A new take on an old Russian fairy tale: the quest for a blessing from the elusive firebird. In this iteration, young Ekaterina celebrates her fourteenth birthday, and a rare firebird sighting sets in motion a chain of events that will change her life forever. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
This book features three complete stories and one poem from Strange Matters, a collection of short fantasy stories by Bret Allen. About the Firebird: Ekaterina wants to be taken seriously by the men of her village, so she sets out to hunt the greatest prey of all, the legendary Firebird. On the way she encounters three strangers who give her the gifts she needs- for a price. This short novella, inspired by Slavic folklore, is a symbolic fable about the importance of choosing wisely and keeping sight of the things that truly matter. About British Gods: Two strange figures watch the violence of the London riots unfold and do what they can to help, as only forgotten gods can. A humble nod to my favourite author, Neil Gaiman. This short story is based on British folklore in the modern-day style of American Gods. About Thornback: A poem about the humble hedgehog, seen through my eyes. About Saturday’s Child: Henri discovers that his afterlife is going to be even more dangerous than his first life, when he meets a predatory and beautiful stranger. This very short story is set in the world of ‘Sleepwalkers’, a setting of my own creation. In this case, I give a glimpse of the plight of a newly deceased spirit. Feel free to read these stories before checking out the full collection- Strange Matters- 20 stories and poems of fantasy, myth and magic! These stories contain some mature themes.
Strange Matters is a collection of tales of fantasy, myth and magic. Some are funny, some are dark, some are both. Some are set in our world, with the skin peeled back to reveal the magical mechanisms beneath. Some are set in fantasy worlds, where instead it’s the reflections of reality which are hidden. All contain matters best described as ‘strange’, because to me, strange matters. This book includes twenty pieces of poetry and fiction (some with mature themes), including: Wordsmith Kate’s night is interrupted by meeting a mute, half-naked Ethiopian boy, which would be fine if he wasn’t being hunted through the streets of London by hyenas. Torc When a group of bikers get lost in a forest, they find that they are not alone. The Firebird Ekaterina wants to be taken seriously by the men of her village, so she sets out to hunt the greatest prey of all… the legendary Firebird. Arcturus A nameless criminal explores his capacity for magic- and empathy- when he’s forced to make unusual acquaintances to escape justice. It Wants To Eat Me The diary entries of a teenage girl who finds an unusual and unwelcome intruder in her dreams. British Gods Two strange figures watch the violence of the London riots unfold and do what they can to help, as only forgotten gods can. Nine Having just died, Andy’s not pleased to find himself in the ancient Egyptian afterlife, where the goddess Bastet wants a word with him. Strange Matters is a journey through many facets of fantasy, all united by a fresh, modern eye for incisive storytelling and magical realism.
In Mercedes Lackey's Firebird, Ilya, son of a Russian prince, is largely ignored by his father and tormented by his larger, older brothers. His only friends are three old people: a priest, a magician, and a woman who toils in the palace dairy. From them Ilya learns faith, a smattering of magic, and the power of love--all of which he will need desperately, for his life is about to be turned upside-down. The prince's magnificent cherry orchard is visited at midnight by the legendary Firebird, whose wings are made of flame. Ilya's brothers' attempts to capture the magical creature fail. When Ilya tries to catch the Firebird, he sees her as a beautiful woman and earns a magical gift: the speech of animals. Banished, the young man journeys through a fantastical Russia full of magical mazes, enchanted creatures, and untold dangers. As happens in the best fairy tales, Ilya falls in love with an enchanted princess, but to win her freedom will be no easy task. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
A sheltered young woman postpones her entry into Edwardian society to solve the untimely demise of her mother. London, May, 1911. The new king, George V, is preparing for his coronation. The suffragettes are campaigning for women to get the vote. The East End seethes with unrest. And eighteen-year-old Kitty Challoner is looking forward to ‘coming out’ in London society. But Kitty’s secure, sheltered world is about to be torn apart. Lydia Challoner is shot dead while out riding in Hyde Park, and during the ensuing murder investigation Kitty discovers that there was so much she didn’t know about her mother. Was Lydia really the killer’s intended target? Is there a link to her Russian heritage? Why had she been behaving so strangely in recent weeks? Was she having an affair? As Kitty determines to uncover the truth and wonders exactly whom she can trust, she learns that the household in which she lives harbors a number of dangerous secrets. “Solid writing, an engaging heroine, authentic period ambience, and some unexpected twists make this an entertaining and satisfying read for all historical-mystery buffs.” ―Booklist “Well-drawn characters, inventive plotting, and a touch of romance distinguish this lively historical.” ―Publishers Weekly “Eccles once again combines history and romance with a clever mystery filled with a wide array of suspects.” ―Kirkus Reviews
A doomed man. An impossible choice. Will she bring him back with a magical brew or lose her life to a treacherous lie? Novice witch Kit Melbourne is elated to quit pouring lattes and get paid to conjure trees. But her excitement is short-lived when her boyfriend’s mind is hexed with an enchanted mental breakdown. And she fears he’s headed for an institution when her search for a counter-potion leads to a dangerous fae dimension few believe exists. As her lover’s sanity deteriorates, Kit is forced to team up with a seductive vampire with ulterior motives. And when the perilous domain’s existence is confirmed, Kit has only one option remaining: risk her life to enter and hope to return with the cure. Will Kit save her boyfriend and her artistic day job, or is she destined to die in a mysterious otherworld? Dryad’s Blade is the second book in the thrilling Kit Melbourne urban fantasy series. If you like unstoppable female forces, supernatural quests, and complicated romances, then you’ll love Kater Cheek’s enchanting tale! Buy Dryad’s Blade to break the curse today!
In this tour de force, master storyteller Gregory Maguire offers a dazzling novel for fantasy lovers of all ages. Elena Rudina lives in the impoverished Russian countryside. Her father has been dead for years. One of her brothers has been conscripted into the Tsar’s army, the other taken as a servant in the house of the local landowner. Her mother is dying, slowly, in their tiny cabin. And there is no food. But then a train arrives in the village, a train carrying untold wealth, a cornucopia of food, and a noble family destined to visit the Tsar in Saint Petersburg — a family that includes Ekaterina, a girl of Elena’s age. When the two girls’ lives collide, an adventure is set in motion, an escapade that includes mistaken identity, a monk locked in a tower, a prince traveling incognito, and — in a starring role only Gregory Maguire could have conjured — Baba Yaga, witch of Russian folklore, in her ambulatory house perched on chicken legs.
Anna Pavlova's revolutionary debut in 1910 at the Metropolitan Opera House captivated the nation and introduced Americans to the charms of modern ballet. Willa Cather was among the first intellectuals to recognize that dance had suddenly been elevated into a new art form, and she quickly trained herself to become one of the leading balletomanes of her era. Willa Cather and the Dance: "A Most Satisfying Elegance" traces the writer's dance education, starting with the ten-page explication she wrote in 1913 for McClure's magazine called "Training for the Ballet." Cather's interest was sustained through her entire canon as she utilized characters, scenes, and images from almost all of the important dance productions that played in New York.
Fans of Kaleidoscope will find more tales of wonder, adventure, diversity, and variety in this collection devoted to stories with teen protagonists. Table of Contents Left Foot, Right - Nalo Hopkinson Selfies - Lavie Tidhar The Vitruvian Farmer - Marcelina Vizcarra The Lady and the Fox - Kelly Link Cat Calls - Margo Lanagan Walkdog - Sofia Samatar No Lonely Seafarer - Sarah Pinsker The Endless Sink - Damien Ober No Mercy for the Executioner - Deborah Biancotti The Ancestors - Laurie Tom Jelly and the D-Machine - Suzanne Church Kneaded - S. G. Larner Resurrection Points - Usman T. Malik Memory Lace - Payal Dhar Collected Likenesses - Jamey Hatley Scout - Will McIntosh Selfie - Sandra McDonald The Boy Who Grew Up - Christopher Barzak Cookie Cutter Superhero - Tansy Rayner Roberts The Stuff We Don't Do - Marissa Lingen Figment - Jeri Smith-Ready
