Bøger af Rachel Neumeier

A gifted psychiatrist, Daniel Dodson is perfectly aware that he's in a tough place personally following the death of his wife. Then a mysterious new patient offers a welcome professional distraction. The world of swords and magic that Tenai so vividly remembers obviously isn't real. The deadly enmity and long war that left such deep emotional scars plainly symbolize something else. But Daniel uses the signposts of those confabulated memories to aid Tenai in building a new life for herself in the real world... ...until Tenai's enemies pull her back into her world of dark magic and darker betrayal. Daniel, pulled with her, finds himself fighting to protect Tenai, his own daughter Jenna, and himself in a struggle that threatens to plunge the world back into a war that may never end.

No plan ever survives contact with the enemy.Especially when you can't be certain which side is your enemy. Nalyn Ila did her best to lay plans for every imaginable contingency. But some contingencies were not imaginable. Now Ila has no choice but to change her plans as fast as she can, trying to stay one step ahead of disaster. Without Syova's help, everything she has tried to achieve will certainly fail. Now that everyone's secret plans have been revealed, Syova has no choice but to reassess everything he knows about his enemies-and his friends. The Ubezhishche people haven't yet gone to war with Elysium ... not quite. Now devastating war may be unavoidable. Unless Captain Ila is telling him the truth. With the survival of both his own people and hers at stake, Syova had better make all the right choices.

Every soldier knows there are endless ways to die.Every Ubezhishche soldier knows there are far worse fates than death. Sevastien one zero two four, S line third modification, has survived the destruction of his own ship and an enemy station. But he was rescued by the wrong side -- by Nalyn Ila, captain of the Elysian destroyer Invictus. Now he's facing a difficult problem: How to persuade Captain Ila and her people that he is not an enemy combatant. That if there was an act of war, it was committed by her people, not his own. Sevastien is almost certain he was an innocent bystander of disaster ... unless his own people set him up, aiming to get him aboard Invictus for reasons he can't yet understand. Maybe they did. It's just the kind of thing Ubezhishche Command might do. Nalyn Ila is almost certain Sevastien is an enemy agent, placed aboard her ship by Ubezhishche Command. But no one, not her own people nor the enemy nor Sevastien himself, can possibly guess what use she might actually have for an Ubezhishche soldier. Even if he actually is an innocent bystander, she may be able to use him in her private long-laid plans. And if he's actually an enemy agent ... that might be even better.

Christmas Shopping: Natividad is delighted when the Master of Dimilioc gives her permission to go Christmas shopping in a real town, since she definitely needs to find gifts for her brothers. But did Grayson have to assign Keziah to go with her? Library Work: Étienne Lumondiere has annoyed Miguel once too often, throwing his weight around and belittling ordinary humans. But Miguel's going to fix that. He just needs to work out a few more details of his clever plan. A Learning Experience: It's tough for a black dog raised outside Dimilioc to adjust to being a team player. But Thaddeus is determined to impress Grayson . . . until he is unexpectedly confronted by a black dog kid who reminds him a little too much of himself. The Master of Dimilioc: The Dimilioc executioner is the mainstay of the Master's authority, as Ezekiel knows better than anyone. He has never questioned his role in Dimilioc . . . until now. Mothers and Sisters: Before the failure of the miasma that hid all supernatural darkness from the sight of ordinary humans, brutal black dogs sometimes ruled as kings-sometimes for generations. In a country where black dogs rule and the Pure are despised, even a girl as fierce and determined as Keziah finds life a precarious struggle. But after her little sister is born, she has so much to fight for... Unlikely Allies: Ezekiel is on his own when he discovers an entrenched enemy with a particularly unpleasant plan to supplant and destroy Dimilioc. To defeat this enemy, Ezekiel needs an ally...even a man who might turn on him before the end. Bank Job: Living and working with a lot of stray black dogs is a real trial for Ethan Lanning, especially since not even the best bloodlines and training gave him the kind of strength a Lanning ought to possess. But when a mission gets complicated, Thaddeus might be just the right guy to have at his back after all... A Family Visit: Just an ordinary Christmas with his grandmother, that's all Justin has in mind. Sure, it's a little awkward that Grayson insisted Keziah keep him company on the trip, but everything will be fine once they get to know each other. But Justin never expected to arrive only to discover his grandmother has vanished from her home...

Following the defeat of their family's greatest enemy, Natividad and her brothers have begun to feel that, against all odds, they may have succeeded in making a new home for themselves among the black dogs of Dimilioc. But keeping that home safe involves challenges they never anticipated, as new enemies, rivals, and uncertain allies maneuver for advantage in a world where everything supernatural has been exposed to the sight of ordinary humans. Then Dimilioc is shaken by the arrival of someone unexpected: Justin, the only male with Pure magic they've ever encountered. Justin -- untrained in traditional Pure magic, uniquely talented, and dealing with problems of his own -- isn't at all sure he wants to join Dimilioc. But Natividad understands that if her own family and Dimilloic are going to survive, they need every asset they can gather. If the black dogs of Dimilioc can't persuade Justin he belongs with them, then Natividad has a plan ... But when enemies move unexpectedly against Dimilioc and against Justin himself, every plan collapses, and Natividad finds herself on her own, with no one but Justin to help as she faces a terrible danger she never imagined.

Generations ago, a single turun explorer discovered a long-abandoned and dwindling population of humans, a devastated colony nearing extinction on a dangerous, hostile world.Now entirely blended into turun society, uman people have become full citizens of the far-flung Ka' Taand, a civilization that depends on the social instincts of both uman and turun. But the Ka' Taand is now threatened by a vicious enemy from beyond familiar space, an enemy neither species understands.When small half-fighter tradeship Nkaastu unexpectedly encounters a formation of enemy fighters during a routine trading mission, uman battlecommander Daamon sees no choice but to tackle suicidal odds in the hope of giving the worlds of the Ka' Taand time to prepare for renewed attack. Neither Daamon nor his turun captain expect to survive long enough to know whether the sacrifice of their ship has been in vain ...... until an unknown and much more powerful ship appears, slashing effortlessly through the enemy fighters and saving Nkaastu. But who are these newcomers? And will they prove the allies the Ka' Taand needs ... or a new and deadlier enemy?Perfect for fans of CJ Cherryh and Becky Chambers, a new space opera adventure of first contact ... or possibly second contact ... or perhaps both ...

A coup against the king of Lirionne forces his last remaining legitimate son, Prince Tepres, to flee to Kalches, nearly on the eve of war breaking out between the two countries. Tepres may have won the friendship of Kalchesene prince and mage Taudde Omientes ken Lariodde, but in the face of his cousins' hostility and his grandfather's mistrust, not even Taudde may be able to protect the heir of the infamous Dragon of Lirionne from the perils of the Kalchesene court. Worse, his duty to his own country may require that he set aside every consideration of friendship . . . unless he can find another path both countries can accept.In Lirionne, Leilis holds too many dangerous secrets for comfort. She knows where Tepres fled, and with whom. She knows his father the king is still alive, and where he is hidden, and why he cannot declare himself and take back his throne. But not even Leilis knows that the true conspiracy was never aimed at the king, nor at seizing ordinary power.The real conspiracy was always aimed at the true dragon, the dragon sleeping beneath the mountains of Lirionne. Nemienne, apprentice mage and far out of her depth, is the only one in either country who can hear the dragon as it stirs toward wakefulness. If it rises, Lirionne may fall. If the conspirators force it to their will, worse than that awaits. And Nemienne, with no one to help her but the youngest and least-regarded heir of the Dragon, can find no way to stop any of the disasters now poised to crash over both countries.

A long time ago, Kuomat walked into the woods, abandoning his place in the world of men. For years he's lived as an outlaw, having little to do with ordinary townsfolk. But when Jenna asked him for help in the name of Death's Lady and of the king of Talasayan, Kuomat chose to involve himself in the affairs of the great.That did not go unnoticed.Now Kuomat has one last chance to step out of the forest and return to the world ... if he can bring himself to take it.

An immense demon lies asleep beneath Copper Mountain in Colorado. Sooner or later, it's going to wake up. Unscrupulous black witches hope to use long-forgotten magic to harness the demon's power. Colonel Herrod of the Special Forces has more than one plan for dealing with both the demon and any witches who make an attempt to bind it. But Miguel Toland is pretty sure that no matter what else might happen, eventually Dimilioc is going to have to deal with that demon . . . and it looks like that means he's going to have to deal with it himself. No matter what the cost.

In the world of City in the Lake, entering the great forest may lead you to your heart's desire . . . but the one certainty is that the forest always has its own desires, and might very well tilt anyone's quest to its own ends.***In the whole history of the Floating Islands, no girl has ever put on wings and taken flight. Now a special audition has just been announced, and despite her responsibilities, Nescana isn't sure she can resist at least trying to make a new life for herself among the kajuraihi.***The Lord of the Delta is a busy man. But every now and then, Bertaud manages to take an afternoon away from his duties. Just one afternoon for himself. What could possibly go wrong?***Erest's family knew they might risk unknown dangers when they first chose to build their home in the shadow of the Kieba's mountain, but she hasn't seemed offended by their presumption . . . yet. When disaster strikes, could Erest dare turn to the Kieba for help?***In a world much like our own, no one expects mysterious, beautiful dragons to begin emerging from earth and stone. But even when mystery and magic isn't concerned with us at all, it can change our lives . . .***Rediscover four worlds and explore new ones in Neumeier's latest collection of short fiction.

After everything she's seen, Natividad was sure Ezekiel could take care of himself. Under any circumstances. Against any enemy. Then the link between them, forged when she absorbed a trace of Ezekiel's shadow, makes it clear she was wrong. She knows Ezekiel isn't dead. She knows he must have met an enemy he can't defeat alone. And she knows she has to rescue him, no matter the cost. Natividad's twin brother Miguel is only human. That has its downsides for anyone living among the Dimilioc wolves, but at least an ordinary human has a chance to think problems through, his mind unclouded by black dog rage. But when Miguel, Natividad, and the wolves of Dimilioc have no choice but to walk into a trap, even human ingenuity may not be able to get them out again ...

The Long Awaited Sequel to The Floating Islands The Floating Islands are under siege. Trei, Araenè, and their friends saved the Floating Islands once, thwarting the Toulonn Empire's attempt at conquest. But the Toulonnese haven't given up, and the same trick certainly won't work a second time ... especially when the Islands unexpectedly lose their special connection to dragon magic. Then it turns out that Toulonn is not the only, or the worst, enemy the Floating Islands face. As peril grows, Trei, with his connection to Toulonn, and Araenè, with her an unusual style of magic, will need all their strength and resolve if they are to find a way to safeguard the Islands once more.

In a world where a half-hidden war has finally revealed to ordinary humans the supernatural creatures that surround them, safety is hard to find for a girl like Natividad. Born Pure, one of the rare girls able to wield protective magic against demonic forces, Natividad and her brothers are on their own and on the run, with terrible memories and terrible enemies behind them. The only possible shelter might be found with their father's kin, the infamous black dogs of Dimilioc . . . if they can win acceptance. But when their enemies track them to their new home, neither Natividad nor her brothers nor Dimilioc itself may survive . . .

Esau Karuma never expected to marry -- he's really not the type. But when he hears about a girl who's got to get married immediately or else she'll be crushed under a whole mountain of trouble, Esau doesn't hesitate to volunteer. He'll whisk her out of the way of disaster, marry her real quick, get her settled someplace she'll be comfortable, and that will be that. No reason in the world either of them should be too much of a nuisance to the other. Given his whole life so far, he should have known that plan might be a little too optimistic …

A year and a half ago, Ryo and Aras defeated their enemy, ending the conflict between the winter country and the summer lands. But with all his important secrets revealed in that struggle, Lord Aras now faces a new challenge in dealing with his own countrymen.Then a message arrives from Ryo's people: A woman of the Tarashana has come to them from the starlit lands beyond their northern border. Though she plainly needs their help, she is mute. She cannot explain what happened to her people or describe what enemy drove them from their lands. No Ugaro can speak to her - but Aras might. Will he come, and by his arts help Tarashana and Ugaro understand one another?Intrigued by this problem, and with every reason to leave his own country for some time, Aras agrees. But the journey upon which he and Ryo embark will be far longer and far more challenging than either of them imagine …

This short novel is set directly after the events of Tuyo.Following the great battle in the winter country, a handful of surviving Lau, too badly wounded to travel, were left to the care of Ugaro tribesmen.Surgeon Dedicat Suelen Haras Soyauta, personal physician to the king of the summer country, can't bear the thought that injured Lau soldiers have been abandoned in the winter country, subject to who knows what barbaric medical practices, perhaps even to neglect or outright abuse. He's determined to cross the river to care for those soldiers -- despite the risk that the Ugaro may condemn, as forbidden sorcery, even magic dedicated to the healing arts.His act of courage and mercy may change the world.

For generations the Ugaro of the winter country have traded peacefully with the Lau of the summer lands. But now a fatal mistake has created bitterness and hatred on both sides of the river, threatening to destroy a peace that has become tenuous.Nikoles Ianan realizes, too late, that he should have prevented his own people's unforgivable trespass - he should at least have tried. Now it seems impossible for a single Lau soldier to do anything to prevent the escalating tragedy … until the most famous scepter-holder of the summer country arrives.Lord Aras Samaura has urgent tasks waiting elsewhere and little time to forge a new peace before bitterness turns to outright war. He'll need luck - and all the help he can get from a young Lau soldier with a unique connection to the Ugaro people and the determination to do whatever he must to atone for his mistake.

Raised a warrior in the harsh winter country, Ryo inGara has always been willing to die for his family and his tribe. When war erupts against the summer country, the prospect of death in battle seems imminent. But when his warleader leaves Ryo as a sacrifice -- a tuyo -- to die at the hands of their enemies, he faces a fate he never imagined.Ryo's captor, a lord of the summer country, may be an enemy . . . but far worse enemies are moving, with the current war nothing but the opening moves in a hidden game Ryo barely glimpses, a game in which all his people may be merely pawns. Suddenly Ryo finds his convictions overturned and his loyalties uncertain. Should he support the man who holds him prisoner, the only man who may be able to defeat their greater enemy? And even if he does, can he persuade his people to do the same?

Orphaned, two sisters are left to find their own way. Sweet and proper, Karah's future seems secure at a glamorous Flower House. She could be pampered for the rest of her life. . . if she agrees to play their game.Nemienne, neither sweet nor proper, has fewer choices. Left with no alternative, she accepts a mysterious mage's offer of an apprenticeship. Agreeing means a home and survival, but can Nemienne trust the mage? With the arrival of a foreign bard into the quiet city, dangerous secrets are unearthed, and both sisters find themselves at the center of a plot that threatens not only to upset their newly found lives, but also to destroy their kingdom.

The desert winds have come to the village of Minas Ford. Griffins, creatures of fire, have appeared in a burning haze - searing the sky a blinding white and scorching the earth to parched, barren sand. These majestic beasts, half-lion, half-eagle, spread the arid desert wherever they roam. Iaor, the King of Feierabiand, will not tolerate the destruction of his people's farmland. He means to drive the griffins from his domain - whether by negotiation or brute force. But not all those who encounter the griffins fear them. Kes, a timid village girl, is summoned to heal the King of the Griffins himself. She will discover her affinity with these creatures, and come to realise that the menace they flee is even more deadly than the blazing fires of the desert.This omnibus edition contains: LORD OF THE CHANGING WINDS, LAND OF THE BURNING SANDS and LAW OF THE BROKEN EARTH

Six years ago, the king of Casmantium's schemes shattered the balance between griffins and humans, and nearly led to disaster for both. Now the balance may be tipping once more - and this time neither courage nor sacrifice may be enough to repair what should never have been broken.Mienthe, the Lord of the Delta's young ward, knows only that her own peaceful life has been shaken. But when a spy brings a deadly secret from a neighboring country, she sees three kingdoms move towards war and two species toward destruction.Trapped between the secret many would kill to preserve and the desperate ferocity of the griffins, could Mienthe herself hold the key to preventing the atrocities to come?

Gereint of Casmantium knows little about the recent war in which his king tried to use griffins and fire to wrest territory from the neighbouring country of Feierabiand . . . but he does know that his kingdom's unexpected defeat offers him a chance to escape from his own servitude.But now that the griffins find themselves in a position of strength, they are not inclined to forgive, and the entire kingdom finds itself in deadly peril. Willing or not, Gereint will find himself caught up in a desperate struggle between the griffins and the last remaining Casmantian mage. And even the strongest gifts of magecraft may not suffice when the fiery wind of the griffins begins to bury Casmantium beneath the burning sands . . .