BONUS: This edition contains an excerpt from Alison Weir's Mary Boleyn.
I am now a condemned traitor . . . I am to die when I have hardly begun to live.
Historical expertise marries page-turning fiction in Alison Weir’s enthralling debut novel, breathing new life into one of the most significant and tumultuous periods of the English monarchy. It is the story of Lady Jane Grey–“the Nine Days’ Queen” –a fifteen-year-old girl who unwittingly finds herself at the center of the religious and civil unrest that nearly toppled the fabled House of Tudor during the sixteenth century.
The child of a scheming father and a ruthless mother, for whom she is merely a pawn in a dynastic game with the highest stakes, Jane Grey was born during the harrowingly turbulent period between Anne Boleyn’s beheading and the demise of Jane’s infamous great-uncle, King Henry VIII. With the premature passing of Jane’ s adolescent cousin, and Henry’s successor, King Edward VI, comes a struggle for supremacy fueled by political machinations and lethal religious fervor.
Unabashedly honest and exceptionally intelligent, Jane possesses a sound strength of character beyond her years that equips her to weather the vicious storm. And though she has no ambitions to rule, preferring to immerse herself in books and religious studies, she is forced to accept the crown, and by so doing sets off a firestorm of intrigue, betrayal, and tragedy.
Alison Weir uses her unmatched skills as a historian to enliven the many dynamic characters of this majestic drama. Along with Lady Jane Grey, Weir vividly renders her devious parents; her much-loved nanny; the benevolent Queen Katherine Parr; Jane’s ambitious cousins; the Catholic “Bloody” Mary, who will stop at nothing to seize the throne; and the protestant and future queen Elizabeth. Readers venture inside royal drawing rooms and bedchambers to witness the power-grabbing that swirls around Lady Jane Grey from the day of her birth to her unbearably poignant death. Innocent Traitor paints a complete and compelling portrait of this captivating young woman, a faithful servant of God whose short reign and brief life would make her a legend.
“An impressive debut. Weir shows skill at plotting and maintaining tension, and she is clearly going to be a major player in the . . . historical fiction game.”
–The Independent
“Alison Weir is one of our greatest popular historians. In her first work of fiction . . . Weir manages her heroine’s voice brilliantly, respecting the past’s distance while conjuring a dignified and fiercely modern spirit.”
–London Daily Mail Views: 829
When a scruffy ex-boxer picks up P.I. Deacon Bishop at the south Texas airport, Bishop worries that he's made a long trip for nothing. Because Leon Huggins doesn't look like he could pay a bar tab, let alone a detective's retainer. But Leon isn't the client--not at first, anyway. Leon's brother is supposed to be the client but then Eli Huggins ends up dead. Bishop can't walk away.There are times when honouring a promise can be harder than we expected, but it can be a necessary tool in the healing process.Jesse has always been the epitome of integrity and good judgement, until a tragic event pushes her to the brink of moral bankruptcy. An event she had successfully purged from her memory, or so she had misled herself to believe. Now, nine years later, and mere months after the death of her best friend, she once again finds herself caught up in the steely grip of emotional turmoil. During the final weeks before losing her ten-year-long battle with cancer, Leila had one last request. And now, honour binds Jesse to a promise she wishes she had never made. Views: 828
From Robert E. Howard’s fertile imagination sprang some of fiction’s greatest heroes, including Conan the Cimmerian, King Kull, and Solomon Kane. But of all Howard’s characters, none embodied his creator’s brooding temperament more than Bran Mak Morn, the last king of a doomed race.
In ages past, the Picts ruled all of Europe. But the descendants of those proud conquerors have sunk into barbarism . . . all save one, Bran Mak Morn, whose bloodline remains unbroken. Threatened by the Celts and the Romans, the Pictish tribes rally under his banner to fight for their very survival, while Bran fights to restore the glory of his race.
Lavishly illustrated by award-winning artist Gary Gianni, this collection gathers together all of Howard’s published stories and poems featuring Bran Mak Morn–including the eerie masterpiece “Worms of the Earth” and “Kings of the Night,” in which sorcery summons Kull the conqueror from out of the depths of time to stand with Bran against the Roman invaders.
Also included are previously unpublished stories and fragments, reproductions of manuscripts bearing Howard’s handwritten revisions, and much, much more.
Special Bonus: a newly discovered adventure by Howard, presented here for the very first time. Views: 824
Spinoff from owl Guardians of Ga'hoole introduces Faolan, newborn wolf pup with a twisted leg. Harsh code of the pack demands such weakness be abandoned on a desolate hill. But alone in the wilderness, Faolan does not perish - a tale of survival, courage, and love triumphant. Views: 823
Sixteen-year-old Ember Morrow is promised to a group called Conatus after one of their healers saves her mother's life. Once she arrives, Ember finds joy in wielding swords, learning magic, and fighting the encroaching darkness loose in the world. She also finds herself falling in love with her mentor, the dashing, brooding, and powerful Barrow Hess. When the knights realize Eira, one of their leaders, is dabbling in dark magic, Ember and Barrow must choose whether to follow Eira into the nether realm or to pledge their lives to destroying her and her kind. Views: 822
At 22, Nat Philbrick won the Sunfish North American Championship. Fifteen years later he decided to give it another try, embarking on a personal voyage of discovery that took him from the many ponds of his native Nantucket to the championship in the American heartland. A warm, funny, often moving story of a sailor, his family, and an island...and the voyage that brought them together. Views: 820
In the late 1980s, New York Times bestselling author Simon Winchester set out on foot to discover the Republic of Korea -- from its southern tip to the North Korean border -- in order to set the record straight about this enigmatic and elusive land.
Fascinating for its vivid presentation of historical and geographic detail, Korea is that rare book that actually defines a nation and its people. Winchester's gift for capturing engaging characters in true, compelling stories provides us with a treasury of enchanting and informed insight on the culture, language, history, and politics of this little-known corner of Asia.
With a new introduction by the author, Korea is a beautiful journey through a mysterious country and a memorable addition to the many adventures of Simon Winchester. Views: 819
A melancholy young gay man marries a widower, and becomes intrigued by the idea of his dead predecessor: the man he would love to be, and even love to love...When shy, reticent Elias gets married to a dynamic older man, he hopes to say goodbye to his melancholy former life and make the most of their modern civil partnership. But soon he finds himself haunted by the beguiling idea of his dead predecessor: the man Elias would love to be, and even love to love.Inspired by Chaucer's medieval dream romances, this modern day folktale uses gothic themes to explore the differences between civil partnerships and traditional notions of love and marriage. Views: 819
A twenty-eight page informal newsletter about the alternate history subgenre of science fiction and related science fiction topics. This issue has an excerpt from a Work In Process called There Will Always Be An England, mini-essays on alternate World War II and Space Programs, along with commentary on a range of science fiction topics, including Steve Stirling's Dies The Fire.In a desperate measure to add excitement to Sam’s boring and crumbling marriage, he arranges an exotic sailing adventure, but it’s more than he bargained for when he and his family are abducted in the Gulf of Mexico, forcing them to endure a nightmare to escape their fate awaiting them in a foreign land. Views: 817
The year is 1897, and gifted violinist Reuven Bloom is fifteen years old. Life for the Jews in Russia is very hard. First Reuven's best friend is captured to serve in the Tsar's army, and then his parents and older sister are murdered. Reuven's dreams of music must be set aside. Now he has only one goal: escape. With his baby sister strapped to his back, Reuven sets off toward an unknown freedom. His journey takes him first across Russia, and then ultimately to America. Readers will remember Reuven as the revolutionary who helped Sashie and her family flee from Russia in "The Night Journey." In "Broken Song, " Reuven's own powerful story unfolds. Views: 813
A moving, exciting, and heartfelt American saga inspired by the author's own family memoirs, these words belong to Sarah Prine, a woman of spirit and fire who forges a full and remarkable existence in a harsh, unfamiliar frontier. Scrupulously recording her steps down the path Providence has set her upon—from child to determined young adult to loving mother—she shares the turbulent events, both joyous and tragic, that molded her, and recalls the enduring love with cavalry officer Captain Jack Elliot that gave her strength and purpose.
Rich in authentic everyday details and alive with truly unforgettable characters, These Is My Words brilliantly brings a vanished world to breathtaking life again. Views: 813
Farely Mowat's best-loved book tells the splendidly entertaining story of his boyhood on the Canadian prairies. Mutt's pedigree was uncertain, but his madness was indisputable. He climbed tress and ladders, rode passenger in an open car wearing goggles and displaying hunting skills that bordered on sheer genius. He was a marvelous dog, worthy of an unusual boy growing up in a raw, untamed wilderness.
From the Paperback edition. Views: 812
A collection of modern poetry, from playful and provocative to profound and poignant, through these poems Ben Gilbert shares his unique and refreshing perspective on many aspects of modern living.A collection of modern poetry, from playful and provocative to profound and poignant, through these poems Ben Gilbert shares his unique and refreshing perspective on many aspects of modern living."These masterfully written poems brought warmth to my heart, tears to my eyes and curiosity to my mind. I found myself smiling and amused by his witty take on things. The author is a talented linguist and has played on words effortlessly to inspire and tantalise the minds of his readers. I LOVED this book and have found myself reading parts aloud to whoever was lucky enough to listen. I cannot wait to devour whatever he publishes next." Samantha Kennedy - English Teacher.Most of these poems were written as teaching materials for super bright advanced English language learners when I was teaching English at Shane Global in Hasting, UK. I kept the very rude ones out of the classroom, but to be frank that was only one poem - Atonement. The idiomatic and flexible nature of English, with its ease of rule breaking and change is a difficult thing to teach and poetry is a fine way to show such."People change and language changes with people" Michel Thomas, Linguist. Views: 810
Science fiction meets fantasy with just a dash of biblical threats for flavor!Allen Crowley is the greatest assassin in the Shadow and he has some very powerful friends. He will need them, all the power at his disposal, and a lot of luck when he is tasked with stopping an immortal monster. Views: 809
