"A magisterial history of humanity viewed through the lens of its most powerful dynasties ... In this sprawling and eye-opening book, best-selling historian Simon Sebag Montefiore chronicles the world's great dynasties across human history through engrossing tales of palace intrigue, glorious battle, and the real lives of people who held unfathomable power. He trains his eye on founders of humble origin, like Sargon, the Mesopotamian cupbearer sent to help defeat a rival who returned with an army to dethrone his own king, and Liu Bang, a peasant who became a rebel leader and founded the Han dynasty. Montefiore illuminates the achievements of fearsome emperors, including Yax Ehb Xook, whose Mayan city-state Tikal boasts some of the most monumental ancient architecture that exists today; Jayavarman II, who proclaimed himself 'universal king' and whose Khmer empire in South Asia heralded a thousand years of Indic ascendancy; and Ewuare, the African emperor who built a capital city that rivaled any in Europe. He writes, too, about remarkable women rulers, like Hatshepsut, the first female pharaoh, and Maria Theresa, the only woman to rule the Habsburg empire. These families represent the breadth of human endeavor, with bloody civil wars, treacherous conspiracies, and shocking megalomania alongside flourishing culture, moving romances, and enlightened benevolence. A dazzling epic history as spellbinding as fiction ... testament to Montefiore's acclaimed career as our poet laureate of power"--

Return to Camelot in the much anticipated and funny follow-up to the instant New York Times bestselling and YA Book Prize winning Gwen and Art Are Not in Love. They fell in love. They won a great battle. It should have been happily ever after. But now, Camelot's famous couples have fallen apart. Newly crowned King Gabriel is having panic attacks in cupboards in-between council meetings. He can't tell Arthur just how not okay he is - so he's set him free, to find love with someone who can get through the day without breaking down. Bridget has lost her spark for sparring, forfeiting again and again in the lists. When she's invited to join Gabriel's round table, she hopes it'll be the change she needs. But trying to navigate the post-happily-ever-after reality of a relationship with Gwen, when Bridget no longer feels like the dashing knight Gwen fell in love with, feels impossible. With the kingdom still reeling from an attempted uprising, and rumoured sightings of the Holy Grail, the Questing Beast and the Green Knight happening across the country, the gang depart on a PR tour destined for disaster. Can Gabriel be the king his country deserves? Can Bridget get her jousting groove back? And will they find their way back to the courtly love that once seemed fated?

The original archangels Michael and Lucifer are born out of one star. Their close brotherhood, however, turns into deep hatred when Lucifer refuses to share his own glory. The battle continues throughout history until the angels create a battleground for the final war: one that will determine the evolution of reality. Two siblings on Earth mark the beginning of this combat. King Alexander sister, the witch Lucinda, has been in exile now for thirty years, thrown out of the kingdom for burning down a summer residence. And so Lucifer’s apprentice decides to take revenge on her brother’s family for her own eviction. King Alexander, a true believer in the good Lord, is worried that his favourite daughter, Princess Belinda, will suffer yet again. The four horsemen of the apocalypse return, promising to turn the kingdom into a wasteland. The Prosperanian aristocrats are scared for their lives. Belinda is getting married. Worst of all: Lucinda has the Prosperanian archenemy Nocturania on her side. Then, Alexander discovers something horrifying. Accidentally, the wedding date with Prince Steven is set for the thirty year anniversary date of Lucinda’s eviction away from the kingdom. The wheels begin turning, the kingdom is attacked by mysterious riders and nothing is what it seems anymore. If the witch keeps her promise, how much cataclysm will she actually cause?

If you love Bridgerton, you'll love Georgette Heyer! 'The greatest writer who ever lived' Antonia Fraser 'Fabulously witty' Stephen Fry 'Incisively witty, quietly subversive' Joanne Harris 'If you haven't read Georgette Heyer yet what a treat you have in store' Harriet Evans ____________ Born the illegitimate son of the future Duke of Normandy, William must fight the King of France to regain his Duchy. Spurned in love by the lovely Princess Matilda, William argues hard to make her his bride. Thwarted by the Saxon Earl Harold of a promise of the throne of England, William the Conqueror sails to Hastings to claim the King's crown and sceptre for his own. Written in Heyer's inimitable style, The Conqueror dives deep into William's complex character, his ruthless ambition and both the physical and mental battles he must endure in order to claim King Harold's crown and sceptre for his own. ____________ Readers love The Conqueror ... ***** 'I enthusiastically recommend this novel! Heyer's writing is impeccable and her research is without a doubt one of the best.' ***** 'This was always my favourite of GH's historicals. ' ***** ' Loved this book and am now looking to read more Heyer historicals.' ***** 'I first read this novel many years ago and enjoyed it this time as much as I did the first time.' ***** 'Overall the Conqueror is the best of Georgette Heyer's pre-Georgian novels.'

'Glistening with dark magic.' - Chloe Gong, author of These Violent Delights In this Rapunzel-inspired fantasy novel, a young witch, groomed to steal souls for an immortal king, meets the reckless, rebellious boy to whom her fate is tied. For sixteen years, Selestra has been trapped in her tower on the Floating Mountain, preparing to take her mother's place as the King's Witch, who foretells deaths in the Festival of Predictions. Outrunning your fate earns a wish and the chance to steal the King's immortality. But die and your soul is forfeit. And though thousands have tried, nobody has ever beaten death. A soldier in the King's army, Nox is an unlikely candidate for the Festival, but, driven by revenge, he is determined to steal the King's immortality and kill the entirety of his court, starting with Selestra. Yet when Selestra touches Nox in her very first prediction, their fates become entwined, and death seeks to take both their souls. Only by working together can they survive long enough to escape the dark fate and the immortal King that now hunts them. 'Princess of Souls sucked me in from the very first sentence.' - Tricia Levenseller, author of The Shadows Between Us 'A decadently dark tale of witches, fate and defying death.' - Ciannon Smart, author of Witches Steeped in Gold Be prepared for a feast of storytelling, featuring breathtaking journeys, nail-biting battles and powerful magic.

'Don't you see that we are buried alive?' When Allan Quatermain is approached by Sir Henry Curtis and his friend Captain Good to search for Sir Henry's missing brother, deep in the African interior, he agrees to lead their expedition. Quatermain has a map to the fabled King Solomon's Mines, whose treasure the missing man sought to attain. Their journey takes them to Kukuanaland, where they find a warrior tribe in thrall to King Twala. Soon the white men are embroiled in a desperate tribal battle, and Quatermain's expedition can only reach its goal with the aid of Gagool, the ancient 'mother' no one trusts. Haggard's exciting adventure story captivated readers when it was first published in 1885. It helped inaugurate a wave of 'lost world' romances inspired by the exploits of British explorers in colonial Africa. This new edition looks at Haggard's own African experiences and unlikely literary success, and his ambivalent attitude to the native tribes and the ravages of the British Empire. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

In A Rite of Swords (book 7 in the Sorcerer's Ring), Thor grapples with his legacy, battling to come to terms with who his father is, whether to reveal his secret, and what action he must take. Back home in the Ring, with Mycoples by his side and the Destiny Sword in hand, Thor is determined to wreak vengeance on Andronicus' army and liberate his homeland - and to finally propose to Gwendolyn. But he comes to learn that there are forces even greater than he that might just stand in his way. Gwendolyn returns and strives to become the ruler she is destined to be, using her wisdom to unite the disparate forces and drive out Andronicus for good. Reunited with Thor and her brothers, she is grateful for a lull in the violence and for the chance to celebrate their freedom. But things change quickly - too quickly - and before she knows it, her life is thrown upside down again. Her elder sister, Luanda, caught in a fierce rivalry with her, is determined to wrest power while King MacGil's brother arrives with his own army to gain control of the throne. With spies and assassins on all sides, Gwendolyn, embattled, learns that being queen is not as safe as she thought. Reece's love with Selese finally has a chance to flourish, yet at the same time his old love appears, and he finds himself torn. But idle times are soon overcome by battle, and Reece, Elden, O'Connor, Conven, Kendrick, Erec, and even Godfrey must face and overcome adversity together if they are to survive. Their battles take them to all corners of the Ring, as it becomes a race against time to oust Andronicus and save themselves from complete destruction. As powerful, unexpected forces battle for control of the Ring, Gwen realizes she must do whatever it takes to find Argon and bring him back. In a final, shocking twist, Thor learns that while his powers are supreme, he also has a hidden weakness - one that may just bring his final downfall.

A fascinating recreation of the world of one of England's most charismatic monarchs, from award-winning author and historian Richard Barber The destruction of the French army at Crécy in 1346 and the subsequent siege and capture of Calais marked a new era in European history. The most powerful, glamorous and respected of all western monarchies had been completely humiliated by England, a country long viewed either as a chaotic backwater or a mere French satellite. The young Edward III's triumph would launch both countries, as we now know, into a grim cycle of some 90 years of further fighting ending with English defeat, but after Crécy anything seemed possible - Edward's claim to be King of France could be pressed home and, in any event, enormous rewards of land, treasure and prestige were available both to the king and to the close companions who had made the victory possible. It was to enshrine this moment that Edward created one of the most famous of all knightly orders, the Company of the Garter. Barber writes about both the great campaigns and the individuals who formed the original membership of the Company - and through their biographies makes the period tangible and fascinating. This is a book about knighthood, battle tactics and grand strategy, but it is also about fashion, literature and the privates lives of everyone from queens to freebooters. Barber's book is a remarkable achievement - but also an extremely enjoyable one. Reviews: 'Barber [has an] infectious passion for and deep knowledge of his subject matter ... elegant prose and rigorous historical analysis ... a valuable and thorough addition to the body of work on this most impressive of English monarchs' Sunday Times 'In Edward III and the Triumph of England [Barber] has written the kind of book that the king would have enjoyed: full of battles, glitter and ceremony ... he has an original eye and an elegant pen' Jonathan Sumption, Literary Review 'Barber share's his hero's love of chivalry ... The book sparkle[s] with some of Edward's own glitz' Telegraph 'This absorbing book is layered rather than linear, sifting with uncommon sensitivity through challenging sources to test the boundaries of what we can and cannot know ... We discover the complexity of the world in which Edward and his commanders lived' Helen Castor, The Times About the author: Richard Barber has had a huge influence on the study of medieval history and literature, both as a writer and as a publisher. His major works include The Knight and Chivalry (winner of the Somerset Maugham Award), Edward Prince of Wales and Aquitaine, The Penguin Guide to Medieval Europe and The Holy Grail: The History of a Legend. He lives in East Anglia.

The highly anticipated conclusion to the Stolen Heir duology by no. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author Holly Black. An imprisoned prince. A vengeful queen. And a battle that will determine the future of Elfhame. Prince Oak is paying for his betrayal. Imprisoned in the icy north and bound to the will of a monstrous new queen, he must rely on charm and calculation to survive. With High King Cardan and High Queen Jude ready to use any means necessary to retrieve their stolen heir, should Oak attempt to regain the trust of the girl he's always loved, or remain loyal to Elfhame and hand over the means to end her reign - even if it means ending Wren too... With war looming and treachery lurking in every corner, neither Oak's guile nor his wit will be enough to keep everyone he loves alive. He will have some terrible choices to make. From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black comes the stunning blood-soaked conclusion to the Stolen Heir duology.

Join Monkey D. Luffy and his swashbuckling crew in their search for the ultimate treasure, the One Piece. As a child, Monkey D. Luffy dreamed of becoming King of the Pirates. But his life changed when he accidentally ate the Gum-Gum Fruit, an enchanted Devil Fruit that gave him the ability to stretch like rubber. Its only drawback? He’ll never be able to swim again—a serious handicap for an aspiring sea dog! Years later, Luffy sets off on his quest to find the “One Piece;” said to be the greatest treasure in the world… Tower of Power Inside the perilous sea gates of the so-called Judicial Island, members of Luffy’s crew are imprisoned in the Tower of Law, due to stand trial in a highly biased court full of World Government warmongers. Luffy’s quest to save his friends seems doomed…until he joins forces with a powerful consortium of shipwrights and street fighters. It's an explosive battle on the courthouse steps for Luffy and his Straw Hat pirates!

See Hyrule 100 Jahre before the Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild Game and experience the Events of the Great Calamity. Verbinden Sie das struggle that brought Hyrule to its knees. Learn more about Zelda, the King of Hyrule, the four Champions; Urbosa, Revali, Mipha, Daruk und mehr through dramatic cutscenes as they try to save the kingdom from Calamity. Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is the only way to see first-hand what happened 100 years ago. Battle Hordes of Hyrule's most grandiose Foes - From Barbaric Bokoblins to towering Lynels, Ganon's Troops have emerged in Droves. Reit iconic locations such as Zoras Domain, Death Mountain and Hyrule Field and use your playable heroes' separt abilities to carve through hundreds of enemies to save Hyrule from the impending Calamity. Team up and take on Ganon - Pass a Joy-Con to a friend and take on Calamity Ganon as a team in local co-op multiplayer. Fight side-by-side or divide your Anstrengungen, um mehr ground, complete Ziele und defeat the force of darkness

A girl disguises herself as a boy to train as a knight and changes her destiny in Tamora Pierce’s Margaret A. Edwards Award–winning young adult series—all four books now available with a new look in this paperback boxed set! Fearless, bold, athletic, magical. Young Alanna of Trebond is all these things, and more than anything else, she has always craved the adventure and daring allowed only to boys. So she and her twin brother, Thom, switch places: Thom heads for the convent to become a sorcerer, and Alanna—pretending to be a boy—goes to the castle of King Roald to begin her journey to knighthood. Her choice leads to more dangerous exploits and intrigue than she could have ever imagined as she befriends royalty, travels the kingdom, and battles evil. This epic paperback boxed set includes: Alanna In the Hand of the Goddess The Woman Who Rides Like a Man Lioness Rampant

The highly anticipated conclusion to the Stolen Heir duology by no. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author Holly Black. An imprisoned prince. A vengeful queen. And a battle that will determine the future of Elfhame. Prince Oak is paying for his betrayal. Imprisoned in the icy north and bound to the will of a monstrous new queen, he must rely on charm and calculation to survive. With High King Cardan and High Queen Jude ready to use any means necessary to retrieve their stolen heir, should Oak attempt to regain the trust of the girl he's always loved, or remain loyal to Elfhame and hand over the means to end her reign - even if it means ending Wren too... With war looming and treachery lurking in every corner, neither Oak's guile nor his wit will be enough to keep everyone he loves alive. He will have some terrible choices to make. From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black comes the stunning blood-soaked conclusion to the Stolen Heir duology.

HBO's hit series A GAME OF THRONES is based on George R R Martin's internationally bestselling series A SONG OF ICE AND FIRE, the greatest fantasy epic of the modern age. A DANCE WITH DRAGONS: DREAMS AND DUST is the FIRST part of the fifth volume in the series. 'Richly satisfying and utterly engrossing' Sunday Times In the aftermath of a colossal battle, new threats are emerging from every direction. Tyrion Lannister, having killed his father, and wrongfully accused of killing his nephew, King Joffrey, has escaped from King's Landing with a price on his head. To the north lies the great Wall of ice and stone - a structure only as strong as those guarding it. Eddard Stark's bastard son Jon Snow has been elected 998th Lord Commander of the Night's Watch. But Jon has enemies both inside and beyond the Wall. And in the east Daenerys Targaryen struggles to hold a city built on dreams and dust.

The highly anticipated conclusion to the Stolen Heir duology by no. 1 Sunday Times bestselling author Holly Black. An imprisoned prince. A vengeful queen. And a battle that will determine the future of Elfhame. Prince Oak is paying for his betrayal. Imprisoned in the icy north and bound to the will of a monstrous new queen, he must rely on charm and calculation to survive. With High King Cardan and High Queen Jude ready to use any means necessary to retrieve their stolen heir, should Oak attempt to regain the trust of the girl he's always loved, or remain loyal to Elfhame and hand over the means to end her reign - even if it means ending Wren too... With war looming and treachery lurking in every corner, neither Oak's guile nor his wit will be enough to keep everyone he loves alive. He will have some terrible choices to make. From the #1 New York Times bestselling author Holly Black comes the stunning blood-soaked conclusion to the Stolen Heir duology.

Join Monkey D. Luffy and his swashbuckling crew in their search for the ultimate treasure, the One Piece. As a child, Monkey D. Luffy dreamed of becoming King of the Pirates. But his life changed when he accidentally ate the Gum-Gum Fruit, an enchanted Devil Fruit that gave him the ability to stretch like rubber. Its only drawback? He’ll never be able to swim again—a serious handicap for an aspiring sea dog! Years later, Luffy sets off on his quest to find the “One Piece;” said to be the greatest treasure in the world… Luffy and pals are headed for the Rainbase, the fabled city of dreams. While protecting Vivi, their royal charge, Luffy gets sidetracked by the devious pirate captain Crocodile for some cozy one-on-one time! While Vivi makes her way to the palace of her birthright, Straw Hats navigator Nami is on her own in a throw-down battle with Ms. Doublefinger of the Baroque Works!

Join Monkey D. Luffy and his swashbuckling crew in their search for the ultimate treasure, the One Piece. As a child, Monkey D. Luffy dreamed of becoming King of the Pirates. But his life changed when he accidentally ate the Gum-Gum Fruit, an enchanted Devil Fruit that gave him the ability to stretch like rubber. Its only drawback? He’ll never be able to swim again—a serious handicap for an aspiring sea dog! Years later, Luffy sets off on his quest to find the “One Piece;” said to be the greatest treasure in the world… Tower of Power Inside the perilous sea gates of the so-called Judicial Island, members of Luffy’s crew are imprisoned in the Tower of Law, due to stand trial in a highly biased court full of World Government warmongers. Luffy’s quest to save his friends seems doomed…until he joins forces with a powerful consortium of shipwrights and street fighters. It's an explosive battle on the courthouse steps for Luffy and his Straw Hat pirates!

Crown Prince Hal wished for a boyfriend. Until he met his new guards. Now, he has two lovers and… possibly magic? After being spared from death's embrace by a mysterious magical force, Crown Prince Hal is placed under house arrest, so that his case can be investigated in full. Hal is grateful to have survived his grueling battle against the mythical serpent, but his fate remains uncertain: having an affinity with magic would mean being stripped of his royal status, left with no legacy to his name. Until Hal's father-the King-is able to confirm the magic Hal witnessed that fateful day was not his own, Hal is officially banned from leaving the castle's walls. What a shame that all the Prince can do for now is bide his time indoors, with his two dearest, handsome guards. A steamy fantasy romance novella, featuring a trans man protagonist, who lusts after his two very loving guards. FOR MATURE AUDIENCES ONLY.

Santa Claus. Easter Bunny. Tooth Fairy. Sandman. Jack Frost. You know their names, but find out where they came from—and what evil-doer brought them together—in this complete paperback collection of the Guardians of Childhood books. A daredevil swordsman. A chocolate-obsessed genius. A fierce and feisty queen. A strong, if sleepy, star captain. A rebel with a cause. These are the Guardians of Childhood—though now they’re better known by their Earthly personas: Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, the Tooth Fairy, the Sandman, and Jack Frost. But before the Earth holidays, before the glitz and glamor, before you knew their names, they were warriors. But when faced with an ancient villain, can good truly conquer evil? This paperback boxed set includes: Nicholas St. North and the Battle of the Nightmare King E. Aster Bunnymund and the Warrior Eggs at the Earth’s Core! Toothiana, Queen of the Tooth Fairy Armies The Sandman and the War of Dreams Jack Frost

Join Monkey D. Luffy and his swashbuckling crew in their search for the ultimate treasure, the One Piece. As a child, Monkey D. Luffy dreamed of becoming King of the Pirates. But his life changed when he accidentally ate the Gum-Gum Fruit, an enchanted Devil Fruit that gave him the ability to stretch like rubber. Its only drawback? He’ll never be able to swim again—a serious handicap for an aspiring sea dog! Years later, Luffy sets off on his quest to find the “One Piece;” said to be the greatest treasure in the world… Luffy and crew regroup on the Sunny, their trusty vessel, to continue the battle against fearsome Emperor Kaido. But when their backup doesn’t show, they have to go it alone against the pirate known as “the strongest creature alive.” Things look up when they’re joined by some unexpected allies in the land of Wano, but it turns out the enemy also has some surprising (and terrifying) friends!