for the first time and discovers a coup. In book two, Bug Magic, Jenella and her friend discover a strange magic, and she makes a tough decision. In book three, Crowns and Curses, things are looking up. Until everyone she cares about starts acting strange.

No communication. Limited power. An unbreakable will to survive. A violent blast of solar magnetic radiation plunges much of Earth into darkness. From the decaying orbit of the powerless ISS to a devolving Southeast Texas neighborhood and a secret doomsday bunker buried deep underneath the Colorado Rockies, The SpaceMan Chronicles tells the story of a stranded astronaut, his family and friends on the ground, and a shadowy conspiracy to rebuild the world in the shape of a new society.

I was having an ordinary day as a tour guide aboard the Steadfast when suddenly the ship was attacked by a kraken. Mythical creatures like this giant sea monster weren't meant to exist on Earth, but this one was definitely real. And so was the damage it did to the Steadfast. After washing up on a deserted island, I'm looking for ways to survive. Food, water, and shelter are at the top of the list. Next comes some kind of weapon to deal with the strange creatures who lurk the island. It's not long before I discover that this island isn't even on Earth.

Follow a core group of characters known as the Trailblazers as they use alien technology and knowledge discovered in Antarctic ruins to obtain limited immortality and lead humanity out into the galaxy, encountering, befriending, and fighting hundreds of alien races, all the while desperately trying to prepare Earth for the unbeatable threat at the core of the Milky Way that is destined to return and reclaim their lost colony...and their former Human slaves.

From the savage steppes of Nagali to the heart of intrigue in Quing Tzu, this anthology is packed with tales of the supernatural, of action and adventure. Set in the same world as the epic fantasy Convent series, beginning with A Dead Wizard’s Dream, this collection of 11 original fantastical short stories explores lands heretofore unseen in the series.

Grab yourself a hot cocoa on a stormy and rainy night in front of the fire and submerse yourself into a world of the supernatural and Goth. From the witch clans of 1600's Pendle Hill to the glitz and glam of 1840's New Orleans French Quarter, or a conversation with the devil himself perhaps? If you love fantasy and horror, then there is something for everyone in these 13 short stories.

Follow a core group of characters known as the Trailblazers as they use alien technology and knowledge discovered in Antarctic ruins to obtain limited immortality and lead Humanity out into the galaxy, encountering, befriending, and fighting hundreds of alien races, all the while desperately trying to prepare Earth for the unbeatable threat at the core of the Milky Way that is destined to return and reclaim their lost colony...and their former Human slaves.

Get ready for a wild ride through an alternate universe of music in Rock & Roll Nightmares: Parallel Lines. These short stories, written by award-winning and bestselling authors, cover everything from hilarious antics to deep reflections, all set in a music world that's not quite what you remember. What ties them together? Each tale takes a real rock star's story and spins it in a whole new direction.

On Orion, becoming king is easy… just climb a monster-filled tower, rescue the girls, claim the throne, and try not to die. Reborn in a crypt, Nick awakens as the last Archaen: heir to a forgotten race, a legendary Soul Blade, and a kingdom buried beneath the city of Havendale. As a Soul Knight, Nick wields an impossible blend of paladin and necromancer magic. He can judge the wicked, heal damaged souls, summon soul servants, and form Soul Pacts with loyal followers—and the wives who will rise beside him.