The Norothian Cycle Series by M. Edward McNally

"Matilda Lanai, she of the sickening fall and the miraculous, silt-spitting, quaking resurrection. It might be a sign at that. The Island girl wasn't stupid. She knew how to work. And she had it inside her to be ruthless. Block had seen it plain as day." Epic Fantasy, Muskets & Magic. Historical fiction in a fictional world.The Trade Houses of the Miilark Islands control the shipping lanes linking four diverse continents across the blue vastness of the Interminable Ocean... more"Matilda Lanai, she of the sickening fall and the miraculous, silt-spitting, quaking resurrection. It might be a sign at that. The Island girl wasn't stupid. She knew how to work. And she had it inside her to be ruthless. Block had seen it plain as day." Epic Fantasy, Muskets & Magic. Historical fiction in a fictional world.The Trade Houses of the Miilark Islands control the shipping lanes linking four diverse continents across the blue vastness of the Interminable Ocean. The Houses are represented abroad by the Guilders; men and women skilled in business and burglary, salesmanship and swordplay, merchandising and musketry. Tilda Lanai has trained for years to take her place among them, but now the House she is to serve is imperiled by the sudden death of the House Lord. Scenting blood in the water, rival Houses begin to circle. The desperate search for an exiled heir takes Tilda across a war-torn continent and to the gates of the Sable City, where centuries ago dark magic almost destroyed the world. Along with a sinister sorceress, a broken-hearted samurai, and a miscreant mercenary long on charm but lousy with a crossbow, Tilda must brave the demon-infested ruins to find the heir who may yet save her House.Volume I of the Norothian Cycle less

The Second Book of the Norothian Cycle (#1 The Sable City, #2 Death of a Kingdom, #3 The Wind from Miilark, #4 Devil Town).After a narrow escape from the Sable City, Tilda and company have arrived in Souterm, where the Duchess Claudja is able to contact the Emperor and announce that her home realm of Chengdea has accepted the Code... moreThe Second Book of the Norothian Cycle (#1 The Sable City, #2 Death of a Kingdom, #3 The Wind from Miilark, #4 Devil Town).After a narrow escape from the Sable City, Tilda and company have arrived in Souterm, where the Duchess Claudja is able to contact the Emperor and announce that her home realm of Chengdea has accepted the Code. While such an acceptance may stave-off invasion by Ayzantine forces, King Hughes of Daul will not take the betrayal well, and a new war threatens to erupt between the Empire and the River Kingdom.Meanwhile, Nesha-tari learns that she must perform additional tasks for her Blue Dragon Master before she will be allowed to return home. Together with others in the Dragon's service, the sorceress must enter the murderous world of Ayzant politics, where Crown, Church, and Cult vie for power.Epic fantasy, Muskets & Magic. Historical fiction in a fictional world. less

The third volume of the Norothian Cycle, wherein the exile, Jonathan Deskata, returns home to the Islands of Miilark. Sometimes late is not better than never.With the Trade House disbanded during John's absence and his Law Sister, Rhianne, reduced to poverty, the last of the Deskatas have no choice but to take up the ancient Island right of the blood vendetta, and turn to piracy on the high seas... moreThe third volume of the Norothian Cycle, wherein the exile, Jonathan Deskata, returns home to the Islands of Miilark. Sometimes late is not better than never.With the Trade House disbanded during John's absence and his Law Sister, Rhianne, reduced to poverty, the last of the Deskatas have no choice but to take up the ancient Island right of the blood vendetta, and turn to piracy on the high seas. The people of Miilark say that the Wind governs all lives, and the course upon which John and Rhianne are blown will bring them into conflict with worse things than enemy Houses. But with a little luck, John will cross paths with some old friends as well.The Norothian Cycle. Muskets, Magic, and Matilda Lanai. less

Volume Four of the Norothian Cycle. (#1 The Sable City, #2 Death of a Kingdom, #3 The Wind from Miilark)Princess Allison of Beoshore undertakes a mission to the Daulic city known as Devil Town since its occupation by infernal forces. The diabolic decision she is forced to make there may compromise herself, her friends, and the entire Empire of the Code... moreVolume Four of the Norothian Cycle. (#1 The Sable City, #2 Death of a Kingdom, #3 The Wind from Miilark)Princess Allison of Beoshore undertakes a mission to the Daulic city known as Devil Town since its occupation by infernal forces. The diabolic decision she is forced to make there may compromise herself, her friends, and the entire Empire of the Code.John Deskata and Nesha-tari struggle for control of the peninsulas of the central Norothian Channel, where the governments of Ayzantium and Martas have collapsed.Tilda Lanai returns to the Underway with a trio of old friends, carrying two warrants authorized by the Codian Empire. One of Arrest, and one of Death. It will fall to Tilda to decide which is delivered. less

Book V of the Norothian Cycle (#1 The Sable City, #2 Death of a Kingdom, #3 The Wind from Miilark, #4 Devil Town)One year after escaping the Sable City, Tilda Lanai and her friends are living within the Empire of the Code, but the darkness is never far behind them. The sorceress Nesha-tari is still locked in a civil war for the vacant throne of Ayzantium, and across the Channel the man now known as John the Red is ready to open a new war on behalf of the five dragons called the Gunnak... moreBook V of the Norothian Cycle (#1 The Sable City, #2 Death of a Kingdom, #3 The Wind from Miilark, #4 Devil Town)One year after escaping the Sable City, Tilda Lanai and her friends are living within the Empire of the Code, but the darkness is never far behind them. The sorceress Nesha-tari is still locked in a civil war for the vacant throne of Ayzantium, and across the Channel the man now known as John the Red is ready to open a new war on behalf of the five dragons called the Gunnak.John crosses the Channel at the head of an army, and the spark fired in the desolate hills of Ayzantium roars toward a conflagration intended to burn across all the lands of Noroth. The Gunnak mean to destroy whatever cannot be forced to bow - be it kingdoms, empires, or people quietly settling down after all they have been through.This may not have been a good time to start a family. less