Seminar paper from the year 2002 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 2.0, University of Education Ludwigsburg, language: English, abstract: I would like to base my essay on the protagonist Macbeth. Probably composed in late 1606 or early 1607, Macbeth is the last of Shakespeare¿s tragedies, the others being Hamlet, King Lear and Othello. If Hamlet is the grandest of Shakespeare¿s plays, Macbeth is from a tragic standpoint the most sublime and the most impressive as an active play. If we just consider the plot, Macbeth is a relatively simple play. In fact like Richard III and numerous pre-Shakespearean plays, it deals with a traditional form: the rise and fall of a great man. In the first part of the play we read about Macbeth¿s rise to power; then he manages to become king of Scotland. From this moment on he begins with a period of tyranny that will end with Macbeth¿s death and the accession to the throne of the legitimate king. For this reason he can be considered as the epitome of a tragic hero. In the course of the play we notice a great development of Macbeth¿s character. At the beginning he is a man much honoured by his countrymen for his leading and courageous part in defence of his good king and native land. During many conflicts he showed his great courage and he continues showing this personal quality also when he becomes king and he has to take a lot of difficult decisions. But this first description about Macbeth¿s character is not the definitive one: in fact as soon as we meet him, we find out also his negative qualities, for example that he is both ambitious and murderous. It happens when the two Scottish generals, Macbeth and his friend Banquo, returning victorious from the great battle against a rebel army assisted by the troops of Norway, meet three witches in the middle of the road. They begin to speak to Macbeth: the first of them greets him with the title of Thane of Glaning (so it is in the reality); the second follows by giving him the title of Thane of Cawdor, to which honour he has no pretensions; the third predicts that Macbeth will be king of Scotland. Then turning to Banquo, they prophesy that his son will be king of Scotland. So they turn into the air and vanish. After a while Macbeth and his friend are stopped by some messengers of the king, who are empowered by him to confer upon Macbeth the dignity of Thane of Cawdor: an event so miraculously corresponding with the predictions of the witches astonishes Macbeth, who begins to think about the other and more important prophecy...

Seminar paper from the year 2002 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 2.0, University of Education Ludwigsburg, language: English, abstract: I would like to base my essay on the protagonist Macbeth. Probably composed in late 1606 or early 1607, Macbeth is the last of Shakespeare¿s tragedies, the others being Hamlet, King Lear and Othello. If Hamlet is the grandest of Shakespeare¿s plays, Macbeth is from a tragic standpoint the most sublime and the most impressive as an active play. If we just consider the plot, Macbeth is a relatively simple play. In fact like Richard III and numerous pre-Shakespearean plays, it deals with a traditional form: the rise and fall of a great man. In the first part of the play we read about Macbeth¿s rise to power; then he manages to become king of Scotland. From this moment on he begins with a period of tyranny that will end with Macbeth¿s death and the accession to the throne of the legitimate king. For this reason he can be considered as the epitome of a tragic hero. In the course of the play we notice a great development of Macbeth¿s character. At the beginning he is a man much honoured by his countrymen for his leading and courageous part in defence of his good king and native land. During many conflicts he showed his great courage and he continues showing this personal quality also when he becomes king and he has to take a lot of difficult decisions. But this first description about Macbeth¿s character is not the definitive one: in fact as soon as we meet him, we find out also his negative qualities, for example that he is both ambitious and murderous. It happens when the two Scottish generals, Macbeth and his friend Banquo, returning victorious from the great battle against a rebel army assisted by the troops of Norway, meet three witches in the middle of the road. They begin to speak to Macbeth: the first of them greets him with the title of Thane of Glaning (so it is in the reality); the second follows by giving him the title of Thane of Cawdor, to which honour he has no pretensions; the third predicts that Macbeth will be king of Scotland. Then turning to Banquo, they prophesy that his son will be king of Scotland. So they turn into the air and vanish. After a while Macbeth and his friend are stopped by some messengers of the king, who are empowered by him to confer upon Macbeth the dignity of Thane of Cawdor: an event so miraculously corresponding with the predictions of the witches astonishes Macbeth, who begins to think about the other and more important prophecy...

Now the subject of a major new film adaptation from director Joe Wright (Atonement, Pride and Prejudice), Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina is translated by award-winning duo Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky in Penguin Classics. Starring Keira Knightley (A Dangerous Method) as Anna Karenina, Jude Law (Sherlock Holmes) as her husband Alexei, Aaron Johnson (Nowhere Boy) as Count Vronsky, and also starring Matthew McFadyen, Andrea Riseborough and Kelly Macdonald, this dazzling production of Anna Karenina is adapted for the screen by legendary playwright Tom Stoppard. Anna Karenina seems to have everything - beauty, wealth, popularity and an adored son. But she feels that her life is empty until the moment she encounters the impetuous officer Count Vronsky. Their subsequent affair scandalizes society and family alike, and soon brings jealousy and bitterness in its wake. Contrasting with this tale of love and self-destruction is the vividly observed story of Konstantin Levin, a man striving to find contentment and meaning to his life - and also a self-portrait of Tolstoy himself. Acclaimed as the definitive English version of Tolstoy's masterpiece, this edition contains an introduction by Richard Pevear and a preface by John Bayley. Leo Tolstoy (1828-1910) spent his youth in wasteful idleness until 1851, when he travelled to the Caucasus and joined the army, fighting in the Crimean war. After marrying in 1862, Tolstoy settled down, managing his estates and writing two of his best-known novels, War and Peace (1869) and Anna Karenina (1878). A Confession (1879-82) marked a spiritual crisis in his life, and in 1901 he was excommunicated by the Russian Holy Synod. 'William Faulkner, it's said, was once asked to name the three best novels ever. He replied: "Anna Karenina, Anna Karenina, Anna Karenina." If you don't recall why, rush to buy a fine new translation by Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky' Boyd Tonkin, Independent

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In the explosive instant New York Times bestselling sequel to Fear the Flames, two fated lovers must unite against warring kingdoms to defend their home and crowns from those who wish to destroy them. Perfect for fans of Rebecca Yarros and Victoria Aveyard. **FEATURES EXCLUSIVE COVER COLOUR AND EXQUISITE SPRAYED EDGE** 'The kind of book that steals a part of your soul. Intricate, wild, intoxicating, and the perfect balance of fantasy and romance - I couldn't put it down' Imani Erriu, author of Heavenly Bodies She will claim her throne. He will ignite the realms. Cayden Veles, renowned Demon Commander turned King of Vareveth, overthrew the throne to save Elowen Atarah, the woman he searched for since childhood. Now he's determined to fulfil his quest for revenge against her father, even if it means forcing the only person he's ever wanted into a marriage of political convenience. Elowen Atarah has everything she thought she'd ever want. Finally reunited with her dragons, she now has an army to enact vengeance, but as events transpire, she begins contemplating if she wants more. As her father's only living heir, the Imirath throne is her right and destiny. But fighting and winning a war will require trusting Cayden Veles, her partner in crime and now king to her queen; the man she both longs for and doubts, especially after opening her heart only to become a pawn in his game. Navigating the shifting allegiances among all the kingdoms of Ravaryn will require all their strategy and strength, with devastating and bloody attacks on one side and cut-throat diplomacy for alliances on the other. But Elowen and Cayden must find a way to stand strong within the power they've gained, or risk losing everything. PRAISE FOR FEAR THE FLAMES: 'Exactly the kind of story that makes my romantasy-loving heart flutter' NISHA J. TULI 'If you're seeking a fantasy book with dragon-bonds, revenge quests, a Daenerys Targaryen-esque heroine and reluctant allies-to-lovers romance, then Olivia Rose Darling's debut will give you all that and more' CULTUREFLY Wrath of the Dragons was a New York Times bestseller August 2025

In this explosive romantasy for fans of Rebecca Yarros and Victoria Aveyard, two fated lovers must unite against warring kingdoms to defend their home and crowns from those who wish to destroy them. Perfect for gifting to fantasy lovers this Christmas. 'The kind of book that steals a part of your soul. Intricate, wild, intoxicating, and the perfect balance of fantasy and romance - I couldn't put it down' Imani Erriu, author of Heavenly Bodies She will claim her throne. He will ignite the realms. Cayden Veles, renowned Demon Commander turned King of Vareveth, overthrew the throne to save Elowen Atarah, the woman he searched for since childhood. Now he's determined to fulfil his quest for revenge against her father, even if it means forcing the only person he's ever wanted into a marriage of political convenience. Elowen Atarah has everything she thought she'd ever want. Finally reunited with her dragons, she now has an army to enact vengeance, but as events transpire, she begins contemplating if she wants more. As her father's only living heir, the Imirath throne is her right and destiny. But fighting and winning a war will require trusting Cayden Veles, her partner in crime and now king to her queen; the man she both longs for and doubts, especially after opening her heart only to become a pawn in his game. Navigating the shifting allegiances among all the kingdoms of Ravaryn will require all their strategy and strength, with devastating and bloody attacks on one side and cut-throat diplomacy for alliances on the other. But Elowen and Cayden must find a way to stand strong within the power they've gained, or risk losing everything. PRAISE FOR FEAR THE FLAMES: 'Exactly the kind of story that makes my romantasy-loving heart flutter' NISHA J. TULI 'If you're seeking a fantasy book with dragon-bonds, revenge quests, a Daenerys Targaryen-esque heroine and reluctant allies-to-lovers romance, then Olivia Rose Darling's debut will give you all that and more' CULTUREFLY Wrath of the Dragons was a New York Times bestseller August 2025

**** THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER **** WINNER 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards Blackwell's Scottish Book of the Year 'Fascinating and illuminating, this book tempers the justifiable rage with sharp and funny pinpricks to the pompous.' VAL MCDERMID, author of Past Lying 'As well as highly entertaining read, How To Kill A Witch is a tour de force of research, understanding and compassion.' PROFESSOR SUE BLACK, author of All That Remains. 'Serious and angry, but so completely accessible, How To Kill A Witch is a work of real historical investigation and a fierce warning for our times.' MALCOLM GASKILL, author of The Ruin Of All Witches 'At a time when women's rights are once again being threatened across the globe, this book could not be a more timely read if it tried.' SHIRLEY MANSON, Garbage 'Two of Scotland's most vivid storytellers.' THE TIMES 'Fascinating, angering' THE MAIL ON SUNDAY As a woman, if you lived in Scotland in the 1500s, there was a very good chance that you, or someone you knew, would be tried as a witch. Witch hunts ripped through the country for over 150 years, with at least 4,000 accused, and with many women's fates sealed by a grizzly execution of strangulation, followed by burning. Inspired to correct this historic injustice, campaigners and writers Claire Mitchell, KC, and Zoe Venditozzi, have delved deeply into just why the trials exploded in Scotland to such a degree. In order to understand why it happened, they have broken down the entire horrifying process, step-by-step, from identification of individuals, to their accusation, 'pricking', torture, confessions, execution and beyond. With characteristically sharp wit and a sense of outrage, they attempt to inhabit the minds of the persecutors, often men, revealing the inner workings of exactly why the Patriarchy went to such extraordinary lengths to silence women, and how this legally sanctioned victimisation proliferated in Scotland and around the world. With testimony from a small army of experts, pen portraits of the women accused, trial transcripts, witness accounts and the documents that set the legal grounds for the hunts, How to Kill A Witch builds to form a rich patchwork of tragic stories, helping us comprehend the underlying reasons for this terrible injustice, and raises the serious question - could it ever happen again?

**** THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER **** WINNER 2025 Goodreads Choice Awards Blackwell's Scottish Book of the Year 'Fascinating and illuminating, this book tempers the justifiable rage with sharp and funny pinpricks to the pompous.' VAL MCDERMID, author of Past Lying 'As well as highly entertaining read, How To Kill A Witch is a tour de force of research, understanding and compassion.' PROFESSOR SUE BLACK, author of All That Remains. 'Serious and angry, but so completely accessible, How To Kill A Witch is a work of real historical investigation and a fierce warning for our times.' MALCOLM GASKILL, author of The Ruin Of All Witches 'At a time when women's rights are once again being threatened across the globe, this book could not be a more timely read if it tried.' SHIRLEY MANSON, Garbage 'Two of Scotland's most vivid storytellers.' THE TIMES 'Fascinating, angering' THE MAIL ON SUNDAY As a woman, if you lived in Scotland in the 1500s, there was a very good chance that you, or someone you knew, would be tried as a witch. Witch hunts ripped through the country for over 150 years, with at least 4,000 accused, and with many women's fates sealed by a grizzly execution of strangulation, followed by burning. Inspired to correct this historic injustice, campaigners and writers Claire Mitchell, KC, and Zoe Venditozzi, have delved deeply into just why the trials exploded in Scotland to such a degree. In order to understand why it happened, they have broken down the entire horrifying process, step-by-step, from identification of individuals, to their accusation, 'pricking', torture, confessions, execution and beyond. With characteristically sharp wit and a sense of outrage, they attempt to inhabit the minds of the persecutors, often men, revealing the inner workings of exactly why the Patriarchy went to such extraordinary lengths to silence women, and how this legally sanctioned victimisation proliferated in Scotland and around the world. With testimony from a small army of experts, pen portraits of the women accused, trial transcripts, witness accounts and the documents that set the legal grounds for the hunts, How to Kill A Witch builds to form a rich patchwork of tragic stories, helping us comprehend the underlying reasons for this terrible injustice, and raises the serious question - could it ever happen again?

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Finalist for the PEN/USA Award in Creative Nonfiction, the Thurber Prize for American Humor, and the Audie Award in Biography/Memoir This Random House Reader’s Circle edition includes a reading group guide and a conversation between Firoozeh Dumas and Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner! “Remarkable . . . told with wry humor shorn of sentimentality . . . In the end, what sticks with the reader is an exuberant immigrant embrace of America.”—San Francisco Chronicle In 1972, when she was seven, Firoozeh Dumas and her family moved from Iran to Southern California, arriving with no firsthand knowledge of this country beyond her father’s glowing memories of his graduate school years here. More family soon followed, and the clan has been here ever since. Funny in Farsi chronicles the American journey of Dumas’s wonderfully engaging family: her engineer father, a sweetly quixotic dreamer who first sought riches on Bowling for Dollars and in Las Vegas, and later lost his job during the Iranian revolution; her elegant mother, who never fully mastered English (nor cared to); her uncle, who combated the effects of American fast food with an army of miraculous American weight-loss gadgets; and Firoozeh herself, who as a girl changed her name to Julie, and who encountered a second wave of culture shock when she met and married a Frenchman, becoming part of a one-couple melting pot. In a series of deftly drawn scenes, we watch the family grapple with American English (hot dogs and hush puppies?—a complete mystery), American traditions (Thanksgiving turkey?—an even greater mystery, since it tastes like nothing), and American culture (Firoozeh’s parents laugh uproariously at Bob Hope on television, although they don’t get the jokes even when she translates them into Farsi). Above all, this is an unforgettable story of identity, discovery, and the power of family love. It is a book that will leave us all laughing—without an accent. Praise for Funny in Farsi “Heartfelt and hilarious—in any language.” —Glamour “A joyful success.” —Newsday “What’s charming beyond the humor of this memoir is that it remains affectionate even in the weakest, most tenuous moments for the culture. It’s the brilliance of true sophistication at work.” —Los Angeles Times Book Review “Often hilarious, always interesting . . . Like the movie My Big Fat Greek Wedding, this book describes with humor the intersection and overlapping of two cultures.” —The Providence Journal “A humorous and introspective chronicle of a life filled with love—of family, country, and heritage.” —Jimmy Carter “Delightfully refreshing.” —Milwaukee Journal Sentinel “[Funny in Farsi] brings us closer to discovering what it means to be an American.” —San Jose Mercury News

When war-haunted Tristan takes a job guarding Mark's exclusive kink club, everything shatters with the arrival of Mark's fiancée, Isolde. Inside Lyonesse, Mark curates control, Tristan guards the door, and Isolde tests every forbidden boundary as tangled desires ignite between all three in this sizzling romance from USA Today bestselling author Sierra Simone. Tristan Thomas is lost. After leaving the army, the young former soldier is in limbo. Until, that is, he's hired to guard Mark Trevena, the owner of DC's ultra-secret club, Lyonesse. Slowly, he's drawn into Mark's dark, seductive world of power and desire, , even though Mark is everything Tristan knows he shouldn't want: cruel and wicked and shamelessly amoral. But protecting Mark isn't Tristan's only duty. Soon, Mark asks him to guard his bride-to-be as she travels home from Ireland on Mark's yacht. Tristan is obsessively jealous, but the former soldier in him is made to obey orders, and as it turns out, Isolde Laurence is nothing like he expected. Young, sharp, and bewitching, she's being pushed into this marriage by her family, and as the two travel back to America, Tristan finds himself enraptured with the woman behind the reserve. One night, while sailing under the cold stars, Isolde and Tristan share a searing kiss. From there, it's a fast fall into the forbidden for all three of them. In a world where every touch is a negotiation and every secret fuels temptation, pleasure and power blur until one reckless choice sets a love affair on fire.

When war-haunted Tristan takes a job guarding Mark's exclusive kink club, everything shatters with the arrival of Mark's fiancée, Isolde. Inside Lyonesse, Mark curates control, Tristan guards the door, and Isolde tests every forbidden boundary as tangled desires ignite between all three in this sizzling romance from USA Today bestselling author Sierra Simone. Tristan Thomas is lost. After leaving the army, the young former soldier is in limbo. Until, that is, he's hired to guard Mark Trevena, the owner of DC's ultra-secret club, Lyonesse. Slowly, he's drawn into Mark's dark, seductive world of power and desire, , even though Mark is everything Tristan knows he shouldn't want: cruel and wicked and shamelessly amoral. But protecting Mark isn't Tristan's only duty. Soon, Mark asks him to guard his bride-to-be as she travels home from Ireland on Mark's yacht. Tristan is obsessively jealous, but the former soldier in him is made to obey orders, and as it turns out, Isolde Laurence is nothing like he expected. Young, sharp, and bewitching, she's being pushed into this marriage by her family, and as the two travel back to America, Tristan finds himself enraptured with the woman behind the reserve. One night, while sailing under the cold stars, Isolde and Tristan share a searing kiss. From there, it's a fast fall into the forbidden for all three of them. In a world where every touch is a negotiation and every secret fuels temptation, pleasure and power blur until one reckless choice sets a love affair on fire.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER In the explosive sequel to the bestselling romantasy Fear the Flames, two fated lovers must unite against warring kingdoms to defend their home and crowns from those who wish to destroy them. Cayden Veles, renowned Demon Commander of Vareveth, overthrew the throne to save Elowen Atarah, the woman he searched for since childhood. Now he's determined to fulfill his quest for revenge against her father, even if it means forcing the only person he's ever wanted into a marriage of political convenience. Elowen Atarah has everything she thought she'd ever want. Finally reunited with her dragons, she now has an army to enact vengeance, but as events transpire, she begins contemplating if she wants more. As her father's only living heir, the Imirath throne is her right and destiny. But fighting and winning a war will require trusting Cayden Veles, her partner in crime and now king to her queen; the man she both longs for and doubts, especially after opening her heart only to become a pawn in his game. Navigating the shifting allegiances amongst all the kingdoms of Ravaryn will require all their strategy and strength, with devastating and bloody attacks on one side and cutthroat diplomacy for alliances on the other. But Elowen and Cayden must find a way to stand strong within the power they've gained, or risk losing everything. Delving deeper into a vast and ever-changing world, Wrath of the Dragons will take you on a journey filled with epic battles and a tender, angsty love for the ages.

Praise for Red Sister “Fabulous; in-depth world building, great characters, and as always with Lawrence, plotting that is fresh and unpredictable...If you like fresh, take-no-prisoners fantasy, this is for you.”—Rick Riordan, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Burning Maze “Dark; passionate, tense, with a female hero anyone could relate to—I was utterly fascinated! This is no pretty, flowery tale, but one of vastly different people struggling to survive when a hostile government comes to power.”—Tamora Pierce, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Battle Magic “The lyrical excellence of previous books is present in full force here and it’s fair to say that Mark Lawrence has evolved into a master of his craft. In Red Sister he has produced a novel that is as thought provoking as it is entertaining, and as poignant as it is ferocious. Highly recommended.”—Anthony Ryan, New York Times bestselling author of The Waking Fire “In this stunning, action-filled series launch, Lawrence ('Broken Empire' trilogy) establishes a fantastic world in which religion and politics are sharp as swords, with magic and might held in the hands of wonderful and dangerous women. Impatient George R.R. Martin fans will find this a pleasing alternative until the next installment in his “A Song of Ice and Fire” saga arrives.” —Library Journal, starred review Praise for the novels of Mark Lawrence “An excellent writer.”—George R. R. Martin, New York Times bestselling author “Different than anything I have ever read.”—Terry Brooks, New York Times bestselling author “An amazing series, and I eagerly anticipate Lawrence’s next literary effort, whatever it may be.”—Peter V. Brett, New York Times bestselling author “It’s not like anything I’ve ever read before.”—Rick Riordan, #1 New York Times bestselling author “Dark and relentless...A two-in-the-morning page-turner.”—Robin Hobb, New York Times bestselling author “Epic fantasy on a George R. R. Martin scale but on speed.”—Fixed on Fantasy “Mark Lawrence’s growing army of fans will relish this rollicking new adventure and look forward to the next one.”— Daily Mail

"Morgan Rice's imagination is limitless. In another series that promises to be as entertaining as the previous ones, A THRONE OF SISTERS presents us with the tale of two sisters (Sophia and Kate), orphans, fighting to survive in a cruel and demanding world of an orphanage. An instant success. I can hardly wait to put my hands on the second and third books!" --Books and Movie Reviews (Roberto Mattos) The new #1 Bestselling epic fantasy series by Morgan Rice! In A KISS FOR QUEENS (A Throne for Sisters—Book Six), it is time for Sophia to come into her own. It is time for her to lead an army, to lead a nation, to step up and be the commander of the most epic battle the realm may ever see. Her love, Sebastian, remains imprisoned and set to be executed. Will they reunite in time? Kate has finally freed herself from the witch's power, and is free to become the warrior she was meant to be. Her skills will be tested in the battle of her life, as she fights at her sister's side. Will the sisters save each other? The Queen, furious at Rupert and Lady D'Angelica, exiles him and sentences her to execution. But they just may have their own agenda. And all of this converges in an epic battle that will decide the future of the crown—and the fate of the realm—forever. A KISS FOR QUEENS (A Throne for Sisters—Book Six) is book #6 in a dazzling new fantasy series rife with love, heartbreak, tragedy, action, adventure, magic, swords, sorcery, dragons, fate and heart-pounding suspense. A page turner, it is filled with characters that will make you fall in love, and a world you will never forget. Book #7 in the series is now also available! "[A Throne for Sisters is a] powerful opener to a series [that] will produce a combination of feisty protagonists and challenging circumstances to thoroughly involve not just young adults, but adult fantasy fans who seek epic stories fueled by powerful friendships and adversaries." --Midwest Book Review (Diane Donovan)

In the explosive instant New York Times bestselling romantasy, two fated lovers must unite against warring kingdoms to defend their home and crowns from those who wish to destroy them. Perfect for fans of Rebecca Yarros, Victoria Aveyard and Jennifer L. Armentrout. 'THE KIND OF BOOK THAT STEALS A PART OF YOUR SOUL ... I COULDN'T PUT IT DOWN' Imani Erriu, author of Heavenly Bodies She will claim her throne. He will ignite the realms. Cayden Veles, renowned Demon Commander turned King of Vareveth, overthrew the throne to save Elowen Atarah, the woman he searched for since childhood. Now he's determined to fulfil his quest for revenge against her father, even if it means forcing the only person he's ever wanted into a marriage of political convenience. Elowen Atarah has everything she thought she'd ever want. Finally reunited with her dragons, she now has an army to enact vengeance, but as events transpire, she begins contemplating if she wants more. As her father's only living heir, the Imirath throne is her right and destiny. But fighting and winning a war will require trusting Cayden Veles, her partner in crime and now king to her queen; the man she both longs for and doubts, especially after opening her heart only to become a pawn in his game. Navigating the shifting allegiances among all the kingdoms of Ravaryn will require all their strategy and strength, with devastating and bloody attacks on one side and cut-throat diplomacy for alliances on the other. But Elowen and Cayden must find a way to stand strong within the power they've gained, or risk losing everything. PRAISE FOR FEAR THE FLAMES: 'Exactly the kind of story that makes my romantasy-loving heart flutter' NISHA J. TULI 'If you're seeking a fantasy book with dragon-bonds, revenge quests, a Daenerys Targaryen-esque heroine and reluctant allies-to-lovers romance, then Olivia Rose Darling's debut will give you all that and more' CULTUREFLY Wrath of the Dragons was a New York Times bestseller August 2025

July 30, 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of Jimmy Hoffa's disappearance... "Back then, there wasn't nobody in this country who didn't know who Jimmy Hoffa was." — Frank Sheeran (played by Robert DeNiro) in Martin Scoresese’s film The Irishman - New York Times Bestseller — #1 True Crime Bestseller The inspiration for the major motion picture, THE IRISHMAN. “The best Mafia book I ever read, and believe me, I read them all.” — Steven Van Zandt “Charles Brandt has solved the Hoffa mystery.” — Professor Arthur Sloane, author of Hoffa “Sheeran’s confession that he killed Hoffa in the manner described in the book is supported by the forensic evidence, is entirely credible, and solves the Hoffa mystery.” — Michael Baden M.D., former Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York “It’s all true.” — New York Police Department organized crime homicide detective Joe Coffey “Gives new meaning to the term ‘guilty pleasure.’’’ — The New York Times Book Review **Includes an Epilogue and a Conclusion that detail substantial post-publication corroboration of Frank Sheeran's confessions to the killings of Jimmy Hoffa and Joey Gallo. "I heard you paint houses" are the first words Jimmy Hoffa ever spoke to Frank "the Irishman" Sheeran. To paint a house is to kill a man. The paint is the blood that splatters on the walls and floors. In the course of nearly five years of recorded interviews, Frank Sheeran confessed to Charles Brandt that he handled more than twenty-five hits for the mob, and for his friend Hoffa. He also provided intriguing information about the Mafia's role in the murder of JFK. Sheeran learned to kill in the US Army, where he saw an astonishing 411 days of active combat duty in Italy during World War II. After returning home he became a hustler and hit man, working for legendary crime boss Russell Bufalino. Eventually Sheeran would rise to a position of such prominence that in a RICO suit the US government would name him as one of only two non-Italians in conspiracy with the Commission of La Cosa Nostra, alongside the likes of Anthony "Tony Pro" Provenzano and Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno. When Bufalino ordered Sheeran to kill Hoffa, the Irishman did the deed, knowing that if he had refused he would have been killed himself. Charles Brandt's page-turner has become a true crime classic.

July 30, 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of Jimmy Hoffa's disappearance... "Back then, there wasn't nobody in this country who didn't know who Jimmy Hoffa was." — Frank Sheeran (played by Robert DeNiro) in Martin Scoresese’s film The Irishman - New York Times Bestseller — #1 True Crime Bestseller The inspiration for the major motion picture, THE IRISHMAN. “The best Mafia book I ever read, and believe me, I read them all.” — Steven Van Zandt “Charles Brandt has solved the Hoffa mystery.” — Professor Arthur Sloane, author of Hoffa “Sheeran’s confession that he killed Hoffa in the manner described in the book is supported by the forensic evidence, is entirely credible, and solves the Hoffa mystery.” — Michael Baden M.D., former Chief Medical Examiner of the City of New York “It’s all true.” — New York Police Department organized crime homicide detective Joe Coffey “Gives new meaning to the term ‘guilty pleasure.’’’ — The New York Times Book Review **Includes an Epilogue and a Conclusion that detail substantial post-publication corroboration of Frank Sheeran's confessions to the killings of Jimmy Hoffa and Joey Gallo. "I heard you paint houses" are the first words Jimmy Hoffa ever spoke to Frank "the Irishman" Sheeran. To paint a house is to kill a man. The paint is the blood that splatters on the walls and floors. In the course of nearly five years of recorded interviews, Frank Sheeran confessed to Charles Brandt that he handled more than twenty-five hits for the mob, and for his friend Hoffa. He also provided intriguing information about the Mafia's role in the murder of JFK. Sheeran learned to kill in the US Army, where he saw an astonishing 411 days of active combat duty in Italy during World War II. After returning home he became a hustler and hit man, working for legendary crime boss Russell Bufalino. Eventually Sheeran would rise to a position of such prominence that in a RICO suit the US government would name him as one of only two non-Italians in conspiracy with the Commission of La Cosa Nostra, alongside the likes of Anthony "Tony Pro" Provenzano and Anthony "Fat Tony" Salerno. When Bufalino ordered Sheeran to kill Hoffa, the Irishman did the deed, knowing that if he had refused he would have been killed himself. Charles Brandt's page-turner has become a true crime classic.

One woman learns the secrets of the five Jaeger brothers in the new romance from New York Times bestselling author Penelope Douglas. On the other side of town, in the dark glades, under the rain… Macon is the oldest. Thirty-one. Ex-Marine. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile. Army is twenty-eight. A single dad with the most beautiful green eyes. He has no idea who he is, if not a Jaeger brother. Iron will be in prison soon. You’d never think it to meet him. He’s a nice guy, actually. But he can’t stop reacting to everything. Dallas is the one I hate. Twenty-one, cruel, and selfish. He takes and then throws away whatever’s left. And Trace is mine. Or he was for about two seconds. No one can tame him for long. Not that I ever wanted to. It was fun, but now I need to go home. Back to my side of the tracks. Away from the swamps and these men. To my parents’ big house. On my clean street. Where I’m never dirty or messy or hot. And I will. I’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning. I just want to crash on the couch tonight. Their house is dark and quiet, everyone else is asleep. Except for one. He sees me crying and comes at me from behind. I let him wrap his arms around my body and hold me tightly. His breath is on my neck, his fingers are in my hair, and he doesn’t stop there. I don’t think it was Trace.

One woman learns the secrets of the five Jaeger brothers in the new romance from New York Times bestselling author Penelope Douglas. On the other side of town, in the dark glades, under the rain… Macon is the oldest. Thirty-one. Ex-Marine. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile. Army is twenty-eight. A single dad with the most beautiful green eyes. He has no idea who he is, if not a Jaeger brother. Iron will be in prison soon. You’d never think it to meet him. He’s a nice guy, actually. But he can’t stop reacting to everything. Dallas is the one I hate. Twenty-one, cruel, and selfish. He takes and then throws away whatever’s left. And Trace is mine. Or he was for about two seconds. No one can tame him for long. Not that I ever wanted to. It was fun, but now I need to go home. Back to my side of the tracks. Away from the swamps and these men. To my parents’ big house. On my clean street. Where I’m never dirty or messy or hot. And I will. I’ll leave first thing tomorrow morning. I just want to crash on the couch tonight. Their house is dark and quiet, everyone else is asleep. Except for one. He sees me crying and comes at me from behind. I let him wrap his arms around my body and hold me tightly. His breath is on my neck, his fingers are in my hair, and he doesn’t stop there. I don’t think it was Trace.

See the Grishaverse come to life on screen with the Netflix series, Shadow and Bone. Daring rogue Nikolai finally joins the fold in Season 2 -- covering explosive events of both Siege and Storm and Ruin and Rising -- streaming now! Enter the Grishaverse with Book Two of the Shadow and Bone Trilogy by the #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom. Soldier. Summoner . Saint. Alina Starkov's power has grown, but not without a price. She is the Sun Summoner-hunted across the True Sea, haunted by the lives she took on the Shadow Fold. But she and Mal can't outrun their enemies for long. The Darkling is more determined than ever to claim Alina's magic and use it to take the Ravkan throne. With nowhere else to turn, Alina enlists the help of an infamous privateer and sets out to lead the Grisha army. But as the truth of Alina's destiny unfolds, she slips deeper into the Darkling's deadly game of forbidden magic, and further away from her humanity. To save her country, Alina will have to choose between her power and the love she thought would always be her shelter. No victory can come without sacrifice-and only she can face the oncoming storm. A New York Times Bestseller This title has Common Core connections. Read all the books in the Grishaverse! The Shadow and Bone Trilogy (previously published as The Grisha Trilogy) Shadow and Bone Siege and Storm Ruin and Rising The Six of Crows Duology Six of Crows Crooked Kingdom The King of Scars Duology King of Scars Rule of Wolves The Language of Thorns: Midnight Tales and Dangerous Magic The Severed Moon: A Year-Long Journal of Magic The Lives of Saints Demon in the Wood Graphic Novel Praise for the Grishaverse "A master of fantasy." -The Huffington Post "Utterly, extremely bewitching." -The Guardian "This is what fantasy is for." -The New York Times Book Review "[A] world that feels real enough to have its own passport stamp." -NPR "The darker it gets for the good guys, the better." -Entertainment Weekly "Sultry, sweeping and picturesque. . . . Impossible to put down." -USA Today "There's a level of emotional and historical sophistication within Bardugo's original epic fantasy that sets it apart." -Vanity Fair "Unlike anything I've ever read." -Veronica Roth, bestselling author of Divergent "Bardugo crafts a first-rate adventure, a poignant romance, and an intriguing mystery!" -Rick Riordan, bestselling author of the Percy Jackson series