A blade of black steel

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Margaret Weis and Robert Krammes

"Margaret Weis, the bestselling author of many epic adventure fantasies, is at her best in The Seventh Sigil. Five hundred years ago, a clan of rebels was banished to the bottom of the world; ever since, these Bottom Dwellers have sought revenge, and now they are waging all-out war on the rest of humanity, those who live Above. Their deadly "contramagic" beams destroy buildings and attack naval airships, and their magical drumming brings terrible storms and disrupts the magic of the people and dragons Above. The attack of their full contramagic power will create a magical armageddon. In an effort to prevent further death, the reunited Dragon Brigade will take the fight to the Bottom. But strength of arms alone will not be enough to conquer their foe. As the Bottom Dwellers' blood magic eats away at the world, those Above realize their only possible defense lies in the heretical secrets of contramagic. Loyal priests must decide whether to protect the Church, or risk its destruction in pursuit of the truth. Only the Dragon Brigade can keep the world from plunging into an endless dark age. Their epic battle will test the mettle of those thrown into the breach, and determine the fate of this magical world"--

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David Anthony Durham

The thrilling new installment in the ambitious Acacia trilogy, praised by the Washington Post as "gripping and sophisticated."A few years have passed since the conquering of the Mein, and Queen Corinn is firmly in control of the Known World-perhaps too firmly. With plans to expand her empire, she sends her brother, Daniel, on an exploratory mission to the Other Lands. There Daniel discovers a lush, exotic mainland ruled by an alliance of tribes that poses a grave danger to the stability of the Known World. Is Queen Corinn strong enough to face this new challenge? Readers of this bold, imaginative sequel will not be disappointed in the answer.From the Hardcover edition.

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R.A. MacAvoy

*Lens of the World* is a fantasy novel recounting, in his own words, the coming of age of Nazhuret, an outcast and orphan who rises from his lowly estate as a ward of the Sordaling military school to become a mighty warrior, philosopher, and confidant of the king of Bestinglon himself. The first of a series.

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Michael Moorcock

**Elric of Melniboné** is a 1972 fantasy novel by **Michael Moorcock**. It is the first original full-length novel to feature **Elric**, the last emperor of the stagnating island civilisation of Melniboné who wields the cursed, soul-drinking sword **Stormbringer**.