Elantris was built on magic and it thrived. But then the magic began to fade and Elantris began to rot. And now its shattered citizens face domination by a powerful Imperium motivated by dogged religious views. Can a young Princess unite the people of Elantris, rediscover the lost magic and lead a rebellion against the imperial zealots?
Brandon Sanderson's debut fantasy showed his skill as a storyteller and an imaginer of baroque magical systems to be fully developed from the start.
**From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. Sanderson's outstanding fantasy debut, refreshingly complete unto itself and free of the usual genre clichés, offers something for everyone: mystery, magic, romance, political wrangling, religious conflict, fights for equality, sharp writing and wonderful, robust characters. The godlike inhabitants of Elantris, once the capital of the land of Arelon, have degenerated into powerless, tortured souls, unable to die, after the city's magic inexplicably broke 10 years earlier. When the same curse strikes Prince Raoden of Arelon and he's imprisoned in Elantris, he refuses to surrender to his grim fate and instead strives to create a society out of the fallen and to unlock the secret that will restore the city's glory. Meanwhile, Princess Sarene of Kae (Arelon's new capital), who was betrothed to Raoden sight unseen, believes her intended has died. Officially declared his widow, she must use her political savvy and wit to protect Kae from malevolent forces without and within the city, chiefly Hrathen, a leader of the creepy Shu-Dereth faith, who aims to either convert Kae or destroy it within three months. The intrigue and excitement grow steadily in this smoothly written, perfectly balanced narrative; by the end readers won't want to put it down. As the blurb from Orson Scott Card suggests, Sanderson is a writer to watch.
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From Booklist
Until 10 years ago, Elantris was the capital of Arelon, inhabited by ordinary humans transformed into magic-using demigods by the Shaod. But the magic failed, Elantris started to rot, and its inhabitants turned into powerless wrecks. Princess Sarene of Teod arrives in Kae, the new capital, close enough to Elantris to constantly remind of faded glory, prepared for a marriage to ally Teod and Arelon against the religious imperialists of Fjordell. But, she is told, her fiance, Prince Raoden, is dead. She and a recently arrived high priest of Fjordell, Hrathen, clash. Sarene tries to retain the freedom of Teod and Arelon, Hrathen tries to incite the populace to convert so that Fjordell can take over. Neither suspects the truth about Raoden. Taken by the Shaod, he struggles to unite the crippled Elantrians and discover why the magic failed. The unrest comes to a head as governments topple, the Elantrians' secrets are revealed, and Fjordell's forces arrive. A surprisingly satisfying, single-volume epic fantasy that invokes a complex, vibrant world. Regina Schroeder
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved Views: 660
Vera’s spent her whole life secretly in love with her best friend, Charlie Kahn. And over the years she’s kept a lot of his secrets. Even after he betrayed her. Even after he ruined everything.
So when Charlie dies in dark circumstances, Vera knows a lot more than anyone—the kids at school, his family, even the police. But will she emerge to clear his name? Does she even want to?
Edgy and gripping, Please Ignore Vera Dietz is an unforgettable novel: smart, funny, dramatic, and always surprising.
From the Hardcover edition. Views: 660
For every woman who has ever fantasized about driving past her exit on the highway instead of going home to make dinner, for every woman who has ever dreamed of boarding a train to a place where no one needs constant attention--meet Maribeth Klein. A harried working mother who's so busy taking care of her husband and twins, she doesn't even realize she's had a heart attack.
Afterward, surprised to discover that her recuperation seems to be an imposition on those who rely on her, Maribeth does the unthinkable: She packs a bag and leaves. But, as is so often the case, once we get to where we're going, we see our lives from a different perspective. Far from the demands of family and career and with the help of liberating new friendships, Maribeth is finally able to own up to secrets she has been keeping from those she loves and from herself. Views: 660
I'm expecting my stepbrothers' babies! Kyleigh: Years ago, my mother married the twins' father. Roman and Ryder, my new stepbrothers, were rude, arrogant, and embarrassed me in front of the entire lacrosse team. I wanted the floor to swallow me whole. But when I return to little Farmingdale for our high school reunion, everything changes because the twins look at me with new eyes. They appreciate my curves, and there's electricity flowing in the air. The problem is that after one fateful night, I'm pregnant with their children. I'm expecting twins ... and my stepbrothers are my babydaddies. Roman: We never meant to get her pregnant. But Kyleigh's changed a lot. She used to be a tall, skinny beanpole with an awkward gait and coke bottle glasses. The woman who showed up at our high school reunion was completely different: she was sassy and shapely, with curves that made our mouths water. It was never supposed to... Views: 660
Duck. Duck. Demon. After months on the run from the very organization Gem swore to serve, Gem is once again back on the job. A detective with a badge to prove it—and a partner with a weakness for pretty faces. Not to mention, a boss with an axe to grind. Yep. Life is almost normal. If you don’t count the baby daddy drama and the Nephilim whose sexy-as-sin kisses might actually have the power to melt her into a puddle of goo. But even the circus that is Gem’s personal life can’t distract her from the danger that still lurks among the Nephilim council. Demons no longer slip through secret portals to terrorize Earth. Why ship them in from afar when they can be created right here? One by one, Gem’s friends are being targeted until what began as a random science experiment becomes terrifyingly personal. This time, they have her dead to rights. Views: 660
Naturally, Jessi is thrilled when she earns the lead in her dance school's latest ballet. But someone in Jessi's class wants her out of the show.
First Jessi's toe shoes are stolen. Then she gets all kinds of threatening messages!
What kind of ballerina would want to scare Jessi? The Baby-sitters don't know, but they're not going to let anyone get away with it for long! Views: 660
"Cat, this is Finn. He's going to be your tutor."
Finn looks and acts human, though he has no desire to be. He was programmed to assist his owners, and performs his duties to perfection. A billion-dollar construct, his primary task is now to tutor Cat. As she grows into a beautiful young woman, Finn is her guardian, her constant companion...and more. But when the government grants rights to the ever-increasing robot population, however, Finn struggles to find his place in the world, and in Cat's heart. Views: 660
Maggie's adventures in the Enchanted Forest continue in the fourth book of a new chapter book series by E. D. Baker!Eight-year-old Maggie has a keen eye for noticing things in the Enchanted Forest that no one else does – like unicorns, griffins and ... flying pigs! With her new friend Bob, Maggie rescues the magical animals that need her help.Maggie's newest chore at her friend Bob's stable is taking care of flying pigs — but they're not so easy to deal with! Maggie's used to putting up with a lot though, like her step-mother Zelia, who is trying to get Maggie's step-brother Peter a job at the stable. Peter working with Maggie? Yeah, right! Maybe when pigs fly . . . This black-and-white illustrated series is perfect for fans of Princess Ponies, Magic Horses, and Critter Club. Views: 660
The Breakfast Club meets Pretty Little Liars in Gretchen McNeil's witty and suspenseful novel about four disparate girls who join forces to take revenge on high school bullies and create dangerous enemies for themselves in the process. Bree, Olivia, Kitty, and Margot have nothing in common--at least that's what they'd like the students and administrators of their elite private school to think. The girls have different goals, different friends, and different lives, but they share one very big secret: They're all members of Don't Get Mad, a secret society that anonymously takes revenge on the school's bullies, mean girls, and tyrannical teachers.When their latest target ends up dead with a blood-soaked "DGM" card in his hands, the girls realize that they're not as anonymous as they thought--and that someone now wants revenge on them. Soon the clues are piling up, the police are closing in . . . and everyone has something to... Views: 660
Alexis Adeluna has a secret... She is a vampire. While exploring one of her favorite haunts, she finds a body and discovered a gift she never knew she had. She can see and hear the dead. Now, she can't rest until she finds the killer. (2011's YA Short Story)Alexis Adeluna is a vampire who is apart of a powerful coven that made its home in Sangre Falls. While exploring one of her favorite haunts, the local cemetery, she finds a body of a boy and discovered a gift she never knew she had. She can see and hear the dead. Now, the ghost of the murdered boy will not leave her side, because unless she finds his killer, he is doomed to roam the earth, never finding rest.Review:"It can be difficult for a reader to enjoy a short story, but Sandra Madera does an awesome job writing them." - Josie Epping, Josie's Haven Blog Views: 660
The editor of the classic GO ASK ALICE has compiled the poignant journals of a 14-year-old date-rape victim who contracted AIDS and died. Views: 660
A brilliant American president is also a psychopath. He has his finger on the red button. And he’s about to start a world war with our most dangerous enemy. Put your finger on the order button. Push it to read James Patterson’s best and scariest novel yet. “Pure Patterson… Blowback asks us to imagine what would happen if a narcissistic psychopath were elected to the White House [and] to experience the terror of the world hanging in the balance at a moment when only a handful of determined patriots can save us.” –Ron Charles, Washington Post US President Keegan Barrett has swept into office on his success as Director of the CIA. Six months into his first term, he devises a clandestine power grab with deadly consequences. Barrett personally orders CIA agents Liam Grey and Noa Himel to execute his plan, but their... Views: 660
