It's Brent Weeks meets China Mieville in this wildly imaginative fantasy debut featuring high action, elegant writing, and sword and sorcery with a Chinese flare. Persimmon Gaunt and Imago Bone are a romantic couple and partners in crime. Persimmon is a poet from a well-to-do family, who found herself looking for adventure, while Imago is a thief in his ninth decade who is double-cursed, and his body has not aged in nearly seventy years. Together, their services and wanderlust have taken them into places better left unseen, and against odds best not spoken about. Now, they find themselves looking to get away, to the edge of the world, with Persimmon pregnant with their child, and the most feared duo of assassins hot on their trail. However, all is never what it seems, and a sordid adventure--complete with magic scrolls, gangs of thieves, and dragons both eastern and western--is at hand.

Yamamoto Kansuke was a 16th Century general under Takeda Shingen in the Warring States Period of Japan. This is a collection of four versions of a document attributed to him. Each of the four versions describe sword, spear and military tactics that are fully illustrated by different Edo Era artists. The text adds explanations on the underlying feeling fighting in each illustration. Long thought to be a fictional character, historical letters mentioning Yamamoto Kansuke and establishing him as a authentic historical figure are reproduced and translated. There are additional chapters highlighting techniques in Kansuke's book that also appears in the Chinese Bubishi military manual. Finally, some of the unusual weapons within the Bubishi are explained.

One by one, three ancient and heavily-guarded talismans disappear. Columba Riverford has just been inducted into the Hall of Swords. But during his swearing-in ceremony, the sacred sword Genesyx is stolen, and Columba accused of its theft. Meanwhile, Aridisia Myric is about to be granted membership to the Crypt of Scrolls when the One Scroll Canodex vanishes. Soon after, the One Stone Luxullian disappears and Baron Marl Gneiss is denied induction into the Vault of Stones. Banished, all three embark on a quest to recover the sacred artifacts and restore their good names. But unknown to them all is an ancient evil that seeks to destroy the Order of Magic, and claim the talismans as his own.

The eighth episode in a unique interactive series of 32 books. Hidden in a temple deep within a jungle-swamp known as the Danarg lies the Lorestone of Ohrido. To find it you must survive the assassins of Gnaag, the armies of the Warlord Zagron, and the creatures of Agarash the Damned, who seek to protect the jungle and its treasures.

In this YA fantasy adventure by a New York Times–bestselling author, a shapeshifter must stop a demon from using a dragon to destroy the world. One thousand years ago, a wish was made, and a sword of rage and lightning was forged. Kamigoroshi. The Godslayer. A weapon powerful enough to seal away the formidable demon Hakaimono. Now he has broken free . . . Kitsune shapeshifter Yumeko has one task: take her piece of the ancient and powerful Scroll of a Thousand Prayers to the Steel Feather temple in order to prevent the summoning of the great Kami Dragon, who will grant one wish to whomever holds the scroll. But she has a new enemy now, more dangerous than any she has yet faced. The demon Hakaimono is free at last, and he has possessed the very person Yumeko trusted to protect her—Kage Tatsumi of the Shadow Clan. Hakaimono has one goal: break the curse of the sword and set himself free to rain chaos and destruction over the land forevermore. To do so, he will need the scroll. And Yumeko is the only one standing in his way. Books in the Shadow of the Fox trilogy: Shadow of the Fox Soul of the Sword Night of the Dragon Praise for Shadow of the Fox “One of my all-time favorite fantasy novels! I’m in love with this book, its characters, its worldbuilding!” —Ellen Oh, author of the Prophecy and Spirit Hunters series “Kagawa uses elements of Japanese mythology and folklore to spin an epic yarn . . . readers will be drawn into the world of Kagawa’s first Japan-based fantasy; with its engaging action scenes and the cliffhanger ending, they will look forward to the next volume. Action-packed adventure.” —Kirkus Reviews “Kagawa’s series starter never disappoints; she’s a vet at putting realistic characters within believable worlds, here doused in Japanese folklore.” —Booklist

An unexpected knock at the door of his cottage will forever change the life of young Rennis. With an unsettling warning of impending danger and a compelling invitation, he escapes from the Tresed Valley, traverses the Plains of Eil, and finds himself standing before the gate of the Castle of Ekklesia. Follow his journey as it takes him through the Cross-Gate into a palace fi lled with mystery and intrigue. Graced with a new identity (now called Nevigrof ) and a new life purpose, Nev will spend a lifetime unlocking and exploring the castles innumerable rooms. Discover with him the secrets of passage that will lead him to the castles upper levels and consequently to a higher understanding of the castles Master. Be warned: the way is difficult, riddled with unforeseen dangers, as the Masters enemies stop at nothing to frustrate Nevs progress. Even the Great Dragon, Reficul himself, openly defies him. Will Nev survive the onslaught? And can he overcome the greatest challenge to his resolvehis own flawed humanity? A gripping allegorical tale of life and death, defeat and victory, as well as love and loss, you will be enriched as you identify with the similarities in your own life journey and are challenged with life-altering choices of your own.

Years ago the Order of Virtues waged war against God's angels. The Order was defeated and banished to Earth, where they now wander, infecting human souls with evil. Amis Trepe is a young man back in his old neighborhood on family business. Soon he feels as though he is being watched. He has terrible dreams, possibly visions. Then he discovers a mysterious dagger in his coat pocket. The Order of Virtues must find the "Sword of Glory" to enable their victory in a new fight against the angels. But Amis is standing in their way.

This volume is a collection of essays written in honour of Martin G. Abegg from a range of contributors with expertise in Second Temple Jewish literature in reflection upon Prof. Abegg’s work. These essays are arranged according to four topics that deal with various aspects of text, language and interpretation of the Qumran War Scroll, and concepts of war and peace in Second Temple Jewish literature. The contents of the volume are divided into the following four main sections: (1) The War Scroll, (2) War and Peace in the Hebrew Scriptures, (3) War and Peace in the Dead Sea Scrolls, and (4) War and Peace in early Jewish and Christian texts and interpretation.

N. T. Wright is well known for his view that the majority of Second Temple Jews saw themselves as living within an ongoing exile. This book engages a lively conversation with this idea, beginning with a lengthy thesis from Wright, responses from eleven New Testament scholars, and a concluding essay from Wright responding to his interlocutors.