The Historian chances upon Surac, a land where people's destinies are defined by powerful pendants they have from birth, called Stones. Those whose Stones give them useful skills call themselves Creators, and isolate themselves from all others with a wall that splits the entire continent. When Aric, a Creator blacksmith, has a son born with a Stone that marks him for violence and destruction, they find themselves in danger from those they called their friends. When the boy, Sadavir, is ultimately banished, he discovers secrets far darker than the villagers' petty prejudices. On the far side of the wall, he learns the origin of the Stones' magic and a war that dates back centuries. As he uncovers the true power locked in the Stones, he must find a way to unite ancient enemies in order to save his family. To stop a genocide, Sadavir must face his own destiny of violence.

Technology and magic clash in this tale of power and treachery. The Historian and his new friends find themselves part of an unlikely team as a portal opens in a war-torn land, linking it to a world of darkness and terrible power. Tanniks, twisted into cruel monstrosities by their own magic, come through the Vortex to claim the new territory and butcher the defiant. As casualties mount and trembling refugees warn of worse things to come, it becomes ever more difficult to foresee mankind's destiny. Will they remain in slavery, or will the fury of the Tanniks be crushed by human ingenuity and ruthlessness?

Enjoy the panorama of a Creation so beautifully detailed, ordered and complex that it would be unbelievable if it was not there in front of us. As you look at the world around you, it is impossible not to experience the incredible awe and wonder of its design. Is this the result of an unlimited number of immeasurable odds or a more satisfying and reasonable explanation of a Creator? What is the purpose of it all?

Study the relationship between living organisms and our place in God's wondrous creation! Learn important words and concepts from different habitats around the world to mutual symbiosis as a product of the relational character of God. Designed with a multi-age level format especially for homeschool educational programs. Examine influential Scientists and their work, more fully understand practical aspects of stewardship, and investigate ecological connections in creation! The best-selling Wonders of Creation series adds a new biology-focused title that unveils the intricate nature of God's world and the harmony that was broken by sin. This educational resource is color-coded with three educational levels in mind: 5th to 6th grades, 7th to 8th grades, and 9th through 11th grades, which can be utilized for the classroom, independent study, or homeschool setting. Whether used as part of our newly developed science curriculum or simply as a unique unit study, the book includes full-color photos, informative illustrations, and meaningful descriptions. The text encourages an understanding of a world designed, not as a series of random evolutionary accidents, but instead as a wondrous, well-designed system of life around the globe created to enrich and support one another.

An incisive account of the tumultuous relationship between Alexander Hamilton and James Madison and of the origins of our wealthy yet highly unequal nation In the history of American politics there are few stories as enigmatic as that of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison's bitterly personal falling out. Together they helped bring the Constitution into being, yet soon after the new republic was born they broke over the meaning of its founding document. Hamilton emphasized economic growth, Madison the importance of republican principles. Jay Cost is the first to argue that both men were right -- and that their quarrel reveals a fundamental paradox at the heart of the American experiment. He shows that each man in his own way came to accept corruption as a necessary cost of growth. The Price of Greatness reveals the trade-off that made the United States the richest nation in human history, and that continues to fracture our politics to this day.

DISCOVER JUST HOW LONG IT REALLY TAKES FOR A CAVE TO FORM

"Don't you understand? Everything we know about the ancient world is on the verge of staggering change." In the wake of a discovery that rocks the archaeological world, three strangers meet for the first time in the mountains of central Switzerland. Under a cloak of secrecy, they've been gathered together by a ruthless billionaire whose goal is to harness unspeakable power by unearthing an artifact more ancient than civilization itself. Their mission soon finds them on the chase of a lifetime. From the Great Pyramids of Egypt through the wilds of Antarctica, they circle the globe on the heels of a mystery thousands of years in the making, pursued by forces intent on their destruction, proving once and for all that there are some mysteries in this world too dangerous to be solved... For in the dark waits a terrifying menace.

When the king isolates himself and lets the country fall into ruin, Simeon, a soft spoken military leader takes it upon himself to make one last, desperate attempt to save the kingdom. With the Historian as a witness and his trusting younger brother at his side, Simeon joins forces with a dark mercenary, called Hunger by his enemies, to kidnap the king. When their attempts to teach him self-reliance and humility end in tragedy, king and soldier alike muse decide what they are willing to sacrifice in a war that may have already been lost.

Years after the Historian wanders away from Surac, the people use the power of their Stones to craft a golden age for themselves. As they expand and explore, however, they find that some secrets are better left alone, and not all powers are benevolent. Sadavir, the hero who brought the peoples together, travels into new territory on a rescue mission. Everyone, including Sadavir himself, believes that his talents, training, and powers make him invulnerable to harm. But there are mysteries more ancient than the Stones, and weaknesses that aren't discovered until strength has failed.

Rocks firmly anchored to the ground and rocks floating through space fascinate us. Jewelry, houses, and roads are just some of the ways we use what has been made from geologic processes to advance civilization. Whether scrambling over a rocky beach, or gazing at spectacular meteor showers, we can't get enough of geology! The Geology Bookwill teach you: What really carved the Grand Canyon. How thick the Earth's crust is. The varied features of the Earth's surface - from plains to peaks. How sedimentary deposition occurs through water, wind, and ice. Effects of erosion. Ways in which sediments become sedimentary rock. Fossilization and the age of the dinosaurs. The powerful effects of volcanic activity. Continental drift theory. Radioisotope and carbon dating. Geologic processes of the past. Our planet is a most suitable home. Its practical benefits are also enhanced by the sheer beauty of rolling hills, solitary plains, churning seas and rivers, and majestic mountains - all set in place by processes that are relevant to today's entire population of this spinning rock we call home.