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 The Aegis of Merlin Omnibus: Vol. 2 contains four complete novels: Escape the Dragon Czar, Wrath of the Dragon Czar, The Four Nations Tournament, and Death Incarnate. 

Editors Randy Chandler and Cheryl Mullenax put the call out to horror writers and editors of extreme stories, the hardcore stuff that breaks boundaries and trashes taboos, the transgressive tales you can't "unread" (as Chuck Palahniuk says). Some of the stories you'll find here are loaded with very graphic descriptions of violence, sex, and depravities, while others may contain only one shocking moment of brutality. In others, the hardcore aspect may be less graphic and subtler than you might expect.

The former warship Trouble Dog and her crew of misfits is called upon by the House of Reclamation to investigate a distress call from the human starship the Lucy's Ghost. Her crew abandon their crippled ship and seek refuge aboard an abandoned, slower-than-light generation ship launched 10,000 years before by an alien race. However, the enormous ship contains deadly secrets of its own.

It's the ultimate haunted house challenge. A crumbling stone mansion nestled in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona, it may be the best-kept secret in Europe—a little-known attraction featuring nine escape rooms to explore, nine puzzles to solve, and a large cash prize for anyone who makes it to the end. There's just one catch: no one makes it to the end of The No-End House . . . When Joe Hadfield hears about the house from a pair of backpackers, he's intrigued but not interested. He's trying to escape a nightmare of his own.

Revenge is on the program at this year's Splatterfest convention! Horror authors, critics and fans from all over the world have gathered to share stories, enjoy each other's company, and to take part in the yearly Gross Out contest, a fan favorite. But some attendees have arrived with ulterior motives. Clay Kayden, whose story at the last in-person Gross Out contest got him "canceled," wants to tear down the convention from the inside. Moira Mead is desperate to impress her favorite horror director, who's promised to option a story based on the weekend's readings.

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. 

James is proud of his accomplishments and takes his responsibilities to the Pack seriously, sacrificing everything for their safety, including his own chance at true love. One court case too many standing across the aisle from her. One obstinate woman he can't afford to say yes to. One night he breaks all his own rules. His decisions regarding Katherine could put the entire Pack in danger.

Sex Piston wasn't about to apologize to anyone for her bitch attitude, and certainly not the president of The Blue Horsemen, Stud. If he thinks he's going to be able to control her and her crew, then he has another thing coming. A lapse in judgment has him thinking that he's won this battle of the sexes, but a one-night stand isn't about to bring this woman to heel. Stud has to prove himself as the new President of the Destructors, and Sex Piston and her crew's attitude isn't helping.

Leonidas Paendrag spent five years in another world to defeat the Demon Lord and his literal armies of Hell, only for the final battle to unexpectedly send him back to Earth. Denied the rest he desperately wanted, he is instead thrust into a world of emerging fantasy races, warring human factions, and a dysfunctional family more intent on killing each other than the monsters roaming the planet.

Trapped in the hospital and cut off from the world, a mysterious voice on the radio is all they have to guide them. They're no longer on a mission to quarantine the remaining inhabitants. Instead, they have to destroy a multiplying menace that could infect the world before the Federal Government enacts a final solution.

Trapped on an island. Nowhere to hide. The hunt has begun. For Roger, Jerome, Ryan, and Chris, a trip to a private island mansion off the coast of Louisiana was supposed to be a grand reunion. It was a chance to relive their high school glory days with their wives, fueled by billionaire-status...

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.

His job’s at stake, but she may prove to be an even bigger technical threat to his heart. Tarron has met his match with a ruthless cyberhacker who has a personal vendetta against the Raglan. When she breeches Westin Force’s security Tarron must move in to stop her. That proves easier said than done when his Nonna steps up to help and meddle in his love life.

From the outside looking in, Jennifer Pan seemed like a model daughter living a perfect life. The ideal child, the one her immigrant parents saw, was studying to become a pharmacist at the University of Toronto. But there was a dark, deceptive side to the angelic young woman. In reality, Jennifer spent her days in the arms of her high-school sweetheart, Daniel. In an attempt to lead the life she dreamed of, she would do almost anything. For many years she led this double life. But when her father discovered her web of lies, his ultimatum was severe. And so, too, was her revenge.

Never fall in love with a sports star. That's what my stepfather always said. He told me athletes are complicated and moody - that the higher their paycheck, the lower their morals. As public relations for the New York Stingers, I know exactly what he means, but I can’t seem to say no to a friendship with one beautiful, damaged man. What started out as hate turned into something else. We tried to stay away, to keep our distance, but the pull was too strong.

Ember "Emmy" Kenston was raised in the spotlight when all she wanted was to be invisible. A self-proclaimed book nerd, she must live up to the expectations of being the daughter of one of Hollywood's biggest actresses. Retreating to Archibald Reynolds College gives her a fresh start where she attends classes and happily spends her evenings in the library trying not to be noticed, but Chad notices anyway. Chad is a squirrel shifter and the only non-canine in the D.O.G. House. He's totally gorgeous, in the warmer seasons at least....

Theo had thought that after saving the city of Rosewind (again…) he would finally be done with all his adventuring nonsense. Sadly, the universe had a different opinion. Stretched between organizing the most spectacular wedding the world has ever seen and being a reluctant participant in a mage tower contest, the dungeon must shuffle between magic, city planning, and petty politics in order to maintain its cover.

Joshua Hull, screenwriter of Glorious, brings an edge of horror film expertise to this story of small-town haunting, trauma, and grief that just won't let go. 8114 roots out the rot of a small town's past and unravels the memories we must face to survive the present.

Upgrade Available: Protagonist. Goblin Peon No. 49 is a level-one nobody. A disposable NPC at the very bottom of the dungeon food chain. Then his script glitches. He gets a character class, attributes, a user interface—and even a name: “Rook." Stalked by the godlike System and guided (sort of) by a giant rat who talks like a corrupted tutorial prompt, Rook stumbles into a quest that could change everything: recover three memory shards with the power to turn an NPC into a player character. Unfortunately, this dungeon isn’t especially supportive of personal growth.

Derrick Stockton is in his mid-twenties, approaching three years sober, and working a stable job in Ohio. After surviving the seemingly random horrors of his childhood at the hands of a sinister neighbor, he believes he's finally moved on. All that changes when a brutal murder occurs in his home state of West Virginia. His name is written in blood at the crime scene, and the only evidence is a blurry surveillance video offering a glimpse of the killer, one he knows to be long dead.