In this collection of fantasy short stories all featuring female protagonists, you'll find diverse, imaginative tales, including: A sorceress unravels a spell and gets a result she could never have expected... A young girl wins a contest--her prize: to speak with a god... A vampire in hiding fears she'll be blamed for the reckless depredations of another of her kind... A minstrel travels with a witch who has a pair of very unusual cart horses... As a bonus, this anthology includes "The Sow's Ear", originally published in Marion Zimmer Bradley's acclaimed Sword and Sorceress series.

Shak is anything but a simple soldier with a clear-cut mission in life. He's consumed with the relentless need for revenge against a man who was once his best friend. But that obsession is far from his only. Shak can't forget he'd abandoned two helpless children during a battle. Though the deed that he can't forgive himself for happened in the past, far from changing, he can't get past it...until his grandmother, a witch, offers him the chance to redeem the dishonorable act. Those same children he'd left to their fate are in dire straits. To rescue them, he must travel to the mysterious and treacherous Crystal Valley and then find a way to get them back where they belong. Further complicating his life, the Crystal Valley holds a secret that threatens two armies, and Shak alone can save them. With an unequivocal mission staring him in the face, he discovers his enemy is close by--actually following him--and vengeance could at last be his. At a crossroads, he has no choice but to determine which task he'll undertake... and which to give up forevermore.

Gretchen Lauterbach travels to Brevard, where she meets Zachary, an American ex-pat living in France who deals in antiquities...decidedly unusual antiquities. This collection of three short stories features the backstories of the cursed items from Beneath the Morvan Moon. In "Le Meneur Des Loups", Zachary possesses a cloak rumored to have the power to transform a man into a wolf that Pascal, a Brevardian, wants for his collection of lycanthropic memorabilia. Europeans have a history of suffering due to wolves. Thus it was wolves and werewolves, or loup garous, came to be among the most feared beasts in French folklore, as did Le Meneur de Loops, the Wizard of the Wolves, responsible for commanding the wolves on their missions of terror. But were the legends merely that? "The Clockmaker" tells the tale of a clock Zachary discovers in Pascal's shop that chimes only when Death is near. Finally, "Casting On, Binding Off" features a pair of knitting needles that almost kill Zachary.

The Vale is home of The Gifted, those born with magical talent that manifests in unpredictable ways that many look upon with suspicion and fear. Even as the Vale's king works hard to teach citizens truth and tolerance concerning the gift of magic, the process is slow and politically risky. Many of the Gifted have no choice but to seek shelter in the stronghold city of Safehold. But is safety possible even there? Sixteen-year-old Arlin is a nobleman's son, grandson of the king of Vale. Handsome and spoiled, he was born to warrior parents with older siblings who outshine him in every capacity. Misunderstood, his sullen attitude alienates his family. With the sudden appearance of wings on his back--a very rare and visible magical Gift--Arlin has no choice but to, literally, take flight to protect himself and his grandfather's reputation as an impartial judge of Gifted rights. Fiella was adopted as an apprentice to the local bookmaster, where she discovered her passion for books and talent for sales. Her parents were killed when she was only seven--an event she witnessed that led to her desperate regret and longing to help others. While traveling on her first book-circuit as a journeyman, she impulsively offers to help Arlin get to Safehold, a sanctuary for Gifted, not realizing the danger she'll be placed in by doing so. Not the least of her worries is the secret she's been carefully hiding: She, too, is Gifted. Shonwin is heir to the lordship of Kuturan. When he was a child, his father was murdered by his own wife. Living with a mercilessly cruel parent led to Shonwin's single-minded devotion to Kuturan. When the king heard of the ruthless horrors practiced there, he tore away their income and livelihood, denying them the rights other lords of the land were entitled to. To rebuild his heritage and birthright, Shonwin means to have his revenge. Arlin's Gift will enable him to not only discredit and disgrace the king but strike at the king's protection of the Gifted and his own beloved grandson, Arlin.

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER Plummet into a kill-or-be-killed competition where a scrappy underdog hell-bent on revenge must claw his way to the top in this thrilling YA fantasy debut Exiled to live as a Low, sixteen-year-old Conrad refuses to become heir to his murderous uncle. But Meritocracy is a harsh and unforgiving rule on the floating island of Holmstead, and when his ailing mother is killed by monstrous gorgantauns, Conrad cuts a deal to save the only family he has left. To rescue his sister from his uncle's clutches, Conrad must enter the Selection of the Twelve Trades. Hunter, the deadliest of all the Trades, gains a fresh recruit with Conrad. Now he must endure vigorous training, manipulative peers, and the Gauntlet—a brutal final test that yields riches and status to whichever skyship crew kills the most gorgantauns. Forced to serve in the lowest of stations and unseen by all, Conrad overhears whispers of rebellion in the dark. Conrad had never known anything existed below the toxic black clouds of the Skylands . . . until now. Grab your copy of Book One of the Above the Black trilogy today! This fast-paced series is reminiscent of Attack on Titan and will appeal to fans of Pierce Brown. It's a great pick for those who love action-adventure.

For the daughter of a gentleman during the English Regency, life can be a whirlwind of parties, balls and outings--all to catch a suitable husband. For Georgiana and Cecilia Rowland and their friends, finding and securing the right husband is further complicated by misunderstandings, prejudices, rebellion against social restrictions, uncooperative suitors...and sometimes their own wayward hearts. Eligible bachelor Mr. Richard Harding has his heart set on marrying his lifelong friend and neighbor, Miss Georgiana Rowland. However, the two have been good friends for so long that, when he finally screws up his courage and proposes to her, Georgie thinks he's merely teasing! Georgiana has good reason to be so distracted. Her younger sister is about to be launched into society and most of the work and worry falls on Georgie. Also, despite her mother's furious command, she's befriended the scandalous Lady Shipton, which brings both blessing and chaos to the Rowland family and to their kind uncle, Sir Henry. Worse for Mr. Harding, Lady Shipton's charming stepson takes a strong liking to the beguiling Georgie. Mr. Harding keeps proposing, again and again, while still trying to support Georgie in her trials. Is it possible for such a good friendship to turn into love?

Khyber is Istorica for the exiles, the one entrusted with remembering all their history, everything they've learned. Despite the support of her grandmother, Dayree, Khyber feels she's let down her family by not being able to step between worlds and take the exiles home. She has many gifts, but her talent for telling stories becomes the most important, when it offers the exiles a chance to reach out and find other exiles from Rehdonna. However, enemies have followed the exiles to Earth, and the only way to protect her family and village is to live separated from them under a false name. For the sake of the exiles, Khyber will do whatever it takes...and in the process find her way home.