The Norse thought they could conquer Scotland. They were wrong. Melcorka is an ordinary young woman from the Isles. But when her homeland of Alba is attacked by the Viking horde, Melcorka abandons her life of luxury and chooses the path of a warrior. With a ragtag band of companions, she heads south to unite the clans and free the land from the Norsemen's scourge - and claim her destiny.
All five books in Malcolm Archibald's 'The Swordswoman', a series of historical fantasy novels, now in one volume! The Swordswoman: Melcorka is an ordinary young woman from the Isles. But when her homeland of Alba is attacked by the Viking horde, Melcorka abandons her life of luxury and chooses the path of a warrior. With a ragtag band of companions, she heads south to unite the clans and free the land from the Norsemen's scourge, and claim her destiny. The Shining One: Melcorka the Swordswoman is unsettled. She wishes revenge on Egil the Norseman, yet knows that Defender, her magic sword, cannot kill without cause. After receiving a dire warning from the seer Fitheach, Melcorka and Bradan head toward the Western Isles in search of knowledge. Facing many dangers on their path, they forge on toward the Standing Stones of Callanish to face the most fearsome foe of all: The Shining One. Falcon Warrior: Sailing west across the Atlantic, Melcorka the Swordswoman and Bradan the Wanderer encounter a strange woman entombed within an iceberg. On her is a headband decorated with the symbol of a falcon. Heading towards Greenland, Vinland and eventually, the New World, the two face powerful foes. But can they find the ancient pyramid city of Cahokia and learn the mystery of the strange falcon artifact? Melcorka Of Alba: Melcorka and Bradan find themselves in dangerous waters when a storm sends them hundreds of miles off course. After countless days at sea, they find themselves in a strange Eastern land, in the city of Kollchi, surrounded by supernatural forces they have never seen before. With her trusty sword Defender by her side, Melcorka sets to overcome the odds. But in this dangerous land of monsters and demonic power, will it be enough? Loki's Sword: Facing war on two fronts, the High King of Alba orders Melcorka to hunt down and defeat the Butcher - a savage who wields Loki's Sword. Fighting through a variety of increasingly dangerous enemies, she and Bradan make their way towards their formidable, final foe. But is there something more to the Butcher than meets the eye - and what is the secret of Loki's Sword?
Books 4-5 in Malcolm Archibald's 'The Swordswoman', a series of historical fantasy novels, now in one volume! Melcorka of Alba: Melcorka and Bradan's journey takes an unexpected turn when a storm diverts their course and reveals unsettling changes in Melcorka. Stranded in the mysterious city of Kollchi, they encounter supernatural forces unlike any they've faced before. With her faithful sword Defender, Melcorka courageously battles the unknown. But in a treacherous land filled with monsters and dark powers, will it be enough to overcome the daunting challenges ahead? Loki's Sword: Back in her homeland of Alba, the intrepid Swordswoman Melcorka is tasked by the High King with a critical mission: to confront and vanquish the fearsome Butcher, a ruthless adversary wielding Loki's Sword. As she and Bradan navigate a perilous path, they inch closer to their ultimate, formidable enemy. Yet, amidst the dangerous quest, Melcorka begins to unravel the layers surrounding the Butcher and the mysteries locked within Loki's Sword. Can she uncover the truth hidden beneath the surface and triumph over her formidable foe?
The first three books in Malcolm Archibald's 'The Swordswoman', a series of historical fantasy novels, now in one volume! The Swordswoman: Melcorka is an ordinary young woman from the Isles. But when her homeland of Alba is attacked by the Viking horde, Melcorka abandons her life of luxury and chooses the path of a warrior. With a ragtag band of companions, she heads south to unite the clans and free the land from the Norsemen's scourge, and claim her destiny. The Shining One: Melcorka the Swordswoman is unsettled. She wishes revenge on Egil the Norseman, yet knows that Defender, her magic sword, cannot kill without cause. After receiving a dire warning from the seer Fitheach, Melcorka and Bradan head toward the Western Isles in search of knowledge. Facing many dangers on their path, they forge on toward the Standing Stones of Callanish to face the most fearsome foe of all: The Shining One. Falcon Warrior: Sailing west across the Atlantic, Melcorka the Swordswoman and Bradan the Wanderer encounter a strange woman entombed within an iceberg. On her is a headband decorated with the symbol of a falcon. Heading towards Greenland, Vinland and eventually, the New World, the two face powerful foes. But can they find the ancient pyramid city of Cahokia and learn the mystery of the strange falcon artifact?
From the award-winning author of Swordspoint comes a witty, wicked coming-of-age story that is both edgy and timeless. . . . Welcome to Riverside, where the aristocratic and the ambitious battle for power and prestige in the city’s labyrinth of streets and ballrooms, theatres and brothels, boudoirs and salons. Into this alluring and alarming world walks a bright young woman ready to take it on and make her fortune. A well-bred country girl, Katherine knows all the rules of conventional society. Her biggest mistake is thinking they apply. Katherine’s host and uncle, Alec Campion, the capricious and decadent Mad Duke Tremontaine, is in charge here—and to him, rules are made to be broken. When he decides it would be far more amusing for his niece to learn swordplay than to follow the usual path to ballroom and husband, her world changes forever. And there’s no going back. Blade in hand, it’s up to Katherine to find her own way through a maze of secrets and betrayals, nobles and scoundrels—and to gain the power, respect, and self-discovery that come to those who master. . . . “Unholy fun, and wholly fun . . . an elegant riposte, dazzlingly executed.”—Gregory Maguire, New York Times bestselling author of Wicked
A passionate call for Christian women to effectively "wield the sword" of their God-given feminine strength against any evil that threatens them and those they love. What if you discovered you have been entrusted with an invisible, invincible, and incorruptible weapon? Would you use it? In a day of worldwide trafficking, gendercide, discrimination, and other hostility against women, Lisa Bevere points to a biblical foundation to present a model of feminine strength that will empower women to live confidently. Drawing on the many references to swords throughout Scripture, the author constructs a revealing and compelling female paradigm that will impact every area of a woman's self identity, spiritual awareness, relationships, and life vision and mission. Long known for her passionate and articulate expression of biblical womanhood, Bevere presents fresh imagery--as enticing and strong as polished steel--to prepare women boldly for the challenges they face in today's world. It's not enough to just be wise and strong: Now a woman must know how to wield her sword. Creatively forging the imagery of swords, the Word of God, and the Cross, Girls with Swords will teach you: • How to speak the language of heaven on earth • What it means to intercede • What it means to carry your cross • What it means to be discerning • How to disarm the enemy • Why women are the enemy’s target—and why God needs them to be heroes It’s time to take up your sword and be a hero.
"The Book and the Sword was Louis Cha's first novel, published in 1955. The story has a panoramic sweep which has at its heart a few unbeatable themes: secret societies, kung fu masters, and the sensational rumour so dear to Chinese hearts that the great Manchu Emperor Qian Long was not in fact a Manchu but a Han Chinese, a line of descent that came about as a result of a 'baby swap' on the part of the Chens of Haining in Southern China. It mixes in the exotic flavours of central Asia, a lost city in the desert guarded by wolf packs, and the Fragrant Princess. This lady is an embellishment of an actual historical figure - although whether she actually smelled of flowers, we will never know."--Jacket
“For headling, nonstop adventure and for vivid, even florid, scenery, no one even comes close to Howard.”—Harry Turtledove In a meteoric career that covered only a dozen years, Robert E. Howard defined the sword-and-sorcery genre. In doing so, he brought to life the archetypal adventurer known to millions around the world as Conan the barbarian. Witness, then, Howard at his finest, and Conan at his most savage, in the latest volume featuring the collected works of Robert E. Howard, lavishly illustrated by award-winning artist Greg Manchess. Prepared directly from the earliest known versions—often Howard’s own manuscripts—are such sword-and-sorcery classics as “The Servants of Bit-Yakin” (formerly published as “Jewels of Gwahlur”), “Beyond the Black River,” “The Black Stranger,” “Man-Eaters of Zamboula” (formerly published as “Shadows in Zamboula”), and, perhaps his most famous adventure of all, “Red Nails.” The Conquering Sword of Conan includes never-before-published outlines, notes, and story drafts, plus a new introduction, personal correspondence, and the revealing essay “Hyborian Genesis”—which chronicles the history of the creation of the Conan series. Truly, this is heroic fantasy at its finest.
During China's infamous Tang Dynasty, a time awash with luxury yet littered with deadly intrigues and fallen royalty, betrayed Princess Ai Li flees before her wedding. Miles from home, with only her delicate butterfly swords for defense, she enlists the reluctant protection of a blue-eyed warrior…. Battle-scarred, embittered Ryam has always held his own life at cheap value. Ai Li's innocent trust in him and honorable, stubborn nature make him desperate to protect her—which means not seducing the first woman he has ever truly wanted….
