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FROM BEST-SELLING AUTHOR ROBERT STANEK. Scott Madison Evers is the son-in-law of the Chairman of the National Security Council. His wife is pregnant with their first child. While in Munich conducting a rendition of a known terrorist, Scott's cover is blown. Before Scott can get away, his entire operations team is wiped out, and he alone escapes into the night.
When he returns to the US, he finds himself a wanted man, and must go on the run from the agency that is trying to convict him of high treason. Now Scott conducts secret surveillance of those he thinks can give him a way out while slowly getting drawn into a web of deceit. Ruthlessly, the other side draws his wife and unborn child into the struggle. Scott's only hope to save them and himself is to do the unthinkable, and that is what he sets out to do.
Scott Evers Thrillers:
1. The Pieces of the Puzzle
2. Devil's Due
3. Strike Force
"This one's memorable and fascinating heroine is someone you're going to love as much as Katniss Everdeen." - Sandra Brown, author
"A gripping tale. Perfectly paced and brilliantly plotted." - Cathy Thompson, author
"Stanek's written many good, even great, books. This one's exceptional. Read it!" - Shannon Hale, author
"Wonderful action writing. Fast, fun, and smart." - Margaret Brown, author
"I can see why Rothfuss doesn't want people to read Stanek. Stanek's a much more capable writer." - Emily Asimov, author
"What an amazing book! Unique and innovative, captivating to the end." - Mary Osborne, author
"Anyone who enjoyed The Hunger Games, World War Z, or The Maze Runner is going to enjoy this book." - Lisa Gardner, author
Episode #3. The machines control our world. It’s time we took it back.
In the ruins of our world, a new order arose, an order controlled by the very machines humankind created. The end for us came not from a massive global war but from something unthinkable, incomprehensible. The machines simply replaced us and we let them, and so, in the end, humanity went out not with a bang, but with a whimper. No shots fired. No bombs dropped. No cities destroyed. We ended and the machines began—or at least that is what the few human survivors of the machine apocalypse believe.
After the Machines
Episode One: Awakening
Episode Two: Transition
Episode Three: Descent
Episode Four: Precipice
###
To the machines, we became nothing—except maybe outsiders, if they considered us at all. Outsiders looking in on their reality, for the machines weren’t bothered by our existence, or at least, if they were, they weren’t bothered enough to bother us. They certainly didn’t seem to require anything of us or have any need of us at all—if they had needed us, they probably would have enslaved us. But they hadn’t. Enslaved us that is.
The machines hadn’t done anything to us really. Except take over the world—and it was their world now. It certainly wasn’t ours.
We were outsiders, strangers really. We looked in on their world. They didn’t acknowledge us. They probably didn’t even consider us a part of their world. Just as we didn’t consider the small things that crawled beneath our feet as part of our world.
Matthew told us it wasn’t the machines who killed us. Matthew being the only one here now who remembered when we drove the automobiles, flew on the airplanes, and rode on cars behind the locomotives. He said most of us just died. Us being the human race.
I didn’t believe that. I believed we died of neglect. The neglect of the machines. The machines who cared not enough to kill or enslave us.
Luke would have called it benign neglect. Luke being the one who taught me to read and write my letters and words. He knew all the fancy words. He taught me everything really. He remembered—I didn’t. Don’t, really. These words—his really as much as my own.
But Luke was gone. Is gone really, if you don’t mind me slipping into the present. Luke said it’s wrong to slip from past to present or present to past, but I do. The present is—and Luke isn’t. The past was—and sometimes I can see it.
###
After the Machines is a story unlike any other you’ve ever read. It’s the story of us, the humans who struggle to survive in a world we no longer control.
"A gripping tale. Perfectly paced and brilliantly plotted." - Cathy Thompson, author
"Stanek's written many good, even great, books. This one's exceptional. Read it!" - Shannon Hale, author
"Wonderful action writing. Fast, fun, and smart." - Margaret Brown, author
"I can see why Rothfuss doesn't want people to read Stanek. Stanek's a much more capable writer." - Emily Asimov, author
"Anyone who enjoyed The Hunger Games, World War Z, or The Maze Runner is going to enjoy this book." - Lisa Gardner, author
"What an amazing book! Unique and innovative, captivating to the end." - Mary Osborne, author
"This one's memorable and fascinating heroine is someone you're going to love as much as Katniss Everdeen." - Sandra Brown, author
Our world isn't ours any more. It's theirs. The human survivors lead a hardscrabble life, scavenging what they can from the dead city, waiting and watching. Cedes isn't like Matthew and his regulars. She dreams. She talks. She questions. She wonders why Luke disappeared, where Luke disappeared to. She wants to know what we are to the machines. This is her story. This is our story. This is the story of us, the humans who survive.
In the ruins of our world, a new order arose, an order controlled by the very machines humankind created. The end for us came not from a massive global war but from something unthinkable, incomprehensible. The machines simply replaced us and we let them, and so, in the end, humanity went out not with a bang, but with a whimper. No shots fired. No bombs dropped. No cities destroyed. We ended and the machines began—or at least that is what the few human survivors of the machine apocalypse believe.
###
To the machines, we became nothing—except maybe outsiders, if they considered us at all. Outsiders looking in on their reality, for the machines weren’t bothered by our existence, or at least, if they were, they weren’t bothered enough to bother us. They certainly didn’t seem to require anything of us or have any need of us at all—if they had needed us, they probably would have enslaved us. But they hadn’t. Enslaved us that is.
The machines hadn’t done anything to us really. Except take over the world—and it was their world now. It certainly wasn’t ours.
We were outsiders, strangers really. We looked in on their world. They didn’t acknowledge us. They probably didn’t even consider us a part of their world. Just as we didn’t consider the small things that crawled beneath our feet as part of our world.
Matthew told us it wasn’t the machines who killed us. Matthew being the only one here now who remembered when we drove the automobiles, flew on the airplanes, and rode on cars behind the locomotives. He said most of us just died. Us being the human race.
I didn’t believe that. I believed we died of neglect. The neglect of the machines. The machines who cared not enough to kill or enslave us.
Luke would have called it benign neglect. Luke being the one who taught me to read and write my letters and words. He knew all the fancy words. He taught me everything really. He remembered—I didn’t. Don’t, really. These words—his really as much as my own.
But Luke was gone. Is gone really, if you don’t mind me slipping into the present. Luke said it’s wrong to slip from past to present or present to past, but I do. The present is—and Luke isn’t. The past was—and sometimes I can see it.
###
After the Machines is a story unlike any other you’ve ever read. It’s the story of us, the humans who struggle to survive in a world we no longer control.
In the heart of the Middle East, former NSA agent, Scott Evers, is drawn deep into an explosive terrorist plot. Two ships in the Mediterranean were destroyed, a Navy helicopter has been shot down, and two SEAL teams are missing in action.
As he races to find answers, Scott is being hunted by a rogue operative that wants him dead no matter what it takes. When the dust clears, Scott’s world will never be the same again.
After the Great War that divided the peoples, the five kingdoms of men plunged into a Dark Age that lasted 500 hundred years. To heal the lands and restore the light, the great kings decreed that magic and all that is magical, be it creature, man or device, shall be cleansed to dust. From their thrones, the kings watched as creatures born of magic were hunted to extinction by heroes chosen to honor their clans in the blood games.
Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches #1, 2, 3, 4:
Winds of Change
Seeds of Dissent
Pawn of Dragons
Tower of Destiny
In the Service of Dragons #1, 2, 3, 4:
A Clash of Heroes
A Dance of Swords
A Storm of Shields
A Reign of Dragons
Guardians of the Dragon Realms #1, 2:
The Dragon, the Wizard & the Great Door
A Legacy of Dragons
Dragons of the Hundred Worlds #1,2:
Breath of Fire
Living Fire
A Daughter of Kings #1, 2, 3, 4:
Betrayal
Deliverance
Rebirth
Discord
Perfect for the young and the young at heart, this refreshingly unique fantastic adventures only limits are the limits of your imagination. Inside, you'll discover the breathtaking world of Ruin Mist where the mystical and the magical abound, and you'll fall in love with three heroes: a boy who would become a mage, a princess who is fleeing a dying kingdom, and a warrior elf who undertakes an epic journey.
Don't miss the other Ruin Mist books...
Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches #1, 2, 3, 4:
Winds of Change
Seeds of Dissent
Pawn of Dragons
Tower of Destiny
In the Service of Dragons #1, 2, 3, 4:
A Clash of Heroes
A Dance of Swords
A Storm of Shields
A Reign of Dragons
Guardians of the Dragon Realms #1, 2:
The Dragon, the Wizard & the Great Door
A Legacy of Dragons
Dragons of the Hundred Worlds #1,2:
Breath of Fire
Living Fire
A Daughter of Kings #1, 2, 3, 4:
Betrayal
Deliverance
Rebirth
Discord
Magic Lands
Journey Beyond the Beyond
Into the Stone Land
In the heart of the Middle East, former NSA agent, Scott Evers, is drawn deep into an explosive terrorist plot. Two ships in the Mediterranean were destroyed, a Navy helicopter has been shot down, and two SEAL teams are missing in action. As he races to find answers, Scott is being hunted by a rogue operative that wants him dead no matter what it takes. When the dust clears, Scott’s world will never be the same again.
Scott Evers Thrillers:
1. The Pieces of the Puzzle
2. Devil's Due
3. Strike Force
An epic adventure in the grand tradition of "The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches" and "In The Service of Dragons".
Enter an age of titans, dragons, and heroes. For thousands of years the ageless dragons have ruled the hundred worlds, conquering all who oppose them while raising those who bring them glory. But in remote Karthold, Rastín struggles to keep alive the memories of his fallen people and fulfill the wishes of his ailing father.
For an Alv, Rastín is young. He has no great power to help him, no true magic to light his way and keep him safe. Yet as his life turns increasingly grim, Rastín must find the courage and resourcefulness to befriend his most savage enemies if there is to be hope for him and his people.
To restore the honor of his people, Rastín will rise from slave to gladiator and from gladiator to emperor. This is his story.
Don't miss the other Ruin Mist books:
The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches #1, 2, 3, and 4.
In the Service of Dragons #1, 2, 3, and 4.
Guardians of the Dragon Realms #1 and 2.
Dragons of the Hundred Worlds #1 and 2.
Now, from the ancient past, a dark power returns. "The Fourth Wind blows across the mountain tops," they say. And the Twelve Clans emerge from myth and memory. Bold, inventive, brilliantly imagined, In the Service of Dragons is a novel of magic and wonder, a tale of pure excitement you will not soon forget.
Don't miss the other Ruin Mist books...
Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches #1, 2, 3, 4:
Winds of Change
Seeds of Dissent
Pawn of Dragons
Tower of Destiny
In the Service of Dragons #1, 2, 3, 4:
A Clash of Heroes
A Dance of Swords
A Storm of Shields
A Reign of Dragons
Guardians of the Dragon Realms #1, 2:
The Dragon, the Wizard & the Great Door
A Legacy of Dragons
Dragons of the Hundred Worlds #1,2:
Breath of Fire
Living Fire
A Daughter of Kings #1, 2, 3, 4:
Betrayal
Deliverance
Rebirth
Discord
Magic Lands
Journey Beyond the Beyond
Into the Stone Land
Against a backdrop of treachery and intrigue, murder and mayhem, the price of freedom is high. Many will pay with their lives. Many will succumb. For when alliances shatter, old hatreds rise anew and the plotting and scheming begin.
Bold, inventive, brilliantly imagined, In the Service of Dragons, Book Two is a novel of magic and wonder, a tale of pure excitement you will not soon forget.
Don't miss the other Ruin Mist books...
Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches #1, 2, 3, 4:
Winds of Change
Seeds of Dissent
Pawn of Dragons
Tower of Destiny
In the Service of Dragons #1, 2, 3, 4:
A Clash of Heroes
A Dance of Swords
A Storm of Shields
A Reign of Dragons
Guardians of the Dragon Realms #1, 2:
The Dragon, the Wizard & the Great Door
A Legacy of Dragons
Dragons of the Hundred Worlds #1,2:
Breath of Fire
Living Fire
A Daughter of Kings #1, 2, 3, 4:
Betrayal
Deliverance
Rebirth
Discord
Magic Lands
Journey Beyond the Beyond
Into the Stone Land
Reading order for the Ruin Mist books:
Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches #1, 2, 3, 4
In the Service of Dragons #1, 2, 3, 4
The Dragon, the Wizard & the Great Door
A Legacy of Dragons
Breath of Fire
Living Fire
A Daughter of Kings #1, 2, 3, 4
The conquerors, to exterminate the rebels who remain. Memories born in fire have been cleansed with ice. New heroes born while ancients perish.
GUARDIANS & LEGENDS, an epic fantasy quintet, tells the story of the epic adventures that brought hope to those with none in places where men walk in ice and fire. This bundle includes five novels:
BOOK 1: The DRAGON, THE WIZARD & THE GREAT DOOR: Enter a frozen world of frost beasts, hoar hounds, tundra cats, snow trolls, and ice giants. Discover the battle bear troops and a great golden dragon from an age long since past.
BOOK 2: A LEGACY OF DRAGONS: Vilmos and Adrina learn more about their true powers while ancients struggle for control and those once thought immortal begin to perish. Can Vilmos and his friends survive the treachery and betrayals afoot?
BOOK 3: MEMORIES OF FIRE: Fleeing the Ice to a land of fire may bring answers to everything that's happening. But can truth ever be unraveled from lies? Can Vilmos and his friends survive the tests ahead?
BOOK 4: BREATH OF FIRE: When dragon clans rule with fire and terror, mortal enemies must set aside their differences and unite. In this fight war is not the greatest threat, extinction is. But is it too late for their kind? Is it too late to save what’s left of their society?
BOOK 5: LIVING FIRE: To restore the honor of his people, Rastín became a gladiator. Now he must survive the games of the colosseum even though his dragon masters wish daily for his death. But killing a gladiator such as Rastín requires increasing spectacle to appease the masses.
Robert Stanek’s KINGDOMS and DRAGONS books introduced readers to RUIN MIST and the chronicles of the lost ages of the HUNDRED WORLDS penned by Keeper Martin. The Ruin Mist books have gone on to sell over a million copies worldwide and have been translated into many languages.GUARDIANS & LEGENDS connects the ancient past of Ruin Mist with its foreshadowed future, telling an epic fantasy adventure story of tragedy, betrayal, hope, ice, and fire. Whether you are a new reader or already a fan, you can begin your journey into RUIN MIST and the HUNDRED WORLDS right here.
Don't miss the other Ruin Mist books...
Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches #1, 2, 3, 4:
Winds of Change
Seeds of Dissent
Pawn of Dragons
Tower of Destiny
In the Service of Dragons #1, 2, 3, 4:
A Clash of Heroes
A Dance of Swords
A Storm of Shields
A Reign of Dragons
Guardians of the Dragon Realms #1, 2:
The Dragon, the Wizard & the Great Door
A Legacy of Dragons
Dragons of the Hundred Worlds #1,2:
Breath of Fire
Living Fire
A Daughter of Kings #1, 2, 3, 4:
Betrayal
Deliverance
Rebirth
Discord
Magic Lands
Journey Beyond the Beyond
Into the Stone Land
For their support, the elves were granted an audience with the king. Yet great deeds could not undo the past, or change the prejudice of men. Don't miss this outstanding series that has quickly become a worldwide favorite.
The other Ruin Mist books...
Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches #1, 2, 3, 4:
Winds of Change
Seeds of Dissent
Pawn of Dragons
Tower of Destiny
In the Service of Dragons #1, 2, 3, 4:
A Clash of Heroes
A Dance of Swords
A Storm of Shields
A Reign of Dragons
Guardians of the Dragon Realms #1, 2:
The Dragon, the Wizard & the Great Door
A Legacy of Dragons
Dragons of the Hundred Worlds #1,2:
Breath of Fire
Living Fire
A Daughter of Kings #1, 2, 3, 4:
Betrayal
Deliverance
Rebirth
Discord
Magic Lands
Journey Beyond the Beyond
Into the Stone Land
It is in this time at the twilight of the age of men that those long lost have returned to thwart the darkness. They are the fallen sons of ages past and present. They are the keepers, the watchers, and the guardians. They are those who hold the key to Ruin Mist's future.
Bold, inventive, brilliantly imagined, In the Service of Dragons, Book Three is a novel of magic and wonder, a tale of pure excitement you will not soon forget.
Don't miss the other Ruin Mist books...
Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches #1, 2, 3, 4:
Winds of Change
Seeds of Dissent
Pawn of Dragons
Tower of Destiny
In the Service of Dragons #1, 2, 3, 4:
A Clash of Heroes
A Dance of Swords
A Storm of Shields
A Reign of Dragons
Guardians of the Dragon Realms #1, 2:
The Dragon, the Wizard & the Great Door
A Legacy of Dragons
Dragons of the Hundred Worlds #1,2:
Breath of Fire
Living Fire
A Daughter of Kings #1, 2, 3, 4:
Betrayal
Deliverance
Rebirth
Discord
Magic Lands
Journey Beyond the Beyond
Into the Stone Land
Adrina, Emel, Vilmos, Galan, and Seth face even greater challenges as their world is transformed. Vilmos, in his quest to become the first human magus in a thousand years, must control the darkness within him. Adrina must accept her place and work together with Emel to help the elves make their plea to Great Kingdom's council. What happens will amaze you. Don't miss this outstanding series that has quickly become a worldwide favorite.
The Ruin Mist books...
Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches #1, 2, 3, 4:
Winds of Change
Seeds of Dissent
Pawn of Dragons
Tower of Destiny
In the Service of Dragons #1, 2, 3, 4:
A Clash of Heroes
A Dance of Swords
A Storm of Shields
A Reign of Dragons
Guardians of the Dragon Realms #1, 2:
The Dragon, the Wizard & the Great Door
A Legacy of Dragons
Dragons of the Hundred Worlds #1,2:
Breath of Fire
Living Fire
A Daughter of Kings #1, 2, 3, 4:
Betrayal
Deliverance
Rebirth
Discord
Magic Lands
Journey Beyond the Beyond
Into the Stone Land
The cleansing raged for so long that no human could recall a time without it and it is in this time that the Dark Lord Sathar returned from the dark beyond. The one hope of the peoples of Ruin Mist was Queen Mother, the elf queen of old. She saw a way out of everlasting darkness, a path that required the union of the divided peoples. And so it began.
Don't miss the other Ruin Mist books...
Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches #1, 2, 3, 4:
Winds of Change
Seeds of Dissent
Pawn of Dragons
Tower of Destiny
In the Service of Dragons #1, 2, 3, 4:
A Clash of Heroes
A Dance of Swords
A Storm of Shields
A Reign of Dragons
Guardians of the Dragon Realms #1, 2:
The Dragon, the Wizard & the Great Door
A Legacy of Dragons
Dragons of the Hundred Worlds #1,2:
Breath of Fire
Living Fire
A Daughter of Kings #1, 2, 3, 4:
Betrayal
Deliverance
Rebirth
Discord
Magic Lands
Journey Beyond the Beyond
Into the Stone Land
In Living Fire, Rastín struggles to keep alive the memories of his fallen people and fulfill the wishes of his ailing father. For an Alv, Rastín is young. He has no great power to help him, no true magic to light his way and keep him safe. Yet as his life turns increasingly grim, Rastín must find the courage and resourcefulness to befriend his most savage enemies if there is to be hope for him and his people.
For thousands of years the ageless dragons have ruled the hundred worlds, conquering all who oppose them while raising those who bring them glory. In this fight war is not the greatest threat to civilization, extinction is. But is it too late for Rastín and his people? Is it too late to save what's left of their society?
Don't miss the other Ruin Mist books...
Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches #1, 2, 3, 4:
Winds of Change
Seeds of Dissent
Pawn of Dragons
Tower of Destiny
In the Service of Dragons #1, 2, 3, 4:
A Clash of Heroes
A Dance of Swords
A Storm of Shields
A Reign of Dragons
Guardians of the Dragon Realms #1, 2:
The Dragon, the Wizard & the Great Door
A Legacy of Dragons
Dragons of the Hundred Worlds #1,2:
Breath of Fire
Living Fire
A Daughter of Kings #1, 2, 3, 4:
Betrayal
Deliverance
Rebirth
Discord
Magic Lands
Journey Beyond the Beyond
Into the Stone Land
"This guarantees fans, and those fans will be ready to wield their swords against the Dark Lord in Stanek's next installment." -- VOYA, the leading magazine for YA librarians, in a review of the author’s other Ruin Mist works.
From #1 bestselling author Robert Stanek comes the second novel in the exciting new fantasy series. A LEGACY OF DRAGONS (BOOK #2 in the GUARDIANS OF THE DRAGON REALMS) takes us further into the frozen world of the Ice where the lives of many hang in the balance as ancients struggle for control and those once thought immortal begin to perish.
Vilmos learns more about who he is and what his true powers are now that he is a watcher as well as a wizard. Adrina starts to come into her own as she learns more about the great golden dragon she controls and the beautiful lady elf who haunts her thoughts and dreams. Meanwhile, from deep in the kingdoms, Emel returns and vies for the affections of the evil king's daughter. Simultaneously, the death and dying continue as the wasting sickness spreads and the heroes must search for a cure before all is lost.
Don't miss the other Ruin Mist books:
The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches #1, 2, 3, and 4.
In the Service of Dragons #1, 2, 3, and 4.
Guardians of the Dragon Realms #1 and 2.
Dragons of the Hundred Worlds #1 and 2.
This special edition comic, Betrayal (A Daughter of Kings, Comic #1), is the first of four that tells the never-before-told story of Delinna's journey into exile and threaded through all four comics are the tragic romances that will eventually tear nations apart and destroy worlds.
Read Betrayal (A Daughter of Kings, Comic #1) first, continue on to Deliverance (A Daughter of Kings, Comic #2), Rebirth (A Daughter of Kings, Comic #3), and Discord (A Daughter of Kings, Comic #4).
Robert Stanek is the bestselling author of the epic series Ruin Mist Chronicles, which includes Keeper Martin's Tale, Kingdom Alliance, Fields of Honor, and Mark of the Dragon and which was also released for young adults as The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches #1 - #4 and In the Service of Dragons #1 - #4. He has also written many other novels and short stories, and is well-known for his Bugville Critters children's picture book series.
"This guarantees fans, and those fans will be ready to wield their swords against the Dark Lord in Stanek's next installment." -- VOYA, the leading magazine for YA librarians, in a review of the author’s other Ruin Mist works.
From #1 bestselling author Robert Stanek comes the first novel in the exciting new fantasy series. THE DRAGON, THE WIZARD & THE GREAT DOOR (BOOK #1 in the GUARDIANS OF THE DRAGON REALMS) introduces us to the frozen world of the Ice.
The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches #1, 2, 3, and 4.
In the Service of Dragons #1, 2, 3, and 4.
Guardians of the Dragon Realms #1 and 2.
Dragons of the Hundred Worlds #1 and 2.
This special edition comic, Deliverance (A Daughter of Kings, Comic #2), is the second of four that tell the never-before-told story of Delinna's journey into exile and threaded through them all are the tragic romances that will eventually tear nations apart and destroy worlds. Read Betrayal (A Daughter of Kings, Comic #1), Deliverance (A Daughter of Kings, Comic #2), Rebirth (A Daughter of Kings, Comic #3) and then Discord (A Daughter of Kings, Comic #4).
Robert Stanek is the bestselling author of the epic series Ruin Mist Chronicles, which includes Keeper Martin's Tale, Kingdom Alliance, Fields of Honor, and Mark of the Dragon and which was also released for young adults as The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches #1 - #4 and In the Service of Dragons #1 - #4.
He has also written many other novels and short stories, and is well-known for his Bugville Critters children's picture book series. It's been a fairly open secret that Robert Stanek is the name of the more familiar bestselling author, William Stanek. His books have been bestsellers on Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, Audible.com, and Apple iTunes. Robert's "Stormjammers" received a full-page review in The Journal of Electronic Defense. A review by the JED is as high an honor as it gets with a book by a military flyer.
This special edition comic, Rebirth (A Daughter of Kings, Comic #3), is the third of four that tell the never-before-told story of Delinna's journey into exile and threaded through them all are the tragic romances that will eventually tear nations apart and destroy worlds. Read Betrayal (A Daughter of Kings, Comic #1), Deliverance (A Daughter of Kings, Comic #2), Rebirth (A Daughter of Kings, Comic #3) and then Discord (A Daughter of Kings, Comic #4).
Robert Stanek is the bestselling author of the epic series Ruin Mist Chronicles, which includes Keeper Martin's Tale, Kingdom Alliance, Fields of Honor, and Mark of the Dragon and which was also released for young adults as The Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches #1 - #4 and In the Service of Dragons #1 - #4.
He has also written many other novels and short stories, and is well-known for his Bugville Critters children's picture book series. It's been a fairly open secret that Robert Stanek is the name of the more familiar bestselling author, William Stanek. His books have been bestsellers on Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com, Audible.com, and Apple iTunes. Robert's "Stormjammers" received a full-page review in The Journal of Electronic Defense. A review by the JED is as high an honor as it gets with a book by a military flyer.
"A breathtaking world and an excellent epic fantasy series! This wonderful adventure reminds me of a cross between J.R.R. Tolkien, J.K. Rowling, Tad Williams, and C. S. Lewis."
"Clear and simple prose. Swift, action-oriented scenes. Solidly built." --Foreword Magazine
"This guarantees fans, and those fans will be ready to wield their swords against the Dark Lord in Stanek's next installment." -- VOYA, the leading magazine for YA librarians
"Word of mouth turned it into a bestseller. Very satisfying." -- The Fantasy Guide
The Alder King is dead, murdered by his enemies-the very enemies that have taken the heart of his kingdom and with it the kingdom itself. There can be no doubt that an enemy king has extended his reach and taken the prize he so coveted. Yet the thing he prized above all else-the thing that spurned him-has escaped his grasp. Other things have escaped his grasp as well. In those things lies the hope for a future without tyranny-a hope for the peoples of Ruin Mist; and to win freedom is to win the future for everyone and everything. But what of the elves far across the great sea? Is their hope folly and their folly hope?
If men succumb to the darkness, the light of the elves must surely succumb as well, and then darkness will rule forever. Who can know for certain, but surely the fallen sons of ages past and present must have the final say. Get ready to enter In the Service of Dragons Book 4.
Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches #1, 2, 3, 4:
Winds of Change
Seeds of Dissent
Pawn of Dragons
Tower of Destiny
In the Service of Dragons #1, 2, 3, 4:
A Clash of Heroes
A Dance of Swords
A Storm of Shields
A Reign of Dragons
Guardians of the Dragon Realms #1, 2:
The Dragon, the Wizard & the Great Door
A Legacy of Dragons
Dragons of the Hundred Worlds #1,2:
Breath of Fire
Living Fire
A Daughter of Kings #1, 2, 3, 4:
Betrayal
Deliverance
Rebirth
Discord
But what of the elves far across the great sea? If men succumb to the darkness, the light of the elves must surely succumb as well, and then darkness will rule forever. Who can know for certain, but surely the fallen sons of ages past and present must have the final say.
Don't miss the other Ruin Mist books...
Kingdoms and the Elves of the Reaches #1, 2, 3, 4:
Winds of Change
Seeds of Dissent
Pawn of Dragons
Tower of Destiny
In the Service of Dragons #1, 2, 3, 4:
A Clash of Heroes
A Dance of Swords
A Storm of Shields
A Reign of Dragons
Guardians of the Dragon Realms #1, 2:
The Dragon, the Wizard & the Great Door
A Legacy of Dragons
Dragons of the Hundred Worlds #1,2:
Breath of Fire
Living Fire
A Daughter of Kings #1, 2, 3, 4:
Betrayal
Deliverance
Rebirth
Discord
Magic Lands
Journey Beyond the Beyond
Into the Stone Land
The worldwide bestseller—now a major motion picture directed by Steven Spielberg.
In the year 2045, reality is an ugly place. The only time teenage Wade Watts really feels alive is when he's jacked into the virtual utopia known as the OASIS. Wade's devoted his life to studying the puzzles hidden within this world's digital confines—puzzles that are based on their creator's obsession with the pop culture of decades past and that promise massive power and fortune to whoever can unlock them.
But when Wade stumbles upon the first clue, he finds himself beset by players willing to kill to take this ultimate prize. The race is on, and if Wade's going to survive, he'll have to win—and confront the real world he's always been so desperate to escape.
In his debut novel, Chuck Palahniuk showed himself to be his generation's most visionary satirist. Fight Club's estranged narrator leaves his lackluster job when he comes under the thrall of Tyler Durden, an enigmatic young man who holds secret boxing matches in the basement of bars. There two men fight "as long as they have to." A gloriously original work that exposes what is at the core of our modern world.
Divergent: One choice can transform you. Veronica Roth's #1 New York Times bestselling debut is a gripping dystopian tale of electrifying choices, powerful consequences, unexpected romance, and a deeply flawed "perfect society."
Insurgent: One choice can destroy you. Veronica Roth's second #1 New York Times bestseller continues the dystopian thrill ride. As war surges in the factions all around her, Tris attempts to save those she loves—and herself—while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.
Allegiant: The explosive conclusion to Veronica Roth's #1 New York Times bestselling Divergent trilogy reveals the secrets of the dystopian world that has captivated millions of readers.
And don't miss The Fates Divide, Veronica Roth's powerful sequel to the bestselling Carve the Mark!
As Winter Knight to the Queen of Air and Darkness, Harry Dresden never knows what the scheming Mab might want him to do. Usually, it’s something awful.
Mab has traded Harry’s skills to pay off a debt. And now he must help a group of villains led by Harry’s most despised enemy, Nicodemus Archleone, to break into a high-security vault so that they can then access a vault in the Nevernever.
Problem is, the vault belongs to Hades, Lord of the freaking Underworld. And Dresden is dead certain that Nicodemus has no intention of allowing any of his crew to survive the experience. Dresden’s always been tricky, but he’s going to have to up his backstabbing game to survive this mess...
As a Red, Darrow grew up working the mines deep beneath the surface of Mars, enduring backbreaking labor while dreaming of the better future he was building for his descendants. But the Society he faithfully served was built on lies. Darrow’s kind have been betrayed and denied by their elitist masters, the Golds—and their only path to liberation is revolution. And so Darrow sacrifices himself in the name of the greater good for which Eo, his true love and inspiration, laid down her own life. He becomes a Gold, infiltrating their privileged realm so that he can destroy it from within.
A lamb among wolves in a cruel world, Darrow finds friendship, respect, and even love—but also the wrath of powerful rivals. To wage and win the war that will change humankind’s destiny, Darrow must confront the treachery arrayed against him, overcome his all-too-human desire for retribution—and strive not for violent revolt but a hopeful rebirth. Though the road ahead is fraught with danger and deceit, Darrow must choose to follow Eo’s principles of love and justice to free his people.
He must live for more.
BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from Pierce Brown's Morning Star.
Praise for Golden Son
“Gripping . . . Both author and lead character have cranked up the emotional stakes. . . . With Golden Son, Brown avoids the sophomore slump, charging the novel with the kind of dystopia-toppling action you’d expect in a trilogy ender, not a middle volume. On virtually every level, this is a sequel that hates sequels—a perfect fit for a hero who already defies the tropes. [Grade:] A”—Entertainment Weekly
“Stirring . . . Comparisons to The Hunger Games and Game of Thrones series are inevitable, for this tale has elements of both.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Brown writes layered, flawed characters . . . but plot is his most breathtaking strength. . . . Every action seems to flow into the next.”—NPR
“It’s a far superior sequel, in fact: one of the rare breed of reads that improves upon its predecessor in every conceivable category. . . . In a word, Golden Son is stunning. Never mind how little we’ve seen of 2015: Among science fiction fans, it should be a shoo-in for book of the year.”—Tor.com
“Brown is a prodigy. As great as the first book of the Red Rising Trilogy is, Golden Son is even better. A wild ride full of suspense, intrigue, and serious ass-kicking bravado, it’s expertly written and emotionally engaging, with top-notch universe-building that begs for further exploration. I want more!”—Christopher Golden, New York Times bestselling author of Snowblind
“The stakes are even higher than they were in Red Rising, and the twists and turns of the story are every bit as exciting. The jaw-dropper of an ending will leave readers hungry for the conclusion to Brown’s wholly original, completely thrilling saga.”—Booklist (starred review)
“Dramatic . . . the rare middle book that loses almost no momentum as it sets up the final installment.”—Publishers Weekly
ITW THRILLER AWARD FINALIST
Darrow would have lived in peace, but his enemies brought him war. The Gold overlords demanded his obedience, hanged his wife, and enslaved his people. But Darrow is determined to fight back. Risking everything to transform himself and breach Gold society, Darrow has battled to survive the cutthroat rivalries that breed Society’s mightiest warriors, climbed the ranks, and waited patiently to unleash the revolution that will tear the hierarchy apart from within.
Finally, the time has come.
But devotion to honor and hunger for vengeance run deep on both sides. Darrow and his comrades-in-arms face powerful enemies without scruple or mercy. Among them are some Darrow once considered friends. To win, Darrow will need to inspire those shackled in darkness to break their chains, unmake the world their cruel masters have built, and claim a destiny too long denied—and too glorious to surrender.
Praise for Morning Star
“You could call [Pierce] Brown science fiction’s best-kept secret. In Morning Star, the trilogy’s devastating and inspiring final chapter, . . . he flirts with volume, oscillating between thundering space escapes and hushed, tense parleys between rivals, where the cinematic dialogue oozes such specificity and suspense you could almost hear a pin drop between pages. His achievement is in creating an uncomfortably familiar world of flaw, fear, and promise.”—Entertainment Weekly
“There is no one writing today who does shameless, Michael Bay–style action set pieces the way Brown does. The battle scenes are kinetic, bloody, breathless, crazy. Everything is on fire all the time.”—NPR
“Morning Star is this trilogy’s Return of the Jedi. . . . The impactful battles that make up most of Morning Star are damn near operatic. . . . It absolutely satisfies.”—Tor.com
“Excellent . . . Brown’s vivid, first-person prose puts the reader right at the forefront of impassioned speeches, broken families, and engaging battle scenes . . . as this interstellar civil war comes to a most satisfying conclusion.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review)
“A page-turning epic filled with twists and turns . . . The conclusion to Brown’s saga is simply stellar.”—Booklist (starred review)
“Multilayered and seething with characters who exist in a shadow world between history and myth, much as in Frank Herbert’s Dune . . . an ambitious and satisfying conclusion to a monumental saga.”—Kirkus Reviews
This collection also makes a great pick for fans of the blockbuster movies who want to delve deeper into the character played by Theo James.
Readers first encountered Tobias as "Four" in Divergent. His voice is an integral part of Allegiant. Readers will find more of this charismatic character's backstory told from his own perspective in Four: A Divergent Collection. When read together, these long narrative pieces illuminate the defining moments in Tobias's life. The first three pieces in this volume—"The Transfer," "The Initiate," and "The Son"—follow Tobias's transfer from Abnegation to Dauntless, his Dauntless initiation, and the first clues that a foul plan is brewing in the leadership of two factions. The fourth story, "The Traitor," runs parallel with the events of Divergent, giving readers a glimpse into the decisions of loyalty—and love—that Tobias makes in the weeks after he meets Tris Prior.
Also includes three additional scenes from Divergent, told from Tobias's point of view!
And don't miss The Fates Divide, Veronica Roth's powerful sequel to the bestselling Carve the Mark!
“Ender, Katniss, and now Darrow.”—Scott Sigler
Pierce Brown’s relentlessly entertaining debut channels the excitement of The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins and Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card.
“I live for the dream that my children will be born free,” she says. “That they will be what they like. That they will own the land their father gave them.”
“I live for you,” I say sadly.
Eo kisses my cheek. “Then you must live for more.”
Darrow is a Red, a member of the lowest caste in the color-coded society of the future. Like his fellow Reds, he works all day, believing that he and his people are making the surface of Mars livable for future generations. Yet he spends his life willingly, knowing that his blood and sweat will one day result in a better world for his children.
But Darrow and his kind have been betrayed. Soon he discovers that humanity reached the surface generations ago. Vast cities and lush wilds spread across the planet. Darrow—and Reds like him—are nothing more than slaves to a decadent ruling class.
Inspired by a longing for justice, and driven by the memory of lost love, Darrow sacrifices everything to infiltrate the legendary Institute, a proving ground for the dominant Gold caste, where the next generation of humanity’s overlords struggle for power. He will be forced to compete for his life and the very future of civilization against the best and most brutal of Society’s ruling class. There, he will stop at nothing to bring down his enemies . . . even if it means he has to become one of them to do so.
BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from Pierce Brown's Golden Son.
Praise for Red Rising
“[A] spectacular adventure . . . one heart-pounding ride . . . Pierce Brown’s dizzyingly good debut novel evokes The Hunger Games, Lord of the Flies, and Ender’s Game. . . . [Red Rising] has everything it needs to become meteoric.”—Entertainment Weekly
“[A] top-notch debut novel . . . Red Rising ascends above a crowded dystopian field.”—USA Today
“Red Rising is a sophisticated vision. . . . Brown will find a devoted audience.”—Richmond Times-Dispatch
“A story of vengeance, warfare and the quest for power . . . reminiscent of The Hunger Games and Game of Thrones.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Fast-paced, gripping, well-written—the sort of book you cannot put down. I am already on the lookout for the next one.”—Terry Brooks, New York Times bestselling author of The Sword of Shannara
“Pierce Brown has done an astounding job at delivering a powerful piece of literature that will definitely make a mark in the minds of readers.”—The Huffington Post
“Compulsively readable and exceedingly entertaining . . . a must for both fans of classic sci-fi and fervent followers of new school dystopian epics.”—Examiner.com
“[A] great debut . . . The author gathers a spread of elements together in much the same way George R. R. Martin does.”—Tor.com
Powerful and sensual, Midnight is an intelligent, fierce fighter and Ninjutsu-trained ninja warrior. He attracts attention wherever he goes but remains unmoved by it and focuses on protecting his mother and sister and regaining his family’s fortunes. When Midnight, a devout Muslim, takes sixteen-year-old Akemi from Japan as his wife, they look forward to building a life together, but their tumultuous teenage marriage is interrupted when Akemi is kidnapped and taken back to Japan by her own father, even though the marriage was consummated and well underway.
“There’s not one drop of inferiority in my blood,” Midnight says as he first secures his mother, Umma, and sister, Naja, before setting off on a global journey to reclaim his wife. Midnight must travel across three countries and numerous cultures in his attempt to defeat his opponent. Along this magnificent journey he meets people who change him forever, even as he changes them. He encounters temptations he never would have imagined and takes risks that many a lesser man would say no to, all for the women he loves and is sworn to protect.
A Murdered son. Shattered bonds. Forbidden affairs. Forced to choose one lover over another. A brother’s love tainted by deception. Blackmail. Hate. Lust. Love. Corruption. Four friends torn apart by treachery. The threat of going up against one of the most sophisticated and deadliest Chinese crime organizations. When there’s nothing left except a choice between war or death…there’s really no choice.
Las Vegas. A city built on obscene wealth and corrupt deals, cunning entrepreneurs, and the ruthless mob. The Cartel's plan to open a casino will rake in cash, but comes with great sacrifice. The stakes have never been this high, and rules of the game have never been this hard to manipulate. And when one dead girl, one scorned wife, and one hole in the desert launch a chain of catastrophic events, The Cartel is sent on a downward spiral as they battle the Arabian mob and fight traitors within their circle. Will the Cartel prevail...or fall victim to the city's black cloud? And if there's one rule in the town of Vegas, it's that when the dust settles, there can only be one winner, in The Cartel 6: The Demise, by New York Times bestselling authors Ashley & JaQuavis.