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Books > Fiction > Genre fiction > Myth & legend told as fiction
In this startling new vision of a cultural classic, Wendy intends to live happily ever after with Peter Pan. But Time, like this tale, behaves in a most unsettling way. As Wendy mothers the Lost Boys in Neverland, they thrive on adventure. She struggles to keep her boys safe from the Island's many hazards, but she finds a more subtle threat encroaching from an unexpected quarter.]] The children are growing up, and only Peter knows the punishment.
1798 Bucharest: A magical, dark adventure A year full of intrigue and political machinations: a slave-chef lives in Bucharest, sought after by everyone. His cooking is sublime, satisfying even the sophisticated tastes of the Prince, who steals him from his rightful owner and installs him in the Palace. However, no one knows that the chef has in his possession a witch's recipe book: the Book of Perilous Dishes. The recipes in this magical book can bring about damaging sincerity, forgetfulness, the gift of prediction, or hysterical laughter. And the rightful owner of this book is fourteen-year-old Patca, initiated in the occult arts. Patca comes to Bucharest, to her uncle, Cuviosu Zaval, to recover this book, but she finds him murdered and the Book of Perilous Dishes has disappeared without trace. All that Zaval has left her is a strange map she must decipher. Travelling from Romania to France and on to Germany to do so, Patca's family's true past and powers are revealed, as is her connection to Silica the cook...
'Atmospheric and very creepy' The Guardian 'Goosebump-inducing...Unforgettable' Woman & Home 'Unforgettable...One suspects that the real sorceress here is Golding, whose writing has given a voice to every wronged mother' The New York Times 'Chilling story...stunning' Clare Mackintosh 'Taps into every woman's fear that she will not be believed' Mel McGrath, author of The Guilty Party * * * * THE TWINS ARE CRYING. THE TWINS ARE HUNGRY. LAUREN IS CRYING. LAUREN IS EXHAUSTED. Behind the hospital curtain, someone is waiting . . . A terrifying encounter in the middle of the night leaves Lauren convinced someone is trying to steal her new-born twins. Desperate with fear, she locks herself and her sons in the bathroom until the police arrive. When DS Joanna Harper picks up the list of reported overnight incidents, she expects the usual calls from drunks and wrong numbers. But then a report of an attempted abduction catches her eye. The only thing is that it was flagged as a false alarm just fifteen minutes later. But Harper chooses to investigate anyway. There's nothing on the CCTV, and yet Lauren claims that the woman is still after her children. No one will listen to Lauren - except Harper. And now Harper must ask herself, is Lauren mad, or does she see something no one else can? * * * * Readers can't stop raving about Little Darlings: 'Every mother will see themselves in Lauren...taut with suspense' 'You just need to read it and let the creepiness and uneasiness set in' 'A disturbing and spine-chilling tale...This tale will keep readers on the edge of their seat' 'A unique, haunting story that stays with you long after finishing it'
Alexander the Great died in 336 BCE, when he was only thirty two. His military campaigns had swept across Ancient Greece, through Asia Minor, Arabia, Persia, Egypt and North Africa to North West India, forging one of the largest empires in recorded history. He was undefeated in battle and is widely considered to be one of history's most successful military commanders. This new series is created for the modern reader to introduce the heroes, cultures, myths and religions of former times. 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.
Perfect for fans of MADELINE MILLER'S CIRCE and THE SONG OF ACHILLES, this is the first instalment in an epic three-part series. The House of Atreus is spiralling into self-destruction - a woman must find a way to break the family curse. Queen Clytemnestra's world shatters when Agamemnon, a rival to the throne of Mycenae, storms her palace, destroys her family and claims not only the throne but Clytemnestra herself. Tormented by her loss, she vows to do all she can to protect the children born from her unhappy marriage to Agamemnon. But when her husband casts his ruthless gaze towards the wealthy citadel of Troy, his ambitions threaten to once more destroy the family Clytemnestra loves. From one of Greek mythology's most reviled characters - a woman who challenged the absolute power of men - comes this fiery tale of power, family rivalry and a mother's burning love.
Fairytale is an enchanting rendering of a much-loved classic by the world's favourite storyteller, Danielle Steel. Camille Lammenais has grown up in the beauty of the Napa Valley surrounded by acres of her family's vineyards. Her parents, Christophe and Joy, still deeply in love after two decades of marriage, have built a renowned winery and chateau modelled after Christophe's ancient family estate in his native Bordeaux. Camille has had a perfect childhood, safe in her parents' love. After graduating from Stanford, she returns to help manage Chateau Joy, her lifetime goal. But their fairytale ends suddenly with her mother's death. Six months after losing his wife, the devastated Christophe is easy prey for a mysterious, charming Frenchwoman visiting the valley. Camille, still grieving for her mother, is shocked by the news that her father intends to remarry. Then she begins to see past the alluring looks, designer clothes, and elegant manners of the Countess, while her innocent father is trapped in her web . . . A wonderful, beautifully told tale from America's favourite novelist, Fairytale is a captivating example of the truths that will always withstand even the darkest storms, and a reminder that sometimes fairytales do come true, and good prevails over evil in the end.
Naomi Novik has once again been influenced by classic folktales, following Uprooted - her standalone novel. Taking Rumpelstiltskin as her starting point, Spinning Silver is rich, original and a joy to read. Will dark magic claim their home? Miryem is the daughter and granddaughter of moneylenders, but her father’s too kind-hearted to collect his debts. They face poverty, until Miryem hardens her own heart and takes up his work in their village. Her success creates rumours she can turn silver into gold, which attract the fairy king of winter himself. He sets her an impossible challenge – and if she fails, she’ll die. Yet if she triumphs, it may mean a fate worse than death. And in her desperate efforts to succeed, Miryem unwittingly spins a web which draws in the unhappy daughter of a lord. Irina’s father schemes to wed her to the tsar – he will pay any price to achieve this goal. However, the dashing tsar is not what he seems. And the secret he hides threatens to consume the lands of mortals and winter alike. Torn between deadly choices, Miryem and Irina embark on a quest that will take them to the limits of sacrifice, power and love.
The right cause can topple a kingdom . . . Once upon a time, the kingdoms of Wales were rife with magic and conflict - and eighteen-year-old Mererid 'Mer' is well-acquainted with both. As the last living water diviner, she can manipulate water with magic - a unique elemental power many would kill to possess. For years, Mer has been running from the prince who bound her into his service - and forced her to kill thousands with her magic. Now, all Mer truly wants is a safe, quiet life, far from power and politics. But then Mer's old handler - the king's spymaster - returns with a proposition: use her powers to bring down the very prince that abused them both. Part heist novel, part dark fairy tale, and rich with Welsh legends, The Drowned Woods is an ethereal fantasy, perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and Maria V. Snyder.
God bless you, England, on this glorious Year of Our Lord, 1145. Things are definitely not right in Nottingham. Rebecca, daughter of a Jewish money-lender, has a sense for it. A mad monk schemes to resurrect the Christ from body parts. A bone harpist murders creatures of legend for a price. A fae creature binds its wings and embraces a new God and his son. And don't even mention the Hood. The Man in Green. The Prince of Thieves. The tick-tock taker of the ten-toll tax. What hope have the series of sheriffs sent to hold the peace? It's the forest, you see. Sherwood. Ice Age ancient, impenetrable, hiding a dark and secret heart. But hearts, no matter how black, no matter how hidden, are not immune to change. The old world is dying... and a terrifying new one is waiting to take its place. Rebecca senses an opportunity. But how far is she willing to go, and what price - because there is always a price - will she have to pay? The Hood is Lavie Tidhar's narcotic reweirding of an ancient English myth, a tale stitched together from legends lost to time, a tale told and retold, reworked and renewed for each passing century. A tale, reader, for today. 'A wild, inventive tapestry of myth and magic, with a wry sense of humor. Tidhar's writing is wonderfully vibrant' Silvia Moreno-Garcia, bestselling author of Mexican Gothic
The Polynesian triangle covers Easter Island, Hawaii, New Zealand and the many isles in between. The legends of the region are based on the creation of land, fish, sea, valleys and the volcanic outcrops scattered across the long stretches of the Pacific. The beautiful myths of the ancient Polynesians are brought together in this new collection: from Hawaii the Rainbow Maiden of Manoa undulates through the valleys and rainbow mists; the creator Maui releases his fish hooks into the sea to raise the islands to the surface; and tales of Pele the Fire Goddess, who hurls fountains of molten rock into the air creating vast flows of lava. From the Maori of New Zealand come the strange fruit of darkness, the tales of Tiki and the Great Mother from whom the gods descend, then humankind. And from Polynesia, more legends of Maui creating the ancestors, and Hina the moon goddess. Such myth-making joy creates a rare unity in diversity as the ancient Polynesians strove to explain the beauty and darkness of their lush ocean worlds, now offered in this new selection of myths and legends. 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.
'One of only two novels I've ever loved whose main characters are not human' BARBARA KINGSOLVER For fans of The Essex Serpent and The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock. 'By far my favourite book of of the year' Guardian One cold night, two newcomers emerge onto the streets of 1899 New York, and it is never the same again. But these two are more than strangers to this land, they are strangers to this world. From the depths of folkloric history come Chava the golem, a creature made of clay, brought to life by a disgraced rabbi and Ahmad, a djinni, born in the ancient Syrian desert and trapped in an old copper flask released accidentally by a tinsmith in a Lower Manhattan shop. Two companions who were never meant to be released, and never meant to meet. And when they do, their opposing natures will be sealed by a special bond, but one that is threatened by watching eyes, roaming owners and a misunderstanding world. A glittering gem of a novel, as spell-binding as it is compelling, The Golem and The Djinni asks us what we're made of and how we can break free.
"One of the most unique books you'll read this year" Buzzfeed "A strikingly different trilogy opener" Kirkus Reviews Kaori and Kairi are the first twins to survive infancy on the ancient island of Mu, where gender is as fluid as the crashing waves. One was born of fire, the other of water. But there's a reason why none have survived before. A prophecy that has haunted the elders since time began. A rivalry destined to sink the entire island beneath a twin catastrophe of volcano and tsunami. As hatred spills from the forbidden twins like the deadly poison of sacrificed sea snakes, they must decide what matters to them most... The fight for the island - for tradition and duty. Or the fight for freedom - for love and light. The Mu Chronicles is a visionary YA fantasy trilogy exploring the origin of gender and desire in an epic queer fusion of Japanese folklore and Egyptian mythology. What readers are saying: "An interesting and original debut which left me begging for more" Caleb, NetGalley reader review "An ambitious take on an epic YA fantasy series exploring gender fluidity ... a political commentary ... If you're looking for an atypical YA read, this might be the one for you" Clara, NetGalley reader review "This is a really unique YA fantasy novel. I just loved what it was trying to do. Whilst it might not be for everyone I do think it's worth a go for the unique style ... there's a certain beauty to the story and the way it's constructed" Gabrielle, NetGalley reader review "This storyline was very interesting and flowed nicely, I will definitely recommend reading this book!" Michelle, NetGalley reader review "The use of neopronouns is lovely to see and was not at all hard to process" Luca, NetGalley reader review "I really enjoyed the twins story ... both fascinating characters I was willing to find their own strength and courage in such a world" Wendy, NetGalley reader review
India, 1025 AD. Repeated attacks by Mahmud of Ghazni and his barbaric Turkic hordes have weakened India's northern regions. The invaders lay waste to vast swathes of the subcontinent-plundering, killing, raping, pillaging. Many of the old Indian kingdoms, tired and divided, fall to them. Those who do fight, battle with old codes of chivalry, and are unable to stop the savage Turkic army which repeatedly breaks all rules to win. Then the Turks raid and destroy one of the holiest temples in the land: the magnificent Lord Shiva temple at Somnath. At this most desperate of times, a warrior rises to defend the nation. King Suheldev. The ruler of a small kingdom, he sees what must be done for his motherland, and is willing to sacrifice his all for it. A fierce rebel. A charismatic leader. An inclusive patriot. Read this blockbuster epic adventure of courage and heroism, a fictional tale based on true events, that recounts the story of that lionhearted warrior and the magnificent Battle of Bahraich.
Her jet-set fling with the King! King Corso's demand that innocent Rosie accompanies him on an international royal tour can't be denied. Neither can their forbidden passion! They know it can only be temporary... But as time runs out will their stolen nights be enough? The Beauty to awaken the Greek! One kiss. That's all innocent Sofie intends to steal from the gorgeous sleeping stranger. But her moment of complete irrationality wakes billionaire Achilles up! And awakens in her a longing she's never experienced...
Scott King investigates allegations of demon possession in a rural Yorkshire village, where a 12-year-old boy was murdered by two young children. Book six in the spine-tingling, award-winning Six Stories series. 'Matt's books are fantastic' Ian Rankin 'An exceptional storyteller' Andrew Michael Hurley 'Matt Wesolowski is taking the crime novel to places it's never been before' Joseph Knox, author of True Crime Story 'A stunning new episode of the powerful Six Stories series. A masterful storyteller, Matt Wesolowski is my go-to writer for literary horror' C J Cooke, author of The Lighthouse Witches ____________ In 1995, the picture-perfect village of Ussalthwaite was the site of one of the most heinous crimes imaginable, in a case that shocked the world. Twelve-year-old Sidney Parsons was murdered by two boys his own age. No reason was ever given for this terrible crime, and the 'Demonic Duo' who killed him were imprisoned until their release in 2002, when they were given new identities and lifetime anonymity. Elusive online journalist Scott King investigates the lead-up and aftermath of the killing, uncovering dark stories of demonic possession, and encountering a village torn apart by this unspeakable act. And, as episodes of his Six Stories podcast begin to air, and King himself becomes a target of media scrutiny and public outrage, it becomes clear that whatever drove those two boys to kill is still there, lurking, and the campaign of horror has just begun... ____________ 'Matt Wesolowski is boldly carving his own uniquely dark niche in fiction' Benjamin Myers 'Matt's real skill is in finding a deeply human story and twisting it with the paranormal, touching the reader and scaring the wits out of them' Chris MacDonald 'One of the most exciting and original voices in crime fiction' Alex North 'A wonderful writer' Chris Whitaker 'I'll be rereading these books forever' Sublime Horror 'The master of horror, of mixing folklore with urban myth and real life. Terrifyingly good' Louise Beech 'A taut and gripping tale that deftly skewers the perfect balance of crime, thriller and horror. Intriguing, disturbing and impeccably crafted - I was riveted from the first page' Lucie McKnight Hardy, author of Dead Relatives Praise for the Six Stories series: **Longlisted for Theakston's Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year** **Winner of the Capital Crime Best Independent Voice Award** 'A captivating, genre-defying book with hypnotic storytelling' Rosamund Lupton Original, inventive and dazzlingly clever' Fiona Cummins 'Daisy Jones and the Six gone to the dark side. I couldn't put it down' Harriet Tyce 'Bold, clever and genuinely chilling with a terrific twist' Sunday Mirror 'Insidiously terrifying, with possibly the creepiest woods since The Blair Witch Project' C J Tudor 'Frighteningly wonderful ... one of the best books I've read in years' Khurrum Rahman 'Disturbing, compelling and atmospheric, it will terrify and enthral you in equal measure' M W Craven 'A dark, twisting rabbit hole of a novel. You won't be able to put it down' Francine Toon 'First-class plotting' S Magazine 'A dazzling fictional mystery' Foreword Reviews 'Readers of Kathleen Barber's Are You Sleeping and fans of Ruth Ware will enjoy this slim but compelling novel' Booklist For fans of Serial, The Conjuring, C J Tudor, Fiona Cummins, Sarah Pinborough and Catriona Ward
Discover Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, the extraordinary modern classic from the bestselling author of American Gods, illustrated for the first time by 2015-2017 UK Children's Laureate Chris Riddell. This beautiful edition features the fully illustrated short story, 'How the Marquis Got His Coat Back', and will delight fans of Coraline, The Book of Dust and Goth Girl. 'Gaiman is, simply put, a treasure-house of story, and we are lucky to have him' Stephen King Under the streets of London lies a world most people could never dream of. When Richard Mayhew helps a mysterious girl he finds bleeding on the pavement, his boring life changes in an instant. Her name is Door, she's on the run from two assassins in black suits and she comes from London Below. His act of kindness leads him to a place filled with monsters and angels, a Beast in a labyrinth and an Earl who holds Court in a Tube train. It is strangely familiar yet utterly bizarre.
The perfect bed-time story for all those who hate the dark. Zhazha the porcupine and Duoduo the bear cub live in the DARK MUSHROOM FOREST. They are scared of the night. Awu the elephant arrives in the forest. Awu loves to eat darkness.He sucks it right up his trunk. 'It's yummier than bananas, crunchier than bamboo,' says Awu.'And it's got my name on it.' But when there's no darkness left lurking anywhere, everyone starts to yawn. Even the tigers lose their roars and the Dark Mushroom Forest becomes an annoying, yawning place. -A gorgeous picture book. The story and illustrations perfectly match and are quirky and charming. Feels like a classic! This book has SOUL! Sophie Anderson, The House with Chicken Legs -"This is a lovely bedtime story, full of beautiful images and reassuring thoughts, to send children happily off to sleep." - Parents in Touch
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