Award-winning author Maria V. Snyder brings readers into a world of molten magic, where storms can be captured within a glass orb and a magician's powers can remain hidden…until challenged by enemy forces.

As a glassmaker and a magician-in-training, Opal Cowan understands trial by fire. Someone has sabotaged the Stormdancer clan's glass orbs, killing their most powerful magicians. The Stormdancers—particularly the mysterious and mercurial Kade—require Opal's unique talents to prevent it from happening again. But when the mission goes awry, Opal must tap into a new kind of magic. Yet the further she delves into the intrigue behind the glass and magic, the more distorted things appear. With lives hanging in the balance—including her own—Opal must control her powers…powers that could lead to disaster beyond anything she's ever known.

Seventy-one days and seventy-one nights had come and gone since Khalid began killing his brides. This dawn, Khalid would mark the loss of the seventy-second girl, Shahrzad al-Khayzuran. Khalid didn't know how many more of these dawns he could take. And there was something about this latest girl that piqued his interest.

Not only had she volunteered to marry him, but at their wedding ceremony, she had seemed not the least bit afraid. In fact, what he had seen in her eyes was nothing short of pure hatred. She was about to lose her life. Why wasn't she afraid? Why did she hate him so? He had never before gone to his wife's chambers before her death at dawn. Tonight would be different.

Cruel Beauty is a dazzling fantasy novel that intertwines the romance of Beauty and the Beast with the adventure of Graceling, creating a story about our deepest desires and their power to change our destiny. This gorgeously written debut is perfect for fans of An Ember in the Ashes and A Court of Thorns and Roses.

Betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom, Nyx has always known her fate was to marry him, kill him, and free her people from his tyranny. But on her seventeenth birthday, when she moves into his castle high on the kingdom's mountaintop, nothing is as she expected—particularly her charming and beguiling new husband. As Nyx tries to save her homeland, she must contend with her feelings for her sworn enemy, who has complicated her mission by stealing her heart.

Magic is power, and power is magic... Once they were inseparable, just two little girls playing games in a formidable castle. Now Princess Marie-Victoria, heir to the mightiest empire in the world, and Aelwyn Myrddyn, a bastard mage, face vastly different futures. Quiet and gentle, Marie has never lived up to the ambitions of her mother, Queen Eleanor the Second. With the help of her Merlin, Eleanor has maintained a stranglehold on the world's only source of magic. While the enchanters faithfully serve the crown, the sun will never set on the Franco-British Empire.

As the annual London Season begins, the great and noble families across the globe flaunt their wealth and magic at parties, teas, and, of course, the lavish Bal du Drap d'Or, the Ball of the Gold Cloth. But the talk of the season is Ronan Astor, a social-climbing American with only her dazzling beauty to recommend her. Ronan is determined to make a good match to save her family's position. But when she falls for a handsome rogue on the voyage over, her lofty plans are imperiled by her desires.

Meanwhile, Isabelle of Orleans, daughter of the displaced French royal family, finds herself cast aside by Leopold, heir to the Prussian crown, in favor of a political marriage to Marie-Victoria. Isabelle arrives in the city bent on reclaiming what is hers. But Marie doesn't even want Leopold-she has lost her heart to a boy the future queen would never be allowed to marry.

When Marie comes to Aelwyn, desperate to escape a life without love, the girls form a perilous plan that endangers not only the entire kingdom but the fate of the monarchy.

Celaena has survived deadly contests and shattering heartbreak—but at an unspeakable cost. Now, she must travel to a new land to confront her darkest truth… a truth about her heritage that could change her life—and her future—forever.

Meanwhile, brutal and monstrous forces are gathering on the horizon, intent on enslaving her world. Will Celaena find the strength to not only fight her inner demons but to take on the evil that is about to be unleashed?

'A line that should never be crossed is about to be breached. It puts this entire castle in jeopardy—and the life of your friend.'

From the throne of glass rules a king with a fist of iron and a soul as black as pitch. Assassin Celaena Sardothien won a brutal contest to become his Champion. Yet Celaena is far from loyal to the crown. She hides her secret vigilantly; she knows that the man she serves is bent on evil.

Keeping up the deadly charade becomes increasingly difficult when Celaena realizes she is not the only one seeking justice. As she tries to untangle the mysteries buried deep within the glass castle, her closest relationships suffer. It seems no one is above questioning her allegiances—not the Crown Prince Dorian; not Chaol, the Captain of the Guard; not even her best friend, Nehemia, a foreign princess with a rebel heart.

Then one terrible night, the secrets they have all been keeping lead to an unspeakable tragedy. As Celaena's world shatters, she will be forced to give up the very thing most precious to her and decide once and for all where her true loyalties lie... and whom she is ultimately willing to fight for.

Quintana of Charyn marks the climactic conclusion of Melina Marchetta's epic fantasy trilogy, The Lumatere Chronicles. In this final installment, the story continues with Froi, who has been separated from the girl he loves and has sworn to protect. As he travels through Charyn, he is on a quest to find Quintana, the mother of Charyn's unborn king, and to build an army that will secure the child's right to rule.

Amidst the backdrop of impending war that threatens to engulf the lands, including Lumatere, Froi is faced with a conflict of loyalty between his family and his country. With the help of those he holds dear, Froi's journey is one of self-discovery and redemption, as he seeks to right the wrongs and bring peace to a divided world.

The intertwining of bloodlines, politics, and love that began in Finnikin of the Rock and continued in Froi of the Exiles reaches its engrossing climax in this tale of power, heartbreak, and the enduring strength of love. Marchetta's mastery of character and world-building shines in this unforgettable adventure, where the personal and political collide in a narrative rich with complex, deeply human characters.

A short story featured in Review of Australian Fiction and later put on Marchetta's website.

Lady Celie of the Lumateran Flatlands is visiting the Belegonian spring castle on the isle of Ferragost. Cut off from the rest of Belegonia by poor weather, she is confined to the island with four others, including the mysterious castellan of the castle. When the body of one of the guests is discovered on the rocks outside the east tower, Celie is not only considered a suspect, but finds herself embroiled in events that are entwined with her own kingdom's cursed history, as well as the future of the entire land of Skuldenore.

Gideon und Gwendolyn sind bis über beide Ohren verliebt. Doch Liebe unter Zeitreisenden birgt ungeahnte Tücken. Gut, dass Gwendolyn jede Menge Ratgeber an ihrer Seite weiß, sei es nun ihre beste Freundin Leslie oder Geisterfreund James. Nur Xemerius, ein leicht anhänglicher Wasserspeier, sorgt eher für Turbulenzen, als dass er hilft.

Und als Gideon und Gwendolyn ein weiteres Mal in die Fänge des Grafen von St. Germain geraten, wird ihre Liebe auf eine harte Probe gestellt ...

Cat doesn't mind living in the shadow of his sister, Gwendolen, the most promising young witch ever seen on Coven Street. But trouble starts brewing the moment the two orphans are summoned to live in Chrestomanci Castle. Frustrated that the witches of the castle refuse to acknowledge her talents, Gwendolen conjures up a scheme that could throw whole worlds out of whack.

It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. The young King Nash clings to his throne while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves and lawless men.

This is where Fire lives. With a wild, irresistible appearance and hair the color of flame, Fire is the last remaining human monster. Equally hated and adored, she had the unique ability to control minds, but she guards her power, unwilling to steal the secrets of innocent people. Especially when she has so many of her own.

Then Prince Brigan comes to bring her to King City, The royal family needs her help to uncover the plot against the king. Far away from home, Fire begins to realize there's more to her power than she ever dreamed. Her power could save the kingdom.

If only she weren't afraid of becoming the monster her father was.

Lirael has never felt like a true daughter of the Clayr. Now, two years past the time when she should have received the Sight that is the Clayr's birthright, she feels alone, abandoned, unsure of who she is. Nevertheless, the fate of the Old Kingdom lies in her hands. With only her faithful companion, the Disreputable Dog, Lirael must undertake a desperate mission under the growing shadow of an ancient evil.

In this sequel to Sabriel, Garth Nix weaves a spellbinding tale of discovery, destiny, and danger.

Darren Shan was just an ordinary schoolboy - until his visit to the Cirque Du Freak. Now, as he struggles with his new life as a Vampire's Assistant, he tries desperately to resist the one temptation that sickens him, the one thing that can keep him alive. But destiny is calling... the Wolf Man is waiting.

Abhorsen is the third book in Garth Nix's internationally acclaimed Old Kingdom fantasy trilogy that began with Sabriel and Lirael. Beneath the earth, a malignant force lies waiting, greedy for freedom from its ancient prison. As the Old Kingdom falls once more into a realm of darkness and terror, the people look desperately to the Abhorsen, the scourge of the Dead, to save them. Yet Abhorsen Sabriel is lost, missing in Ancelstierre.

Only Lirael has any chance of stopping the Destroyer. With her companions Sameth, Mogget and the Disreputable Dog, she travels across the Old Kingdom in a race against time, battling Shadow Hands and dark necromancers to reach Ancelstierre before it is too late. But what hope can one young woman have against a terrible evil with the power to destroy life itself?

This eagerly awaited conclusion to Garth Nix's extraordinary Sabriel and Lirael is a complex and vividly imagined story, powerful, terrifying and compelling.

Disguised as a boy, Alanna of Trebond becomes a squire, to none other than the prince of the realm. But Prince Jonathan is much more to Alanna; he is her ally, her best friend, and one of the few who knows that she's really a girl. Now it will take all of Alanna's awesome skill, strength, and growing magical powers to protect him from the mysterious evil sorcerer who is bent on his destruction, and hers!

Here continues the story of Alanna, a young woman bound for glory who is willing to fight against enormous odds for what she believes in.

The king’s scholar, the magus, believes he knows the site of an ancient treasure. To attain it for his king, he needs a skillful thief, and he selects Gen from the king’s prison. The magus is interested only in the thief’s abilities. What Gen is interested in is anyone’s guess. Their journey toward the treasure is both dangerous and difficult, lightened only imperceptibly by the tales they tell of the old gods and goddesses.

Megan Whalen Turner weaves Gen’s stories and Gen’s story together with style and verve in a novel that is filled with intrigue, adventure, and surprise.

Lioness Rampant is the final installment in Tamora Pierce's celebrated Song of the Lioness quartet, which has been honored with the Margaret A. Edwards Award. Alanna of Trebond has achieved her dream of becoming the first female knight errant, but she finds herself at a crossroads, uncertain of what her next step should be. Despite her legendary triumphs in countless battles, Alanna realizes that there might be more she needs beyond the life of a knight errant.

However, Alanna's reflections are put on hold when she faces an impossible challenge. She must secure the Dominion Jewel, a gem of legendary power that can bring great good when wielded by the right hands. But time is of the essence, as the kingdom of Tortall faces grave threats from all sides. Enemies, both powerful and petty, are conspiring to destroy everything and everyone that Alanna holds dear.

As Alanna embarks on this perilous quest, she discovers that her future is indeed as epic as her past, both as a formidable warrior and as a woman forging her own path.