***WINNER - Best High Fantasy Novel of 2015 - eFestival of Words Best of the Independent eBook Awards*** At the dawn of time, two ancient adversaries battled for control of Earth. One man rose to stand at humanity's side. A soldier whose name we still remember today… Cut down by an act of betrayal, Mikhail lingers between life and death while his fragile alliance crumbles against the onslaught of a Sata'anic invasion. Fearful the intrepid Angelic might lose hope and die, his young protégé concocts a plan to fool him into thinking his wife is at his side. Meanwhile, held captive by the Evil One, Ninsianna must choose between loyalty to her fallen husband and manipulating the Evil One's minions to turn against him. As darkness tears the heavens asunder, a tiny Mesopotamian village finds itself the epicenter of an intergalactic war between good and evil. But all is not lost. An ancient goddess has recruited two 'Watchmen' to turn darkness back into the light; mortal creatures who do not realize they are pawns. The saga of the greatest superhero to ever walk the Earth, the Archangel Michael, continues in Agents of Ki… * Sword of the Gods saga reading order: The Chosen One Omnibus (includes:) —Heroes of Old: Episode 1x01 —Sword of the Gods —No Place for Fallen Angels —Forbidden Fruit Prince of Tyre Agents of Ki The Dark Lord's Vessel The Fairy General (coming soon) . Children of the Fallen series (set in the same universe, but in the modern day) Angel of Death Omnibus (includes) —Angel of Death —Angel of Death: A Love Story A Gothic Christmas Angel (A Children of the Fallen novella) * Note: this book is NOT religious fiction. The Sword of the Gods saga is an epic fantasy retelling of the wars in heaven at the dawn of time, the clash of ancient adversaries and empires, the myth of Lucifer, the fallen angels, and the soldier we now call the Archangel Michael, and the 3,500 b.c. humans caught in middle, similar in tone and style to books such as Game of Thrones, Dune and Outlander, with a romantic undertone, all told with a science fiction / space opera twist. At the request of the publisher, this book is sold without DRM. * Keywords: Archangel Michael, Archangel Mikhail, Archangel, space opera, military science fiction, military romance, military fantasy, genetic engineering, first contact, alien invasion, galactic empire, Special Forces romance, angel romance, galactic empire, Lucifer, Luciferi, morning star, Shaytan, Satan, dragon god, dragons, devil, evil, nature of evil, Beelzebub, Beel-zebub, Ba'al Zebub, Moloch, angel, angels, archangel, archangels, guardian angel, guardian angels, angel fantasy, angel romance, fallen angels, books about angels, angels and demons, angel romance books, angel romance novels, demons, angel fantasy, Inanna, Abaddon, Jehoshaphat, Raphael, Archangel Raphael, Jophiel, Ubaid culture, Mesopotamian culture, ancient Mesopotamia, Assur, Ashur, Hiddekel River, what to read after Game of Thrones, Halifian culture, Halafian culture, Uruk culture, Annunaki, angel romance, genetically engineered super-soldiers, lion people, centaurs, merfolk, mermaids, military romance, wars in heaven, god vs. the devil, dark lord

Two old gods play chess to decide the fate of the galaxy. A hapless pawn is cast down upon the Earth. Mikha'il awakens, mortally wounded, on his crashed ship. He's saved by a young woman with unusual abilities. With no memory of his past and his ship destroyed, he has no choice but to integrate into her village. In stone-aged Mesopotamia, everyone must work or starve, but the only skill he possesses is an uncanny ability to kill.Ninsianna's people have prophecies of a time when a winged champion, a Sword of the Gods, will defend their people against an Evil One. Mikha'il insists he's no demi-god, but the dark premonitions sent to her by She-who-is say otherwise! Unbeknownst to them, Earth is about to become ground zero in a war between two ancient adversaries. The Emperors' armies are a dying race ... and humans hold the key to their survival.As love blossoms, the mysterious kidnappings of young women forces Mikha'il to choose between Ninsianna and his duty to complete a mission he can't quite recall. As fault lines open in the heavens, Mikha'il must teach his adopted people to raise armies from the dust to fight back against an enemy who remains unseen.

A war-traumatized Angelic must rescue his pregnant wife from the Devourer of Children without succumbing to the inner darkness which can unleash a terrifying power.

--Ask how you can win an hour in time— Marae O’Conaire has much bigger problems than the fact her watch stopped at 3:57 p.m. When she brings her watch to a kindly repairman, she learns she has won a peculiar prize, a chance to re-live a single hour of her life. But Fate has strict rules about how one can go poking in the past, including the warning that she can’t do anything that would create a time-paradox. Can Marae make peace with the mistake she regrets most in this world? This poignant tale about racism, regret and second chances is set in the historic mill city of Lowell, Massachusetts. "A poignant short read around a theme from Norse mythology. Time is a gift, and sometimes, a last chance…" —Dale Amidei, author "A very moving and dramatic story… if we had a chance to change our past, would we?" —Reader review "Getting a do-over on your deepest regret is a one in a million opportunity!" —Reader review What if you could do it over again? * Keywords: psychological fiction, women's fiction, time travel, Norns, Norn, Nornir, Fate, fates, the three fates, Norse mythology, disir, Moirai, Jotuns, time travel, time-travel romance, time travel watch, time travel watches, magical watches, nature of time, malleable time, travel back in time, turn back time, interracial relationships, mixed race relationships, what to read after The Time Traveler's Wife, discrimination, Hispanic relationships, hispanic, hispanic culture, latino, latino culture, prejudice, racism, second chance, second chances, second chance romance, military romance, outlander, what to read after Outlander, grief, grieving, soldier romance, new adult, new adult romance, college student romance, what to read after Somewhere in Time, Afghanistan war, college age romance, Urðr, Verðandi, Skuld, Lowell Massachusetts, set in Lowell Massachusetts, Lowell High School, U-Mass Lowell, Acre section of Lowell

"Does for Lucifer what 'Wicked' did for the Wicked Witch of the West..." --Reader review "Better than Game of Thrones..." --Reader review "You only think you know Lucifer!" --Reader review * At the dawn of time, two ancient adversaries battled for control of Earth. One man rose to stand at humanity's side. A man whose name we still remember today… At the dawn of time, two ancient adversaries battled for control of Earth. One man rose to stand at humanity's side. A soldier whose name we still remember today… The legend about the greatest superhero to ever walk the Earth continues in Prince of Tyre. Mikhail has a new mission: train the warriors to fight back against the mysterious kidnappings so his adopted village will be safe for Ninsianna and their expected child. But the journey from soldier to general is never easy, especially when the Chief's son undermines his authority. Challenges compound when they learn 'lizard demons' have put a bounty on Mikhail's head. Ninsianna thought her prayers had been answered when a man fell from the heavens and vowed to protect her village. But She-Who-Is is a demanding mistress—not only does she send nightmares of impending evil—but she causes her to view her husband with a pragmatic, and often self-serving eye. Can their marriage survive possession by a goddess? Or will She-Who-Is' power corrupt Ninsianna? Meanwhile in the heavens, rumors of a cure to the Angelic's impending extinction winds its way through the Emperor's desperate armies. Raphael is charged with finding this 'Holy Grail,' unaware that Lucifer barters the solution in a quiet coup d'etat. The Eternal Emperor and Shay'tan are so busy outwitting each other that neither notices Lucifer is a little 'off,' or that an ancient Evil is outmaneuvering them all. A tragic death forces the Alliance to choose which leader they will follow in an epic, heavens-fracturing showdown. The Eternal Emperor … or Lucifer? Note: this book is NOT Christian fiction. The Sword of the Gods saga is an epic fantasy retelling of the wars in heaven at the dawn of time, the clash of ancient adversaries and empires, the myth of Lucifer, the fallen angels, and the soldier we now call the Archangel Michael, and the 3,500 b.c. humans caught in middle, similar in tone and style to books such as Game of Thrones, Dune and Outlander, with a romantic undertone, all told with a science fiction / space opera twist. At the request of the publisher, this book is sold without DRM. Keywords: Archangel Michael, Archangel Mikhail, Archangel, angel, angels, archangels, guardian angels, angel fantasy, angel romance, Special Forces, galactic empire, Lucifer, Luciferi, morning star, Shaytan, Satan, dragon, dragons, devil, evil, nature of evil, Beelzebub, Beel-zebub, Ba'al Zebub, Moloch, angel, angels, fallen angels, fallen angels, books about angels, angels and demons, angel romance books, angel romance novels, demons, angel fantasy, Inanna, Abaddon, Jehoshaphat, Raphael, Archangel Raphael, Jophiel, Ubaid culture, Mesopotamian culture, ancient Mesopotamia, Assur, Ashur, Hiddekel River, what to read after Game of Thrones, Halifian culture, Halafian culture, Uruk culture, Annunaki, angel romance, genetically engineered super-soldiers, lion people, centaurs, merfolk, mermaids, military romance, wars in heaven, god vs. the devil, dark lord

…for who would love Death? Azrael Thanatos wants nothing more than to follow in the footsteps of his scientist mother. Sent to study humans on a wager between the Eternal Emperor and Shay'tan, he has no idea that Earth is gateway to a fiery prison. Far from home, he is befriended by Elissar, a precocious child with silver eyes. When Moloch instigates the invasion of Carthage to escape, Azrael sacrifices his life to snatch his friend from the Devourer of Children's maw. Saved by a mysterious goddess, Azrael is given a new mission. Watchman. Roaming the Earth without shape or form, he reaps those who would help Moloch escape and drags them to Gehenna, a prison to which only Lucifer holds the key. It's a hellish immortality, for who wants to serve alongside the Fallen or exist when no living creature can survive your touch. Haunted by Elissar's death, he despairs of never finding love or friendship as time grinds civilizations into dust. For who would love Death? Then one day a child takes his hand and lives… Life for Elisabeth is not easy. The Angel of Death took her entire family the night a drunk driver plowed through a stop sign and left her in a wheel chair. Azrael is forbidden to interfere as she bounces through foster homes, hardship and grueling rehabilitation. Then one day he is forced to reveal he is not a figment of her imagination. Oh, how she hates this angel who has taken everyone she has ever loved! The invasion of Iraq inspires her to join the Army as a trauma nurse, unaware that Death has fallen in love with the woman who can defeat him. Will she take his hand a second time? * Omnibus Edition contains: —Angel of Death —Angel of Death: A Love Story * Children of the Fallen is a new paranormal fantasy series set in the 'Sword of the Gods' universe, taking place in the modern day. * Keywords: Azrael, Archangel Azrael, Thanatos, Angel of Death, angel, angels, fallen angels, fallen angel books, fallen angel series, fallen series, fallen, Lucifer, Luciferi, Lucifer Morningstar, morningstar, guardian angel, guardian angels, angel fantasy, angels and demons, angels & demons, angel romance, angel romance books, books about angels, demon, demons, books about demons, archangels, Carthage, Moloch, devil, nature of evil, romance, what to read after the sandman, nurse, nurse romance, military nurse, trauma nurse, military trauma nurse, Iraq war, Afghanistan, what to read after memnoch the devil, military science fiction, military romance, soldier romance, Malat al-Maut, valley of Jehoshaphat, Gehenna, hell, hellmouth, forgiveness, orphan, orphaned children, orphaned child, what to read after immortal rider, foster child, foster care, foster care abuse, abuse in foster care, paralysis, wheelchair, rehabilitation, set in Chicago, discrimination, disabled child, disabled soldier, disabled nurse, defeat death, second chance, second chances, reincarnation,

Novel of an individual caught in the toils of a bitter and demoralizing war.

This volume examines a category of Japanese divinities that centered on the concept of “world renewal” (yonaoshi). In the latter half of the Tokugawa period (1603–1867), a number of entities, both natural and supernatural, came to be worshipped as “gods of world renewal.” These included disgruntled peasants who demanded their local governments repeal unfair taxation, government bureaucrats who implemented special fiscal measures to help the poor, and a giant subterranean catfish believed to cause earthquakes to punish the hoarding rich. In the modern period, yonaoshi gods took on more explicitly anti-authoritarian characteristics. During a major uprising in Saitama Prefecture in 1884, a yonaoshi god was invoked to deny the legitimacy of the Meiji regime, and in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the new religion Ōmoto predicted an apocalyptic end of the world presided over by a messianic yonaoshi god. Using a variety of local documents to analyze the veneration of yonaoshi gods, Takashi Miura looks beyond the traditional modality of research focused on religious professionals, their institutions, and their texts to illuminate the complexity of a lived religion as practiced in communities. He also problematizes the association frequently drawn between the concept of yonaoshi and millenarianism, demonstrating that yonaoshi gods served as divine rectifiers of specific economic injustices and only later, in the modern period and within the context of new religions such as Ōmoto, were fully millenarian interpretations developed. The scope of world renewal, in other words, changed over time. Agents of World Renewal approaches Japanese religion through the new analytical lens of yonaoshi gods and highlights the necessity of looking beyond the boundary often posited between the early modern and modern periods when researching religious discourses and concepts.

Takayoshi Oshima analyses the two most important Babylonian wisdom texts: Ludlul Bel Nemeqi (also known as the Babylonian Job or the Babylonian Righteous Sufferer) and the so-called Babylonian Theodicy. On the basis of the hitherto published as well as newly available, unpublished cuneiform manuscripts, the author establishes a new critical text for each poem and gives an English translation. He offers detailed philological and critical notes to the texts, discussing both the textual and the interpretive issues evoked by individual words and passages. In addition, however, each poem is preceded by a lengthy discussion of its origins, intention, and plot, as well as by more general considerations of its cultural and historical background, including short but important observations on the relationship to Old Testament wisdom literature.