A heartwarming collection that reminds readers that God is present in every friendship.

What makes five of the most powerful witches and wizards of their day retreat from the world to teach magic? 11th Century Britain is a perilous place, even for a sorcerer. The legendary four founders are bound north on a quest of honor, and the road is full of the unexpected. Magic isn’t as stylish as it once was, and they’re faced with adventure, as well as some provocative questions.What makes five of the most powerful witches and wizards of their day retreat from the world to teach magic? 11th Century Britain is a perilous place, even for a sorcerer. It’s the summer of 1066, and England is on the brink of events that will bring destruction and transformation. A battlefield is an unspeakable place, but it can also be a place of astonishing heroism. Brought together by the manipulations of a wizard even more powerful than they, the Hogwarts four, inspired by the remarkable courage of Odo the Hero on Hastings field, find themselves embarked on a quest to the north, which keeps them one step ahead of the invading army. On their journey, they meet seductive sorceresses, vicious magical creatures, and people who are not what they seem. The country is changing, and magic is no longer as stylish as it once was. Should magicians interfere in the affairs of muggles? Should witches and wizards retreat from the world for their own safety? Is magic the only protection witches have in a violent world? And who is the cantankerous old wizard responsible for bringing these legendary friends together? This is a rollicking tale of adventure and magic, that peaks behind legends, and explores what it means to be different in a dangerous world.

Join Uther Pendragon jerkass; his advisor Merlin, who's even worse; his knights Sir Ulfius and Sir Brastias, the Old Firm; and young Arthur, King of the Britons, and actually a pretty okay guy! This comic retelling of the first two books of Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur also descibes Sir Balin and his weird quest to strike the Dolorous Blow and die tragically. It's a hoot and a half!DID YOU KNOW:Sir Balin, the knight who delivered the dolorous stroke, was so stupid half of Camelot assumed it was an act to cover for his witchcraft? Sir Gawaine was a whiny little brat who demanded unlimited special treatment on account of he was King Arthur’s nephew? Arthur only married Guinevere to get his hands on her dowry, the Round Table? Nobody liked Merlin because he was terrible?If you did know all those things, clearly you’ve read Le Morte d’Arthur by Sir Thomas Malory, and I pity you. No one should have to slog through that pile of continuity errors and insipid descriptions of jousts. I’ve spent years of my life poring over all twenty-one Books of this foundational work of fantasy literature, dreadful as it is. Here, for your amusement and edification, I recount, dissect, and ruthlessly mock each ridiculous plot contrivance, each self-contradictory anecdote, and each unnamed damsel who runs in from offscreen and dies.Arthur Dies at the End volume 1: Something About a Sword and a Stone? covers Books I through III of Le Morte d’Arthur. Here you’ll find King Arthur’s earliest days, from the hilarious and rape-filled account of his conception to the bit with the sword in the stone we all remember to his first war to his loveless wedding to Guinevere and his nephew Gawaine’s very first quest (he screws it up pretty bad)!ARTHUR DIES AT THE END: I read Le Morte d’Arthur so you don’t have to!

Julia needs some relationship advice and a friend suggests she consult a psychic named Morgana. But this one doesn’t read tea-leaves. Nope. She’s a 21st century seer who requires a specific roast of a specific well-known brand of coffee beans. Julia finally tracks down the properly-dated vacuum-packed bag, but gets a rude (psychic-)awakening in the process: cryptic questions. To ask the psychic!Man-trouble is never a good thing, but for Julia, this time it’s just plain confusing. Her guy was all over her at the start, but now? She thought he was on the brink of popping-“the”-question. But so far there’s been no pop, only a slow fizzle. She’s decided it’s up to her; she’s going to have to pop a different question, since he’s suddenly working late, not answering her calls, or when he does he’s unsure if he’ll be able to keep their date.Julia needs to know, once and for all, whether Joe’s a keeper or a has-bean, and Morgana promises to have the answer.Gourmet coffee beans, custom ground, then analyzed to your specific needs. Who, in their right mind, would have thunk the spirit world was so-o-o trendy, so particular? But that’s how Julia’s modern psychic does business, so that’s how Julia will experience a slice of life where going beyond words means approaching the Twilight Zone.

Can a mathematical genius with zero social skills save the world? One man thinks he’s got as good a chance as any.Pushed to the point of mayhem, mathematical genius Donald MacDonald is booted by a high tech megalith and embarks on a new career: art. He gains a public following chalking large drawings on downtown sidewalks while he embarks on a mission to paint exactly one hundred and fifty-three portraits of birds, birds that live only in his imagination. Problem is, he forgets to eat and sleep, and when he finally collapses one day, in the midst of chalking, he ends up in a psych ward. There, one man, perchance named Dr. Crane, decides he’s tired of watching earnest but benighted souls like Donald MacDonald get consigned to the booby hatch.

Transgressive fiction authors write stories some are afraid to tell. Stories with taboo subjects, unique voices, shocking images--nothing safe or dry. Burnt Tongues is a collection of transgressive stories selected by a rigorous nomination and vetting process and hand-selected by Chuck Palahniuk, author of Fight Club, as the best of The Cult workshop. These stories run the gamut from horrific and fantastic to humorous and touching, but each leaves a lasting impression. Some may say even a scar.

A sweeping, propulsive, darkly humorous new novel by the best-selling author of Snow Falling on Cedars: a story of destiny, desire, and destruction that reimagines Sophocles’s Oedipus Rex for our own era. In Seattle in 1962, Walter Cousins, a mild-mannered actuary—“a guy who weighs risk for a living”—takes a risk of his own, and makes the biggest error of his life. He sleeps with Diane Burroughs, the sexy, not-quite-legal British au pair who’s taking care of his children for the summer. Diane gets pregnant and leaves their baby on a doorstep, but not before turning the tables on Walter and setting in motion a tragedy of epic proportions. Their orphaned child, adopted by an adoring family and named Edward Aaron King, grows up to become a billionaire Internet tycoon and an international celebrity—the “King of Search”—who unknowingly, but inexorably, hurtles through life toward a fate he may have no power to shape. An instant classic—David Guterson’s most daring and dazzling novel yet—that brings a contemporary urgency to one of the greatest stories of all time. This eBook edition includes a Reading Group Guide.

Fire! Fire! tells the story of a young boy trapped in London as the Great Fire takes hold. 350 years since fire swept through the city in 1666, this gripping first-hand account is perfect for children studying the Great Fire at school. An exciting story—perfect for readers interested in the history of London.

BONUS: This eBook edition contains an excerpt from THE PROFESSION: A Thriller by Steven Pressfield. On sale June 2011. 2,300 years ago an unbeaten army of the West invaded the homeland of a fierce Eastern tribal foe. This is one soldier’s story . . . The bestselling novelist of ancient warfare returns with a riveting historical novel that re-creates Alexander the Great’s invasion of the Afghan kingdoms in 330 b.c. In a story that might have been ripped from today’s combat dispatches, Steven Pressfield brings to life the confrontation between an invading Western army and fierce Eastern warriors determined at all costs to defend their homeland. Narrated by an infantryman in Alexander’s army, The Afghan Campaign explores the challenges, both military and moral, that Alexander and his soldiers face as they embark on a new type of war and are forced to adapt to the methods of a ruthless foe that employs terror and insurgent tactics. An edge-of-your-seat adventure, The Afghan Campaign once again demonstrates Pressfield’s profound understanding of the hopes and desperation of men in battle and of the historical realities that continue to influence our world.

The Tower is Full of Ghosts Today by historian Alison Weir is an e-short and companion piece to the Sunday Times bestseller Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession, the second novel in the spellbinding series about Henry VIII's queens. Jo, historian and long-term admirer of Anne Boleyn, takes a group on a guided tour of the Tower of London, to walk in the shoes of her Tudor heroine. But as she becomes enthralled by the historical accuracy of her tour guide and the dramatic setting that she has come to love, something spectral is lurking in the shadows . . . Contains first chapters of Sunday Times bestsellers Katherine of Aragon: The True Queen and Anne Boleyn: A King's Obsession, as well as the upcoming Six Tudor Queens novel about Henry VIII's third wife, Jane Seymour: The Haunted Queen. SIX TUDOR QUEENS. SIX NOVELS. SIX YEARS.

What if the first day of your relationship was the only day you had? Seventeen-year-old Sara is a seeker. She’s always on the lookout for the perfect moment to capture with her ever-present, point-and-shoot camera, especially on her first trip to New York City. Sam is a finder. He has a knack for finding what other people can’t—a first-edition book or the last two tickets to a sold-out Broadway show. When Sam and Sara’s paths cross, they form an unlikely partnership in search of a seemingly elusive work of art. They have one day to find the impossible. Fate brought their talents together, but what happens when time runs out? Will love be able to overcome fate?

Boarded by Love by Toni Aleo From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Toni Aleo, comes a spin off series from the Assassins: The Bellevue Bullies! Jude Sinclair here, hockey player for the Bellevue Bullies and lover of all ladies. Hockey's in my blood, and not to sound full of myself, but I'm good at it...really good. The draft is within my reach--it's mine to take--but that's not the only reason people know my name. They know me because of my way with women. They know the score, and I aim to please. I just tend to stay away from repeat performances. In other words, I don't do relationships beyond my family and friends. I'm happy with life. However, I should warn you that my story and how I see it playing out is about to change due to a certain redhead on campus. She's beautiful. Stunning. Breathtaking. She's my game changer. He's trouble from the moment I see him. I don't know what I'm thinking, but from the moment I meet his gaze, I'm his. It's a scary feeling. I've never trusted anyone outside my aunt and uncle--and even that took months. I didn't have it easy growing up. My mom was usually strung out, and she didn't give me a second thought. Drugs and the men who paid her were more important to her. It was horrible, but I'm stronger today. Because of my past, security is what I need most. Money assures me that I can take care of myself today, tomorrow, and next month. I don't want to ever be hungry or go without again, so I work hard for every penny. Oh, by the way, I'm Claire Anderson. I'm a hard-studying sophomore at the University of Bellevue, dancer for the school dance team, and a burlesque dancer at a club, but that's my secret. You may think you know how our story ends, but you have no clue. It's not easy falling in love... or living happily ever after. At first it may seem so, but when is anything worth having ever won without a fight? Especially when you're boarded by love.

The passion that burned between Livy and Miller in One Night: Promised may end up destroying them both in this new novel of overwhelming desire and shocking discoveries... He's amazingly wealthy, sinfully gorgeous, and can bring her to heights of pleasure she's never before known. For Livy, there's no turning back. She's determined to be the light in Miller Hart's dark world. Yet this new life comes with a steep price... Miller knows that the power he possesses hasn't come without sacrifices-but he won't let Livy be one of them. Though he wants nothing more than to have her in every way, his first duty is to protect her at all costs...from his sins, his enemies, and especially himself. But as their insatiable affair intensifies, the two attract the attention of an obsessive-and dangerous-third party. Discovering new revelations about Miller that rock her to the core, Livy will have to decide whether he's ruined beyond repair. And he must face his fear that in order to save her, he may have to lose her after all...

George Alfred Henty (1832-1902), referred to as G. A. Henty, was a prolific English novelist, special correspondent, and Imperialist born in Trumpington, England. He is best known for his historical adventure stories that were popular in the late 19th century. His works include Out on the Pampas (1871), The Young Buglers (1880), With Clive in India (1884) and Wulf the Saxon (1895). He attended Westminster School, London and later Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge, where he was a keen sportsman. Henty once related in an interview how his storytelling skills grew out of tales told after dinner to his children. He wrote his first children's book, Out on the Pampas in 1868, naming the book's main characters after his children. While most of the 122 books he wrote were for children, he also wrote adult novels, non-fiction such as The March to Magdala (1868) and Those Other Animals (1891), short stories for the likes of The Boy's Own Paper and edited the Union Jack, a weekly boys magazine. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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