with its trade and its empire of entire archipelagoes, was the mightiest of the thalassocracies. Beyond the fortified sea walls at the end of the bay, the ocean swelled mightily to the clouded horizon, gray and green and amber. Within, the hulls and sails of ships were a bright confusion up to the stone docks. The land ran upward from the bay, and Tauros was built on the hills, a tangle of streets between houses that ranged from the clay huts of the poor to the marble villas of the great. Beyond the city walls on the landward side, the island of Achaera lifted still more steeply, a gaunt rocky country with a few scattered farms and herds. Her power came all from the sea...FROM THE BOOKS.

In 'Witch of the Demon Seas' by Poul Anderson, readers are transported to a world where magic, adventure, and danger collide. Set against the backdrop of a vast and mysterious ocean, the book follows the story of a powerful witch who must navigate treacherous waters to uncover the truth about her past and her true destiny. Anderson's writing style is evocative and rich in detail, drawing readers into a vividly imagined world of folklore and myth. The book is a unique blend of high fantasy and nautical adventure, making it a captivating and thrilling read for fans of both genres. With its carefully crafted plot and well-developed characters, 'Witch of the Demon Seas' is sure to keep readers on the edge of their seats until the very end. Poul Anderson's expertise in blending fantasy and adventure shines through in this compelling tale, making it a must-read for anyone looking for a captivating and immersive literary experience.

He wondered, with a brief giddiness, if the dark witch before him could be as evil as her enemies said. Strong and ruthless, yes—but so was he. When he learned the full truth about her soaring plans, he might even decide they were right.

Armchair Fiction presents extra large editions of classic science fiction double novels. The first novel is "The Dark Other" written by the acclaimed Stanley Weinbaum. Nicholas Devine was a published writer, with an interest in the literary horror greats--Poe, Baudelaire, and others. On the other hand Patricia Lane was a social butterfly of great beauty and charm. Her intellect and vivacious nature attracted Nick and soon won his heart. A romantic entanglement followed. In Nick, Pat Lane saw a sweet and sensitive soul. Yet there were times she caught a glimpse of something different, something...darker. Before long Nick Devine confessed a terrible secret: there was something inside him so mysterious, so evil that it was beyond his control. He and Pat could never be happy together. But Pat begged him to seek the help of her friend and father-figure Dr. Carl Horker, a renowned psychiatrist and neurosurgeon. But before long Pat and Dr. Horker realized they were dealing with something more than a simple case of schizophrenia. It was something fraught with a growing sense of inescapable horror... The second novel is "Witch of the Demon Seas." Join science fiction and fantasy master Poul Anderson as he spins a swashbuckling tale of alien sorcery. Corun--deposed prince of Conahur, and condemned pirate--languished in his cell, awaiting execution. But when the evil wizard Shorzon approached him, and made him a proposition, Corun thought perhaps there was a chance--however slim--to avoid an early and painful death. It seemed so simple: He would guide Shorzon to the lair of the Xanthi, and teach him their language, Corun would then be freed and his kingdom restored. But Shorzon had other plans, and they did not involve restoring Conahur to its former glory, nor did he intend to let Corun just walk away a free man. He wanted ultimate power, power only beings of dark magic could grant...

A witch and a Fae aren’t supposed to fall in love, nonetheless be soulmates… New witch and midwife Cassie Strega helped a human mother through the tumultuous birth of the queen of the demons, and now Cassie and the baby have been kidnapped by one of the four demon princes fighting each other to lay claim to their new queen. Cassie hopes she can appeal to the human side of the child in order to save humanity, but as the child feeds upon her soul, Cassie must also battle the four demon-prince-uncles who intend for the infant to fulfill her dark destiny. The love of Cassie’s life, the sultry Fae warrior and heir to the Fae kingdom, Orion, is still searching for the Fae queen he’s been tasked to find, but he is also desperate to save Cassie from his archenemies. He is torn between his heart and his duty, but if he doesn’t save Cassie by Beltane, the blood bond that connects Cassie to Orion will forever be severed and she will be marked as an enemy to the Fae—one he is sworn by oath to kill. Fate was cruel when it linked Cassie and Orion together. Their attraction to each other is undeniable, their love assured, but these fated lovers are doomed by a curse that threatens to keep them apart. Every touch during every shared dream, every kiss during every cherished moment together is driving them closer to what will either be a victory of humanity or an end no mortal will be able to survive. Will love, in the end, truly conquer all or will it destroy them all?

Ready for the next hilarious Hell Cruise adventure? You can’t teach an old demon new tricks, but it’s never too late to fall in love. A long time ago, Shax loved a sea witch, but was too dumb to admit it. But this old demon has decided it’s time he got a second chance. A cruise through the tropics seems like the perfect place to rekindle things. The problem is, Dorothy isn’t about to let him charm his way back into her life. Not when he broke her heart once already. Good thing fate hasn’t given up on this pair. With Lucifer meddling, surely things will— Go to Hell first, because come on, this is Lucifer we’re talking about. But even he can’t stop true love. *An older hero and heroine paranormal romance genre: paranormal romantic comedy, eve langlais welcome to hell series, demon romance, witch romance, holiday romance