Hired Blades

The agents of the Fort have no name, they have call signs. Wildcat earned hers by being hot-headed and wild. When an assignment takes her to Easy Port, she eagerly awaits it to be over so she can meet her friends for a night out. After a few drinks they convince her to sign up for an easy gig, just for old times’ sake. The job soon turns out to be riskier than advertised, and the attacks on their lives make little sense. Amidst chaos and confusion, Wildcat tries to figure out the reasons behind everyone’s actions, including her own.

Pilet Whydah dreams of joining the "Hired Blades Association", the world's premier Mercenary organization. The brash, young high school drop-out would soon find his prayers answered; when "Faxion of the Deadeye", a notorious member of the famed group passes through his mountain village. Before long, Pilet finds himself on a perilous crash course with this new friend and mentor, as he struggles to train for the deadly "Hired Blades Exam". Meeting a trio of fearsome friends along the way; swordsman Max Quinn, and the aura-casting, arcane sisters Faith and Yuuna Sierro, the group sets forth in their quest to become revered Licensed Hired Blades. But under the surface lies traces of a force far more sinister than what anyone had imagined. A parasitic entity called "The Wurm" begins to mysteriously grip the creatures of this world, and only The Hired Blades have the power to stop them.

A sellsword’s bargain. A burgeoning desire. A future balanced on the point of a blade. Sellsword Des is travelling alone in a dry and dusty southern land, after a spectacular bust up with her best friend. She’s running low on coin, so when former client Karina offers her a job leading her caravan’s security through brigand country, it feels like a gift. Des has done the route before, but she isn’t sure about leading solo. She recommends Karina hire Cap, a rugged old mercenary, to head up the crew. Maybe she’ll even learn a thing or two about how to lead, in between the delightful distraction of Karina’s flirtations and keeping the marauders at bay. As they head off on their long trip across Rescalin, though, the wheels start to come off Des’s plan. The crew is drinking too much, even on duty, and Cap is dismissive of the dangers she identifies. Des worries she’s made the wrong call by putting Cap as the lead, and Karina is in her ear, wanting her to take over. As brigands close in, will Des back the merc she put in charge? Or will she take over — and risk the caravan’s safety resting on her blade alone? If you enjoy sapphic fantasy, badass women wielding swords, an Australian-inspired setting, and a sellsword struggling for a place in the world, pick up A Hired Blade today, and join Des on her journey.

Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord allows you to forge your own dynasty in the war-torn realm of Calradia. Raise armies, join one of the many factions to build your forces until you're strong enough to contend with them, or take a more reserved approach by slowly building wealth and power through trade. Along the way, you'll need to find a spouse in the hopes of having children to continue your dynasty by forming, maintaining, or breaking alliances with other factions in accordance with your goals. You'll also have the opportunity to recruit powerful companions who can be assigned important roles in the management of your clan. The potential variables in each campaign playthrough are vast, and this guide offers a helping hand along the way, with the following sections which cover all aspects of the game: Inside Version 1.0 (July 2021 Update) - Useful Tips which explain how the Renown and Influence systems work, and how to master the Combat and Tactics systems - A comprehensive character creation guide covering Factions, Skills, Companions, and the Marriage system - Character Builds section covering all combat types including One-Handed, Two-Handed, Polearm, Archer, Crossbow, and Throwing - A detailed guide to the best companions for Combat, Governors, Party Leaders, Caravan Leaders, and Clan Roles - A comprehensive guide to Troop Types including the Best Troops of Each Type, faction troops, mercenaries, bandits, and minor faction troops - A guide to the economy system which includes coverage of How to Make Money by trading, investing in caravans and workshops, raiding, and so much more - A guide to the Perks system which is updated in accordance with changes to their stats - A walkthrough of Campaign Quests including How to Build Your Clan, Assembling the Dragon Banner and other more minor quests - A list of Console Commands which can be used to experiment with different playthroughs, explore the map, find specific items and more

Of all the teams in the annals of baseball, only a select few can lay claim to historic significance. One of those teams is the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers, the first racially integrated Major League team of the twentieth century. The addition of Jackie Robinson to its roster changed not only baseball but also the nation. Yet Robinson was just one member of that memorable club, which included Carl Furillo, Gil Hodges, Pee Wee Reese, Pete Reiser, Duke Snider, Eddie Stanky, Arky Vaughan, and Dixie Walker. Also present was a quartet of baseball’s most unforgettable characters: co-owners Branch Rickey and Walter O’Malley, suspended manager Leo Durocher, and radio announcer Red Barber. This book is the first to offer biographies of everyone on that incomparable team as well as accounts of the moments and events that marked the Dodgers’ 1947 season: Commissioner Happy Chandler suspending Durocher, Rickey luring his old friend Burt Shotton out of retirement to replace Durocher, and brilliant outfielder Reiser being sidelined after running into a fence. In spite of all this, the Dodgers went on to win the National League pennant over the heavily favored St. Louis Cardinals. And of course, there is the biggest story of the season, where history and biography coalesce: Jackie Robinson, who overcame widespread hostility to become Rookie of the Year—and to help the Dodgers set single-game attendance records in cities around the National League.

The Defenders' order is dying, but that's no surprise. After all, they've been in hiding for over a hundred years, and apprentices are getting harder to find – hardly anyone can see the dragons any more. Eppie picked pockets on the streets of Anamat for years before one of the Defenders noticed her. She hid well, but one day she picked the wrong pocket, or was it the right one? She sets out to help try to save the dragon Tiada, but if her mentor and the others fall in the battle, who will defend the dragons against the next set of invaders? Keywords: secret society, mentor, dragon magic, swordmaster), dragon adventure,dragon girl, dragon romance, dragon warriors, dragon adventure fantasy, dragon thief

Drew Karpyshyn has made his mark with imaginative, action-packed work on several acclaimed videogames, including Mass Effect and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, as well as in a succession of New York Times bestselling tie-in novels. Now Karpyshyn introduces a brilliantly innovative epic fantasy of perilous quests, tormented heroes, and darkest sorcery—a thrilling adventure that vaults him into the company of such authors as Terry Goodkind, Brandon Sanderson, and Peter V. Brett. Long ago the gods chose a great hero to act as their agent in the mortal world and to stand against the demonic spawn of Chaos. The gods gifted their champion, Daemron, with three magical Talismans: a sword, a ring, and a crown. But the awesome power at his command corrupted Daemron, turning him from savior to destroyer. Filled with pride, he dared to challenge the gods themselves. Siding with the Chaos spawn, Daemron waged a titanic battle against the Immortals. In the end, Daemron was defeated, the Talismans were lost, and Chaos was sealed off behind the Legacy—a magical barrier the gods sacrificed themselves to create. Now the Legacy is fading. On the other side, the banished Daemron stirs. And across the scattered corners of the land, four children are born of suffering and strife, each touched by one aspect of Daemron himself—wizard, warrior, prophet, king. Bound by a connection deeper than blood, the Children of Fire will either restore the Legacy or bring it crashing down, freeing Daemron to wreak his vengeance upon the mortal world. BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from Drew Karpyshyn's The Scorched Earth. Praise for Children of Fire “This intricately layered adventure breathes realism and overshadowing menace into ancient mythic archetypes, exposing the pain and wonder inherent in magic and the mingled hope and cynicism of modern fantasy.”—Publishers Weekly (starred review) “A rousing quest fantasy . . . a fast-paced action-packed good and evil thriller.”—SF Revu “From the first page of Children of Fire, Karpyshyn captures the reader’s attention with his excellent, intricate storyline.”—RT Book Reviews “Children of Fire stands on its own as a thoroughly entertaining tale. The book strikes a perfect balance between character driven storytelling and rich world building.”—Roqoo Depot “[Karpyshyn] is truly a master of world building. . . . I would recommend this title to any fan of the genre.”—Among the Wreckage “Compulsively readable, wildly entertaining.”—A Girl, A Boy and A Blog “Children of Fire is engrossing, and full of characters that are modern. . . . I thoroughly enjoyed Children of Fire and look forward for the next two books.”—FANgirl Blog “Drew Karpyshyn weaves a rich, contrasting tapestry of epic story and doom. Gripping and compelling from first page to last, Children of Fire is a dark-chocolate fantasy; delightfully biting and delectable at once. Four ill-fated children born under a sign of chaos and flame carried me on a journey into an intriguing world of shadowy wonder. It is a spellbinding epic told with masterful craft. Well done, Drew!”—Tracy Hickman, New York Times bestselling co-author of the Dragonlance and Death Gate series