Swords of Darkness

by L.C. Mortimer (Editor), Shaun Avery, Kathleen Danielson

A sword holds power.

A sword holds promise.

And a sword holds darkness.

L.C. Mortimer's editorial debut features tales of magic and darkness from authors who explore what it truly means to wield the power of a sword. From a courageous young lad who wants to honor his grandfather to an unlikely hero who will face anything to win the heart of the one he loves, these stories will lead you on adventures you won't be able to forget.

156 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2016

About the author

L.C. Mortimer was raised on a small farm in Kansas, which sparked her interest in going off the grid. Learning how to can, garden, and become self-reliant were all important parts of her upbringing. After pursuing her degree in English Literature, Mortimer traveled the country with her husband, living in Hawaii, Maryland, and everywhere in between. When she's not busy dreaming up her next story, Mortimer can be found stocking up on canned goods for the zombie apocalypse.

Reviews

[Aly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book for me. I like the fact it was shorter than most things I read. The stories were well written and engaging to me. I enjoyed it. * I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review*

[Debbie Eyre · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Swords of Darkness is a collection of nine short stories that question what it means to be human, what it means to be brave, and what it means to wield the power of a sword.”
After reading that who wouldn’t want to read this set? It’s written by some fantastic authors and each story is gripping and full of good versus evil, magic, twists and turns and a few surprises! A set I would definitely recommend!

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

ONE ACTION PACKED ANTHOLOGY!!!
Game on! These immensely gifted and talented authors presents an incredibly sensational anthology, presenting arresting storylines and gripping plots, melding this gem together sleek, shiny and tight. Toss in drama, intrigue, tension, secrets, turmoil, danger, mounting suspense and thrilling situations along with a boatload of chaos while dodging calamity, you have one mind-blowing masterpiece. The dynamics and countenance in layer upon layer that you peel back with each page your drawn into this web so deep until everything else ceases to exist. Presenting incredibly, well rounded scenario's, ramping up the exuberance and adrenaline with such intensity and precision, grounding in it's strength and awe-inspiring in it's depth. Forging through the trials and tribulations, noting the astonishing twists and wicked turns, testing our characters in ways they could have never envisioned. Anarchy, escapades and havoc run amuck, kicking this gem into a roaring tempest, blasting it into a tailspin with a life-altering denouement. This bad boy showcases 100% on point realism, kicking up a churning vortex of fervent events and enticing circumstances, blasting this baby into a tailspin with a mind-blowing culmination. The attraction and chemistry sizzles, alluring and mesmerizing, binding them to one another perfectly. The characters are complex and authentic with depth and traits that blend and flow smoothly transforming into genuinely relatable personalities. The scenes are strikingly sharp with abundant details and descriptions creating a colorful backdrop that makes the storyline pop. Remarkable job guys, thanks for sharing this little treasure with us.

[Andra Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Swords of Darkness is a collection of short stories by different authors. Each story has a sword in it in some way. It is not necessarily the focus but is integral to the story. L.C. Mortimer is the editor of the book. L.C. Mortimer explains in the preface that other than including the sword in the stories, there was no different prompt, so the authors were free to take their story wherever their imaginations lead them. What a great concept.

The stories also vary in genre. Some are fantasy, while others are more on the suspense, supernatural/paranormal end. Each story is enjoyable and easy to read, with a few ah-ha moments. The characters in these short stories are developed quite well. Most of the authors are not known to me, and some of them are not full-time authors. They all wrote entertaining stories.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Emily Pennington · Rating 4 out of 5]

SWORDS OF DARKNESS is a collection of nine short stories that question, through the telling of tales of magic and darkness, what it means to be human, what it means to be brave, and what it means to wield the power of a sword, with the sword being the primary focus of each author’s approach. You will read about a courageous young lad who wants to honor his grandfather, and an unlikely hero who will face anything to win the heart of the one he loves. Titles included are: The Price of Ambition, Hallows Eve Street, A Test of His Metal, Reynard and the Dragon, The Soul Road, Dance of Swords, The Curse of Ennerath, The Sword of Hexworthy Manor, and The Vourdelak.

Grab your copy and immerse yourself in this wonderful variety of stories the authors have put together for your entertainment. The reading order doesn’t matter, so choose whatever strikes your fancy at the moment! With this variety being offered, you are certain to find quite a few that will become favorites!

[Pat Eroh · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love anthologies because I do not always have time to read long, drawn-out stories and when a short story is really good, like most of these, I feel like I hit the jackpot. I mean to write a good short story means the author is talented because they have to capture the audience, build the character, and tell the story in less time. This anthology has enough great stories in it that it is definitely worth the read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Christinaraven · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love anthologies and this one was a blast to read. It was a great way for me to try new authors who wrote a story based on the basic theme of a sword. The worlds and stories that the authors came up with were both different yet fun to read about. They were well written and entertaining to read. They had lots of action, danger, love , enemies, intrigue, and a whole other fun times to be had. I laughed and groaned but had to read them all to see what the next one would be about. Just a good anthology.

[sherri jones-teachout · Rating 4 out of 5]

In just a few pages, these stories manage to convey messages about good and evil. Short stories about good triumphing over evil, and a valuable lesson being learned. Fighting demons, dragons, or just evil men hurting others, these hero’s take on quests to stop injustices and right wrongs. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Scarolet Ellis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Swords of Darkness by L.C. Mortimer is an awesome set of nine short stories. I loved reading these shrt stories and I can not wait to read what comes next from these authors. I highly recommend this book to everyone who loves reading about fantasy.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Reena · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing anthology of short stories, perfect for a break from daily routine. Read one at a time or all at once, the choice is yours, but you'll definitely love each and every one of them. Highly recommended!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the stories in this collection of short stories. They were filled with drama and suspense. The characters were interesting and entertaining. I liked the collection though some stories were so interesting I would have liked to read more about them.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new Author to me what great stories I will be looking for more by this Author.Once I started reading I was not putting the book down. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Kety · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short stories that will kept reading until the end...
Surprises... twists... magic and darkness...
A book-set for all that love magic and right wrongs

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Christina Luberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good bunch of short stories you could read on your lunch break. Who can wield the Power? I think you will enjoy these short stories.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Heather Bane · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book. The characters and storyline are enjoyable and well written. The storyline drew me in and kept my attention throughout. I would recommend reading.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.