Showing results by narrator "Ryan Burke" in All Categories

A mysterious race of North American giants. An ancient Hebrew inscription in a Cherokee burial mound. A blood oath made by blindfolded Freemasons. Are these three historical oddities the reason the CIA is trying to brainwash historian Cameron Thorne and his fiancee Amanda Spencer-Gunn? The answer lies buried in the legends of the Knights Templar, within the rituals of the secretive Freemasons and, most significantly of all, inside the bowels of the Smithsonian Institution

Why would a collector of ancient American artifacts hand over his prized pieces to a historian and then shoot himself in the head? And why does an ancient Templar scroll in his possession refer to Jesus as "The Thief on the Cross"? The answers place historian Cameron Thorne at the dangerous intersection of secret American history and modern geopolitical intrigue.

World War III is a few months month old. After attacking and sinking the Destroyer USS Stacy Heath, the Chinese seize control of Nepal and Bhutan and push into India where the Allies manage to stop them. But for how long? Pakistan is attacking from the north - and China is preparing for the "big push" from the east. Worse yet, China's Ministry of State Security has orders to assassinate the Dalai Lama, rather than run the risk that he will inspire a Buddhist rebellion in Tibet.

Krox's assault on Shaya has been foiled, but the cost was bitter. Ternus lies in ruins, its gravity doubled by a god. Shaya is a paradise, but one populated by a mere handful of survivors. Only one power strong enough to oppose Krox remains...The Last Dragonflight. Aran and his Outriders travel to Virkon to wake Virkonna, praying that she will join the war on their side. But neither Krox nor Nebiat is the true threat. Nefarius's rebirth has been carefully orchestrated, and is finally at hand.

An empire entombed under ash. Four centuries ago, the Stewards decreed that the Elentian Imperium must be punished. For a year and a day, ash rained from the sky forming what is now known as the Ashlands. As a new member of the Temple of Celeste, you are now privy to the truth. Our diviners have scried the infamous lich's final moments. If you dare witness the memory, you will find it transcribed within. The Crown of Command is a short novella set in the Shattered Gods universe.

Surrounded by enemies and suffering from heavy casualties, Clay and his motley crew are in their toughest spot yet. Making things worse, their greatest enemy is about to be crowned emperor of Arethkar, granting him unbridled power and abilities. With a new quest and class unlocked, Clay and his pals have 10 days to sneak into the foreign capital, establish disguises, and assassinate the emperor-to-be. Sounds easy, except for the extra tight security, corrupt nobles, and monsters roaming the sewers beneath.

A soldier returning from war is supposed to be a time of peace and relaxation. But that just isn’t the case for Lost Lord Max Fowler. The weight and responsibility of his title push Max to new challenges, larger battles, and more magic. There’s always a threat around the corner, especially as winter nears and monsters start to surge, renowned organizations start to show their true colors, and those who wish to destroy start looking for targets.

The Krox have finally reached their end game, and the sector will never be the same. Their relentless fleet darkens the skies of New Texas, home of the fabled Ternus shipyards. Their only hope lies with their sworn allies, the Shayans. But the Shayans refuse to help. Only Aran and his company can keep their leadership alive long enough for Voria to bring reinforcements and the fabled Spellship. If they fail, the entire world burns, and Ternus morale will collapse with it. But the war is merely a smokescreen for something much more sinister.

I write software at a San Francisco startup. I have my dream job, but I also have a secret. We are not alone. The last time I was taken I was 14. Three weeks ago I celebrated my 21st birthday, and I know that the grey men will soon come again. I devoted my life to technology so I'd be ready when they returned. Others have prepared too, and I will find them. Together we will harness the abilities they have given us. We are Project Solaris. It's time to fight back.

War between empires is now inevitable, but Dillon and Sherisza have never accepted being pawns of fate. With the technology at their disposal, they're called upon to do whatever they can to prevent the war or, at least, make sure the Kwaagi and the other powers of the known galaxy emerge victoriously. If they push the bounds of what their ship can do, they may be able to do more than that. Are the theories of time travel correct, or can history be altered to save the future? And how just how far will Sherisza go to protect her people, her love, and her cubs?

Keo has tried to stay out of it, but five years in the wild have only led him back to the one place he dreaded most - alongside a woman from his past and fighting someone else’s cause. Except this is one war he can’t turn his back on. What’s a reformed mercenary to do? Lara didn’t want this. Not another war to fight. She’s been struggling to bring order to chaos since "The Walk Out" and doing it with as little bloodshed as possible. But Fenton is forcing her hand, and sometimes you have to get a little bloody, whether you want to or not.

Voria, Aran, and Nara survived their trip into the Umbral Depths. They retrieved the Talon and are now searching for the First Spellship, the key to victory in their war against the Krox. Their search leads them to Virkonna, the home of the Last Dragonflight, a world where dragons still rule. The world where Aran was born. Aran's past finally catches up with him, and he is forced to answer for killing Khalahk. The Wyrms demand he undergo a March of Honor, a brutal trek that few survive. Nara must not only accept Aran's fate but use it as a distraction to locate the First Spellship.

The Rift opens once again. The battle for Earth continues. Only the Eureka and her crew can turn the tides. The Eureka returns to Sol through the Rift as an extreme time dilation creates complications. With a familiar face now the Earth Fleet’s Grand Admiral, Ace and the others struggle to acclimate to their new reality.

Keo isn’t an easy man to kill. Many have tried, and none have succeeded. His skills are becoming legendary, but everyone has an Achilles heel. In the aftermath of Buck’s bloody surprise attack on Darby Bay, Keo has rushed to help his friends. But he’s too late, and the battle has already been decided. Yet, while the fates of many have been sealed, others still hang in the balance. One of those people is Lara, the only woman Keo can’t seem to put behind him. She’s back in his life, and the situation is direr than ever.

Clay has arrived on the evil continent of Arethkar with one simple goal: to free the brutally enslaved players. With the help of a long-lost acquaintance, Clay sets his eyes on conquering the powerful fortress of Iron Citadel. He has seven days to complete the task. If he succeeds, he will bring a new era of peace and prosperity to Arcane Kingdom Online. If he fails, the world will plunge into greater darkness.

Modern-day markets do not arise spontaneously or evolve naturally. Rather they are crafted by individuals, firms, and most of all, by governments. Author Steven Vogel builds his argument upon the recognition that all markets are crafted then systematically explores the implications for analysis and policy. In modern societies, there is no such thing as a free market. Markets are institutions, and contemporary markets are all heavily regulated. The "free market revolution" that began in the 1980s did not see a deregulation of markets, but rather a re-regulation.

Kill or be killed. Take the fight to the enemy, only until you can't. Then repair, regroup, rearm, and return to the fight. Unless the enemy shows up before you're ready. Then you get ready. There are no do-overs in war. While the battle rages in space, the Borwyn decide to put boots on the ground in a daring, risk-all return to Septimus. The combat team is tasked to disrupt strategic communications. Is it even possible?

Captain Nolan destroyed the Void Wraith factory and the fleet guarding it, but every victory comes with a price. The destruction of the Helios Gate in the Ghantan system stranded Nolan and his crew months from the closest Gate. Dryker and Khar have been imprisoned by the Primo, forced to remain idle.

In Red Tide, volume five of the Winds of War series, WWIII rages as the nuclear-powered Chinese semi-submersible cruiser Sea Dragon goes to sea. When Chinese satellites detect the presence of an American Battle Group only a few hundred miles over the horizon, Captain Peng Ko receives orders to attack it. The enemy battle group includes the aircraft carrier Concord, which, given its planes and escorts, should be impervious to anything that a single cruiser could throw at it.

A powerful story of love and loss, secrets and revelations - and making sense of a past that once seemed perfect. For Tom Brennan life is about rugby, mates and family - until a night of celebration changes his life forever. Tom's world explodes as his brother, Daniel, is sent to jail, and the Brennans are forced to leave the small town Tom's lived in his whole life. Tom is a survivor, but he needs a ticket out of the past just as much as Daniel. He will find it in many forms....