Morale in the country of Oasis has never been worse. The Earthers, a tree-hugging sect, fall on their knees at the name of the Earth Mother and beg forgiveness for their crimes against twigs and weeds. The Godlies preach penitence, suffering, and stifling self-righteousness and inspire their followers into submission with terrifying images of an afterlife spent being chased by a fire-breathing dragon.Most Oasans are more concerned about this life. They all fear the dragon in the swamp at the country's edge, but they don't know that he fears them, too. Druid, whose greatest talent is for putting out fires, steams up when he learns that a cunning opportunist intends to exploit dragonphobia and call for a communal dragon hunt so that he can level the swamp for suburban housing.Tara, a kitten with charisma, becomes Druid's ally. She'll need all her charm to enchant Serazina. This young human woman hides her ability to read emotions in order to avoid a stay in the Ward for the Chronically Crazy. Serazina gets into greater trouble when Phileas, Guardian of the troubled land, discovers that she can read minds, too, and targets her to be the mother of the heir he so badly needs.Phileas has more immediate problems. The would-be real estate mogul is spreading rumors that the Guardian is soft on dragons. His follow-up plan involves assassination. Dead dragons, dead Guardians: It's all one to a megalomaniac who dreams of domination.Somehow these four must overcome communication difficulties, mutual mistrust, and delusions of human superiority to save the country. Otherwise, even though Druid doesn't breathe fire, Oasis will be toast.From the Book:Orion stood on a ridge overlooking the city. As he swayed, exhausted and hungry, the threads of its winding, dirty streets seemed to tighten around his neck in a noose that limited both breath and freedom.His sister, Sekhmet, nuzzled him with her black nose. Lost in thought?Wishing you’d waited a year or so to haul me away from the good life.We thought we’d better get on the road before you wore out your equipment, Mr. Tomcat Stud.Orion’s other sister, Bast, trotted toward them, her white fur gleaming in starlight. We’ve come to the right place. The pull is strong.Praise the Many-Taloned One, Sekhmet said. My paws are killing me.The lights of the city flickered in eye-burning imitation of the starry sky. It’s not going to be easy, Orion said. The smell alone makes me gag. It’s not just the physical stench, but also the foul odor of self-righteousness and fear. And some of the fear is mine. I’ve never failed before.Big Dragons Don't Cry highlights the separation between humans and the rest of life that allows ecological disasters to unfold.I used the medium of fantasy to imagine new possibilities:What would the world be like if humans and animals understood and respected each other?What could humans learn if we no longer saw ourselves as apart from nature but entered wholeheartedly into the dance of life? We might trip over our feet at first, but practice makes improvement.

One pint sized human female who’s had too much to drink, not enough sleep, and absolutely no patience meets one stubborn dragon shifter with an attitude. Bastian claims Acasia, his unwilling bride, after she spends the night carousing with friends. She’s not happy, he’s pissed off, and with a curse from a goddess thrown in, you’ll see Bastian breathe fire. Add secrets, treasure, and unimaginable heartbreak for an emotionally humorous read and discover why Dragons Don’t Cry. A fairy tale for adults - 17+readers

An illustrated picture book for children dealing with grief, showing that although loss is hard and real, together we can move through it to find joy and hope again. When a young boy unexpectedly loses his mother, an invisible dragon swoops in and perches on top of his head. The boy wants the dragon to go away, but the dragon has plans of its own. It follows him to school, sleeps on his chest at night, and even crashes his birthday party. Yet as the boy comes to terms with his loss, his relationship with the dragon changes in surprising ways. My Big, Dumb, Invisible Dragon is an important book for children dealing with loss. Whether it is the death of a parent or loved one, divorce, a move, illness, or losing a friendship, this story shows children that loss is real and hard, but we can move through it. Young readers learn that healing takes time, and that it’s okay to experience a range of emotions when processing a really big loss. Filled with poignant yet playful illustrations and touches of humor, the book tackles a weighty subject in an easy and approachable way. For any child who’s lost someone they love, My Big, Dumb, Invisible Dragon is a tale of healing and hope.

On a mythical island alone in the vast sea, there lived dragons. These mystical beings lived alone in peace until a vicious lone dragon arrived to their island, took over and enslaved them all. It's not until the bravery of a young dragon, Midnight, who finds the strength within to try and defeat the evil dragon and save the last of the dragons.

Long Yi, was originally just an ordinary student of Ling Feng Saint Emperor's Academy in Gesun City of China! He had an extremely ordinary family background and extremely ordinary strength! He had been dependent on his mother since he was young! However, once again, he inadvertently found out a secret that he could not believe! All along, his mother had disguised herself, but he was actually the undying legendary figure of Earth, the son of the Ling Feng Saint Emperor — Yun Zhi! From then on, an interstellar journey that transcended time and space to search for the miracle of the Great Father began ...

Critter wrangler rule #2: When scary things run away, something scarier is coming. Someone is killing dragons. And the killings point to a civil war brewing among the fae. When Kyra Greene finds an abandoned baby dragon, she doesn't want to bring him home. But until she can hunt down his thunder and stop the dragon killers, she's on babysitting duty. As a pest controller with a soft heart, Kyra already has an apartment full of rescues, including a basilisk who thinks he's a turkey, a banshee nanny, and even a pygmy kraken. She might take care of them, but they also fill her need for family. And when that family is threatened, she'll risk everything to save them. She'll even join forces with the handsome and irritating captain of the city's vigilante Guardians, who never fails to show up at her most undignified moments. Along with a quirky cast of misfits and unruly critters, Kyra leaves the safety of Montreal Ward and travels through the dangerous Inbetween-the land beyond the protected city states, where magic is the only rule of law. Can she reunite the lost dragon with his thunder and stop a new and sinister force from invading their home? Dragons Don't Eat Meat is the first book in the Valkyrie Bestiary paranormal suspense series. If you're looking for a laugh-out-loud adventure, delightfully evil critters, and a slow-burn romance, you'll love this page-turning series by Kim McDougall.

Over the last decade China has undergone a transformation. After the dark days of the Cultural Revolution, it has emerged as one of the twenty-first century's most powerful economies, with millions of citizens now entering the middle class. Yet, despite these rapid changes, China's human rights record remains abysmal, and a heavy shroud of secrecy protects the one-party system from accountability. In In the Shadow of the Rising Dragon, Chinese citizens from all walks of life share their stories of brutality and oppression. While inconceivable in the West, public beatings, grueling official questioning, unexplained detentions, and house arrest have become common-place occurrences, requiring only a minor infraction to set into motion. Those that dare to push the boundaries of the totalitarian regime, including one essayist's visit to the human rights activist Chen Guangcheng, are sentenced to life-long imprisonment, subjected to physical and psychological torture, and, frighteningly, made to "disappear." What emerges is a pattern of harassment directed, not at opposition figures, but ordinary citizens who live in crippling uncertainty of their future. Edited by two Chinese scholars, both of whom have experienced surveillance, control, abduction, and detention, this is a probing and revealing look at life under the police state of the world's most populous country.

The Big Book of Fairytales & Fantasy Classics' draws together an impressive array of narratives, weaving a rich tapestry of magic, whimsy, and profound insight. This collection is marked by its diversity, showcasing a range of literary styles from the Victorian enchanted forests to the daring adventures of the early 20th century. It is a seminal anthology that brings to light the profound impact these genres have had on the literary landscape, featuring works that have captivated readers' imaginations for generations. The anthology, without focusing on individual authors, highlights significant contributions that have become benchmarks of the fantasy and fairytale genres. The contributing authors, including luminaries such as Lewis Carroll and Hans Christian Andersen, bring a wealth of background that spans continents and centuries. Collectively, they represent pivotal movements in literature, from Romanticism to the nascent steps of Modernism, embedding their tales with cultural and moral complexities that resonate well beyond their immediate context. Their collective contributions underscore the enduring relevance and adaptability of fairy tales and fantasy, reflecting both the universality and the unique cultural heritage of these stories. 'The Big Book of Fairytales & Fantasy Classics' is an indispensable volume for anyone looking to explore the depth and breadth of imaginative storytelling. It offers readers a unique opportunity to dive into a confluence of narrative richness and diversity, challenging and delighting in equal measure. This anthology serves not just as a testament to the power of fantasy and fairytales to speak across generations but also as a vibrant conversation between some of the most influential voices in literary history. For scholars, enthusiasts, and casual readers alike, this collection promises an enriching journey through the realms of the extraordinary, fostering a deeper appreciation for the art of storytelling.

Musaicum Books presents to you collection of fairy tales, formatted to the highest digital standards and adjusted for readability on all devices. Table of Contents: Complete Fairy Tales of Hans Christian Andersen Complete Fairy Tales of Brothers Grimm Complete Fairy Books of Andrew Lang Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens (J. M. Barrie) Peter and Wendy (J. M. Barrie) Five Children and It (E. Nesbit) The Phoenix and the Carpet (E. Nesbit) The Story of the Amulet (E. Nesbit) The Enchanted Castle (E. Nesbit) Alice in Wonderland (Lewis Carroll) Through the Looking Glass (Lewis Carroll) The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Collection (L. Frank Baum): The Wonderful Wizard of Oz The Marvelous Land of Oz The Woggle-Bug Book Ozma of Oz Dorothy and the Wizard in Oz The Road to Oz The Emerald City of Oz The Patchwork Girl of Oz Little Wizard Stories of Oz Tik-Tok of Oz The Scarecrow of Oz Rinkitink in Oz The Lost Princess of Oz The Tin Woodman of Oz The Magic of Oz Glinda of Oz At the Back of the North Wind (George MacDonald) The Princess and the Goblin (George MacDonald) The Princess and Curdie (George MacDonald) Wonder Book (Nathaniel Hawthorne) Tanglewood Tales (Nathaniel Hawthorne) The Happy Prince and Other Tales (Oscar Wilde) A House of Pomegranates (Oscar Wilde) All the Way to Fairyland (Evelyn Sharp) The Blue Bird for Children (Maurice Maeterlinck and Georgette Leblanc) The King of the Golden River (John Ruskin) Rootabaga Stories (Carl Sandburg) Knock Three Times! (Marion St. John Webb) The Cuckoo Clock (Mary Louisa Molesworth) Friendly Fairies (Johnny Gruelle) Raggedy Ann Stories (Johnny Gruelle) Raggedy Andy Stories (Johnny Gruelle) Russian Fairy Tales From the Skazki of Polevoi Old Peter's Russian Tales