An assassin known as "the Unseen";A man of prayer who is the deadliest warrior of his generation;A dwarf with a bloody past, destined to be king.From the imagination of D.P. Prior, "one of the most promising fantasy writers on the scene today" (Kindle Fire Department):Eight bestselling Sword and Sorcery novellas, plus a bonus short story of Otto Blightey, Lich Lord of Verusia. Assassins, Knights, and Dwarves features D.P. Prior's most iconic characters: The Nameless Dwarf, Shadrak the Unseen, and Deacon Shader.1. DEAD OR ALIVESorcerous events beyond his control force Shadrak the Unseen back to the last place in the world he wants to go:New Londdyr, the greatest city on Aethir, where he once lorded it over the unified guilds.And where the Senate have named him wanted… Dead or Alive2. A DWARF WITH NO NAMEConvinced there can be no atonement for the atrocities he has committed, the Nameless Dwarf tracks the survivors of his reign of terror to the brigand town of Malfen. But no one passes through without paying a toll to an underground boss known as the Ant-Man. It is a toll that has already cost many their lives.3. AXE OF THE DWARF LORDSThe Nameless Dwarf's ever fragile mood takes a turn for the worse when he discovers a terrible secret at the bottom of the sea-an unstoppable horror that destroyed an entire race, and a mythical axe that brings back the darkest of memories from his recent past.4. THE SERPENT IN THE LAKEWhen the wolf-men attack and the companions are split up, Nameless and Ilesa find themselves marooned on an island at the center of a newly formed lake. With the dwarf unable to swim, and a monstrous serpent patrolling the water, it's down to Ilesa to get them back to shore. But can she be trusted, what with the bounty on Nameless' head and her long history of betrayal?5. THE EBON STAFFBlightey's grimoire makes more and more demands, and Silas suspects he no longer has any say in where it is leading him. As his body ails and he grows nostalgic for all he's left behind, his mind is usurped by visions of a forest of tar, and at its center, wreathed in briars, a staff of deepest ebony.6. BANE OF THE LICH LORDAll hell has broken loose in the Forest of Tar. Thousands of demonic Feeders consume everything in their path, but top of the menu is dwarf flesh. With the sentient Axe of the Dwarf Lords as petrified as everyone else, the last hope of the dwarves lies in the hands of a shapeshifting assassin with a reputation for self-preservation at all costs.7. WARD OF THE PHILOSOPHERThe philosopher Aristodeus arrives to commence the young Deacon Shader's training with sword and mind. Nothing short of excellence will suffice, if Deacon is to fulfill his destiny and avert the Unweaving of all things8. THE SEVENTH HORSEFor centuries, no one had heard a peep out of Verusia, the dark stain at the heart of the Templum's empire. But a messenger arrives in the Holy City of Aeterna and the Lich Lord is on the move again.9. MY SOJOURN IN THE ABYSSThe Lich Lord, Otto Blightey makes good use of his imprisonment in the Abyss, and pretty soon, the demons can't wait to be rid of him. "Derek Prior always produces masterpieces of storytelling, with great characters full of life, relentless plots, and gripping and intense fight scenes." Mitchell Hogan"Like Bernard Cornwell on 'shrooms!" Dinorah WilsonInternationally bestselling and award winning author Derek Prior excels in fast-paced, high stakes epic fantasy adventure stories in which good ultimately triumphs, but always at a cost.Taking familiar fantasy tropes as a point of departure, Prior expands upon them to explore friendship, betrayal, loyalty and heroism in worlds where evil is an ever-present reality, magic is both a curse and a blessing, and characters are tempered in battle.Winner of best fantasy novel 2012 (The Nameless Dwarf: The Complete Chronicles)Fantasy Faction semifinalist for the SPFBO 2018 (Ravine of Blood and Shadow)
