Most Popular Books by Mark Chadbourn

James Bond adventure in the court of Queen Elizabeth! 1593: The dreaded alchemist, magician, and spy Dr. John Dee is missing. . . . Terror sweeps through the court of Queen Elizabeth, for in Dee''s possession is an obsidian mirror, an object of great power which, legend says, could set the world afire. And so the call goes out to celebrated swordsman, adventurer, and rake Will Swyfte -- find Dee and his looking glass and return them to London before disaster strikes. But when Will discovers the mirror might solve the mystery that has haunted him for years -- the fate of his lost love, Jenny -- the stakes become acutely personal. With London under siege by supernatural powers, time is running out. Will is left with no choice but to pursue the alchemist to the devil-haunted lands of the New World -- in the very shadow of the terrifying fortress home of the Unseelie Court. Surrounded by an army of unearthly fiends, with only his sword and a few brave friends at his back, the realm''s greatest spy must be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice -- or see all he loves destroyed. From the Trade Paperback edition.

The modern world has been transformed into a land of myth, a magical place where fabulous beasts soar on the air currents, a terrifying place where shape-shifting monsters stalk the cities. Mankind’s days appear numbered. Our only hope—the Brothers and Sisters of Dragons —are scattered and broken after a terrible defeat. Their last chance may lie in the great court of the old gods, reached by an otherworldly ship filled with fantastical and frightening creatures. But if our champions fail, the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain will dawn, and the dark god Balor will usher in the eternal night.

A dragon firebombs a freeway. Shape-shifters stalk the commercial district. The deadly Wild Hunt wreaks havoc on the highway. The Age of Misrule has dawned. When Jack Churchill and Ruth Gallagher encounter a terrifying, misshapen giant beneath a London bridge, they are plunged into a mystery that portends the end of the world as we know it. All over the country, the ancient gods of Celtic myth are returning to the land from which they were banished millennia ago. Following in their footsteps are creatures of folklore: fabulous beasts, wonders and dark terrors. As technology starts to fail, Jack and Ruth are forced to embark on a desperate quest for four magical items—the last chance for humanity in the face of powers barely comprehended. A pedal-to-the-floor, high-octane fantasy thriller that pitches magic and wonder into a pop culture mash-up of the modern world. Described as "One part Lord of the Rings, one part Illuminatus!, one part Arthurian romance, one part Harry Potter—100 % original!" From the Trade Paperback edition.

The year is 1593. The London of Elizabeth I is in the terrible grip of the Black Death. As thousands die from the plague and the queen hides behind the walls of her palace, English spies are being murdered across the city. The killer''s next target: Will Swyfte - adventurer, rake, scholar, and spy.

Meet Will Swyfte—adventurer, swordsman, rake, swashbuckler, wit, scholar and the greatest of Walsingham''s new band of spies. His exploits against the forces of Philip of Spain have made him a national hero, lauded from Carlisle to Kent. Yet his associates can barely disguise their incredulity—what is the point of a spy whose face and name is known across Europe? But Swyfte''s public image is a carefully-crafted façade to give the people of England something to believe in, and to allow them to sleep peacefully at night. It deflects attention from his real work—and the true reason why Walsingham''s spy network was established. A Cold War seethes, and England remains under a state of threat. The forces of Faerie have preyed on humanity for millennia. Responsible for our myths and legends, of gods and fairies, dragons, griffins, devils, imps and every other supernatural menace that has haunted our dreams, this power in the darkness has seen humans as playthings to be tormented, hunted or eradicated. But now England is fighting back! Magical defences have been put in place by the Queen''s sorcerer Dr. John Dee, who is also a senior member of Walsingham''s secret service and provides many of the bizarre gadgets utilised by the spies. Finally there is a balance of power. But the Cold War is threatening to turn hot at any moment... Will now plays a constant game of deceit and death, holding back the Enemy''s repeated incursions, dealing in a shadowy world of plots and counter-plots, deceptions, secrets, murder, where no one... and no thing... is quite what it seems.

The Eternal Conflict between the Light and Dark once again blackens the skies and blights the land. On one side stand the Tuatha de Danaan, golden-skinned and beautiful, filled with all the might of angels. On the other are the Fomorii, monstrous devils hell-bent on destroying all human existence. And in the middle are the Brothers and Sisters of Dragons, determined to use the strange power that binds them to the land in a last, desperate attempt to save the human race. Church, Ruth, Ryan, Laura, and Shavi have joined forces with Tom, a hero from the mists of time, to wage a guerrilla war against the iron rule of the gods. But they didn''t count on things going from bad to worse ... Darkest Hour is the stunning continuation of a powerful fantasy saga by one of Britain''s most acclaimed young writers.

The Hounds of Avalon are coming... For these are the twilight days, when eternal winter falls and the gods destroy themselves in civil war... when an invasion force of ghastly power threatens to eradicate all life. Humanity''s last chance lies with two friends, as different as night and day, but bound together by an awesome destiny. Hunter: a warrior, a rake, an assassin; Hal: a lowly records clerk in a Government office. They must pierce a mystery surrounding the myths of King Arthur to find the dreaming hero who will ride out of the mists of legend to save the world. But time is running out, for when the Hounds of Avalon appear, all hope is lost...

After a long journey across the ages, Jack Churchill has returned to the modern world, only to find it in the grip of a terrible, dark force. The population is unaware, mesmerized by the Mundane Spell that keeps them in thrall. With a small group of trusted allies, Jack sets out to find the two "keys" that can shatter the spell. But the keys are people—one with the power of creation, one the power of destruction—and they are hidden somewhere among the world’s billions. As the search fans out across the globe, ancient powers begin to stir. In the bleak north, in Egypt, in Greece, in all the Great Dominions, the old gods are returning to stake their claim. The odds appear insurmountable, the need desperate. . . . This is a time for heroes.

An epic new novel of Ancient Egypt, from the Master of Historical Adventure, Wilbur Smith. FROM THE RUINS OF BATTLE A HERO MUST RISE FOR THE GLORY OF EGYPT Years of Hyksos rule have seen the plunder of once-mighty Egypt. Though the two kingdoms have now been reunited by the armies of the true Pharaoh, his position is perilous, his rule under threat from those who seek to take advantage of the turmoil created by the overthrow of the Hyksos. Desperate to keep Egypt united, Taita the Magus summons his protégé, Piay, to solve a millennia-old riddle which has the power to secure Egypt''s future forever. But in the tumult of war, an evil has thrived. Malevolent followers of Seth, the god of chaos, are determined to claim this power and usher in a new age of darkness. The fate of Egypt is at stake. Can Piay prevent their land falling into the hands of those who would see its ruin? Book 3 in The New Kingdom Sequence and book 9 in the Ancient Egyptian series from the master historical adventure writer, Wilbur Smith. Don''t miss House of Two Pharaohs, the next action-packed Egyptian adventure from Wilbur Smith. Coming August 2025.

Humanity has emerged, blinking, from the Age of Misrule into a world substantially changed: cities lie devasted, communications are limited, anarchy rages across the land. Society has been thrown into a new Dark Age where superstition holds sway. The Tuatha De Danaan roam the land once more, their terrible powers dwarfing anything mortals have to offer. And in their wake come all the creatures of myth and legend, no longer confined to the shadows. Fighting to find their place in this new world, the last remnants of the Christian Church call for a group of heroes: a new Knights Templar to guard the priesthood as they set out on their quest for souls. But as everything begin to fall apart, the Knights begin to realize their only hope is to call on the pagan gods of Celtic myth for help...

In Cancun, Mexico, police investigate a slaughter at a wedding ceremony. In Dublin, Ireland, the clientele of a backstreet pub are found dead. In Kyoto, Japan, the bullet train pulls into the station with blood-spattered windows. It is the time of the Black Sun. Across the world, the wolves are calling to each other. Locked in bodies that had no idea they were there, they rise from the depths of the unconscious and turn towards America . . . For Hellboy, it''s a race against time to prevent a devastating wave of primal savagery washing across the land. And so he is drawn to Boston''s Beacon Hill and the Grant Mansion, believed to be the most haunted house in New England, where the truth may lie buried.

BOOK 1 IN A THRILLING NEW ANCIENT EGYPTIAN SERIES, FROM INTERNATIONAL SENSATION WILBUR SMITH ''Best historical novelist'' - Stephen King ''A master storyteller'' - Sunday Times ''Wilbur Smith is one of those benchmarks against whom others are compared'' - The Times ''No one does adventure quite like Smith'' - Daily Mirror IN THE HEART OF EGYPT UNDER THE WATCHFUL EYE OF THE GODS A NEW POWER IS RISING In the city of Lahun, Hui lives an enchanted life. The favoured son of a doting father, and ruler-in-waiting of the great city, his fate is set. But behind the beautiful façades a sinister evil is plotting. Craving power and embittered by jealousy, Hui''s stepmother, the great sorceress Isetnofret, and Hui''s own brother Qen, orchestrate the downfall of Hui''s father, condemning Hui and seizing power in the city. Cast out and alone, Hui finds himself a captive of a skilled and powerful army of outlaws, the Hyksos. Determined to seek vengeance for the death of his father and rescue his sister, Ipwet, Hui swears his allegiance to these enemies of Egypt. Through them he learns the art of war, learning how to fight and becoming an envied charioteer. But soon Hui finds himself in an even greater battle - one for the very heart of Egypt itself. As the pieces fall into place and the Gods themselves join the fray, Hui finds himself fighting alongside the Egyptian General Tanus and renowned mage, Taita. Now Hui must choose his path - will he be a hero in the old world, or a master in a new kingdom? Book 1 in The New Kingdom Sequence and book 7 in the Ancient Egyptian series from the master historical adventure writer, Wilbur Smith. Don''t miss the rest of the epic Ancient Egyptian Series, available now. ''The New Kingdom'' was a Sunday Times bestseller w/e 05-09-2021.

BOOK 2 IN A THRILLING NEW ANCIENT EGYPTIAN SERIES, FROM INTERNATIONAL SENSATION WILBUR SMITH ''Best historical novelist'' - Stephen King ''A master storyteller'' - Sunday Times ''Wilbur Smith is one of those benchmarks against whom others are compared'' - The Times ''No one does adventure quite like Smith'' - Daily Mirror A RUTHLESS ENEMY. A CIVILIZATION IN RUINS. A QUEST FOR SALVATION. For over fifty years Egypt has known nothing but war and devastation at the hands of the Hyksos, a bloodthirsty barbarian people from the distant east who continue to advance, crushing armies in their wake. Times are desperate, but throughout the conflict, a brave resistance fights on under the great Taita, a slave who has risen far beyond his ranks. Piay, entrusted into Taita''s care by his parents at the age of just five, has been trained to become a great spy, unmatched by any other. Determined to prove his worth, he embarks on a dangerous mission to the north - to Mycenae and through the heart of Hyksos land and across the great sea - to find allies to help defend Egypt. As the situation becomes increasingly precarious, and the fate of the kingdom is hanging in the balance, can Piay succeed in his quest or will this mean the end of the glory that is Egypt once and for all? Book 2 in the New Kingdom sequence and Book 8 in the Ancient Egyptian series from international sensation Wilbur Smith. Don''t miss the next in the series, Testament, available now. ''Titans of War'' was a Sunday Times bestseller for w/e 04/09/2022.

From the fun of the fair to the depths of hell, experience sixteen more curses in this sequel to the bestselling Cursed: An Anthology. A blend of traditional and reimagined curses from fairy-tales to Snow White, from some of the best names in fantasy. BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU WISH FOR Take a trip to a terrifying carnival and uncover the secrets within, solve a mysterious puzzle box and await your reward, join a travelling circus and witness the strangest ventriloquist act you’ve ever seen. In this follow-up to the bestselling Cursed: An Anthology, you’ll unearth curses old and new. From a very different take on Snow White, to a new interpretation of The Red Shoes, the best in fantasy spin straw into gold, and invite you into the labyrinth. Just don’t forget to leave your trail of breadcrumbs… Featuring stories from: Joanne Harris Neil Gaiman Joe Hill Sarah Pinborough Angela Slatter M. R. Carey Christina Henry A. C. Wise Laura Purcell Katherine Arden Adam L. G. Nevill Mark Chadbourn Helen Grant Kelley Armstrong A. K. Benedict L. L. McKinney

A new Dark Age has fallen across Britain. With the sudden return of magic, our modern, technological society has crumbled. Cities lie in ruins, communications are limited. Gods and monsters walk the land. In this new time, myth and legend has become reality; nothing is quite as it seems. The plague came without warning. Nothing could stop its progress: not medicines, not prayer. The first sign of the disease is black spots at the base of the fingers; an agonizing death quickly follows. But this is no ordinary disease... Caitlin Shepherd, a lowly GP, is allowed to cross the veil into the mystical Celtic Otherworld in search of a cure; her search takes her on a quest to the end of a land of dreams and nightmares to petition the gods. Caitlin is humanity''s last hope, but she carries a terrible burden: a consciousness shattered into five distinct personalities... and one of them may not be human. The Queen of Sinister is the latest installment in Mark Chadbourn’s brilliant new sequence: exciting, evocative, terrifying, and awe-inspiring.

It is the beginning of the end . . . The end of the axe-age, the sword-age, leading to the passing of gods and men from the universe. As all the ancient prophecies fall into place, the final battle rages, on Earth, across Faerie, and into the land of the dead. Jack Churchill, Champion of Existence, must lead the Brothers and Sisters of Dragons in a last, desperate assault on the Fortress of the Enemy, to confront the ultimate incarnation of destruction: the Burning Man. It is humanity’s only chance to avert the coming extinction. At his back is an army of gods culled from the world’s great mythologies - Greek, Norse, Chinese, Aztec, and more. But will even that be enough? Driven to the brink by betrayal, sacrifice and death, his allies fear Jack may instead bring about the very devastation he is trying to prevent . . .

In Amulet van Wilbur Smith moet Piay het antwoord vinden op een eeuwenoud raadsel om de twee verdeelde koninkrijken van Egypte te verenigen. Zal het hem lukken zijn land te redden van de ondergang? In Amulet, het negende deel in de populaire Egypte-serie van bestsellerauteur Wilbur Smith, hebben jaren van Hyksos-heerschappij geleid tot de teloorgang van het eens zo machtige Egypte. Hoewel de huidige farao weer op zijn rechtmatige troon zit, is zijn macht broos – sommigen proberen te profiteren van de chaos die is ontstaan na de eerdere harde machtsstrijd. Wanhopig probeert de grote magiër Taita de twee verdeelde koninkrijken van Egypte te verenigen, en stuurt daarom zijn beschermeling, Piay, op een missie. Aan Piay de zware taak om het antwoord te vinden op een eeuwenoud raadsel, dat de vrede in Egypte voor altijd veilig zou kunnen stellen. Met het lot van zijn thuisland in zijn handen, snelt hij door de woestijn op zoek naar aanwijzingen om het raadsel op te lossen. Kan Piay voorkomen dat zijn geliefde land in handen valt van degenen die het ten onder willen zien gaan? Amulet is het razend spannende nieuwe deel in de succesvolle Egypte-reeks. ''Topamusement.'' – de Volkskrant ''De allerbeste historische romanschrijver.'' – Stephen King

Jack Churchill, archaeologist and dreamer, walks out of the mist and into Celtic Britain more than two thousand years before he was born, with no knowledge of how he got there. All Jack wants is to get home to his own time where the woman he loves waits for him. Finding his way to the timeless mystical Otherworld, the home of the gods, he plans to while away the days, the years, the millennia, until his own era rolls around again . . . but nothing is ever that simple. A great Evil waits in modern times and will do all in its power to stop Jack’s return. In a universe where time and space are meaningless, its tendrils stretch back through the years. Through Roman times, the Elizabethan age, Victoria’s reign, the Second World War, and the Swinging Sixties, the Evil sets its traps to destroy Jack. Mark Chadbourn gives us a high adventure of dazzling sword fights, passionate romance, and apocalyptic wars in the days leading up to Ragnarok, the End-Times: a breathtaking, surreal vision of twisting realities where nothing is quite what it seems.

Described as the X-Files meets Mission Impossible, a unique team of operatives, led by the mysterious Edgar Allan Raven, under the auspices of the organization called Raven, Inc., are brought together to investigate any and all cases of paranormal activity. Formed of both skeptics and believers alike, the team is often called in by local or government authorities when cases prove to be too bizarre, too unusual, or just plain unsolvable. Covering the entire spectrum of the unknown, from the supernatural to the dark side of man, Raven, Inc., searches for answers in areas that most people refuse to acknowledge even exists. This volume collects issues 13-16 and features the cases of "Leader of the Pack", "The Miracle Wonderland Carnival Company", "Spoonbenders", and "Heart of the Dragon". “Very impressed with Raven Chronicle....” - Craig T. Powell, freelance reviews.

Fantasy. Vidar is a man tormented, by a lost memory and a vampiric jewel that demands the life energy of others. Now, with a killer loose within his home city, Vidar must solve a three thousand year old religious mystery to unlock the terrifying secrets of his own past

Titanenstrijd is deel 8 in de geliefde Egypte-serie van Wilbur Smith en vertelt het verhaal van Taita en Piay, die hopen het koninkrijk te redden door in opstand te komen. Zal hun missie slagen? In Titanenstrijd, het achtste deel in de populaire Egypte-serie van bestsellerauteur Wilbur Smith, gaat Egypte al vijftig jaar gebukt onder talloze verwoestende oorlogen tegen de Hyksos, een bloeddorstig volk uit het verre oosten. Toch is er een sprankje hoop voor het oude Egypte: een kleine verzetsgroep geleid door de dappere Taita, een voormalig tot slaaf gemaakte, komt in opstand. Piay werd door zijn ouders aan Taita toevertrouwd toen hij nog maar vijf jaar was, en is inmiddels opgeleid tot een fantastische spion. Vastbesloten om zijn waarde te bewijzen, vertrekt hij op een gevaarlijke missie naar het noorden om bondgenoten te vinden. Maar de situatie wordt steeds wanhopiger, en het lot van het koninkrijk ligt in zijn handen. Slaagt Piay in zijn missie of is dit het einde van het eens zo glorieuze Egypte? Na onder andere Farao en Koninkrijk van de zon is Titanenstrijd een razend spannend nieuw avontuur in de succesvolle Egypte-reeks. ‘Topamusement.’ — de Volkskrant ‘De allerbeste historische romanschrijver.’ — Stephen King

Depuis le retour des dieux celtes de leur exil millénaire, c''est le chaos sur terre : la technologie a disparu, laissant place au mythe et à la magie, et le conflit originel entre la lumière et les ténèbres menace le monde. Entre les forces du bien et celles du mal se dressent cinq Frères et Soeurs des Dragons, bien décidés à utiliser leur pourvoir pour sauver les hommes.

Lorsque le plus grand héros de la cité d''Idriss est assassiné, c''est à Vidar, Seigneur du Silence, et à la Garde Pourpre qu''il revient d''enquêter. Mais Vidar est déjà un homme tourmenté : il a perdu la mémoire et possède, enchâssé dans la poitrine, un joyau vampirique qui réclame l''énergie vitale d''autrui. Aujourd''hui, alors qu''un meurtrier rôde à l''intérieur d''Idriss et que le péril grandit à l''extérieur, dans la forêt dense qui entoure la ville, Vidar doit résoudre un mystère religieux vieux de trois millénaires, qui dévoilera les terrifiants secrets de son propre passé.

1588: The London of Elizabeth I is rocked by news of a daring raid on the Tower. The truth is known only to a select few: that, for twenty years, a legendary doomsday device, its power fabled for millennia, has been kept secret and, until now, safe in the Tower. But it has been stolen and Walsingham''s spies believe it has been taken by the enemy.

A compulsive novel about a young woman hijacked by her own blind ambition and the blind love of two obsessive men.

The story of Bill and Liz Rich who experience unexplainable encounters after moving to Heol Fanog, a isolated house in Wales.