The Queen of Darkness and other stories


Book Description

The ancient traditions of Sardinia feature heavily in this early collection. The stories collected in The Queen of Darkness, published in 1902 shortly after Deledda’s marriage and move to Rome, reflect her transformation from little-known regional writer to an increasingly fêted and successful mainstream author. The two miniature psycho-dramas that open the collection are followed by stories of Sardinian life in the remote hills around her home town of Nuoro. The stark but beautiful countryside is a backdrop to the passions, misadventures and injustices which shape the lives of its rugged but all too human inhabitants. Graham Andersopn's translation was longlisted for The Women in Translation Prize.




Queen of Darkness


Book Description

The gripping story of Boudica and her battle against the Roman empire, told through the eyes of a young girl. Perfect for fans of historical adventure. Young Rhianna is relieved when Queen Boudica takes in her and her sister when their parents die. But there's a darkness in Boudica that's waiting to be unleashed and the Romans will suffer for their crimes against her. Soon, Rhianna witnesses much more than the kindness that Boudica has shown her and her sister. There's a battle coming... and a terrible aftermath. This exciting and engaging take on a powerful woman from history from the master historical storyteller, Tony Bradman, is a great way to cover Boudica who is covered on the Key Stage 2 (KS2) curriculum in England. Flashbacks offer dramatic stories set in key moments in history, perfect for introducing children to historical topics.




Heart of Darkness and Other Tales


Book Description

HEART OF DARKNESS * AN OUTPOST OF PROGRESS * KARAIN * YOUTH The finest of all Conrad's tales, 'Heart of Darkness' is set in an atmosphere of mystery and menace, and tells of Marlow's perilous journey up the Congo River to relieve his employer's agent, the renowned and formidable Mr Kurtz. What he sees on his journey, and his eventual encounter with Kurtz, horrify and perplex him, and call into question the very bases of civilization and human nature. Endlessly reinterpreted by critics and adapted for film, radio, and television, the story shows Conrad at his most intense and sophisticated. The other three tales in this volume depict corruption and obsession, and question racial assumptions. Set in the exotic surroundings of Africa, Malaysia. and the east, they variously appraise the glamour, folly, and rapacity of imperial adventure. This revised edition uses the English first edition texts and has a new chronology and bibliography. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.




Darkness Everlasting


Book Description

A battle of vampires and werewolves will be decided by one woman’s desire in this supernatural romance by the New York Times bestselling author. Darcy Smith never knew about the secret she possesses within her, one powerful enough to end an entire race of demons. But now, as an unwitting pawn in an epic battle of vampires and werewolves, she’s about to discover the truth—and enter a dangerous world of ecstasy and dark passions. Consumed with lust for Darcy, the vampire leader Styx will do anything to keep her out of the lair of Salvatore Giuliani, the deadly ruler of the weres. But Salvatore is every bit as desperate to make Darcy his ultimate conquest and queen. With his kind pushed to the brink of extinction, she alone holds the key to survival. Now Darcy will have to decide which of these two men she can truly trust. Because all it takes is one bite to plunge her into a lifetime of servitude—or a lifetime of pleasure.




The Queen of Spades


Book Description




Queen of the Dark Things


Book Description

Compared by many to Neil Gaiman but also praised for establishing his own unique, powerful yet warm voice, C. Robert Cargill has now moved his brilliant contemporary fantasy into a new world, a new mythology. Two boys, spirited away into a dark world of myth and folklore that has lived, grown and changed alongside our world, have grown into men and now make their way. But faerie has not forgotten them, it never could, they wield too much power, too much hinges on them, so it reaches out again. And a trip to Australia becomes a terrifying adventure amongst new gods, new spirits, new embodiments of an ancient land and power.




A Darkness Forged in Fire


Book Description

Rejected by their own kind for bearing the mark of the Shadow Monarch, the Iron Elves chose instead to serve with the human armies of the Calahrian Empire, hoping through their dedication and discipline to wipe out the stain of their birth. Their reputation is legendary -- until their commander, Konowa Swiftdragon, takes it upon himself -- for the best of reasons -- to assassinate the Viceroy. Court-martialled and exiled to the forest he despises, his beloved regiment disgraced, dishonoured and disbanded, Konowa finds himself suddenly recalled and ordered to re-form the Iron Elves for one last reconnaissance mission. But the new Iron Elves are not at all the same as they were before, and the mission is a suicidal one, with more at stake than Konowa could possibly have imagined. For the Shadow Monarch and her allies have harnessed destructive forces with the power to tear worlds apart -- and those who bear her mark have a destiny greater than they know. So begins an heroic journey in the company of a motley band of misfits, rebels and outcasts, with a central character whose engaging, brilliantly realised blend of cynicism, dry humour, duty and anguish make him unlike any other in fantasy fiction.




Queen of Air and Darkness


Book Description

Dark secrets and forbidden love threaten the very survival of the Shadowhunters in Cassandra Clare’s Queen of Air and Darkness, the final novel in the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling The Dark Artifices trilogy. Queen of Air and Darkness is a Shadowhunters novel. What if damnation is the price of true love? Innocent blood has been spilled on the steps of the Council Hall, the sacred stronghold of the Shadowhunters. Their society now teeters on the brink of civil war. One fragment of the Blackthorn family flees to Los Angeles, seeking to discover the source of the disease that is destroying the race of warlocks. Meanwhile, Julian and Emma take desperate measures to put their forbidden love aside and undertake a perilous mission to Faerie to retrieve the Black Volume of the Dead. What they find there is a secret that may tear the Shadow World asunder and open a dark path into a future they could never have imagined. Caught in a race against time, Emma and Julian must save the world of the Shadowhunters before a deadly curse destroys them and everyone they love.




Prince of Air and Darkness


Book Description

Phineas Smith has been cursed with a power no one could control. Roark Lyne is his worst enemy and his only hope. First in the Darkest Court series. The only human student at Mather’s School of Magick, Phineas Smith has a target on his back. Born with the rare ability to tap into unlimited magick, he finds both Faerie Courts want his allegiance—and will do anything to get it. They don’t realize he can’t levitate a feather, much less defend the Faerie Realm as it slips into civil war. Unseelie Prince Roark Lyne—Phineas’s roommate and self-proclaimed arch nemesis—is beautiful and brave and a pain in the ass. Phineas can’t begin to sort through their six years of sexual tension masquerading as mutual dislike. But Roark is also the only one able to help Finn tame his magick. Trusting Roark’s mysterious motives may be foolish; not accepting his temporary protection would be deadly. Caught in the middle of the impending war, Phineas and Roark forge a dangerous alliance. And as the walls between them crumble, Phineas realizes that Roark isn’t the monster he’d imagined. But their growing intimacy threatens to expose a secret that could either turn the tide of the war . . . or destroy them both. Praise for the Darkest Court series “Stunningly brilliant.” —Mirrigold “This is such a fantastic series! The contemporary twist on classic high fantasy is beautifully executed.” —Wicked Reads “I am utterly infatuated with this series and cannot wait for the next book.” —The Novel Approach Reviews




The Shadow Queen


Book Description

An epic, hugely entertaining YA fantasy inspired by the tale of Snow White, perfect for fans of Victoria Aveyard and Sarah J Maas.