Showing results by narrator "Joe Hempel" in Science Fiction & Fantasy

Ten years have passed since Otto Shenk sent the spirit of Amet Sur to the Netherworld. The New Garen Empire is at peace and Otto is free to pursue his magical research. But all peace is fleeting and while Otto is away from the capital, a bizarre monster attacks, doing considerable damage before meeting its end.

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Haunted Forest Tour! Sit back, and enjoy a smooth ride in air-conditioned comfort as your heavily armored tram takes you through nature's most astonishing creation. The forest is packed to capacity with dangerous and terrifying creatures of all shapes, sizes, and hunger levels, and you'll get to observe these wonders in complete safety.

Cole Anderson has always known who his one true mate is, but the rejection he suffered at her hands was too much to bear. Still, it helped shape him into the man he is today. He swore he'd never return to Collier Pack, but under his Alpha's orders, he has no choice but to go for the celebration ceremony as Thomas and Lily step up as the new Alpha and Pack Mother. He knows he'll have to face her. But will his heart survive it? Fifteen years ago Elizabeth Collier was little more than a child.

Conryu has his life all figured out. At least until the final day of school arrives and with it the annual wizard's test. When Conryu passes the test, no one can believe it since everyone knows boys can't do magic. Suddenly thrust into a world of magic and danger, Conryu must figure out how to use his news powers and quickly.

Kelsey Adams is alone, and has been since childhood. Running away is all she knows and necessary to preserve her deepest, darkest secret. She cannot afford for anyone to get close, or know about the monster within. But when she lands a lucrative job as an administrative assistant to Kyle Westin, CEO of the Westin Foundation, her life changes and everything's at stake. Can she conceal her growing feelings and her true self from this enigmatic, strong willed man, or will her world fall apart?

Shelby Collier and Benjamin Shay were best friends growing up. They dreamed of being lifelong mates. Even through the awkward middle school years and into high school it was always Shelby and Ben. The night before he left for boot camp, Ben broke the news that he had joined the military. There was no warning or discussions, he simply turned his back and walked away from Collier with no plans on ever returning. That was nine years ago. Shelby held on to Ben all these years, writing to him every day to try to fill the void he left behind in her heart.

With the king of Garenland dead and the people eager for revenge, Otto and Wolfric turn their sights north to Garenland’s ancient enemy Straken. The Northern Army marches into enemy territory, while back in the capital, Otto rushes to train as many war wizards as he can. Outside forces refuse to leave them alone, and Otto is forced to deal with an ever-growing array of foes, unreliable allies, and an enemy that will do anything to see Garenland fall.

The statues disappeared in an instant. While they were on Earth, they caused confusion and destruction without ever lifting a finger. They also contributed to the untimely death of April May: a young woman who stumbled into their path, naming them the Carls and gaining viral fame in an avalanche of conspiracy theories. When April's friends try to carry on with their lives, a series of clues arrive - mysterious books that seem to predict the future - and which also seem to suggest April may be very much alive...But there's a bigger mystery to solve.

All Callyn thought about was surviving each day and making it through senior year. All that changed the day she met her four mates. Zeke, Graydon, Lucian, and Maximus gave her something else she desperately needed...hope. After barely surviving at the hands of her abusive father, Callyn learns something about herself. She is shifter royalty and the next Alpha Queen. With her father in jail and her aunt on her way to Camden Falls, Callyn hopes that she can lead some sort of normal life. She quickly realizes that's not going to be the case.

A man content with his life has no idea what he's missing. Clay lives a quiet and steady life. He's a simple man with few needs. Or at least that's what he told himself. One out of town business trip. One sweet and tenacious cowgirl with a zest for life. One night they'll never forget. Meeting Winnie not only disrupts his careful routine but changes his life forever.

Thaless is still reeling from the actions of the assassin known as the Emperor's Mask, and in the aftermath, believers in magical superiority have been greatly emboldened. When a goblin girl named Tinga Vreeg goes missing, it seems like a tragic consequence of the atmosphere of hostility and anger toward the non-magical. But when Tane and Kadka investigate, they find a much deeper mystery. Tinga isn't the only one missing—and she might have been on the trail of something important herself.

Thomas Collier is future alpha of the Collier pack. While from the outside he looks like he has the world at his fingertips, in truth, life hasn't been so easy for him. He's never really given much thought into a true mate and is ready to settle for a compatible one, until he catches the scent of the one woman with whom he is destined to be. Now, he must convince her that he's not the man she thinks he is.

Bran is filled with hate and anger over the deaths of his parents and willingly accepts a mission to avenge them. The mission is simple: go undercover as a rogue shifter looking for work and infiltrate Collier Pack knowing their close ties to Westin Pack. Then, when the opportunity arises...kill Kelsey Westin. His mission is sealed by a blood oath forged by a powerful witch. He's prepared for every possible scenario - except Ruby.

Lucinda Raven is being hunted by her ex-lover, a controlling, rogue Alpha, who is determined to perform the sacred mating ritual that will bind them together forever. Knowing nothing will keep him from carrying out his ruthless plan, Lucinda is on the run and seeks refuge in the territory of an old friend. Caidan Moone, cursed Alpha of the Blood Moone Pack, has a tortured history that haunts him daily. He sees the arrival of this beautiful and alluring nomad as a chance at redemption from his prior failures and invites her to stay, despite the danger it brings to the entire pack.

In this sequel to The Rising, cities are overrun with legions of the undead, intent on destroying what's left of the living. Trapped inside a fortified skyscraper, a handful of survivors prepare to make their last stand against an unstoppable, merciless enemy. With every hour their chances diminish and their numbers dwindle, while the ranks of the dead continue to rise. Because sooner or later, everything dies. And then it comes back, ready to kill.

The Starship Atlantis takes you on an unforgettable journey through the extraordinary. From alien civilizations and rogue AI to desperate missions on the brink of collapse, these stories will transport you across the stars into the heart of the unknown. This anthology features six never-before-published novellas and short stories, plus two exclusive bonus tales.

Andrew Larimer has left his past behind. Rising up the ranks in a New York law firm, and with a heavily pregnant wife, he is settling into a new life far from Kingsport, the town in which he grew up. But when he receives a late-night phone call from an old friend, he has no choice but to return home.

The zombie apocalypse has driven humanity up into the Adirondacks. Enter Westlake, hardened career criminal on the path of "the Villa", a legendary mafia hideout where he can escape the devastation. When he's ambushed by the undead, an old FBI "friend" and his squad of survivors rescue him...and then force him to reveal his secrets. The jokey myth of the Villa suddenly becomes salvation for the settlements scattered around Saranac Lake. Reluctantly, Westlake is saddled with an oddball team to navigate mine fields, trip wires, and flesh-eating zombies to find their safe haven.

The cat is out of the bag, and everyone learns that Callyn is the next alpha queen. She gains a friend in Catori Na'Estse, a girl who was also wronged by Kelsey. Callyn has officially claimed all of her mates and has shifted, gaining some new abilities along the way. Soon, they realize there are people who don't want to see her ascend to the throne. They will stop at nothing to make sure she doesn't take her rightful place as alpha queen. After almost losing her life, Callyn realizes just how far some people will go for power, greed, and jealousy.

Gage Matthews is a self-proclaimed lone wolf, traveling the country and living life on his own terms. He carries the burden of a dark past and many secrets, trying hard to never look back. He prides himself on being free, until he's not. Running through the desert in his fur brings his life to a crashing halt when he finds himself picked up by a group of humans. Broken, beaten, starving, he prays for a quick and easy passing, rejoicing when the angel of death descends upon him. But she's no angel....