Serpent's Egg


Book Description

Published in 2001, The Serpent’s Egg became an instant hit among Canadian middle readers and ’tweens, selling thousands by word-of-mouth alone. Ottawa is under siege. Parliament Hill has fallen to the Demon. The fate of the entire world rests in the hands of Miranda and her Ottawa school friends. Searching through the labyrinth of tunnels under the Library of Parliament, they must find a portal into a parallel world, where the only way to save the two worlds from the Demon and her crazed minions is to capture the Serpent’s egg. In the classic tradition of epic fantasy, The Serpent’s Egg has all the magic ingredients for a captivating tale: good versus evil, an unlikely heroine, awesome battles, evil-doers extraordinaire, and a story that puts courage and friendship to the test.




The Serpent's Egg


Book Description

“A rousing tale of courtly intrigues and chivalrous honor” from the author of The Glass Magician (Charles de Lint, award-winning writer). Just as hard-fought peace has come to the land of Staunton, war hero Sir Anthony Folville lies dead—but not due to his battle wounds. He has been poisoned by the medic treating him, a man supposedly paid by Queen Andred’s heir to perform this dastardly act. Now, with the prince imprisoned and accused of murder, his allies join forces to prove his innocence, including the fiancée of Sir Anthony and the royal scholar Chrysafer. They have reason to suspect the Duke of Tilbury is behind the plot—and that the queen is his next target. As spies listen in the shadows and swords clash, there is one weapon that will sway events in the traitorous duke’s favor: a legendary serpent’s egg with clairvoyant powers. And only Chrysafer is able to sense its magic—and stop the carnage to come . . . “To know this book is to love it passionately. I want to live in it. I want to exchange banter with witty ne’er do wells, be boon companion to noble-hearted yet practical ladies, aid a nerdy librarian with her magic, and incidentally save the kingdom. Here is true magic.” —Ellen Kushner, World Fantasy Award–winning author “I really enjoyed reading The Serpent’s Egg, and delighted in the unusual characterizations and plot.” —Anne McCaffrey, New York Times–bestselling author of the Dragonriders of Pern series “Sparkling characters, humor, and lots of action . . . A very talented writer!” —R.A. MacAvoy, John W. Campbell Award–winning author of Lens of the World




Burning Crown


Book Description

The second popular title in the word-of-mouth kids’ lit phenom known as The Serpent’s Egg Trilogy, The Burning Crown is another fast-paced fantasy adventure tale. The Elven Crown has fallen into the hands of the Demon’s crazed minions, who control the only known portal into a magical land. Now, a group of Ottawa kids must regain the Crown before its power can be used to unleash the Demon Hate from her dark prison. With her effortless skill at building a complete fantasy world—under the Ottawa Library of Parliament, no less—McCurdy packs The Burning Crown with epic battles, wondrous creatures and a life-or-death challenge that tests the bonds of friendship.




The Serpent's Egg ~ And Other Tales of Darkness


Book Description

A World War Two fighter pilot discovers that there are worse things that man's inhumanity to man when he is sent to a secluded stately home to recuperate from his injuries after being shot down in the African desert... Desperate men unwittingly unleash a devastating plague upon the world, one that hungers for human flesh... A young mother struggles to cope with looking after two small children, a situation that only worsens with the arrival of a sinister childhood toy... A writer's research into the legend of the Lambton Worm takes a horrifying twist when he uncovers the true origin of the story... Thirteen tales of darkness, featuring everything from zombies and demons, to mummies and the unspeakable horrors that dwell beyond the physical universe, written by JONATHAN GREEN, creator of the Steampunk world of Pax Britannia. "Can do dark very well." - Jonathan Oliver, editor "A writer at the top of his game." - Dean M Drinkel, editor "Green gets mileage out of his monsters..." - SFX Magazine




Serpent's Egg


Book Description

It was the End of Summer of the year 2035. The Global Village that was the World was ruled by a Kangaroo Court of Compassionate Aldermen who ordered assassinations when it was deemed to be for the common good. As a sign of their openness, they were always experimenting to find new ways of looking at the World. Most of these experiments would would fail; some of them would succeed to an extent; and others would succeed only too well, and so would have to be crushed in the shell for the good of the World. The Lynn-Randal Experiment raised three children together almost from infancy. Of these three, Lord Randal was human (though somewhat enhanced and tampered with). Axel belonged to the gargoyle-faced 'Golden People' ('God believes they are the most beautiful creatures he ever made,' a theologian said, 'and there will be hell to pay when he founds out that we don't agree.'). And the third child was Inneal who often elicited the comment 'she's really something different, isn't she!' Yes, she was. All of these were super-mega-persons, which meant that they might be able to change the world itself. But why did they begin to change the Ocean first? When these three were just short of ten years old, they were merged with children of three other experiments, and formed with them a Magic Dozen. Immediately they began to have an astonishing effect on the World. And the fave of the children themselves hung in the balance. Was the experiment too successful? Was their effect on the World too dangerous? Would their group be, as other groups had been, adjudged to be a 'Serpent's Egg' that had to be crushed in the shell for the good of the world? The Three Days of Summerset, the End of Summer, would give the answer.




Twisted Blade


Book Description

In the final book of J. Fitzgerald McCurdy’s bestselling Serpent’s Egg Trilogy, 11-year-old Miranda, Nicholas and their friends are once again plunged into another world deep beneath Canada’s capital city. Hate the Demon has hatched a plot to destroy the Elves and the spells that seal her prison. To stop her, Miranda will need to find the coveted Twisted Blade. But Nicholas has fallen into the clutches of the Dwarf-snake and Miranda must rescue him as well if they’re finally to put an end to Hate’s plans. Bursting with strange creatures and epic battles between good and evil, The Twisted Blade propels the series toward a breakneck conclusion.




In the Serpent's Wake


Book Description

From the critically acclaimed and bestselling author of Seraphina comes a piercing new fantasy adventure that champions our resilience and humility. MIND OF THE WORLD, OPEN YOUR EYES. At the bottom of the world lies a Serpent, the last of its kind. Finding the Serpent will change lives. Tess is a girl on a mission to save a friend. Spira is a dragon seeking a new identity. Marga is an explorer staking her claim on a man’s world. Jacomo is a priest searching for his soul. There are those who would give their lives to keep it hidden. And those who would destroy it. But the only people who will truly find the Serpent are those who have awakened to the world around them—with eyes open to the wondrous, the terrible, and the just. Discover more critically-acclaimed YA from Rachel Hartman! Seraphina Shadow Scale Tess of the Road




Cuckoo's Egg


Book Description

They told Thorn he was one of them, although he was different. To them, he was ugly: sleek-skinned, not furred, and clawless. But he was part of their power class, part of the elite: the fighters, the defenders. When the crunch came, when Thorn learned that on him might hang the future of two worlds, he had to stand alone to justify his very existence.




The Serpent's Shadow


Book Description

The first in a series of adult fairy tale retellings full of magic, romance, humor, and suspense—from a Grand Master of science fiction and fantasy! A richly reimagined Snow White uncovers the secrets of her family’s magical history in an alternate Edwardian London . . . As the daughter of a prominent British physician and a Brahmin woman of the highest caste, Maya Witherspoon graduated from the University of Delhi as a Doctor of Medicine by the age of 22. But the science of medicine was not Maya’s only heritage. For Maya’s aristocratic mother, Surya, was a sorceress—a former priestess of the mystical magics fueled by the powerful and fearsome pantheon of Indian gods. Though Maya felt the stirring of magic in her blood, her mother had repeatedly refused to train her. Yet it was Maya’s father’s death shortly thereafter that confirmed her darkest suspicions. For her father was killed by the bite of a krait, a tiny venomous snake, and in the last hours of her mother’s life, Surya had warned Maya to beware “the serpent’s shadow.” Maya knew she must flee the land of her birth or face the same fate as her parents. In self-imposed exile in Edwardian London, Maya knew that she could not hide forever from the vindictive power that had murdered her parents. She knew in her heart that even a vast ocean couldn’t protect her from “the serpent’s shadow” that had so terrified her mother. Her only hope was to find a way to master her own magic: the magic of her father’s blood. But who would teach her? And could she learn enough to save her life by the time her relentless pursuers caught up with their prey?




The Shining Serpent


Book Description

Within the chaos of a war-torn Iraq, Sarah tries to live a peaceful life with her young son. But everything changes drastically when her son disappears. Contemplating suicide by day, and seeing strange realms by night, she meets a dark serpent who promises to help her. With new found belief in herself, she sets off in search for her son. But who is this mysterious entity? And will she be able to overcome the hazards that lie ahead?