Myths & Legends Books

Book SynopsisLonglisted for the Highland Book Prize 2020 ‘I’ve long admired Robin Robertson’s narrative gift . . . If you love stories, you will love this book.’ Val McDermidThe new book from the author of The Long Take, shortlisted for the Booker Prize and winner of both the Walter Scott Prize and the Goldsmiths Prize.Like some lost chapters from the Celtic folk tradition, Grimoire tells stories of ordinary people caught up, suddenly, in the extraordinary: tales of violence, madness and retribution, of second sight, witches, ghosts, selkies, changelings and doubles, all bound within a larger mythology, narrated by a doomed shape-changer – a man, beast or god.A grimoire is a manual for invoking spirits. Here, Robin Robertson and his brother Tim Robertson – whose accompanying images are as unforgettable as cave-paintings – raise strange new forms which speak not only of the potency of our myths and superstitions, but how they were used to balance and explain the world and its predicaments.From one of our most powerful lyric poets, this is a book of curses and visions, gifts both desired and unwelcome, characters on the cusp of their transformation – whether women seeking revenge or saving their broken children, or men trying to save themselves. Haunting and elemental, Grimoire is full of the same charged beauty as the Scottish landscape – a beauty that can switch, with a mere change in the weather, to hostility and terror.Trade ReviewRobin Robertson is one of the finest contemporary poets. -- John BanvilleFew writers so expertly pull the curtains back on the many collective fictions, both ancient and new, that constitute our understanding of the world. -- Kevin Powers author of The Yellow BirdsRobin Robertson is a fearless and thrilling poet in what he confronts in himself as well as what he unearths from the commons of myth and balladry * Marina Warner *A major poet… Robertson remains an unequalled guide among the shamanistic roots of poetry. * Fiona Sampson, Independent *Robertson's lines have the luminosity of myth. * Adam Newey, Guardian *Robin Robertson is instantly recognisable as a poet of vivid authority, commanding a surprised, accurate language of his own. * W.S. Merwin *He’s a poet who takes enormous risks, not only as a writer, but as a man and I admire him enormously for that. * Kirsty Gunn, Scotsman *This is a book that will make you awaken at night . . . [Robinson's] poetry is unusual in that it is pointed – the glanced moment – and yet can be propelled narrative at the same time. Grimoire is a perfect encapsulation of both these talents . . . exceptionally impressive -- Stuart Kelly * The Scotsman *In this beautifully spare and distilled poetic form these new Scottish folk tales rise from the page like the supernatural beings they give voice to . . . The illustrations are like beautifully strange phantoms . . . unflinching, brutal and often movingly beautiful . . . With its wonderful illustrations, bold design and sumptuous production, it's also a gorgeous book to handle and treasure. * The Tablet *It is no wonder Roberston’s narrative poem-novel, The Long Take, was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2018. Grimoire is a collection which revels in this same talent for the tale; the reader is insistently drawn through these poems by the mythical narrative figure. Whether you read for the magic of the story, for the lull of beautiful language, or for the mysteries of the occult, Grimoire is a must-have for your poetry shelf this autumn. * The Skinny *Robertson does something exceptionally impressive with language here, in that the book twists around Gaelic, Scots and English. It does not feel forced, and if it makes a reader check the index, then all to the good. . . Robertson is somehow dapper in just using the right word in the right place for the right line. . . The linguistic inventiveness would mean little or nothing if it did not come with an emotional truth. Robertson doesn’t coax, but he does lure the reader, right up to the point when you are punched in the guts . . .There is a steeliness to Robertson’s work. I would like an audio-book version, as in performance, he is dreadfully still as he tells us dreadful things. This is the poetry of the pause, not the applause. But there is one hand clapping here. * Scotsman *Robertson’s finely wrought poems capture the tradition of shape-shifting inherent in such spirit stories – the slippery interface of human, beast, god/spirit – and explore it in conjunction with dark and troubling narratives that edge on violence, murder and reckoning. These poems are populated by ghosts, witches, selkies, doppelgangers and, as such, read as though they might be reworkings of ancient folktales that have only just been brought to light. The accompanying drawings, in their bold, monochromatic woodcut style, have the feel of cave paintings, or Blakean preliminary sketches for some more colourful works. All in all, it’s a lovely little coffee-table style book of poems, though don’t let that sound too cosy . . . The Robertson brothers’ book is a dark delight; a lexical and narrative cornucopia, full of uncanny and unsettling tales, rendered in a language that treads the line between viscerality and lyricism. * Stride *

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Book SynopsisA magical new novel from the acclaimed author of THE TOYMAKERS, perfect for fans of Neil Gaiman and Erin Morgenstern.'A spellbinding tale of nocturnal life and magic in the streets of Paris tells of the courage it takes to be different and follow your dreams.' WATERSTONES'Beautifully captures the hazy dissonance of storytelling and invention.' GUARDIAN______________________________________Every city has its own magic...Every night on their long journey to Paris from their troubled homeland, Levon's grandmother has read to them from a very special book. Called The Nocturne, it is a book full of fairy stories and the heroic adventures of their people who generations before chose to live by starlight.And with every story that Levon's grandmother tells them in their new home, the desire to live as their ancestors did grows. And that is when the magic begins...But not everyone in Paris is won over by the spectacle of Paris-by-Starlight. There are always those that fear the other, the unexplained, the strangers in our midst. How long can the magic of night rub up against the ordinariness of day? How long can two worlds occupy the same streets and squares before there is an outright war?Readers love Paris by Starlight!'Robert Dinsdale, I salute you! A smorgasbord of delights. It's a wondrous thing to be able to visit Paris by Starlight and I'd recommend a trip to you all!''Beautifully written and its observations on human nature are spot on. Exceptionally cleverly done. Exceptionally written piece of fabulism with gorgeous, evocative imagery.''A real treat and just as enchanting as Dinsdale's The Toymakers. Full of magic as well as being a moving tale of displacement, longing and love.'Lovely cover and beautiful prose. I'm about half way through and enjoying every page''A truly magical tale that couldn't be more relevant for our times.''A gorgeously written tale of love and acceptance'Trade ReviewEnchanting, beautiful and heart-breakingly relevant . . . so rich with dreamlike imageryand so full of genuine emotion that you want to savour every page as if it's the first and last time you'll ever read it * Culturefly *A spellbinding tale of nocturnal life and magic in the streets of Paris tells of the courage it takes to be different and follow your dreams. * Waterstones *Beautifully captures the hazy dissonance of storytelling and invention. * Guardian *This is a skilful, human tale * SFX *PRAISE FOR THE TOYMAKERS * : *There is magic at the heart of The Toymakers, a glittery inventiveness that shimmers through the dark corners of a story about love, war and sibling rivalry...Robert Dinsdale's imagined toys are truly glorious...a gripping, moving story. * SUNDAY EXPRESS *Like the magic at the heart of the story, this vivid, haunting novel is both vast and intimate. A world war echoes a family conflict, and the delights and dangers of childhood suddenly have vast implications. A wonderful and thought-provoking read. * KATHERINE ARDEN, author of The Winternight Series *What an extraordinary and wonderful achievement this novel is! I was gripped, and thrilled, and touched, and above all I was completely swept into the magic of the book...And the scope of the thing! Such a broad chronological range, such sweep, all with the lightest touch. Just astonishing. * ADAM ROBERTS *Truly magical ... Anyone who's ever stepped inside a traditional toyshop and marvelled at the wonders on display will instantly be captivated by this book, which transports readers to The Emporium in London. Prepare to be charmed by this utterly enchanting tale. * CULTUREFLY *A magical World War I novel * METRO *Robert Dinsdale's engaging and enchanting new novel offers the literary equivalent of a Guillermo del Toro film; it is, at its best, a fairytale for adults, with all the wonder - and terror - that that entails. Even as the story takes an inevitably darker turn with the advent of the second world war, it is the sense of joy that lingers in this fine book. * THE OBSERVER *

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Book Synopsis____________________________A magical fairytale-inspired debut about accepting being that little bit different, for fans of The Night Circus and The Bear and the Nightingale.____________________________A girl. A secret. A life-changing journey.'A beautiful fairytale of a book with the most delicious prose. I devoured every page' Alex Bell, Bestselling author of The Polar Bear Explorers’ ClubBorn covered in the feathers of a bird, and kept hidden in a crumbling house full of secrets, Marea has always known she was different, but never known why. And so to find answers, she goes in search of the father she has never met.The hunt leads her to the City of Murmurs, a place of mermaids and mystery, where jars of swirling mist are carried through the streets by the broken-hearted.And Mara will never forget what she learns thereFeathertide is an enchanting, magical novel perfect for fans of Erin Morgenstern's The Night Circus and Katherine Arden's The Bear and the Nightingale.____________________________Readers are loving Feathertide! 'Magical, inventive and unique. A truly beautiful story.''Rarely there comes a book that makes you go wow. When it does you want to treasure every word, savour the book, never let it end. This is that book.''Beautifully written, reminiscent of old fairy tales, yet very modern in its concepts.''Quite literally the most beautiful book I’ve ever read.''Beth Cartwright's stunning prose left me enchanted and enthralled and I love this style of writing.'Trade ReviewA beautiful fairytale of a book with the most delicious prose. I devoured every page * Alex Bell, Bestselling author of The Polar Bear Explorers’ Club *[A] surprisingly refreshing read * Hilton Jenkin *If you enjoy magical realism and moving tales of self-discovery, you won't be able to put this down. * CultureFly *

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Book Synopsis'A great storyteller' Madeline Miller, author of CirceIn this powerful new collection, Charlotte Higgins foregrounds Greek mythology's most enduring heroines. Here are the myths of Heracles and Theseus, the Trojan war, Thebes and Argos and Athens. They are stories of love and desire, adventure and magic, destructive gods, helpless humans, fantastical creatures and resourceful witches. In this telling the female characters take centre stage as Athena, Helen, Circe, Penelope and others weave these stories into elaborate imagined tapestries. In Charlotte Higgins's thrilling new interpretation of these ancient stories, their tales combine to form a dazzling, sweeping epic of storytelling. With a series of original drawings by Chris Ofili.Trade ReviewHiggins is a wonderful scholar, and a great story teller. I've been loving these retellings, cleverly centered around the theme of myths told in tapestry. -- Madeline Miller, author of THE SONG OF ACHILLES and CIRCE[Higgins] leads us through the labyrinth of interconnected stories in a startlingly fresh way. It throws radiant new light on their meanings... This excellent book should delight many generations of story lovers to come. -- Edith Hall * Guardian *[An] erudite and exhilarating collection... luminous, astute retellings. -- Hephzibah Anderson * Observer *[A] scholarly, capacious reimagining... Higgins makes you feel for these tormented, accursed mortals afresh. -- Claire Allfree * The Times *We are in the hands of a fine, fluent storyteller... Higgins, like the bards who first unspooled these tales, creates the illusion of spontaneity and handles suspense brilliantly... Chris Ofili's drawings complement the lyricism of the prose descriptions. Higgins depicts art mediating life - the reason, I think, that we read books... I loved this book. -- Sara Wheeler * Spectator *

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Book Synopsis'So immense and beautiful, it's both gorgeously composed and an addictive page-turner. Sue Rainsford is an extraordinary writer' DONAL RYAN'Unnervingly, thrillingly strange . . . a masterpiece of literary horror' CAL FLYN'Lyrical, hypnotic and provocative, I devoured Redder Days in a single, slightly furious sitting and have been haunted by it ever since' JAN CARSONTwins Anna and Adam live in an abandoned commune in a volatile landscape where they prepare for the world-ending event they believe is imminent. Adam keeps watch by day, Anna by night. They meet at dawn and dusk.Their only companion is Koan, the commune's former leader, who still exerts a malignant control over their daily rituals. But when one of the previous inhabitants returns, everything Anna and Adam thought they knew to be true is thrown into question.Dazzling, unsettling and incredibly moving, Redder Days is a stunning exploration of the consequences of corrupted power, the emotional impact of abandonment, and the endurance of humanity in the most desperate of situations, from the author of Follow Me to Ground.

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Book SynopsisIn the beginning, everything was fine.* And then along came Zeus. *more or lessAhh Greek myths. Those glorious tales of heroism, honour and... petty squabbles, soap-opera drama and more weird sex than Fifty Shades of Grey could shake a stick at! It's about time we stopped respecting myths and started laughing at them. Did you know Aphrodite, goddess of love and beauty, was born of some discarded genitals? Or that Hera threw her own son off a mountain because he was ugly? Or that Apollo once kidnapped a boat full of people while pretending to be a dolphin? And let's not even get started on Zeus - king of the gods, ruler of the skies and a man who's never heard of self-control. In fact, if there's one thing most Greek myths have in common, it's that all the drama could have been avoided if SOMEONE could keep it in their toga...Horrible Histories writer Susie Donkin takes us on a hilarious romp through mythology and the many times the gods (literally) screwed everything up! Stephen Fry's Mythos by way of Drunk History, Zeus is a Dick is perfect for those who like their myths with a heavy dollop of satire.'Who knew mythology was so bonkers? I am grateful - it had me laughing from the first page to the last.' - Miranda Hart'It's about time someone called him out on all this' - Hera, goddess of marriage, wife of Zeus'Worst. Father. Ever.' - Artemis, goddess of the hunt, daughter of Zeus'Oh yeah, focus on him. I never did anything wrong. Nothing to see here' - Poseidon, god of the seas, brother of Zeus'Just a real dick, honestly' - Many, many peopleTrade ReviewWho knew mythology was so bonkers? I am grateful - it had me laughing from the first page to the last. -- Miranda Hart

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Book SynopsisMy night. My darkness. My power.The #1 New York Times bestselling thrilling conclusion to These Hollow Vows. After Abriella's sister was sold to the fae, she thought life couldn't get any worse. But when she suddenly finds herself caught in a web of lies of her own making ­- loving two princes and trusting neither - things are not quite as clear as she once thought. As civil war wages in the Court of Darkness, Brie finds herself unable to choose a side. How can she know where she stands when she doesn't even know herself anymore? In this darkly romantic thrill ride, the more Faerie is torn apart from the inside, the clearer it becomes that prophecies don't lie and Brie has a role to play in the fate of this magical realm - whether she likes it or not.PRAISE FOR LEXI RYAN'Sexy, surprising and full of secrets' Stephanie Garber'A beautifully broken and epic fantasy' Carrie Ann RyanTrade Review** Praise for Lexi Ryan **Sexy, surprising, and full of secrets. These Hollow Vows is a lot like the world of Faerie - seductive, enthralling, and dangerous. With two very different love interests, lots of heated moments, and a spectacular ending, this is the fantasy romance I have been craving * Stephanie Garber, #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of the Caraval Series *Engaging writing and worldbuilding . . . Compelling * School Library Journal *A beautifully broken and epic fantasy that completely blew me way. Complete with twisted fae, love triangles that make my heart pound, and exceptional world building, These Hollow Vows is a must read for fans of Sarah J Maas and Jennifer L Armentrout. I highly recommend and am in dire need for the next book! * Carrie Ann Ryan, NYT Bestselling Author of the Elements of Five Series *Nobody writes unbridled desire and tender pining quite like Lexi Ryan. So, whilst These Twisted Bonds isn't quite the epic conclusion some readers would have been hoping for, it will still keep you pinned to those pages like your mortal life depends on it * Culturefly *

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Book Synopsis'Vivid, enigmatic, enchanting' M. L. Rio'Irresistible' Sunday TimesSome people think foxes go around collecting qi, or life force, but nothing could be further than the truth. We are living creatures, just like you, only usually better looking . . .Manchuria, 1908: A young woman is found frozen in the snow. Her death is clouded by rumours of foxes, believed to lure people into peril by transforming into beautiful women and men. Bao, a detective with a reputation for sniffing out the truth, is hired to uncover the dead woman's identity. Since childhood, Bao has been intrigued by the fox gods, yet they've remained tantalizingly out of reach. Until, perhaps, now.Snow is a creature of many secrets, but most of all, she's a mother seeking vengeance. Hunting a murderer, the trail will take her from northern China to Japan, with Bao following doggedly behind. And as their paths draw ever closer together, both Snow and Bao will encounter old friends and new foes, even as more deaths occur. The Fox Wife is a stunning novel about old loves and second chances, the depth of maternal bonds, and ancient folktales that may very well be true.PRAISE FOR THE FOX WIFE'Magical, wondrous, transporting and illuminating' Nguyễn Phan Quế Mai'Rich and beguiling' Daily Mail 'Filled with wonder, mystery and folklore' Sue Lynn Tan'Enchanting' the i'A rich tangle of myth, mystery, and history' Alix E. HarrowTrade ReviewThe reader is taken on a journey from the underbelly of a Chinese town to the mountains of Japan. Among the more memorable characters along the way is a male fox spirit called Shiro. He is seductive, deadly and, like the book itself, quite irresistible to mere humans * Sunday Times *Like the foxes who populate its pages, The Fox Wife is vivid, enigmatic, and enchanting. Choo's fresh new fable conjures a world where danger and intrigue are forever entwined with sublime and sensory delights * M.L. Rio, author of IF WE WERE VILLAINS *Rich and beguiling * Daily Mail *A stunning story filled with wonder, mystery and folklore. I was utterly captivated by Yangsze Choo's exquisite prose and fascinating characters from the first page till the last. A remarkable tale, one that will stay with me * Sue Lynn Tan, author of Heart of the Sun Warrior *Witty and suspenseful * New York Times Book Review *Enchanting * The i *Magical, wonderous, transporting and illuminating, The Fox Wife reminds me that reading can be pure joy . . . I was captivated from the very first word of this novel until its very last. Yangsze Choo is a writer of immense talent * Nguyen Phan Que Mai, internationally best-selling author of The Mountains Sing and Dust Child *Masterfully plotted and superbly surprising, The Fox Wife will entice you into a world of magic and heartbreak, a beautiful tapestry woven from love and revenge and forgiveness. But beware: once you start, you may not be able to put it down! -- Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni, author of INDEPENDENCE and THE LAST QUEENThe Fox Wife is a rich tangle of myth, mystery, and history, delivered with Choo's inimitable grace and precision. It's not a book so much as a beguilement; it enchanted me entirely -- Alix E. Harrow, New York Times bestselling author of STARLING HOUSEChoo's writing is lush and the slow revelations of complicated relationships and reunions hum with tension. This is a treat * Publishers Weekly *Snow's difficulties as both a fox and a young woman in a man's world are clearly drawn, as is the pathos of Bao's situation as a gentle soul who's always been in search of something or someone. An intriguing vulpine mystery worth the suspension of disbelief * Kirkus *A beguiling tale of a bygone era * Straits Times *

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Book SynopsisThe adventures of Dr. Taverner and Dr. Rhodes take readers across the marshy moonlit fields of nightfall, hunting spirits and keeping watch over souls. Suffering from vampirism? Being stalked by a death hound? Haunted by past life debts? Is your family under a suicidal curse? From across the countryside the patients and their desperate families come to seek treatment for unconventional diseases from an unconventional doctor. His secret? - treating the diseases of the occult with occult methods.This set of short stories rank among the best of esoteric short fiction ever produced.The introduction from Dion Fortune explains that "Taverner" is in fact based on a real person - an adept from whom she learned her own occult secrets and that the events placed forth in the book, although they have been presented as fiction, are all true.

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Book Synopsis?"Elegantly and economically retold . . . with lustrous illustrations." ?STARRED REVIEW,Shelf AwarenessYoung Peng shows courage and honesty when brought before the emperor of China in this retelling of a classic folktale from China.The old childless emperor gives a challenge to the children of the city to determine who will become his heir. He gathers them together, and gives them a task; take one seed each, plant it and return in one year to show the flowers that each has grown. Little Peng is determined to do his best, but despite planting and tending the seed, he fails to grow a flower. But Peng brings a flower of different kind to his meeting with the emperor, one that just might win him the challenge.A new retelling of this classic Chinese folktale, brought to new generations of children through the exquisite illustrations by Paolo Proietti.

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Book SynopsisTwo countries at war. A delicious taste of magic. And a fierce princess comes of age in a rousing adventure by the author of A Thousand Recipes for Revenge. Princess Solenn’s marriage into royalty should have unified the continental neighbors of Verdania and Solenn’s homeland of Braiz against a common enemy: the country of Albion. Thanks to Albion’s cunning sabotage, Verdania is now Braiz’s lethal rival. And the dead Braizian sailors washed ashore near Solenn’s château are just the beginning. Arriving in the midst of danger, Ada Garland, rogue Chef to the Gods, is desperate to reunite with her daughter, Solenn. Not only has open war begun; it’s become heart-wrenchingly personal. Ada’s long-lost, beloved Braizian musketeer, Captain Erwan Corre, is being held in a Verdanian prison, with execution imminent. And her daughter has been tasked with the near-doomed responsibility of uniting violently adversarial countries in peace. Can Solenn and Ada, coming together, stop their land from descending into all-out war? And what will Solenn become to achieve victory? As ambassador between the human and magical worlds, Solenn must now draw from both to prevent catastrophe, and this time, even the Gods are working against her.Trade Review“Fantasy readers will enjoy Cato’s characters and her original, sensuous world.” —Booklist “The sequel to A Thousand Recipes for Revenge is an intriguing intersection of culinary magic and political machinations.” —Library Journal

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Book SynopsisA graceful and compelling first novel that pays tribute to the magic and unfathomable mystery of the natural world.It all starts with an impossibly large set of tracks, footprints for a creature that could not possibly exist. The words sasquatch, bigfoot and yeti never occur in this novel, but that is what most people would call the hairy, nine-foot creature that would become a lifelong obsession for Aidan Fitzpatrick, and in turn, his granddaughter Sandy Langley.The novel spans the course of single winter day, interspersed with memories from Sandy's lifechildhood days spent with her distracted, scholarly grandfather in a remote cabin in British Columbia's interior mountains; later recollections of new motherhood; and then the tragic disappearance that would irrevocably shape the rest of her life, a day when all signs of the mysterious creature would disappear for thirty years. When the enigmatic tracks finally reappear, Sandy sets out on the trail alone, determined to find out the truth about the mystery that has shaped her life.The Wild Heavens is an impressive and evocative debut, containing beauty, tragedy and wonder in equal parts.

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Book SynopsisFEATURED ON BARACK OBAMA'S 2019 READING LIST SHORTLISTED FOR THE SWANSEA UNIVERSITY DYLAN THOMAS PRIZE 'SPECTACULAR' Guardian'A WONDER' Daily Mail'SPARKLING' The Times'EXQUISITE' Observer'MAGNIFICENT' TLS'EPIC' Entertainment Weekly'A TRIUMPH' LitHub'INFECTIOUS' Financial Times'A MASTERPIECE' Sunday Express Nora is an unflinching frontierswoman awaiting the return of the men in her life, biding her time with her youngest son - who is convinced that a mysterious beast is stalking the land around their home - and her husband's seventeen-year-old cousin, who communes with spirits. Lurie is a former outlaw and a man haunted by ghosts. He sees lost souls who want something from him, and he finds reprieve from their longing in an unexpected relationship that inspires a momentous expedition across the West. Mythical, lyrical, and sweeping in scope, Inland is grounded in true but little-known history. It showcases all of Téa Obreht's talents as a writer, as she subverts and reimagines the myths of the American West, making them entirely - and unforgettably - her own.NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY: Guardian, Time, Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly, Esquire, Good Housekeeping, The New York Public Library 'Should have been on the Booker longlist' Claire Lowdon, Sunday Times'Magnificent... Brings to mind Gabriel García Márquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude or Toni Morrison's Beloved' Times Literary Supplement'Exquisite ... The historical detail is immaculate, the landscape exquisitely drawn; the prose is hard, muscular, more convincingly Cormac McCarthy than McCarthy himself' Alex Preston, ObserverTrade ReviewA tremendously talented writer * Ann Patchett *Magnificent . . . brings to mind similar effects in, say, Gabriel García Márquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude or Toni Morrison's Beloved. * Times Literary Supplement *This free-ranging tale of an American frontierswoman should have been on the Booker longlist... I'm already looking forward to whatever Obreht writes next. -- Claire Lowdon * Sunday Times *This exquisite frontier tale from the author of The Tiger's Wife is a timely exploration of the darkness beneath the American dream ... The historical detail is immaculate, the landscape exquisitely drawn; the prose is hard, muscular, more convincingly Cormac McCarthy than McCarthy himself ... [The] paranormal element reminds us strongly of George Saunders's Lincoln in the Bardo ... Inland also feels of a piece with another recent novel, Sarah Perry's Melmoth, a brilliantly eerie gothic tale in which the horrors of history are condensed into a single ghostly figure -- Alex Preston * Observer *[Obreht] has used the little-known existence of the Camel Corps as the inspiration for Inland, her propulsive second novel ... Infectious storytelling ... Obreht is as engrossing with her depiction of the colourful and disparate encounters experienced by Lurie and Burke as she is on the claustrophobia of small-town rivalries -- Catherine Taylor * Financial Times *It's a voyage of hilarious and harrowing adventures, told in the irresistible voice of a restless, superstitious man determined to live right but tormented by his past. At times, it feels as though Obreht has managed to track down Huck Finn years after he lit out for the Territory and found him riding a camel. She has such a perfectly tuned ear for the simple poetry of Lurie's vision... Sip slowly, make it last. -- Ron Charles * Washington Post *Set against a backdrop of hardship and saturated with magic and myth, this ambitious novel is a modern masterpiece, culminating in an unforgettable ending -- Rosie Hopegood * Sunday Express *"Obreht is the kind of writer who can forever change the way you think about a thing, just through her powers of description . . . Inland is an ambitious and beautiful work about many things: immigration, the afterlife, responsibility, guilt, marriage, parenthood, revenge, all the roads and waterways that led to America. Miraculously, it's also a page-turner and a mystery, as well as a love letter to a camel, and, like a camel, improbable and splendid, something to happily puzzle over at first and take your breath away at the end. -- Elizabeth McCracken * O Magazine *Obreht is superb at tracing such inescapable wounds, both personal and national. Her 2011 Orange prize-winning debut, The Tiger's Wife, mapped the aftermath of civil conflict in an unnamed "Balkan country still scarred by war", which was based on her native Serbia ... The fictional territory of Inland is as vivid and as violent: Arizona in the second half of the 19th century, populated by "cowpokes and prospectors", gunslingers and cattle kings - and, yes, cameleers ... Exquisitely panoramic ... compelling ... On every page gorgeously tinted images conjure the otherworldliness of this desert existence ... Obreht's narrative skill here is part of the magic of Inland, which succeeds spectacularly at reinventing a well-worn genre and its tropes. There are no stereotypes in this western, only ferociously adroit writing that honours the true strangeness of reality in its search for the meaning of home -- Elizabeth Lowry * The Guardian *As it should be, the landscape of the West itself is a character, thrillingly rendered throughout... Here, Obreht's simple but rich prose captures and luxuriates in the West's beauty and sudden menace. Remarkable in a novel with such a sprawling cast, Obreht also has a poetic touch for writing intricate and precise character descriptions. * New York Times Book Review (Editor’s Choice) *At a time when old-fashioned storytelling seems to be in decline, Téa Obreht is a class apart ... a bustling, bravura adventure that's part Western, part Cormac McCarthy and part Obreht's unique blend of spiritual realism ... This is not a novel to gulp down, but to savour, as Obreht fleshes out every possible detail in language that tastes both of the soil and of the skies. The final chapter, meanwhile, rich in poignant symbolism, is a wonder -- Claire Allfree * Daily Mail *Set at the end of the 19th century, it has dual narratives of a frontierswoman and a former outlaw. Suspenseful, atmospheric, near mythical in tone, and lyrically written * I paper *With Inland Obreht makes a renewed case for the sustained, international appeal of the American West, based on a set of myths that have been continually shaped and refracted through outside lenses . . . Discovering the particular genre conventions that Obreht has chosen to transfigure or to uphold soon becomes central to the novel's propulsive appeal. * New Yorker *Sparkling descriptions ... Obreht is alive to the sharp, enduring pain of grief and how it alters even the most mundane aspects of life - and she convincingly conjures the jagged anxiety of clinging on to life and livelihood in the face of terrible odds -- Siobhan Murphy * The Times *It's eight years since Obreht's debut, The Tiger's Wife, made her the youngest winner of the Orange Prize. Inland, her second novel, is an equally skilful exploration of myth and fable, and histories both forgotten and elaborated -- Sophie Ratcliffe * Daily Telegraph *Téa Obreht was just 25 when she wrote her Orange Prize-winning debut The Tiger's Wife, a lush and magical retelling of the bloody history of the Balkans. Her new book ventures into the Wild West for an intricate, slow-burn two-hander that, while more sober and rugged, by no means ditches her interest in the supernatural -- Anthony Cummins * Metro *What Obreht pulls off here is pure poetry. It doesn't feel written so much as extracted from the mind in its purest, clearest, truest form * Entertainment Weekly *The landscape of the West itself is a character, thrillingly rendered throughout in phrases such as "red boil of twilight" and "a stillness so vast the small music of the grasses could not rise to fill it." Here, Obreht's simple but rich prose captures and luxuriates in the West's beauty and sudden menace. Remarkable in a novel with such a sprawling cast, Obreht also has a poetic touch for writing intricate and precise character descriptions... Inland has the stoic heroic characters and the requisite brutal violence of the western genre, but the decision to place an immigrant and a middle-aged mother at its center is a welcome deviation... In Obreht's hands, this is an era that overflows with what the dead want, and with wants that lead to death. Her two central characters may not be who we have been conditioned to think of when we conjure the old American West, but they, too, are America. * International New York Times *Inland is a classic story, told in a classic way - and yet it feels wholly and unmistakably new... Obreht offers a new representation of the West, both in the characters she chooses and the emotional rigor and range with which she writes. The result is at once a new Western myth and a far realer story than many we have previously received - and that's even with all the ghosts. * NPR *Téa Obreht's M.O. is clear: She's determined to unsettle our most familiar, cliché-soaked genres . . . Inland can feel like Cormac McCarthy's Blood Meridian turned inside out: contemplative rather than rollicking, ghostly rather than blood-soaked . . . giving so much of the novel's stage to Nora makes this a less familiar woman's western, one that's more about resilience, wit and family than frontier justice. * Minneapolis Star Tribune *There is so much to admire and enjoy here: the interplay of magic and reason, the threats of progress, the tribalism of a nation forming. Above all the difficulty of simply living alongside one another, evoked in Obreht's masterful language, variously lyrical, hilarious, and profound -- Francesca Steele * The Spectator *Refreshing ... plenty of fine descriptive writing to admire -- Max Davidson * Mail on Sunday *Obreht has a gift for vivid language and deft stories-within-stories ... She gives words fresh purposes, to great effect; verbs sizzle ... haunting. * Economist *This book is everything you'd expect the literary event of 2019 to be: sweeping, confident, ambitious, well-researched and difficult ... it really packs a punch ... it is moving and learned, and it reminds us how the history of America has always been about trying to create a home in a hostile place -- Niamh Donnelly * Irish Times *A captivating, sweeping novel * Grazia *Every page is a triumph - even if you don't think you like Westerns. Trust me, this book will make you a believer. * Lit Hub *It will enchant lovers of lyrical prose and the myth of the American West. * Harper's Baazar *Obreht's novels are capital-E Events - big, ambitious, provocative reading experiences...At last we have Inland, a bracingly epic and imaginatively mythic journey across the American West in 1893, in which the lives of a former outlaw and a frontierswoman collide and intertwine. * Entertainment Weekly *Obreht uses her prodigious writing gifts to create a new mythology for the American West, one that glimmers with the intensity of a desert mirage. * Nylon *Obreht brings her extraordinarily intricate worldview, psychological and social acuity, descriptive artistry, and shrewd, witty, and zestful storytelling to another provocative inquiry into the mysteries of place, nature, and human complexities... As her protagonists' lives converge, Obreht inventively and scathingly dramatizes the delirium of the West-its myths, hardships, greed, racism, sexism, and violence-in a tornadic novel of stoicism, anguish, and wonder. * Booklist (starred review) *The most thrilling discovery in years * Colum McCann *The unrelenting harshness of existence in the unsettled American West sharply focuses what Obreht refers to as 'the uncertain and frightening textures of the world' in this mesmerizing historical novel spun from two primary narrative threads . . . The novel's unforgettable finale, evocative and grimly symbolic, crystallizes its underlying themes of how inconsolable grief and unforgivable betrayal shape the circumstances that bind its characters to their fates. Obreht knocks it out of the park in her second novel. * Publisher's Weekly *A frontier tale dazzles with camels and wolves and two characters who never quite meet. Eight years after Obreht's sensational debut, The Tiger's Wife, she returns with a novel saturated in enough realism and magic to make the ghost of Gabriel García Márquez grin. She keeps her penchant for animals and the dead but switches up centuries and continents. Having won an Orange Prize for The Tiger's Wife, a mesmerizing 20th-century Balkan folktale, Obreht cuts her new story from a mythmaking swatch of the Arizona Territory in 1893 . . . Obreht throws readers into the swift river of her imagination . . . [A] deep stoicism, flinty humor, and awe at the natural world pervade these characters. [Lurie and Nora] are both treacherous and good company . . . The final, luminous chapter is six pages that will take your breath away. * Kirkus *

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Book SynopsisIn writing these fascinating stories, Edmund Leamy turned to the Gaelic past to give the Irish people something which would implant in them a love for the beauty and dignity of their country’s traditions. The charming and poetic tales in this book include 'Princess Finola and the Dwarf', 'The Fairy Tree of Dooros', 'The House in the Lake', 'The Little White Cat', 'The Golden Spears' and 'The Enchanted Cave'.Table of ContentsPrincess Finola and the Dwarf The House in the Lake The Little White Cat The Golden Spears The Fairy Tree of Dooros The Enchanted Cave The Huntsman’s Son

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Book SynopsisRiver Gods, snake spirits, mountain and Immortals, Chinese mythology is alive with ancient passions. China’s unique set of mythological tales are derived from its vast expanse, diverse culture and the endless wars between tribes and dynasties. The result is a rich landscape of humanity, gods and spirits battling for survival and supremacy. This brilliant new book introduces the key themes and characters of Chinese legend before plunging into the fascinating stories themselves. FLAME TREE 451: From mystery to crime, supernatural to horror and myth, fantasy and science fiction, Flame Tree 451 offers a healthy diet of werewolves and mechanical men, blood-lusty vampires, dastardly villains, mad scientists, secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist fantasies. Discover a storehouse of tales gathered specifically for the reader of the fantastic.

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Book SynopsisEscape to the ocean with the entrancing, unforgettable winner of the Costa Book of the Year - as read on BBC Radio 4.On a quiet day, near the Caribbean island of Black Conch, a mermaid raises her barnacled head from the flat grey sea. She is attracted by David, a fisherman waiting for a catch, singing to himself with his guitar. Aycayia the mermaid has been living in the vast ocean all alone for centuries.When Aycayia is caught and dragged ashore by American tourists, David rescues her with the aim of putting her back in the ocean. But it is soon clear that the mermaid is already transforming into a woman.This is the story of their love affair, of an island and of the great wide sea.'Mesmerising' Maggie O'Farrell author of The Marriage Portrait 'A unique talent' Bernadine Evaristo author of Girl, Women, Other 'Not your standard mermaid' Margaret Atwood author of The TestamentsVINTAGE EARTH is a series of books that reveals our ever-changing relationship with the environment. These are stories old and young, set in worlds real or imagined, that allow us to explore our connection to the natural world. Transformative, wild, surprising and essential, these novels take on the most urgent story of our times.Trade ReviewBighearted . . . Sentence by sensuous sentence, Roffey builds a verdant, complicated world that it is a pleasure to live inside . . . A fairy tale. But it is a ghost story too * New York Times *[A] beautiful book... Roffey's writing is lyrical and filled with magic, but there is plenty of bittersweet realism to ground it -- Sophie Dahl * Daily Mail *A very beautiful, haunting book * Stage *

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Book SynopsisIn exhilarating and lucid prose, Grossman gives us a provocative new take on the story of Samson: his battle with the lion, the three hundred burning foxes, the women he bedded, the one he loved and who betrayed him and the destruction of the temple. It reveals the journey of a lonely and tortured soul, whose search for a true home echoes our own private struggles.The Myths series brings together some of the world's finest writers, each of whom has retold a myth in a contemporary and memorable way. Authors in the series include Karen Armstrong, Margaret Atwood, A.S. Byatt, David Grossman, Natsuo Kirino, Alexander McCall Smith, Philip Pullman, Ali Smith and Jeanette Winterson.Trade ReviewExtraordinary, ground-breaking, empowering * * Guardian * *A master of the emotionally accurate and significant. His characters don't so much lie on the page as rise before the reader's eyes -- Yann MartelA writer of passionate honesty, unafraid to ask terrible questions -- Nadine GordimerOne of contemporary literature's most versatile and absorbing writers * * San Francisco Chronicle * *A writer who has been one of the most original and talented not only in his own country but anywhere * * New York Times Book Review * *

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Book Synopsis'Fans of Anne Carson, rejoice!... Carson's depth of knowledge about Greek mythology coupled with her poetic sensibility and illustrations is sure to breathe new life into this oft-told story.' Lit HubH of H Playbook is an explosion of thought, in drawings and language, about a Greek tragedy called Herakles by the 5th-century BC poet Euripides. In myth Herakles is an embodiment of manly violence who returns home after years of making war on enemies and monsters (his famous "Labours of Herakles") to find he cannot adapt himself to a life of peacetime domesticity. He goes berserk and murders his whole family. Suicide is his next idea. Amazingly, this does not happen. Due to the intervention of his friend Theseus, Herakles comes to believe he is not, after all, indelibly stained by his own crimes, nor is his life without value. It remains for the reader to judge this redemptive outcome."I think there is no such thing as an innocent landscape," said Anselm Kiefer, painter of forests grown tall on bones.Trade ReviewCarson applies the habits of classical scholarship, the linguistic rigour, the relentless search for evidence, the jigsaw approach to scattered facts, to the trivia of contemporary private life.- * Sam Anderson, New York Magazine *This book is a beautiful one, thoughtfully produced... the bold, bloody red paint makes a powerful impact, evoking the violent outcome of the play. * Minera *Like all of Anne Carson's writing, this book is amazing - I haven't discovered any writing in years that's so marvellously disturbing. I just feel so happy that she's around. -- Alice Munro on AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF REDHer work is full of moments of startling originality and beauty. The poems play with character and plot, myth and magic; they are rich with attitude and wit and the undertow of grief. If she was a prose writer she would instantly be recognised as a genius. -- Colm Tóibín on AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF REDAnne Carson is a daring, learned, unsettling writer. Autobiography of Red, which perhaps comes closest to representing the range of her voice and gifts, is a spellbinding achievement. -- Susan Sontag on AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF RED

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Book SynopsisInk Tales reinvigorates fairy tales and myths from around the world, breaking barriers and challenging stereotypes throughout. Illustrated by Inkquisitive (Amandeep Singh) in his vibrant signature Indian inks, each story is accessible and visually inspiring. Travel across oceans and discover the vengeful wrath of a River God in Kayo Chingonyi's West African tale. Soar too close to the sun with Inua Ellam's timely story of a young refugee girl. Fly to a mysterious castle inhabited by a cursed prince with Helen Mort's retelling of East of the Sun, West of the Moon. Uncover the truth of #Bluebeard with Joelle Taylor's modernised fairy tale. Look to the constellations with Will Harris' futuristic Greek tragedy, and never, ever answer to your name in Malika Booker's Trinidadian recreation of the Dwen. Bedtime Stories for the End of the World is produced in partnership with the ground-breaking poetry podcast of the same name. The six featured poets draw on their own experience, adding a new dimension to an existing tale. 'Bedtime Stories for the End of the World' is a spoken word and poetry podcast about the power of myth and the politics of storytelling. The podcast asks some of the UK's top poets to re-imagine their favourite myths, fairy tales and legends - the stories they want to keep and protect for the future. It also involves an annual live event, creating a tangible and accessible experience for existing and new audiences. Reimagined tales include Icarus, the legend of the Zambezi River God, East of the Sun West of the Moon, Bluebeard, Philoctetes and the Trinidadian folklore figure 'douen'.

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Book SynopsisThough the Olmecs (1250–200 bc) were the first civilization in Mexico, the Aztecs (1325–1521) –Mesoamerica’s last imperial civilization and the most significant of the militaristic post-Classic period – are probably who first come to mind when we think of great empires of that region. Like other Mesoamerican cultures, Aztec gods and myths reflected a natural philosophy where ideas concerning life and death were linked symbolically to the earth, sky and sea in a grand cosmic scheme. Their religion was dominated by the tribal war god Huitzilopochtli, the rain/fertility god Tlaloc and the supreme deity Tezcatlipoca, the Lord of the Smoking Mirror. This fascinating collection explores the history, culture, gods, calendar, myths and tales of this people, from migration legends to the origin myth of the Five Suns.FLAME TREE 451: From mystery to crime, supernatural to horror and myth, fantasy and science fiction, Flame Tree 451 offers a healthy diet of werewolves and mechanical men, blood-lusty vampires, dastardly villains, mad scientists, secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist fantasies. Discover a storehouse of tales gathered specifically for the reader of the fantastic.

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Book SynopsisThree stories in rhyme about little fairy Flossie McFluff. Flossie may be tiny and shiny, but she is tough and smart, whether it's helping to deal with litter louts in her precious forest, or helping a leprechaun to find his missing gold. Beautifully and magically illustrated.

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Book SynopsisA witty, scatological illustrated version of the world's most celebrated fables, allegedly written by a slave in the 5th century BC. A book for our times: as Gébler notes, Aesop has two subjects – the exercise of power and the experience of the powerless, who endure life and all that it inflicts on them. This retelling of the Fables makes them relevant and richly enjoyable. Gavin Weston's brilliant images complement Gébler's prose. Large and fierce animals kill and butcher weaker creatures; gods play games with the hopes and fears of lesser species, including men and women; and occasionally the weak turn the tables on the strong, exposing their pretensions. This is a stunning new version of a book that was often bowdlerised and used to teach moral lessons to children. Gébler's Aesop is darker and more realistic, and compulsively readable.Trade ReviewThis repackaging of [Aesop's] fables by Carlo Gebler and illsutrator Gavin Weston is a reminder that adult minds were originally the target of this litany of pocket-sized parables... There is very much a feeling here of the ancient sound-tracking the alarmingly present' * Sunday Independent (Dublin) *Scary new versions of ancient morality tales, Aesop's Fables, with stings in all their tails [...] are full of adult wisdom, human misfortune and bitter experiences, which, because they happen to other people, are hilarious * Belfast Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisHow often when we are comfortable, we begin to long for something new!Welcome to the world of the Brothers Grimm: a world of heroes and villains, of a prince and his princess, of lives determined by healing spells and fatal curses.The stories collected here have formed the basis for some of our most beloved tales, including Cinderella, Hansel and Gretel, Rapunzel, Rumpelstiltskin, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White and more.The Legend Classics series:Around the World in Eighty DaysThe Adventures of Huckleberry FinnThe Importance of Being EarnestAlice''s Adventures in WonderlandThe MetamorphosisThe Railway ChildrenThe Hound of the BaskervillesFrankensteinWuthering HeightsThree Men in a BoatThe Time MachineLittle WomenAnne of Green GablesThe Jungle BookThe Yellow Wallpaper and Other StoriesDraculaA Study in ScarletLeaves of GrassThe Secret GardenThe War of the WorldsA Christmas CarolStrange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr HydeHeart of DarknessThe Scarlet LetterThis Side of ParadiseOliver TwistThe Picture of Dorian GrayTreasure IslandThe Turn of the ScrewThe Adventures of Tom SawyerEmmaThe TrialA Selection of Short Stories by Edgar Allan PoeGrimm Fairy TalesThe AwakeningMrs DallowayGulliver's TravelsThe Castle of OtrantoSilas MarnerHard Times

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Book SynopsisA secret path leads across the water to a dragon's kingdom. A mermaid avenges the death of a human girl. A monstrous squid guards the most beautiful pearl in the world. This collection of traditional folktales captures the mysterious and magical power of the ocean. As you sail uncharted waters from Norway to New Zealand and Ghana to Korea, you'll encounter underwater palaces, brave seafarers, and monsters of the deep. Each story is paired with luminous contemporary art. With creamy paper, a ribbon marker, and a cover adorned with shimmering foil, this handsome hardcover is truly a book to treasure.

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Book SynopsisFolk tales take us beyond our own boundaries into unknown lands. Yet within these adventures, riddles and enchantments we find our common ground and shared humanity. Lost & Found is Elizabeth Garner’s own retelling of fifteen treasured folk tales that have nurtured, sustained, terrified and enthralled her in equal measure. Some of the stories are taken from the books of her childhood, some are remembered, and others she has discovered in her reading over the years.Garner’s tapestry of words is adorned with engraver Phoebe Connolly's beautiful woodcut illustrations that bring the friends and foes of folklore to life. Included in the collection are stories such as ‘The Riddle of the Crossroads’, ‘The Twisted Oak’, ‘The Wits of the Whetstone’ and many more. With a varied and diverse cast of characters, Garner’s retellings expertly traverse a myriad of mysterious worlds; always staying true to tradition, while simultaneously speaking to modern times.This illustrated collection is another link in the chain between storyteller, listener and our shared ancestors: tales from the past, told to enrich the present and to be carried forward into the future.Trade Review'It’s the job of each generation to make the old tales speak afresh, and in this collection Elizabeth Garner has fashioned a vibrant web' Hugh Lupton"Lost & Found recalls the darker inheritance of Angela Carter’s The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories, adding a new and enigmatic tone” - Times Literary Supplement

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Book SynopsisIn the four provinces of Ireland there are thirty-two counties. Each county and its people have their own traditions, beliefs and folklore – and each one is also inhabited by the Sidhe: an ancient and magical race. Some believe they are descended from fallen angels, whilst others say they are the progeny of Celtic deities. They go by many names: the good folk, the wee folk, the gentle people and the fey, but are most commonly known as ‘the fairies’.These are not the whimsical fairies of Victorian and Edwardian picture books. They are feared and revered in equal measure, and even in the twenty-first century are spoken of in hushed tones.The fairies are always listening.Storyteller Steve Lally and his wife singer-songwriter Paula Flynn Lally have compiled this magnificent collection of magical fairy stories from every county in Ireland. Filled with unique illustrations that bring these tales to life, Irish Gothic Fairy Stories will both enthral and terrify readers for generations to come.

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Book SynopsisIn Ken Pye's third collection of strange and often bizarre tales from Merseyside’s History, prepare to be amazed and entertained, once again.Where on Merseyside was the nonsense rhyme, ‘The Owl and The Pussycat’ written? How did the 'Cast Iron Shore’ or the Cazzie get its name? Is there a lost street running beneath Lime Street?Learn about 'Roast Beef’ the Crosby Hermit, the prehistoric footprints on Formby Shore, and the particularly intimate wax models of diseased body parts found in the Paradise Street Museum of Anatomy. There are over fifty such true stories and secret wonders in this amazingly eclectic book, but consider yourself warned – once you begin reading these tales you might find it hard to stop!

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Book SynopsisA collection of tales that grew out of the sprawling flatlands, the oozing fjords, the dark forests and the waves that crash on the shores of Denmark.How a Viking ship carried a future king into Roskilde Fjord, how a mermaid’s laughter brought fortunes to her fisherman host, how the people of Lolland survived a flood with waves 3m high and how a princess found her freedom in becoming a prince.Experience the history, landscapes, stories and fairy tales brought to life by a storyteller who called this country home for nearly sixty years.Trade ReviewFeatured in the Winter issue of Simply Scandi magazine * Simply Scandi magazine *

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Book Synopsis'Janet Dowling is magic and her stories bring the wonders of the night sky onto the page. She has journeyed from Polar ice to Pacific islands in search of tales which will re-enchant the heavens under which we all live and which so many of us forget.' - Jeremy Harte, The Folklore SocietyDiscover the Greek myths that are laid before you in the stars. Explore the folk tales of other cultures that have their own stories of the stars to guide the ancients in planting, navigating, and knowing when the beasts migrate across the plains.Start your own adventure to answer the question 'Whose constellation is it anyway?' in this compelling collection of folk tales of the night sky.Trade Review'Storytelling at its best! Janet Dowling takes you on a journey through many of the stories written in the stars in her own concise and inimitable way. A wonderful book and resource!' - David Strange, Chairman of Norman Lockyer Observatory'Janet Dowling’s imaginative storytelling eloquently brings to life the legends, myths and fables we’ve superimposed onto the night sky. This wondrous book is itself a rare stellar event, a nova, giving birth to a new star.' - Aidan Shingler, StarDisc Creator'Janet Dowling is magic and her stories bring the wonders of the night sky onto the page. She has journeyed from Polar ice to Pacific islands in search of tales which will re-enchant the heavens under which we all live and which so many of us forget.' - Jeremy Harte, The Folklore Society

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Book SynopsisThe Channel Islands have a rich legacy of interwoven folklore, an antique tapestry full of faery creatures and mythical beasts. Here you will find fantastic adventures and fearsome fairytales, tall tales, horrors and high romance.In this exquisitely illustrated compendium, Channel Island Monsters weaves a web of deliciously dark stories from centuries of fables and their fragments. The werewolves, mermaids, changelings and dragons may seem familiar, but there are also monsters which are strange and unique to the Channel Islands. La Vioge, La Cocangne, Lé Bélengi and L’Êmânue are ancient creatures waiting to be rediscovered, with their eyes still shining and their claws still sharp.

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Book SynopsisAn exceptional addition to the stunning, richly-rewarding short story collections of Flame Tree’s Gothic Fantasy series, with intriguing and thrilling tales from both new submissions and ancient sources. Plato’s Lost Atlantis thought-experiment began in Timaeus with the idea of a perfect society lost to the world, but it has haunted the speculative mind for over 2000 years, bearing powerful narratives of Francis Bacon’s New Atlantis and the Utopian tales of Thomas More, Samuel Butler, William Morris, Charlotte Perkins Gilman and in modern times, TV series and short stories galore. An imaginative tour-de-force that examines the nature and desires of humanity, from Antiquity to the present day. New, contemporary and notable writers featured are: Ash Arya, Rose Beardmore, Leah Cypess, Niya M.K. Davis, Deborah L. Davitt, Tracy Fahey, Isobel Granby, John Linwood Grant, David Hankins, M.K. Hutchins, Karl Sade, Silas Leavitt, Kwame M.A. McPherson, Damien Mckeating, John Moralee, Barry Neenan, Spencer Orey, Erica Ruppert, C.R. Serajeddini, Zach Shephard, Calie Voorhis, and Lucy Zhang. These appear alongside classic work by Francis Bacon, Lord Dunsany, Clark Ashton Smith, Jules Verne and more. The gorgeous editions of Flame Tree Gothic Fantasy, Classic Stories and Epic Tales collections bring together the entire range of myth, folklore and modern short fiction. Highlighting the roots of suspense, supernatural, science fiction and mystery stories, the books in Flame Tree Collections series are beautifully presented, perfect as a gift and offer a lifetime of reading pleasure. Jennifer Fuller (foreword) is a Communications and Training Lead at Sierra 7 where she works to provide high-quality trainings and communications support for Veterans Affairs. Previously, she was a college professor serving at Jackson State University, Idaho State University, and Warner University. Her previous book Dark Paradise was a work of literary criticism that explored the Pacific islands through the lens of nineteenth-century literature. Her love of islands (and science fiction) is a theme that carries through much of her work, including her current co-authored project Beyond Atlantis: Islands of Imagination.

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Book SynopsisStories surrounding the legendary King Arthur have been told since time immemorial, and every generation has a new take on the tale. The Fragile Land approaches the legend from a radical angle, setting it firmly in the post-Roman world of late fifth-century Europe, when the language of Britannia was still Brythonic and the Saxons had not yet superimposed their own place names. The Fragile Land chronicles the crucial years of Arthur’s life, from the age of fifteen into his early thirties, as he comes to the fore as elected Overlord, empowered to confront the Barbarian threat and to keep the factious leaders of the island’s kingdoms in some sort of political alliance. Enhanced by a beautifully illustrated map by the artist Kate Milsom, Simon Mundy’s cunningly woven tale of an island in unrest draws subtle parallels with contemporary cultural disputes and casts the legend in a whole new light.

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Book SynopsisDiscover the greatest Irish stories of all time in this beautifully illustrated pocket book. From tales of the mighty Fianna and the great warrior Fionn Mac Cumhall to star-crossed lovers Diarmuid and Gráinne, these wonderful classic stories will delight and entertain you.

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Book SynopsisImmerse yourself in a world of fairy queens and Celtic warriors in this remarkable collection of Irish folk tales. Set in Medieval Ireland, this collection of 10 stories were gathered in the late 19th and early 20th century by writer James Shepherd, described by James Joyce as ''my rival, the latest Irish genius''. The lyricism and humour within these retellings are unequalled and provide wonderful insight into the culture and traditions of Ireland. Drawn from the Fenian Cycle of Irish mythology, they include:• The Birth of Bran• The Enchanted Cav of Cesh Corran• Mongan''s Frenzy• The Carl of the Drab CoatABOUT THE SERIES: The Arcturus Classics series brings together high-quality paperback editions of classics works, presented with contemporary graphic cover designs. Together they make a wonderful collection which is perfect for any home library.

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Book SynopsisMeet gullible trolls, enterprising princesses and nefarious wizards in this treasury of 25 Norse fairy tales. Collected by Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe in the 19th century, these Norwegian stories are described by Jacob Grimm as "surpassing nearly all others." They include such well-loved tales as ''The Three Billy Goat''s Gruff'' and ''Taming the Shrew'' and open a window into the beautiful landscapes of Norway. These funny and fantastical stories will delight the young and old.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Arcturus Classics series brings together high-quality paperback editions of classics works, presented with contemporary graphic cover designs. Together they make a wonderful collection which is perfect for any home library.

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Book SynopsisPracticed today by more than 500 million adherents, Buddhism emerged from India between the sixth and fourth centuries BCE. Based around the original teachings of the Buddha, key texts emerged to promote a true understanding of Buddhist ethics and spiritual practices. The Buddhist traditions created a vast body of mythological literature, much of it focused on the life of the Buddha. For example, the 550 Jataka Tales tell of Buddha’s early life and renunciation, as well as his previous human and animal incarnations. The stories also tell of Gautama Buddha’s family, such as his mother Mara, and her dream of a white elephant preceding his birth; as well as his cousin, Devadatta, a disciple monk who rebelled against Buddha and tried to kill him. Buddhist literature includes numerous parables – such as the Turtle Who Couldn’t Stop Talking – as well as recounting scenes from the Indian epic the Ramayana. History and myth intermingle in texts such as Ashokavadana, where the Mauryan emperor Ashoka is portrayed as a model of Buddhist kingship. Illustrated with 120 photographs and artworks, Buddhist Myths is an accessible, engaging and highly informative exploration of the fascinating mythology underlying one of the world’s oldest and most influential religions.Table of ContentsContents include: Introduction The birth and spread of Buddhism from its origins in northern India in the sixth century BCE. 1. Concepts and Cosmology Spatial cosmology: Formless Realm; Form Realm; Desire Realm; Sahasra cosmology. The Four Great Elements; the Seven Ranges; Great Outer Ocean; the Great Lakes; the Great Trees; Kamavacara (plane of sense desire); Manussaloka (the human realm); the Animal realm; the Lower realm Temporal cosmology: Vivatakalpa; Vivartasthayikalpa; Samvartakalpa; Samvartasthayikalpa. 2. Life of the Buddha The life of the Buddha is described in a number of sacred texts, including the Buddhacarita, Lalitavistara Sūtra, Mahāvastu, and the Nidānakathā. Other texts include: the Mūlasarvāstivāda Vinaya, the Abhiniṣkramana Sūtra and the Theravada. Typical motifs: The Buddha’s mother, Māyā, dreaming of a white elephant; lotuses springing up under the feet of the bodhisattva as he walked immediately after birth; seeing the four signs; the bodhisattva leaving his wife and child, often on the night of the birth; the bodhisattva's horse, Kaṇṭhaka, who carried him away, but later died of grief; the offering of milk rice by Sujātā; the attack by Māra’s armies. 3. The Jataka Tales A part of the Pali Canon, the 550 Jataka Tales are a huge body of work outlining the previous births of Gautama Buddha in both human and animal form. Often, Jātaka stories include an extensive cast of characters who interact and get into various kinds of trouble – whereupon the Buddha character intervenes to bring about a resolution. Includes the story of Rama (Ramayana) in the Dasaratha Jataka. 4. Teachings of the Buddha The Pali Canon: The Tripitaka and the Sutras. Sutras are aphorisms and stories designed to demonstrate some part of Buddhist doctrine. Sutta Pitaka: discourses and sermons of Buddha. Mahayana sutras: such as the Lotus sutra and the Avatamsaka Sutra contain popular stories and parables that have been widely influential in Mahayana Buddhism. Ten Principal Disciples (Mahayana tradition) Kangyur: holy Tibetan scripts 5: Divine and Extraordinary Beings Buddhism includes a wide array of divine beings that are venerated in various ritual and popular contexts. Key figures: Bodhisattvas; Yidam, or Ishta-devata (personal meditation deity); Devas; Asuras; Maras; Yakshas; Kinnaras; Nagas. Goddesses include: Prthivi – Mother Earth; Sri Lakshmi – goddess of good fortune; Hariti – goddess of motherly love. Mahayana goddesses: Prajnaparamita – mother of perfect wisdom; Marici – lady of sunrise; Cunda – saving grace; Tara – universal saviour; Tantric female Buddhas 6: Notable Figures Indian kings feature in many Buddhist stories and myths. The earliest texts speak of various kings paying respects to the Buddha. The Buddhist myths which developed around the famed Mauryan emperor Ashoka are also important sources of Buddhist mythology. These stories serve as morality tales and as models for Buddhist kingship, which were emulated and used by later Buddhist monarchies throughout the Buddhist world. Glossary Index

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Book SynopsisGod bless you, England, on this glorious Year of Our Lord, 1145. Things are definitely not right in Nottingham. Rebecca, daughter of a Jewish money-lender, has a sense for it. A mad monk schemes to resurrect the Christ from body parts. A bone harpist murders creatures of legend for a price. A fae creature binds its wings and embraces a new God and his son. And don't even mention the Hood. The Man in Green. The Prince of Thieves. The tick-tock taker of the ten-toll tax. What hope have the series of sheriffs sent to hold the peace? It's the forest, you see. Sherwood. Ice Age ancient, impenetrable, hiding a dark and secret heart. But hearts, no matter how black, no matter how hidden, are not immune to change. The old world is dying... and a terrifying new one is waiting to take its place. Rebecca senses an opportunity. But how far is she willing to go, and what price – because there is always a price – will she have to pay? The Hood is Lavie Tidhar's narcotic reweirding of an ancient English myth, a tale stitched together from legends lost to time, a tale told and retold, reworked and renewed for each passing century. A tale, reader, for today. 'A wild, inventive tapestry of myth and magic, with a wry sense of humor. Tidhar's writing is wonderfully vibrant' Silvia Moreno-Garcia, bestselling author of Mexican GothicTrade ReviewThis is a book to experience rather than to read, as every chapter and revisionist character expands into sheer, wonderful madness. One for the ages * Crime Time *Chaotic, wildly inventive and relentlessly entertaining * Big Issue *Tidhar fancies himself an iconoclast, and his incidental invention reaches impressive levels of delirium * The Times *A wealth of colorful tales and memorable characters * Locus *PRAISE FOR BY FORCE ALONE: 'A bloody, bravura performance, which Tidhar pulls off with graphic imagery and modern vernacular' Guardian. 'As eclectic as the Sword in the Stone and as ruthless as A Game of Thrones, this retelling of the whole Arthurian legend stands alongside the very best' Daily Mail. 'The narrative voice is deadly serious but there's a strong undercurrent of gleefulness to the profanity, violence and otherworldly magic that makes By Force Alone a whole lot of fun to dive into' Spectator. 'Lavie Tidhar has crafted a punk epic on the mouldering bones of legend and jolted it to life with ten thousand volts of knowing wit and fury. By Force Alone eviscerates the complacent posturing of the Arthurian myth, explodes the well-worn conventions of the tale and from the shiny jagged pieces assembles a wholly fresh rollercoaster ride of cheap violence, vicious magic and messy human truth' Richard Morgan. 'A twisted Arthur retelling mixing the historical and the magical with a very modern eye. Brutal and vicious, funny, Peaky Blinders of the Round Table' -- Adrian Tchaikovsky

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Book SynopsisLittle treasures, the FLAME TREE COLLECTABLE CLASSICS are chosen to create a delightful and timeless home library. Each stunning, gift edition features deluxe cover treatments, ribbon markers, luxury endpapers and gilded edges. The unabridged text is accompanied by a Glossary of Victorian and Literary terms produced for the modern reader. Two other tales are included: The Chimes and The Haunted Man. Ebenezer Scrooge hates everyone and everything. Especially children. Especially Christmas. He’s greedy, wealthy and cold-hearted, which has harrowed his features, giving him a pointy nose and thin, blue lips. On Christmas Eve Scrooge is visited by the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come – but can they make him change his ways? A Christmas Carol is a novella by Charles Dickens. It was first published on 19 December 1843 and the first edition had sold out by Christmas Eve. The story of the redemption of Ebenezer Scrooge has only continued to grow in popularity since then and it is now one of the most widely known stories in the world. The FLAME TREE COLLECTABLE CLASSICS are chosen to create a delightful and timeless home library.

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Book SynopsisTales of the enchanting ‘Thousand and One Nights’ have entered the folklore of the entire world but their origins lie in the Arabic and Indian oral traditions of the early middle ages. Their power to entice lies in the tenacity of the storyteller Scheherazade who weaves a new tale each night, to save herself from execution. Popular characters such as Aladdin, Ali Baba and Sinbad the sailor have become part of the Arabian Nights, added in later years, but told within the intriguing structure of the original. Such additions by were made by translators and collaborators from many European and Eastern sources but it was Richard Burton’s edition that brought these popular folk tales to the attention of a Victorian era readership eager to explore new cultures. It is Burton’s edition that forms the basis of this new collection, with stories that survive still from the original featured here too: ‘The Merchant and the Genie’, ‘The Fisherman and the Genie’, ‘The Porter and the Three Ladies’, ‘The Three Apples’.

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Book SynopsisCharacter-forming moral fables, Viking and Nordic folk and fairy tales take the magic of the natural world and combine it with the practical common sense of the everyday. Good folk are rewarded for their hard work, the honest and the faithful are valued by the gods: treasured tales from Hans Christian Andersen, such as 'The Little Match Girl', and less well known stories such as 'Katie Woodencloak' (a Norwegian Version of Cinderella) by Asbjørnsen & Moe are some of the heartwarming pieces in this new selection for the modern reader. FLAME TREE 451: From mystery to crime, supernatural to horror and myth, fantasy and science fiction, Flame Tree 451 offers a healthy diet of werewolves and robots, mad scientists, secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist fantasies. Discover a storehouse of tales, ancient and modern gathered specifically for the reader of the fantastic.

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Book SynopsisBeowulf is an epic poem probably written in the 900s CE. It tells of events 600 years before in vivid detail, where the hero Beowulf is entreated to help a king defend his halls against the monster Grendel. The poem was written in old English, about a hero of the Goths (the early Swedish people) who came to help the King of the Danes. Its vivid accounts bear some historical evidence, and served to influence heroic literature of Europe and the modern era. FLAME TREE 451: From myth to mystery, the supernatural to horror, fantasy and science fiction, Flame Tree 451 offers a healthy diet of werewolves and mechanical men, blood-lusty vampires, dastardly villains, mad scientists, secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist fantasies. Discover a storehouse of tales gathered specifically for the reader of the fantastic.

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Book SynopsisStorytelling is a traditional art form which has survived through the centuries and is still being enjoyed today. These tales of Celtic Heroes, Magicians and Vikings were originally told around 200 AD, and have been passed down orally, often verbatim, through generations of storytellers. The oldest Gaelic storybook, dating 260 AD, is preserved in the Housemann Museum in Switzerland and contains many of the stories which are recounted today. The whole idea of the preservation of the Scottish culture is at the root of this fascinating tradition, with established storytellers taking on apprentices until the Disarming Act of 1746 made it difficult and dangerous to do so. Storytelling became family centred. This collection of stories convey the imagination, hopes, fears, and passions of an ancient people. The personalities and culture of people long gone are brought to life by the storyteller's words.Trade ReviewI have heard George telling his stories and it is an unforgettable experience. This is a unique book and a must buy, it is superb. Buy it today! DALRIADA: THE JOURNAL OF CELTIC HERITAGE AND CULTURAL TRADITIONS

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