Download or read book The Blade Itself written by Joe Abercrombie and published by Orbit. This book was released on 2015-09-08 with total page 560 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The first novel in the First Law Trilogy and debut fantasy novel from New York Times bestseller, Joe Abercrombie. Logen Ninefingers, infamous barbarian, has finally run out of luck. Caught in one feud too many, he's on the verge of becoming a dead barbarian -- leaving nothing behind him but bad songs, dead friends, and a lot of happy enemies. Nobleman, dashing officer, and paragon of selfishness, Captain Jezal dan Luthar has nothing more dangerous in mind than fleecing his friends at cards and dreaming of glory in the fencing circle. But war is brewing, and on the battlefields of the frozen North they fight by altogether bloodier rules. Inquisitor Glokta, cripple turned torturer, would like nothing better than to see Jezal come home in a box. But then Glokta hates everyone: cutting treason out of the Union one confession at a time leaves little room for friendship. His latest trail of corpses may lead him right to the rotten heart of government, if he can stay alive long enough to follow it. Enter the wizard, Bayaz. A bald old man with a terrible temper and a pathetic assistant, he could be the First of the Magi, he could be a spectacular fraud, but whatever he is, he's about to make the lives of Logen, Jezal, and Glokta a whole lot more difficult. Murderous conspiracies rise to the surface, old scores are ready to be settled, and the line between hero and villain is sharp enough to draw blood. Unpredictable, compelling, wickedly funny, and packed with unforgettable characters, The Blade Itself is noir fantasy with a real cutting edge.

Download or read book Strange Folk You ll Never Meet written by A.A. Balaskovits and published by Santa Fe Writers Project. This book was released on 2021-10-01 with total page 128 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From A.A. Balaskovits, author of Magic for Unlucky Girls, this new collection of unusual, fabulist fiction leads you down strange paths for dark encounters with familiar fairy tales, odd people from history, and weirdos who may be living right next door. Among the characters in these bizarre stories, a starving beauty finds a beast who can save her village, a man eats everything in sight but is never full, a woman gives birth to bloody animal parts, and a daughter is forced to dance every night to the reenactment of her father's murder. These tales invite you to spend time with people who, in the maddest of circumstances, chew their way forward. With elements of psychological horror, sly humor, and the fantastic, these stories will burrow under your skin, haunt your dreams, and make you wonder what worlds lie just beyond that tiny hole in the wall.

Download or read book The Burning Isle written by Will Panzo and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2016-11-01 with total page 433 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A powerful and gripping debut grimdark fantasy novel, set in a world of criminals, pirates, assassins, and magic... “A man has only three reasons for being anywhere: to right a wrong, to earn a coin, or because he is lost.” Cassius is not lost... The mage Cassius has just arrived on the island of Scipio. Five miles of slum on the edge of fifty miles of jungle, Scipio is a lawless haven for criminals, pirates, and exiles. The city is split in two, each half ruled by a corrupt feudal lord. Both of them answer to a mysterious general who lives deep in the jungle with his army, but they still constantly battle for power. If a man knows how to turn their discord to his advantage, he might also turn a profit... But trained on the Isle of Twelve, Cassius is no ordinary spellcaster, and his goal is not simply money. This is a treacherous island where the native gods are restless and anything can happen…

Download or read book Kings of Paradise written by Richard Nell and published by Createspace Independent Publishing Platform. This book was released on 2018-07-19 with total page 606 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Winner of the 2018 IRDA for fantasy #1 Best Seller in Canadian Dark Fantasy 99% liked it (Goodreads) A deformed genius plots vengeance while struggling to survive. A wastrel prince comes of age, finding a power he never imagined. Two worlds are destined to collide. Only one can be king. "This dark fantasy epic will be held up against George R.R. Martin's masterwork, A Song of Ice and Fire. Read this book now so you can act pompous around your friends when HBO turns it into a television series." - Goodreads "Kings of Paradise presents a brutal world of complex yet simple politics, reminiscent of Game of Thrones. An intriguing low-magic world packed with interesting cultures to be further delved. Nell shows considerable skill in displaying his world distinctly through the eyes of his different characters." - Fantasybookreview.co.uk Ruka, called a demon at birth, is a genius. Born malformed and ugly into the snow-covered wasteland of the Ascom, he was spared from death by his mother's love. Now he is an outcast, consumed with hate for those who've wronged him. But to take his vengeance, he must first survive. Across a vast sea in the white-sand island paradise of Sri Kon, Kale is fourth and youngest son of the Sorcerer King. And at sixteen, Kale is a disappointment. As the first prince ever forced to serve with low-born marines, Kale must prove himself and become a man, or else lose all chance of a worthy future, and any hope to win the love of his life. Though they do not know it, both boys are on the cusp of discovery. Their worlds and lives are destined for greatness, or ruin. But in a changing world where ash meets paradise, only one man can be king... The first installment of an epic, low- fantasy trilogy. Kings of Paradise is a dark, bloody, coming-of-age story shaped by culture, politics, and magic. "The novel's brilliant world works on so many levels; it has a rich political landscape, moral complexity, and immense environmental challenges, all told in beautiful, thoughtful prose." - Indiereader "A must for lovers of fantasy, especially those who enjoy losing themselves in a epic tale." - Reader's Favorite "The world that Mr. Nell has created is pretty incredible. But the thing that really made me love this story was the characters he filled that world with." - Goodreads "If Kale changes, Ruka grows and festers like a storm. Without a doubt, the darker of the two characters, I feel Richard Nell has created a compelling and classic character here." Goodreads

Download or read book Grimdark written by Tim Linward and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 2024-06-11 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: On Warhammer 40,000, Britain's most excessive sci-fi franchise, and its vision of a hellish postindustrial future. In the grim darkness of the British imagination, there is only Warhammer 40,000.... Featuring demons, chain swords, and supermen in power armor, Warhammer 40,000 is Britain's most excessive sci-fi franchise. For thirty years this cult war game and its tie-in media have enticed thousands of fans to build, paint, and play with armies of toy soldiers taken from the battlefields of the worst possible future. Why has this fantasy proven so irresistible? Part collection of essays, part ravings of a cult prophet, Grimdark examines Warhammer 40,000's place and impact in pop culture, and how this unique vision of a hellish future arose from the subconscious of postindustrial Britain.

Download or read book Red Country written by Joe Abercrombie and published by Hachette UK. This book was released on 2012-10-18 with total page 611 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 'Joe Abercrombie is doing some terrific work' George R. R. Martin, author of GAME OF THRONES. They burned her home. They stole her brother and sister. But vengeance is following. Shy South hoped to bury her bloody past and ride away smiling, but she'll have to sharpen up some bad old ways to get her family back, and she's not a woman to flinch from what needs doing. She sets off in pursuit with only a pair of oxen and her cowardly old stepfather Lamb for company. But it turns out Lamb's buried a bloody past of his own, and out in the lawless Far Country, the past never stays buried. Their journey will take them across the barren plains to a frontier town gripped by gold fever, through feud, duel and massacre, high into the unmapped mountains to a reckoning with the Ghosts. Even worse, it will force them into alliance with Nicomo Cosca, infamous soldier of fortune, and his feckless lawyer Temple, two men no one should ever have to trust... The past never stays buried...

Download or read book Knee Deep in Grit written by Mark Lawrence and published by Knee-Deep in Grit. This book was released on 2018-03-31 with total page 380 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Get knee-deep in grit with twenty-six grimdark fantasy and sci-fi short stories from the shadowy vaults of Grimdark Magazine. The top names in dark speculative fiction and the genre's brightest newcomers bring you stories of war, betrayal, violence, and greed, as anti-heroes and adversaries fight to the bittersweet end. For the first time, two years of fiction from Grimdark Magazine are printed on dead trees and bound together like captive slaves to be read or reread and proudly placed among your favourite tomes on your bookshelf. Knee-Deep in Grit features short stories by authors including Mark Lawrence, Aliette de Bodard, Adrian Tchaikovsky, R. Scott Bakker, Kelly Sandoval, James A. Moore, and Victor Milan.

Download or read book A Dark Path written by Stuart Thaman and published by . This book was released on 2019-06-17 with total page 376 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From International Best-Selling Author Stuart Thaman: The Seven Portals to Wonder changed the world. The most advanced AI ever created powered the worlds, bringing infinite possibilities and endless adventure to everyone across the globe. War on Earth practically ceased as most of the planet's population became addicted to the game.Ben Hales was no different. He spent a few years saving enough money to buy lifetime passes for himself and his daughter, Ingrid. Now he has the cash, and Ingrid just turned 16, the minimum age required to play. Not everything-or everyone-in Wonder is quite as it seems. Evil lurks both inside and outside the game, and that evil finds Ben all too soon.Ravaged by loss and consumed by hatred, Ben awakens an ancient necromancer and a host of long-forgotten classes. Now he's building his citadel of darkness and raising an army of the dead with a singular goal: revenge.If it means the death of everyone inside Wonder... so be it.Check out Stuart Thaman's other epic fantasy and LitRPG novels! You can find them all at stuartthamanbooks.com today

Download or read book The Skald s Black Verse written by Jordan Short and published by . This book was released on 2018-11-07 with total page 329 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An Epic Grimdark Fantasy! A last ditch rebellion. A powerful curse. An omen of disaster. Dark, epic, fun - a new world full of wonder, dread, and oceans of blood! When a sinister creature murders one of the conquerors' soldiers, Brohr's violent reputation makes him the prime suspect. Haunted by a rage-filled ghost, Brohr's disturbing possessions quickly become the reason for all of his troubles...and the only way he can survive. With a grandfather bent on dragging him into a failed rebellion, and a deadly comet hurtling toward his embattled world, Brohr sets off on a quest to save his people and uncover the secrets of his own past! Discover one of the best new fantasy books of 2019! A dark fantasy epic with razor sharp prose and an ambitious scope.

Download or read book Road Brothers written by Mark Lawrence and published by HarperCollins UK. This book was released on 2017-11-02 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A volume of short stories by the bestselling author of The Broken Empire series, Mark Lawrence.

Download or read book Grim Dark written by Ophelia Kee and published by Ophelia Kee. This book was released on with total page 91 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Grim Dark Mystic Dark - Opener Winning the battle with the Reaper was only the beginning of the story Sold into bondage to save the rest of the family, Lyella accepted her fate until her ghost magic found a handsome gryphon knight in the dream. Planning her escape wasn’t the problem. It was finding her gryphon. Broken in battle, Sinclair took up arms against Death to gain one last chance at everything, only to be noticed by the Queen of the dream. The elves did her bidding and rescued a fading immortal, leaving one gryphon knight with an unpayable debt. Service to the elvish lords at Asylum granted Sinclair an opportunity to find his mate, but also set him on a strange search and rescue mission. The quarry: a man destined to become the last Vampire King. The mission: ensure the vampire fulfills his destiny. It’s all according to an ancient prophecy, but it must end the way the elves want it, rather than the way a devil wrote it. Grim Dark is the opening tale for the dark urban fantasy miniseries, Mystic Dark. Set in the dream, this spinoff story from the Draoithe Saga begins the tale of how one lone vampire must alter the Unlikely Kings Prophecy to aid the balance of magic. If you love powerful magic wielding shifters and sexy dark vampire royalty, read Grim Dark and begin an all new urban fantasy adventure. It’s more than a story; it’s an experience. Welcome to the dream… Urban Fantasy with Steamy Paranormal Romance Fated Mates 18+ HEA! NC! ***Warning: Adult Themes, Fantasy Violence, and/or Explicit Sexual Situations. Intended for a Mature Audience.

Download or read book The Digital Role Playing Game and Technical Communication written by Daniel Reardon and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2021-04-22 with total page 315 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With annual gross sales surpassing 100 billion U.S. dollars each of the last two years, the digital games industry may one day challenge theatrical-release movies as the highest-grossing entertainment media in the world. In their examination of the tremendous cultural influence of digital games, Daniel Reardon and David Wright analyze three companies that have shaped the industry: Bethesda, located in Rockville, Maryland, USA; BioWare in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; and CD Projekt Red in Warsaw, Poland. Each company has used social media and technical content in the games to promote players' belief that players control the companies' game narratives. The result has been at times explosive, as empowered players often attempted to co-op the creative processes of games through discussion board forum demands, fund-raising campaigns to persuade companies to change or add game content, and modifications (“modding”) of the games through fan-created downloads. The result has changed the way we understand the interactive nature of digital games and the power of fan culture to shape those games.

Download or read book The Refrigerator Monologues written by Catherynne M. Valente and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2017-06-06 with total page 144 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the New York Times bestselling author Catherynne Valente comes a ferocious riff on the women in superhero comics. The Refrigerator Monologues is a collection of linked stories from the points of view of the wives and girlfriends of superheroes, female heroes, and anyone who’s ever been “refrigerated”: comic book women who are killed, raped, brainwashed, driven mad, disabled, or had their powers taken so that a male superhero’s storyline will progress. In an entirely new and original superhero universe, Valente subversively explores these ideas and themes in the superhero genre, treating them with the same love, gravity, and humor as her fairy tales. After all, superheroes are our new fairy tales and these six women have their own stories to share.

Download or read book Fantasy and Science Fiction Medievalisms From Isaac Asimov to A Game of Thrones written by Helen Young and published by Cambria Press. This book was released on 2015-06-08 with total page 240 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: rom advertisements to amusement parks, themed restaurants, and Renaissance fairs twenty-first century popular culture is strewn with reimaginings of the Middle Ages. They are nowhere more prevalent, however, than in the films, television series, books, and video games of speculative genres: fantasy and science fiction. Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit film trilogies and George R. R. Martin's multimedia Game of Thrones franchise are just two of the most widely known and successful fantasy conglomerates of recent decades. Medievalism has often been understood as a defining feature of fantasy, and as the antithesis of science fiction, but such constructs vastly underestimate the complexities of both genres and their interactions. "Medieval" has multiple meanings in fantasy and science fiction, which shift with genre convention, and which bring about their own changes as authors and audiences engage with what has gone before in the recent and deeper pasts. Earlier volumes have examined some of the ways in which contemporary popular culture re-imagines the Middle Ages, offering broad overviews, but none considers fantasy, science fiction, or the two together. The focused approach of this collection provides a directed pathway into the myriad medievalisms of modern popular culture. By engaging directly with genre(s), this book acknowledges that medievalist creative texts and practices do not occur in a vacuum, but are shaped by multiple cultural forces and concerns; medievalism is never just about the Middle Ages.

Download or read book Love is Eternal written by Joely Sue Burkhart and published by BBB Publishings. This book was released on 2022-04-25 with total page 1246 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Courage is born when hope overcomes fear. -Georgiy Konisky Faced with the tragedy unfolding in Ukraine, this collection of authors gathered together to light a small flame of love and hope in the face of fear and darkness. We hope that these romance stories will bring a smile to your face and help remind you that even amid disaster, that love is eternal. All proceeds will be donated to charities to help the people of Ukraine. This is a multi author anthology. Stories may come with a trigger warning and end on a cliff-hanger please beware before reading. Authors Include Tamara White, Joely Sue Burkhart, Alexis Taylor, Beth Hendrix, Hannah Morse, Regina Frame, Rowan St. George, Linny Lawless, Leigh Kelsey, Kate Bonham, Sarah Stein, Pandora Snow, Leaona Luxx, Jewel Lynn, Haley Rhoades, Kelly Lord, Ruby Wolff, C.A. King, & Solamae Reigns.

Download or read book Transformation of the University written by Søren S.E. Bengtsen and published by Routledge. This book was released on 2022-04-25 with total page 186 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Transformation of the University imagines preferable futures for the university, building hope for the institution’s necessary transformation. It transcends old criticisms and presents fresh ideas on how the institution might be conceived, organised and put into practice while safeguarding that which makes it a university – the pursuit of knowledge. This book is divided into three main parts: Part One – ‘Knowledge’ assumes the role of the university in generating knowledge for the benefit of society; Part Two – ‘Cultural Growth’ expands on how the university might contribute to and benefit from the cultural growth of society, with both explicit and implicit connections to social and epistemic (in)justice; and Part Three – ‘Institutions’ focuses on imaginative processes for enacting the university as an institution that meets the unforeseen future challenges facing societies around the world. With contributions from scholars across the world, Transformation of the University is an essential read for all academics, practitioners, institutional leaders and broad social thinkers who are concerned with the future of the university and its contributions to society.

Download or read book The Stars That Fall written by Nikki Mahlia and published by Ruth Headlam. This book was released on 2023-08-18 with total page 351 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: How could anyone find peace in something as tragic as death? Powerful gods will do terrible things, and the saying seems to be true. A single drop of blood is all it takes. Head Reaper; Titan—all titles that belong to Yugi—and he hates them. He is forced to collect souls at the brink of death, and as a Titan, he’s viewed as a traitor by the celestials. A disease known to kill past gods has returned, leaving a bloody massacre in its wake, and Yugi is forced to reap the souls. Then, the Asayli, the rulers of Xhian, ban the use of sẹda, the powers of all celestials. Without power, Yugi and his kind will never evolve to become gods, and with the disease spreading, the situation is made worse. First gain power, then become a god. But gaining power always comes with a deadly risk.