Barb Hendee

She hunts the realm’s most dangerous game. Her fees are exorbitant. She’s worth every coin she receives. Or is she? Magiere has earned a reputation as the most formidable vampire slayer in the land. Villagers far and wide welcome her with both awe and disdain — grateful to her for ridding their towns of the undead menace, but finding themselves made poorer for their salvation. Magiere knows she’s dealing with simple folk, who only wish to have their superstitions silenced, and sees nothing wrong with exploiting them for profit. Now, tired of the game, Magiere and her partner, the half-elf Leesil, are ready to hang up their weapons and settle down in a place they can finally call home. But their newfound peace will not last — for Magiere has come to the attention of a trio of powerful and dangerous vampires who know her true identity — and fear the birthright that flows through her veins. And they will stop at nothing to keep Magiere from fulfilling her destiny.

The Noble Dead Saga has been hailed as “fabulous entertainment wrought with mystery, adventure, and sharp-toothed wit.” * Now the “action-packed” ** adventures of Magiere and Leesil continue as they journey into the dangerous and mysterious Elven Territories... Desperate to free his mother from a caste of ruthless elven assassins, Leesil pushes on through the mountains at the height of a harsh winter. Obsession blinds him to reason, and he and his companions — his beloved Magiere, the sage Wynn, and their canine protector, Chap — find their lives at stake under the hardships of the wilderness. Should they survive, they still face the perils of the Elven Territories, a culture of tranquil beauty, savage customs, and deep-rooted hatred and fear of all humankind. Magiere was created with strange powers by a shadowy, long-forgotten enemy of many names — an enemy whom Leesil was trained from childhood to kill. Unbeknownst to them, Chap brought them together at the command of his kin, the Fay, to forge an alliance that might have the power to stand against the forces of dark magics. In the place of his birth, Chap must guard his companions from enemies and allies alike, though he is not always certain which is which. And as they uncover the truth, they discover just how close the enemy has always been... * Mark Anthony, author of The Last Rune series ** Midwest Book Review "...a hybrid crossing Tolkienesque fantasy with vampire-infused horror..."    —Publisher's Weekly"A real page-turner for Noble Dead series newcomers and veterans alike."    —Frieda Murray, Booklist: American Library Association."Fans of the Hendees' Noble Dead series who have been trying to understand the saga's many unexplained mysteries will be absolutely blown away by the bombshell plot twists revealed in Rebel Fay... Fantasy fans who like their adventures done very rare — fast and bloody &mdash: should definitely check out this addictively readable saga, which seamlessly blends the vampire mythos with high fantasy."    —Paul Goat Allen, The Barnes & Noble Review

"Any list of the best writers of vampire novels working today must include the dynamic duo of Barb & J.C. Hendee."    —Rambles “A mix of The Lord of the Rings and Buffy the Vampire Slayer,”* the Noble Dead Saga has won legions of readers with its epic adventure, bloodthirsty evil, and imaginative characters. At last, long sought secrets will be revealed... and old scores settled. For many months, Magiere and Leesil have searched for a forgotten artifact, even though its purpose has been shrouded in mystery. All Magiere knows is that she must keep the orb from falling into the hands of a murdering Noble Dead: her half brother, Welstiel. And now dreams of a castle locked in ice lead her south, on a journey that has become nothing less than an obsession... Accompanying Magiere and Leesil are the sage Wynn; their canine protector, Chap; and two elven assassins-turned-guardians who must fight their distrust of this sister of the dead. For forces more powerful than they — some may even say fate — are rallying around Magiere, arming her for the conflict to come, because finding the orb may be just the beginning of the challenges that await her. * New York Times bestselling author Kevin J. Anderson "Interspecies distrust, grand ambitions, and the lure of dangerous secrets protected by the undead drive the action in this neat mix of horror with more traditional fantasy elements."    —Publisher's Weekly

Born a half-breed to an elven mother and human father, Leesil was raised in the Warlands as assassin, spy, and slave to Lord Darmouth, ruler to one of its independent provinces. But Leesil's mother trained him too well, and he used his skills to escape, leaving his parents to suffer Darmouth's wrath for all such traitors and their kin. Now, with newfound purpose in the company of his beloved Magiere, Leesil returns to confront the sins of his past and uncover his parents' fate. Unable to turn him from this dangerous course, Magiere follows Leesil into the darkness of his past in the Warlands. Knowing what may happen should Darmouth learn of Leesil's return, she is prepared to slaughter any who may try to take him from her. But Magiere's own past may well pose a more deadly threat. Two creatures of unfathomable power continue to stalk her — one who believes she's the key to his salvation, and one who seeks to destroy her... and all those she loves. "This is one of those books for which the term 'dark fantasy' was definitely intended."    —Chronicle"...the Hendees' Saga of the Noble Dead features generous helpings of blood-sucking horror and whodunit mystery elements. Literally overflowing with nonstop action, this cool amalgam of genres will appeal to readers — alive and undead — who enjoy taking that occasional literary walk on the wild side."    —Paul Goat Allen, Barnes & Noble Review"The Hendees' bestselling Noble Dead series makes the leap from mass market to hardcover with this winning fourth novel... Fans of the series are sure to be pleased, while the novel stands well enough on its own to attract new readers."    —Publishers Weekly"The personal conflicts of the heroes mirror the larger struggles in their world and provide a solid foundation for this tale of love and loyalty in a world of betrayal."    —Jackie Cassada, "SF/Fantasy column", Library Journal

The Noble Dead saga continues as Magiere and Leesil, the slayers of the undead for Dhampir and Thief of Lives, embark on a quest to uncover the secrets of their mysterious origins — and those responsible for orchestrating the events that brought them together... Magiere is a dhampir — half-human, half-vampire — sired for the purpose of slaying the undead. Outside the village of Chemestúk, where she was born and raised, stands her father's keep. Within its walls, she hopes to discover the secrets of her past and figure out why a vampire would wish to breed a creature capable of slaughtering his own kind... But there are those who don't want Magiere to learn the truth — and when her half-elf partner, Leesil, makes a startling discovery in the keep, he can understand why. Before Leesil can reveal the truth to Magiere, they must vanquish a creature of unimaginable and unlimited power who has damned a small village of people with a horrifying curse... "Fabulous entertainment wrought with mystery, adventure, and sharp-toothed wit."    —Mark Anthony, Author of Beyond the Pale"Another satisfying entry in the Hendees' lively series."    —Kristine Huntley, Booklist: American Library Association"Sister of the Dead and its predecessors involve readers on a visceral, highly emotional level and fulfill a craving for nifty magic, exciting action scenes, and a strong heroine who defies genre clichés."    —Romantic Times Bookclub Magazine"The Hendees have created an intriguing series characterized by nonstop adventure, multilayered mysteries, and enough blood-sucking characters to satisfy even the most hard-core vampire fan."    —Paul Goat Allen, Barnes & Noble Review

On the heels of Dhampir, Barb and J.C. Hendee's acclaimed Fantasy debut, comes Thief of Lives, the new novel featuring Magiere and Leesil, Slayers of the Undead... Magiere the dhampir thinks that her nights of hunting vampires are over. After settling down in her newly adopted village of Miiska — now vampire-free, thanks to her and her half-elf partner, Leesil — she looks forward to quiet days tending to her tavern. But far away in the capital city of Bela, a prominent councilman's daughter has been found dead on her own doorstep... and all signs point to a vampire. Knowing that the battered and burned village of Miiska could use an infusion of cash, Bela's town council offers a generous bounty to the dhampir if she will slay their vampire. Magiere resists, wanting nothing more than to forget her past and ignore her half-vampire nature. Only Leesil can persuade Magiere to follow her destiny — before more innocent lives are claimed by darkness.