Beauty


Book Description

With the critically acclaimed novels The Gate To Women's Country, Raising The Stones, and the Hugo-nominated Grass, Sheri Tepper has established herself as one of the major science fiction writers of out Time. In Beauty, she broadens her territory even further, with a novel that evokes all the richness of fairy tale and fable. Drawing on the wellspring of tales such as "Sleeping Beauty," Beauty is a moving novel of love and loss, hope and despair, magic and nature. Set against a backdrop both enchanted and frightening, the story begins with a wicked aunt's curse that will afflict a young woman named Beauty on her sixteenth birthday. Though Beauty is able to sidestep tragedy, she soon finds herself embarked on an adventure of vast consequences. For it becomes clear that the enchanted places of this fantastic world--a place not unlike our own--are in danger and must be saved before it is too late.




At Your Most Beautiful


Book Description

Some nights are unforgettable... Ten years ago, Quinn Hathaway and Maya Mercer shared a night of forbidden passion they vowed to keep secret forever. When Quinn and Maya meet again, old sparks fly, but none of the reasons to hide their passion have changed. Quinn is still much younger and Maya has never told her son that she’s attracted to women. Can Maya overcome her fear of what her family might think of her? And how will Quinn’s parents, who used to be Maya’s next-door neighbors, react to their daughter’s unconventional love affair? Best-selling lesbian romance author Harper Bliss brings you a second-chance age-gap story about not being afraid of living life on your own terms.




Dragon Unleashed


Book Description

A dragon shapeshifter and a healer with power over the earth fight a corrupt empire in this thrilling and deeply emotional romantic fantasy from the USA Today bestselling author of Radiance. Magic is outlawed in the Krael Empire and punishable by death. Born with the gift of earth magic, the free trader Halani keeps her dangerous secret closely guarded. When her uncle buys a mysterious artifact, a piece of bone belonging to a long-dead draga, Halani knows it's far more than what it seems. Dragas haven't been seen for more than a century, and most believe them extinct. They're wrong. Dragas still walk among the denizens of the Empire, disguised as humans. Malachus is a draga living on borrowed time. The magic that has protected him will soon turn on him--unless he finds a key part of his heritage. He has tracked it to a group of free traders, among them a grave-robbing earth witch who fascinates him as much as she frustrates him with her many secrets. Unbeknownst to both, the Empire's twisted empress searches for a draga of her own, to capture and kill as a trophy. As Malachus the hunter becomes the hunted, Halani must risk herself and all she loves to save him from the Empire's machinations and his own lethal birthright.




Beast


Book Description

In this retelling of "Beauty and the Beast", a young, privileged Persian prince falters and makes a single wrong decision, setting an ancient curse into motion. He is transformed into a lion on the very day his father, the king, embarks on a lion hunt. Fleeing Persia, he makes his way across Europe in search of forgiveness and redemption, and finds it in a French beauty named Belle.




The Hob's Bargain


Book Description

#1 New York Times bestselling author Patrica Briggs presents a tale of beauty meets beast in this romantic fantasy novel. Hated and feared, magic was banished from the land. But now, freed from the spells of the wicked bloodmages, magic-both good and evil-returns. And Aren of Fallbrook feels her own power of sight strengthen and grow... Overcome by visions of mayhem and murder, Aren vows to save her village from the ruthless raiders who have descended upon it-and killed her family. With the return of wildlings to the hills and forests, she strikes a bargain with the Hob, a magical, human-like creature imbued with the power of the mountains. But the Hob is the last of his kind. And he will exact a heavy price to defend the village-a price Aren herself must pay...




Beauty


Book Description

The New York Times–bestselling author of Rose Daughter reimagines the classic French fairy tale of Beauty and the Beast. I was the youngest of three daughters. Our literal-minded mother named us Grace, Hope, and Honour. . . . My father still likes to tell the story of how I acquired my odd nickname: I had come to him for further information when I first discovered that our names meant something besides you-come-here. He succeeded in explaining grace and hope, but he had some difficulty trying to make the concept of honour understandable to a five-year-old. . . . I said: ‘Huh! I’d rather be Beauty.’ . . . By the time it was evident that I was going to let the family down by being plain, I’d been called Beauty for over six years. . . . I wasn’t really very fond of my given name, Honour, either . . . as if ‘honourable’ were the best that could be said of me. The sisters’ wealthy father loses all his money when his merchant fleet is drowned in a storm, and the family moves to a village far away. Then the old merchant hears what proves to be a false report that one of his ships had made it safe to harbor at last, and on his sad, disappointed way home again he becomes lost deep in the forest and has a terrifying encounter with a fierce Beast, who walks like a man and lives in a castle. The merchant’s life is forfeit, says the Beast, for trespass and the theft of a rose—but he will spare the old man’s life if he sends one of his daughters: “Your daughter would take no harm from me, nor from anything that lives in my lands.” When Beauty hears this story—for her father had picked the rose to bring to her—her sense of honor demands that she take up the Beast’s offer, for “cannot a Beast be tamed?” This “splendid story” by the Newbery Medal–winning author of The Hero and the Crown has been named an ALA Notable Book and a Phoenix Award Honor Book (Publishers Weekly).




The Facefaker's Game


Book Description

For fans of Brandon Sanderson and Scott Lynch, a fantasy about a clever young beggar who bargains his way into an apprenticeship with a company of thieving magicians and uses his newfound skills in a vendetta against a ruthless crime lord. Ashes lives in Burroughside—the dirtiest, most crime-ridden district in the huge city of Teranis. His neighbors are gangs of fellow orphans, homeless madmen, and monsters that swarm the streets at nightfall. Determined to escape Burroughside, Ashes spends his days begging, picking pockets, and cheating at cards. When he draws the wrath of Mr. Ragged, Burroughside’s brutal governor, he is forced to flee for his life, only to be rescued by an enigmatic man named Candlestick Jack. Jack leads a group of Artificers, professional magicians who can manipulate light with their bare hands to create stunningly convincing illusions. Changing a face is as simple as changing a hat. Ashes seizes an opportunity to study magic under Jack and quickly befriends the rest of the company: Juliana, Jack’s aristocratic wife; William, his exacting business partner; and Synder, his genius apprentice. But all is not as it seems: Jack and his company lead a double life as thieves, and they want Ashes to join their next heist. Between lessons on light and illusion, Ashes begins preparing to help with Jack’s most audacious caper yet: robbing the richest and most ruthless nobleman in the city. A dramatic adventure story full of wit, charm, and scheming rogues, The Facefaker’s Game introduces an unforgettable world you won’t soon want to leave.




Not Quite the Fairy Tale


Book Description

Step into a realm where fairies only help out when they are bored to tears or obliged to do so. Instead of Prince Charming, meet alpha male. Cinderella doesn't want anything to do with her King, and her biggest aspiration is suing the shit out of her step moth when she can afford to. Erik isn't all that fond of the mermaid with red hair, but he definitely fancy the sea witch. While the Beast is something of a recluse, he sees plenty of action in his casino-slash-sexclub... This bundle includes a lot of your favourite characters, only everyone is all grown up, and definitely more sassy. What's more? All of them are standalone novels - not short stories. -------------- Cinderella The King needs an heir and that means finding some sort of woman to do the job; "That's all it's about, ultimately: basic, carnal compatibility in order to satisfy this need. For that reason, the pictures I request of those who wish to apply are explicit. The full prerequisites are attached to the correspondence. If you aren't comfortable with these demands, don't bother applying." Ella applies, seeing straight through the bullshit; she goes as far as derisively add a set of pictures fitting the requirements the letter demands: A picture of her "pussy" - a fat, indolent Persian - and of her in her nightwear - yoga pants and a hoodie. In lieu of an introduction, her message reads: Dear Daniel Franko Phillipe Del Luz, I've applied to guarantee that I'm not summoned to your little orgy. Fuck you. We aren't all stupid. Ella. It was supposed to go through an automated system; she didn't expect anyone to read it... Let alone the King -------------- A little Siren Silvia Undine, otherwise known as the Sea Witch, has enough of hiding. All she did three years ago was saving a child and his father, but she stands accused of causing the storm, and as a consequence, has been banished from her seas. Enough of that. Defying the ruler of the seas, she goes back where she belongs. Everything would be peaceful, if it wasn't for the three Kings who fight over, against, and for her. The King of Alenia has taken a wife and Erik of Denker knows it's his turn; after three years spent searching for the one woman whose ever mattered - the one who saved him and his son from drowning - he has to give up and choose an alternative. He does so, tying himself to the first suitable option, just when Silvia step in his kingdom. -------------- Beauty and the Beast "Let me tell you one thing, Beast: if your Prince ever returns, watch his back. There are thousands who would gladly throw daggers at it." And Belle would be first in line. Ten years ago, he was Prince Aiden, heir of Jereena, at the top of the world - now, they call him Beast. Aiden has landed on his feet, his exclusive club is the place to be, he makes hundreds of thousands a night. What else could he possibly want? Belle grew up during the Anarchy, and the corrupted system screwed her, big time, but she managed to get by. Then, her stupid brother goes and steals from the Beast, who demands her as payment. Well, her, a pile of cash, or her sister - option two and three aren't acceptable. -------------- The Snow Queen Kai, heir of the dilapidated clan who's established residence in the most dangerous mountain on Gaia to avoid persecution, has enough problem on his plate. For starters? Finding enough food. Lack of running water. Keeping the kids alive - and out of the slave trade. The torrential snow. But when he sees that innocent, defenseless girl who persists in staying in the cold wastelands all by herself, he can't close his eyes, she becomes his to care for. She's the last full fledged goddess residing in Gaia and that mortal wishes to save her. Men are stupid.




The Dragon of Jin-Sayeng


Book Description

"The stunning conclusion of the Chronicles of the Wolf Queen series is filled with high-stakes action, emotions, and magic, with an ending that will not disappoint." (Library Journal, starred review) In The Dragon of Jin-Sayeng, the queen of a divided land must unite her people against the enemies who threaten to tear her country apart. K. S. Villoso is a "powerful new voice in fantasy." (Kameron Hurley) Queen Talyien is finally home, but dangers she never imagined await her in the shadowed halls of her father's castle. War is on the horizon. Her son has been stolen from her, her warlords despise her, and across the sea, a cursed prince threatens her nation with invasion in order to win her hand. Worse yet, her father's ancient secrets are dangerous enough to bring Jin-Sayeng to ruin. Dark magic tears rifts in the sky, preparing to rain down madness, chaos, and the possibility of setting her nation aflame. Bearing the brunt of the past and uncertain about her future, Talyien will need to decide between fleeing her shadows or embracing them before the whole world becomes an inferno. The Chronicles of the Wolf Queen The Wolf of Oren-yaro The Ikessar Falcon The Dragon of Jin-Sayeng




Do You Dream of Terra-Two?


Book Description

'A major new voice. Read Temi Oh today. Everybody will be reading her tomorrow' Stephen Baxter. author of World Engines 'A brilliant, beautiful debut. Reading it will change your heart' Christian Kiefer, author of Phantoms * The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet meets The 100 in this unforgettable debut by a brilliant new voice. * A century ago, scientists theorised that a habitable planet existed in a nearby solar system. Today, ten astronauts will leave a dying Earth to find it. Four are decorated veterans of the 20th century’s space-race. And six are teenagers, graduates of the exclusive Dalton Academy, who’ve been in training for this mission for most of their lives. It will take the team twenty-three years to reach Terra-Two. Twenty-three years spent in close quarters. Twenty-three years with no one to rely on but each other. Twenty-three years with no rescue possible, should something go wrong. And something always goes wrong. * Don't miss one of Cosmopolitans books by people of colour to get excited about in 2019, called 'a tightly wound epic' that 'will change your heart' by Christian Kiefer, author of Phantoms. * WHY READERS DREAM OF TERRA-TWO . . . 'An ambitious 500-page coming-of-age blockbuster . . .Oh is excellent at portraying the aching sense of loss on a one-way trip to the stars' Guardian 'A tightly wound, emotional epic that asks important questions about humanity, goodness, belief, technology, love, friendship, and duty. At what point is grabbing hold of one’s destiny ultimately an attempt to escape some other? Like all great writers, Temi Oh refuses the easy answer, instead ruminating upon the question itself. This novel is a brilliant, beautiful debut. Reading it will change your heart.' Christian Kiefer, author of Phantoms 'One of the most absorbing books I have ever read' 'This book seemed to take over my life whilst I was reading it - if I wasn't actually reading, I was thinking about it' 'I'm in love with this book . . . It is a beautiful, sprawling, literary delight with an unforgettable cast undertaking an unforgettable journey.' 'For fans of the character-driven The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet series, Terra-Two is perfect . . . A strong, haunting, character-driven story . . . This book and its characters will stay with you for a long time.' 'Do You Dream of Terra-Two succeeds both as a great sci-fi story and a brilliant drama . . . Even though you expect things to go wrong in this story, they still wrong foot you when they do. 5*. 'Beautifully written . . . It's inspirational to read' 'I would love to be able to write like Temi Oh. I should start taking notes . . . Highly recommended!'