Elaine Isaak – författare

The first novella in the Tales of Bladesend!In spite of Trelayne's victories in battle, the road home is longer than the young knight ever imagined, and it must begin with rejecting his peasant companion, Derik, and denying the memory of the half-orc companion who gave his life for them.Forced to admit that the battle has changed him, Trelayne tries to be the champion for the peasantry, only to make things worse—Derik imprisoned, his betrothed rejecting him, his war-wounds throbbing.Honor provokes him to claim a duel with the swordmaster in the hopes of earning Derik's freedom, but the veterans find that winning a battle is not the same as winning a war—and not all demons wear an ugly face.

Second Novella in the Tales of Bladesend!After Joenna's half-orc son is killed in battle, she disguises herself as a man to join the army and avenge him, adding one notch to the handle of her ax for every demons she kills. But when she volunteers to lead a suicide charge of half-orc scouts, she risks her secret and her own mission to try to save them.Rewarded for her prowess with a grant of land and ownership of her half-orc man-at-arms, Joenna plots to rescue all of the half-orcs from the king's plan to destroy these reviled bastards—making herself a traitor along with them.When their haven is discovered, Joenna leads the half-orcs in a desparate fight against a famous warrior and his knights in the hopes of winning their freedom and claiming their humanity.

A short story prequel in the Singer's Crown Universe, this story features Kattanan duRhys shortly before the events of The Singer's Crown.When Kattanan arrives on the Tikran's island, the strange palace formed from the hulls of wrecked ships oppresses him and makes him queasy. Worse yet, the Tikran, his new master, never speaks but snaps his fingers in demands for new songs. Rumor has it the Tikran is a sorceror and a pirate—certainly his acolytes are eager to stay in his good humor (when they can determine what that is).Befriended by the eunuch who guards the Tikran's harem—himself a former singer—Kattanan discovers that the new visitors are foreigners from his homeland. They've come to demand an end to the piracy, but without any knowledge of the local customs, they're sure to be ignored at best, and probably murdered.At the banquet that night, Kattanan risks his position to send the strangers advice about how to behave, earning their friendship and his master's ire. The Tikran demonstrates his power, using his extraordinary voice to command a death.With his musical skills, Kattanan might learn this terrible sorcery, and remain a castaway among pirates—or sing the most dangerous song, and lose his very life.

Must Kattanan sacrifice his song to win his kingdom, and the woman he loves?When his uncle murders his family, only Prince Kattanan is left alive . . .at a terrible cost. Mutilated and trained as a singer, Kattanan travels from patron to patron until he finds himself once more very close to home. Given as a courtship gift to Princess Melisande, Kattanan feels the stirring of emotions long denied him. But her fiancé has other plans--and the sinister magic to carry them out.Dark magic threatens both of their kingdoms. With the aid of a mysterious wizard, a disgraced prince, and the magic-breaker who once betrayed him, Kattanan must fight for the crown he never wanted and the love he never imagined he could feel.The Author's Cut includes an additional 30,000 words over the original print edition!

When Roger the kitchen boy told everyone he was the king's bastard and raised an army to overthrow his tyrant father, he never expected to have to live that lie.In the aftermath of the Demon War, King Agravaine's rule only became more oppressive. Somebody had to do something! After his own humiliation at the king's feet, begging to get his mother freed from prison, Roger stepped up with his dangerous tale. Surely he would die in the fighting, but at least his mother, and maybe all of his people, could be free, and his wild story might inspire something greater. His early supporters, Lady Rania, and his scullion friend Caterina—now leaders in his army—promise to keep his secret, if only Roger's leadership turns out less devastating than his predecessor's.Now he must navigate the politics of a crown he never meant to wear and bring together peasant and lord to revive the battered kingdom. His attachment to Lady Rania grows even as his lies make it impossible for her to trust him. But the real test is yet to come: how can the usurper Roger Silvertongue face the army backing the king's true heir?