Four girls with the power to control the elements and save the world from a terrible evil must come together in the first epic novel in a brand-new series. When Phantoms--massive beasts made from nightmares and darkness--suddenly appeared and began terrorizing the world, four girls, the Effigies, each gained a unique power to control one of the classical elements: earth, air, fire, and water. Since then, four girls across the world have continually fought against the Phantoms, fulfilling their cosmic duty. And when one Effigy dies, another girl gains her power as a replacement. But now, with technologies in place to protect the world's major cities from Phantom attacks, the Effigies have stopped defending humanity and, instead, have become international celebrities, with their heroic feats ranked, televised, and talked about in online fandoms. Until the day that New York City's protection against the Phantoms fails, a man seems to be able to control them by sheer force of will, and Maia, a high school student, unexpectedly becomes the Fire Effigy. Now Maia has been thrown into battle with three girls who want nothing to do with one another. But with the first human villain that the girls have ever faced, and an army of Phantoms preparing for attack, there isn't much time for the Effigies to learn how to work together. Can the girls take control of their destinies before the world is destroyed forever?

From prizewinning journalist and immigration expert Alfredo Corchado comes the sweeping story of the great Mexican migration from the late 1980s to today. Homelands is the story of Mexican immigration to the United States over the last three decades. Written by Alfredo Corchado, one of the most prominent Mexican American journalists, it's told from the perspective of four friends who first meet in a Mexican restaurant in Philadelphia in 1987. One was a radical activist, another a restaurant/tequila entrepreneur, the third a lawyer/politician, and the fourth, Alfredo, a hungry young reporter for the Wall Street Journal. Over the course of thirty years, the four friends continued to meet, coming together to share stories of the turning points in their lives-the death of parents, the births of children, professional milestones, stories from their families north and south of the border. Using the lens of this intimate narrative of friendship, the book chronicles one of modern America's most profound transformations-during which Mexican Americans swelled to become our largest single minority, changing the color, economy, and culture of America itself. In 1970, the Mexican population was just 700,000 people, but despite the recent decline in Mexican immigration to the United States, the Mexican American population has now passed three million-a result of high birth rates here in the United States. In the wake of the nativist sentiment unleased in the recent election, Homelands will be a must-read for policy makers, activists, Mexican Americas, and all those wishing to truly understand the background of our ongoing immigration debate.

"The gripping prose in this memoir describes a young man, whose life deteriorates from a healthy fitness trainer to the sudden depths of being sick and bedridden with a mysterious illness for years. Jamison’s dedication to life, however fragile, and advocacy, however impossible, have brought out this incredible story of survival." —Stephanie Land, New York Times bestselling author of Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother's Will to Survive At age twenty-two, Jamison Hill was a fitness instructor and competitive bodybuilder who could lift more than four hundred pounds. Five years later, after surviving a tragic car accident that killed the other driver, a rare disease left Jamison bedridden and too weak to hold a water glass. He spent every day lying motionless in bed, his body paralyzed by pain and weakness, his mind hijacked by flashes of crunched metal, broken windshields, and exploding gas tanks. After months of being too sick to express himself, Jamison’s health began to improve along with his ability to tell his story. When Force Meets Fate is an unflinching exploration of the human condition, notably how our limitations and strengths shape our identities and how unexpected events can inevitably alter those perceptions. It’s a story of perseverance—of sheer will and unrelenting fight—but also of overcoming life’s toughest challenges through the power of vulnerability, and how freeing it can be to surrender to the unpredictability of circumstances out of our control.

One powerful witch. Three alpha bears determined to possess her. They would do anything to protect her--even if it means war. Keeva Vixen was a witch who had been promised to another against her will. Running away from a life she didn't want, she ended up in the sleepy bear town of Blackclaw. Everything she knew about soul mates flew out the door the minute she laid her eyes on the three hunky alphas.Their bears were drawn to the honeysuckle scent of the new witch in town. Her wide eyes, plump lips, and luscious curves were for them and only them. She belonged to them, and they would claim her. Fate had driven her to Blackclaw, and they would do anything to protect her. Keeva would have to face her past to have a future. With her three mates at her side, will they be able to defeat the enemy?

The first book of the #1 New York Times bestselling series and the inspiration for the hit movie from Dreamworks! John Smith seems like an ordinary teenager, living a normal life with his guardian Henri in Paradise, Ohio. But for John, keeping a low profile is essential, because he is not an ordinary teenager. He’s an alien from the planet Lorien, and he’s on the run. A group of evil aliens from the planet Mogadore, who destroyed his world, are hunting anyone who escaped. Nine Loric children were sent to Earth to live in hiding until they grew up and developed their Legacies, powers that would help them fight back—and help them save us. Three of them are now dead. John is Number Four, and he knows he’s next…. Michael Bay, director of Transformers, raved: “Number Four is a hero for this generation.” This epic story is perfect for fans of action-packed science fiction like The 5th Wave series by Rick Yancey, The Maze Runner series by James Dashner, and Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game. The battle for Earth’s survival wages on. Read all of the books: #2: The Power of Six, #3: The Rise of Nine, #4: The Fall of Five, #5: The Revenge of Seven, #6: The Fate of Ten, and #7: United as One. Don’t miss the first book in the brand-new I Am Number Four spin-off series: Generation One.

Unpacking of the dynamics of conflict under conditions of nuclear monopoly, Paul C. Avey argues in Tempting Fate that the costs and benefits of using nuclear weapons create openings that weak nonnuclear actors can exploit. Avey uses four case studies to show the key strategies available to nonnuclear states: Iraqi decision-making under Saddam Hussein in confrontations with the United States; Egyptian leaders' thinking about the Israeli nuclear arsenal during wars in 1969–70 and 1973; Chinese confrontations with the United States in 1950, 1954, and 1958; and a dispute that never escalated to war, the Soviet-United States tensions between 1946 and 1948 that culminated in the Berlin Blockade. Strategies employed include limiting the scope of the conflict, holding chemical and biological weapons in reserve, seeking outside support, and leveraging international non-use norms. Avey demonstrates clearly that nuclear weapons cast a definite but limited shadow, and while the world continues to face various nuclear challenges, understanding conflict in nuclear monopoly will remain a pressing concern for analysts and policymakers. Thanks to generous funding from Virginia Tech and its participation in TOME, the ebook editions of this book are available as Open Access volumes, available from Cornell Open (cornellpress.cornell.edu/cornell-open) and other repositories.

Torn between love and commitment. I was the girl with the plan. The girl that had it all together. Fate laughed at me. My life quickly became a destructive tornado, me in the middle. And as I sit here, with everything spinning around me, I feel lost, hopeless, and undeserving. I should have seen the signs. I should have fought harder for answers. Instead, I betrayed him in a way that breaks me more than him. Every decision has a consequence. To move on is to leave something behind. There are three hearts on the line. At least one is going to be broken regardless of the direction. One is safe. The other is dangerous. Dangerous in ways that you don’t come back from. The biggest problem of it all is that it’s not about me anymore, or them, but about him. He didn’t ask to be drug into this. Love brought him here. So, as I stand at the crossroads, which way do I go? The path of least resistance, or the path that will set me free . . . Note from the author: This is not written to be read as a standalone. If you have not read book one, Accepted fate, or book two, Twisting Fate, please read those first. Mature content. Series undergoing editing and cover change. Re-edited and released April 2018.

The dwarves are going to battle for the last time. There has been no word from the courageous warrior Tungdil since the bitter struggle at the Black Abyss. Dragons, magicians, and the cruel élfar have advanced far into the kingdom Girdlegard, ruthlessly seizing vast areas of land. It seems that the dwarves are facing their next battle with very little hope of survival. But then the inexplicable happens; a dwarf warrior dressed in black armor returns from the abyss -- with a formidable army in tow. This warrior calls himself Tungdil, and for his most loyal friend Ireheart and his allies, this means a new hope. But soon doubts begin arise . . . Could this really be Tungdil the dwarf, or is this warrior following his own dark agenda? It is a question of the future of Girdlegard -- and the future of all the dwarves. In the final installment of this spectacular fantasy epic, the greatest of the dwarves' adventures begins . . .

It's all-out action, Jones-style, when a mysterious stranger shows up at Barnett College with an ancient artifact that may be the key to a lost civilization. Toss in a beautiful psychic, a few overzealous Nazis, hang the fate of the world in the balance, and you've got yourself certain adventure. Full-color throughout. Graphic novel format.

"An aging ray has three-quarters of the foursome at death's door, but they'll fight the Skrulls to the finish alongside Nova and the Champions of Xandar-- at least until a greater threat rises from the Champions' own ranks. The Sphinx is ready to conquer the world, and Mr. Fantastic knows of only one opponent who can stop him: Galactus, who just wants to DESTROY the world instead. Includes the first appearances of Terrax the Tamer and H.E.R.B.I.E. the robot, but which one will prove the greater threat? Featuring Spider-Man, Medusa, S.H.I.E.L.D., and cameos from across the chronicles of history"--Publisher supplied.