The Cursed Village


Book Description

Usati is a four year old growing up in Sunnyvale, a small, poor and remote sugar cane farming village in Trinidad in the 1940’s. He describes the world he sees, and captures the language and culture of the mainly illiterate peasant workers who live around him. There is widespread belief in black magic, and nearby is the infamous silk-cotton tree which houses the evil spirits who are responsible for all the ills of the village. Usati looks after his two younger siblings. Even as a four year old he has to be a human shield for the neighbour on several occasions in the face of domestic violence. Life is hard and brutal with constant fear of violence and beatings. Following his mother’s death the children are brought up by their grandparents, but there are further constant upheavals within the family. Violence remains within all parts of this society, as is crime and suffering. Usati observes how his family suffers through their illiteracy and the society within which they live. Usati battles for a good education. He vows to bring literacy to the village and to fight against the cruelty that surrounds him. Usati and B started as teenage lovers, but can their love survive and endure a lifetime from the wicked curse and traumas of the intervening years?




The Cursed Village Chronicles


Book Description

Embark on a journey of mystery, courage, and redemption as Vikramaditya, aided by the enigmatic vetala, delves into the heart of a cursed village. In this epic tale, follow Vikramaditya's quest to uncover the source of the village's torment and lift the centuries-old curse that has plagued its inhabitants. From uncovering dark secrets buried in the village's history to confronting malevolent forces lurking in the shadows, Vikramaditya's determination and resolve are put to the test. Join him in a race against time as he battles allies and faces betrayal, ultimately leading to a climactic showdown with the darkness that threatens to consume the village. Through sacrifice and redemption, Vikramaditya's journey illuminates the power of hope and the triumph of light over darkness. Don't miss this captivating saga of bravery and heroism, where one man's courage changes the fate of an entire village.




Skate Monkey: The Cursed Village


Book Description

Monkey and his friends, Zu and Sandy, lived in the Emperor's Cloud Palace. But they played all sorts of tricks on people, so, as a punishment, the Jade Emperor sent them down to Earth. They can only return if they prove that they can use their magical powers for good. Adventure is never far away! In The Cursed Village, something is very wrong in Weston. People are living in fear of the half-zombies, half-vampires that are roaming the streets. Can the friends save the village from the monsters? Bloomsbury High Low books encourage and support reading practice by providing gripping, age-appropriate stories for struggling and reluctant readers, those with dyslexia, or those with English as an additional language. Printed on tinted paper and with a dyslexia friendly font, Skate Monkey is aimed at readers aged 8+ and has a manageable length (72 pages) and reading age (7+). This collection of stories can be read in any order. Produced in association with reading experts at CatchUp, a charity which aims to address underachievement caused by literacy and numeracy difficulties.




The Cinema of Spain and Portugal


Book Description

Providing an overview of Spanish and Portuguese cinema, this title contains 24 essays, each on a separate seminal film from the region, profiling work from the likes of Pedro Almodıvar and João Cesar Monteiro.




Curse of the Forgotten City


Book Description

From #BookTok phenomenon and New York Times bestselling author of the YA fantasy novel, Lightlark, the second book in this fast-paced middle grade series steeped in Colombian mythology and full of adventure, perfect for fans of Aru Shah and the End of Time and Percy Jackson. In this tale Tor, Engle, and Melda must stop a band of cursed pirates from taking over their home. Tor is adjusting to life with the Night Witch's powers, with his best friends Engle and Melda by his side. But when a mysterious girl named Vesper washes ashore claiming a band of cursed pirates is on their way to Emblem Island, life changes fast. Vesper is from an underwater city that was destroyed by the terrible Calavera pirates and she warns Tor that his village is next. To stop the pirates, Tor, Engle, and Melda join Vesper on the hunt for the famed Pirate's Pearl, an ancient relic that would give them complete control of the high seas. But the journey is perilous, filled with legendary sea creatures that are determined to see them fail. To save his village and everyone he loves, Tor must accept his new abilities—and use them—in the race to find the pearl. You'll love Curse of the Forgotten City if you're looking for: Summer reading for tweens and teens ages 11-14 Multicultural books for children (especially Latinx books) Stories based on fascinating mythology Your next favorite fantasy series for girls ages 9-12 Praise for Curse of the Night Witch: A Seventeen.com Most Anticipated Book of Summer! A Zibby Owens Summer Reading Pick on Good Morning America! "Debut author Aster takes inspiration from Colombian folklore to craft a rousing series opener that's both fast-paced and thrilling. As her protagonists face off against a host of horrors, they learn the value of friendship and explore the possibility of changing one's fate in a world where destiny is predetermined."—Publishers Weekly, STARRED review "Worthy of every magical ounce."—Kirkus Reviews, STARRED review




The Missionary's Curse and Other Tales from a Chinese Catholic Village


Book Description

The Missionary’s Curse tells the story of a Chinese village that has been Catholic since the seventeenth century, drawing direct connections between its history, the globalizing church, and the nation. Harrison recounts the popular folk tales of merchants and peasants who once adopted Catholic rituals and teachings for their own purposes, only to find themselves in conflict with the orthodoxy of Franciscan missionaries arriving from Italy. The village’s long religious history, combined with the similarities between Chinese folk religion and Italian Catholicism, forces us to rethink the extreme violence committed in the area during the Boxer Uprising. The author also follows nineteenth century Chinese priests who campaigned against missionary control, up through the founding of the official church by the Communist Party in the 1950s. Harrison’s in-depth study provides a rare insight into villager experiences during the Socialist Education Movement and Cultural Revolution, as well as the growth of Christianity in China in recent years. She makes the compelling argument that Catholic practice in the village, rather than adopting Chinese forms in a gradual process of acculturation, has in fact become increasingly similar to those of Catholics in other parts of the world.




The Curse of the Arcadian Stone: Nameless Fay (Volumes 1-3)


Book Description

She was solely created to guard a legendary relic. But when a rogue thief from Earth disrupts her dreary world, her job won't be the only thing she loses. An ancient forest fairy guards a legendary treasure that holds the power of the gods. A rogue stranger from Earth needs only one thing to return home. A mysterious curse entwined in their fates... For lovers of epic fantasy, adventure, and easy to read feel-good stories. If you like Neil Gaiman's Stardust and The Chronicles of Narnia with a quirky twist, you’ll enjoy this offbeat, fast-paced YA portal fantasy adventure. This boxed set contains Volumes 1-3 of S. R. Breaker's YA epic/portal fantasy series "The Curse of the Arcadian Stone: Nameless Fay." PLUS an exclusive BONUS downloadable high-resolution version of the fantasy world map "Land of Arcadia." Volume 1: STOLEN OATH There’s only so much for a bored three-thousand-year-old fairy to do in the forest. A nameless fairy dubbed “Magenta” knows she only exists to serve a specific purpose. To guard the most powerful relic in the land of Arcadia. And for thousands of years, she's succeeded in fending off even the most dangerous of threats. But when a rogue stranger from Earth offers her something much more precious in exchange for the relic, will she accede even if it risks her very existence? Josh Richards is nothing if not resourceful. But it still took him nearly a year to find the one thing powerful enough to ensure his much overdue return to Earth. And if a little deception is all he requires to finally get his hands on it, how bad could the consequences really be? The last thing Josh needs is a snarky forest fairy with a vendetta. So why can't he just seem to leave her behind? Embark on a perilous quest through a mysterious, mystical land. A second-world classic fantasy adventure. Volume 2: BROKEN FATE She literally had one job. For over three thousand years, a nameless forest fairy dubbed "Magenta" has been duty-bound to protect the most powerful relic in the land of Arcadia. But when the legendary relic falls into the hands of Josh Richards, a rogue stranger from Earth, there is no more hiding its immense power from all manner of potential threats. And while possession of a mythical relic can indeed gain you allies, Josh and Magenta quickly learn that it can also make you enemies just as fast. It’s a big, wide, dangerous world outside the forest. Volume 3: CHOSEN PATH An ancient legend shrouded in mystery and fates evermore intertwined… For over three thousand years, a nameless forest fairy dubbed “Magenta” has been tasked to guard the most powerful relic in the land of Arcadia. Or was she? Grappling with the ambiguities of her own existence, Magenta resigns to help the rogue stranger Josh Richards return to Earth as the only way she ever hopes to restore herself and the legendary relic to their rightful places. But if Magenta doesn’t even know who she is, how will she know her rightful place? Or perhaps more importantly, how will she know whom she can really trust? Offbeat, easy reading fantasy and science fiction. Check out other books by S. R. Breaker.




The Curse


Book Description

Stories about the struggle between and Good and Evil have given writers inspiration for centuries. The Curse is one such story. It deals with imagination, dreams and the supernatural. Two young cousins are drawn to a small village in the Carpathian Mountains to face an evil that was spawned fifty years before they were born. A young Count at that time believed that he had become immortal after consorting with known witches and warlocks in the region. He placed a curse on the village before jumping from his castle wall to what was thought to be his death. His evil brought him back to life and he is ready to start his reign of terror. The cousins must defeat the Count in order to stop the curse from becoming real. Read The Curse to find out why people are afraid of the dark.




A History of Spanish Film


Book Description

A History of Spanish Film explores Spanish film from the beginnings of the industry to the present day by combining some of the most exciting work taking place in film studies with some of the most urgent questions that have preoccupied twentieth-century Spain. It addresses new questions in film studies, like 'prestige film' and 'middlebrow cinema', and places these in the context of a country defined by social mobility, including the 1920s industrial boom, the 1940s post-Civil War depression, and the mass movement into the middle classes from the 1960s onwards. Close textual analysis of some 42 films from 1910-2010 provides an especially useful avenue into the study of this cinema for the student. - Uniquely offers extensive close readings of 42 films, which are especially useful to students and teachers of Spanish cinema. - Analyses Spanish silent cinema and films of the Franco era as well as contemporary examples. - Interrogates film's relations with other media, including literature, pictorial art and television. - Explores both 'auteur' and 'popular' cinemas. - Establishes 'prestige' and the 'middlebrow' as crucial new terms in Spanish cinema studies. - Considers the transnationality of Spanish cinema throughout its century of existence. - Contemporary directors covered in this book include Almodóvar, Bollaín, Díaz Yanes and more.




The Cursed Phylactery


Book Description

Talk of war and devastation has the master wielders on high alert as Sheyna Namear graduates from Apprentice to Adept. While continuing her studies Sheyna once again meets the flamboyant Gondrial, who immediately gets her into trouble with her master. Even though she is aware that Gondrial is trouble, she is fascinated by him until he introduces her to his friend— a tall, handsome, and mysterious boy named Rikard. When her best friend, Marella, comes to visit, all four of the young wielders embark on a dangerous yet exhilarating adventure in an exotic land. But one should never delve where one does not belong or play with forces one does not understand. What began as a fun adventure quickly spirals into a fight for life and death in this second book of the War of the Oracle series.