Winner of the 2012 Roald Dahl Funny Prize! Thirteen-year-old schoolboy, Dirk Lloyd, has a dark secret - in fact he is a dark secret. Dirk - according to his own account - is the earthly incarnation of a Dark Lord, supreme ruler of the Darklands and leader of great armies of orcs and warriors, intent on destruction and bloody devastation. Following a colossal final battle between the forces of good and evil, the Dark Lord was defeated and hurled by his arch-foe's spells into the Pit of Uttermost Despair. At the bottom of the Pit lies...a supermarket car park in the municipal town of Whiteshields, somewhere in modern day England. And when he is found, and tries to explain that he is the Dark Lord, people think he means Dirk Lloyd. The fact that he's trapped in the puny body of a schoolboy doesn't help. And so begins Dirk's battle to recover his dignity, his power, and his lands... Along the way he faces the inconvenience of being fostered by a do-gooding family, the Purejoies; the torture of endless hours of drudgery at the Whiteshields Brainwashing Centre (aka school); a vengeful Headmaster; two interfering Psychotic Persecutors (psychotherapists); and constant laughter and disrespect when he attempts to marshall his lackeys and lickspittles (friends) to do what he wants them to. Dirk makes friends with the son of his foster family, Christopher, and the local Goth Girl, Sooz, and together they attempt to cast a spell that will transport Dirk back to his homeland. Inevitably, not everything goes to plan... But that's for book 2 Roald Dahl Prize winner, 2012.

"'Who has usurped the land of your birth? Who has denied you the chance to rule? Who has taken everything you held dear?'"

"'And who will give these things back to you? No one. You must take what is yours by right.'"

You have vanquished the forces of evil which have conspired against you and your people. Now, at long last, the Grandmaster of the Dawn reveals the secret of your birth. The truth is thrilling yet grim. For your father was king of Irsmuncast. You are his heir. But the crown that is rightfully yours sits upon the brow of the cruel usurper.

Now your mission is clear. You must end the usurper's reign of terror and claim the throne for yourself.

THE WAY OF THE TIGER is the role-playing adventure classic now revised and expanded for today. You choose the skills and martial arts moves to defeat your enemy, gaining knowledge and honing your abilities to use in further books.

"Are you ready for the Way of the Tiger?"

A choose-your-own-adventure style gamebook that gives the reader a choice of different quests and adventures. The book is open-ended and provides an almost unlimited number of plot lines. You can be a warrior, explorer, priest, wizard, thief or bard. The books in the series are inter-connected, allowing you to travel all across the Fabled Lands. In this volume you get to sail over the oceans, experiencing fantastic adventures to rival those of Odysseus, Jason and Sinbad.

"'The reign of your father the Loremaster - the reign of the Usurper after him - these were but as the blinking of an eye to me and so it shall be with your reign. It matters not; the final outcome will be no different.' "

Your skills as a warrior have made you triumphant You have toppled the cruel Usurper to take your rightful place as Overlord of Irsmuncast. Crowds of exuberant citizens chant your name in joyous song. But beware, for the adventure has just begun. As Overlord you are now playing a treacherous game of intrigue, deception and danger. Threats come from within and without the walls of your great city, and you will need your wits as well as your strength to survive. The fate of a people and a kingdom rests in your hands.

THE WAY OF THE TIGER is the role-playing adventure classic now revised and expanded for today. You choose the skills and martial arts moves to defeat your enemy, gaining knowledge and honing your abilities to use in further books.

"Are you ready for the Way of the Tiger? "

You are Avenger, a ninja trained in the Way of the Tiger, a lethal master of unarmed combat who must confront ultimate evil to avenge the death of your foster-father.

Your foster-father's assassin has stolen the scrolls of Kettsuin. Now, the secret word of power could be used to imprison the great god Kwon in Inferno forever - unleashing the forces of evil throughout the world of Orb. Your quest is to find the assassin before he reaches the Pillars of Change. The fate of Orb depends on your deadly skills and cunning.

THE WAY OF THE TIGER is the eighties gamebook adventure classic now revised and expanded for a new generation of fans. You choose the skills and martial arts moves to defeat your enemies, gaining knowledge and honing your abilities to use as your quest progresses.

Are you ready for the Way of the Tiger?

THE DAY THAT TRAGEDY STRUCK

"Gasping back tears of horror and anger, Varren shimmied his way down the well. In the circle of light above his head three ugly, scarred, war-bitten faces appeared, staring down at him. One of them was readying his crossbow. Varren released his grip and fell straight down into the water. A crossbow quarrel whooshed into the water next to him. He hauled himself out, and into a side tunnel just above the water level. He'd used this way in and out of the castle for years. He hurried off down the tunnel, the sounds of battle fading away behind him..."

From acclaimed children's fantasy writer Jamie Thomson, author of DARK LORD: THE EARLY YEARS, comes the first in a thrilling new series of adventure novels for 8-12 year-olds set in the world of the Fabled Lands.

FABLED LANDS is an epic series of interactive books with the scope of a massively multiplayer game world. You can choose to be an explorer, merchant, priest, scholar or soldier of fortune. You can buy a ship or a townhouse, join a temple, undertake desperate adventures in the wilderness or embroil yourself in court intrigues and the sudden violence of city backstreets. You can undertake missions that will earn you allies and enemies, or you can remain a free agent. With thousands of quests and locations to explore, the choices are all yours.

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SET OUT ON A JOURNEY OF FABULOUS ADVENTURE

The Lords of the Rising Sun hold absolute power over the exotic kingdom of Akatsurai. But proud warrior clans constantly seek to overthrow them. In the turmoil of war there are countless opportunities for a quick-witted adventurer. Will you spy for the Shogun? Will you pledge your life to the Sovereign as one of his chivalrous knights? Or just play one side against the other in your pursuit of riches and power?

Track down the elusive, raven-winged Tengu to learn the secret arts of sorcery and swordplay. Defeat the vampires, skilled in martial arts, who guard the Lost Tomb of the Necromancer. Enter the dreadful cloisters of the Noboro Monastery, where you will fight the most dangerous opponent of all ? yourself ...

A thousand quests await you and every decision is in your hands. Be whoever you choose, go anywhere you please, do anything you want ? the only limit is your imagination.

The choices are unlimited, the adventures endless, in the fantastic role-playing world of the FABLED LANDS.