Fantasy Books

Book SynopsisThe gripping sequel to the action-packed fantasy debut THE GOOD LUCK GIRLS - perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows and Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale. Aster.Trade ReviewPopulated by a unique and diverse collection of characters that you will immediately fall in love with, this is a novel that will make you think, make you feel, and make you cry out, 'glory to the reckoning'. * Lauren Shippen, author of The Infinite Noise: A Bright Sessions Novel *The worldbuilding--slang, settings, gory dangers, and all--is rich and complex in this novel featuring a racially diverse cast. A smart, thrilling duology closer. * Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review *Davis has a knack for effortlessly tying in character development to the fast-moving plot. Readers will enjoy meeting and continuing to get to know the diverse cast[.] This book is hard to put down and readers will be inspired by its ending...Perfect for fans of Snowpiercer and Firefly. * School Library Journal *Thanks to #Pridebooktours for making this book available to me.Check out my review of the first book- I laid down the basic magic and power imbalance in Arketta.Trigger WarningI will start this book with a long list of Trigger warnings because this duology has so much that it would be wrong for me to recommend it without a proper list1. Murder2. Rape3. Arson4. Slavery5. Child Abuse and Statutory rape6. Human Trafficking7. Kidnapping8. Gore [Hanging, Skin burning e.t.c.]9. Blood purity10. PTSD11. TortureThere are probably a couple more but these are the ones that I could think off when I was reading the book.Now that is out of the way, let me tell you why this should be you next read.The girls found the lady ghost (happens to be an underground operation that helps good luck girls cross the border into Ferron for a better life. Aster joins the Lady Ghost while the rest of her friends and sister moved on. Except Violet who was left behind when they were last captured by McClennon. At the start of this book, we find out that McClennon lied that the girls were killed when he captured them and that seemed to have calmed his people down while he saved face. He soon announced that he was going to open more Welcome houses and that girls would have their first night at the age of 13! Yes I said Thirteen. That man needed to be hanging by his balls (I don't give sh*t). Anyways, Aster finds out that Violet was still alive and she scales up floors to go find her.This is when we realised that Violet also had a plan and it involved the young McClennon son, Derrick. Derrick was giving us typical white saviour vibes in the the first half of this book. I mean, he wanted to help out the Good Luck Girls but he was not ready to accept and acknowledge the privileged life he had lived at the expense of the girls. I loved how the author was able to touch on that without making it mean out of place in the story.I do not want to spoil it but a lot of stuff happened in this book you really need to read it. I was turning pages so fast with this one. Now for one of my favourite things about this book, the love quadrilateral relationship between Aster, Eli, Violet and Derrick! Gosh, I loved the way trauma and sexuality was handled in this book. It definitely brought the topic to the fore front.Do same sex relationship stem from trauma experienced from the opposite sex? - While this might be a flaming question in a lot of circles, the way it was addressed in this book gave me a different perspective. Aster like Eli a lot and you could tell from the first book. But her relationship with him was uncomfortable for her because of PTSD from her time at the Welcome House (which is understandable). One would suggest that with a bit therapy she would be able to manage her PTSD, but when you read the relationship with Derrick who she had no feelings for whatsoever, you could tell that the discomfort was when she was with Eli and not just around men in general (not to say that she was not hypervigilant around men). - At this point in my reasoning, I started to think 'Maybe she is fluid or she is Bi or Pan' my thoughts went wide and honestly (because I am selfish) I wanted her to have both Eli and Violet.But when she was with Violet who she had once hated, she could relax. She could be herself, she could share her problems and her disappoints. With Violet a lot of things became very easy. Touching was easy, she was not hypervigilant, she was comfort. But she did not know that she was into Violet until it Raven pointed it to her. The panic she felt was the confirmation that she need. She got defensive and lashed out at Raven but once she took time to think about it. It was no longer about her trauma and her past at the Welcome House but about her future and who she felt herself around.This book is just genius.There are other topics that this book address, things like 'Wealthy and Religion, Privilege, Fear, Love, Relationships, Acceptance. Honestly, I could go on and one with this book but I will stop here to avoid more spoilersMy favourite quote from this book "Our suffering became their currency. They get rich off it. And they say it's all justified because we're criminals"This just spoke to me so deeply. I felt it in my bones.While this book was a good conclusion to the story, I am itching for more! * The Euphoric Zat *This is an incredible duology that packs a punch, with a dark and desperate side to the usual heroics of YA dystopia.The Sisters of Reckoning is the sequel to THE GOOD LUCK GIRLS, an LGBT+ dystopia about a group of girls who escaped the 'welcome house' that they'd been sold to as children - a brothel that brands the girls as children with a mark that cannot be hidden. In the first book, they are forced to flee after Clementine accidentally murders the man who visits in her first night as a sundown girl. The Sisters of Reckoning continues on from the end of The Good Luck Girls, where Clementine and the rest of the group have found freedom in neighbouring Ferron, while Aster has remained behind to help more girls escape Arketta one at a time.I really liked the way that this book built on the first one. In The Good Luck Girls we see a small group in desperate straits, fighting any way that they can for their personal freedom, whereas in The Sisters of Reckoning, they're taking on systemic issues in Arketta on a huge scale. This isn't your standard YA overthrow-the-system story. Charlotte Nicole Davis allows her characters to be dark and traumatised and lets them wreak the revenge they deserve. They make choices that are hard, that are awful in some cases, but that they have to make for any change to take place. That doesn't mean these girls aren't fiercely moralistic, they are doing the right thing at every opportunity, but the right thing isn't always the easy thing or the good thing.One of my favourite facets to this book was Aster's struggle with her PTSD and sexuality. She's still suffering PTSD from her time in the welcome house, and on top of that she's trying to come to terms with her attraction to men and women and how she feels about it. I really loved the way that Charlotte Nicole Davis handled this, and how Aster had to process her attraction alongside her trauma as well as separating it - Aster definitely isn't the only woman who fears that her same-sex attraction could be caused by her trauma, and this book handles it sensitively.I really enjoyed the way that this book ended. Without getting into spoiler territory, we got to see the interpersonal conflict which was far more important for our characters than the large scale 'rebellion' type scenes I'm used to from YA, and it left me feeling satisfied with this duology as a whole. While I wouldn't mind reading more from this world, I also can't wait to see what Charlotte Nicole Davis comes out with next. -- El * Ink and Plasma *Charlotte Nicole Davis' sequel to The Good Luck Girls reunites readers with the titular group of fearless fighters: Aster, Violet, Tansy, Mallow and Clementine. Free at last, they all have new lives but Aster continues to help more girls escape their captivity and cross the border. When an unanticipated reunion sparks an ambitious plan, the sisters and friends are brought back together in a rebellion movement known as The Reckoners. But can they unite the different factions and convince them to join in the fight? And can they finally overthrow the welcome houses once and for all? This compelling tale of oppression, justice and the empowering, healing power of sisterhood will make you fall in love with Davis' courageous characters all over again. (Hot Key Books) * Culture Fly *

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Book SynopsisA family of dragons gathers on the occasion of the death of their father, the elder Bon Agornin. As is custom, they must eat the body. But even as Bon''s last remains are polished off, his sons and daughters must all jostle for a position in the new hierarchy. While the youngest son seeks greedy remuneration through the courts of law, the eldest son - a dragon of the cloth - agonises over his father''s deathbed confession. While one daughter is caught between loyalty to her family by blood and her family by marriage, another daughter follows her heart - only to discover the great cost of true love... Here is a Victorian story of political intrigue, family ties and political intrigue, set in a world of dragons - a world, quite literally, red in tooth and claw. Full of fiery wit, this is a novel unlike any other.Trade ReviewThe Pride and Prejudice of the dragon world... I love this sly, witty, fast-paced, brilliant little book. -- Jane Yolen Walton writes with an authenticity that never loses heart. -- Robin Hobb Utterly sui generis ... It's rare a book that leaves me wishing it were twice as long, but Tooth and Claw is one such. The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction

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Book SynopsisIn Regency England, Jane Ellsworth of Dorchester is a woman ahead of her time.Not only is she highly skilled in the manipulation of glamour - plucking strands from the Ether to create genteel magical illusions - she''s also ambitious for her art, and dreams of being recognised as a glamourist of note in her own right, as men are permitted to. First and foremost, however, a lady of quality must marry well, and alas Jane''s ambitions do not extend to her romantic prospects. Compared to her beautiful sister Melody, Jane feels invisible to suitors, and is resigned to a life of spinsterhood.But when her beloved family comes under threat, Jane uses her magical skills to put things right, which attracts the attention of professional glamourist Mr Vincent . . . and unwittingly wanders in to a love story of her own.Trade ReviewThe Glamourist Histories are comedies of manners and magic, and a whole new way of looking at an era that we only thought we knew before. -- John ScalziWith magic, manners, mayhem, and no small measure of derring-do - the Glamourist Histories are everything you could wish for in a sleek, fashionable fantasy series. A shimmering adventure for history buffs and glamour enthusiasts alike. -- Cherie PriestA beautiful, lyrical, tightly woven meld of Jane Austen, Jane Eyre and Beauty and the Beast - I couldn't put it down! -- Lili St. CrowShades of Milk and Honey could easily fit into Austen's canon... Kowal has captured both the style and content of an Austen novel, adding her own speculative fiction twist. Readers who enjoyed such novels as Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell will find this novel appealing as well. -- The Jane Austen CentreKowal sets her own mark on this kind of comedy of manners and creates a low-key and witty debut novel, one that succeeds through understated humor and sprightly prose, rather than through absurd juxtapositions of the historical and the supernatural. * San Francisco Chronicle *If Jane Austen had written a fantasy novel, [this] would have been the result. Written with painstaking attention to detail, Kowal's prose is serenely evocative of the time period, and the fantastic elements are a seamless fit. The characterization is extremely well done and Jane is a sympathetic, strong and intelligent heroine whose devotion to her family trumps nearly every other concern.= * RT Book Reviews, 4 ½ stars, Top Pick!, Seal of Excellence winner *I love these books! They're an ideal mix between adventure, character, and magic. -- Brandon SandersonA delightful read, with an examination of the craft and emotion of art combined with deftly drawn characters, laugh-out-loud wit and a magical re-imagining of Georgian society. * SFX *In her Glamourist Histories series, she captures the tone of an Austen or a Heyer, while setting the stories in a world where ladies of Quality must manipulate Glamour to create intricate illusions. * USA Today *

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Book SynopsisThe Price family has spent generations studying the monsters of the world, working to protect them from humanity and humanity from them.Meet Verity Price. Despite being trained from birth as a cryptozoologist, she'd rather dance a tango than tangle with a demon, and is spending a year in Manhattan to pursue her dream career in professional ballroom dance. That is, until talking mice, telepathic mathematicians, and a tangle with the Price family's old enemies, the Covenant of St. George, get in her wayTrade ReviewSmart, whimsical and bitingly funny, Verity Price is a kick-ass heroine that readers will love. -- Molly HarperSeanan McGuire's DISCOUNT ARMAGEDDON is an urban fantasy triple threat - smart and sexy and funny. The Aeslin mice alone are worth the price of the book, so consider a cast of truly ORIGINAL characters, a plot where weird never overwhelms logic, and some serious kickass world-building as a bonus. -- Tanya HuffMcGuire kicks off a new series with a smart-mouthed, engaging heroine and a city full of fantastical creatures. This may seem like familiar ground to McGuire fans, but she makes New York her own, twisting the city and its residents into curious shapes that will leave you wanting more. Verity’s voice is strong and sure as McGuire hints at a deeper history, one that future volumes will hopefully explore. * RT Book Reviews *Verity is a winning protagonist, and her snarky but loving observations on her world of bogeyman strip club owners, Japanese demon badger bartenders, and dragon princess waitresses make for a delightful read * Publishers Weekly *Discount Armageddon is an exceptionally well-written tale with a unique premise, fantastic character work, and a plot that just pulls you along until you finish. This is one for the urban fantasy enthusiasts out there—as well as for anyone who wants something different from most anything else on shelves today. Easily one of my favorite books of 2012. * Ranting Dragon *

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Book SynopsisSeverin Unck is the headstrong young daughter of a world famous film director. She has inherited her father''s love of the big screen but not his exuberant gothic style of filmmaking. Instead, Severin makes documentaries, artful and passionate and even rather brave - for she is a realist in a fantastic alternate universe, in which Hollywood occupies the moon, Mars is rife with lawless saloons, and the solar system contains all manner of creatures, cults and colonies. For Severin''s latest project she leads her crew to the watery planet of Venus to investigate the disappearance of a diving colony there. But something goes wrong during the course of their investigations; and her crew limp home without her.All that remains of Severin are fragments. Can these snippets of scenes and shots, voices and memories, pages and recordings be collected and pieced together to tell the story of her life - and shed light on the mystery of her vanishing? Clever, dreamy, strangTrade ReviewThe long-awaited first science fiction novel - though it's really more of a cosmic fantasy - from Tiptree winner Valente is a masterpiece of storytelling, seductive in prose and ambitious in scope ... This will captivate readers with all the drama and wonder that Valente's strange and wonderful golden age Hollywood demands. - Publishers WeeklyValente's descriptions are lush and striking, her worlds reveling in the dreamiest of nods to classic science fiction, where alien planets are full of life and easily reachable.A heady, strange, and beautifully written novel about how stories give form to worlds. - KirkusAn intriguing examination of how we piece together our personal narratives - Washington PostRadiance is a sleek rocket ship of a novel, swaddled in Art Deco decadence and glossy with an unsettling alt-history patina. - New York Times

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Book SynopsisThe first instalment of the highly praised Toby Daye series.The world of Faerie never disappeared; it merely went into hiding, continuing to exist parallel to our own. Secrecy is the key to Faerie''s survival: but no secret can be kept forever, and when the fae and mortal worlds collide, changelings are born.Outsiders from birth, these children spend their lives fighting for the respect of their immortal relations. Or in the case of October ''Toby'' Daye, rejecting the fae completely. Toby has retreated into a ''normal'' life - spending her nights stocking shelves at a San Francisco grocery store and her days asleep in her downtown apartment.But when Countess Evening Winterroseis murdered, Toby finds herself drawn abruptly back into the world she thought she''d left behind. It''s going to take everything she''s got just to stay alive, and the stakes are higher than anyone has guessed . . .Trade ReviewRosemary and Rue is one of the most successful blends of mystery and fantasy I've ever read - like Raymond Chandler by way of Pamela Dean. Toby Daye has become one of my favourite heroines, and I can't wait to read more of her continuing adventures. - Tim Pratt, author of Dead Reign Well researched, sharply told, highly atmospheric and as brutal as any pulp detective tale, this promising start to a new urban fantasy series is sure to appeal to fans of Jim Butcher or Kim Harrison. - Publishers Weekly McGuire knows her fairy lore, bringing the wonder and the danger of the fair folk to the streets of San Francisco so vividly you can smell the rose goblins. Action, intrigue, and a dash of romance make Rosemary and Rue a fun, engaging read. An impressive first novel that leaves you impatient for the second. - Jim Hines, author of The Mermaid's Madness

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Book SynopsisOctober Toby Daye is a changeling, the daughter of Amandine of the fae and a mortal man. Like her mother, she is gifted in blood magic, able to read what has happened to a person through a mere taste of blood. Toby is the only changeling who has earned knighthood, and she re-earns that position every day, undertaking assignments for her liege, Sylvester, the Duke of the Shadowed Hills.Now Sylvester has asked her to go to the County of Tamed Lightning - otherwise known as Fremont, California - to make sure that all is well with his niece, Countess January O''Leary, whom he has not been able to contact. It seems like a simple enough assignment - but when dealing with the realm of Faerie nothing is ever as simple as it seems. Toby soon discovers that someone has begun murdering people close to January, whose domain is a buffer between Sylvester''s realm and a scheming rival duchy. If Toby can''t find the killer soon, she may well become the next victim.

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Book SynopsisChangeling knight in the court of the Duke of Shadowed Hills, October Toby Daye has survived numerous challenges that would destroy fae and mortal alike. Now Toby must take on a nightmarish new assignment. Someone is stealing both fae and mortal children-and all signs point to Blind Michael. When the young son of Toby''s closest friends is snatched from their Northern California home, Toby has no choice but to track the villains down, even when there are only three magical roads by which to reach Blind Michael''s realm-home of the legendary Wild Hunt-and no road may be taken more than once. If she cannot escape with all the children before the candle that guides and protects her burns away, Toby herself will fall prey to Blind Michael''s inescapable power.And it doesn''t bode well for the success of her mission that her own personal Fetch, May Daye-the harbinger of Toby''s own death-has suddenly turned up on her doorstep...An Artificial Night is the third instTrade ReviewMcGuire hits her stride with this fast-paced, sharply plotted, tense urban fantasy, the third featuring half-fae detective Toby Daye. - Publisher's Weekly

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Book SynopsisTwo years ago, October Toby Daye believed she could leave the world of Faerie behind. She was wrong. Now she finds herself in the service of Duke Sylvester Torquill, sharing an apartment with her Fetch, and maintaining an odd truce with Tybalt, the local King of Cats. It's a delicate balance - one that's shattered when she learns that an old friend is in dire trouble. Lily, Lady of the Tea Gardens, has been struck down by a mysterious, seemingly impossible illness, leaving her fiefdom undefended.Struggling to find a way to save Lily and her subjects, Toby must confront her own past as an enemy she thought was gone forever raises her head once more: Oleander de Merelands, one of the two people responsible for her fourteen-year exile. But if Oleander's back, what's her game? Where is she hiding? And what part does Toby's mother, Amandine, have to play?Time is growing short and the stakes are getting higher. For the Queen of the Mists has her own agenda, and tTrade ReviewMcGuire just keeps getting better and better. - RT Book ReviewsIn this tightly plotted adventure, McGuire mixes nonstop action with a wealth of mythology to deliver a wholly satisfying story. - Publishers WeeklyVibrant writing and a likable narrator make this one of the stronger entries in the urban fantasy genre. It should appeal to fans of Jim Butcher s 'Dresden Files. - Library Journal[A] thrilling, occasionally even nightmarish, adventure. - Locus

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Book Synopsis''Here in the Just City you will become your best selves. You will learn and grow and strive to be excellent.'' One day, in a moment of philosophical puckishness, the time-travelling goddess Pallas Athene decides to put Plato to the test and create the Just City. She locates the City on a Mediterranean island and populates it with over ten thousand children and a few hundred adults from all eras of history . . . along with some handy robots from the far human future. Meanwhile, Apollo - stunned by the realization that there are things that human beings understand better than he does - has decided to become a mortal child, head to Athene''s City and see what all the fuss is about.Then Socrates arrives, and starts asking troublesome questions.What happens next is a tale only the brilliant Jo Walton could tell.Trade ReviewJo Walton is one of science fiction's most versatile, thoughtful, and gripping writers . . . [A novel] about philosophy, history, gender and freedom [which] also manages to be a spectacular coming-of-age tale that encompasses everything from courtroom dramas to sexual intrigue. -- Cory Doctorow * Boing Boing *The award-winning Walton has written a remarkable novel of ideas that demands - and repays - careful reading. It is itself an exercise in philosophy that often, courtesy of Socrates, critically examines Plato's ideas . . . the plot is always accessible and the world building and characterization are superb. In the end, the novel more than does justice to the idea of the Just City. * Booklist (starred review) *An extraordinarily ambitious achievement . . . The Just City is a glorious example of one of the primary purposes of speculative fiction: serving as a map to the potentials and miseries of a possible world. * The Globe and Mail *Walton shines, as she always does, in the small and hurtful and glorious business of interpersonal relationships. -- Cory DoctorowJo Walton [is] utterly brilliant. * Independent, on My Real Children *Rendered with Walton's usual power and beauty. * New York Times, on My Real Children *

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Book SynopsisFrom the No. 1 international bestselling author of the Crossfire series, A Touch of Crimson is the first novel in Sylvia Day''s sensationally sexy Renegade Angels series. If you fell for Gideon Cross, wait until you meet the men who really are out of this world...Adrian Mitchell is an angel of immense power and an insatiable desire for the one woman he can''t have. The head of an elite unit of the Seraphim, his task is to punish the Fallen - angels who have become vampires - and command a restless pack of indentured lycans. Now, nearly two hundred years after losing the love of his life, Adrian has found his beloved Shadoe, her soul inhabiting a new body with no memory of him. Lindsay Gibson can''t resist her fierce attraction to the seductive male who crosses her path. Swept into a dangerous world of tumultuous passion and preternatural conflict, Lindsay realises there''s more at stake than her love and her life - both she and Adrian could lose Trade Review'Balancing action and romance, humour and hot sensuality, Sylvia Day's storytelling dazzles' * New York Times bestselling author Lara Adrian *'Explodes with passion and heat' * New York Times bestselling author Cheyenne McCray *'A gripping, touching and scintillating page-turner' * Romantic Times 4½ Stars *

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Book SynopsisFrom the No. 1 international bestselling author of the Crossfire series, A Hunger So Wild is the second red-hot paranormal romance following the sizzling A Touch of Crimson. If you fell for Gideon Cross, wait until you meet the men who really are out of this world...Elijah Reynolds is the most dominant of lycans, a rare Alpha whose skill for the hunt is surpassed only by his primal sexuality. When the lycans revolt, Elijah becomes both enemy and coveted ally in the conflict between vampires and angels. Vashti is the second most powerful vampire in the world, a lethal beauty with a path of devastation in her wake. She approaches Elijah with a proposed alliance...and discovers his vow to avenge his closest friend with her death, even as his passion demands her surrender. Their enmity soon erodes beneath an all-consuming desire. But as war looms, each must decide where their loyalty lies - with their own kind or with theTrade Review'Balancing action and romance, humour and hot sensuality, Sylvia Day's storytelling dazzles' * New York Times bestselling author Lara Adrian *'Explodes with passion and heat' * New York Times bestselling author Cheyenne McCray *'A gripping, touching and scintillating page-turner' * Romantic Times 4½ Stars *

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Book SynopsisA decade has passed since the death of Caradoc, King of the Dumnonii tribe, and his friend, Flavius Magnus Maximus. Britain is battered by Pict invaders, and centurion Constantinus and his legionnaires are fighting them to the death. Maximus''s daughter, Lady Severa, holds the key to the throne of the High King of the Britons and when she is threatened with abduction, Constantinus escorts her to the safety of Tintagel. Agreeing to marry her, he is crowned the High King, and Severa bears him two sons, Ambrosius and Uther. But, as the ruler of Britain, Constantinus is poisoned by greed and jealousy, and his thirst for greatness in the Roman Empire will cost him dear...Trade ReviewHume brings the bloody, violent, conniving world vividly to life...will appeal to those who thrill to Game of Thrones and other tales of intersecting, ever-warring, noble lineages * Kirkus Review *Hume deftly navigates the Arthurian legends, populating them with likable and despicable characters, and casting them in a fully realized historical setting * Publishers Weekly *Historical fiction of the most bloodthirsty and roistering kind * Australian Bookseller & Publishers Magazine *Exciting, violent and bloody... Up there with Conn Iggulden and Bernard Cornwell * www.lovereading.co.uk *It's a slice of history that's totally, utterly believable. Magnificent * www.booksmonthly.co.uk *

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Book SynopsisEnjoying pain with your pleasure is something you either get, or you don''t. If you get it, then you don''t really need it explained, because you know how good it feels, and if you don''t get it then no amount of talking is going to convince you it makes sense.But sometimes you have to explain the unexplainable, especially if the love of your life needs to understand, or she''ll leave you. Jason Schuyler is one of Anita Blake''s best friends and favorite werewolves, with benefits. J.J. is his lady love, an old flame from childhood who dances at one of the top ballet companies in New York. She''s accomplished, beautiful, and she''s crazy about him, too. Neither of them wants to be monogamous, so what could go wrong?J.J. is enthusiastically bisexual, with an emphasis on the female side of things. She plans to keep sleeping with women, because Jason can''t meet that need, just like she can''t meet Jason''s need for rough sex and bondage. J.J. doesn''t understand Trade ReviewHamilton remains one of the most inventive and exciting writers in the paranormal field * Charlaine Harris *Anita Blake is one of the most fascinating fictional heroines since Scarlett O'Hara * Publishers Weekly *What The Da Vinci Code did for the religious thriller, the Anita Blake series has done for the vampire novel * USA Today *A hardcore guilty pleasure * The Times *

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Book SynopsisA special Christmas edition of the Sunday Times bestseller.WINNER OF THE SPECSAVERS NATIONAL BOOK AWARDS 2013 BOOK OF THE YEARThe Ocean at the End of the Lane is the bestselling magical novel from Neil Gaiman, one of the most brilliant storytellers of our generation and author of the epic novel American Gods, and the much-loved Sandman series. ''Possibly Gaiman''s most lyrical, scary and beautiful work yet. It''s a tale of childhood for grown-ups, a fantasy rooted in the darkest corners of reality'' (Independent on Sunday). If you loved the mesmerising world of Erin Morgenstern''s The Night Circus or were drawn into J.K. Rowling''s magical universe, this book is for you. It began for our narrator forty years ago when the family lodger stole their car and committed suicide in it, stirring up ancient powers best left undisturbed. Dark creatures from beyond this world are on the loose, and it will take eTrade ReviewGaiman's achievement is to make the fantasy world seem true * The Times *A book that reads like a half-remembered fairy tale from childhood... and slots perfectly into the canon of British magical fiction * New Statesman *The writer who comes closest to the being the Dahl of his generation... The Ocean at the End of the Lane has, like all good myths, a power that defies explanation * Sunday Express *Within a few pages you know you're reading a future classic * Stylist *told with a rare understanding of all that makes us human, and shows the power of stories to reveal and shelter us from the darkness inside and out. * Mid-West Times *

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Book SynopsisAfter Alice by Gregory Maguire, the bestselling author of WICKED, is a wonderful retelling of what happened next after Alice disappeared down the rabbit hole. An entertaining spin on Lewis Caroll''s classic tale of Alice in Wonderland, this novel will delight fans of Angela Carter. When Alice fell down the rabbit-hole, she found Wonderland as rife with inconsistent rules and abrasive egos as the world she left behind. But how did Victorian Oxford react to Alice''s disappearance?Gregory Maguire turns his imagination to the question of underworlds, undergrounds, underpinnings -and understandings old and new, offering an inventive spin on Carroll''s enduring tale. Ada, a friend mentioned briefly in Alice''s Adventures in Wonderland, sets out to visit Alice but, arriving a moment too late, tumbles down the rabbit-hole herself. Ada brings to Wonderland her own imperfect apprehension of cause and effect as she embarks on an odyssey to fiTrade ReviewThoughtful and disconcertingly memorable... This is a feast for the mind, and readers will ruminate on it long after turning the last page * Publishers Weekly (starred review) *Maguire effortlessly leaps between the absurd illusions of Wonderland and the building suspense of the search for the children in antique Oxford... [He] closes in on some big, haunting ideas himself, about the loss of loved ones and religious faith, about cultural and romantic subjugations, and about the evolutionary value of imagination... [A] harvest of delightfully stated observations, [confronting] weighty themes with a light touch and exquisite, lovely language. [Maguire's] playful vocabulary may be ­Carroll-esque, but his keen wit is closer to Monty Python, with a fine, unforced sense of play... his erudition is a joy, his sense of fun infectious * New York Times Book Review *A refreshing look at such a well-known and loved classic * WordsOfaPaige *

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Book Synopsis The second novel in one of the **MOST TALKED-ABOUT** post-apocalyptic series. ''Thrilling . . . Todd skilfully captures hope and humanity in the lives of characters whom the reader comes to care about: Hunted, like Defender, is an impressive achievement'' Guardian The girl has no one to defend her now . . .The hunt for the girl, Lacey, is on. One man is tormented by an inner voice that isn''t his. It eats away at his sanity and, with cruel precision, orders the lawless to follow him. Their mission is to find the girl, steal what she knows ... and kill.In an Inn by the sea, Albus gathers a family of warriors and waits to be called upon. He doesn''t know yet why Lacey is important, but he trusts his sister. And Ruby says he must find the girl - before it''s too late.A great power lives in Lacey and she has a destiny to fulfil. WhetheTrade ReviewHunted has gripped readersHunted is a smart, fast-paced, brave and classy thriller -- Gillian McAllisterHunted is a relentless, heart-pounding thrill-ride . . . Todd shows her ferocious imagination and mastery of her craft on every page, weaving a rich, multi-layered narrative that would happily sit alongside King, Hill, and Cronin on any bookshelf. Utterly absorbing -- Beth LewisUnique, uncompromising and beautifully written. This post-apocalyptic nightmare will haunt you long after you turn the last page -- James CarolHunted is a masterfully written, gripping read . . . A beautifully dark, twisted world that is rich in character and authenticity -- Adam HamdyAn end-of-the-world story that's as complex as it is gripping * SciFiNow *Readers devoured DefenderCompelling, suspenseful, and altogether extraordinary. You won't forget this one in a hurry -- Lee ChildSo accomplished that it's difficult to believe it's a first novel, Defender is already worthy to take its place alongside The Stand in the canon. An absolute gem of a book -- John ConnollyA chilling vision of a world gone feral, yet strangely triumphant. You can taste the dust and blood and sweat; the fear on every page. Readers should approach with caution, those voices will burrow into your head and heart -- Karen MaitlandAn incredibly accomplished and impressive debut. The novel is of a piece with Stephen King's The Stand... Defender stands head and shoulders above the most recent post-apocalyptic offerings * Independent *Defender is simply majestic -- Adam ChristopherDefender [offers] a rich blend of horror and heart . . . This is sharp, gruelling and gripping, and we can't wait to explore this harsh world further and see what Todd has to offer us in part two * SciFiNow magazine *Defender is insane, intelligent, beautifully plotted, intensely absorbing and will enfold you in a vice-like grip from the first page until the last sentence * Lizlovesbooks.com *Every bit as good as its predecessor... grim, intriguing and fast moving * Concatenation.org *

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Book Synopsis **Winner of the British Fantasy Award for Best Fantasy Novel** The first book in the award-winning Winnowing Flame trilogy. Epic fantasy for fans of Robin Hobb and Jay Kristoff.''Fantasy adventure at its very best'' Starburst ''Williams excels at eldritch world-building'' Guardian ''An original new voice in heroic fantasy'' Adrian Tchaikovsky The great city of Ebora once glittered with gold. Now its streets are stalked by wolves. Tormalin the Oathless has no taste for sitting around waiting to die while the realm of his storied ancestors falls to pieces - talk about a guilt trip. Better to be amongst the living, where there are taverns full of women and wine.When eccentric explorer, Lady Vincenza ''Vintage'' de Grazon, offers him employment, he sees an easy way out. Even when they are joined by a fugitive witch with a tendency to Trade ReviewAbsolutely phenomenal fantasy -- Adrian TchaikovskyWilliams portrays her characters as flawed but humane, propels the plot with expert pace, and excels at eldritch world-building * Guardian *There is so much to praise about The Ninth Rain: the worldbuilding is top-notch, the plot is gripping and the characters just get better and better. A sublime read * SFX *Yet again, Williams has created an addictive and coherent fantasy world filled with all sorts of deliciously interesting things within it... This is fantasy adventure at its very best. Go check it out * Starburst *The Ninth Rain is a fast-paced and vibrant fantasy romp through a new world, full of people you want to spend time with and enemies you'd happily run from * SciFiNow *Jen Williams takes us on another great adventure. Fresh, engaging, and full of heart -- Peter NewmanA cracking story that grips you by the heart and doesn't let go -- Edward CoxA very original fantasy world * Story Collector *The Ninth Rain is full of tropes written in a different and clever way. The drop-dead gorgeous man? He's the source of comedy. Immortals living off human blood but dying as well because of it? Yes, sounds like vampires, although they're not called as such in this book. The threat of zombies and zombie-infestation? They're present too, but not the usual plot line that involves a virus or what not. It was all so brilliantly done' * The Travelling Bibliophile *Brilliantly creative fantasy * This Northern Gal *

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Book SynopsisA special illustrated edition of The Monarch of the Glen by bestselling storytelling legend, Neil Gaiman. This American Gods world novella will thrill Games of Thrones devotees and Terry Pratchett fans alike. Illustrations by celebrated artist Daniel Egnéus.''Original, engrossing, an endlessly entertaining'' George R.R Martin on American GodsHe was not sure what he had been looking for. He only knew that he had not found it.Shadow Moon has been away from America for nearly two years. His nights are broken with dangerous dreams. Sometimes he almost believes he doesn''t care if he ever returns home. In the Highlands of Scotland, where the sky is pale white and it feels as remote as any place can possibly be, the beautiful and the wealthy gather at a grand old house in the glen. And when the strange local doctor offers him work at the party, Shadow is intrigued. He knows there is Trade Reviewtold with a rare understanding of all that makes us human, and shows the power of stories to reveal and shelter us from the darkness inside and out. * Mid-West Times *

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Book SynopsisIn Crimson Death, the twenty-fifth Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter, adventure by Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author Laurell K. Hamilton, Anita is tested like never before in a showdown that will delight readers of Charlaine Harris and Anne Rice. ''Hamilton is still thrilling fans...with her amazing multifaceted characters and intricate multilayered world, a mix of erotic romance, crime-drama, and paranormal/fantasy fiction'' Library JournalSome say love is a great motivator, but hatred gets the job done, too.My name is Anita Blake. I''m a vampire hunter and necromancer, and I''m about to learn that evil is in the eye of the beholder...I''ve never seen Damian, my vampire servant, so vulnerable. He''s being bombarded with violent nightmares and blood sweats, but now is the time I need him most. The ruthless vampire who created him might be losing control, allowing rogue vampires to run Trade Review'Hamilton remains one of the most inventive and exciting writers in the paranormal field' * Charlaine Harris *'Anita Blake is one of the most fascinating fictional heroines since Scarlett O'Hara' * Publishers Weekly *'What The Da Vinci Code did for the religious thriller, the Anita Blake series has done for the vampire novel' * USA Today *'A hardcore guilty pleasure' * The Times *

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Book SynopsisAnita Blake, Vampire Hunter, returns to face an ancient, Medusa-like curse in her twenty-sixth adventure. Fans of Charlaine Harris and Anne Rice will delight in this series by Sunday Times and New York Times bestselling author Laurell K. Hamilton. ''I''ve never read a writer with a more fertile imagination'' Diana Gabaldon My name is Anita Blake, U.S. marshal and vampire hunter. But this time, there''s a monster that even I don''t know how to fight . . . A remote Florida island is the perfect destination for my best friend Edward''s wedding, and a much-needed getaway for me and wereleopards Micah and Nathaniel. But it''s not all fun, games and bachelor parties. Micah has unearthed a horrific new form of lycanthropy down here - a Medusa-like curse that turns its victims into a mass of snakes. The last thing I need is more drama, but when women start disappearing in this tropical Trade Review'Hamilton remains one of the most inventive and exciting writers in the paranormal field' * Charlaine Harris *Anita Blake is one of the most fascinating fictional heroines since Scarlett O'Hara * Publishers Weekly *What The Da Vinci Code did for the religious thriller, the Anita Blake series has done for the vampire novel * USA Today *A hardcore guilty pleasure * The Times *

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Book SynopsisHow to Talk to Girls at Parties by Sunday Times bestselling writer Neil Gaiman is a graphic novel with extraordinary artwork by the Eisner Award-winning duo Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá. Soon to be a feature film starring Nicole Kidman, this adaptation is ''a quirky delight'' (Audrey Niffenegger) and will appeal to fans of Alan Moore, Dave McKean and beyond. ENN is a fifteen-year-old boy who just doesn''t understand girls, while his friend Vic seems to have them all figured out. Both teenagers are in for the shock of their young lives, however, when they crash a local party only to discover that the girls there are far, far more than they appear!From the Locus Award-winning short story by Neil Gaiman, one of the most celebrated authors of our time, and adapted in vibrant ink-and-watercolour illustrations by the Daytripper duo of brothers Fábio Moon and Gabriel Bá, this original graphic novel is not to be missed!Trade ReviewGentle, strange, and full of perfectly good advice ('You just have to talk to them!'), How to Talk to Girls at Parties is wise and odd. Neil Gaiman's writing is sweetly complemented by Fabio Moon & Gabriel Ba's art. It's a quirky delightHow can something so strange and so beautiful also be so sad? Like a poem, a pattern, and a people whose world was swallowed by the sea, How to Talk to Girls at Parties is three things at once

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Book SynopsisAMERICAN GODS by international bestseller, and creator of Sandman, Neil Gaiman is an award-winning epic novel, highly acclaimed major TV series starring Ricky Whittle, Ian McShane and Gillian Anderson and now, for the first time, adapted in stunning comic book form. This is the first of three bind-up editions. ''A must for any fan of American Gods or the work of Neil Gaiman... [sitting] alongside the TV series and the novel as another way to tackle and understand Gaiman''s deep, rich narrative'' StarburstShadow Moon gets out of jail only to discover his wife is dead. Defeated, broke and uncertain where to go from here, he meets the mysterious Mr. Wednesday, who employs him to serve as his bodyguard - thrusting Shadow into a deadly world where ghosts of the past come back from the dead, and a god war is imminent.Trade ReviewA must for any fan of American Gods or the work of Neil Gaiman... [sitting] alongside the TV series and the novel as another way to tackle and understand Gaiman's deep, rich narrative * Starburst *

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Book SynopsisAMERICAN GODS by international bestseller, and creator of Sandman, Neil Gaiman is an award-winning epic novel, highly acclaimed major TV series starring Ricky Whittle, Ian McShane and Gillian Anderson and now, for the first time, adapted in stunning comic book form. This is the final of three bind-up editions. ''Original, engrossing and endlessly inventive'' - George R. R. Martin.The final confrontation between new and old gods, with humanity caught in the middle.The new and old gods agree to meet in the centre of America to exchange the body of the old gods'' fallen leader - heading towards the inevitable god war in this final arc to the bestselling comic series.This volume collects the third nine issues of the seminal American Gods comic book series.Trade ReviewOriginal, engrossing, and endlessly inventive, a picaresque journey across America where the travellers are even stranger than the roadside attractionsGaiman has a rich imagination...and an ability to tackle large themesA very fine and imaginative writer - The Times

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Book SynopsisAMERICAN GODS by international bestseller, and creator of Sandman, Neil Gaiman is an award-winning epic novel, highly acclaimed major TV series starring Ricky Whittle, Ian McShane and Gillian Anderson and now, for the first time, adapted in stunning comic book form. This is the second of three bind-up editions. ''Original, engrossing and endlessly inventive'' - George R. R. Martin.The extraordinary road trip across America continues as our heroes gather reinforcements for the imminent god war. Shadow and Wednesday leave the House on the Rock and continue their journey across the country where they set up aliases, meet new gods and prepare for war.The Hugo, Bram Stoker, Locus, World Fantasy and Nebula award-winning epic novel and hit Amazon Prime Video TV series by international bestseller Neil Gaiman is now, for the first time, adapted in stunning graphic novel form.This volume collects the second nine issues of theTrade ReviewOriginal, engrossing, and endlessly inventive, a picaresque journey across America where the travellers are even stranger than the roadside attractionsGaiman has a rich imagination...and an ability to tackle large themesA very fine and imaginative writer - The Times

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Book SynopsisA special illustrated edition of The Ocean at the End of the Lane, the bestselling magical novel from master storyteller Neil Gaiman. Breathtaking black-and-white illustrations throughout by fine artist and illustrator, Elise Hurst. ''Both a pitch-perfect fantasy and a moving examination of childhood memories and their effects on our adult selves ... superb'' The Times''Some books you read. Some books you enjoy. But some books just swallow you up, heart and soul'' Joanne HarrisThis is what he remembers, as he sits by the ocean at the end of the lane:A dead man on the back seat of the car, and warm milk at the farmhouse.An ancient little girl, and an old woman who saw the moon being made.A beautiful housekeeper with a monstrous smile.And dark forces woken that were best left undisturbed.They are memories hard to believe, waiting at the edge of things. The recollections of a man who thought hTrade ReviewGaiman's achievement is to make the fantasy world seem true * The Times *A book that reads like a half-remembered fairy tale from childhood... and slots perfectly into the canon of British magical fiction * New Statesman *The writer who comes closest to the being the Dahl of his generation... The Ocean at the End of the Lane has, like all good myths, a power that defies explanation * Sunday Express *Within a few pages you know you're reading a future classic * Stylist *

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Book Synopsis''A delicious, diverse, genre-bending gothic, as smart as it is spooky'' Chloe Benjamin During your three years at Catherine House you will have no contact with those in the outside world.Each of our students has been selected as someone who belongs here. You will give to Catherine and Catherine will give to you.We will not let each other down.Catherine House is a university like no other. Into its celebrated world steps Ines, a young woman who welcomes the school''s isolation rather than its illustrious past. As the gates close and Ines finds herself start to be inevitably seduced by its magnetic power, she begins to realise the question isn''t why she chose to come to Catherine House; but why Catherine House chose her.''A brilliantly observed tale brimming with subtle malevolence'' Irenosen Okojie''Echoes of The Secret History and Never Let Me Go''Trade ReviewA delicious, diverse, genre-bending gothic, as smart as it is spooky -- Chloe BenjaminCatherine House is a deliciously sinister novel that bristles with an unsettling glamour. It's almost impossible not to be seduced by Elisabeth Thomas's beautiful writing and the intoxicating world she has created * Louise O'Neill *[A] delicious literary gothic debut * New York Times *Echoes of Donna Tartt's The Secret History and Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go contribute an intriguing undercurrent to this unsettling gothic concoction * Daily Mail *This has to be one of the most gripping books I've read this year... The read feels claustrophobic, decadent, extreme and sad in equal measure, and I was amazed by the plot * Woman's Way *This suspenseful read is a terrific debut * Woman's Weekly *Gothic horror provides the architecture for an arrestingly strange melange of speculative fiction and teen trauma in this atmospheric debut novel . . . nibbling menace spurs the plot onwards * Observer *A brilliantly observed tale brimming with subtle malevolence. An atmospheric, hypnotic delight * Irenosen Okojie *Thomas's debut novel is a dark, delicious gothic read that hits all the right spots in the best way. If you want a book you can't put down for even a second, this is it * Forbes, 10 most anticipated books of 2020 *Spellbinding... Surreal imagery, spare characterization, and artful, hypnotic prose lend Thomas's tale a delirious air, but at the book's core lies a profound portrait of depression and adolescent turmoil. Fans of Donna Tartt's The Secret History will devour this philosophical fever dream * Publisher's Weekly *Moody and evocative as a fever dream, CATHERINE HOUSE is the sort of book that wraps itself around your brain, drawing you closer with each hypnotic step * Washington Post *Catherine House is a haunting, atmospheric reflection on the discovery of self and others. At times terrifying, always gorgeously captivating, Thomas' debut is one not to be missed, and perhaps to be revisited frequently * Booklist *

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Book Synopsis'Like all the best vintages Jack Lark has aged to perfection. Scarred, battered and bloody, his story continues to enthral' ANTHONY RICHES Historical military fiction at its finest, for fans of Bernard Cornwell's Sharpe series, Matthew Harffy and Patrick O'Brian. South Africa, 1871. Jack Lark no longer walks alone. With the worldly Anna Baker by his side, he travels to the Cape Colony diamond fields determined to seek their fortune - and an adventurous new life together. The journey north soon turns violent as tensions erupt between other hopeful diggers and a gang of Boer men. Everyone has their eye on the same elusive prize - and some will stop at nothing to get it. For Jack and Anna, unearthing a diamond is only half the battle. Getting out of the mines alive will prove far more difficult - and dangerous. And when the worst happens, Jack finds himself tested as no enemy, no man and no war has ever before. Pr

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Book SynopsisGetting a life isn''t always easy. And hanging on to it is even harder . . . Discover this funny, heart-warming tale of self-discovery from Jodi Taylor, author of the internationally bestselling Chronicles of St Mary''s series.Nobody ever notices little Jenny Dove. Even her family call her the Nothing Girl. Isolated and alone, Jenny is about to end it all when she is rescued by Thomas, a giant golden horse only she can see.Under his mischievous guidance, Jenny begins to think she might one day become someone. And when the charmingly chaotic Russell Checkland erupts into her life - together with his tumbledown farmhouse - and proposes a marriage that will save them both, Jenny is ready to take a chance.Sadly, her new life at Frogmorton Farm doesn''t exactly sweep Jenny off her feet. There are leaking roofs, unpaid bills and so many buckets. And then, as a series of apparent ''accidents'' unfolds, Jenny begins to worry this might noTrade ReviewTakes readers on a carnival ride through laughter and tears with a bit of time travel thrown in for spice * Publishers Weekly Starred Review *A true page-turner * SF Revu *I've never seen time travel handled this way. I like it * Wethenerdy.com *[An] appealing cast of characters... [with] with plenty of humour, lots of action, and even a touch of romance * Library Journal *

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Book SynopsisLife on Frogmorton Farm is never peaceful for long . . . Discover book two in the magical Frogmorton Farm series from Jodi Taylor, author of the internationally bestselling Chronicles of St Mary''s.Life is good at Frogmorton Farm. Yes, Jenny and Russell are still broke. Yes, the roof still leaks. And yes, the Checklands are about to become the long-suffering owners of a battalion of trouble-seeking Patagonian Attack Chickens. But life is still quite wonderful for someone who used to be called the Nothing Girl.Jenny Checkland knows better than to count her chickens, though, even the Patagonian ones. Particularly because an all-too-familiar face from the past seems to be popping up wherever she goes. She would swear it was her sinister cousin Christopher, last seen being enthusiastically hurled out of the back door by her wayward husband.But he couldn''t possibly be stupid enough to come back and try again . . . could he?Trade ReviewTakes readers on a carnival ride through laughter and tears with a bit of time travel thrown in for spice * Publishers Weekly Starred Review *A true page-turner * SF Revu *I've never seen time travel handled this way. I like it * Wethenerdy.com *[An] appealing cast of characters... [with] with plenty of humour, lots of action, and even a touch of romance * Library Journal *

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Book SynopsisLeo Carew''s much-lauded UNDER THE NORTHERN SKY trilogy draws to its spellbinding conclusion...Albion continues to be divided by revolt and bloodshed, as alliances collapse and are made anew.Driven obsessively for glory, the upstart Bellamus and his exiled queen Aramilla are marshalling resistance and building a powerful army.Returning to the Hindrunn, Keturah is forced to fend for herself, battling enemies on all sides just when she is most in need of a place of safety.And all the while, the young Black Lord must deal not only with the aftermath of a great betrayal, but the cold shadow of the Kryptea, threatening to destroy everything he has fought for...WHAT REVIEWERS ARE SAYING ABOUT THE BREATHTAKING WORK OF LEO CAREW:''The next George RR Martin'' - Mail on Sunday''Imagine Game of Thrones rewritten by John le Carré ... A marvellously accomplished debut'' - Guardian''Full of dark con

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of THE CHRONICLES OF ST MARY''S.Life is good for Team Weird, now heroes and fully fledged Time Police officers. Luke can''t wait to bear arms. Jane has a date. And Matthew still hasn''t had his hair cut.But Time waits for no one and neither do criminal masterminds. A major threat to the Timeline is looming, one far deadlier than mere idiots who want to change history. And when a familiar face becomes a Very Important Lead, will conflicting family loyalties spell trouble for Team Weird?One missing. One guilt-ridden. And one facing the end of their Time Police career before it''s even begun. Not so good then, after all.FOR FANS OF DOCTOR WHO, THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB AND JASPER FFORDE. Readers love the Time Police: ''This got five stars only because I couldn''t give it six!''''I don''t think I''ve ever laughed out loud so much reading a book''''I am always gutted when I fin

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Book SynopsisFrom the bestselling author of THE CHRONICLES OF ST MARY''S.Life is good for Team Weird, now heroes and fully fledged Time Police officers. Luke can''t wait to bear arms. Jane has a date. And Matthew still hasn''t had his hair cut.But Time waits for no one and neither do criminal masterminds. A major threat to the Timeline is looming, one far deadlier than mere idiots who want to change history. And when a familiar face becomes a Very Important Lead, will conflicting family loyalties spell trouble for Team Weird?One missing. One guilt-ridden. And one facing the end of their Time Police career before it''s even begun. Not so good then, after all.FOR FANS OF DOCTOR WHO, THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB AND JASPER FFORDE. Readers love the Time Police: ''This got five stars only because I couldn''t give it six!''''I don''t think I''ve ever laughed out loud so much reading a book''''I am alw

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Book Synopsis*NOW A MAJOR SKY TV SERIES. Read the novel Season 2 is based on.*Fall deeper under the spell of Diana and Matthew in the captivating second volume of the No.1 internationally bestselling ALL SOULS series, following A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES. Perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman, Diana Gabaldon and J. K. Rowling.---In a world of witches, daemons and vampires the fragile balance of peace is unravelling. Diana and Matthew''s forbidden love has broken the laws dividing creatures. To discover the manuscript which holds their hope for the future, they must now travel back to the past.When Diana Bishop, descended from a line of powerful witches, discovered a significant alchemical manuscript in the Bodleian Library, she sparked a struggle in which she became bound to long-lived vampire Matthew Clairmont. Now the coexistence of witches, daemons, vampires and humans is dangerously threatened.Seeking safTrade ReviewWhat a rich, thrilling and educational tale it is. . . A captivating and romantic ripping yarn.Deborah Harkness has done us proud with her magnificent, enthralling, engrossing sequel. . . Her weaving of time and ancient lore, of modern science and alchemy, of vampires, daemons and all-too-mortal humans is magical, wonderful and utterly additive. You won't be able to put it down.A bubbling cauldron of illicit desire. . . all the ingredients for an assured saga that blends romance with fantasy. * Daily Mail *An inventive addition to the supernatural craze. . . has exciting amounts of spells, kisses and battles, and is recounted with enchanting, page-turning panache. * Marie Claire *

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Book SynopsisA collection of sixteen sci-fi and fantasy stories edited by No.1 New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author Laurell K. Hamilton and author William McCaskey.A child''s wish for her father comes true. The end of the world has never been so much fun. Conquering personal demons becomes all too real. It''s not always about winning; sometimes it''s about showing up for the fight. It''s about loving your life''s work, and jobs that make you question everything.In this anthology, seventeen authors have woven together brand-new stories that speak to the darkness and despair that life brings while reminding us that good deeds, humour, love, sacrifice, dedication and following our joy can ignite a light that burns so bright the darkness cannot last.Laurell K. Hamilton and William McCaskey are joined by Kevin J. Anderson, Griffin Barber, Patricia Briggs, Larry Correia, Kacey Ezell, Monalisa Foster, Robert E. Hampson, John G. Hartness, JonTrade ReviewHamilton remains one of the most inventive and exciting writers in the paranormal fieldSome of the most well- rounded characters, regardless of sex, that I've read in years. I look forward to reading more from him

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Book Synopsis ''Jodi Taylor is quite simply the Queen of Time. Her books are a swashbuckling joyride through History'' C. K. MCDONNELL BOOK 13 IN THE INTERNATIONALLY BESTSELLING CHRONICLES OF ST MARY''S SERIESFor fans of Richard Osman''s Thursday Murder Club series, Jasper Fforde and Doctor Who.---Finally - finally! - Max has that nice office job she''s always wanted. The one with no heavy lifting and no one tries to kill her. Well, one out of two''s not bad...Punching well above their weight, Max and Markham set out to bring down a sinister organisation founded in the future - with a suspicious focus on the past.Max''s focus is staying alive long enough to reunite with Leon and Matthew, alternately helped and hindered by St Mary''s. Who aren''t always the blessing they like to think they are.But non-stop leaping around the timeline - from witnessing Magna Carta to disturbing a certain young

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Book SynopsisFrom the million-copy bestselling author of THE CHRONICLES OF ST MARY'S. 'Jodi Taylor is quite simply the Queen of Time' C. K. MCDONNELL * Don't miss the brand new Time Police novel - KILLING TIME - coming soon, available to pre-order now * --- Twenty-four hours is a long Time in the Time Police. When a fateful mission to apprehend a minor criminal selling dodgy historical artefacts goes very wrong, Commander Hay faces the longest day of her career. An officer is attacked within TPHQ. A prisoner is murdered. And investigations are about to lead to the one place where no officer can legally tread. Worst of all, trouble is brewing for Luke, Jane and Matthew as a shocking revelation threatens to tear Team Weird apart for good....FOR FANS OF DOCTOR WHO, THE THURSDAY MURDER CLUB AND JASPER FFORDE.Readers love the Time Police:

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Book SynopsisTHE TIKTOK SENSATION! The Ex Hex is a spellbinding rom-com with a twist, think Practical Magic in Gilmore Girls'' Stars Hollow . . .''A spooky romantic comedy treat that had me sighing at one page, laughing out loud at the next'' TESSA BAILEYNew York Times bestselling author Rachel Hawkins, writing as Erin Sterling, casts a spell with a spine-tingling romance full of wishes, witches, and hexes gone wrong.Return to magical Graves Glen in The Kiss Curse - out now! - and The Wedding Witch - available to preorder!Readers are LOVE The Ex Hex!''If Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Gilmore Girls had a book baby, it would be THE EX HEX. And yes, it''s just as glorious as it sounds!'' ''I loved and adored everything about this book . . . everything I was looking

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Book SynopsisDan Rhodes is one of the most successful and beloved YouTubers in the world. Here, in his debut book, Dan brings together the love and joy he has continually derived from magic - from the very first moment he received a magic kit from his parents when he was six years old, to trying out his own early illusions, through to his journey from amateur magician to global TikTok star - and shows you how you can become a social media inspiration too.With striking illustrations throughout and clear 'trick guides' to help young magicians get started - along with some really impressive sleights of hand for the more experienced illusionist - Dan's book also contains a fascinating history of the craft of the magician, highlighting the skill and dedication it takes to become a true master of magic.Part memoir, part how-to, this is the perfect gift for any budding social media star.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisWizards tend to be secretive and solitary, rarely sharing their knowledge, and associating with only a select few apprentices, followers, and henchmen. It is rare that they spend time in the company of other spellcasters, and rarer still that they work together. Now, however, something is about to take place that has not occurred since the great days of Felstad a gathering of wizards.In this new supplement for Frostgrave, some of the biggest names in gaming turn their creative powers towards the Frozen City, each contributing a scenario and adding their own flair to the game. Featuring scenarios by Alessio Cavatore, Alex Buchel, Andy Chambers, Gav Thorpe, Chris Pramas, Daniel Mersey, Andrea Sfiligoi, and many more, this tome provides a collection of adventures that will pit players against unimaginable foes and challenges, pushing their wizards and warbands to new limits.

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Book SynopsisThe islands of the Ghost Archipelago are covered in the ruins of ancient civilizations, but there is one group whose culture still thrives and whose power still grows the Dricheans. Divided into many small kingdoms and city-states that wage near-constant war with snake-men, native tribes, and with each other, the Dricheans are renowned for the gleaming bronze of their weapons and armour, and their martial prowess. Organized and militaristic, these formidable warriors pose a new threat to adventurers exploring the Lost Isles.This supplement for Frostgrave: Ghost Archipelago examines the scattered realms of the Dricheans, presenting players with three new mini-campaigns featuring these bronze-armed warriors. Also included are additional rules for using Drichean Crew and Soldiers as well as guidelines for creating your own Drichean kingdoms.

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Book SynopsisA mass-battle fantasy game in which players can field combined armies of humans, elves, goblins, dwarves, and more, and develop that army over the course of a campaign. Empires have fallen, and the land is broken. The great oathmarks that once stood as testaments to the allegiances and might of nations have crumbled into ruin. In this lost age, fealty and loyalty are as valuable as gold and as deadly as cold iron, and war is ever-present. Created by Joseph A. McCullough, designer of Frostgrave and Frostgrave: Ghost Archipelago, Oathmark is a mass-battle fantasy wargame that puts you in command of the fantasy army you''ve always wanted, whether a company of stalwart dwarves or a mixed force with proud elves, noble men and wild goblins standing shoulder-to-shoulder in the battle-line. Fight through an integrated campaign system and develop your realms from battle to battle, adding new territories, recruiting new troop types and growing to ec

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Book SynopsisA supplement devoted to playing solo and co-operative games of Frostgrave.There are many tales of the Frozen City, and not all of them tell of battles between rival wizards. Often, the greatest adventures are those that pit a wizard and his trusty warband against the myriad perils found amidst the ruins of Felstad.This new supplement for Frostgrave presents full rules for playing solo and co-operative games in which the feuds and skirmishes of wizards take a back seat to the exploration and unlocking of the mysteries of the city. These include guidelines for both dungeon crawls and adventuring in the ruins, new traps, unique random encounters, and four multi-scenario mini-campaigns to get players started. Why should wizards fight amongst themselves? There is plenty of treasure for all and the Frozen City is enemy enough!

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Book SynopsisDark necromancers have laid claim to forsaken kingdoms and summoned forth the souls of those who defiled their oathmarks. The dead, once again, march to war. As armies of wraiths and skeletal warriors bring destruction to their lands, the small kingdoms of the Marches also turn to the spirits of the dead. Gathering the most ancient and powerful of oathmarks, they recall the spectral forms of those that died in loyal battle to once again come forth in defence of their kingdoms. With these ethereal warriors joining their ranks, the kings of the Marches may yet stand. This supplement for Oathmark: Battles of the Lost Age introduces the forces of the dead to the game. Some armies will use dark magic to summon the souls and corpses of traitors from the past, while others will recall the spirits of loyal warriors that gave their lives and willingly fight again. This book also includes expanded rules for characters, which allow you to chart their progress from battle-to-batt

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Book SynopsisA Sword & Sorcery roleplaying game set in a Fantasy Bronze Age inspired by the legends and cultures of the Ancient Near East.The Zaharets, the land between the Vori Wastes and the Plains of Aeco, is well-known as the Land of Risings. Dominated by the rising city-states of Ameena Noani and Sentem, facing each other along the great War Road, the Zaharets has always been home to powerful civilizations. Beastmen ruins dot the landscape, a constant reminder of the Kingdom of Sin and the fragility of the Law of Men. Even older are the great ruins of the Hulathi, the legendary sea peoples, and the Hannic mansions sealed beneath the mountains, awaiting those who would seek out the Lost Folk. Scars abound from the wars between ruined Keta in the north and Gerwa in the south. And, far to the east, the legends of Muadah still beckon occultists and Jackals who seek to plunder its corrupted ruins.Inspired by the myths, cultures, and history of the Ancient Near East, and byTrade ReviewIn short, it’s outstanding! * Tabletop Almanac *As soon as I purchased it I wanted to sit down and play. * DrivethruRPG *I give Jackals a very solid 8.5 * TheGamingGang *This is an excellent set-up and makes for great community tension -- Pookie * Ryleh Reviews *Table of ContentsIntroduction Background Cultures Character Creation The System Gazetteer Bestiary Adventures

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