New Releases by Meredith Ann Pierce

The spellbinding conclusion to the Darkangel Trilogy! Armed with a magical pearl imbued with all the sorcery and wisdom of the world, bestowed upon her by the Ancient known as Ravenna, Aeriel finally comes face-to-face with the White Witch and her vampire sons. Backed by her husband, his army of good, and a throng of magical steeds, she must unlock the power of the pearl to awaken her true destiny and save the world.

A spellbinding collection of short stories by the author of the Darkangel and Firebringer trilogies. Meredith Ann Pierce’s acclaimed novels are the proof of a remarkable imagination. Here is more proof—eight shorter works of fiction, each with a strong heroine, a tangibly imagined world, and unforgettable imagery. Included here are the text to her only picture book, "Where the Wild Geese Go"; the tale that showed a teenaged Meredith that she was, indeed, a writer ("In Quest of the Icerose"); and a powerful novella originally commissioned by SFWA Grandmaster Andre Norton ("Rampion"). Waters Luminous and Deep encapsulates the evolution of one writer’s unmistakable style, and has all of the power of her longer work. "A shimmering, stirring archipelago of tales."—Booklist

Firebirds is more than simply an anthology -- it is a celebration of wonderful writing. It gathers together sixteen original stories by some of today's finest writers of fantasy and science fiction. Together, they have won virtually every major prize -- from the National Book Award to the World Fantasy Award to the Newbery Medal -- and have made best-seller lists worldwide. These authors, including Lloyd Alexander (The Chronicles of Prydain), Diana Wynne Jones (The Merlin Conspiracy), Garth Nix (The Abhorsen Trilogy), Patricia A. McKillip (Ombria in Shadow), Meredith Ann Pierce (The Darkangel Trilogy), and Nancy Farmer (The House of the Scorpion), each with his or her own inimitable style, tell stories that will entertain, provoke, startle, amuse, and resonate long after the last page has been turned. The writers featured in Firebirds all share a connection to Firebird Books, an imprint that is dedicated to publishing the best fantasy and science fiction for teenage and adult readers.

Volume Two of the Firebringer Trilogy “Carefully plotted, with satisfying action and fully developed, intriguing characters, this is sure to please fantasy lovers.”—Booklist He was the youngest prince the unicorns had ever known: Aljan son-of-Korr, Dark Moon. A silver crescent on his brow and a white star on his heel were tokens that one day he was destined to become the legendary Firebringer—but Jan had no knowledge of fire, nor of where to find it. Swept out to sea while defending the unicorns, Jan is washed up on a distant shore, only to find himself the revered captive of a strange race of two-foots who treat him with awe, even as they hold him against his will. It is here that he witnesses the magic of fire for the first time and, even more importantly, discovers how he himself can create it. But can he escape and bring the knowledge back to the unicorns in time to same them?

Volume One of the Firebringer Trilogy Jan, the prince of the unicorns, is high-spirited, reckless-and the despair of his mighty father, Korr. Reluctantly, Korr allows Jan to accompany the other initiate warriors on a pilgrimage. Soon Jan's curiosity leads him, along with his friend Dagg, and their mentor, the female warrior Tek, into the greatest dangers-deadly gryphons, sly pans, wyverns, pards, and renegade unicorns. Yet time after time they are rescued, leading Jan to wonder: Am I the heir to a special destiny? "The language is poetic, with wonderful rhythm and sweeping images...The world is a compelling one, and Jan is a dramatic hero."—Booklist

Hannah, a healer with unusual powers, leaves the wizard she has always served and, along with her animal companions, begins a journey which uncovers the truth about her real nature.

Painfully aware that her husband Irrylath is still not free of the White Witch's spell, Aeriel sets out on a dangerous quest to gather the winged steeds that Irrylath and his brothers need to do battle against the powerful witch.

The servant girl Aeriel must choose between destroying her vampire master for his evil deeds or saving him for the sake of his beauty and the spark of goodness she has seen in him.

Jan, the prince of the unicorns, uses his knowledge of fire to form a historic alliance between his people and their former enemies and to return the unicorns to their ancestral homeland.

In order to save her sick grandmother, Truzjka embarks on a fanciful journey to find the answer to the question of where the wild geese go.

When her sister-in-law brings her a strange golden baby to care for, a young girl, living in the cold lands far to the north, is unaware that this unusual chhld will help her fulfill her destiny as leader of her people.