MERCEDES LACKEY

New York Times-bestselling author Mercedes Lackeys Herald Spy series, set in the beloved fantasy world of Valdemar.Herald Mags, the King of Valdemars Herald-Spy, has been developing a clandestine network of young informants who operate not only on the streets of the capital city of Haven, but also in the Great Halls and kitchens of the wealthy and highborn. In his own established alternate personas, Mags observes the Court and the alleys alike, quietly gathering information to keep Haven and the Kingdom safe.His wife Amily, is growing into her position as the Kings Own Herald, though she is irritated to encounter many who still consider her father, Herald Nikolas, to be the real Kings Own. Nonetheless, she finds it increasingly useful to be underestimated, for there are dark things stirring in the shadows of Haven and up on the Hill.Someone has discovered many secrets of the women of the Court and the Collegiaand is using those secrets to terrorize and bully them. Someone is targeting the religious houses of women, too, leaving behind destruction and obscene ravings.But who? Someone at the Court? A disgruntled Palace servant? One of the members of the Collegia? Someone in the patriarchal sect of the god Sethor? Could the villain be a woman? And what is this person hoping to achieve? It isnt blackmail, for the letters demand nothing; the aim seems to be the victims panic and despair. But why?Mags and Amily take steps to minimize the damage while using both magic and wits to find the evildoer. But just as they appear to be on the verge of success, the letter-writer tires of terror and is now out for blood.Mags and Amily will have to track down someone who leaves few clues behind and thwart whatever plans have been set in motion, and quicklybefore terror turns to murder.

Discover the dangerous, futuristic world of the #1 New York Times bestselling Hunter series from legendary fantasy author Mercedes Lackey.They came after the Diseray. Monsters. Long ago, the barriers between our world and the Otherworld were ripped open, and its taken centuries to bring back civilization in the wake of the catastrophe. Now, the luckiest Cits live in enclosed communities, behind walls that keep them safe from the hideous creatures fighting to break through. Others are not so lucky.In Hunter, Joyeaux Charmand believes that every Cit without magic deserves her protection from dangerous Othersiders. Then she is called to Apex City, where the best Hunters are kept to protect the most important people. Joy soon realizes that the citys powerful leaders care more about luring Cits into a false sense of security than protecting them. More and more monsters are getting through the barriers, and the close calls are becoming too frequent to ignore. And when an act of sabotage against Joy takes an unbearable toll, she uncovers a terrifying conspiracy in the city. There is something much worse than the usual monsters infiltrating Apex. And it may be too late to stop themIn Elite, Joy knows shell be facing more dangerous Othersiders than ever before as a new member of the Elite Hunter unit. But if anyone is up to the challenge, its her. Then the rules change. Monsters unlike any Joys ever seen or even heard of are breaking through Apex Citys barriers, and the Hunters are scrambling to find new ways to fight themall the while hiding the true danger Apex faces from the Cits, who are ignorant of the severity of the Othersiders attacks. The leaders of Apex must come together to protect the city, but tensions have never been higher between the Hunters and the powerful PsiCorps, with each group competing to be the primary protector of the city. The conflict escalates even further when Joy starts discovering bodies of Psimons while patrolling the city sewers on a special assignment from her uncle, who commands the Hunters. A storm is approaching Apex City, and unless Joy and her fellow Hunters put up the fight of their lives, it might just sweep them all away . . .In Apex, the riveting conclusion to the Hunter trilogy, Joy must risk everything to end a brutal war before she loses all shes ever loved. The corrupt and powerful PsiCorps is determined to usurp the Hunters as chief defenders of Apex City and Joy is squarely in their crosshairs. Unused to playing political games, she has few people she can truly trustnot even Josh, her first friend in Apex City, who broke up with her when it became too dangerous for a Psimon to be dating a Hunter. Then Josh comes to Joy for help. He fears that Abigail Drift, the head of PsiCorps, will use him in her experiments designed to empower PsiCorps and render Hunters superfluousa scheme thats already killed dozens of Psimons. Joy manages to smuggle Josh to safety, but he cant evade Drift forever. As Joy faces ever more powerful Othersiders, she is helped by the most surprising ally imaginable -- the same Folk Mage she once met in battle. But can Joy trust the most cunning and treacherous of all Othersiders?

Darian left his home at the edge of the Pelagiris Forest when barbarians attacked Errolds Grove and killed Wizard Justyn. Now, under the watchful eye of the Hawkbrothers, Darian is honing his craft and gaining new mage skills, not the least of which is an affinity for mind-speaking with his closest companion, the Hawk Owl Kuari.Keisha, a nartural-born healer, is proving indispensible in Errolds Grove, but her destiny seems ordinary when compared with her sister Shandi, who is Chosen to be a Herald.But there is much more in store for Darian and Keisha: they have a task, the outcome of which will affect all of Valdemar - and their guide is to be the legendary hero of the Mage-Storms, Firesong himself.

From a High Tower is the newest adventure in Mercedes Lackey’s Elemental Masters series, featuring a retelling of Rapunzel’s not-so-happily-ever-after ending.

A VALDEMAR OMNIBUS Collecting the New York Times bestsellers: ARROWS OF THE QUEEN ARROWS FLIGHT ARROWS FALL Thirteen-year-old Talia longs for a better life, far away from her repressive stepmothers and the village of Sensholding, where books chronicling the adventures of the Heralds of Valdemar and their Companions offer her only escape. But when her family decide she is to be married, Talia flees, only to be rescued by one of the very Companions of legend, a magical steed with incredible powers. Talia soon discovers she has powers of her own, and, together with her Companion, she arrives at the Collegium to fulfil her dreams and train as a Herald. But as Talia struggles to master her unique abilities, she unearths a deadly plot that could destroy both Queen and kingdom. The Heralds of Valdemar omnibus sees Talia grow from teenage runaway to a Herald whose powers will affect the future of the entire realm.

Mags was a Herald of Valdemar. But he had once lived the brutal life of a child slave. When he was Chosen by his Companion Dallen, his young life was saved, and he slowly adjusted to being well fed, educated, and treasured as a trainee in the Heralds Collegium at Haven. Singled out by the Kings Own Herald, Mags would thrive in his secret training as a spy. His unusually strong Giftan ability to Mindspeak and Mindhear anyone, not just others who were Giftedmade him a perfect undercover agent for the king.Sequel to Mercedes Lackeys Closer to Home, this adventure continues Magss journey as Valdemars herald spy.

The Nebula Awards Showcase volumes have been published annually since 1966, reprinting the winning and nominated stories of the Nebula Awards, voted on by the members of the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA). The editor, selected by SFWAs anthology Committee (chaired by Mike Resnick), is American science fiction and fantasy writer Mercedes Lackey. This years Nebula winners are Ursula Vernon, Alaya Dawn Johnson, Nancy Kress, and Jeff VanderMeer, with Alaya Dawn Johnson winning the Andre Norton Award for Young Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy Book.

Mari Prothero turns sixteen, and learns the family fishing luck depends on each generation marrying a sea-dweller, but she demands her choice of suitors and a teacher from the sea ruler. In London, the stuffy official magicians send a pair of friends to seek the new water mage, little knowing the three girls would become best friends.

Saved from a harsh life of destitution as an enslaved orphan, Mags has been recruited by the Kings Own Herald as a spy. In this special appointment, Mags has thrived - he is well fed, educated and treasured for his unusually powerful Gift, an ability to Mindspeak and Mindhear anyone, regardless of whether they are Gifted. This makes him the ideal undercover agent for the king.

New York Times #1 bestseller Mercedes Lackeys epic Valdemar series continues in this collection of three novels set in the classic fantasy universe. Exiles of Valdemar tells the story of Alberich, the youngest captain in the army of Karse.EXILES HONOR follows the story of Alberich, the youngest captain in the army of Karse with a secret special power of foresight. When he is injured in battle, he is unwillingly taken to Valdemar and begins training as a Herald. He switches allegiances and joins in the battles against Karse.EXILES VALOR Alberich falls in love with another female Herald, Myste, and struggling to keep track of Valdemars enemies in his new position as Weaponsmaster. This book also tracks the early years of the very young, new queen of Valdemar, Selenay.TAKE A THIEF This book reveals the untold story of Skif, the popular character of Lackeys first book, Arrows of the Queen. Skif is a homeless pickpocket until he is chosen to become a Herald for the queen. However, one day he returns to his new home where he is training to find that it has been burnt down and his comrades and mentor dead. He teams up with Alberich, the Weaponsmaster and protagonist from the EXILE books to take revenge on the criminal who killed his friends and becomes a hero of Valdemar.

Christmas is a very special time of year. It is special for Psychic Nan Killian and Medium Sarah Lyon-White and their ward Suki, who are determined to celebrate it properly. Their friends, Doctor John Watson, and his wife Mary, both Elemental Masters, alsofind great delight in the season. It is special to others for very different reasons.For Christmas Eve is also hallowed to dark forces, powers older than mankind. Women disappear in the dark of night, and reappear no longer sane. When Nan, Sarah and the Watsons are called on to examine these victims, they discover that it was no ordinary horror of the streets that drove them mad. It will take the combined forces of Magic, Psychic Powers, and the worlds greatest detective to stop the darkness before it can conquer all.

Set in Victorian London-where magic is real and Elemental Masters control the powers of Fire, Water, Air, and Earth-the fourth novel in this best-selling series tells the story of Lord Alderscroft, Master of the British Elemental Masters Council-the most powerful Fire Master ever to lead the Council. Loosely based on The Snow Queen, The Wizard of London delves into Lord Alderscrofts youth, when he was bespelled by an evil Elemental Master who hoped to use him for political gain.

After the sudden death of her birth parents, Marina Roeswood meets her Aunt Arachne, who is to be her new guardian. Slowly Marina realizes that her aunt is the embodiment of the danger her parents had been hiding her from in the backwoods of Cornwall. But can Marina unravel the secrets of her life in time to save herself from the evil that had been seeking her for nearly eighteen years?

The new novel in Mercedes Lackeys bestselling series of an alternative Edwardian Britain, where magic is realand Elemental Masters are in control. Lionel Hawkins is a magician whose act is only partially sleight of hand. The rest is real magic. Hes an Elemental Magician with the power to persuade the Elementals of Air to help him create amazing illusions. It doesnt take long before his assistant, acrobat Katie Langford, notices that hes no ordinary magicianand for Lionel to discover that shes no ordinary acrobat, but rather an untrained and unawakened Fire Magician. Shes also on the run from her murderous and vengeful brute of a husband. But can she harness her magic in time to stop her husband from achieving his deadly goal?

When a man is caught stealing from a walled garden owned by a strange woman, he bargains away his youngest daughter in return for food for his family. The woman, rumored to be a witch, takes the golden-haired child and locks her away in a high tower. Sixteen years later, Giselle has lived an isolated life, but her adoptive mother has trained her in Air magic, and Giselle must use her new skills on a quest to avenge her broken heart...

Set around three thousand years before the rest of the Valdemar series, this is the ancient history of Velgarth and the story of Skandranon Rashkae, a gryphon with gleaming ebony feathers, keen magesight and acute intelligence. He is the fulfillment of all that the Mage of Silence, the human sorcerer called Urtho, intended to achieve when he created these magical beings to be his champions, the defenders of his realm.

Mags was once an enslaved orphan living a harsh life in the mines, until the Kings Own Herald discovered his talent and trained him as a spy. Now a Herald in his own right, at the newly established Heralds Collegium, Mags has found a supportive family, including his Companion Dallen. Although normally a Herald in his first year of Whites would be sent off on circuit, Mags is needed close to home for his abilities as a spy and his powerful Mindspeech gift. There is a secret, treacherous plot within the royal court to destroy the Heralds. The situation becomes dire after the life of Mags mentor, Kings Own Nikolas, is imperiled. His daughter Amily is chosen as the new Kings Own, a complicated and dangerous job that is made more so by this perilous time. Can Mags and Amily save the court, the Heralds, and the Collegium itself?

The Heralds of Valdemar are the kingdoms ancient order of protectors. They are drawn from all across the land, from all walks of life, and at all agesand all are Gifted with abilities beyond those of normal men and women. They are Mindspeakers, FarSeers, Empaths, ForeSeers, Firestarters, FarSpeakers, and more. These inborn talentscombined with training as emissaries, spies, judges, diplomats, scouts, counselors, warriors, and moremake them indispensable to their monarch and realm. Sought and Chosen by mysterious horse-like Companions, they are bonded for life to these telepathic, enigmatic creatures. The Heralds of Valdemar and their Companions ride circuit throughout the kingdom, protecting the peace and, when necessary, defending their land and monarch.Now, twenty-three authors ride with Mercedes Lackey to her magical land of Valdemar, adding their own unique voices to the Heralds, Bards, Healers, and other heroes of this beloved fantasy realm.Join Elizabeth Vaughan, Fiona Patton, Jennifer Brozek, Brenda Cooper, Rosemary Edghill, and others in twenty-two original stories, including a brand-new novella by Mercedes Lackey, to Valdemar, where:A Herald must crack an ancient code in a historic tapestry in order to arbitrate a dispute over land and lineageA Healers daughter flees the noble family that has trapped and enslaved her mother, and must seek help to free her motherA young woman who hides her clairvoyant powers from her towns Karsite priests ForeSees a threat, and must risk revealing her Gift to save her communityA Herald finds his assistant has been abducted by a man upon whom he had levied a heavy fine, and must foil the kidnappers plans to save his charge

In 1910, in an alternate London, a penniless young dancer is visited by a cat who communicates with her mind to mind. Though she is certain she must be going mad, she is desperate enough to follow the cats advice and impersonates a famous Russian ballerina. The cat, it turns out, is actually an Elemental Earth Spirit, and leads her to minor stardom. Meanwhile, the real Russian ballerina has fallen victim to an evil troll who takes over her body and kills her patrons, drinking their life essences in order to strengthen his powers. And soon, the troll focuses his dark attentions on the young dancer...

Born of the Clan of the Hawk, Tarma saw her entire tribe slain by brigands. Vowing blood revenge upon the murderers, she became one of the sword-sworn, the most elite of all warriors. Trained in all forms of death-dealing combat, she took to the road in search of her enemies.Born to a noble house and sold into a hateful "marriage", Kethry fled lifes harshness for the sanctuary of the White Winds, a powerful school of sorcery. Unlike other sorcerers, Kethry could use wordly weapons as well as magical skills. And when she became bearer of a uniquely magical sword that drew her to those in need, Kethry was led to a fateful meeting with Tarma.Vows and Honor chronicles the adventures of Tarma and Kethry, swordswoman and sorceress, bound by a blood oath to carry on their mutual fight against evil. Together they will set forth to fulfill a destiny neither could have imagined...