A fling with a prince forces a headstrong guard out of her comfort zone—and kingdom—in this fantasy romance by the author of The Pages of The Mind. Jepp has been the heart of the queen’s elite guard, her Hawks, since long before war split her homeland. But the ease and grace that come to her naturally in fighting leathers disappears when battles turn to politics. When a scouting party arrives from far-away Dasnaria, bearing veiled threats and subtle bluffs, Jepp is happy to let her queen puzzle them out while she samples the pleasures of their prince’s bed. But the cultural norms allow that a Dasnarian woman may be wife or bed-slave, never her own leader—and Jepp’s light use of Prince Kral has sparked a diplomatic crisis. Banished from court, she soon becomes the only envoy to Kral’s strange and dangerous country, with little to rely on but her wits, her knives—and the smolder of anger and attraction that burns between her and the prince . . . Perfect for Game of Thrones fans looking for more romance. Praise for The Edge of the Blade “A wonderful fantasy with tons of action, adventure, and heart. I was on the edge of my seat the whole time flipping through the pages to find out what was going to happen next!... This was a great novel that I absolutely recommend.” —Night Owl Reviews “The sparring between Jepp, formerly of the High Queen’s guard and Prince Kral of Dasnaria, brings to mind Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas in Romancing the Stone and The Jewel of the Nile.” —Heroes and Heartbreakers

Colonel Ridge Zirkander isn’t the model of military professionalism—he has a tendency to say exactly what’s on his mind, and his record has enough demerits to wallpaper the hull of an airship—but as the best fighter pilot in the Iskandian army, he’s used to a little leniency from his superiors. Until he punches the wrong diplomat in the nose and finds himself issued new orders: take command of a remote prison mine in the inhospitable Ice Blades Mountains. Ridge has never been in charge of anything larger than a flier squadron—what’s he supposed to do with a frozen fortress full of murderers and rapists? Not to mention the strange woman who shows up right before he arrives… Sardelle Terushan wakes from three hundred years in a mage stasis shelter, only to realize that she is the last of the Referatu, the sorcerers who once helped protect Iskandia from conquerors. Their subterranean mountain community was blown up in a treacherous sneak attack by soldiers who feared their power. Everyone Sardelle ever knew is dead, and the sentient soulblade she has been bonded to since her youth is buried in the core of the mountain. Further, what remains of her home has been infested by bloodthirsty miners commanded by the descendants of the very soldiers who destroyed her people. Sardelle needs help to reach her soulblade—her only link to her past and her last friend in the world. Her only hope is to pretend she’s one of the prisoners while trying to gain the commander’s trust. But lying isn’t her specialty, especially when the world has changed so much in the intervening centuries, and if Colonel Zirkander figures out who she truly is, he’ll be duty-bound to sentence her to the only acceptable punishment for sorcerers: death.

In the heart of Vandar, as dark forces close in, Elyon, a gifted Bladeborn, fights for his family's survival.In the war-torn northlands of Tukor, a servant girl with a mysterious past is forced on the run, propelling her on a journey that will change her world forever.From the Shadowfort, a secret power is unleashed, one that will set into motion a series of events that will bring the world to its knees.With the world on the verge of chaos and countless lives at stake, a new First Blade must be selected, but obstacles stand in the way. Alliances are broken. Enemies are born. Only the strong will survive.Follow this epic tale as the battle for power, land, and the divine gifts of the Fallen Gods determine who lives and dies and who possesses ultimate control.

Love and revenge will drive him across the sea in this epic historical adventure of The Crusader Knights The Falkan castle of Tremellion is visited by the mysterious Lord Vaulmier, Treasurer of the Crusade, and his beautiful daughter Christiane de Magnat-Vaulmier. Seeking finance for the Third Crusade against Saladin, they negotiate with Sir Geoffrey Falkan and inveigle all the Falkan fortune, to the fury of Sir Geoffrey’s older son, Ranulf, who will be driven to the most terrible of crimes... Baynard Falkan, younger son and valiant knight errant, sets out on a quest to find Christiane, who has stolen his heart, and to avenge the bloody killing of his father. But to find justice, he must survive bandits and pirates, and travel to the bloody siege of Jerusalem. The Edge of the Blade, the sixth epic historical adventure in The Crusader Knights Cycle, is perfect for fans of David Gilman and Bernard Cornwell. ‘The story is exciting as well as psychologically convincing and thought-provoking’ Financial Times ‘History with a dramatist’s eye for a fine setting and a novelist’s insight into human minds and motives’ Times Literary Supplement

The Zen approach to mowing lawns, wacking weeds, harvesting crops, and building modern homesteader abs! Dreading the weekly law mow? Need to whack the weeds in your orchard? Cringing at the drudgery and incessant blare of the mower? Imagine instead long sweeps of an elegant scythe cutting your grass and pesky weeds in blissful, meditative silence. That is the power of the "scythe revolution" sweeping North America. Written by a master of the scythe, professionally trained in Austria, and drawing deeply on research into original German texts, The Scything Handbook brings centuries-old scything techniques into the twent-first century. Detailed illustrations cover scythe assembly, perfecting the stroke, blade selection, honing, peening, and aftercare, as well as background on how scythes are forged. Also covered are the basics of making hay and mulch by hand, and how to grow and harvest gains at the home and homestead scale for self-sufficiency. Scything promotes health, flexibility, mind-body connection, and a meditative contemplation of the natural world while producing beautiful lawns and luscious mulch for the modern gardener and homesteader. This is truly an heirloom tool to master. Join the scythe revolution! Ian Miller followed a career in music with a degree in Agroecology from UC Santa Cruz. During a two year stint on a biodynamic farm in Austria he learned how to scythe and delved into historic scything texts in German. He has worked for Seed Savers Exchange in Iowa and is developing a twemty-acre scythe-based homestead near Decorah, Iowa, where he grows his own grain for bread making and makes hay by hand.

Learn the Secrets of Knifemaking From the Masters of the Trade With an all-star cast of renowned knifemakers, BLADE's Guide To Making Knives 2nd Edition brings you the most up-to-date, inside information available on fashioning edged implements. In this full-color, meticulously illustrated volume: John Lewis Jensen, designer and fabricator of one-of-a-kind ornamental edged weaponry, presents a step-by-step guide to creating your own art knife in "Desk Daggers: A Limited Edition Jensen Knives Trio." Tim Zowada, forger of damascus and smelted steel, reveals his trade secrets and methods in "Making the Using Knife." Allen Elishewitz lends his knowledge and know-how in "Making Patterns and Using a Pantograph," for those in the design stages of fashioning fine knives. Don Fogg, arguably one of the best sword makers on the planet, shares his expertise in "Forging Steel from Raw Materials." Vince Evans, crafter of Scottish dirks, Viking swords, Central Asian weaponry and other exotic and historical pieces, reveals his methods for "Making and Carving a Scottish Dirk." Rick Dunkerley, known for his mosaic-damascus masterpieces, opens his world of knowledge in "Building a Damascus Locking-Liner Folder." Kevin Hoffman unlocks the mysteries of "Lost Wax Casting for Guards & Pommels," illustrating each and every step of this tedious yet rewarding process. It's All Here! Forging — Grinding — Heat Treating — Etching — Polishing — Sharpening Blades — Guards — Pommels — Bolsters — Handles — Sheaths Whether your interest in making knives is new or you've been crafting blades for years, BLADE's Guide to Making Knives 2nd Edition arms you with knowledge to help you reap the rewards of a fruitful and fulfilling knifemaking hobby or career.

The new Shooter’s Bible Guide to Knives sets the standard for comprehensive publications by carrying on the Shooter’s Bible tradition of bringing together more products and information than any other source. With photographs and descriptions of more than 400 knives, readers are treated to product highlights from major manufacturers and custom knife makers. This book brings you from the blacksmith shop to high tech influential designers with insights into blade steel, locking mechanisms, and handle materials. When it comes to knives, this book is the source for the products and the passion.