Showing results for "Silver Lining" in Science Fiction & Fantasy

In the Prime Kingdoms, the system dominates everything. It dictates one’s strength, skills, and power. It spawns dungeons and guides the actions of their monsters. But every system has its limits, and it’s about to push four oddball adventurers to theirs.

Disaster has been averted—for now. Earth is still in danger, and the Integration marches ever onward. Yet Ethan's journey has found him stronger than ever, and his experiences in the loops have left him on the cusp of grasping skills that can disrupt the flow of time itself. The Empty City looms ahead, holding within it answers to both the nature of Firmament and the purpose of Integration. His allies' sacrifices linger behind, driving him forward. And new forces are emerging, some eager for revenge, others vying for control of him and all that he represents.

Earth was chosen for Integration, but Ethan Hill knows from the second his Trial begins that the Integration is a lie. The beings giving Earth the 'honor' of access to their System Interface want something from Earth—he just doesn't know what. Now he's trapped on an alien planet and lost in a time loop, fighting for strength and for his own humanity. One thing's for sure: He'll die as many times as it takes to tear it all down.

The monstrous Void continues to ravage the Prime Kingdoms, leaving one of them in ruins. Dungeons everywhere run amok, and refugees from around the continent flee to find safety. In a desperate attempt to end the chaos, four heroes from the Adventurers' Guild scour the world for its final secrets. Fortunately, they won't fight alone. Their journey so far has earned them loyal allies, from stray bandits to lost peoples and even forgotten gods. The world itself has united against the encroaching Void. But when their opponent is the end of all things . . . that may not be enough.

Ethan's gathered a base of power for himself, but he isn't the only one with access to the Interface. An attempt to find friends lost in time ends with him matching wits with a Trialgoer--one who's long since beaten her Trial and now controls all aspects of life in her perfect, crystalline city. She-Who-Whispers is both controller and puppetmaster of everything that happens within the so-called perfect city of Isthanok. She hears everything that happens within her city, controls every action and reaction by her people.

Sage Easton is a driven witch. At just thirty years old, she’s an accomplished blown glass artist. Her glass creations are magical. Literally. But when a spell takes away her magic, suddenly Sage is unable to work and the only way to get it back is to learn to love life without her gift. Now she has to seek help from her old high school nemesis, the handsome and fun-loving man who has always gotten under her skin.

There's a disturbance in the Prime Kingdoms. The system that everyone depends on is generating errors. The gods are in danger. Magic itself is fluctuating and becoming less reliable. Meanwhile, four adventurers seem to be the only ones to realize the night sky shouldn't be empty. Outcasts all, this foursome has become a family. Together, they are on a diplomatic mission for their guild, traveling to the kingdom of Elyra to provide emergency relief as magic continues to malfunction and crops fail to grow.

Following a challenging battle, the foursome is regrouping in a reality not unlike their own, where magic, instead of the system, saved the world. Sev, the team's human priest, is still trying to figure out how his history plays into everything that's been happening. The normally brave half-orc Misa is grappling with failure and fear. Lizardkin wizard Vex is haunted by his past as he works to pave a path to the future. And sentient suit of armor Derivan must navigate both the mysteries of days gone by and his new relationship with Vex.

With her super-sensitive sense of smell, sixteen year-old Kaia Smith is used to not fitting in. So when she receives an invitation from Dr. Vadim Grigori to participate in the Grigori Young Scholars Program with its promise that she will meet others like herself, she jumps at the chance. But what is the GYSP really about? Why are the faculty so interested in the story of the Fall of the Watchers? Why are they obsessed with antimony? And what role will GYSP participants like Kaia play in their plans? Antimony means not alone. Togetherness sounds great, but it all depends on whether you join up ...