Jen Bair

In this exhilarating sequel, Hettie, Deryl, and Ouri reunite with the formidable Widows' Will to confront Lord Vincent head-on. With Sedrios rallying behind them, their army swells, poised to crush the dark lord's forces threatening their land. But as they plunge into the heart of the conflict, chaos reigns supreme. Hettie's mission to rescue the oppressed is thwarted by a malevolent alchemist turning the residents mad and enemies wielding power able to neutralize her magic. Amidst the turmoil, allies become adversaries, and Hettie finds herself trapped in a deadly game of deception. With time running out, Hettie must unravel the mystery shrouding Vincent's twisted creations before they unleash devastation upon the realm. With unlikely allies by her side-a race of subterranean rock dwellers and a lovelorn stone spider-Hettie confronts nightmarish creatures to save the only family she has left. Get ready for an electrifying adventure where every page crackles with magic, mystery, and the indomitable spirit of a heroine facing her greatest challenge yet.

Taking over an island nation of pirates should be easy for Hettie Stormheart, First Daughter of the merciless Island Witch, but leading her coven of twenty-seven siblings who can't agree on anything is like herding drunken cliff pigs. When a foreign diplomat warns of an invading lord threatening their way of life, Hettie's got to whip her sisters into fighting shape to defend their home, only the invading army is unlike anything they've ever seen: beast-like men and amphibious assassins who can swim circles around them. To make matters worse, Hettie's only hope of victory is a cursed magical artifact: Deryl, a sentient eyeball who hates magic-wielders and is more annoying than all her siblings combined. But as Hettie struggles to keep her ragtag group of defenders together, a new adversary emerges. One more ruthless and unexpected than even the shadow beasts that hunt them in the dark. With Deryl's help, Hettie must overcome the invading army and protect her home from those who seek to destroy it. The true cost of victory may be higher than she ever imagined, and the fate of the island nation-and the Daughters' Coven-hangs in the balance.

15 Stories, 15 Authors Down a forgotten hallway lie rooms no one has entered. Each room contains a world waiting to be explored. Some beautiful and full of wonder, other dark and full of terrors. You won't know which until you step inside. So take a deep breath, and open the door... Featuring stories by Elmdea Adams, Jen Bair, David Boop, J. T. Evans, Todd Fahnestock, Arlen Feldman, Shannon Fox, Jessica Guernsey, Sam Knight, Chris Mandeville, Kim May, John D. Payne, Wayland Smith, Stephannie Tallent, and Marie Whittaker