Shadow City
FOR MOST WARRIORS, LOYALTY IS A VIRTUE. FOR MAX, IT’S A CURSE.
From the moment she was bound by magic and transformed into a deadly warrior, Max dreamed of escape. Instead, she went to war. She saved the coven she was enslaved to defend from unearthly destruction, but only at the cost of her own freedom.
Now Max has been taken captive and forced to become the champion of a demigod in a deadly game where the losers die—or worse. Alone and unarmed in a strange, magical city, Max must battle bizarre creatures with unpredictable powers. If she wins, she just might get a chance to go home to her friends, her family, and to Alexander, the Shadowblade warrior whose fate is entwined with hers.
But Horngate’s own future is far from certain. The covenstead is threatened by a Fury—a creature that, once it escapes its fragile bonds, will wreak untold destruction. Will Alexander and the other Shadowblades be able to protect Horngate without Max? Or will Max discover that she doesn’t have a home to return to?
“Darkly twisted . . . a series to remember.”
—Fresh Fiction on
Crimson Wind
“Unusual and terrific.”
— #1
New York Times
bestselling author Patricia Briggs on
Bitter Night
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“Maximum supernatural ass kicking, maximum attitude, maximum action. Who can deliver all that and more? Max to the max, that’s who.”
—Rob Thurman,
New York Times
bestselling author of
Deathwish
and
Trick of the Light
Praise for Diana Pharaoh Francis and her Horngate Witches novels featuring Max, “one of the top urban fantasy heroines.” (Bitten by Books)
CRIMSON WIND
“[A] complex heroine, darkly twisted setting, and high sexual tension make this a series to remember.”
—Fresh Fiction
“A fast paced thrill ride. . . . The novel [goes] from zero to sixty in a matter of pages. . . . Phenomenal world building, entrancing characters, and a thrilling plot make this a must read for urban fantasy and paranormal romance lovers alike!”
—Black Lagoon Reviews
“Max is back and lucky for readers, her life hasn’t gotten any less complicated. Francis’ magically enslaved heroine is a riveting mixture of guts, compassion, and furious anger as she struggles with a world coming apart at the seams. Readers should hang on tight, for this second Horngate Witches novel is filled with massive danger and gritty struggles for survival. You won’t be able to put this one down!”
—
RT Book Reviews
(4 ½ stars)
“An exciting thriller. . . . With an incredible ending to an action-packed tale, readers will clamor for the third book in Francis’s excellent epic saga.”
—Alernative-worlds.com
“Once again, Max proves to be one of the top urban fantasy heroines. She’s tough, actually cares about people, and is big enough to admit when she’s made a mistake. I loved watching her grow in
Crimson Wind
, both as a leader and a woman.”
—Bitten by Books
“Reading a Horngate Witches book is a bit like watching a big summer movie. Action! Explosions! Impossibly tough characters doing awesome things! It’s a heck of a ride.”
—FantasyLiterature.com
BITTER NIGHT
“This lush urban fantasy populated with witches, angels, Sunspears, and Shadowblades contains all the decadent delight of dark chocolate. One taste, and you’ll devour this book.”
—Ann Aguirre, national bestselling author of
Blue Diablo
“High-energy, gritty . . . the tough, feel-good supernatural fights . . . will keep action fans coming back for book after book.”
—Publishers Weekly
“Ms. Francis sends urban fantasy on its head in this fast-paced, dynamic story. Loved it, could not put it down. Unusual and terrific.”
—#1
New York Times
bestselling author Patricia Briggs
“Strongly crafted world-building, with exciting nonstop action and main and supporting characters that are vivid and varied.”
—Sci Fi Guy
“A dark, unique, and electrifying world in the urban fantasy genre. . . . Max is a Shadowblade warrior to die for.”
—Faith Hunter, author of
Skinwalker
“Max is a volcano of seething anger and hatred. . . . Readers are sucked into this chilling world. Awesome!”
—RT Book Reviews
“A great start to a new series . . . blasts out of the gate and never stops running. Max is . . . bitter, proud, and lethal all rolled up into one stunning heroine.”
—Fresh Fiction
All of the Horngate Witches novels are also available as eBooks
Also by Diana Pharaoh Francis from Pocket Books
Bitter Night
Crimson Wind
| Pocket Books |
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2012 by Diana Pharaoh Francis
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever. For information address Pocket Books Subsidiary Rights Department, 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020
First Pocket Books paperback edition January 2012
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Cover illustration by Shane Rebenschied
ISBN 978-1-4516-1385-8
ISBN 978-1-4516-1387-2 (ebook)
For Tony, Syd, and Q-ball, who make everything possible.