The Raven: six men and an elf, sword for hire in the wars that have torn apart Balaia. For years their loyalty has been only to themselves and their code. But, that time is over. The Wytch Lords have escaped and The Raven find themselves fighting for the Dark College of magic, searching for the location of Dawnthief. It is a spell created to end the world, and it must be cast if any of them are to survive. Dawnthief is a fast paced epic about a band of all-too-human heroes. From the Trade Paperback edition.

Chronicles of the Raven: Two AN ANCIENT EVIL HAS BEEN BANISHED - NOW THE PRICE MUST BE PAID ... Balaia is torn by war, and now suffering the consequences of an apocalyptic spell too. The Dawnthief - designed to destroy the world, but cast in desperation to save it - has ripped a hole in the sky ... ... which becomes a pathway to a dragon dimension, through which unfriendly eyes are already turning to Balaia. But with war already sweeping the land, there are no armies to send against the dragons. Only a band of tiny, but legendary, mercenaries: The Raven.

Death cannot separate them. This is The Raven, older, wiser, some returned from the grave. Grieving they seek nothing but rest from conflict, something the world will not grant them. But they remain The Raven, still answering when the call comes, still the force most likely to survive and bring the world with them, and still willing to die so that those they love can live.

Thousands of years ago the elves were enslaved by the Wytch Lords. Murdered in their thousands, worked to death in slave gangs and divided against themselves, the wounds inflicted by man run deep - and elves have very long memories. Two of them - Auum and Takaar - led the rise against their enslavers, and united their people against men in order to free their nation. Now Calaius is at peace ... but that doesn't mean their nation is safe. Men need their help. The Wytch Lords have rallied, men's magic has grown more powerful, and their politics have become altogether more dangerous. Especially now: one of the mages has created a spell, called Dawnthief, which has the potential to destroy all living things on the planet. All four magical colleges are fighting to seize it and, in the background, the Wytch Lords have schemes of their own. Schemes which involve crushing the elven nation for good. Whoever seizes the spell, it places the elves in tremendous danger. But can Auum and Takaar overcome their differences and work together to save Calaius? And even if they can, is it not already too late ... ? Find out more on his website, www.jamesbarclay.com, or you can follow @barculator on Twitter.

The Raven are tested to the point of destruction when a savage war is unleashed across their world and the magical colleges of Balaia tear the land apart in their struggle for supremacy. Can The Raven even survive, let alone triumph?

The Estorean Conquord has stood for 850 years. Its Advocate, Herine Del Aglios, knows that she presides over the greatest civilisation in history. But she wants more. And in Estorea's recently conquered territories dissent is brewing. Forced to fight old friends and neighbours in the cause of the ever-growing Conquord, they face brutal choices and savage demands for money and men to be fed into Estorea's wars - demands made by Paul Jhered, head of the Gatherers and the iron hand of the Advocate, With Jhered by her side, Herine believes that nothing can go wrong. Until a disastrous and bloody reversal in the war to overrun the Kingdom of Tsard puts Estorea's armies on the back foot and has Tsardon troops flooding into the Conquord. As the empire trembles, far from the war four unique children are discovering their powers. They are the first true Ascendants, in touch with the elements, able to shape the world. An empire descending into war is about to discover the wonder and terror of magic ... James Barclay's new series is a triumph of epic plotting and heart-stopping action.

Outside of an astoundingly large population of rats, roaches and rejects, most wouldn't consider Cresvy to be a place of particular interest. A concrete jungle pressed against a wind battered coast, if the smell didn't ward off a sane man the people inevitably would, for even the citizens would prefer to be just about anywhere else. In short, an onlooker would likely be deemed wise for fleeing from the forgotten little borough, though not solely on the basis of concerns regarding hygiene or a mugging. For the little town of Cresvy is home to hell incarnate. There monsters aren't the creatures that lurk in the shadows and prowl dark street corners, but a tangible and dangerous beast hidden by a convincing form, easily mistaken for a neighbour, a friend, an ally. Less a wolf disguised by sheepskin, but the devil parading in human flesh.For the past 17 years, Silas has spent his nights in a cell and his days in chains. A monster and an outcast who has had it ingrained into him that his very existence was a danger to everyone he loves. Left alive by virtue of the fact that his dangers can be bound, his fangs rendered dull and his beast tamed, but the life he is permitted is one a pitiful one. And a history painted with blood and riddled with tragedy has done little but convince him that this is the truth, and that his fate is one he has earned. But when a day meant for celebration and excitement ends in massacre, the monster might become the saviour. With war on the horizon, he will have the chance to secure the peace his Kingdom has earned through bloodshed, death and tears. But between him and salvation, stands a war torn country and a rebellion desperate to spark war. Will Silas earn his freedom once and for all, or will he only turn out to be the monster his kingdom have always feared him to be.

I have been Truesword to my friends, Griefbringer to my enemies. To most of you I am just another Northlander bastard here to take your women and drink your mead, but to those who know me, my name is Gallow. I fought for my king for seven long years. I have served lords and held my shield beside common men. I have fled in defeat and I have tasted victory and I will tell you which is sweeter. Despise me then, for I have slain more of your kin than I can count, though I remember every single face. For my king I will travel to the end of the world. I will find the fabled Crimson Shield so that his legions may carry it to battle, and when Sword and Shield must finally clash, there you will find me. I will not make pacts with devils or bargains with demons for I do not believe in such things, and yet I will see them all around me, in men and in their deeds. Remember me then, for I will not suffer such monsters to live. Even if they are the ones I serve.

Was she an angel of mercy or the devil in disguise? Gabriel Fairchild's valor during the Battle of Trafalgar earns him the title of hero, but costs him his hope for the future. Abandoned by the fiancée he adored, the man who once walked like a prince among London's elite secludes himself in his family's mansion, cursing his way through dark days and darker nights. Prim nurse Samantha Wickersham arrives at Fairchild Park to find her new charge behaving more like a beast than a man. After their first fiery confrontation, she engages the arrogant earl in a hilarious battle of both wit and wills. Although he pronounces her a “tart, vinegary creature without an ounce of womanly softness about her”, he is secretly intrigued by her dry sense of humor, her lack of pity, and the bold way she brooks no nonsense from him. Whenever she is near, he feels the stirrings of a desire he never thought he would feel again. As Samantha begins to let the light back into Gabriel's life and his heart, they both discover that some pleasures are best explored in the dark. Book 1 of the ROGUES AND GENTLEMEN series, which includes Yours Until Dawn, Thief of Hearts, Once an Angel and Nobody’s Darling “A crisp, bright tale…as finely written as Medeiros’s best novels.”—Publishers Weekly “Absolutely marvelous! Medeiros’s writing is pure magic. Will keep you reading until the wee hours of the morning.”—Historical Romance Club “Ms. Medeiros is at the top of her game with this stellar romance. A wonderful read!”—The Best Reviews “Five Hearts—a definite keeper. Medeiros does everything right in Yours Until Dawn!”—The Oakland Daily Press “A superbly written romance…one of those stories that you don’t want to end!”—America Online Romance Fiction Forum ENGLISH LANGUAGE EDITION Regency romance, Nobility romance, Beauty and the Beast

Septern chooses to ignore the war which rages outside his borders and continues to train Balaia's young mages. For his students it is the opportunity of a lifetime. For Septern, it is peace from the demands of the colleges of magic while he continues his research. He needs peace because he is close to creating the ultimate spell.