Exiled by his clan. Wanted for murder. Nowhere to run. Haunted by memories of his recent failures, Radyn works the fields of Firestone in an attempt to put the past far behind him. But on a date with Aria, he’s arrested by Shields for the crime of murder. The investigation throws Radyn into the heart of a developing conspiracy, a darkness spreading throughout both Firestone and its neighbors. Those in power know the clock is ticking for the ancient cities, and their responses are suitably desperate. Stripped of the support of his clan, Radyn must fight alone to uncover the darkest truths at the heart of the conspiracy. Truths that will affect not just Firestone, but the entire world. Against his most dangerous enemies yet, Radyn must find the truth before his enemies find him and silence him for good.

This book offers a specialized and in-depth exploration of the use of the sword and shield, and polearm and shield. This book delves into the esteemed fencing techniques from the 16th-century masters such as Anonimo Bolognese, Manciolino, Marozzo, Agrippa, Di Grassi, Lovino, and Capoferro, showcasing the profound impact of these practices in European martial history. Focusing on the unique dynamics of the rotella, a distinctive shield of the Renaissance, this guide presents an array of combat techniques applicable in dueling, on the battlefield, and in self-defense scenarios. It bridges historical martial arts with modern combat needs, making the venerable strategies of the past relevant and practical for contemporary warriors. What sets this book apart is its dedication to the practical use of the arm-carried shield in combination with swords and polearms. The book revisits traditional techniques and adapts them for today’s martial artists, featuring detailed instructions, strategic insights, and exercises tailored to enhance understanding and skill in wielding these classical weapons. Ideal for HEMA enthusiasts, martial artists, and anyone with an interest in the historical and practical aspects of Renaissance combat, this book serves as a scholarly resource and a hands-on guide.

AD 69. Aulus Caecina Severus has thrown in his lot with the hedonistic Vitellius and prepares his legions for a gruelling march over the Alps. Driven by the desire to repay the treachery of his former patron, the Emperor Galba, and to keep his rival Valens in check, Severus leads his army against barbarian rebellions and against the mountains themselves in his race to reach Italy first. With the vast Po valley almost in sight, news reaches the army that Galba has been killed in a coup, and that Otho has been declared Emperor by the Praetorians who he had bribed to murder their own emperor. But there is no turning back for Severus, even if he wanted to. The Rhine legions want their man on the throne, and they won't stop until they reach Rome itself. Even once Otho is defeated, the battle for supremacy between Severus and Valens is far from over. The politics of the court and the mob is the new battleground, and Severus needs the help of his wife Salonina and his freedman Totavalas in this constant game of thrones. When stories spread of a new power in the east, Severus has to decide where his real loyalty lies: to his Emperor, to his city or to himself?

Heroes shall rise and fall, the earth shall be stained red, and the fate of the Banished Lands will be decided once and for all in A Time of Courage, the gripping conclusion to the Of Blood and Bone trilogy. Now is the time of reckoning... The demon-king Asroth is free of his iron prison, and thewhole of the Banished Lands stands on the brink of domination. With the Ben-Elim broken and routed, half-breed Riv and asmall band of comrades must try to find a way to strike at the demon forces. Meanwhile, Drem is with the Order of the Bright Star on a desperate march south to join the battle. He fears what they will find along the way, even as he knows it is better to fight and fall than to live without hope. Of Blood and BoneA Time of DreadA Time of BloodA Time of Courage The Faithful and the FallenMaliceValorRuinWrath

His killing intent shook the heavens, and he cut down all the cold water to bring justice to the world. Eternal Heroic Soul for my use, I have a sword that can pierce the heavens. A swordsman was the sovereign of all weapons. Those who wielded a sword wielded a Dao. The sovereign of heaven and earth ruled the world, annihilating ghosts and deities. In ancient times, there was a tomb, a tomb to judge the heavens. Close]

Bhaal sat on his most prized possession, a golden and ivory throne bought with the money he had earned during the adventures of his youth. It rose up from the floor like the stump of a once magnificent tree. Two huge armrests flanked each side of the seat, fanning out at the top to end in a smooth flat surface. Gold, etched with runes, spiraled and swirled through the structure everywhere. The sides were as the bark of a tree, rippled and pitted as if worn by time and water damage. The back reached up high enough to support his slender shoulders and bent back into a curl like the edge of aged parchment. Bhaal, however, was in stark contrast to the throne. His once statuesque body had wasted away. He was nothing more than skin and bones. The stench of his breath was that of a carcass. The dark black orbs that were his eyes stared straight ahead from his skull into the hallway before him. He had the look of someone seeing into eternity. A tarnished bronze crown sat on filthy, dusty black hair. His tunic had rotted away to nothing more than tatters. A rusted shirt of chain mail rested upon it, torn away at the waist. His leather breeches had dry rotted away from the knees down. A rusted chain skirt covered his thighs. Its links were broken and jagged at the seams. High top plate boots, rusted from years of neglect, covered his feet. The heavy coating of dust upon him told those who looked at him that he had not moved in years. It was hard to tell that Bhaal was still alive, but alive he was. He had somehow managed to live far beyond his own time, existing without eating or moving. The physicians had given up long ago on trying to figure out what it was that kept him so. Theologians had inspected him. Philosophers debated his refusal to die in his present state. In truth, he had not spoken in twenty years, even though the wilderness and upstart usurpers carved away at his vast empire until all he still owned was the small town of Nineveh that rested at the base of his small keep. And then there was the sword. An elegant bronze and Damascus steel broadsword reaching up from the base of the throne to the palm of Bhaal's hand. Its point made a gouge in the floor. Red rubies adorned the hilt and pommel, and even through years of non-use the whole sword was immaculately polished and clean. It was the sword that had carved out Bhaal's once mighty empire, and thousands of legends were attributed to the revered artifact. Forged from pure dark iron found only on the plains of the Abyss, it was rumored to have dispatched more than one daemon from existence.

Teleportation exists. That's the setting. The story itself throws you in a whirlwind of secretive characters, genre bending conflicts, and comedy riddled dialogue almost immediately. There is no big takeaway. There is no lesson to learn. It's merely an interesting snapshot of time in the author's creative universe. Enjoy!

The ravaged continent of Genabackis has given birth to a terrifying new empire: the Pannion Domin. Like a fanatical tide of corrupted blood, it seethes across the land, devouring all who fail to heed the Word of its elusive prophet, the Pannion Seer. In its path stands an uneasy alliance: Dujek Onearm's Host and the Bridgeburners - each now outlawed by the Empress - alongside some enemies of old that include the grim forces of Warlord Caladan Brood, Anomander Rake, Son of Darkness, and his Tiste Andii, and the Rhivi people of the Plains. But more ancient clans are also gathering. As if in answer to some primal summons, the massed ranks of the undead T'lan Imass have risen. It would seem that something altogether darker and more malign threatens the very substance of this world. The Warrens are poisoned, and rumours abound that the Crippled God is now unchained and intent on a terrible revenge . . . Marking the return of many favourite characters from Garden of the Moon and introducing a host of remarkable new players, Memories of Ice is the thrilling third chapter in Steven Erikson's magnificent, genre defining epic fantasy.