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Books > Fiction > Genre fiction > Myth & legend told as fiction
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.
Fairy stories, especially from the fertile landscape of Ireland where the supernatural grew from the legends of the Celts, are the magic stories of everyday folk seeking solutions to the challenges of the day. This spritely new collection brings together the fables and stories of banshees, kings, trembling farmers, tricksters and beloved princesses. 'Smallhead and the King's Sons' (a Cinderella story) and 'The Haughty Princess' (recalling Grimm's 'Kings Thrushbeard') are amongst the many delightful tales of hope and reckless determination. Flame Tree Collector's Editions present the foundations of speculative fiction, authors, myths and tales without which the imaginative literature of the twentieth century would not exist, bringing the best, most influential and most fascinating works into a striking and collectable library. Each book features a new introduction and a Glossary of Terms.
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.
Nigerian God-Punk - a powerful and atmospheric urban fantasy set in Lagos. Since the Orisha War that rained thousands of deities down on the streets of Lagos, David Mogo, demigod, scours Eko's dank underbelly for a living wage as a freelance Godhunter. Despite pulling his biggest feat yet by capturing a high god for a renowned Eko wizard, David knows his job's bad luck. He's proved right when the wizard conjures a legion of Taboos-feral godling-child hybrids-to seize Lagos for himself. To fix his mistake and keep Lagos standing, David teams up with his foster wizard, the high god's twin sister and a speech-impaired Muslim teenage girl to defeat the wizard.
The Algonquins, Iroquois, the legend of Hiawatha and The Last of the Mohicans - the tribes of North America and their folk tales are deeply fascinating because they are unique amongst the mythologies of the world. The tribes were isolated from outside influence for thousands of years and developed a fruitful, empathetic relationship with their landscape, evolving a tradition that respected and feared nature in equal measure. The retold tales collected for this new book celebrate the diverse tribal vision of a rich and powerful land that still resonates today. FLAME TREE 451: From mystery to crime, supernatural to horror and myth, 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.
Before schooling was widely available, for most people the classroom was at the fireside, the field and the country lane, where the bards told their tales. Many such folk tales exist to convey life-lessons in an entertaining way. These stories are not the pontifications of ancient philosophers: they are the gleanings of countless storytellers, everyday men and women with hard-won life experiences and pockets full of folklore. The tales reflect the times and places of their origin, but have been handed down from generation to generation, evolving to meet changing times. Some are amusing; some are thought-provoking; all have been polished and honed for so long that their message slips, almost imperceptibly, into the mind. Fools and Wise Men retells these stories for new generations - repaying our debts to the bards of old.
An exquisitely written, heart-achingly beautiful retelling of the Selkie legend ... both timeless and timely ... by award-winning debut author Su Bristow SHORTLISTED FOR THE PAUL TORDAY MEMORIAL PRIZE 'Sorrowful and lovely, with a well-earned, satisfying conclusion' Publishers Weekly 'Accomplished and intelligent ... a fine piece of craftsmanship and a pleasure to read' Allan Massie What happens when magic collides with reality? Donald is a young fisherman, eking out a lonely living on the west coast of Scotland. One night he witnesses something miraculous ... and makes a terrible mistake. His action changes lives - not only his own, but those of his family and the entire tightly knit community in which they live. Can he ever atone for the wrong he has done, and can love grow when its foundation is violence? Based on the legend of the selkies - seals who can transform into people -Sealskin is a magical story, evoking the harsh beauty of the landscape, the resilience of its people, both human and animal, and the triumph of hope over fear and prejudice. With exquisite grace, Exeter Novel Prize-winner Su Bristow transports us to a different world, subtly and beautifully exploring what it means to be an outsider, and our innate capacity for forgiveness and acceptance. Rich with myth and magic, Sealskin is, nonetheless, a very human story, as relevant to our world as to the timeless place in which it is set. And it is, quite simply, unforgettable. 'This assured and readable story is determined to show that change and growth are possible, even on the very margins of society. The heartfelt message seems to be that acceptance comes when individuals face up to their fears and act for the good beyond themselves' Guardian 'It's a multi-layered romance which sits equally well in the realms of literary fiction which is where its publisher's interests lie' Frost Magazine 'Told with skill and beauty ... held me spellbound to the very last page' Amanda Jennings 'Achingly beautiful ... written smoothly and skilfully ... I absolutely loved it' Gill Paul 'Original, vivid, tender and atmospheric ... this is a story so deeply immersive that you emerge at the end, gasping for air' Iona Grey 'An enthralling human love story. A profound achievement and a stunning debut' Richard Bean 'I love books in which magic takes on a gritty reality, and Sealskin is just such a book. Dark and brooding and half-familiar, the tale steals over you till you're half-in, half-out of a dream' Jane Johnson 'A beautiful and bewitching read that haunted my thoughts for days. The sense of the sea, of this small community, of guilt is palpable. This is one of those books you place reverentially on your bookcase and envy those who are yet to dive in' Michael J. Malone 'Ms Bristow's skill in weaving a centuries-old tale into a current-day fiction novel and binding the two together is simply superbly done. Sealskin is boldly written, brilliantly told and a tale of legendary proportions' JM Hewitt 'Sealskin is a magical and moral tale woven with a deft hand' Sara MacDonald 'Sealskin is a tender, moving and gentle read. Whilst there is an obvious magical feel to it, it's so well written that it becomes almost believable. It's a really lovely story and one which I think will stay with me' New Books Magazine
The Greek myths, refined by the great poets and playwrights of Ancient Greece, distil the essence of human life: its brief span, its pride, courage and insecurity, its anxious relationship with the natural world - earth, sea and sky, represented by powerful gods and monsters. Taking inspiration from the incomparably beautiful and intense poetry of Homer, Aeschylus, Sophocles and Euripides, Spurling - a lifelong classicist and an award-winning playwright and historical novelist - spins five more myths for contemporary readers. These captivating tales centre on male-female pairs - Prometheus and Pandora, Jason and the sorceress Medea, Oedipus and his daughter Antigone, Achilles and his mother Thetis, Odysseus and Penelope - that destroyed dynasties, raised and felled heroes, and sealed the fates of men.
You think you know these stories, don't you? You are wrong. You don't know them at all. Twelve tales, twelve dangerous tales of mystery, magic, and rebellious hearts. Each twists like a spindle to reveal truths full of warning and triumph, truths that free hearts long kept tame, truths that explore life . . . and death. A prince has a surprising awakening . . . A beauty fights like a beast . . . A boy refuses to become prey . . . A path to happiness is lost . . . then found again. New York Times bestselling author Soman Chainani respins old stories into fresh fairy tales for a new era and creates a world like no other. These stories know you. They understand you. They reflect you. They are tales for our times. So read on, if you dare.
Gorgeous Collector's Edition. From such texts as the Shah Nameh (the Persian Book of Kings), Masnavi-e Ma'navi, the Anvar-i Suhayli fables and works by the great poet Nizami, come ancient tales of a civilization that once stretched across the known world. Find here the wonderful stories of the magical bird the Simurgh, the Seven Labours of Rustem, the evil demon onager-giant Akwan Diw and the tragic romance of Laili and Majnun. Persian literature is amongst the most beautiful and inventive of all cultures, offering a joyful read of creation, love and conquest. Flame Tree Collector's Editions present the foundations of speculative fiction, authors, myths and tales without which the imaginative literature of the twentieth century would not exist, bringing the best, most influential and most fascinating works into a striking and collectable library. Each book features a new introduction and a Glossary of Terms.
"A remarkable writer." -Neil Gaiman, bestselling author of American Gods An Alex Award Winner There is a dark secret that is hiding at the heart of New York City and diminishing the city's magicians' power in this fantasy thriller by acclaimed author Kat Howard. In New York City, magic controls everything. But the power of magic is fading. No one knows what is happening, except for Sydney-a new, rare magician with incredible power that has been unmatched in decades, and she may be the only person who is able to stop the darkness that is weakening the magic. But Sydney doesn't want to help the system, she wants to destroy it. Sydney comes from the House of Shadows, which controls the magic with the help of sacrifices from magicians.
'You and me, me and you, we all bring something to the stew, From the tales we tell, to the food we've got, we all bring something to the pot.' Over the last fifty years, Taffy Thomas has shared the stage with noted Lakeland chefs, who have tickled his palate with tastings and information about dishes and ingredients, which he uses to season these magical stories, telling the oral history of food. This feast of traditional tales is spiced up with the rhymes and riddles that always enrich Taffy's work, as well as charming illustrations from artist Dotty Kultys, and will appeal to all who savour stories and food.
Professional Storyteller Wendy Shearer has gathered together stories from many Caribbean islands and countries, drawing on oral history and written texts to bring these folk tales to life. Many stories are of West African origin, kept alive through rhythm and song. These tales and their languages were blended with European and East Indian folklore, with royalty, heroes and spirits exacting revenge. Alongside the stories are newly collected reminiscences of migration to Britain from Caribbean countries during the Windrush years. These first-hand accounts mirror the themes found in the folk tales with love and loss, magic and mystery, caution and justice. Cric! Crac! Prepare to be enchanted by La Diablesse from Haiti, outsmarted by the trickster Anansi, or terrified by the shapeshifting Old Higue in Guyana.
A classic collection of Irish fairy tales and lore by Nobel Peace Prize-winning author and poet W. B. Yeats Originally published as two separate volumes in 1800s, this premier collection of Irish stories edited and compiled W. B. Yeats is the perfect gift for any lover of Irish literature and folklore. The lyrical prose and rich cultural heritage of each tale will captivate and enchant readers of all ages and keep them entertained for hours on end. This volume contains more than seventy classic Irish stories, including timeless characters and mythology passed down for generations such as: The Trooping Fairies Changelings Tir-na-n-og The Lepracaun The Kildare Pooka How Thomas Connolly met the Banshee And many more!
Above the peaks of the Himalaya, Garuda, the divine eagle of the god Vishnu, sees the Lord of Death hastening toward an exquisitely beautiful little bird. He decides to save it and hides it away--but can death be cheated? This haunting parable of love and destiny is illustrated in the delicate and ornamental Patachitra tradition of Orissa, eastern India. Radhashyam Raut is a young painter, trained in the traditional art of Patachitra mural paintings of Orissa, where he lives and works.
Fascinating for Latin learners and for Tolkien fans of all ages, The Hobbit has been translated into Latin for the first time since its publication 75 years ago. In foramine terrae habitabat hobbitus. ( In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit. ) The Hobbit, is one of the world s most popular classic stories, appealing to adults as much as to the children for whom J.R.R. Tolkien first wrote the book. Translated worldwide into more than 60 modern languages, now Hobbitus Ille is finally published in Latin, and will be of interest to all those who are studying the language, whether at school or at a higher level. In the great tradition of publishing famous children s books in Latin, professional classicist and lifelong Tolkien fan Mark Walker provides a deft translation of the entire book. His attention to detail, including the transformation of Tolkien s songs and verses into classical Latin metres, will fascinate and entertain readers of all ability, even those with only a minimal acquaintance with the language.
Judith is a successful novelist, but she's a little sensitive. She's from a good family, even if that family favours her more beautiful sister. She loves a drink (or three) but isn't sure if she loves the handsome doctor who is courting her. She yearns for a romance to yield to but remains a virgin. Judith receives visions from the saints. Then Judith meets Gavin, a handsome and charming baron, at a wedding on the Cornish coast. His love transforms her from a plain, lonely girl into a beautiful, glamorous woman overnight. After a whirlwind honeymoon in Paris, he whisks her away to a Gothic castle in the countryside. But soon her perfect marriage begins to fall apart and she finds herself trapped in a nightmare, as her husband's mysterious nature, and his alternation of charm and violence, become more and more confusing and frightening. And then there are those whispers amongst the staff, unsettling rumours from London, and strange rattlings from the crypt...
Two women. A wild Island. A truth buried deep in the past. 'Like a surreal cabinet of curiosities - haunting, eerie, evocative' Bridget Collins, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Binding 'This moving tale is set in a mesmerising world' Heat 'Polly Crosby whips up a lush, mythical world in this dream-like novel . . . A book worm's treat!'Eve Chase, Sunday Times bestselling author of The Glass House Tartelin Brown is all alone in the world. So when she sees an advert for a job on a remote island, she knows she has nothing to lose. Her employer, Marianne Stourbridge, is a woman as strange and mysterious as the place she inhabits. Tasked with hunting butterflies for Marianne's research, Tartelin quickly uncovers evidence of something even more intriguing - for Marianne has a remarkable past. Determined to piece together the story, Tartelin must first confront her own. But what she discovers on the island is more terrible and heart-breaking than she could ever have imagined. Atmospheric and deeply emotional, The Unravelling is the captivating novel from the author of The Illustrated Child. Readers love The Unravelling... 'I absolutely loved The Unravelling, and there is something really special about Crosby's beautiful and immersive storytelling' 'A beautiful haunting and uniquely captivating book' 'If you enjoyed The Lost Apothecary or The Mermaid of Black Conch, then this is definitely for you' 'A gorgeously written story, atmospheric and hauntingly beautiful. Captivating and totally immersive. It is one for those that like delving into mysteries of the past, to discover more about a family and to discover the secrets'
From Alice Hemming, the bestselling author of The Midnight Unicorn, comes a brand-new unicorn fairytale. An evil king, a fearsome warrior, a fight for freedom. If you were granted three wishes, what would you wish for? For Marie, that dream becomes a reality when she stumbles across a magical unicorn deep in the forest. But when Marie - who is so kind and trusting in nature - decides to tell her father Jacob about the wishes bestowed upon her, he tricks her into giving the wishes to him. Driven by greed, he enslaves the unicorn by demanding for never-ending wishes. Unable to say no, the unicorn submits... Years later, the Kingdom of Quessia has slowly fallen into poverty and ruin under the rein of King Jacob. A spiteful and careless king, Jacob is disliked by all of his subjects, but little does he know that a revolution threatening his throne and his life is not too far in his future... Will King Jacob keep the Blazing Unicorn enslaved forever and retain his throne? Will Marie ever be able to right the wrongs of her past? As exciting as it is gripping, this unicorn fairy tale from Alice Hemming will be your next favourite read. 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
The first in a supernatural new series from the author of Wonderland, Her Majesty's Royal Coven follows a top-secret government department of witches and the deadly threat to the nationt they must confront. Hidden among us is a secret government department of witches known as Her Majesty's Royal Coven. They protect crown and country from magical forces and otherworldly evil, but their greatest enemy will come from within... There are whisperings of a prophecy that will bring the coven to its knees, and four best friends are about to be caught at the centre. Life as a modern witch was never simple ... but now it's about to get apocalyptic. Prepare to be bewitched by Juno Dawson's first adult series. A story of ancient prophecies and modern dating, of sacred sisterhood and demonic frenemies.
'I am truly dazzled' TRACY CHEVALIER 'Bursting with magic, bright and visceral' JENNIFER SAINT 'A feast of shimmering, beautiful prose' CHIKA UNIGWE Soon you will become the thing all other beasts fear. Treasure and her mother lost everything when Treasure's daddy died. Haggling for scraps in the market, Treasure meets a spirit who promises to bring her father back - but she has to do something for him first. Ozoemena has an itch in the middle of her back that can't be scratched. An itch that speaks to her patrilineal destiny, to defend her people by becoming a leopard. Her father impressed upon her what an honour this was before he vanished, but it's one she couldn't want less. But as the two girls reckon with their burgeoning wildness and the legacy of their fathers' decisions, Ozoemena's fellow students at her new boarding school start to vanish. Treasure and Ozoemena will face terrible choices as each must ask herself: in a world that always says 'no' to women, what must two young girls sacrifice to get what is theirs? 'Unexpected, explosive and deeply satisfying' MELISSA FU 'A masterful storm' DOREEN CUNNINGHAM 'Uncanny and affecting in equal measure' T. L. HUCHU 'One hell of a book' MEG CLOTHIER |
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