Sianim Series by Patricia Briggs

Backed by an army of undead, Geoffrey ae'Magi, master of illusion, threatens to devour Aralorn's peaceful kingdom of Reth... — The ae'Magi is corrupt and yet irresistibly charismatic, the horror at his core shaded by a spell-cast mask of regal charm. Only a few have the will to resist his evil domination... like King Myr, dragon blessed, Wolf, driven by immortal rage, and Aralorn, weaponsmistress of the shapeshifting race... moreBacked by an army of undead, Geoffrey ae'Magi, master of illusion, threatens to devour Aralorn's peaceful kingdom of Reth... — The ae'Magi is corrupt and yet irresistibly charismatic, the horror at his core shaded by a spell-cast mask of regal charm. Only a few have the will to resist his evil domination... like King Myr, dragon blessed, Wolf, driven by immortal rage, and Aralorn, weaponsmistress of the shapeshifting race.Captured and brought to the Archmage's castle, Aralorn faces slow death by torture unless faithful Wolf can find her in a labrynth of power and shadows. less

Before Patricia Briggs penned her bestselling Mercy Thompson series, she cut her authorial teeth on a medieval fantasy called Masques. In it we meet Aralorn, a shapeshifter who fled her noble existence for a life of adventure as a mercenary spy. A jewel in the rough, Masques promised a sequel that never saw the light of day...until now. Together with the newly revised and updated first novel, Wolfsbane weaves a sinuous story of romance, danger, mystery, and magic... moreBefore Patricia Briggs penned her bestselling Mercy Thompson series, she cut her authorial teeth on a medieval fantasy called Masques. In it we meet Aralorn, a shapeshifter who fled her noble existence for a life of adventure as a mercenary spy. A jewel in the rough, Masques promised a sequel that never saw the light of day...until now. Together with the newly revised and updated first novel, Wolfsbane weaves a sinuous story of romance, danger, mystery, and magic. Masques & Wolfsbane delivers the first two tales of the Sianim saga in one fast and fiercely fun volume. In Masques, Aralorn and her companion Wolf—a shapeshifter whose feral form hides a mysterious past—are sent to fight Geoffrey ae’Magi, a sorcerer with dangerous plans for Aralorn’s homeland...and all mankind. But can they defeat his illusory magic—a power so great it transforms men and monsters into vacuous slaves? In Wolfsbane, Aralorn and Wolf must come to terms with their feelings for each other as they return home for her father’s funeral. Yet when they arrive, they learn that the Lyon of Lambshold is not dead, but trapped in a powerful spell. Can they find who’s behind it...before Aralorn falls to the blackest of magics? less

A SLAVE ON THE RUNWhen Rialla was young, slave traders from Darran ambushed her clan, killing all the men and enslaving the women and children. For years, Rialla lived in bondage, serving her master while waiting for a chance to escape. When that chance came, she made the best of it – and fled to the mercenary nation of Sianim...A SPY IN TRAININGNow she can strike back at her former masters. A lord in Darran seeks to outlaw slavery – but there are plots to kill him before he can... moreA SLAVE ON THE RUNWhen Rialla was young, slave traders from Darran ambushed her clan, killing all the men and enslaving the women and children. For years, Rialla lived in bondage, serving her master while waiting for a chance to escape. When that chance came, she made the best of it – and fled to the mercenary nation of Sianim...A SPY IN TRAININGNow she can strike back at her former masters. A lord in Darran seeks to outlaw slavery – but there are plots to kill him before he can. Rialla is chosen by the spymaster of Sianim to prevent the murder – and is plunged into a world of deadly magic, where gods walk in human form. Where her most trusted companions are not what they claim. And where Rialla could be enslaved again...A CHANCE FOR VENGEANCEAs a spy, Rialla realizes the danger of her mission. As a former slave, she realizes she has no choice. less

DON'T TRY THIS AT HOMEShamera had spent most of her young life as sorceress and thief, stealing from Southwood's nobility to survive. Now Sham must face the greatest test of her skills...A killer has struck Southwood, claiming the lives of nobles. Lord Kerim, Reeve of Southwood, turns to Sham for help. Posing as his mistress, she delves behind castle walls to find the killer. But this murderer is no mortal and Sham must use all of her magical wisdom to send the demon away... moreDON'T TRY THIS AT HOMEShamera had spent most of her young life as sorceress and thief, stealing from Southwood's nobility to survive. Now Sham must face the greatest test of her skills...A killer has struck Southwood, claiming the lives of nobles. Lord Kerim, Reeve of Southwood, turns to Sham for help. Posing as his mistress, she delves behind castle walls to find the killer. But this murderer is no mortal and Sham must use all of her magical wisdom to send the demon away. Because the city of Southwood has nowhere to hide--and no time to run... less

The exciting follow-up to New York Times #1 best-selling author Patricia Briggs' Masques features the further adventures of the shapeshifting mercenary Aralorn.Aralorn's dangerous existence has taken her far from her aristocratic roots and kept her from her homeland for more than a decade. Now, she must return home to mourn the death of her father, the Lyon of Lambshold... moreThe exciting follow-up to New York Times #1 best-selling author Patricia Briggs' Masques features the further adventures of the shapeshifting mercenary Aralorn.Aralorn's dangerous existence has taken her far from her aristocratic roots and kept her from her homeland for more than a decade. Now, she must return home to mourn the death of her father, the Lyon of Lambshold. But when Aralorn and her companion Wolf arrive, they discover that home is gone forever and they must take on an old enemy more sinister than they ever could have imagined. less