In Serpent and Storm by Marella Sands, enter the world of Sky Knife: A Mayan youth who was cursed with an unlucky name from birth. From a vision given to his mother, Sky Knife is pledged to honor whatever destiny the gods have decreed. Farmer, soldier, merchant--all these roads are closed to him. He isn't even worthy as a sacrifice to the gods. Sometimes, however, the gods have a very wicked sense of humor...and what some sages think of as the worst cosmic luck may in fact be the touch of the gods' own hands. From temple pariah to hero, Sky Knife discovers the magic within him and not only thwarts all the evil plots surrounding his king, but wins the hand of the beautiful and beloved Jade Flute in the process. Enemies vanquished and evil magic dispelled, life is good. And as Sky Knife prepares for the birth of a long-awaited child, it seems like the fates have given him all that he desires. But it appears the gods aren't quite done with Sky Knife just yet. He is to be sent to the distant city-kingdom of Teotihuacan, to bring greetings and to reopen diplomatic ties with these strange people. From missed meetings to strange guides, corrupt counselors to a bizarre court, Sky Knife feels his world shifting dangerously out of balance. And when the Teotihuacan king is killed and bad luck seems to descend upon his kingdom, it is left to Sky Knife to solve the riddle of his death. Or he will be slaughtered in the killer's stead. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.

Calliope just wants to make it big in the Big Apple like any other working girl. But Callie is also Death's Daughter, no matter how much she tries to stay out of the family business. And now her older sister has made a deal with the Devil himself to engage in a hostile takeover of both Death Inc. and Heaven-once they get Callie out of the way.

Where there is fire, there will be blood. Tossed on a ship bearing him to the icy northern reaches of Britannia, Jurian dreams of a mysterious woman and a sword driven into a stone. Kneeling in the candlelight in Cyrene, Sabra hears the whisper of the dragon in the depths of the earth. Taking the mantle from her gravely ill father, Aikaterina rules her fragile city under the threat of imperial disfavor. As the fourth century dawns over Rome, Jurian seeks to regain his honor along the Empire’s brutal northern frontier. When Casca brings back word from the oracle of Apollo, the Emperor decides that the only way to save the Empire is to solve the “Christian problem” once and for all. He needs only one spark to set the world ablaze. As the storm of fire and blood sweeps across the Empire, Jurian relinquishes his sword and the honor he most desires to fulfill the prophecy along with his destiny. Saints aren’t born. They are forged.

The second book in the critically acclaimed Obsidian and Blood trilogy: The year is Two House, and the Emperor of the Mexica has just died. The protections he afforded the Empire are crumbling, and the way lies wide open to the flesh-eating star-demons--and to the return of their creator, a malevolent goddess only held in check by the War God's power. The council should convene to choose a new Emperor, but they are too busy plotting against each other. And then someone starts summoning star-demons within the palace, to kill councilmen... Acatl, High Priest of the Dead, must find the culprit before everything is torn apart. REVIEWS: ‘Political intrigue and rivalry among a complex pantheon of divinities drive this well-paced murder mystery set at the height of the Aztec Empire in the late 15th century. De Bodard reintroduces the series hero Acatl, high priest of the dead, immediately following the death of the Tenochtitlan leader. One of the council members in charge of choosing a successor has been brutally murdered in what looks like an attempt to influence the decision. But the deaths continue and the political situation grows more complex, while the empire looks to be increasingly at risk of invasion by malignant powers. Acatl must go face-to-face with the most powerful god in his world and put the good of the empire above his antipathy for is rivals to achieve the uneasy succession. De Bodard incorporates historical fact with great ease and manages the rare feat of explaining complex culture and political system without lecturing or boring the reader.’ —Publishers Weekly ‘Another thing that intrigues me here is the whole fact that historically we know that the real empire died out mysteriously and completely and as such there is always that thought in the back of my mind that the author could choose to bring about the end of days. That highlighted sense of possible doom is something that is missing from too many novels. The way the story is told in this book is very impressive, the plot is both mature and seductive, twisting and turning like a weather vane in a force 9 gale while the action is both bloodthirsty and imaginative. The world building is fantastic and we get to learn even more of this rich culture and the many gods and creatures of the dark. I really can’t fault this book at all and recommend it to one and all but if you haven’t yet read Servant of the Underworld I suggest that you get them both and read them in order, you won’t be disappointed.’ —SF Book Reviews ‘Bodard’s writing is polished and striking, as she convincingly fills in the colorful elements of the Aztec culture–even if those colors tend to be of blood and bile as well as flowers and hummingbirds... beautiful, grimy, breathtaking, and morbid. 5*’ —Examiner ‘Aliette de Bodard has done it again. Harbinger of the Storm is an action packed Aztec mystery opera with magic, interventions from the gods and more twists and turns than the first book. It even has a love story with amusing snippets here and there... The story is self contained and can be enjoyed standalone, but you will not want to miss out on the first. I wish it was 2012 already even if the world is going under while I read the final Obsidian & Blood.’ —Cybermage

The first book in an exciting new series about Native American and European first contact by the Gears.

Not all battles are won by the sword. Jurian's victory against the dark power in Cyrene has earned him renown throughout the Empire, but fame means nothing to him if he can't save the friend he lost. When Jurian's search for Menas leads him to Alexandria, he finds an unlikely ally in the Roman governor's brilliant and precocious daughter, Aikaterina. Together they are swept into the glittering intrigue of Diocletian's court in Nicomedia, where no one and nothing is what it seems. Then Sabra arrives in the city, and Jurian proves to the Emperor that he is more than just a legend, and finally everything he ever hoped for seems within his reach. But Marcus Valerius Casca is also vying for Diocletian's favor, and his hatred for Jurian knows no limits. As Casca's devious plotting snares each of Jurian's friends in turn, Jurian must discover a way to beat his enemy at his own game and rescue Menas before he destroys them all. From the exotic Alexandria to the imperial court of Nicomedia and the bloody sands of the Roman Colosseum, this sweeping second installment of the Sword and Serpent series will pull you into a riveting adventure through a world of deadly intrigue, where nothing is what it seems and the price of freedom can be greater than life itself. Saints aren't born. They are forged.

Jon of Dun Add has created a civilization where before there had only been isolated pockets of humanity in a shattered cosmos. Young knight Pal is one of the most respected members of Lord Jon’s Hall of Champions. But Pal’s greatest talent lies not on the field of battle, though he’s no slouch there. He is also a Maker, one who can repair the tools the Ancients had left—sometimes. Moreover, he has learned to use his warrior dog’s ability to predict motion better than any human could, an ability that has saved his skin and won the day more than once. Now, Pal will need all his talent—as a fighter, as a Maker, and as a Champion—to deal with the monsters the Waste throws at him—and to deal with his fellow humans. For there are those who would destroy Dun Add and Lord Jon’s vision of a humanity united in peace from within . . . At the publisher's request, this title is sold without DRM (Digital Rights Management). About David Drake: “Drake deftly weaves a web of political machinations and intrigue that vividly depicts the costs of war. Fans of Patrick O'Brian's Maturin and Aubrey novels will enjoy this intricate, rousing space opera.” —Publishers Weekly “[R]ousing old-fashioned space opera.”—Publishers Weekly “The fun is in the telling, and Mr. Drake has a strong voice. I want more!”—Philadelphia Weekly Press “[S]pace opera is alive and well. This series is getting better as the author goes along . . . character development combined with first-rate action and memorable world designs.”—SFReader.com “[P]rose as cold and hard as the metal alloy of a tank . . . rivals Crane and Remarque . . .”—Chicago Sun-Times

Award-winning author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh brings an ancient Mesoamerican creation myth to life Long ago, the gods of Mesoamerica set out to create humans. They tried many times during each sun, or age. When all their attempts failed and the gods grew tired, only one did not give up: Quetzalcóatl—the Feathered Serpent. To continue, he first had to retrieve the sacred bones of creation guarded by Mictlantecuhtli, lord of the underworld. Gathering his staff, shield, cloak, and shell ornament for good luck, Feathered Serpent embarked on the dangerous quest to create humankind. Award-winning author and illustrator Duncan Tonatiuh brings to life the story of Feathered Serpent, one of the most important deities in ancient Mesoamerica. With his instantly recognizable, acclaimed art style and grand storytelling, Tonatiuh recounts a thrilling creation tale of epic proportions.

When he wakes up naked by the side of the highway in the middle of the desert, twenty-two-year-old Bailey Quinn is only sure of a few things: He’s in a world of testicle pain. He’s tripping out of his head on peyote. And someone seems to have made a half-assed attempt at slashing his throat. As Bailey hits the road to track down his “friends” in Matthew Carnahan’s short novel, a black-edged, hilarious caper unfolds.

Once again, the New York Times bestselling author of the Amelia Peabody novels “kicks up a desert storm.”—People The “grande dame of historical mystery” (Washington Post) is back with a thrilling new tale featuring America’s favorite archaeologist turned sleuth. At last the Great War is over. Amelia Peabody, her distinguished Egyptologist husband Emerson, and their extended family are preparing for another season of excavation in Egypt. To everyone’s great joy, their son, Ramses, and his wife, Nefret, have become parents. Amelia, enjoying the role of fond (yet firm) grandmother, hopes that for once this will be a quiet year with Ramses no longer undertaking perilous missions for British intelligence and no old enemies on their trail. Yet the hazards of the past will be overshadowed by new danger and a new adversary—unlike anything Amelia’s ever encountered—who will pursue her in a battle that puts innocent young lives at stake.