Category: Dark fantasy

Sanctuary: An Epic Novel of Thieves’ World

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Sanctuary: An Epic Novel of Thieves' World
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Set in the Thieves’ World 

From the Bestselling Fantasy Adventure Series, Thieves’ World (tm)
Created by Robert Lynn Asprin & Lynn Abbey

Return To The City That Would Not Die!
Return To Thieves’ World!
Return To Sanctuary!

Thieves’ World was the bestselling and first of the shared world phenomenon, selling well over a million copies of anthologies detailing the exploits and intrigues of the high-born and low-born denizens of Sanctuary, a city that has seen many masters.

The Age of Ranke and the reign of Kadakithis, the occupation of the Beysib, the war of the gods and indeed the erstwhile Renaissance are now all in the past. Memories of heroes and villains, glory and savagery have all been relegated to the shadows of yesteryear as present-day residents once again apply themselves to the task at hand: survival.

Only Molin Torchholder, architect of Sanctuary’s glory and master of her secrets. knows the whole truth, but he is dying . . . He must hold on until he can pass along the city’s hidden history of empires come and gone and blood shed for reason and naught. Aiding him are a lowly laborer named Cauvin, himself a survivor of one of the city’s darkest moments, and a young boy named Bec.

So many secrets and so little time. And as Molin’s chronicles of the past unfold, even darker forces return, an evil that jeopardizes the very survival of a city that until now has always refused to die.

Sanctuary – An Epic Novel of Thieves’ World ushers in a whole new age of tales, a whole new age of Thieves’ World.

Thieves’ World

Thieves' World
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“Game of Thrones has come to an end. . . . [Here’s] a fantasy series to fill the void. . . . You’ll be pulled into political intrigues, watch new gods replace old, and witness fortunes rise and fall and rise again.” — Book Riot

Experience “a bold and daring experiment in fantasy storytelling” with the first three books in the bestselling Thieves’ World® series (Fantasy-Faction).

Created by the New York Times–bestselling author of the Myth series, as well as the Phule’s Company series, Thieves’ World® brings together classic fantasy’s finest authors to flesh out the shared world with their own unforgettable characters and epic worldbuilding.

The first three books include stories by Lynn Abbey, Poul Anderson, Robert Lynn Asprin, Marion Zimmer Bradley, C. J. Cherryh, David Drake, Philip José Farmer, Joe Haldeman, Janet Morris, Andrew J. Offutt, and others. They introduce you to the nefarious citizens of the city of Sanctuary, including One-Thumb, the proprietor of the Vulgar Unicorn tavern; Regli, a nobleman; Illyra, the seer; Hanes, the thief; Jubal, the crime lord; and Tempus Thales, the immortal mercenary.

in the same universe : Sanctuary: An Epic Novel of Thieves’ World

“Sanctuary was the city where anything could happen, where characters created by some of the best fantasy writers of the generation crossed paths and shared adventures.” —Black Gate

Samhain Sorceries (recent sword and sorcery stories)

Samhain Sorceries (recent sword and sorcery stories)
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Now, at Samhain, ritual fires of ash and apple-wood, mixed with bull’s bones, burned on the heights and the shore to deter malign spirits, or demons out of Hell as the Christians said.

Just in time for Halloween, DMR Books presents ten haunting tales of swords and sorcery. On Samhain, the dead will rise, dark rituals will be performed, and gateways to the afterworld will open. One of the more notable tales in this anthology is “Night of the Burning Ghost” by Keith Taylor, which features Felimid mac Fal, hero of the classic Bard series. Samhain Sorceries also includes stories by Adrian Cole, Matthew Pungitore, Harry Piper, and more. Edited by D.M. Ritzlin.

Undeath Ascendant: A Vampire Counts Omnibus (Warhammer Chronicles)

Undeath Ascendant: A Vampire Counts Omnibus (Warhammer Chronicles)
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A Warhammer Chronicles omnibus

Across the Old World, brave heroes stand against the dark shadows cast by bloodthirsty vampires. In this collection, three novels and a selection of short stories lay bare the never-ending battle against these lords of the night.

READ IT BECAUSE
Explore the legacy of Nagash across the world-that-was with a trio of novels focused on the greatest lords of the undead, the bloodthirsty vampires.

DESCRIPTION
Ancient and cruel, vampires are reviled across the realms of man for their cunning intellect and bloodthirsty pleasures. These quicksilver killers prowl the grim, shaded forests and walled cities of the Old World, slaughtering without mercy, in eternal bondage to a despicable thirst. Only the most valorous heroes of the Empire brave the epic quests to hold back this darkness, and hold it back they must, lest the curse of undeath makes monsters of them all…

This omnibus edition collects together three novels and three short stories focused on the dread vampires of the Old World

The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard

The Horror Stories of Robert E. Howard
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Here are Robert E. Howard’s greatest horror tales, all in their original, definitive versions.

Some of Howard’s best-known characters—Solomon Kane, Bran Mak Morn, and sailor Steve Costigan among them—roam the forbidding locales of the author’s fevered imagination, from the swamps and bayous of the Deep South to the fiend-haunted woods outside Paris to remote jungles in Africa.

The collection includes Howard’s masterpiece “Pigeons from Hell,”which Stephen King calls “one of the finest horror stories of [the twentieth] century,” a tale of two travelers who stumble upon the ruins of a Southern plantation–and into the maw of its fatal secret. In “Black Canaan” even the best warrior has little chance of taking down the evil voodoo man with unholy powers–and none at all against his wily mistress, the diabolical High Priestess of Damballah. In these and other lavishly illustrated classics, such as the revenge nightmare “Worms of the Earth” and“The Cairn on the Headland,”Howard spins tales of unrelenting terror, the legacy of one of the world’s great masters of the macabre.

In the Shadow of their Dying by Anna Smith Spark and Michael R. Fletcher

In the Shadow of their Dying
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A brand new (mars 2024) Grimdark novella collaboration between Anna Smith Spark and Michael R. Fletcher

The third best assassin. A second rate mercenary crew. One terrifying demon.

As Sharaam crumbles under siege, a mercenary crew hires an assassin to kill the king. For Tash, it’s a chance at glory—to be the best blade in the dark Sharaam has ever known. For Pitt, it’s a way to get his cutthroat crew past the Tsarii siege and out of this hellhole, maybe even with some gold to their name. For Iananr the Bound One, it’s a dream of shadows and human blood.

The Eternal Champion by Michael Moorcock (Erekosë trilogy)

The Eternal Champion by Michael Moorcock (Erekosë trilogy)
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From one of Britain’s foremost fantasy writers comes this Tolkienesque series opener about destiny, war, betrayal—and the return of a long-dead hero

John Daker dreams of other worlds, and a name: Erekosë. He finds the strength to answer the call, travelling to a strange land ruled by the aging King Rigenos of Necranal.

Humanity is united in a desperate fight against the inhuman Eldren, and John must fight with them. But the actions of his brethren turn his loyalties—and, as Erekosë, he will take a terrible revenge.

Kagen the Damned: A Novel (Kagen the Damned, 1)

Kagen the Damned
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Published: 2022-05-10
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Kagen the Damned marks the first installment of an exciting new series of dark epic fantasy novels from bestselling author Jonathan Maberry. Sworn by Oath Kagen Vale is the trusted and feared captain of the palace guard, charged with protection of the royal children of the Silver Empire.

But one night, Kagen is drugged and the entire imperial family is killed, leaving the empire in ruins. Abandoned by the Gods Haunted and broken, Kagen is abandoned by his gods and damned forever. He becomes a wanderer, trying to take down as many of his enemies as possible while plotting to assassinate the usurper, the deadly Witch-king of Hakkia.

While all around him magic—long banished from the world—returns in strange and terrifying ways. Fueled by Rage To exact his vengeance, Kagen must venture into strange lands, battle bizarre and terrifying creatures, and gather allies for a suicide mission into the heart of the Witch-king’s empire. Kings and gods will fear him. Kagen the Damned

Son of the Black Sword (1) (Saga of the Forgotten Warrior)

Son of the Black Sword
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After the War of the Gods, the demons were cast out and fell to the world. Mankind was nearly eradicated by the seemingly unstoppable beasts, until the gods sent the great hero, Ramrowan, to save them. He united the tribes, gave them magic, and drove the demons into the sea. Ever since the land has belonged to man and the oceans have remained an uncrossable hell, leaving the continent of Lok isolated. It was prophesized that someday the demons would return, and only the descendants of Ramrowan would be able to defeat them. They became the first kings, and all men served those who were their only hope for survival.

As centuries passed the descendants of the great hero grew in number and power. They became tyrannical and cruel, and their religion nothing but an excuse for greed. Gods and demons became myth and legend, and the people no longer believed. The castes created to serve the Sons of Ramrowan rose up and destroyed their rulers. All religion was banned and replaced by a code of unflinching law. The surviving royalty and their priests were made casteless, condemned to live as untouchables, and the Age of Law began.

Ashok Vadal has been chosen by a powerful ancient weapon to be its bearer. He is a Protector, the elite militant order of roving law enforcers. No one is more merciless in rooting out those who secretly practice the old ways. Everything is black or white, good or evil, until he discovers his entire life is a fraud. Ashok isn’t who he thinks he is, and when he finds himself on the wrong side of the law, the consequences lead to rebellion, war—and destruction.

#1 IN A NEW EPIC FANTASY SERIES from Monster Hunter series creator and New York Times best-selling author, Larry Correia!

Path of Exile Vol. 1: Origins

Path of Exile Vol. 1: Origins
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“You’ve played the award-winning, free-to-play roleplaying game, Path of Exile. Now find out how the nightmare began through Victario’s eyes in the graphic novel that serves as prequel to the action-packed game!
Before the Cataclysm, before the first exile set foot upon the corrupted shores of Wraeclast… there stood the Eternal Empire. There raged the Purity Rebellion. And there was Victario Nevalius, the People’s Poet. Finding himself among the fearsome Karui, Victario negotiates an alliance with their king, Kaom, to oppose the tyranny of Eternal Emperor Chitus. Can Victario swell the Purity Rebellion’s ranks with the greatest warriors in the empire? Can King Kaom defeat the finest archer in the empire, Marceus Lioneye? How will Victario survive to pen the tale? And how does this far-flung rebellion connect to the apocalyptic visions that plague Victario’s every waking hour?”