The timeless classic presented in the standard hardcover edition using the author's original jacket design. J. R. R. Tolkien's own description for the original edition: "If you care for journeys there and back, out of the comfortable Western world, over the edge of the Wild, and home again, and can take an interest in a humble hero (blessed with a little wisdom and a little courage and considerable good luck), here is a record of such a journey and such a traveler. The period is the ancient time between the age of Faerie and the dominion of men, when the famous forest of Mirkwood was still standing, and the mountains were full of danger. In following the path of this humble adventurer, you will learn by the way (as he did) -- if you do not already know all about these things -- much about trolls, goblins, dwarves, and elves, and get some glimpses into the history and politics of a neglected but important period.

MORE THAN ONE MILLION COPIES IN PRINT The narrator of this extraordinary tale is a man in search for truth. He answers an ad in a local newspaper from a teacher looking for serious pupils, only to find himself alone in an abandoned office with a full-grown gorilla who is nibbling delicately on a slender branch. “You are the teacher?” he asks incredulously. “I am the teacher,” the gorilla replies. Ishmael is a creature of immense wisdom and he has a story to tell, one that no other human being has ever heard. It is a story that extends backward and forward over the lifespan of the earth from the birth of time to a future there is still time to save. Like all great teachers, Ishmael refuses to make the lesson easy; he demands the final illumination to come from within ourselves. Is it man’s destiny to rule the world? Or is it a higher destiny possible for him—one more wonderful than he has ever imagined? From the Trade Paperback edition.

From now on I'm Alan of Trebond, the younger twin. I'll be a knight. And so young Alanna of Trebond begins the journey to knighthood. Though a girl, Alanna has always craved the adventure and daring allowed only for boys; her twin brother, Thom, yearns to learn the art of magic. So one day they decide to switch places: Thom heads for the convent to learn magic; Alanna, pretending to be a boy, is on her way to the castle of King Roald to begin her training as a page. But the road to knighthood is not an easy one. As Alanna masters the skills necessary for battle, she must also learn to control her heart and to discern her enemies from her allies. Filled with swords and sorcery, adventure and intrigue, good and evil, Alanna's first adventure begins - one that will lead to the fulfillment of her dreams and the magical destiny that will make her a legend in her land.

What dangers do runaway demigods Luke and Thalia face on their way to Camp Half-Blood? Are Percy and Annabeth up to the task of rescuing stolen goods from a fire-breathing giant who doesn't take kindly to intruders? How exactly are Leo, Piper, and Jason supposed to find a runaway table, dodge a band of party-loving Maenads (who just might be a little psychotic), and stave off a massive explosion. . . all in one hour or less? With his trademark wit and creativity, Rick Riordan answers these questions and more in three never-before-seen short stories that provide vital back-story to the Heroes of Olympus and Percy Jackson books. Original art, enlightening character interviews and profiles, puzzles, and a quiz add to the fun in this action-packed collection.

USA TODAY BESTSELLER#1 Romantic Bestseller "Secrets brought us together but they ultimately destroyed us."  She has a secret.I'm complicated. Not broken or ruined or running from a past I can't face. Just complicated.I thought my life couldn't get any more tangled in deceit and confusion. But I hadn't met him. I hadn't realized how far I could fall or what I'd have do to get free.He has a secret.I've never pretended to be good or deserving. I chase who I want, do what Iwant, act how I want.I didn't have time to lust after a woman I had no right to lust after. I told myself to shut up and stay hidden. But then she tried to run. I'd tasted what she could offer me and damned if I would let her go.Secrets destroy them.**Pepper Winters is known for her Dark Erotica. This book is more a Grey Romance. It isn't fluffy, and still deals with darker subjects, but it isn't brutal.**Destroyed is a complicated love story between a man with a terrible past anda woman who holds his cure. A man who finds redemption in love and a woman wholoses her heart and reason for living.Death brings life, and destruction brings new beginnings.Complete at 144,000 words. No cliffhanger. Stand alone. HEA

You never meant to kill him…. One night, Matt Hunter innocently tried to break up a fight—and ended up a killer. Now, nine years later, he’s an ex-con who takes nothing for granted. His wife, Olivia, is pregnant, and the two of them are closing on their dream house. But all it will take is one shocking, inexplicable call from Olivia’s phone to shatter Matt’s life a second time…. An electrifying thrill ride of a novel that peeks behind the white picket fences of suburbia, The Innocent is at once a twisting, turning, emotionally charged story and a compelling tale of the choices we make and the repercussions that never leave.

Aboard the Vociferous Carmichael, puppeteer John Chandagnac is sailing toward Jamaica to claim his stolen birthright from an unscrupulous uncle, when the vessel is captured . . . by pirates! Offered a choice by Captain Phil Davies to join their seafaring band or die, Chandagnac assumes the name John Shandy and a new life as a brigand. But more than swashbuckling sea battles and fabulous plunder await the novice buccaneer on the roiling Caribbean waters–for treachery and powerful vodun sorcery are coins of the realm in this dark new world. And for the love of beautiful, magically imperiled Beth Hurwood, Shandy will set sail on even stranger tides, following the savage, ghost-infested pirate king, Blackbeard, and a motley crew of the living and the dead to the cursed nightmare banks of the fabled Fountain of Youth.

King of the Khyber Rifles is a novel by British writer Talbot Mundy. Captain Athelstan King is a secret agent for the British Raj at the beginning of the First World War. Heavily influenced both by Mundy's own unsuccessful career in India and by his interest in theosophy, it describes King's adventures among the (mostly Muslim) tribes of the north with the mystical woman adventuress, princess Yasmini and the Turkish mullah Muhammed Anim. Like Greenmantle by John Buchan, also first published in 1916, it deals with the possibility that Turkey might try to stir Muslims into a jihad against the British Empire.

The story is set in the distant future, where humanity is at war with "Yuks," an alien life form which does not use mechanical spaceships nor constructions. Instead, it relies on life forms. The war has been going on for a long time, and humanity has not been able to come up with a solution against the life-form based ships and mines that the Yuks use. A human brain-controlled spacecraft would mean mechanical perfection. This was accomplished, and something unforeseen: a strange entity called . . . Mr. Spaceship!

All aboard for a quiet cruise among the Greek islands! But when Philip's pet monkey breaks a birthday present, Philip, Dinah, Lucy-Ann and Jack are plunged into an exciting quest to find the lost treasure of the Andra - with some ruthless villains hot on their trail.

Your quest begins! Use your demigod skills in this interactive and customizable adventure story written by New York Times #1 bestselling author Rick Riordan. Combining four short stories, The Two-Headed Guidance Counselor, The Library of Deadly Weapons, My Demon Satyr Tea Party, and My Personal Zombie Apocalypse, your choices will have consequences in this first interactive demigod adventure.**

A runaway bestseller on its publication in 1887, H. Rider Haggard’s She is a Victorian thrill ride of a novel, featuring a lost African kingdom ruled by a mysterious, implacable queen; ferocious wildlife and yawning abysses; and an eerie love story that spans two thousand years. She has bewitched readers from Freud and Jung to C. S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien; in her Introduction to this Modern Library Paperback Classic—which includes period illustrations by Maurice Greiffenhagen and Charles H. M. Kerr—Margaret Atwood asserts that the awe-inspiring Ayesha, “She-who-must-be-obeyed,” is “a permanent feature of the human imagination.”

Sherlock Holmes has investigated some strange cases in his celebrated career, but none stranger than when a woman claims that she has received vital clues to an unsolved murder from the ghost of her own murdered daughter. Based on an actual 19th century legal case, join Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson as they journey to America to solve the Adventure of the Greenbriar Ghost!

Beasts Royal is the second book written by Patrick O’Brian – made available, at last, for the first time since the 1930s and elegantly repackaged. On the indigo waters of the South Sea, the crew of a schooner are attacked by a man-eating tiger-shark. In the humid depths of the African jungle, a thirty-foot python plots to rid himself of his rival, a wily old crocodile. Amid the heat and dust of the Punjab, the snake-charmer Hussein escapes into the forest on the elephant that he trained when a mahout in his youth. With the dry wit and unsentimental precision O’Brian would come to be loved for, we see the drama and tragedies of the natural world unfold for these, as well as other birds and beasts, in these twelve tales of animal adventure that would appear together in 1934 as the author’s second book. O’Brian’s debut, Caesar, had been published in 1930 and became an instant success, seeing him hailed as the ‘boy-Thoreau’. His second novel, Hussein, would expand upon one of the stories included in this collection and has been praised by Martin Booth of The Daily Telegraph as being ‘…as fresh today as when it was written.…so rich in detail, it is breathtaking.’ As with Caesar and Hussein, Beasts Royal sheds fascinating light on the formation of the literary genius behind the Aubrey-Maturin series of historical adventure tales, for which he is deservedly famous.

This is a short story featuring the main character, Gladius Oldmont, from the Gladius Adventure Series.Gladius competes in the annual Bartlett Trial Preliminaries, but before the race begins, Gladius learns the truth behind the mystery of a community death. Could this new discovery unexpectedly change the outcome of the race? The only way to find out is to run The Race. Approx. 6300 words.This is a short story for middle grade readers featuring the main character, Gladius Oldmont, from the fantasy adventure novel Gladius and the Bartlett Trial, by J. A. Paul. In this exciting story, Gladius competes in the Bartlett Trial Preliminaries, an annual race for future Bartlett Trial newbies, but before the race begins, Gladius learns the truth behind the mystery of a community death. Could this new discovery unexpectedly change the outcome of the race? The only way to find out is to run The Race.This is a short story of approximately 6300 words.

For Philip, Dinah, Lucy-Ann and Jack, the holiday in Cornwall is everything they'd hoped for - until they begin to realize that something very sinister is taking place on the mysterious Isle of Gloom. But they're not prepared for the dangerous adventure that awaits them in the abandoned copper mines and secret tunnels beneath the sea.

Anna is a runaway girl disguised as a boy. After she nearly thwarts a kidnapping, she is offered a job in the royal stables. Surrounded by the intrigues of the court, she has the time of her life. But this is Anna's only chance at adventure. She finds the hero admirable but boring, and the villain is both dead wrong and a lot of fun. Who should she follow?Billy and Susan loved to hear their father read stories to them every night at bedtime. Susan told her brother Billy that the stories were for little kids. Susan said, "Billy I love dad, but I wish he would read scary stories to us instead of stories like Peter Pan and Alice and Wonderland. They were ok when we were younger, but we are so much older now." "I feel the same way. I like it when mother and father go out to dinner at night so we can watch scary movies together, "replied Billy."Next time we spend the night with grandma, maybe we can sneak out of bed and see if she has any old creepy books in her attic. If she does we can give them to our father to read to us instead of those boring stories he's been reading over and over for the past several years!" exclaimed Susan. "Tonight we'll ask him if he'll let us spend the night at grandma's house this weekend. I'm sure he'll say yes," said Billy.Night finally arrived. Billy and Susan asked their father if they could spend the night with their grandma tomorrow. Their father said, "I don't see why that would be a problem because your mother and I were planning a weekend trip." Billy and Susan would find their scary book they had been hoping for, but this book should have been left in the attic where it belongs untouched in the trunk where they found it.

Fourteen year old Sarah Rosenberg and her twin brother Joshua are spending the summer in France on an archaeological expedition with their Uncle Marty. However, what begins as a relaxing and fun-filled vacation quickly becomes a dangerous and harrowing adventure when the twins cross paths with a pair of ruthless antique smugglers. Will the twins find the treasure they seek before it's too late?Three different short stories, all with a wizard theme.Wilfred the Wizard and the Big Exam The day of Wilfred’s wizard exam has arrived but he is so nervous he pours milk on his toast, puts butter in his tea and then tea in his jam! But what about Wanda and her Witchy Warehouse? Will she spoil the day?The Olde Shoe Shoppe A shoe shop that never seems to sell any shoes? There must be a reason...when people try on the shoes, they find they don't fit. No matter what size they try. No matter how many sizes too big they try; the shoes are always the wrong size! But this is only half the reason... Peta and her Missing ParentsPeta's parents went on holiday but didn't come back! Did their plane really crash land on a very tiny desert island, somewhere in the middle of nowhere? Is it all her uncle’s fault? And what about her friend Marcie?

Part 1 of the full Hideout Adventure! The Man With The Plan and his friends return in this fifth romp in the Swindle series! HIDEOUT: a place to escape detection, especially when being chased by someone determined to have revenge. . . When Griffin Bing and his friends first met Luthor, he was a vicious attack dog working for the slimy S. Wendell Palomino - as known as Swindle. The kids rescued Luthor, and never thought they'd see Swindle again. But now Swindle's returned. And he wants his dog back. Swindle has manipulated the law so that there's no way for Savannah Drysdale to keep Luthor in her house. Before he can be taken away, they decide to made him disappear - away from Swindle. Six kids. Three hideouts. One extremely large dog. What could possibly go wrong?

Travel to the bottom of the earth to a place you never dreamed existed. Beneath the ice a hand-picked team of specialist makes its way toward the center of the world. They are not the first to venture into this magnificent subterranean labyrinth. Those they follow did not return. Over the rocks. . . Across the yawning caverns. . . beyond the black river. . . You are not alone. Into the darkness where breathtaking wonders await you-and terrors beyond imagining. . . Revelations that could change the world-things that should never be disturbed. . . At the bottom of the earth is the beginning. Keep moving toward a miracle that cannot be, toward a mystery older than time.

Sir Percy Blakeney and his lady had just arrived. It was close on midnight, and the ball had positively languished. What was a ball without the presence of Sir Percy? His Royal Highness too had been expected earlier than this. But it was not thought that he would come at all, despite his promise, if the spoilt pet of Bath society remained unaccountably absent; and the Assembly Rooms had worn an air of woe even in the face of the gaily dressed throng which filled every vast room in its remotest angle. But now Sir Percy Blakeney had arrived, just before the clocks had struck midnight, and exactly one minute before His Royal Highness drove up himself from the Royal Apartments. Lady Blakeney was looking more radiant and beautiful than ever before, so everyone remarked, when a few moments later she appeared in the crowded ball-room on the arm of His Royal Highness and closely followed by my lord Anthony Dewhurst and by Sir Percy himself, who had the young Duchess of Flintshire on his arm. "What do you mean, you incorrigible rogue," her Grace was saying with playful severity to her cavalier, "by coming so late to the ball? Another two minutes and you would have arrived after His Royal Highness himself: and how would you have justified such solecism, I would like to know." "By swearing that thoughts of your Grace had completely addled my poor brain," he retorted gaily, "and that in the mental contemplation of such charms I forgot time, place, social duties, everything." "Even the homage due to truth," she laughed. "Cannot you for once in your life be serious, Sir Percy?" "Impossible, dear lady, whilst your dainty hand rests upon mine arm." *** It was not often that His Royal Highness graced Bath with his presence, and the occasion was made the excuse for quite exceptional gaiety and brilliancy. The new fashions of this memorable year of 1793 had defied the declaration of war and filtrated through from Paris: London milliners had not been backward in taking the hint, and though most of the more starchy dowagers obstinately adhered to the pre-war fashions—the huge hooped skirts, stiff stomachers, pointed waists, voluminous panniers and monumental head erections—the young and smart matrons were everywhere to be seen in the new gracefully flowing skirts innocent of steel constructions, the high waist line, the pouter pigeon-like draperies over their pretty bosoms. Her Grace of Flintshire looked ravishing with her curly fair hair entirely free from powder, and Lady Betty Draitune\'s waist seemed to be nestling under her arm-pits. Of course Lady Blakeney wore the very latest thing in striped silks and gossamer-like muslin and lace, and it was hard to enumerate all the pretty débutantes and young brides who fluttered about the Assembly Rooms this night. And gliding through that motley throng, bright-plumaged like a swarm of butterflies, there were a few figures dressed in sober blacks and greys—the émigrés over from France—men, women, young girls and gilded youth from out that seething cauldron of revolutionary France—who had shaken the dust of that rampant demagogism from off their buckled shoes, taking away with them little else but their lives. Mostly chary of speech, grave in their demeanour, bearing upon their wan faces traces of that horror which had seized them when they saw all the traditions of their past tottering around them, the proletariat whom they had despised turning against them with all the fury of caged beasts let loose, their kindred and friends massacred, their King and Queen murdered. The shelter and security which hospitable England had extended to them, had not altogether removed from their hearts the awful sense of terror and of gloom.

A river cruise through ancient desert lands will be an adventure in itself, think Philip, Dinah, Lucy-Ann, and Jack. An adventure it certainly is, especially when Bill disappears and the children, along with Kiki the parrot, are trapped beneath a forgotten temple where no one has set foot for 7,000 years.

Dawn and Claudia have a perfect day planned. They've invited Dawn's brother and three other kids to join them on a sailing race out to Greenpoint Island. The girls have even packed a picnic lunch for the adventure. But then a big storm blows up in the middle of the race. And Claudia and Dawn and the kids never return from the island. The Baby-sitters can't believe it's true--two of their members are missing!

The Life of Saint Enimie, a 13th c text by Bertran de Marseille, comes to life as translated by Karena Akhavein, PhD. Fascinating in its own right, this translation serves as a reader's companion for the exciting action adventure Translatio, by Karena Akhavein. Readers can choose to read this fascinating Merovingian princess' life on its' own, or refer back to it while reading Translatio.The Life of Saint Enimie, a 13th century text by Bertran de Marseille, comes to life as translated by Karena Akhavein, PhD. Fascinating in its own right, this translation serves as a reader's companion for the exciting action adventure Translatio, by Karena Akhavein. Readers can choose to read this fascinating tet detailing a Merovingian princess' life on its' own, or refer back to it while reading Translatio. The old medieval Occitan language becomes accessible, rendered in modern english, in this version.

Holmes and Watson take to the skies in the quest of the nefarious Von Bork and his weapon of dread... A night sky aerial engagement with the deadly Fokker nearly claims three brilliant lives... And an historic alliance is formed, whereby Baker Street’s enigmatic mystery-solver and Greystoke, the noble savage, peer of the realm and lord of the jungle, team up to bring down the hellish hun!

The official novel of Naughty Dog’s award-winning videogame franchise! In the ancient world there was a myth about a king, a treasure, and a hellish labyrinth. Now the doors to that hell are open once again. Nathan Drake, treasure hunter and risk taker, has been called to New York City by the man who taught him everything about the “antiquities acquisition business.” Victor Sullivan needs Drake’s help. Sully’s old friend, a world-famous archaeologist, has just been found murdered in Manhattan. Dodging assassins, Drake, Sully, and the dead man’s daughter, Jada Hzujak, race from New York to underground excavations in Egypt and Greece. Their goal: to unravel an ancient myth of alchemy, look for three long-lost labyrinths, and find the astonishing discovery that got Jada’s father killed. It appears that a fourth labyrinth was built in another land and another culture—and within it lies a key to unmatched wealth and power. An army of terrifying lost warriors guards this underground maze. So does a monster. And what lies beyond—if Drake can live long enough to reach it—is both a treasure and a poison, a paradise and a hell. Welcome to The Fourth Labyrinth.

A nation's most elite warriors vanished overnight. War devouring the survivors, fanned to fury by a shadowy cabal. This dark and gritty sword and sorcery series from award winning author Jean Lowe Carlson explores a complex world of treachery, passion, sex, and magic. Readers who enjoy Game of Thrones, Outlander, the Kingkiller Chronicles, or the Wheel of Time will love this fantastic adventure.“Spellbinding! Strong development of characters, fully integrated storylines with intriguing plot twists, and deep world building. Takes you on a journey you never want to leave!” – Michelle G., Amazon Review“Like George RR Martin and Joe Abercrombie, Carlson writes in this genre for grown-ups, with flair and elegance. A complex world with characters that develop well, this story reveals as it builds!” - Daniel F., Amazon ReviewerA nation's most elite warriors vanished overnight. A throne in jeopardy on the heels of murder. War devouring the survivors, fanned to fury by a shadowy cabal born of ancient magic. And the five friends who can stop it, banished to the corners of the continent as traitors. Welcome to a land where dreams die and men do what they must.This dark and gritty sword and sorcery series from award winning author Jean Lowe Carlson explores a complex world of treachery, passion, sex, and magic. Readers who enjoy Game of Thrones, Outlander, the Kingkiller Chronicles, or the Wheel of Time will love this fantastic adventure.

When hungry aliens begin their 'rain' of terror, break out the umbrellas-the aliens can't eat you with an umbrella shoved in their huge mouths.Looking for yummy human tenders, Admiral Nact-bauk invades the local school. Zack and Zoey lead the counterattack armed with rulers, protractors, and dodge balls. Nact-bauk forces Zoey onboard the alien vessel & Zack will do almost anything to save her.When hungry aliens begin their 'rain' of terror, break out the umbrellas--the aliens can't eat you with an umbrella shoved in their huge mouths.Looking for yummy human tenders, Admiral Nact-bauk invades the local school. Zack and Zoey lead the counterattack armed with rulers, protractors, and dodge balls. They might have a chance, if Nact-bauk didn't gulp down the only teacher brave enough to stand up to him. Even worse, he forces Zoey onboard the alien vessel for dinner--along with a bucket of honey-mustard sauce.Zack will do just about anything to save her. If Principal Blathers won't help, Zack sees no choice but to 'borrow' the principal's car. Chasing the alien saucers, he meets up with a wrinkly WWII hero who thinks he knows the alien's weakness: electric toothbrushes.Wielding only umbrellas and battery-powered dental weapons, things look grim. Even if the pair manage to rescue Zoey, there's the small matter of escaping a spacecraft flying at over two hundred miles an hour.Can you say, Jetpacks?Zack & Zoey's Alien Apocalypse is approximately 17,000 words (similar in length to Diary of a Wimpy Kid) and contains no cursing or strong language.Kindle Nation gives Zack & Zoey 5-Stars!"I really enjoyed this book. I laughed a lot and kept quoting things in the book to my mom. There were even pictures in Zack and Zoey, which I thought was awesome. I can't wait for another MJ Ware book to come out...his stories are great!" 5-Stars, Kindle Nation Kids Corner Student Review"Overall, I loved and really, really enjoyed this story. The writing is great and easy and the graphics are a blast to look at. This read will get you lost in a world full of entertainment that just comes to life." 5-Stars, The Paranormal Sisters Book Reviews

On Cauldron Cooker's Night, expect black cats and blacker magic.It's Cauldron Cooker's Night, a holiday for witches. Josh and his sister Jozlyn can't sleep. When they hear a noise outside their window, they know it's a witch coming for them.On Cauldron Cooker's Night, expect black cats and blacker magic.It's Cauldron Cooker's Night, a holiday for witches. Josh and his sister Jozlyn can't sleep. When they hear a noise outside their window, they know it's a witch coming for them.But the witch is only the beginning of their troubles. Soon the pair head out on a dangerous adventure to save their townsfolk from a terrible spell. Everyone has been turned into frogs! Along the way, Josh and Jozlyn will face a hungry ogre, a creepy swamp, a mischievous black cat, and more.Worst of all, the witch is waiting for them at the end.Children's fantasy. Recommended for ages 10 and up.

Being turned into a vampire is a real bitch, but the ordeal doesn't end when you're cured. For someone like Eile, it can be just the beginning.... This is a short story.When Eile was turned into a vampire, her partner Sunny and their mentor Medb hErenn moved heaven and earth to find a cure, with the help of their nemesis, Dr. Mabuse. Unfortunately, that was not the end of her ordeal.She must now come to terms with what she did, and find a way to assuage the terrible guilt she feels concerning what she did, despite the fact that she had no control over her actions.

If you had a convenient, undetectable way to smuggle anything at all, how would you use it? Charlie will tell you. It will be dangerous.Charlie - never call him "horse"- carried drugs, documents and other goods for a fee. Encouraged by his girl friend, Aroyal, Charlie takes on a big assignment. Charlie's new employers gave him a way to be the champion smuggler of all time - undetectable, secure, even convenient. What they wanted to smuggle would change the balance of power. So how come authorities were watching for him in Riyadh? Aah, but a smuggler must be clever. Charlie was clever. Too clever for his own good. Hard science fiction with a twist you will never see coming.

Eile and Sunny are commissioned by an apothecary in Ulthar to collect medicinal herbs in a remote forest, but what starts out as an adventurous lark turns into a battle for their very souls. This is a short story.Having proven themselves intrepid and experienced adventurers in the Dreamlands, Eile and Sunny of Team Girl now receive regular commissions to undertake risky, sometimes dangerous, missions on behalf of others for pay. Some of their clients have become repeat customers; one is Mephitis, the Apothecary of Ulthar. Her medicines, ointments, potions, and poisons require a wide variety of natural ingredients, and she prefers to spend her time preparing the former rather than gathering the latter. With few exceptions, the ingredients can be gathered with no special preparation, so anyone can do it. Since Mephitis is friends with Team Girl's mentor Medb hErenn, she trusts them and gives them most of her business.However, some of these ingredients are only located in perilous locations, requiring the special talents of adventurers to brave the dangers and overcome them long enough to collect whatever is needed. One such location is the Dark Wood, a remnant of the ancient forest that used to cover the Dreamlands in the dim past. Its reputation is even worse than that of the Enchanted Woods, and few people who enter its precincts ever leave. Yet it contains the rarest and most powerful ingredients in all the Dreamlands.Eile and Sunny knew what they were getting into when they accepted the commission to enter the Wood and collect a dozen or so of its most important medicinal plants, but from the beginning their excursion proves to be disappointing: it turns out to be so pleasant and relaxing that they become bored.Yet very soon they would find themselves in a battle for their very souls.

Eile, as the fighter and thief Braveheart, and Sunny, as her magic-user partner White-Lion, are playing a scenario in the online role-playing game Otherworld. They have been hired by a powerful count to rescue his young wife, kidnapped by a dragon. However, there is a snag; the mission won't be as simple as it sounds. This is a short story, with a Preface and Sample Excerpts.About a year before they met in the real world and became Team Girl, Eile Chica and Sunny Hiver played an online role-playing game called Otherworld, a more family-friendly version of World of Warcraft and other such games. Eile had created the fighter and thief Braveheart, whereas Sunny played a magic-user named White-Lion. They met while independently exploring a lost temple of evil, became friends and partners, and adventured together afterwards.This is one of their sessions. They broke into the country villa of a powerful count to steal whatever they could, but were caught. Rather than have them hung, he "hired" them to rescue his young wife, who had been kidnapped by a dragon. However, the mission won't be as simple as it sounds, because a previous rescue attempt went seriously wrong, and now the Girls have to clean up the resulting mess.If they can.

Lady Araminta Ambleforth has been looking forward to her outing. Sadly, her brand new phaeton breaks, and Araminta decides to enjoy the fine afternoon and walk home rather than wait by the dusty roadside. If only one handsome gentleman after another didn't distract her along the way. Will one of them steal the lady's heart? This Regency short story was originally written as a round-robin story.Lady Araminta Ambleforth has been looking forward to her outing to Maidstone from the moment she'd thought of the idea yesterday. Sadly, it looked as if her journey would end almost before it began. Her brand new phaeton disabled, Araminta decides to enjoy the fine afternoon and walk home rather than wait by the dusty roadside. If only one handsome gentleman after another didn't distract her along the way. Will one of them steal the lady's heart?This Regency short story was originally written as a Round-Robin serial from some of your favorite authors on our website, www.harlequinhistoricalauthors.blogspot.com.

The kids from Miss Shoe’s Orphanage get caught up in another adventure when they uncover a hidden map of a lost treasure! Their suspenseful journey takes them from the Lightkeeper’s cottage to a forgotten vault buried deep inside the island! But they need to watch out for a suspicious old fisherman who will do anything to keep it for himself!The kids from Miss Shoe’s Orphanage get caught up in another adventure when they uncover a hidden map of a lost treasure! Their suspenseful journey takes them from the Lightkeeper’s cottage to a forgotten vault buried deep inside the island! But they need to watch out for a suspicious old fisherman who knows the legend of the lost gold and will do anything to keep it for himself! Help the kids solve the mystery and uncover the Legend of the Lightkeeper’s Gold!

Burlington Bear (Burly to his friends) and Grum the Groblin go trick or treating for the very first time. Not only do they collect lots of candy they make friends with a fairy and come across a chilled out creature of the night!Write On Press Presents an incredible collection of original short fiction including 9 of the best new and original short stories of 2014! We put together a collection of work by some of the hottest new authors of fiction, fantasy, sci-fi and romance. With well over 125,000 words of quality short stories, there is sure to be something for every taste. Enjoy the works of J. J. Haile, Assad Deshay, Damien Butler, and many others!Fiction:J. Grayson, Talent ScoutLetting GoBoat House~*~Fantasy:A Satur'morn AdventureEndings & Beginnings~*~Science Fiction:Roadside AttractionThe Mad DashThe Conspiracy of Things~*~Romance:Jesse's List

Nothing could be more exciting than a night flight on Bill’s plane! But Philip, Dinah, Lucy-Ann, and Jack soon find themselves flying straight into a truly amazing adventure. What has happened to Bill? Who are the two strange pilots, and what is the secret treasure hidden in the lonely valley where the children land?

When her island home is invaded by enemy soldiers, her family captured, and the town enslaved, Taylina must find a way to fight back and free her people. But their enemies have powerful warships, sorcerers, and dragons. Her simple people are no match. Her only hope is to venture onto the forbidden half of the island and seek the one individual powerful enough to battle their enemies, a dragon known for eating humans rather than helping them. Find out what happens to Taylina and meet the dragon who thinks he’s a god in Dragon Rider, a prequel to Lindsay’s USA Today bestselling Dragon Blood series. In addition to Dragon Rider, Beginnings features four previously published fantasy adventure novels, all with new introductions from the author: Encrypted The Emperor’s Edge Balanced on the Blade’s Edge Warrior Mage

Eile and Sunny of Team Girl love to go pub-crawling in the Dreamlands, especially when a mysterious patron offers them adventure and financial reward. However, trouble follows them like a love-starved puppy, and this Friday night will be anything but relaxing. This is a short story.Eile and Sunny of Team Girl have been lured to a slum tavern with an offer of adventure, sweetened by a rich advance in gold. When they arrive, however, they quickly discover that the deal isn't kosher, and they refuse the offer. Afterwards they decide to enjoy a relaxing evening just having fun.Unfortunately, trouble always seems to follow them like a love-starved puppy, and if two bruisers have their way, this Friday night will be anything but relaxing.

A huge snow storm brings suspense and drama to airport and airline personnel responsible for the safe landing of one impaired aircraft. Book available. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Travel with young Christian as he sets out on a difficult and perilous journey to find the King. Solve the optional puzzles and riddles along the way, and help Christian reach the Celestial City. Then travel with his friend Christiana and her young brothers who can sometimes be a bit of a problem.Travel with young Christian as he sets out on a difficult and perilous journey to find the King. Solve the optional puzzles and riddles along the way, and help Christian reach the Celestial City. Then travel with his friend Christiana and her young brothers who can sometimes be a bit of a problem.Be warned, you will meet giants and lions -- and even dragons! There are people who don't want Christian and Christiana to reach the city of the King and his Son. But not everyone is an enemy. There are plenty of friendly people. It's just a matter of finding them.Are you prepared to help? Are you sure? The journey can be very dangerous! As with our book Mary Jones and Her Bible, you can enjoy the story even if you don't want to try the puzzles.This is a simplified and abridged version of Pilgrim's Progress -- Special Edition, containing illustrations and a mix of puzzles. Older readers, including adults, will find the same story told in much greater detail in Pilgrim's Progress -- Special Edition.

Jet-packs, Dragons, Barbarians, Dinosaurs, Magic, Space-Ships, Chainsaws and Beards. This epic tale of hilarity, emotion and adventure is the true story of Grigor: The Destructionator!The five pieces of awesome are objects scattered around the universe that grant the wielder near ultimate power. If the Evil Lord gets them first then the Universe will be thrust into a nightmareish hell, if Grigor gets them first, there's a slim chance he can save everyone. But the pieces already have owners, will Grigor and his rag tag group of comrades (including an immortal legendary pirate and a man with chainsaws for arms) get the pieces first and save the world? Or will the Evil Lord plunge the universe into indomitable darkness forever?Before Grigor even realises that he's on an amazing adventure he has to face his day job as a Viking Bank Financier. This has it's own challenges, like Evil Zombie Ninjas and even worse, a visit from the Aduit Team.A hilariously ironic slant on the space opera and fantasy epic style. Un-like anything you will ever read.

FREE - The hunter becomes the hunted in this adventure short story based in Australia's remote Kimberly. (updated)The hunter becomes the hunted in this adventure short story based in Australia's remote Kimberly. How a trip to one of Australia's most remote locations turns into a struggle for life.(Updated version fixing some edit issues, Feb14)

A sampler of the mystery adventure novels of Richard L. Wren, including two never before published stories and excerpts from his four (thus far) published books.This is a sampler including excerpts from four mystery-adventure novels, and two never before published stories featuring the main characters of the other novels. The author of four novels thus far, Richard L. Wren's main characters are Joshua Rogan (a Park Ranger with championship martial arts skills who solves unusual mysteries) and Casey & Smitty (Casey Alton -- young sailboat captain; Smitty Smith -- semi-retired motorcycle gang leader).Included are the brand new stories "Casey & Smitty Go Fishing (and Catch Something They Don't Want)" and "Yellowstone Justice," featuring Joshua Rogan. Plus, excerpts from the two Casey Alton Mysteries (CASEY'S SLIP and MURDER MADE LEGAL) and the two Joshua Rogan adventures (JOSHUA'S REVENGE and JUSTICE FOR JOSHUA).

Join young Joshua Manders and his friends on another IPMA (Institute for the Preservation of Magical Artifacts) adventure. Belschnikel, aka: Santa Claus, has had it with his Yeti contract labor and the North Pole is overrun. Can the IPMA with the aide of a few misfits save the day on time for Christmas?This story was originally begun under the National Novel Writing Month Organization (NaNoWriMo.org) for 2013. Now enjoy the completed story.Join the IPMA agents on another Institute for the Preservation of Magical Artifacts adventure, this time at the North Pole during Christmas 2013 to help quash a hostile takeover. The Yeti clan of North America have decided to take Santa's workshop for their own and will use magic, their ferocity, and their sheer numbers to make it happen. Who among the IPMA agents can stop them?Something fishy was up, Joshua knew it. What were the little fuzzy white hair balls that could seemingly use magic to grow to fifteen feet tall in the blink of an eye doing? Were they migrating north for the Holidays? And who were these men in black suits at his doorstep when after he tried to report what he'd seen on the internet.Will he be the key to preventing a hostile take over of Santa's workshop by the Yeti? Will the agents of the IPMA trust him to unlock the secrets of defending the North Pole if he is?As a follow up to "The Old Silk Hat", "Seeing Devils" and "Troll Brother" see what happens in a magic vs. technology battle to save Christmas Morning.

Ex-Navy SEAL Jack Kirkland surfaces from an aborted underwater salvage mission to find the Earth burning. Solar flares have triggered a series of gargantuan natural disasters. Earthquakes and hellfire rock the globe. Air Force One has vanished from the skies with America's president on board. Now, with the U. S. on the narrow brink of a nuclear apocalypse, Kirkland must pilot his oceangoing exploration ship, Deep Fathom, on a desperate mission miles below the ocean's surface. There devastating secrets await him — and a power an ancient civilization could not contain has been cast out into modern day. And it will forever alter a world that's already racing toward its own destruction.

Thrilling Adventure is an anthology where new characters debut, team ups between existing EBH heroes, and tales that cannot be told in the EBH solo series. This first episode features the team up of Scarlet Tie the openly gay African American hero of Cleveland and Jewish hero the Key-Master and his sidekick, the enigmatic Tyke Teen Of Tomorrow.Thrilling Adventure is an anthology where new characters debut, team ups between existing EBH heroes, and tales that cannot be told in the EBH solo series. This first episode features the team up of Scarlet Tie the openly gay African American hero of Cleveland and Jewish hero the Key-Master. The central theme is extinction and what future efforts might be used to restore extinct species to the planet.

Binky, a sentient bionic doglike being, is in search of friends when he meets Merlin the Magician and a young King Arthur. Follow him on this fantastic exploration of friendship and magic and meet the first Lord When.Before Binky became Lord When's trusted companion, he was the best friend of another well known genius...Merlin the Magician. A Merlin who was both wise and kind. A man who won Binky's heart and soul, if not his AI implanted electronic, bionic body.Come back in time to join with Binky as he lives through a golden age of man when there were Knights of the Round Table, and a young man whose future decreed that he one day rule all of Britain with a firm, but fair hand and bring the Light into the lands that were darkened by the hordes of Druids and ravagers of those times.See how Binky helps and launches the career of a new Lord When, who will one day scour time and space to help those in need of his services.Learn what Mordred and Morgana truly were like during those tumultous times, and what their parts in the grand play of King Arthur's life were.Then..Time Swirl on your first adventure with Lord When!

Online gamers Jayden Banks and his best friend Parker Jameson had the perfect life in the San Francisco Bay Area until a malfunctioning tablet computer and a traced computer hack catapult them into an epic outer-space adventure.Most kids had called online gamer Jayden Banks the luckiest thirteen-year-old around before his curiosity tossed him into a real intergalactic war that might just destroy Earth, get his parents killed, and change his destiny forever.When Jayden, his best friend, Parker Jameson, and Parker’s sister Nora get taken away by a UFO, they must use their gamer-hacker skills and a powerful quantum computer tablet to stay alive.As the trio struggles to get back home to Earth, an alien commander and his army of shape-shifting Zepar aliens force them to fight in an intergalactic space war until a rag-tag group of alien teens, called the Spring Tide Masons, come to their rescue. Just when it seems like Jayden and his friends might be on their way back home, everything gets wicked complicated and life as they know it may change forever.Each novel in the middle-grade science fiction series follows the trio and the Spring Tide Masons through a space adventure, solving problems and exciting intergalactic mysteries while rescuing civilizations in trouble. Will Jayden and the Jameson twins and the Spring Tide Masons keep the universe safe or will they ultimately decide to hide on Earth playing online games, collecting virtual gold and flinging fat fowl?Game On has been judged and named a 2015 Benjamin Franklin Digital Award GOLD HONOREE!

Michael Chabon’s Pulitzer Prize-winning bestseller, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, sprang from an early passion for the derring-do and larger-than-life heroes of classic comic books. Now, once more mining the rich past, Chabon summons the rollicking spirit of legendary adventures–from The Arabian Nights to Alexandre Dumas to Fritz Leiber’s Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser stories–in a wonderful new novel brimming with breathless action, raucous humor, cliff-hanging suspense, and a cast of colorful characters worthy of Scheherazade’s most tantalizing tales. They’re an odd pair, to be sure: pale, rail-thin, black-clad Zelikman, a moody, itinerant physician fond of jaunty headgear, and ex-soldier Amram, a gray-haired giant of a man as quick with a razor-tongued witticism as he is with a sharpened battle-ax. Brothers under the skin, comrades in arms, they make their rootless way through the Caucasus Mountains, circa A.D. 950, living as they please and surviving however they can–as blades and thieves for hire and as practiced bamboozlers, cheerfully separating the gullible from their money. No strangers to tight scrapes and close shaves, they’ve left many a fist shaking in their dust, tasted their share of enemy steel, and made good any number of hasty exits under hostile circumstances. None of which has necessarily prepared them to be dragooned into service as escorts and defenders to a prince of the Khazar Empire. Usurped by his brutal uncle, the callow and decidedly ill-tempered young royal burns to reclaim his rightful throne. But doing so will demand wicked cunning, outrageous daring, and foolhardy bravado . . . not to mention an army. Zelikman and Amram can at least supply the former. But are these gentlemen of the road prepared to become generals in a full-scale revolution? The only certainty is that getting there–along a path paved with warriors and whores, evil emperors and extraordinary elephants, secrets, swordplay, and such stuff as the grandest adventures are made of–will be much more than half the fun. From the Hardcover edition.

Zach, Poppy and Alice have been friends for ever. They love playing with their action figure toys, imagining a magical world of adventure and heroism. But disaster strikes when, without warning, Zach’s father throws out all his toys, declaring he’s too old for them. Zach is furious, confused and embarrassed, deciding that the only way to cope is to stop playing . . . and stop being friends with Poppy and Alice. But one night the girls pay Zach a visit, and tell him about a series of mysterious occurrences. Poppy swears that she is now being haunted by a china doll – who claims that it is made from the ground-up bones of a murdered girl. They must return the doll to where the girl lived, and bury it. Otherwise the three children will be cursed for eternity . . .

Arnold Bennett was a prolific British writer who penned dozens of works across all genres, from adventurous fiction to propaganda and nonfiction. He wrote plays like Judith and historical novels like Tales of the Five Towns.

A team of explorers and a National Geographic photographer unearth the remains of 500 year old Dominican monk. Etched on his cross is a strange message. His secret tells of something wondrous and terrifying waiting to be unearthed. High in the Andes, Dr. Henry Conklin discovers a 500-year-old mummy that should not be there. While deep in the South American jungle, Conklin's nephew, Sam, stumbles upon a remarkable site nestled between two towering peaks, a place hidden from human eyes for thousands of years. Ingenious traps have been laid to ensnare the careless and unsuspecting, and wealth beyond imagining could be the reward for those with the courage to face the terrible unknown. But where the perilous journey inward ends--in the cold, shrouded heart of a breathtaking necropolis--something else is waiting for Sam Conklin and his exploratory party. A thing created by Man, yet not humanly possible. Something wondrous . . . something terrifying.

The discovery of the tomb of an ancient Norse king unleashes a weapon of unbelievable power.One touch from the Spear of Odin can transform a man into a berserker—an unstoppable rage-fueled killing machine. Dane Maddock and "Bones" Bonebrake, former Navy SEALs turned treasure hunters, are on assignment in Norway—their mission: Stop the rogue biotech company ScanoGen from getting their hands on the legendary weapon.But ScanoGen isn't the only enemy they'll need to worry about. A crazed mercenary with delusions of godhood has plans to use the spear to raise an army of berserkers, unleashing them upon an unsuspecting world, and only Dane and Bones stand in his way.PRAISE FOR DAVID WOOD AND THE DANE MADDOCK ADVENTURES!A great read that provides lots of action, and thoughtful insight as well, into strange realms that are sometimes best left unexplored." Paul Kemprecos, author of Cool Blue Tomb"Dane and...

This was the time.This was the ultimate test.This was what they had trained for, sweating and cursing the boiling sun; sensing, but not sure, that their drill would be used in ship-to-ship combat.And now, with the enemy destroyers almost dead ahead, Lasenby knew with a savage, convincing pride that this gun crew of his would load and fire and keep loading and firing as long as they had ammunition.

What would you do with the power of a god?Rock star Rafael Marquez is making good on a promise to get his degree. The magic has been missing from his music, and he's hungry for so much more than the hard lifestyle he'd adopted. The godstone of Huehuecoyotl couldn't have come to him at a better time. Even better, it gave him the chance work with Freyja, his goddess-crush, and he's thrilled to make a difference by her side. When Freyja's banished to the underworld without him, though, the trickster will need all the allies he can find to go after her. He's determined to show the jaded woman that she can count on him. If he doesn't…she may not survive the growing forces that threaten them, and that's an outcome he can't live with.The Trickster's Strings is the second book in a five part series of adventure, romance, and cliffhangers. Part 3 will be available for sale and in KU in November. Meanwhile, look for a Godsongs novella out in September, set in the downtime toward the end of this book.

In Beyond Civilization, Daniel Quinn thinks the unthinkable. We all know there's no one right way to build a bicycle, no one right way to design an automobile, no one right way to make a pair of shoes, but we're convinced that there must be only one right way to live -- and the one we have is it, no matter what. Beyond Civilization makes practical sense of the vision of Daniel Quinn's best-selling novel Ishmael. Examining ancient civilizations such as the Maya and the Olmec, as well as modern-day microcosms of alternative living like circus societies, Quinn guides us on a quest for a new model for society, one that is forward-thinking and encourages diversity instead of suppressing it. Beyond Civilization is not about a "New World Order" but a "New Personal World Order" that would allow people to assert control over their own destiny and grant them the freedom to create their own way of life right now -- not in some distant utopian future. From the Trade Paperback edition.

The twelfth in the fun 12-book collectible series for young readers from survival expert and Chief Scout BEAR GRYLLS.Mia loves to take charge and be a leader - she's not lacking in confidence and throws herself into every experience. Except she's terrible at taking a back seat and letting others have their say. A mysterious compass leads her to an unexpected adventure with Bear Grylls sailing the high seas. Can Bear show Mia the importance of teamwork and how dangerous the ocean can be if the captain doesn't have a crew who will work together?Each book in this fun new 12-book series from BEAR GRYLLS follows a different child on the outdoor activity camp. Once they are given the magical compass, they meet the inspirational adventurer in an amazing place and learn new skills and facts they can take with them back to their real life.

The beast hunter is on a mission of mercy to save the love of his life.Life is good for professional monster hunter Keltin Moore. His new beast hunting company is finding great success as he returns to distant Krendaria to protect its citizens from creatures of nightmare.But when he receives word that the woman he loves is in trouble, he will leave the world that he knows behind and plunge headlong into dangers he has never faced before.Somehow, he'll have to sneak across a closed border, find his beloved and her family, and escort them all safely back out of the country. From dodging sadistic government agents to racing through beast-infested forests, will Keltin and his new friends survive their escape through Dangerous Territory?This is the third installment of the award-winning Adventures of Keltin Moore, a series of steampunk-flavored fantasy novels. If you love compelling characters, fantastic creatures, and intense action then you will love these stories!

The Man from Archangel and Other Tales of Adventure is a volume collecting 15 short stories written by Arthur Conan Doyle and published in 1925. The collection is divided in two parts : Tales of Adventure with miscellaneous stories, and Tales of Medical Life with stories about medecine and doctors.

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An insatiable succubus? A shy werewolf? A scatterbrained angel? This team needs a leader!



J.B. Clarke enrolled in college to earn his degree and find a steady job. What he got instead was an adventure in a secret underworld where vampires rule over all. Emma Rose, a friendly gamer who turns out to be a succubus, recruits him into Broken Fang, an overly ambitious team of monster girls. These lovely ladies know they’ll need help if they’re to stand a chance against the vampires, and they’re looking for a few good men.



Well, one man, actually. And that’s him.



Clarke is soon thrust into a hidden world full of magic, mystery, and mythical creatures. He’s in way over his head because Broken Fang is a dysfunctional mess, and his calculus professor is a sadistic vampire who snacks on pet animals. He’ll need more than his (considerable) experience with fantasy games to solve this problem!



Fortunately, he’s far from helpless. He’s a blood knight, descended from an ancient and powerful line of vampire hunters, and his magical abilities have finally begun to awaken. But will they be enough? Can he master his powers in time to face the coming storm? Can he grow into the leader Broken Fang so desperately needs?



Or will he end up as just one more meal for the vampires?



WARNING: Blood Knight: Vampire Slayer is a fun urban fantasy adventure with a healthy side of heat: voluptuous succubi, energetic werewolves, incorrigible slime girls, nubile witches, and saucy language to match. (So don’t read it and then complain about the spice. Y’all know exactly what you’re getting into.)

A lich, a storm dragon's claws, and a battle for freedom.Gage has a week to rescue his loved ones before they're sacrificed, but if he's going to fight through an army of demons to get them out of the prison camp, he's going to need a powerful weapon.An ex-Demon Hunter turned lich is rumored to have just the thing: the claws of an ancient storm dragon that will give Gage the powers of a Storm Lord. But the lich was banished into the Dreaming a century ago, so tracking him down won't be easy.Stealing treasure from a lich is no simple task, but if he has to, Gage will pry the weapon from the monster's cold, undead hands.

Nita and Sohail are thrilled when they win scholarships to attend the Alaska Young Explorers program. Both kids could use the prize money to help their families and set out to compete as hard as they can. But things take a turn when they're paired up on an expedition. The two make a misstep while hiking down a glacier and find themselves in dangerous territory. Nita and Sohail will have to depend on each other and learn to work together...if they want to survive the Alaskan wilderness.

Fasten your seatbelts - it's a special adventure for World Book Day with Teddington's wildest family! Learn just how our intrepid hyenas managed to get from their African safari park onto the plane and off to their new home in England. It's quite a remarkable, and some would say, unbelievable tale - but there are many laughs along the way!