Tales from the Gemstone Kingdoms

Every Winter Solstice, the Emerald Kingdom sends the dreaded Ice King a sacrifice-a corrupt soul, a criminal, a deviant, or someone touched by magic. Prince Reardon has always loathed this tradition, partly because he dreams of love with another man instead of a future queen. Then Reardon's best friend is discovered as a witch and sent to the Frozen Kingdom as tribute. Reardon sets out to rescue him, willing to battle and kill the Ice King if that's what it takes. But nothing could prepare him for what he finds in the Frozen Kingdom-a cursed land filled with magic . . . and a camaraderie Reardon has never known. Over this strange, warm community presides the enigmatic Ice King, a man his subjects call Jack. A man with skin made of ice, whose very touch can stop a beating heart. A man Reardon finds himself inexplicably drawn to. Jack doesn't trust Reardon. But when Reardon begins spending long days with him, vowing to prove himself and break the curse, Jack begins to hope. Can love and forgiveness melt the ice around the king's cold heart?

When Prince Nemirac learns of his heritage, he vows to become the most powerful demon in history. But he can't do it alone. Feeling betrayed by his parents' lies about his true lineage, Nemirac embarks on a quest to visit all five Gemstone Kingdoms and drain the stones of their power to ascend as a new being. But until he obtains that magic, he's vulnerable. Enter Janskoller the warrior bard. Janskoller has just returned to the Gemstone Kingdoms, drawn by stories of broken curses and lands open for travel. He doesn't expect a pretty young mage to hire him as a bodyguard, but it's a good gig for a bard-lots of adventure to fuel his stories, and plenty of travel to spread his fame. Besides, Nemirac's passion and obvious secrets intrigue him. But soon Janskoller realizes the peril of Nemirac's goal-an end that puts the five kingdoms at risk and corrupts Nemirac into a darker, twisted version of the man Janskoller comes to care about. As the two grow closer, can Janskoller convince Nemirac to abandon his pursuit of power in favor of the deeper, more lasting magic of love?