Archive for Best Fantasy Books

best fantasy books, upcoming fantasy books, Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman, American Gods by Neil GaimanOkay, I have to admit I just laughed out loud when I read this, so I had to share it with you. I wouldn’t say Gaiman and I are buds; we did do a project or two together a bunch of years back. But he is also one of the nicest guys in fantasy so I had to laugh when I read that he is a guest on the Simpsons TV show. Then I read what it is about – that Lisa Simpson is unhappy with where her favorite fantasy vampire books are headed and Homer hears a cha-ching when he finds out how popular YA fantasy books are. So, of course he somehow manages to get Neil to help him create a new hot fantasy book.

Well, Gaiman does do some pretty cool upcoming fantasy books, so the thought of him working alongside Homer Simpson to promote the latest hot fantasy title is just too funny! If you watch the Simpsons, you will have to check this one out, I believe it is the show set to air this Sunday, November 20th.

And in the meantime, you might want to check out a few of Neil’s latest upcoming fantasy books. If you have never read his fantasy novels, you are missing a treat. He does some of the best fantasy books in the biz, and I am not just saying that because of that old comic book connection. His books have humanity to them that I seldom see in many of today’s fantasy writers. He believes in hope and he believes in the power of people to make the world a better place. It shows in his writing.

best fantasy books, upcoming fantasy books, Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman, American Gods by Neil GaimanAmerican Gods was recently re-released as a tenth anniversary edition. This book is one of the best fantasy books and has become a classic. If you love true fantasy this is one that will grab you by the throat. There is a magic quality to it that makes it hard to put down. It is the story of Shadow, just out of prison and trying to make sense of the world. He is hired by the enigmatic Mr. Wednesday and soon the two are on a road trip across America to learn about the shadow lives of the gods around us, and the nature of death. Dreams, myths and the legends that surround us are more real than we know, and we are all part of the struggle. It is a journey we will all ultimately take, and only a storyteller like Gaiman would find a way for us to recognize ourselves in Shadow and his mysterious benefactor.

best fantasy books, upcoming fantasy books, Odd and the Frost Giants by Neil Gaiman, American Gods by Neil GaimanIf you have a kid in the house, or just love old European mythologies, then you might enjoy Odd and the Frost Giants. It is a wonderful little story based on the old Norse myths, and told as only Neil can tell it. I think this is going to be a perfect gift for any kid who loves stories, about a little boy and how he discovers the hero in himself. You can read through the first couple pages and even listen to Neil tell you about it in a little video when you check it out on Amazon and I think it is the best way to introduce yourself to what for kids is one of the best fantasy books, and enjoy the quiet and delightful language that Gaiman brings to a story like this.

So do have fun seeing how Homer and company treat our English fantasy author on the show, but don’t miss out on reading some of his books. I think you will find them a welcome relief after a week of watching Twilight and reading about the ongoing feud between Anne Rice and Stephanie Meyer. It is nice to know that there are such wonderful civilized writers out there, telling such wonderful civilized fantasy stories.

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Fate's Edge by Ilona AndrewsTitle: Fate’s Edge
Author: Ilona Andrews
Release Date: November 29, 2011
Pages: 384
Genre: Fantasy Romance

Another excellent story has been delivered by the husband and wife writing team known as Ilona Andrews. This book takes place in the “Edge”, the boundary area between the Broken (where non-magical humans live), and the Weird (a magical land where bizarre creatures exist). The Edge is where Audrey Callahan lives, a smart, strong young woman who is trying to overcome her grifter history. She’s doing well and working a day job in the Broken, trying to fit in as a normal (but very private) young woman. Her main goal is to keep herself distanced from her family, since they only want to use her for her magical lock-picking skills. But this proves to be easier said than done when Audrey’s father appears one day and inextricably pulls her back into the fold for “one last job”.

Kaldar Mar is a wild spirit who does recovery work for paying customers. When he’s hired to recover a device recently been stolen from a vault that has unpickable locks, he’s intrigued. He’s pretty sure this will be a simple trackdown and recovery job until he comes across Audrey and realizes he’s met his match. Although Kaldar is one of the best con men around, Audrey is his alter ego. He’s fascinated with this unusual woman who cherishes her independence so much that she’s willing to isolate herself from others and forgo the things that make life worth living, like love and companionship. It’s clear Audrey is a strong and determined woman but is she strong enough to stop Kaldar from conquering her independent spirit? It’s con vs. con in this action-filled and romantic fantasy book.

Fate’s Edge continues the tradition of providing well written, intriguing, and adventurous tales delivered by these two authors. The dialogue exchanges between Kaldar and Audrey are fantastic because Audrey really holds her own with him. There are also several characters from previous Edge novels who are key to the storyline. George and Jack from Book 1 (On The Edge) help Kaldar and Audrey and it’s great to see them mature and become major contributors to the outcome. I sat down and read this in one sitting because I just couldn’t put it down. It’s a perfect mixture of everything I like – romantic tension, a unique storyline, interesting characters and a group of underdogs who are trying to come out on top when the odds are stacked against them.

If you haven’t read any of the Ilona Andrews novels yet, stop missing out and pick one up. Over the past 6 years I’ve read, talked about and written about thousands of fantasy books and I can tell you that the “Ilona” books are at the top of my “Most Recommended Fantasy Books” reading list. Every week I get emails from fantasy lovers asking for book recommendations. I’ll tell you what I tell them: read an Ilona Andrews book, any book. If you’re new to urban fantasy, start with Ilona. If you’ve read lots of fantasy and are looking for something new, buy an Ilona Andrews book. I promise, you’ll be back at the bookstore (or online) eagerly purchasing more.

Fate’s Edge is available in paperback, audiobook and Kindle formats.

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Nov
08

Two New Top Fantasies for November

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I know that I usually give you a few more than this, but I have been up to my ears in alligators this month! So much cool stuff is coming out as we prepare for the Christmas season. I will get more highlights of cool fantasy and science fiction for you soon. In the meantime, being the Wizard of Oz fanatic that I am, I had to share the latest addition with you, and one more really cool fantasy book. See you all soon!

Out of Oz: The Final Volume in the Wicked Years by Gregory MaguireTitle: Out of Oz: The Final Volume in the Wicked Years
Author: Gregory Maguire
Released: November 1, 2011
Pages: 592
Genre: Fantasy

If you loved Wicked, you will love this conclusion to the amazing book that put a whole new spin on the magic of The Wizard of Oz series. Here is just a taste of what you will read:

Once peaceful and prosperous, the spectacular Land of Oz is knotted with social unrest: The Emerald City is mounting an invasion of Munchkinland, Glinda is under house arrest, and the Cowardly Lion is on the run from the law. And look who’s knocking at the door. It’s none other than Dorothy. Yes. That Dorothy.

Yet amidst all this chaos, Elphaba’s granddaughter, the tiny green baby born at the close of Son of a Witch, has come of age. Now it is up to Rain to take up her broom—and her legacy—in an Oz wracked by war.

The stirring, long-awaited conclusion to the bestselling series begun with Wicked, Out of Oz is a magical journey rife with revelations and reversals, reprisals and surprises—the hallmarks of the unique imagination of Gregory Maguire.

Absolute Sandman Volume 5 by Neil GaimanTitle: Absolute Sandman Volume 5
Author: Neil Gaiman
Release:November 8, 2011
Pages:520
Genre: Fantasy Graphic Novel

The Sandman is the story that put Neil on the map, and if you haven’t been following his career since then you have missed out on one of the great fantasy writers of this generation. I first read his work with the stories reproduced here when I was working in comics and was blown away by his imagery and myth-making. There had been nothing like him before and there has been nothing like him since, though he has his copy-cats these days. If you have read the other volumes, this is the one that puts it all in place. If you have never read his Sandman series, this is a great place to start. Here is a sneek at what is inside this stunning volume with art that is more a collaboration then just a compliment to the story.

THE ABSOLUTE SANDMAN BOOK FIVE is the latest oversized deluxe slipcased hardcover collecting the classic Sandman stories written by Neil Gaiman

THE SANDMAN: ENDLESS NIGHTS reveals the legend of The Endless, a family of magical and mythical beings who exist and interact in the real world. Born at the beginning of time, Destiny, Death, Dream, Desire, Despair, Delirium and Destruction are seven brothers and sisters. These seven peculiar and powerful siblings each reveal more about their true being as they star in their own tales of curiosity and wonder.

THE SANDMAN: THE DREAM HUNTERS appears in two versions here: First, as a prose novella by Gaiman with illustrations by Yoshitaka Amano, and then in a comics version adapted by Gaiman’s frequent collaborator P. Craig Russell (THE SANDMAN, FABLES: THE LAST CASTLE). In this tale, a humble young monk and a magical, shape-changing fox find themselves romantically drawn together. As their love blooms, the fox learns of a devilish plot by a group of demons and a Japanese emperor to steal the monk’s life. With the aid of Morpheus, the fox must use all her cunning to foil this evil scheme and save the man that she loves.

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Oct
13

Three New Top Fantasies for October

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Okay – I thought that even though it is mid-October I would give everyone a little treat and bring you three very yummy little fantasy books to check out. Each one has a different feel to it, and each is in a different medium, one is an audio book, one is a kindle book and one is a good old-fashion hardbound book. They each have something wonderful to bring to the world of fantasy – so I hope at least one of them tickles your fancy!

The Dream-Hunter by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Title: The Dream-Hunter
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Release: October 3 2011
Pages: audio book
Genre:  Romantic Fantasy 

Arik is a predator. Condemned by the gods to live eternity without emotions, he can only feel when he’s in the dreams of others. He’s drifted through the human unconscious, and now he’s finally found a dreamer whose vivid mind can fill his emptiness.

Dr. Megeara Kafieri intends to prove once and for all that the fabled island of Atlantis is right where her father said it was. One day she finds a stranger floating in the sea with face she’s seen in her dreams. But Arik has made a pact with the god Hades: In exchange for two weeks as a mortal man, he must return to Olympus with Megeara’s soul.

With a secret society out to ruin her, and mysterious accidents threatening her life, Megeara refuses to quit. She getting closer to Atlantis and as she does, she stumbles onto the truth of what Arik really is. But no human can know of a Dream-Hunter’s existence and the only way to save himself will be to sacrifice the very thing he wanted to be human for. The only question is, will he?

bloodstone by Nancy HolznerTitle: Bloodstone
Author: Nancy Holzner
Release: September 27 2011
Pages: Kindle Edition
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Bloodstone is another great addition to the Deadtown series. This time in Boston’s Back Bay district, it is known for high society, not lowlifes. So when mutilated human bodies begin turning up in the area, the entire city takes notice. And even though there’s no real evidence pointing to a paranormal culprit, the deaths are straining relations between human and inhuman residents.

As the reader is taken on a madcap trail after a serial killer like no other, the story take a series of twists and turns. Soon we are caught up in the carnage and mystery. As the bodies pile up, demon-hunter Vicky Vaughn investigates, only to find that the creature behind the carnage has an ancient feud and is after much more than just blood…

the bible repairman by Tim Powers Title: The Bible Repairman
Author: Tim Powers
Release: Oct. 31 2011
Pages: 200
Genre: Fantasy

Tim Powers happens to be one of my favorite authors, so when I saw this book listed to come out soon from Amazon, I just had to share it with you. For a taste, here is what his publisher’s have released to let you know what to expect.

The Bible Repairman is Tim Powers’s first new collection since Strange Itineraries appeared in 2005, and it is well worth the wait. In five stories and an ambitious historical novella, it offers one example after another of the author’s wit, ingenuity, and sheer imaginative reach.

The title story takes us into the life of a man with a most unusual profession, one that claims a little bit of his soul with every transaction. ‘Parallel Lives’ and ‘A Soul in a Bottle’ are thematically linked ghost stories in which the dead attempt, with varying degrees of success, to exert their influence upon the living. In ‘The Hour of Babel,’ an assortment of damaged people experience, once again, the inexplicable encounter that altered their lives more than thirty years before, while in ‘A Journey of Only Two Paces’ a simple legal procedure is transformed into a nightmarish Kabbalistic ritual.

But the real centerpiece of this resonant collection is the novella ‘A Time to Cast Away Stones,’ previously available only in a very limited–and very expensive–edition. Set in the semi-fictional universe first described in The Stress of Her Regard, this beautifully realized narrative centers upon Edward John Trelawny, a contemporary and compatriot of the poets Byron and Shelley, and the momentous decision that faces him. In classic Powers fashion, the story shows us an actual, if little known, historical event reclaimed and transformed by a powerful imagination. The result is a distinctive contribution to modern fantasy and a significant milestone in a unique, constantly evolving career.

But don’t take their word for it – or mine! Check this one out. I know I have mine on order already!

 

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Oct
08

Looking Back at Tolkein

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best fantasy novelsIt has been almost 60 years since the trilogy that was to define fantasy genre writing came into being. During that time The Lord of the Rings has so come to be identified with a specific style of fantasy writing that it is even listed in the Oxford English Dictionary: Tolkienesque. That Northern European background story with its load of elves, fairies, dwarves, magic rings and quests for fantastical objects of power and magic have become so commonplace that we forget that before Tolkein this kind of storytelling was never seen outside of old folk tales.

These days there are shelves filled with various versions of this kind of myth: the heroic tale of the little ordinary man who must go on a quest and along the way discover who he really is. I am no scholar on Tolkein, in fact when I first discovered the trilogy back in 1965 I couldn’t get through the books, and put them away for a few years. I wasn’t alone; it was a mean feat to say you had read the three books through at once when you bought them. None the less, it is still a fantastical story and if you have only seen the films, as magical as they were, you are missing out. There was a reason Jackson was so determined to make the film as true to the books as possible and wouldn’t compromise. The books were Tolkein’s life work, and it shows in every page.

Not surprisingly, there are plenty of books out there that owe their very existence to the work done before by Tolkein when he sent his plucky little Hobbits off on their first adventures. Here are just a few, each from a very different point of view, and all children of the old storyteller.

A Darkness Forged in Fire – First of the Iron Elves Series

best fantasy novelsIn A Darkness Forged in Fire, Konowa Swiftdragon, once commander of the Calahrian Empire’s renowned Iron Elves, is now a disgraced ex-soldier. Though elvish, Konowa is more comfortable with metal and fire than with nature and, like all the Iron Elves, was marked at birth for an ill-omened destiny by the malevolent Shadow Monarch. When a prophetic Red Star falls, awakening lost magic, Konowa is recalled to find it with a new regiment of Iron Elves—except this bunch is the dregs of the military and not even elves.

Their journey is plagued by monsters and an unforeseen rebellion, but the worst is to come. The Shadow Monarch’s play for the Star is a ruse masking another intent that Konowa doesn’t see until too late. An earthy, sardonic antihero, Konowa stands uneasily at the crux of a complicated network of loyalties while flanked by a large, colorful cast. Though knotty political machinations confuse the beginning, they eventually add richness to Evans’ militaristic fantasy world, in which magic users mix with musket-wielding soldiers. 

Elric of Melnibone

best fantasy novelsElric of Melnibone is the haunted, treacherous and doomed albino sorcerer-prince. An introspective weakling in thrall to his black-bladed, soul-eating sword, Stormbringer, he is yet a hero whose bloody adventures and wanderings through brooding, desolate lands leads inexorably to his decisive intervention in the war between the forces of Law and Chaos.

This volume brings together The Stealer of Souls and Stormbringer, the first two published books of Elric’s adventures, and confirms Michael Moorcock’s place as one of the most important fantasy writers of our time. 

A Game of Thrones – George R.R. Martin’s Latest Masterpiece

best fantasy novelsReaders of epic fantasy series are: (1) patient–they are left in suspense between each volume, (2) persistent–they reread or at least review the previous book(s) when a new installment comes out, (3) strong–these 700-page doorstoppers are heavy, and (4) mentally agile–they follow a host of characters through a myriad of subplots. In A Game of Thrones, the first book of a projected six, George R.R. Martin rewards readers with a vividly real world, well-drawn characters, complex but coherent plotting, and beautifully constructed prose, which Locus called “well above the norms of the genre.”

Martin’s Seven Kingdoms resemble England during the Wars of the Roses, with the Stark and Lannister families standing in for the Yorks and Lancasters. The story of these two families and their struggle to control the Iron Throne dominates the foreground; in the background is a huge, ancient wall marking the northern border, beyond which barbarians, ice vampires, and direwolves menace the south as years-long winter advances. Abroad, a dragon princess lives among horse nomads and dreams of fiery reconquest.

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The Dark Hunter fantasy series is by the renowned paranormal romance novelist Sherrilyn Kenyon. The series was a huge success among fantasy readers and some of the books in the series sold over 500,000 copies in 2006 alone! Book 11 of the series even reached #2 on New York Times best selling fiction list.

Fantasy Lover by Sherrilyn KenyonFantasy Lover (Book 1)

Dear Reader,

Being trapped in a bedroom with a woman is a grand thing. Being trapped in hundreds of bedrooms over two thousand years isn’t. And being cursed into a book as a love-slave for eternity can ruin even a Spartan warrior’s day.

As a love-slave, I know everything about women. How to touch them, how to savor them, and most of all, how to pleasure them. But when I was summoned to fulfill Grace Alexander’s sexual fantasies, I found the first woman in history who saw me as a man with a tormented past. She alone bothered to take me out of the bedroom and onto the world. She taught me to love again.

But I was not born to love. I was cursed to walk eternity alone. As a general, I had long ago accepted my sentence. Yet now I have found Grace–the one thing my wounded heart cannot survive without. Sure, love can heal all wounds, but can it break a two-thousand-year-old curse?

–Julian of Macedon

Night Pleasures by Sherrilyn KenyonNight Pleasures (Book 2)

Dear Reader,

Have you ever wanted to know what it’s like to be immortal? To journey through the night stalking the evil that preys on humans? To have unlimited wealth, unlimited power? That is my existence, and it is dark and dangerous. I play hero to thousands, but am known to none. And I love every minutes of it.

Or so I thought until one night when I woke up handcuffed to my worst nightmare: a conservative woman in a button-down shirt. Or in Amanda’s case, one buttoned all the way up to her chin. She’s smart, sexy, witty, and wants nothing to do with the paranormal–in other words, me.

My attraction to Amanda Devereaux goes against everything I stand for. Not to mention the last time I fell in love it cost me not only my human life, but also my very soul. Yet every time I look at her, I find myself wanting to try again. Wanting to believe that love and loyalty do exist.

Even more disturbing, I find myself wondering if there’s any way a woman like Amanda can love a man whose battle scars run deep, and whose heart was damaged by a betrayal so savage that he’s not sure it will ever beat again.

–Kyrian of Thrace

Night Embrace by Sherrilyn KenyonNight Embrace (Book 3)

Dear Reader,

Life is great for me. I have my chicory coffee, my warm beignets, and my best friend on the cell phone. Once the sun goes down, I am the baddest thing prowling the night: I command the elements, and I know no fear. For centuries, I’ve protected the innocent and watched over the mankind, making sure they are safe in a world where nothing is ever certain. All I want in return is a hot babe in a red dress, who wants nothing more from me then one night.

Instead, I get a runaway Mardi Gras float that tries to turn me into roadkill and a beautiful woman who saves my life but can’t remember where she put my pants. Flamboyant and extravagant, Sunshine Runningwolf should be the perfect woman for me. She wants nothing past tonight, no ties, no long-term commitments.

But every time I look at her, I start yearning for dreams that I buried centuries ago. With her unconventional ways and ability to baffle me, Sunshine is the one person I find myself needing. But for me to love her would mean her death. I am cursed never to know peace or happiness-not so long as my enemy waits in the night to destroy us both.

–Talon of the Morrigantes

Dance with the Devil by Sherrilyn KenyonDance with the Devil (Book 4)

Zarek’s Point of View:

Dark-Hunter: A soulless guardian who stands between mankind and those who would see mankind destroyed. Yeah, right. The only part of that Code of Honor I got was eternity and solitude.

Insanity: A condition many say I suffer from after being alone for so long. But I don’t suffer from my insanity-I enjoy every minute of it.

Trust: I can’t trust anyone…not even myself. The only thing I trust in is my ability to do the wrong thing in any situation and to hurt anyone who gets in my way.

Truth: I endured a lifetime as a Roman slave, and 900 years as an exiled Dark-Hunter. Now I’m tired of enduring. I want the truth about what happened the night I was exiled-I have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Astrid (Greek, meaning star): An exceptional woman who can see straight to the truth. Brave and strong, she is a point of light in the darkness. She touches me and I tremble. She smiles and my cold heart shatters.

Zarek: They say even the most damned man can be forgiven. I never believed that until the night Astrid opened her door to me and made this feral beast want to be human again. Made me want to love and be loved. But how can an ex-slave whose soul is owned by a Greek goddess ever dream of touching, let alone holding, a fiery star?

Kiss of the Night by Sherrilyn KenyonKiss of the Night (Book 5)

Dear Reader,

What do you get when you have one immortal Viking warrior no one can remember five minutes after he leaves their presence, a princess on the run for her life, and one seriously annoyed demigod? Basically, you get my life.

It started out simple enough. One night I went to save a woman in trouble. The next thing I knew, the doorway to hell had opened and out stepped Daimons-vampires the likes of which I’d never seen before. Led by the son of Apollo, they are out to end the curse that has banished them all to darkness. The only problem with that is they have to kill Cassandra Peters to do it and if she dies, so dies the sun, the earth and all who dwell here. Life’s just a bowl full of cherries, ain’t it?

Brought together by fate, it’s now my job to protect a daughter of the very race I have been hunting for centuries. Neither of us dares to trust the other. But she is the only one who remembers me… More than that, with her courage and strength, she is the only one who has ever touched a heart that I thought had died centuries ago.

The only way for a Dark-Hunter to regain his soul is through the love of a woman. But what happens when that woman isn’t exactly human?

–Wulf Tryggvasen

Night Play by Sherrilyn KenyonNight Play (Book 6)

Bride McTierney has had it with men. They’re cheap, self-centered, and never love her for who she is. But though she prides herself on being independent, deep down she still yearns for a knight in shining armor.

She just never expected her knight in shining armor to have a shiny coat of fur…

Deadly and tortured, Vane Kattalakis isn’t what he seems. Most women lament that their boyfriends are dogs. In Bride’s case, hers is a wolf. A Were-Hunter wolf. Wanted dead by his enemies, Vane isn’t looking for a mate. But the Fates have marked Bride as his. Now he has three weeks to either convince Bride that the supernatural is real or he will spend the rest of his life neutered–something no self-respecting wolf can accept…

But how does a wolf convince a human to trust him with her life when his enemies are out to end his? In the world of the Were-Hunters, it really is dog-eat-dog. And only one alpha male can win.

Seize the Night by Sherrilyn KenyonSeize the Night (Book 7)

Hail Glorious Reader:

I was born the noble son of a legendary Roman senator. I walked through the ancient world as a general, admired and supreme until a brutal betrayal caused me to bargain my soul. Now I’m an immortal Dark-Hunter, bound to protect mankind from the evil scourge that haunts it. Over the centuries, I’ve seen many frightening things: plagues, pestilence, disco music…

And now Tabitha Devereaux. A human, she has trained herself to fight vampires every bit as capably as any Dark-Hunter. Idiosyncratic and off-beat, she is my personal bane-and yet she beguiles me. There are only two small problems. She happens to be the twin of my mortal enemy’s wife. More than that, Tabitha and her sister are being stalked by a power that will not rest until everyone she holds dear is dead.

Unlike my Dark-Hunter brethren, I rely on no one but myself. They spurned me and I turned my back on them. But the only way to save Tabitha and her family is to find some way to bridge a two thousand-year-old feud.

They say opposites attract, but can they stay together when even the Fates conspire to keep them apart? Then again, the Fates have never dealt with the likes of Tabitha Devereaux before. They’re going to be in for quite a fight…

–Valerius Magnus

Sins of the Night by Sherrilyn KenyonSins of the Night (Book 8 )

In the realm of the Dark-Hunters there is a code of honor that even immortal bad boys must follow:

Harm no human. Drink no blood. Never fall in love.

But every now and again a Dark-Hunter thinks himself above the Code. That’s when I’m summoned. Who am I? I’m the one thing the fearless fear. Step over the line and it’s my wrath you will face. Nothing can touch me. Nothing can sway me. I am relentless and unfeeling.

Or so I thought until I met a female Dark-Hunter who goes by the name of Danger-it’s not just her name, it’s how she lives her life. She doesn’t trust me at all. And who could blame her? She alone knows that I’m here to be judge, jury and most likely executioner of her friends. Yet she is my key to saving some of them. Without her, they all will die.

Dangereuse St. Richard is a deadly distraction. Something about her is reawakening a heart I thought was long dead. But in a race against evil, the only hope mankind has is that I do my duty. And how can I do my duty when it means that I will have to sacrifice the only woman I’ve ever loved?

Unleash the Night by Sherrilyn KenyonUnleash the Night (Book 9)

It’s a predator eat predator world for the Were-Hunters. Danger haunts any given day. There is no one to trust. No one to love. Not if they want to live…

An orphan with no clan that will claim him, Wren Tigarian grew to adulthood under the close scrutiny and mistrust of those around him. A forbidden blend of two animals—snow leopard and white tiger—Wren has never listened to anyone when there was something he wanted. Now he wants Marguerite.

Marguerite D’Aubert Goudeau is the daughter of a prominent U.S. Senator who hates the socialite life she’s forced to live. Like her mother before her, she has strong Cajun roots that her father doesn’t understand. Still, she has no choice but to try and conform to a world where she feels like an outsider. But the world of rich and powerful humans is never to meet the world of the Were-Hunters who exist side by side with them, unseen, unknown, undetected. To break this law is to call down a wrath of the highest order.

In order to have Marguerite, Wren must fight not just the humans who will never accept his animal nature, but the Were-Hunters who want him dead for endangering their world. It’s a race against time and magic without boundary that could cost Marguerite and Wren not just their lives, but their very souls…

Dark Side of the Moon by Sherrilyn KenyonDark Side of the Moon (Book 10)

Half animal, half man, wholly dangerous. Locked in eternal battle, a Were-Hunter knows everything about peril and pain. But the greatest threat is yet to come…

Susan Michaels was the hottest reporter on the Beltway Beat until she walked into a setup that ruined her reputation. Now she’s working for a small Seattle paper, penning stories about killer moths and alien babies, convinced that her life couldn’t get any worse…

That was before an idea for a breaking news piece brought her to a local animal shelter where she ends up listening to her source rant about vampires and gets coerced into adopting a cat despite her allergies. But when her new pet suddenly reveals himself to be a gorgeous–and lethal–shapeshifter, Susan realizes that there’s far more at stake than a career-saving by-line.

Born into a world of predators, Were-Hunter Ravyn Kontis was betrayed by those he loved best. Soulless, pitiless, he has spent three hundred years battling the Daimons who seek to subjugate humankind. Against all odds, Susan evokes in Ravyn feelings of tenderness. Desire. Love. And with the ultimate battle about to begin, this one very human woman holds the power to shatter both their worlds…

The Dream-Hunter by Sherrilyn KenyonThe Dream-Hunter (Book 11)

In the ethereal world of dreams, there are champions who fight to protect the dreamer and there are demons who prey on them…

Arik is such a predator. Condemned by the gods to live eternity without emotions, Arik can only feel when he’s in the dreams of others. For thousands of years, he’s drifted through the human unconscious, searching for sensation. Now he’s finally found a dreamer whose vivid mind can fill his emptiness.

Dr. Megeara Kafieri watched her father ruin himself and his reputation as he searched to prove Atlantis was real. Her deathbed promise to him to salvage his reputation has now brought her to Greece where she intends to prove once and for all that the fabled island is right where her father said it was. But frustration and bad luck dog her every step. Especially the day they find a stranger floating in the sea. His is a face she’s seen many times…. in her dreams.

What she doesn’t know is that Arik holds more than the ancient secrets that can help her find the mythical isle of Atlantis. He has made a pact with the god Hades: In exchange for two weeks as a mortal man, he must return to Olympus with a human soul. Megeara’s soul.

With a secret society out to ruin her expedition, and mysterious accidents that keep threatening her life, Megeara refuses to quit. She knows she’s getting closer to Atlantis and as she does, she stumbles onto the truth of what Arik really is.

For Arik his quest is no longer simple. No human can know of a Dream-Hunter’s existence. His dream of being mortal has quickly turned into his own nightmare and the only way to save himself will be to sacrifice the very thing he wanted to be human for. The only question is, will he?

Devil May Cry by Sherrilyn KenyonDevil May Cry (Book 12)

Sin, an ancient Sumerian god, was one of the most powerful among his pantheon—until the night Artemis robbed him of his godhood and left him one step from death…

For millennia, the ex-god turned Dark-Hunter Sin has sought to regain his powers and take revenge on Artemis. But now he has bigger fish—or in this case, demons—to fry. The lethal gallu that were buried by his pantheon are stirring, and they are hungry for human flesh. Their goal: To destroy mankind. Sin is the only one who can stop them…if a certain woman doesn’t kill him first.

Enemies have always made strange bedfellows, but never more so than when the fate of the world hangs in the balance. Now a man who only knows betrayal must trust the one person most likely to hand him to the demons. Artemis may have stolen his godhood, but this one has stolen his heart. The only question is: Will she keep it…or feed it to those who want him dead?

Acheron by Sherrilyn KenyonAcheron (Book 13)

Finally, the story of the Dark-Hunter leader, Acheron, is revealed…

He was made human in order to escape death.

Eleven thousand years ago, a god was born. Cursed into the body of a human, Acheron spent a lifetime of shame. But the strongest steel is forged from the fires of hell…

But in death, he was reborn a god…

Acheron’s human death unleashed an unspeakable horror that almost destroyed the earth. Then, brought back against his will, he became the sole defender of mankind. Only it was never that simple. For centuries, Acheron has fought for our survival and hidden a past he’ll do anything to keep concealed. Until a lone woman who refuses to be intimidated by him threatens his very existence. Now his survival—and ours—hinges on hers, and old enemies reawaken and unite to kill them both. War has never been more deadly…or more fun.

One Silent Night by Sherrilyn KenyonOne Silent Night (Book 14)

In the world of the Dark-Hunters, all hell’s breaking loose…

Stryker has sent word and is gathering his forces.

While the world carries on unawares, Stryker, who leads an army of demons and vampires, is plotting an all out onslaught against his enemies—which, unfortunately for us, includes the entire human race. To avenge his sister, Stryker prepares to annihilate the Dark-Hunters. But things go awry when his oldest enemy returns. Enter his ex-wife. Zephyra. Just when he thought nothing could stop him, he’s now embroiled in a centuries old war with a shrew who gives new meaning to pain.

It’s Christmas Eve and new battle lines are being drawn as the Dark-Hunters rally for a final showdown on ONE SILENT NIGHT.

Bad Moon Rising by Sherrilyn KenyonBad Moon Rising (Book 15)

BROTHERS UNITED
Fang Kattalakis isn’t just a wolf. He is the brother of two of the most powerful members of the Omegrion: the ruling council that enforces the laws of the Were-Hunters. When war erupts among the lycanthropes, sides must be chosen. Enemies must become allies. And Fang’s one true passion is strictly forbidden…

LOVERS DIVIDED
When Aimee, the Arcadian huntress he loves, is accused of betraying her people, Fang is her last and only hope. But in order to save her, he must break the laws of his people and the trust of his brothers—a breach that could destroy both their races and change their world forever. The Were-Hunter’s war begins…

No Mercy by Sherrilyn KenyonNo Mercy (Book 16)

Live fast, fight hard—and if you have to die, take as many of your enemies with you as you can. That is the Amazon credo and it was one Samia lived and died by. But today, in contemporary New Orleans, the immortal Amazon warrior is about to learn that there’s a worse evil coming to slaughter mankind than she ever could have imagined.

Meet Dev Peltier. A shapeshifter who has stood guard at the front of Sanctuary for almost two hundred years, he’s seen it all—or so he thought. His enemies have just discovered a new source of power—one that makes a mockery of anything faced to date. Now the war is on and it’s up to Dev and Samia to guard ground zero. But in order to win, they will have to break the most cardinal of all rules—and pray it doesn’t unravel the universe as we know it…

Retribution by Sherrilyn KenyonRetribution (Book 17)

Harm no human…
A hired gunslinger, William Jessup Brady lived his life with one foot in the grave. He believed that every life had a price. Until the day when he finally found a reason to live. In one single act of brutal betrayal, he lost everything, including his life. Brought back by a Greek goddess to be one of her Dark-Hunters, he gave his immortal soul for vengeance and swore he’d spend eternity protecting the humans he’d once considered prey.

Orphaned as a toddler, Abigail Yager was taken in by a family of vampires and raised on one belief—Dark-Hunters are the evil who prey on both their people and mankind, and they must all be destroyed. While protecting her adoptive race, she has spent her life eliminating the Dark-Hunters and training for the day when she meeting the man who killed her family: Jess Brady.
A gun in the hand is worth two in the holster…

Jess has been charged with finding and terminating the creature who’s assassinating Dark-Hunters. The last thing he expects to find is a human face behind the killings, but when that face bears a striking resemblance to the one who murdered him centuries ago, he knows something evil is going on. He also knows he’s not the one who killed her parents. But Abigail refuses to believe the truth and is determined to see him dead once and for all.

Brought together by an angry god and chased by ancient enemies out to kill them both, they must find a way to overcome their mutual hatred or watch as one of the darkest of powers rises and kills both the races they’ve sworn to protect.

Categories : Fantasy Books
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The Soul Screamer series of fantasy books is by renowned fantasy novelist Rachel Vincent who is better known for her Faythe Sanders / Shifters series of books. This series is about a high schooler with special abilities. Kaylee Cavanaugh can’t see dead people but she sure can sense when someone is about to die which sort of forces her to scream!

My Soul to Take by Rachel VincentMy Soul to Take (Book 1)

She doesn’t see dead people, but…
She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who’ll be next…

My Soul to Save by Rachel VincentMy Soul to Save (Book 2)

When Kaylee Cavanaugh screams, someone dies.
So when teen pop star Eden croaks onstage and Kaylee doesn’t wail, she knows something is dead wrong. She can’t cry for someone who has no soul.

The last thing Kaylee needs right now is to be skipping school, breaking her dad’s ironclad curfew and putting her too-hot-to-be-real boyfriend’s loyalty to the test. But starry-eyed teens are trading their souls: a flickering lifetime of fame and fortune in exchange for eternity in the Netherworld—a consequence they can’t possibly understand.

Kaylee can’t let that happen, even if trying to save their souls means putting her own at risk…

My Soul To Keep by Rachel VincentMy Soul To Keep (Book 3)

Kaylee has one addiction: her very hot, very popular boyfriend, Nash. A banshee like Kaylee, Nash understands her like no one else. Nothing can come between them.
Until something does.

Demon breath. No, not the toothpaste-challenged kind. The Netherworld kind. The kind that really can kill you. Somehow the super-addictive substance has made its way to the human world. But how? Kaylee and Nash have to cut off the source and protect their friends—one of whom is already hooked.

And so is someone else…

My Soul To Steal by Rachel VincentMy Soul To Steal (Book 4)

Trying to work things out with Nash—her maybe boyfriend—is hard enough for Kaylee Cavanaugh. She can’t just pretend nothing happened. But “complicated” doesn’t even begin to describe their relationship when his ex-girlfriend transfers to their school, determined to take Nash back.
See, Sabine isn’t just an ordinary girl. She’s a mara, the living personification of a nightmare. She can read people’s fears—and craft them into nightmares while her victims sleep. Feeding from human fear is how she survives.

And Sabine isn’t above scaring Kaylee and the entire school to death to get whatever—and whoever—she wants.

If I Die by Rachel VincentIf I Die (Book 5)

Release Date: Sept. 2011

This book is available for pre-order at Amazon!

Categories : Fantasy Books
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