A tale of hope, fear, joy, and love. A whispered song about sacrifice and devotion. The sweet dream of becoming a ballerina helps the forever ill 10-year-old Marie to cope with her fate. This all changes when she hears the tale of a mermaid and her magical shell – a shell that is an Eye into the future, and that could show Marie the path to salvation, or doom… A dangerous chain of events leads to the question of what really matters in our lives — only, possibly, too late for Marie. Will she find her answers in time to save herself?
Partake of the mermaid's flesh, the legend says, and immortality is yours! But never-ending life isn't all that it's cracked up to be, as immortal lovers Yuta and Mana learn on their travels through the centuries. Though they long for normal lives, they learn that they are lucky compared to those who ate mermaid flesh and died instantly, or to the immortal souls who turned into savage monsters. In this, the final volume of the Mermaid series, Yuta and Mana are guests in a mansion haunted by an immortal named Shingo, and they become embroiled in a dispute over a young, kidnapped boy.
We no longer ascribe the term ’mermaid’ to those we deem sexually or economically threatening; we do not ubiquitously use the mermaid’s image in political propaganda or feature her within our houses of worship; perhaps most notably, we do not entertain the possibility of the mermaid’s existence. This, author Tara Pedersen argues, makes it difficult for contemporary scholars to consider the mermaid as a figure who wields much social significance. During the early modern period, however, this was not the case, and Pedersen illustrates the complicated category distinctions that the mermaid inhabits and challenges in 16th-and 17th-century England. Addressing epistemological questions about embodiment and perception, this study furthers research about early modern theatrical culture by focusing on under-theorized and seldom acknowledged representations of mermaids in English locations and texts. While individuals in early modern England were under pressure to conform to seemingly monolithic ideals about the natural order, there were also significant challenges to this order. Pedersen uses the figure of the mermaid to rethink some of these challenges, for the mermaid often appears in surprising places; she is situated at the nexus of historically specific debates about gender, sexuality, religion, the marketplace, the new science, and the culture of curiosity and travel. Although these topics of inquiry are not new, Pedersen argues that the mermaid provides a new lens through which to look at these subjects and also helps scholars think about the present moment, methodologies of reading, and many category distinctions that are important to contemporary scholarly debates.
This comprehensive, ground-breaking astrology book is for everyone who wants to make the most of their true potential and be in the flow with solar and lunar phases. It includes analyses of each sun sign from Aries to Pisces and pinpoints how you can dynamically make the most of your life in real time alongside celestial events. Work with the gifts and strengths of your sun sign in relation to every lunar phase, zodiacal month, new moon, full moon and eclipse. Look up your sun sign to read all about your talents and potential pitfalls, and discover how to express your inner star power during the various phases of the sun and moon throughout the days, months and years to come.
Good-bye to the Mermaids conveys the horrors of war as seen through the innocent eyes of a child. It is the story of World War II as it affected three generations of middle-class German women: Karin, six years old when the war began, who was taken in by Hitler's lies; her mother, Astrid, a rebellious artist who occasionally spoke out against the Nazis; and her grandmother Oma, a generous and strong-willed woman who, having spent her own childhood in America, brought a different perspective to the events of the time. It tells of a convoluted world where children were torn between fear and hope, between total incomprehension of events and the need to simply deal with reality. In one of the relatively few recollections of the war from a German woman's perspective, Finell relates what was for her a normal part of growing up: participating in activities of the Hitler Youth, observing Nazi customs at Christmas, and once being close enough to the Führer at a rally to make eye contact with him. She tells of how she first became aware of the yellow star that Jews were forced to wear, and of being asked to identify corpses from a bombed apartment house. She also depicts the lives of people tainted by Hitler's influence: her half-Jewish relatives who gave in to the strain of trying to remain unnoticed; a favorite aunt who was gassed because she was old and had broken her hip; and a friend of the family who was involved in the abortive putsch against Hitler and hanged as a traitor. When American and British forces intensified air raids on Berlin in 1943, Finell observed the stoical valor of women during the bombings, firestorms, and mass evacuations. Not yet a teenager, she witnessed the battle for Berlin and the mass rapes perpetrated by conquering Russian and Mongolian troops. Order was restored after the American and British troops arrived. The Marshall Plan jump-started an economic recovery for West Germany, provoking the Russians to blockade Berlin. From 1948 to 1949 the Americans and British kept Berlin's residents alive with the airlift. But even though food was flown in, the people of Berlin continued to go hungry. Deprivation forced Berliners to look inward and face their collective guilt as they withstood the threat of Soviet occupation during these postwar years. This eloquent and touching story tells how a decent people were perverted by Hitler and how a young girl ultimately came to recognize the father figure Hitler for the monster he was. From a time of innocence, Karin Finell takes readers along a nightmarish journey in which fantasies are clung to, set aside, and at last set free. Good-bye to the Mermaids presents us with the revelation that human beings can survive such times with their souls intact.
They're among us. They live down the street, in the apartment next door and oftentimes in our own homes. They are the real monsters. And they stare back at us from our own bathroom mirrors. Peel Back the Skin is a powerhouse anthology of horror from Bram Stoker Award-nominated editors Anthony Rivera and Sharon Lawson that strips away the human mask from the real monsters of our time -- mankind. Featuring a star-studded cast of award-winning authors from the horror, dark fantasy, speculative fiction, transgressive, bizzaro, extreme horror and thriller genres, Peel Back the Skin is the next game-changing release from Grey Matter Press. Including fifteen all-new works of fiction from Jonathan Maberry, Ray Garton, Tim Lebbon, Graham Masterton, Yvonne Navarro, Ed Kurtz, Durand Sheng Welsh, James Lowder, Joe McKinney, Lucy Taylor, Charles Austin Muir, Erik Williams, Nancy A. Collins, John McCallum Swain and William Meikle. Praise for Peel Back the Skin: "Peel Back the Skin investigates the horrific behavior of humanity, but does not revel in it. The entertainment is dark and pulpy, but never exploitive. Peel Back the Skin reveals why horror is necessary today." -- Karl Wolff, New York Journal of Books "Every single story in the book is in a class of its own. Thematically, Peel Back the Skin is a thing of brilliance, each story complementing or enhancing the stories around it. Top-notch, accessible and entertaining dark fiction." -- Shane Douglas Keene, This is Horror "This collection of short stories serves both to entertain and provoke thought. I can recommend this collection of spooky delights as a great way to spend a few fall nights." -- Michele Galgana, FANGORIA Proudly presented by Grey Matter Press, the multiple Bram Stoker Award-nominated independent publisher. Grey Matter Press: Where Dark Thoughts Thrive
Embark on an extraordinary journey into the realms of magic, wonder, and imagination with "Flash of Fantasy: 50 Magical Adventures." This enchanting collection of short stories will transport you to a world where the ordinary is transformed into the extraordinary and the mundane becomes the stuff of legend. Within the pages of this book, you'll discover 50 captivating tales, each a unique portal to a realm of fantasy. From mystical forests where ancient trees whisper secrets to far-off galaxies where sorcery meets science, these stories span the full spectrum of the fantasy genre. Dive into the adventures of intrepid heroes, encounter mythical creatures, and explore landscapes teeming with enchantment. With stories that range from heartwarming and humorous to thrilling and thought-provoking, "Flash of Fantasy" offers something for every fantasy enthusiast. Whether you're a lifelong fan of the genre or new to the world of magic and wonder, these tales will spark your imagination and kindle your sense of adventure. With every page turned, you'll be transported to worlds where anything is possible, and where the only limit is the boundless creativity of the authors. "Flash of Fantasy" is the perfect companion for a quiet evening by the fire, a rainy day escape, or a journey into the unknown. These short stories are designed to be savored in small doses or devoured all at once—whichever you prefer. As you delve into each story, you'll experience the power of imagination, the allure of the unknown, and the wonder of the fantastic. Join us on this remarkable adventure, and let "Flash of Fantasy: 50 Magical Adventures" ignite your sense of wonder and rekindle your love for the extraordinary. It's a literary treasure trove where the next captivating tale is just a page away.
A dark, gorgeous reimagining about what happened to Captain Hook after Neverland from the bestselling author of Wendy, Darling – filled with eerie suspense and heart-breaking anguish Once invited, always welcome. Once invited, never free. Captain James Hook, the immortal pirate of Neverland, has died a thousand times. Drowned, stabbed by Peter Pan’s sword, eaten by the beast swimming below the depths, yet James was resurrected every time by one boy’s dark imagination. Until he found a door in the sky, an escape. And he took the chance no matter the cost. Now in London twenty-two years later, Peter Pan’s monster has found Captain Hook again, intent on revenge. But a chance encounter leads James to another survivor of Neverland. Wendy Darling, now a grown woman, is the only one who knows how dark a shadow Neverland casts, no matter how far you run. To vanquish Pan’s monster once and for all, Hook must play the villain one last time… Exploring themes of grief, survivor's guilt and healing broken bonds, Hooked is a modern-day Peter Pan story, perfect for fans of retellings, Christina Henry and V.E. Schwab.
This collection explores nautical themes in a variety of literary contexts from multiple cultures. Including contributors from five continents, it emphasizes the universality of human experience with the sea, while focusing on literature that spans a millennium, stretching from medieval romance to the twenty-first-century reimagining of classic literary texts in film. These fresh essays engage in discussions of literature from the UK, the USA, India, Chile, Turkey, Spain, Japan, Colombia, and the Caribbean. Scholars of maritime literature will find the collection interesting for the unique insights it offers on individual literary texts, while general readers will be intrigued by the interconnectedness that it reveals in human experience with the sea.
The little mermaid is engaged to the Prince… but she's in love with Captain Hook. When Lexa’s father, Poseidon, is taken by a powerful enemy, the only way to get him back is for the Princess of the Sea to accept a marriage alliance with the Prince of the Shores. But her heart already belongs to Captain Hook, a broody pirate she saved from a shipwreck and nursed back to health at her island. She longs to see him again. What she doesn’t expect, however, is to find Hook at the castle ball, standing alongside the Prince. Will Lexa follow through with the marriage alliance to save her father? Or will she fight for her happy ending? Above the Sea is the thrilling fifth installment of the Fairy Tales Reimagined series.
