(13+ Warning contains violence, horror, and mature humour) Life in the Dark Cities is harsh. Brutal serfdom is enforced with the lash and the threat of becoming dinner for a ravenous demon. For Kasus, knowledge is the power to free himself from this hellpit. However, the price could be a heavy one. Will it cost him his humanity?Magic was the province of the wealthy and well connected, or in the case of necromancy, the insane. He was not sufficiently rich or high born to train as an artiphicer or unifier. A house slave from a Dark City estate could not hope to gather the resources to become any of these, let alone access the ley-nexus locations needed to gather arcane energy. His would have to be a less orthodox route. His access to arcane knowledge, fuelled by his tremendous desire to escape would lead Kasus down a shadowed path few would dare consider.

After Cerise Mooreland steps through the Chaos Gate, she finds herself falling through a world of her almost forgotten memories. As a pattern begins to emerge, she wakes somewhere altogether unexpected.I thought I was competing for a promotion... But, what I got was something way better.I, Constance Ferrer, got transformed into a creature of nightmare imaginaries. I was on my way to being inducted into Psylas' Niche within the Blood Kin—a complex vampire hierarchy wrought of intrigue and danger. While I'd fantasized about such absurdities, they had been vastly beyond my mediocre reality. Until now.I'd heard that ignorance was bliss. Well, according to my experiences, bliss was All Wallows' Eve. ~ This Book Bite is a prelude to Beatific (a Blood Kin Vampires novel).

After being told he was adopted on his 18th birthday Patrick Waverly sets out to find his birth parents. He boards a plane, strikes up a conversation with a passenger next to him. What happens next will change his life forever.After being told he was adopted on his 18th birthday Patrick Waverly sets out to find his birth parents. He boards a plane, strikes up a conversation with a passenger next to him. What happens next will change his life forever. Join him on his Journey and you won't be disappointed.

Kendall loves her life in small town Cryer's Cross, Montana, but she also longs for something more. She knows the chances of going to school in New York are small, but she's not the type to give up easily. Even though it will mean leaving Nico, the world's sweetest boyfriend, behind. But when Cryer's Cross is rocked by unspeakable tragedy, Kendall shoves her dreams aside and focuses on just one goal: help find her missing friends. Even if it means spending time with the one boy she shouldn't get close to... the one boy who makes her question everything she feels for Nico. Determined to help and to stay true to the boy she's always loved, Kendall keeps up the search--and stumbles upon some frightening local history. She knows she can't stop digging, but Kendall is about to find out just how far the townspeople will go to keep their secrets buried....

A Long Walk to Water begins as two stories, told in alternating sections, about a girl in Sudan in 2008 and a boy in Sudan in 1985. The girl, Nya, is fetching water from a pond that is two hours' walk from her home: she makes two trips to the pond every day. The boy, Salva, becomes one of the "lost boys" of Sudan, refugees who cover the African continent on foot as they search for their families and for a safe place to stay. Enduring every hardship from loneliness to attack by armed rebels to contact with killer lions and crocodiles, Salva is a survivor, and his story goes on to intersect with Nya's in an astonishing and moving way.

In this dazzling tale, L. Frank Baum proves once again his power to delight and enchant readers of all ages. Follow the adventures of a charming new band of characters as they explore the wondrous land of Oz and discover that you learn more by traveling than by staying at home.Forced to venture out of the dark forest, Unc Nunkie and Ojo the Unlucky call on the Crooked Magician, who introduces them to his latest creation: a living girl made out of patchwork quilts and cotton stuffing. But when an accident leaves beloved Unc Nunkie a motionless statue, it is up to Ojo to save him. In his search for the magic ingredients that will restore his uncle to life, Ojo is joined by the Patchwork Girl and by the conceited Glass Cat, who boasts of her hard ruby heart, the resourceful Shaggy Man, and the lovable block-headed Woozy, whose tail hairs are just one of the things Ojo needs to rescue Une Nunkie.As they travel to the Emerald City, home of the wise and powerful Ozma, they meet Dorothy, the kind and sensible girl from Kansas; the gallant Scarecrow; and, of course, Toto. But no one proves more loyal than the spirited Patchwork Girl, who, although she was brought to life as a servant, is determined to see the wide world for herself.The Patchwork Girl of Oz has captivated readers for over eighty years. Now, in this stunning new edition--featuring all fifty-one of John R. Neill's original full-color plates as well as eighty black-and-white illustrations--a whole new generation can discover the beauty and wonder of Oz that have made this classic series an enduring favorite.Follow the adventures of a charming band of characters as they join Dorothy and the Scarecrow to explore the wondrous Land of Oz. Meet a living girl made out of patchwork quilts, a conceited Glass Cat, and the lovable block-headed Woozy. A favorite for over eighty years, this stunning facsimile of the rare fist edition features all fifty-one of Neill's full-color plates as well as eighty black-and-white illustrations. A Books of Wonder Classic.

A young mermaid is forced to decide between love and duty, and when she chooses wrong, her world will change forever.Sometimes following your heart can end up destroying the ones you love. When seventeen-year-old Eviana Dumahl is faced with the responsibility of an arranged marriage and clan leadership, she is forced to choose between the life required of a mermaid and one of a teenage girl simply infatuated with the wrong guy. Kain, her devoted fiancé would make a wonderful husband except that she’s been in love with Brendan, a shape-shifting selkie, ever since they were kids. Choosing to abandon her family, her clan, and her life with Kain will have dire consequences far beyond anything she could have imagined. A war is brewing amongst the clans and Eviana unwittingly becomes a pawn in the intricate schemes of a twisted mastermind. With Brendan’s life on the line, she has no choice but to involve those who she once considered friends. Amidst encountering senseless tragedies and immense loss, Eviana discovers that she is more valuable as a clan leader than anyone ever suspected. Her survival is not only dependent upon the loyalty of her friends, but also on her acceptance of a life that she had so adamantly tried to escape. Promises is the first book of The Syrenka Series trilogy following Eviana and her friends through the perils of growing up in a discrete world that inherently threatens human society.Second Edition: February 2013

ONE Little Girl.... ONE Big mystery.... Only ONE person and a large sprinkling of Christmas magic can help!.... Non-stop thrills, spills, excitement & confusion following a young girl & her Daddy on a spellbinding adventure as she searches for a simple answer to a simple question; But its never quite that simple, is it?!?... A heart-warming tale for ages 7 to 107+. PLEASE REVIEW! Thank you.A festive tale following a young girl named Madison who, along with her Daddy, find themselves drawn into a magical adventure on Christmas Eve in a quest to answer a simple yet pressing question; Where is the Moon & why is it Missing?.... To find the answer, they embark on an exciting journey that begins with a visit to a local Santa's Grotto, eventually leading to an experience beyond their wildest dreams, with a few twists & revelations all the way to its conclusion... I wrote this book in 2009 for my daughter who at this point in time (Sept '11) has only just turned 4. What started out as a simple 3 or 4 page story for very young children turned into what it is now, a short novel for ages 6 or 7+. Thus, my daughter will sadly not be ready for this for another year or 2 yet. However, it is my pleasure to make it available to ANYONE in the world for FREE as writing is my passion, not my profession; I am honoured by every single download. I must add that from the feedback I have received after sending out more than 100 copies to adults, it seems grown-ups take just as much pleasure from this story as kids, if not more! It appears to have a way of taking adults back to THEIR childhood & rekindling distant, fond memories that seemed lost, but were obviously not totally forgotten.Younger children (6-8) may need this reading to them but most will find it manageable. More importantly, they will all find it enchanting & heart-warming, hopefully heaping a large helping of magic into their lives.As I write now, work is underway on a sequel and the ante has most definitely been upped. The whole story is ready in my head, there is just the simple matter of getting it written now!.... The aim is an even more enthralling & gripping continuation of the aftermath of this book, I know I can deliver now that I know what ball park I am playing in, so to speak. And that's the story of what happened when a piece of simple writing aimed at a 2 year old took on a mind of it's own. Frankly, I don't mind one little bit.

Once upon a time there was a man who had everything. He had everything you or I could conceivably ask the heavens for as aids to the state of perfect happiness. And yet he was not happy. He was discontent...So he asked the Fates for more, and the Fae answered. You should be careful what you wish for, it may just find you...Once upon a time there was a man who had everything. And I mean everything. He had a career (brilliant pianist), a lovely wife (perfect face), a compliant mistress (perfect breasts), a wonderful clutch of promising off-spring (2 girls, one boy); admiring relatives who regarded him with awe and only showed up when it was appropriate; entertaining friends of exactly the right kind and social standing; and a talented stockbroker who had somehow managed not only to salvage his nest-egg from the crash, but to actually swell it to quite embarrassing proportions.In other words he had everything you or I could conceivably ask the heavens for as aids to the state of perfect happiness. And yet he was not happy. So he asked the Fates for more, and the Fae answered. You should be careful what you wish for, it may just find you...

Another day, another sack of gold. Ah, such is the life of the Incarnator: transmuter of souls, assuager of grief, and the embodiment of a very important man.The international best-seller (Atomic Dreams: The Lost Journal of J. Robert Oppenheimer) was released on July 4th 2009. The dream laced story of the race to build the first atomic bomb was the first graphic novel to be downloaded in over 200 countries on smart phones around the globe.Now 67 years after the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings, as a tribute to those who lost their lives, and so that these souls are never forgotten, on August 9th 2012 (the anniversary of the Nagasaki tragedy) Carnival Comics publishes the original edition of Atomic Dreams Graphic Novel entitled... Prayer Cycle : Protect The Human“Will you remember?”Created by : Jonathan Elias and Jazan WildWritten by : Jazan WildPencils by : David Miller and Rudy VasquezColors by : Matt Yackey

Tasked to expose a coin counterfeiting scheme, Luca and Isolde travel to Venice just in time for Carnival. Amid the masks, parties, and excitement, the romantic attraction between the two reaches a new intensity that neither can deny. Their romance is interrupted by the arrival of the alchemist, who may be the con artist they’ve been looking for. But as Luca starts to investigate the original charge, the alchemist reveals his true goal—he plans to create the Philosopher’s Stone, a mystical substance said to be capable of turning base metals into gold and producing the elixir of life. With pounds of undocumented gold coins and an assistant who claims to be decades older than she appears, all evidence points to the possibility that the alchemist has succeeded in his task. But as Luca and Isolde get closer to the truth, they discover that reality may be more sinister than they ever could have imagined.

He called himself Thomas Covenant the Unbeliever because he dared not believe in the strange alternate world in which he suddenly found himself. Yet the Land tempted him. He had been sick; now he seemed better than ever before. Through no fault of his own, he had been outcast, unclean, a pariah. Now he was regarded as a reincarnation of the Land's greatest hero--Berek Halfhand--armed with the mystic power of White Gold. That power alone could protect the Lords of the Land from the ancient evil of Despiser, Lord Foul. Only...Covenant had no idea of how the power could be used! Thus begins one of the most remarkable epic fantasies ever written...

In the future, in a world baked dry by the harsh sun, there are those who live inside the walled Enclave and those, like sixteen-year-old Gaia Stone, who live outside. Following in her mother's footsteps Gaia has become a midwife, delivering babies in the world outside the wall and handing a quota over to be "advanced" into the privileged society of the Enclave. Gaia has always believed this is her duty, until the night her mother and father are arrested by the very people they so loyally serve. Now Gaia is forced to question everything she has been taught, but her choice is simple: enter the world of the Enclave to rescue her parents, or die trying.

The Darkness That Comes Before, The Warrior Prophet, and The Thousandfold Thought --collectively the Prince of Nothing Saga-were R. Scott Bakker's magnificent debut into the upper echelon of epic fantasy. In those three books, Bakker created a world that was at once a triumph of the fantastic and an historical epic as real as any that came before. Widely praised by reviewers and a growing body of fans, Bakker has already established the reputation as one of the smartest writers in the fantasy genre-a writer in the line stretching from Homer to Peake to Tolkein. Now he returns to The Prince of Nothing with the long awaited The Judging Eye, the first book in an all-new series. Set twenty years after the end of The Thousandfold Thought, Bakker reintroduces us to a world that is at once familiar but also very different than the one readers thought they knew. Delving even further into his richly imagined universe of myth, violence, and sorcery, and fully remolding the fantasy genre to broaden the scope of intricacy and meaning, R. Scott Bakker has once again written a fantasy novel that defies all expectations and rewards the reader with an experience unlike any to be had in the canon of today's literature.