L. Penelope

L. Penelope's Song of Blood & Stone is a treacherous, thrilling, epic fantasy about an outcast drawn into a war between two powerful rulers. The kingdoms of Elsira and Lagrimar have been separated for centuries by the Mantle, a magical veil that has enforced a tremulous peace between the two lands. But now, the Mantle is cracking and the True Father, ruler of Lagrimar and the most powerful Earthsinger in the world, finally sees a way into Elsira to seize power. All Jasminda ever wanted was to live quietly on her farm, away from the prying eyes of those in the nearby town. Branded an outcast by the color of her skin and her gift of Earthsong, she’s been shunned all her life and has learned to steer clear from the townsfolk...until a group of Lagrimari soldiers wander into her valley with an Elsiran spy, believing they are still in Lagrimar. Through Jack, the spy, Jasminda learns that the Mantle is weakening, allowing people to slip through without notice. And even more troubling: Lagrimar is mobilizing, and if no one finds a way to restore the Mantle, it might be too late for Elsira. Their only hope lies in uncovering the secrets of the Queen Who Sleeps and Jasminda’s Earthsong is the key to unravel them. Thrust into a hostile society and a world she doesn’t know, Jasminda and Jack race to unveil an ancient mystery that might offer salvation.

Earthsinger Chronicles, Book One

Song of Blood & Stone

The Mantle that separates the kingdoms of Elsira and Lagrimar is about to fall. And life will drastically change for both kingdoms. Born with a deadly magic she cannot control, Kyara is forced to become an assassin. Known as the Poison Flame in the kingdom of Lagrimar, she is notorious and lethal, but secretly seeks freedom from both her untamed power and the blood spell that commands her. She is tasked with capturing the legendary rebel called the Shadowfox, but everything changes when she learns her target’s true identity. Darvyn ol-Tahlyro may be the most powerful Earthsinger in generations, but guilt over those he couldn’t save tortures him daily. He isn’t sure he can trust the mysterious young woman who claims to need his help, but when he discovers Kyara can unlock the secrets of his past, he can’t stay away. Kyara and Darvyn grapple with betrayal, old promises, and older prophecies—all while trying to stop a war. And when a new threat emerges, they must beat the odds to save both kingdoms.

Whispers of Shadow & Flame

In the vein of K. Arsenault Rivera and V.E. Schwab comes the newest epic fantasy book in the stunning Earthsinger Chronicles, L. Penelope's Cry of Metal & Bone. Six weeks after the fall of the Mantle, centuries-old enemies Elsira and Lagrimar struggle to unite. The will of the goddess is that the two nations become one, but while the war may be over, peace is still elusive. As desperate Lagrimari flee their barren land for a chance at a better life in Elsira, a dangerous faction opposed to the unification rises. When a shadowy group with ties to the Elsiran government takes responsibility for a fatal attack and promises more, an unlikely crew is assembled to investigate. Among them are Lizvette Nirall, a disgraced socialite seeking redemption for past mistakes, and Tai Summerhawk, a foreign smuggler determined to keep a promise he made to a dead man. Powerful Earthsinger Darvyn ol-Tahlyro is sent with a secret assignment, one that Queen Jasminda can’t know about. And in a prison far away, Kyara ul-Lagrimar searches for a way to escape her captors and save a family long thought dead. It’s a race against time in this world of deadly magic, secret agendas and court intrigue to discover those responsible for the bombing before the next attack. And in another land a new enemy awakens—one that will strike terror into the hearts of gods and men.

Cry of Metal & Bone

Requiem of Silence

Melissa Marr

Jeffe Kennedy

Kelley Armstrong

L Penelope Grace Draven

Five powerhouse authors of fantasy and urban fantasy bring you a feast of romantic midwinter holiday adventures. These heartwarming and pulse-pounding tales celebrate Hanukah, Christmas, the solstice, Yule - and holidays from worlds beyond our own. With fancy-dress balls, faery bargains, time travel, blood sacrifice, and festive cocktails, these stories will delight lovers of fantasy and romance, with a dash of seasonal joy. Ballgowns & Butterflies by Kelley Armstrong The North Yorkshire moors are always a magical place, but they're particularly enchanting at the holidays...especially if one gets to travel back in time to a Victorian Christmas. For Bronwyn Dale, it is the stuff of dreams. Fancy-dress balls, quirky small-town traditions, even that classic one-horse open sleigh, complete with jingle bells. There's just the tiny problem of the Butterfly Effect. How does a time-traveler make a difference without disrupting the future forever? The Long Night of the Crystalline Moon, a prequel novella to Heirs of Magic, by Jeffe Kennedy Shapeshifter Prince Rhyian doesn't especially want to spend the Feast of Moranu at Castle Ordnung. First of all, it's literally freezing there, an uncomfortable change from the tropical paradise of his home. Secondly, it's a mossback castle which means thick walls and too many rules. Thirdly, his childhood playmate and current nemesis, Lena, will be there. Not exactly a cause for celebration. Princess Salena Nakoa KauPo nearly wriggled out of traveling to Ordnung with her parents, but her mother put her foot down declaring that, since everyone who ever mattered to her was going to be there to celebrate the 25th year of High Queen Ursula's reign, Lena can suffer through a feast and a ball for one night. Of course, "everyone" includes the sons and daughters of her parents' friends, and it also means that Rhyian, insufferable Prince of the Tala, will attend. But on this special anniversary year, Moranu's sacred feast falls on the long night of the crystalline moon-and Rhy and Lena discover there's more than a bit of magic in the air. Blood Martinis & Mistletoe by Melissa Marr Half-dead witch Geneviève Crowe makes her living beheading the dead--and spends her free time trying not to get too attached to her business partner, Eli Stonecroft, a faery in self-imposed exile in New Orleans. With a killer at her throat and a blood martini in her hand, Gen accepts what seems like a straight-forward faery bargain, but soon realizes that if she can't figure out a way out of this faery bargain, she'll be planning a wedding after the holidays. Echoes of Ash & Tears, an Earthsinger Chronicles Novella, by L. Penelope Brought to live among the Cavefolk as an infant, Mooriah has long sought to secure her place in the clan and lose her outsider status. She's a powerful blood mage, and when the chieftain's son asks for help securing the safety of the clan, she agrees. But though she's long been drawn to the warrior, any relationship between the two is forbidden. The arrival of a mysterious stranger with a tempting offer tests her loyalties, and when betrayal looms, will Mooriah's secrets and hidden power put the future she's dreamed of-and her adopted home-in jeopardy. A Memory of Summer, a Wraith Kings Novelette, by Grace Draven Spinsterhood has never bothered or embarrassed the independent Emerence Ipsan, and the winter festival of Delyalda keeps her far too busy managing her father's shops to worry about matters as trivial as marriage. Until the arrival of a young Quereci warrior with old eyes and an admiring gaze makes her question that notion.

A Midwinter Holiday Anthology

Under a Winter Sky

This novella begins after the events ofSong of Blood & Stone—it’s both an extended epilogue AND a prequel, so it’s advisable to read that novel first. For Jasminda ul-Sarifor, the war may be over, but her conflict is not. New, overwhelming duties leave her caught between two worlds but belonging to neither. She turns once more to Jack, hoping the bond that got them through the first battle is strong enough to weather a new storm. For Jack, Jasminda’s struggles hit close to home. To help her find her way, he entrusts her with a tale from his past when, after another war, a young Jack Alliaseen must also adjust to new responsibilities. But his take a lethal turn when prisoners of war start showing up dead on his watch. With the aid of a mysterious young man destined to change his life forever, Jack must save the lives of those under his protection before it's too late. As his story unfolds, will Jack’s memories help Jasminda conquer her present trials?

An Earthsinger Chronicles Novella

Breath of Dust & Dawn

While battling a vicious winter storm, Roshon ol-Sarifor, along with his father and twin brother are kidnapped and thrust on a journey that takes them far from home—leaving his sister Jasminda believing them dead. Their captors claim that the Queen Who Sleeps is behind their abduction—She wants them to reclaim a magical object hidden in a deadly part of the ocean. But a violent encounter with a gang of pirates forces the ol-Sarifors to seek refuge on a smuggler's ship, where Roshon meets a girl unlike any he’s encountered before. Ani Summerhawk never met a risk she didn’t take. But with a price on her head, she and her older brother need to make a quick getaway from a deal gone bad. Every ship in the sea is seeking the reward for returning her to a ruthless captain who believes she's his property. But when her brother agrees to transport three passengers to a dangerous destination, Ani’s heart is put on the line for the first time. The two families battle a treacherous sea, greedy sailors, and a powerful mage as they struggle to retrieve and secure the ancient artifact. And the attraction between a high-spirited girl and a cautious boy comes to a head when they discover that their biggest fight just might be with each other. Set two years before the events of Song of Blood & Stone, this action-packed novella answers the question of what happened to Jasminda’s family and sets the stage for the events in Cry of Metal & Bone (Earthsinger Chronicles, book 3) .

Hush of Storm & Sorrow

He gave up eternity for love... and lost. Will she be his second chance? Maia sees dead people. Since she can't distinguish them from the living, she ignores everyone in order to appear sane. But the ghost haunting her roommate breaks through her hardened shell. Not only does he claim to not be dead, he makes her feel things she never has before—dangerous feelings for a man who can never be hers. For an angelborn like Caleb, dying without a soul sentenced him to eternity in the Wasteland. Now he's escaped, but the only way to stay free is by convincing his true love to share her soul with him. You only get one soulmate and his is not the broken, scarred young woman he can't stay away from. With dangerous angels hunting him, Maia is a distraction he can't afford. After inadvertently leading a threat to Caleb's door, Maia is willing to risk anything to keep him safe. Even if that means losing him forever. **A new adult, paranormal romance.

Angelborn

The Cupid Mixup

Brought to live among the Cavefolk as an infant, Mooriah has long sought to secure her place in the clan and lose her outsider status. She’s a powerful blood mage, and when the chieftain’s son asks for help securing the safety of the clan, she agrees. But though she’s long been drawn to the warrior, any relationship between the two is forbidden. The arrival of a mysterious stranger with a tempting offer tests her loyalties, and when betrayal looms, will Mooriah’s secrets and hidden power put the future she’s dreamed of—and her adopted home—in jeopardy? This novella is a standalone prequel to the Earthsinger Chronicles. This novella first appeared in the anthology UNDER A WINTER SKY.

Echoes of Ash & Tears

Song of Blood & Stone Sneak Peek

A reluctant queen. A sheltered teen. A dangerous mage. Their futures are intertwined—the paths they walk will ultimately determine the fate of their people. Seeds sown in the past will bear unexpected fruit, and what’s come before could be the prologue to salvation. Delve deeper into the world of the Earthsinger Chronicles with these prequel novellas full of magic, adventure, destiny, and love. Included in this bundle are Breath of Dust & Dawn, Hush of Storm & Sorrow, Coda of Storm & Sorrow, and Echoes of Ash & Tears.

The Complete Earthsinger Chronicles Novellas

A collection of short, sexy, romances with a touch of the paranormal. This is a box set of The Cupid Guild series containing all four stories. It does not contain any material that has not been previously published in separate volumes. The Cupid Mixup The Montagne hotel might as well have been a castle, and he might as well have been the prince. I met him in the bar late one night and it was obvious he was too much for me — too handsome, too charming, too rich. And while I could pretend I was a princess for a night, at the stroke of midnight, I ran away without giving him my name. I didn’t leave my shoe behind, but I might have just lost my heart. Can the Cupid Guild help this modern-day Cinderella get her second chance? A quick, sexy, standalone romance with a paranormal touch. The story first appeared in Heart’s Kiss magazine, published as “Before I Go.” The Cupid Getaway When curiosity leads Renee to duck under the caution tape marking off the top floor of a college house party, she’s not quite prepared to find Milo. The popular girl and the solitary boy couldn’t be more different, so why does he make her broken heart feel whole again? One night changes everything, but in the morning, the gulf between their lives looks impossible to cross. Can the Cupid Guild magnetize these opposites before their chance at a happily ever after runs out? A quick, sexy, standalone romance with a paranormal touch. The story first appeared in Heart’s Kiss magazine, under the title “Before I Fall.” The Cupid Complication This just might be the worst day of my life. I quit my job and walked out—without my purse, wallet, or keys. The good Samaritan who returns my stuff is none other than our friendly, neighborhood rock star. Did I say worst day? I meant best. But when this drummer’s dreams for the future are more than I can give, will that leave us playing out of tune? Can the Cupid Guild bring this musician and his muse together in sweet harmony? A quick, standalone romance with a paranormal touch. The story first appeared in Heart’s Kiss magazine, under the title “Before I Run.” The Cupid Fiasco While trapped in a basement during an earthquake, sparks fly between co-workers Luce and Mat—too bad they’re sparks of rage. So when Mat needs a fake girlfriend for a weekend engagement party in wine country, there’s no way Luce will say yes… is there? It’s up to the Cupid Guild to show this salty pair how sweet it could be. A sexy, standalone romance with a paranormal touch. This novella first appeared in Heart’s Kiss magazine, under the title “Before I Break.”

The Cupid Guild: The Complete Series

Their love could break the world. Lyrix, the first new angel to emerge in a millennium, brings hope for her endangered race. But the weight of duty is heavy. As the newest and strongest, she is expected to become a Seraph, one of the stoic angel kings and queens. She dreads the prospect of losing all her emotions in the transformation, but avoiding her destiny may lead to extinction for her kind. Wren is half-human and a second-class citizen among angels. A chance meeting with Lyrix leaves them both yearning for a life lived on their own terms. A relationship between an angel and an angelborn is unprecedented, and powerful forces oppose their union. On a journey to the human world, tragedy strikes, and Wren and Lyrix realize their love may destroy both worlds.

L. Penelope

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