February Thaw is the second e-collection by Tanya Huff and brings together some of the short fiction that helped define the field. From an Imperial Dragon in Toronto's Chinatown, to a heavy metal retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk, to the realization that the ancient gods are one highly dysfunctional family, Huff skews our world slightly sideways. These seven stories, each with a brand new introduction by the author, remind us that the weird and the wonderful is all around us if we only bother to look.

Trained to kill from childhood, siblings Bannon and Vree have only known life as assassins in the Imperial Army. The army is both their mother and father, their lives subject to the whims of the Crown.

When their latest target steals Bannon's body for his own, Vree saves her brother by dragging his spirit in to share hers. But two assassins in one body is one assassin too many. To save both their lives, they must abandon the only life they’ve known, risking Imperial ire and possible execution, to regain Bannon’s body. It isn't until after they capture Gyhard, the body thief, that they realize they can't force him to do anything while he holds Bannon's body hostage.

But Gyhard is willing to trade Bannon's body for their assistance. All they have to do – while being hunted for desertion and dealing with an unknown power able to Sing the dead out of the grave – is betray the oaths they've lived by and help Gyhard secure the body of an Imperial Prince.

First published in 1989 and taking place in downtown Toronto, one of the earliest of the modern urban fantasies, Gate of Darkness, Circle of Light is the story of a fight against encroaching darkness by a developmentally handicapped young woman, a street musician with no idea of his potential, a bag-lady who's tired of picking up the pieces, and an adept of the light. Mixing actual Toronto ghost-stories with traditional Faire, a police procedural, and a cat, Gate of Darkness, Circle of Light opened a gate at street level to the urban fantasy that followed.

In these seven contemporary fantasies from Tanya Huff, we see a dog's eye view of loyalty and a cat's eye view of sea serpents. We learn that some Brownies could use a shave – although cookies will still be sold – and that there are at least two sides to every relationship, no matter how accidental and/or mythical that relationship is. We're also reminded that however worthwhile it may be to die with purpose, it's better to live well. Huff's ability to leaven heartache with humour – and vise versa – gives this collection of previously published stories an unexpected emotional variety.

A December release, He Said, Sidhe Said also includes the seasonally appropriate “I'll be Home for Christmas.”

Having offered sanctuary to the soul of the man who stole her brother's body, Vree heads north to Shkoder with two kigh struggling to co-exist in a single body. Although the odds aren't in their favour, there's a chance, a small chance, the Bards can find Gyhard a body of his own without anyone else having to die. But Vree was an assassin train to kill on command, Gyhard has chosen to kill again and again on a quest for immortality, and the Bards aren't certain which of them is the more dangerous. No one, from the guard on the Citadel gate to the King himself, wants them anywhere near the single Healer who can Sing the Fifth Kigh.

No one except Magda, the Healer, whose heritage has taught her that things are not always as they seem.

In the end, Bardic suspicion becomes the least of Vree's problems. The dead walk in the mountains of Shkoder, kigh confined in rotting corpses, and Gyhard's past returned to haunt them. Hunted by the Bards and the Healer's family, Vree, Gyhard and Magda head for the mountains to try and Sing Gyhard's past to rest. To make matter's worse, Vree’s brother has yet to forgive her for saving Gyhard's life and is determined to bring Gyhard — and therefore Vree — back to the Empire to pay the price for treason.

The Bards of Shkoder hold the country together. They, and the elemental spirits they Sing – earth, air, fire, and water - bring the news of the sea to the mountains, news of the mountains to the plains. They give their people, from peasant to king, a song in common.

Annice is a rare talent, able to Sing all four quarters, but her brother, the newly enthroned King Theron, sees her request to study at the Bardic Hall as a betrayal. To his surprise, Annice accepts his conditions, renouncing her royal blood and swearing to remain childless so as not to jeopardize the line of succession. She walks away from political responsibilities, royal privilege and her family.

Ten years later, Annice has become the Princess Bard and her real life is about to become the exact opposite of the overwrought ballad her fellow students at the Bardic Hall wrote about her. Now, she's on the run from the Royal Guards with the Duc of Ohrid, the father of her unborn child, both of them guilty of treason – one of them unjustly accused. To save the Duc's life, they'll have to cross the country, manage to keep from strangling each other, and defeat an enemy too damaged for even a Bard's song to reach.

Tanya Huff, bestselling author of the Blood Price books, delivers the thrilling conclusion to a series where a street-kid-turned-production assistant faces ancient demons, bicurious heartthrobs, and a filming schedule that stops for nobody . . .

Coming out of the wizard closet has barely changed Tony Foster’s life. He’s been promoted . . . to deploy hair-raising sorcery against construction noise. His crush on the gorgeous second lead has devolved to overanalyzing paparazzi pics. His magic studies progress when he’s not working or sleeping, which is never.

Then he intervenes to prevent a terrible accident, and discovers the stuntwoman involved is an immortal survivor of a 3500-year-old sex cult with a hellgate around her midriff. She tells Tony a demonic convergence is beginning in Vancouver, and only he can turn back the eldritch horrors attempting entry through the living room set. The producer maintains they still owe the network two episodes of Darkest Night, and Tony, as his on-staff wizard, had better handle it. Meanwhile, the crew—and one infuriating actor—are endangering themselves trying to help while Tony barely has the firepower to keep himself in one piece. Whether it’s Tony’s friends, his city, or his own survival, something’s bound to give.

Tanya Huff, bestselling author of the Blood Price books, continues a new series where a street kid-turned-production assistant must balance deceptions that might get him fired with the supernatural truth that might get him killed . . .

Working as a PA for a syndicated television show means when problems crop up, it’s Tony Foster’s job to figure them out. Once his producers decide to film at an isolated historic mansion for a week, the wizard-in-training expects disruptions: no cell signal, extras bumbling around the set, lighting cords tangled in hundred-year-old hallways. He doesn’t expect ghosts.

A few dead folks wandering around shouldn’t disturb much, though. They’re only perceptible to the sensitive. Except it seems more of the cast and crew are sensitive than Tony knew. And the house isn’t home to only a few spirits. With the memories of murders playing out around them, Tony has to dodge, sneak, and scramble to cover in front of the normies. Until he gets trapped in the mansion overnight—with his boss, his vampire ex, the smoking-hot straight actor sending mixed signals, and the executive producer’s bratty kids. His crew wants answers. The house wants blood. And the horrors are only beginning . . .

Tanya Huff, bestselling author of the Blood Price books, starts a new series where a street kid-turned-production assistant must juggle his vampire ex, a crush on a hot straight actor, and the potential end of the world . . .

Working on a direct-to-syndication show about a vampire detective doesn’t much compare to Tony Foster’s past as an actual vampire’s lover. True, he’s still wrangling beautiful people with big egos and the power to crush him, but there are far fewer demons, and TV blood is just corn syrup.

When shadows on set start moving independent of the people they’re supposed to be attached to, though, Tony can’t dismiss it as a trick of the light. Especially when he finds the beauty of the week dead in a locked dressing room. Before long, he’s discovered the head of the special effects department is an actual wizard, and brought in his ex, the vampire Henry Fitzroy, to help defend against an attack so terrifying survival seems unlikely. Tony will have to assist his butt off to give them anything like a chance. But being thrust into a spotlight doesn’t make him a hero . . .

A new short story collection from Tanya Huff.

You can't belong to the Thieves' Guild if you can't break into the Thieves' Guild. When Terizan dropped out of the secret passage, past the net, and into the Inner Sanctum, she was astonished to discover that no one else had ever made it that far. Unfortunately, neither Terizan nor the Guild are thrilled about the sudden perception that she's the best thief in Oreen – the title comes with expectations and the Guild only ever expects the worst. In these five tales, mercenary captains, murderous royal families, ghosts, gods, and wizards prove that while it may not always be lonely at the top, it's definitely annoying. Good thing half a dozen gods owe Terizan a favour.

Tanya Huff’s Smoke trilogy is now available in a single omnibus edition.

Book One: Smoke and Shadows
Working as a Production Assistant on a show about a vampire detective is nothing compared to Tony Foster’s past as a vampire’s lover. True, he’s still wrangling beautiful people with big egos and the power to crush him, but there are far fewer demons, and TV blood is colored corn syrup.

When shadows on set begin moving independently of the people they’re supposed to be attached to, Tony can’t dismiss it as a trick of the light. Especially not after finding a guest star dead in a locked dressing room. The head of special effects may be an actual wizard, but Tony still has to bring in his ex, the vampire Henry Fitzroy, to help defend against a terrifying, otherworldly attack. With survival unlikely, Tony will have to assist his butt off to give them anything like a chance. But being thrust into a spotlight doesn’t make him a hero . . .

Book Two: Smoke and Mirrors
When Darkest Night, the highest rated vampire detective show in syndication, sets up to film at an isolated historic mansion, Tony Foster, PA and wizard-in-training, expects disruptions: no cell signal, extras bumbling around the set, lighting cords tangled in hundred-year-old hallways. He doesn’t expect ghosts.

But hey, a few dead folks wandering around shouldn’t disturb much when only the sensitive can perceive them. Unfortunately, a number of the cast and crew turn out to be sensitive. And the house isn’t home to only a few spirits. Trapped in the mansion overnight—with his boss, his vampire ex, the smoking-hot straight actor sending mixed signals, and the executive producer’s bratty kids—Tony has to dodge, sneak, and scramble to cover up the unexplainable. With memories of murders playing out around them, the crew wants answers. And the house wants blood . . .

Book Three: Smoke and Ashes
Coming out of the wizard closet has barely changed Tony Foster’s life. He’s been promoted . . . to deploy sorcery against construction noise. His crush on the gorgeous second lead has devolved to overanalyzing paparazzi pics. His magic studies progress when he’s not working or sleeping, which is never.

When he intervenes to prevent a potentially fatal accident, he discovers the stuntwoman involved is the immortal survivor of a 3500-year-old sex cult with a hellgate tattooed around her midriff. In return, she tells Tony the dawn of a demonic convergence means he can look forward to eldritch horrors attempting entry to Vancouver through the Darkest Night soundstage. They still owe the network two episodes, so Tony, as the on-staff wizard, needs to handle it. Meanwhile, the crew—and one infuriating actor—are endangering themselves trying to help and something’s bound to give . . .

Tanya Huff delivers seven fantastical tales featuring the young Herald Jors, set in Mercedes Lackey’s legendary realm of Valdemar.

In Valdemar, only the true of heart are Chosen to wear the Whites and become Heralds—guardians who journey throughout the nation upholding justice, making judgments, and combating evil in its many forms.

This collection of stories follows the adventures of Herald Jors: a young man just a few years out of his Greys and already making his mark, all while learning the complexities of the honored role bestowed upon him.

From confronting bandits in the far borderlands to experiencing magical love and heartbreaking loss, Jors must find the balance between the law and that which is truly good and right.

For the first time, Tanya Huff’s seven stories set in the world created by Mercedes Lackey are gathered together in a single volume. These short works are sure to enchant anyone who wishes to experience the land of Valdemar through the eyes, mind and heart of one of its bravest heroes.

Contains the following stories: The Demon’s Den, Brock, All the Ages of Man, Live On, Nothing Better to Do, The Time We Have, Family Matters.

It was a long fall from Clan Heir to common thief, but Aaron never wanted any part of his father’s brutal outlander reign. In fact, besides coin purses and jewels, there’s very little in all of Cisali that interests Aaron, until he stumbles—quite literally—into a prince’s bedchamber…

Prince Davish of Ischia is a skilled swordsman both on the field and beneath the sheets, at least when he isn’t outrageously drunk. But the wine helps him forget all the ways he’s disappointed his father, his family, and soon enough, his young bride-to-be…

A trained Wizard of the Nine with more raw talent than real-world experience, Princess Chandra has no interest in the politically arranged marriage. She flees to the royal city of Ischia seeking a way out of the union. But there, she discovers something far more shocking than Prince Davish’s rakish reputation…

The Stone of Ischia has been stolen. A powerful talisman, The Stone protects the city from the active volcano that looms over its terraces and streets. Without it, Ischia will be destroyed and the kingdom of Cisali will fall. Its only hope is an unlikely band of heroes—a failed thief, a drunken prince, and a runaway wizard—who must face pirates, powerful magic, and their own carefully guarded secrets in order to find and restore the Stone of Ischia.

Benedikt Sings the most powerful water in the kingdom, but water is the only Quarter Benedikt can sing, which isolates him from the Bardic Captain and his fellow Bards. When the Queen of Shkoder outfits a voyage to discover the lands across the sea against the Bardic Captain’s objections, Benedikt is the only Bard willing to brave the Captain’s wrath and volunteer.

In uncharted waters, a storm strikes and the kigh of the deep seas rise. All of Benedikt’s skill is unable to save ship or crew. Shipwrecked in an unfamiliar country and unable to send word to Shkoder of the ship’s fate, Benedikt must play the part he’s been given: a pawn in the game of politics and religion between brother and sister — who both intend to use his Song to their advantage.

As the Queen waits for word, the kigh of the deep seas rise again...

There's a lot of responsibility involved with being the most powerful wizard in the world, and Magdelene wants nothing to do with any of it. Lazy, lusty, and more likely to be found lying in the sun than casting runes or sacrificing unfortunate goats, she'd really rather avoid dealing with challenges, errant apprentices, demons, dragons, death, and bureaucracy.

These seven stories include Third Time Lucky, Tanya Huff's first professional sale to George Scithers at Amazing Stories. Thirty years, thirty novels, eighty-three short stories, and one television show later, this is where it all began.

The Seven Armies’ deadliest blades are at their best in Three Quarters, a collection of three exciting shorts set in Tanya Huff’s Quarters universe. In “Death Rites” sibling assassins Bannon and Vree must eliminate a dangerous traitor who’s already thwarted several other professionals. In “Exactly,” Vree and Bannon slip surveillance shifts in between body rubs and drinks when they take a holiday, assassin-style. And in the novelette, “Quartered,” on Kovar’s orders, the young bard Evicka risks her life to spy on Vree and Gyhard in Bicaz. Featuring an all-new foreword and new story introductions from the author, Three Quarters is sure to delight fans of The Quarters Series with Tanya Huff’s pitch-perfect harmony of adventure, intrigue, and wit.