In a gripping feat of storytelling, Anne Rice continues the extraordinary Vampire Chronicles that began with the now-classic Interview with the Vampire. For centuries, Lestat—vampire-hero, enchanter, seducer of mortals—has been a courted prince in the dark and flourishing universe of the living dead. Now he is alone. And in his overwhelming need to destroy his doubts and his loneliness, Lestat embarks on the most dangerous enterprise he has undertaken in all the years of his haunted existence.   Praise for The Tale of the Body Thief   “Tinged with mystery, full of drama . . . The story is involving, the twists surprising.”—People   “Rice is our modern messenger of the occult, whose nicely updated dark-side passion plays twist and turn in true Gothic form.”—San Francisco Chronicle   “Fast-paced . . . . mesmerizing . . . silkenly sensuous . . . No one writing today matches her deftness with the erotic.”—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution   “Hypnotic . . . masterful.”—Cosmopolitan

eigh Tyler was once a kindergarten teacher with starry-eyed dreams-dreams that turned into nightmares when the biggest mistake she ever made came back to tear her world apart. Now, Leigh lives only for the hunt. Werewolves are her prey, and love is no longer an option. Leigh has been called to Wisconsin for something big. As long as it means killing fanged and furry demons, she's up for it. But the worst is yet to come, because something stronger and smarter than the average beast is on the prowl. . . and it's doing Leigh's work for her. Intoxicating and intriguing, Damien Fitzgerald is making Leigh question her vow never to let another man into her bed, or her heart. Every moment with him brings forth familiar-and dangerous-urges. Urges that may prove too strong to resist. Leigh's job is a dance with death, and she has no intention of letting Damian become involved and get hurt. Especially now that she knows her enemy is watching from the forest. Waiting for her first wrong step. . .

This anthology is a thorough introduction to classic literature for those who have not yet experienced these literary masterworks. For those who have known and loved these works in the past, this is an invitation to reunite with old friends in a fresh new format. From Shakespeare s finesse to Oscar Wilde s wit, this unique collection brings together works as diverse and influential as The Pilgrim s Progress and Othello. As an anthology that invites readers to immerse themselves in the masterpieces of the literary giants, it is must-have addition to any library.

Zack is one of the immortal Observers watching the world on behalf of the Creator. He attracts the attention of other Observers when his suicide attempt fails.They believe he is the reincarnation of a rebellious Observer from a previous world and decide to punish him for his sins. Another Observer wants back the man she has loved through hundreds of worlds. But Zack isn't who they think.Zack Vernon is an immortal Observer sent to watch the world on behalf of the Creator. When his suicide attempt fails spectacularly and earns him a spot on the national news, the other Observers are drawn to him.They believe Zack to be the reincarnation of a rebellious Observer from a previous world. Several of them plan to punish him for the sins they believe he committed. One of them wants back the man she has loved through hundreds of worlds. But Zack remembers nothing before the present. All he wants is a chance to end his life.

Ivan Quickblade wonders if he's really cut out for magical graduate school when his dragon-slaying research project goes off the rails. In order to get it back on track, he has to deal with a research mentor that exists as a probability cloud and a human research subject who is not quite as expendable as he thought.Abstract An extract made from the juice of the Hesperidensian pomegranate, injected intramuscularly, will weaken the common dragon, Draco areuginosa, sufficiently to allow a killing blow to the head or hearts (Richardson, et al.).In order to isolate and characterize this effect, four adult male dragons of the species Draco areuginosa were attracted to our laboratory using Jaffronium's method and slain using either traditional methods or Richardson's technology. Richardson's method improved slay times by 34%.

During the yearly ritual for the Cireara, protectors of the standing stones, Sila’s big sister will make an extraordinary sacrifice. When during the ritual the yellow haired men attack, the future of Sila’s people and of the standing stones is seriously jeopardized. The story is inspired by the Avebury stone circle and the West Kennet Long Barrow burial mound.For the first time Sila will attend the yearly ritual in honour of the Cireara, protectors of the standing stones. During this ritual her big sister Ava is about to make an extraordinary sacrifice. When the yellow haired men attack, the ritual and the future of Sila’s people is seriously jeopardized. Will they manage to protect the standing stones and the Cireara?This story is inspired by the Avebury stone circle and the West Kennet Long Barrow burial mound.

Historic Heroines is pleased to release the fourth installment in its first original fiction series: Daughter of Sparta by Kristen LePine. In Chapter Four, Gorgo, the daughter of King Cleomenes I, and her family attend a dinner party and meet two foreigners who have traveled across the Aegean Sea to ask for Sparta's help.Historic Heroines is pleased to release the fourth installment in its first original fiction series: Daughter of Sparta by Kristen LePine. In Chapter Four, Gorgo, the daughter of King Cleomenes I, and her family attend a dinner party and meet two foreigners who have traveled across the Aegean Sea to ask for Sparta's help. Historic Heroines is an independent publisher of historical fiction and nonfiction that champions the female perspective.

The magical adventures of an eccentric Mary Poppins-esque heroine and her flying feline charges, sure to charm readers big and small. The first book for children by an internationally acclaimed novelist and poet. Miss Petitfour enjoys having adventures that are "just the right size - fitting into a single, magical day." She is an expert at baking and eating fancy iced cakes, and her favorite mode of travel is par avion. On windy days, she takes her sixteen cats out for an airing: Minky, Misty, Taffy, Purrsia, Pirate, Mustard, Moutarde, Hemdela, Earring, Grigorovitch, Clasby, Captain Captain, Captain Catkin, Captain Cothespin, Your Shyness and Sizzles. With the aid of her favorite tea party tablecloth as a makeshift balloon, Miss Petitfour and her charges fly over her village, having many little adventures along the way. Join Miss Petitfour and her equally eccentric felines on five magical outings -- a search for marmalade, to a spring jumble sale, on a quest for "birthday cheddar", the retrieval of a lost rare stamp and as they compete in the village's annual Festooning Festival. A whimsical, beautifully illustrated collection of tales that celebrates language, storytelling and small pleasures, especially the edible kind!

How can there be secrets in a place renowned for Truth? Things are not always as they seem; sometimes they are far stranger: a mysterious book of tales few can read, unexplained comings and goings, secrets that must be kept at any cost. Follow the journey of one who suddenly finds himself thrust into an adventure he is not even sure he believes in.Astoria: home of the Brethren, a place of legend, learning, and Truth, and secrets that cannot be told. The Lady thought she knew everything that passed within the walls of Astoria and most of that which happened in the wider world, but there are some secrets to which even she is not privy. What must be hidden at any cost? Why must she remain ignorant of mysterious happenings within her own keep? Can she trust those who would intentionally hide things from her?Discover a boy with a destiny he refuses to accept, a servant that dares defy the Lady to her face, a book of tales few can read, inexplicable comings and goings, and adventures beyond count. Unicorns, dragons, griffins, and other fantastic creatures all have their part while the Truth lies within grasp, waiting only to be discovered.

DESECRATIONIn a hidden world of wizards where only men hold the power of magic, one girl arises with the power to change everything – only if she survives…Addie never questions why men possess magic and women have none until she discovers her own magic, which makes her a desecration.Her fate sends her into the path of an evil sorcerer, but the worst danger may come from inside her own home!DESECRATION: In a hidden world of wizards where only men hold the power of magic, one girl arises with the power to change everything, if she isn't killed first…Adriana Victoriana Evangelista (Addie), daughter to the High Chancellor of the Wizard’s Council, has always been the perfect wizard girl. She never questions why men possess magical powers and women have no power at all, magical or otherwise. Male wizards blend into the modern human world, leading huge corporations while wizard women are sequestered away. On her sixteenth birthday, Addie discovers she possesses magic. Under wizard law, she is a desecration. An ancient prophecy surrounds the emergence of a girl magic-wielder, the wizard queen, who is destined to bring about the downfall of the wizard-kin.Addie has long had a forbidden crush on a human boy who lives in the wizard stronghold, Rory Devlin. As she delves deeper into the dangerous mysteries surrounding her own destiny, she suspects Rory might be more than just human.Addie’s fate sends her straight into the path of a powerful and evil sorcerer, but the worst danger of all may come from right inside her own home.

Helga has more danger in her life than most beasts her age—Wrackshee slavers after her, a vicious attack by bandits that nearly kills her, a race against dragons pursuing her, and leading a daring rebellion against the insidious WooZan. A dangerous quest to solve mysteries in her own past leads Helga and her comrades on a journey that will forever change them, and upset ancient civilizations.Helga has more danger in her life than most beasts her age--Wrackshee slavers after her, a vicious attack by bandits that nearly kills her, a race against dragons pursuing her, and leading a daring rebellion to save her life and rescue friends and family from the insidious WooZan. And that is just the beginning. But what do you expect when you are a young beast who just can't see the stupid rules of the world making any sense? Helga can't accept things as they are and ends up taking on not just one, but two all-powerful, supreme tyrants in two different realms. Helga never intended to lead a revolution. It just sort of happened because she wouldn't go along with the "rules of normal" that keep tyrants in power and entire societies enslaved. Beginning on a dangerous quest to solve some mysteries in her own past, Helga leads her quirky comrades on a journey that will not only forever change them, but upset ancient civilizations. As an author, I'm drawn to eccentric, unexpected characters: those who surprise because they hear a distant galaxy, see a different music, create their own fragrance rather than get hooked on a soundtrack; the child who has her own ideas about how the emperor is dressed; the lunatics and rebels who tell stories on the boundaries. Helga's unusual story will take readers to worlds they never imagined--definitely a whole new ride.Time and again, the unconventional heroine and her eccentric comrades overcome ominous tyrants and black-hearted slavers, not by battling to the last beast standing, but by being the first beast to think differently. Helga: Out of Hedgelands is divided into three books which introduce the epic saga of the Wood Cow clan and their role in overturning centuries of slavery and tyranny. This story will continue in additional volumes of the Wood Cow Chronicles now in development. Over the series of current and future volumes, the entire history of the Wood Cow clan, the fall of Maev Astuté, and the coming of Lord Farseeker to the Outer Rings, will be told.

Lore of the Underlings continues. This episode tells of the travelers' plight -- the fate of John Cap, Morio, and Vaam -- after they take an unplanned tumble underground and deep, deep down... into the very bowels of the place called the Letting Pen. A place where anything could happen...Welcome back to Lore of the Underlings, a trail of tales to the end of things, and maybe a bit beyond.The lore continues. This episode tells of the travelers' plight -- the fate of John Cap, Morio, and Vaam -- after they take an unplanned tumble underground and deep, deep down... into the very bowels of the place called the Letting Pen. A place where anything could happen.Things go from bad to worse for them, now stuck in the muck of a greedy pit, easy prey in this cavernous chamber of death. And then the black Guard himself makes the scene with an even more devilish scheme...Lore of the Underlings is an epic poetry series from John Klobucher's lands of Lore. It's a bittersweet saga of gold and shadow told in classic style -- with old-world words but new-world wit. Fun for fans of puns and lyrical tongues!

***Updated version***A chance encounter reunites two people who have never met. Papilionaceous is a story about being trapped in a life you don't want and the hope of escaping into something better.A chance encounter reunites two people who have never met. Papilionaceous is a story about being trapped in a life you don't want and the hope of escaping into something better.I hope everybody enjoys this short story! Please rate and review. Also, visit my blog about this journey I'm taking to being published. Thanks! https://munboy.com/Special thanks to Sahara Foley for pointing out the fact that I rushed to get this short story up, failing to take the proper time to make sure it was properly edited. Hopefully I have all the mistakes fixed.