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The Iron Dragon's Daughter (The\iron Dragon's Daughter Ser. #3)
by Michael SwanwickA New York Times Notable Book: &“Combining cyberpunk&’s grit with dystopic fantasy, this iconoclastic hybrid is a standout piece of storytelling&” (Library Journal). Jane is trapped as a changeling in an industrialized Faerie ruled by aristocratic high elves and populated by ogres, dwarves, night-gaunts, and hags. She is the only human in a factory where underage forced labor builds cybernetic, magical dragons that are weaponized and sent off to war. When the damaged dragon Melanchthon tempts Jane with promises of freedom, the stage is set for a daring escape that will shake the foundations of existence. Combining alchemy and technology, a coming-of-age story like no other, The Iron Dragon&’s Daughter takes place against a dystopic mindscape of dark challenges and class struggles that force Jane to make costly decisions at every turn. A finalist for the Arthur C. Clarke Award, the World Fantasy Award for Best Novel, and the 1994 Locus Award, The Iron Dragon&’s Daughter a is one-of-a-kind melding of grimdark fantasy and cyberpunk grit from the Nebula Award–winning author of Stations of the Tide. It engages the reader in a nihilistic world in which nothing is as it seems and everything comes at a steep and often horrific price.
The Iron Ghost
by Jen WilliamsBeware the dawning of a new mage...Wydrin of Crosshaven, Sir Sebastian and Lord Aaron Frith are experienced in the perils of stirring up the old gods. They are also familiar with defeating them, and the heroes of Baneswatch are now enjoying the perks of suddenly being very much in demand for their services. When a job comes up in the distant city of Skaldshollow, it looks like easy coin - retrieve a stolen item, admire the views, get paid. But in a place twisted and haunted by ancient magic, with the most infamous mage of them all, Joah Demonsworn, making a reappearance, our heroes soon find themselves threatened by enemies on all sides, old and new. And in the frozen mountains, the stones are walking...File Under: Fantasy
The Iron Jackal (Tales of the Ketty Jay)
by Chris WoodingA big slice of non-stop, action-packed, wise-cracking fun from the Ketty Jay, and Captain Darien Frey.Things are finally looking good for Captain Frey and his crew. The Ketty Jay has been fixed up good as new.They've got their first taste of fortune and fame. And, just for once, nobody is trying to kill them.In fact, she's offered them a job - one that will take them deep into the desert heart of Samarla, the land of their ancient enemies. To a place where the secrets of the past lie in wait for the unwary. Even Trinica Dracken, Frey's ex-fiancée and long-time nemesis, has given up her quest for revenge. Secrets that might very well cost Frey everything.Join the crew of the Ketty Jay on their greatest adventure yet: a story of mayhem and mischief, roof-top chases and death-defying races, murderous daemons, psychopathic golems and a particularly cranky cat. This time, Frey's in a race against the clock for the ultimate prize: to save his own life.
The Iron Khan: The Shadow Pavilion And The Iron Khan (The Detective Inspector Chen Novels #5)
by Liz WilliamsA supernatural mystery set in Singapore featuring a &“detective whose beat reaches to the fringes of Heaven and Hell,&” by the author of Snake Agent (Booklist). No mortal has ever heard of the Book, and few in Heaven even believe it is real. Instead, they regard the stories of a bound volume older than time itself as something of a creation myth. But Mhara, the Emperor of Heaven, knows the Book is very real, very powerful, and very much missing. It has a mind of its own, and it appears to have wandered off—taking the secrets of the universe with it. To find it, Mhara calls Detective Inspector Chen, a supernatural sleuth with previous experience in saving the universe. Chen has a lot on his plate at the moment: His wife is pregnant, his demonic partner is tracking the movement of an immortal horde, and he hasn&’t had a vacation in years. But for the sake of the Emperor, he&’ll do his best to return order to the cosmos. If he doesn&’t, who will?The Iron Khan is the final volume of the Detective Inspector Chen Novels, which begin with Snake Agent and The Demon and the City.
The Iron Princess
by Barbara HamblyA young woman rises from the streets to battle a sinister evil in this magical fantasy adventure by the bestselling author of the Darwath series. Something is amiss with the world&’s magic. Spells don&’t work the way they used to—when they work at all. Only the powers of the Crystal Mages remain as they were, powers founded on the use of the mystical element adamis, the harvesting of which has enslaved the peoples of the Twilight Lands. They need a hero. At the same time, ravenous beasts have begun to appear, legendary creatures that seem to be proof against any magic. And Clea Stylachos, granddaughter of a great sage of the Twilight people, has reason to fear that the Crystal Mages, instead of seeking to defeat these insanely destructive monsters, are attempting to weaponize them in their quest for power. Clea&’s only hope to save her people is a wizard who retains his power, one who will not betray her, either to the great merchant houses or to the all-entangling web of the Crystal Mages. But that wizard—Ithrazel the Cursed, destroyer of a city and magically imprisoned to suffer undying, unremitting torment—wants nothing to do with saving the world, helping a hero, or unraveling the terrible secret at the heart of the Crystal Mages&’ plans. From the slums and tunnels of the slave-city of Morne, to the watery wilderness of the Twilight lands, to the halls of her father&’s palace and the spell-soaked mysteries of the Crystal Mages&’ House of Glass, Clea works to untwist the deadly riddles of magic and monsters—to free her mother&’s disenfranchised people from slavery under her father&’s conquering forces. To save her mageborn brother from the Crystal Mages&’ power; to control a sorcerer legendary for his deed of evil; to keep her own small band of friends one step ahead of her father&’s troops and the Crystal Order&’s spells. She is the Iron Princess, and she knows she must prevail or die. But at what cost to herself? &“Rich and complex, The Iron Princess is an absolute treat for fantasy fans. With thrilling characters and lush, nuanced world-building, this one will burn a hole through the nightstand and leave readers with wild dreams of family secrets, dynastic intrigue, and unexpected heroes who are so much more than they appear.&” —Cherie Priest, author of BoneshakerPraise for New York Times–bestseller Barbara Hambly &“A fabulously talented writer.&” —Charlaine Harris, bestselling author &“I think what is really special about [Hambly&’s] books . . . is a richness of setting combined with a cast of characters that you&’d love to actually know.&” —SFSite &“Elegant, intelligent, and entertaining.&” —Publishers Weekly, starred review on Dragonshadow
The Iron Wolves
by Andy RemicThirty years ago, the Iron Wolves held back mud-orc hordes at the Pass of Splintered Bones, and led a brutal charge that saw the sorcerer Morkagoth slain. This ended the War of Zakora, and made the Iron Wolves heroes. Now, a new terror stalks the realm. In hushed whispers, it is claimed the Horse Lady, Orlana the Changer, has escaped from the Chaos Halls and is building an army, twisting horses, lions and bears into terrible, bloody hunters, summoning mud-orcs from then slime and heading north to Vagandrak where, it said, the noble King Yoon has gone insane... After hearing a prophecy from a blind seer, aged General Dalgoran searches to reunite the heroes of old for what he believes will be the final battle. But as mud-orcs and twisted beasts tear through the land, Dalgoran discovers the Iron Wolves are no longer heroes of legend... Narnok is a violent whoremaster, Kiki a honey-leaf drug peddler, and Prince Zastarte a drinker, a gambler, amoral and decadent: now he likes to hear people scream as they burn... United in hate, the Iron Wolves travel to the Pass of Splintered Bones; and as half a million mud-orcs gather, General Dalgoran realises his grave error. Together, the Iron Wolves hold a terrible secret which has tortured them for three decades. Now, they only wish to be human again...From the Paperback edition.
The Iron Wolves
by Andy RemicThirty years ago, the Iron Wolves held back mud-orc hordes at the Pass of Splintered Bones, and led a brutal charge that saw the sorcerer Morkagoth slain. This ended the War of Zakora, and made the Iron Wolves heroes. Now, a new terror stalks the realm. In hushed whispers, it is claimed the Horse Lady, Orlana the Changer, has escaped from the Chaos Halls and is building an army, twisting horses, lions and bears into terrible, bloody hunters, summoning mud-orcs from then slime and heading north to Vagandrak where, it said, the noble King Yoon has gone insane... After hearing a prophecy from a blind seer, aged General Dalgoran searches to reunite the heroes of old for what he believes will be the final battle. But as mud-orcs and twisted beasts tear through the land, Dalgoran discovers the Iron Wolves are no longer heroes of legend... Narnok is a violent whoremaster, Kiki a honey-leaf drug peddler, and Prince Zastarte a drinker, a gambler, amoral and decadent: now he likes to hear people scream as they burn... United in hate, the Iron Wolves travel to the Pass of Splintered Bones; and as half a million mud-orcs gather, General Dalgoran realises his grave error. Together, the Iron Wolves hold a terrible secret which has tortured them for three decades. Now, they only wish to be human again...File Under: Fantasy From the Paperback edition.
The Iron Wolves
by Andy RemicThirty years ago, the Iron Wolves held back mud-orc hordes at the Pass of Splintered Bones, and led a brutal charge that saw the sorcerer Morkagoth slain. This ended the War of Zakora, and made the Iron Wolves heroes. Now, a new terror stalks the realm. In hushed whispers, it is claimed the Horse Lady, Orlana the Changer, has escaped from the Chaos Halls and is building an army, twisting horses, lions and bears into terrible, bloody hunters, summoning mud-orcs from then slime and heading north to Vagandrak where, it said, the noble King Yoon has gone insane... After hearing a prophecy from a blind seer, aged General Dalgoran searches to reunite the heroes of old for what he believes will be the final battle. But as mud-orcs and twisted beasts tear through the land, Dalgoran discovers the Iron Wolves are no longer heroes of legend... Narnok is a violent whoremaster, Kiki a honey-leaf drug peddler, and Prince Zastarte a drinker, a gambler, amoral and decadent: now he likes to hear people scream as they burn... United in hate, the Iron Wolves travel to the Pass of Splintered Bones; and as half a million mud-orcs gather, General Dalgoran realises his grave error. Together, the Iron Wolves hold a terrible secret which has tortured them for three decades. Now, they only wish to be human again...File Under: Fantasy From the Paperback edition.
The Iron Wyrm Affair: Bannon and Clare: Book One (Bannon and Clare #6)
by Lilith SaintcrowThe game is afoot!London's geniuses are being picked off by a vicious killer, and Emma Bannon, a sorceress in the service of the Empire, must protect the next target, Archibald Clare. Unfortunately he's more interested in solving the mystery of the murders than staying alive . . .In a world where illogical magic has turned the Industrial Revolution on its head, Bannon and Clare will face dark sorcery, cannon fire, high treason and the vexing problem of reliably finding hansom cabs in the city.
The Ishbane Conspiracy
by Randy AlcornJillian is picture-perfect on the outside, but terrified of getting hurt on the inside. Brittany is a tough girl who trusts almost no one. Ian is a successful athlete who dabbles in the occult. And Rob is a former gang-banger who struggles with guilt, pain, and a newfound faith in God. These four college students will face the ultimate battle between good and evil in a single year. As spiritual warfare rages around them, a dramatic demonic correspondence takes place. Readers can eavesdrop on the enemy, and learn to stave off their own defeat, by reading The Ishbane Conspiracy.
The Island
by Natasha PrestonHot on the heels of the New York Times bestsellers The Twin and The Lake, another pulse-pounding read from the undisputed queen of YA thrillers!They said goodbye to their friends and family for the weekend. They weren&’t counting on forever.Jagged Island: a private amusement park for the very rich—or the very influential. Liam, James, Will, Ava, Harper, and Paisley—social media influencers with millions of followers—have been invited for an exclusive weekend before the park opens. They&’ll make posts and videos for their channels and report every second of their VIP treatment. When the teens arrive, they're stunned: the resort is even better than they&’d imagined. Their hotel rooms are unreal, the park&’s themed rides are incredible, and the island is hauntingly beautiful. They&’re given a jam-packed itinerary for the weekend. But soon they'll discover that something's missing from their schedule: getting off the island alive.
The Island of Doctor Moreau
by H. WellsA story of enormous inventiveness, underlying social vision, and bizarre imaginings, The Island of Doctor Moreau is evidence of H. G. Wells romantic conceptions of the scientific world. After various twists of fate, Edward Prendick finds himself as the single survivor of the good ship Lady Vain. Adrift in a dinghy, he is rescued by a vessel carrying unusual cargo: a menagerie of savage animals. Montgomery, the keeper of the animals, brings Prendick to the island of Dr. Moreau, the famous mad surgeon-turned-vivisectionist from back home in England. As time passes, Prendick encounters the humans on the island—humans with a strange, eerie likeness to wild beasts an animals, who are governed by the law of Dr. Moreau. But when they begin to break the rules, the island turns unsafe for everyone, and even the man playing God loses control.
The Island of Dr. Moreau
by H. G. Wells John L. FlynnA cautionary tale of the horrors that can ensue when man experiments with nature, from the father of science fiction, H.G. Wells. A lonely island in the Pacific. The sinister scientist who rules it. And the strange beings who dwell there... This is the scenario for H. G. Wells's haunting classic, one of his most intriguing and visionary novels. Living in the late nineteenth century and facing the impact of Darwin's theory of evolution, Wells wrote this chilling masterpiece about the characteristics of beasts blurring as the animals turn into men. Dr. Moreau, a scientist expelled from his homeland for his cruel vivisection experiments, finds a deserted island that gives him the freedom to continue torturous transplantations and create hideous creatures with manlike intelligence. But as the brutally enforced order on Moreau's island dissolves, the true consequences of his experiments emerge, and his creations revert to beasts more shocking than nature could devise. A genius of his time, H. G. Wells foresaw the use of what he called the "atom bomb," the practice of gene-splicing, and men landing on the moon. Now, when these have become part of everyday life, his dark fable serves as a compelling reminder of the horrors that reckless experiments with nature can produce. With an Introduction by Nita A. Farahany and an Afterword by Dr. John L. FlynnFrom the Paperback edition.
The Isle of Battle: Book Two Of The Swans' War (The Swans' War Series #2)
by Sean RussellTreachery and deceit run rampant throughout a devastated land, spawning dark alliances in the terrible war ignited by the enmity of two families. But unbeknownst to all, there are others who truly control the beleaguered kingdom's destiny—combatants emerging from eons of restless sleep to renew the bloody terror of a battle older than time.
The Italian
by Ann RadcliffeFrom the first moment Vincentio di Vivaldi, a young nobleman, sets eyes on the veiled figure of Ellena, he is captivated by her enigmatic beauty and grace. But his haughty and manipulative mother is against the match and enlists the help of her confessor to come between them. Schedoni, previously a leading figure of the Inquisition, is a demonic, scheming monk with no qualms about the task, whether it entails abduction, torture - or even murder. The Italian secured Ann Radcliffe's position as the leading writer of Gothic romance of the age, for its atmosphere of supernatural and nightmarish horrors, combined with her evocation of sublime landscapes and chilling narrative.
The Jake Helman Files Personal Demons
by Gregory LambersonIn Personal Demons, Jake Helman, an elite member of the New York Special Homicide Task Force, faces what every cop dreads-an elusive serial killer. While investigating a series of bloodletting sacrifice rituals executed by an ominous perpetrator known as the Cipher, Jake refuses to submit to a drug test and resigns from the police department. While battling a cocaine addiction, Jake starts a high-pressure position as the director of security at Tower International, a controversial genetic-engineering company. Beneath the polished exterior of the corporate identity and the CEO-who has a reputation as the frontiersman on the cutting edge of science-is a deranged mind. As Jake delves deeper into this frightening laboratory, he discovers much more than unethical practices performed in the name of human progress. Sequestered in rooms veiled in secrecy is the worst crime the world will ever see-the theft of the human soul. Horrifying and gruesome, this is a gripping, suspense-filled novel that offers intense arguments about science, ethics, and human life. In Monster Behind the Wheel, As a child, Jeremy Carmichael fell from a Ferris wheel at a carnival. When he landed on a beautiful young woman, his fall was broken. Unfortunately, so was the woman’s spine. Years later, while delivering pizzas, Jeremy is injured in a car accident . . . that opens the gates between the worlds of the living and the dead, awakening the spirit of cruel Frank Edmondson. Frank, the policeman who arrived at the scene of that carnival accident long ago, was that woman’s lover. Now, ready for revenge, Frank devises a cunning plan. Soon Jeremy finds himself visiting the realm of the dead in dreams and visions. Is this Frank’s doing, or is there another explanation? Using a sleek muscle car called Monster, Frank gains control over Jeremy’s life. But what Frank doesn't know is that he’s tampering with the fate of the entire universe . . . because Jeremy isn't your average pizza delivery boy, and all hell is about to break loose-literally. In Floating Staircase, Following the success of his latest novel, Travis Glasgow and his wife Jodie buy their first house in the seemingly idyllic western Maryland town of Westlake. At first, everything is picture perfect-from the beautiful lake behind the house to the rebirth of the friendship between Travis and his brother, Adam, who lives nearby. Travis also begins to overcome the darkness of his childhood and the guilt he’s harbored since his younger brother’s death-a tragic drowning veiled in mystery that has plagued Travis since he was 13. Soon, though, the new house begins to lose its allure. Strange noises wake Travis at night, and his dreams are plagued by ghosts. Barely glimpsed shapes flit through the darkened hallways, but strangest of all is the bizarre set of wooden stairs that rises cryptically out of the lake behind the house. Travis becomes drawn to the structure, but the more he investigates, the more he uncovers the house’s violent and tragic past, and the more he learns that some secrets cannot be buried forever.
The Jasmine Throne
by Tasha SuriOne is a vengeful princess seeking to depose her brother from his throne. The other is a priestess searching for her family. Together, they will change the fate of an empire. Imprisoned by her dictator brother, Malini spends her days in isolation in the Hirana: an ancient temple that was once the source of powerful magic - but is now little more than a decaying ruin. Priya is a maidservant, one of several who make the treacherous journey to the top of the Hirana every night to attend Malini's chambers. She is happy to be an anonymous drudge, as long as it keeps anyone from guessing the dangerous secret she hides. But when Malini accidentally bears witness to Priya's true nature, their destinies become irrevocably tangled . . .
The Jasmine Throne: Tiktok made me buy it! The Indian-inspired sapphic fantasy
by Tasha SuriOne is a vengeful princess seeking to depose her brother from his throne. The other is a priestess searching for her family. Together, they will change the fate of an empire. Imprisoned by her dictator brother, Malini spends her days in isolation in the Hirana: an ancient temple that was once the source of powerful magic - but is now little more than a decaying ruin. Priya is a maidservant, one of several who make the treacherous journey to the top of the Hirana every night to attend Malini's chambers. She is happy to be an anonymous drudge, as long as it keeps anyone from guessing the dangerous secret she hides. But when Malini accidentally bears witness to Priya's true nature, their destinies become irrevocably tangled . . .The Jasmine Throne begins an epic fantasy trilogy set in a world inspired by the history and romances of India, in which a captive princess and a maidservant in possession of forbidden magic become unlikely allies. The sapphic romance and Booktok sensation!Follow the author on Tiktok at @tashasuri.'Raises the bar for what epic fantasy should be' Chloe Gong, author of These Violent Delights 'This cutthroat and sapphic novel will grip you until the very end' Vulture (Best of the Year)'Suri's incandescent feminist masterpiece hits like a steel fist inside a velvet glove' Shelley Parker-Chan, author of She Who Became the Sun 'It left me breathless' Andrea Stewart, author of The Bone Shard Daughter 'I loved it' Alix E. Harrow, Hugo award-winning author of The Once and Future Witches'Lush and stunning . . . this sapphic fantasy will rip your heart out' BuzzFeed News 'A fierce, heart-wrenching exploration of the value and danger of love' Publishers Weekly (starred review)For more from Tasha Suri, check out: The Burning Kingdoms The Jasmine Throne The Oleander Sword The Books of Ambha Empire of Sand Realm of Ash
The Jasper Lady’s Maid of Honour
by Olga Kryuchkova Elena KryuchkovaA mystical-historical novel guiding the reader back into the medieval Japan, into the cobweb of suspense, plot, revenge, superstition, tales and adventures laced abundantly with genuine literary references and figures of the times. Apart from that one also gains admission to a better understanding of everyday life, traditions, culture and the complexity of social relations prevalent in the Japanese society back in those days. Japan, the Heian era. Young Ono no Komachi commits to serving the imperial court as the maid of honour of one of the concubines. She soon is confronted with some inexplicable phenomenon: a mysterious golden flying palanquin appearing in the outskirts of the capital. The young maid of honour marries a most outstanding officer. However he dies in a campaign designed to quell an uprising in a remote province. In an effort to subdue her anguish over the loss the maid of honour indulges in the making of poetry. The empress, Lady Jade holds Ono no Komachi’s work of art in high esteem and before late the girls joins her as her maid of honour. Unbeknownst to her she is yet to disclose the secret of the Plum pavilion, disentangle a row of mysteries in the capital furthermore botch an attempt against the empress.
The Jawbone & the Junkman (Books of Before and Now #2)
by Jason FischerFifteen years ago, Papa Lucy fell.Now, a new threat emerges in the savage world of the Now. Towns burn and survivors flee, lest they be hunted and murdered in the name of a new god.The Dawn King.With the Boneman captured and broken, and Jesus and John Leicester missing, Lanyard Everett must lead his crew of doomed Jesusmen into an uncharted and most dangerous land. Guided by a mysterious artifact known only as the Jawbone, they seek justice. If they can't have that, they'll settle for vengeance. But in the shadows, a puppet-master lurks, leading them to believe they have some say in their fate.Just like Papa Lucy, the shadows lie.
The Jekyll Legacy
by Andre Norton Robert BlochHester Lane, recently arrived in Victorian London, eagerly accepts a potentially dangerous assignment for a fashionable ladies' magazine.
The Jenna Ryan Shadows Box Set Volume 1
by Jenna RyanVoodoo, ghosts and heroes with shadowy pasts. Welcome to the dark, seductive world of Jenna Ryan's Shadows...Black Rose: After Mia LeMay witnesses a brutal murder from her French Quarter balcony, her life is in danger. But who's the greater threat? The killer tracking her through the haunted swamps of Cajun country, or the irresistibly sexy man who's supposed to be protecting her?Blood Orchid: Dr. Kate Marshall is in the business of saving lives. But can she save herself? As an assassin stalks her through the foggy streets of San Francisco, driving her ever deeper into a world of phantoms and black magic, the only person she can trust is the brooding trauma surgeon who's also a target.Scarlet Bells: Rosemary Sayer never wanted her second sight. Now it's made her the target of a voodoo-obsessed madman. Back in the bayou, a former navy SEAL is her only ally-and soon, he's much more. But, as the killer drives them toward a final reckoning, Rosemary and her lover are forced to question everything they think they know about themselves and each other....
The Jersey Devil
by Hunter Shea"Old school horror." --Jonathan MaberryTHE LEGEND LIVES Everyone knows the legend of the Jersey Devil. Some believe it is an abomination of nature, a hybrid winged beast from hell that stalks the Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey searching for prey. Others believe it is a hoax, a campfire story designed to scare children. But one man knows the truth...THE DEVIL AWAKES Sixty years ago, Boompa Willet came face to face with the Devil--and lived to tell the tale. Now, the creature's stomping grounds are alive once again with strange sightings, disappearances, and worse. After all these years, Boompa must return to the Barrens, not to prove the legend is real but to wipe it off the face of the earth...THE BEAST MUST DIE It'll take more than just courage to defeat the Devil. It will take four generations of the Willet clan, a lifetime of survivalist training, and all the firepower they can carry. But timing is critical. A summer music festival has attracted crowds of teenagers. The woods are filled with tender young prey. But this time, the Devil is not alone. The evil has grown into an unholy horde of mutant monstrosities. And hell has come home to New Jersey..."Shea delivers a tense and intriguing work of escalating tension splattered with a clever, extensive cast of bystanders turned victims...An otherwise excellent, tightly delivered plot...Fans of cryptid creatures are likely to revel in this love letter to a legendary menace."- Publishers Weekly Raves for The Montauk Monster"A lot of splattery fun."--Publishers Weekly"Frightening, gripping."--Night Owl Reviews
The Jerusalem Parchment: A Kabbalist’s Search for an Esoteric Map in the Time of the Crusades
by Tuvia FogelA Novel of forbidden love and religious war in the quest to find the mysterious Parchment of Circles • Centers on the search for the Parchment of Circles, an ancient map said to lead to mystical wisdom that challenges the story of Christ’s resurrection, validates the Cathar faith, and serves as the Templars’ blackmail against the Church • Includes a complex cast of characters including a rabbi and nun who fall in love, St. Francis of Assisi, Knights Templar, the Pope, and the Sultan of Egypt Set in the 13th century, this sweeping historical novel opens on the island of Torcello, outside Venice, in 1219, after the Crusaders have lost possession of Jerusalem. Yehezkel, a young yet revered kabbalist and student of Maimonides, is on the island for a secret meeting of rabbis. He is chosen to travel to Jerusalem to seek definitive proof of the Talmud’s antiquity, a search that grows to include the hunt for the mysterious Parchment of Circles. This ancient map could not only help Yehezkel’s quest, but also lead to explosive evidence about Christ’s resurrection that would destroy the Roman Church. Before leaving the island, Yehezkel rescues a young Cistercian abbess from drowning in the Venetian Lagoon. Galatea, the beautiful nun, has been plagued by mystic visions and prophetic dreams throughout her life, leading her to become a devotee of Hildegard von Bingen. Driven by premonitions of an “enigma in Jerusalem,” she abandons her monastic life and the orthodoxy of the Church and joins Yehezkel on his pilgrimage. On the way to Jerusalem, after being shipwrecked on Crete, the two meet St. Francis of Assisi in Cyprus and join him across the lines of the Fifth Crusade in his attempt to convert the Sultan of Egypt. Over the year-long trip, they also fall in love. But the rabbi and the nun are not the only ones seeking the Parchment of Circles: The Pope sends his agents in search of it, and the Knights Templar are also in pursuit of the Parchment, for the ancient map serves as the Templars’ blackmail against the Church. What none of these deadly adversaries know is that the Parchment leads to an even more startling secret with profound religious significance for the future of humanity. It’s not a question of who finds it first, but who survives to unlock the Parchment’s secrets.
The Jewel In The Skull (Gateway Essentials #446)
by Michael MoorcockDorian Hawkmoon, the last Duke of Koln, swore to destroy the Dark Empire of Granbretan. But after his defeat and capture at the hands of the vast forces of the Empire, Hawkmoon becomes a puppet, co-opted by his arch nemesis, the ruthless Baron Meliadus, to infiltrate the last stronghold of rebellion against Granbretan: the small but powerful city of the Kamarg. He has been implanted with a black jewel, through which the Dark Empire can control his every decision. But in the stronghold of the Kamarg, Hawkmoon discovers the power inside him to overcome any control, and his vengeance against the Dark Empire is filled with an unrelenting fury.