From back of book: Where do heroes come from? Well, obviously, many of them come from the ranks of heroes in training. But who are these heroes in training? Are they drawn solely from the noblest ranks, or from those whose heritage has been stolen away by diabolical enemies? Or are they ordinary people forced to pursue this career path by extraordinary circumstances?

Heroes in training can come from anywhere, and while some among them amy never rise to the level of the genuine hero, others will perform truly spectacular feats.

The thirteen stories in this volume introduce a fascinating assortment of would-be heroes: from two students at the Royal Academy of Damsel Arts who just couldn't seem to fit in...to a young witch who learns that even magical arts have their glass ceiling...to a young man sworn to defeat a pack of lycanthropes who were preying upon the region...to shape-shifter Esen forced unexpectedly into her first solo mission...

(Source: DAW)