The Crimson Sword

The Age of Man has begun. The "undesirable" creatures of legend have been driven from their lands, magic has been forsaken, the old gods reduced to myth.Now humans will rule the kingdoms of the island continent of Pentania. But they are not alone. Alson's king has been assassinated, its capital besieged by a malevolent wizard. The chaos and terror now sweeping the land have come to the remote village of Diln -- sending young Jarom far from his home to seek aid against the nefarious usurper. But a mysterious council has decreed Jarom must find one of the mythical Swords of Asahiel -- the divine talismans the elven avatars used to forge the earth -- in order to save a quarrelsome, fledgling humanity. For a Demon Queen has awakened from the abyss -- and humankind is about to discover its powerlessness in the face of the ancient terrors of the world.

The Zarian Kingdom holds a tradition: When the successor of the throne turns eighteen, they must venture out into the world and experience life as a normal citizen. It's on this day that the young Prince Drac leaves on his journey, shadowed by his father's royal guard and his closest friend, that his ship is attacked. His life is put into jeopardy and he strikes a deal for his own survival with an ancient demon. He soon learns that all deals come with a price and from his actions a series of events are put into play. Events that will determine the fate of the entire world?

The first adventure in the New York Times–bestselling fantasy trilogy from the legendary million-selling author and creator of Drizzt Do’Urden. In the once-stable land of Eriador, young fighter Luthien Bedwyr is too naive to grasp the consequences of the evil new reign of Wizard-King Greensparrow—until Luthien’s best friend is slain by one of the despot’s cyclopean soldiers. Publicly vowing revenge, Luthien becomes not only the wizard’s most-wanted adversary, but also a fugitive embarking on a grand scheme to restore peace to the kingdom. His mettle tested, Luthien crosses paths with highwayhalfling Oliver deBurrows. The irrepressible thief is game to join him. But at the behest of an ancient mage, Luthien must first secure two ancient weapons from a dragon’s lair: a legendary sword and a mystical blood-red cape that renders its wearer invisible. Rumors soon begin to swirl of a freedom fighter preparing to strike against Greensparrow and his monstrous minions, affording a tenuous hope for liberation among Eriador’s oppressed—especially a beautiful Fairborn elf slave risking everything to support the coming insurgency of the hero they call the Crimson Shadow. This first tale of the Crimson Shadow trilogy is “a fine adventure filled with memorable characters and compelling action” (Terry Brooks). New York Times–bestselling author R. A. Salvatore once again proves he “choreographs battle scenes better than any other contemporary fantasist” (Publishers Weekly).

The Many Children of Conan Little did then-obscure Texas writer Robert E. Howard know that with the 1929 publication of "The Shadow Kingdom" in the pulp magazine Weird Tales, he had given birth to a new and vibrant subgenre of fantasy fiction. Sword-and-sorcery went from pulp obscurity to mass-market paperback popularity before suffering a spectacular publishing collapse in the 1980s. But it lives on in the broader culture and today enjoys a second life in popular role-playing games, music, and films, and helped give birth to a new literary subgenre known as grimdark, popularized by the likes of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series. Flame and Crimson: A History of Sword-and-Sorcery provides much-needed definitions and critical rigor to this misunderstood fantasy subgenre. It traces its origins in the likes of historical fiction, to its birth in the pages of Weird Tales, to its flowering in the Frank Frazetta-illustrated Lancer Conan Saga series in the 1960s. It covers its "barbarian bust" beneath a heap of second-rate pastiche, a pack of colorful and wildly entertaining and awful sword-and-sorcery films, and popular culture second life in the likes of Dungeons & Dragons and the bombast of heavy metal music.

The Many Children of Conan Little did then-obscure Texas writer Robert E. Howard know that with the 1929 publication of "The Shadow Kingdom" in the pulp magazine Weird Tales, he had given birth to a new and vibrant subgenre of fantasy fiction. Sword-and-sorcery went from pulp obscurity to mass-market paperback popularity before suffering a spectacular publishing collapse in the 1980s. But it lives on in the broader culture and today enjoys a second life in popular role-playing games, music, and films, and helped give birth to a new literary subgenre known as grimdark, popularized by the likes of George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire fantasy series. Flame and Crimson: A History of Sword-and-Sorcery provides much-needed definitions and critical rigor to this misunderstood fantasy subgenre. It traces its origins in the likes of historical fiction, to its birth in the pages of Weird Tales, to its flowering in the Frank Frazetta-illustrated Lancer Conan Saga series in the 1960s. It covers its "barbarian bust" beneath a heap of second-rate pastiche, a pack of colorful and wildly entertaining and awful sword-and-sorcery films, and popular culture second life in the likes of Dungeons & Dragons and the bombast of heavy metal music.

A deadly curse.A life hanging in the balance.One girl holds the key.Catherine knows one thing: She needs to get stronger. Much stronger.But is the adventurer's guild training enough?When a deadly curse leaves her mother's life hanging in the balance, Catherine makes a vow to save her. To keep her promise, she must journey through a mysterious and deadly forest full of hostile spirits and many other dangers.She has her father's former adventuring party by her side. But can they teach her to defeat the evil sorcerer sapping her mother's life force away?If you like stories of growth and friendship, then you'll love The Bloodwood Forest. Pick it up today and join the adventure!

The second adventure in the New York Times–bestselling fantasy trilogy from the legendary million-selling author and creator of Drizzt Do’Urden. Luthien Bedwyr vowed to free his beleaguered land of Eriador from its demonic ruler, Wizard-King Greensparrow. Cloaked in a scarlet cape that renders him invisible and wielding a magical sword, Luthien is known to Eriador’s oppressed as the Crimson Shadow. With the rallying support of enslaved humans, defiant peasants, and Fairborn elves, he has forged a path for liberation—raid by insurgent raid. Even with a mighty battle-ready band of stalwart comrades—including halfling thief Oliver deBurrows; fierce elf warrior Katerin O’Hale; and the ancient and mysterious mage, Brind’Amour—the rebels are fighting an uphill battle against the vile despot’s escalating and bloodthirsty army of cyclopean soldiers. Then, Greensparrow makes an unexpected bid for peace. But why would a wizard so cunning and so evil suddenly concede? Though Eriador’s slaves see the compromise as cause for celebration, Luthien and Brind’Amour recognize it as a calculated trap. The Crimson Shadow knows in his heart that the war for freedom has only just begun. Return to a rousing, magical quest in book two of a trilogy hailed by Terry Brooks as a “fine adventure filled with memorable characters and compelling action.”