Amidst ancient halls of stone, an age-old evil stirs. With a cunning more potent than sorcery, Nimrood the Necromancer has returned, bent on a monstrous vendetta that would strip Quentin of everything he holds dear. His loved ones, his faith, Zhaligkeer, the sword of his kingship, and ultimately, the kingdom itself, sway in the balance as Quentin, unguarded and alone, races toward a confrontation with his cruelest foe.

Armies mass, and men and women must choose sides in the mighty conflict for control of the world and the Artefacts of Power! Though Aurian and her fellow Mage Anvar have escaped the clutches of the dread Archmage, they have yet to lift the curse on Aurian's child, and put an end to Miathan's evil. Only the Sword of Flame, last and greatest of the Artefacts of Power, can help them - but the Sword is hidden. Meanwhile, Death awaits his third and final meeting with the pair... As the Mages set out once more, the world stands poised on the brink of conflict. Miathan is fortifying the city of Nexis and, in the south, the fierce Khazalim are arming for war. The Skyfolk have abandoned their long isolation and the Xandim prepare for their last great ride. Both the Leviathans and the Phaerie have decisions to make which will change their existence forever. The future stands balanced on a knife-edge between hope and destruction. All await the coming of the Sword of Flame - and Aurian.

Captain Vidarian Rulorat's great-grandfather gave up an imperial commission to commit social catastrophe by marrying a fire priestess. For love, he unwittingly doomed his family to generations of a rare genetic disease that follows families who cross elemental boundaries. Now Vidarian, the last surviving member of the Rulorat family, struggles to uphold his family legacy, and finds himself chained to a task as a result of the bride price his great-grandfather paid: The priestess Endera has called upon Vidarian to fulfill his family's obligation by transporting a young fire priestess named Ariadel to a water temple far to the south, through dangerous pirate-controlled territory. Vidarian finds himself at the intersection not only of the world's most volatile elements, but of the ancient and alien powers that lurk between them...

Now in paperback, this first novel of an epic fantasy trilogy reintroduces readers to the beloved and bestselling world of Deverry, blending magic, politics, and adventure in an unforgettable setting. The bards are the people's voice--and their sword. All over the kingdom of Deverry, the common people are demanding reform of the corrupt law courts. In Aberwyn, the situation catches fire when Gwerbret Ladoic, second in authority only to the High King, allows a bard to starve to death rather than hear their grievances. Guildwoman Alyssa, a student at the local scholars' collegium, and Lady Dovina, the gwerbret's own daughter, know that evidence exists to overthrow the so-called traditional legal system, if they can only get it into the right hands. The powerful lords will kill anyone who threatens their privileges. To retrieve the proof, Alyssa must make a dangerous journey that will either change her life forever--or end it.

Rescued into another universe by the youngest of eight mage-brothers, world-weary Kelly Doyle finds herself exiled on an island where women are forbidden and surrounded by four sets of twin brothers who are struggling to avoid a curse. Reprint.

Sometimes the greatest evil lies within. When Prince Gerin, King Quentin's son, is kidnapped, the kingdom is thrown into chaos and Quentin is forced to search inward for faith and hope. But is faith enough? At the dawn of a new era, where religious unrest is rampant and uncertainty of the kingdom’s future threatens everyone, it takes courage to stand. From an orphaned servant to a war hero, respected leader, and a fierce man of faith, Quentin has slowly transformed into The Dragon King. But even the powerful can fall prey to weakness.? The world is turned upside-down when the dark sorcerer Nimrood--long thought dead after a battle with the previous Dragon King--returns with a fearsome plan.? Shattered by the death of a dear and trusted friend, the abduction of his beloved son, and the loss of his enchanted sword, Quentin finds his faith tested like never before. At the dawn of a new era, where faith clashes and old evils rear their heads, Quentin and his friends must lead the way despite their own flaws and uncertainty. With the fate of the world hanging on by a thread, their decisions slice through religious unrest and restore hope in what is to come. In The Sword and The Flame readers will find: Christian allegory and themes A sweeping Arthurian styled epic fantasy about hope, destiny, and faith Crossover appeal for young adult and adult readers In?The Sword and the Flame, the final volume of Stephen R. Lawhead's captivating Dragon King Trilogy, the fate of the entire world depends on the outcome of this climactic battle between good and evil.

A historical fiction novel, set in the 17th century in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth during the Khmelnytsky Uprising. It was a vehicle for expressing Polish patriotism in a Poland partitioned and deprived of independence. Despite some deviations, the book's historical framework is genuine and the fictional story is woven into real events. Many characters are historical figures, including Jeremi Wiśniowiecki and Bohdan Khmelnytsky (Polish: Bohdan Chmielnicki). Sienkiewicz researched memoirs and chronicles of the Polish nobility, or szlachta, for details on life in 17th-century Poland. The book was written, according to the author, "to lift up the heart" of the Polish nation in the unhappy period following the failed January Uprising during the era of the partitions of Poland. Thus it often favors epic plots and heroic scenes over historical accuracy. Nonetheless, Sienkiewicz's vivid language made it one of the most popular books about that particular place and era.

Seven college students sit down for an evening of role playing with Professor Deighton. But it quickly turns real, and deadly, and they find themselves in a world where magic works. Their only way home is the Gate Between Worlds--if it really exists.

A multidisciplinary overview of current research into the enduringly fascinating martial artefact which is the sword.