Joshua Robertson

From the award-winning author of The Blood of Dragons, comes a new compilation that brings together twelve varied tales and eighteen diverse poems. Some stories will be strangely familiar, and others will spark a new fire for storytelling.Herein heroes and villains, gods and mortals, dragons and devils paint the pages. Sonnets and etherees, triolets and rondeaus, quaterns and villanelles pepper the spaces in between.Therefore grab a glass of whiskey and a slice of mutton pie and hear a tale of yore.

Ball and Powder is a character-driven steampunk fantasy about a thick-skulled, hornless minotaur named Ham Herdstomper who lives to snort blood leaf and go dungeon crawling. Created to die and then be reborn again, he has not known much more than the rush of gaining experience, getting chips, and buying more of his precious drug. However, when he begins a new cycle on Moravan with his bomb-tossing gnome companion, Nickl Nackle of Clan Paddiwackle, their dark adventure begins to weigh on Ham's morality and causes everything to change. While in pursuit of a death-dealer, Ham's mood turns for the worse along with his addiction, causing him to make decisions that negatively impact his alignment. When their newfound companions, Kildrak the dwarven sharpshooter and Beans the gun enthusiast, point out Ham's faulty reasoning, the fellowship begins to fall apart. Thinking the death-dealer is to blame, Ham must discover how to realign his moral compass before his adventuring party abandons him and he transforms into an evil non-player character.

Meet Branimir Baran, the slave destined to save the world. Bran is a Kras, a race enslaved by the Highborn for generations. He witnesses the forging of the forbidden dagger, kaelandur, created to execute Nedezhda, a Highborn found guilty of practicing death magic. But Nedezhda rises again with a horde of demons, leaving Branimir and his companions to seek out the Tree of Life with hopes of stopping them from destroying it. Over a thousand years, the looming threat grows to extend across all lands. When Branimir hears the dead are spilling over from the Netherworld, he not only realizes kaelandur may have a greater purpose, but also that the desires of the gods are incongruent with the interests of mortals. Against all odds, he is left to protect the magical dagger or leave the whole world to fall to ruin.

After receiving an ominous message about forthcoming demons and doom, Falmagon Sej is sent to retrieve a magical staff to protect the Anshedar. But he has unknowingly fallen in love with the sister of his enemy, and the price for betraying love may be too high for him to stomach. Falmagon's footpath to becoming the Highborn Longwalker is riddled with sorrow, promising an undying hate for himself, unless he can somehow find salvation under the grace of the Lightbringer.

After receiving an ominous message about forthcoming demons and doom, Falmagon Sej is sent to retrieve a magical staff to protect the Anshedar. But he has unknowingly fallen in love with the sister of his enemy, and the price for betraying love may be too high for him to stomach. Falmagon's footpath to becoming the Highborn Longwalker is riddled with sorrow, promising an undying hate for himself, unless he can somehow find salvation under the grace of the Lightbringer.

2017 International Award-Winning Novel in Epic FantasyDrast and Tyran might be considered a bit black-hearted, or even immoral. Drast is cunning but reckless, hunting for admiration. Tyran is calculating but tactless, searching for affection. When the two brothers set aside their ambitions to fulfill their father's desire for immortality, they readily discover many opportunities for redemption. Now, while wielding a powerful magic that drains their life, Drast and Tyran will embark on a maddening quest, facing skin-switchers, dragons, and the God of the Dead.

Over a millennium ago, at their father's command, Tyran and Drast sent the Horned God to the Netherworld in hopes of gaining everlasting life. Instead, they sparked a chain of events that led to the near destruction of the Ash Tree and the liberation of the old gods. Now, with the world waning, the two brothers are freed from Anaerfell to travel to the frozen realm of the dead and resurrect their enemy with hopes of restoring balance. Tyran and Drast journey between time and space with limitless magic at their fingertips to face demon legions, forsaken immortals, and the realization that the malevolence of their father is not yet done.

With a bit more sunlight, Bo Bunny and Rocky Rhino could have the best of days. On their way to convince Miss Sun to shine a little longer, Bo and Rocky have to keep an eye out for the troublesome schemes of Rowdy Raccoon, Bessie Badger, and Timmy Tiger. If that were not enough, they also realize Trouble, which may or may not really be a thing, is looking for them In a quick-witted adventure, these two friends set out to make the first day of summer the longest day of the year. Bo Bunny and the Trouble is targeted at middle-aged children to recapture storytelling in a way that is thought-provoking and entertaining.

Over a millennium ago, at their father's command, Tyran and Drast sent the Horned God to the Netherworld in hopes of gaining everlasting life. Instead, they sparked a chain of events that led to the near destruction of the Ash Tree and the liberation of the old gods. Now, with the world waning, the two brothers are freed from Anaerfell to travel to the frozen realm of the dead and resurrect their enemy with hopes of restoring balance. Tyran and Drast journey between time and space with limitless magic at their fingertips to face demon legions, forsaken immortals, and the realization that the malevolence of their father is not yet done.

Ten years ago, Argus Gunther escaped Hawkhurst, thinking he had left behind a desolate life and a forsaken name. Though, when he is lured back to complete a contract, Argus discovers he can't bury the past so easily. Pulled instantly into Hawkhurst's daunting political games, Argus is forced to navigate through his nightmares. Now, while in search for his freedom, he must decide whether or not there are worse fates than death.The Hawkhurst Saga is the accumulation of the three stories: A Midwinter Sellsword, Gladiators and Thieves, and Ashes to Ashes.