The Vale is home of The Gifted, those born with magical talent that manifests in unpredictable ways that many look upon with suspicion and fear. Even as the Vale's king works hard to teach citizens truth and tolerance concerning the gift of magic, the process is slow and politically risky. Many of the Gifted have no choice but to seek shelter in the stronghold city of Safehold. But is safety possible even there? Sixteen-year-old Arlin is a nobleman's son, grandson of the king of Vale. Handsome and spoiled, he was born to warrior parents with older siblings who outshine him in every capacity. Misunderstood, his sullen attitude alienates his family. With the sudden appearance of wings on his back--a very rare and visible magical Gift--Arlin has no choice but to, literally, take flight to protect himself and his grandfather's reputation as an impartial judge of Gifted rights. Fiella was adopted as an apprentice to the local bookmaster, where she discovered her passion for books and talent for sales. Her parents were killed when she was only seven--an event she witnessed that led to her desperate regret and longing to help others. While traveling on her first book-circuit as a journeyman, she impulsively offers to help Arlin get to Safehold, a sanctuary for Gifted, not realizing the danger she'll be placed in by doing so. Not the least of her worries is the secret she's been carefully hiding: She, too, is Gifted. Shonwin is heir to the lordship of Kuturan. When he was a child, his father was murdered by his own wife. Living with a mercilessly cruel parent led to Shonwin's single-minded devotion to Kuturan. When the king heard of the ruthless horrors practiced there, he tore away their income and livelihood, denying them the rights other lords of the land were entitled to. To rebuild his heritage and birthright, Shonwin means to have his revenge. Arlin's Gift will enable him to not only discredit and disgrace the king but strike at the king's protection of the Gifted and his own beloved grandson, Arlin.

Ernie the Elf is working late on Christmas Eve on a very special Christmas gift. As Ernie works feverishly to finish, Santa is gearing up for his last run to deliver Christmas toys to girls and boys. Our story begins when Ernie the Elf discovers that Santa has already left on his final run and Ernie must figure out how to get this gift to a very special girl for Christmas. With help from old and new friends, Ernie faces challenges and with some luck he just might get to Santa in time.

When Elmy runs away from home in the human town to escape the mockery of the rich children, she meets some elves of the Wolfrider tribe who convince her that her home-made button necklace proves that she is special--one of the Makers who have rare creative gifts.

Have you been naughty or nice? Get set for Christmas with our brand new magical Annual! Enjoy Elf-themed activities, stories and makes in this charming new Annual and help make it the best Christmas holiday ever! Includes recipes, craft ideas, quizes, puzzles, jokes, fun facts, etc.

The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition is an activity the entire family will enjoy. Based on the tradition Carol Aebersold began with her family in the 1970s, this cleverly rhymed children's book explains that Santa knows who is naughty and/or nice because he sends a scout elf to every home. During the holiday season, the elf watches children by day and reports to Santa each night. When children awake, the elf has returned from the North Pole and can be found hiding in a different location. This activity allows The Elf on the Shelf to become a delightful hide-and-seek game.

Jaeger needs blood. Half Vector, half human, newly coming of age, Jaeger is now drawn to human blood for the first time in his already long life. Rhiannon, a witch, has too much iron in her blood to safely live. She wants to propose a partnership with the Vectors, but, before she can approach them, she's attacked and left for dead beneath a pier. Jaeger finds her unconscious and bleeding. Fighting against the lure of her blood, he takes her to a place of safety instead. His actions set them both on a course of pain, hunger, terror and love. Can he save her from himself?

Impish the Elf is not your traditional gift-wrapping elf! Sure, she wraps gifts for Santa to place under the tree, but she never puts nameteags on anything. Rather, Impish leaves her clue-of-the-year in children's stockings to help them discover which presents are whose on Christmas morning! In the second book in the series, Lil' Impish travels the world looking for inspiration in the faces of those children whom she has delighted with her gift-wrapping antics. To which magical lands will she take you this Christmas? She left you the clues...!

In this collection of fantasy short stories all featuring female protagonists, you'll find diverse, imaginative tales, including: A sorceress unravels a spell and gets a result she could never have expected... A young girl wins a contest--her prize: to speak with a god... A vampire in hiding fears she'll be blamed for the reckless depredations of another of her kind... A minstrel travels with a witch who has a pair of very unusual cart horses... As a bonus, this anthology includes "The Sow's Ear", originally published in Marion Zimmer Bradley's acclaimed Sword and Sorceress series.

Karen Montgomery was an ordinary woman until she stumbled into the extraordinary... A bargain with elves worth its weight in gold. A plague of sinister ladybugs. Rogue vampire hunters, including one who tries to turn over a new leaf--with disastrous consequences. A ghostly huntsman of the Wild Hunt wishing for redemption. Karen's life will never be the same again. One wrong turn sends Karen down a road that shouldn't exist, to the site of an old accident and an even older mystery. With reformed vampire hunter Russell Moore's help, Karen finds the key to the mystery. But Russ keeps his own secrets...some of which are deadly. When old friends from Russ' past come to call, Karen realizes his secrets might just mean his doom. After a terrible incident three years ago, before Karen met him, Russ wants only to live the rest of his life quietly in Beth-Hill. But his secret might not allow him the new lease on life Russ longs for.

J. R. R. Tolkien’s magnum opus, The Lord of the Rings has been beloved for generations, selling millions of copies and selling millions more tickets through its award-winning film adaptations. The immense cultural impact of this epic is undeniable, but the deeper meaning of the story often goes unnoticed. Here, Joseph Pearce, author of Bilbo’s Journey uncovers the rich—and distinctly Christian—meaning just beneath the surface of The Lord of the Rings. Make the journey with Frodo as he makes his perilous trek from the Shire to Mordor, while Pearce expertly reveals the deeper, spiritual significance. Did you know that the events of The Lord of the Rings are deeply intertwined with the Christian calendar? Or what the Ring, with its awesome and terrible power represents? How do the figures of good and evil in the story reflect those forces in our own lives? Find the answers to these questions and much more in Frodo’s Journey.