For years weve scurried about in the underworlds of society. We hid in plain sight, avoiding confl ict with the Human race. Weve always had a set of rules, guidelines to keep our kind safe. But they are broken, futile rules. No one obeys them, no one cares for them, and we just go through the motions. Like a loveless marriage we just stay out of each others way, let the others do as they wish as long as they dont mess with us. Well, those were the good ole days. Someone decided to break the uneasy balance between our species and the Humans; this is now boiling down to a critical point. Its us or them, kill or be killed, unless

"A quest story to find the three pieces of a magical engine which can either win the War of 1812 ... or stop it altogether"--

Dive into a world where every twist keeps you guessing and every story leaves you hanging on the edge. Threads of Fate is a collection of masterfully crafted tales, each woven with suspense, intrigue, and unexpected turns. From gripping thrillers to emotional dramas, these stories all share one thing: they refuse to tie up neatly, leaving readers yearning for more.Perfect for those who love unpredictable narratives, Threads of Fate explores the beauty of unanswered questions and the art of storytelling that defies convention. Discover the power of an open-ended finale and the allure of the unknown in this unforgettable anthology.

In a world where magic is viewed by many to be evil, a young boy on the brink of manhood struggles to survive an affl iction he was born with.Ignorant that he possesses the ability of a Wizard, Sheldyyn lives each dayunaware of the terrible secrets that are kept hidden from him. Neither his sister, Jaiid, or he knows of who their parents are or where they are truly from. All is well until one day their lost past comes back to haunt them. Vicious creatures devestate their quiet mountain home and shatter their peaceful existence. An army of Turak Raiders marches against Ridgetown in search of a terrible weapon that once belonged to a great and powerful Warlord. If that wasnt enough, Sheldyyns ability, which he knows only as a curse, is increasing in power as he turns seventeen. His episodes occur more frequently, leaving increasing amounts of destruction in their wake. So while the nobles and warriors of the Free-lands bicker amongst themselves over trivial matters of power, and as an army of vengeful Turaks marches in war, Sheldyyn struggles to survive his own battle with an ancient force dwelling inside of him that he can neither control or accept. The Balance has been swayed. Either it will be restored, or all living creatures will be submerged into darkness and despair.

The Silver Bough is a journey into a forgotten Otherworld of hollow hills, glass mountains and fabled islands. With over twenty myths and folktales arising from the rich traditions of the world, from ancient Egypt and Iceland, to New Zealand, Siberia and the Celtic lands, among the stories are Gwyn and the Lady of the Lake, The Shipwrecked Sailor, Galahad's Quest for the Grail and Apples of Immortality. Each of the five accompanying sections is woven from the threads of each tale. Rich in symbolism, shamanic traditions and esoteric wisdom, The Silver Bough traverses ancient cosmologies, from the kingdom of the dead and the starlit realm, to the domain of the flood and the land of the hidden folk.

Cold Cobalt, the Banshee with a Blade, First Among Villains . . . Queen Zosia When there were no more titles to win and no more worlds to conquer, the warrior queen Zosia faked her demise and gave up her legend to history. But when violence finds its way to her door years later, she must round up her adventuring companions - each surprised to see her alive - and set out for revenge. Time has not been kind to her old comrades, and some have only their own goals in mind. Not only that, but there's a young, beautiful and skilled general out there, gathering soldiers to her banner for a war against the deadliest of enemies. The girl is using a legend she did not earn, and calling herself by a name that was never hers - that of Zosia herself.

A remarkable nineteenth-century account of Istanbul - which begins with a dazzling description of the city gradually appearing through the fog as the author's ship approaches the harbour - Constantinople expertly combines personal anecdote, breathtaking visual observation and entertaining historical information.An invaluable record of the metropolis as it used to be - a fascinating crossroads between Eastern and Western civilization and one of the most cosmopolitan cities of its time - as well as a vivid example of a European tourist's reaction to it - part delight, part incomprehension - this book will provide an enriching read for lovers of history or those planning to visit Istanbul themselves.

Havgan of Corania knows he is different from others, but he does not know why. He does know, however, that he adamantly hates the witches of Kymru. When he becomes Warleader of Corania, he sets the might of his empire against them and their country. Gwydion the Dreamer and his friend Rhiannon travel to Corania to spy on Havgan after Gwydion?s dream reveals Havgan?s imperialistic desires. In their frantic attempt to save Kymru, they risk everything. But when a thoughtless action threatens to doom them all, Gwydion and Rhiannon must fight not only to discover Havgan?s secret but also to understand why Havgan seems so hauntingly familiar.

Istanbul, A Traveller's Reader is an wide-ranging and carefully chosen selection of writings, offering a richly layered view of Byzantine Constantinople and Turkish Istanbul. During the thousand-year Byzantine empire that followed its founding by Constantine the Great, Istanbul became a city of fabled riches; after falling to the Turks in 1453, its glories continued, maintained by the strength and wealth of the Ottomans. Drawing on diaries, letters, biographies, travelogues and poems from the sixth century AD onwards, this evocative anthology recreates for contemporary visitors the vanished glories of Constantinople. It provides vivid eyewitness accounts of the coronation of a Byzantine emperor; the funeral of a sultan; the triumphal entry of Mehmet the Conqueror; the building of the Süleymaniye, the most magnificent of the city's moques; and the death of Atatürk in 1938. It also describes the rampant sexual exploits of the Byzantine empress-to-be Theodora; the public execution of a Turkish wife and her young, Christian lover; the near execution of an envoy given the unenviable task of transporting a large organ from England to Constantinople in 1599, a gift from Queen Elizabeth to Sultan Mehmet III, who was caught admiring the sultan's personal harem; and the unfortunate Frenchman caught drinking wine and eating a pork sausage while sketching in Hagia Sophia in the 1680s.

A #1 New York Times bestseller! Foxglove is the captivating sequel to the Gothic-infused Belladonna, in which Signa and Death face a supernatural foe determined to tear them apart. A duke has been murdered. The lord of Thorn Grove has been framed. And Fate, the elusive brother of Death, has taken up residence in a sumptuous palace nearby. He's hell-bent on revenge after Death took the life of the woman he loved many years ago...and now he’s determined to have Signa for himself, no matter the cost. Signa and her cousin Blythe are certain that Fate can save Elijah Hawthorne from wrongful imprisonment if the girls will entertain Fate’s presence. But the more time they spend with him, the more frightening their reality becomes, as Signa exhibits dramatic new powers that link her to Fate’s past. With mysteries and danger around every corner, the cousins must decide whom they can trust as they navigate their futures in high society, unravel the murders that haunt their family, and play Fate’s unexpected games—all with their destinies hanging in the balance. Daring, suspenseful, and seductive, this sequel to Death and Signa's story is as utterly romantic as it is perfectly deadly.