For over two hundred years, the Rye Empire outlawed the use of magic. Now, the empire has fallen and a new, sinister power is rising. Ambitious and corrupt, The Mountain King will stop at nothing to reach his goals. Enslaving a sorceress to do his bidding, he begins his hunt for lost talismans that can help him bring the wizards back, and harness their power. To save the Old Empire from this growing, sinister magic, seventeen-year-old farm boy Mykal and his friends begin a desperate journey: they must collect the talismans before the Mountain King. On their way, Mykal will have to face fears and accept truths he never knew existed. A war is coming, and their time is running out. And if they fail, a terrible darkness will steal the light from the Grey Ashland Realm... forever.
The story of the arcane table-top game that became a pop culture phenomenon and the long-running legal battle waged by its cocreators. When Dungeons & Dragons was first released to a small hobby community, it hardly seemed destined for mainstream success--and yet this arcane tabletop role-playing game became an unlikely pop culture phenomenon. In Game Wizards, Jon Peterson chronicles the rise of Dungeons & Dragons from hobbyist pastime to mass market sensation, from the initial collaboration to the later feud of its creators, Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. As the game's fiftieth anniversary approaches, Peterson--a noted authority on role-playing games--explains how D&D and its creators navigated their successes, setbacks, and controversies. Peterson describes Gygax and Arneson's first meeting and their work toward the 1974 release of the game; the founding of TSR and its growth as a company; and Arneson's acrimonious departure and subsequent challenges to TSR. He recounts the "Satanic Panic" accusations that D&D was sacrilegious and dangerous, and how they made the game famous. And he chronicles TSR's reckless expansion and near-fatal corporate infighting, which culminated with the company in debt and overextended and the end of Gygax's losing battle to retain control over TSR and D&D. With Game Wizards, Peterson restores historical particulars long obscured by competing narratives spun by the one-time partners. That record amply demonstrates how the turbulent experience of creating something as momentous as Dungeons & Dragons can make people remember things a bit differently from the way they actually happened.
A corrupt old Democrat. A surging Republican populist. The Democrat, hounded by corruption allegations; the Republican, dogged by business failures and ties to white supremacists. The Republican turned out thousands of screaming supporters for speeches blaming illegal immigrants and crime on the Democrats, and the Democrat plummeted in the polls. Sound familiar? The '91 Louisiana Governor's race was supposed to be forgettable. But when former KKK Grand Wizard David Duke shocked the nation by ousting incumbent Republican Governor Buddy Roemer in the primary, the world took notice. Democrat Edwin Edwards, a former three-term governor and two-time corruption defendant, was left alone to face Duke in the general election—and he was going to lose. Then a little-known state committeewoman stepped in with evidence of Duke's nefarious past. Could her evidence be enough to sway the minds of fired-up voters, or would Louisiana welcome a far-right radical into the highest office in the state? Journalist Brian Fairbanks explores how the final showdown between Duke and Edwards in November 1991 led to a major shift in our national politics, as well as the rise of the radical right and white supremacist groups, and how history repeated itself in the 2016 presidential election. The story of these political "wizards," almost forgotten by history, remains eerily prescient and disturbingly relevant, and a compulsive page-turner.
It’s the year 2103, and Earth is in crisis. Temperatures are increasing dramatically, crops are failing, and humanity is struggling to adapt. As climate change and political tensions between Canada and the United States escalate, a long-dormant natural force awakens to reclaim her power from the ravages of science, politics, and organized religion: Mother Nature. However, she cannot succeed alone. In Toronto, a young man named Aiden has been enduring splitting migraines and vivid dreams that transport him into visions of underground caverns and cataclysmic events. Just when he suspects he’s on the brink of insanity—or possibly even death—a charming stranger coupled with a freak accident unleashes a power from within. Soon, Aiden and his two closest friends find themselves on a journey of joint self-discovery, becoming the first wizards—Mother Earth’s warriors—to appear on Earth in over three thousand years. Aiden’s inborn magic leads him to a reclusive group known as the Guardians, who teach him how to wield his power. However, it isn’t long before his adventures pit him and his friends against a powerful force that deems magic heresy: the Catholic Church. From an ancient stronghold in Ireland to a secluded village in the French Alps, Aiden and the other wizards must learn to master their magic and protect their ancient knowledge in order to help save the planet.
Avert the Cataclysmic Return of Tiamat in this Adventure for the World’s Greatest Roleplaying Game The Cult of the Dragon leads the charge in an unholy crusade to bring Tiamat back to the Realms, and the situation grows more perilous for good people with each passing moment. The battle becomes increasingly political as opportunities to gather allies and gain advantage present themselves. From Waterdeep to the Sea of Moving Ice to Thay, it is a race against Evil. Succeed or succumb to the oppression of draconic tyranny. Win or lose, things will never be the same again. • The second of two adventures in the Tyranny of Dragons™ story arc, The Rise of Tiamat provides everything a Dungeon Master needs to create an exciting and memorable adventure experience. • Fans of the Dungeons & Dragons® Roleplaying Game can get a sample of what this product has in store for them through the D&D Encounters™ in-store play program. • Adventure design and development by Kobold Press.
There I sat in this dilapidated run down shack. It's in the middle of the night and I had to light a fire in the hearth so that I could see better. Now I'm sitting on a wobbly stool. In front of me is a low laying bed with a small figure in it. It was covered all the way to its chin. I watched as my shadow danced on the wall and splayed across the bed and the lonely figure. I can't believe that I came all this way in the pursuit of knowledge. I sat there waiting and finally the person in front of me sat up and was instantly cloaked in the darkness that was my shadow. It was kind of discomforting when his small voice spoke. "Now come closer sonny you need to hear this. I, Brentwin Forrester, the last of the great story tellers, am about to tell you a tale. It is about an extraordinary man with an extraordinary life. I shall begin with his rise to power. If I do not last through the night, the journals on the dresser shall tell you the rest of his story." I leaned closer and watched as Brentwin began his tale of a man that was both myth and legend.
College is hard—classes, homework, bullies. But, being the daughter of renowned professors, I grew up at Alderidge University and was on track to have an easy start to my freshman year. Until I met Nathaniel Nightingale. Aloof and mysterious, Nathaniel’s hands were covered in scars that told me he had a violent history. He started asking questions about my own, and then dark secrets in our family lines collided after a strange discovery in the library. We found words with power, and they unleashed abilities in the both of us that had been lost to the world. Turns out, the witch trials weren’t entirely the product of mass hysteria. As far as we can tell, almost every mage was wiped out – killed for their knowledge and their capabilities. And now I have to wonder if my mother’s disappearance is related. This is dangerous. It’s feels impossible. We have the weight of an entire lost race resting on our shoulders. But we’ve got this. Together, we’ll bring it all back. Together, we’ll resurrect magic. Rise of the Mage is the first installment of the Resurrecting Magic series, a new adult, medium-burn paranormal romance with a whip smart, broody hero and a sassy, brave heroine. This hot new series is perfect for fans of A Discovery of Witches, The Magicians, and Ninth House.
Get the first three books in the award-winning, urban fantasy series More than Magic in a single bundle! This set contains the first three books in the More than Magic series; Semester Aboard, Snow Bound, and Soul Choice. Book One: Semester Aboard (Gold Medal winner, Readers' Favorite International Book Awards) I should have packed a stake. I thought a two-month cruise around Latin America would be filled with magical moments. I never imagined I’d be swimming with a mermaid or hiking through a rainforest with a werewolf. That is, until that fateful night when I met Thomas and the others out on deck and discovered that magic is real. Now, they’re teaching me how to use my newfound powers and what’s more, they’ve welcomed me into the close-knit little family they’ve built together. Turns out we aren’t the only paranormal beings on board, and our bloodthirsty enemy isn’t happy we’re here. A week ago, I didn’t even believe vampires were real, but now we’re being stalked by one. Trapped on the ship, with no way to call for help, it’s up to us to stop him and save the rest of the passengers… and ourselves. If we can’t, we might never set foot on land again. Book Two: Snow Bound The wrong person has learned our secret… It has been five months since I found out that I’m a witch. Even my familiar, Rak, isn’t a replacement for spending time with the other magical beings I grew close with over the summer. A ski trip with them is exactly what I need to immerse myself in magic again. It’s wonderful being back with everyone without a vampire stalking us… but the slopes aren’t as peaceful as they seem. Throw in the surprise arrival of my non-magic cousin, a blizzard, and a suspicious werewolf next door, and our relaxing vacation is turning into a nightmare. After an attack leaves one of us on the brink of death, the race is on to defend ourselves from our mysterious enemy. My magic is stronger now, but will it be strong enough to save my friends, my cousin, and get us all off the mountain alive? Book Three: Soul Choice Forget everything you know… about magic. Taking classes to improve my spell-casting and learn more about the magical world has hit an unexpected snag: people keep mistaking me for someone else. And it’s clear that my double is not a popular witch. I try not to worry about it, until being mistaken for her gets me kidnapped by people who want revenge for what she did. But taking me hostage is only part of a larger plan and when Thomas and the others come to my rescue, we find ourselves caught right in the middle of a sinister experiment. Turned into unwilling test subjects and given a dangerous potion, we have less than a week to get the antidote and the clock is ticking fast. But the casualty rate in the experiment is high and at least one of us is already dying. Our only chance rests with the kidnappers and my double. Trusting them might be a mistake, but we don’t have another choice. The More than Magic series is a New Adult Urban Fantasy series, packed with witches, vampires, shifters, elementals, and a host of magical creatures. If you like paranormal characters with found family, a dash of sweet romance, and twists and turns you can sink your teeth into, grab the first three books today!
A journey of wonders and hazards. Time is running out for the world of Genoa and its magical peoples. A wizard’s past mistake must now be set right if Genoa is to survive the battle that is to come. Anna is clearly different from others. With obvious physical differences and powerful abilities, she’s never quite fit in… anywhere. Having no knowledge of her parents, she sets out to discover her true origin. On the run for most of her life, she’s become a master at eluding capture, even a little cocky you might say. When a sticky situation forces her hand, she hitches a ride with a wizard, who whisks her away to another world, where, according to him, she’d been exiled from as a child. This new magical place seems oddly familiar as Anna discovers powerful enemies and treasured allies on her quest for answers. The dangerous journey thrust her headlong into the arms of Kriston, who finds himself caught between sworn-duty and insatiable curiosity.
Stunned and grateful to have survived a ferocious battle against an impossible foe, the Games Master, four comrades and warriors contemplate what future awaits them. War is brewing in the lands, but it is not glorious. These are tense times for all who live in the path of conflict. The Silver Allegiance, the dominant ruling kingdom, has expanded as far north and west as it can. And a new, powerful consortium known as the Dark Realm has grown as far east and south as it can. Caught between these two powerhouse kingdoms is a small strip of towns and villages, where terrified citizens await what comes next. As each side prepares for battle, the people caught in the middle do all they can to survive. Kruno and his men have no interest in being a part of the impending conflict, but how can they stay out of it? Their adventures will take them to hostile lands, where they meet exceptional creatures. Can they survive their encounters with the sand sorceresses, gargoyles, cryptons, and the most feared beasts of all - dragons? Can they avoid the inevitable horrors of war?
