“‘As for you, Medha Yankaran”- I turn towards the girl, her burnished skin and sharply cut profile making her look like an apsara come alive- “from this day forth you are mine.” Harun hurries forward with a tray of paints in his hands. I sketch the Star of Rashmatun on her forehead, as I have... Continue Reading →
Sword of Destiny by Andrzej Sapkowski
“’You say something is ending,’ Eithne slowly went on. ‘Not true. There are things that never end. You talk of survival? I am fighting to survive. Brokilon endures thanks to my fight, for trees live longer than men, as long as they are protected from your axes. You talk to me of kings and princes.... Continue Reading →
The Undermining of Twyla and Frank by Megan Bannen
“By the time Twyla and Frank arrived on the scene, two miles from the barracks, the flare had landed. They found themselves on a flattened plain, nestled in the jagged foothills of the Dragon’s Teeth mountain range. The flare’s harsh light glared across the landscape, outshining their saddle lanterns and casting everything in bright pinks... Continue Reading →
The Gods Below by Andrea Stewart
“Maman lied when she told me there were ghosts in the ocean. Cold water pressed at my ears, the breath in my lungs warm and taut as a paper lantern. Shapes appeared in the murk below, towers rising out of the darkness. Strands of kelp swayed back and forth between broken stone and rotting wood... Continue Reading →
Velocity Weapon by Megan E. O’Keefe
“Sanda slapped her palm against the screen, leaving a goopy handprint. Two hundred thirty years. It wasn’t possible. She’d heard rumblings that the Icarions were working on something big, but not big enough to wipe out two whole planets. Nothing in the universe man-made could produce that kind of power. She should know. Bero was... Continue Reading →
The Stardust Thief by Chelsea Abdullah
"She gasped. It had been a long time since she'd felt his blood magic in her veins. Qadir rarely healed her. He did not believe in mending minor injuries- especially not the ones she suffered because of her own "rash" decisuons. The magic was an unpleasantly cold and prickling feeling beneath her skin, one that... Continue Reading →