Inca is resurrected! A king whose weapon is cocaine, whose resource is the lost Inca gold, enters the modern day world and the lives of seemingly ordinary people. A princess who carries a tattoo around her neck that reveals the secrets to mankind's survival through the horrors predicted for a doomsday scenario. The girl is kidnapped, to be sold into child slavery and her secrets are stolen. Far away, the son of a drug runner is also kidnapped. Elsewhere a strange Monsignor buying up snatched children brings the boy and princess together. In New York City a power hungry mobster who can read the future gains control over the key to mankind's future. A dangerous drug dealer on Long Island enslaves the kidnapped boy's mother. All this unfolds with a DEA agent hot on their heels! Add to the mix a ragtag police narcotic squad and the race is on to recover the kidnapped children and the key to mankind's survival hidden beneath the princess' lacy blouse. Alchemy and Mesoamerican intrigue blend in this first of a series of three books. Taken into Deep Shadows introduces the characters and their roles in leading a stumbling and misguided world toward the cosmogenesis prophesied for December 21, 2012.
Before the marriage of Princess Leia Organa and Han Solo, another suitor threatened to derail their star-crossed romance. . . . Seeking rich, powerful allies to bring into the Rebel Alliance and a new home planet for the refugees from her native Alderaan, Princess Leia considers a proposal that could tip the balance of power against the evil Empire. The Hapes Consortium of 63 worlds is ruled by the Queen Mother, who wants Leia to marry her son, the dashing and wealthy Prince Isolder. Han Solo has always dreamed of marrying Leia himself, and now he makes a desperate, final gamble to win her back. Tricking Leia into accompanying him, Han flees with her to the beautiful and untamed planet Dathomir, where he hopes to win her heart. Fearing the imperious queen’s reaction to Han’s rash move, Luke Skywalker forms an unlikely alliance with Prince Isolder to track down the runaways. Soon Isolder, Luke, and Artoo will be at the center of an adventure leading to an awesome treasure, a group of Force-trained “witches,” and a showdown with an invincible foe.
"The Lucasfilm-esque milieu, blending magic with exobiology, astrophysics, and a painless layering of multiculturalism, is a tantalizing one. Portman adds a layer of emotion via Olive's struggle with obsessive-compulsive disorder and anxiety... A superhero creator's angst-y perils make this tale a strong start to a space saga." -- Kirkus Reviews A teen at war with her mind. A planet at war with its suns. Can Olive become the hero of her own story? Olive Joshi is an imaginative sixteen-year-old with OCD. She checks and double-checks that the stove burners are off, avoids driving for fear of causing an accident, and constantly worries about hurting the people she loves. Olive finds refuge from her anxiety in writing stories about Coseema, a magical princess on the distant planet Lyria. Coseema is fearless, confident, powerful, and perfect -- everything Olive thinks she'll never be. When she falls through a portal into her own abandoned story, Olive finds herself in a world in peril: double suns scorch the planet, the brutal Prince Burnash seeks supreme power, and Coseema has gone into hiding. Bringing back her heroine might be Olive's only hope of saving Lyria and finding her way home. But when her attempt to summon Coseema goes horribly wrong, it's Olive who must flee for her life. Together with her friends -- a bold and powerful poet, a handsome but cursed musician, a renegade soldier with a troubled past, and an adventurous girl from the desert -- Olive must face her deepest fears to escape Burnash's tyranny. With the fate of a star system on the line, can Olive find the hero in herself? The Twin Stars is an engrossing new portal fantasy in the spirit of the Wizard of Oz, the Neverending Story, and the Chronicles of Narnia, with a dash of Star Wars and a sprinkling of Dune. Fans of space fantasy, coming-of-age adventures, unexpected twists and turns, and novels about mental health and self-confidence will love this unique tale about facing what frightens us most. What readers are saying: ★★★★★ "Portman executes a marvelous debut novel, one which will have readers clamoring for installment number two immediately!" -- Amazon review ★★★★★ "A book that will be cherished." -- Amazon review ★★★★★ "A gripping sci-fi fantasy with powerful themes and high stakes... The second book in this series can't come soon enough! I'm hooked!" -- Amazon review ★★★★★ "Portman does a brilliant job helping the reader experience what it is like to have OCD. It truly is a wonderful representation." -- Goodreads review ★★★★★ "I. NEED. BOOK. TWO." -- Goodreads review
A troubled teen. A magic journal. A portal to another world. "Lucasfilm-esque...[A] strong start to a space saga." -- Kirkus Reviews Olive Joshi is an imaginative sixteen-year-old with OCD. She checks and double-checks that the stove burners are off, avoids driving for fear of causing an accident, and constantly worries about hurting the people she loves. Olive finds refuge from her anxiety in writing stories about Coseema, a magical princess on the distant planet Lyria. Coseema is fearless, confident, powerful, and perfect -- everything Olive thinks she’ll never be. When she falls through a portal into her own abandoned story, Olive finds herself in a world in peril: double suns scorch the planet, the brutal Prince Burnash seeks supreme power, and Coseema has gone into hiding. Bringing back her heroine might be Olive's only hope of saving Lyria and finding her way home. But when her attempt to summon Coseema goes horribly wrong, it's Olive who must flee for her life. Together with her friends -- a bold and powerful poet, a handsome but cursed musician, a renegade soldier with a troubled past, and an adventurous girl from the desert -- Olive must face her deepest fears to escape Burnash's tyranny. With the fate of a star system on the line, can Olive find the hero in herself? The Twin Stars is an engrossing portal fantasy in the spirit of the Wizard of Oz, the Neverending Story, and the Chronicles of Narnia, with a dash of Star Wars and a sprinkling of Dune. Fans of space fantasy, coming-of-age adventures, unexpected twists and turns, and novels about mental health and self-confidence will love this unique tale about facing what frightens us most.
On a lovely day, two princess twins play with their friends in the castle garden. Princess Emma is concerned about looking pretty and stays out of the fun. When her concern about her looks hurts a friend, Emma must decide what is more important, looking good on the outside or having a kind heart. This level-one story teaches girls what it means to be a princess for the true King. A lesson in the importance of inner beauty.
Rokuro’s Spiritual Guardian appears to be someone it can’t possibly be. Then, despite warnings, Guardian Shimon recruits the Twin Stars to help him rescue a young exorcist in training. But why does Seigen add his daughter, newbie exorcist Mayura, to their team...? -- VIZ Media
In the six months since Gen rejected Ei’s attempt at bartering peace, Sekiei, Hakurei, and the others have sheltered themselves in the western regions, guided there by Oto. Though Oto is the strategist Ruri’s attendant, her true identity is that of U Torahime, the daughter of the U family. Within that same time period, the White Wraith Adai Dada and his armies have encroached further and further into Ei territory, and the nation is in dire straits. With nowhere else to turn, Kou Miu, the younger sister of the emperor who ordered Chou Tairan’s death, comes pleading for the Chou and U families’ help. The decision they face is a tough one. Should they stay in the western regions where it’s safe? Or should they risk their lives to defend the very nation and sovereign that have wronged their family for so long? The curtain rises on Ei’s counterattack, and Miu may just be the key to victory.
As the Kegare invaders continue their deadly rampage, Shizuru and Sakura risk everything to avenge their family members. Then, Sutara turns Rokuro’s Yang energy against him! And after tragedy strikes, Benio chooses a strategy of last resort... -- VIZ Media
Every night, before Sylvia goes to sleep, she whispers a magic spell to the rhyme-elves. In the morning her Wonder Book is filled with beautiful pictures and poems of her adventures and the extraordinary stories she has heard. There is nothing Sylvia loves more than stories; so every day she asks her mother, the old woodsman and even her fairy friend Sister-in-the-Bushes to tell them to her. They weave magical stories of clever princesses, far-away kingdoms, courageous knights, kind children and graceful fairies. During the day, Sylvia also has her own adventures: planting a fairy tree, meeting St Nicholas and venturing into the deep woods. But as she comes closer to her special seventh birthday, there is one extraordinary adventure left. This enchanting collection of tales, charmingly told by Isabel Wyatt, takes us through the highlights of the year as Sylvia and her friends celebrate festivals and birthdays.
