Discover myths. folklore, fables and legends.Traditional tales often thought to have basis in historical fact.
Myths & Legends Books
Flame Tree Publishing Scottish Folk & Fairy Tales: Epic Tales
Book SynopsisThe folklore of Scotland has gripped the imagination for centuries, with its stories of sublime creatures, high adventures and uncanny spirits of all kinds. The human and fairy realms of Scotland’s mythical heritage blur seamlessly together: knights and clan leaders clash swords in the same lands where brownies and bogles romp; and simple farmers and fishermen frequently cross paths with the enchanting and formidable ‘fair folk’ of both land and sea. Long has been the exchange of culture between Scotland and Ireland, leading to some familiar characters cropping up in both countries’ mythologies. Nonetheless, Scotland’s folklore adds its own flavour to the telling of some well-known Gaelic tales, as well as a variety of stories that are uniquely Scottish. From legends of siege, chivalry and courage like ‘Conall Cra Bhuidhe’ and ‘Black Agnes’, to whimsical yarns such as ‘The Fairies of Merlin’s Crag’; from the frightening stories of ‘The Haunted Ships’ and ‘The Ghosts of Craig-Aulnaic’, to tales of animals such as ‘The Brown Bear of the Green Glen’ – this gorgeous collection of folk and fairy tales captures the essence of Scotland’s ancient and vibrant folkloric tradition. The 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.
£999.99
Little, Brown Book Group The Stardust Thief
Book Synopsis''The Stardust Thief will transport you, enchant you, and revive your belief in the magic of storytelling'' Shelley Parker-Chan, author of She Who Became the SunInspired by stories from One Thousand and One Nights, The Stardust Thief weaves the gripping tale of a legendary smuggler, a cowardly prince and a dangerous quest across the desert to find a magical lamp.Neither here nor there, but long ago...Loulie al-Nazari is the Midnight Merchant: a criminal who, with the help of her jinn bodyguard, hunts and sells illegal magic. When she saves the life of a cowardly prince, she draws the attention of his powerful father, the sultan, who blackmails her into finding an ancient lamp.With no choice but to obey or be executed, Loulie journeys with the sultan''s oldest son to find the artefact. Aided by her bodyguard, who has secrets of his own, they must survive ghoul attacks, outwit a vengeful jinn queen and confront Trade ReviewYou'll be charmed immediately by the characters and pulled in by this exploration of how the stories we hear and the stories we tell ourselves - beautiful and heartbreaking alike - shape us. Perfect for fans of S.A. Chakraborty's City of Brass -- C.L. Clark, author of THE UNBROKENA thrilling adventure about found families, ancient magic and stories that linger -- S. A. Chakraborty, author of THE CITY OF BRASSThe Stardust Thief is a dream written upon a page - absorbing, lingering and poignantly told. Abdullah weaves a sweeping adventure of tales within tales, while laying bare the ways those we love can both uplift us and break our hearts -- Andrea Stewart, author of THE BONE SHARD DAUGHTERAbdullah has created a sumptuous feast of richly layered classic tales, and characters who will have you hungering to unravel their mysteries. The Stardust Thief will transport you, enchant you, and revive your belief in the magic of storytelling. -- Shelley Parker-Chan, author of SHE WHO BECAME THE SUNSizzling with action and secrets, The Stardust Thief is a grand adventure with unforgettable characters, enchanting magic, and plenty of heart -- Melissa Caruso, author of THE TETHERED MAGEThe sun-baked sands of Abdullah's imagination teem with colour, danger and excitement -- SFXAbdullah is a gifted storyteller. . . [bringing] to life a rich world, rife with magic, where anything that can be dreamed up can happen -- BOOKLISTThis powerful, intriguing adventure will leave readers eager for more -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLYA marvellous plunge into a beautifully crafted adventure -- KIRKUSAbdullah transports readers into this rich world and literary heritage -- LIBRARY JOURNAL
£9.49
Legend Press Ltd Lilith: the heroine women have waited six
Book Synopsis
£17.09
Chiltern Publishing The Prophet
Book SynopsisChiltern Publishing creates the most beautiful editions of the World?s finest literature. Your favorite classic titles in a way you have never seen them before; the tactile layers, fine details and beautiful colors of these remarkable covers make these titles feel extra special and will look striking on any shelf.The Prophet is a fable about the prophet Al Mustafa, who has lived in city of Orphalese for over 12 years and when finally leaving for his home country, people gather to bid him farewell, and ask for his guidance on important aspects of life.A worldwide bestseller since it''s original publication in 1923, the book is divided into chapters dealing with love, marriage, children, giving, eating and drinking, work, joy and sorrow, houses, clothes, buying and selling, crime and punishment, laws, freedom, reason and passion, pain, self-knowledge, teaching, friendship, talking, time, good andevil, prayer, pleasure, beauty, religion, and death.The Prophet has been translated into over 100 different languages, making it one of the most translated books in history, as well as one of the bestselling books of all time.
£17.00
Quarto Publishing Group USA Inc Grimms Fairy Tales
Book SynopsisGrimm’s Fairy Tales contains 59 of the best-loved bedtime stories for children worldwide, enjoyed for the better part of two centuries. Originally collected by the Brothers Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm, these German linguists and cultural researchers gathered legendary folklore and aimed to share the stories exactly as they heard them. This volume features all of your favorite tales, including: Cinderella Rapunzel Hansel and Grethel Snow White Rumpelstiltskin Little Red Riding Hood The Golden Goose This elegantly designed jacketed hardcover edition features an introduction by fantasy literature scholar Lori Campbell, a timeline of the life and times of the Brothers Grimm, and over 100 illustrations by Arthur Rackham. Essential volumes for the shelves of every classic literature lover, the Chartwell Classics series includes beautifully pre
£7.59
Little, Brown Book Group A Master of Djinn
Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE NEBULA AWARD FOR BEST NOVELWINNER OF THE LOCUS AWARD FOR BEST FIRST NOVEL ''Clever, wickedly fun . . . with an excellent balance of humour and heart. I loved it'' S. A. Chakraborty, author of The City of BrassCairo, 1912: Though Fatma el-Sha''arawi is the youngest woman working for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities, she''s certainly not a rookie, especially after preventing the destruction of the universe last summer.So when someone murders a secret brotherhood dedicated to one of the most famous men in history, Al-Jahiz, Agent Fatma is called onto the case. Al-Jahiz transformed the world fifty years ago when he opened up the veil between the magical and mundane realms, before vanishing into the unknown. This murderer claims to be Al-Jahiz, returned to condemn the modern age for its social oppressions. His dangerous magical abilities instigate unrest in the streets of CaTrade ReviewClever, wickedly fun . . . with an excellent balance of humour and heart. I loved it -- S. A. Chakraborty, author of CITY OF BRASSA magical voice with a brilliantly unique setting, it will keep you completely enthralled -- Ben Aaronovitch, author of RIVERS OF LONDONA Master of Djinn has all the tricky twists I want in a police procedural and all the djinns, magic and wonder I want from fantasy -- Mary Robinette Kowal, Hugo and Nebula award-winning author of THE CALCULATING STARSA Master of Djinn is everything you might expect from Clark: cinematic action, a radical reimagining of real history, and magic on every page. I loved it -- Hugo Award winner Alix E. Harrow, author of THE TEN THOUSAND DOORS OF JANUARYWith this fantastic feat of postcolonial imagination, Clark reconfigures history with a keen, critical eye toward gender, class and imperialism. Meanwhile, the colourful prose and thorough worldbuilding allow readers to truly enter this imagined world. An epic tale of magic and mystery, this is sure to wow -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred review)An engaging mystery with a wonderful mix of the fantastic and the mundane, chain-smoking crocodile gods, stuffy marid librarians, and a brilliant heroine with a dashing bowler -- Django Wexler, author of THE THOUSAND NAMESClark deftly explores colonialism and the history of Cairo with an immersive setting that acts as another character in this delightful combination of mystery, fantasy and romance -- BOOKLIST (starred review)A tremendously fun book. Between the engaging writing and the intriguing plot, it was basically impossible to put down -- FANTASY INNRefreshingly different; a well-plotted mystery filled with engaging characters, presented with a lightly humorous touch -- GUARDIANA tonic of fast moving urban fantasy -- SFX
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Enemy of God
Book SynopsisFrom Bernard Cornwell, the creator of the No. 1 bestselling Sharpe novels. Arthur has brought a fragile peace to Britain - but it cannot last . . .Uniting the restive British kingdoms behind him, Arthur believes he can now hold back the Saxons threatening the country. Meanwhile, Merlin sets out on a quest to uncover the sacred Treasures of Britain, hoping they will prove decisive in the coming battle. But in a country where the cult of the Christians is spreading, Merlin''s quest is divisive. And the ambitions of the rival warlord Lancelot threaten the delicate peace. Could even those closest to Arthur be moved to betray him?In the second book of the Warlord Chronicles, Bernard Cornwell brilliantly retells the Arthurian legend, combining myth, history and thrilling battlefield action.''Wonderful and haunting'' People Magazine''Of all the books I have written these are my favourites'' Bernard Cornwell
£10.44
Transworld Publishers Ltd For The Most Beautiful
Book SynopsisIf you've been gripped by Pat Barker's The Women of Troy and The Silence of the Girls, then For the Most Beautiful is a must-read for you . . .Three thousand years ago a war took place that gave birth to legends - to Achilles, the greatest of the Greeks, and Hector, prince of Troy. It was a war that shook the very foundations of the world. But what if there was more to this epic conflict? What if there was another, hidden tale of the Trojan War?Now is the time for the women of Troy to tell their story.Thrillingly imagined and startlingly original, For the Most Beautiful reveals the untold story of Krisayis, daughter of the Trojans' High Priest, and of Briseis, princess of Pedasus, who fight to determine the fate of a city and its people in this ancient time of mischievous gods and mythic heroes.In this novel full of passion and revenge, loyalty and betrayal, bravery and sacrifice, Emily Hauser breathes exhilarating new life into one of the greatest legends of all - in a tale that has waited millennia to be told.'Brings ancient Troy wildly, raucously, passionately alive' Manda Scott, author of BoudicaTrade ReviewOnce in a while something comes along that’s so utterly right, so necessary for now, that you wonder why nobody thought of it before. Emily Hauser’s stunning debut novel . . . brings ancient Troy wildly, raucously, passionately alive and tells at last the stories of those who really mattered. -- MANDA SCOTT, bestselling author of Boudica and Into the FireA feast for the senses, richly described and effortlessly easy to read. It brings to life an ancient world long gone, and in so doing reminds us of the traumas and costs of war, which are sadly still so much a part of our world today. -- MICHAEL SCOTT, presenter of Rome's Invisible CityA delight from start to finish. Hauser’s fresh perspective on one of the great archetypal epics, in focusing on the marginalised women’s stories, makes for fascinating reading . . . a clever premise and a thoroughly enjoyable. -- ELIZABETH FREMANTLE, author of Sisters of TreasonIn her sparkling debut novel classicist Emily Hauser offers a fresh take on the old but living legend spun so artfully in Homer's Iliad . . . tells a ripping good story. -- PAUL CARTLEDGE, Professor of Ancient History at CambridgeA brilliant re-imagining of the Iliad, faithful to the original yet completely accessible . . . the two young women at the centre of the drama are faithfully representative of their time and place yet feel compellingly contemporary . . . Emily Hauser has given us a lively new take on a classic. -- TERRY HAWKINS, author of The Rage of AchillesFascinating . . . highly convincing . . . a familiar tale told in an unfamiliar way. Presenting the story from the point of view of the women, rather than the warriors, gives Hauser's novel real edge and originality. -- Nick Rennison * BBC HISTORY MAGAZINE *Intensely described . . . there is no doubting Hauser's passionate involvement with, and knowledge of, her subject. -- Elizabeth Buchan * DAILY MAIL *Breathing life into these bit-part characters . . . written with energy and passion. -- Antonia Senior * THE TIMES *A new, feminine perspective on the events of the Iliad . . . a colourful tale of gods and mortals. * SUNDAY TIMES *This elegant, warm novel moves between two great Trojan beauties . . . through their stories, we witness both sides of this titanic war while feminine beauty and masculine martial prowess compete for the attention of the reader and the gods. * SUNDAY EXPRESS *Hauser’s characters are brave, wilful, sometimes foolish, impulsive, and utterly relatable, and her portrayal of the manipulative, capricious gods is particularly wonderful . . . this quick-paced, enthralling retelling will attract readers who loved Madeline Miller’s The Song of Achilles * LIBRARY JOURNAL *Colourful and entertaining . . . a very different story when seen through female eyes. -- Nick Rennison * BBC HISTORY magazine *Colourful and entertaining tale of gods and mortals, war and love. * History Today *
£10.44
Head of Zeus By Force Alone
Book SynopsisThere is a legend... Britannia, AD 535 The Romans have gone. While their libraries smoulder, roads decay and cities crumble, men with swords pick over civilisation's carcass, slaughtering and being slaughtered in turn. This is the story of just such a man. Like the others, he had a sword. He slew until slain. Unlike the others, we remember him. We remember King Arthur. This is the story of a land neither green nor pleasant. An eldritch isle of deep forest and dark fell haunted by swaithes, boggarts and tod-lowries, Robin-Goodfellows and Jenny Greenteeths, and predators of rarer appetite yet. This is the story of a legend forged from a pack of self-serving, turd-gilding, weasel-worded lies told to justify foul deeds and ill-gotten gains. This is the story - viscerally entertaining, ominously subversive and poetically profane - of a Dark Age myth that shaped a nation. EVERYONE'S TALKING ABOUT 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.Trade Review'Plunging a broadsword into the heart of Arthurian legend, Tidhar's novel depicts the Knights of the Round Table as a bunch of sweary, sweaty thugs. So much for the glories of a magical, mythical past. Britain, it seems, has forever been a land of factional infighting, presided over by a brutal, uncaring elite' Financial Times. 'London-based Israeli author Tidhar's latest fantasy is a ferocious and often very funny reinvention of the King Arthur myth, taking in references from Tolkien to Brexit' iNews. 'Iconoclastic, provocative, poetic and profane. King Arthur re-imagined - as you'd expect from the author of A Man Lies Dreaming and The Violent Century as well as the World Fantasy Award-winning Osama and the Locus Award short-listed Central Station' Concatenation. 'In true Lavie Tidhar style, we get something much more entertaining, bizarre and fantastical ... If you're looking for something riotously, uncompromisingly graphic and frenzied, then this book well certainly stand out from the crowd' SF Crowsnest. 'Every new book by the fiendishly ingenious and canny Tidhar is so radically different from his previous ones that I always await the next with bated breath ... The result is stunningly unique and the way he threads his daring if not sacrilegious additions into the fabric of the Camelot tale is like a punch in the gut ... Uproarious, provocative and utterly gripping' Crime Time. 'At a time when many in a fractious, divided Britain are looking to the past for comfort, Tidhar seeks to remind us - in dizzying, profane fashion - that our nation was, like so many others, built on nothing more romantic than bloodshed and conquest' Financial Times. 'A bloody, bravura performance, which Tidhar pulls off with graphic imagery and modern vernacular ... By Force Alone is Tidhar's scatological contribution to the field of Arthurian romance, a salutary antidote to the more romantic glossings of recent modern fantasy' Guardian. 'A New Weird Britain take on Arthurian mythos ... It's an immense remix of the myth, done with an extremely ruthless eye. Lavie is an extremely clever writer' Warren Ellis. 'Everyone is a bastard here, from Guenevere to Arthur to Merlin; I have never come across a more despicable bunch of characters, this is surely an indictment of Lavie Tidhar's warped and degenerate brain. Without a doubt this is the best Arthurian tale ever written, it has ruined the entire mythology for me' Saad Z. Hossain, author of Escape From Baghdad! and Djinn City. 'A comet that blazes a brilliant new path through dusty old territory. Bold and inventive, it smashes Arthurian myth to bits, sweeps up the brightest, weirdest, most enchanting pieces, and reshapes them into a wildly original tale. Legend has it that King Arthur will return when he's most needed, and this Arthur - this flawed, ambitious, irreverent boy-kingpin - is exactly the one we need now' Lisa L. Hannett, author of Bluegrass Symphony and Lament for the Afterlife. 'Tidhar turns King Arthur's court into a gangster's paradise, full of wheelings and dealings, and true grit. If the tale didn't go down like this, it should have' Silvia Moreno-Garcia, author of Gods of Jade and Shadow and Mexican Gothic. 'A beautifully written and thrilling tale, soaked in gore and evocative historical detail, peppered with subtle humour. Tidhar storms the castle of Grimdark, sword dripping with blood, and makes a claim for its crown' Angus Watson, author of Age of Iron and You Die When You Die. 'Utterly bonkers, utterly brilliant - a brutal, witty and slightly insane deconstruction of the Arthurian legend by way of Goodfellas, this is absolute bloody (and sweary) joy on the page' Russel D. McLean, author of The Good Son and Ed's Dead. '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, author of Altered Carbon. 'You can always trust Lavie Tidhar to create something brilliant, savage and endlessly entertaining' Starburst. 'Drawing on everything from wushu movies to The Wire by way of Tarkovsky and Tarantino, By Force Alone is wild, surprising and entertaining, and a hugely immersive read' M.R. Carey, author of The Girl with All the Gifts and The Unwritten. 'A violent, funny, absurd epic - Tidhar remains an utterly original voice in contemporary fiction' Daniel Polansky, author of Low Town and The Builders. 'Lavie Tidhar has created something wonderful, an extraordinary blend of history, legend, and sheer, lunatic inspiration. I loved it' Christopher Farnsworth, author of The Eternal World and Killfile. '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, author of Cage of Souls and Dogs of War. '[An] extraordinary and vivid retelling of our national myth. Gritty revisionism is super-charged by the supernatural ... 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.
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers Inc The Little Mermaid and Other Fairy Tales MinaLima
Book Synopsis
£21.25
HarperCollins Publishers Tales from the Perilous Realm
Book Synopsis This is the definitive collection of Tolkien’s five acclaimed modern classic ‘fairie’ tales in the vein of The Hobbit, fully corrected and reset for this edition and all beautifully illustrated in pencil by the award-winning artist, Alan Lee. Trade ReviewRoverandom:‘An old-fashioned story, yet it still speaks freshly today… would leap to life when read aloud to a child’ Independent Farmer Giles of Ham:‘A fabulous tale of the days when giants and dragons walked the kingdom’ Sunday Times Leaf by Niggle:‘A haunting and successful demonstration of the qualities of faerie’ New York Times The Adventures of Tom Bombadil:‘Something close to genius’ The Listener Smith of Wootton Major:‘Whoever reads it at eight will no doubt still be going back to it at eighty’ New Statesman
£17.00
Hot Key Books Robin Hood 4 Drones Dams Destruction Robert
Book SynopsisJoin Robin and Marion fighting for the desperate and destitute again in the fourth action-packed adventure from international bestseller Robert Muchamore.Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR ROBIN HOOD: HACKING, HEISTS & FLAMING ARROWS:'Classic Muchamore: witty characters, clever twists and high-tech gadgetry. This scores a bullseye.' - The Daily Mail'Intensely readable, outrageously enjoyable action' - Guardian'Compulsively readable...Meticulously researched feats of action and breathtaking heists.' - Times Literary Supplement'Muchamore knows just how to keep the pages turning and this is the first in a series that promises quiverfulls of action and entertainment.' - Books for Keeps'Muchamore writes with tremendous energy and his dialogue flies as fast as Robin's arrows.' The Times
£7.59
Flame Tree Publishing Viking Folk & Fairy Tales: Epic Tales
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 in a series of themed sections: treasured tales of Bravery, Beasts and Animals, Transformation and Trickery, Trolls and Giants, Tales of Wind, Snow and Sea, all collected in a gorgeous gold-foiled and embossed hardback to treasure and enjoy. The 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.
£17.00
HarperCollins Publishers The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun
Book SynopsisThe world first publication of a previously unknown work by J.R.R. Tolkien, which tells the epic story of the Norse hero, Sigurd, the dragon-slayer, the revenge of his wife, Gudrún, and the Fall of the Nibelungs.In the Lay of the Völsungs is told the ancestry of the great hero Sigurd, the slayer of Fáfnir most celebrated of dragons, whose treasure he took for his own; of his awakening of the Valkyrie Brynhild who slept surrounded by a wall of fire, and of their betrothal; and of his coming to the court of the great princes who were named the Niflungs (or Nibelungs), with whom he entered into blood-brotherhood. In that court there sprang great love but also great hate, brought about by the power of the enchantress, mother of the Niflungs, skilled in the arts of magic, of shape-changing and potions of forgetfulness.In scenes of dramatic intensity, of confusion of identity, thwarted passion, jealousy and bitter strife, the tragedy of Sigurd and Brynhild, of Gunnar the Niflung and Gudrún hTrade Review“Will appeal strongly to readers already haunted by the deeper, more sombre musics of Middle-earth” The Times “This is the most unexpected of Tolkien’s many posthumous publications; his son’s ‘Commentary’ is a model of informed accessibility; the poems stand comparison with their Eddic models, and there is little poetry in the world like those” Times Literary Supplement “The compact verse form is ideally suited to describing impact… elsewhere it achieves a stark beauty” Telegraph
£9.49
Orion Publishing Co The Tigers Wife
Book SynopsisWINNER OF THE ORANGE PRIZE FOR FICTION''Not since Zadie Smith has a young writer arrived with such power and grace'' Time''A marvel of beauty and imagination'' Ann PatchettA tiger escapes from the local zoo, padding through the ruined streets and onwards, to a ridge above the Balkan village of Galina. His nocturnal visits hold the villagers in a terrified thrall - but for one boy, the tiger is a thing of magic.Natalia is the granddaughter of that boy. Now a doctor, she is visiting orphanages in the war-torn Balkans when she receives word of her beloved grandfather''s death, far from their home, in circumstances shrouded in mystery.Compelled to unravel the truth, Natalia stumbles upon a clue that will lead her to a tattered copy of The Jungle Book, and then to the most extraordinary story her grandfather never told her - the legend of the tiger''s wife.One of the mostBRILLIANT <Trade ReviewObreht's novel is that rarity: a debut that arrives fully formed, super smart but wearing its learning lightly. Above all The Tiger's Wife bristles with confidence -- Adrian Turpin * Financial Times *The brilliant black comedy and matryoshka-style narrative are among the novel's great joys...Obreht has prodigious talent for storytelling and imagery * Guardian *Beautifully executed, haunting and lyrical, The Tiger's Wife is an ambitious novel that succeeds on all counts. It's a book you will want to read again and again * Indpendent *Obreht's landscape hovers half in and half out of fable - where villagers who daily risk being hoisted by landmines also fear malign spirits, tigers' brides and men who transform into bears... It's a part of the world that Obreht has made her imagination's own: raucous and strange and gorgeous and rather haunting. This is a pretty formidable first novel. Here be tigers -- Sam Leith * Financial Times *She is a natural born storyteller and this is a startlingly suggestive novel about the dying out of myths and superstitions and rituals that bind people to place: the retreat of the spirits * Daily Telegraph *This is a distinguished work by almost any standard, and a genuinely exciting debut... Obreht has a vibrant, rangy, full-bodied prose style, which moves expertly between realistic and mythic modes of storytelling, conjuring brilliant images on every page... a delightful work, as enchanting as it is surprising, and Obreht is a compelling new voice * Sunday Times *The Tiger's Wife has been touted as one of 2011's outstanding debuts and it deserves its reputation...Weaving together fantastical tales and folklore with realism about coming to terms with loss and grief, it is also a book about the secrets people keep. This layering of stories creates a book rich in textures. Combining a mystery narrative, a family narrative and a book about the worlds of the imagination, Téa Obreht's novel is one that allows the reader to get lost in them * Metro *The Tiger's Wife, is assured, eloquent and not easily forgotten...war is just a backdrop, religions barely identified. It is the tiger, the deathless man, and the inquisitive doctor who lead the story through its layers of modern-day reality, magical realism, and folklore...her pacing in the book is delicious - Obreht has the storyteller's gift for suspense, and holds back details until the reader can wait no more...she has lived up to the early hype * Independent on Sunday *Natalia, a young doctor, is on her way to deliver aid to a remote orphanage when she discovers her beloved grandfather is dead. As she tries to reconstruct her grandfather's last journey, she recalls his stories, which combine folklore and mystery with his exquisite humanity. Set in a Balkan country adjusting to life after the war, the book resonates with the aftershocks of conflict, old enmities, fatalism and superstition. Haunting, thoughtful and beautifully atmospheric * Psychologies *Varied, poignant and beguilingly fantastical...The Tiger's Wife is an exciting, fast-paced and mystical novel that'll have you rushing to the end * Time Out *Spellbinding... Téa Obreht's debut has the fantastical allure of a folk fable * Marie Claire *This astounding debut novel about the former Yugoslavia in wartime is so rich with themes of love, legends and mortality that every novel that comes after it this year is in peril of falling short in comparison with its uncanny beauty...Not since Zadie Smith has a young writer arrived with such power and grace * Time *Téa Obreht's stunning debut novel, The Tiger's Wife, is a hugely ambitious, audaciously written work that provides an indelible picture of life in an unnamed Balkan country still reeling from the fallout of civil war... Ms. Obreht, who was born in the former Yugoslavia and is, astonishingly, only 25, writes with remarkable authority and eloquence... Ms. Obreht has not only made a precocious debut, but she has also written a richly textured and searing novel * New York Times *Téa Obreht is an extraordinarily talented writer...brings to mind the novels of Mikhail Bulgakov...[a] truly marvellous and memorable first novel * New York Review of Books *Téa Obreht's The Tiger's Wife comes freighted with more critical anticipation than any debut novel in recent memory...That sort of unearned, pre-emptive prestige spurs both impossible expectations and skeptical readings - a burden that would doom most first novels. Yet The Tiger's Wife, in its solemn beauty and unerring execution, fully justifies the accolades that Ms. Obreht's short fiction inspired. She has a talent for subtle plotting that eludes most writers twice her age, and her descriptive powers suggest a kind of channeled genius. No novel this year has seemed more likely to disappoint; no novel has been more satisfying * Wall Street Journal *Tea Obreht's swirling first novel, The Tiger's Wife, draws us beneath the clotted tragedies in the Balkans to deliver the kind of truth that histories can't touch. Born in Belgrade in 1985 - no, that's not a typo - she captures the thirst for consecration that a century of war has left in that bloody part of the world. It's a novel of enormous ambitions that manages in its modest length to contain the conflicts between Christians and Muslims, Turks and Ottomans, science and superstition... Well-deserved praise has been accumulating ever since Obreht published a chapter in the New Yorker almost two years ago, and now that we have the whole, its graceful commingling of contemporary realism and village legend seems even more absorbing * Washington Post *Astonishingly assured...full of vivid, dreamlike sequence...Obreht's mesmerizing writing is key to the novel, which succeeds through a kind of harmonic resonance...Obreht's striking ability to explain the world through stories is matched by her patience with the parts of life - and death - that endlessly confound us * Boston Globe *Deftly walks the line between the realistic and the fantastical . . . In Obreht's expert hands, the novel's mythology, while rooted in a foreign world, comes to seem somehow familiar, like the dark fairy tales of our own youth, the kind that spooked us into reading them again and again . . . [Reveals] oddly comforting truths about death, belief in the impossible, and the art of letting go * O: The Oprah Magazine *A wonderful, really remarkable novel...fascinating, unusual, original -- Erica Wagner * on WOMAN'S HOUR, RADIO 4 *A magical, distinctive tale. -- Emma Lee-Potter * DAILY EXPRESS *As enchanting as it is surprising ... Obreht's prose style is full-bodied and vibrant, and she conjures brilliant images on every page. -- Edmund Gordon * SUNDAY TIMES *War and its legacy ricochets through Obreht's kaleidoscopic dance of myth, folk memory and interrelated stories ... dizzying and ambitious * LONDON METRO *a stunning tale with the mythic quality of a fairy story * TIMES *Mysterious and funny * SUNDAY HERALD *A distinctive, magical tale * DAILY EXPRESS *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony
Book Synopsis''It will be read and re-read not as a treatise but as a story: one of the most extraordinary that has ever been written of the origins of Western self-consciousness'' Simon SchamaThe marriage of Cadmus and Harmony was the last time the gods of Olympus feasted alongside mortals. What happened in the distant ages preceding it, and in the generations that followed, form the timeless tales of ancient Greek mythology. In this masterful retelling of the myths we think we know, Roberto Calasso illuminates the deepest questions of our existence.''The kind of book one comes across only once or twice in one''s lifetime'' Joseph Brodsky''A perfect work like no other'' Gore VidalTrade ReviewSensuous, dazzlingly intelligent -- Lucy Hughes-Hallett * Sunday Times *The Marriage of Cadmus and Harmony is a perfect work like no other -- Gore VidalA brilliant and profound narration -- A.S. ByattA masterpiece ... a wonderfully fashioned work of art -- John BanvilleCalasso has no equal in the sparkle of his storytelling and the depth of his learning -- Boyd Tonkin * Independent *Enlivening, enthralling, essential: a classic -- Peter Conrad * Observer *
£10.44
Pan Macmillan Sistersong: A dazzling folklore retelling full of
Book SynopsisPre-order the next captivating folkloric fantasy, Song of the Huntress, now!In a magical ancient Britain, bards sing a story of treachery, love and death. This is that story. For fans of Madeline Miller's Circe, Lucy Holland's Sistersong retells the folk ballad ‘The Twa Sisters'.'A captivating spell of myth and magic' – Jennifer Saint, author of AriadneKing Cador’s children inherit a land abandoned by the Romans, torn by warring tribes. Riva can cure others, but can’t heal her own scars. Keyne battles to be seen as the king’s son, although born a daughter. And Sinne dreams of love, longing for adventure.All three fear a life of confinement within the walls of the hold, their people’s last bastion of strength against the invading Saxons. However, change comes on the day ash falls from the sky – bringing Myrdhin, meddler and magician. The siblings discover the power that lies within them and the land. But fate also brings Tristan, a warrior whose secrets will tear them apart.Riva, Keyne and Sinne become entangled in a web of treachery and heartbreak, and must fight to forge their own paths. It’s a story that will shape the destiny of Britain.Sistersong is a powerfully moving story, perfect for readers who loved Naomi Novik’s Uprooted and Katherine Arden’s The Bear and the Nightingale.Trade ReviewA beautiful reimagining of an old British folklore ballad, Sistersong weaves a captivating spell of myth and magic around the reader. Lucy Holland's lyrical prose and powerful storytelling will lure you into an eerie, intriguing world in which enemies lurk unseen, the threat of betrayal hangs heavy and sisterly loyalties are tested to their limit -- Jennifer Saint, author of AriadneSistersong is a fresh and gripping retelling of an ancient tale. Set in a realistic, gritty world, the nuanced, compelling characters are the heart of this story about family, love, loyalty and identity. I loved it -- John Gwynne, author of MaliceRooted in history but shot through with surprises, this takes ancient British myth and gives it a wonderfully fresh twist. The book combines timely themes around our lost connection with nature, the fluidity of identity and the power of claiming your own story with a haunting atmosphere and a rollicking pace. Lucy Holland is a brilliantly assured storyteller -- Molly Flatt, author of The Charmed Life of Alex MooreAstonishing! -- Ellen Kushner, author of SwordspointNo cream teas in this West Country fable: feast instead on a gory, gripping and magically mythic tale of love and hatred, loyalty and betrayal -- Daily MailBrilliantly written and full of memorable characters . . . If you like poetic reimaginings of mythology, such as Madeline Miller’s Circe and The Song of Achilles, you need to make sure to pick up Sistersong -- Grimdark MagazineA masterpiece of storytelling . . . a beautiful story of the complex and loving relationship between three sisters and how their relationship and strength influenced the lives of those around them -- TheBookBagBeautifully written and with a keen eye for historical detail, Sistersong demonstrates the power of these old familiar ballads when they are opened up to new perspectives -- TheFantasyHiveSistersong is such a fantastic read . . . complicated sisters, gorgeous creepy magic and a sublime sense of time & place -- Freya MarskeSistersong truly reads like a ballad – beautiful and mournful, a melody that sticks in your head. An absolutely stunning book -- Hannah Whitten, author of For the WolfFrom its opening pages, Sistersong transports you to a time period often overlooked, and spins a tale of family, loyalty, and the triumph of becoming the person you were always meant to be. I was utterly captivated from the beginning to the tragic, bittersweet end -- Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch's HeartSistersong is a marvellous tale, gracefully told in language as beautiful as the song that inspired it. It's a celebration of the power of sisterhood, the strength of earth magic, and the triumph, in the end, of fidelity to both. I fell in love with all three siblings, and I think you will, too! -- Louisa Morgan, author of A Secret History of WitchesMagical, beautiful, and heartbreaking, Sistersong keeps you turning the pages until the thrilling conclusion, both tragic and triumphant. Lucy Holland is a talent to watch -- Greer Macallister, author of Scorpia
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton Daughters of Sparta: A tale of secrets, betrayal
Book SynopsisTwo sisters parted. Two women blamed. Two stories reclaimed.'Required reading for fans of Circe . . . a remarkable, thrilling debut' - Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth AvenueFor millennia, two women have been blamed for the fall of a mighty civilisation - but now it's time to hear their side of the story . . .As princesses of Sparta, Helen and Klytemnestra have known nothing but luxury and plenty. With their high birth and unrivalled beauty, they are the envy of all of Greece.Such privilege comes at a high price, though, and their destinies are not theirs to command. While still only girls they are separated and married off to legendary foreign kings Agamemnon and Menelaos, never to meet again. Their duty is now to give birth to the heirs society demands and be the meek, submissive queens their men expect.But when the weight of their husbands' neglect, cruelty and ambition becomes too heavy to bear, they must push against the constraints of their sex to carve new lives for themselves - and in doing so make waves that will ripple throughout the next three thousand years.Perfect for readers of Circe and Ariadne, Daughters of Sparta is a vivid and illuminating retelling of the Siege of Troy that tells the story of mythology's most vilified women from their own mouths at long last.Helen of Troy and her sister Klytemnestra are reimagined in this gorgeous retelling of the classic Greek myth - not as women defined by their husbands and lovers but as battle-weary survivors of a patriarchal society who take control of their own destiny. Absolutely riveting!' - Alka Joshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Henna ArtistTrade ReviewThe story of the Trojan War has been told for close to three millennia and writers are still finding ways to refashion it . . . Seen through the eyes of Klytemnestra and her sister Helen, the war proves very different from the Homeric conflict with which we are familiar . . . [Heywood] tells her story vividly, setting it convincingly in the period. * Sunday Times *Fluent and persuasive. I admire the ambition with which Heywood tackles the subject, to which she brings freshness and verve. I enjoyed it very much -- Elizabeth BuchanDaughters of Sparta has such a compelling narrative; it is utterly absorbing from beginning to end. I found it both captivating and poignant; an enthralling and powerful tale of family politics, gender constraints, love, betrayal and revenge, with a masterful handling of feelings and emotions that truly resonates down the ages. -- Laura CarlinHelen of Troy and her sister Klytemnestra are reimagined in this gorgeous retelling of the classic Greek myth - not as women defined by their husbands and lovers but as battle-weary survivors of a patriarchal society who take control of their own destiny. Absolutely riveting! * Alka Joshi, New York Times bestselling author of The Henna Artist *'Heywood's wondrous retelling of the lives of two ancient princesses struggling for independence and agency in a patriarchal society resonates deeply in today's imperfect world. Required reading for fans of Circe, and a remarkable, thrilling debut.' * Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue *Brilliantly compelling . . . the perfect balance between historical authenticity and characters who I really connected with -- Sarah BonnerAn immersive, intimate take on a well-known tale. By focussing on the diverging fates of two sisters, Heywood reveals the private lives of these women to be just as compelling as the epic events unfolding around them. -- Amanda BlockIf you love epic books about Greek mythology and the often misunderstood or misinterpreted women within these tales, Daughters of Sparta should be right at the top of your reading list. It's a vividly written and compelling retelling that brings the Spartan princesses to life with all the human fortitude and foibles you'd expect from flesh and blood people. I'm already impatiently awaiting the reveal of the next set of female perspectives from the ancient world that Claire Heywood will be writing about in her second novel. * CultureFly *
£9.49
Hodder & Stoughton Little Thieves: The astonishing fantasy fairytale
Book Synopsis'A wild, adventurous romp that will leave you breathless at every turn' Hafsah FaizalOnce upon a time, there was a horrible girl . . . Vanja Schmidt knows that no gift is freely given, not even a mother's love. The adopted goddaughter of Death and Fortune, Vanja has long made her own way in the world as the dutiful servant of Princess Gisele. Until a year ago, when her otherworldly mothers demanded payment for their care, and Vanja decided to steal her future back . . . by stealing Gisele's life. With the help of an enchanted string of pearls, Vanja transformed into her former mistress and took her place, leaving the real Gisele a penniless nobody. Now, Vanja leads a lonely but lucrative double life as princess and jewel thief, charming the nobility while emptying their coffers to fund her great escape. Until, one heist away from freedom, Vanja crosses the wrong god and is cursed to turn into jewels, stone by stone. With a feral guardian half-god, Gisele's sinister fiancé, and an overeager junior detective on her tail, Vanja has just two weeks to pull off her biggest grift yet, or she risks losing more than her freedom - she could lose her life. In this delightfully irreverent retelling of 'The Goose Girl', Margaret Own crafts an unputdownable tale about stolen lives, thorny truths, and the wicked girls at the heart of both.Trade ReviewGorgeous prose, delicious magic * VE Schwab, author of The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue *A wild, adventurous romp that will leave you breathless at every turn. Expect sharp edges balanced with delightful humor and good fun - but I'll warn you: Vanja will steal your heart * Hafsah Faizal, New York Times-bestselling and award-winning author of We Hunt the Flame *Margaret Owen has done it again, yanking me between surety and nail-biting anticipation the whole way * Brittney Morris, bestselling Author of Slay *With Six of Crows and The Cruel Prince as readalikes, this will find an audience anywhere there are fantasy fans. Highly recommended and not to be missed * School Library Journal, starred review *A lush and lively adventure replete with romance, revenge, and robbery * Kirkus, starred review *Owen flips the tale of the Goose Girl on its head for a breathlessly inventive, never-a-dull-moment adventure of found family and second (or fourth or fifth) chances. If you're not careful, it'll steal your heart, too * Booklist, Starred Review *Masterpiece of storytelling... This is YA fantasy at its very best * Armadillo Magazine *Little Thieves really does have all the elements for a truly memorable fantasy fable. It's a book for anyone who loves classic fairytale retellings with hear-stealing characters and a thrilling cat-and-mouse adventure at its heart * Culturefly *Margaret Owen has written my favourite fantasy novel of 2021. I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoys fairy tales, murder mysteries, heists and clever twists * Reach Plc Regional *Fantasy fans will love this YA reimagining of Brothers Grimm classic Goose Girl * Heat Magazine *This book spools out a plot you think you've seen before but then delights in gleefully wrong-footing you. A perfectly delightful Picasso ... will leave you chock-full of joy * SFX *A great read for this time of year with curses and a range of terrifying creatures to keep you spooked to the end * Reach Plc (BirminghamLive) *A sparky and irreverent reimagining of Goose Girl, the German fairytale by the Brothers Grimm, Little Thieves is rich with detail and zippy dialogue... I wasn't prepared for quite how much I loved this book * Culturefly - Best Books of 2021 *Margaret Owen has clearly thrown all her ideas at the wall to see what sticks and, amazingly, not only have they stuck but they've formed a Picasso * SFX *Thrilling and laced with frightening magic and irreverent humour * Metro *
£9.49
Country Books Garden of the Good Folk
Book Synopsis
£7.59
Transworld Publishers Ltd For the Winner
Book SynopsisSome three thousand years ago, in a time before history, the warriors of Greece journeyed to the ends of the earth in the greatest expedition the world had ever seen.One woman fought alongside them.Abandoned at birth on the slopes of Mount Pelion, Atalanta is determined to prove her worth to the father who cast her aside. Having taught herself to hunt and fight, and disguised as a man, she wins a place on the greatest voyage of that heroic age: with Jason and his band of Argonauts in search of the legendary Golden Fleece. And it is here, in the company of men who will go down in history as heroes, that Atalanta must battle against the odds – and the will of the gods – to take control of her destiny and change her life forever.With her unrivalled knowledge and captivating storytelling, Emily Hauser brings alive an ancient world where the gods can transform a mortal’s life on a whim, where warriors carve out names that will echo down the ages . . . and where one woman fights to determine her own fate.Trade ReviewIn For the Winner, Emily Hauser tells the compelling story of the brave, strong and clever Atalanta as she seeks to take her rightful place in her father's life. Her many adventures with Jason and his Argonauts kept me utterly absorbed. Here is a heroine to cheer for, and a book to cherish. * Margot Livesey *One of the most fascinating and innovative recent novelisations of the legendary journey of Jason and the Argonauts to capture the Golden Fleece seen from the eyes of the only heroine who, according to myth, took part: Atalanta. Although Jason and the Argonauts is one of the most famous stories of Greek mythology, the story of Atalanta has been less known or even neglected throughout the centuries. Emily Hauser's novel fills this gap with intellectual erudition, passion and paralleled imagination in order to give us, in the liveliest way possible, the story of an amazing female character and her journey from anonymity to immortality through her unbelievable heroic deeds. * Antony Makrinos, Fellow in Classics at UCL *An enchanting, dramatic novel that brings to life iconic mythic characters, including a woman whose voice had long been silenced. * Judith Starkston, author of HAND OF FIRE *For the Winner is beautifully descriptive and full of historical detail, easily drawing the reader into a lost world of gods and heroes. By taking the viewpoint of Atalanta, a lesser known character from Greek myth, Hauser gives us a refreshingly original take on Jason's famous quest for the Golden Fleece. * Glyn Iliffe, author of KING OF ITHACA *A brilliant, epic tale full of breath-taking action with a shining star at its centre, Atalanta, a female warrior of incredice force and drive. This gem of a book will leave you desperate for the next Emily Hauser novel. * Crystal King, author of FEAST OF SORROW *
£9.99
Cinnamon Press Pig Boy
Book SynopsisCursed with love by his step-mother, Culhwch (Pig Boy) is condemned to love and marry Olwen, the daughter of the Hawthorn Giant—pitiless, violent and huge. So begins the quest—first to the court of King Arthur to wins support for the quest. In this earliest and earthiest of Arthurian tales, we are in the grip of the Otherworld, where landscape, nature and doing what we can to make a better future, no matter how impossible that might seem, are everything. Making a future despite the odds and despite the terrible and debilitating pain that afflicts Pig Boy as part of his love of Olwen will see him tested him again and again as he faces each task along the quest, the last to hunt the Great Wild Boar and seize the golden comb and scissors from between its ears so that the Hawthorn Giant can have his beard trimmed and hair combed for his daughter’s wedding. Will the marriage finally be celebrated? And what help will Pig Boy need to summon—not only from the court of Arthur and its warrior class but from everyone in the kingdom and from the non-human realm with it deep magic? An epic tale of ancient myth, the story of Pig Boy continues to resonate today with how we go on making a future, calling on the land and whatever and whoever might help, human and beyond. An ambitious, compelling and powerful debut from master storyteller, Michael Harvey.
£10.79
Taschen GmbH The Fairy Tales of the Brothers Grimm
Book SynopsisFrom Snow White to Cinderella, Rapunzel to Rumpelstiltskin, the Brothers Grimm bequeathed a canon of stories which have become literary and childhood classics. The most widely read story collection after the Bible, their magical tales are stalwarts of early learning and imagination, listed in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register as a vital part of our history and culture. This beautiful hardback anthology is based on the Grimm’s popular 1857 edition and features 27 of their best-loved stories in a vibrant and meticulous new translation commissioned for this publication. The tales are accompanied by exquisite vintage illustrations from the past 200 years, including masterpieces from the legendary Kay Nielsen, British artists Walter Crane and Arthur Rackham, and giants of 19th-century German illustration Gustav Süs, Heinrich Leutemann, and Viktor Paul Mohn. Additional historic and contemporary silhouettes dance across the pages like delicate black paper lace. In addition to the tales and illustrations, the book contains a foreword on the Grimms’ legacy, brief introductions to each fairy tale, and extended artists’ biographies in the appendix. For adults and children alike, this precious edition brings the eternal magic of the Grimms’ stories to the heart of every home.The following fairy tales are featured in the book:The Frog Prince, The Wolf and the Seven Little Goats, Little Brother and Little Sister, Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, The Fisherman and His Wife, The Brave Little Tailor, Cinderella, Mother Holle, Little Red Riding Hood, The Bremen Town Musicians, The Devil with Three Golden Hairs, The Shoemaker and the Elves, Tom Thumb’s Travels, Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Rumpelstiltskin, The Three Feathers, The Golden Goose, Jorinde and Joringel, The Goose Girl, The Twelve Dancing Princesses, The Star Coins, Snow White and Red Nose, The Hare and the Hedgehog, Puss n’ Boots, The Golden KeyTrade Review“…a truly bewitching coffee-table tome.” * Modern Luxury Interiors *“The perfect addition to any nursery library, it will have readers and listeners spellbound.” * Daily Telegraph *"This gloriously illustrated collection, TASCHEN's first children's book, includes lesser-known tales like 'Little Brother and Little Sister' and 'The Devil With the Three Golden Hairs' along with the favorites... Best are the timeless illustrations, mostly European, gleaned from previously published work from the 1820s to the 1950s. The stories, if not all their characters, live happily ever after." * New York Times Book Review *
£28.50
HarperCollins Publishers The Broken Elf King
Book SynopsisAn inter-connected romantasy perfect for fans of Sarah J. MaasI never should have taken that loan but my aunt needed meds I couldn't afford. Now I've been sold to slavery and the Nightfall Queen's guards have found out I'm not entirely human.I guess I'm lucky they didn't kill me.The next thing I hear is that the Elf King himself has bought me, and I'm to be transferred to his castle. It will take me five years to pay off the debt but I get to be his personal assistant. Personal assistant to the king. That can't be so bad, right?Oh how wrong I was.His council has tasked me with finding him a wife before they will fund his war against the Nightfall Queen. That part should be easy: he's rich, disgustingly handsome, and smart to boot. The problem? He's rejecting every high-born female I send his way.The more time we spend together, the more we realize I'm not just some half elf. There is a deep power that runs through my veins, one that makes me a target or his solution?I enter into a fake marriage with him so that he can get the council off his back and I can get some protection.That's a great idea, as long as I don't fall in love with him.Should be simple enoughThe Broken Elf King is book TWO of FOUR in the Kings of Avalier series. It''s a full-length standalone fantasy romance about the Elf King Raife Lightstone.
£8.54
HarperCollins Publishers The Nature of Middleearth
Book Synopsis First ever publication of J.R.R. Tolkien’s final writings on Middle-earth, covering a wide range of subjects and perfect for those who have read and enjoyed The Silmarillion, The Lord of the Rings, Unfinished Tales, and The History of Middle-earth, and want to learn more about Tolkien’s magnificent world. Trade Review ‘A continuation of the many previous volumes assembled by Tolkien’s son, Christopher Tolkien, that allow readers to see the author “thinking… on paper”. For devotees, this will be a treasure.’ Publishers Weekly ‘How, given little over half a century, did one man become the creative equivalent of a people?’ Guardian
£21.25
Penguin Books Ltd Monkey
Book SynopsisAlso known as Journey to the West, Wu Ch''êng-ên''s Monkey is one of the Four Great Classical Novels in Chinese literature, translated by Arthur Waley in Penguin Classics. Monkey depicts the adventures of Prince Tripitaka, a young Buddhist priest on a dangerous pilgrimage to India to retrieve sacred scriptures accompanied by his three unruly disciples: the greedy pig creature Pipsy, the river monster Sandy - and Monkey. Hatched from a stone egg and given the secrets of heaven and earth, the irrepressible trickster Monkey can ride on the clouds, become invisible and transform into other shapes - skills that prove very useful when the four travellers come up against the dragons, bandits, demons and evil wizards that threaten to prevent them in their quest. Wu Ch''êng-ên wrote Monkey in the mid-sixteenth century, adding his own distinctive style to an ancient Chinese legend, and in so doing created a dazzling combination of nonsense with profundity,
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Arabian Nights Collins Classics
Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its new range of best-loved, essential classics.For, said he, there never was nor is there one chaste woman upon the face of earth.'A collection of Persian, Arabian and Indian tales dating from the 9th century, Sir Richard Burton's most well-known translation of Arabian Nights brings together ancient folklore and stories passed down from generation to generation.Featuring tales about love, history, tragedy and comedy as well as fables and fairy tales, this edition remains a well-loved collection of exotic and evocative stories. Fantastical and curious customs are bought to life by Burton's translation in stories such as The Lovers of Bassorah', The Concubine of Al-Maamun' and The Hunchback's Tale'.
£5.62
HarperCollins Publishers The Book of Lost Tales 2
Book SynopsisThe second of a two-book set that contains the early myths and legends which led to the writing of Tolkien's epic tale of war, The Silmarillion.This second part of The Book of Lost Tales includes the tale of Beren and Lúthien, Túrin and the Dragon, and the only full narratives of the Necklace of the Dwarves and the Fall of Gondolin, itself the finest and most exciting depiction of a battle that Tolkien ever wrote. Each tale is followed by a commentary in the form of a short essay, together with texts of associated poems, and contains extensive information on names and vocabulary in the earliest Elvish languages.This series of fascinating books has now been repackaged to complement the distinctive and classic style of the black cover' A-format paperbacks of The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales.Trade Review‘Christopher Tolkien shows himself to be his father’s son… Tolkien devotees will rejoice’ The New York Times Book Review ‘In these Lost Tales we have the scholar joyously gambolling in the thicket of his imagination… a Commentary and Notes greatly enrich the quest’ Daily Telegraph ‘The Tales will be appreciated by those who have read The Silmarillion andwish to examine how Tolkien improved his story and style from their original form, and how weventually The Lord of the Rings came to stand independently with only a few hints from the early mythology’ British Book News
£10.44
Transworld Publishers Ltd Camelot
Book SynopsisFamily history (he is half Norwegian) and a passion for the fiction of Bernard Cornwell inspired GILES KRISTIAN to write. Set in the Viking world, his bestselling 'Raven' and 'The Rise of Sigurd' trilogies have been acclaimed by his peers, reviewers and readers alike. In The Bleeding Land and Brothers' Fury, he tells the story of a family torn apart by the English Civil War. He also co-wrote Wilbur Smith's No.1 bestseller, Golden Lion. His contemporary survival thriller, Where Blood Runs Cold, won the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize. With his Sunday Times bestseller Lancelot, Giles plunged into the rich waters of the Arthurian legend. His epic reimagining of our greatest island 'history' continued in Camelot and draws to a breath-taking close with Arthur. Giles Kristian lives in Leicestershire.To find out more, visit www.glieskristian.com. You can follow him on X @GilesKristian and Facebook/Giles KriTrade ReviewThis the second volume in Giles Kristian's retelling of the Arthurian legend which started with the superb Lancelot. Kristian has created a powerful, dark vision of Arthur's Britain, where magic has its limits and the worst monsters are human. -- Antonia Senior * THE TIMES *This is SUCH a good book. I loved it - the sense of time and place is so beautiful, so haunting. And the people, as ever, are bitingly real. Wrapped in the rich lore of the Arthurian saga, Giles has given us a vital, glorious story: rich, rewarding, and utterly revealing of our times - Camelot is a novel you'll savour long after the last page has been turned. -- MANDA SCOTT, author of A Treachery of SpiesWhat a wonderful book. Beautifully evocative and bone-crunchingly bloody, filled with characters I loved and hated, all conveyed in beautifully lyrical prose and edged with the sense of hope and tragedy that is essential for any retelling of the Arthurian tale. It was fabulous to go back to 5th-century Britain and dive into the fray again. -- JOHN GWYNNE, author of the Of Blood and Bone TrilogyKristian’s sequel to his acclaimed Arthurian novel Lancelot is, in some ways, even better than the first book . . . evokes post-Roman Britain in a masterly fashion, totally immersing the reader into the dank, misty, marshlands of hounded Britons and brutal Saxon invaders; of Merlin’s twisty, amoral magic and the raw, skinned-knuckle courage of the warrior trapped in the bloody crush of the shield wall. It is, in short, a triumph. Highly recommended, especially to fans of Bernard Cornwell’s seminal Warlord Chronicles. -- ANGUS DONALD, author of OutlawAdventure, intrigue and love abound in this retelling of a tale that is veiled in myth and legend . . . Kristian's writing weaves a spell on the reader as surely as Merlin at the height of his powers. Kristian has done it again. Camelot is a wonderful book. -- MATTHEW HARFFY, author of The Serpent SwordCamelot gave me one-hell of a punch. It contained some of the best writing in historical-fiction today and completely knocked me off my feet. It had the emotion and intimacy of Lancelot, just with something more. A phenomenal read. * GRIMDARK Magazine *Giles Kristian has set himself a rather monumental task. Namely, how do you follow a novel like LANCELOT - surely already a classic in the Arthurian canon and one of those books that leaves you with your head swimming and your heart thumping long after you’ve read the last word? His monumental answer is: CAMELOT . . . an immense achievement . . . together, these two novels represent something altogether more monumental. Nothing short of a new milestone in British myth-making. It deserves to be an instant classic and I’d bet my last arm-ring that it will be. -- THEODORE BRUNAfter finishing Lancelot, I had my doubts whether Camelot could have the same impact on me, whether it could captivate and enchant me in the same way. I needn’t have feared. Kristian once again works his sorcery, and weaves a superb blend of high fantasy and historical fiction, enriched by luscious prose . . . herein lies the beauty of Camelot, it is a book where the past hauntingly mirrors the present. * FANTASY HIVE *Camelot sees the storytelling brilliance of Giles Kristian reach for and attain new heights . . . this duology for me is now the go-to Arthurian tale, surpassing Bernard Cornwell’s . . . it truly is a classic. * PARMENION BOOKS *A wonderfully crafted novel . . . a good book is one that will take you through a range of emotions, from laughter to tears, and that will – when you get to the final page – leave you bereft that there is no more to read, and disappointed that you know you will not read anything so good any time soon. Camelot fills all these criteria. It surprises you at every turn. It is probably the best book I will read this year – and it’s only April! * HISTORY...THE INTERESTING BITS! *Just brilliant . . . I loved this book. From the prose, to characters, to action sequences. Everything in this book is brilliant. That is partly due to my love for anything Arthurian, but it is also due to the intricate and powerful story Giles Kristian has magically created. * BOOKNEST *
£9.86
HarperCollins Publishers The Witch and the Tsar
Book SynopsisA delicate weaving of myth and history, The Witch and the Tsar breathes new life into stories you think you know' Hannah Whitten, New York Times bestselling author of For the WolfYaga lives deep in the Russian forest, tending to any that call upon her for her healing potions and vast wisdom.She has been alone for centuries, with only her beloved animals for company. But, when Tsaritsa Anastasia, wife of Tsar Ivan Vasilyevich, shows up at Yaga's cottage on the brink of death, Yaga is compelled to travel with her to Moscow to keep her safe.However, the Russia Yaga sees as she makes her journey to the heart of the country is one on the brink of chaos. Tsar Ivan soon to become Ivan the Terrible grows more volatile and tyrannical by the day, and Yaga believes the tsaritsa is being poisoned by an unknown enemy. But what Yaga cannot know is that Ivan is being manipulated by powers far older and more fearsome than anyone can imagine.Set in sixteenth-century Russia, The Witch and the Tsar upeTrade Review‘An utterly enchanting, wholly immersive debut that deftly reimagines the legend of Baba Yaga. This one is unmissable’ Alexis Henderson, author of The Year of the Witching ‘This epic tale brings both history and folklore to vivid life. It's a fresh, exciting take sure to capture fans of Madeline Miller's Circe and Jennifer Saint's Ariadne’ Publishers Weekly ‘Fierce and fearless, The Witch and the Tsar whisks the reader back to a sixteenth-century Russia that's enthralling, frightening, and completely unforgettable. With stunning prose and sharp insight, Olesya Salnikova Gilmore conjures up a captivating battle between gods, emperors, and folkloric spirits, led by a prickly, powerful heroine who leaps off the page and refuses to be ignored. This is Baba Yaga like you've never seen her before, and you're going to love her’ Allison Epstein, author of A Tip for the Hangman ‘Beautifully written, gripping…a story of Baba Yaga as you have never met her before – don’t even THINK about missing it!’ Gabriella Saab, author of The Last Checkmate ‘The Witch and the Tsar delivers high stakes, memorable characters, and a sixteenth-century Russia you can almost reach out and touch. Yaga’s tale is a story I never knew I needed’ Genevieve Gornichec, author of The Witch’s Heart ‘A perfect blend of fantasy and historical fiction, The Witch and the Tsar magnificently paints an old Russia full of vengeful gods, court intrigue, and high adventure. In the centre of it all is the half-goddess Yaga, isolated and proud, whose compassion for humanity drives her into a war with Ivan the Terrible and the mythical beings who use him for their own ends. Immersive and beautifully written, Yaga’s story reminds us that gods – like humans – can choose their own fates’ Anika Scott, internationally bestselling author of The Soviet Sisters
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers The Two Towers
Book SynopsisClassic hardback edition of the second volume of The Lord of the Rings, featuring Tolkien's original unused dust-jacket design. Includes special packaging and the definitive edition of the text, with fold-out map.Frodo and the Companions of the Ring have been beset by danger during their quest to prevent the Ruling Ring from falling into the hands of the Dark Lord by destroying it in the Cracks of Doom. They have lost the wizard, Gandalf, in the battle with an evil spirit in the Mines of Moria; and at the Falls of Rauros, Boromir, seduced by the power of the Ring, tried to seize it by force. While Frodo and Sam made their escape the rest of the company were attacked by Orcs.Now they continue their journey alone down the great River Anduin alone, that is, save for the mysterious creeping figure that follows wherever they go.This classic hardback features Tolkien's original unused dust-jacket design, and its text has been fully restored with almost 400 corrections with the full co-operation of Christopher Tolkien making it the definitive version, and as close as possible to the version that J.R.R. Tolkien intended. Also included is the original red and black map of the Shire as a foldout sheet.Trade Review‘An extraordinary book. It deals with a stupendous theme. It leads us through a succession of strange and astonishing episodes, some of them magnificent, in a region where everything is invented, forest, moor, river, wilderness, town and the races which inhabit them.’The Observer ‘Among the greatest works of imaginative fiction of the twentieth century.’Sunday Telegraph ‘The English-speaking world is divided into those who have read The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit and those who are going to read them.’Sunday Times ‘A story magnificently told, with every kind of colour and movement and greatness.’New Statesman ‘Masterpiece? Oh yes, I’ve no doubt about that.’Evening Standard
£21.25
Penguin Books Ltd Excalibur
Book SynopsisFrom the No. 1 bestselling author of WAR LORD comes an epic retelling of the Arthurian legend, from the bestselling Last Kingdom seriesAfter rebellions and betrayals by those he believed loved him most, Arthur looks at his most weak.His Saxon enemies decide to strike before he regains his strength, plunging Britain into war. It will require all Arthur''s leadership and military cunning to win this last battle.But in this final struggle of the warlord, the intrigues of Mordred, now the adult heir to the throne of Britain, and the dark magic of the priestess Nimue could conspire to bring about Arthur''s downfall.Even his trusty blade Excaliber may not be sharp enough to save him . . .From the epic and bestselling author who has gripped millions, Bernard Cornwell concludes The Warlord Chronicles, bringing the Arthurian legend to thrilling new life._______''A powerful and dramatic ret
£10.44
Batsford Ltd Anglo-Saxon Myths: The Struggle for the Seven
Book SynopsisEnchanting tales of the gods, kings, and monsters that populated the Anglo-Saxon world. An atmospheric collection of 30 folk tales exploring stories of cosmology, monsters, conflicts and courtship from the Seven Kingdoms to Middle Earth. This is an entertaining portal into a world overflowing with mythology, magic and all manner of beguiling creatures, which has inspired everything from the Lord of the Rings to Game of Thrones. The book is divided into 3 parts: • Scop is a set of stories told by the Anglo-Saxon storyteller Scop, from the creation to the destruction of the world. It explores what remains of the gods and monsters of the Anglo-Saxon cosmology. • Wreccan is pagan stories exploring self-discovery and development through exile. Variations of these tales would have told by the Anglo-Saxons themselves, including Sigemund's rebellion and the trials of Beowulf. • Bretwalda stories revolve around Bretwalda the chief Anglo-Saxon king who ruled over the majority of the Seven Kingdoms. These stories reflect a period when both the old gods and Christianity existed simultaneously. Remarkable illustrations by Jesús Sotés breathe new life into these tales of the past.Trade Review‘It is easy, reading Stratford’s vibrant retellings, to understand where Tolkien drew his inspiration from and this fine book should find a similar, enthusiastic readership’ Observer Alexander Larman ‘Grab yourself a cuppa, open the covers and enjoy the atmospheric tales told within’ The CountrymanTable of ContentsScop – the Age of Gods Moon over Middle Earth Tue and the Binding of Helle Woden and the Wyrm Thunner, Dinne and Heofenfyr Frig and the Elven King The Burning Time of Waellende Wulf The Vessel of Death Wreccan – the Age of Heroes Of Sheaf & Shield, of Geat & Mathilde Sigemund Victory-hand Heremod, Hoarder of Rings Wada’s Dream Wade Waefre Wade in the Water Weyland Smith The Dance to the Music of Mimming Finn’s Last Stand The Stallion and the Horse The Harm of Grendel What has Ingeld to do The Death of Beowulf Bretwalda – the Age of England The Beginning of Wonders The Avenging of Arilda The Altars of Raedwald Penda’s Hoard The Rumwold Prophesy The Hind of Domne Aefe Snake-stone and Cattle-song The Urith Sacrifice Cuthbert’s Demons The Evengloom of the Gods Osgyth and the Stag The Vision of Dryhtehlm Guthlac turns Wodwo
£15.29
HarperCollins Publishers The Silmarillion
Book Synopsis To celebrate the 30th anniversary of first publication, a new de luxe edition of The Silmarillion, featuring the revised, reset text, a colour frontispiece illustration, bound in special materials and presented in a matching slipcase. Trade Review‘How, given little over half a century of work, did one man become the creative equivalent of a people?’The Guardian ‘Demanding to be compared with English mythologies… at times rises to the greatness of true myth’Financial Times ‘A creation of singular beauty… magnificent in its best moments’Washington Post ‘A grim, tragic, brooding and beautiful book, shot through with heroism and hope… its power is almost that of mysticism’Toronto Globe & Mail
£56.25
Oneworld Publications Kintu: From the winner of the Jhalak Prize, 2021
Book Synopsis 'Ugandan literature can boast of an international superstar in Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi' Economist An award-winning debut that vividly reimagines Uganda’s troubled history through the cursed bloodline of the Kintu clan In this epic tale of fate, fortune and legacy, Jennifer Makumbi vibrantly brings to life this corner of Africa and this colourful family as she reimagines the history of Uganda through the cursed bloodline of the Kintu clan. The year is 1750. Kintu Kidda sets out for the capital to pledge allegiance to the new leader of the Buganda kingdom. Along the way he unleashes a curse that will plague his family for generations. Blending oral tradition, myth, folktale and history, Makumbi weaves together the stories of Kintu’s descendants as they seek to break free from the burden of their past to produce a majestic tale of clan and country – a modern classic.Trade Review'It seethes with energy and teems with memorable characters.' * Sunday Times, Best Books of the Year *‘Kintu is an important book. It is also a very good one...inventive in scope, masterful in execution, [Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi] does for Ugandan literature what Chinua Achebe did for Nigerian writing.’ * Guardian *‘Ugandan literature can boast of an international superstar in Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, whose debut novel Kintu is a multi-generational saga that ties oral myth to a recognisable present.’ * Economist *‘A highly ambitious, dense and tightly written narrative… Makumbi succeeds in making us feel the emotional importance of uncovering family history. Often faced with agonisingly difficult legacies and situations, her characters don’t just want but need explanations.’ * Times Literary Supplement *‘Immediately engaging…as gruelling vignettes of gender injustice jostle with hallucinatory dream sequences.’ * Observer *‘Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi's Kintu has been called a Ugandan One Hundred Years of Solitude.’ * Salman Rushdie, New York Times *‘Kintu is a triumph of east African literature and one that delights in the pliant nature of storytelling itself, the ways in which family lore is passed down and the impact of variations on it... This rich drama examines the power of such legacies, and the potential for even the most far-flung, estranged families to unite in the face of ages-old evil.’ * Financial Times *‘Epic both in intention and execution, Kintu contains a vast number of characters, avenging ghosts and portentous visions...the final coming together of the entire Kintu clan, arrived at with precision and intricacy, makes for a satisfying and thoughtful denouement.’ * Spectator *'A Ugandan masterpiece that traces a family curse across the generations.' * TLS, 'Looking back: 2010-2019' *‘A soaring and sublime epic. One of those great stories that was just waiting to be told.’ * Marlon James, Man Booker Prize-winning author of A Brief History of Seven Killings *‘Kintu is an entertaining, engrossing, and, crucially, intimate read... an extraordinary novel that is unafraid and beautifully unashamed to examine Uganda’s rich culture. It is a novel that is proudly Ugandan; it is a novel that deserves to be widely read.’ * Irish Times *‘A family saga that reaches back into that country’s history with an assurance and readability that makes its historical depth feel light as water.’ * LA Review of Books *‘A multi-character epic that emphatically lives up to its ambition.’ * Sunday Times *'[Makumbi writes] with the assurance and wry omniscience of an easygoing deity...' * New York Times *‘The most important book to come out of Uganda for half a century.’ * Giles Foden, author of The Last King of Scotland *‘Magisterial…epic... The great Africanstein novel.’ * New York Review of Books *‘A great, big, roaring Ugandan epic.’ * Jackie Kay, Observer *‘I recommend Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi’s Kintu, a sprawling, striking epic...It reminded me of some of my favorite long novels from the past few years, including Marlon James’s A Brief History of Seven Killings, Eka Kurniawan’s Beauty Is a Wound, and Annie Proulx’s Barkskins.’ * Gabe Habash, author of Stephen Florida *‘With crisp details and precise prose, Makumbi draws us into the dynamic and vast world of Uganda – its rich history, its people’s intricate beliefs, and the collective weight of their steadfast customs.’ * World Literature Today *'Two books that immediately come to mind, in trying to make sense of Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi's ambitious new novel Kintu, are Christos Tsiolkas's The Slap and Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart... That said, the overwhelming scale and sweep of Makumbi's effort stands in dramatic contrast with these novels.' -- Randy Boyagoda * New Statesman *‘Kintu is a masterpiece, an absolute gem, the great Ugandan novel you didn't know you were waiting for.’ * The New Inquiry *‘Epic in every sense of the word.’ * Emerald Street *‘A lush and epic story.’ * Los Angeles Times *‘A masterpiece of cultural memory, Kintu is elegantly poised on the crossroads of tradition and modernity.’ * Publishers Weekly (Starred Review) *‘Impressive... Reminiscent of Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart, this work will appeal to lovers of African literature.’ * Library Journal (Starred Review) *‘Kintu got me through many a quiet evening... It’s an epic read, best taken at a steady pace, which begins in 1750 and culminates in the present day, simultaneously exploring the role of family bonds, ancestral legacies, and the state of modern Uganda. It deserves hefty British sales when it comes out here in January.’ * Michela Wrong, journalist and author *‘In this captivating multigenerational family saga, Makumbi has gifted us with an exquisite and powerful debut. Written in delightful prose, bold and ambitious, Kintu is easily one of the best novels I have read this year.’ * Chika Unigwe, author of On Black Sisters' Street *‘A bold, sweeping epic, ambitious and very well crafted. The kind of book you hope everyone will read.’ * Tendai Huchu, author of The Hairdresser of Harare *‘A work of bold imagination and clear talent.’ * Ellah Wakatama Allfrey, editor of Africa39 *‘This is an extraordinary novel about a family bound together by love, betrayal, and an age-old curse, told in gripping language that continually surprises. A literary triumph.’ * Maaza Mengiste, author of Beneath the Lion's Gaze *‘Makumbi takes a sniper’s aim at the themes of virility and power across time. Over the course of six rich sections, she fires not a single gratuitous shot.’ * Public Books *‘Powerful, vibrant and deeply engrossing, this is a thoroughly rewarding read – and we’re sure, a worthy new entry to the African literature canon.’ * Pride *‘Passionate, original, and sharply observed... This critically acclaimed modern classic is expansive in its scope and range. A bold and multilayered novel which is at once Uganda’s national narrative as well as a compelling tale of family and blood ties.’ * Book Riot *‘History in the form of an unrelenting curse pervades the present in this epic novel that questions if we can ever fully recover from the wounds of the past.’ * Bookbag *‘Makumbi’s characters are compelling as individuals, but it is their shared past and journey toward a shared future that elevate the novel to an epic and enigmatic masterpiece.’ * The Riveter *‘Some authors set the bar high with their debut work. Then there are authors like Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi whose first novel succeeds on such a stratospheric level it’s nearly impossible to imagine – or wait for – what she’ll write next.’ * Iowa Gazette *‘Kintu is by far my favorite book of the year (perhaps of the past several)…absolutely unforgettable.’ * BookBrowse *‘Makumbi is clearly a creative genius.’ * Tope Salaudeen-Adegoke, Wawa Book Review *‘An ambitious modern epic that takes in family saga and the history of Uganda, fusing the urgency of the present with the timelessness of myth.’ * Jamal Mahjoub, author of The Drift Latitudes *‘Kintu is not just the story of a family, but a story of Uganda, a country whose history begins before colonization and encompasses far more than just that chapter.’ * Mary Pappalardo, New Delta Review *‘Our histories and our names have stories that we cannot afford to keep quiet about.’ * Nyana Kakoma, Africa In Words *‘Postcolonial literature is often thought of as a conversation between a native culture and a Western power that sought to dominate it... Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi’s marvellous Ugandan epic, Kintu, explodes such chauvinism.’ * Guernica *‘Jennifer Makumbi’s Kintu is a charming fable, a wide-ranging historical fiction, and a critical historiography...fresh, intelligent, critical, and ambitious.’ * Bookwitty *
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Boxen Childhood Chronicles Before Narnia
Book SynopsisThe lost tales of Animal-land', written and illustrated by C.S. Lewis and his brother Warnie, which they developed into the chronicles of the kingdom of Boxen, newly published to mark the centenary of the first story.Half a century before the publication of The Chronicles of Narnia, C.S. Lewis created another imaginary world. The tales of Animal-land' which eight-year-old Jack (as his family knew him) had shared with his brother Warnie developed into the chronicles of the kingdom of Boxen. In a succession of stories over the next few years, the young Lewis explored its history, geography and the colourful exploits of its inhabitants in vivid detail, writing the last of the papers, his Encyclopedia Boxoniana, in April 1928.This new landmark edition marks the centenary of the very first Boxen manuscript. Here are all the stories, some never before seen, sensitively edited and arranged to make the most of the fabulous and inventive fantasy while retaining all the vigour of a child's imagiTrade Review‘These works share with the Narnian stories a remarkable scale of invention, brilliant storytelling and characterisation.’ The Times ‘Allows free admission into an elaborate invented world … A shrewd, witty and lively read.’ British Book News
£9.49
New Island Books Irish Myths and Legends: Gods and Fighting Men
Book SynopsisLady Augusta Gregory’s Irish Myths and Legends, or Gods and Fighting Men as it was first titled in 1904, is an essential collection of Irish myths, legends and folk tales gathered by Gregory from Irish oral story tellers at the close of the nineteenth century. These epic tales are divided into two parts: the first charts the coming of the mythic Tuatha De Danaan to Ireland, the lives of Manannan and Lugh, and the tragedy of the Children of Lir. The second part follows the exploits and trials of Finn Mac Cumhal, the Fianna, Oisin, and the love story of Diarmuid and Grania. This is a timeless collection of Irish myths and legends - whimsical, tragic, astounding and ever familiar - borne through the centuries, and an essential part of Ireland's literary heritage.
£17.99
HarperCollins India The Immortals Of Meluha (Shiva Trilogy Book 1)
Book Synopsis
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers Tales from the Perilous Realm
Book SynopsisAvailable for the first time in one volume, this is the definitive collection of Tolkien's five acclaimed modern classic 'fairie' tales in the vein of 'The Hobbit'.Trade ReviewRoverandom:‘An old-fashioned story, yet it still speaks freshly today… would leap to life when read aloud to a child’ Independent Farmer Giles of Ham:‘A fabulous tale of the days when giants and dragons walked the kingdom’ Sunday Times Leaf by Niggle:‘A haunting and successful demonstration of the qualities of faerie’ New York Times The Adventures of Tom Bombadil:‘Something close to genius’ The Listener Smith of Wootton Major:‘Whoever reads it at eight will no doubt still be going back to it at eighty’ New Statesman
£56.25
HarperCollins Publishers A Fairytale for Everyone The inclusive childrens
Book SynopsisThe inclusive LGBTQ+ fairytalecollection that has grabbed headlines across the world!Powerful princesses that slay giants,and beautiful princes that find true love.Heroes come in all shapes and sizes in these tales of old and new.Celebrating a multitude of ethnicities, genders and sexualities, this sparkling collection of 17 short stories takes new and familiar fairy tales and reimagines them in contemporary and inclusive light.The collection was originally published in Hungary,where the inclusion of LGBTQ+ characters sparked political controversy. It quickly became an important symbol in the fight for equality and against discrimination in Hungary and enjoyed a vast wave of support both within and outside the country.I wish I could have read this book when I was a child. Sir Ian McKellenA Fairytale For Everyone is the winner of an English PEN Translates Award.
£13.49
Quercus Publishing The Greek Myths: Stories of the Greek Gods and
Book SynopsisThe Greek Myths contains some of the most thrilling, romantic and unforgettable stories in all human history. From Achilles rampant on the fields of Troy, to the gods at sport on Mount Olympus, from Icarus flying too close to the sun, to the superhuman feats of Heracles, Theseus and the wily Odysseus, these timeless tales exert a fascination and inspiration that have endured for millennia. There are few people as steeped in the Ancient World as Robin and Kathryn Waterfield, and in their hands the heroism, humour, mystery, sensuality and brutality of the Greek Myths are brought brilliantly to life.Trade Review'A magnificent new book which explains and retells some of the most thrilling stories in human history' Lancashire Evening Post. * Lancashire Evening Post *Table of ContentsGenealogies. Introduction. HOPE FOR HUMANKIND: The Population of the Earth. THE ASCENT OF THE OLYMPIAN GODS: In the Beginning. War against the Titans. War against the Giants. Zeus and His Brothers. THE GODS OF OLYMPUS: Zeus the King. Hera. Hestia. Demeter. Aphrodite. Ares. Hephaestus. Athena. Apollo. Artemis. Hermes. Dionysus. THE AGE OF HEROES: The Flood. The Line of Deucalion. The Argonauts and the Golden Fleece. The Calydonian Boar Hunt. Io and the Danaids. Perseus and the Gorgon. Bellerophon. THEBES IN THE AGE OF HEROES: Cadmus, Europa, and the Foundation of Thebes. Oedipus. The Seven against Thebes. MYCENAE IN THE AGE OF HEROES: The Curse of the House of Atreus. Atreus and Thyestes. The End of the Atreid Curse. ATHENS IN THE AGE OF HEROES: The First Athenian Kings. The Labours of Theseus. Theseus and the Minotaur. King Theseus. HERACLES: The Birth of Heracles. The Twelve Labours of Heracles. Heracles the King-Maker. Heracles Becomes a God. THE TROJAN WAR: The Marriage of Peleus and Thetis. The Judgement of Paris. The Abduction of Helen. The Greeks Prepare for War. The Greek Landing. Achilles Withdraws. Agamemnon's Dream. Menelaus and Paris. Diomedes' Day of Glory. Hector Triumphant. Envoys and Spies. The Assault on the Ships. The Deception of Zeus. The Death of Patroclus. The Return of Achilles. The Death of Hector. Two Funerals. The Death of Achilles. The Wooden Horse. The Fall of Troy. ODYSSEUS' RETURN: Trouble on Ithaca. Telemachus' Journey. Odysseus on Scheria. The Cyclops Polyphemus. Aeolus, the Laestrygonians, and Circe. The Underworld. Dangers at Sea. The Cattle of the Sun. Odysseus Reaches Ithaca. At the Swineherd's Hut. In the Palace. Penelope Meets the Beggar. Vengeance. Reunion. THE END OF HOPE: Pandora. Select Bibliography. Index of Names and Places. Index of Subjects.
£9.74
HarperCollins Publishers The Liars Key
Book SynopsisFrom the critically-acclaimed author of PRINCE OF FOOLS comes the second volume of the brilliant new epic fantasy series, THE RED QUEEN'S WAR.''If you like dark you will love Mark Lawrence. And when the light breaks through and it all makes sense, the contrast is gorgeous'' ROBIN HOBBThe Red Queen has set her players on the boardWinter is keeping Prince Jalan Kendeth far from the luxuries of his southern palace. And although the North may be home to his companion, the warrior Snorri ver Snagason, he is just as eager to leave.For the Viking is ready to challenge all of Hel to bring his wife and children back into the living world. He has Loki's key now all he needs is to find the door.As all wait for the ice to unlock its jaws, the Dead King plots to claim what was so nearly his the key into the world so that the dead can rise and rule.Trade Review‘There are special rewards in store here for readers of the Broken Empire series. Highly recommended’ ROBIN HOBB ‘Marks an unbroken and steady ascent to the top of my favourite-fantasy pile. Lawrence gets better with each book he writes’ MYKE COLE ‘Reminds me of when I first discovered Gemmell and Hobb and I can't wait for the next instalment’ DAVID CHADWICK ‘The brisk adventure and black magic will leave readers eager for the next chapter in the series’ Publisher’s Weekly ‘Lawrence improves with every book he writes and if he keeps on like this, we may have to turn the ratings system up to eleven. Magnificent, and highly recommended’ Starburst Magazine ‘Mark Lawrence should be commended on another excellent book of The Red Queen’s War trilogy that gives enough information to make the reader want more’ Impulse Gamer ‘The dialogue is a humorous, frightening lullaby that flawlessly depicts this dark, disturbing universe and its meticulously constructed characters, both friends and fiends’ RT Book Reviews
£10.44
Hot Key Books Robin Hood 2 Piracy Paintballs Zebras Robert
Book SynopsisRobin and Marion are back! Second in the brand-new, action-packed series from international bestseller Robert Muchamore. 'Strikes the bullseye.' - The TimesTrade Review'This is classic Muchamore: witty characters, clever twists and high-tech gadgetry. This scores a bullseye.' - The Daily Mail'Muchamore's writing aims for thrills and laughs...[he] writes with tremendous energy and his dialogue flies as fast as Robin's arrows... A new series that strikes the bullseye.' - Children's Book of the Week, The Times 'This high-octane, rip-roaring escapist reimagining from the author of the cult CHERUB series serves up a 12-year-old Robin flush with hacking skills, quick wits and a carbon-fibre recurve bow...Intensely readable, outrageously enjoyable action.' - The Guardian 'Compulsively readable...Meticulously researched feats of action and breathtaking heists.' - TLS'His latest series, which brings Robin Hood into the 21st century, with Robin as a 12-year-old on the run, looks set to be another adrenaline-filled ride' - The I Newspaper'A dystopian take on the old myth that will be gulped down like firescorched meats.' - The New Statesman 'For action and adrenaline look no further...sure to be relished by thrillseekers of 11 and up' - The Observer 'Exhilarating and unpredictable, the first adventure in this new series is sure to leave readers desperate for the next instalment.' - BookTrust 'punchy and contemporary' - The Bookseller 'In these testing times, we could all do with a dose of escapism and wish-fulfilment, and Robert Muchamore delivers magnificently in his new adventure, particularly if you happen to be a ten-year old boy.... Muchamore knows just how to keep the pages turning and this is the first in a series that promises quiverfulls of action and entertainment.' - Books for Keeps'This is a modern day telling of the tale of the band of brothers who steal from the rich to give to the poor, and it is told brilliantly. This is the start of another great series for ages 11 upwards.' - Angels and Urchins
£7.59
HarperCollins Publishers Song of Silver Flame Like Night
Book SynopsisIn a fallen kingdom, one girl carries the key to discovering the secrets of her nation''s past and unleashing the demons that sleep at its heart. An epic new fantasy duology inspired by Chinese mythology.Once, Lan had a different name. Now, she goes by the one the Elantian colonizers gave her. She spends her days scavenging for remnants of the past. For anything that might help her understand the strange mark burned into her arm by her mother, in her last act before she died.No one can see the mysterious mark until the night Zen appears at the teahouse and saves her life.Zen is a practitioner, one of the fabled magicians of the Last Kingdom, whose abilities were rumoured to be drawn from the demons they communed with. Magic believed to be long lost. Magic to be hidden at all costs.Both Lan and Zen have secrets buried deep within. Fate has connected them, but their destiny remains unwritten. Both hold the power to liberate their land. And both hold the power to destroy the world.A ferTrade Review‘Devastatingly gorgeous. From the bustling, conquered port city to the mysterious school waiting in the mountains, each page of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night unfolds with a deliberate, skilled hand. Amélie Wen Zhao writes with a direct line to my heart’ Chloe Gong, #1 New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights “A gloriously rendered tale of power and what we’ll do to protect. Zhao serves the action, stunning visuals, and philosophical underpinnings of the xianxia genre in high style. Perfect for fans of The Untamed. I loved it!” —Shelley Parker-Chan, #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of She Who Became the Sun ‘Lyrical and richly imagined, Song of Silver, Flame Like Night brims with pure magic. Zhao has woven together a story of self-discovery, slow-burning romance, and heart-pounding revelations. I was swept away from the first page!’ Rebecca Ross, internationally bestselling author of A River Enchanted ‘Zhao weaves, within the pages of Song of Silver, Flame Like Night, an epic, masterfully rendered tale of reckoning and heritage that draws its readers into a world as rich as it is nuanced, and as intriguing as it is magical’ Ayana Gray, New York Times bestselling author of Beasts of Prey ‘Gorgeous, evocative, and thrilling, Song of Silver, Flame Like Night completely entranced me. The combination of the lush prose, intricate world building, and an utterly compelling plot kept me gripped from the very first page to the last. This is a delicious, decadent feast of a book full of magic, romance, and vengeance. I absolutely loved it’ Katherine Webber, author of Twin Crowns
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Japanese Ghost Stories
Book SynopsisThe dead wreak revenge on the living, paintings come alive, spectral brides possess mortal men and a priest devours human flesh in these chilling Japanese ghost stories retold by a master of the supernatural. Lafcadio Hearn drew on the phantoms and ghouls of traditional Japanese folklore - including the headless 'rokuro-kubi', the monstrous goblins 'jikininki' or the faceless 'mujina' who stalk lonely neighbourhoods - and infused them with his own memories of his haunted childhood in nineteenth-century Ireland to create these terrifying tales of striking and eerie power. Today they are regarded in Japan as classics in their own right. Edited with an introduction by Paul MurrayTrade ReviewThe particular value of Murray's collection is that it leads us in chronological order through a much greater breadth of Hearn's writings on the supernatural in Japan, with ghostly tales selected from 11 of his books ... This book insightfully shows how Hearn filtered Japanese ghostly originals through the prism of his own expansive imagination and traumatized experience to create works that were distinctly, and chillingly, his own * Japan Times *What makes these stories, preserved from ancient times, especially readable today is the preternaturally postmodern form they are given in Hearn's deeply idiosyncratic telling * New Yorker *The overarching mood is of wonder . . . the stories occupy the reverie world our mind projects onto the backs of our eyelids, where the ordinary mingles with the supernatural * The Wall Street Journal *An extraordinary author . . . Paul Murray, a former Irish diplomat, has been hooked since a 1970s posting in Japan. His Penguin compilation includes 34 selections, a chronology of Hearn's peripatetic life, some intriguing background information about the sources of the stories, and a number of evocative woodblock prints. Murray's introduction is exceptionally useful to contextualize the man and his oeuvre, tracing the powerful influence of Irish folktales and ghost stories on Hearn's take on Japanese counterparts * Los Angeles Review of Books *
£9.49
Atlantic Books And Then She Fell
Book Synopsis'Mesmeric, intoxicatingly original' Hannah Kent, bestselling author of Burial Rites'Haunting and surreal... With its sharp wit and beautiful writing, this book had me flying through the pages.' Ana Reyes, New York Times bestselling author of The House in the Pines'A towering achievement, stunningly good storytelling.' Melissa Lucashenko, Miles Franklin Award winning author of Too Much LipOn the surface, Alice is exactly where she should be in life: she's just given birth to a beautiful baby girl; her ever-charming husband - an academic whose area of study is conveniently her own Mohawk culture - is nothing but supportive; and they've moved into a home in a wealthy neighbourhood. But strange things have started happening. Alice finds herself hearing voices she can't explain and speaking with things that should not be talking back to her, all while her neighbours' passive aggression begins to morph into something far more threatening... Told in Alice's raw and darkly funny voice, and infused with Native American myth and legend, And Then She Fell is a wild, fierce novel.Trade ReviewAlice and her husband have woven a lattice pattern of silence and secrets that slowly implodes in this fierce, remarkable debut. Elliott's meticulous prose is an agile portal through the narrator's complex inner life, the tensions, and fractures that surface when the trappings of success hide the weight of intergenerational trauma, racism, sexism, and the unwieldy expectations of Motherhood. And Then She Fell saves us from devastation by the grace it shows its characters and, ultimately, by the strength of their connections. -- Eden Robinson * Eden Robinson, bestselling author of RETURN OF THE TRICKSTER *And Then She Fell is an unblinking look at the complex and often terrifying journey of new motherhood and what we're told we should want, with moving insights into connecting with our ancestors and our own identity. Alicia Elliott is a powerful storyteller, and this book is both suspenseful and heartfelt, with haunting elements that linger long after the final page is turned. -- Vanessa Lillie, bestselling author of LITTLE VOICE and BLOOD SISTERSA towering achievement, stunningly good storytelling. -- Melissa Lucashenko, Miles Franklin Award winning author of TOO MUCH LIP * Melissa Lucashenko *And Then She Fell is an incredible and indelible novel. It's full of wonder and surprise, full of life and heart. This book is a gift that breathes life into the reader. Alicia Elliott has given us a knockout - a book so good you can't put it down. -- Morgan Talty, bestselling author of NIGHT OF THE LIVING REZI could not put this book down. And Then She Fell is one of the most mesmeric, intoxicatingly original novels I have read in recent years, with a central character I will carry with me for a very long time. -- Hannah KentFamiliar and ethereal. Brutal and beautiful. And Then She Fell is the fulfilment of the promise of Alicia Elliott 's storytelling prowess. . . . A soundtrack for the gorgeous nightmare that is both motherhood and belonging in and of itself, stitched together by the depths only grief and love can hook together. The Naked Lunch meets Rosemary's Baby . . . and shot together with the golden humour and philosophy of Haudenosaunee story like an intimate lifeline, And Then She Fell is remarkable, and a world unto itself. What an accomplishment. What a gift. -- Cherie Dimaline, author of ThE MARROW THIEVES and VENCOAnd Then She Fell is a stunning, propulsive novel that complexly folds generational love and mental health into a story about relationships: the ones we have with our ancestors, our family and friends, and ourselves. Through Alice's strong and unforgettable voice, Alicia Elliott highlights the macro and micro aggressions, gaslighting, and violence that Indigenous women often face from white people, even the ones who claim to love us. I laughed, cried, and rooted for the women in these pages. For their unending love for each other in every timeline of life, and for the ways in which they continue to choose each other in spite of trauma, disorder, and colonial forces who hope they don't. I'm so happy that a novel like this exists, and I am excited to see the future of writing that this work inspires. And Then She Fell is a triumph of a debut. -- Jessica Johns, author of BAD CREEAnd Then She Fell is an unblinking look at the complex and often terrifying journey of new motherhood and what we're told we should want, with moving insights into connecting with our ancestors and our own identity. Alicia Elliott is a powerful storyteller, and this book is both suspenseful and heartfelt, with haunting elements that linger long after the final page is turned. -- Vanessa Lillie, bestselling author of LITTLE VOICES and BLOOD SISTERSHaunting and surreal, And Then She Fell had me questioning reality alongside Alice as she grappled with motherhood, being a writer, a wife, and feeling like an outsider in her own life. With its sharp wit and beautiful writing, this book had me flying through the pages. -- Ana Reyes, New York Times bestselling author of THE HOUSE IN THE PINESAnd Then She Fell is an outstanding debut novel by an eminent literary voice. Alicia Elliott's thorough and thoughtful examination of motherhood, intergenerational trauma, and modern Indigenous realities is a caring salve for Indigenous readers and an important enlightenment for others. I loved its profound exploration of the spaces we navigate as Indigenous peoples - from the rez to the city and beyond - and I greatly appreciated the depth of humanity with which Elliott was able to portray her rez characters. This novel is a triumph of Indigenous truths and experiences. -- Waubgeshig Rice, author of MOON OF THE CRUSTED SNOW and MOON OF THE TURNING LEAVESAnd Then She Fell is at once engrossing and profound, terrifying and empathetic. Like The Bell Jar, it sheds new light on the trope of the mad woman, laying bare the million blows it takes to leave a person unhinged. * The Walrus *
£16.14
Brer Anancy Press Brer Anancy and Brer Duck: A Duck's Dream
Book Synopsis
£10.98
HarperCollins Publishers Midnight in Everwood
Book SynopsisA glittering rush of sugar-sweet enchantment' Stephanie Garber, Sunday Times bestselling author of A Curse for True LoveIn the darkness of night, magic awaitsNottingham, 1906Marietta Stelle longs to be a ballerina but, as Christmas draws nearer, her dancing days are numbered she must marry and take up her place in society in the New Year. But, when a mysterious toymaker, Dr Drosselmeier, purchases a neighbouring townhouse, it heralds the arrival of magic and wonder in Marietta's life.After Drosselmeier constructs an elaborate theatrical set for her final ballet performance on Christmas Eve, Marietta discovers it carries a magic all of its own a magic darker than anyone could imagine. As the clock chimes midnight, Marietta finds herself transported from her family's ballroom to a frozen sugar palace, silent with secrets, in a forest of snow-topped fir trees. She must find a way to return home before she's trapped in Everwood's enchanting grip forever.In the darkness of night, magic awaits and you will never forget what you find hereTropes:?? Finding the magic of Christmas?? True love?? Festive fun!Your favourite authors have fallen under the magical spell of Midnight in Everwood:The perfect winter fairy tale' Sarah Morgan, The Christmas EscapeA deliciously dark retelling of The Nutcracker' Jennifer Saint, AtalantaSumptuous and spellbinding' Heidi Swain, Underneath the Christmas TreeBeautifully spun and wildly imagined' Cari Thomas, ThreadneedleEnchanting! The perfect Christmas treat' Veronica Henry, Christmas at the Beach HutReaders LOVE Midnight in Everwood:Transported me to a magical world' ??????????A great winter read' ??????????A story in which you can lose yourself' ??????????I was drawn into this book from the very first page' ??????????A must-read for the Christmas season' ??????????Enchanting and full of wonderful adventure' ??????????Will sweep you off your feet' ??????????A fairy tale for grown-ups and absolutely perfect for Christmas' ??????????Trade Review Praise for Midnight in Everwood: ‘Perfect autumnal reading in this enchanting and fantastical retelling of The Nutcracker. A show-stopping book’ Woman & Home ‘A glittering rush of sugar-sweet enchantment laced with sparkling prose and bewitching storytelling. Beware of entering this magnificent world; Everwood will dazzle and seduce you and then steal you away’ Stephanie Garber, Sunday Times bestselling author of Once Upon A Broken Heart ‘An absolute dream of a read. A magical, enchanting retelling of The Nutcracker’ LoveReading, Book of the Month ‘Magical and evocative, the perfect winter fairy tale’ Sarah Morgan, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Christmas Escape ‘This retelling of The Nutcracker will transport you to a fairy tale world where magic happens’ Good Housekeeping ‘The perfect Christmas treat, with every word a jewel. You will fall under its spell from the first page to the last. Enchanting’ Veronica Henry, Sunday Times bestselling author of Christmas at the Beach Hut ‘A sumptuous and spellbinding read’ Heidi Swain, Sunday Times bestselling author of Underneath the Christmas Tree ‘Deliciously dangerous and darkly enchanting’ Sophie Anderson, The Girl Who Speaks Bear ‘I ADORED this adult retelling of The Nutcracker. A lyrical winter fairy tale full of snow, magic and whimsy. So beautifully written – every page was a delight’ Alex Bell, The Winter Garden ‘Whisks us away in its sugar spun dance of enchantment. For fans of The Night Circus, as delicious as its sweetest confection, it’s a real delight’ Nydia Hetherington, A Girl Made of Air ‘A magical and dark story told like a beautiful fairy tale’ Fabulous ‘A quintessential Christmas read’ Culturefly
£8.54
