Saints and Curses


Book Description

Saints and Curses is a collection of fantasy short stories with both dark and light themes, settings, and characters.




A Curse Upon the Saints


Book Description

""We were fighting a typical religious war until the goat-men arrived."" For eight years war raged between the armies of King Traden of Garmundland, convert to the Church of the Holy Family, and those united with the Holy Church of Nasir, the one true god. Victory was in the Nasirians' grasp as they lay siege to the pagan city of Silverwic. The cannon were in place to begin the final assault. That's when the Sarbarah, a race of slavers, entered the war. The "goat-men," who once enslaved the human race for thousands of years, threatened to reconquer the lands they had lost. "A Curse upon the Saints" tells the story of a bitter religious conflict from perspectives of characters on both sides. Renwick, a corrupt cardinal whose ambitions lead him to forge an alliance with the Sarbarah. Nurik, Renwick's protege, forced to choose between loyalty to his mentor and the greater good. Marisol, a young Nasirian priestess whose faith is unravelled when she learns of the scope of her church's corruption. Frederich, a solicitor and amateur musician enslaved by the Sarbarah, who must use his wits to survive long enough to escape. Leoda, Frederich's wife and priestess of the Holy Family, whose use of magic indentures her to the service of a cruel prince. Can the faithful of both religions not only make peace, but also unite in the face of this new threat to humanity?"




Monks and Nuns, Saints and Outcasts


Book Description

A new generation of historians today is borrowing from cultural anthropology, post-modern critical theory, and gender studies to understand the social meanings of medieval religious movements, practices, figures, and cults. In this volume Sharon Farmer and Barbara H. Rosenwein bring together essays—all hitherto unpublished—that combine some of the best of these new approaches with rigorous research and traditional scholarship. Some of these essays re-envision the professionals of religion: the monks and nuns who carried out crucial social functions as mediators between living and dead, repositories for social memory, and loci of vicarious piety. In their religious life these people embodied an image of the society that produced them. Other contributions focus on social categories, usually expressed as dichotomies: male/female, insider/outsider, saint/outcast. Monks and Nuns, Saints and Outcasts is the first book to show the interaction of seemingly antithetical groups of medieval people and the ways in which they were defined by, as well as against, each other. All of the essays, taken together, form a tribute to Lester K. Little, pioneer in the study of religion in medieval society.




The Blessing of the Celtic Curse


Book Description

In the true spirit of Irish storytelling, Leigh Ebberwein weaves an uplifting and powerful tale of the cross-generational impact of reckless choices, the redeeming power of love, and the unbreakable bond of family. Smart and sassy Kathleen Kenny has never ventured far from the protective cocoon of her large, close-knit family and her crazy "tribe" of forever girlfriends. When rich and hunky Jack Murray, an ex-football hero and successful lawyer, pops the question, her perfect (and safe) life in Savannah seems assured. Voices from the past are changing the course of Kathleen's future. But Kathleen's secret inner life beckons her to Ireland to search for answers to her puzzling dreams. Only weeks before the big day, Kathleen announces her plans for a six-week trip to Knock, County Mayo. A confused and furious Jack issues an ultimatum. Is the wedding off? Ireland steals her heart. Kathleen rents a small cottage from the McMillion family and is soon grafted into "small-town" Ireland culture. Handsome Quinn McMillon has recently inherited his father's farm but isn't quite ready to settle down. In denial of the sparks sizzling between them, Kathleen and Quinn fan the sparks by embarking on a three-week European adventure. Decades later, this trip will dramatically impact two families, an ocean apart, and the townsfolk of Knock in unimaginable ways. Become part of the adventure. Experience the beauty of Savannah, the charm of Ireland, and the shenanigans of a host of unforgettable characters with a feel-good story that's full of surprises until the very last page.




All the Crooked Saints


Book Description

From bestselling author Maggie Stiefvater, a gripping tale of darkness, miracles, and family. Here is a thing everyone wants: A miracle.Here is a thing everyone fears:What it takes to get one.Any visitor to Bicho Raro, Colorado, is likely to find a landscape of dark saints, forbidden love, scientific dreams, miracle-mad owls, estranged affections, one or two orphans, and a sky full of watchful desert stars. At the heart of this place you will find the Soria family, who all have the ability to perform unusual miracles. And at the heart of this family are three cousins longing to change its future: Beatriz, the girl without feelings, who wants only to be free to examine her thoughts; Daniel, the Saint of Bicho Raro, who performs miracles for everyone but himself; and Joaquin, who spends his nights running a renegade radio station under the name Diablo Diablo. They are all looking for a miracle. But the miracles of Bicho Raro are never quite what you expect.




Folk Like Me


Book Description

The lives of the saints are either too grisly for little kids or too saccharine for older ones. But this collection appeals to both groups with a combination of gentle humor and frankness – battle-tested at the author’s weekly chapel services at the school where she teaches. It’s organized into two full school years, with each saint’s story falling on or near his or her special day so that each story can be a springboard to a creative seasonal teaching unit or small festival. Saints represent a wide variety of ethnic and geographic backgrounds.




Curse of the Divine


Book Description

Return to the world of inklings, tattoo magic, and evil deities as Celia uncovers the secrets of the ink in order to stop Diavala once and for all. This eagerly anticipated sequel to Ink in the Blood is perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo and Wicked Saints. Celia Sand faced Diavala and won, using ink magic to destroy the corrupt religion of Profeta that tormented her for a decade. But winning came with a cost. Now Celia is plagued with guilt over her role in the death of her best friend. When she discovers that Diavala is still very much alive and threatening Griffin, the now-infamous plague doctor, Celia is desperate not to lose another person she loves to the deity's wrath. The key to destroying Diavala may lie with Halcyon Ronnea, the only other person to have faced Diavala and survived. But Halcyon is dangerous and has secrets of his own, ones that involve the ink that Celia has come to hate. Forced to choose between the ink and Diavala, Celia will do whatever it takes to save Griffin--even if it means making a deal with the devil himself.




Sinners & Saints


Book Description

TEAM JASMINE or TEAM RACHEL? Bestselling and award-winning novelists Victoria Christopher Murray and ReShonda Tate Billingsley bring their favorite heroines together in a novel that will delight their legions of fans. Jasmine Larson Bush and Rachel Jackson Adams are not your typical first ladies. But they’ve overcome their scandalous and drama-filled pasts to stand firmly by their husbands’ sides. When a coveted position opens up—president of the American Baptist Coalition— both women think their husbands are perfect for the job. And winning the position may require both women to get down and dirty and revert to their old tricks. Just when Jasmine and Rachel think they’re going to have to fight to the finish, the current first lady of the coalition steps in . . . a woman bigger, badder, and more devious than either of them. Double the fun with a message of faith, Sinners & Saints will delight readers with two of their favorite characters from two of their favorite authors.




Tyrant's Throne


Book Description

After years of struggle and sacrifice, Falcio val Mond, First Cantor of the Greatcoats, is on the brink of fulfilling his dead king's dream: Aline, the king's daughter, is about to take the throne and restore the rule of law once and for all. But for the Greatcoats, nothing is ever that simple. In the neighboring country of Avares, an enigmatic new warlord is uniting the barbarian armies that have long plagued Tristia's borders--and even worse, he is rumored to have a new ally: Trin, who's twice tried to kill Aline to claim the throne of Tristia for herself. With the armies of Avares at her back, led by a bloodthirsty warrior, she'll be unstoppable. Falcio, Kest, and Brasti race north to stop her, but in those cold and treacherous climes they discover something altogether different, and far more dangerous: a new player is planning to take the throne of Tristia, and with a sense of dread the three friends realize that the Greatcoats, for all their skill, may not be able to stop him. As the nobles of Tristia and even the Greatcoats themselves fight over who should rule, the Warlord of Avares threatens to invade. With so many powerful contenders vying for power, it will fall to Falcio to render the one verdict he cannot bring himself to utter, much less enforce. Should he help crown the young woman he vowed to put on the throne, or uphold the laws he swore to serve?




Encyclopedia of Spirits


Book Description

Enter the World of Spirits! The Encyclopedia of Spirits is a comprehensive and entertaining A to Z of spirits from around this world and the next. Within these pages meet love goddesses and disease demons, guardians of children and guardians of cadavers. Discover Celtic goddesses and goddesses of the Kabbalah, female Buddhas, African Powers, Dragon Ladies, White Ladies, Black Madonnas, the Green Man, the Green Fairy, lots and lots of ghosts, djinn, mermaids, fairies, and more. From the beneficent to the mischievous, working with these spirits can bring good fortune, lasting love, health, fertility, revenge, and relief. Discover: The true identities of over one thousand spirits (as well as their likes and dislikes) How to communicate with specific spirits for your own benefit How to recognize these spirits when they manifest themselves The mythological and historical events associated with specific spirits The colors, days, numbers, and astrological signs associated with specific spirits The Encyclopedia of Spirits also provides an overview of the role of spirit communication throughout history and a general guide to working with spirits. No matter what your life's problems or desires, this book can guide you to the right spirits who can help fulfill your dreams. For the spiritual adept, the amateur, or the simply curious, the Encyclopedia of Spirits will inform, inspire, and delight.