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Books > Fiction > Genre fiction > Myth & legend told as fiction
THE INSTANT SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER 'Epic, romantic, and
enthralling from start to finish' Stephanie Garber The stunning
conclusion to the Celestial Kingdom Duology An unspeakable terror
is sweeping across the realm as the Celestial Emperor tightens his
grip on power. The fragile peace Xingyin fought so hard for when
freeing her mother is under threat. Forced to flee her home,
Xingyin ventures into the unexplored lands of the Immortal Realm to
seek aid in her fight, but, with alliances shifting quicker than
the tides, she has to overcome past grudges and enmities to forge a
new path forward, seeking aid where she never imagined. Xingyin
must uncover the truth of her heart and claw her way through
devastation - to rise against evil before it destroys everything
she holds dear, and the worlds she has grown to love ... even if
doing so demands the greatest price of all. The stunning sequel to
the Sunday Times bestselling Daughter of the Moon Goddess delves
deeper into beloved Chinese mythology, concluding the epic story of
Xingyin - the daughter of Chang'e and the mortal archer Houyi - as
she battles a grave new threat to the realm, in this powerful tale
of love, sacrifice, and hope.
This de luxe collector's edition features the first edition text
and contains a facsimile page of Tolkien's original manuscript. The
book is quarterbound with a special gold motif stamped on the front
board and is presented in a matching slipcase. "Many years ago,
J.R.R. Tolkien composed his own version, now published for the
first time, of the great legend of Northern antiquity, in two
closely related poems to which he gave the titles The New Lay of
the Voelsungs and The New Lay of Gudrun. In the Lay of the
Voelsungs is told the ancestry of the great hero Sigurd, the slayer
of Fafnir most celebrated of dragons, whose treasure he took for
his own; of his awakening of the Valkyrie Brynhild who slept
surrounded by a wall of fire, and of their betrothal; and of his
coming to the court of the great princes who were named the
Niflungs (or Nibelungs), with whom he entered into
blood-brotherhood. In that court there sprang great love but also
great hate, brought about by the power of the enchantress, mother
of the Niflungs, skilled in the arts of magic, of shape-changing
and potions of forgetfulness. In scenes of dramatic intensity, of
confusion of identity, thwarted passion, jealousy and bitter
strife, the tragedy of Sigurd and Brynhild, of Gunnar the Niflung
and Gudrun his sister, mounts to its end in the murder of Sigurd at
the hands of his blood-brothers, the suicide of Brynhild, and the
despair of Gudrun. In the Lay of Gudrun her fate after the death of
Sigurd is told, her marriage against her will to the mighty Atli,
ruler of the Huns (the Attila of history), his murder of her
brothers the Niflung lords, and her hideous revenge. Deriving his
version primarily from his close study of the ancient poetry of
Norway and Iceland known as the Poetic Edda (and where no old
poetry exists, from the later prose work the Voelsunga Saga),
J.R.R. Tolkien employed a verse-form of short stanzas whose lines
embody in English the exacting alliterative rhythms and the
concentrated energy of the poems of the Edda." - Christopher
Tolkien
Enter a world in which magic exists, hope wins and every woman's
heart is alive with courage!This global feast of ancient tales
features valiant women overcoming every kind of obstacle and danger
to fulfil their destinies. Travel through Africa, Asia, Europe, the
Middle East, North America and the Pacific. Shudder, cheer and
laugh out loud as the heroines deal with trolls, faeries, dragons
and ghosts; admire their knowledge, wit and cunning; marvel at
shapeshifting and other manifestations of the supernatural.A rich
collection of fairy tales, beautifully illustrated throughout with
Joe McClaren woodcuts, this book is stitched together like a series
of Scheherazade stories. It is story-telling at its best, pitch
perfect fairy tales of fearless women for readers everywhere.
A classic collection of tales to tell children of about four,
featuring beloved characters and lively stories, by Michael Bond,
Jill Barklem, Anne Fine amongst others, chosen by children's book
expert, Julia Eccleshare. Paddington Bear has a magical moment, the
animals of Brambly Hedge are struggling at the dusty mill: Lara's
godmother sorts out a noisy lion and Rapunzel is rescued from the
tower... These classic stories are wonderful to share and enjoy
with your child at any time of the year, or would make the perfect
birthday gift.
Sumptuous slipcased edition of Tolkien's classic epic tale of
adventure, fully illustrated in colour for the first time by the
author himself. This deluxe volume is quarterbound in leather and
includes many special features unique to this edition. Since it was
first published in 1954, The Lord of the Rings has been a book
people have treasured. Steeped in unrivalled magic and
otherworldliness, its sweeping fantasy and epic adventure has
touched the hearts of young and old alike. Over 100 million copies
of its many editions have been sold around the world, and
occasional collectors' editions become prized and valuable items of
publishing. This one-volume deluxe slipcased edition contains the
complete text, fully corrected and reset, which is printed in red
and black and features, for the very first time, thirty colour
illustrations, maps and sketches drawn by Tolkien himself as he
composed this epic work. These include the pages from the Book of
Mazarbul, marvellous facsimiles created by Tolkien to accompany the
famous 'Bridge of Khazad-dum' chapter. Also appearing are two
poster-size, fold-out maps revealing all the detail of
Middle-earth. This very special deluxe edition is quarterbound in
cloth and red leather, with raised ribs on the spine and stamped in
two foils. The pages are edged in gold and contained within are
special features unique to this edition.
'Superb ... radically new and beautiful' Observer 'Magical and
evocative' Imogen Hermes Gowar, author of The Mermaid and Mrs.
Hancock 'Heartachingly poignant' Lucy Holland, author of Sistersong
'An ancient tapestry of legend brilliantly rewoven' Francis
Spufford, author of Light Perpetual The new novel from the
Costa-Award winning author of In The Days of Rain. AD 500. An
island in the Thames. Isla has a secret: she has learned her
father's sophisticated sword-making skills at a time when even
entering a forge is forbidden to women. Her sister, Blue, has a
secret, too: at low tide on the night of each new moon, she visits
the bones of the mud woman, drowned by the elders of her tribe who
wanted to make a lesson of someone who wouldn't hold her tongue.
When the local Seax overlord discovers Isla's secret there is
nowhere for the sisters to hide, except across the water to the
walled ghost city, Londinium. Here Blue and Isla find sanctuary in
an underworld community of squatters, emigrants, travellers and
looters, led by the mysterious Crowther, living in an abandoned
brothel and bathhouse. But trouble pursues them even into the
haunted city. Dark Earth takes us back to the very founding of
Britain to explore the experience of women trying to find kin in a
world ruled by blood ties, feuds and men in quest of a nation.
'Unique and extraordinary ... It is difficult to imagine any reader
not becoming bewitched by Dark Earth' Irish Times 'Thrilling' Alice
Albinia, author of Cwen 'Pulses with the energy of a brave new
world, a world as beautiful as it is dangerous, where a belief in
myth and magic can save your life' Katherine J. Chen, author of
Joan: A Novel of Joan of Arc
A classic collection of tales for young readers of about five,
featuring beloved characters and lively stories by Michael Bond,
Jill Barklem, Elizabeth Laird and others, chosen by children's book
expert, Julia Eccleshare. Paddington Bear tries to buy a birthday
present, the animals of Brambly Hedge set off to the seaside; A
greedy queen insists on having the biggest tree in the world, but
will Cinderella get to go to the ball? These classic stories are
wonderful to share and enjoy with your child at any time of the
year, or would make the perfect birthday gift.
Fast-paced and exciting, beautifully illustrated and full of
unicorn magic, children will love Unicorn Seekers a thrilling new
series from BBC disability ambassador, Cerrie Burnell. Growing up
in a bustling city, Elodie Lightfoot thinks she's seen it all.
Except, she's never seen a unicorn before... until now. And not
just that - she can feel the unicorn's magic too - it's as if a
special bond exists between them. But while these exciting powers
bring adventure, they also bring danger as Elodie realises she's
prepared to protect her unicorn at all costs... Striking cover with
shiny silver sparkles makes this the perfect gift A beautifully
told adventure story with magic, excitement and, of course,
unicorns! This captivating new book from TV personality and
disability campaigner Cerrie Burnell will leave children completely
enchanted Gorgeous black and white illustrations throughout
As featured in The New York Times... Throughout the history of
civilisation, traditional crafts have been passed down from hand to
skilled hand. Blacksmithing, brewing, beekeeping, baking, milling,
spinning, knitting and weaving: these skills held societies
together, and so too shaped their folklore and mythology. Exploring
the folklore connected with these rural crafts, Telling the Bees
examines the customs, superstitions and stories woven into some of
the world's oldest trades. From the spinning of the Fates to the
blacksmith's relationship with the devil, and the symbolism of John
Barleycorn to a ritual to create bees from the corpse of a cow -
these are the traditions upon which our modern world was built.
The islands of Britain and Ireland hold a rich heritage of plant
folklore and wisdom, from the magical yew tree to the bad-tempered
dandelion. Here are traditional tales about the trees and plants
that shape our landscapes and our lives through the seasons. They
explore the complex relationship between people and plants, in
lowlands and uplands, fields, bogs, moors, woodlands and towns.
Suitable for all ages, this is an essential collection of stories
for anyone interested in botany, the environment and our living
heritage.
Tessa Gratton's latest epic adult fantasy, Lady Hotspur, is a
sweeping, heart-stopping Shakespearean novel of betrayal and
battlefields and destiny. STRIKE FAST, LOVE HARD, LIVE FOREVER This
is the motto of the Lady Knights - sworn to fealty under a
struggling kingdom, promised to defend the prospective heir, Banna
Mora. But when a fearsome rebellion overthrows the throne, Mora is
faced with an agonizing choice: give up everything she's been
raised to love, and allow a king-killer to be rewarded - or retake
the throne, and take up arms against the newest heir, Hal
Bolingbrooke, Mora's own childhood best friend and sworn head of
the Lady Knights. Hal loathes being a Prince; she's much more
comfortable instated on the Throne of Misrule, a racous underground
nether-court where passion rules all. She yearns to live up to the
wishes of everyone she loves best - but that means sacrificing her
own heart, and so she will disappoint everyone until the moment she
can rise to prove those expectations wrong. And between these two
fierce Princes is the woman who will decide all their fates - Lady
Isarna Hotspur, the fiery and bold knight whose support will turn
the tides of the coming war.
All the wonder, terror and delight of Greek mythology springs forth from the pages of this unique and much-needed anthology. Rhonda Hendricks has not only selected from the works of the ancient authors the best -- and often earliest -- versions of these tales; she has also arranged them so as to give a cumulative view of classical mythology beginning with The Creation and The Birth of Zeus. Of particular interest are: The Ages of Mankind, The Birth of Athena, Oedipus the King, Heracles, Theseus, Jason and Medea, The Judgement of Paris, The Trojan Horse, Pygmalion, and Cupid and Psyche. These texts offer a new perspective on classical mythology and, by so doing, cast a new light on this cornerstone of Western culture.
Unavailable for more than 70 years, this early but important work
is published for the first time with Tolkien's 'Corrigan' poems and
other supporting material, including a prefatory note by
Christopher Tolkien. Set 'In Britain's land beyond the seas' during
the Age of Chivalry, The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun tells of a
childless Breton Lord and Lady ('Aotrou' and 'Itroun') and the
tragedy that befalls them when Aotrou seeks to remedy their
situation with the aid of a magic potion obtained from a corrigan,
or malevolent fairy. When the potion succeeds and Itroun bears
twins, the corrigan returns seeking her fee, and Aotrou is forced
to choose between betraying his marriage and losing his life.
Coming from the darker side of J.R.R. Tolkien's imagination, The
Lay of Aotrou and Itroun, together with the two shorter 'Corrigan'
poems that lead up to it and are also included here, was the
outcome of a comparatively short but intense period in Tolkien's
life when he was deeply engaged with Celtic, and particularly
Breton, myth and legend. Written in 1930, this early but seminal
work is an important addition to the non-Middle-earth portion of
his canon alongside Tolkien's other retellings of myth and legend,
The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrun, The Fall of Arthur and The Story
of Kullervo, a small but important corpus of his ventures into
'real-world' mythologies, each of which would be a formative
influence on his own legendarium.
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The Fall of Gondolin
(Paperback)
J. R. R. Tolkien; Illustrated by Alan Lee; Edited by Christopher Tolkien
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R300
R240
Discovery Miles 2 400
Save R60 (20%)
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Ships in 5 - 10 working days
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Painstakingly restored from Tolkien's manuscripts and presented for
the first time as a standalone work, the epic tale of The Fall of
Gondolin will reunite fans of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings
with Elves and Men, Balrogs, Dragons and Orcs and the rich
landscape and creatures unique to Tolkien's Middle-earth. In the
Tale of The Fall of Gondolin are two of the greatest powers in the
world. There is Morgoth of the uttermost evil, unseen in this story
but ruling over a vast military power from his fortress of Angband.
Deeply opposed to Morgoth is Ulmo, second in might only to Manwe,
chief of the Valar. Central to this enmity of the gods is the city
of Gondolin, beautiful but undiscoverable. It was built and peopled
by Noldorin Elves who, when they dwelt in Valinor, the land of the
gods, rebelled against their rule and fled to Middle-earth. Turgon
King of Gondolin is hated and feared above all his enemies by
Morgoth, who seeks in vain to discover the marvellously hidden
city, while the gods in Valinor in heated debate largely refuse to
intervene in support of Ulmo's desires and designs. Into this world
comes Tuor, cousin of Turin, the instrument of Ulmo's designs.
Guided unseen by him Tuor sets out from the land of his birth on
the fearful journey to Gondolin, and in one of the most arresting
moments in the history of Middle-earth the sea-god himself appears
to him, rising out of the ocean in the midst of a storm. In
Gondolin he becomes great; he is wedded to Idril, Turgon's
daughter, and their son is Earendel, whose birth and profound
importance in days to come is foreseen by Ulmo. At last comes the
terrible ending. Morgoth learns through an act of supreme treachery
all that he needs to mount a devastating attack on the city, with
Balrogs and dragons and numberless Orcs. After a minutely observed
account of the fall of Gondolin, the tale ends with the escape of
Tuor and Idril, with the child Earendel, looking back from a cleft
in the mountains as they flee southward, at the blazing wreckage of
their city. They were journeying into a new story, the Tale of
Earendel, which Tolkien never wrote, but which is sketched out in
this book from other sources. Following his presentation of Beren
and Luthien Christopher Tolkien has used the same 'history in
sequence' mode in the writing of this edition of The Fall of
Gondolin. In the words of J.R.R. Tolkien, it was 'the first real
story of this imaginary world' and, together with Beren and Luthien
and The Children of Hurin, he regarded it as one of the three
'Great Tales' of the Elder Days.
An epic unicorn fairy tale filled with adventure, magic and a fight
like no other... In a faraway kingdom, two girls live separate
lives. Growing up in the wilderness of the west, Alette is the
daughter of a sorcerer. In the warmth of the east, Audrey is the
daughter of a baker. The girls could not be more different... and
yet something draws them together. Are they connected by the
unanswered questions of their pasts? Or by the identical pendants
they both wear around their necks? Whatever it is, the girls are on
a collision course that cannot be avoided, as a past they never
knew they had leaves them hurtling towards a future they could
never have dreamed of. Danger, mystery and enchanted unicorns await
them. Their story began once upon a time. But how will it end?
Enchanting dark fairy tales with magical unicorns, fearsome
villains and inspiring heroines Perfect for fans of SKANDAR AND THE
UNICORN THIEF Great for people who love fairy tales, Disney and
unicorns DARK UNICORNS - COLLECT THEM ALL! The Midnight Unicorn
Paperback eBook The Darkest Unicorn Paperback eBook The Cursed
Unicorn Paperback eBook The Blazing Unicorn Paperback eBook Coming
Soon: The Frozen Unicorn Paperback eBook
If you ever lost a sock, you'll find it here. If you ever wondered
where your favourite toy from childhood ended up, it's probably
sitting on a shelf in the back. And the headphones that you swore
that this time you'd keep safe? You guessed it... Antoinette has
lost her father. Metaphorically. He's not in the shop, and she'll
never see him again. But when Antsy finds herself lost (literally,
this time), she finds that however many doors open for her, leaving
the Shop for good might not be as simple as it sounds. Lost in the
Moment and Found tells us that childhood and innocence, once lost,
can never be found.
FEATURED ON BARACK OBAMA'S 2019 READING LIST SHORTLISTED FOR THE
SWANSEA UNIVERSITY DYLAN THOMAS PRIZE 'SPECTACULAR' Guardian 'A
WONDER' Daily Mail 'SPARKLING' The Times 'EXQUISITE' Observer
'MAGNIFICENT' TLS 'EPIC' Entertainment Weekly 'A TRIUMPH' LitHub
'INFECTIOUS' Financial Times 'A MASTERPIECE' Sunday Express Nora is
an unflinching frontierswoman awaiting the return of the men in her
life, biding her time with her youngest son - who is convinced that
a mysterious beast is stalking the land around their home - and her
husband's seventeen-year-old cousin, who communes with spirits.
Lurie is a former outlaw and a man haunted by ghosts. He sees lost
souls who want something from him, and he finds reprieve from their
longing in an unexpected relationship that inspires a momentous
expedition across the West. Mythical, lyrical, and sweeping in
scope, Inland is grounded in true but little-known history. It
showcases all of Tea Obreht's talents as a writer, as she subverts
and reimagines the myths of the American West, making them entirely
- and unforgettably - her own. NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE
YEAR BY: Guardian, Time, Washington Post, Entertainment Weekly,
Esquire, Good Housekeeping, The New York Public Library 'Should
have been on the Booker longlist' Claire Lowdon, Sunday Times
'Magnificent... Brings to mind Gabriel Garcia Marquez's One Hundred
Years of Solitude or Toni Morrison's Beloved' Times Literary
Supplement 'Exquisite ... The historical detail is immaculate, the
landscape exquisitely drawn; the prose is hard, muscular, more
convincingly Cormac McCarthy than McCarthy himself' Alex Preston,
Observer
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Trembleath
(Paperback)
Ruth Shedwick
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R272
R202
Discovery Miles 2 020
Save R70 (26%)
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Ships in 9 - 15 working days
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Amelia Scott is a young woman trying to re-build her life in
Southern England following a disastrous relationship. It was going
to be an adventure, but when there's news of a young girl found
dead and another goes missing, she quickly begins to learn there is
more to Creek Bay than she could ever imagine. A village hiding a
dark secret, two families at war; newcomer Amelia Scott gets caught
up in a murder investigation with dire consequences.
Lily, Alice, Grace, and Jem are back in the third and final
spellbinding instalment in the Sisters of Shadow trilogy by
Katherine Livesey! She couldn't work out if it was the world that
had changed, or herself... When lightning shatters the darkness
into a blazing jigsaw of panic and pain, Lily and her friends
realise they've been transported through the jaws of the wild storm
right to the gates of Midnight Manor, home of High Priestess of the
Shadow Sect herself, Hecate Winter. But as a swarm of figures in
hooded golden cloaks surrounds them it soon becomes clear: the real
enemy was never hewn from the shadows but hidden in the light. A
notorious legion of exorcists from beyond their borders, the
Brotherhood of Light have been secretly abducting them for
generations and indoctrinating them into believing there are good
witches and bad witches, all subordinate to the whims of their
oppressors. Now it's up to them to build a sisterhood strong enough
to survive the sunrise. Readers have been captivated by Sisters of
Midnight: 'Plenty of drama... a heartwarming read' 'Fantastic...
full of found family, friendships, acceptance and hope' 'Excellent
world building and character development' 'A dramatic story of
friendship, love and support' 'Captivating' 'Beautiful'
Cyrus the Great created the first Persian Empire in the 500s BCE,
and sealed his pre-eminence as one of the greatest founders of
empire. He conquered all major civilizations in his region and his
influence reached from the Balkans in the West to the Indus river
in the East. His brilliant campaigns brought vast wealth and
grandeur to his homeland and a reputation for military leadership
that has stood the test of time. FLAME TREE 451: From myth to
mystery, the supernatural to horror, fantasy and science fiction,
Flame Tree 451 offers a healthy diet of werewolves and mechanical
men, blood-lusty vampires, dastardly villains, mad scientists,
secret worlds, lost civilizations and escapist fantasies. Discover
a storehouse of tales gathered specifically for the reader of the
fantastic.
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