A prophecy at stake. Her heart torn between two men. Can Cahra unleash the untapped strength – and magicks – within her? An immortal bound in darkness. A shattered empire at war. And a blacksmith whose heart could tip the scales of fate. When young blacksmith Cahra is commissioned to forge a sword, she uses her imagination to design its crest. But this symbol unwittingly invokes an age-old prophecy and awakens Hael an immortal with the power to shape or shatter worlds sealed away for hundreds of years in a chamber deep in Hael'stromia, the lost capital at the heart of a civil war between three kingdoms. Now hunted for the sword, Cahra must flee with the very stranger who commissioned it. But can she trust the handsome and charming noble, Terryl ? On the run through the darkly magical Wilds, she is drawn ever closer to Hael, who visits and beguiles her in dreams. With tyrant kings vying to capture and wield him as a weapon, she alone stands between Hael and their deadly ambitions. A sizzling, action-packed romantasy, perfect for fans of The North Wind, Throne of Glass and The Book of Azrael. (Physically) strong female lead Love triangle Slow burn Forbidden love Hades x Persephone Who hurt you? Fated mates Age gap (just a couple hundred years...) Found family Praise for A Kiss of Hammer and Flame 'De la Force hammers ancient prophecy and royal intrigue into a gripping tale of a lost city, and a destiny that is forged and chosen by a heroine with more inner steel than she knows. An epic start to what promises to be an incandescent trilogy .' -- Shalini Abeysekara , #1 Sunday Times bestselling author of This Monster of Mine 'An engrossing tale of resilience with a compelling protagonist, engaging writing, and rising stakes in a world of seers, power, and secrets everything I love in romantasy and more !' -- Maria Z. Medina , author of Mistress of Bones 'An epic romantasy set in a unique and immersive world, A Kiss of Hammer and Flame will sweep readers away with its loveable cast of characters. Filled with action, adventure, and political intrigue , it builds to a thrilling climax that will leave readers clamouring for more' -- Charlotte Ingham , author of A Match Made in Hell 'With an interesting world, as well as plenty of action and romantic tension, it's the perfect read for fans of Sarah J. Maas' books.' The Express 'Clever, powerful and sets the stage for a story that blends destiny, danger, and desire. With brilliant world-building, high emotional stakes, and a heroine you'll root for with your whole heart, A Kiss of Hammer And Flame is everything we want in the genre and more' -- The Debut Digest ' I couldn't put it down ' ' Spellbinding ' ' Alive with magic and danger ' 'Nothing short of spectacular ' 'A breathtaking adventure' 'This feels like it is going to be the next best romantasy series ' 'Cahra's transformation from a blacksmith into a reluctant hero gripped me ' 'I started it late last night. Never did I anticipate I would be staying up until 1am to finish it So darn good! ' 'Cahra is not your usual FMC she isn't dainty, she isn't tiny and she doesn't need saving. She is capable and tough It was an absolute joy to read her story' 'This was such a great book I loved the strong female lead '

Preorder the next BRAND NEW epic historical adventure from bestseller Donovan Cook Perfect for the fans of Bernard Cornwell and Matthew Harffy. A storm is coming. A storm that will banish the old and deliver the new. 450AD, Britain Octa has the spear of Woden, but the redemption he sought is out of his grasp. With his banishment and the death of his father, he can no longer return to his Saxon homelands. His only salvation is to join forces with Hengist and Horsa, and their Jutish army that beaches itself on Brittania's shores on King Vortigern's invitation. But can he trust their motivation or are there greater plans afoot? When Prince Vortimer, the son of High King Vortigern suspects treachery and encouraged by some well-placed words of a stranger, he rebels against his father and gathers his army to attack the unwelcome visitors. However, the Gods have their own plans and his fate is not his own to control. War is coming to Britannia and as Octa struggles to understand his role, he knows he has one question to answer. Will he run or will he stand and fight? The continuation of the epic adventure of turmoil, coming of age and survival set against a time when Britannia was on its knees and fighting for its very existence. Praise for Donovan Cook: 'Woden's Spear is yet another shield crunching epic from Donovan Cook. Any reader who loves battle, Saxons, warriors and adventures won't be disappointed! A spell binding tale of early Britain certain to keep pages turning and readers entertained.' - Peter Gibbons 'Cook gives you thunderous action in a tightly woven plot. An epic adventure from a crumbling empire to a mysterious mist strewn land. Not one to be missed for fans of Cornwell and Kristian.' - Adam Lofthouse 'Donovan Cook's Charlemagne's Cross series has everything I look for in a tale of the Dark Ages. Adventure and gritty action set against the backdrop of clashing religions and the collision of kingdoms. Great stuff!' - Matthew Harffy 'A fabulous Norse tale of family secrets, betrayal and conflict right up until the very last page - I loved it!'- MJ Porter 'An action-packed scintillating thriller. Pacy, raw, violent fayre, with a cast of characters you'll swiftly loathe or admire - you'll think you're in the shield wall' - Ross Greenwood

The New York Times bestselling fantasy set in Jazz Age Harlem, where at night the dance halls come to life-and death waits in the dark. This limited deluxe edition comes with gorgeous decorated edges. It's 1926 and reapers, the once-human vampires with a terrifying affliction, are on the rise in New York. But the Saint family's thriving reaper-hunting enterprise holds reign over the city, giving them more power than even the organized criminals who run the nightclubs. Eighteen year-old Elise Saint, home after five years in Paris, is the reluctant heir to the empire. Only one thing weighs heavier on Elise's mind than her family obligations: the knowledge that the Harlem reapers want her dead. Layla Quinn is a young reaper haunted by her past. Though reapers have existed in America for three centuries, created by New World atrocities and cruel experiments, Layla became one just five years ago. The night she was turned, she lost her parents, the protection of the Saints, and her humanity, and she'll never forget how Elise Saint betrayed her. But some reapers are inexplicably turning part human again, leaving a wake of mysterious and brutal killings. When Layla is framed for one of these attacks, the Saint patriarch offers her a deal she can't refuse: to work with Elise to investigate how these murders might be linked to shocking rumors of a reaper cure. Once close friends, now bitter enemies, Elise and Layla explore the city's underworld, confronting their intense feelings for one another and uncovering the sinister truths about a growing threat to reapers and humans alike.

Two gods strike a bargain that leads them on a journey with devastating consequences in this lush historical fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Ann Liang. China in the age of brilliance, where gods freely wander the three realms. Amongst them is the cruel and beautiful Death God, who has never failed to collect a soul on time. Until now. For when he seeks out Rujia, the noble god of healing-and the only god he is fated to kill with his own hands-she makes him an offer he can't refuse: she will help lift the excruciating, century-old curse placed upon him if he gives her a one-month reprieve. Rujia knows she isn't as noble as everyone believes. Her deal with Death is merely an excuse to buy herself time while she figures out an escape plan. But when her plan causes the Celestial Palace's collapse and the beloved crown prince's disappearance, she and Death are both held responsible. The only way to avoid the wrath of all the other gods is to travel across the realms and safely retrieve the crown prince themselves. Yet the journey proves far more treacherous than expected. As the unlikely alliance between them blooms into more, and Death's resolve to kill Rujia weakens by the day, neither can outrun their intertwined fate without devastating consequences: A mysterious plague. An empire-destroying flood. A thousand deaths-and rising-to restore the balance Rujia's disrupted. And if Rujia continues to live despite the will of the Heavens, this is only the beginning...

Two gods strike a bargain that leads them on a journey with devastating consequences in this lush historical fantasy from New York Times bestselling author Ann Liang. China in the age of brilliance, where gods freely wander the three realms. Amongst them is the cruel and beautiful Death God, who has never failed to collect a soul on time. Until now. For when he seeks out Rujia, the noble god of healing-and the only god he is fated to kill with his own hands-she makes him an offer he can't refuse: she will help lift the excruciating, century-old curse placed upon him if he gives her a one-month reprieve. Rujia knows she isn't as noble as everyone believes. Her deal with Death is merely an excuse to buy herself time while she figures out an escape plan. But when her plan causes the Celestial Palace's collapse and the beloved crown prince's disappearance, she and Death are both held responsible. The only way to avoid the wrath of all the other gods is to travel across the realms and safely retrieve the crown prince themselves. Yet the journey proves far more treacherous than expected. As the unlikely alliance between them blooms into more, and Death's resolve to kill Rujia weakens by the day, neither can outrun their intertwined fate without devastating consequences: A mysterious plague. An empire-destroying flood. A thousand deaths-and rising-to restore the balance Rujia's disrupted. And if Rujia continues to live despite the will of the Heavens, this is only the beginning...

Geschlecht als dynastische und als soziale Kategorie war in der Vormoderne ein Kriterium für den Zugang zu Macht und Legitimation von Herrschaftsausübung. Doch mit welchen kulturellen und sozialen Erwartungen waren Herrscherinnen und Herrscher konfrontiert? Wie nutzten sie die ihnen zur Verfügung stehenden Handlungsspielräume? Welche Personen und Institutionen partizipierten an herrschaftlicher Macht? Die Beiträge des Heftes widmen sich diesen Fragen für die Zeit des späten Mittelalters und der Frühen Neuzeit. Indem sie Geschlecht als mehrfach relationale Kategorie systematisch in Bezug zu anderen sozial wirksamen Kategorien wie Verwandtschaft, Herkunft oder Lebensalter setzen, zeichnen sie ein komplexes Bild der Veränderungen, Ambivalenzen und Widersprüche, denen Herrschaft um 1500 unterworfen war, wobei sich letztere immer auch, aber nie ausschließlich, als geschlechtlich kodiert erwies. / Aus dem Inhalt: Power Games between Spouses in Northern Italian Principalities / Power Couples in Central Europe around 1500 / Foreign Princesses in Burgundy / Gendered Power Politics in a Nascent Empire / Geschlechtsspezifische Ehelosigkeit und Herrschaft im spätmittelalterlichen Ostseeraum / Amtsärztinnen in Bosnien und Herzegowina (1892–1918) / Verwandtsein als politische Ressource / Gendered Power Politics from the Perspective of Material Culture / Zur mangelnden Sichtbarkeit weiblicher adliger Lebensläufe am preußischen Hof im 19. Jahrhundert / Geschlecht und Herrschaftshandeln am Beispiel von Maria von Habsburg und Anna Jagiełło / Gender as a dynastic and social category was a key criterion for access to power and for legitimizing the exercise of rule. Which cultural and social expectations were premodern rulers confronted with? How did they use the scope for action available to them? Which individuals and institutions participated in ruling power? The contributions address these questions between the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period. By systematically placing gender as a relational category in relation to others such as kinship, origin or age, they paint a complex picture of the changes, ambivalences and contradictions to which rule around 1500 was subject in its always, but never exclusively gendered nature.

“Every bit as smart, sensitive, funny, and genuine as her phenomenally popular novels;”* a dazzling collection from the New York Times bestselling author of Prep, American Wife, and Eligible “I really loved all the characters in this book. They’re so complex and interesting, and in every story, you’ll find them going through these pivotal moments in their lives.”—Reese Witherspoon (Reese’s Book Club Pick) NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY PEOPLE AND USA TODAY AND ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The Washington Post • NPR • Financial Times • San Francisco Chronicle • New York Public Library • Refinery29 A suburban mother of two fantasizes about the downfall of an old friend whose wholesome lifestyle empire may or may not be built on a lie. A high-powered lawyer honeymooning with her husband is caught off guard by the appearance of the girl who tormented her in high school. A shy Ivy League student learns the truth about a classmate’s seemingly enviable life. Curtis Sittenfeld has established a reputation as a sharp chronicler of the modern age who humanizes her subjects even as she skewers them. Now, with this first collection of short fiction, her “astonishing gift for creating characters that take up residence in readers’ heads” ( The Washington Post) is showcased like never before. Throughout the ten stories in You Think It, I’ll Say It, Sittenfeld upends assumptions about class, relationships, and gender roles in a nation that feels both adrift and viscerally divided. With moving insight and uncanny precision, Curtis Sittenfeld pinpoints the questionable decisions, missed connections, and sometimes extraordinary coincidences that make up a life. Indeed, she writes what we’re all thinking—if only we could express it with the wit of a master satirist, the storytelling gifts of an old-fashioned raconteur, and the vision of an American original. *Booklist (starred review) LONGLISTED FOR THE CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN FICTION “At once psychologically acute, deftly crafted and deeply pleasurable.” —San Francisco Chronicle “Witty and buoyant . . . Each deceptively simple and breezy story is masterfully paced and crafted.” —Chicago Tribune “Perfectly paced, witty and laced with unexpected twists: Every story here sticks its landing. Whatever [Sittenfeld] writes, we’ll read it.” —People “Razor-sharp; often hilarious . . . [Curtis Sittenfeld] is a sharp observer of human nature and human relationships. . . . A witty, breezy, zeitgeist-y collection.” —USA Today

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER | A Sports Illustrated Best Book of the Year | An NPR Best Book UPDATED EDITION INCLUDES THE STUNNING RISE OF McLAREN In The Formula, Wall Street Journal reporters Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg tell the riveting motor racing saga of how Formula 1 broke through in America. Taking you inside the paddock, The Formula details the eclectic culture of racing obsessives, glamorous settings, gearheads, engineering geniuses, dashing racers, and bitter rivalries that have made F1 the world’s fastest-growing sport. For decades, car racing in America meant NASCAR, while Formula 1, the wealthiest racing league globally, was a distant third. Today, F1 has surged to the front, powered by a passionate new American fanbase. But this success was far from inevitable. Robinson and Clegg reveal the epic business story of F1, detailing how the league saved itself from collapse and conquered America through guile, fearlessness, and reinvention. With fast cars, big money, and beautiful people as the backdrop, The Formula shows how F1’s sudden arrival was decades in the making. The book offers unique insight and access to F1’s most storied teams and personalities, from Ferrari to Bernie Ecclestone to Lewis Hamilton to McLaren. It provides a definitive history, offering a riveting portrait of the drivers, cars, and audacious gambles that have shaped the sport for half a century. Now updated with the rise of McLaren, the result is a high-octane history of modern F1 racing, covering the outrageous successes and spectacular crashes that led to this moment. More than just a sports story, The Formula is a tale of how a disrupter broke into the crowded American sports market through cash, personality, and a new understanding of sport in the age of entertainment. This definitive history of Formula 1’s rise reveals: The Bernie Ecclestone Era: Learn how one man’s audacious gambles and under-the-table deals transformed a chaotic circus into a billion-dollar global empire. Legendary F1 Rivalries: From Senna vs. Prost to Hamilton vs. Verstappen, uncover the bitter feuds, spectacular crashes, and psychological warfare that defined the sport. Engineering and Innovation: A deep dive into the technical moon shots, rulebook loopholes, and design geniuses who bent the laws of physics to find an unfair advantage. Conquering America: The full story of F1’s decades-long struggle to break into the crowded American sports market, from disastrous races in Las Vegas to its recent explosive growth.

“Every bit as smart, sensitive, funny, and genuine as her phenomenally popular novels;”* a dazzling collection from the New York Times bestselling author of Prep, American Wife, and Eligible “I really loved all the characters in this book. They’re so complex and interesting, and in every story, you’ll find them going through these pivotal moments in their lives.”—Reese Witherspoon (Reese’s Book Club Pick) NAMED ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY PEOPLE AND USA TODAY AND ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY The Washington Post NPR Financial Times San Francisco Chronicle New York Public Library Refinery29 A suburban mother of two fantasizes about the downfall of an old friend whose wholesome lifestyle empire may or may not be built on a lie. A high-powered lawyer honeymooning with her husband is caught off guard by the appearance of the girl who tormented her in high school. A shy Ivy League student learns the truth about a classmate’s seemingly enviable life. Curtis Sittenfeld has established a reputation as a sharp chronicler of the modern age who humanizes her subjects even as she skewers them. Now, with this first collection of short fiction, her “astonishing gift for creating characters that take up residence in readers’ heads” ( The Washington Post) is showcased like never before. Throughout the ten stories in You Think It, I’ll Say It, Sittenfeld upends assumptions about class, relationships, and gender roles in a nation that feels both adrift and viscerally divided. With moving insight and uncanny precision, Curtis Sittenfeld pinpoints the questionable decisions, missed connections, and sometimes extraordinary coincidences that make up a life. Indeed, she writes what we’re all thinking—if only we could express it with the wit of a master satirist, the storytelling gifts of an old-fashioned raconteur, and the vision of an American original. *Booklist (starred review) LONGLISTED FOR THE CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN FICTION “At once psychologically acute, deftly crafted and deeply pleasurable.” —San Francisco Chronicle “Witty and buoyant . . . Each deceptively simple and breezy story is masterfully paced and crafted.” —Chicago Tribune “Perfectly paced, witty and laced with unexpected twists: Every story here sticks its landing. Whatever [Sittenfeld] writes, we’ll read it.” —People “Razor-sharp; often hilarious . . . [Curtis Sittenfeld] is a sharp observer of human nature and human relationships. . . . A witty, breezy, zeitgeist-y collection.” —USA Today

Geschlecht als dynastische und als soziale Kategorie war in der Vormoderne ein Kriterium für den Zugang zu Macht und Legitimation von Herrschaftsausübung. Doch mit welchen kulturellen und sozialen Erwartungen waren Herrscherinnen und Herrscher konfrontiert? Wie nutzten sie die ihnen zur Verfügung stehenden Handlungsspielräume? Welche Personen und Institutionen partizipierten an herrschaftlicher Macht? Die Beiträge des Heftes widmen sich diesen Fragen für die Zeit des späten Mittelalters und der Frühen Neuzeit. Indem sie Geschlecht als mehrfach relationale Kategorie systematisch in Bezug zu anderen sozial wirksamen Kategorien wie Verwandtschaft, Herkunft oder Lebensalter setzen, zeichnen sie ein komplexes Bild der Veränderungen, Ambivalenzen und Widersprüche, denen Herrschaft um 1500 unterworfen war, wobei sich letztere immer auch, aber nie ausschließlich, als geschlechtlich kodiert erwies. / Aus dem Inhalt: Power Games between Spouses in Northern Italian Principalities / Power Couples in Central Europe around 1500 / Foreign Princesses in Burgundy / Gendered Power Politics in a Nascent Empire / Geschlechtsspezifische Ehelosigkeit und Herrschaft im spätmittelalterlichen Ostseeraum / Amtsärztinnen in Bosnien und Herzegowina (1892–1918) / Verwandtsein als politische Ressource / Gendered Power Politics from the Perspective of Material Culture / Zur mangelnden Sichtbarkeit weiblicher adliger Lebensläufe am preußischen Hof im 19. Jahrhundert / Geschlecht und Herrschaftshandeln am Beispiel von Maria von Habsburg und Anna Jagiełło / Gender as a dynastic and social category was a key criterion for access to power and for legitimizing the exercise of rule. Which cultural and social expectations were premodern rulers confronted with? How did they use the scope for action available to them? Which individuals and institutions participated in ruling power? The contributions address these questions between the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period. By systematically placing gender as a relational category in relation to others such as kinship, origin or age, they paint a complex picture of the changes, ambivalences and contradictions to which rule around 1500 was subject in its always, but never exclusively gendered nature.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A Sports Illustrated Best Book of the Year An NPR Best Book UPDATED EDITION INCLUDES THE STUNNING RISE OF McLAREN In The Formula, Wall Street Journal reporters Joshua Robinson and Jonathan Clegg tell the riveting motor racing saga of how Formula 1 broke through in America. Taking you inside the paddock, The Formula details the eclectic culture of racing obsessives, glamorous settings, gearheads, engineering geniuses, dashing racers, and bitter rivalries that have made F1 the world’s fastest-growing sport. For decades, car racing in America meant NASCAR, while Formula 1, the wealthiest racing league globally, was a distant third. Today, F1 has surged to the front, powered by a passionate new American fanbase. But this success was far from inevitable. Robinson and Clegg reveal the epic business story of F1, detailing how the league saved itself from collapse and conquered America through guile, fearlessness, and reinvention. With fast cars, big money, and beautiful people as the backdrop, The Formula shows how F1’s sudden arrival was decades in the making. The book offers unique insight and access to F1’s most storied teams and personalities, from Ferrari to Bernie Ecclestone to Lewis Hamilton to McLaren. It provides a definitive history, offering a riveting portrait of the drivers, cars, and audacious gambles that have shaped the sport for half a century. Now updated with the rise of McLaren, the result is a high-octane history of modern F1 racing, covering the outrageous successes and spectacular crashes that led to this moment. More than just a sports story, The Formula is a tale of how a disrupter broke into the crowded American sports market through cash, personality, and a new understanding of sport in the age of entertainment. This definitive history of Formula 1’s rise reveals: The Bernie Ecclestone Era: Learn how one man’s audacious gambles and under-the-table deals transformed a chaotic circus into a billion-dollar global empire. Legendary F1 Rivalries: From Senna vs. Prost to Hamilton vs. Verstappen, uncover the bitter feuds, spectacular crashes, and psychological warfare that defined the sport. Engineering and Innovation: A deep dive into the technical moon shots, rulebook loopholes, and design geniuses who bent the laws of physics to find an unfair advantage. Conquering America: The full story of F1’s decades-long struggle to break into the crowded American sports market, from disastrous races in Las Vegas to its recent explosive growth.

From acclaimed classical historian, author of Ghost on the Throne ("Gripping . . . the narrative verve of a born writer and the erudition of a scholar" -Daniel Mendelsohn) and editor of The Landmark Arrian:The Campaign of Alexander ("Thrilling" -The New York Times Book Review), a high-stakes drama full of murder, madness, tyranny, perversion, with the sweep of history on the grand scale. At the center, the tumultuous life of Seneca, ancient Rome's preeminent writer and philosopher, beginning with banishment in his fifties and subsequent appointment as tutor to twelve-year-old Nero, future emperor of Rome. Controlling them both, Nero's mother, Julia Agrippina the Younger, Roman empress, great-granddaughter of the Emperor Augustus, sister of the Emperor Caligula, niece and fourth wife of Emperor Claudius. James Romm seamlessly weaves together the life and written words, the moral struggles, political intrigue, and bloody vengeance that enmeshed Seneca the Younger in the twisted imperial family and the perverse, paranoid regime of Emperor Nero, despot and madman. Romm writes that Seneca watched over Nero as teacher, moral guide, and surrogate father, and, at seventeen, when Nero abruptly ascended to become emperor of Rome, Seneca, a man never avid for political power became, with Nero, the ruler of the Roman Empire. We see how Seneca was able to control his young student, how, under Seneca's influence, Nero ruled with intelligence and moderation, banned capital punishment, reduced taxes, gave slaves the right to file complaints against their owners, pardoned prisoners arrested for sedition. But with time, as Nero grew vain and disillusioned, Seneca was unable to hold sway over the emperor, and between Nero's mother, Agrippina-thought to have poisoned her second husband, and her third, who was her uncle (Claudius), and rumored to have entered into an incestuous relationship with her son-and Nero's father, described by Suetonius as a murderer and cheat charged with treason, adultery, and incest, how long could the young Nero have been contained? Dying Every Day is a portrait of Seneca's moral struggle in the midst of madness and excess. In his treatises, Seneca preached a rigorous ethical creed, exalting heroes who defied danger to do what was right or embrace a noble death. As Nero's adviser, Seneca was presented with a more complex set of choices, as the only man capable of summoning the better aspect of Nero's nature, yet, remaining at Nero's side and colluding in the evil regime he created. Dying Every Day is the first book to tell the compelling and nightmarish story of the philosopher-poet who was almost a king, tied to a tyrant-as Seneca, the paragon of reason, watched his student spiral into madness and whose descent saw five family murders, the Fire of Rome, and a savage purge that destroyed the supreme minds of the Senate's golden age.

***The explosive fifth novel in the Red Rising Series*** The Number One New York Times bestselling author of Morning Star returns to the Red Rising universe with the thrilling sequel to Iron Gold. For a decade Darrow led a revolution against the corrupt colour-coded Society. Now, outlawed by the very Republic he founded, he wages a rogue war on Mercury in the hope that he can still salvage the dream of Eo. But as he leaves death and destruction in his wake, is he still the hero who broke the chains? Or will another legend rise to take his place? Lysander au Lune, the heir in exile, has returned to the Core. Determined to bring peace back to mankind at the edge of his sword, he must overcome or unite the treacherous Gold families of the Core and face down Darrow over the skies of war-torn Mercury. But theirs are not the only fates hanging in the balance. On Luna, Mustang, Sovereign of the Republic, campaigns to unite the Republic behind her husband. Beset by political and criminal enemies, can she outwit her opponents in time to save him? Once a Red refugee, young Lyria now stands accused of treason, and her only hope is a desperate escape with unlikely new allies. Abducted by a new threat to the Republic, Pax and Electra must trust in a thief for their salvation - and Ephraim must look to them for his chance at redemption. As alliances shift, break, and re-form - and power is seized, lost, and reclaimed - every player is at risk in a game of conquest that could turn the Rising into a new Dark Age. PRAISE FOR THE RED RISING SERIES: 'Pierce Brown's empire-crushing debut is a sprawling vision . . . Ender, Katniss, and now Darrow ' - Scott Sigler, New York Times bestselling author of Pandemic '[A] top-notch debut novel . . . Red Rising ascends above a crowded dystopian field ' - USA Today '[A] spectacular adventure . . . one heart-pounding ride . . . Pierce Brown's dizzyingly good debut novel evokes The Hunger Games, Lord of the Flies, and Ender's Game. . . . [Red Rising] has everything it needs to become meteoric ' - Entertainment Weekly

***The explosive fifth novel in the Red Rising Series*** The Number One New York Times bestselling author of Morning Star returns to the Red Rising universe with the thrilling sequel to Iron Gold. For a decade Darrow led a revolution against the corrupt colour-coded Society. Now, outlawed by the very Republic he founded, he wages a rogue war on Mercury in the hope that he can still salvage the dream of Eo. But as he leaves death and destruction in his wake, is he still the hero who broke the chains? Or will another legend rise to take his place? Lysander au Lune, the heir in exile, has returned to the Core. Determined to bring peace back to mankind at the edge of his sword, he must overcome or unite the treacherous Gold families of the Core and face down Darrow over the skies of war-torn Mercury. But theirs are not the only fates hanging in the balance. On Luna, Mustang, Sovereign of the Republic, campaigns to unite the Republic behind her husband. Beset by political and criminal enemies, can she outwit her opponents in time to save him? Once a Red refugee, young Lyria now stands accused of treason, and her only hope is a desperate escape with unlikely new allies. Abducted by a new threat to the Republic, Pax and Electra must trust in a thief for their salvation - and Ephraim must look to them for his chance at redemption. As alliances shift, break, and re-form - and power is seized, lost, and reclaimed - every player is at risk in a game of conquest that could turn the Rising into a new Dark Age. PRAISE FOR THE RED RISING SERIES: 'Pierce Brown's empire-crushing debut is a sprawling vision . . . Ender, Katniss, and now Darrow ' - Scott Sigler, New York Times bestselling author of Pandemic '[A] top-notch debut novel . . . Red Rising ascends above a crowded dystopian field ' - USA Today '[A] spectacular adventure . . . one heart-pounding ride . . . Pierce Brown's dizzyingly good debut novel evokes The Hunger Games, Lord of the Flies, and Ender's Game. . . . [Red Rising] has everything it needs to become meteoric ' - Entertainment Weekly

**SECOND EDITION** INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER AND BEST OF BOOKTOK SELECTION "A romantasy masterpiece." ~ LJ Andrews, Author of Broken Souls and Bone and The Ever King "Charissa Weaks is always a romantasy must-read! I adore Raina's quiet strength and Alexus's brooding intensity. Sure to be the start of an epic, deliciously smoldering journey." ~ Penn Cole, NYT Bestseller of Spark of the Everflame "For the readers who crave a steamy enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn, action-packed romantasy, this book is the one for you." ~ Book Riot She set out to kill him. Now she has to survive him. In this sweeping, spicy slow-burn romantasy, a silent witch's only path to saving her sister lies in the hands of the mysterious sorcerer she swore to kill. Hunted by dark forces across a malevolent frozen wilderness, the pair soon discover that their greatest threat might not be the army at their heels, but the attraction threatening to consume them both. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Devney Perry. Every harvest moon, the Witch Collector rides into our valley and leads one of us to the home of the immortal Frost King, to remain forever. Today is that day-Collecting Day. But he will not come for me. I, Raina Bloodgood, have lived in this village for twenty-four years, and for twenty-four years he has passed me by. His mistake. Raina Bloodgood has one desire: kill the Frost King and the Witch Collector who stole her sister. On Collecting Day, she means to exact murderous revenge, but a more sinister threat sets fire to her world. Rising from the ashes is the Collector, Alexus Thibault, the man she vowed to slay and the only person who can help save her sister. Thrust into an age-old story of ice, fire, and ancient gods, Raina must abandon vengeance and aid the Witch Collector or let their empire-and her sister-fall into enemy hands. But the lines between good and evil blur, and Raina has more to lose than she imagined. What is she to do when the Witch Collector is no longer the villain who stole her sister, but the hero who's stealing her heart?

**SECOND EDITION** INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER AND BEST OF BOOKTOK SELECTION "A romantasy masterpiece." ~ LJ Andrews, Author of Broken Souls and Bone and The Ever King "Charissa Weaks is always a romantasy must-read! I adore Raina's quiet strength and Alexus's brooding intensity. Sure to be the start of an epic, deliciously smoldering journey." ~ Penn Cole, NYT Bestseller of Spark of the Everflame "For the readers who crave a steamy enemies-to-lovers, slow-burn, action-packed romantasy, this book is the one for you." ~ Book Riot She set out to kill him. Now she has to survive him. In this sweeping, spicy slow-burn romantasy, a silent witch's only path to saving her sister lies in the hands of the mysterious sorcerer she swore to kill. Hunted by dark forces across a malevolent frozen wilderness, the pair soon discover that their greatest threat might not be the army at their heels, but the attraction threatening to consume them both. Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Jennifer L. Armentrout, and Devney Perry. Every harvest moon, the Witch Collector rides into our valley and leads one of us to the home of the immortal Frost King, to remain forever. Today is that day-Collecting Day. But he will not come for me. I, Raina Bloodgood, have lived in this village for twenty-four years, and for twenty-four years he has passed me by. His mistake. Raina Bloodgood has one desire: kill the Frost King and the Witch Collector who stole her sister. On Collecting Day, she means to exact murderous revenge, but a more sinister threat sets fire to her world. Rising from the ashes is the Collector, Alexus Thibault, the man she vowed to slay and the only person who can help save her sister. Thrust into an age-old story of ice, fire, and ancient gods, Raina must abandon vengeance and aid the Witch Collector or let their empire-and her sister-fall into enemy hands. But the lines between good and evil blur, and Raina has more to lose than she imagined. What is she to do when the Witch Collector is no longer the villain who stole her sister, but the hero who's stealing her heart?

Named a “Best Book of the 21st Century” by Kirkus Reviews, this biography from a Pulitzer Prize-winning author brings to life the most intriguing woman in history: Cleopatra, the last queen of Egypt. Her palace shimmered with onyx, garnets, and gold, but was richer still in political and sexual intrigue. Above all else, Cleopatra was a shrewd strategist and an ingenious negotiator. Though her life spanned fewer than forty years, it reshaped the contours of the ancient world. She was married twice, each time to a brother. She waged a brutal civil war against the first when both were teenagers. She poisoned the second. Ultimately she dispensed with an ambitious sister as well—incest and assassination were family specialties. Cleopatra appears to have had sex with only two men. They happen, however, to have been Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, among the most prominent Romans of the day. (Both were married to other women.) Cleopatra had a child with Caesar and—after his murder—three more with his protégé. Already she was the wealthiest ruler in the Mediterranean, and her relationship with Antony confirmed her status as the most influential woman of the age. The two would together attempt to forge a new empire, in an alliance that spelled their ends. Cleopatra has lodged herself in our imaginations ever since. Famous long before she was notorious, Cleopatra has gone down in history for all the wrong reasons. Shakespeare and Shaw put words in her mouth. Michelangelo, Tiepolo, and Elizabeth Taylor put a face to her name. Along the way, Cleopatra's supple personality and the drama of her circumstances have been lost. In a masterly return to the classical sources, Stacy Schiff here boldly separates fact from fiction to rescue the magnetic queen whose death ushered in a new world order. Rich in detail, epic in scope, Schiff's is a luminous, deeply original reconstruction of a dazzling life. “Stacy Schiff does a rare thing: She gives us a book we'd miss if it didn't exist.” ―The Wall Street Journal

Named a “Best Book of the 21st Century” by Kirkus Reviews, this biography from a Pulitzer Prize-winning author brings to life the most intriguing woman in history: Cleopatra, the last queen of Egypt. Her palace shimmered with onyx, garnets, and gold, but was richer still in political and sexual intrigue. Above all else, Cleopatra was a shrewd strategist and an ingenious negotiator. Though her life spanned fewer than forty years, it reshaped the contours of the ancient world. She was married twice, each time to a brother. She waged a brutal civil war against the first when both were teenagers. She poisoned the second. Ultimately she dispensed with an ambitious sister as well—incest and assassination were family specialties. Cleopatra appears to have had sex with only two men. They happen, however, to have been Julius Caesar and Mark Antony, among the most prominent Romans of the day. (Both were married to other women.) Cleopatra had a child with Caesar and—after his murder—three more with his protégé. Already she was the wealthiest ruler in the Mediterranean, and her relationship with Antony confirmed her status as the most influential woman of the age. The two would together attempt to forge a new empire, in an alliance that spelled their ends. Cleopatra has lodged herself in our imaginations ever since. Famous long before she was notorious, Cleopatra has gone down in history for all the wrong reasons. Shakespeare and Shaw put words in her mouth. Michelangelo, Tiepolo, and Elizabeth Taylor put a face to her name. Along the way, Cleopatra's supple personality and the drama of her circumstances have been lost. In a masterly return to the classical sources, Stacy Schiff here boldly separates fact from fiction to rescue the magnetic queen whose death ushered in a new world order. Rich in detail, epic in scope, Schiff's is a luminous, deeply original reconstruction of a dazzling life. “Stacy Schiff does a rare thing: She gives us a book we'd miss if it didn't exist.” ―The Wall Street Journal

The continuation of Donovan Cook's thrilling Dark Age series. A must-read for fans of Bernard Cornwell and Matthew Harffy 450AD Britainnia The war has begun - a war feared by both men and gods. But will the old give way to the new? Prince Vortimer has imprisoned his father, King Vortigern - The High King of Britain. With Woden's spear, Vortimer believes God has chosen him to lead an army south to banish the Jutes once and for all from Britain's shores. Triumphant after the first battle, Prince Vortimer lays siege to the Jutes, but the war is far from over. In a desperate fight for survival, Octa and the Jutish warlords, Hengist and Horsa, are trapped on Thanet, their island home, as Prince Vortimer's army surrounds them. With dwindling numbers, their only hope is to send for reinforcements, but winter is upon them, and the journey will be perilous. In a race against time and his own wishes, Octa leads the expedition to recruit Saxon and Jutish warriors. But will they follow young Octa the Coward? To prove himself, Octa must confront his past and seek vengeance on those who wronged his family, all while being mindful of Woden's wrath. Can Octa stand strong as the fires of war rage around him? And will warriors pledge their allegiance to a man known as Octa the Coward? Praise for Donovan Cook: 'Woden's Spear is yet another shield crunching epic from Donovan Cook. Any reader who loves battle, Saxons, warriors and adventures won't be disappointed! A spell binding tale of early Britain certain to keep pages turning and readers entertained.' - Peter Gibbons 'Cook gives you thunderous action in a tightly woven plot. An epic adventure from a crumbling empire to a mysterious mist strewn land. Not one to be missed for fans of Cornwell and Kristian.' - Adam Lofthouse 'Donovan Cook's Charlemagne's Cross series has everything I look for in a tale of the Dark Ages. Adventure and gritty action set against the backdrop of clashing religions and the collision of kingdoms. Great stuff!' - Matthew Harffy 'A fabulous Norse tale of family secrets, betrayal and conflict right up until the very last page - I loved it!'- MJ Porter 'An action-packed scintillating thriller. Pacy, raw, violent fayre, with a cast of characters you'll swiftly loathe or admire - you'll think you're in the shield wall' - Ross Greenwood

One of six beloved Christmas classics in collectible hardcover editions First published on December 19, 1843, A Christmas Carol was an instant classic: Londoners thronged to hear Dickens read it in person and bought out the first printing in days. Its reception was so ecstatic that it is credited with helping to revive interest among the Victorians in Christmas traditions, including caroling and holiday cards, as well as inciting an unexpected wave of charitable giving from Britain’s Industrial Age robber barons. Originally conceived as a pamphlet against exploitative capitalism before taking its current form, it has inspired dozens of theatrical and movie adaptions, and its characters, from Scrooge to Tiny Tim, are forever inscribed in our hearts and minds. Penguin Christmas Classics Give the gift of literature this Christmas. Penguin Christmas Classics honor the power of literature to keep on giving through the ages. The six volumes in the series are not only our most beloved Christmas tales, they also have given us much of what we love about the holiday itself. A Christmas Carol revived in Victorian England such Christmas hallmarks as the Christmas tree, holiday cards, and caroling. The Yuletide yarns of Anthony Trollope popularized throughout the British Empire and around the world the trappings of Christmas in London. The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus created the origin story for the presiding spirit of Christmas as we know it. The holiday tales of Louisa May Alcott shaped the ideal of an American Christmas. The Night Before Christmas brought forth some of our earliest Christmas traditions as passed down through folk tales. And The Nutcracker inspired the most famous ballet in history, one seen by millions in the twilight of every year. Beautifully designed hardcovers—with foil-stamped jackets, decorative endpapers, and nameplates for personalization—in a small trim size that makes them perfect stocking stuffers, Penguin Christmas Classics embody the spirit of giving that is at the heart of our most time-honored stories about the holiday. Collect all six Penguin Christmas Classics: A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens Christmas at Thompson Hall: And Other Christmas Stories by Anthony Trollope The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus by L. Frank Baum A Merry Christmas: And Other Christmas Stories by Louisa May Alcott The Night Before Christmas by Nikolai Gogol The Nutcracker by E. T. A. Hoffmann For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.