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The Serpent's Tale
Ariana Franklin
Historical Fiction / Mystery & Thrillers
Ariana Franklin combines the best of modern forensic thrillers with the drama of historical fiction in the enthralling second novel in the Mistress of the Art of Death series, featuring medieval heroine Adelia Aguilar.
Rosamund Clifford, the mistress of King Henry II, has died an agonizing death by poison - and the king's estranged queen, Eleanor of Aquitaine, is the prime suspect. Henry suspects that Rosamund's murder is probably the first move in Eleanor's long-simmering plot to overthrow him. If Eleanor is guilty, the result could be civil war. The king must once again summon Adelia Aguilar, mistress of the art of death, to uncover the truth.
Adelia is not happy to be called out of retirement. She has been living contentedly in the countryside, caring for her infant daughter, Allie. But Henry's summons cannot be ignored, and Adelia must again join forces with the king's trusted fixer, Rowley Picot, the Bishop of St. Albans, who is also her baby's father.
Adelia and Rowley travel to the murdered courtesan's home, in a tower within a walled labyrinth - a strange and sinister place from the outside, but far more so on the inside, where a bizarre and gruesome discovery awaits them. But Adelia's investigation is cut short by the appearance of Rosamund's rival: Queen Eleanor. Adelia, Rowley, and the other members of her small party are taken captive by Eleanor's henchmen and held in the nunnery of Godstow, where Eleanor is holed up for the winter with her band of mercenaries, awaiting the right moment to launch their rebellion.
Isolated and trapped inside the nunnery by the snow and cold, Adelia and Rowley watch as dead bodies begin piling up. Adelia knows that there may be more than one killer at work, and she must unveil their true identities before England is once again plunged into civil war . . .
The Serpent Prince
Elizabeth Hoyt
Romance
When the devil meets an angel...
Country bred Lucy Craddock-Hayes is content with her quiet life. Until the day she trips over an unconscious man—a naked unconscious man—and loses her innocence forever.
He can take her to heaven...
Viscount Simon Iddesleigh was nearly beaten to death by his enemies. Now he’s hell-bent on vengeance. But as Lucy nurses him back to health, her honesty startles his jaded sensibilities—even as it ignites a desire that threatens to consume them both.
Or to hell...
Charmed by Simon’s sly wit, urbane manners, and even his red-heeled shoes, Lucy falls hard and fast for him. Yet as his honor keeps him from ravishing her, his revenge sends his attackers to her door. As Simon wages war on his foes, Lucy wages her own war for his soul using the only weapon she has—her love…
The Serpent
Claire North
Science Fiction / Fantasy / Urban Magic
In 17th Century Venice exists a mysterious establishment known only as the Gameshouse.
There, fortunes are made and fortunes are broken over games of chess, backgammon and every other game under the sun.
But those whom fortune favours may be invited to compete in the higher league... a league where the games played are of politics and empires, of economics and kings. It is a league where Capture the Castle involves real castles, where hide and seek takes place on a scale as big as the British Isles.
Not everyone proves worthy of competing in the higher league. But one woman, who is about to play, may just exceed everyone's expectations.
Though she must always remember: the higher the stakes, the more deadly the rules...
The Spy and Her Serpent
Maria Ying
Olesya Hua, narcotics empress ...has everything: power, wealth, and a city that'll soon be hers. But her hunger is endless. She covets more still—and what Olesya Hua wants, she always gets. Dallas Seidel, syndicate fixer ...lost her chosen family to bloody violence ordered by the Huas. She'll stop at nothing to avenge them—she'll stop at nothing until the Hua sisters are in the ground. Their goals are in brutal opposition. Deceit and plots-within-plots will put them at each other's throat. They careen toward not just mutually assured destruction, but toward a fatal passion that'll mark them both forever. The Spy and Her Serpent is a trans-for-trans F/F short novel (53,000 words) set in contemporary Singapore. Contains: high heat, enemies-to-lovers, hurt/comfort, corruption, and a butch/femme couple.
![Thanquol & Boneripper [02] - Temple of the Serpent](https://picture.bookfrom.net/img/c-l-werner/thanquol_and_boneripper_02_-_temple_of_the_serpent.jpg "Thanquol & Boneripper [02] - Temple of the Serpent")
Thanquol & Boneripper [02] - Temple of the Serpent
Part #2 of "Warhammer: Thanquol & Boneripper" series by C. L. Werner
(v1.0)
Product DescriptionSkaven Grey Seer Thanquol travels to the jungle island of Lustria. The cunning wizard seeks an artefact to cement his power in the halls of Skavenblight, undercity of the rat-men About the AuthorC. L. Werner was a diseased servant of the Horned Rat long before his first story in Inferno! magazine. His Black Library credits include the Chaos Wastes books Palace of the Plague Lord and Blood for the Blood God, Mathias Thulmann: Witch Hunter, Runefang and the Brunner the Bounty Hunter trilogy. Currently living in the American south-west, he continues to write stories of mayhem and madness set in the Warhammer World.Visit the author’s website at www.vermintime.com
The Serpent on the Crown
Elizabeth Peters
Mystery & Thrillers / Humor
Autumn 1921. The Peabody-Emerson clan are enjoying a fruitful period of excavation in Egypt. But when they hear the alarming tale of a man's mysterious death their digging turns to detecting. His widow is convinced her husband was the victim of a curse and implores the Emersons to find and return the small 'deadly' statue that killed him to the tomb from which it was stolen -- before it claims another life. From bitter experience the Emersons know it would be a serious mistake to start chasing tomb robbers. But Amelia and family soon start to find the curse may be more real than ever imagined...
Serpent's Game
Part #5 of "The Soul Eater Series" series by Pippa Dacosta
Fantasy / Romance / Science Fiction
More than darkness...
Reeling from the revelations discovered in Egypt, Ace Dante is on a knife-edge, but the gods aren’t going to wait for him to come to terms with the truth.
Ancient and deadly beasts straight out of the underworld are targeting Nick “Cujo” Jones and his daughter. There doesn’t seem to be a connection to Ace, until a mysterious and familiar box turns up. A box marked with the snake-headed jackal. And it’s open.
This time, the gods crossed a line. Ace is done with their puppet-mastery. He’s fighting back.
But as hidden secrets come to light and Ace’s friendships crumble around him, will he have the strength to fight for what’s right, or will he allow the darkness inside to consume him?
After all, what is one man’s hope against the will of evil incarnate?
The wildly successful Soul Eater series ups the stakes in the penultimate book, Serpent’s Game.
Soul Eater series reading order:
Hidden Blade, #1
Witches' Bane, #2
See No Evil, #3
Scorpion Trap, #4
Serpent's Game, #5
Edge of Forever, #6
**
The Serpent's Game
A. C. Frieden
You don't stand and wait as Hurricane Katrina barrels down on New Orleans, unless you don't have a choice, and maritime lawyer Jonathan Brooks has none. His career in shambles and duty bound to help a figure from his past locate her missing nephew feared drowned in the Mississippi, Brooks is burdened with responsibility and devoid of options. But Mariya is no friend. The sultry Russian provocateur saved his life a decade ago but not without dragging him into a world of murder, mayhem and deceit. As darkness bleeds into the Crescent City, Brooks' search for the truth behind a body in the river catapults him into an international storm that sweeps into the espionage underworld of Russia, the intelligence centers of Washington, D.C., the politics of North Korea, the waterways of the Panama Canal, the back streets of Havana and the barrios of Caracas — and into the heart of Jonathan's own darkness. Praise for THE SERPENT'S GAME ... "Frieden keeps...
The Serpent's Fury
Kelley Armstrong
Science Fiction & Fantasy / Mystery & Thrillers / Young Adult
Rowan faces her most dangerous monster-slaying challenge yet, confronting what could be the most infamous monster of all, in the third book in this fantastical series by New York Times bestselling author, Kelley Armstrong.Rowan is Tamarel's Royal Monster Hunter, and her twin brother, Rhydd, will be its king. After the events of The Gryphon's Lair, Rowan, along with her friends, her brother and an entourage of monstrous companions, makes her way back to the Dunnian Woods to deal with the pack of dropbears the group trapped in an abandoned cabin after a vicious attack. The dropbears are just one of a number of rare monster species acting erratically in Tamarel. After a swarm of colocolos nearly tramples the group, Rowan becomes convinced that someone (or something) is driving these monsters out of their natural habitats. But nothing can prepare the Royal Monster Hunter for the truth of the matter: monsters even bigger and deadlier than gryphons...
The Serpent & the Dead
Part #3 of "Marvel Legends of Asgard" series by Anna Stephens
An extraordinary duo of Asgardian Heroines battle across the Ten Realms, in this epic fantasy adventure set in Marvel's Legends of AsgardIn the midst of a bloody conflict, Lady Sif, the valiant Asgardian warrior, watches her close friend die in glorious battle – but her soul is not taken to the eternal halls of Valhalla. Furious and petrified that the afterlife for her and all Asgardians is in peril, she enlists the aid of Brunnhilde the Valkyrie, the fearsome warrior entrusted with conveying worthy souls to the heroes' afterlife. Together they scour Asgard for answers. Rumors abound of towns being attacked by a horde of soldiers who cannot be killed. Someone is building an immortal army and stealing Asgardian souls... A worthy challenge for two of Asgard's mightiest champions!
Vikingrune Academy 2: The Serpent's Shadow
KC Kingmaker
I've been stolen from the academy I worked my entire life to get to…Ain't that a bitch? Captured by the humans' most hated enemy: Elves. They've been gone from Midgard for centuries, and now they decide to come back? Sometimes life is a real ass-kicker.But hey, at least my magic finally decided to show up. Turns out I'm a pretty damn good runeshaper, too. All those countless hours of training without having magic at my fingertips really paid off. Before being abducted by the pointy-ears, I made brutal discoveries at Vikingrune. The villains who destroyed my family name are closer than I thought. A vision showed me that maybe the elves aren't the Big Bads of humanity, and the call is coming from within the house. I came to the academy to execute a murderous plan… but then life happened. I met friends, lovers, allies, rivals. Now, I'll do whatever I must to get back to them and warn them of the real threat against us all. (The Serpent's Shadow is book two in the Vikingrune Academy series. Things heat up in this paranormal romance, on the battlefield, in the bedroom, and everywhere else. Ravinica is strong, her men are dastardly, and the hits keep coming. Be sure to check the trigger warnings, please.)
The War
Part #2 of "Gift of the Serpent" series by Wylder Willis
Nikita Blade has been living for centuries as the Reptilian Protector, and now faces her toughest challenge, as she must battle a figure from the past for her very life.
Joining up with her friends, they train together and fight together. Not everyone will survive this latest challenge and those who do survive will be changed--some drastically.
War God: Return of the Plumed Serpent
Graham Hancock
Nonfiction / History
The conquistador Hernán Cortés is hell-bent on conquering Mexico for the Aztecs’ gold. Having destroyed the Maya at Potonchan, Cortés now marches on Tenochtitlan, the Golden City of the Aztecs, wrapped in the aura of a returning, vengeful god.
His small force of just five hundred men will have to defeat the psychotic emperor Moctezuma and the armies of hundreds of thousands he commands. Cortés expects that the warlike Tlascalans, hereditary enemies of the Aztecs, will join him, but instead finds himself locked in a deadly struggle and a fight for his life. Even as Cortés risks all in the bloody campaign against the Tlascalans, he plays mind games with Moctezuma, aiming to dismantle the Aztec emperor’s confidence and defeat him psychologically before ever having to face him on the battlefield.
The supernatural and compelling rich history combine in this tale of love, brutal courage and triumphs. War God: Return of the Plumed Serpent is a story of staggering magnificence.
Graham Hancock on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/Author.GrahamHancock
Graham Hancock on Twitter:
@Graham__Hancock
Graham Hancock's website:
www.grahamhancock.com
Be the Serpent
Seanan McGuire
Science Fiction & Fantasy / Horror / Young Adult
Now in hardcover, the sixteenth novel of the Hugo-nominated, New York Times-bestselling October Daye urban fantasy series.October Daye is finally something she never expected to be: married. All the trials and turmoils and terrors of a hero’s life have done very little to prepare her for the expectation that she will actually share her life with someone else, the good parts and the bad ones alike, not just allow them to dabble around the edges in the things she wants to share. But with an official break from hero duties from the Queen in the Mists, and her family wholly on board with this new version of “normal,” she’s doing her best to adjust. It isn’t always easy, but she’s a hero, right? She’s done harder. Until an old friend and ally turns out to have been an enemy in disguise for this entire time, and October’s brief respite turns into a battle for her life, her community, and...
Sister Fidelma 04 - The Subtle Serpent
Part #4 of "Sister Fidelma" series by Peter Tremayne
Mystery & Thrillers / Science Fiction & Fantasy
Seventh century Ireland provides the background in Peter Tremayne's newest murder mystery which begins gruesomely as two nuns pull a decapitated corpse from their drinking well. Sister Fidelma is called upon to determine who the body is and how she met her untimely end. Fidelma, as an advocate of the courts, is the appropriate person to collect evidence and determine if there is a case to be answered. Although Tremayne makes clear in his introduction that women under Irish law in the period aspired to and performed most professions on a similar footing with men, he does not neglect the opportunity to place Fidelma in situations where both her youth and gender raise the question of her suitability for her official capacity. Still, her enjoyment in convincing her doubters of her abilities and her ultimate success indicate, as Tremayne evidently intends, that this particular period, at least as Ireland as concerned, should not be characterized as a dark one. En route to the scene of the crime that opens the story, Sister Fidelma encounters a second curiosity, a ship foundering in the waves without a person on board. What Fidelma does discover are hints that an old and trusted friend was aboard and seems to have met the same mysterious fate as the rest of the crew and cargo, whatever that might have been. The novel proceeds as Fidelma sets out to determine the cause of each of her mysteries, and what if any is the connection between them. Tremayne is a careful and engaging storyteller; his characters are thoughtfully drawn, and he uses the central mystery for them to discuss and reflect upon the differences between the native Irish church and that of Rome (which is becoming the more powerful--and whose ultimate success will keep women like Fidelma out of the halls of power which she has confidently and capably strode.) The ecclesiastical period setting may remind readers of the work of Ellis Peters, but the 7th century is distinct from the 12th and Ireland distinct from England. Tremayne relishes those differences, creating a tale that has much to enlighten and intrigue his readers and make them anxious for the next time Sister Fidelma is called to perform her duties.
The Serpent of Stars
Jean Giono
Literature & Fiction / Poetry
The Serpent of Stars (Le serpent d¢étoiles, 1993; reprinted 1999 Grasset) takes place in rural southern France in the early part of the century. The novel’s elusive narrative thread ties landscape to character to an expanse just beyond our grasp. The narrator encounters a shepherding family and glimpse by glimpse, each family member and the shepherding way of life is revealed to us. The novel culminates in a large shepherds’ gathering where a traditional Shepherd’s Play—a kind of creation myth that includes in its cast The River, The Sea, The Man, and The Mountain—is enacted. The work’s proto-environmental world view as well as its hybrid form—part play, part novel—makes The Serpent of Stars astonishingly contemporary. W.S. Merwin’s "Green Fields" begins, "By this part of the century few are left who believe/in the animals for they are not there in the carved parts/of them served on plates and the pleas from slatted trucks..." This novel leaves the reader believing not only in the animals, but the terrain they are part of, the people who tend them, and the life all these elements together compose.
The Head of the Serpent
W. C. Gorski
PreludeQuestion: Could it be that the future is really our past, one linked to the other in an inseparable bond, traveling endlessly in circular patterns throughout time and space, repeating itself over and over, each time manifesting itself in a familiar but uniquely distinct manner?There is an old adage that says throughout life, you can count your true friends on the fingers of one hand. It's not about who you pretend to be that forms the bond, a boastful show of wealth or good works, but rather who you really are that matters.In the end, there is only one true friend who willingly gave His life to save yours. Not much was asked in return. It was a gift, given by grace. Past or present, what you do with that gift it is up to you. It just may determine your future..."Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it."George Santayana circa 1905 approx."To everything, there is a Season and a Time to every Purpose Under Heaven..." Ecclesiastes 3:1 KJVPrefaceAn...
The Golden Serpent
Part #20 of "Killmaster" series by Nick Carter
Nonfiction / Biography / Music
Take a Mexican political party that demands the territorial return of Texas... and New Mexico... and Arizona... and California.
Add a Chinese paper exporting operation that exports a fine engraver's surface for the familiar five-dollar portrait of Lincoln.
Stir with a Countess who has made a fortune in cosmetics and runsa private little kingdom at her castle deep in the Mexican jungle.
Mix in the CIA and AXE, prickling each other's sensitivities while the nation and the highest men in government are stumped to stop the ruin of America's economy...
And suddenly, in the meeting between Hawk and the CIA man, the ingredients have blended into a little pill they hand Nick Carter. His instructions are: straighten things out-or swallow your defeat in L pills!
The Red Serpent
Part #2 of "Brothers of the Sands" series by Robert Low
At the edge of the empire, the hunters become the hunted...They're back - Drust, Kag, Ugo, Sib and some new faces - as dirt-ridden and downbeat as ever. Drawn to the edge of the Roman world and the blasted deserts of the Syrian frontier, they are presented with a mysterious riddle from their old companions, Dog and Manius. In the scorching heat, plots and rumours breed like flies on a corpse. To survive, Drust and the others must face all challengers along with Mother Nature's rage. Sometimes they'll stand and fight; sometimes they'll run as fast as they can and pray to the Gods. For it is a mad and violent world, and they must be equal to it...From bestselling author Rob Low comes the second in the Brothers of the Sands series. Filled with gristle, gore and jaw-dropping action, The Red Serpent is a tour de force, perfect for fans of Giles Kristian, David Gilman and Conn Iggulden
The Silver Serpent
Lena Jones
A third mystery for thirteen-year-old Agatha Oddly – a bold, determined heroine, and the star of this stylish new detective series. Agatha Oddlow is on the case with yet another adventure! An assistant at the National Gallery has gone missing, but when Agatha begins investigating, she uncovers a plot bigger than she could ever have imagined. Join Agatha as she travels throughout London and into the very heart of the mystery...
The Serpent and the Angel (The Shifter Chronicles 8)
M. D. Grimm
In the year 1866, Sheriff Tobias Goldstein guards a small mining town in the Colorado territory with a cold and merciless hand. A rare rattlesnake shifter, he lives by a code and expecting others to do the same has kept the peace— until a nameless stranger wanders into town. Intrigued by the lone man, Tobias names him Angel Smith, and sensing he's trustworthy, he deputizes Angel.A guardian at heart, golden eagle shifter Angel protects the townspeople, but his dedication is to an ancient scroll capable of great destruction. For generations, Angel's family protected the artifact with their lives. Now something has returned to hunt down the scroll. Forced to leave his tribe, Angel enjoys the quiet he's found with Tobias, who hides a warm heart under his aloof exterior. Angel knows the quiet will not last and fears the battle on the horizon. But with Tobias at his back, Angel might stand a chance against his enemies.Second Edition with revised and expanded text.
The Coiled Serpent
Camilla Grudova
'Utterly triumphant... She's a thoroughly sui generis visionary - and, after reading The Coiled Serpent, I'd say one of the most startlingly original writers we've got.' A K Blakemore, GuardianA little girl throws up Gloria-Jean's teeth after an explosion at the custard factory; Pax, Alexander, and Angelo are hypnotically enthralled by a book that promises them enlightenment if they keep their semen inside their bodies; Victoria is sent to a cursed hotel for ailing girls when her period mysteriously stops. In a damp, putrid spa, the exploitative drudgery of work sparks revolt; in a Margate museum, the new Director curates a venomous garden for public consumption.In Grudova's unforgettably surreal style, these stories expose the absurdities behind contemporary ideas ofwork, Britishness and art-making, to conjure a singular, startling strangeness that proves the deft skill of a writerat the top of her game.
The Serpent of Venice
Christopher Moore
Literature & Fiction / Humor
New York Times bestselling author Christopher Moore channels William Shakespeare and Edgar Allan Poe in this satiric Venetian gothic that brings back the Pocket of Dog Snogging, the eponymous hero of Fool, along with his sidekick, Drool, and pet monkey, Jeff
Venice, a long time ago. Three prominent Venetians await their most loathsome and foul dinner guest, the erstwhile envoy of Britain and France, and widower of the murdered Queen Cordelia: the rascal-Fool Pocket.
This trio of cunning plotters-the merchant, Antonio; the senator, Montressor Brabantio; and the naval officer, Iago-have lured Pocket to a dark dungeon, promising an evening of sprits and debauchery with a rare Amontillado sherry and Brabantio's beautiful daughter, Portia.
But their invitation is, of course, bogus. The wine is drugged. The girl isn't even in the city limits. Desperate to rid themselves once and for all of the man who has consistently foiled their grand quest for power and wealth, they have lured him to his death. (How can such a small man, be such a huge obstacle?). But this Fool is no fool . . . and he's got more than a few tricks (and hand gestures) up his sleeve.
The Serpent Kings
James Somers
Fantasy / Paranormal
Gwen has only ever known life as a priestess of the High Serpent King, Belial the Glorious. Specially trained as a wraith dancer assassin, Gwen is preparing for a life dispensing justice in the name of her dragon gods when she successfully repels an attack by the Resistance upon Belial’s temple. Suddenly catapulted to a position of status, Gwen is chosen to assassinate Ezekiah, the Prophet“I never wanted to be a killer—an assassin—a Wraith Dancer. But as a priestess of the High Serpent King, Belial, I had little choice in the matter. Still, despite my inward desire for a life of perfect peace, it must be said that I was one of the best. Blood had splattered across the front of my tunic. At my feet lay the body of an infidel called Peka; his throat sliced open from ear to ear; the bones of his left thigh and right arm shattered. He had come with a group of rebels hoping to desecrate Belial’s temple here in Babale. I could not allow that.”Gwen has only ever known life as a priestess of the High Serpent King, Belial the Glorious. Specially trained as a wraith dancer assassin, Gwen is preparing for a life dispensing justice in the name of her dragon gods when she successfully repels an attack by the Resistance upon Belial’s temple. Suddenly catapulted to a position of status, Gwen is chosen to assassinate Ezekiah, the prophet of the Resistance. But when she’s captured, Gwen is shown the dark side of the dragons and their utopian society and the unsuspected kindness of the man she was meant to kill. She wants to remain faithful to the Serpent Kings, but her doubts are growing, and her time with Ezekiah has awakened feelings within her she never thought to have. Moreover, in Gwen’s absence, something has happened to make this wraith dancer a costly liability to the dragons, and she cannot be allowed to live any longer.
Jack of Ravens (Kingdom of the Serpent, Book 1)
Part #1 of "Kingdom of the Serpent" series by Mark Chadbourn
“An epic quest from the dawn of Humanity to the modern age; a love story with all Existence hanging in the balance. This is the Ultimate Fantasy: a quest of epic reach spanning the globe under the mythologies of five great cultures – and finally crossing the barrier between life and death.Jack Churchill, archaeologist and dreamer, walks out of the mist and into Celtic Britain more than two thousand years before he was born, with no knowledge of how he got there. All Jack wants is to get home to his own time where the woman he loves waits for him.Finding his way to the timeless mystical Otherworld, the home of the gods, he plans to while away the days, the years, the millennia, until his own era rolls around again … but nothing is ever that simple.A great Evil waits in modern times and will do all in its power to stop Jack’s return. In a universe where time and space are meaningless, its tendrils stetch back through the years …Through Roman times, the Elizabethan age, Victoria’s reign, the Second World War to the Swinging Sixties, the Evil sets its traps to destroy Jack.Mark Chadbourn gives us a high adventure of dazzling sword fights, passionate romance and apocalyptic wars in the days leading up to Ragnarok, the End-Times: a breathtaking, surreal vision of twisting realities where nothing is quite what it seems.”
The Rose and Serpent
Nathalia Books
As if starting at a new school wasn't scary enough, Velika turns out to be the only human among a whole horde of vampires. But when she finds out she's descended from the last human queen of a land ruled by both vampires and humans. A whole new world opens up to her.
The Serpent Gift
Lene Kaaberbøl
The third book in the thrilling fantasy adventure series, The Shamer ChroniclesA watching face in a market crowd, a mist-shrouded figure on the moor, a haunting presence seen only when he wants to be seen. Sezuan has the Serpent Gift. With the eerie music of his flute, he can weave a web of lies and illusion to trap the keenest mind. He is also Dina's father, and he has come to claim her.Dina's family set family set off in desperate flight, trying to escape Sezuan's snare. But soon, with nowhere else to turn, Dina must learn to see through her father's deceit and use her own gift against him.An award-winning and highly acclaimed writer of fantasy, Lene Kaaberbøl was born in 1960, grew up in the Danish countryside and had her first book published at the age of 15. Since then she has written more than 30 books for children and young adults. Lene's huge international breakthrough came with The Shamer Chronicles, which is...
Soultaming the Serpent
Tar Atore
The last dragon died half a century ago and Jun Weaver still dreams of the rain that hasn't fallen since. Her mundane life takes a turn when she encounters Aurel, who she suspects may be the one that holds the key to restoring balance and is destined to find the elusive serpent from the prophecy. Joined by Casey, Jun's closest friend and the village brewer, the three embark on a journey to unravel the prophecy's intricacies, figure out what the serpent's role truly is, and why the dragon has to die, not knowing they are being watched. Follow our trio as Jun discovers a love of adventure, Casey's devotion takes an unexpected turn, Aurel spills his secrets like dust in the sand, and the three of them discover the true power of their bond.—- "The story itself feels highly original, even as it is reminiscent of classics like Howl's Moving Castle."—M. Daniel McDowell"The explorations of love...
The Twice-Cursed Serpent
Scarlett D. Vine
Even though she was born a peasant, Caes belongs at court. After all, her father is the Chosen One, the prophesied hero blessed by the goddess. While on his quest to save their kingdom from being conquered by the Maltihian Empire, he leaves Caes at court with her royal betrothed and all the luxuries a future princess could imagine.But when her father fails in his quest, she loses everything. Reviled and used as a scapegoat for her kingdom's anger, Caes is given to the very enemies her father died fighting to destroy. While the Malithian emperor allows Caes to live instead of killing her outright, she is constantly guarded by Soul Carvers—undead magic wielders whose power stems from what killed them. Worse, Malithia's murderous crown princess believes Caes should be executed because the princess, thanks to a prophecy, sees her as a threat to her succession to the throne.Alone in a treacherous court, Caes finds the one thing that might save her life–making a...
The Serpent's Orb
Guy Antibes
Fantasy / Fiction
Through odd circumstances, Jack Winder becomes a helper for his village's healing wizard. As part of his duties, Jack is ordered to travel the length of Corand to the capital city to bring back a priceless object of power, the Serpent’s Orb. He soon finds that he is not the only one after the orb and someone is willing to kill to get it.
Gift of the Serpent
Part #1 of "Gift of the Serpent" series by Wylder Willis
A young girl, traumatized by her past, receives the gift of a transformation, which makes her stronger, faster, and virtually indestructible, nearing immortality.
Jumping forward to a post-apocalyptic time, the teenage girl finds new friends in a worn down city. With her friends, who seem to have a history of their own, she finds an adventure and a future. But is the future her's to be had?
The Serpent and the Unicorn: Book I and II
Susan Skylark
Fantasy / Christian
What if the Myth were real and everything else mattered not? What if your very soul hung in the balance? Enter a land where the Myth is real, but many have forgotten or scorn the Truth and those who fight to uphold it. The adventure is about to begin, for even those who fight for justice are about to rediscover why.This story is not just another tale of an orphan who finds a magic sword, discovers a forgotten lineage, finds a few friends, and conquers an overwhelming evil. This is a story that crosses a continent, transcends time, plunges deep into the very soul of man, and explores all the vastness and intricacies of life. It is a story of good and evil, love and war, truth and absurdity, courage and faith, hope and despair, humor and adventure, and everything that moves the human soul. Whether viewed as Truth or Myth, it is a tale to make one think and a story full of adventure, intrigue, love, sorrow, hope, and humor: much like this dance we call life. It is a fairy story in that it involves unicorns, dragons, and other uncommon beasts and certain aspects of magic, but it is also a human story that explores the questions, doubts, fears, and triumphs common to the hearts of men. The Brethren are an ancient brotherhood entrusted with preserving and disseminating knowledge, truth, and justice since time began; they have survived indifference, hostility, disaster, war, plague, and obscurity but ever they persevere in their age-old duties. Of late, they have fallen into obscurity due to over-caution and the forgetfulness of the people they serve. A strange encounter rouses them from their secrecy and sends one of their most talented agents into the heart of a sworn enemy only to unveil an even older and more dangerous foe. There are five 'books' in the Serpent and the Unicorn Series which is available as a trilogy. This volume contains Books I and II.
The Opal Serpent
Fergus Hume
Mystery & Thrillers
Simon Beecot was a country gentleman with a small income, a small estate and a mind considerably smaller than either. He dwelt at Wargrove in Essex and spent his idle hours—of which he possessed a daily and nightly twenty-four—in snarling at his faded wife and in snapping between whiles at his son. Mrs. Beecot, having been bullied into old age long before her time, accepted sour looks and hard words as necessary to God\'s providence, but Paul, a fiery youth, resented useless nagging. He owned more brain-power than his progenitor, and to this favoring of Nature paterfamilias naturally objected. Paul also desired fame, which was likewise a crime in the fire-side tyrant\'s eyes. As there were no other children Paul was heir to the Beecot acres, therefore their present proprietor suggested that his son should wait with idle hands for the falling in of the heritage. In plain words, Mr. Beecot, coming of a long line of middle-class loafers, wished his son to be a loafer also. Again, when Mrs. Beecot retired to a tearful rest, her bully found Paul a useful person on whom to expend his spleen. Should this whipping-boy leave, Mr. Beecot would have to forego this enjoyment, as servants object to being sworn at without cause. For years Mr. Beecot indulged in bouts of bad temper, till Paul, finding twenty-five too dignified an age to tolerate abuse, announced his intention of storming London as a scribbler.
The Mystery of the Singing Serpent
M. V. Carey
The Three Investigators become involved in witchcraft when they try to rescue a woman from the influence of snake worshipers.
The Serpent and the Firefly
Courtney Davis
Sometimes you have to take control of the prophecy. The prophecy says she'll destroy him, but if he doesn't reveal too much, will she help him rule Hell? Jade is in witness protection and finds herself in possession of a store full of magical items. Her presence there alerts her existence to Baal, a serpent shifter and the first king of Hell. He arrives to kill her before she can become what has been prophesied and kill him, but he is enchanted by what he finds. She is everything he feared she would be, but she is also enticingly beautiful and pulls at something deep within him. She has no idea what she is, and he decides to try and use her for his own plans. Jade tentatively trusts Baal as she embraces her new powers and his reasons for seeking the keys to a gate in Hell. She agrees to help him, but along their journey she discovers that four planes of existence have crashed together; the fae realm, the angel realm, the demon realm and the earth realm....
The Serpent in Heaven
Charlaine Harris
Urban Fantasy / Mystery & Thrillers / Horror
#1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Charlaine Harris returns to her alternate history of the United States where magic is an acknowledged but despised power in this fourth installment of the Gunnie Rose series.Felicia, Lizbeth Rose's half-sister and a student at the Grigori Rasputin school in San Diego—capital of the Holy Russian Empire—is caught between her own secrets and powerful family struggles. As a granddaughter of Rasputin, she provides an essential service to the hemophiliac Tsar Alexei, providing him the blood transfusions that keep him alive. Felicia is treated like a nonentity at the bedside of the tsar, and at the school she's seen as a charity case with no magical ability. But when Felicia is snatched outside the school, the facts of her heritage begin to surface. Felicia turns out to be far more than the Russian-Mexican Lizbeth rescued. As Felicia's history unravels and her true abilities become known, she...
To Crush the Serpent
Yashar Kemal
A staggering, shattering novel from Turkey's greatest novelistSince Halil was shot dead in his own home by his wife Esmé's former suitor, the village has pointed the finger of guilt at the dead man's beautiful widow: she must have arranged the murder. The task of vengeance falls on Esmé's little son, Hassan: year after year he is groomed for it, his devotion to his mother sapped with talk of the unavenged ghost of Halil and his father, doomed to roam the countryisde as a translucent red snake, an insect, a bird. Hassan hears tales against his mother. How long will her innocence protect her?The stark tale of cruelty and vendetta is told in a narrative of relentless tension, reminiscent of Greek tragedy. it is one of Yashar Kemal's most beautiful and haunting novels.
In the Serpent's Wake
Rachel Hartman
Young Adult / Science Fiction & Fantasy / Comics & Graphic Novels
From the critically acclaimed and bestselling author of Seraphina comes a piercing new fantasy adventure that champions our resilience and humility.MIND OF THE WORLD,OPEN YOUR EYES. At the bottom of the world lies a Serpent, the last of its kind.Finding the Serpent will change lives. Tess is a girl on a mission to save a friend.Spira is a dragon seeking a new identity.Marga is an explorer staking her claim on a man’s world.Jacomo is a priest searching for his soul. There are those who would give their lives to keep it hidden.And those who would destroy it. But the only people who will truly find the Serpent are those who have awakened to the world around them—with eyes open to the wondrous, the terrible, and the just.Discover more critically-acclaimed YA from Rachel Hartman!SeraphinaShadow...
The Deep Beyond: Cuckoo's Egg / Serpent's Reach
C. J. Cherryh
Science Fiction & Fantasy
This omnibus volume combines two Alliance-Union novels: Hugo Award nominee Cuckoo's Egg and Locus Best Novel Award nominee Serpent's Reach. In Cuckoo's Egg: They named him Thorn. They told him he was of their people, although he was ugly in their eyes, strange, sleek-skinned instead of furred, clawless, different. Yet he was of their power class: judge-warriors, the elite, the defenders. Thorn knew his difference was important—but not important enough to prevent murderous conspiracies against him, his protector, his caste, and perhaps against the peace of the world. But when Thorn finally learned what his true role in life was to be, that on him might hang the future of two worlds, then he had to stand alone to justify his very existence. In Serpent's Reach: Raen a Sul Meth-maren was very young when the machinations of her distant kin erupted into a bloodbath. Years passed and Raen bided her time. Then, on a voyage to...
The Serpent of the House of Hua
Maria Ying
In a world of potent magic, they will do everything possible to fulfill their goals.Warlock Viveca and her demon wife Yves have come to an otherworldly gambling den to retrieve a grimoire that once belonged to Elizaveta Hua. But to win their prize, they'll have to do more than politely negotiate: they must participate in a tournament of mortal combat—in which losing would mean true death even for Yves.The Serpent of the House of Hua is an F/F urban fantasy heist novelette that takes place during The Might of Monsters.
The Silver Serpent
David Debord
Fantasy / Fiction / Young Adult
The frost creeps again. Taught the sword from childhood, Shanis Malan's only dream is to be a soldier, but a woman cannot join the Galdoran army. She thinks her dream has come true when Prince Lerryn hosts a tournament in her town, but she is snatched her from her home and carry her into the midst of a quest for a legendary artifact that can save the world from the minions of Tichris the Ice King.Eternity gives ancient enemies more than one opportunity to seek revenge. After enjoying more than ten years of peace and tranquility raising their family and transforming Sanctuary into a budding community of supernatural friends, Mia and Andrew’s world is shattered when a vengeful enemy rises against their family seeking retribution and casting Mia, Andrew, and the St. Cloud family into a deadly game of cat and mouse in a desperate attempt to save the children. As Nicholas, Kayla, Jacob, and Nicole fight to survive amongst those that Mia and Andrew always hoped to shield them from, untapped powers emerge, strength unfolds, unexpected friendships form, and new enemies materialize. Fighting this new threat unearths Eva’s secret sacrifice causing Mia to choose a path she knows will end her life at Sanctuary and tear her away from Andrew and her children. Running towards the end of her happily ever after, Mia is thrust into the arms of her most feared enemy finally giving the awaiting arms of darkness their greatest opportunity to claim the very soul it hungers to consume.
The Serpent's Curse
Lisa Maxwell
Young Adult / Romance / Children's
Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows meets Alexandra Bracken's Passenger in this spellbinding conclusion the "vivid and compelling" (BCCB), New York Times bestselling Last Magician series.Evade the Serpent. Heed the Curse. Rewrite the Present. Esta isn't a stranger to high-stakes heists. She's a seasoned thief who has no reservations about using her affinity for time to give her an edge, and she's trained her whole life for one mission: travel back to 1902 New York, steal the ancient Book of Mysteries, and use its power to destroy the Brink and free the Mageus from the Order's control. But the Book held a danger that no one anticipated—Seshat, an angry goddess was trapped within its pages. Now that terrible power lives within Harte, and if given the chance, Seshat will use Esta to destroy the world and take her revenge. Only Esta and Harte stand in her way. Yet in their search to...
The Serpent's Mark
S. W. Perry
From the author of The Angel's Mark, a CWA Dagger longlisted novel and a Walter Scott Prize Academy Recommended Read 2019'S.W. Perry's ingeniously plotted novels have become my favourite historical crime series.' S G MacLean'A rattling good read.' William Ryan____________________Treason sleeps for no man...London, 1591. Nicholas Shelby, physician and reluctant spy, returns to his old haunts on London's lawless Bankside. But, when spymaster Robert Cecil asks him to investigate the dubious practices of a mysterious doctor from Switzerland, Nicholas is soon embroiled in a conspiracy that threatens not just the life of an innocent young patient, but the overthrow of Queen Elizabeth herself.With fellow healer and mistress of the Jackdaw tavern, Bianca Merton, again at his side, Nicholas is drawn into a sinister world of zealots, charlatans and dangerous fanatics...
Serpent of the Abyss (Shadowed Dreams Erotica Book 2)
S. J. Sanders
A new job was exactly what Lori needed, especially after breaking up with her boyfriend. It gave her not only desperately needed funds but a chance to get away. When she signed on with Darvel Explorations, imagined luxurious, exotic alien worlds. Instead she ends up working as a laborer in a mine on what appeared to be a barren rock of a planet. She hates her job. More than anything she is becoming increasingly afraid. The workers whisper that the new mining equipment disturbed something in the depths of the caverns, something that is attacking miners. When an accident leaves her to the mercy of one such creature, she has to decide if she can accept a monster from the depths.
Serpent in the Mist
Part #3 of "Shadows of the First Trine" series by Cleave Bourbon
Serpent in the Mist: Shadows of the First Trine 3…The forces of darkness have a new weapon, and they are using it to extraordinary effect, taking the wielders of magic totally by surprise. Not only does this new weapon take on the form of anyone it chooses but it also mimics their quirks, mannerisms, and voices as well. The stakes are high. An ancient battlefield, reduced to a wasteland long ago, is regenerating and exuding high levels of the magical energy, which makes the battlefield a prize worth winning. Devyn, his friends, and a handful of magic wielders have fallen victim to the devastation of the shapeshifting monsters. Having nowhere to turn, they must now travel to the ancient and wise Ianthill, a master magic wielder, and seek his counsel on what to do next. But Ianthill is old, out of practice, and has never faced anything as destructive as what he must face now. Time and time again, his plans lead to death and despair. But, just over the horizon may be the lucky break they need to turn things around…if they can manage to stay alive that long.
The Serpent
David Drake
THE ARTHURIAN-INSPIRED FAR FUTURE TALES FROM MASTER OF SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY DAVID DRAKE CONTINUES!Jon of Dun Add has created a civilization where before there had only been isolated pockets of humanity in a shattered cosmos. Young knight Pal is one of the most respected members of Lord Jon’s Hall of Champions. But Pal’s greatest talent lies not on the field of battle, though he’s no slouch there. He is also a Maker, one who can repair the tools the Ancients had left--sometimes. Moreover, he has learned to use his warrior dog’s ability to predict motion better than any human could, an ability that has saved his skin and won the day more than once. Now, Pal will need all his talent—as a fighter, as a Maker, as a Champion—to deal with the monsters the Waste throws at him—and to deal with his fellow humans. For there are those who would destroy Dun Add, and Lord Jon’s vision of a humanity united in peace, from within…. Praise for The Storm: “I finished The Storm last night. I loved it. It was such a sweet read. Pal is one of [Drake’s] best people, humane and strong and generous, and his voice carries the whole book.”—Cecelia Holland “Counterbalancing the setting’s strangeness, Pal himself is thoroughly levelheaded and decent, the kind of hero readers will enjoy rooting for. This is an enjoyable exploration of a pleasantly peculiar world.”—Publishers Weekly “. . . a wonderful cast of characters in a fabulous world of courtiers, peasants, Beasts, and mysterious Envoys. Drake has imbued Arthurian legend with a convincing sf spin.”—Booklist About prequel The Spark: “. . . entertaining tale combining the feel of Arthurian legend with nifty far-future super science . . .”—Publishers Weekly “Drake retells Arthurian legend to perfect effect . . . efficient world building and likable characters.”—Booklist About David Drake: “Drake deftly weaves a web of political machinations and intrigue that vividly depicts the costs of war. Fans of Patrick O'Brian's Maturin and Aubrey novels will enjoy this intricate, rousing space opera.” —Publishers Weekly “[R]ousing old-fashioned space opera.”—Publishers Weekly “The fun is in the telling, and Mr. Drake has a strong voice. I want more!”—Philadelphia Weekly Press “[S]pace opera is alive and well. This series is getting better as the author goes along . . . character development combined with first-rate action and memorable world designs.”—SFReader.com “[P]rose as cold and hard as the metal alloy of a tank . . . rivals Crane and Remarque . . .”—Chicago Sun-Times
Conan: Blood of the Serpent
S. M. Stirling
Science Fiction / Fantasy / Alternate History
The pulse-pounding return of Conan, the most iconic fantasy hero in popular culture, with a brand-new standalone novel by New York Times bestselling author S.M. Stirling, tied directly to the famous tales written by the legendary Robert E. Howard.Conan the Barbarian, the world’s most famous fantasy hero, returns in an all-new novel tied directly to the famous works by his legendary creator, Robert E. Howard. Set early in his life, Conan has left his northern homeland to cut a bloody swath across the legendary Hyborian Age. A mercenary, a soldier, a thief, and a pirate, he faces conquering armies, malicious sorcerers, and monstrous creatures—against which he wields only the sword held in his powerful grasp. A superstar of novels, short fiction, comics, video games, films, and an upcoming Netflix series, his adventures have inspired many of the most popular authors of the 20th and 21st centuries. This is the first in a...
.jpg "Serpent's Lair (The Forgotten: Book 1)")
Serpent's Lair (The Forgotten: Book 1)
Laura R Cole
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Taking the throne in the wake of the destruction caused by King Nathair’s use of blood-magic turns out to be more treacherous than Layna imagined. Continue Layna's tale in this story of betrayal, kidnappings, monsters, and new magic…in Serpent’s Lair, the beginning of the exciting sequel to the BloodRunes TrilogyLayna’s simple life has turned into a fairy tale. From unassuming maid to hopeful Queen, having survived the tumultuous world-saving quest that was thrust upon her...she'd hoped that the birth of her daughter would mark the beginning of her happily ever after.Fate, however, has other plans. Taking the throne in the wake of the destruction caused by King Nathair’s use of blood-magic turns out to be more treacherous than she imagined. Her innocent nature makes her want to trust in her aides, but in reality, she’s been thrown straight into the heart of the serpent’s lair…Meanwhile, Katya is still searching for her elusive other half, without whom she is destined to carry a terrible curse: That those she cherishes will suffer. Already she has had to deliver the fatal blow to the man she loved, and she sets off alone to avoid a similar fate for anyone else. Her wanderings lead her to discover the existence of a people calling themselves the Forgotten, and her resolve to avoid getting too close to anyone is tested when she meets a charming tribesman who keeps thwarting her attempts to steer clear… Continue the Eleventh World Saga in this story of betrayal, kidnappings, monsters, and new magic…in Laura R Cole’s Serpent’s Lair, the beginning of the exciting sequel to the BloodRunes Trilogy.
Eve of the Serpent
Jon Jacks
Fantasy / Horror / Science Fiction
Prytani can tell your future when, merging with her little vixen Tamesis, she journeys into the underworld.Her own world of towers on glass hills, ships steering themselves, mermaids and werewolves, is about to be shattered by the arrival of a boy hardly older than her.Worse still, others will utilise her talents to control the Dead Legions–-who are already encroaching on the world of the livingFor a crust to keep her alive, Prytani will tell your future: for when she merges with her little vixen Tamesis, she can journey into the underworld.Her own world is one of towers on glass hills, ships who steer themselves, swords that sing, mermaids and werewolves, all of it about to be shattered by the arrival of a boy hardly older than herself.Worse still, others seek to utilise her talents to control the Dead Legions – who are already encroaching on the world of the living.
The Serpent Bride
Sara Douglass
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Sara Douglass has won legions of fans around the world for her epic tales of sorcery, forbidden love, and heart-pounding action. Now, with the DarkGlass Mountain saga, she reveals her biggest adventure yet.
Rescued from unspeakable horror, Ishbel Brunelle has devoted her life to a Serpent cult that reads the future in the entrails of its human sacrifices. But the Serpent has larger plans for Ishbel than merely being archpriestess, plans that call for a dangerous royal marriage balancing on the edge between treachery and devotion, and an eerie, eldritch warning: Prepare for the Lord of Elcho Falling . . .
And there are other dangers. For while Tencendor is gone, even its fall cannot destroy the Icarii. As the Tyrant of Isembaard reaches for glory, both StarDrifter SunSoar and his son, Axis, are pulled into the deadly dance of intrigue and sorcery. The DarkGlass Mountain—once known as the Threshold—is waiting, and as the Dark God Kanubai rises from his prison in exile, no one will escape unscathed.
The Serpent Lord
Wren Murphy
A princess torn between tradition and truth.Princess Sarra of Olmalis is a vision of the future—poised, proud, and confident. As her kingdom settles into peace after a long civil war, she yearns to escape the shackles of expectation her father and his court place upon her.But when she is abducted at the command of a man known only as 'The Serpent Lord', Sarra is led to question everything she has ever known.Taken from the safety of her castle to the treacherous bogs and cold, stone walls of a forgotten city called Ro'al, she embarks on a journey searching for answers, intent on solving the mystery of her intriguing captor.However, the more she learns of The Serpent Lord and his plight, the more she discovers secrets that surround her kingdom and the people who rule it. When she finally uncovers the truth, will Sarra trust her past or will she believe in her future?
The Serpent's Egg
Caroline Stevermer
"A rousing tale of courtly intrigues and chivalrous honor" from the author of The Glass Magician (Charles de Lint, award-winning writer). Just as hard-fought peace has come to the land of Staunton, war hero Sir Anthony Folville lies dead—but not due to his battle wounds. He has been poisoned by the medic treating him, a man supposedly paid by Queen Andred's heir to perform this dastardly act. Now, with the prince imprisoned and accused of murder, his allies join forces to prove his innocence, including the fiancée of Sir Anthony and the royal scholar Chrysafer. They have reason to suspect the Duke of Tilbury is behind the plot—and that the queen is his next target. As spies listen in the shadows and swords clash, there is one weapon that will sway events in the traitorous duke's favor: a legendary serpent's egg with clairvoyant powers. And only Chrysafer is able to sense its magic—and stop the carnage to come . ....
The Serpent and the Pearl
Kate Quinn
Historical Fiction
One powerful family holds a city, a faith, and a woman in its grasp--from the national bestselling author of "Daughters of Rome" and "Mistress of Rome."
Rome, 1492. The Holy City is drenched with blood and teeming with secrets. A pope lies dying and the throne of God is left vacant, a prize awarded only to the most virtuous--or the most ruthless. The Borgia family begins its legendary rise, chronicled by an innocent girl who finds herself drawn into their dangerous web...
Vivacious Giulia Farnese has floor-length golden hair and the world at her feet: beauty, wealth, and a handsome young husband. But she is stunned to discover that her glittering marriage is a sham, and she is to be given as a concubine to the ruthless, charismatic Cardinal Borgia: Spaniard, sensualist, candidate for Pope--and passionately in love with her.
Two trusted companions will follow her into the Pope's shadowy harem: Leonello, a cynical bodyguard bent on bloody revenge against a mysterious killer, and Carmelina, a fiery cook with a past full of secrets. But as corruption thickens in the Vatican and the enemies begin to circle, Giulia and her friends will need all their wits to survive in the world of the Borgias.
The Red Serpent
The Red Serpent (retail) (epub)
At the edge of the empire, the hunters become the hunted...They're back - Drust, Kag, Ugo, Sib and some new faces - as dirt-ridden and downbeat as ever. Drawn to the edge of the Roman world and the blasted deserts of the Syrian frontier, they are presented with a mysterious riddle from their old companions, Dog and Manius. In the scorching heat, plots and rumours breed like flies on a corpse. To survive, Drust and the others must face all challengers along with Mother Nature's rage. Sometimes they'll stand and fight; sometimes they'll run as fast as they can and pray to the Gods. For it is a mad and violent world, and they must be equal to it...From bestselling author Rob Low comes the second in the Brothers of the Sands series. Filled with gristle, gore and jaw-dropping action, The Red Serpent is a tour de force, perfect for fans of Giles Kristian, David Gilman and Conn Iggulden
The Serpent Mage
Tracy Hickman;Margaret Weis
Weakened when Haplo the Patryn causes chaos so that the lord of Nexus can establish a new order, the people of the water world Chelestra, one of the four worlds, must outwit lethal and magical sea serpents.
The Serpent of the House of Hua
Maria Ying
In a world of potent magic, they will do everything possible to fulfill their goals.Warlock Viveca and her demon wife Yves have come to an otherworldly gambling den to retrieve a grimoire that once belonged to Elizaveta Hua. But to win their prize, they'll have to do more than politely negotiate: they must participate in a tournament of mortal combat—in which losing would mean true death even for Yves.The Serpent of the House of Hua is an F/F urban fantasy heist novelette that takes place during The Might of Monsters.
The Witchfinder's Serpent
Rande Goodwin
Something wicked this way comes . . . When fifteen-year-old Nate Watson moves to Windsor to live with his mysterious Aunt Celia, the last things on his mind are witches and magick and ancient vendettas. While Nate focuses on building a new life for himself and his younger brother, making new friends and adjusting to a new high school, he can't escape the feeling that something isn't as it seems. Nate's search for answers leads him to a forbidden, locked door in Aunt Celia's mansion. Inside, he finds a witch's workshop full of mystical artifacts, some dating back to the time of the earliest Puritan settlers. It's no coincidence that Nate is now living in the very same town where, forty-five years before the Salem witch trials, Alse Young was hanged as America's first witch. Could magick be real? Nate remains skeptical until he picks up the witchfinder's serpent—a powerful, demonic bracelet that wraps itself around his arm and permanently imbeds itself...
