Stunned by the death of their chief, Beliza and the remaining members of the Council must take care of their communities while hunting for the traitorous former council member, Tadjana. Treated as the interim leader, Beliza has to take on the responsibility despite her lack of experience. While her instincts are beset with premonitions of impending doom, Beliza is comforted by the presence of their powerful elemental guides. After a sudden attack wreaks havoc in their community and hobbles the elemental guides, the council's coalition is in danger of fracturing. Soon, Beliza and her friends face decisions they have no idea how to make, and evil entities they weren’t trained to fight against. A riveting fantasy adventure set in a world inspired by Filipino folklore and mythology, THE LAIR OF SHADOWS AND LIGHT is the second book in The Katalonan Chronicles series by Oz Mari G. and S.J. Powell.
Certain works of fantasy are immediately recognizable as monuments, towering above the rest of the category. They have been written by the likes of Stephen R. Donaldson, Robert Jordan, and Terry Goodkind. Now add to that list David Farland, whose epic fantasy series began with The Runelords, continued in Brotherhood of the Wolf and the New York Times bestseller Wizardborn, and reaches its peak now in The Lair of Bones. Prince Gaborn, the Earth King, has defeated the forces arrayed against him each time before: the magical and human forces marshaled by Raj Ahten, who seeks immortality at any cost and has given up his humanity in trade; and the inhuman, innumerable, insectile hordes of the giant Reavers from under the Earth, whose motives are unknowable, but inimical to human life. Now there must be final confrontations, both on the field of battle, with the supernatural creature that Raj Ahten has become, and underground, in the cavernous homeland of the Reavers, where the sorcerous One True Master who rules them all lies in wait--in the Lair of Bones. The survival of the human race on Earth is at stake. At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
“I love this book.” —Christine Feehan The incomparable C.L. Wilson brings her phenomenal Tairen Soul novels to Avon Books! Lady of Light and Shadows is the second book in the epic romantic adventure that combines sweeping fantasy with breathtaking paranormal romance. USA Today and New York Times bestseller C. L. Wilson continues the stirring, magical romance of Ellysetta, the woodcutter’s beautiful daughter, and the tormented Fey King Rain, as darkness rises up all around them, determined to destroy their love and their world.
One of the feature stories of the Cthulhu Mythos, "The Shadow Out of Time" is the tale of a professor of political economics that is thrown into a mind-shattering journey through time and space, while his body is held hostage by an alien mind. Horrified and panic-stricken by the implications of his experiences, he hopes against all reason and evidence that he has merely lost his mind.
Created by renowned author and witch Lucy Cavendish, this deluxe illustrated journal is full of profound and magickal wisdom about the lunar cycles, the Wheel of the Year, and the time-honoured traditions of witchcraft. A Book of Shadows and Light is your own sacred journal. For hundreds of years, wise ones, magicians, witches and lightworkers of all kinds have kept personal journals in which they have recorded their soul-questing. Be it through meditation, inner exploration, mystic adventure, spiritual travels, magickal manifestation or blessed spellcrafting and casting, the uncovering of each individual enchanted path is full of unique wisdom. Now you can join these magickal practitioners in the quest to realise your soul's energy as it is meant to manifest within the world. Through many inspired quotes and musings, Lucy imparts her extraordinary experience and knowledge to assist you in connecting with your divine wisdom, self-knowledge and natural gifts of intuition. This deluxe soft cover journal features 220 pages of cream-coloured premium quality wood-free paper, with a combination of lined and unlined pages to accommodate all facets of your self-expression--you may like to write, doodle, paint or draw. It also includes 44 full-page, color artwork reproductions by Lucy Cavendish to inspire your creative expression.
Life is strange and beautiful. But sometimes overwhelming. As a result, we tell ourselves stories, to make these times move easier. If it were not for our daily stories, we would simply drift away into oblivion. I brought forward a collection of tales, twenty four in all, from as far away as the other side of the moon, to as near as your own home. They say truth is stranger than fiction, but this I tend to doubt. This is a book of fiction, So remember, things are not as they seem, and it's not over till the fat lady sings. So hang in there until the end, and you will not be disappointed.
The death of Socrates may be the most famous unsolved murder in history. Set during the Peloponnesian War, this narrative solves that mystery, revealing for the first time how the philosopher was set up, who did it, and why. The influence of the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates has been profound. Even today, over two thousand years after his death, he remains one of the most renowned humans to have ever lived, occupying a stratum with the likes of Buddha, Jesus, Muhammed, Confucius, and Moses. It may not be too much to say that Socrates is the single most recognizable name in the history of all humanity. The death of Socrates is, in some ways, the most famous unsolved murder mystery in history. This book will solve the mystery, revealing for the first time how he was set up, who did it, and why. What follows is not a philosophical tract but something closer to a novel—made all the more compelling because it’s true. This is a real-life whodunit intertwined with a long running war, rivalry, sex addiction, betrayal, sedition, starvation, and epic bravery. Socrates was the most rational of men living in the most irrational of times. There is another side to this story: impiety, lack of reverence for the gods, was a religious crime. From the perspective of the religious authorities of the time, the charge of impiety against Socrates was warranted, his trial just, and the penalty appropriate. The priests did not tolerate scrutiny, even in the form of philosophical critique. To understand what happened and how it happened, we have to come to terms with the motives of the priests, and as importantly, Socrates’ motives in provoking them. His trial is perhaps first, but not last, great battle between philosophy and religion. The repercussions of this ancient epic apply equally to the West today, as Athens also endured pendulum swings between democracy and oligarchy—always with bloodshed, and never with Socrates’s approval.
To sum up: A witch out for revenge curses a once-beautiful mirror that stands proudly in the market square. This changes everything in the normally calm town of Eldoria in a strange way. Everyone loves this beautiful mirror, but it changes into a dangerous portal to a scary and dark world. It's the start of an exciting adventure that tries the limits of bravery, love, and the unwavering will of good over evil. One starry night, Alex's brave and loyal favorite, Jamie, goes missing for no obvious reason, upsetting the peace of the villagers. People who saw it say that a scary shadow pulled Jamie into the cursed mirror. Alex, who is sad but determined, takes the brave step to enter the mirror's evil realm, which starts an amazing trip to save Jamie from evil. Alex asks Eldoria's wise elder for help because he knows how bad things are, and the elder gives them a special amulet. This charm is a sign of hope and show that the people in the village believe in their goal because it might protect Alex from the witch's evil spell. Alex looks at himself in the mirror. The hopes of the town and the amulet around their necks. The world outside the mirror is very different from how warm and bright Eldoria is. Along Alex's path, there are many problems that test their strength at every turn. From the scary River of Reflections, which shows Alex's worst fears, to the mysterious Forest of Whispers, where trees talk to each other through puzzles, each obstacle brings them closer to Jamie while also pulling them deeper into the darkness. At the Witch's Lair, a castle filled with darkness and hate, and the Mountain of Fire, where demons dance in the flames, Alex's strength and the magical amulet's power are put to the test. At the end of the book, there is a dramatic fight of wills between Alex and the witch. Alex is stronger because she loves Jamie so much and Eldoria and she are both hopeful. Because he is strong, determined, and has the power of the amulet, Alex breaks the curse and breaks the crystal that blocks Jamie. So, they go back to Eldoria together. Their love and the village's newfound unity shine like lights of hope, showing the beauty of the world through the free mirror once more. The story takes place in the magical town of Eldoria and is a vivid account of bravery, love's victory over evil, and the unchanging power of good over evil. It will leave an indelible mark on everyone who sees the end of the trip. Chapter 1: The Haunted Mirror In the quiet town of Eldoria, everyone was drawn to a mirror. It wasn't just any mirror standing tall and proud in the marketplace; it was the most beautiful mirror in the whole town. The glass inside shone in the sun, showing how happy the people who walked by it every day also were. The frame was made out of gold. Adults would smile and straighten their clothes or fix their hats as they looked at their images. Kids, on the other hand, would laugh as they made funny faces at them. The people who lived there thought the mirror was a sign of happiness and beauty. A strange thing did happen, though, one day. A witch thought it was time to get back at people who had hurt her in the past. She had been planning her revenge for years and waiting for the right time to get angry. The village's most valuable mirror gave her a chance. Under the cover of darkness, she crept into the market square with a sparkle in her eyes. She swore at the mirror and said mean things in a whisper. The mirror, which used to be very bright and shiny, turned cold and scary, and the air around it cracked with evil energy. From that day on, the mirror was no longer a source of happiness and beauty. Instead, it changed into a doorway to a terrible and dark world. The people went back to the glass because they didn't know it was cursed, but they couldn't see themselves in the reflections. In the mirror, they saw horrifying, twisted versions of their own faces that were full of pain and sorrow. Even worse, some of the peasants who looked into the mirror for too long disappeared. The cursed glass ate them up, and they were locked up in the dark land beyond. The village's happiness quickly turned to fear. People were telling their kids to stay away from Eldoria's once-bustling market center because it was so quiet there. The pretty mirror, which used to be the pride of the hamlet, stood empty and alone, a scary reminder of the witch's wrath. There was still hope, though. One of the kids in the town was brave. He was a little kid with courage in his heart and determination in his mind. They couldn't stand the thought of leaving this child behind in that dark world where a close friend had died because of the cursed glass. They had to make the hard choice to go on a dangerous trip to break the curse and free their friend and anyone else who might have been captured. It was clear to the child that the trip would be dangerous. They would have to face the evil forces that lived in the dark world of the mirror and get through tough situations that would test how brave and determined they were. But his love for his friend made them stronger, as did their determination to make Hamlet happy again. They took a deep breath and a calm heart as they walked up to the cursed mirror. They were ready to face whatever was on the other side and break free from the witch's evil grip. From this point on, an epic journey would begin that would show bravery, friendship, and the fight between good and evil. It would be a long and hard trip for the kid, but they would not be alone. They would be guided by the town's spirit, their friend's love, and the hope of all the people who had died because of the mirror's curse. Their final goal was to break the curse and make the mirror shine again as a symbol of beauty and joy in the heart of Eldoria. Chapter 2: The Disappearing The pretty town of Eldoria had a market square with a mirror that stood for the community's pride. It was surrounded by green hills and trees that whispered. This wasn't just any mirror; it was a stunning work of art, framed in fine silverwork with delicate patterns that sparkled in the soft sunlight. Kids would often stop and laugh at their own reflections, and adults would look and respect the skill that went into making them. It was a sign of peace and beauty that matched the lively way of life in Eldoria and among its people. But one terrible day, the peace was broken when a witch, still angry at the people for an offense long forgotten, chose to put a deadly spell on the valuable mirror. In the past, the mirror was a source of beauty. But when the witch whispered old curses in the dark, black, ominous clouds gathered around its shiny surface, turning it into a scary entrance to a world of darkness. The witch's laughter could be heard all through the night after the spell was over and the mirror was changed forever. The next morning, when everyone in the area met in the market square, they saw that the beloved mirror had turned a scary shade of green. The relaxed days of reflection were over, and in their place was a doorway to a strange realm. The surface of this realm no longer showed off Eldoria's beauty, but instead seemed to lure people who weren't careful. The locals began to whisper with fear and discomfort as they thought about what had happened to their valuable mirror. They didn't know that the witch's curse had changed the mirror's look and given it a dark, evil power that could swallow anyone who looked too long into it. A fog grew over Eldoria as word spread about the mirror that was cursed. People left the market area because they were afraid of the evil they thought was there. It was once very busy. The mirror, which used to bring people together and make them happy, had turned into a scary sight that reminded Hamlet every day of the witch's revenge. Even though everyone was scared and worried, there was a small chance that the mirror could be fixed, and the curse would be lifted. The villagers had no idea how hard it would be to break the witch's spell or how brave and dedicated they would have to be. It would be a test to the very foundations of their community. A town called Eldoria that used to be calm was now in the middle of a war between light and darkness. The cursed mirror led them to a scary test that would decide their fate.
The perfect concise guide to the formal analysis of film. Designed to be used by readers at many levels of knowledge, this book moves systematically through the elements that make up most films, focusing on aspects of the art of cinema that are common across history and national cinemas. From form and narrative to mise-en-scène and cinematography to editing and sound, Robert Spadoni introduces and explains the principles and conventions of film in engaging, straightforward language. In addition to illustrating film techniques with almost 200 images—most of them in color—the book explains ways to find patterns and meaning in films through such concepts as motifs, development, and motivation. Thumbnail readings of exemplary films further lay out the essentials of formal analysis. Film illustrations include frame enlargements from Stagecoach, Psycho, Jeepers Creepers, Persepolis, Groundhog Day, Take Shelter, and more. Modestly priced and packed with images, A Pocket Guide to Analyzing Films is ideal for students in a wide range of film courses who are looking for an easy-to-read guide to film analysis to accompany and enhance their course materials.
