Enter the Blackhole
Want to witness the birth of universes? Experience beauty beyond imagination - and horror beyond comprehension? Play a deadly game of cat and mouse across the cosmos? Navigate political intrigue that could reshape reality itself? And maybe make some friends along the way? Just enter the Blackhole if you dare.
Skrean Time
Eugene Van Meyer has trudged through life under the weight of poor self-esteem and a willingness to accept less than he deserves. Now he is in a position of power and responsibility for which he previously could only dream about, but with it comes a significant caveat: working for the nefarious and emotionally abusive Hamelton Skrean. Skrean has put Eugene in charge of a time-traveling technology with orders to find William J. Allerspan. Allerspan, one of the nation's first governors of color, disappeared without a trace forty years ago as he considered making another run for the state's highest office. And what of one Clancy Wigwort, the man who developed the theoretical basis for time visitation? What connection does he have to Skrean? Eugene makes it his mission to find out the truth. It is the assignment of a lifetime, yet his boss's obvious need for information, power and fame conflicts with Eugene's ethics. Plus, the longer he is able to drag out his assignment, the longer he can interact with the beautiful Cidally Short, his secret crush to the nth degree. Ultimately, Eugene has decisions to make. Does he complete his mission or defy his authoritarian employer? Does he let the cycle of time play itself out or use the technology to rewind and replay time? His decisions will impact more than just his own destiny.
Project Hail Mary
【比爾．蓋茲專文推薦】 「我會向任何想要來點消遣的人推薦這本書。即便你不是科幻小說的忠實粉絲，《極限返航》也是個關於兩位朋友利用科學和工程拯救世界的精彩故事。」 （全文請見：www.gatesnotes.com/Books/Project-Hail-Mary） & 寫實派科幻大師安迪．威爾繼《火星任務》、《月球城市》後，最新曠世巨作！ & 萊倫・格雷斯在一艘太空船上醒來，視線所及只有兩具屍體，還有扮演看護角色的機械手臂。他對自己的身分一無所知，更別說為什麼一覺醒來就離開地球表面。隨著記憶的碎片逐漸重組，悲痛、恐懼、憤怒也如潮水般襲來── 太陽逐漸冷卻，人類面臨存亡危機！宇宙間一道神祕紅線正竊取太陽能量，全球暖化成為唯一生存之道。專家預測在不久的將來，世界各地生物群系會產生劇變，糧食困乏將導致35億以上人口邁向死亡。為了阻止災難發生，全球頂尖學者放下成見，聯手打造出人類史上最艱鉅的救援行動──聖母計畫。 肩負拯救地球的使命，格雷斯不得不獨自航向十幾光年外的星系，解開神秘紅線之謎，同時明白這是一趟有去無回的自殺任務。在絕望之際，一位意料之外的訪客現身，也讓他重燃返航的希望。究竟格雷斯能否以人類英雄之名重返地球？抑或他會墜落星際，在虛無太空中永恆漂流？ 超越國族、星系的友情與無私的愛，將是拯救所有物種的最終解答。 孤獨的太空人 x 不可能的星際任務 x 超乎想像的盟友 一部精彩、感人、令人欲罷不能的寫實科幻經典！ & 極限返航 中文版由 三采 出版 & ******* & Ryland Grace is the sole survivor on a desperate, last-chance mission - and if he fails, humanity and the earth itself will perish. & Except that right now, he doesn't know that. He can't even remember his own name, let alone the nature of his assignment or how to complete it. & All he knows is that he's been asleep for a very, very long time. & And he's just been awakened to find himself millions of miles from home, with nothing but two corpses for company. & His crewmates dead, his memories fuzzily returning, Ryland realizes that an impossible task now confronts him. & Hurtling through space on this tiny ship, it's up to him to puzzle out an impossible scientific mystery-and conquer an extinction-level threat to our species. & And with the clock ticking down and the nearest human being light-years away, he's got to do it all alone. & Or does he? & An irresistible interstellar adventure as only Andy Weir could imagine it,Project Hail Mary is a tale of discovery, speculation, and survival to rival The Martian -- while taking us to places it never dreamed of going.
The Lord of the Rings 4 books Boxed Set 魔戒三部曲套書+外傳
NATIONAL BESTSELLER - The complete four-book boxed set of the greatest fantasy epic of all time: The Lord of the Rings and its enchanting prequel, The Hobbit When Thorin Oakenshield and his band of dwarves embark upon a dangerous quest to reclaim the hoard of gold stolen from them by the evil dragon Smaug, Gandalf the wizard suggests an unlikely accomplice: Bilbo Baggins, an unassuming Hobbit dwelling in peaceful Hobbiton. Along the way, the company faces trolls, goblins, giant spiders, and worse. But as they journey from the wonders of Rivendell to the terrors of Mirkwood and beyond, Bilbo will find that there is more to him than anyone--himself included--ever dreamed. Unexpected qualities of courage and cunning, and a love of adventure, propel Bilbo toward his great destiny . . . a destiny that waits in the dark caverns beneath the Misty Mountains, where a twisted creature known as Gollum jealously guards a precious magic ring. This boxed set includes: THE HOBBITTHE FELLOWSHIP OF THE RING THE TWO TOWERSTHE RETURN OF THE KING
Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West 女巫前傳
The #1 New York Times bestseller and basis for the Tony-winning hit musical, and smash hit movie series starring Cynthia Erivo and Ariana GrandeWith millions of copies in print around the world, Gregory Maguire's Wicked is established not only as a commentary on our time but as a novel to revisit for years to come. Wicked relishes the inspired inventions of L. Frank Baum's 1900 novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, while playing sleight of hand with our collective memories of the 1939 MGM film starring Margaret Hamilton (and Judy Garland). In this fast-paced, fantastically real, and supremely entertaining novel, Maguire has populated the largely unknown world of Oz with the power of his own imagination. Years before Dorothy and her dog crash-land, another little girl makes her presence known in Oz. This girl, Elphaba, is born with emerald-green skin--no easy burden in a land as mean and poor as Oz, where superstition and magic are not strong enough to explain or overcome the natural disasters of flood and famine. Still, Elphaba is smart, and by the time she enters Shiz University, she becomes a member of a charmed circle of Oz's most promising young citizens.But Elphaba's Oz is no utopia. The Wizard's secret police are everywhere. Animals--those creatures with voices, souls, and minds--are threatened with exile. Young Elphaba, green and wild and misunderstood, is determined to protect the Animals--even if it means combating the mysterious Wizard, even if it means risking her single chance at romance. Ever wiser in guilt and sorrow, she can find herself grateful when the world declares her a witch. And she can even make herself glad for that young girl from Kansas. Recognized as an iconoclastic tour de force on its initial publication, the novel has inspired the blockbuster musical of the same name--one of the longest-running plays in Broadway history. Popular, indeed. But while the novel's distant cousins hail from the traditions of magical realism, mythopoeic fantasy, and sprawling nineteenth-century sagas of moral urgency, Maguire's Wicked is as unique as its green-skinned witch.
Glinda
In the fractured kingdom of Oz, "goodness" is an illusion, power belongs to the persuasive, and one choice can shape a destiny. Born into privilege but tainted by scandal, Glinda Fairmoor's life changes forever when she defies tradition by choosing a forbidden Pink gem at her Moonshine Coronation--the same once chosen by Seraphina, the Forsaken Witch of legend.Branded an outcast, Glinda navigates the brutal world of SilverCrest Academy, forging an unlikely bond with Ominson and a tense sisterhood with Gisella, the prophesied saviour of Oz. But behind Oz's shimmering facade lies a darker truth: her father, Dainhurst, leads a campaign to destroy magic under the guise of prophecy.Forced into uneasy alliance with the manipulative Wizard of Oz, Glinda is drawn into a web of lies, betrayal, and loss--including the transformation of her closest friend, Zelphira, into the Wicked Witch of the West. As Dorothy Gale's arrival threatens to unravel everything, Glinda must confront her complicity and reclaim her stolen power.GLINDA: The GOOD Witch is a powerful reimagining of Oz--where legends are shaped by survivors, and the price of legacy is never paid in gold.
Hand Me Downs
A Haunting LegacyJohn and Branwen face challenges as a couple--his violent past and her unwanted pregnancy. Just when life threatens to overwhelm them, Branwen receives an offer of help from an unlikely source.Now, John must face his lifelong fears to find the strength to fight an ancient power and save Branwen from her family legacy.But first, John and Branwen must stop hiding things--from each other and from themselves--and learn to face the truth, no matter their fear of the consequences. A page-turning tale of love and sacrifice.An excerpt from Hand Me Downs: John was in the grips of an insistent memory that wouldn't let him rest.Whenever an upsetting memory caught at him like this, especially from his difficult seventeenth year, John had learned long ago it was best not to resist. Something inside was going to have its way with him. Fighting would only make it worse.This particular memory hadn't demanded his attention for so long. Until tonight, he'd dared hope he was done with this one.The odd solitude of an overnight flight was preferable to a huge family gathering for this sort of ordeal, and certainly better than the twisted filter of his nightmares.At least while he was awake, he knew the worst night of his life was when he'd at last started to take control and change the course he was on.His dreaming life gave him no such relief.
Medusa Untold
Medusa, a young priestess and medicine woman in the land of Joro, only wants to help people, worship the gods, serve the crown, and raise the child she took in years ago. What she doesn't realize is she's the focal point of not one, but two lust triangles. She devotes her life to the crown and gods of Joro, a land that is not her home, and that same crown and gods betray her. Through the betrayals, Medusa gains powers beyond what any being in her galaxy has ever seen. The gods of the gods, known as The Elders, and the mortals of Joro each launch an all-out war to find and destroy Medusa, and anyone associated with her, including her daughter, Sisay. That is the one thing Medusa will not let happen.Betraying Medusa was their first mistake. Underestimating her would be their last.
Ancient British Folklore Reimagined
Ancient British Folklore Reimagined in VerseStep into the world of the Fabled Gable, where Roman Britain's waning empire collides with myth, magic, and the timeless folklore of Britain. The Hollow Vale weaves lyrical poetry with Arthurian echoes, Cornish legends, and the sacred landscapes of Somerset and the West Country-spanning misty hills, sacred rivers, and ancient sites such as Stonehenge and Glastonbury Tor. Here, ancestral spirits stir, forgotten gods whisper, and old roads and standing stones become the stage for stories of memory, wonder, and enchantment.This collection, part of a five-volume Fabled Gable series, explores the journey of Caelwyn, the Bellbearer, whose dreams awaken the Deep Wyrd, the primeval current of magic that binds the land. From ritualised verse and the imagined Tharionese language to seasonal tales and haunting myths, these poems trace the fragile threads between history and imagination, loss and remembrance. Wander mist-shrouded moors, hear the toll of invisible bells, and encounter legendary creatures in a Britain that is as magical as it is eternal.
Cheerleaders from Planet X
Aliens are among us. And humanity's only hope just happens to carry pom-poms.Laura Clark thought she was just your average college freshman-until the day she saw a cheerleader on a skateboard get into a superhuman brawl with a lightning-wielding stranger in a trenchcoat. And the weirdest thing of all? Nobody else saw it happen. Nobody, that is, except the beautiful but standoffish Shailene, one of the mysterious (and possibly super-powered) cheerleaders from Laura's rival school, Bayview University.When girls start disappearing all over the City, Laura suddenly realizes that she may have seen more than she should. And if she wants to keep from disappearing herself, she needs to find some answers. But though Laura can't shake the feeling that they're somehow connected, Shailene is more than a little reluctant to share her secrets. With strange, bug-like creatures and a sinister man in a dark coat stalking her every step, Laura will have to uncover the truth fast if she wants to survive.The fate of the planet just might hang in the balance.
Into the Time Pool
When the news that a time machine has been invented, the maintenance workers of a spaceship risk their lives to escape through time, their last chance at freedom. This debut novel is a combination of historical and science-fiction to create an adventure where the main character feels that the modern world has enslaved life and is determined to go back and obtain his identity and freedom. Journey through pivotal points in history with the protagonist, X506 who looks to enjoy life and try to alter history so that humanity may never reach the stars and unleash the horrors of his existence.
The Darkling Queen
A new queen rules the world. Only the Gallows Girl knows she is a tyrant.The Saints have prevailed. The chancellor has been defeated, and a new empire has risen in his place. An empire built by lowborns and sorcerers from many nations. Led by the newly crowned Queen of Light, Medea Lorzarre, they seek to spread their message of freedom and revolution across the New World.Only the Gallows Girl knows that the queen has fooled them all. Believed to be dead and stripped of her magic and allies, Tori Burodai longs for a chance to expose the Darkling Queen for what she truly is. Her quest for allies takes her to new and dangerous parts of the world.But Medea is not the only looming threat. The chancellor maneuvers his way into a new position of power, with a terrible scheme to take back his throne, no matter the cost.Meanwhile, a new threat lurks in the shadows. A mysterious hunter who is abducting sorcerers across the Southern World for an unknown purpose. All dark secrets must come to light, but the truth may change everything.Can Tori find a way to regain her magic and resist the Darkling Queen? If she fails, the revolution she began may succeed in destroying the world.Don't miss the thrilling third installment of the Shadow Watch series! Perfect for fans of Wheel of Time and the Riftwar Saga.
Thread the Bone (Illustrated Edition)
The gods waged war, and she was the price.Born in the image of the Creator, she was meant to be eternal-until the war took her life. In his grief, her father shattered her soul, scattering its pieces across time itself. Then, he trapped the children of every god who had a hand in her fate within an endless cycle of rebirth, including her forbidden love.Now, they are bound to the loop, drawn to each other in every lifetime, only to forget before they can break free. Until one of them remembers.As the memories unravel, so does the fragile balance of their world. If they can't escape the cycle and stop the Creator's descent into madness, time itself will collapse-taking their world with it.Fate brought them together. Love will set them free. But only if they can remember before it's too late.
UnVeiled
In the shrouded village of Veil, people born with the ability to manipulate the Energy of the world have lived in peaceful seclusion for centuries. Contact with the outside world of Reality is strictly forbidden for all but Riders, the elite warrior class.As an apprentice Source Mage, Lani is destined to create the portals between worlds but never traverse them firsthand - until she inadvertently binds her Energy to Real-worlder Rand. Now they will both die unless Lead Rider Aaro! can locate Rand and convince him to leave Reality and come to Veil.All hopes of a quick and quiet mission are lost when they are ambushed by someone who knows the one weakness of every Veiler and isn't afraid to use it.
Building and Destroying a Love
In the kingdom of Mothos, love is not a feeling-it is a monument built of gold and sacrifice. Carlein Hosroes Mothos is a Queen who conquered worlds but could not conquer her own heart. When she falls for a force that seeks the "Abolition of Light," her world is cleaved in two. One side of the mirror holds the Warrior-Queen, struggling to preserve the light; the other holds a Tormentor, a Villain dedicated to the exquisite art of destruction.
The Familial Love I Lost
The Familial Love I Lost is a haunting romantic tragedy about inheritance-not of wealth or blood, but of emotional absence. Through dreams, desire, rage, and grief, Edielen Midrav Castre navigates a life shaped by the love her family never gave her and the love she endlessly searched for in others. This is a story for those who learned too early that love can exist and still abandon you.
Monarch of Lightning
Someone is killing heirs to the throne of Lorcha. Monarch Janvian, the only hope for the bloodline, is next. Nowhere is safe, not even with her own clan. She is forced to flee across a lightning-ravaged desert. There she hopes to find shelter with the mysterious Mirage Clan of her grandfather's stories, a people who may not exist.She leaves the country in the care of a society of mystics with their own secret plans for the future of Lorcha. They agree to rule the country in her place with a chilling condition. Janvian must return in one year to reclaim the throne or lose it forever for herself and the child she carries.While Janvian seeks refuge, it is up to her rigid uncle and free-spirited sister to hide her absence and keep the clans united. Surprising enemies and unlikely allies surface in the effort to prevent the country from deteriorating into civil war.Lorcha, a country plagued by clan conflicts and broken alliances on a storm-ravaged planet, may fall into chaos. And Janvian might not survive.Sword and sorcery, romance and adventure on another planet.
The Ordeal of Lancelot Biggs
Well, like it says in the old adage, "Things equal to the same thing gather no moss." When the Corporation that under-pays us snatched the Saturn off the freight shuttle and turned it into a trouble-shooter for special assignments, we thought we were getting a break. Huh! We were. "Break" is just another word for "bust." The result of our alleged "promotion" was that for a fractional increase in salary we worked twice as hard at jobs ten times nastier than any we had ever tackled before. Like for instance the night Cap Hanson and I-I'm Bert Donovan, bug-pounder of the Saturn-were at the home of Lt. and Mrs. Lancelot Biggs. Biggs is, of course, the First Mate of our void-mangling jalopy. A year ago he married the skipper's daughter, Diane.We were sitting around, chatting about this and that and the other inconsequential truffle, trying to look calmer than we actually felt, when the telephon
Lancelot Biggs, Master Navigator
Everything happens to me. We finished taking on cargo at 13:10, Solar Constant Time, and I went to my turret for firing orders from the Sun City spacedrome officer. I plugged in the audio and stared into the familiar pan of Commander Allonby. I said, "Freight lugger Saturn preparing to up gravs, Commander. Standing by for the O.Q." His jaw dropped like a barometer in a cyclone. He gasped, "You, Sparks? And the Saturn? What in blue space are you doing in port?" "Don't look now," I advised him, "but we've been here since day before yesterday. Matter of fact, you and me h'isted elbows together last night at the Cosmic Bar, remember?" "Remember?" he howled. "How could I? The last I heard of you, Cap Hanson was running the Saturn through the planetoids on some sort of cockeyed transmutation experiment![1] When did you get back? How did you-?"
The Downfall Of Lancelot Biggs
We were about three hours out of Long Island Spaceport, and I had just finished swapping farewell insults with Joe Marlowe, head bug-pounder at Lunar III, when the door of my radio turret slid open and in slithered-if round things can slither-Cap Hanson, skipper of our gallant space-going scow, the Saturn. The Old Man's eyes were as wide as a lady bowler's beam, and his face, which boasts a pale mauve hue even under normal circumstances, was now a ripe, explosive fuchsia. He jammed a pudgy forefinger against his lips. "Shh!" he shhed. He squeezed in and closed the door behind him, shot a nervous glance about the room, then wheezed throatily, "Is there anybody here, Sparks?"
Fanshawe
Unravel a tale where mystery, ambition, and haunting landscapes intertwine.In the corridors of a secluded New England college and the surrounding ancient woods, a poignant love triangle emerges among shadows and secrets.This narrative weaves together identity, passion, and the relentless past with a gothic allure.Witness the entangled lives of characters as they navigate love and ambition in an atmospheric setting that intensifies their deepest fears and desires.
Descendant of Earth
The third in the Earth's Legends series, following after Earth's Guardian; Asja, the descendent of Gardien, has been displaced from the world she once called home, has lost her family, her friends, and has been recruited to fight in a centuries long war. Reality is slowly dying, and apparently it's her responsibility to bring an end to all the destruction and death. Can she do it? Or is she just one more chapter in a longer story?
A Lion's Pride
A Life Spent Alone A thousand years have passed since Sinha evolved into an asura with the ability to transform into a lion and a man. Left to live in the mortal realm-knowledge alone will not suffice for experience-he seeks out his reincarnates from his ancient past, who serve as guides.No Veil Between Worlds Hungry ghosts and demons prey on the human population surrounding the city of sages, Khankal.In the Shadows, Sinha's Ancient Enemy Plots His Revenge.
Dragons of Janaidar and Elijah, The Stolen Man
High fantasy meets modern sci-fi.A mad sorceress sings the Pillars-of-Thoth alive-azure magicfire erupting all around her. She searches for a savior as beast-headed invaders from eons past have returned from the far reaches of the galaxy to enslave her people. As Keeper of the Archives she knows a terrible secret-a powerful artificial intelligence known as the WuShi survives hidden deep within the Cape of Orion forever suppressed by the Guardian Dragons of Janaidar. Her forbidden song spell awakens the powerful ancient alien hyper-sapient AI into its most dangerous state. Transforming dark energy into source energy, the untethered AI charges its accumulators and generates a transdimensional-arc that tears an enormous gaping hole between worlds to find a suitable candidate.On Earth a swirling vortex violently materializes through the side of Elijah's house. Peering through the shifting tunnel, he sees a beautiful sorceress on fire with azure flame. Without warning a young fire-dragon dives straight through the transdimensional rift and sets him aflame. And yet he does not die but is stolen onto Janaidar. The WuShi heals him, claims him, and terrifyingly transforms him from a human into something else.
The Adventures of Juuji & the Mutants!
Reviewed by Jennifer Ibiam for Readers' FavoriteMutants scavenged planet Earth and feasted on humans and animals. Juuji gathered his friends into a makeshift rocket and flew off to Mars. But Mars didn't support some situations, and there were problems. One of Juuji's friends, Asiim, remained in a cradle at nine years old. She stopped growing, and only a trip to the magic spring would heal her. Another friend, a caterpillar called The Bus, also needed to gain its wings and fly Asiim to the healing spring. Juuji had his work cut out for him in his desperation to grow the life- changing pineapple species that will give The Bus a pair of wings.Will Juuji ever achieve the groundbreaking experiment of his dreams? Find out in Juuji & The Pineapples in Mars!, written and illustrated by Martin Ntonjira.Juuji & The Pineapples in Mars is a captivating fantasy novel for children between two and ten years. The book was brief with a solid plot and an educative storyline for people of all ages. Juuji and his friends were in a situation that mirrored our daily struggles. The story was relatable and reiterated that determination and consistency yield results. However, there are always bumps along the way, but we must persevere and remain positive. Of course, we encounter people like Nim who wouldn't believe in us until they saw results. Others may also tire of us, and that's okay. We must listen to the Lims in our lives. Martin Ntonjira is an incredible storyteller.He uses a simple and fun writing style that will hold a child's attention. The story was beautiful, and I recommend it to everyone.
Death of a Curator
When a series of gruesome murders at the Soar Museum leaves victims dissolved into necrotic slime, Lowe is the man on the spot. In the shadow-drenched alleys of Soar, Inspector Jana Lowe is walking a treacherous line. His badge restored but his Class still stripped, he's a man with precious little to lose and a desire to reclaim his former glory. Delving into the city's underbelly, Lowe confronts Grackle Nuroon over a conspiracy with more twists than the labyrinthine Dungeons lurking beneath their feet. With each clue uncovered, Lowe begins unlocking Skills the Council would rather remain buried.But progression comes at a price. As godly forces transform parts of the city into a Dungeon, Lowe must navigate deadly traps, battle monstrous entities, and outwit adversaries who are not at all what they seem. With his Level steadily rising, the stakes raise even higher. Can Lowe grind his way?Because remember; in Soar, the past isn't just a memory-it's the endgame bos
Wrath Rising
When the war started, Jax was filled with hope, a belief that everything was possible... now he has only his rage and hatred to carry him forward.Himnel. Narkolt. Gaij. The cities that have stood against him have learned the cost, but now, as Jax is forced to stand alone, to stare into the abyss and see what his own mistakes have brought about, Kronk dares to raise its head and threaten him.They're about to find out why he's called the Godslayer.The gods have a plan-gather ten divine fragments, ascend to godhood, and face an evil that has survived for millennia. But divine fragments don't come gift-wrapped. They're held by demigods, tyrants, and things that make the Dark Legion look like amateurs.Every fragment Jax binds tears him apart and rebuilds him stronger. Every victory costs him a piece of his humanity. And every day that passes, the clock ticks down.The Continent of Carrmor is far larger and its civilization older than Dravith, but that just means there's more ruins to explore, more secrets to uncover, and more powerful enemies to crush beneath his boots.Kronk is only the beginning. Lembiq awaits. The Dark Legion regroups. And an ancient entity watches from the shadows, counting down the days.It's time to take the gloves off.
G581
G581: Plague Tales II is the second gripping anthology of science fiction stories set in Christine Shuck's Gliese 581g universe. In the near future, devastated by a relentless virus and a planet-killing asteroid on a collision course with Earth, humanity teeters on the edge of extinction.Within these pages, you'll encounter scientists racing against time to find a cure, families torn apart by illness, and survivors facing impossible odds as they attempt to rebuild from the ashes. Each of the dozen short stories offers a unique lens into a fractured world, where resilience, love, and loss define the human experience.Packed with heart-pounding tension and unforgettable characters, G581: Plague Tales II is perfect for fans of apocalyptic fiction and thought-provoking sci-fi. Open the book-and prepare to journey into humanity's darkest hours... and its fiercest fight to survive.
Hand Me Downs
A Haunting LegacyJohn and Branwen face challenges as a couple-his violent past and her unwanted pregnancy. Just when life threatens to overwhelm them, Branwen receives an offer of help from an unlikely source.Now, John must face his lifelong fears to find the strength to fight an ancient power and save Branwen from her family legacy.But first, John and Branwen must stop hiding things-from each other and from themselves-and learn to face the truth, no matter their fear of the consequences. A page-turning tale of love and sacrifice.An excerpt from Hand Me Downs: Trapped in a waking nightmare with no escape.
John caught Branwen as she collapsed, unable to do anything but stand there with her in his arms. His ears still rang from her screams, but distant pain where she'd hit him had barely started to filter through. 
He nearly dropped her when someone knocked at the door. He lifted her enough to carry her into the bathroom and put her in the chair by the window as carefully as he could. 
By the time he made it back the bedroom, Fiona opened the door.
"John? What's happened? Someone up here heard a scream?"
She sounded almost as frightened as he felt, and his brain finally lurched back into gear.
"It's nothing, mice in the firewood." He hoped she wouldn't catch the trembling in his voice. "I took care of the poor things. Branwen went in to take a bath. We're both fine."
"Oh, poor Minnie. She'll be disappointed to have missed her chance for a bit of hunting. That's what I get for locking her up in my office. I'm so sorry for the fright, dear. Will you take some tea?"
John managed to smile. He wished Fiona's sweet housecat could solve a problem this big.

Seven Seats Of Lenlore
Captured and led deep into the wilds of Rawlenlore, Araleya finds herself surrounded by enemies-and guarded by warriors who have sworn to protect her. Their shared goal: to uncover the long-lost Great Hall and, within its walls, the truth of who-or what-she really is.Is she the prophesied Nyralae...or a witch? The answer waiting inside the fabled hall may cost more than any of them are prepared to give.As the doors close behind them, ancient foes are forced into an uneasy alliance, bound by a power none understand-least of all the young woman at its center.Armies march. Kingdoms burn. And Araleya, sword in hand, must face the truth of her calling, in a place where legends awaken and destinies are sealed.Volume II of Stephen River's epic fantasy seriesARALEYA SAGA is once again a heart-pounding adventure filled with magic, hidden histories and breathtaking world-building. This is a tale that will keep readers turning pages long into the night.
Invasion
The good news: Tom and his guild won the war for Dallas.The bad news: Space pirates are still on their way-and they aren't bringing a gift basket.After blasting vending machine monsters, fighting in a Mexican standoff, and surviving the least user-friendly apocalypse imaginable, Tom thought he'd finally get a break. Instead, he's knee-deep in problems that can't be solved with sword swings or witty sarcasm.There's a city to rebuild, guild members to train, and a never-ending list of disasters to manage. With problems like a ghost in the Guild hall, a murder mystery unfolding in the middle of town, and someone, somehow, trying to organize a committee meeting about snack distribution, Tom must rely on his friends to help organize the Guild so they aren't destroyed from within.Worse, the pirates haven't given up. Their ships are getting closer, their tech is terrifying, and Tom's pretty sure a vending machine just called him expendable.With time running out and doomsday on the calendar-again-Tom and his friends must race to prepare for Earth's next unwanted DLC. Because when galactic war comes knocking, you don't get a patch. You get patch notes. On fire.The war for Earth isn't over. It's just changing terms and conditions.
The Adventures of Juuji & the Mutants!
Reviewed by Jennifer Ibiam for Readers' FavoriteMutants scavenged planet Earth and feasted on humans and animals. Juuji gathered his friends into a makeshift rocket and flew off to Mars. But Mars didn't support some situations, and there were problems. One of Juuji's friends, Asiim, remained in a cradle at nine years old. She stopped growing, and only a trip to the magic spring would heal her. Another friend, a caterpillar called The Bus, also needed to gain its wings and fly Asiim to the healing spring. Juuji had his work cut out for him in his desperation to grow the life- changing pineapple species that will give The Bus a pair of wings.Will Juuji ever achieve the groundbreaking experiment of his dreams? Find out in Juuji & The Pineapples in Mars!, written and illustrated by Martin Ntonjira.Juuji & The Pineapples in Mars is a captivating fantasy novel for children between two and ten years. The book was brief with a solid plot and an educative storyline for people of all ages. Juuji and his friends were in a situation that mirrored our daily struggles. The story was relatable and reiterated that determination and consistency yield results. However, there are always bumps along the way, but we must persevere and remain positive. Of course, we encounter people like Nim who wouldn't believe in us until they saw results. Others may also tire of us, and that's okay. We must listen to the Lims in our lives. Martin Ntonjira is an incredible storyteller.He uses a simple and fun writing style that will hold a child's attention. The story was beautiful, and I recommend it to everyone.
Hand Me Downs
A Haunting LegacyJohn and Branwen face challenges as a couple--his violent past and her unwanted pregnancy. Just when life threatens to overwhelm them, Branwen receives an offer of help from an unlikely source.Now, John must face his lifelong fears to find the strength to fight an ancient power and save Branwen from her family legacy.But first, John and Branwen must stop hiding things--from each other and from themselves--and learn to face the truth, no matter their fear of the consequences.A haunting fantasy story about the lasting power of family legacy.A page-turning tale of love and sacrifice.An excerpt from Hand Me Downs: John was in the grips of an insistent memory that wouldn't let him rest.Whenever an upsetting memory caught at him like this, especially from his difficult seventeenth year, John had learned long ago it was best not to resist. Something inside was going to have its way with him. Fighting would only make it worse.This particular memory hadn't demanded his attention for so long. Until tonight, he'd dared hope he was done with this one.The odd solitude of an overnight flight was preferable to a huge family gathering for this sort of ordeal, and certainly better than the twisted filter of his nightmares.At least while he was awake, he knew the worst night of his life was when he'd at last started to take control and change the course he was on.His dreaming life gave him no such relief.
House of Masks
The past is never truly buried. Not even on another world.The planet Thom?on was meant to be a paradise-a dazzling jewel of civilization among the stars. For centuries, its people have lived in decadence in the Silver City, where the elite gather to celebrate each Season in masked splendor. But beneath the city's glittering fa癟ade, secrets fester. The immortality-granting elixir that sustains the ruling class is running out. The powers behind the masks are faltering. And the ghosts of old Earth are beginning to stir.When Warden Marks Lemure returns to the city carrying a final, desperate cargo, he unknowingly sets in motion a chain of betrayals that will unravel Thom?on's fragile peace. His daughter, Ammaline, a gifted singer invited to perform at the legendary Op矇ra du Mendicant, is thrust into a dangerous world of intrigue, where every mask hides an agenda, and every whispered promise conceals a knife. As revolution looms and the foundations of power begin to shake, old alliances will be tested, new enemies will rise, and the fate of an entire world may rest on those willing to unmask the truth-before it's too late.For fans of gothic space opera, dystopian intrigue, and high-stakes court drama, House of Masks is a mesmerizing tale of power, deception, and the haunted legacy of a world on the brink.
A Murder of Crows
Seventeen tales of monsters, memory, and the hunger that outlasts winter.The crows are watching.They've seen the girl. Thin. Unloved. Left outside as her home turns strange and cruel-twisting under the weight of her mother's madness. The walls no longer hold warmth. The family's love has rotted through. And the monsters are starting to slip in.But crows understand stories. And they're willing to share.Out on the Great Plains, where the sky stretches cold and empty, seventeen stories unfold-dark, sharp, and feathered with dread. Tales of monsters, yes. But also of the fragile, fierce minds that endure them. Each one told by the crows, to a girl they refuse to let starve. Not just of food-but of meaning.If her mother comes to reclaim her, it may already be too late.And if not?Well.The crows have always had a taste for tragedy.For readers of folklore-haunted horror, unsettling transformation, and the sharp bite of stories that know exactly where you live.
Magician First Class
Bev looked at me. "Charlie? You in some sort of trouble?"I laughed.I couldn't help it. I was in so many sorts of trouble that the question seemed ridiculous. For a moment, I thought about laying it all out for her. Bev Thornton had solved problems like this for decades before I was born. She could probably take care of a mauvais wizard without disturbing her stiff grey curls, stopping halfway through for a cigarette break.What would she do if I said, "Well, Bev, I got this job under false pretenses, swore a binding oath to our boss, discovered a human supremacist group is creating a monstrosity in the lot next door, got accidentally entangled with a part-incubus who can't control his powers, and barely survived a run-in with an Eighth Class wizard who has a master he's scared of. I don't know-would you say that's some sort of trouble?"I slapped my hands over my mouth, as if I could cram the laughter back in.Thirteenth Avenue, New York's newest neighborhood, is a special place. When the Cataclysm brought magic roaring back to the world in the late 1960s, one of the more benign results was this strip of land heaving out of the Hudson River. Real estate developers rushed in where fully armed Hunter squads feared to tread, and now, in the post-Faerie Accords era, the magical and mundane inhabitants of Thirteenth Avenue live, work, and play there in perfect harmony.More or less. Hey, it's still New York.Charlie Cross, recent history graduate and not-very-good-magician, isn't sure about applying for a job at the Thirteenth Avenue Community Recreation Center. After all, non-profits are notoriously unstable. But there's a recession on, and if she doesn't find something soon she'll have to stay with her mom in the suburbs. One ill-advised promise to a fae later, and Charlie's in, wrangling the booking calendar around a werewolf's 8th birthday party, taking sign-ups for a succubus's burlesque classes, and flirting with the adorable half-demon mechanic down the block.But amid the usual chaos of balancing budgets, juggling community needs, and pleasing demanding benefactors, more sinister forces are at work. Not everyone is happy about the peaceful coexistence of the magical and the mundane, and they threaten Charlie, her new friends, and Thirteenth Avenue itself. Charlie, inexperienced and underpowered as she is, might just be the key to preventing disaster. But she definitely can't do it alone.
House of Masks
The past is never truly buried. Not even on another world.The planet Thom?on was meant to be a paradise-a dazzling jewel of civilization among the stars. For centuries, its people have lived in decadence in the Silver City, where the elite gather to celebrate each Season in masked splendor. But beneath the city's glittering fa癟ade, secrets fester. The immortality-granting elixir that sustains the ruling class is running out. The powers behind the masks are faltering. And the ghosts of old Earth are beginning to stir.When Warden Marks Lemure returns to the city carrying a final, desperate cargo, he unknowingly sets in motion a chain of betrayals that will unravel Thom?on's fragile peace. His daughter, Ammaline, a gifted singer invited to perform at the legendary Op矇ra du Mendicant, is thrust into a dangerous world of intrigue, where every mask hides an agenda, and every whispered promise conceals a knife. As revolution looms and the foundations of power begin to shake, old alliances will be tested, new enemies will rise, and the fate of an entire world may rest on those willing to unmask the truth-before it's too late.For fans of gothic space opera, dystopian intrigue, and high-stakes court drama, House of Masks is a mesmerizing tale of power, deception, and the haunted legacy of a world on the brink.
Three Loves and One Connection
Three Loves and One Connection is a poetic tragedy about desire, sacrifice, and the unbearable beauty of loving deeply. Through fire, ice, and earth, three women love the same man - and each other - in ways that reshape destiny itself. One love will burn. One will freeze. One will be buried. And from the ruins, connection will remain.
Magician First Class
Bev looked at me. "Charlie? You in some sort of trouble?"I laughed.I couldn't help it. I was in so many sorts of trouble that the question seemed ridiculous. For a moment, I thought about laying it all out for her. Bev Thornton had solved problems like this for decades before I was born. She could probably take care of a mauvais wizard without disturbing her stiff grey curls, stopping halfway through for a cigarette break.What would she do if I said, "Well, Bev, I got this job under false pretenses, swore a binding oath to our boss, discovered a human supremacist group is creating a monstrosity in the lot next door, got accidentally entangled with a part-incubus who can't control his powers, and barely survived a run-in with an Eighth Class wizard who has a master he's scared of. I don't know-would you say that's some sort of trouble?"I slapped my hands over my mouth, as if I could cram the laughter back in.Thirteenth Avenue, New York's newest neighborhood, is a special place. When the Cataclysm brought magic roaring back to the world in the late 1960s, one of the more benign results was this strip of land heaving out of the Hudson River. Real estate developers rushed in where fully armed Hunter squads feared to tread, and now, in the post-Faerie Accords era, the magical and mundane inhabitants of Thirteenth Avenue live, work, and play there in perfect harmony.More or less. Hey, it's still New York.Charlie Cross, recent history graduate and not-very-good-magician, isn't sure about applying for a job at the Thirteenth Avenue Community Recreation Center. After all, non-profits are notoriously unstable. But there's a recession on, and if she doesn't find something soon she'll have to stay with her mom in the suburbs. One ill-advised promise to a fae later, and Charlie's in, wrangling the booking calendar around a werewolf's 8th birthday party, taking sign-ups for a succubus's burlesque classes, and flirting with the adorable half-demon mechanic down the block.But amid the usual chaos of balancing budgets, juggling community needs, and pleasing demanding benefactors, more sinister forces are at work. Not everyone is happy about the peaceful coexistence of the magical and the mundane, and they threaten Charlie, her new friends, and Thirteenth Avenue itself. Charlie, inexperienced and underpowered as she is, might just be the key to preventing disaster. But she definitely can't do it alone.
Santa Claus
When no one at the North Pole takes Noel Kringle seriously he relocates to Toronto to live his dream as a private detective. Complete with cramped office, second-hand, metal desk, and creaking office chair in front of a drafty window overlooking a parking lot.And no cases.Until Regina Marcus walks in. Her problem: disappearing donations from the Santa Charity.A simple fraud, perfect for Noel's first case.Until more than donations disappear.Mystery with a dash of fantasy, Noel Kringle mixes Christmas and sleuthing in a tale of magic and suspense.
The Gluemaker's Demise
The Gluemaker's Demise is a haunting prelude of memory, loss, and quiet becoming, set in the same richly imagined world as The Shaman's Blessing. In this lyrical and introspective novel, Patricia Barnett draws readers into the fragile beginnings of a society shaped as much by grief and longing as by hope.Long before the arrival of the Shaman, the seeds of destiny are already taking root. Within a remote tribal settlement bound by tradition and unspoken rules, lives unfold beneath the slow weight of expectation. Bonds are formed and broken, ambitions simmer beneath the surface, and the choices of a few begin to ripple outward in ways no one can yet foresee.At the heart of the story lies a quiet reckoning - the gradual unravelling of certainties once thought permanent. As personal loyalties are tested and the past presses insistently upon the present, the community must confront the cost of its beliefs and the sacrifices demanded by survival.Told with restraint, empathy, and a deep sensitivity to inner lives, The Gluemaker's Demise explores themes of belonging, inheritance, and the slow turning of fate. It is a story of origins rather than endings - a subtle, resonant meditation on how worlds are shaped not by grand gestures, but by the unnoticed moments that quietly change everything.
Once Within a Dream
Samar Habeen is a warrior waging two wars-one against the Nightmares that prowl the forsaken streets of Oganja, and another within the silent chambers of her own heart. Grief clings to her like a second skin as she fights to stay afloat in a city that doesn't care about her. The loss of her mother and homeland have hollowed her, leaving her yearning for the warmth of family-though what remains of hers feels fractured, distant, almost spectral. Instead, she finds a strange solace in a building housing a tomb, a monument reflecting all she's lost. And when she stops visiting, her absence awakens the sleeping soul, who sets out to find her.
The Rig at Frost Crescent
Frost Crescent has been operating for decades, supplying the high demands of metropolitan cities as they forge a path into a thriving industrial future. The crew has two tasks: Mine the oil produced from the atrophied frost giant entombed beneath the lake, and stay alive long enough to receive their pensions at the end of their contracts.Lucy Shield came to Frost Crescent not just as an engineer, but also a co-conspirator for the enigmatic Doctor Violet, whose alchemical experimentation leaves Lucy not feeling the cold as she did before.
The Return of Lancelot Biggs
I guess it was about 7:58 Solar Constant Time-yes, it was exactly that, because I'd just received a clearance O.Q. for 8:00 from the Sun City portmaster-when the portal of my radio turret opened and in waddled Cap Hanson, skipper of our void-mangling freighter, the Saturn. The Old Man's optics were dancing like a nudist in a hailstorm, and he wore a grin on his lips that stretched from ear to there. "Guess what, Sparks?" he chortled. "I got a s'prise for you! Guess who just came aboard?" I said gloomily, "If it's anybody like that sourpuss encyclopedia-on-legs who came aboard at Luna, you can have my resignation right now, if not sooner. I've been hectored and bulldozed and criticised so much lately that I'm beginning to feel like one large apology with corpuscles." I wasn't joking, either. You know me-Bert Donovan-the easy-goingest bug-pounder who ever loused up the ether with Morse code. I don't get mad often, and my nerves are as steady as a forger's fingers, but this newest addition to the Saturn's personnel had me on the verge of babbling baby-talk.
Mr. Biggs Goes To Town
One thing is certain. When bigger and better shirts are made, the officials of the Corporation which underpays us will stuff 'em. We were squatting in a cradle on Earth, waiting for flight orders, when the control turret door swung open and in marched two owl-eyed zombies dressed in frowns and white mess jackets. One of these looked at us, then at a slip of paper. He said, "Donovan, Herbert J.?" "Present," I said, "but not accountable for. Otherwise known as 'Sparks.' What's the matter, Satyr? Who found out what about me?" "Come," ordered the stranger curtly, "with me!" And he jerked a thumb in the general direction of the doorway. Cap Hanson-he's the skipper of our space-shuttling freighter, the Saturn-bridled like a mick at an Orangeman's Ball. If there's one thing he cannot tolerate, it is hearing anyone else issue orders on his bridge. His brows congealed into fur-line cumulus clouds.
Cursebound
They're no longer prisoners to the fae court, but now two elven sisters are each bound by shackles of the heart--the sequel to the national bestseller Faebound, hailed as "a devastatingly romantic and breathtaking fantasy" (Tasha Suri). United by war.Betrayed by destiny.Cursed by love. Yeeran was born for war but is unprepared for love. She has left her new lover, the Queen of the fae, to return to her homeland, only to find that her former lover now threatens war against the fae. Left behind, her sister Lettle is determined to break the curse that binds the fae to their realm. When a stranger appears in the city, Lettle is convinced he's the key. But the Fates that once spoke to her have fallen silent. Can Lettle and Yeeran discover the secret behind the curse--and unite these two worlds before they destroy each other? Don't miss any of Saara El-Arifi's magical Faebound Trilogy: FAEBOUND - CURSEBOUND
Santa Must Die!
Hired as security for a Christmas in July mall promotion because of his name, private detective Noel Kringle expects an easy job.Until he discovers a dead Santa Claus slumped on a fake gold throne on the stage. Not even the white cotton snow drifts, the wall painted sky blue behind him, or the oversized candy canes distract from Santa's dead form.To save his job, Noel must find an immediate replacement.To save his dad, the real Santa Claus, Noel must find the killer.Mystery with a dash of fantasy, Noel Kringle mixes Christmas and sleuthing in a tale of magic and suspense.
The Claus Connection
Private detective Noel Kringle finds himself with not one but two cases: one investigating the vandalism of several Christmas tree nurseries and the other a missing woman.A missing woman who just happens to love Christmas.Enough to join the Claus Connection, an online dating site for people who love Christmas.Now Noel must find a way to investigate a website while dealing with an ex-Christmas Elf who has decided to be Noel's associate.When had Noel's one person job become an actual detective agency? Mystery with a dash of fantasy, Noel Kringle mixes Christmas and sleuthing in a tale of magic and suspense.
