The Kinsmen Universe

An uneasy alliance between warring families gets heated in this otherworldly novella from bestselling author Ilona Andrews. At first glance, the planet Rada seems like a lush paradise. But the ruling families, all boasting genetically enhanced abilities, are in constant competition for power--and none more so than the Adlers and the Baenas. For generations, the powerful families have pushed and pulled each other in a dance for dominance. Until a catastrophic betrayal from within changes everything. Now, deadly, disciplined, and solitary leaders Ramona Adler and Matias Baena must put aside their enmity and work together in secret to prevent sinister forces from exploiting universe-altering technology. Expecting to suffer through their uneasy alliance, Ramona and Matias instead discover that they understand each other as no one in their families can--and that their combined skills may eclipse the risks of their forbidden alliance. As the two warriors risk their lives to save their families, they must decide whether to resist or embrace the passion simmering between them. For now, the dance between their families continues--but just one misstep could spell the end of them both.

From Ilona Andrews—#1 New York Times bestselling author of Magic Shifts and the Kate Daniels novels—comes a stark, seductive tale of a world torn asunder by supernatural gifts and irresistible passions... Karina Tucker is driving a van of children home from a field trip when an unplanned detour to a seemingly ordinary rest stop changes her life. There, she witnesses a world beyond humanity’s sight, of frightful powers and chaos, where she is in death’s grip...before an irresistibly dangerous male saves her—only to take her captive. For she is a rare commodity in the shadowy realm she’s entered. Karina soon finds herself caught in a violent civil war where those with inhuman powers strive to destroy each other without mercy. And it becomes all too clear that she must make a choice: submit and become a pawn, or take hold of her own destiny and fight for survival against impossible odds. Alphas: Origins originally appeared in Angels of Darkness. Praise for Ilona Andrews and the Kate Daniels Novels “Ilona Andrews pens my favorite flavor of keeper novel: tough characters, marvelous voice, fast-paced with that sharp edge of humor that adds the final grace note.”—Patricia Briggs, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Fire Touched “One of the brightest voices in urban fantasy. Ilona Andrews delivers only the best.”—Jeaniene Frost, New York Times bestselling author of Bound by Flames “Gritty sword-clashing action and flawless characterizations will bewitch fans.”—Sacramento Book Review INCLUDES A TEASER FOR MAGIC SHIFTS

“A fantastic futuristic romance complete with political intrigue and out-of-this-world adventure” from the New York Times–bestselling author (Booklist). Human telepath Ronan VelKalevi, a Kinsman, was kidnapped by the catlike Shaauri when he was a child. Now, more than two decades later, he has escaped from the aliens who have held him captive for much of his life. On the run, he is saved by the captain of the spaceship Pegasus, Cynara D’Accorso. Though drawn to Ronan, Cynara is suspicious of his motives, for there are Kinsmen who have proved traitorous to their race, aiding and abetting the Shaauri. But as Ronan and Cynara’s minds—and bodies—meld in a passionate embrace, it soon becomes clear the claws of the Shaauri have dug deeper into Ronan than either he or Cynara could have ever imagined . . . “Returning to the ‘Kinsman’ universe that she first described in an Out of This World novella, Susan Krinard furbishes science fiction romance readers with a wonderful tale of a future in space marred by armed conflict. The delightful story line hooks readers of both genres with its descriptive insight into a galaxy under siege while also providing two wonderful characters wondering whether they should be loving partners or disillusioned antagonists.” —AllReaders.com

An irresistible compilation of five previously published stories by the New York Times bestselling author of the Kate Daniels series; including Kate's very first meeting with Saiman, some related adventures, two unforgettable "outside" excursions, and additional material from both Curran and Jim's point of view. A QUESTIONABLE CLIENT In this 'intro' to the Kate Daniels world, we meet the extremely 'shifty' Saiman for the very first time, when Kate takes on the task of serving as his bodyguard to protect him from some very determined-and dangerous-Russian wizards. RETRIBUTION CLAUSE Saiman's cousin, Adam-a frost giant and also an insurance adjuster-and his enigmatic partner, Siroun, set out on an impossible mission to enforce a client's Retribution Clause; that is, to kill the person who killed her. But is their target even guilty? Magic and mayhem and a little personal chemistry will reveal the truth! OF SWINE AND ROSES A young adult story about a girl, a pig, some magic, and the worst date ever. Chad Thurman is a thug, who carries brass knuckles in both pockets and lays magic traps for intruders into "his" neighborhood. The last thing Alena Kornov wants to do is to go on a date with him. But when her family pressures her, she can't say no. Now the ice-cream is absent, the pig is running for its life, and we won't even mention the dead guy... GRACE OF SMALL MAGICS Grace has always known she wasn't like everyone else and that her family has magic abilities. After flying to meet the head of Clan Dreoch in order to fulfill her families' "duties" as servants, Grace finds herself in the middle of a mage clan war... MAGIC TESTS A short story in the Kate Daniels universe. Kate recruits her teenage ward, Julie, to search out a missing student whose location spell has her hidden somewhere on campus... CURRAN POV Everybody has a point of view...especially Curran Lennart, Beast Lord of the Free People of Atlanta-and Kate Daniel's mate. Here's what Curran was thinking while Kate was kicking butt and taking names from Magic Bites to Magic Bleeds.

Hero or Killer? In a startling future that's coming closer every year, Chet Kinsman is an astronaut ace who has done everything in space-including committing the first murder. It's a secret he can never escape, not even on the Moon, where he's head of the first U.S. lunar colony. But suddenly, a series of shocking yet strangely inevitable circumstances forces Kinsman to confront his hidden past and decide Earth's destiny. In a desperate countdown to nuclear annihilation, Kinsman struggles against a deadly paradox: if he rescues the world, he may end up destroying himself.

From award-winning author, Ilona Andrews, an all-new novel set in the New York Times #1 bestselling Kate Daniels World and featuring Julie Lennart-Olsen, Kate and Curran's ward. Atlanta was always a dangerous city. Now, as waves of magic and technology compete for supremacy, it’s a place caught in a slow apocalypse, where monsters spawn among the crumbling skyscrapers and supernatural factions struggle for power and survival. Eight years ago, Julie Lennart left Atlanta to find out who she was. Now she’s back with a new face, a new magic, and a new name—Aurelia Ryder—drawn by the urgent need to protect the family she left behind. An ancient power is stalking her adopted mother, Kate Daniels, an enemy unlike any other, and a string of horrifying murders is its opening gambit. If Aurelia’s true identity is discovered, those closest to her will die. So her plan is simple: get in, solve the murders, prevent the prophecy from being fulfilled, and get out without being recognized. She expected danger, but she never anticipated that the only man she'd ever loved could threaten everything. One small misstep could lead to disaster. But for Aurelia, facing disaster is easy; it’s relationships that are hard.

�EVERY art and every inquiry, and similarly every action and pursuit, is thought to aim at some good; and for this reason the good has rightly been declared to be that at which all things aim. But a certain difference is found among ends; some are activities, others are products apart from the activities that produce them. Where there are ends apart from the actions, it is the nature of the products to be better than the activities. Now, as there are many actions, arts, and sciences, their ends also are many; the end of the medical art is health, that of shipbuilding a vessel, that of strategy victory, that of economics wealth. But where such arts fall under a single capacity- as bridle-making and the other arts concerned with the equipment of horses fall under the art of riding, and this and every military action under strategy, in the same way other arts fall under yet others- in all of these the ends of the master arts are to be preferred to all the subordinate ends; for it is for the sake of the former that the latter are pursued. It makes no difference whether the activities themselves are the ends of the actions, or something else apart from the activities, as in the case of the sciences just mentioned.�